《The Reincarnated Villain Can Break the Fourth Wall!》


 Chapter 1 Rejected Novel Villain!

    Heavenly Prison, White Cloud Star!"Hah... That''s enough about me, Junior. What''s your story?"


    "Huh? My story?"


    Su Xiaobai sat on a worn-out stone slab inside a chamber that looked like an ancient, abandoned jail cell. Steam rose from his skin as if he were in a sauna. Exhausted, he leaned back, his breathing causing the room to heat up even more with each exhale.


    After hearing the Senior''s question, who was sitting across from him, Su Xiaobai fell into bitter contemplation, chuckling to himself.


    "Senior, would you believe me if I told you... I was once a novel villain?" he asked, a smirk tugging at his lips.


    The old, brawny man, sitting stark naked, casually nodded as he ran a hand over his bald head. Su Xiaobai, also naked, couldn''t help but laugh at the ridiculousness of it all¡ªthe two of them sweating it out like it was a luxury bathhouse, locked away for the crimes they committed.


    Heavenly Prison was meant to be a place for the most ''heinous'' criminals, yet here they were, two bastards relaxing and talking about life, as if they were on a damn vacation.


    Even the heavens would have to look twice to believe it.


    Su Xiaobai had expected his time in prison to be lonely, but ''thankfully'', he had the company of an old senior who, on request, had somehow turned the prison into a makeshift sauna.


    "I believe you, Junior," the old man, Ning, said with a straight face.


    Su Xiaobai burst out laughing. "Nah, you''re full of shit, Senior! You just wanna laugh at me."


    The Old Ning''s face twisted in offense. "Junior, don''t underestimate this old man! I''ve seen all kinds of idiots in my life, and never once have I laughed at any of them!"


    Su Xiaobai''s eye twitched. Was this old man calling him a fool already? He sighed and decided to carry on regardless.


    Su Xiaobai hadn''t always been the person he was now.


    Long ago, he went by the name ''Caine Wilson'', the sole heir of the Wilson family, living on his home planet, Blue Star.


    More specifically¡ªhe had been the novel''s villain.


    Born into a filthy rich family, in a world where neither martial arts nor immortality existed, money was the only true power!


    Caine Wilson had everything: a spoiled upbringing, a loving family, more money than he could spend, and a maid prettier than most people''s wives.


    Hell, he even had a couple of girlfriends on the side.


    Life was sweet.


    Until one day, an enemy showed up¡ªthe one he later realized was supposed to be the story''s main protagonist!


    That night, a heavenly decree rang in his head.


    It told him he was destined to be the villain, or he''d be cast aside like trash.


    Caine Wilson, pampered all his life, damn near pissed himself.


    There he was, lying between a horny milf neighbor he''d kidnapped and her daughter, clutching them and screaming like a little bitch.


    A few days later, he came to terms with it. "Villain it is," he thought, and started playing the role like it was his life''s mission.


    He abducted the protagonist''s busty mother and fucked her senseless until she was screaming his name like he was her new daddy.


    He kidnapped the protagonist''s little sister and turned her into his personal maid.


    As for the protagonist''s fianc¨¦e?


    He used her mouth to clean his dick, then went straight to plowing her mother, knowing full well all these characters were meant to help the protagonist rise to greatness.


    He tortured everyone who was supposed to make his family fall.


    And then¡ªhe went after the protagonist himself.


    Turned the guy into a eunuch, dragged him naked through the streets along with his family, until the poor bastard threw himself into a gutter out of pure shame and offed himself.


    Ding!


    Old Man Ning''s excitement grew like a hot rod. His body stiffened, eyes wide in awe. Su Xiaobai, shaking his head in disgust, threw a rag over the old man''s legs to avoid any more of that visual assault.


    "Damn, Junior! You played the perfect villain! I''m about to cream myself just hearing about it!" the old man exclaimed.


    "Haha¡­" Su Xiaobai chuckled dryly. "Yeah, well¡­ they didn''t think so."


    "They? Who?" Old Ning asked, genuinely confused.


    Su Xiaobai pointed upward. "The higher-ups." sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    That night, Caine Wilson had gone to sleep feeling like a king.


    He thought he''d beaten the system, figured they wouldn''t reject him now.


    But when he closed his eyes¡ªhe never opened them again.


    "Huh? What happened next?" Old Ning leaned forward, sensing a turn for the worse.


    Su Xiaobai sighed. "I was rejected."


    "WHAT?! THEY DARE?!" Old Ning shot up in outrage, fists clenched.


    Su Xiaobai, still unbothered, sighed again. "Apparently, the villain isn''t supposed to win¡­"


    "WHAT?! But he''s the villain!" Old Ning shouted, completely baffled.


    Su Xiaobai shook his head. "Yeah, you''d think that, right? But if villains win, the ant audience might start realizing that sometimes bad people ''do'' live better lives than the good ones. And that''s not what the higher-ups want. They made it a rule¡ªthe good guys always win, and the villain? Well, he either turns over a good leaf, or he dies."


    "That''s the dumbest thing I''ve ever heard!" Old Ning spat.


    Su Xiaobai shrugged. "It''s all part of the plan, Senior. They need to brainwash the ant audience. Get them to grow up fearing evil, believing that only good people live happily ever after. Keeps the ants in line."


    Su Xiaobai understood it well. As much as he enjoyed his free-wheeling lifestyle, if ''everyone'' were like him, where would his loyal servants, doting women, and obedient employees come from?


    Somebody had to buy into the bullshit.


    Old Man Ning, sitting back down, nodded in grim understanding. "So, what happened to you after all that, little brother?"


    Su Xiaobai let out a self-deprecating laugh. "My fate? The same as every other rejected character¡ªdiscarded."


    He went to sleep that night and never woke up again.


    Lost, forgotten, left to rot in the pages of a book no one would ever read again.


    He saw many others tossed into the void, just like him, abandoned by the story itself.


    Then, after what felt like an eternity¡ªhe opened his eyes again.


    This time, in a completely different world. White Cloud Star, where martial arts and cultivation ruled.


    "I see¡­ I see¡­" Ning Gufan muttered, deep in thought. "So, Junior¡­ do you think we''re all just characters in someone''s story? What if the higher-ups decide to kill us again? What role are we supposed to play?"

 Chapter 2 Talentless Trash! OP Mommy!

    "Perfect, Senior! You are very wise¡ªyou''ve understood everything perfectly!" sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.Su Xiaobai was genuinely surprised at how quickly the old man seemed to grasp things. Or so he thought.


    The old man, gritting his teeth, asked, "So what do we do now, Junior!?" His voice had a hint of panic, though Su Xiaobai couldn''t tell if he was truly worried or just pretending.


    It seemed like the old man still didn''t take his words seriously.


    Su Xiaobai sighed.


    Once again, he realized the old bastard didn''t believe him.


    A wave of sadness and depression washed over him, but he quickly brushed it off.


    Standing up, he donned his robe with a dismissive grin.


    "Heh¡­ Don''t say ''we'', Senior. I''ve already got help. You can rot here alone."


    Crackle¡­ crackle¡­


    He smirked, his eyes drifting to the iron rods of the cell, crackling with heavenly thunder. These rods kept them imprisoned, supposedly inescapable¡ªsupposedly.


    When Su Xiaobai had first reincarnated into White Cloud Star, he''d landed himself a decent family.


    Not a perfect life, far from it¡ªthis world was a ''dog-eat-dog'' battlefield where people cultivated spiritual energy, ''Qi'', to survive.


    Hardships were endless.


    But still, he had a loving mother, an older sister, and a younger sister.


    For a brief while, he even had a father¡ªuntil his dad mysteriously passed away, leaving them behind.


    Despite the struggles, they lived a good life. That is, until an ''accident'' landed him here in this cursed prison.


    "Xiaobai¡­"


    A soft, sweet fragrance floated into the cell, accompanied by a calm, soothing voice. The moment he heard it, Su Xiaobai''s mind instantly relaxed. Since the day he had entered this world, that voice had been his anchor¡ªthe only thing that stopped him from giving a damn about anything else.


    Standing just outside the cell was a tall woman, nearly 180 centimeters in height, her long white hair cascading down her back.


    Her eyes brimmed with maternal concern, and her face, untouched by time, radiated a serene beauty.


    It didn''t matter how many times he saw her¡ªSu Xiaobai swore his mother was one of the most beautiful women he had ever laid eyes on.


    Though, of course, he might have been a little biased.


    Regardless, as he blankly walked toward the heavenly thunder-infused iron rods, she panicked.


    "Xiaobai, be careful¡­" she called out softly, Matriarch Su''s voice laced with worry, her eyes pleading as she watched her son approach the deadly barrier.


    "Oops..." Su Xiaobai barely stopped himself in time, rubbing his head in relief.


    He glanced over at Matriarch Su, who was visibly distressed by his reckless behavior.


    In White Cloud Star, powerful warriors must undergo the Star Guardian Test to earn the rank of Star Guardian.


    These ranks start from D-rank and go all the way to S-rank, the pinnacle of power.


    The Star Guardians are the shields of civilization, tasked with defending against the endless threats of both the ''hunters'' and the ''beasts.''


    Hunters, apparently, were once warriors themselves, twisted into monsters by some kind of outbreak.


    Those killed by hunters rise as one of them, spreading the infection like a curse.


    The defensive walls around civilization hold for now, but small outbreaks are frequent, always threatening to overwhelm the people.


    To combat this, the Star Guardians were formed.


    And Su Xiaobai''s mother, Matriarch Su, was no ordinary guardian¡ªshe was an A-rank Star Guardian, a very powerful one to begin with.


    Normally, she was cold and less-spoken, feared by many. But when it came to her children, she had a soft side she couldn''t hide.


    Matriarch Su took a deep breath, calming herself after seeing her son act so carelessly.


    "Xiaobai... Be careful and wait inside. In a few days, I''ll send someone to get you out of here. Until then, just¡ªdon''t do anything reckless, please."


    Her voice was firm, but the worry in her eyes betrayed her cold exterior. She hurriedly turned and walked away, risking her life just to visit him in this forsaken place.


    "Hm?" Su Xiaobai watched her leave, a little taken aback and sad.


    For a moment, he thought she might just break him out of the prison right then and there.


    But in a blink, she was gone, leaving him alone with his thoughts and the crackling thunder-infused iron bars.


    He couldn''t help but chuckle. "Guess I''ll be staying a little longer..."


    "Junior, how the hell did you end up in this dump?" Ning Gufan, now dressed in his robes but still looking like a half-baked sage with that bald head and shiny white beard, leaned forward with curiosity. "You couldn''t have possibly wiped out an entire country like me, could you?"


    Ning Gufan¡ªOld Man Ning, as Su Xiaobai called him¡ªhad been thrown into this prison after casually wiping out a small country while wandering around.


    "Accidentally," he said.


    But Su Xiaobai?


    The old man could tell this kid didn''t have that kind of strength.


    Su Xiaobai snorted. "It''s because of a ¡ªbitch."


    "Oh?" Ning''s eyebrows shot up, suddenly much more interested.


    Su Xiaobai let out a long, frustrated sigh. The whole story was a pain to remember.


    When he first reincarnated into this world and started growing up, he realized one brutal truth: his talent was non-existent.


    While his sisters had managed to raise all seven pillars during their bloodline awakening ceremony¡ªmarking them for greatness¡ªSu Xiaobai could barely scrape together one lousy pillar.


    Seven pillars meant a future of immense power, potentially rising to the rank of S-rank Guardian.


    One pillar?


    That was the kind of trash that couldn''t even make it as cannon fodder.


    And in a world where strength was everything and a flick of a finger could end your life, Su Xiaobai was ''defenseless''.


    To make it worse, he didn''t even get a cool ability during his awakening.


    No impressive bloodline, no hidden potential, nothing.


    Instead, he was saddled with the most broken-sounding ability ever: ''Invincible Body.''


    Sounds like a cheat, right?


    Wrong.


    It only lasted a short time, and since he couldn''t cultivate worth a damn, even toddlers could overpower him.


    It was useless¡ªa joke.


    So naturally, he became the laughingstock of the clan.


    And it wasn''t just any clan.


    Su Xiaobai came from a long line of famous warriors.


    His father, Guardian Hua Sheng, had been an S-rank powerhouse, one of the top ten strongest in the entire White Cloud Star.


    Then, ten years after Su Xiaobai''s birth, his father mysteriously died in an "accident."


    The rumors that followed were ''brutal''.


    Some said his father died from the shock that his only son was such a pathetic waste.


    Others claimed that Hua Sheng had been planning to kill Su Xiaobai out of shame, and Matriarch Su¡ªSu Xiaobai''s mother¡ªkilled him to protect her son.


    Su Xiaobai knew both stories were complete bullshit, but it didn''t matter.


    The damage was done, and the family was disgraced. Unable to prove her innocence, Matriarch Su took her children and fled from their home in Wuxia Province, settling in the wilderness to escape the ridicule.


    Then, just yesterday, on Su Xiaobai''s twenty-seventh birthday, Matriarch Su dropped a bombshell: they were going to try his bloodline awakening ''again''.


    He was stunned.


    That sort of thing was only supposed to happen once, and the ''Immortal Tianlong Spirit'', the divine stone used to awaken bloodlines, was kept under lock and key in the heavily guarded Institute of Science.


    But Su Xiaobai had already lived a life where he was feared as a villain, taking what he wanted and dominating others.


    The joke that was his current life disgusted him.


    He didn''t know why he ended up in this world, but now he was determined to take control of his fate.


    So, with his mother''s help, they infiltrated the Institute of Science.


    Well, ''he'' did the sneaking, while Matriarch Su worked from the shadows.


    Su Xiaobai managed to get inside and perform the awakening ritual.


    The result?


    Eight pillars.


    ''Eight fucking pillars'' rose to the heavens!


    He thought his life was finally turning around, that he''d be able to hold his head high again.


    But before he could even celebrate, the dean of the institute caught him.


    The bastard launched a devastating attack, and Su Xiaobai, panicking, activated his Invincible Body.


    It worked¡­ sort of.

 Chapter 3 Violating Dragon Lords Daughter! Breaking the Fourth Wall!

    It worked¡­ sort of.Instead of fighting back, he shot into the sky like a human cannonball.


    He flew for what felt like forever before crash-landing¡ªface first¡ªinto something soft.


    Two large, heavenly soft ''somethings''.


    When he pulled himself back, he found himself staring into the eyes of an unbelievably beautiful woman.


    She was naked, bathing in a river, and as his vision cleared, he recognized her immediately.


    Long Lifen.


    The daughter of the Dragon Lord, a S-ranked gaurdian! sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    And more importantly, his ''aunt'' by engagement.


    Yep.


    Her niece was engaged to him before the world found out Su Xiaobai was trash.


    Though the engagement wasn''t officially broken, the entire Azure Dragon Clan hated his guts, and Long Lifen was at the #1 of that list.


    The moment she saw him, she went berserk and tried to kill him on the spot.


    Death by a thousand cuts would''ve been a mercy compared to what she had planned.


    Su Xiaobai panicked and fumbled through his bag, pulling out the stolen potions he''d grabbed from the institute


    Without thinking, he splashed them all over her face, praying for a miracle.


    What he didn''t realize was that one of those potions was a highly potent aphrodisiac.


    Within seconds, both of them were feeling the effects.


    Long Lifen''s rage turned into something much more dangerous.


    She pounced on him, and before he knew it, she was riding him like a wild beast until his eyes rolled back in his head.


    When Su Xiaobai woke up, he was locked in the Heavenly Prison, his body sore in places he didn''t know could be sore.


    He could only assume the Dragon Lord had thrown him in here for ''violating'' Long Lifen.


    But the truth?


    He was the one who got violated!


    Old Man Ning, who had been listening intently, suddenly burst out laughing, doubling over. "Hahahahaha! Oh, Junior, you really are the ''unluckiest'' bastard alive! Framed for getting laid by your aunt, huh? I don''t know what''s worse¡ªgetting locked up for a crime you didn''t commit or getting plowed by your aunt and not even getting to enjoy it!"


    Su Xiaobai scowled. "Glad you''re amused, Senior."


    Ning wiped tears from his eyes, still chuckling. "Life''s a real bitch sometimes, Junior."


    Su Xiaobai crossed his arms, muttering, "Tell me about it. You wiped out a country. I got fucked¡ªliterally and figuratively¡ªtwice. And neither time was fun..."


    Ning cackled, slapping Su Xiaobai on the back. "At least you''re still alive, Junior! That''s something!"


    Su Xiaobai just groaned, burying his face in his hands. "Yeah, yeah... still alive to live out this miserable joke of a life."


    "C''mon, Junior, don''t be so gloomy about life¡­ Sometimes life bends you over and fucks you, and sometimes, you get to fuck life back. It''s all a great cosmic cycle, nothing more!" Ning Gufan said with a grin, cracking his knuckles. "Why not tell me more about these higher-ups? There''s gotta be a way to put them in their place, right?"


    Ning, of course, had already convinced himself that Su Xiaobai was talking about none other than the "Great Heavenly Dao" itself¡ªthose mysterious forces that wove the threads of fate like drunken tailors.


    His misunderstanding only deepened his interest.


    Su Xiaobai narrowed his eyes and smirked. "First, massage my shoulders."


    "Hmph! You think the great Infernal Emperor would lower himself to rub your shoulders for some petty information?" Ning Gufan grumbled, but the old bastard couldn''t resist.


    A moment later, he was there, hands pressing into Su Xiaobai''s tense muscles, all while trying to worm out the secrets that could save his miserable hide.


    The Heavenly Dao had fucked him over enough times, and if there was any chance of revenge, he''d take it.


    Ning Gufan thought, ''This brat''s days are numbered,'' he murmured secretly.


    Su Xiaobai, unaware that Ning Gufan was already plotting his death, let out a sigh of satisfaction. "You know, Senior, the basic rule of life is simple: the higher-ups can fuck you however they like."


    Ning grunted, his hands still kneading Su Xiaobai''s shoulders.


    The brat might be speaking the truth, but there had to be more.


    His curiosity was practically dripping from his bald head.


    "But," Su Xiaobai continued, slipping into the wise tones of a celestial sage, "after spending years trapped in the discarded pages of forgotten stories, I discovered something... something even the higher-ups can''t control."


    Ning''s hands paused, his eyes gleaming with greed. "What is it?"


    "It''s the Plot Armour," Su Xiaobai said, a grin playing at his lips. "If you entertain the ''ants'' watching from above, the higher-ups lose their grip on you. They can''t touch you. In fact, they might even bless you with this special power. It''s a cheat¡ªlike defying the heavens themselves. It lets you come back from the dead, rewrite your fate, and laugh in the face of death."


    Ning Gufan''s eyes widened. "What!?"


    Before Ning could even form a proper question, Su Xiaobai continued, his tone more serious now. "But be warned, Senior. If you piss off those little ants, if you bore them, if you fail to dance to their tune¡­ they''ll discard you. Your plot armour will vanish, and the higher-ups? They''ll erase you like you never existed."


    Ning Gufan''s jaw dropped.


    So every death, every tragic end¡ªevery fool who fails in the cultivation path¡ªit''s because they didn''t entertain these so-called ants?


    He thought back to the legends of cultivators who rose to godhood, only to be struck down by sudden misfortune.


    It wasn''t fate, it was¡­ rejection.


    The ants, those petty observers from above, had decided they were no longer worth watching.


    Ning''s mind spun.


    So this plot armour... is it the threads of fate, or some karma system?


    The realization that their lives were being toyed with like pieces in a celestial game made him sick¡ªbut also excited.


    Meanwhile, Su Xiaobai could care less how Ning interpreted it.


    He had long since retired from playing the role of villain.


    He had once slapped these higher-ups¡ªthose celestial entities, constantly rewriting destinies and pruning stories¡ªand paid the price.


    They tossed him into the void like a discarded draft, and he had spent centuries languishing in obscurity.


    He had offended the wrong ''ants'' once, and he wasn''t eager to make that mistake again.


    This time, he would lay low, a mere side character, unnoticed and undisturbed.


    Ning Gufan chuckled darkly, shaking his head. "Junior, isn''t it something? We, great cultivators, laugh at the mortals beneath us, calling them ants. And yet there are ants above us, playing the same damn game with our lives."


    Su Xiaobai grinned, a wicked glint in his eyes. "That''s the cycle of life, Senior. You fuck the ones below, and the ones above fuck you right back. Just make sure you do it with style."


    Ning laughed heartily, slapping Su Xiaobai''s back. "So tell me, Junior, who''s the real enemy here? Is it the higher-ups we''re all railing against or those damn ants watching us squirm?"


    Su Xiaobai snorted and patted Ning''s shoulder with a smirk. "Senior, you''re wise beyond measure."


    But Su Xiaobai knew the truth¡ªthe real enemy?


    It was always the ones with their hands on the strings, the ones who fucked you over, whether they were the ants above or the great arrogant celestial entities who couldn''t help but meddle with every thread of fate.


    You could try to fight them, or you could play their game.


    And Su Xiaobai?


    This time, he was going to play it smarter than anyone had ever seen.


    Su Xiaobai had learned well¡ªover countless ages and discarded dustbins¡ªexactly how the fates of every type of character played out.


    The heroes, the villains, the side characters no one gave a damn about.


    He''d seen it all.


    Each one tossed aside when they no longer served the grand design.


    He had become an expert in survival, not through strength or cunning, but by understanding the delicate balance of staying just unimportant enough to be left alone.


    Two days later...


    The faint echo of footsteps echoed down the dim & damp corridor, growing louder with each passing second.


    Someone was approaching. Su Xiaobai''s eyes flickered open, his senses sharp despite the casual, bored expression on his face.


    Ning Gufan, sitting cross-legged nearby, straightened up, his usual smirk fading as he too heard the approaching steps.


    Both men turned their heads toward the iron bars of the cell.

 Chapter 4 Sun Lingxi! Breaking free form Heavenly Prison!

    "Who the hell...?" Su Xiaobai squinted at the shadowy figure outside the cell.Slowly, the silhouette took shape¡ªa woman, her face hidden behind a veil.


    Smooth, pale skin, and for a split second, he caught the flash of red eyes that practically screamed dangerous but sexy.


    Without a word, she started drawing some weird patterns on the wall. Su Xiaobai watched, confused, as she summoned a key from thin air and flicked off the heavenly lightning crackling around the bars like she was just turning off a damn light switch.


    She sighed, finally turning to him. "Su Xiaobai, you need to run. Head to Storm Peak Mountains. Matriarch Su and the others are waiting. Then get leave Wuxia Province forever."


    With a casual flick, she pulled down her veil, revealing a face so beautiful it was like a slap to the ego. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Her lips were red and thin, her expression cold¡ªlike she couldn''t care less whether he lived or died.


    Pretty, but terrifying.


    "Who are you?" Su Xiaobai shot back, eyes narrowing. His mother said she''d send someone, sure, but what if this lady was bait?


    He steps out, they nab him, and bam, he''s back in a cell with a bonus beating, and his mom''s implicated too.


    She sighed, clearly not in the mood.


    As she stepped closer, Su Xiaobai took a step back.


    BOOM!


    Suddenly, her aura hit like a damn tidal wave, nearly knocking the breath out of him. He wasn''t strong enough to deal with this kind of power¡ªit felt like she could turn him into soup with a flick of her wrist.


    ZIIIIING!


    The iron bars screeched and snapped, cracking under the pressure of her spiritual energy.


    "Go, now!" Sun Lingxi urged, glancing over her shoulder like someone was on her tail. Anxiety crept into her otherwise ice-cold voice.


    Su Xiaobai stepped out but stayed put, glaring at her. "I''m not stupid. How do I know this isn''t just another setup?"


    Sun Lingxi''s eyes gleamed with impatience. "I am Sun Lingxi of the Sun Dynasty! I have visited your elder sister, Su Yiran, many times atop Storm Peak. Do you not recall?"


    Her voice grew colder, more urgent. "Listen, there''s no time to waste. You''re being used as a scapegoat. If you don''t run now, they''ll crush you and put your head on display for all to see! The forces behind this are way too powerful for anyone to handle."


    Su Xiaobai wracked his brain, memories stirring.


    Yeah, he did recall a girl from the Sun Dynasty visiting his elder sister Su Yiran.


    But him, being used as a scapegoat? What the hell was going on?


    After that messy encounter with Long Lifen, things had gone black. Was someone plotting behind his back?


    Su Xiaobai couldn''t help but wonder,'' Why the hell am I getting dragged into this mess?'' He had done everything right¡ªor so he thought.


    He had mastered the art of being unimportant, a perfect side character. Blending into the background had been his specialty, avoiding the limelight and trouble alike! His whole plan was to stay low, just another faceless figure in the grand narrative of life.


    So why was fate determined to fuck him over? Why aren''t they just ignoring me?


    "Shouldn''t I be too insignificant for this shit?" he muttered to himself. There were plenty of other people who could be scapegoated, after all. Su Xiaobai had spent years trying to avoid exactly this sort of thing. He wasn''t some genius cultivator, not some hidden prodigy that everyone was waiting to rise¡ªhe was just Su Xiaobai, a guy who should be able to slip through life unnoticed.


    But somehow, he was caught in the storm again. Was it that Long Lifen incident? Surely, it wasn''t worth all this heat just because he got unlucky and faceplanted into some breasts. Sure, she was his aunt-by-engagement, but still! He wasn''t even important enough to make killing him a big deal. Right?


    He had no clue what anyone would gain by offing him.


    He clicked his tongue in frustration. Damn it. So much for living as the forgotten character...


    He was confused, but none of that mattered right now.


    There was only one thing to do.


    "Thanks, Senior Sister!" he blurted out, and without thinking, threw his arms around her soft, fragrant body.


    "!!"


    Sun Lingxi froze, her cold, impassive face suddenly glowing with a faint blush.


    The red tint on her cheeks betrayed the storm in her heart as it thudded loudly in her chest.


    She had never been this close to any man before, and now this reckless idiot was hugging her?


    Meanwhile, Su Xiaobai, oblivious to the internal chaos he was causing, grinned and shifted gears. "Old man, you wanna¡ª" He glanced toward where Old Man Ning had been sitting, only to find him gone, like a damn ghost.


    The old bastard had vanished the moment the prison door opened, disappearing into the wind.


    "Tsk, sly old fox," Su Xiaobai muttered with a smirk. "Guess I''m on my own."


    He turned back to Sun Lingxi, who still looked like she was processing that unexpected hug. "Alright, Senior Sister, thanks again! Gotta run!"


    Just as he bolted off in the wrong direction, Sun Lingxi snapped out of her daze. "Wait, this way! ¡ª Go ¡ª this way!" she called out in panic, her voice a mix of disbelief and exasperation.


    "Oh." Su Xiaobai shamelessly turned around and sprinted the way she pointed, not missing a beat.


    Su Xiaobai''s grin widened as he ran, "This Senior Sister is very helpful¡ªhard on the outside, but soft on the inside. If she''s not deceiving me, the ants watching from above and the higher-ups would definitely pair her with the protagonist."


    He licked his lips, the sweet scent of her lingering in his mind.


    ''Tasty.''


    ____


    "What a silly man¡­"


    Sun Lingxi stood at the cave exit, watching Su Xiaobai sprinting through the mountain peaks like he was being chased by demons.


    She sighed, shaking her head.


    ''He took advantage of you...!''


    A mist swirled beside her, dark and ominous, forming into a shadowy double of herself, hissing in anger.


    The damn mist clearly hadn''t missed Su Xiaobai''s little stunt during that hug.


    Her brows twitched, but she didn''t bother responding to the mist''s complaints.


    Instead, she stepped off into the air.


    Whoosh!


    Like a shadow, she shot off toward the Sun Dynasty Palace, careful not to be seen.


    She had to stay low, make sure no one noticed her involvement.


    Unfortunately for her, just across from the Heavenly Prison, perched on a towering mountain peak, two figures sat casually on the cliff''s edge, watching everything from a distance.


    "Checkmate."

 Chapter 5 Immortal Emperor & Son!

    "Checkmate.""Humph! Master, that''s so unfair!" Jiang Chuchu puffed her cheeks, pouting like a spoiled child.


    She was donned in an orange robe that hugged her curves, a small tear near her chest revealing just enough to hint at the big little rabbits hidden inside. Her figure, the kind that could make most women envious, and her round, lovable face gave off the perfect combination of innocence and temptation.


    Perched high on the cliff, she sat on a small stool across from a young man who looked evily innocent.


    Sun Liang, with his gentle smile and the symbol of the sun on his forehead, had the kind of face that could fool anyone into thinking he wasn''t capable of dark schemes.


    "There''s no unfairness in war, Chuchu," he said, smiling calmly. "Think of it like a battlefield."


    "Humph! You''re just bullying Chuchu¡­" she huffed, her eyes sparkling with mischief. Then her gaze drifted from the game, curiosity flickering as she scanned the horizon.


    "It''s Miss Lingxi¡­ she really had the guts to defy the Sun Dynasty?" Her gaze shifted to Su Xiaobai, who was stumbling through the mountains below like a clueless rabbit trying to escape. "That''s Hua Sheng''s son? Su Xiaobai? He''s so weak¡­" she murmered, her voice filled with disdain.


    Sun Liang''s calm smile never faltered. "His strength is irrelevant. Because of him, the dragon has been tied up in knots and can''t move. He''s far more useful than all the other pawns I''ve played¡­ But," he paused, his smile tightening slightly, "he''s outlived his usefulness."


    In the Immortal Cloud Continent, particularly within Wuxia Province¡ªthe strongest and most protected region¡ªSun Dynasty reigned supreme.


    The dynasty had produced two consecutive #1-ranked S-rank Guardians: the Immortal Emperor and his successor, Sun Liang, the Immortal Son.


    Jiang Chuchu, loyal and ever the obedient maid, frowned. "Master, are we going to kill him?"


    Sun Liang smiled, his expression calm. "Not us."


    "Huh?" Jiang Chuchu''s confusion deepened.


    She could never quite figure out her master''s intentions¡ªhe was always one step ahead, like a celestial being who didn''t even belong to this world.


    So powerful, so cunning, so... annoyingly unreadable.


    She often threw herself at him, hoping he''d give in to her charms, but the bastard never took the bait.


    Still pouting, she couldn''t help but admire his otherworldly presence.


    Sun Liang, on the other hand, smiled inwardly, his fingers tapping lightly on the table. ''For the second time...'' He chuckled silently to himself. ''Hua Sheng, you and your son really made things easy for me. You were the perfect cannon fodder, and now, with your son and wife, I''ll claim my spot as the sole Emperor of the Immortal Cloud Continent.''


    The Immortal Cloud Continent had never seen a single ruler before.


    Even now, its lands were divided into fragmented regions, Wuxia Province being the most dominant.


    But Sun Liang, after five decades of meticulous plotting, knew that today''s move would ensure the Sun Dynasty''s rise to absolute power.


    Soon, he would sit on the golden throne as the one true Emperor!


    Su Xiaobai, of course, couldn''t have dreamed that his father''s death wasn''t the result of the petty rumors accusing his mother.


    It was all part of a much larger plan.


    From the very beginning, his family had been nothing more than scapegoats, pawns in Sun Liang''s climb to the top.


    ______


    A day later¡ªStorm Peak Mountains!


    BOOM!


    Thunder ripped through the sky, cracking it open with violent force as rain poured like the heavens themselves were weeping.


    The air was filled with the stench of wet earth and something far more sinister¡ªblood.


    Pat! Pat! Pat!


    Su Xiaobai''s feet pounded against the wet, muddy ground as he climbed the cliff, excitement driving him forward.


    How long had it been since he last saw his mother? His little sister, Xiao Mei? The loyal servants who had stuck with them even after they were forced to flee Wuxia Province?


    He couldn''t wait to see them, to feel the warmth of home once more.


    Their refuge¡ªhidden deep in the Storm Peak Mountains, far from civilization¡ªwas their sanctuary.


    Though far from safe, with monsters and hunters constantly roaming nearby, it was a place they had fought to protect.


    His mother had always ensured they were shielded from the worst of it.


    Up there, they''d carved out a peaceful existence, a quiet life that had allowed Su Xiaobai to forget the blood-soaked days of his past life as a villain.


    As he climbed, rain drenched his clothes, and the sharp rocks beneath his feet tore into his skin, leaving bloody streaks with each step.


    But he was too eager to notice the pain.


    His mind was already with his family, wondering how long he''d been imprisoned, wondering what he had missed.


    "How long was I stuck in that hellhole?" he muttered, his sense of time warped after days¡ªor was it weeks?¡ªin the Heavenly Prison.


    He wiped the rain from his face, only to stop dead in his tracks.


    His eyes caught something in the water running down the cliffside.


    It wasn''t just rain.


    "Blood..."


    His heart froze in his chest.


    He looked up, and his breath stopped.


    A crimson stream ran down the rocks, mixing with the rain. Panic surged through him like a bolt of lightning, and he sprinted the rest of the way up, ignoring the sting in his feet and the burn in his lungs.


    As he reached the clearing where his home once stood, the world seemed to fall silent, except for the endless downpour.


    What greeted him wasn''t home.


    It was destruction.


    The buildings were nothing but rubble.


    His family''s sanctuary had been reduced to nothing but ruins.


    Blood pooled in the mud, bodies¡ªso many bodies¡ªscattered everywhere.


    The smell of iron and death was suffocating, choking the breath from his lungs.


    His feet sank into the wet earth as he stepped through the bloody mess.


    Each squelching step echoed in the hollow silence, the stench pressing in from all sides.


    This¡­ this wasn''t real. It couldn''t be.


    Then, his eyes fell on a small, lifeless form.


    A white-furred lion cub, soaked in blood.


    Pang Nue''er¡­


    His sister''s beloved magical beast. Its once proud and playful body now lay broken, motionless.


    Su Xiaobai collapsed beside the cub, cradling its limp form in his hands. "Pang Nue''er¡­ What¡­ what happened here? Where is everyone?" His voice cracked, trembling, his mind filled with terror of the worst.


    He could feel the familiar faces of those he loved flashing in his mind¡ªhis mother, Xiao Mei, the people who made this isolated place a home.


    The cold knot in his stomach twisted tighter.


    The cub let out one final, weak whimper before its neck snapped in his hands.


    "No¡­ no¡­" Su Xiaobai whispered, his voice barely audible over the rain.


    His chest heaved, heart splintering in his chest.


    If Pang Nue''er was dead, that meant his sister¡ªXiao Mei¡ªwas likely gone too.


    "Xiao Mei! Mother!" he screamed, his voice filled with anger and desperation, breaking through the storm night like a blade.


    But there was no answer.


    Just the rain¡ªendless, merciless.


    Why?


    What did they do?


    A dark, sinister thought crawled into his mind ¡ª His fists clenched as a wave of rage rose within him, burning through the despair.


    He looked up at the storming sky, his blood boiling. ''What the hell did they do to deserve this?''


    He hadn''t killed anyone this time.


    He hadn''t wronged anyone.


    This time, he''d done nothing, and yet¡­


    Here he was, watching everything he cared about torn apart.


    Again. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The heavens remained silent, as if fate itself was watching him suffer, uncaring


    Even in his last life, the answer had been silence.

 Chapter 6 Destined to be Discarded!

    Again.The heavens remained silent, as if fate itself was watching him suffer, uncaring ¡ª again!


    Even in his last life, the answer had been silence.


    Su Xiaobai had been living a good life, basking in luxury and power. Until the decree came, forcing him into the role of a villain. And he played it damn well, didn''t he? He embraced it, did everything the story demanded¡ªcrushed the protagonist, broke their spirit, indulged in his darkest impulses.


    And yet, they discarded him. Just like that. Tossed him aside like a crumpled page from a script, forgotten and left to rot.


    He had a family in that life too. But what happened to them? Were they erased along with him, casualties of a fate that no longer needed them? He didn''t know. And that haunted him as much as anything. Had they even mattered?


    And now... this time.


    It was happening again.


    His hands trembled as he knelt in the mud, soaked in rain and blood. Why? He had done nothing this time. No schemes, no villainy, no provocation. Just trying to live a quiet, simple life.


    But here he was again¡ªalone in the wreckage of everything he cared about.


    The cruel irony was clear to him.


    It didn''t matter what role he played¡ªhero, villain, or faceless nobody in the background.


    The end was always the same.


    Silence. Destruction. Loss.


    And now, again.


    His fists clenched, fingers digging into the wet earth. His body shook with a mixture of rage and despair. ''Was he destined to always be discarded?''


    ____


    Swoosh!


    On the far side of the cliff, a woman in crimson armor raised her hand, commanding her soldiers to stand.


    The Blood Cavalry, silent and hidden until now, rose at her signal, their eyes locked on the man below.


    Xu Lia, captain of the Blood Cavalry, once filled with innocence, now burned with a fire of vengeance that matched the crimson of her armor.


    Her gaze bore into Su Xiaobai with a hatred that had long since consumed her.


    "Release!" she shouted, her voice cold as steel.


    With that single word, thousands of arrows shot into the sky, darkening the heavens like a storm of death.


    Swoosh!


    Swoosh!


    Swoosh!


    The arrows rained down, each one aimed to tear Su Xiaobai apart.


    "What¡ª!?" Su Xiaobai barely had time to react, instinctively triggering his ''Invincible Body''.


    Clink! Clink! Clink!


    The first wave of arrows slammed into him, deflecting off his temporary shield of spiritual energy, their force knocking him back.


    But he could feel it¡ªhis energy reserves were dangerously low.


    Squelch! Squelch! Squelch!


    With a flicker, his Invincible Body gave out.


    "Agh¡­!" Su Xiaobai gasped, his body shuddering as the arrows pierced through him.


    Flesh tore, his profound veins ruptured, and blood poured from his mouth. The pain was unlike anything he''d ever felt, each arrow sinking deeper, shredding his body as he crumbled to the ground, pinned by the merciless storm of arrows.


    High above, standing on the cliff''s edge, Sun Liang watched, completely unfazed. His eyes flicked to Xu Lia, who stood beside him, her gaze locked on Su Xiaobai''s broken form, her lips trembling with the satisfaction of revenge.


    "The trap worked perfectly," Sun Liang murmured, a cruel smile playing on his lips.


    Xu Lia''s eyes filled with a cold, fierce satisfaction. Her voice cracked as she whispered, "Miss Long Lifen, I''ve avenged you."


    No one had expected Su Xiaobai to meet his end like this.


    Not even Sun Liang, who had personally come to oversee the attack, just in case something went wrong.


    He always preferred to leave nothing to chance, but seeing the pitiful figure of Su Xiaobai lying in the mud, he knew there was no need for concern.


    Su Xiaobai had been reduced to a broken, bloodied husk.


    But Sun Liang''s gaze shifted to Xu Lia, the warrior who had carried out his plan to the letter.


    So fierce, so loyal¡ªand so unaware of how little she truly mattered.


    With a flicker of amusement in his eyes, he raised his hand.


    SWOOSH!


    In the blink of an eye, a wave of sword intent exploded from his fingers.


    Puchi!


    Puchi!


    Puchi!


    The hundred soldiers of the Blood Cavalry didn''t even have time to scream. Their bodies were sliced cleanly in half, their torsos slipping off their horses before the blood began to rain down.


    The sound of their bodies hitting the mud was almost drowned out by the rain.


    Thud. Thud. Thud.


    Xu Lia turned to face Sun Liang, shock contorting her features. "Master Sun?!" she gasped, her voice trembling as she looked at the blood-soaked corpses of her men.


    This wasn''t the deal. This wasn''t supposed to happen! sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Horror painted her face as the realization set in ¡ª She had been nothing more than a pawn in his grand game.


    Her loyalty, her sacrifices¡ªeverything had been for nothing.


    Xu Lia, the most loyal servant of Long Lifen, an orphan raised within the Azure Dragon Clan, had spent her life serving, fighting, and killing for the clan.


    She had risen through the ranks, earned her title, but had retired after too much bloodshed, choosing to return to Long Lifen''s side as her personal maid.


    She was one of the first to find Su Xiaobai and Long Lifen together after that fateful encounter by the river, their bodies entwined from the effects of the aphrodisiac.


    Her blood had boiled that day.


    She had wanted to kill Su Xiaobai right there and then, but Sun Liang had stopped her.


    He convinced her that killing him then would disgrace the Azure Dragon Clan. He promised her revenge, but in a way that would protect the clan''s honor.


    And now¡ªafter leading her personal army into this massacre, after betraying the Azure Dragon Clan for him¡ªhe had killed her men.


    "Why...?" she stammered, her body trembling with disbelief.


    Sun Liang''s smile didn''t fade. He didn''t bother to answer.


    Puchi!


    With a casual flick of his wrist, her head rolled clean off her shoulders, her lifeless eyes wide with shock as it tumbled into the bloodied earth.


    Thud.


    Her headless body collapsed moments later, joining the corpses of her cavalry. The same warriors who had followed her through life and death now lay as nothing more than discarded pawns, mere tools in a game far beyond her understanding.


    Sun Liang watched as her body twitched in the mud, wiping his hand against his robe with disdain. "Filthy," he muttered, stepping over her fallen corpse without a second glance.


    His gaze shifted back to Su Xiaobai, who lay pinned to the ground, barely alive. "Now... only the brat''s family is left," he whispered to himself, an evil grin spreading across his face.


    Oh, he had such ''delightful'' plans for them.


    Su Xiaobai''s fate was sealed, but it was far from over.


    Sun Liang would make sure of that ¡ª to extract the most value from his pawn!

 Chapter 7 Sun Liangs Ambition!

    One Week Later ¡ª Mingyue Pond, Sun Dynasty Palace!Under the dying light of dusk, Sun Lingxi sat at the edge of the pond, her crimson robes glowing faintly in the fading light. Her hair, half-pinned with delicate silver ornaments, hung loosely around her shoulders like shadows, while her eyes¡ªonce bright with innocence¡ªnow brimmed with regret.


    In her hand, she held a red jade lotus, its deep glow flickering like the last ember of a dying fire. She let it slip from her fingers, watching it drift among the three others she had already released.


    Her reflection mingled with the moon''s in the still water, as if mocking her from below.


    A mist curled at her feet, rising slowly around her, its voice a familiar whisper. ''Why weep for the dead, Lingxi? You could have everything¡ªpower, wealth, and men bowing at your feet. With me, nothing is out of reach.''


    Lingxi''s gaze remained fixed on the water. "Do you think I''m to blame for his death? I should''ve known they were tracking me¡­"


    The mist coiled tighter, its voice smooth, seductive. ''Fate''s cruel to everyone but the strong. His path was doomed, as were theirs. But you, Lingxi¡­ you''re destined for more.''


    Her hand clenched at her side, knuckles whitening.


    ''Was it my fault?''


    No. She knew better.


    Sun Liang had been behind everything, pulling the strings from the start.


    Half-brother. Centuries older.


    The true heir to their father, the Immortal Emperor, who had too many children and too many ambitions.


    Lingxi was the youngest, the least important, but she had hoped to change that ¡ª She had tried to protect Su Yiran and Su Xiaobai, but Sun Liang''s plans were too deep, too perfect.


    ''Did Su Xiaobai die thinking I betrayed him?''


    Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps.


    "Ling''er¡­ why didn''t you come to my coronation?"


    Sun Liang''s smooth voice broke the silence, followed by his tall and majestic appearance.


    He appeared behind her, draped in black silk embroidered with golden dragons, his crown glinting in the twilight. His expression was calm, almost too perfect, as if nothing could unsettle him.


    Jiang Chuchu followed at his side, her lavender hanfu hugging to her waist like a seductive serpant, her eyes flashing with smug satisfaction.


    "I thought my mood might spoil the celebration," Sun Lingxi replied, her voice steady but cold.


    She didn''t turn to face him.


    Sun Liang''s brow arched slightly, his eyes flicking toward the floating lotuses. "What, you think you''re more important than me?" His tone was teasing, but there was a sharpness to it, a reminder of his position.


    "I didn''t say that," she muttered. "I just didn''t want my troubles casting a shadow over your glorious day."


    For a moment, his expression softened. He stepped closer, his gaze shifting from the lotuses to her. "We''re family, Lingxi. Your troubles are mine too. Don''t let guilt weigh you down."


    Her fingers curled into fists, her jaw tightening. She let out a bitter laugh. "Family? Then tell me, Brother¡ªdid you really care about the Dragon Lord''s daughter, Long Lifen when you threw Su Xiaobai into the Heavenly Prison?"


    "..."


    His silence was all she needed. The amusement faded from his face.


    "You didn''t care," she continued, her voice rising. "You saw an opportunity and seized it. You framed Su Xiaobai for dishonoring your fianc¨¦e and humiliated the Azure Dragon Clan. They could have been our equals, but you wanted them under your control. You played them like pawns, turning Long Lifen into nothing more than a tool to weaken the clan."


    Sun Liang remained impassive, but his eyes gleamed with the faintest hint of amusement. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "And when they didn''t break," she spat, her voice trembling with fury, "you came in the dead of night¡ªGoddess Xue by your side, parading Xu Lia''s headless corpse like a trophy."


    Sun Liang''s smile didn''t waver ¡ª He seemed to enjoy her anger, as though it confirmed his control.


    "You framed the Azure Dragon Clan for assassinating Su Xiaobai and blamed Xu Lia for the massacre that followed¡ªrazed villages, scorched land. And when the world turned against them, you offered them salvation, didn''t you? As long as they became your subordinates, the proud Dragon Clan would kneel. And Long Lifen?" She sneered.


    "You paraded her as your concubine after tarnishing her name, stripping the Dragons of any hope."


    Her voice dropped lower, eyes narrowing. "And when Matriarch Su tried to free Su Xiaobai, you made sure the world would blame her for releasing that ''vile monster'' from the Heavenly Prison, too. You knew the collateral damage would turn everyone against her."


    She took a breath, her tone sharpening as she locked eyes with him. "And after all that, you passed the ''Immortal Execution Order''. You sacrificed a drop of Phoenix Blood¡ªone of only three¡ªjust to wipe out the Su family. Our father paved the way for you, set up the engagement with the Azure Dragon Clan. But you? You wanted more than alliances, didn''t you?


    You wanted control. Puppets, not allies. Does Father even know? Has he emerged from seclusion? How do you think he''ll react?"


    Sun Liang''s eyes gleamed with cold amusement. "You''re wiser than you give yourself credit for, Ling''er. I''ve always admired that about you."


    Her scowl deepened, disgust twisting her face.


    He stepped closer, lowering his voice. "But remember, the Heavenly Prison can only be opened by Sun Dynasty descendants. There''s a traitor among us ¡ª Any guesses who?"


    Hiss!


    Sun Lingxi heart skipped a beat. His words were cold, calculated¡ªa warning wrapped in a question.


    Without another word, Sun Liang turned, his robes sweeping behind him as he walked away, each step deliberate, full of authority.


    As soon as he disappeared from sight, the mist that had always surrounded Sun Lingxi hissed, ''I hate men!'' it spat. ''Especially him. Arrogant, walking like the whole world is his! How I wish to crush that smug face under my foot.''


    For once, Sun Lingxi found herself agreeing with her ''master''.


    _____


    As Sun Liang and Jiang Chuchu distanced themselves from the pond, the silence between them grew ¡ª Only when they had put enough space behind them did Jiang Chuchu finally dare to speak.


    "Master, do you¡­ covet that woman?" Her voice, though soft, carried a hint of tension.


    Sun Liang, ever composed, gave a slight nod. His eyes gleamed with a flicker of greed. "She has a quality I require," he said, his words as measured as always.


    For a fleeting moment, Jiang Chuchu''s expression faltered, a shadow passing over her delicate features before she masked it once more.


    Inwardly, she steeled herself. ''I can''t claim the master for myself¡­ I must help him reach all his ambitions,'' she resolved, swallowing her discontent.

 Chapter 8 Chains of Fate: Sacrificial Pawn!

    ''I can''t claim the master for myself¡­ I must help him reach all his ambitions,'' Jiang Chuchu resolved, swallowing her discontent.With practiced grace, she withdrew a vial of shimmering pink liquid from her sleeve. "Master," she offered cautiously, "shall I give her this? Or perhaps, I could arrange for her to be¡­ delivered to you directly?"


    There was a subtle intent in her words, a promise that she would ensure Sun Lingxi''s compliance¡ªwhether through poison or deceit.


    Sun Liang turned to her, a soft smile playing on his lips. He shook his head slowly, his gaze distant. "There''s no need for that," he said, his voice gentle but carrying finality. "To enslave someone''s soul is to bind yourself to them. And when those chains break, they will know your weaknesses better than anyone."


    His gaze shifted to the distant mountains, his thoughts already elsewhere. "The Immortal Cloud Continent is already mine. She has no escape," he said, his voice filled with quiet certainty. "The time will come when she realizes there is no sanctuary left for her¡ªbut I will not rush it."


    Though his words were calm, his mind was far from idle.


    There was still the matter of the ancient spirit guarding Sun Lingxi.


    It was not yet time to provoke it¡ªinformation was needed first.


    Patience, he had learned, was often the deadliest weapon.


    Jiang Chuchu, ever obedient, nodded.


    The pink elixir vanished back into the folds of her sleeve, and the two continued their walk in silence, their footfalls light against the stone path.


    _____


    The next day, clans and minor powers flooded the Sun Dynasty''s palace, desperate to secure Sun Liang''s favor and avoid being crushed beneath his growing empire.


    Fear had driven them there, fear of sharing the fate of those who had opposed him.


    His control over the Immortal Cloud Continent tightened with each passing day.


    Fifty years of meticulous scheming had led to this. Ever since Sun Liang had awakened his ''Devil Heart'', the wheels had been set in motion.


    Few knew the full depth of his ambition, and fewer still could comprehend it.


    Standing alone on his private balcony, his black robes billowing in the night wind, Sun Liang gazed out over his dominion.


    The stars glittered above, but his eyes were fixed on a point far beyond the horizon.


    "Unrivaled Immortal Dynasty¡­" he murmured, the name bitter on his tongue. "One day, you will fall. And when you do, Gu Xian will have his revenge..." His voice was cold, an echo of the vengeance burning inside him, sharper than any blade.


    He turned to leave, but another figure stood on the balcony, still as a statue. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The air around him seemed to freeze, a presence so imposing that even the stars seemed to dim.


    It was the ''Immortal Emperor''¡ªonce feared across the entire continent. But the figure now was no longer a ruler. His once-piercing eyes were now empty sockets, devoid of life.


    A chained sun glowed faintly on his forehead, a mark of his enslavement.


    The world believed the Immortal Emperor was in seclusion, preparing for a legendary breakthrough. The truth, however, was far darker. He had been struck down during his attempt, betrayed from within.


    His corpse, reanimated by Sun Liang, now stood as a puppet, a mere shadow of the man who once commanded the very laws of nature.


    The immortal who had once ruled the continent with unchallenged might now answered only to his son, the true puppet master. Sun Liang had done it all, binding his father''s body in chains of soul manipulation, a fate worse than death.


    As the wind howled across the palace, Sun Liang turned his gaze back to the distant mountains, his mind already plotting his next move.


    And behind him, the hollowed shell of the Immortal Emperor remained, silent and still¡ªnothing more than another pawn in the empire of the Devil.


    ________


    Back in Time!


    As Sun Liang and the rest vanished into the distance, leaving Storm Peak Mountain engulfed in sea of blood, a shadow silently materialized beside the fallen body of Su Xiaobai. His back was pinned to the scorched earth by a dozen arrows, blood trickling into the charred soil.


    Snap! Snap! Snap!


    With a flick of his wrist, the arrows lodged in Su Xiaobai''s body shattered. The figure crouched beside him, his eyes gleaming with a sinister interest as he inspected the broken form.


    "Interesting¡­" he muttered, his fingers brushing the bloodstained ground. "The Demonic Veins stir only at death''s edge¡­ could this be the trigger?"


    A low, dark laugh echoed around him.


    "Kekeke... nothing more than a sacrificial offering, boy," cackled Old Man Ning, the same man who once crossed paths with Su Xiaobai in the Heavenly Prison.


    Unbeknownst to Su Xiaobai, Ning Gufan had been no ordinary prisoner.


    He had entered this lower realm after a tragedy in the higher planes, his veins poisoned, his strength crippled ¡ª Despite his best efforts, his attempts at healing had failed, and he was reduced to hiding, searching for a host whose power could mend his damaged ''Immortal Evil Veins''.


    The arrival of Su Xiaobai had been a stroke of luck.


    Fifty-six Profound Yin Veins, demonic in nature. Su Xiaobai''s rare bloodline had stirred briefly during his ''first'' bloodline awakening ceremony when he touched the ''Immortal Tianlong spirit'', but its true potential remained locked, waiting for the right trigger.


    Ning Gufan''s eyes sparkled with delight as he studied the young man''s broken body. "With your Demonic Veins, I can repair my own Immortal Evil Veins. It won''t restore my full power, but it will keep this broken vessel alive for much longer."


    He hovered over Su Xiaobai''s chest, his hands poised to extract the potent demonic energy within. Su Xiaobai''s fate was of no concern to him; the boy was already on death''s doorstep.


    "To defy destiny, you need strength beyond limits," Ning murmured to himself, the winds of Storm Peak howling as if to agree. "Only supreme power can control fate."


    With careful precision, Ning wrapped Su Xiaobai''s lifeless body in a dark cloth, placing him within an ancient coffin lined with cursed iron. Chains snapped into place, sealing the coffin.


    For a moment, Ning stood there, taking in the scent of death and burnt wood.


    With one final glance at the flames roaring over Storm Peak, he vanished into the shadows, dragging the coffin into the depths of the forest.


    Later, Sun Liang''s followers returned, torching the entire mountain range to the ground.


    The flames devoured every trace of the battlefield, leaving nothing but ashes.


    Villages and cities along the way burned, the perfect scapegoats for Sun Liang''s grand plan¡ªblaming it all on the Azure Dragon Clan.

 Chapter 9 Evil Empress! Intercepted by An Old Enemy!

    Rain Immortal Valley, Soaring Dragon Continent!Near Nine Cloud Mountains ¡ª Explosions rocked the valley as a bloodied figure staggered through the miasma-filled forest, each step heavier than the last.


    "Tch, those bastards cost me too many life-saving treasures!" Ning Gufan cursed, wiping blood from his mouth. "Once I recover, I''ll turn this entire mountain to ash!"


    ROAAAR!


    Suddenly, a feral roar pierced the air, and a two-tailed white tiger lunged from the shadows, its claws gleaming with murderous intent.


    Ning reacted instantly, flames surging from his back. "You''re lucky, beast," he spat through gritted teeth, "you''ll be the first two-tailed tiger to burn in my Infernal Flames!"


    WHOOSH!


    The flames roared to life, consuming the tiger in a searing blaze.


    "Whimper..."


    The creature''s agonized cry echoed briefly before being silenced. The scent of burnt fur and charred flesh filled the air as the tiger''s body crumbled to ashes.


    Panting, Ning stumbled forward, battered but unbroken. His enemies were dead, but his body was close to collapsing.


    Blood¡ªnone of it his¡ªpainted the ground behind him. "Damn¡­ bastards," he muttered.


    For all his power, Ning Gufan wasn''t supposed to be in this lower realm. An immortal from the higher planes, he''d once been a terrifying force, feared and revered across the entire Four Heavens.


    But after a catastrophic battle with the Prison Emperor that poisoned his veins, he was forced to flee to the lower realms to find a cure¡ªor die in disgrace.


    But even here, in the pitiful mortal plane, he had enemies.


    And now, his senses screamed a warning. Something was coming. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    BANG!


    A colossal cauldron, glowing with golden light, smashed into the earth before him, its impact sending tremors through the ground. Ancient runes flickered along its surface, radiating an ethereal power.


    Ning''s heart pounded in his chest. "A treasure like this¡­ in the lower realm¡­?"


    Before he could react, a voice boomed from the sky.


    "Oi! Old monster Ning, your grandma''s here to rob you blind! Hand over your tax for entering my territory, or I''ll split your old skull open!"


    Ning''s expression darkened. Her of all people?


    Hovering in the air above him was the Evil Empress, her crimson eyes glowing with power. Her rose-pink hair cascaded down her back, shimmering like strands of silk, catching the fading sunlight.


    The wind carried a delicate fragrance, intoxicating and sweet, a scent that lingered long after she moved. Her armor, form-fitting and gleaming, hugged every curve of her voluptuous body, the shape of her ample breasts pressing tightly against her chestplate, threatening to spill out.


    Her waist was slender, flaring into hips that swayed provocatively with every step. Her lips¡ªcruel and seductive¡ªA beauty in every sense, but dangerous as hell.


    Like Ning Gufan, she too was from the higher realms. Once a mighty ruler, the Empress had been betrayed by her own disciple, her meridians¡ªpathways that allowed cultivators to channel spiritual energy¡ªshattered in a brutal betrayal.


    Forced to flee, she''d come to the lower realms in search of a cure, leaving a scent of devastation and fear wherever she went.


    The world knew her for one thing: taking what wasn''t hers, basically robbing others!


    Ning sneered despite his pain. "Evil Empress," he growled, "you think you can threaten me? I''d have crushed you like an insect if I were at full strength. If I were in my prime, you''d be calling me Ancestor Ning, not robbing me like a street rat."


    "Ha-ha-ha," She laughed¡ªa sound so sweet yet chilling, that it sent a shiver down his spine. Her laugh was like the caress of soft petals before they turned into thorns. "Hah! Big talk from a fossil on his last breath! Everyone knows your veins are shot, old man. The world of cultivation has no place for the weak.


    After I turn you to charcoal, your treasures are mine!"


    Ning clenched his fists, feeling his body strain under the pain. He knew his situation was dire. He watched as the cauldron''s light flickered off her armor, casting an unearthly glow across her ample figure, her round hips swaying as she descended.


    The curve of her breasts rose with each breath she took.


    Her heady fragrance filled the air, mixing with the scent of blood and smoke, arousing and unnerving all at once.


    Then she made her move.


    FWOOOOSH!


    She summoned a wave of black flames from the cauldron, forming a colossal dragon that reared back and roared, shaking the sky.


    ROAAARRRR!


    The fire dragon lunged toward Ning, flames swirling around its massive jaws. The heat was suffocating, burning the air as it closed in.


    Ning gritted his teeth, his spirit refusing to yield. "You want my treasures, Empress? Then come and take them!"


    With a roar of his own, Ning summoned every last drop of strength. He swung his sword in a wide arc, a blinding light clashing with the dragon, sending shockwaves through the valley.


    The ground trembled under the impact, but the Empress''s flames were too strong.


    CRACK! SIZZLE!


    His broken veins screamed in protest, his body collapsing under the pressure. The flames pushed forward, scorching his flesh, his robes burning away as his skin bubbled and sizzled.


    Sizzle¡­ Pop! Crack!


    The fire consumed him, burning away his defenses. The heat was unbearable, his skin blackening under the intense flames.


    POP! went his muscles as they tore from the bone, the stench of his own flesh roasting filling the air.


    "AAAAAAGH!


    Ning screamed in agony, his body twitching violently. Flames crawled up his legs, his arms, his back¡ªhe was nothing but a torch, a shadow of the powerful figure he had once been.


    Thud!


    He hit the ground, his body twitching and spasming in the dirt. His vision blurred, the world fading around him. No¡­ not like this¡­


    The Empress landed with an alluring swagger, her waist swaying seductively as she approached his broken form.


    Her face twisted into an evil grin, her lips glistening like blood-soaked rubies as she towered over his scorched body. Her heavy breasts heaved with excitement as she knelt, ripping the rings from his charred fingers. "Once feared, now fucking forgotten," she sneered, her warm breath brushing his burned skin. "This is what happens to trash like you. Your grandma''s here to collect!"


    Ning coughed, blood spilling from his mouth, his strength gone. If only¡­ if only I had my strength¡­


    But the Empress wasn''t done. Her crimson eyes glinted with sadistic amusement as she kicked his twitching form, the impact shattering more of his brittle ribs with a crunch.


    Kacha¡ª!


    "Fucking idiot! Is this all you got, old monster?" she spat, glaring at him. "What the hell''s in these rings, huh? You better not have wasted my time, you old sack of bones!"


    She flipped open one of the spatial rings and her expression darkened with disbelief.


    "A COFFIN?!"


    She rifled through the contents, rage swelling in her chest. "You carried around a goddamn coffin?! What, were you planning your own fucking funeral, you piece of shit?!"


    BAM!


    Her frustration reached a boiling point, and with a growl, she drove her foot into Ning''s charred body again, sending him rolling like a burnt log.


    CRUNCH!


    Ning groaned, his body a broken, smoldering wreck. His skin peeled away in chunks, leaving exposed flesh that sizzled in the heat of the remaining flames.


    The Empress sneered, her voice dripping with contempt. "Fucking garbage! You think you can hide something from your Grandma? Hah, your grandma doesn''t play games. I came to rob, and I''m gonna take everything."


    SQELCH!


    Her armored boot came down hard between his legs with another crunch, her heel grinding into his bones. "You like that, huh?! That''s for wasting my time, you worthless old bastard!"


    "Ah..." Ning''s vision swam as the pain overwhelmed him. This is how it ends¡­ he thought bitterly, his pride shattered as completely as his body. Ants treating me like this?


    The Empress wasn''t finished. She spat on his broken form, a wicked grin spreading across her face. "I was expecting something legendary that can heal my meridians, and I find you carrying around your own damn coffin¡ªYou''re just a fucking disappointment."


    BAM!


    She kicked him one last time, her her silken pink hair swirling seductively in the wind as she turned and strutted away, her hips swaying provocatively with each step, her armor creaking in rhythm with the motion of her body.


    The smell of seductive fragrance was the last thing that entered Ning Gufan''s memories.


    His vision blurred, his last thoughts full of bitterness and rage. If only¡­ if only I had one more chance¡­ But it was too late. His body twitched one final time before going still, leaving behind the stench of charred flesh and a sense of profound defeat.


    As the Empress vanished into the mist, a twisted smirk still lingering on her lips, the once-feared Ning Gufan was nothing more than a broken corpse¡ªanother victim of the ruthless world of cultivation.


    For her, it was just another day of conquest.

 Chapter 10 Being Torn Apart! The Fate Weaver, Higher Ups & Ants!

    For Evil Empress, it was just another day of conquest!Immortals die every day¡ªthe upper realms are far more brutal than the lower realms.


    Ning Gufan was strong, just as the Evil Empress had been, but now, neither had enough power to reenter the upper realms without being torn apart.


    Even the once-mighty can fall prey to the merciless tides of fate. This is why Ning Gufan fled White Cloud Star, where he had once ruled without contest but now was hunted like a beast.


    Normally, the inhabitants there were insignificant ants, but in his weakened state, even they posed a significant threat.


    The cosmos is divided into upper and lower realms.


    The upper realms are home to immortals who, with a flick of their hands, can shatter entire dimensions in the lower realms. The most notable of these upper realms is the Four Heavens¡ªa realm of endless war and cultivation, where only the strong survive.


    Those who cultivate ''Qi'' in these realms are known as cultivators, but the upper realm''s immortal elites rule over countless lesser dimensions.


    These realms are controlled by Immortal Kings and those far beyond such titles¡ªbeings like Ning Gufan, who once commanded the Infernal Realm, or the Prison Emperor, ruler of the Prison Realm.


    By contrast, the lower realms are simple, consisting of only thirteen large worlds. Both White Cloud Star and Immortal Rain Valley belong to these thirteen.


    Other places in the lower realms are too small to be worth mentioning.


    In his desperation to recover his strength, Ning Gufan sought a hidden place where he could refine Su Xiaobai''s body¡ªextracting the veins that held the key to restoring his poisoned meridians.


    His plan was to hide and heal in peace, and Immortal Rain Valley seemed the perfect choice. It was vast, with no significant threats to disturb him. However, Ning never expected that the Evil Empress, another fallen immortal like himself, would find him and strike before he could recover.


    His original intention had been to hide beneath the Nine Cloud Mountain, waiting for his strength to return.


    After extracting the immortal treasures she desired, the Evil Empress discarded Ning''s coffin and spatial rings with a sneer.


    What remained inside were trinkets, useless to her but valuable enough to lure foolish mortals.


    She believed she had stripped everything of value.


    But, unnoticed by her, the coffin shuddered¡ªjust for a moment.


    Inside, Su Xiaobai''s body lay still, lifeless. But slowly, beneath the surface, veins pulsed with a dark energy, almost as if they had a life of their own.


    His wounds began to close, the scorched flesh knitting together as his body slowly repaired itself.


    It was as though some ancient force, lying dormant within him, had begun to stir.


    Something far more dangerous than mere life ¡ª a power that defied death itself.


    ______


    "Where¡­ am I?"


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes abruptly blinked open, but nothing greeted him.


    Only an endless, suffocating void, its oppressive silence coiling around his soul like chains. He felt weightless, adrift in a place where even time had lost meaning.


    No light. No warmth. Just¡­ emptiness.


    "Abandoned¡­ discarded¡­ again?"


    The thought tore through his mind like a jagged blade. Twenty-seven years. He had fought, struggled, clawed his way through endless trials, only to be cast aside once more, like a broken tool tossed into a fire.


    But this wasn''t the first time.


    His heart clenched as memories from long ago surfaced¡ªthe first time he had felt this same cold emptiness.


    Back then, when he was discarded after playing the villain in his first life, he had screamed into the void, pleading for recognition.


    "I am Caine Wilson!" he had shouted, desperate for them to remember.


    But just like now, the void had swallowed his cries, indifferent and cold.


    And just like now, there was no answer.


    The silence was infinite. Eternal.


    His heart sank.


    Then, deep in the shadows, it stirred. A presence so vast and ancient, it felt as though it had always existed.


    Su Xiaobai''s breath caught in his throat ¡ª The colossal being that stood in the darkness was beyond comprehension¡ªtoo large to see, too powerful to grasp.


    Yet its glow, faint and pulsing, radiated authority over all that existed.


    The Fate Weaver.


    That''s what Su Xiaobai had named it, long ago. The one who wrote destinies, who decided which lives continued and which were snuffed out like candles in the wind.


    It controlled everything, yet even it seemed... burdened.


    For Su Xiaobai had learned something over the years.


    The Fate Weaver, as omnipotent as it appeared, was not free


    There were voices¡ªunseen, whispering commands that echoed in the void.


    The Higher-Ups.


    They were there, lurking just beyond perception. He could never see them, only hear their cold, disembodied voices. Like faceless gods pulling the strings of fate, issuing commands that even the Fate Weaver had to obey.


    "Rejected."


    The words drifted down like frost, emotionless and final. The Fate Weaver twitched, its colossal form rippling in irritation.


    It wanted to shape the worlds, but it was bound, forced to follow the will of those above it.


    Then, the buzzing began.


    ___


    The noise filled the air¡ªso faint at first that Su Xiaobai almost believed it to be the last whispers of his own shattered soul.


    But it grew, louder and sharper, cutting through his soul like a sharpened blade.


    A swarm of voices, harsh and endless, gathered around him. The air itself seemed to hum with their demands.


    The Ants.


    They were Endless ... Faceless, voiceless, yet omnipresent.


    Su Xiaobai could feel them, their criticisms tearing into him with each whispered word, each cruel thought.


    They didn''t care about him¡ªthey never had.


    He was nothing more than an object of their anger and frustration.


    "He''s weak!"


    "What a waste of time!"


    "Kill him already!"


    Their words pounded into him like hammers, each one more brutal than the last.


    Su Xiaobai''s hands flew to his ears, but the voices followed, worming their way inside his skull, crawling under his skin.


    "They won''t stop¡­ they never stop!"


    ____


    The Fate Weaver twitched again, restless. The ants were louder now, their buzzing filling even the colossal being with irritation.


    Su Xiaobai watched as it shifted, the weight of countless worlds in its hands.


    Yet, despite its immense power, it too was bound.


    "Rejected."


    "Change it."


    "Toss it away."


    Commands layered over the buzzing, spoken with such cold indifference that they felt more like the rustling of leaves in a winter storm.


    The Fate Weaver sighed, a sound so deep that it reverberated through Su Xiaobai''s bones. With a great, frustrated motion, the being reached out, its massive hand extending toward him.


    Su Xiaobai felt the pull.


    _____


    He was lifted, weightless and helpless, into the Fate Weaver''s grasp. His body dangled in its palm, suspended between life and oblivion.


    But it wasn''t just the sensation of floating that chilled him¡ªit was the tearing.


    RIIIIIIIP! sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It began slowly, agonizingly.


    His limbs stretched first, as though invisible hands were pulling him in different directions, forcing his body to tear apart.


    His arms strained, the joints popping, his legs twisting until the pain became unbearable.


    "Stop¡­ please¡­" Su Xiaobai gasped, his voice barely more than a whisper. But no one listened. The ants buzzed louder. Some praised him, others spat their venom at him, but all of them demanded more.


    Always more.


    And the Higher-Ups, still unseen, still distant, continued their commands.


    "Tear him apart."


    "Discarded."


    Su Xiaobai''s body felt as though it was coming undone, piece by piece. His arms, his legs, his very soul¡ªit all torn¡ªtorn apart by their voices.


    Every piece of him stretched thinner, breaking under the strain.


    The pain was infinite.


    Eternal.


    And in his torment, he began to understand.


    ____


    It wasn''t just him.


    It had never been just him.


    The trash of worlds¡­ he could see it now, clearer than ever before.


    The endless cycle of creation and destruction.


    The Fate Weaver creating, the Higher-Ups rejecting, the ants buzzing, demanding more. Worlds born only to be cast aside like forgotten toys. Characters, lives, destinies¡ªall torn apart, discarded the moment they no longer served a purpose.


    His eyes fell on the others¡ªthose discarded souls, drifting in the void like leaves swept away by a storm.


    Their faces were empty, their eyes hollow....


    None of them would speak to him...


    None of them cared...


    They were too far gone, lost to the same cycle of pain and rejection that had consumed him.


    ______


    "I am Caine Wilson!" Su Xiaobai screamed, his voice hoarse with desperation. "I''m¡­ I''m the great villain! You loved me once! Didn''t you¡­?" His voice broke.


    It wasn''t true.


    They never had. He was only ever the object of their scorn, their hate.


    The protagonist''s fall had been his doing, and they had cursed him for it ever since.


    But no matter how loudly he screamed, the rest wouldn''t listen.


    They never did.


    ____


    His mind spun, like the fragile threads of his existence.


    The Fate Weaver, frustrated and burdened by the ceaseless demands of the ants and the Higher-Ups, tossed him aside once more.


    His body was ripped apart, shredded into pieces.


    His limbs were pulled, his consciousness fractured, until he was nothing more than a tattered sheet of paper, torn and discarded.


    And finally¡ªfinally¡ªthe buzzing stopped.


    There, in the endless void¡ªTrash of Worlds¡ªSu Xiaobai''s torn soul drifted in silence.


    The pain was gone.


    The voices, gone.


    All of it, gone.


    He was free.


    For the first time in an eternity, there was peace.

 Chapter 11 The New Life — Flashbacks!

    An eternity later...Gasp!


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes abruptly snapped open again.


    Frustration surged through his body like a flood, and for a moment, all he could think was: Not again. His fists clenched tight, nails digging into his palms.


    He didn''t want to be tossed back into the cycle, into another nightmare where he was powerless.


    At first, everything felt wrong.


    His vision was blurry, and a strange sensation pressed against his cheek. A soft poke, then another, prodding him again and again.


    "What...?"


    He tried to swat the annoyance away, only to realize his arm felt too short. Too weak. He blinked, confused. He didn''t understand.


    His hand shot out to catch the offending finger, but instead of grabbing it easily, he had to wrap his entire palm around it. "Why does this finger seem so... big?"


    With growing frustration, Su Xiaobai stared up, only to find a beautiful woman, holding a soft smile as she gently poked his chubby baby face again.


    A beautiful face ¡ª a familiar, soothing fragrance wafted into his nostrils. It was warm, gentle, the kind of smell that chased away shadows.


    His breath stilled.


    Her cold red eyes, which he later found so fearsome, now looked oddly affectionate. Her long white hair framed her pale, ageless face.


    "Isn''t he cute?" she murmured, her voice like a soft wind, reserved only for him.


    Su Xiaobai scowled¡ªor tried to¡ªbut his face was too soft to express his usual irritation. ''What the hell is happening? Did I reincarnate?''


    "Stop it," he wanted to yell, but only a baby''s whine escaped his lips. "I don''t want this!"


    Eternal Su kept poking him, her smile never fading.


    She tilted her head, inspecting him with cold curiosity.


    Su Xiaobai groaned internally.


    Another life?


    Another damn story?


    I don''t want to play these games anymore!


    Just kill me already!


    But the world kept moving, and he grew up, slowly forgetting his past torment.


    _____


    Rustle...


    At age six, Su Xiaobai sat at a small table, scribbling lazily on parchment.


    He barely paid attention to the beast sketch he was working on. From the corner of his eye, he could see ''Matriarch Su'' standing nearby, watching him with her usual cold, tall demeanor.


    Her long white hair hung down like a veil, and her red eyes stared into him.


    "What are you drawing?" she asked, her voice distant, though she made an effort to sound interested.


    Su Xiaobai shrugged without looking up. "Just some random beast."


    Matriarch Su said nothing for a moment, then walked over and gently ran her fingers through his dark hair, as if testing her affection.


    Su Xiaobai squirmed under her touch, his brow furrowing in annoyance. "You don''t have to pretend to care," he muttered, but despite himself, a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.


    Her attempts at affection were rare, but somehow, they always got to him.


    "You''re my son," she replied, her tone still cold, though her hand lingered in his hair longer than usual. "I care."


    He rolled his eyes. ''Cute,'' he thought, but he wouldn''t say it aloud.


    _____


    At age eight, Su Xiaobai sprinted toward the training post, his feet kicking up dust. His father, Hua Sheng, stood tall, inspecting the rows of weapons. His towering frame radiated power, and his sharp, calm gaze never missed a detail.


    His short black hair and weathered face were typical of a warrior who had seen countless battles.


    "Hey, old man!" Su Xiaobai called out, puffing out his chest. "Wanna see how strong I''ve gotten?"


    Hua Sheng turned his head, his gaze sharp but calm. "Show me, then."


    Su Xiaobai grinned and took his stance, but before he could strike, Hua Sheng''s eyes shifted, as if seeing something far beyond the training post¡ªsomething only he could understand.


    His lips pressed into a thin line, his mind elsewhere.


    That was the last time Su Xiaobai ever trained with him.


    ____


    After Hua Sheng died, everything changed.


    They were forced to flee ''Wuxia Province'', leaving behind their home and the prestige of the family name. The shame followed them like a curse, rumors spreading that Su Xiaobai''s father had died from the disgrace his son brought upon him¡ªor worse, that Matriarch Su had killed him out of shame. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Su Xiaobai had been ten when they left.


    He remembered Su Yiran''s tense silence as they left the only home they had ever known.


    Her long white hair swayed slightly in the cold wind, and her blue eyes, which were usually so intense, were cold and unreadable.


    Xiao Mei, her long white hair trailing behind her, sobbed softly, clutching her small pet close.


    Matriarch Su led them forward without a word, her face an icy mask.


    In an attempt to break the tension, Su Xiaobai grinned. "Guess we''re the rebels now, huh?"


    But no one laughed.


    ____


    Xiao Mei lay sprawled across her bed, her long white hair tangled as she played with her pet, Pang Nue''er. Her light blue eyes sparkled with innocent joy, her fingers idly stroking the fur of the small creature.


    The room smelled like flowers, her favorite scent.


    "Hey, Mei-Mei!" Su Xiaobai called, bursting into the room with a grin. "How''s the little furball today?"


    Xiao Mei puffed her cheeks and pretended to be mad, but she couldn''t stop herself from smiling. "Ge-ge, you''re so annoying!"


    He walked over, ruffling her hair. "Suits you better this way..."


    "Ge-ge!" she pouted, swatting his hand away. "I just brushed it!" But there was laughter in her voice.


    Su Xiaobai chuckled, the tension in his chest easing.


    It was moments like this that made him forget the world outside their home¡ªif only for a while.


    ____


    By age sixteen, Su Xiaobai had become used to Su Yiran''s cold indifference.


    Her long white hair swayed as she practiced her sword forms in the courtyard, her blue eyes fixed on her blade. Every motion was deliberate, deadly.


    He approached her, determined. "Yiran, take me with you next time."


    She didn''t even pause. "No."


    "Why not?"


    "You''ll slow me down," she said, her voice as cold as the steel she wielded.


    Su Xiaobai scowled. "I''m not a kid anymore. I can handle myself."


    Su Yiran didn''t look at him. "You''re not ready."


    Frustrated, Su Xiaobai left, ignoring her words.


    If she wouldn''t take him, he''d go on his own.


    _____


    Wandering near ''Vermillion City'', Su Xiaobai found himself lost in thought, only to be snapped back to reality by a sharp voice.


    "SU XIAOBAI!"


    He froze.


    Standing a few feet away was Long Lian, his fianc¨¦e in name. Her long black hair whipped in the wind, and her blue eyes blazed with anger.


    He barely had time to process before her aunt, Long Lifen, emerged from behind her¡ªan A-ranked Guardian like his own mother had been.


    "You dare show your face back inside Wuxia province?" Long Lifen spat, stepping forward, her rage growing. "You''re a disgrace!"


    Before Su Xiaobai could open his mouth, Long Lian smirked and drew her blade. "Aunty, let your sweet little niece deal with this trash."


    "Wait, wait¡ª" Su Xiaobai stammered, trying to back away, but Long Lian''s killing intent surged like a storm.


    Long Lian unsheathed her own sword. "I''ll kill you myself."


    Before their blades could fall, a flash of white interrupted them¡ªSu Yiran. Her long white hair flowed behind her, and her blue eyes flashed with icy fury as she caught Long Lian''s strike mid-motion.


    "Back off, both of you," Su Yiran commanded, her voice as cold as a winter storm. "He''s still my family."


    Long Lian glared, but withdrew her blade. "He''s worthless."


    Su Yiran didn''t flinch. "He''s mine to protect."


    Without another word, the two women left, leaving Su Xiaobai standing next to his sister, feeling more humiliated than ever.


    "You should''ve stayed back," Su Yiran said flatly. Seeing his unresponsiveness, she sighed softly. "Where do you want to go? I would take you there, next time, tell me first before running away on your own..."


    Su Xiaobai stood there in silence, his mind blank.


    He understood¡ªhe lacked strength¡ªbut did that warrant killing him for it?


    The engagement wasn''t even his to break; she should take it up with the Dragon Lord, who had arranged it and refused to cancel it.


    For the first time, he truly grasped the brutal nature of this dog-eat-dog world, where people killed over the slightest inconvenience.


    "Let''s go back home," he finally responded to Su Yiran, blankly.


    _____


    Years later, Su Xiaobai, now twenty-one, pushed open the door to Xiao Mei''s room. She looked up from her bed, her light blue eyes glimmering with curiosity as her small pet, Pang Nue''er, rested on her lap.


    "Ge-ge, did you eat the spiritual fruit I kept?" she asked, her voice light and filled with suspicion.


    Su Xiaobai shrugged nonchalantly. "Just a fruit. No big deal."


    Xiao Mei puffed out her cheeks and stuck out her tongue. "That was mine!"


    Without missing a second, Su Xiaobai reached out and grabbed her tongue lightly between his fingers. "Gotcha."


    "Ah!?"


    Xiao Mei''s eyes widened in panic, her cheeks flushing as she waved her hands frantically. "Ge-ge!"


    He released her tongue with a smirk and ruffled her hair again. "Still a brat..."


    Xiao Mei crossed her arms, pouting as she tried to look serious. "You''re the worst."


    Su Xiaobai laughed, savoring the rare moments where the world outside their exile seemed far away.

 Chapter 12 Rise from Dead!

    Su Xiaobai''s whole life flashed before his eyes.From sneaking into the Institute of Science with Matriarch Su, to being imprisoned in the Heavenly Prison. He remembered the chains, the cold stone walls, and the moment of freedom that followed.


    His feet had bled as he fled, running through the night toward the Storm Peak Mountains, toward home.


    ____


    Now, in the cold snow of Storm Peak Mountains, Su Xiaobai lay broken after being pierced by a thousand arrows. His blood soaked into the white ground, his body numb, his thoughts scattered. But in the darkness of his mind, the faces of his family flickered one by one.


    Eternal Su, with her rare smile, brushing his hair.


    Xiao Mei, laughing as she pouted, her voice teasing in his ear.


    Su Yiran, turning her back on him, her figure fading into the distance.


    Ba-dum.


    His heart thudded weakly, the sound echoing in his chest.


    Ba-dum!


    The pounding grew louder, the memories flashing faster¡ªhis family slipping further from his grasp, their faces fading like smoke in the cold wind.


    I don''t want to forget them...


    But the cold was creeping in, numbing his body, and their faces were disappearing, swallowed by the encroaching silence.


    Ba-dum¡­


    And then¡­ nothing.


    ____


    "Get me out!"


    BAM!


    "Out of here!"


    BAM!


    Six hours later ,Ning Gufan lay on the ground, his body eaten away by flies and insects, his breath shallow as his life on edge of extinguishing.


    His vision was hazy, his mind clouded with pain, but suddenly, a strange noise cut through the dying hum of the forest.


    Weakly, he turned his head, blood dripping from his cracked lips. His body convulsed as he tried to focus on the sound.


    The coffin was moving.


    The pounding was faint at first, but it grew louder with each passing second, as if someone inside was striking it, desperate to get out.


    BANG!


    Ning Gufan''s eyes widened in disbelief. Was the dead rising?


    BANG!


    Another jolt shook the coffin, and with a final, resounding crack, the lid flew open.


    "Haaaa.....!"


    A chilling breath filled the air as Su Xiaobai sat up, his blue eyes eyes wide and unblinking like a ghost rising from the underworld. His clothes were soaked in dried blood, and a cold mist curled from his skin.


    The surroundings felt foreign, unnatural, filled with unease.


    He slowly turned his head, staring into the forest. His body, though covered in bloodstains, had no visible wounds.


    No injuries.


    Su Xiaobai inhaled deeply, his breath clouding in the frigid air.


    He looked down at his hands, still smeared with the blood of his past life, and for the first time since his death, a quiet madness settled in his gaze.


    The dead had risen. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Hiss!


    Above him, the beautiful starry sky stretched infinitely, a vast canvas of glittering diamonds.


    Su Xiaobai blinked, disoriented. ''It''s not stormpeak mountains...Where am I?''


    As he stood, staggering, his gaze caught movement on the scarred ground.


    An old man lay there, his body ravaged, barely clinging to life. The man''s flesh was burned and hanging in charred strips, his skin a patchwork of raw, blistered wounds. Black flames still flickered at the edges of his seared flesh, blood pooling around him.


    The old man''s eyes locked onto Su Xiaobai, and for a moment, disbelief. Then, a manic grin split his face.


    "You¡­keheh¡­you''re alive!" he rasped, laughter bubbling up from his ruined throat. "The heavens truly are cuckolds!"


    His laughter grew more hysterical, mocking Su Xiaobai''s very existence. "Motherfucker, your fate is so unfortunate even the heavens refused to take you in! Kekekekeke!"


    SPLURT!


    A gush of blood erupted from the old man''s chest, spraying across Su Xiaobai''s face. Startled, Su Xiaobai wiped the warm blood from his cheek with subtle disgust as the old man continued to laugh, completely unbothered by the agony of his dying body.


    Ning Gufan''s chest heaved with each laugh, his twisted, near-skeletal form barely holding together.


    Su Xiaobai''s mind shook. He vaguely recognized this man¡ªthe old monster from the Heavenly Prison.


    ''But why are we both here? Why am I alive? The arrows? The attack? Was it all a dream?''


    "What¡­ happened here?" Su Xiaobai croaked, his voice hoarse, barely recognizing the weakness in it.


    Ning Gufan''s deranged grin faltered slightly as he rasped, "Your bloodline¡­ hah¡­ it saved you." He coughed, spitting more blood. "A mutated power, brat¡­ triggered by death. How fitting¡­"


    Su Xiaobai''s heart pounded as the words sank in. ''I had to die to awaken my bloodline?''


    His mind raced, struggling to process the absurdity of it. "You tried to kill me?" Su Xiaobai muttered, his voice now filled with anger.


    Ning Gufan chuckled, his bloody teeth showing through the broken remains of his lips. "I intended to refine you, brat¡­ to save myself. But¡­ now look at me," he rasped bitterly. "She took everything from me¡­ the Evil Empress¡­ my power¡­ my pride¡­"


    ''She? Who? What is he talking about? Wait¡ªI still have to find my family back... I have to warn them about the attacks..'' Su Xiaobai''s gaze hardened, recognizing the uneasy feeling he always had in the back of his mind.


    Ning Gufan''s body twitched as he saw Su Xiaobai turning to leave. "Brat, wait! This isn''t White Cloud Star! Walk carelessly, and you''ll die again before you even know it!"


    Su Xiaobai paused but didn''t turn, suspicion clouding his thoughts.


    Ning Gufan, sensing the hesitation, let out a laugh, spluttering blood as he rasped, "Good¡­ never trust anyone. But listen! I will give you my inheritance¡ªall my knowledge, all my treasures. But you must do one thing."


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes narrowed. "And what''s that?"


    Ning Gufan''s eyes, though dimming, still burned with fierce desperation. "Avenge my death. Annihilate the Evil Empress. Make her suffer as I have."


    Su Xiaobai stood there, weighing the risk. ''He wants me to fight someone who reduced him to this? Why should I?''


    Observing Su Xiaobai''s furrowed brow and the storm of contemplation in his gaze, Ning Gufan''s astonishment morphed into a mix of frustration and grim satisfaction. "Cough¡ªgood! Good! You little fool, doubting even a dying man''s plea!" His laughter grew, interspersed with bursts of blood. "Take this, you ungrateful wretch, and never approach me again!


    Also, seize that accursed ring and bind it with your blood!"


    With the last of his strength, he ripped a pendant from his neck and flung it toward Su Xiaobai, while his own form began to emit a radiant glow.


    Su Xiaobai, his heart drumming with unease, instinctively recoiled.


    Whoosh!


    A mighty pillar of Infernal Flame, deep crimson and searing, shot skyward, bathing the darkened forest in a sinister, blood-red light.


    "Damn... does he intend to take me with him even in death?" Su Xiaobai muttered under his breath, his eyes wide with a mixture of awe and fear as he reached for the ''Spirit Flame Pendant'' lying near his feet.


    The small, circular pendant, pulsating with a captive drop of the Infernal Flame, was encased in a complex array of ancient runes that shimmered like a starry night.


    With a wary hand, he quickly picked up the golden spatial ring, noting its exceptional craftsmanship and the rich aura of power that seemed to pulse from within.


    Turning around, he observed the inferno beginning to subside, the flames drawing back as if inhaling, preparing for something yet unseen.


    "What new devilry is this?" he whispered, his curiosity piqued despite the danger.


    His relief at seeing Ning Gufan''s remains vaporize into the ether.


    "At least the old ghost''s wrath has burnt out with his bones," he sighed, hoping this old man was nearing its end.


    But as the last of the fire died down, a small wisp of flame, vibrant and almost sentient, emerged from the ashes.


    It moved with intent, darting towards him like a living thing.


    "Wha¡ª" Before Su Xiaobai could further articulate his surprise, the fiery essence slipped seamlessly into the gap between his brows, melding into him with a strange, tingling sensation that quickly spread through his entire being.


    There were shards of memories within the soul fragment left behind by Ning Gufan, ''four'' distinct fragments of memories in total.

 Chapter 13 Rebirth: A New Determination!

    The first shard of knowledge pierced Su Xiaobai''s mind, flooding him with the basics of cultivation and spiritual energy.It felt like a dam bursting inside his skull, an overwhelming flood of concepts slamming into his consciousness. His forehead beaded with sweat as he tried to process it all: the meridians, Qi circulation, foundation-building¡ªterms and ideas every warrior needed, yet now revealed in a depth far beyond anything he''d known.


    This was no ordinary "basic" knowledge. It was profound, coming from someone who had lived in the upper realms. The sheer difference between upper and lower realms was crushingly clear.


    Even toddlers in the upper realm could defeat fully trained warriors from his world.


    The disparity was staggering.


    The second shard followed quickly, hammering him with the life and memories of Ning Gufan, the Infernal Emperor.


    Su Xiaobai saw everything¡ªthe rise of the emperor, the countless battles that had forged his name in blood, and the final fight with the Prison Emperor, where Ning Gufan''s fate had been sealed.


    Su Xiaobai felt the crushing significance of each victory and defeat as if they were his own.


    But then, a shocking truth surfaced from within the memories: it wasn''t Ning Gufan who had planned to kill him¡­ there was another force at play, hidden in the shadows, manipulating everything.


    His chest burned with confusion, anger, but he had no time to dwell.


    The third shard tore into his mind like a blade, filling it with the complex knowledge of formations and arrays.


    Runes. Spirit-binding circles. Defensive matrices.


    His mind spun as the intricacies of array manipulation and defense strategies bombarded him.


    Veins popped on his forehead as he struggled to hold onto every thread of information.


    And then came the fourth shard¡ªknowledge of the sacred ''Dao,'' of righteousness, evil, and the eternal conflict between the two.


    The balance of the universe. The paths cultivators walked.


    What is power? What is control?


    These weren''t just concepts anymore¡ªthey were cosmic truths, crashing into Su Xiaobai''s mind with the immense weight of the heavens.


    By the time the onslaught ended, Su Xiaobai was drenched in sweat, his body trembling. He felt like his very soul had been reshaped by the knowledge forced upon him.


    But it wasn''t over.


    As Su Xiaobai gasped for air, a figure slowly floated upward. It was Ning Gufan''s spirit¡ªbut not the frail, dying version he had seen before.


    This was the Infernal Emperor in his prime: younger, vibrant, a terrifying presence whose power had once commanded respect across entire realms.


    Ning Gufan''s eyes gleamed with an eerie satisfaction, watching Su Xiaobai''s struggle. This wasn''t just the passing of knowledge. He was planting seeds¡ªseeds of obsession, of revenge.


    It was all intentional.


    Su Xiaobai''s enemies.


    The ones who had torn apart his life and family.


    The ones who had plotted against him.


    Ning Gufan revealed whatever he saw above Stormpeak mountains that day, one by one, igniting a fire in Su Xiaobai''s heart.


    A good teacher doesn''t just teach¡ªthey find their student''s driving force and fan it into an inferno.


    From this moment, Su Xiaobai was Ning Gufan''s successor¡ªwhether the Infernal Emperor liked it or not.


    As Su Xiaobai sat back, his eyes darkened with newfound determination, Ning Gufan smirked.


    The boy had already begun refining the ''Infernal Flames'' left behind as his final gift, solidifying his connection to the Infernal Emperor''s legacy.


    "Bastard got lucky," Ning muttered with a wry smile. If death weren''t already dragging him down, he would never have parted with the infernal flames¡ªpower that had saved him countless times.


    Su Xiaobai''s expression was set in stone, his heart ablaze with purpose.


    He now knew his enemy was still alive on White Cloud Star...


    They can''t die so easily...


    A mere blood cavalry is not enough to defeat the combined strength of his mother, Eternal Su, and the rest of the guards!


    His family''s fate was unclear in the balance.


    And he was stranded here, with no way to cross realms without immense strength or rare treasures.


    Everything had been flipped upside down once again.


    At first, he hadn''t wanted any of this.


    He had only wanted a quiet life, hidden away from the chaos of the world.


    But they had forced his hand.


    Now, they demanded he play the villain once more.


    His first life¡­ had it all been a delusion?


    Were the events that haunted him, the dreams of his past, just fragments of a broken memory? None of it mattered now. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    They were forcing him to be the villain again, and this time, he would play the role whether they loved or hated him.


    There were things that needed to be done.


    Ning Gufan''s spirit watched with satisfaction as Su Xiaobai''s attitude shifted. Had the boy not been worthy of the Infernal Flame, Ning would have gladly killed them both. But now... he had his successor.


    His face darkened, old memories surfacing in his final moments. His voice softened, carrying the weight of a man resigned to fate.


    "I''ve done all I can this time... Take your fate into your own hands now. Don''t let the higher-ups screw your life again."


    He chuckled to himself bitterly, as if ¡ªreminiscing about Su Xiaobai''s insane outlook towards fate and the vast Heavenly Dao.


    His translucent spirit began to drift upwards, his final moments slipping away into the void.


    Su Xiaobai watched, his heart pounding loudly, as the clouds overhead began to churn and twist. An immense, ancient shape formed in the sky¡ªan enormous turtle, its shell marked with runes of time and fate.


    The turtle''s unblinking eyes locked onto Ning Gufan''s spirit, and with a slow, deliberate motion, it opened its massive jaws.


    Ning''s spirit was swallowed whole, drawn into the swirling clouds.


    It was a haunting sight¡ªthe turtle, a creature of the heavens, consuming Ning Gufan''s legacy like a cosmic judge of fate.


    "Majestic," Su Xiaobai muttered, his body trembling as he stared up at the sky.


    For a long moment, Su Xiaobai remained still, processing everything that had just happened.


    It was all too abrupt!


    One moment, he was dead, the next he was alive, and all of a sudden, he had a destiny to fulfill.


    He couldn''t help but chuckle bitterly, feeling slightly self-deprecating, before determination crossed his face once more.


    The knowledge shards still pressed on his mind¡ªcultivation techniques, the secrets of the upper realms, the path Ning Gufan had walked.


    After a deep breath, Su Xiaobai sat down and began refining the infernal flames within his body. The memories, the emotions¡ªthey all began to settle, becoming a part of him.


    As his body absorbed the essence of the flames, Su Xiaobai''s heart hardened.


    From this moment on, he wasn''t just someone caught in a storm.


    He was the storm.


    And he would make sure everyone who wronged him felt its fury.


    Above him, the turtle-shaped cloud faded into the starry night.


    But Su Xiaobai wasn''t thinking of his destiny anymore.


    He was thinking of revenge.


    ______


    Red Flame Fortress.


    Nestled beneath the towering shadow of Nine Cloud Mountain, Red Flame Fortress buzzed with life, its red walls glowing like embers in the fading light.


    The fortress sat on the outskirts of Yue Country, a small province within the mighty Tianlong Empire of the Soaring Dragon Continent.


    Despite its modest size, the town teemed with activity. Merchants hawked exotic wares, street performers dazzled with mystical tricks, and cultivators bargained for rare treasures.


    The air hummed with the low murmur of commerce and cultivation.


    Su Xiaobai, draped in a white jade linen robe with blue embroidery, walked through the fortress''s gates. His once-ragged clothes had been discarded after a grueling week-long journey, and now, dressed in cleaner attire, he cut a sharp figure between the tired crowd.


    But the new clothes brought unwanted attention.


    "Another young master come to flaunt his wealth," someone muttered, disdain thick in their voice.


    "Bet he''s never worked a day in his life," sneered another.


    Su Xiaobai''s heart chilled at their words. ''Idiots'', he thought. He had simply changed clothes to avoid looking like a beggar, yet here they were, already judging him.


    If they knew what he''d endured, they wouldn''t dare speak.


    Then came the comment that made Su Xiaobai stop in his tracks.


    "Maybe he''s here looking for his whore of a mother," Fatty Shang grunted, loud enough for the crowd to hear, his greasy face breaking into a smirk. "Heard she spread her legs to climb the ranks in the kingdom."


    "!"


    Laughter rippled through the onlookers, Su Xiaobai''s heart growing colder and more merciless with each word.

 Chapter 14 Future Goal & Path!

    With each word, Su Xiaobai''s heart grew colder and more merciless.''This fat pig¡­''


    His cold eyes swept over the crowd, and they landed squarely on Shang Bao, a greasy merchant stuck in the Qi Consolidation realm for fifty years. The man''s bloated belly hung over his belt, and he reeked of arrogance.


    Fatty Shang waddled through the market, oblivious to the sharp gaze now locked onto him. To Su Xiaobai, the man radiated weakness¡ªa perfect target.


    With a wry smile, Su Xiaobai approached.


    Fatty Shang glanced at him, his lips curling in disdain. "Want something?" he muttered, still smug from his earlier jab.


    How dare a brat from a lower cultivation challenge him?


    Su Xiaobai stepped closer, a cunning smile playing on his lips. "Fatty, your spirit stones have fallen."


    Shang Bao''s eyes widened. "What?! Where?!" he gasped, frantically looking down, his massive belly blocking his view.


    In that instant, Su Xiaobai''s foot shot out, fueled by spiritual enegry, aiming directly at Shang Bao''s shaking buttocks.


    "Fatty Sent to Heavens Technique!"


    A howl like a dying pig pierced the air as Shang Bao was sent flying, his rotund body crashing to the ground.


    CRASH!


    Before anyone could react, Su Xiaobai had already melted into the crowd, vanishing like smoke.


    "Did you see that?" a bystander whispered, eyes wide with disbelief.


    "Who the hell was that kid?" another murmured.


    "Serves the fatty right! Talking shit about people''s mothers," someone chuckled.


    Shang Bao, now sprawled in the dirt, his face a mask of humiliation, struggled to get up, cursing through gritted teeth. "Bastard! You''ll pay for this!"


    The crowd snickered, watching with amusement as the merchant floundered. "Looks like Fatty finally met his match," one cultivator laughed.


    "Was that really the Fatty Kick Technique?" another joked, shaking their head in disbelief. "Never thought I''d see it used so beautifully."


    Su Xiaobai could hear the whispers behind him, but they barely registered. He shook his head, cursing his own pettiness for stooping to their level.


    "Heh, since the higher ups won''t punish insignificant characters like you, I just did them the favor," he muttered to himself. The anger that had flared so briefly began to cool as he made his way to a nearby inn.


    _____


    After finding a good inn, Su Xiaobai rented a room for a month.


    His mind felt clouded, and he needed time to gather his thoughts and plan his next move. The spirit stones in his spatial ring were sufficient, so at least money wasn''t a concern.


    As soon as he entered the room, he called for a young maid who had guided him up the stairs.


    "Can you fetch me some charcoal?" Su Xiaobai asked, catching the puzzled look on the girl''s face. "Just bring it, please," he added, trying to sound polite despite his fatigue.


    The girl nodded and hurried off, returning shortly with the requested item.


    "Here''s your charcoal, sir," she said, handing it to him.


    "Thanks," Su Xiaobai replied before closing the door with a soft thud.


    Once alone, he sighed deeply. "Now, I can focus."


    Su Xiaobai sat cross-legged on the floor, his mind racing. His white hair, distinct and easily recognizable, was a liability. Even if no one in this world knew him yet, he couldn''t take unnecessary risks.


    He ground the charcoal into a fine powder, mixing it with water until it formed a thick paste. Carefully, he smeared it through his hair, blackening each strand.


    The dark color gave him a completely different appearance when he checked the cracked mirror in the corner of the room. His new look made him feel like a stranger.


    "At least now I can blend in," he muttered, rinsing the remaining charcoal from his hands and making sure no evidence of the change was left behind.


    _____


    After taking a deep breath, Su Xiaobai turned his thoughts to his next steps. He needed to leave this place soon, but more importantly, he needed answers.


    The memories from Ning Gufan haunted him¡ªtwo clans were involved in his family''s downfall.


    The Azure Dragon Clan and the Sun Dynasty.


    "Sun Dynasty¡­" His expression darkened as the name crossed his mind.


    He could still understand the Azure Dragon Clan going after his family, but the Sun Dynasty? There had been no major conflicts between them. Su Xiaobai frowned. ''Why would they get involved?''


    What Su Xiaobai didn''t yet know was that Long Lifen and Sun Liang had been secretly engaged for centuries, even before his birth.


    The events leading up to the attack on Storm Peak Mountain had started long before he was even born.


    The full vision of what had happened at Storm Peak Mountain had been revealed to him through Ning Gufan''s memories.


    He had seen it all¡ªthe ambush, the blood, and the hand Sun Dynasty had played in it.


    "Sun Lingxi..." Su Xiaobai''s face twisted into a snarl. He needed to find her. He needed answers. But there was one glaring obstacle¡ªhe was trapped in another world.


    To return to White Cloud Star, he would either need a powerful spatial treasure¡ªsomething rare and difficult to find¡ªor the strength to bend space itself.


    Both options seemed impossibly far off.


    Time wasn''t on his side, but he couldn''t afford to rush blindly into danger. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡ª His immediate goal was clear: increase his strength and seek treasures in Immortal Rain Valley that could aid his journey back. If there was a chance to find anything that could help him traverse the space, it was here.


    The knowledge Ning Gufan had left behind hinted at the differences between White Cloud Star and Immortal Rain Valley.


    Here, there were no hunters or guardians.


    Instead, cultivators were divided into two distinct paths¡ªrighteous and evil.


    The evil path offered rapid power but at a great cost¡ªsacrifice, both of oneself and others. It was a temptation Su Xiaobai had to be wary of, though it didn''t seem much worse than the life he had already lived.


    He was relieved that Immortal Rain Valley wasn''t plagued by the hunter scourge that had devastated White Cloud Star. Back home, the hunters had killed indiscriminately, turning their victims into part of their army. It was an endless cycle of death.


    "Why didn''t we know about this?" Su Xiaobai muttered under his breath, thinking of White Cloud Star.


    Here, in Immortal Rain Valley, knowledge of the upper realms and the other lower relams was common, yet White Cloud Star had remained isolated, as if locked in ignorance.


    Was it all part of a bigger conspiracy?


    White Cloud Star was smaller, less significant compared to the vast empires and continents of Immortal Rain Valley. But now, it seemed more mysterious than ever¡ªa small world hiding far darker secrets.


    Su Xiaobai''s mind buzzed with possibilities.


    However right now, his goal was simple: get stronger.


    The answers he sought¡ªabout his family, his enemies, and his place in this world¡ªcould come later.


    Whoosh!


    He raised his hand, and a crimson red flame sprang to life, hovering in his palm. The temperature in the room soared instantly as the infernal flame danced and crackled, its intense heat causing the air to shimmer.


    This flame was the ''Infernal Flame'', an ancient and wild power he had inherited from Ning Gufan. Refining and stabilizing it had taken him an entire day, and even now, he could feel the flame''s resistance, as if it had a mind of its own.


    The flame had developed a quasi-consciousness, making it unpredictable and dangerous to control.


    To keep it in check, Su Xiaobai wore the ''Spirit Jade Pendant'' around his neck. The pendant acted as a stabilizer, calming the flame''s wild nature and allowing him to control it without being burned.


    He glanced down at his hand, his eyes flickering with determination before extinguishing the flame with a thought.


    Then, he turned his attention to his spatial ring, the storage treasure he had acquired from Ning Gufan. In the cultivation world, spatial rings were small artifacts that held a vast space within them, allowing cultivators to store weapons, treasures, and even food. Su Xiaobai had merged this new ring with his own, creating a single, much larger storage space.


    The ring was a rich golden color, with a thin green line running through the middle¡ªan unusual design that hinted at a hidden secret.


    Although the Evil Empress had taken anything valuable to her from Ning Gufan''s belongings, she had still left behind what she considered "trash."


    However, in the cultivation world, one man''s trash could be another man''s treasure.


    Su Xiaobai smiled to himself.


    There was much left for him to explore in this ring, but for now, he had more pressing matters.


    He reached into the spatial ring and withdrew a scroll. It was the cultivation technique he had carefully selected after a week of consideration: [Starslayer God Arts].

 Chapter 15 Starslayer God Arts! Steel-Balled Dragon!

    In the cultivation world, techniques define a cultivator''s path.Some focus on manipulating spiritual energy or external forces, but this technique was different. Starslayer God Arts was a body refinement technique¡ªa method that would transform Su Xiaobai''s physical body into a weapon of terrifying strength.


    Unlike typical techniques that channel Qi (spiritual energy), body refinement toughens the bones, muscles, and skin to withstand immense pressure and external attacks.


    Through this method, Su Xiaobai could turn his body into something capable of shattering mountains or enduring the harshest blows.


    Body refinement was the most grueling and dangerous path in cultivation.


    It required repeatedly pushing the body to its absolute limits, tearing it down and rebuilding it stronger with each cycle.


    But for Su Xiaobai, this was the strength he needed¡ªstrength beyond what spiritual energy alone could offer.


    _____


    ''Starslayer God Arts'' was renowned for drawing power directly from the stars, making the body as resilient as the celestial bodies themselves.


    He would need to absorb the essence of starlight and build a foundation first.


    The first stage was called ''Celestial Foundation'', and it required him to meditate under the stars for 30 consecutive nights.


    Each night, Su Xiaobai climbed to the rooftop of the inn, the cool night air surrounding him as he sat cross-legged, eyes closed, focusing on the distant stars.


    ____


    Night One ¨C Conditioning the Meridians


    On the first night, Su Xiaobai focused on conditioning his meridians¡ªthe energy channels that would allow his body to absorb celestial energy.


    As he chanted the incantations of the ''Starslayer God Arts'', the starlight intensified, seeping into his body. His meridians glowed faintly, but the sensation was painful, like molten metal flowing through his body.


    "Argh!" Su Xiaobai gritted his teeth, enduring the pain. Slowly, he activated one meridian after another, each one like a new star being born within him.


    ____


    Night Seven ¨C Strengthening the Veins


    By the seventh night, Su Xiaobai''s meridians were fully attuned to the starlight. ''Meridians'' acted as the primary channels for Qi (spiritual energy), responsible for circulating power throughout the body, while veins were the physical conduits that carried blood and energy to nourish the body''s strength.


    Now, Su Xiaobai directed the celestial energy into his veins, reinforcing them to handle the immense power of the stars.


    His veins pulsed with light, each beat strengthening his body further.


    ____


    Night Fifteen ¨C Fortifying the Muscles


    On the fifteenth night, Su Xiaobai shifted his focus to his muscles, bathing them in starlight. Each muscle fiber absorbed the energy, becoming denser and stronger. The pain was intense, but with each wave of agony, he could feel his body growing tougher.


    ___


    Night Thirty ¨C Establishing the Celestial Foundation


    By the thirtieth night, Su Xiaobai had absorbed enough celestial energy to establish a solid ''Celestial Foundation''.


    His body shimmered faintly, his strength and senses greatly enhanced.


    He had only mastered the first stage of the Starslayer God Arts, but the foundation was set. To advance to the next level, and form his ''Starry Veins'', Su Xiaobai would need to meditate under a ''meteor shower'' and absorb raw ''star energy'', which would grant his veins self-healing properties and further indestructibility.


    ____


    Knock! Knock! Knock!


    A knock on the door interrupted Su Xiaobai''s thoughts.


    "Ah, today''s the last day of my stay here," he muttered, walking over to open the door.


    "Mr. Su! I''ve brought you some warm water to freshen up." At the doorway stood a striking woman, Xiao Lu, dressed in a sleek qipao that hugged tightly to her slim waist. Her cleavage was shamelessly on display, and the way her hips swayed as she stepped inside was impossible to miss.


    Xiao Lu was just an inn waitress, but in this world, she was little more than an ant struggling to survive. Without family or connections, and lacking any access to cultivation techniques, all she had was her beauty. In a land dominated by cultivators capable of defying the heavens, her chances of rising on her own were slim to none.


    To Xiao Lu, men like Su Xiaobai were jackpots¡ªa way out of a life of scrubbing floors and scraping by on crumbs. Her flirtations weren''t just for fun. They were a means of survival.


    Su Xiaobai smirked as she strutted into the room, her hips swaying with deliberate sensuality. He stepped forward, his hand playfully cupping her firm buttocks, "Xiao Lu, has anyone asked about me these past few days?" His gaze lingered on her face, but his mind was already moving beyond the pleasantries.


    Xiao Lu''s cheeks flushed slightly, and she shook her head, smiling sweetly. "No one, sir. Just as you instructed. Everyone thinks you left without a refund. Now, they believe another man, Mr. Xiao Feng, is staying in your place." Her lips curled into a sly grin as her eyes sparkled with a mixture of admiration and calculation.


    For her, this wasn''t just flirting¡ªit was a chance. A shot at turning her miserable life into something worth living. If she played her cards right, maybe she could secure a better life¡­


    Su Xiaobai gave her hand a squeeze, his amusement barely concealed. "Good girl." He pulled out a small pouch of spirit stones and dangled it before her. "Here''s the rest of your payment, as promised."


    "!"


    Xiao Lu''s breath hitched.


    The sum in that pouch was more than she''d make in half a year¡ªenough to make her legs wobble. But she wasn''t going to let herself be bought off too easily.


    "Mr. Su, Xiao Lu is not a woman who serves merely for coin." She purred, leaning closer, the scent of her sweet perfume filling the air. "It is only for the honor of serving a man as esteemed as you that I''ve gone to such lengths."


    ''Tch, admirable indeed. Funny how a month ago, she didn''t mind accepting a partial payment,'' Su Xiaobai thought with a chuckle, seeing right through her game.


    "Well then," he said, pulling back the pouch, "if you insist."


    Swoosh!


    As the spirit stones vanished into his robes, Xiao Lu''s heart sank.


    She bit her lip in frustration, but her sweet smile remained intact. ''So heartless... doesn''t he know how to treat a woman?''


    Still, she wasn''t giving up. She had a chance here. If she could get on his good side, maybe she could grab onto his powerful thighs for good. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Mr. Su¡­" Her voice was soft, sultry, as she pressed her body against him, the curve of her waist fitting perfectly under his hands.


    Su Xiaobai grinned, enjoying the game as he pulled her closer, wrapping his hands around her hips.


    But before she could escalate¡ª


    Thud!


    Xiao Lu''s body hit the floor, her cry of surprise ringing out. "Ah~!"


    _____


    Thump! Thump! Thump!


    "Damn it, not again!" A man downstairs cursed, glaring at the ceiling as the thumping noises echoed through the inn.


    In the eatery below, the rest of the guests glanced upwards in irritation.


    Bang!


    A cup shattered as a man slammed his hand on the table. "Son of a bitch! Humping like rabbits at this hour?!" He swore, wiping spilled tea off his sleeve.


    "What the hell is this circus?" another grumbled. "Can''t they be a little quieter?"


    A third voice chimed in with a bark of laughter. "Steel-balled dragon up there, no doubt! This happens every morning!"


    The inn''s usual peaceful breakfast atmosphere was ruined by the racket from above.


    _____


    Later that evening, after freshening up, Xiao Lu lay watching Su Xiaobai curiously. She was a beauty¡ªround face, big eyes, with a body that was built to turn heads¡ªbut for Su Xiaobai, there was more to this arrangement than just satisfying his lust or erasing his tracks.


    His true goal was something else entirely.


    He was testing a theory about the strange changes happening within his body.

 Chapter 16 Devouring Thorny Flower & Tri-Bloodlines!

    Su Xiaobai''s Sea of Consciousness buzzed with activity.In cultivation, the "Sea of Consciousness" was the inner realm of a person''s mind, where thoughts, spiritual energy, and mental projections took form. It was where he could visualize his spiritual state and connect with the energies within him.


    Right now, his sea held not one but ''three bloodlines''¡ªan unusual occurrence even in the world of cultivation.


    His first bloodline had always been a mystery. It had never fully awakened, but when it did, it saved his life, bringing him back from the brink of death.


    This ''dark and cold bloodline'' gave him passive regenerative healing. It was slow but steady¡ªcapable of repairing damage over time, though not powerful enough to heal crippled meridians and veins.


    Yet it granted him the ''Invincible Body'', toughening his form like stone. However, activating this ability drained too much spiritual energy, so he could only use it for brief moments.


    His second bloodline, awakened during the second ''Bloodline Awakening Ceremony'', was tied to ''thunder'' and ''wind''.


    Within his Sea of Consciousness, he saw a ''majestic serpent'', coiled in a storm.


    This bloodline gave him powers related to controlling the storm, but its true abilities were still unclear.


    But then, there was the third bloodline¡ªone that shouldn''t have existed.


    It was the dormant ''Azure Dragon Bloodline'', belonging only to the descendants of the Azure Dragon Clan.


    The signature ability of this bloodline, ''Heavenly Dragon Breath'', unleashed a devastating wave of spiritual energy, obliterating anything in its path.


    How did he acquire this?


    Su Xiaobai grimaced, recalling his encounter with ''Long Lifen'', a member of the Azure Dragon Clan.


    After their intimate moment, he had somehow absorbed her bloodline. It had never happened with anyone else, which led him to wonder¡ªcould his second bloodline ''devour'' the bloodlines of others?


    To test this theory, he had been sleeping with Xiao Lu for days, hoping to extract something from her.


    But nothing happened.


    Only disappointment greeted him.


    Maybe it was because she didn''t have a bloodline, or perhaps the success rate was just too low.


    Regardless, Su Xiaobai had named his second bloodline the ''Devouring Sky Serpent Bloodline''.


    He suspected it was tied to his father, who had a similar ability to consume things around him.


    But this bloodline seemed mutated, stronger.


    In White Cloud Star, where Su Xiaobai grew up, every cultivator could touch the ''Immortal Tianlong Spirit'' during the ''Bloodline Awakening Ceremony'' and receive a single bloodline.


    Yet, Su Xiaobai had done it twice.


    After hearing Ning Gufan''s explanation, it all made sense¡ªhe wasn''t fully human.


    One of his parents was a demon, and that''s why he had two bloodlines.


    But which parent was the demon?


    He was fairly certain it was his ''mother''.


    Her distant nature and awkward behavior suddenly made sense.


    Had she been hiding this secret all along?


    In White Cloud Star, demons were hunted and killed because demonic energy was linked to the ''hunters''¡ªbeings who brought death and corruption.


    Was that why they had tried to kill him? Why his father, Hua Sheng, was murdered?


    In Immortal Rain Valley, demons and humans coexisted, but White Cloud Star was isolated and ignorant. Su Xiaobai had been raised to fear and hate demons, but now, with his broader understanding of the world, he realized how small-minded his home truly was.


    It no longer mattered if his mother was a demon.


    If she was, so be it.


    He would bring his family to Immortal Rain Valley, where they wouldn''t be persecuted.


    But before that, he would return and make those who had tried to kill them pay.


    Whether they were human or demon, they had no right to take his family''s life.


    If they believed being a demon justified their actions, then it also justified his vengeance.


    ___


    "What are you doing?" Xiao Lu, who had been quietly observing Su Xiaobai from behind, finally spoke up, her tone tinged with subtle hesitation.


    She took a few cautious steps toward him, clearly aware that cultivators valued their secrets.


    For cultivators like Su Xiaobai, trump cards could be a matter of life and death.


    Su Xiaobai liked this woman for a reason. Xiao Lu''s ambitions weren''t like those of most women seeking to climb the ranks through men. She just wanted a good life¡ªnot too extravagant, but comfortable. She wasn''t looking to use others for power.


    "Just organizing some things," Su Xiaobai replied, distracted as he continued sifting through the items in his spatial ring. The ring was a storage tool many cultivators used, capable of holding vast amounts of treasures, herbs, and tools within a small, accessible space.


    But right now, his ring was a complete mess, overflowing with spiritual herbs, materials, and random cultivation techniques.


    Most of it had belonged to the Infernal Emperor, but as the man''s successor, Su Xiaobai considered it all his now.


    Xiao Lu hugged him from behind, her soft body pressing against his back. A faint fragrance filled the air, causing Su Xiaobai to stiffen in discomfort.


    He could feel her breasts pressing against him, making the situation far more uncomfortable than he intended.


    He hadn''t even noticed she wasn''t wearing anything beneath her gown.


    Before Su Xiaobai could react to the situation, something caught both of their attention.


    Whoosh!


    From within his spatial ring, Su Xiaobai suddenly pulled out an enormous beast-flower, spanning a full meter in width. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Its petals, a deep, otherworldly green, shimmered under the light, casting eerie reflections around the room. Sharp, jade-like thorns ran along its stem, exuding a sense of hidden danger.


    The center of the flower pulsed with a glowing emerald light, as if it had a life of its own.


    Snake-like tendrils coiled and uncoiled at its base, moving like serpents ready to trap anything that wandered too close.


    "What''s this?" Xiao Lu asked, eyes wide with curiosity as she reached out to touch one of the petals. The moment she got too close, the plant shifted, making her retract her hand in fear.


    "Don''t touch what you don''t understand," Su Xiaobai warned sternly, shooting her a sharp glance.


    "Ah, I''m sorry..." Xiao Lu immediately apologized, stepping back.


    Her curiosity remained, but she knew better than to press further.


    Su Xiaobai, however, wasn''t angry.


    He was just as confused as she was. When he had infiltrated the Institute of Science to undergo his second bloodline awakening ceremony, he had stolen nearly everything in sight¡ªscrolls, potions, artifacts¡ªanything that seemed valuable.


    Among the stolen items was this strange plant-beast.


    He had no idea what it did.


    While rummaging through his spatial ring, he had come across the creature for the first time since the robbery.


    The flower-like beast had been sitting dormant among the other stolen treasures.


    Unlike the aphrodisiac potion he had used on Long Lifen, which had an immediate and obvious effect, this mutated flower remained a mystery.


    Su Xiaobai sighed, watching the tendrils twitch subtly, still uncertain of its purpose.


    ''Whatever it is, it''s definitely not normal,'' he muttered to himself, his eyes narrowing, ''I''ll need to figure out how it works... eventually.''


    "Hm?"


    "...Is something special going on today? There''s so much noise outside," Su Xiaobai asked, ignoring the flower beast for the moment and turning toward the window.


    The commotion in the streets was growing louder.


    "Ah, yes, today¡ª" Xiao Lu began, but before she could finish, Su Xiaobai''s eyes caught something behind her.


    HISSSSSS!


    The flower beast, with its eerie glow, had unfurled its tendrils, which now crept silently toward her back, its mouth yawning wide, revealing rows of jagged small white teeths.


    Su Xiaobai lunged forward in a blur, grabbing her wrist and yanking her out of the way just as one of the tendrils struck.


    "Careful!" he warned.

 Chapter 17 Heroic Beauty! Beauty Brings Trouble!

    "Careful!" Su Xiaobai warned."Wh¡ªwhat''s happening?!"


    Xiao Lu spoke, flustered.


    Shlick!


    The tendrils recoiled, the beast''s mouth clicking shut as it prepared to strike again.


    Without hesitation, Su Xiaobai kicked the beast with full force.


    WHAM!


    "Skreeee!"


    The flower beast let out a shrill scream as it tumbled across the floor, its tendrils flailing wildly, searching for something to latch onto.


    WHOOSH!


    Su Xiaobai''s hand ignited with crackling Infernal Flames.


    The crimson blaze bathed the room in searing heat.


    The flower beast froze, its tendrils retracting as the fierce heat washed over it.


    "Shhh...."


    With a pitiful whimper, it shrank into a quivering ball, its once vibrant petals trembling in fear.


    Satisfied, Su Xiaobai extinguished the flames with a flick of his wrist. "Good boy. Try to eat someone without my permission again, and I''ll burn you to ash," he said, his voice calm but filled with a subtle threat.


    The ''Devouring Thorny Flower'' shuddered, its once aggressive tendrils retracting as though understanding the warning.


    Xiao Lu''s face had drained of all color. She stumbled back, her chest rising and falling rapidly, eyes wide in disbelief. "What... what "is'' that thing?" she stammered, still trembling from the shock.


    "Something I picked up a while back," Su Xiaobai replied, his gaze shifting to the now-docile creature. His expression was thoughtful and concerned. "Didn''t expect it to try and eat you."


    "Eat me?!" Xiao Lu gasped, her legs wobbling as she took another step back, the fear in her eyes clear as sky.


    Su Xiaobai shrugged, nonchalant.


    In truth, he hadn''t expected the flower to attack a human either. Walking over to the beast, he prodded it lightly with his finger, causing it to recoil further. "Devouring Thorny Flower," he muttered to himself.


    The name came to him on a whim, though it seemed fitting.


    The flower remained motionless now, its deadly tendrils curling protectively inward, the once-dangerous creature suddenly meek and harmless under his watchful gaze.


    "What are you...?" Su Xiaobai whispered, brow furrowed as he studied it further, wondering what secrets this beast held.


    Without wasting more time, he tossed it back into his spatial ring, deciding to figure it out later.


    For now, the noise outside demanded his attention.


    As the flower disappeared from view, Xiao Lu exhaled loudly, her pale face regaining a bit of color. "I thought that thing was going to swallow me whole..." she muttered, still shaken but trying to compose herself.


    Su Xiaobai shot her a sideways glance, amused by her nervous expression. "Don''t worry, you''re safe for now," he said, reassuring her while moving toward the window to investigate the noise from outside.


    The bustling streets were alive with sound, and something seemed to be drawing a crowd.


    "Let''s see what''s going on," he muttered, curious about what was causing such a stir in the town.


    _______


    Outside the Inn!


    Su Xiaobai and Xiao Lu made their way toward the bustling crowd gathered outside. A circle of city guards kept onlookers at a distance, allowing a grand spectacle to be observed from distance.


    Su Xiaobai''s attention was quickly drawn to a magnificent red horse in the clearing, its fiery fur gleaming under the sun. The horse''s powerful wings, half-spread, added to its regal and intimidating presence.


    As the crowd parted, a figure emerged that left everyone in awe.


    The horse''s rider was a woman. Her fiery red armor hugged her shapely figure, combining beauty with the strength of a seasoned warrior. A massive sword rested on her shoulder, radiating power. Her golden hair flowed down her back, tied with dark blue ribbons, while her sharp blue eyes shimmered with authority and confidence.


    Though she wasn''t a beauty that could topple kingdoms, her striking mix of heroic strength and feminine charm turned heads wherever she went.


    As she approached her horse, ready to mount, Su Xiaobai''s eyes instinctively drifted to her chest, admiring the perfect two round mounds beneath her armor.


    Feng Lianhua was about to depart when she suddenly felt as if thousands of ants were crawling on her chest.


    She turned her head, her eyes narrowing at the crowd with the intensity of a hawk spotting its prey.


    Her expression darkened with a flicker of annoyance. ''Pervert'', she thought.


    But rather than confront him, she dismissed it, more amused than angry.


    Without a word, she mounted her horse.


    Whoosh!


    The stallion spread its wings and soared into the sky, leaving trails of embers behind it.


    Su Xiaobai, realizing he''d been caught, turned away, his curiosity about Fairy Lianhua satisfied. It was time to leave the city.


    ______


    "Boss, that guy was staring at sister-in-law!"


    As Feng Lianhua''s horse took off, a young man near the front whispered angrily to his leader, Li Gong, who was escorting her. His eyes narrowed in fury.


    No one disrespected his guest like that in his town.


    Li Gong clenched his jaw, waiting for Feng Lianhua to disappear before making his move.


    ______


    Su Xiaobai, finding nothing else of interest, turned to leave, but Xiao Lu, walking behind him, suddenly stiffened.


    Her eyes widened as a group of seven men advanced towards them, led by a vicious-looking young man.


    The leader raised his hand with a sneer, and¡ª


    Swoosh!


    A wind blade materialized in an instant, tearing through the air and hurtling toward them at terrifying speed.


    "Watch out!"


    Before Su Xiaobai could react, Xiao Lu threw herself in front of him, shielding him with her body. Her arms shot up to block the attack¡ª


    Slash!


    A tearing sound echoed as the wind blade tore through her flesh.


    Splurt!


    Blood sprayed as Xiao Lu''s arms took the full force of the wind blade, her flesh shredded into a bloody mess.


    She gasped in pain, her eyes wide with shock before collapsing into Su Xiaobai''s arms, unconscious.


    For a moment, Su Xiaobai just stared.


    "..."


    Her pale, delicate face was now stained with blood, making her look pitiful. Her arms hung limp, torn and bleeding heavily. But there was no time for pity.


    Confusion flickered in his mind. "What... just happened?"


    Then a sharp voice broke through his thoughts:


    "Surround them!"


    Su Xiaobai''s head snapped up, his eyes narrowing as a group of city guards closed in, their spears gleaming under the evening sun. He instinctively tapped Xiao Lu''s forehead, sending her into the safety of his spatial ring in a flash of light.


    Alone now, he faced the circle of enemies.


    "So, you''re the one who dared to offend Fairy Lianhua?" a sneering voice echoed above the crowd.


    Su Xiaobai turned to see a young man in an emerald robe stepping forward, arrogance plastered across his face.


    Li Gong, the second son of the Li family¡ªpetty, cruel, and clearly eager to show off.


    "Offend?" Su Xiaobai''s voice was cold. He still had no idea what was going on, and that made him even angrier. "You just attacked my companion, and now you say I offended someone?" S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Li Gong''s sneer deepened. "Fairy Lianhua¡ªour guest¡ªwas disgusted by your filthy gaze. A worm like you doesn''t deserve to live after daring to look at her."


    Su Xiaobai blinked. "You mean... the woman on the red horse?" He scoffed, almost in disbelief. "You''re going to kill me because I looked at her? What are you ¡ª some obsessed psycho lover?"


    Li Gong''s eyes darkened, his tone turning venomous. "Shut up! Everyone outside kept their distance, but you crossed the circle and stared. That was enough to offend her. Do you understand the consequences? If she''s unhappy, it could ruin my entire family.


    Killing you is just the price to remove that disgust."


    It clicked. He''s killing me to impress her... to save face.


    However, Su Xiaobai misunderstood the situation. The Li family might have been the dominant force within the Red Flame Fortress, but outside of it, they were insignificant¡ªmere ants compared to true powers.


    Just two weeks ago, a mysterious and beautiful woman arrived at the Li family, guided by Patriarch Li himself. The entire household was ordered to serve her every need, and Li Gong had been secretly warned by his father: she was not someone to lust after. Even the slightest improper thought could have him turned into an eunuch in an instant.


    The patriarch had emphasized that maintaining a good relationship with her could elevate their small clan to one of the top families in Yue Country. That was the goal now.


    From then on, Li Gong had abandoned any thoughts of pursuing her. His greatest concern was that Su Xiaobai''s gaze had offended her, and if she felt truly disgusted, she might retaliate and destroy the Li family. To prevent that, he needed to offer Su Xiaobai''s head as a peace offering.

 Chapter 18 Burning Life Essence! Dumbmness—An incurable disease!

    Li Gong sneered at Su Xiaobai, "When she returns, I''ll show her your head. Then maybe she''ll smile on us."Su Xiaobai was taken aback by the absurdity of it all, his lips curling into a bitter smile. "Killing a weak cultivator like me? Is that what you think will win her over?"


    Li Gong''s face twisted in rage. "Mock me all you want. I''ll have your head regardless. Guards, tear him apart!"


    Su Xiaobai quickly scanned the group. Two hulking men, one of them Little Blackie, a bald, dark-skinned brute, stood at Foundation Establishment Peak¡ªtheir strength could crush boulders with a single punch.


    The other four were Qi Condensation cultivators, capable of manipulating the elements with ease.


    Li Gong himself was at Core Formation Initial Stage¡ªa realm where the true masters begin to emerge, condensing their Qi into a core that grants them immense power.


    He was an entire two realms above Su Xiaobai''s Qi Refinement Peak.


    In the world of cultivation, practitioners(cultivators) like Su Xiaobai trained in the art of harnessing mystical spiritual energy to grow their power, dividing their strength into various realms.


    Each realm represented a breakthrough in strength and ability, starting from Qi Awakening, followed by Qi Refinement, Qi Condensation, Foundation Establishment, and eventually reaching Core Formation. Beyond that were realms of even greater power like Earthly Rebirth, Nascent Soul, and more.


    Each realm had further divisions: Initial, Intermediate, Late, and Peak stages, marking the progress of the cultivator within that level. Su Xiaobai was still stuck at Qi Refinement Peak, one step away from the next breakthrough, but Li Gong was already two entire realms ahead.


    Solely considering their cultivation bases, Su Xiaobai was vastly outmatched here.


    He groaned inwardly, ''That''s the fate of nobodies like me, isn''t it? Dumb people like this are stepping stones for protagonists to show off... Shame I''m not him.''


    Li Gong barked an order to his men. "Little Blackie! Take his head, and I''ll reward you with one hundred spirit stones!"


    Little Blackie grinned, cracking his knuckles. "A hundred spirit stones? Heh, easy enough!" His muscles rippled as he stepped forward, eager to crush Su Xiaobai.


    The other guards joined in eagerly. "Boss, let us help! We''ll make quick work of him."


    Li Gong waved dismissively. "Fine, but don''t damage the head too much."


    Whoosh!


    They lunged toward Su Xiaobai, their auras flaring. Blackie led the charge, his fists glowing with energy. The four Qi Condensation guards rushed behind him like a pack of wolves.


    "Damn it... Time to gamble!" Su Xiaobai cursed, knowing he was cornered.


    But there was only one way out.


    With a deep breath, Su Xiaobai activated the forbidden technique he had learned through the Infernal Emperor inheritance.


    It involved burning his vital energy aka life essence for a temporary surge of power.


    Boom!


    His cultivation instantly shot up, from Qi Refinement Peak to Foundation Establishment Peak.


    His body rippled with new strength, muscles bulging, veins glowing with fiery power.


    The two Foundation Establishment guards, including Blackie, barely had time to react before Su Xiaobai met them head-on.


    BAM!


    Their fists collided with a force that sent shockwaves through the street.


    The impact sent Blackie and the other guard flying backward, crashing into the dirt like broken kites.


    "AHHH!" They screamed as their meridians shattered, their cultivation crumbling in one blow.


    Su Xiaobai''s strength, now rivaling the might of a hundred elephants, had utterly crippled them.


    HISS!


    The four Qi Condensation guards stared, wide-eyed.


    "What... just happened?!" one stammered, unable to comprehend the sudden surge in Su Xiaobai''s power.


    But Su Xiaobai wasn''t done.


    Bloodlust surged through him, fueled by the life essence he''d burned. He needed to finish this quickly¡ªthe longer he burned his life essence, the worse it would get, and he might even lose control.


    He hurled small balls toward their feet that instantly exploded.


    Boom!


    Thick smoke flew out, enveloping the guards.


    They were simple smoke bombs, part of his usual inventory for escaping from wild beasts, but they worked just as well to confuse enemies.


    "Where is he?!" one guard shouted, swinging his sword blindly through the smoke.


    "AHHH!"


    A bloodcurdling scream tore through the air as Su Xiaobai emerged from the fog, his hand plunging into a guard''s chest.


    Splurt!


    He ripped the man''s heart out in one swift motion, blood spraying everywhere as the lifeless body crumpled.


    Another guard, Hu Song, swung wildly through the smoke, his voice trembling. "Come on, you coward! Face me head-on!"


    But Su Xiaobai appeared behind him.


    Crack!


    Su Xiaobai grabbed Hu Song''s arm and tore it clean off, the guard''s screams filling the square.


    "No... no..." Hu Song whimpered, but Su Xiaobai showed no mercy, twisting his neck with a swift motion.


    Snap!


    Another guard, Chen Liang, backed away in terror, his sword shaking in his hand. But before he could flee, Su Xiaobai grabbed him by the throat and crushed his windpipe.


    Snap!


    Chen Liang''s lifeless body hit the ground.


    The last guard, Wang Jin, stood frozen, too terrified to move. But Su Xiaobai was already upon him, ripping his limbs apart brutally, blood splattering like rain.


    Puchi! Puchi!


    All of them¡ªripped, torn, and broken in moments.


    "You ¡ª take care of the small fries!" Su Xiaobai ordered abruptly, his voice colder than before.


    The devouring thorny flower wanted to feast?


    There was a full banquet here!


    "Go and eat all you want!"


    Whoosh!


    The Devouring Thorny Flower surged forward from his spatial ring, its tendrils lashing out with terrifying speed.


    "What the hell is this thing?!" one of the city guards screamed, his face pale as death. "AHHH!"


    The tendrils wrapped around the guard, sinking into his skin, draining his blood.


    Splurt!


    The city guards that had surrounded Su Xiaobai could only watch in horror as the Devouring Thorny Flower moved toward them, its face stained with blood.


    "No! Stay back!" one guard screamed, scrambling to flee.


    Whoosh!


    But the flower''s tendrils lashed out, piercing through his chest.


    Splurt!


    Blood sprayed as the beast drained him dry, his body collapsing into a lifeless husk.


    The other guards tried to run, but the Devouring Thorny Flower was too fast, its tendrils latching onto their flesh, ripping them apart.


    The crowd recoiled in disgust.


    Only one man was left standing.


    Li Gong, his once-proud face now pale with fear, stumbled back as Su Xiaobai''s bloodied figure emerged from the smoke.


    "You... you demonic cultivator!" Li Gong shrieked, trembling as Su Xiaobai advanced.


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes burned with killing intent. "You wanted my head, right?" His voice was low, almost mocking. "Now, it''s your turn."


    Li Gong screamed, raising his hands in a feeble attempt to summon his Qi. But his foundation was weak¡ªhe had broken through with pills, and now he had no control over his power.


    Su Xiaobai was upon him in an instant.


    Whoosh!


    His hand ignited with Infernal Flames, and he slammed it into Li Gong''s head.


    "AHHHHHH!"


    Li Gong''s screams echoed as the flames burned through his skull, his face twisted in agony.


    SPLURT! SPLURT! SPLURT!


    With one brutal twist, Su Xiaobai tore Li Gong''s head apart, blood spraying in wild arcs.


    The Devouring Thorny Flower, now twice its size, finished devouring the last city guard, its tendrils twitching in satisfaction as it let out a loud burp.


    As the crowd watched, frozen in fear, Su Xiaobai turned to them, his eyes glowing with bloodlust.


    The longer he maintained this state, the worse he would get!


    "Move." His voice was filled with dangerous bloodlust, aimed at the vast crowd of people. "Or do you want to be refined into blood pills?"


    The crowd didn''t need to be told twice.


    "Run! Run!"


    They fled in all directions, screaming in terror as they scattered like rats, desperate to escape the wrath of the blood-soaked Su Xiaobai.


    Only when the square was empty did Su Xiaobai stop pretending to be tough and stagger like a broken kite.


    The adrenaline faded, and the toll of the forbidden technique hit him like a sledgehammer. His body trembled violently, his vision blurring as blood dripped from his mouth.


    "It''s painful..." he muttered, clutching his chest. The price for using the forbidden technique was steep¡ªdecades of his lifespan burned away in exchange for that brief surge of power.


    Now he understood why even the Infernal Emperor rarely used it.


    Burning away decades in just a few seconds?


    It was too much. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The world around Su Xiaobai blurred as exhaustion hit him like a wave. His legs wobbled, and his vision dimmed, but he managed to steady himself, refusing to fall.


    "Dumb people wherever you go..." he thought bitterly.


    He glanced above as if staring at the sky, muttering to himself like a madman, "My villain life was better. What''s this nonsense where I have to clean up others'' messes? It isn''t my task to clear these useless pests... At least give me some reward¡ª"

 Chapter 19 Uncertain Fate!

    "My villain life was better. What''s this nonsense where I have to clean up others'' messes? It isn''t my task to clear these useless pests... At least give me some reward¡ª" Midway, Su Xiaobai''s bitter chuckle turned into a frown.Those bastards above were sadistic.


    What if he asked for a reward and they sent him a hundred more Li Gongs, packaged and ready to torment him?


    "!"


    He suddenly shut his mouth, shivering slightly at the thought.


    With a final, weary glance at the blood-soaked street, Su Xiaobai sent the Devouring Thorny Flower back into his spatial ring and walked away.


    As for Xiao Lu?


    Well, she was safe and clean in there as well.


    His spatial ring had a small green lining, and it wasn''t just for show. In fact, it was originally part of the Infernal Emperor''s ring, and when he merged it with his ring, it didn''t disappear.


    That''s when Su Xiaobai realized it was special. It contained an entire small world inside. When he glanced in, he was astonished. There was a whole empty world with everything from mountains to lakes.


    There had been no mention of it in the Infernal Emperor''s memories. He must have purposefully withheld some memories.


    But it was an incredible treasure. Once its existence was known, Su Xiaobai''s life would be in danger. Now that Xiao Lu knew about it, he would have to deal with her.


    After healing her first, of course... And himself as well.


    _____


    Back in White Cloud Star!


    As Su Xiaobai fought for his life, trapped in a storm he never asked for, the others fared no better.


    BAM! BAM! BAM!


    Each slam against the door reverberated through the underground chamber like the death knell of time running out.


    In a dark basement, Su Yiran stood rigid by the door, her usual calm look morphed into a tense silence. Her slim, hourglass figure was taut with anxiety, and her wide sapphire-like eyes, normally so soft, were now stained by dark bags¡ªthanks to sleepless nights spent in fear.


    Her lips quivered as she stole a glance at her mother, Eternal Su.


    "It''s going to break through..." Su Yiran''s voice cracked under the pressure, trembling in sync with the slamming against the reinforced entrance.


    Eternal Su stood tall, her white hair cascading like a waterfall down her back. Her serene face, however, was shadowed by the burden she carried. "It''s going to be fine," she said, her voice calm, though a slight strain betrayed her unease.


    Though her expression remained stoic, her fingers trembled faintly. The situation was graver than she let on, but fear, now, would only weaken her daughter''s resolve.


    Beyond the door, something far deadlier than any mortal weapon waited.


    The ''Immortal Execution Order'' had been passed against them¡ªa curse that summoned immortal swords, bloodthirsty in their hunt. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Three sword intents hammered against the door, sent to extinguish their lives for reasons they still didn''t fully understand.


    The closer those cursed blades came, the more their power surged, threatening to tear through their defenses.


    They had been hiding here for nearly a month.


    Eternal Su''s crimson eyes shifted to the coffin in the corner. Inside lay Xiao Mei, her delicate form ghostly pale, save for the shallow rise and fall of her chest.


    Blood seeped through the bandages wrapped around her abdomen, her once radiant white hair matted and clinging to her sweat-soaked skin. Despite the grave injury, her face remained serene, almost doll-like, her long lashes brushing against her cheeks as though she slept peacefully.


    Eternal Su''s hand hovered over a glowing talisman, her fingers shaking as she pressed it to the coffin.


    WHOOSH!


    In an instant, the coffin disappeared, leaving only the faint trace of the talisman''s lingering energy.


    "Xiao Mei? Mom...Where did you send her?" Su Yiran rushed forward, panic seeping into her voice as she looked at the empty space.


    Eternal Su exhaled slowly, a mix of relief and exhaustion softening her features. "Somewhere safe. Somewhere the swords cannot reach her."


    "..."


    Su Yiran swallowed hard, her throat dry.


    Even in the face of such overwhelming danger, her mother remained a pillar of unshakable strength.


    But Su Yiran was no longer a child.


    She could see the cracks¡ªtiny fractures in her mother''s facade, the subtle tremors of fear in her movements.


    Outside, the pounding grew fiercer, a constant reminder that death was impatiently knocking.


    Su Yiran''s hands curled into fists. "What about Xiaobai? He''s still out there... is he even¡ª"


    "He''s alive," Eternal Su interrupted, her tone firm but distant. From within her robes, she withdrew a small piece of red jade that glowed softly. Her gaze softened as she stared at it. "His life jade remains unbroken."


    A flicker of guilt crossed her delicate features, and for a brief moment, the weight she carried seemed almost unbearable.


    She had protected Xiao Mei and Su Yiran, but Xiaobai... his survival rested in his own hands.


    Su Yiran''s heart clenched. "Why can''t we bring him here too?... Why are we just hiding?"


    "..."


    Eternal Su finally turned to face her daughter, her beauty¡ªonce otherworldly¡ªnow marred by exhaustion. Her eyes, usually burning with determination, held a flicker of sorrow, like a candle struggling against the wind.


    Sighing, she placed a gentle hand on Su Yiran''s shoulder. "Ranran... leaving this place is a death sentence. Those swords will not stop until we are all dead. We have no choice but to wait."


    Su Yiran nodded, though her eyes still shimmered with fear.


    She had seen the devastation those immortal swords could bring¡ªXiao Mei''s injury was proof enough.


    Despite her unique ability to stop time, Xiao Mei had barely bought them enough time to escape and hide here.


    If not for her, they all would have perished.


    A wave of guilt surged within Su Yiran.


    She wasn''t a fighter like her mother, nor did she possess the unique power of Xiao Mei.


    She was helpless in this situation, where everyone was out for their blood.


    Everything had abruptly changed; their good life had turned into a nightmare.


    Eternal Su gave a rare, faint reassuring smile. "There''s something I need to tell you," she began, her voice hesitant, as though the words themselves were painful to say. "We... I... am not from this place."


    Su Yiran blinked, confusion clouding her already overwhelmed mind. "What do you mean?"


    "I sent Xiao Mei to her aunt, far from here. She will be safe." Eternal Su''s voice grew distant, as if recalling memories long buried. "You have an aunt¡ªthough I''ve never spoken of her before."


    Su Yiran''s confusion deepened. An aunt? Why had she never heard of this before?


    "If we have family, why don''t we call for help?" Su Yiran asked. "Why can''t we go there too?"


    Eternal Su''s smile grew bitter. "I only had one talisman, and it could only send one person."


    The glimmer of hope faded as quickly as it had appeared, leaving behind only the crushing reality of their isolation.


    Eternal Su took a deep breath, her eyes gleaming with determination despite the sorrow that lingered behind them. "I need you to stay close to Xiaobai. When the time is right, I''ll send you to him. Protect him, understand? No matter what happens, stay by his side."


    Su Yiran''s heart twisted in anguish. "What about you...?" she asked, her voice fragile.


    "I..." Eternal Su faltered for the first time, her eyes dimming. "I have something I must finish here." Her lips trembled, but she quickly steeled herself, masking her uncertainty.


    "You can''t....!" Su Yiran cried, her cold demeanor crumbling as she threw her arms around her mother.


    There was something ominous in the way she said those words, prompting a panicked movement from Su Yiran. "I won''t let you sacrifice yourself...."


    Eternal Su smiled softly, patting Su Yiran''s head. "I won''t. I promise." But deep down, she wasn''t sure if she could keep that promise.


    Her own fate remained uncertain, but her children''s safety came first.


    For a moment, mother and daughter stood together, next to one another as the whole world pressed down on them.


    The door shook violently, but within their embrace, there was a flicker of hope¡ªfragile, yet present.


    Eternal Su pulled away and retrieved a long, rectangular box, handing it to Su Yiran. Her expression grew grave. "Take this. It will protect you, but don''t use it unless there''s no other option. And never let anyone else touch it¡ªexcept your brother."


    Su Yiran accepted the box, feeling the cold, ominous energy radiating from within. Her blood ran cold, but she nodded. "I understand."


    Eternal Su watched her daughter with a mixture of pride and sorrow. Xiao Mei was safe.


    Su Xiaobai was still alive.


    Somehow, despite the odds, her children had survived.


    She could ask for nothing more.


    But she would fight until her last breath to ensure they stayed alive.


    The door rattled again, louder than before, but this time Eternal Su''s eyes burned with fierce determination. Her family was in danger, but they had not lost yet.


    As long as they breathed, there was still a chance to fight back.

 Chapter 20 Acquiring First Servant! Innocent Su Xiaobai?

    Back at Immortal Rain Valley, six hours after the fight at red flame fortress..."Why... why did they do it?" Xiao Lu''s voice trembled, confusion filling her hazy beautiful eyes.


    Sitting in the moonlit forest, Su Xiaobai remained calm, his gaze steady. "Because they can... People with power act ruthlessly when there are no consequences."


    Under the pale moonlight, he gently fed her a ''Rejuvenation Pill'', a small, round pill with a soft jade-green hue.


    It emitted a faint herbal fragrance, its essence refined to heal minor wounds swiftly. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Pills like this were powerful medicinal items crafted by alchemists, each containing concentrated spiritual energy.


    Whoosh!


    The pill''s energy dissolved into her ''dantian'', the core of cultivation within every cultivator, where spiritual energy is stored and refined.


    Almost immediately, Xiao Lu''s torn hands began to regenerate.


    The bruises faded, and the pain vanished in moments. She stared in awe. "It''s... healing so fast," she whispered, marveling at the miraculous recovery.


    Su Xiaobai smiled faintly, resting beside her with a sigh. As the pill worked its magic, something stirred within him.


    Inside his ''dantian'', a small ''Elemental Seed'' shimmered¡ªa sign of his breakthrough from qi refinement to qi condensation realm. At this stage, he could not only manipulate elemental energy but also condense true qi outside his body, making his attacks far more powerful.


    The breakthrough had come unexpectedly.


    His veins, half attuned to ''Yin Qi'', had absorbed the cold, deathly energy lingering around the corpses of Li Gong and the others he had slain.


    ''Yin Qi'' is present in places of death, shadows, and cold environments, often feared for its dark nature.


    Yet, Su Xiaobai had unknowingly refined and absorbed it, allowing it to power his breakthrough.


    Until now, he had never known his body could harness ''Yin Qi'' so effectively.


    As the yin qi helped him advance, the other half of his one-hundred-six veins pulsed with the volatile force of thunder, an energy tied to his second devouring sky serpant bloodline.


    Both Yin and thunder now flowed within him, but his sea of consciousness remained turbulent, as his newly awakened azure dragon bloodline clashed with the others, fighting for dominance.


    Despite the pain in his head from their chaotic fight, Su Xiaobai''s smile remained ¡ª After nearly three decades of living a cursed existence, being able to cultivate like others filled him with quiet satisfaction.


    After being healed, Xiao Lu, dressed in a feminine white and seductive red robe, glanced at Su Xiaobai. Her usual sly, calculating expression softened as tears welled in her eyes.


    The woman who had always sought to seize opportunities now found herself at a loss.


    "Hm?" Su Xiaobai raised his brows as she stood up, then knelt before him, bowing deeply.


    Thud!


    "Thank you for healing me... but I don''t know how to repay you," her voice trembled, the usual confidence fading.


    Su Xiaobai blinked, surprised by her sudden sincerity. "Repay me? You shielded the attack for me, didn''t you?" His tone was casual, dismissing it as if it were nothing. In truth, his invincible body would have managed, but he hadn''t expected her to take the hit.


    After all, she had always seemed more concerned with her own survival.


    "But... you saved me before, more than once. I can''t just walk away as if it means nothing," Xiao Lu whispered, her eyes filled with guilt.


    She wasn''t used to this kind of indebtedness.


    Su Xiaobai watched her carefully. Was she talking about the ''deflowering thorny flower'' incident? He''d saved her for his own reasons back then, but seeing the conflict in her eyes now, he could tell something had changed, and she was quite determined all of a sudden.


    "It would take you years worth of spirit stones to repay me," he said, hoping to deflect her growing sense of obligation.


    Her eyes dimmed, her voice faltering. "I... I don''t have that kind of wealth."


    He sighed, not wanting to push her further. His mood was still good, and he had no interest in dragging this out. "If you''re really so set on repaying me, work for me. I''ll pay you a hundred spirit stones a month."


    Thud!


    To his surprise, Xiao Lu dropped to her knees, her voice trembling with emotion "... I don''t want payment. From now on, I''ll follow you¡ªwhether as your horse or your cow, I''ll serve you for the rest of my life."


    "..." Su Xiaobai groaned inwardly. "It''s only for a few years, how did it become a lifetime?" He chuckled bitterly.


    Xiao Lu, still kneeling before him, looked up, her eyes filled with determination. "You don''t understand. No one has ever shown me such kindness... I''ve spent my life scraping by, taking what I could. But you... you''ve saved me more than once, even when you didn''t have to."


    Su Xiaobai scratched the back of his head, a wry smile playing on his lips. "I didn''t save you to have you dedicate your life to me, just so you know."


    "But it''s different for me." Xiao Lu''s voice was steady, though tears clung to her eyes. "I''ve been alone for so long. Having someone who ''values'' my life... it''s worth more than anything I could ever repay. If you''ll allow it, I''ll follow you. Not for money, but because I believe in you.


    Just food and shelter would be enough."


    Su Xiaobai shook his head, groaning inwardly. He needed people, and he knew how to use their weaknesses to his advantage. If she were driven by spirit stones, he''d be happy to take her in as a maid to boost his strength.


    But her offer of lifelong service made her... unpredictable.


    "How old are you?" he asked suddenly.


    "Thirty-two," Xiao Lu replied quickly, her nervousness showing. Was he looking for younger women?


    "Thirty-two and still in the Qi Awakening realm..." Su Xiaobai muttered, sizing her up. Her cultivation was... mediocre at best. Unlike him, whose talent was restricted by locked meridians, she had no such excuse.


    At twenty-seven, even with his meridians sealed, he''d reached the peak of Qi Refinement.


    His talent wasn''t lacking¡ªhe could keep pace with geniuses once his restrictions were lifted. But her? She''d likely never make it past her current realm.


    Even if she started now ¡ª Unless she was some heaven-sent genius, catching up with him would be impossible.


    He was wary of taking someone so weak into his ranks. It could slow him down.


    "Was anyone in your family a cultivator?" Su Xiaobai asked, probing her background.


    Xiao Lu shook her head, her voice dimming. "No..."


    "Then how did you end up as a waitress?"


    Xiao Lu bit her lip and began explaining. Her mother had raised her alone, her father missing for most of their lives. Su Xiaobai inferred she was likely a bastard child, but let her continue.


    Her mother had once worked as a servant in the house of a powerful man in another part of the country, but after breaking something valuable, they lost everything.


    Her mother had to sell off what little they had left to repay the debt. Even that wasn''t enough, and when Xiao Lu was seven, they auctioned off everything¡ªincluding her.


    "And your mother? Any idea what happened to her?" Su Xiaobai asked, curious.


    He wouldn''t want someone bound by chains; it''s too risky given his current situation. His enemies could easily kidnap her mother and force her to betray him.


    Xiao Lu''s face darkened. "She... she wasn''t a practitioner. She had no value. She was either sold as a sex slave or killed for her organs...."


    Su Xiaobai sighed. "Leave it. What about you?"


    Xiao Lu nodded and told him about being brought to Silverblue City, where she worked for Fierce Tang. Fortunately, her body hadn''t matured at the time, or she would have been sold as a sex slave. She worked as a waitress until her looks started attracting attention, and Fierce Tang kept moving her to different businesses, using her to lure customers.


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes blinked. He''d already made up his mind, but he had to ask, "You''ve never done anything like this before. So why did you choose me back at the inn?" His gaze sharpened with curiosity.


    He looked her over, surprised she was still a virgin at her age, when she met him.


    For a practitioner, preserving yin essence had immense benefits for cultivation, but for someone like Xiao Lu, there was no such advantage.


    Xiao Lu hesitated, her eyes wavering before she finally spoke. "You... you looked innocent and easy to deceive."

 Chapter 21 Obedient Servant!

    "You... you looked innocent and easy to deceive."Su Xiaobai''s face darkened. Him, easy to deceive? His eyes gleamed with a cold, calculating light. A great villain such as himself, who had clawed his way through treachery and deceit, could see through her pitiful attempt with a mere glance.


    She wasn''t fooling anyone but herself.


    Seeing his expression harden, Xiao Lu panicked. "N-No, I meant... You wore expensive robes, and you paid a fortune just to mask your presence. It was clear you came from an extraordinary background." Her voice quivered. "At first, I only wanted to secure enough wealth to escape. The longer I stayed with Fierce Tang, the more dangerous it became.


    Once I grew too old to attract customers, I''d end up discarded... like my mother."


    Su Xiaobai sighed. Fierce Tang was no fool; he only kept her because she was valuable.


    But jade loses its luster over time.


    Xiao Lu had seen her chance and taken a gamble ¡ª She was bold, but she overestimated her cleverness.


    "Did I really look so easy to deceive?" Su Xiaobai''s voice turned sharp, as if questioning himself.


    Xiao Lu glanced at him, then quickly averted her gaze, instinctively nodding before shaking her head. The awkward mix of guilt and fear on her face was almost amusing, how easily people tried to manipulate what they didn''t understand.


    "Ha-ha-ha..." Su Xiaobai laughed bitterly, but his mind was already elsewhere. So much for remaining in the shadows.


    It seemed the higher-ups had already caught wind of his existence, their invisible eyes no longer blind to his movements.


    He considered burning the city to the ground¡ªone swift strike to erase all traces.


    But Recklessness now could cost him dearly.


    There would be time for flames later.


    With a shrug, he stood. "Fine. You can follow me. But don''t speak of secrets, and if there''s anyone you need to say goodbye to, do it now. Once we leave, we won''t be coming back."


    "Mm..." Xiao Lu stood up, following Su Xiaobai as he stretched his body. He had been meditating for hours to break through and was already feeling tired.


    "Can I meet with the inn owner?" she asked softly. Despite Fierce Tang''s opportunistic nature, part of her didn''t view him as entirely heartless¡ªjust a man driven by greed. He had, after all, paid her, kept her dressed well enough to attract customers. But trust? She knew better. Fierce Tang would wring her dry once she lost her value.


    Her mother''s last words echoed in her mind. The last time they spoke, her mother had told her to seize any chance to change her life. Now that Xiao Lu had made her decision, she wasn''t going back for help¡ªjust to say a final goodbye. The bracelet Fierce Tang used to control her had been broken during Li Gong''s attack.


    She was free now.


    Su Xiaobai raised a brow. "It''s useless."


    "Huh?" Xiao Lu blinked, her confusion evident.


    "They''ve likely killed everyone at the inn, including Fierce Tang," Su Xiaobai said bluntly.


    "Wh¡ª!?"


    Xiao Lu''s eyes widened in shock. Her hands flew to her mouth as the cold truth settled in.


    Su Xiaobai shook his head, a flicker of disdain crossing his features. "If I were them, I''d have done the same. By now, they''ve realized we stayed at the inn. Anyone who sheltered us would be considered a loose end, and loose ends aren''t tolerated. They''ve likely started their search already."


    He glanced toward the dense forest ahead. It was fortunate he had steered them toward the ''Silverwolf Territory''.


    The ''nascent soul-realm'' beast that ruled these lands was a terror few dared provoke. Its mere presence kept even the boldest hunters at bay.


    Over the past thirty days, whenever Su Xiaobai had a moment of peace, he gathered information about Yue Country, the Tianlong Empire, and the broader Soaring Dragon Continent. Survival in this world required knowledge, and he had discovered the Silverwolf''s domain by chance.


    A perfect place to evade their pursuers.


    With a single, fluid movement, Su Xiaobai leaped to the top of a towering tree, his figure disappearing into the darkness of the canopy.


    Below, Xiao Lu stood, staring up in confusion. She glanced around, unsure of what to do. Unlike him, she couldn''t scale treetops effortlessly. With a sigh, she moved toward a patch of grass beneath the tree, preparing to settle down for the night.


    Swoosh!


    But before she could rest, a soft movement landed in front of her.


    "Practice this, and don''t drag me down." Su Xiaobai''s lazy voice drifted down from the treetops. A scroll, worn and ancient, lay before her, making Xiao Lu blink in surprise.


    "This is..." Her fingers trembled slightly as she picked up the scroll.


    Su Xiaobai, despite his relaxed demeanor, was still as calculating as ever. He preferred followers he could control with material incentives¡ªmoney, power, status.


    But Xiao Lu was no longer motivated by those things ¡ª That made her a risk, and Su Xiaobai couldn''t afford unpredictability.


    Still, if she could strengthen herself, she would become less of a burden and more useful. It was a practical choice.


    As Su Xiaobai drifted off to meditate, Xiao Lu cautiously unrolled the scroll. Its fragile edges crackled under her touch, the scent of ancient ink filling the air.


    She had no idea that Su Xiaobai''s storage ring had long been emptied of its immortal techniques¡ªthose had been stolen by the Evil Empress. What remained were lower-grade techniques, but even those carried immense value.


    A ''mortal-grade technique'' could easily fetch thousands of spirit stones, enough to buy a lifetime of luxury.


    Profound-grade techniques, more specialized and tailored to combat or elemental mastery, could cost tens of thousands.


    But mystic-grade techniques¡ªah, those were the treasures that drew power from heaven and earth itself, capable of shaping the very flow of the world.


    Su Xiaobai''s own ''Starslayer God Arts'', which absorbed stellar energy, was worth a king''s ransom in spirit stones.


    The technique he gave her, however, was the ''Burning Lotus Charm'', a mystic-grade art that cultivated solar energy, particularly effective for those with a yin constitution.


    It wove the flames of the sun itself into one''s soul, capable of bending wills with a mere glance. Its true strength lay not in brute force, but in the quiet domination of minds.


    It wasn''t a combat-focused technique, as Su Xiaobai doubted her talent for battle, and besides, he himself specialized more in formations and arrays than direct combat.


    The ''Burning Lotus Charm'' could influence the minds of others¡ªa more fitting ability for someone like Xiao Lu.


    Xiao Lu had no idea that she held a technique worth millions of spirit stones. If she knew, she might have fainted from shock.


    But Su Xiaobai wasn''t truly asleep¡ªhe kept one eye half-open, watching her closely.


    If she tried to take the scroll and flee, he wouldn''t hesitate to silence her.


    Permanently.


    But to his mild surprise, Xiao Lu didn''t run. Instead, she sat down, her brows furrowed in concentration as she began to study the technique.


    There was something almost endearing in the way her face softened, utterly absorbed in deciphering the complex cultivation method.


    Su Xiaobai shook his head, mildly amused. For now, she wasn''t a threat


    Satisfied, he allowed himself to drift into a deeper sleep, knowing that tomorrow would bring new troubles.


    _____


    Next Day ¡ª In the morning!


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    As Su Xiaobai descended gracefully, the golden morning light pierced through the dense trees, scattering like threads of silk across the forest clearing.


    A gentle breeze carried the scent of smoldering embers, a small fire crackling nearby¡ªundoubtedly Xiao Lu''s doing.


    Yet, where was she?


    "Master, I have stirred some soup for you..."


    Her voice, soothing as falling sunlight, came from behind. Su Xiaobai turned, and his body froze, ''No way...''


    Xiao Lu stood in the morning light, holding a simple leaf-woven bowl. Her crimson lips curved slightly.


    His eyes unconciously traced the smooth line of her bare waist, each curve as seductive as molten sunlight, stirring the hot desire with a single glance.


    But Su Xiaobai wasn''t confused by her beauty.


    No, it was her ... Aura.

 Chapter 22 Heavenly Punishment!

    Her Aura!It wasn''t just any aura¡ªit was the presence of someone who had touched the peak of Qi Awakening.


    Every cultivator, once they begin their path, develops an aura¡ªa ripple of power that emanates from their body, the manifestation of their control over spiritual qi.


    The stronger the cultivator, the more potent their aura, bending the very energy around them. For those at the highest realms, it becomes almost like an extension of their will, oppressive to weaker beings, but in her case... the spiritual qi now flowed around her like a gentle stream, bending effortlessly to her command.


    "You... made a breakthrough?" Su Xiaobai asked, disbelief creeping into his voice.


    "..."


    Xiao Lu blinked and nodded, her lips pressed together as if holding back a secret.


    Su Xiaobai blinked. Twice.


    Three breakthroughs... in single night? His mind shook from shock.


    "Am I... too slow?" she asked, completely misunderstanding his stunned look.


    Su Xiaobai snapped back to reality, coughing awkwardly as he adopted a sage-like expression, "Well, you''re a bit slower than average, as for your breakthroughs... it''s probably because you had too much spiritual qi trapped in your meridians from last three decades. That definitely helped."


    Xiao Lu nodded thoughtfully, as if he''d just imparted great wisdom. "So... I was slow after all."


    Determination blazed in her eyes. ''I have to work ten times harder!''


    Su Xiaobai, seeing her newfound resolve, felt a chill run down his spine.


    He had unintentionally fanned the flames of this woman...


    "Wait, wait!" he hurriedly took the bowl of soup from her hands. "Don''t go breaking through again! You need to consolidate your foundation first, or... it could be dangerous."


    Or he might just have a heart attack...


    Was his talent really trash? What about those eight pillars at his second awakening? Where the hell are his three breakthroughs?


    The higher-ups can''t all be fucking simps, right?


    Su Xiaobai never quite knows who''s messing with him¡ªwhether it''s the fate weaver pulling strings, the ant-like buzzing voices driving him nuts, or the so-called higher-ups lurking in their thrones.


    So, he just lumps them all together under the ''higher-ups'' category and gives them a collective ''fuck you.''


    To him, they''re all the same when it comes to royally screwing him over.


    And from what he could tell, those buzzing ants were mostly just weak-ass snowflakes¡ªdelicate, ladylike, and always running their mouths.


    No matter what the fate weaver tried, there''d always be a batch of them still buzzing like a swarm of flies on a pile of leftover food.


    ''It must be them,'' he thought, and with the grace of a madman, unleashed a torrent of curses¡ªeach one grander than the last.


    He knew, of course, it wouldn''t do a damn thing, but it soothed his soul like a hot cup of tea after a stormy day, leaving him grumbling with a twisted sense of peace


    Xiao Lu smiled, mistaking his gloomy face for care ¡ª He was worried about her!


    Su Xiaobai groaned internally, her smile only deepening his growing sense of doom.


    She already looked younger, her mature body and innocent face forming a lethal combination.


    But there was no time for distractions. "Here, take this," he handed her his old spatial ring. "We need to cross the forest."


    The journey ahead was no joke.


    Even though the Silverwolf was known not to attack first, the forest was dangerous, and it would take two weeks to cross.


    On the way, Su Xiaobai tried to explain the basics of cultivation¡ªanything to distract them both.


    He talked about spiritual qi, the three dantians, and the path of cultivation.


    The Lower Dantian below the navel housed a cultivator''s Jing (essence), the Middle Dantian at the heart stored Qi (vital energy), and the Upper Dantian in the head was home to the Shen (spirit).


    Basic of veins, meridians, and how certain practitioners had special veins and bloodlines that granted unique advantages. He mentioned different techniques, from breathing and movement to body cultivation, and the various weapons used by cultivators. All these were things he had learned from the knowledge inherited from the Infernal Emperor.


    But with each passing moment, he couldn''t help but glance at Xiao Lu.


    She was absorbing it all so seriously, unaware that her breakthroughs had turned his peaceful world upside down.


    Within a week, Su Xiaobai had almost finished giving her an overview of the vast world of cultivation, but there were still mysteries that not even he fully understood...


    ______


    After a week of navigating the Silverwolf territory, Su Xiaobai and Xiao Lu had finally covered a significant portion of the distance.


    Today, as they moved swiftly through the forest, leaping across tree branches like shadows, Xiao Lu suddenly shouted, "There!"


    WHOOSH!


    Su Xiaobai reacted instantly, grabbing her hand and pulling her into the dense cover of a nearby tree. "Shh... don''t make a sound," he whispered sharply.


    "Mm." Xiao Lu nodded, her lips pressed together.


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes narrowed as he scanned the forest floor below. The signs were unmistakable¡ªdeep claw marks etched into the earth, and footprints¡­ large ones.


    Wolves¡ªnot just one, but a whole pack.


    Among them, a set of tracks that were much larger, belonging to something far more dangerous.


    On the opposite side, there appeared to be traces of a single person.


    The aftermath of the battle was clear. Tree trunks had been smashed apart, the ground torn open.


    Whatever had happened here, it was fierce.


    "Let''s check it out," Su Xiaobai muttered, as they followed the traces for several hours, moving silently.


    By late afternoon, Su Xiaobai noticed something that made him stop dead in his tracks.


    ___


    The forest reeked of blood.


    Feng Lianhua stood, her armor fractured, her body streaked with crimson. Golden strands, matted with dirt, stained her delicate face. Her breath was shallow, the weight of the colossal sword in her hand growing unbearable.


    GRRRR!


    The Silver Wolf, its fur gleaming like molten silver, prowled closer, eyes burning with a fury that echoed through the forest. Its pack circled her¡ª overwhelming.


    She wiped the blood from her lips, her slender fingers trembling. Why? Why attack me?


    Her voice, though hoarse, carried a melodic edge, her figure graceful even in this state of ruin.


    Each swing of her sword was precise, her body moving with lethal elegance, though her strength was fading.


    More wolves came. The pack, endless. Sweat and blood glistened on her skin, but there was no room for vanity.


    The larger Silver Wolf, its gaze cold and calculating, prowled closer.


    "Ugh!"


    She staggered back, clutching her side.


    The metallic taste of blood filled her mouth, yet her eyes blazed. "I won''t fall so easily," she muttered, raising her sword once more, her body trembling from exhaustion. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Silver Wolf lunged.


    Fairy Lianhua barely managed to block, the force sending her crashing back. Pain surged through her, but she remained upright, her grip tightening.


    The wolves moved in, their eyes gleaming with hunger.


    Her vision blurred, desperation creeping into her heart. She reached into her robe, pulling out a weathered map, her last hope.


    "Silver Wolf¡­" Her voice, though ragged, still carried a dangerous grace. "This map¡­ It holds the key to your evolution. Let me live, and it''s yours."


    The beast''s eyes remained fixed on hers¡ªintelligent, unforgiving.


    WOOF!


    Its rejection was final.


    Before she could react, pain tore through her abdomen. Her knees buckled as a wolf''s fangs sank into her side.


    The map slipped from her hand, fluttering to the ground like a forgotten dream.


    Darkness closed in as she fought to stay conscious.


    ____


    "Isn''t that the same woman¡ªFairy Lianhua?" Xiao Lu muttered, her eyes narrowing. The woman looked eerily similar to the one from Red Flame Fortress.


    "Yes..." Su Xiaobai grinned, a chuckle bubbling up inside. Finally!


    It was her¡ªthe one responsible for their near-death experience. The Higher Ups had granted him the chance for revenge.


    Heavenly punishment, delivered personally.


    Did this mean he was finally the apple of their eye?


    Just the thought made him grin wider.


    Maybe now, he''d stumble upon some miraculous opportunity, get back to White Cloud Star, and crush those who had looked down on him.


    No.


    He couldn''t get ahead of himself.


    First, deliver her punishment¡ªthen think about the rest.


    His grin faded, replaced by a sharp, focused look.


    From their vantage point, he could see the Silver Wolf and its entire pack attacking her. Fairy Lianhua must''ve really provoked them¡ªenough for the beast to forgo a chance at evolution.


    Scanning the scene, he saw it¡ªbehind the Silver Wolf, two small pups, one injured.


    ''So that''s it.'' The realization struck him like a spark, and Su Xiaobai''s eyes glinted with wickedness as he leaped down from the tree.

 Chapter 23 *Struck by Heavenly Thunder* [R18]

    "Yip! Yip!"The Silverwolf''s cub yipped, oblivious to the danger, chasing a butterfly despite its injuries. It bounded toward Su Xiaobai''s position, unaware of the predator nearby.


    From the shadows of a tree, Su Xiaobai watched the Silver Wolf and its pack tear into Fairy Lianhua. Her bloodied form struggled, but his focus wasn''t on her. It was on the weathered treasure map that slipped from her grasp.


    A map to treasure?


    It should have ¡ª spatial equipment... my way home.


    ''This is it.''


    Just then, the cub stumbled closer. Su Xiaobai''s eyes narrowed. ''Perfect.''


    He dropped from the tree with barely a sound, landing in front of the cub. Startled, it looked up, its innocent eyes meeting his cold gaze.


    Whoosh!


    Su Xiaobai snatched it up without hesitation.


    "Silver Wolf!" His voice rang out, sharp and loud.


    "??"


    The massive beast froze, turning its furious eyes on him, the beast''s killing intent pushing down on him.


    Su Xiaobai raised his hand, igniting it in crimson flames. "One step, and this ''little whitie'' becomes ash. Leave my companion alive and get lost! Follow my words, and I''ll release this cub within an hour¡ªalive and untouched. Defy me, and¡ª"


    "Whimper..." The cub whispered, its neck strangled by Su Xiaobai.


    Grrrr...


    The Silver Wolf growled low, its pack echoing the sound, but none dared move.


    The Inferno Flames crackled¡ªdeadly, burning not just flesh but soul.


    Su Xiaobai smirked. ''He won''t risk it.''


    But then¡ªBoom!¡ªa cold wave of pressure hit him.


    Soul attack!


    Only those in the Nascent Soul realm or higher could launch such attacks, directly targeting the spirit of their enemies.


    Swoosh!


    "!"


    Su Xiaobai froze for a heartbeat, feeling the icy grip of death... until the Inferno Flames surged on it''s own, snuffing out the attack.


    The Silver Wolf staggered, its plan foiled.


    "I warned you," Su Xiaobai said, his panicked expression slowly melting into a bitter chuckle.


    "Rrrrrr..." The Silver Wolf growled again, but its rage turned to resignation.


    With a final snarl, it backed away, its pack following.


    "Smart choice," As they vanished into the forest, he muttered, his gaze shifting back to the battlefield.


    Fairy Lianhua lay motionless, the treasure map fluttering just out of reach.


    ''The map... it''s mine.''


    Surprising his excitement, he glanced back at Xiao Lu, who had silently watched everything from behind.


    He held out the squirming cub¡ªa small creature with snowy white fur stained with dirt and blood, its bright eyes filled with confusion and fear¡ªhe commanded, "Grab it and don''t let it escape. If it does, we''re as good as dead."


    "Mm¡­" Xiao Lu nodded, but her gaze lingered on him, her expression curious as she gently cradled the cub, which let out a soft whimper, its tiny body trembling.


    Su Xiaobai frowned. "What''s with that look?"


    She hesitated but then spoke anyway. "Why did you call it Little Whitie?"


    Su Xiaobai''s face darkened. "No food for you today."


    Xiao Lu groaned inwardly, but amusement flickered in her eyes as she stroked the cub''s soft fur. ''Xiao'' meant "little," and ''Bai'' meant "white."


    Together, ''Xiaobai'' meant "Little White," so hearing him call the cub ''Little Whitie'' was ironically funny.


    Su Xiaobai, grumbled to himself and turned his attention back to the fallen Fairy Lianhua.


    He crouched beside her and noticed something glinting on the ground near the treasure map. Quickly sending the map to his spatial ring, he picked up a small silver emblem. Inscribed on it was the mark of a phoenix.


    "Phoenix... The Vermillion Phoenix Dynasty?" Su Xiaobai muttered, his brow furrowing. "What''s someone from there doing here?"


    He knew Yue Country was part of the Tianlong Empire, but this emblem hinted at the involvement of another power entirely. The Vermillion Phoenix Dynasty was another empire¡ªwhy would one of their people be caught in Silver Wolf territory?


    His eyes flicked around the scene. There was no horse, no further supplies¡ªlikely lost or destroyed during the battle.


    ''What a shame,'' he thought bitterly. He had hoped to rob it.


    Shaking off his disappointment, Su Xiaobai''s gaze stayed over the fallen beauty. Her shattered armor revealed pale skin, and even covered in blood, her golden hair still shimmered like rays of sunlight.


    But admiration wasn''t why he was here. It was time for heavenly punishment.


    "Xiao Lu! Don''t get blinded by her beauty!" he called, a wicked grin forming. "This woman almost got us killed. What should we do for revenge?"


    Xiao Lu blinked, processing his question. "Kill her?" she offered, as if it were the most obvious answer.


    Su Xiaobai''s eye twitched. "Is that all? Just kill her?"


    These cultivators... all the same. Even with breakthroughs, they lack imagination.


    Her answer was technically correct, but dull. If the higher-ups wanted him to deliver punishment, it had to be... creative.


    He leaned in, voice dripping with wicked delight. "What else, Xiao Lu? That''s not enough."


    Xiao Lu''s eyes narrowed as she studied Feng Lianhua''s unconscious body. She gave a cold smile. "How about we skin her alive? That way she suffers before we finish her off."


    Su Xiaobai paused, raising an eyebrow. ''This woman''s got potential. Ruthless¡­ I like it.''


    Must groom her properly.


    "Hmm, a good suggestion. But," he glanced at Feng Lianhua''s beautiful yet battle-worn face, "she''s at the Rebirth Realm. Three realms above us. If she wakes up while we''re halfway through skinning her, we''re dead."


    Xiao Lu''s brow furrowed. "Then what do we do?"


    "We steal her yin essence before killing her." Su Xiaobai smirked, brushing Feng Lianhua''s hair aside. Her lips, though stained with blood, looked soft. His thumb grazed them as a wicked idea sparked.


    Heavenly punishment, right? Might as well do it properly.


    Xiao Lu squinted at him. Was this about yin essence... or something else? Her gaze flicked between Su Xiaobai and the fallen fairy, her amusement shifting to mild suspicion.


    He doesn''t just want to harass her, does he?


    If he did, she wouldn''t complain. In fact, she''d found a perfect master¡ªone just as morally bankrupt as she was. After all, once someone tries to kill you, they deserve whatever you can squeeze out of them.


    Su Xiaobai''s mind worked fast. Refining her virgin yin essence would boost his cultivation, and her body would feed the Devouring Thorny Flower.


    Two gains from one corpse.


    But as Su Xiaobai rubbed his thumb over Feng Lianhua''s lips, a strange pang of guilt crept in.


    ''Has it really been that long since I did anything bad? What''s with this omnious feeling....''


    He''d lived an almost peaceful, law-abiding life for the last two decades, and now here he was, touching a passed-out fairy like some back-alley pervert. But then again, the higher-ups demanded this. Blame them, he reasoned. If I don''t do it, I''ll get punished.


    Kacha!¡ª


    Her broken armor fell apart under his touch, revealing smooth, moonlit skin. He couldn''t help but stare.


    Xiao Lu sighed, deadpan. "Master, if you just want her yin essence, you can skip the foreplay."


    Su Xiaobai''s eye twitched, but he didn''t stop. His fingers traced over the two soft mounds on the fairy''s chest, a mischievous smile creeping up his face. Heavenly punishment, he justified to himself.


    Xiao Lu sighed. If this is what my master enjoys¡­ I guess I''ll support it.


    Xiao Lu stepped closer and grabbed Su Xiaobai''s hand, startling him as she placed it directly on Fairy Lianhua''s chest.


    Squeeze.


    "!?"


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes widened, but Xiao Lu''s cold voice broke through his hesitation. "Master, don''t delay. The silverwolf will be back soon."


    She had the Silverwolf cub trapped between her knees, its pitiful whimper barely audible. Her gaze remained hard, watching Su Xiaobai''s flickering guilt with disappointment.


    ''Is he going soft?'' sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Her mind shook. In this world, mercy was weakness. If they didn''t take their chance now, this woman would come back for blood.


    Without another word, she guided Su Xiaobai''s hand across Feng Lianhua''s body, pressing and squeezing. Her flawless skin was smooth like polished jade, her chest soft beneath his fingers. The nipples, like ripe cherries, begged to be bitten, but Su Xiaobai held back. He couldn''t let Xiao Lu see him lose control.


    For the first time, he was touching a woman of such quality, so perfect. His fingers trembled, an omnious feeling in his heart but he shook the feeling away. ''I can''t hesitate. I have to finish this.''


    "Let''s get it done."


    With newfound resolve, Su Xiaobai ripped the robe from Feng Lianhua''s body with a sharp rip!


    RIIIP!


    Xiao Lu''s eyes lit up, pleased to see her master finally back in form. As the fabric fell away, it revealed smooth, supple thighs, her most intimate region hidden beneath a small scrap of cloth¡ªa forbidden garden yet to be touched.


    Gudong...


    Su Xiaobai swallowed hard, his eyes heating up as his hand reached for the cloth¡ª


    Rumble... Rumble...


    KA-BOOM!


    The heavens abruptly cracked open, a massive thunderbolt crashing down from the sky.


    "Wh¡ª!" Xiao Lu jumped in shock, but Su Xiaobai wasn''t so lucky.

 Chapter 24 The Test of Spirit!

    Five minutes later..."Where... am I?"


    Su Xiaobai groaned, flat on the ground, feeling like he''d been trampled by a herd of beasts. "Did I die again?" His head spun, the world shaking around him like a drunk at a tavern.


    "Master!"


    "!!"


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes snapped open, greeted by Xiao Lu''s beautiful flushed face far too close to his. Startled, she quickly pulled back, though her breath was still hot on his face. He sat up, moving like a rusty puppet.


    "What... happened?" he muttered, glancing around as his brain tried to reboot.


    Xiao Lu''s expression was a mix of worry and concern. "Master, you fainted from shock. A thunderbolt struck you on the head!"


    "What?!"


    Su Xiaobai blinked, his hair a wild mess and his face blackened with soot. Xiao Lu leaned in, wiping his cheeks with her sleeve, barely holding back a smile.


    "Where did that thunder even come from?" she muttered, eyes wide with disbelief.


    His ears were still ringing, but his gaze drifted toward the real prize¡ªFairy Lianhua''s body, lying bare and enticing before him. Her exposed breasts weren''t just peaks¡ªthey were heavenly pillows, plump and perfect, the kind that immortals would fight wars over. Her legs, still spread from earlier, made him forget everything else.


    Just as I was about to...


    Suddenly, a bitter grin crept across his face. "Haha... it''s a test! Yeah, the heavens are testing me!" He forced out a snort, trying to sound confident. But deep down, he knew the truth.


    The higher-ups were screwing with him again!


    Still, he wasn''t about to give up. Not with power lying helpless in front of him. For returning back to my cheap family... I''ll do anything.


    "Master?" Xiao Lu''s voice came again, more puzzled than concerned, as she watched him stagger back toward Feng Lianhua''s body.


    Su Xiaobai''s face hardened with twisted determination. ''To hell with the higher-ups! I''m Su Xiaobai, the great villain! You can''t mess with me every time I try something! I''m not your puppet!''


    His expression melted into pure, unfiltered perversion. Kneeling beside Feng Lianhua, his hands began mimicking a squeezing motion, eyes gleaming with devilish intent.


    "Hehehe~... this time, no one''s gonna stop me..."


    Without shame, he spread her thighs wide, his breathing heavy like a dog in heat. His fingers hovered over the small cloth, trembling with anticipation.


    "Heavens? Pfft!" His hand crept closer, his fingers twitching, ready to uncover what he was now thinking of as the Forbidden Garden of Pleasures.


    "Master, wait¡ª!" Xiao Lu''s voice rang out, but Su Xiaobai was already too far gone. His mind filled with visions of "heavenly treasures," his wicked grin stretching from ear to ear.


    Just as his fingers brushed the edge of the forbidden cloth¡ª


    Rumble... Rumble...


    KABOOM!


    Another bolt of thunder slammed down from the heavens, lighting up the entire area.


    "Ahhhhh¡ª!" Su Xiaobai''s entire body jerked violently, his voice shaking as he cried, "W-w-w-what-t-t th-th-the-e f-f-f-uck-k?!"


    His limbs spasmed, his mouth trembling as the electricity surged through him. His whole body shook like a puppet gone mad, he managed to sputter out, "W-why-y-y m-m-meeee?!"


    Smoke rose from his charred clothes as he collapsed in a heap, twitching on the ground like a fried fish. Xiao Lu blinked, completely deadpan.


    "Master... you''re really determined to piss off the heavens, huh?" She sighed and crouched beside him, poking his crispy body with the tip of her finger.


    ____


    Third Try!


    Five minutes later...


    "Not again!" Su Xiaobai groaned, his body twitching as smoke drifted from his clothes. He struggled to sit up, brushing off the ash clinging to his robes.


    Xiao Lu raised an eyebrow. "Master, are you really going to¡ª?"


    "Of course I am!" Su Xiaobai sneered, wobbling to his feet. "They won''t stop me from becoming strong!"


    Without waiting for a reply, he staggered back to Feng Lianhua, eyes gleaming with twisted excitement. "This time... no one''s stopping me!" He reached for her thighs once again, his fingers trembling with anticipation¡ª


    KABOOM!


    Another bolt of thunder blasted him, sending him into a spasming heap on the ground.


    "Ahhhh¡ª" Su Xiaobai''s voice vibrated as he screeched, "F-f-f-u-u-u-c-c-k....!" sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ____


    Fifth Try!


    Five minutes later...


    "Argh, again?!" Su Xiaobai muttered, still smoking as he sat up. He groaned, brushing off the soot, eyes filled with crazed determination.


    "Master... please don''t." Xiao Lu stared at him, disbelief painted across her face.


    But Su Xiaobai was already up. "They can strike me as much as they want, but this time I''ll succeed!"


    Without hesitation, he knelt beside Feng Lianhua once more, hands twitching eagerly as he reached for the cloth¡ª


    KABOOM!


    "AHHHHH¡ª" Su Xiaobai''s entire body convulsed as he screamed, "F-F-FUCK YOUUUUU H-HIGHER-UPSSSS!"


    And just like that, his body fell into another twitching heap for the fifth time, electrocuted once again.


    ____


    BAM! Bam! BAM!


    "Master?... You''re not going to try again?"


    After eight tries, Su Xiaobai sat under the shade of a tree, his back facing Xiao Lu, looking rather dejected. The silverwolf cub darted around him playfully, not even trying to return to its parent.


    Xiao Lu, standing nearby, was truly worried. ''Has he finally given up after such a huge setback?'' she thought. But before she could dwell on it, she heard a strange noise.


    BAM! BAM! BAM!


    Curious, Xiao Lu peeked around the tree. There, her eyes widened in shock. Su Xiaobai, hunched over a bowl, was furiously banging an iron rod into it.


    "Master?" she whispered in disbelief. ''What is he doing now?''


    Su Xiaobai sighed heavily, wiping the sweat from his forehead. "It''s done¡­"


    Xiao Lu blinked, confused. "Done?" She watched him stand up, looking like a beggar with his torn robes and singed hair. He marched back toward Feng Lianhua''s body with newfound purpose.


    Her heart skipped a beat. ''He''s going back?! After all that thunder?!''


    "Master, please! I''ll find you a better woman! More beautiful, more powerful!" Xiao Lu sighed in exasperation, watching him crouch next to Feng Lianhua again.


    But as she rushed over to stop him, she noticed something different. This time, Su Xiaobai''s eyes weren''t filled with perverted intent. They were calm, focused, and¡ªdare she say¡ªwise?


    "Huh?"


    Instead of reaching for her body like before, Su Xiaobai carefully applied the herbal paste he had ground, spreading it over the wound on Feng Lianhua''s abdomen with precision. His hands were steady, and he even covered her exposed skin with a spare cloth.


    Xiao Lu stared, mouth agape. "What¡­ is this?"


    Su Xiaobai let out a deep breath, his tone surprisingly composed. "Just healing her... I''ve come to a realization, Xiao Lu. We shouldn''t take advantage of someone else''s misfortune. She''s just a beautiful woman in need of help. What if some scoundrel with ill intentions spots her and tries to take advantage of her vulnerability?"


    Xiao Lu blinked, utterly baffled. ''Is this the same man who, minutes ago, was trying to steal her virgin essence at all costs?''


    "Master¡­ are you feeling alright?" she asked, her eyes narrowing in suspicion.


    Su Xiaobai nodded grimly, standing up with a newfound seriousness. "Yes, Xiao Lu, I''ve seen the light. This woman is innocent. It was that Young Master Li who tried to kill us, all of his own selfish design. This woman is definitely a good person¡­ We can''t judge people by their faces!"


    Xiao Lu stared, her jaw practically dropping. "Master¡­ You were literally¡ª"


    He cut her off, wagging his finger at her. "Tsk, tsk, Xiao Lu! It''s important to know right from wrong. We must not let our desires cloud our judgment!" His voice carried a righteous tone that felt incredibly out of place.


    Xiao Lu stood there, speechless, wondering if the repeated lightning strikes had fried his brain beyond repair.


    "Wasn''t she our enemy?" Xiao Lu asked, her tone filled with doubt. Could Su Xiaobai really be serious about this?


    Su Xiaobai nodded sagely. "Fate has guided us here to help her..."


    "But..." Xiao Lu trailed off, unsure whether to believe his sudden shift in character.


    Su Xiaobai snorted and pointed to his singed hair, still sticking up like a bird''s nest. "If she was really our enemy, do you think I''d look like this? Would the heavens be punishing me? Do you still think she''s a bad person?"


    Xiao Lu blinked, speechless. It made sense... and didn''t make sense at the same time.


    Since when does getting struck by lightning prove someone''s innocence?!


    Su Xiaobai shook his head, letting out a bitter chuckle.


    ''You bastards used me again...''

 Chapter 25 Phoenix Hall!

    ''You bastards used me again...'' Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.It all made sense now.


    The higher-ups hadn''t guided him here for some glorious power-up or opportunity to steal her essence.


    No, they''d manipulated him into healing her.


    Those bastards have used me¡­ again!


    But what could he do? He couldn''t lay a finger on her without getting zapped by the heavens.


    The thunder was growing stronger with each strike, and even his divine Sky Serpent bloodline wouldn''t protect him for long.


    His thunder veins, though powerful, were reaching their limit.


    One more hit, and he''d be fried for good.


    He couldn''t afford to push his luck anymore.


    Su Xiaobai sighed internally.


    Maybe it was time to change his strategy against the higher-ups... Play their game, pretend to follow along, and then strike when the opportunity was right!


    Mind made up, he turned his attention to his real reward¡ªthe treasure map.


    He opened it, scanning the ancient text. "Thousand Beast Forest, huh¡­"


    It didn''t sound like the opportunity for evolution they had mentioned, but this forest was over a thousand kilometers away. A month''s journey, at least.


    Glancing at the unconscious Fairy Lianhua, the heroic beauty he met by chance, Su Xiaobai couldn''t help but smirk. *


    Maybe healing her was part of the reward...


    A plan hatched in his mind. If the higher-ups wanted to play games, he''d gather all the rewards he could¡ªthen one day, shove this very treasure map up their collective asses!


    "Humph! Let''s go." Su Xiaobai grabbed Xiao Lu''s hand and pulled her along.


    But just as they were about to leave, he stopped.


    His eyes gleamed with wickedness.


    "Wait a second..."


    Gasp!


    "Huh?!" Xiao Lu covered her mouth in shock as Su Xiaobai leaned down and planted a kiss on Fairy Lianhua''s soft lips, not just once, but ''several'' times.


    Her tender, sweet mouth was shamelessly soiled by him.


    "Sweet," Su Xiaobai muttered, chuckling to himself. He glanced up at the sky and, with a sly grin, raised his middle finger. ''What? You want a taste too? Hah! Too bad...


    Fuck you!''


    If they wouldn''t let him take her virginity, at least he could still taste some tofu.


    "Master!" Xiao Lu finally voiced her protest, eyes wide with disbelief.


    Whoosh!


    Before she could say more, Su Xiaobai grabbed her and left the scene in a hurry, a smug grin on his face.


    ____


    On the horizon of the Silverwolf territory, several flying beasts tore through the sky, each mounted by powerful experts.


    Before blacking out, Feng Lianhua had crushed a ''jade amulet,'' an artifact that allowed members of the clan to send a distress signal, and the troops from the Vermillion Phoenix Dynasty and Phoenix Hall were already on their way.


    _____


    Thirty Minutes Later...


    On the ground where Su Xiaobai had left Feng Lianhua...


    "Ugh..." Feng Lianhua''s long lashes fluttered as she slowly regained consciousness. Her head throbbed, but her sharp instincts kicked in immediately.


    "Who?!" she barked, her hand shooting out, grabbing a wrist¡ªsomeone was too close.


    "Miss Feng, it''s me!" came a familiar, panicked voice.


    Her fierce gaze locked onto her maid, Xiao''er, who stood by her side, worry etched across her face. Feng Lianhua immediately released her grip, letting go of the wrist.


    "Xiao''er¡­ what happened?" she asked, pressing her hand to her forehead. Her robes, torn and disheveled, revealed glimpses of her pale skin, her beauty effortless even as she sat up.


    "We arrived ten minutes ago," Xiao''er explained, hesitating. "You were unconscious, but someone had treated your wounds..."


    Feng Lianhua''s eyes narrowed. She glanced down, noticing the damage to her clothes and, more importantly, the missing treasure map.


    That... pervert!


    She recalled the shadowy figure in her fading memory, before blacking out. Her cheeks flushed with a mix of anger and disbelief.


    "He touched me," she muttered, darkly. Her hand instinctively moved to her chest, where his hands had been.


    Thankfully, her ''Maiden Lotus Talisman'', an ancient artifact passed down in her clan, had safeguarded her chastity, forming an invisible barrier to protect her purity. She wasn''t concerned about that¡ªbut had no idea the talisman had given Su Xiaobai a literal nightmare.


    "Should we pursue him, Miss? We can call for reinforcements," Xiao''er asked, seeing the flicker of anger in Feng Lianhua''s eyes.


    Feng Lianhua took a breath, regaining her composure. ''No real harm was done,'' she thought. The stranger had healed her wounds, after all.


    "No need," she said coolly. "But... find out where he''s headed." A dangerous glint flickered in her eyes.


    He healed her, but he stole her treasure map! Without the map, she couldn''t recall the exact location¡ªit was somewhere in the Thousand Beast Forest of Yue Country. She had spent years searching for that map, and now it had been stolen from her?


    ''He won''t get away with this,'' she thought with determination. There was an eerie similarity between the silhouette she remembered before blacking out and the perverted man who had ogled her back at Red Flame Fortress.


    As Xiao''er handed her a fresh set of clothes, Feng Lianhua stood, her flawless figure barely concealed by the tattered robes. A quick shimmer of light surrounded her as she changed, leaving Xiao''er momentarily breathless at her mistress''s ethereal beauty.


    Even in the calm after battle, Feng Lianhua''s beauty could rival the greatest women of the dynasty¡ªgraceful and fierce, like a goddess walking among mortals.


    _______


    Fifteen minutes Later...


    After changing into fresh robes, Feng Lianhua''s attention shifted to an approaching figure. Her brows furrowed in distaste.


    It was none other than Patriarch Li, ruler of the Red Flame Fortress¡ªa frail, sickly-looking man. His cultivation had reached Nascent Soul, but his lifespan was nearing its end. What he lacked in physical strength, he made up for in sharp, calculating eyes and cunning. He ruled this remote region not through power, but by outmaneuvering those stronger than him.


    "Miss Feng, rest assured, we will hunt down the rat who caused this," Patriarch Li said, his voice low and respectful, head slightly bowed. He dared not meet her gaze¡ªhe knew their difference in status was vast.


    "We''ve already prepared portraits of him. He killed my son, Li Gong, and many elite guards. The city guards are on high alert, and we''ll track him down within a month! He uses demonic techniques, which makes him an even bigger threat."


    Patriach Li had already sent Xiao''er her portrait while Feng Lianhua was changing clothes, and sure enough, it was the same person.


    However, though his tone carried grief, beneath it simmered a quiet ambition. He saw this as an opportunity to leverage the backing of the Phoenix Hall, a supreme force within the Vermillion Phoenix Dynasty, to his advantage.


    Li Gong''s death wasn''t just a family loss¡ªit was an insult to their pride.


    But Patriarch Li''s thoughts wandered. Li Gong... worthless in the end. His second son had only reached the Core formation realm through endless pills and resources, a disappointment in combat.


    It was his first son, however, who was the true cornerstone of the Li family''s future. He clenched his jaw, frustration building. His plan had been simple¡ªlet his talented first son grow stronger while his weaker brother managed the family. Together, they would raise the Li family to prominence.


    Now, that plan was shattered. His second son was dead, and Feng Lianhua¡ªthe woman they had hoped to align with¡ªseemed utterly unaffected.


    Feng Lianhua''s frown deepened. "When did I ever say ''he'' attacked me?" Her gaze turned icy, pinning the patriarch in place. "It was the Silver Wolf that attacked. If you want to kill something, go kill that."


    Before he could respond, she mounted her flying eagle beast.


    SWOOSH!


    Without a word, she soared into the sky, her guards from the Phoenix hall following closely behind.


    Patriarch Li stood there, fists clenched, watching her disappear into the horizon. ''This woman...'' She had shown no concern for his son''s death and dismissed any effort to build ties between their families.


    A cold bitterness spread through him. ''She will regret underestimating the Li family.''


    "Master, should we let this slide?" one of his chief guards asked, clearly unnerved by Feng Lianhua''s reaction.


    BAM!


    Patriarch Li''s hand lashed out, delivering a stinging slap to the guard''s face. "Didn''t you hear Miss Feng?!" he snarled. "Are you a fool? Suggesting we go against the Phoenix hall? In broad daylight, no less?"


    The guard dropped his head in submission, trembling under his master''s anger.


    Patriarch Li''s fury was real, but so was his survival instinct. Challenging the Phoenix hall directly would be suicide. Yet, he wasn''t the type to forget a slight. No, he would bide his time, wait for the right moment.


    At night, he would send word to his eldest son, currently training in one of Yue Country''s top sects¡ªthe Xiantian Sect.


    Li Gong''s death, he was certain, would ignite a fire in his elder brother.


    Even if he had forsaken mortal ties in favor of cultivation, blood still ran deep.


    Patriarch Li''s lips curled into a thin smile. ''Revenge could be a powerful motivator.''


    If used correctly, Li Gong''s death could be the stepping stone to elevating the Li family to power.


    "Patience," he muttered to himself, his eyes narrowing. "The Li family will rise. When it does, neither the Phoenix hall nor anyone in this insignificant country will be able to stand in our way."

 Chapter 26 Thousand Beast Forest! Nine Peaks!

    One month later¡­With the ancient map in hand, Su Xiaobai crossed into the feared Thousand Beast Region¡ªa place that supposedly devoured the careless.


    He felt no fear.


    For him, this so-called "death zone" was just scenery. Tales of savage beasts and endless pits? Overblown nonsense for the faint-hearted.


    On his way here, he''d heard unsettling rumors¡ªentire villages wiped out by some mysterious force. Yet, of all people, villagers had been eyeing ''him'' as if he were some roaming slaughterer.


    Him? Wasting time on pointless massacres?


    Brothers, he was already the higher-ups'' favorite punching bag; doing that would just be asking for another heavenly opportunity to beat him for no reason.


    Ofcourse ¡ª Suspicion led to¡­ "misunderstandings."


    And misunderstandings left a few poor souls behind him.


    As he ventured deeper, he noticed far more travelers than expected. "Someone leaked the news," he muttered, quickly deducing Fairy Lianhua''s scheme.


    That woman had likely spread rumors of treasure to flood the region with fools, hoping someone else would find it, leaving her to swoop in with Phoenix Hall''s resources.


    A tidy plan¡ªif you lack vision.


    Su Xiaobai had no time for scraps. Armed with the real map, he''d get there first.


    The "Thousand Beast Forest" wasn''t even a forest, just a range of nine colossal peaks clawing at the heavens. Legends claimed each peak held ''sword intent,'' powerful enough to shatter the limits of swordsmanship itself.


    Normally, only powerful cultivators ventured here, but today the peaks swarmed with treasure hunters, rogue martial artists, and even mortals, scrambling over rocks and thorns in search of a mythical treasure.


    "So many fools," Su Xiaobai muttered, pulling his hood low. "How''s a wise soul like me supposed to survive around them?"


    These clueless fools didn''t realize there were no "grand ruins" here¡ªjust a hidden cave, sealed behind a simple trick.


    He''d already cracked it: hold the map to a mirror and read the instructions backward.


    Satisfied with his head start, he maneuvered through the crowd, a sly smile tugging at his lips.


    Just as he cursed the map''s creator for such lazy "secrecy," he sneezed.


    "Achoo!"


    Rubbing his nose irritably, he grumbled, "Who dares curse me?" He brushed it off, his gaze sharpening as he eyed the mountains ahead.


    Little did Su Xiaobai know, the map''s creator had a trap waiting for those arrogant enough to think themselves clever.


    _____


    An hour later...


    "What the hell?!"


    BAM!


    "Still¡­ not¡­ opening?!"


    Crash! Thud! Thud!


    Su Xiaobai staggered back, panting, fists throbbing, sweat trickling down his face as he glared at the enemy before him: a massive, smug-looking boulder blocking the cave entrance.


    The hundred-meter slab hadn''t so much as chipped, sitting there like some lazy gatekeeper while he threw everything he had at it.


    "Is this thing enchanted, or just the most thick-headed rock in the realm?" he growled, hands on his knees as he tried to catch his breath.


    The shadows grew longer around him, night inching closer as the sky turned a dim purple. The calls of forest beasts echoed around him¡ªjust great. The real predators of the Thousand Beast Forest would soon be waking up, and here he was, defeated by a dumb rock.


    "Am I really going to have to sit here and cultivate to Core Formation¡­ just to move this thing?" he muttered, voice filled with frustration, barely able to stand.


    In the past month, Su Xiaobai had broken through twice, reaching the ''late'' stage of Qi Condensation. His "elemental seed" had evolved into an elemental tree, forming a stable nexus.


    In his dantian, the once-small seed of spiritual energy had grown into a tree. Back in the initial stage of Qi Condensation, he''d formed this seed using refined "true Qi," allowing him to channel elemental attacks¡ªthough only one at a time.


    At the intermediate stage, it sprouted branches, letting him wield multiple elements at once, but with a drawback: the elements clashed, damaging the branches and nearly crippling him.


    Now, after further breakthroughs, the seed had fully transformed. The tree''s branches were interconnected in a nexus, creating isolated spaces for each element to remain stable. Though it could still overload, it was far more resilient.


    The earlier thunderstrike''s energy had unconsciously fueled his progress. However, to reach true peak, he''d need to evolve this nexus into a "constellation"¡ªa perfect harmony of isolated elemental zones. But even that would likely not be enough to move this stubborn rock. He would need to form his core, two full realms above where he stood now.


    "Sigh¡­" Su Xiaobai couldn''t help but feel deflated. Wouldn''t that take ages?


    He''d broken through twice to keep up with Xiao Lu, worked tirelessly, and felt a sense of progress¡ªonly for this rock to remind him exactly where he stood.


    A few hours later¡­in the midnight!


    Poke. Poke.


    Su Xiaobai sat slouched on a fallen log by a crackling campfire, jabbing listlessly at a rabbit roasting on a stick.


    He''d found the overly cheerful creature hopping around and decided to "adjust its attitude."


    For a moment, he even understood the thrill those higher-ups felt, controlling others'' fates on a whim.


    Now, he sighed, glaring at the rabbit. "Why are you taking so damn long to cook?" he muttered, sounding like he''d aged decades in an instant. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Just then¡ª


    Whoosh!


    A streak of light burst from his ring, and Xiao Lu appeared, her face flushed with excitement. "Master! I made a breakthrough~!"


    Her words echoed with excitment as she took in the scene¡ªa dark, isolated grove under a steep cliff, with her master sitting by a fire like some campfire ghost.


    "Breakthrough¡­ oh, nice¡­" Su Xiaobai replied, utterly unconcerned, giving the rabbit another defeated poke.


    Puchi!


    Xiao Lu''s eyes fell on the skinned rabbit, poked full of holes, roasting unevenly over the fire. She frowned. "Master¡­ what happened? Why do you look so... Sad?"


    Su Xiaobai let out a sigh, standing up. "I got tired of waiting for you to show up! Took you long enough... Now, let me see your true Qi."


    "Oh," Xiao Lu mumbled, embarrassed. She hadn''t realized her breakthrough into the Qi Refinement realm would take an entire day. But finally, she''d done it.


    Whoosh!


    In her hand, a small sphere of liquid true Qi ignited¡ªa flickering ball of energy, radiating heat like a miniature sun.


    "Good. Now, go and break that boulder over there," Su Xiaobai commanded, pointing to the massive rock blocking the cave entrance. "Behind it lies a treasure that could change our lives! Consider this your test!"


    "Oh¡­ okay." Nervous but determined, Xiao Lu faced the boulder. Her heart pounded. This would be her first real display of strength.


    BAM!


    She struck the boulder with all her might, her Qi flaring. Su Xiaobai watched, a wry smile creeping onto his face, fully aware of what was coming.


    Almost a hour later¡­


    "Master! You''re a sadist!" Xiao Lu huffed, hands throbbing and eyes misting with frustration. She glared at Su Xiaobai, who only grinned back with a smug pat on her head.


    "That''s your lesson. Etch it into memory," he replied with a smirk.


    "You could''ve just told me the boulder was unbreakable, you know," she muttered, crossing her arms, shooting him a pointed look. "There are other ways to work out frustration..." she mumbled just loud enough for him to catch.


    Su Xiaobai paused, interested.


    ''Other ways?'' He looked her over, noting her aura had shifted¡ª Gone was the mortal haze; she now exuded the brilliance of a fresh breakthrough, her spirit and appearance both transformed.


    Her face¡ªinnocent as a maiden''s in her early twenties¡ªcombined with that mature feminine''s blooming figure created a charm that was hard to ignore.


    With that slender waist, delicate features, and skin that glowed as if kissed by sun, she was breathtaking. Was she¡­ hinting at something?


    Heat surged, and his heartbeat quickened involuntarily.


    Catching sight of his bruised hands, Xiao Lu raised an eyebrow. "Master... you weren''t punching that rock all day, were you?"


    Su Xiaobai, "¡­"


    He was.


    "It''s the higher-ups, I tell you. Doesn''t matter what I use, they''ve got it bound to fail." He groaned ¡ª How else do you explain it? He hadn''t survived this long without becoming the heavens'' personal punching bag.


    Xiao Lu just smiled, half amused, half sympathetic


    She''d misunderstood that "higher-ups" was Su Xiaobai''s way of cursing the heavens themselves, though she''d never quite understood his ongoing grudge.


    How he was even ''alive'' after all this time cursing the heavens was a mystery. The two seemed to have some twisted divine feud.


    Sighing, Xiao Lu approached, hips swaying in a way he was sure was entirely unnecessary. His gaze on her chest; the robes framing two tempting mounds seemed to taunt him. She was like a walking Burning Lotus¡ªflaring his desires, testing his resolve at every turn.


    With a resigned sigh, he muttered under his breath, "If the heavens don''t finish me off, you will."


    "Hm?" Xiao Lu knelt before him, carefully applying medicinal paste to his battered knuckles. Her touch was soft, soothingly cool, but her neckline dipped just enough to reveal a tempting peek of soft curves¡ªher "two little rabbits" sneaking a playful wink his way. She made no move to cover it, a faint blush gracing her cheeks as her lips lingered close.


    Su Xiaobai''s patience wore thin. Trying to keep his mind clear, he groaned, "Can you just¡­ turn it off?"

 Chapter 27 **Frustrated Master Needs Consolation!** [R18]

    "Can you just... turn it off?"Xiao Lu glanced up with innocent eyes. "Turn what off, Master?"


    "This¡­ charm technique of yours! Quit using it on me."


    She blinked, surprised. "Master¡­ I''m not using any technique on you. I wouldn''t dare."


    Su Xiaobai squinted, doubtful. "No charm, hmm?" His gaze roamed over her flushed cheeks, parted lips, and the fierce spark in her eyes¡ªa heat that made him feel like he was standing far too close to a scorching yet frganant flame.


    "Well then¡­ show me how you would use it," he challenged.


    Xiao Lu''s eyes sparkled with a conflicted glint. "Are you sure, Master?"


    "Yes!" Su Xiaobai snapped, jaw tight, all while cursing to himself, ''This woman¡­ does she ever turn off that damned Burning Lotus Charm?'' For the past month, it felt like she''d kept it in full bloom, turning every glance and gesture into something seductive.


    He''d kept his distance to stay focused on cultivation¡ªand to avoid the raging wildfire she stirred up inside him.


    But now, here she was again, daring him with those wide, inviting eyes¡­ and those two soft mounds barely held by her robes, calling out to him with silent, treacherous whispers.


    Suddenly, Xiao Lu''s gaze turned smoldering, a fierce glow flaring in her eyes.


    Swoosh!


    His blood ran like molten fire through his veins, burning hotter with every breath, an uncontainable surge just beneath his skin.


    "Ah¡ª!" Xiao Lu gasped as Su Xiaobai seized her by the waist, pulling her flush against him, his grip filled with both warning and need.


    Hiss!


    "Enough," he hissed through gritted teeth, his own gaze clouded with want and confusion.


    The glow in her eyes flickered out, but he held her tight, unable to understand why her charm was overpowering him.


    He was leagues above her in cultivation; her technique should barely register¡ªand yet here he was, trapped by the fire she''d unknowingly kindled.


    Held close, her face inches from his, Xiao Lu''s gaze mirrored his own rising heat.


    "That''s it¡­" His eyes widened with realization.


    The problem was his own constitution!


    "??" Xiao Lu blinked, clearly bewildered by his sudden intensity. She hadn''t expected him to react like this. ''What''s happening to him?''


    But before she could question further¡ª


    "!!"


    "¡­ not again¡­!" Abruptly, Su Xiaobai gasped, clutching his head as a new wave of agony lanced through him.


    "ARGH!"


    His three bloodlines¡ªeach one a monstrous power in itself¡ªsurged and clashed within his consciousness like raging storms.


    Xiao Lu''s face tightened with surprise before melting into concern. "This is the fourth time¡­" she whispered.


    Ever since they''d begun traveling together, he''d been seized by these violent outbursts, each one more intense than the last.


    It was his bloodlines¡ªsomething he rarely spoke of, a power that seemed to be tearing him apart from the inside.


    Right now, his eyes burned a vivid, dangerous red, like molten iron.


    Su Xiaobai''s grip tightened around his head, knuckles whitening as his bloodlines surged like rivers in a storm, each nerve, every inch of his body ablaze with seething energy.


    He dropped to his knees, teeth clenched, fighting to contain the furious power within him.


    "Damn it¡­" he rasped, barely a whisper. His skin glowed faintly, red veins pulsing visibly beneath as though his body itself was on the edge of eruption.


    Xiao Lu knelt beside him, eyes wide with panic and helplessness. "Master¡­ this is getting worse. Tell me what you need¡­ anything that could help?"


    But he didn''t respond, his face twisted in agony, barely holding on through the pain. She felt a flash of fear¡ªwhatever he was going through was beyond her ability to heal.


    In desperation, she leaned closer, her own eyes turning golden like a blazing sun as she whispered, "Master, can you hear me~?"


    She drew near, voice soft with worry, but unconsciously laced with a tone that carried her charm technique, hoping somehow it would reach him through the storm.


    The fragnant spell around her intensified, combined with her voice entering directly inside defenseless Su Xiaobai''s conciousness.


    "Mmmghhh¡ª!"


    Xiao Lu''s eyes flew wide open as Su Xiaobai''s hands, searing with an intense heat, pulled her close. His lips claimed hers in a deep kiss.


    This¡­ this is different.


    Unlike their encounters back at the inn, his grip was unrestrained, his touch igniting her like a sun. Their tongues intertwined, sending waves of heat through her entire being as if her very essence was being drawn out.


    Slurp ... Slurp...


    She was stunned to realize that Su Xiaobai wasn''t drawn to her charm technique¡ªbut to the energy within her.


    Her burning lotus charm used sun energy that resonated with his Stellar Essence, harmonizing in perfect rhythm, a cosmic balance of yin and yang.


    The energy tasted sweet, soothing, and potent, feeding his own cultivation even as he claimed it.


    As he drew in the warmth of her essence, his hands moved instinctively, sliding down to grip and knead her firm, shapely buttocks.


    "Master¡­~!" Xiao Lu''s soft moan escaped as a shiver of pleasure ran through her, their bodies resonating like two stars caught in each other''s orbit, burning hotter with every moment.


    RIIIIIP!


    Without thinking, Su Xiaobai''s hands tore her robe away, revealing the soft, inviting mounds of her chest. Her breath froze for a second as her bared skin met the cool night air, her flushed face betraying both excitement and shock.


    Boing! Boing!


    With a hungry gaze, Su Xiaobai''s hands moved to cup her generous curves.


    His fingers sank into her softness, squeezing and kneading while his tongue trailed over the delicate, rose-tinted peaks. He coiled his tongue around her sensitive skin, sending electric shocks rippling through her.


    "Ah¡­Master~! That''s¡ª!" Xiao Lu gasped, her voice trembling as he pinched and nibbled over the tender flesh, his lips capturing each peak as his hands explored her body.


    "Mmmmgh ~~!"


    Xiao Lu''s back arched as Su Xiaobai''s powerful length, veined and pulsing with a fierce, celestial light, broke free from his robes, radiating an almost blinding stellar energy.


    Plop!


    His manhood, enveloped in the intense glow of his qi, tore through the last of her garments, aiming directly at her core.


    His stellar energy shimmered with each movement, casting faint glimmers of starlight along her flushed skin, as if marking her as his own.


    "Ahhhh¡­! Master¡­ it''s so¡­ hot¡­!" Xiao Lu gasped, her voice quivering as his powerful stellar energy surged through her, flooding her senses and igniting her very core.


    The overwhelming heat made her mind spin, as if every cell in her body was being set aflame, caught in the radiant blaze of his essence.


    Her own sun energy flared in response, turning her skin a fiery red, as if her very blood had turned to molten fire beneath the surface.


    Thrust!


    Pakh!


    Thrust!


    Pakh!


    With each powerful movement, his stellar energy merged with her Sunfire Qi, sparking a chain reaction of heat and light that radiated from their bodies.


    Inside her, she felt the heat intensified¡ªevery inch of her felt like it was burning, each wave of heat filling her core and radiating outward.


    Her body responded instinctively, amplifying her sunfire until she felt like she was burning from the inside out.


    "Ahhh¡­ Ahhhh¡­ M-Master¡­ slow down¡­!" she moaned, her voice breaking into a breathless cry as her body glowed with the combined energies, their auras rising together and blending in a raging storm.


    Pak! Pak! Pak!


    His rhythm grew, and with every thrust, his stellar energy pulsed deeper, igniting her fiery essence further.


    Their energies, like twin stars colliding, burst in waves beneath the endless sky.


    Thrust!


    Pakh!


    In one swift move, he lifted her, her legs wrapped around his waist, hands clinging to his shoulders as their energies surged.


    Every movement felt electric, like bolts of fire and starlight meeting within her core.


    "Mmmph¡­ Master¡­!" she moaned, their rhythm fierce as her breaths came quicker, her back pressed against the rough bark of a nearby tree. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Nn-nghhhh~~!"


    Suddenly, a wave of heat pulsed from her core, overwhelming her. Her body shivered, and she felt her entire being respond, her energy vibrating in harmony with his.


    "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhnnn ~!" Xiao Lu''s cry filled the night as her legs trembled uncontrollably. Her body was limp, her strength drained as he pulled out, his own energy radiating off of him, his manhood throbbing fiercely, veins popping out.


    Plop!


    A warm stream of their mingled essence traced down her thighs, shimmering faintly with the energy they had unleashed together.


    Her forbidden region pulsed, the delicate petals of her flower throbbing with each heartbeat, as if releasing a precious essence, a radiant bloom in fiery sun.


    Her skin, still flushed and glowing, radiated the fiery hue of her Sunfire Qi, while his own stellar light illuminated them both.


    Yet, even as she caught her breath, a fierce gleam lingered in his eyes.


    The night was far from over.


    ___


    Swish!


    He turned, lowering her to the ground, her body aglow beneath him as his stellar energy mingled with her remaining heat, casting shimmering patterns across her flushed skin.


    His hands traced her waist, guiding her, the pounding making her body quiver.


    Pakh! Pakh! Pakh!


    "A-ah¡­ it''s¡­ so deep¡­!" Xiao Lu''s voice spilled out in gasps, her head tilting back as he claimed her, the air filled with the frganant scent of their bodies and sweat.


    ____


    RIIIIIP!


    With a final shift, Su Xiaobai pulled her close, her legs entwined around him as he pressed her against a nearby boulder, both of them aglow, bodies alight with merging energies.


    His stellar essence flared brighter, feeding the fiery Sun Qi that burned through her.


    Their saliva mingled, fiery and intense, as they reached the peak together for the third time, their bodies entwined beneath the endless sky.

 Chapter 28 Taming the dragon! Visitors?

    "Mmm... Master... Xiao Lu will help you...""Use me¡­ mngh..."


    "Ahhhnnn¡­ it''s so warm¡­"


    "..."


    Su Xiaobai gazed in speechless disbelief at Xiao Lu, her form curled delicately in the dawn light, her skin faintly aglow. Even in sleep, she murmured soft, drowsy promises, a sigh escaping her parted lips as if reliving the night''s events.


    "Mmm... Master¡­ I''ll make you feel so... so strong..." she breathed, her voice dreamy, cheeks tinged with a faint blush. "Just use me¡­ all of me..."


    "Even if it¡­ ah¡­ leaves me completely empty¡­ I''ll¡­ I''ll¡­" she murmured, clutching the air tightly, as though hugging herself. "Drain me¡­ till I''m nothing but¡­ your loya¡ª"


    Su Xiaobai''s lips curled into a wry smile, his gaze both calm and introspective. He understood well what had happened.


    Her ''Sunfire Qi,'' a celestial energy rooted in her ''Burning Lotus Charm,'' had intertwined with his own Stellar Essence, resonating harmoniously with his Starslayer God Arts.


    Her energy calmed the roiling forces within him, softening the tempestuous edges of his power. Yet Xiao Lu, oblivious to the cost, had sacrificed weeks'' worth of cultivated energy for his sake.


    Even in sleep, she whispered her dedication, blissfully unaware of the toll.


    "This silly woman¡­" he murmured, a pang of bittersweet admiration tightening his chest.


    In a world dominated by power and ruthless ambition, people like Xiao Lu offered stability¡ªa grounding force that kept him afloat.


    He knew she hadn''t always been this devoted; Xiao Lu was cunning, calculating, and far from naive; he''d seen it in the way she treated Fairy Lianhua without a shred of hesitation once she knew Lianhua was his enemy.


    And yet, she became uncharacteristically soft and simple in his presence, her usual shrewdness fading into a quiet, almost foolish loyalty.


    But was her devotion genuine, or merely another role thrust upon her by those in power?


    Now wasn''t the time for such questions. If he sought true freedom, he''d have to entertain the higher-ups, keep himself alive, and his strength growing.


    Merely playing along would always make him their pawn.


    No. He needed power¡ªan immense, unshakable force to shatter his chains and overturn the heavens themselves.


    His gaze sharpened, the determination in his eyes akin to a blade drawn under moonligh.


    One day ¡ª when the time was ripe, he would devour them all.


    But first, he had to protect Xiao Lu. If he lost control of his volatile bloodlines, he could drain her entirely, leaving her an empty shell.


    Sighing, his gaze drifted. "I have to find a way to control these bloodlines¡­" he muttered. The power within him had been stable until that rebellious Azure Dragon had stirred, transforming his sea of consciousness into a battlefield.


    For now, at least, all three bloodlines lay dormant.


    "Haaa..."


    Xiao Lu had given too much. With a thought, Su Xiaobai sent her back into his ring world to meditate and recover.


    His path to defying the higher powers was still unclear, but as he looked up at the moon, a faint smile crept across his face.


    Aside from saving his family, he now had another purpose¡ªto seize control of his fate, to wrest the chains from those who held them, and, if need be, to obliterate every last one of the higher-ups.


    Such thoughts could not be spoken aloud, though; in a world governed by powers unseen, even whispered ambitions could draw their gaze.


    He had to complete both, yet strangely, he felt no fear. It was as if his path had become clearer, no longer clouded by the blinding haze of revenge.


    For the first time, purpose illuminated his steps, guiding him forward with a resolve as steady as a mountain beneath the heavens.


    "You bastards can''t hear my thoughts, right?" he suddenly remembered, casting a suspicious glance at the sky.


    For a heartbeat, he waited, as though daring the heavens to respond. But soon, he shook his head, chuckling softly.


    ''If they could hear my thoughts, then I''d just fill my mind with nonsense¡ªor stop thinking entirely,'' he resolved with a sly grin.


    And with that, Su Xiaobai quieted his mind, willing his thoughts into silence. He let himself drift, slipping into the serene void of sleep, his consciousness fading like mist under the morning sun.


    ____


    Within a shadowed realm, veiled in an endless mist that stretched beyond sight and time, Su Xiaobai found himself stuck.


    "Hm?"


    "Is this... my spirit sea (sea of conciousness)? How did I get here?"


    Su Xiaobai was stunned. Moments ago, he was sleeping peacefully, yet now he stood in this strange, dark expanse. Was he truly within his own consciousness?


    Around him, the darkness seemed alive, twisting with a inky fog. But through the haze, he noticed three colossal presences slumbering in the depths.


    In one direction lay his demonic bloodline, a dark and unknown power coiled in quiet dormancy.


    To his left, he recognized the divine Sky Serpent bloodline: a massive white-scaled serpent with eyes crackling with electricity, resting atop a storm so vast it seemed to span an entire continent.


    The third, the Azure Dragon, ahead, a blue-scaled behemoth whose immense body stretched like an endless ocean. Each beast lay exhausted, their mighty forms still after what must have been a fierce struggle.


    "Could I... tame them?"


    The thought hit Su Xiaobai like a thunderbolt. Here, in his sea of consciousness, he was the sovereign.


    If he could seize control over these bloodlines while they lay dormant, he could potentially harness their power.


    In this realm, his will should be boundless.


    He grinned, eyes gleaming with ambition.


    "There was no harm in trying."


    WHOOSH!


    In an instant, the darkness around him was swallowed by a blinding blaze as infernal flames erupted from Su Xiaobai''s body, surging forth like endless tidal waves, illuminating every corner of his consciousness.


    HISSSSS!


    Suddenly, a fierce roar¡ªshook his whole conciousness¡ªfollowed by the fiery glow. The Divine Sky Serpent had awoken. With a rumble, it unleashed a howling as a whirlwind spiraled into a massive tornado, tearing toward Su Xiaobai''s flames.


    WHIRRR!


    SHHHH-CRACK!


    The winds shrieked, clashing against the inferno, yet the flames only devoured them, growing fiercer with each gust.


    GRRRRR!


    To his right, a low, dark rumble¡ªechoed as his demonic bloodline stirred.


    SWWWISH!


    A shadowed hand as massive as a mountain lunged, releasing a pulse of devouring darkness with a sinister energy.


    But the flames hungrily consumed it, blazing even higher as they fed on the dark energy.


    SNORT!


    Then¡ªa sharp, disdainful sound shattered the space.


    The Azure Dragon, its blue-scaled body shimmering like an endless sea under moonlight, rose from its place.


    BOOM!


    With a thunderous speed, it lunged forward, eyes ablaze with fury. Su Xiaobai''s flames flickered, and a chill ran down his spine.


    He had miscalculated!


    ''The Azure Dragon¡­ It doesn''t truly belong here. It''s not bound to my spirit sea, so my control over it is limited.''


    A cold realization settled in: if he did nothing, this ancient beast would consume him entirely, obliterating his will.


    "Not today," he murmured, his voice steeled with resolve, as he braced himself, summoning every ounce of his inner power.


    BZZZZT!


    The Azure Dragon surged forward, jaws gaping wide. Su Xiaobai clenched his fists, summoning the pressure of a thousand stars to weigh it down.


    But the dragon didn''t even flinch.


    "What...?" His blood ran cold as he realized how badly he''d underestimated it. He took a deep breath, ready to try something desperate¡ª


    CRACK!


    The Azure Dragon froze mid-lunge, motionless as if time itself had stopped.


    "It¡­ worked?" Su Xiaobai whispered, relief and disbelief flooding him. "Just that much weight?"


    But something was wrong.


    The dragon''s eyes were still, empty, as if it was frozen completely. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "??"


    Curious, Su Xiaobai slowly turned, only to find himself face-to-face with something unfathomable.


    "What¡­ in the¡­!"


    Before him hovered a single, majestic eye, stretching as far as the universe itself¡ªno other comparison did it justice. It possessed an intense, vertical slit that seemed to pierce straight into Su Xiaobai''s soul, filling him with an instinctual, bone-deep fear.


    The eye was a dark violet, and what he could see of the creature''s scales shimmered in shades that defied mortal comprehension.


    The Azure Dragon was reduced to an insect in its presence.


    The sheer weight of its gaze made Su Xiaobai''s breath catch. His spirit sea felt untouched by this being, which could only mean one thing:


    It''s not here¡­ It doesn''t belong to this realm at all¡­


    A shiver raced down his spine as the realization took hold.


    This being was observing him from the void¡ªbeyond the fabric of his reality.


    "Ahh!" Abruptly ¡ª an throbbing pain exploded in his head as the being''s gaze pierced deeper, seizing his thoughts. "G-Get¡­ out¡­!"


    He dropped to his knees, clutching his head. "Stop¡­!" The words came out in a pained gasp, as the presence only pressed harder, his vision flickering with agony.


    "Aaaagh!"


    _____


    The next day¡ªThousand Beast Forest. Sunlight poured over the mountains, a golden veil upon ancient trees.


    "Hah! Look at this fool, sleeping here!" a voice sneered, its owner''s boot resting mockingly close to Su Xiaobai''s still form.


    Outside a hidden cave, Su Xiaobai lay upon the cold, jagged earth, unmoving, unfeeling, as though in a world beyond pain.


    Yet the forest was watching.


    And now, it had brought unwelcome visitors.

 Chapter 29 Intercepted by Xiantian Sect!

    "This idiot¡ªpassed out in the dirt like a mangy dog!"Su Xiaobai''s eye twitched. Just when he''d finally calmed his storming spirit sea, the quiet shattered under the voices of these rowdy brats.


    ''Six of them,'' he noted, sensing their presences with the ease of a hawk eyeing chicks from above. ''Not much of a threat¡­ but I''m in no rush to hop up, either.''


    He''d already sent Xiao Lu safely to his ring world. With her tucked away, he could relax, even if the aura around these newcomers suggested a few cultivation stages above him.


    The intruders were a mixed group of five men and a woman, divided by color: three in plain gray robes and three in dark blue, each of them had this distinct mark on their chest, just above the heart¡ªa dragon coiling around an orb.


    Sect disciples, then. Treasure-chasing troublemakers by the look of them.


    "Elder Bai, come over here!" one of the blue-robed disciples sneered, elbowing his friend. "Some fool''s lying here like he just lost a bet with fate."


    Su Xiaobai gritted his teeth, fighting the urge to spring up and scatter them like dry leaves. ''Patience,'' he reminded himself. ''Let them dig their own graves first.''


    One of the disciples¡ªWang Fei¡ªa tall, smug one with a boot begging to be stomped on¡ªstepped forward and prodded Su Xiaobai in the ribs. "Get up, coward!"


    Su Xiaobai remained still, playing the role of ''unconscious fool'', though inwardly, he was considering which one to smack first when he did get up.


    Then, a new voice echoed through the air. It was soft and sweet, like silk brushing against skin, but sharp enough to cut deep.


    "Cheng Yong. Wang Fei. Fifteen lashes each."


    "!!"


    The two disciples froze, their faces draining of color.


    SWOOSH!


    A delicate feminine figure descended from above, landing with a grace movement. She spun a jade-handled parasol in her hand, the delicate accessory twirling lazily, mocking the very idea of a weapon.


    Her green robes, decorated in silver that glinted like hidden blades, hugged her body elegantly. Crimson eyes as cold as starlight fixed on the group with a glare that would make even hardened cultivators flinch. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Bai Yujian, elder of the Xiantian Sect, didn''t raise her voice or break her posture... She didn''t need to.


    "Have you forgotten the ways of the Xiantian Sect?" she asked, her tone as soft as it was deadly. "Mocking strangers to feel powerful? Flaunting your ranks to humiliate others? Tell me¡ªdoes that make you stronger?"


    "..."


    "..."


    Cheng Yong and Wang Fei''s sneers vanished, replaced by uncomfortable silence.


    "Elder Bai, we didn''t mean¡ª" Cheng Yong stammered, barely managing to get the words out.


    "Didn''t mean what?" Her gaze tore through his weak protest like a sharpened blade. "Didn''t mean to make fools of yourselves?"


    Pftt..


    Su Xiaobai, lying in the dirt, felt his muscles tense involuntarily.


    Her presence wasn''t just strong¡ªit was unfathomable. ''Who is this elder?'' he wondered, both amused and tense at the same time.


    If he couldn''t sense her cultivation level, that could only mean one thing: she''d surpassed the mortal stages, likely reaching Deity Transformation.


    Su Xiaobai''s mind went back through what he knew of cultivation, a ladder stretching endlessly into the heavens.


    Most people started at the first steps: Qi Awakening, where they gathered spiritual energy; then Qi Refinement, refining it; and Consolidation, where they locked it within a seed. From there, a true cultivator would step into ''Foundation Establishment''¡ªa stage that was all about hardening the body and mind, preparing to step beyond mortal limits.


    Then came ''Core Formation'': the moment a cultivator condensed all that energy into a core, like the heartbeat of their power. The core was only the beginning of true strength, though.


    After that, the cultivation path split into even greater realms¡ª''Earthly Rebirth'' to create a ''Nascent Soul'', then ''Soul Fusion'' to strengthen the spirit, and ''Spirit Severing'' to break the last ties to mortality.


    Then, if one was tenacious (or crazy) enough to survive all that, the final step was to ''integrate'' it all into a divine embryo, which grew into a ''Deity,'' where the body was reborn as an immortal vessel.


    And Bai Yujian¡­ well, she had clearly walked that entire path and then some.


    Su Xiaobai was left praying to every ancestor he''d ever heard of that she wasn''t a reincarnation of his personal nightmare, ''Long Lifen'', who''d tortured him back home on White Cloud Star as if it were a pastime.


    Just as he was cursing his rotten luck, the lone female disciple, Lan Meiyu, stepped forward. She had the kind of beauty that could convince any man to lower his guard¡ªand then promptly knock him out with a single strike.


    Almond-shaped eyes appraised him with curiosity, though her smile was barely a sliver.


    "But Elder Bai, doesn''t he seem a bit¡­ suspicious? I mean, who lies around here of all places?~"


    She stepped closer, her robe highlighting her slender waist, her fragrance drifting on the breeze.


    "Suspicious or not, that doesn''t excuse your behavior," Bai Yujian replied, casting a sidelong glance at Su Xiaobai, her crimson gaze sharp as ever.


    She arched an eyebrow. ''He''s awake,'' she noted, sensing the faint ripples in his qi.


    A gray-robed disciple with a round face and nervous manner¡ªFatty Zhou, as he was aptly named¡ªcleared his throat. "Elder Bai, should we¡­ uh, should we try to wake him? If he''s just some passerby, we''re wasting our time, aren''t we?"


    "Not just any passerby," said Xiao Yu, a fellow gray-robed disciple with sharp eyes and tied-back blue hair. "His breathing reveals traces of spiritual energy¡­ he''s a cultivator, like us."


    A faint glimmer crossed Bai Yujian''s eyes. "Leave him be for now," she commanded, cold and composed.


    She turned to Liu Zhenhai, her personal disciple, the only one in this group who actually seemed competent.


    He stood by the mouth of a cave, where a boulder blocked the way, eyes gleaming with the thrill of discovery. The faint golden light in his long blonde hair and his striking features could have made him the hero of his own tale.


    "Liu Zhenhai," Elder Bai''s voice softened slightly. "Do you see anything?"


    "Yes, Elder Bai," he replied, his voice calm. "I''m certain the treasure is behind this boulder."


    The word ''treasure'' sent a jolt of interest through Su Xiaobai. ''So that''s what they''re here for.''


    In a way, it made sense.


    The Xiantian Sect¡ªa righteous sect that prided itself on tradition and hierarchy¡ªdivided its disciples into levels.


    A sect was different from a clan; while clans were essentially family powerhouses, passing down techniques within bloodlines, sects were open institutions where anyone with talent could rise through the ranks.


    Inside Xiantian sect ¡ª The Outer Court disciples wore gray, blending in like unassuming dust, while Inner Court disciples like these blue-robed idiots strutted about, desperate to look important. But it was the crimson-robed Core Disciples, the elite, who were the true powers of the sect¡ªright below the elders like Bai Yujian herself.


    Sect disciples were always sniffing around for treasures and opportunities to prove themselves.


    Apparently, Liu Zhenhai, with his sharp instincts and privileged position as a personal disciple, had found this place first and dragged his fellow lackeys along.


    Meanwhile, Su Xiaobai''s own heart sank. He had stumbled across this place by chance, following an old map he''d scavenged from Fairy Lianhua, hoping for some ''minor'' fortune to get him by.


    Instead, he''d found himself right under the noses of Xiantian disciples¡ªand an elder who could turn him to dust with a flick of her finger.


    As he lay there, Su Xiaobai could only hope that Elder Bai had the restraint¡ªand mercy¡ªnot to crush him as easily as she had crushed her disciples'' egos.

 Chapter 30 The Tomb of Weeping Emperor (1)

    Liu Zhenhai, "I''m certain the treasure is behind this boulder.""Mm.." Elder Bai offered a slight nod, her expression thoughtful.


    At this moment, the only female disciple, Lan Meiyu, stepped forward, her eyes practically shining with admiration.


    "Really? You''re incredible, Senior Brother~~! Finding the treasure''s location so easily¡­" she purred, moving closer with all the elegance she could muster, her voice soft, almost reverent.


    "..."


    Fatty Zhou and Xiao Yu exchanged knowing glances, their faint smirks betraying exactly what they thought of her obvious intentions.


    Everyone knew Lan Meiyu wasn''t here just for the treasure. Liu Zhenhai was a rising star, already at the Soul Fusion realm and an inner disciple of the Xiantian Sect.


    If she could secure him as her ''Dao partner''¡ªa companion on the cultivation path¡ªher own journey would get a huge boost.


    "Pathetic," Xiao Yu muttered, his disdain barely concealed.


    Meanwhile, Su Xiaobai remained motionless, taking in the scene. It was clear that Liu Zhenhai was the real focus of this expedition, Elder Bai''s favored disciple, while the others were just tagging along, hoping to bask in his success.


    ''So, Liu Zhenhai''s the hero of this little adventure,'' Su Xiaobai thought with a smirk. ''And the others? Just followers hoping to catch a few crumbs that fall from his plate.''


    With Elder Bai watching over them, it was safe enough for Su Xiaobai to hang back and observe¡ªthe group was far too strong for him to handle head-on.


    Not that he intended to fight them. ''Let them do the work. It''s not like I could break that boulder myself anyway, he thought with a smirk.''


    _____


    BAM!


    BAM!


    BAM!


    Crack... Crack...


    After nearly an hour of grueling effort, Liu Zhenhai finally shattered the boulder blocking the cave entrance.


    CRASH!


    The thunderous crash echoed across the valley, scattering birds into the sky.


    "Finally!" he gasped, struggling to mask his exhaustion, and glanced over his shoulder, expecting some sign of praise.


    Elder Bai remained as she was, her parasol twirling lazily, her gaze distant and detached. She gave him a single nod, barely acknowledging his effort.


    ''That''s it?'' Liu Zhenhai''s pride deflated, his sense of accomplishment vanishing. ''One nod, after I practically shattered my bones on that boulder?''


    Lan Meiyu quickly moved beside him, her voice overly sweet. "Senior Brother, you were amazing~!" she chirped, her tone dripping with admiration, her robes swaying as she leaned in, hoping to draw him in closer.


    "Amazing, huh?" Liu Zhenhai thought bitterly. ''Where were you when I was the one smashing rocks?''


    Xiao Yu clapped him on the shoulder. "Good work, senior brother," he said in an even tone that somehow managed to feel patronizing.


    Liu Zhenhai finally realized what had happened as he glanced around. Lan Meiyu, Xiao Yu, Fatty Zhou, Chen Yong, and Wang Fei¡ªthey''d all been standing back, arms crossed, watching him struggle like it was some casual afternoon stroll.


    ''If I''d asked for their help, we could''ve cracked that boulder in five minutes,'' he fumed silently.


    Fatty Zhou waddled past, shaking his head. "No cure for stupidity¡­" he muttered, just loud enough for Liu Zhenhai to hear, before squeezing himself through the narrow cave entrance.


    Liu Zhenhai''s fists clenched, his eyes flashing with frustration as he stormed into the cave, his footsteps echoing off the stone walls.


    Elder Bai remained outside for a moment, her figure still as a statue, parasol resting lightly in her hand.


    Her gaze on the cave entrance as her disciples vanished into the darkness, her calm expression hiding the depths of her thoughts.


    _____


    A short distance away, Su Xiaobai sensed the stillness in the air. The disciples had finally entered the cave, and the silence gave him his signal.


    Opening his eyes, he stretched lazily, brushing dust from his robes. "Finally, the idiots are gone¡­" he muttered with a smirk. "Time for the real fun."


    He took one step forward¡ªthen froze.


    "!"


    There, calm as ever, was Elder Bai, standing with her back to him, the parasol twirling slowly in her hand.


    Cold dread washed over him ¡ª She hadn''t followed her disciples.


    She hadn''t left.


    She''d been there the whole time.


    ''Oh no¡­'' His heart pounded as he cursed his luck. ''Did she¡­ hear me?''


    Without turning, Elder Bai''s voice drifted back to him, soft and calm, yet somehow chilling. "Don''t enter the cave¡­ unless you want to die."


    Her words lingered in the air for a moment, and then, without a glance, she floated effortlessly toward the cave''s entrance, disappearing into the shadows.


    Su Xiaobai exhaled, his mind caught between relief and unease. ''Don''t enter, huh?'' he thought, frowning. ''Does she think I''m the type to back down that easily?''


    The words echoed in his mind. "To reach strength, one must take risks and forge themselves in fire. Only those who dare step into the flames emerge victorious."


    Letting others seize the treasure¡ªhis only chance for survival and his ticket back home? Yeah, that wasn''t his style.


    With one last look at the dark entrance, Su Xiaobai''s lips curved into a determined smirk. ''The world rewards those who dare. Those who wait? They end up as dust.''


    Taking a breath, he stepped forward into the cave''s depths, ready to face whatever lay ahead.


    _____


    Crunch¡­ Crack¡­


    As Su Xiaobai stepped into the cave, the last trickle of daylight vanished, swallowed up by shadows thick as swamp mud.


    Whoosh!


    The air itself was cold and heavy, filled with an iron stench that hit his nose like a punch.


    "Perfect. A haunted cave that smells like a butcher''s workshop," he muttered, squinting into the gloom. "... And, of course, you bastards couldn''t resist throwing me into yet another dark hole." He let out a low chuckle.


    Srrr....!


    He pressed on, and faint blue-green wisps rose from the floor, drifting like ghostly fireflies. The glow cast just enough light to reveal the walls¡ªa series of stone faces, frozen in mid-scream, carved as if the souls of the dead were trapped within the rock itself.


    "Alright, whoever of you designed this place had way too much time on their hands," he grumbled, eyeing the eerie carvings. Su Xiaobai had seen a lot, but this was practically begging for an exorcism.


    Further in, the cave opened into a larger chamber where towering statues of warriors stood on either side, each one impaled by rusted swords.


    Their eyeless faces tilted toward him, expressions twisted in agony, as if they''d died guarding some ancient secret. His smirk faded¡ªsomething about their hollow gaze seemed to follow him as he walked, like a silent warning from beyond.


    Rustle~~!


    A cold gust swept through the chamber, chilling him to the core. Beneath that chill was a powerful stinking pulse of ''Death Qi''¡ªa twisted, potent cousin of ''Yin Qi''.


    While Yin Qi was cold energy he could cultivate safely, Death Qi was darker, drawn from places steeped in pain or loss.


    It carried suffering, leeching the life force of anyone reckless enough to absorb it.


    The mist seemed to tug at him, practically inviting him to cultivate it. For a moment, the temptation gripped him tightly as he wondered if his veins could refine it like Yin Qi.


    "Testing my damn resolve, huh?" he muttered, eyeing the mist. "You''d love it if I keeled over trying to absorb ghost-flavored Qi in a cursed hole like this." The urge to cultivate it gripped him¡ªhard.


    But Su Xiaobai wasn''t that reckless.


    Scrrrh!


    Tearing a strip from his sleeve, he tied it over his mouth, muttering under his breath. "Nice try, you cosmic sadists." S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Qi was potent, no doubt¡ªperfect for his cultivation¡ªbut he couldn''t waste time here. Elder Bai''s group would be closing in on the treasure, and if they reached it first, he''d be left empty-handed¡ªor worse, trapped in a cave collapse.


    With his focus steeled, Su Xiaobai pressed on, moving as silently as the dead statues themselves.


    _____


    Meanwhile, deeper in the cave¡­


    After nearly a week of trekking, Elder Bai''s group finally reached the end of the tunnel, only to find a massive golden door, standing stiffly like the face of a cliff.


    Lan Meiyu gaped. "A¡­ door?"


    This wasn''t just any door. It stretched hundreds of meters high and was at least twice as wide, its surface engraved with celestial beasts locked in a fierce dance.


    Ancient runes, glowing faintly, shimmered across the gold, whispering in a language older than history itself ¡ª Each rune thrummed with the kind of power that could topple kingdoms.


    Lan Meiyu cast a hopeful glance at Elder Bai, who stood calm and expressionless, clearly expecting them to figure this out on their own.


    Lan Meiyu''s shoulders sagged¡ªanother trial she''d have to work through herself.


    Desperate, she turned to Liu Zhenhai, eyes pleading for a solution. But Liu Zhenhai was already staring at the runes, his brow furrowed, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.


    "Touching it might set off a trap," he muttered, voice tight with tension. "One wrong move, and we could all end up in pieces."

 Chapter 31 The Tomb of Weeping Emperor (2)

    The Tomb of the Weeping Emperor!First Chamber¡ªFalse Door.


    Sweat trickled down Liu Zhenhai''s brow as he traced a finger over the runes, his face a mask of forced confidence barely hiding a flicker of fear.


    "One wrong move, and we''re all in pieces," he muttered, as though his hands weren''t already shaking.


    Lan Meiyu leaned in close, practically hanging off him, her eyes wide in exaggerated awe. "Only you could understand these runes, Senior Brother!" she purred, her robe ''accidentally'' slipping just so, revealing a soft curve of ''jade peaks'' while her fingers brushed his arm. "Your insight¡­ it''s almost too much."


    Liu Zhenhai''s eyes dipped, and his chest puffed up. "Oh, it''s nothing, Junior Sister," he replied, feigning modesty while basking in her attention. "These runes are complex, yes, but manageable for someone like me." He traced another rune, putting on the air of a master¡ªif only he knew what any of it meant.


    "Truly?" she sighed, leaning even closer, her "hidden peaches" nudging him just enough to tempt.


    Behind them, Fatty Zhou and Xiao Yu rolled their eyes, sharing a knowing look.


    "Laying it on thick, isn''t she?" Fatty Zhou muttered.


    "Annoying," Xiao Yu replied with a snort.


    They both knew Lan Meiyu''s admiration was as fake as a street vendor''s talisman. She wasn''t here for any runes; her target was Liu Zhenhai, and her technique was as obvious as it was shameless.


    But Liu Zhenhai''s gaze kept flicking back to Elder Bai, who stood a few steps away, her silence more terrifying than any scolding.


    For all of Lan Meiyu''s syrupy praise, her Senior Brother was really after Elder Bai''s approval, hanging over him like a blade.


    Lan Meiyu, oblivious to his real aim, let her hand linger on his arm, her voice dropping to a whisper. "If only I could understand these markings as you do¡­ Perhaps you could show me¡­ up close?" Her eyes sparkled with an invitation as bold as a dragon''s roar.


    Liu Zhenhai''s face flushed, caught between the runes he barely understood and the "two soft moons" brushing against him. He coughed, struggling to focus. "It''s¡­ a skill few can master," he replied, barely holding his composure as she leaned in, warm and soft as silk.


    "Cough..."


    A sharp cough and Elder Bai''s cold gaze flicked to him, and his pride shrank instantly. Lan Meiyu pulled back, but it was too late¡ªElder Bai''s silence was far worse than a scolding.


    Moments later¡­


    Still stinging from Elder Bai''s silent rebuke, Liu Zhenhai turned back to the door, determination flaring in his eyes. "These runes¡­ they''re nothing! Let''s break through it together!"


    The others exchanged glances and shrugged, summoning their techniques and unleashing them in a fierce onslaught on the door.


    THUD!


    CRACK!


    A minute later ¡ª The golden surface flickered, runes flaring in response.


    Then, with a final¡ªBOOM¡ªthe door shattered, its massive frame collapsing in a thick cloud of dust. Beyond it, a golden glow spilled from the next chamber, calling them inside like forbidden fruit.


    "The treasure!" Lan Meiyu gasped, her greed blazing, her earlier flirtations discarded as she rushed forward with the rest.


    Liu Zhenhai tried to call them back, "Wait! Be cautious!" But his words were lost in the scramble; no one was holding back now.


    CRASH! CRASH!


    But ¡ªAs they charged into the chamber, two massive stone pillars trembled and crashed together, sealing them in with the finality of a sword stroke.


    "What¡ª!?"


    Creak... Creak...


    The ceiling groaned, stone spears shooting down from above like divine retribution. The walls shuddered, stones raining down in fury, trapping them within as if the tomb itself had come to life, hungry to punish their greed.


    And as the dust settled, the silence that followed was reminder that the treasure they''d rushed to claim would now be their tomb.


    _____


    Two Days Later¡­


    Outside the same door, now standing unscathed as if it hadn''t been blasted into oblivion, silence reigned¡ªuntil¡ª


    SWOOSH!


    "Hah!"


    A jagged crack appeared on the cave wall, tearing through space like a sharpened knife, and with all the grace of an unwanted side character, Su Xiaobai was spat out.


    "What the¡ª!"


    He staggered, barely keeping his balance as his head rang like a struck bell. The world spun as if he''d been thrown headfirst through a thunder array.


    Buzzzzzzzzzzzz!


    The sound drummed through his skull, making his bones feel like they''d been put through a spirit blender.


    "Wh¡ªJust happened?!"


    Clutching his head, he crouched, letting the buzzing fade. He''d been exploring this cursed cave, even tossing a casual "hello" to the creepy statues lining the walls, when he''d spotted a rift¡ªsmall but pulsing with a dark, familiar energy.


    Naturally, he''d stepped right in ¡ª Next thing he knew, he was here, spat out like a discarded seed.


    As the buzzing quieted, he finally caught his breath, a faint memory tugging at his mind.


    ''That rift¡­ was it the Void Thunder Dragon?'' Ever since that ancient dragon had nestled into his spirit sea, his mind felt like a simmering cauldron held at a fragile calm.


    The lesser bloodlines in him had gone silent, almost reverent before its overwhelming presence.


    The name, ''Void Thunder Dragon'', came to him instinctively, as though whispered directly into his mind. And the strangest part? He was certain this creature was consuming the rest, soon to become his only bloodline.


    This latest rift? Likely just a taste of its strange power leaking through.


    "Could it be¡­ my ticket back home?" Su Xiaobai eyed the rift, pulse racing.


    He felt its strength¡ªa power vast enough to cross worlds.


    But then again, the higher-ups couldn''t possibly be that generous¡­ right?


    With a wary shake of his head, he dismissed the thought.


    Instead, he turned to his surroundings. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Same cursed cave, same miserable silence¡ªexcept for a towering door at the far end, standing like a challenge.


    The door seemed to breathe danger, practically vibrating with curses and calamities just waiting to be unleashed.


    "Yeah¡­ definitely not touching that." He didn''t even consider testing his luck on that monstrosity and started looking for other exits instead.


    "What game are you guys playing with me now?" he muttered, eyes narrowing as he thought of all the ways this could go sideways.


    Memories flashed of a poor spirit beast he''d once seen¡ªjust a fluffy ''Wini Poppi'', happily munching a blade of grass, when a rock fell from the heavens and flattened it on the spot.


    From that day on, Su Xiaobai knew: luck didn''t exist. Fate? Just the cruel whims of whoever''s watching above.


    "Huh?" His musings were interrupted as something about the statues along the walls caught his eye. Each one of them was tilted, almost as if pointing¡­ toward what seemed like a dead end on the right side of the cave.


    "Oh, you think I wouldn''t notice that?" Su Xiaobai grinned, half pitying the higher-ups for their weak attempt at trickery. "If this is all you''ve got, you guys need to step up your game..."


    With the bold confidence of someone blissfully unaware he''d just planted a red flag straight into his own fate, he strolled over to the so-called "wall" and reached out.


    But instead of meeting cold stone, his hand slipped right through¡ªjust an illusion concealing the way forward.


    "Am I that much of a sage now?" He chuckled, wondering if he''d truly become wise beyond mortal measure after reincarnation or if the higher-ups had just lost their touch.


    With a smug smile and a mental pat on the back, he stepped through the illusory wall, disappearing into the hidden passage.


    Whoosh!

 Chapter 32 The Tomb of Weeping Emperor (3)

    Six Hours Later¡­Second Chamber ¡ª The Lake of Reflection!


    "ARGHHH! DAMN YOU ALL TO THE NINTH LEVEL OF THE ABYSS!"


    SPLASH! SPLASH!


    Su Xiaobai staggered out of the hidden corridor, blood and sweat soaking his shredded robes, which clung to him in a pitiful mess, as though even his clothes were too tired to go on.


    His hair, once intimidating, was plastered to his face in limp strands, making him look more like a soaked stray than the reincarnated villain feared in stories.


    With a grunt of disgust, he hurled a severed limb¡ªcourtesy of some fanged demonic beast¡ªstraight into the lake before him.


    SPLASH!


    "Hah!" He watched it sink, imagining it was one of those high-and-mighty elders who''d come up with this "shortcut."


    "Follow the statues'' direction, they said," he muttered, wiping his bloodied brow and only smearing it worse. "Oh, yes, step right in the way they''re pointing. Real clever! Led me straight into a nest of beasts! Who''s the genius who decided on that? ¡ª If I ever meet them, they''ll get to feel what it''s like when directions switch and the stick goes right where the sun doesn''t shine."


    He stretched his arms, grimacing as his bruised, sliced-up body protested.


    Every inch ached, a miserable reminder of the six hours he''d spent hacking, clawing, and cursing his way out of that nightmare of a corridor.


    A twisted part of him almost admired the higher-ups for their craftiness¡ªalmost. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But in the end, he figured they were likely just getting a good laugh out of his misery.


    "Six hours of fighting through that endless hordes of beasts," he muttered bitterly. "For what? Just to learn the statues weren''t pointing the way forward?" He spat into the lake, glaring at his own reflection. "Either they''re trying to mess with me on purpose, or those ancient codgers up top have lost their wits."


    "Where the hell even am I right now?..."


    Taking a deep, exasperated breath, he finally looked around, noting the chamber''s eerie, open space.


    The ceiling far above, a spiked stone mouth as if the tomb itself wanted to swallow him whole. Below, an impossibly still lake stretched out, dark and silent.


    Its glassy surface reflected the chamber like a void leading straight to the underworld.


    He could feel something ancient in the air, a pulsing energy that made his skin prickle.


    "Oh, great. A lake," he muttered, voice dripping with sarcasm. "Because nothing ever goes wrong around giant, creepy lakes in ancient caves." He squinted suspiciously at the water, half-expecting some tentacled horror to lunge out the second he set foot on it.


    Floating stone platforms led across the lake toward an altar in the center.


    The altar practically hummed with an ominous aura, like it was daring him to step forward.


    "!"


    But as he was about to take a step, Su Xiaobai froze, his gaze shifting across the lake.


    On the platforms, he saw a group of disciples¡ªyoung cultivators, each one locked in battle with a shadowy clone of themselves.


    And not just any disciples. Oh, no. These were the same fools who had snickered outside this cave the last time, when he was peacefully asleep after taming his bloodlines.


    A cruel grin spread across Su Xiaobai''s face as he leaned against a rock, arms crossed. "Well, well," he murmured, amusement gleaming in his eyes. "Look who''s having a bit of trouble now."


    He watched the disciples struggle against their shadows, each yelp and grunt from them like music to his ears.


    It was the perfect end to a miserable day.


    Su Xiaobai chuckled, savoring the ''mess'' across the lake.


    Each of the so-called elites wrestled with their shadowy doubles in a miserable dance of self-inflicted agony. Liu Zhenhai, slashing wildly, looked ready to scream as his clone mirrored every strike, while Xiao Yu''s fists swung heavier with exhaustion.


    Fatty Zhou, who usually had a strategy for escaping trouble, was driven back by his doppelganger''s advance, barely holding his ground.


    And Lan Meiyu¡ªher charms, all the coquettish glances and infuriating sighs, utterly useless here¡ªwas left gritting her teeth in frustration as her clone countered every flirtatious flick of her eyes with an equally mocking look.


    "Ah, trapped in a tragic little ballet with their own reflections," Su Xiaobai snickered, shaking his head. "And these bastards called me weak? I swear, my respect for the future just died a little."


    The irony wasn''t lost on him.


    They had jeered, sneering when he''d was defenseless.


    Yet ¡ª Now here they were, helplessly battling their own shadows.


    It was almost enough to make him forget the hours he''d just clawed through in that cursed corridor.


    Almost.


    Then his gaze drifted, and he froze.


    "!!"


    Standing at the edge of the lake, observing the pathetic scene with an air of casual detachment, was Elder Bai. She watched her students like a passing curiosity, her face unreadable save for the faintest flicker of amusement.


    Midnight-dark robes hung from her frame like silk woven from shadows and starlight, flowing as though the world itself dared not touch her.


    She held a jade-handled parasol, as if this was just a pleasant stroll through a moonlit garden rather than a chamber of trials.


    "..."


    Su Xiaobai felt his smirk falter, his heart giving a hard, unwilling thump. This wasn''t the empty gaze of some overindulgent sect elder¡ªno, her presence carried the weight of centuries.


    Her beauty was fierce, as though carved from the same cold, unforgiving blade she seemed to embody.


    She was the kind of danger that didn''t need to chase you down; you simply fell into her path, and that was that.


    "!!"


    Her gaze drifted over him, and a chill settled in his bones. Those eyes¡ªdepthless, fathomless¡ªseemed to pierce straight through him, peeling back every layer of arrogance and bitterness until he felt bare before her.


    And in that moment, he knew she had seen it all: every curse he muttered, every wild-eyed glare, and him stumbling out drenched in blood, naked and battered.


    Her gaze held the faintest flicker of amusement, as though the entire scene was mildly entertaining to her, as if she had encountered some rare creature in her long, monotonous life...


    And, to his irritation, she didn''t seem even slightly bothered by the fact that, despite her warning, he''d still managed to sneak into the tomb.


    And then, just as swiftly, her gaze slid away, as if he were nothing more than a passing shadow.


    "Sigh..."


    He let out a slow breath, feeling an unexpected warmth creep up his neck. Frustration, resentment¡ªand something else he refused to name¡ªtwisted inside him. ''Damn,'' he thought, forcing himself to look away.


    Her beauty filled with contradictions. Her face, smooth as jade, held a chill that could make a man forget his purpose, yet her scarlet lips hinted at danger¡ªa thrill wrapped in elegance.


    But it was her effortless stillness, the serene confidence with which she held herself, that struck him.


    There was no strain, no struggle; only the quiet assurance of someone who''d long since left the trials of mortals behind.


    A pang of nostalgia struck him, a sharp reminder of the heights he once commanded¡ªdays when the world bent beneath his will.


    But those days were long gone, buried under lifetimes of dust and disgrace.


    Now, he was little more than a pest to these so-called cultivators, an outsider scrabbling his way through every cursed trial Higher-ups threw at him.


    Yet, as he stood there, still filled with the adrenaline from six hours spent carving through beasts, a shadow of his former self seemed to flicker over his face¡ªpowerful and confident, someone who wasn''t used to being at the bottom of the food chain.

 Chapter 33 The Tomb of Weeping Emperor (4)

    ''One day,...''Su Xiaobai vowed silently, a flicker of past-life villainy sneaking into his grin.


    ''One day, I''ll surpass even you. And when I do¡­ well, maybe I''ll show you a few techniques myself.''


    For now, though, her indifference was his golden ticket. With Elder Bai preoccupied by her ''noble'' disciples, Su Xiaobai could fade into the background, focusing on something far more intimate¡ªa breakthrough that had been holding its way to the surface since he''d absorbed the ''thick'', potent yin qi from the demon beast corpses he''d left strewn across the dark corridor.


    Settling into a cross-legged position, Su Xiaobai closed his eyes, shutting out the noise of his surroundings. The unrefined yin qi churned within him, cold and insistent, like the whisper of old, buried secrets echoing in his veins.


    ''Not yet'' he thought, coaxing it into line.


    He forced the qi through his meridians, each pulse tearing into him like frozen shards, pain that sharpened to a blade''s edge.


    And yet, he drank it in.


    This wasn''t about comfort¡ªit was about power.


    "Not enough," he muttered to himself, his lips twisting into a hungry smirk.


    Harder. Take me to the peak or break me.


    Bit by bit, he tempered the wild yin qi, refining it until it became True Qi, the threads of energy pooling within his dantian. There, his elemental seed pulsed like a smoldering ember, a nexus of potential he''d been feeding ever since he''d reached the Late Qi Condensation stage.


    But to claim the peak, he''d need far more.


    Pouring the refined True Qi into his nexus, Su Xiaobai pushed it to the breaking point. His dantian shuddered, swelling and stretching to contain the power as it hungrily devoured the energy he fed it, until it seemed he could push no more.


    KACHA¡ª


    A hour later, a sharp crack sounded from within him, as though his very core was tearing itself apart, but in that instant, the nexus shattered and reformed, the fragments weaving into a new, pulsing constellation¡ªa radiant map of stars rooted deep within his dantian, burning with fresh power.


    With a slow, wicked grin, he opened his eyes and raised a hand, calling forth a gust of wind that spiraled around his fingers, lightning crackling alongside it.


    The strength felt electric, hot as sin and sharp enough to cut through stone.


    ''So this is the true peak of the Qi Condensation Realm,'' he whispered, the satisfaction thrumming through him like the heady afterglow of a lover''s touch.


    Across the lake, the Xiantian sect disciples floundered, each locked in combat with their own shadow, exhausted and running on fumes. His gaze sharpened on Xiao Yu, forced into desperate hand-to-hand combat, his qi reduced to the dregs.


    ''Poor rooster,'' Su Xiaobai smiling wryly, ''he''s got all the bluster of a dragon, yet flails like a fish out of water.''


    "Did he figure it out?" Across the lake, as Su Xiaobai studied the still pond with a calculating look, Elder Bai cast him a glance, her cool detachment momentarily giving way to a flicker of surprise.


    Cultivators typically took time to consolidate their foundation after a breakthrough¡ªbut this one? No, he was already up, eyes narrowed, probing his surroundings as if his breakthrough had only sharpened his instincts.


    She watched him closely. He seemed focused on her disciples, scrutinizing them with an almost suspicious intensity.


    ''Did he really uncover the flaw in the formation already?'' she wondered, ''What sort of devilish intuition does he have?''


    The cave, she knew, was no ordinary tomb but a series of trials, each chamber sealed with a unique array. Her disciples had triggered the formation in the first chamber, setting off a chain reaction.


    The door had slammed shut behind them, the ceiling collapsing as if punishing their reckless entry. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    And then the true danger had activated: the dreaded Hellgate Array. The formation had summoned wave upon wave of demonic beasts, and while her disciples had cowered, she''d stepped in, swiftly dispatching the horde.


    But some of the beasts had slipped past¡ªand it seemed Su Xiaobai had been unlucky enough to encounter those survivors, mistaking them as part of his own trial.


    In truth, Su Xiaobai had followed the correct path. However, thanks to her disciples'' carelessness, the remaining beasts from the array had flooded his corridor. And here he was, somehow surviving despite the odds, observing this chamber like he knew its secrets.


    Elder Bai''s gaze softened as she considered the pond. She knew it was no ordinary body of water; spiritual energy pulsed beneath its serene surface. This was a spiritual pond, and somewhere at its depths lay a hidden formation producing the shadow puppets that plagued her disciples.


    If I''m correct, this is following a pattern¡ªan inheritance trial, she thought, piecing together the clues. From the layered formations through each chamber, it was becoming clear: this wasn''t just a treasure cave.


    This was a tomb of a powerful cultivator of the past, one who had left behind an inheritance meant to test and refine the worthy.


    As her disciples floundered, Elder Bai''s attention remained on Su Xiaobai. This chamber was array-driven, and she knew every array had its weakness.


    She was curious, wondering if this ''rogue cultivator''¡ªwho seemed so at odds with her disciples and yet strangely adept¡ªhad already sensed it.


    "He''s moving already..."


    Elder Bai''s eyes narrowed as Su Xiaobai strode boldly to the lake''s edge, exuding a quiet arrogance that made her disciples shift uneasily. His eyes gleamed with a sharp, knowing glint, a faint smirk suggesting he already knew the outcome.


    "Watch closely," he called.


    SWOOSH!


    The moment his foot grazed the lake''s surface, the water rippled violently, and dark qi surged upward, coalescing into a twisted reflection of himself¡ªa shadow puppet with hollow eyes that gazed back mockingly.


    Su Xiaobai didn''t hesitate. In an instant, a surge of qi erupted from him, lightning sparking from his fingertips with a fierce crackle, wind swirling at his feet, flames flickering around him like a storm given flesh.


    The disciples froze, eyes widening in shock. "Is he¡­ using everything at once?" Xiao Yu muttered.


    "Madness," Fatty Zhou stammered, struggling to fend off his own shadow puppet as it lunged at him.


    Unfazed, Su Xiaobai drove a bolt of lightning into his shadow''s chest¡ªCRACK!¡ªsending it staggering back, smoke curling from the charred mark.


    BAM!


    His fist encircled in flames as he struck his shadow, sending it skidding across the lake''s surface in a searing trail of steam.


    Lan Meiyu gasped, momentarily distracted and taking a blow from her own shadow.


    Su Xiaobai''s smiled, he raised his hand, summoning a vortex of fire and wind that spiraled forward, tearing across the lake.


    His shadow wavered, struggling to match his qi, but it couldn''t keep up.


    BOOM!


    The cyclone struck, shattering the puppets into trails of steam that drifted across the water.


    "..."


    "..."


    "..."


    "..."


    A stunned silence fell over the chamber as the disciples stared, disbelieving. Just moments before, they''d dismissed him as some drifter, barely worth a second glance. Now, he tore through a trial that had pushed each of them to their limits.


    "Who¡­ is this guy?" Liu Zhenhai whispered as Su Xiaobai stepped onto the altar.


    The altar, carved from ancient stone, glowed faintly with veins of light pulsing like a heartbeat. The air filled with the scent of damp stone and old qi, as though the chamber itself was alive.


    Su Xiaobai ran his fingers over the intricate carvings, his eyes narrowing with a rare focus. Among the markings, he spotted it¡ªa large, silver key nestled into the stone.


    Without a second thought, he slipped it into his spatial ring.


    Only then did he grip the altar''s lever, his smirk shifting into a look of satisfaction.


    THUD!


    The grinding of stone echoed as a massive door on the far side of the lake creaked open, revealing a dark passage stretching into the unknown.


    Whoosh!


    Without a glance back, Su Xiaobai strode through, disappearing into the shadows.


    "Wait!" Wang Fei''s voice broke the silence, panic flashing across his face as he turned to Elder Bai. "He''ll take all the treasures!"


    Elder Bai''s gaze flicked toward him, her voice cool and sharp. "If you want them, then keep up. Only strength will earn you rewards here."


    "..."


    "..."


    Her words left no room for any arguments, and the disciples fell silent, realizing they were each on their own.


    Watching the lake''s rippling surface, Elder Bai found herself recalling Su Xiaobai''s precise, brutal strikes. She had seen powerful cultivators before, but his control over the formation''s weaknesses had been exact¡ªstriking just as the puppet''s qi dipped, exploiting each brief pause with uncanny timing.


    "Did he sense the formation''s nature?" she murmured, a trace of surprise in her eyes. "Or is he simply touched by fortune?"


    The array was a basic spiritual pond by ancient standards, yet had accumulated energy over centuries to animate the puppets. Each puppet cycled through bursts of strength with a split-second rest between, nearly undetectable. Su Xiaobai had seized that opening, something most wouldn''t catch without knowing the array intimately.


    Elder Bai''s gaze stayed on the door where he had disappeared, her expression thoughtful.


    She''d dismissed him initially, thinking him too weak for these trials.


    But here he was...


    ¡ªor was it instinct?


    "Well," she murmured, a faint smile flickering across her lips. "Let''s see just how far this one''s devil''s luck carries him."


    The disciples exchanged glances, frustration rose beneath the surface as they prepared to continue.

 Chapter 34 The Tomb of Weeping Emperor (5)

    The Third Chamber: The Labyrinth of Time!"Finally... out!"


    Chen Yong and Wang Fei staggered out, red-faced and panting like beaten dogs. Their shame burned¡ªneither had managed to defeat their shadows, needing rescuing like helpless fish in a net. They cursed their luck, muttering how things would''ve been easier if Su Xiaobai hadn''t run off.


    But safety was short-lived.


    Tremble...


    The floor trembled, and a vortex descended above them, castin bright green light across their suprised faces.


    WHOOSH!


    "Look out!" Xiao Yu shouted, his voice cracking.


    Too late¡ªthe vortex spun faster, and with a deep whump, sucked them in, tossing them like leaves in a storm.


    CRASH!


    They landed in a sprawling, dark labyrinth.


    Tunnels stretched out, curling into shadowed paths that stank of rot.


    Each step squelched in cold mud that gripped their feet like claws.


    Elder Bai, normally ice-cool, narrowed her eyes at the passages, a flicker of worry breaking her calm mask.


    The disciples shifted uneasily.


    Then¡ª


    Tap¡­ tap¡­ tap.


    A familiar figure strolled out from one of the darkened paths, wearing a surprised smile.


    Su Xiaobai leaned against the wall, a lazy smirk tugging at his lips. "Took you all long enough."


    If he could''ve avoided this meeting, he would''ve. But, of course, the heavens seemed to have other ideas.


    Lan Meiyu bristled, crossing her arms. "Long enough? We were minutes behind you!" she shot back, her tone like a whip. She recognized him as the lazy bastard she''d caught napping outside the cave¡ªand now here he was, smug as if he''d conquered the heavens.


    What stung most was that Su Xiaobai was only at the qi condensation realm, while she had reached late earthly rebirth, three realms above. Even Xiao Yu and Fatty Zhou, the weakest, were at core formation, while the inner disciples were all Nascent Soul and beyond.


    Were Elder Bai not here, they''d have given him a lesson in respect.


    Su Xiaobai, smirk widened, knew Elder Bai''s presence was his shield and milked it for all it was worth.


    But Lan Meiyu''s irritation finally got a reaction.


    His brow twitched. "Ten minutes?" he asked, brows raising. "I''ve been wandering here for days¡­"


    "Huh?"


    "Days!?"


    The disciples exchanged uneasy looks, realizing how twisted the labyrinth''s time was.


    Liu Zhenhai , turned to Elder Bai. "Elder¡­ what is this place?"


    Elder Bai flicked a raven-black strand over her shoulder, her jade-like face catching the cold torchlight. "This," she said, voice like iron, "is a Temporal Formation. It twists time, warping hours into moments and days into seconds. This labyrinth exists beyond mortal time..."


    Lan Meiyu''s eyes widened. "So, while we were fighting shadows, he has been here for days?"


    "Possibly," Elder Bai replied, though doubt glimmered in her gaze. "The longer we stay, the deeper we''re drawn into its web."


    Chen Yong, his voice wavering, glanced at her. "How do we escape, Elder?"


    Elder Bai took a breath, her jade-like calm barely holding. "The heart of the maze holds the source of the disturbance. We must find it to escape."


    Su Xiaobai rolled his eyes, muttering, "More acting tough¡­"


    Though he smiled, a trace of doubt lingered. Elder Bai was powerful, but he doubted she had all the answers.


    Stronger cultivators loved putting on airs as if they held heaven''s secrets. He could see it in her eyes¡ªshe was as lost as they were, though she''d die before admitting it.


    Lan Meiyu''s sharp gaze landed on him. "And how did you survive here for days without getting lost?" she asked, voice honeyed with sarcasm.


    Su Xiaobai shrugged, his expression infuriatingly casual. "Guess I''m just lucky," he said with a grin that only stoked her irritation. "Or maybe I''m just better at navigating than all of you."


    If he was "better at navigating," it was pure accident. Days of stumbling in the dark had left him more annoyed than proud.


    He cursed his inability to identify the formation sooner, especially as he usually prided himself on spotting such things.


    If he''d only formed his core, he''d have seen through it in a heartbeat. But stuck with True Qi, he was like a man holding a candle in a storm.


    Without Profound Qi, the formation''s pulse was invisible, its clues hidden from his senses.


    The air here filled with power he couldn''t yet touch, taunting him with the potential just out of reach.


    "Let''s move cautiously," Elder Bai commanded, voice brooking no argument. "Stay close, and if you notice anything strange, speak up immediately."


    Su Xiaobai rolled his eyes. He didn''t need to cling to the group. With a casual wave, he turned down one of the dark tunnels, his footsteps echoing¡ªtap¡­ tap¡­ tap.


    Let them stumble along together all they want.


    Behind him, the disciples sneered. "Let him wander off. The labyrinth will swallow him whole," Wang Fei muttered.


    Chen Yong snorted. "Arrogant fool."


    But Su Xiaobai barely registered them, his mind already turning over Elder Bai''s words. ''A Temporal Formation,'' he thought with a frown. If he''d known sooner, he wouldn''t have spent days wandering like a lost dog.


    The problem was that identifying formations wasn''t as simple as seeing or sensing; it required ''Profound Qi'' to sense, activate, or dismantle, the most potent form of the world''s Spiritual Qi.


    But formations were more than clever tricks; they required Profound Qi


    Spiritual Qi¡ªthe vital energy that filled the universe¡ªcame in many forms, but cultivators sought three main types on their path: Earth Qi, Heaven Qi, and Profound Qi. Earth Qi, drawn from the ground, strengthened the body in the early stages. Heaven Qi was purer and more potent, used by advanced cultivators for higher realms. But the most abundant was Profound Qi, the raw form of Spiritual Qi that saturates the world like an endless, untamed ocean of energy.


    Profound Qi was revered for its power, but it was also treacherous. Cultivators at Su Xiaobai''s stage couldn''t use it directly¡ªit would poison them. Instead, they had to purify it first, refining it down into True Qi, a weaker but safer version. Only upon reaching Core Formation would they forge the core that allowed them to safely absorb and use Profound Qi in its raw form.


    For now, Su Xiaobai was limited to True Qi. Without Profound Qi, he couldn''t sense the subtle pulse of a formation, leaving him to stumble blind through the labyrinth.


    ______


    Splash! Splash! ... Splash!


    Su Xiaobai muttered, his voice echoing down the damp tunnel. "Maybe I can''t break this formation... but I can find its flaws." His footsteps splashed in shallow puddles, breaking the silence. "There''s got to be a way out without shattering it¡­"


    He wandered deeper, his words swallowed by the darkness as he muttered to himself.


    Then, something clicked. ''I don''t have Profound Qi to feel the formation directly,'' he thought, brows furrowing. ''But I can still sense distortions.'' sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    If the time shifts weren''t random, then there must be a pattern¡ªa way time twisted around certain points.


    He couldn''t see the Profound Qi itself, but he could track the ripples. Taking a deep breath, he stilled himself, letting his senses stretch. Slowly, faint threads seemed to flicker into awareness, like shadows tugging at the edges of his mind.


    "There you are¡­" he murmured, smirking.


    The threads wove through the maze, some pulsing, others tangled or erratic.


    One in particular wavered, its flow unstable¡ªa flaw. ''Got you.''


    He followed the path eagerly, feeling it pull him closer.


    Behind him, he could almost hear the others fumbling through the maze. ''They can stumble around all they want while I''m off with the treasure.''


    _______


    A While Later¡­


    "???~ ¡­ ????~~"


    Su Xiaobai strolled along, humming cheerfully, looking every bit the clueless wanderer. But inside, he was enjoying every step, each turn leaving the others further behind.


    Just then, a faint groan echoed through the corridors. Cocking his head, he followed the sound, turning a corner¡ªand came face-to-face with what used to be Fatty Zhou.


    The once plump disciple looked haggard, face lined with wrinkles and hair gray, as if he''d aged decades in moments.


    "Ah, Brother! What happened to you?" Su Xiaobai asked, voice dripping with concern while he smirked inwardly. ''A few years here, a few there¡­ what a shame.''


    Fatty Zhou''s eyes widened with panic. "I¡ªI don''t know! I walked in here, and now look at me!" He tugged at his robes, his voice cracking. "Can you fix this?"


    Su Xiaobai frowned sympathetically. "Oh, no... Maybe¡­ if you retrace your steps, it''ll reverse?" His tone was kind, but he knew the poor fool would waste what little time he had left.


    With a desperate nod, Fatty Zhou hobbled back down the tunnel. Su Xiaobai watched him disappear, lips twitching with satisfaction. ''Poor fool. He''ll waste what little time he has running in circles.''


    Further down, Su Xiaobai spotted Xiao Yu¡ªor what was left of him. The once proud disciple was caught in a slow-time zone, sword half-drawn, his face frozen in frustration.


    Su Xiaobai leaned against the wall, barely hiding his laughter. "Senior Brother! You''re, uh¡­ taking your time, I see."


    Xiao Yu''s eyes moved slowly to meet him, voice stretching painfully. "H¡­e¡­l¡­p¡­ m¡­e¡­"

 Chapter 35 *The Tomb of Weeping Emperor (6)* [R18]

    Xiao Yu''s eyes moved slowly to meet him, voice stretching painfully. "H¡­e¡­l¡­p¡­ m¡­e¡­"Su Xiaobai gasped with mock sympathy. "Oh, Senior Brother! You must be in a slow-time zone. Try focusing your Qi¡ªmaybe that''ll speed you up!" His voice oozed with false encouragement as he watched Xiao Yu''s pathetic, sluggish attempts.


    With a clap, Su Xiaobai nodded as if impressed. "That''s it! Keep trying, Senior Brother!"


    The more you fight, the deeper the formation''s pull on you. Go ahead, struggle.


    He gave Xiao Yu a friendly pat on the shoulder¡ªa gesture that would take minutes to register in Xiao Yu''s distorted sense of time. "I''ll find help. Don''t worry, I''ll be back in no time. Or... a lot of time. Who knows?"


    Out of sight, Su Xiaobai''s grin widened. Two fools down.


    Rounding the next corner, he heard soft, deliberate footsteps. Finally.


    Lan Meiyu had been sneaking behind him, her steps soft and measured, but Su Xiaobai kept up his clueless wanderer act, pretending not to notice her creeping closer.


    Suddenly, her honeyed voice broke the silence. "Junior Brother!" she cooed, appearing out of nowhere and sliding up beside him, her fingers gliding along his arm like silk.


    Her robes flowed like a river, emphasizing her figure as she moved in closer. "You wouldn''t leave me here all by myself... would you?"


    Feigning surprise, Su Xiaobai turned around. "Senior Sister! Didn''t realize you were right there."


    Her gaze smoldered as she leaned in, her robes clinging to her in all the right places, jade mountains rising and falling with a slow, deliberate breath. "Found you by chance, Junior Brother," she murmured, fingers trailing down his arm, each brush a subtle tease.


    Her robes rustled as she shifted closer, her fingers lighting a faint shiver down his arm. "Since we''re here... why don''t you keep me company? This maze isn''t the friendliest place to be alone." S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ah, trying to hook me, is she? Su Xiaobai thought, hiding a wry smile. He returned her gaze with a wide, innocent smile. "Good idea, Senior Sister. We should stick together."


    As they walked, he gradually led her toward a slow-time zone, waiting for just the right moment.


    When they reached the edge, he stopped and pointed ahead. "See that path up there? Shortcut."


    "What....!"


    Lan Meiyu''s smug confidence was all over her face as she strode forward¡ªonly to freeze, one foot hovering in the air as the sluggish energy hit, locking her in place mid-step.


    Her robes parted just enough to hint at the valley between her jade mountains, while her eyes widened in silent frustration.


    "What... is... this...?" she hissed, her voice thick with frustration as her eyes flared with rage.


    Su Xiaobai''s lips curled in amusement. "Oh, Senior Sister, it seems you''ve strolled right into a slow-time zone. How careless of me not to warn you."


    Her face twisted in anger, though the expression dragged like honey dripping from a spoon. "You... did... this... on... purpose!"


    He stepped closer, his gaze turning cold and mocking. "Me? Purposefully? Now, why would I do that? You were the one so sure you could use me, weren''t you?" He let his hand slide down her back, resting his fingers over the curve of her hip, then channeled his Qi to deliver a crisp slap.


    SLAP!


    "Wha¡ª!"


    Her cheeks flushed in shock, her eyes widening even as her body remained trapped in sluggish time.


    Each strike echoed sharply, crackling with a pulse of Qi-infused energy.


    Pakh! Pakh!


    Her body arched involuntarily, her chest heaving with each impact, and her lips parted in a low, unwilling groan. "B-bas...tard..." she spat, her voice dripping with venom, though a strange spark lit her gaze.


    Su Xiaobai leaned close to her ear, his breath warm as he whispered, "Oh, I''m just getting started, Senior Sister. You thought you could toy with me? Now you''ll think twice before trying this again." His gaze lingered, savoring her helplessness, her flushed cheeks, and her frozen stance. "Don''t worry¡­ someone''s bound to come along eventually."


    Turning to leave, he grinned and thought, ''No thunderstrikes from above this time? ¡­ Could I actually be on the right path?''


    Did that mean he had a free pass from the heavens to put her in her place?


    Just then¡ª


    Clink!


    Something small and bright fell from Lan Meiyu''s robe, catching his attention.


    He paused, careful to avoid stepping into the slow-time zone, and turned back.


    "What''s this?" Su Xiaobai murmured, picking up a small, glowing green pill.


    He stared at it, recognition dawning in his eyes. "Soul-Severing Poison¡­?" He glanced at Lan Meiyu, whose eyes darted away, a guilty flush coloring her cheeks.


    His voice grew sharper. "You planned to use this on me?"


    Lan Meiyu''s face twitched, but she didn''t speak, not a single word of explanation. She couldn''t.


    If he knew the truth¡­ if he knew why she''d brought that poison, her plans would fall to ruin.


    She bit down on her frustration, forcing herself to meet his gaze, even as her skin prickled with anger and shame. If she spoke now, she''d lose everything¡ªand her life would be even worse than the torment she felt now.


    For a moment, Su Xiaobai simply stared, disbelieving.


    This wasn''t just some petty trick¡ªSoul-Severing Poison could kill a "small fry" like him without leaving a trace. And she had it ready for him?


    "You... you really planned to kill me?" His tone was darker now, and anger simmered beneath the surface.


    The realization hit him: she hadn''t just wanted to use him to get through the maze. She''d planned to discard him the moment he wasn''t useful.


    Why kill him in the process? The answer was painfully clear: Because she could.


    People had taken advantage of him his entire life, used him for their own reasons, hurt him just because they held the power. She was no different.


    But right now...


    Looking at her, panting helplessly in the slow-time zone, he realized he held all the power for once.


    And he could do ''anything'' he wanted.


    With a casual flick, he dropped the deadly pill into his spatial ring, securing it as a token of her failed attempt to off him.


    "Oh, Senior Sister, you really thought you could kill me that easily?" he mused, his gaze zeroing in on Lan Meiyu, who was now helpless, trapped in the grip of the slow-time formation. "Guess it''s time you learned who''s boss."


    He stepped forward, hands grabbing onto her trembling thighs, fingers digging in as he took his position with all the confidence of a bandit claiming his prize.


    "S...T...op..." Her eyes darted, fury and fear swirling in them as the reality sank in¡ªshe was utterly at his mercy.


    With an exaggerated flourish, Su Xiaobai shrugged off his robes, revealing his "unyielding rod of righteousness," glowing like a torch in the night, pulsing with Yang Qi and practically vibrating with intent.


    Her wide-eyed horror was priceless as he settled into place, the tip of his "mighty spear" nudging against her soft, quivering thighs.


    SQUISH!

 Chapter 36 *The Tomb of Weeping Emperor (7)* [R18]

    SQUISH!"W¡­ha¡­ wha¡­t¡­?" she gasped, each syllable dragging out painfully in the slow-time effect as her helplessness hit her like a brick.


    Her thighs, already glistening with sweat from her earlier squirming, twitched under his hold, but her Qi reserves were about as empty as her last scheme, leaving her resistance about as effective as a wet noodle.


    Beads of sweat traced down her cheeks, pooling in the hollow of her collar as her breathing quickened. He leaned in close, letting his breath tickle her ear.


    With a mocking laugh, Su Xiaobai taunted, "Well, well, Senior Sister¡­ how does it feel to be the one brought down by your own ''shortcut''? Acting all high and mighty, and now¡ªlook at you."


    Pakh! Pakh! Pakh!


    Each rhythmic thrust of his "weapon of justice" drove into the space between her thighs, sending a scorching wave of Yang Qi up through her legs.


    Her traitorous body responded, thighs instinctively clamping around his "righteous staff," her face a whole shade of red as she tried to stifle the humiliating sensations.


    "A¡­a¡­ah¡­ahh!" Sounds slipped from her lips against her will, her expression twisting between shame and unwanted pleasure, breaths coming in ragged, uneven gasps.


    The heat and friction were unbearable, her body betraying her in ways she couldn''t control, each pulse of his Qi stoking the uncomfortable warmth building within her.


    With a smile plastered on his face, Su Xiaobai leaned in, letting the suspense hang build in the air as he savored every delicious second of her wide-eyed, horrified stare, building up to his grand finale.


    And then¡ª


    SPLURT! SPLURT! SPLURT!


    Without so much as a warning, a thick white stream of ''pure Yang essence'' shot forth like it had a personal vendetta, splattering right across her face, tangling in her perfect hair, and dripping down her bare shoulders in thick, gooey trails that left nothing to the imagination.


    "..."


    Each drop gleamed with Qi-laden energy, branding her in a way that shouted her total and embarrassing defeat¡ªno room for arguments.


    Lan Meiyu, the untouchable Senior Sister, now thoroughly baptized in his ''Yang essence.''


    She froze, her eyes going as wide as saucers, her mouth opening in silent horror as the warm, sticky stuff trickled down her face and neck, dragging her dignity through the mud one humiliating drop at a time.


    "Y-you¡­!" she finally managed, her voice shaking with rage and disbelief, eyes blazing with a fury that would''ve melted steel if she still had an ounce of energy left to use.


    The nerve! No one had ever dared lay a finger on her, and this guy just smeared his victory all over her like it was his personal art project. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Su Xiaobai leaned back, thoroughly amused, as he drank in her mortified expression.


    He gave her one last patronizing pat on the shoulder. "Maybe now, Senior Sister, you''ll think twice before trying to pull off one of your cute little schemes¡ªand then trying to off someone for dessert."


    As he turned to leave, he threw her one final glance, enjoying every second of her tear-streaked face and the fierce blaze of indignation in her eyes. "I¡­ will¡­ make¡­ you¡­ pay¡­" she muttered, her voice trembling, her face flushing red with a mix of anger, shame, and helplessness.


    But Su Xiaobai just laughed, giving her a cheeky wave as he strutted down the maze, leaving her there to stew in her slow-time trap¡ªand the bitter sting of her own failed attempt.


    With a confident swagger, Su Xiaobai continued down the path, pretty sure he''d be the first to find the chamber''s exit, snag the treasure, and peace out long before she even managed to scrape together her dignity.


    Though the aftermath made him wonder for a split second if he''d gone too far, he just shrugged it off.


    "Eh, the higher-ups gave me a free pass¡ªthey''ll pull me out of the fire if this gets messy. I got this!"


    With a confident stride, he carried on, whistling a tune as he went.


    [E/N: Chill, folks! She''s still a virgin¡ªhe just used her thighs...]


    _____


    Fifteen minutes later, Su Xiaobai strolled casually through the tunnel, his freshly changed robes sticking to his sweat-dampened skin.


    His footsteps echoed softly in the dim passage, a steady rhythm masking the storm within his mind.


    ''The core of the formation is close¡­''


    His pace quickened, the thought sparking a surge of anticipation that pushed aside his unease.


    Yet, when the narrow tunnel opened into a vast cavern, he froze mid-step, his breath catching in his throat.


    "No¡­"


    The single word slipped from his lips, hoarse with disbelief.


    At the cavern''s heart stood Bai Yujian, a figure seemingly carved from moonlight, her presence too ethereal for the chaos surrounding her. The glow that shone above her body was both radiant and oppressive, warping the atmosphere with its quiet majesty.


    In her hand rested a parasol¡ªdelicate in design, yet suffused with a power that made Su Xiaobai''s stomach churn.


    ''How? I calculated every possible path¡­ she shouldn''t be here ahead of me!''


    He clenched his fists.


    It was always like this¡ªplans meticulously laid out, only to crumble at the last moment.


    Was it fate? Coincidence?


    Or just some twisted rule that ensured his efforts would never yield victory without blood and humiliation?


    Bai Yujian''s gaze seemed distant, as though her thoughts were elsewhere.


    That serene stillness might have fooled others, but Su Xiaobai knew better. Beneath the surface lay a storm, its fury coiled and waiting.


    ''Does she know? Did she sense¡­ what happened with Lan Meiyu?'' His paranoia clawed at the edges of his mind, spinning webs of suspicion.


    Sweat beaded on his brow despite the chill in the cavern.


    ''Is this some kind of joke? First, they throw a formation at me. Now, her?''


    ''Have you bastards abandoned me already?'' Frustrated, he couldn''t help but glance upward, half-expecting divine punishment.


    And then she moved.


    With a flick of her wrist, the parasol began to spin, and in that instant, an eruption of sword intent split the air.


    BOOM!


    The energy surged forward, brilliant and bright, shredding the seals guarding the formation''s core like paper.


    CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!


    The cavern quaked violently. Su Xiaobai staggered back, his arms rising to shield his face as the oppressive force of her mastery pressed down on him.


    The razor-sharp purity of her sword intent filled the air, its overwhelming precision leaving no room for doubt¡ªthis was perfection honed to an unimaginable degree.


    His gaze locked onto the parasol in her hand, confusion flickering across his features.


    ''A sword? That doesn''t even look like a sword! Who in their right mind uses that as a weapon?''


    As if hearing his thoughts, Bai Yujian turned her piercing gaze toward him. Her voice rang out, cold and steady.


    "This is the White Jade Sword," she said, lifting the parasol in a fluid motion. "A weapon that severs both seals and arrogance alike."


    Su Xiaobai''s chest tightened, unease sinking its claws deeper. The third chamber was already open, and the spatial treasure he sought would now fall into her hands. Negotiating with her was a death wish.


    Even worse, he couldn''t shake the feeling that she had known of his presence all along, playing her part to perfection while he stumbled through the ruins like a pawn.


    Creak¡­


    The cavern groaned under the strain of her unleashed energy, jagged cracks racing across its walls. The oppressive silence dissolved into chaos as the ground buckled beneath his feet. Massive stones crashed down, filling the air with choking dust and debris. The broken formation''s energies lashed out wild pulling at his robes with a violent frenzy.


    Crash! Crash! Crash!


    "It''s all collapsing¡­" Su Xiaobai thought grimly, his instincts screaming at him to move. He bolted toward the newly revealed exit, weaving through the falling rubble with desperate precision.


    "There!"


    "The exit!"


    "Move!"


    Panicked cries from Xiantian Sect disciples echoed around him as they scrambled to escape. Freed from the temporal formation''s clutches, they ran as though hell itself nipped at their heels.


    Among them was Lan Meiyu, her sweat-soaked hair plastered against her face as she glared at him with unmasked fury.


    "Damn you!" she shouted, her voice cutting through like a hot whip.


    Su Xiaobai didn''t dare look back.


    BAM!


    He slid beneath a collapsing beam, the shockwave hurling him forward. With a final desperate lunge, he cleared the exit and tumbled to the ground outside.


    Breathless, he sprawled on the dusty earth, his robes tattered and caked with grime. Behind him, the mountain let out one last groan before the collapsing tunnel sealed itself entirely.


    Su Xiaobai stared at the sky, his chest heaving. His fingers curled into the dirt, frustration bubbling to the surface.


    ''Why is it always like this? No matter how carefully I plan, this world tilts the board just enough to leave me one step behind.''

 Chapter 37 The Tomb of Weeping Emperor (8)

    Third Chamber ¡ª The Fake Treasure!BAM!


    "Just my luck..." Su Xiaobai muttered, dusting off his already ruined robes. He slapped at the dirt, but all it did was leave him looking like he''d rolled in mud for fun.


    His heartbeat pounded in his chest like an irate elder slamming their palm on the table during a sect meeting. He could barely hear over the roar of blood in his ears, but his eyes remained locked on the cavern before him.


    The massive chamber stretched out, glowing faintly with a mystical light that whispered, ''This place is important. Be amazed, you peasant.''


    At its center, a chest hovered above a jade-and-obsidian altar, its radiant glow practically screaming, ''I''m treasure. Come fight over me!''


    The thing was so smug it could have grown arms just to give everyone the middle finger.


    "That''s it! The treasure!" Liu Zhenhai''s excited yell shattered the quiet chamber.


    His perfectly styled golden hair caught the chamber''s light, making him look like a narcissistic god. His eyes gleamed, a perfect combination of greed and ambition.


    But he wasn''t alone in his ogling.


    Wang Fei licked his lips, his gaze so intense it could have melted through the altar. He looked like a hungry dog eyeing a steak.


    Beside him, Chen Yong swaggered forward, practically oozing greed.


    "Whatever''s in there is mine," Chen Yong declared, his sneer so wide it could have stretched into the next dimension. "Step aside, unless you want to regret it."


    Fatty Zhou, stunned, crossed his arms and let out a loud snort. "Yours? What did you do, oh mighty inner disciple? Sit pretty while the rest of us risked our necks? The only thing you''ve earned is a front-row seat to me opening that chest!"


    Chen Yong''s face darkened like a storm cloud, and he barked, "Shut your filthy mouth, you tub of fat. Outer disciples don''t get a say here." sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Oh yeah? Come closer and say that to my face!" Zhou growled, his belly trembling with barely contained rage.


    The tension crackled like a lightning array about to detonate, but before anyone could swing a fist or summon a technique, Xiao Yu''s voice echoed, filled with doubt.


    "Wait... Where''s Lan Meiyu?"


    "Huh?"


    "!"


    The question hit like a thunderclap.


    "Lan Meiyu?" Wang Fei repeated, blinking.


    "Where is she?" Liu Zhenhai echoed, his brow furrowing.


    The shadows answered.


    Lan Meiyu stepped forward, her figure emerging from the darkness like a ghost bent on vengeance. Her usually pristine robes hung in tatters, revealing streaks of dirt and sweat-streaked skin beneath.


    Her every step radiated fury, her eyes blazing like twin suns ready to incinerate everything in their path.


    Su Xiaobai''s gut clenched. A chill raced down his spine, and for one absurd moment, he wondered if his Yang Qi was about to abandon him in fear. ''She looks like she''s here to kill someone. And knowing my rotten luck, that someone is definitely me.''


    "SCOUNDREL!" Her voice rang out like a divine decree, slamming into him with the force of a collapsing mountain.


    Everyone turned to stare at Su Xiaobai.


    ''Great. Perfect. Yeah, this is fine,'' he thought bitterly. ''Sure, let''s just ignore the glowing chest of potential death in the room and make me the center of attention. Love this.''


    "Senior sister," he said carefully, forcing a smile that felt about as convincing as a paper shield. "What''s¡ª"


    "SHUT UP!" Her roar shook the chamber, and her trembling finger pointed straight at him. "You¡­ You dared to violate me! You used my body for your disgusting pleasure in that cave!"


    Hiss!


    Gasps rippled through the chamber.


    "Wait, what?" Wang Fei''s jaw dropped.


    "This little rat¡­?" Liu Zhenhai murmured, his lips twitching with something between shock and anger.


    "Bastard." Xiao Yu let out a disgusted snort, shaking his head.


    Su Xiaobai froze. He tilted his head slightly, his expression calm, but his brain was spinning faster than an unstable formation. ''Violated? Used her body? What kind of fever-dream accusation is this?!''


    Of course, he did do that. But seriously¡ªwhy was she announcing it like this?


    Couldn''t we settle this outside? Quietly? Like civilized cultivators¡ªor at least in a place without so many witnesses ready to stab me in the back?


    "Senior sister," he began again, bowing slightly, "I think there''s been a misunderstanding. I would never¡ª"


    "LIAR!" Her sword materialized in her hand, glowing with sharp, murderous intent. For a brief moment, Su Xiaobai saw his own pale face reflected in the blade''s edge.


    Before Lan Meiyu could take his head, Elder Bai''s voice rang out, it carried the tone of someone fed up with babysitting a pack of unruly brats.


    "Enough!"


    The room stilled.


    Even the hovering chest seemed to dim its glow in deference to the elder''s commanding presence.


    "Lan Meiyu," Elder Bai said, her tone colder than an ice cave. "You''ve accused him of a grave crime. But the Xiantian Sect does not act on baseless claims. Where is your proof?"


    Lan Meiyu''s grip on her sword tightened, her knuckles white as bone. "I know what he did! He violated me while I was defenseless!"


    Elder Bai''s eyes narrowed. "Then provide evidence. We do not punish based on outrage alone."


    "..."


    "..."


    The silence was deafening.


    Elder Bai''s piercing gaze shifted to Lan Meiyu, her eyes narrowing with suspicion. The girl had been defenseless? Helpless against this rogue cultivator? Elder Bai''s lips tightened into a thin line. She could smell the nonsense from a mile away.


    Lan Meiyu, a disciple of Xiantian sect with enough skill to slap someone like Su Xiaobai into next week, suddenly unable to fend him off? It didn''t add up.


    What''s more, Elder Bai had been observing Lan Meiyu throughout this treasure hunt. The girl wasn''t just cunning¡ªshe was calculating. Too calculating for someone who was supposedly caught off guard.


    ''No,'' Elder Bai thought, her instincts sharpening. ''This disciple isn''t simple at all.''


    Lan Meiyu''s face turned ugly as the elder seemed to not believe her at all.


    At that moment, Liu Zhenhai stepped in to assist, holding up a vial of shimmering purple liquid. "Elder Bai, I have a Truth-Seeking Elixir. Let him drink it, and we''ll know the truth."


    Elder Bai arched a brow, observing the vial filled with the shimmering blue liquid. "That''s a rare treasure. Are you truly willing to sacrifice it for this?"


    Liu Zhenhai''s gaze burned with self-righteous. "Justice demands sacrifice. If he''s guilty, the truth will reveal itself."


    Su Xiaobai''s lips twitched. ''Oh, great. This guy''s playing hero. How noble.''


    Without waiting, Su Xiaobai stepped forward and grabbed the vial out of Liu Zhenhai''s hand.


    "What are you doing?!" Elder Bai barked, stunned.


    He uncorked the vial, the fragrant aroma wafting through the chamber. "Let''s get this over with," he said flatly, tipping the elixir back and downing it in one go.


    The heat hit instantly, spreading through his body like wildfire. It felt like someone had peeled his mind open and pinned it to a dissecting table.


    Elder Bai, quickly recovering from her initial surprise, stepped forward, her sharp gaze boring into him. "Who are you?"


    She wanted to confirm his identity first¡ªhe couldn''t be just a spy from a heretic sect, could he?

 Chapter 38 Elder Bais Invitation!

    "Who are you?"The question echoed sharply through the chamber like a sword cleaving through stone.


    Before Su Xiaobai could process it, the Truth-Seeking Elixir surged through his veins, fiery and unrelenting. The words spilled from his mouth as if some celestial power had tied strings to his tongue.


    "My name is Su Xiaobai," he said, his voice hollow, his eyes dim. "I come from far beyond this sect, from snow-capped mountains where the wind howls like a beast at night. My family¡­ was once powerful. My father, a peerless cultivator, and my mother, a storm of destruction. But me?" He let out a self-deprecating laugh. "I was nothing. A failure. My veins locked, my body unable to cultivate."


    "..."


    "..."


    The chamber fell deathly silent.


    The gathered disciples and even Bai Yujian frozen, their hostility replaced by uneasy curiosity.


    "I was the outcast," Su Xiaobai continued, his fists tightening as memories clawed at him. "My sisters believed in me, but when my father died under mysterious circumstances, everything fell apart. My family was shunned and exiled to the wilderness. And then¡­ a demon found us. My mother and my sisters¡ªthey all abandoned me... I watched helplessly as it destroyed everything. I survived, but just barely."


    His confession settled over the room like a thundercloud.


    "Eventually, my cultivation returned," he said, his voice filled with emotion. "But it''s weak¡ªpathetic compared to what I need to kill that demon. I''ve trained every day, but the demon who took everything from me¡­ still lives."


    "..."


    "..."


    A heavy silence stretched across the chamber.


    Even Lan Meiyu, who moments ago was practically frothing with anger, faltered slightly.


    But then she stepped forward, her voice sharp as ever. "Spare us your sob story. That doesn''t explain what you did to me in the cave!"


    The room shifted, the somber atmosphere dissipating instantly. Bai Yujian, who had appeared moved, now turned cold again.


    Su Xiaobai blinked.


    Then, a slow, smug smile crept onto his face. ''Ah, so the higher-ups did save my ass,'' he thought, completely misreading the situation.


    He''d felt the elixir begin to control him earlier, but then, almost immediately, it was snuffed out¡ªburned away like dry grass in a wildfire.


    The words spilling from his mouth were all his own now, not the elixir''s doing.


    ''They''ve got my back,'' he thought. ''Those immortals must have decided I''m too valuable to lose. Good thing I guzzled the damn thing before anyone could stop me!''


    He had no idea that the truth was far less glamorous: the ''infernal flames'' coursing through his core had effortlessly consumed the elixir.


    It was simply too low-grade to affect someone like him.


    ¡ª But for now, Su Xiaobai basked in his imaginary divine protection.


    With renewed confidence, he spoke smoothly, his tone as calm as a clear lake. "Senior Sister Lan, you misunderstand. You were caught in an illusion formation. It made you tear your robes and act erratically. I stepped in to help, but you mistook my intentions. So I left."


    "Liar!" Lan Meiyu snarled, her sword vibrating with dangerous energy.


    Elder Bai raised her hand, "Enough!"


    Her presence silenced the room, she turned to Su Xiaobai, studying him with an unreadable expression. "The Truth-Seeking Elixir compels honesty," she said. "If what he says is true, then we owe him an apology."


    "But..." Lan Meiyu''s face twisted in fury, but before she could respond, Elder Bai''s palm lashed out with the speed of lightning.


    SLAP!


    The sound echoed like thunder.


    "Wh¡ª" Lan Meiyu staggered back, clutching her cheek in shock, "E-Elder you?"


    "You''ve embarrassed our sect enough," Elder Bai said coldly. "Let this be a lesson to think before you accuse."


    The disciples murmured amongst themselves, their earlier hostility toward Su Xiaobai now replaced with uncertainty.


    Elder Bai turned back to him, her expression softening. "For your integrity and restraint, I offer this." She held out an icy-blue lotus, its aura chilling the air. "The Frostwhisper Lotus. Use it to stabilize your cultivation."


    Then, from her sleeve, she drew a silver token etched with the intricate image of a sword surrounded by flowing clouds. Its craftsmanship radiated quiet elegance, but the aura it emitted was anything but subtle.


    "This is my personal token," she said. "If you ever find yourself near the Xiantian Sect and feel the call to a righteous path, use it to seek me directly. I cannot force you to stay now. But I see a rare heart in you¡ªa strength that resists walking the path of evil despite your suffering."


    Hiss!


    The disciples gasped softly.


    A personal token from Elder Bai wasn''t just a favor¡ªit was a mark of distinction.


    She continued, her voice firm yet sincere. "Our sect lacks people like you, Su Xiaobai. If you are left to wander without guidance, I fear the world''s temptations will turn you toward darkness. This token is a promise¡ªnot to demand, but to offer. Should you ever need help, or if you choose to stand with the righteous, I will stand with you."


    Su Xiaobai accepted the token with a humble bow. "Thank you, Elder. I will never forget this kindness."


    Inside, though, he laughed to himself. A sword-shaped token from a righteous sect? Oh, the irony. If she only knew what I really thought about her precious ''righteous path.''


    Blinded by the rigid black-and-white morality of the world, Su Xiaobai had no intention of conforming. He preferred to rise above it all, to be the one who decided what was black and white for himself.


    For now, the higher-ups were the ones drawing that line, but one day¡­


    Elder Bai gestured toward the treasure chest. "Now, let us claim what we came here for. The treasure will be divided¡ªhalf for Su Xiaobai, half for the sect."


    No one dared object.


    Whoosh!


    Elder Bai floated toward the chest, her movements serene.


    Su Xiaobai watched her, his outward expression calm, but his heart pounded with excitement. ''Whatever''s inside¡­ half of it is mine. If there''s a spatial treasure in there, I could even negotiate for a better deal!''


    As Elder Bai dismantled the protective formations, his thoughts turned cold and calculating.


    The chest''s glow intensified, promising treasures beyond imagination.


    Su Xiaobai''s polite smile never wavered, but deep within, infernal flames roared. His gaze briefly flicked to Liu Zhenhai''s back, the man now glaring at the treasure with unhidden greed, while Lan Meiyu stood in the corner, seemingly uninterested yet silently seething with disbelief and anger.


    Whether I like it or not, Su Xiaobai thought darkly, I''ve gained one more enemy today. As for Liu Zhenhai? That meddlesome fool... Su Xiaobai''s eyes narrowed.


    Butting into other people''s affairs¡ªhe really needs to be taught a lesson. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 39 The Real Treasure!

    The Treasure Revealed! S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.Click!


    Elder Bai''s hand hovered over the chest. With a soft click, the lid creaked open, spilling a faint glow like a teasing promise.


    The disciples leaned forward, breaths held, as if the chest held the meaning of life itself.


    Su Xiaobai''s heart thumped wildly. ''Finally! I can go home! Come on, chest¡ªdon''t hold out on me now. Pills to turn me into a walking god? A blade sharp enough to slice through fate itself? Or... oh, a perfect jade beauty to¡ª'' He coughed internally. ''No? Okay, just send me back home already!''


    Outwardly, he maintained his wide-eyed, innocent expression. Inwardly, he was practically salivating.


    However¡ª


    Rumble¡­ Rumble¡­


    The chest began to tremble violently.


    A sudden gust of wind swept through the chamber, extinguishing torches and whipping hair and robes around like flustered chickens.


    "Wha¡ªwhat''s happening?" someone stammered.


    Whoosh!


    The lid cracked open further, and inky black miasma poured out, curling and twisting across the floor like a living thing.


    BAM!


    The air turned icy as shadows devoured the light.


    The smug grin froze on Su Xiaobai''s face. "Oh... it''s another trap, isn''t it?" He wasn''t even surprised anymore; he had just been carried away by the plot.


    "What is this?" Elder Bai muttered, her serene aura flaring protectively as she stepped back.


    "Take formations!" Liu Zhenhai barked, his sword already unsheathed and glowing faintly in the oppressive dark.


    Then it hit.


    The smell.


    BAM!


    The stench of rotting flesh slapped Su Xiaobai like a jealous ex. "Ugh!" He gagged, clutching his nose as bile threatened to rise. "What in the unholy name of plot twists is that?!"


    Rustle¡­ Rustle¡­


    From the swirling fog, countless glowing red eyes flickered to life, blinking in eerie unison like a legion of predators closing in.


    And then, they emerged.


    The ghouls.


    Twisted corpses, reanimated by dark Qi and twisted beyond recognition. Skeletal frames, patches of decaying skin, their mouths gaping to reveal jagged, dripping fangs.


    Their claws scraped the ground, filling the chamber with a grating screech that set teeth on edge.


    Su Xiaobai froze, his stomach churning. ''So¡­ these are ghouls?''


    Kacha! Kacha!


    "Prepare yourselves!" Liu Zhenhai roared. His sword flared brighter as he stepped into a defensive stance.


    Meanwhile, Su Xiaobai was busy reevaluating his life choices. ''I could''ve been a farmer. Or a merchant. Hell, even a wandering bard! But no, I just had to chase treasure and end up in a room full of ghouls. Ha. Fantastic.''


    Whoever was writing his destiny clearly had a cruel sense of humor.


    He glanced around. The disciples were scrambling into formation while Elder Bai''s aura shielded the group from the worst of the miasma.


    Yeah, no. I''m not dying for this.


    Without hesitation, Su Xiaobai turned and bolted for the far edge of the chamber. ''Screw bravery. Screw teamwork. Screw this entire chapter.''


    The idea of playing hero¡ªslashing ghouls left and right to impress the higher-ups¡ªflickered briefly in his mind before reality hit like a brick. MFS, not even a single bone of mine would remain.


    He didn''t even try to hide his retreat. Survival wasn''t shameful¡ªit was an art.


    But as he ran, a horrifying thought struck him. What if Lan Meiyu decides to stab me "accidentally" in the chaos? She probably still thinks I owe her a lifetime of suffering.


    The mental image made his pace quicken.


    Nope. Not waiting to find out.


    That''s when he saw it¡ªa faint shimmer flickering at the edge of the chamber, like a mirage.


    Void cracks.


    Ever since awakening the Void Thunder Dragon in his spirit sea, these mysterious distortions had become an annoying reality. They appeared randomly, warping space, offering transportation to... wherever.


    One had already yanked him into the first chamber, dropping him in front of a giant door like an uninvited guest.


    While he didn''t fully understand how they worked, he ''did'' know they were risky as hell.


    But right now? Risky was better than dead.


    "Please," he muttered, sprinting toward the shimmering crack. "Take me anywhere but here!"


    Whoosh!


    He dove in headfirst.


    The world twisted violently, space collapsing in on itself as colors bled and stretched like a surreal painting.


    "Ugh¡­"


    The pressure pulled at him, squeezing his body like a stress toy, until¡ª


    CRASH!


    He landed hard, groaning as he rolled over and sat up. "Argh¡­ Where now?"


    He blinked, his jaw dropping as he took in his surroundings.


    The second chamber.


    It was pristine.


    The eerie pond shimmered faintly in the dim light, its surface as smooth as glass. The glowing array in the center pulsed rhythmically, completely untouched.


    Su Xiaobai stared, his disbelief palpable. "The second chamber didn''t collapse?"


    Was this luck? Fate? Or... oh no.


    His hand instinctively reached for his spatial ring, pulling out a large key he''d sneakily pocketed from the altar earlier. It gleamed faintly, its intricate design mocking him.


    He groaned, rubbing his temples. "So this is why, huh? This stupid key is the real treasure..."


    Breaking into a bitter laugh, he looked up at the ceiling, directly addressing whatever forces seemed to govern his life. "Hey, you up there! Could you please stop screwing with me for five minutes? Maybe just once, give me some actual treasure instead of dropping hints?!"


    He shook his head, muttering. "I swear, if I die one more time, I''m quitting this and becoming a farmer¡­"


    But even as the words left his mouth, he sighed. ''I can''t die yet.''


    He stood, dusting himself off and scanning the chamber warily.


    Nothing seemed out of place, but the silence was unnerving.


    "Fine," he muttered, gripping the key. "Let''s see what kind of crap you''ve got waiting for me now."


    With curses and complaints spilling under his breath, Su Xiaobai began navigating the chamber, carefully checking every hole for a place to put his thing¡­


    ¡­The key.


    He coughed to himself, trying to ignore the mental imagery. "Really? Even my thoughts are against me now? Focus, Su Xiaobai. Focus."


    Somewhere in here¡­ lies the real treasure.


    One Hour Later!


    "Ugh¡­ it''s so hard¡­" Su Xiaobai collapsed onto the muddy ground, his chest heaving as if he''d just run a marathon. He''d searched every corner of the chamber, but there was no place to put his huge thing.


    The key, ofcourse.


    "Should I ask Xiao Lu?" he muttered, glancing toward his spatial ring. But a quick check showed Xiao Lu was still meditating, her aura pulsing faintly as she neared a breakthrough.


    He sighed. "Guess it''s all on me."


    As his gaze wandered, the glimmering spiritual pond caught his attention. A reckless idea flashed through his mind. ''Can I store the pond in my ring?''


    The thought seemed absurd, but if it worked, the energy in the pond could push him straight into the Core Formation realm¡ªor beyond if luck was on his side.


    Sitting up, he frowned at the shimmering water. Minutes passed as he stared blankly, piecing together the details.


    Then it hit him. "Formation!"


    Every chamber had a formation. How had he not noticed it before? The pond wasn''t just decorative¡ªit was part of the formation, its spiritual energy fueling it.


    He glanced at the key in his hand, and the realization struck. They''d skipped solving this formation entirely, leaping ahead to the next chamber. Maybe the "temporal formation" was just a decoy, and this was the final test.


    His eyes narrowed on the altar floating in the center of the pond, supported by a thick stone pillar. If there was an answer, it had to be beneath that altar.


    But first, the water had to go.


    "Let''s test my luck," he muttered, holding up Ning Gufan''s spatial ring.


    Gurgle¡­ Gurgle¡­


    The pond rippled, and Su Xiaobai''s eyebrows shot up as the water began swirling toward the ring.


    "It works?!" he exclaimed, startled but thrilled.


    Taking a deep breath, he focused his spiritual energy into the ring.


    WHOOSH!


    The pond spiraled upward, a roaring whirlpool of spiritual water cascading into the ring. The sheer force made his robes flutter dramatically¡ªfinally, a moment that made him look cool.


    "Ha! Just as planned!" he laughed, grinning as the water drained rapidly.


    As the pond emptied, the altar floated lower, revealing the stone pillar beneath it. Near the bottom of the pillar, previously submerged, was a small, key-shaped indentation.


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes widened. "There it is!"


    GLUG GLUG GLUG!


    The last of the water vanished into the ring, leaving behind an eerie silence. Su Xiaobai stepped forward, his boots squelching in the mud.


    SQUELCH! SQUELCH!


    "Perfect. A grand cultivator reduced to walking through muck like a farmer. Truly, I am the epitome of grace," he grumbled.


    Reaching the base of the pillar, he crouched to inspect the groove. The faint glow of jade runes surrounded it, pulsing with residual energy from the drained pond.


    "So, this is where you go," Su Xiaobai murmured, holding up the key. He slid it into the slot, twisting slightly.


    CLICK!


    The runes flared to life, light racing up the pillar and spreading across the altar above.


    RUMMMMMMMBLE!


    The entire structure shuddered as the altar began to descend into the pillar. Su Xiaobai stumbled back, his eyes fixed on the now-revealed passage.


    Stairs spiraled downward into the darkness, their edges faintly illuminated by soft, glowing runes.


    He stared at the opening, "Finally," he muttered, excited, gripping his spatial ring tightly. "Let''s see what kind of treasures are waiting for me down there."


    Without hesitation, Su Xiaobai stepped forward, vanishing into the depths of an unknown dark entrance.

 Chapter 40 Rigged Trials!

    The Hidden Trial!Tap... Tap... Tap...


    Su Xiaobai descended the hidden staircase, the faint glow of jade runes barely piercing the suffocating darkness.


    Each step felt heavier, each echo louder, as if the walls themselves were judging his life choices.


    "Perfect," he muttered. "First, a cursed pond... Now, stairs into the abyss. What''s next, a welcoming party from the higher-ups? Like, ''Hey! Everything before was just a prank! You can go back to your good ol'' life and raise chickens!''"


    He snorted, shaking his head. "If only. Knowing my luck, the chickens would probably spit fire and demand I fight them for eggs."


    Even his sarcastic grumbling couldn''t drown out the anxious pounding in his chest, as though something bad were about to happen.


    But hey, it''s bad already¡ªit can''t get worse, right?


    Beneath the surface, frustration simmered with real stakes.


    Somewhere down here lay the treasure he needed¡ªno, ''had'' to find. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Without it, there was no way back home.


    Rustle ~~


    The air grew colder as he descended, the qi-rich energy of the upper chambers fading into lifeless silence. Mist seeped through cracks in the walls, curling around his legs like ghostly hands.


    Su Xiaobai paused, glancing at the sinister green fog with a frown. "Seriously, who designs these places? Did some ancient cultivator look at a foggy swamp and think, ''You know what this needs? A soul-devouring dungeon!''?"


    Still, he pressed on.


    Returning home wasn''t just a dream¡ªit was his only hope of escaping this godforsaken realm.


    The staircase eventually gave way to a cavern so vast it felt like stepping into another world.


    The air suffused with an oppressive stillness that pressed against his senses.


    Violet cracks lined the jagged walls, glowing faintly with an otherworldly pulse. It wasn''t the steady hum of life¡ªit was the rhythm of something unnatural.


    Su Xiaobai''s boots crunched against loose gravel as he stepped forward, his voice a low mutter. "Oh, yeah. This definitely doesn''t scream death trap. Maybe next, I''ll stumble across a sign that says ''Sacrifice Yourself Here.''"


    He froze mid-step, his attention snapping to a faint blue glow hovering in the center of the chamber.


    Hiss!


    His heart leapt¡ªthen immediately sank.


    At first, he thought it was some sort of treasure. Then he got a better look.


    The glow emanated from a pulsating object, suspended midair like an embryo cradled in light. Threads of qi spiraled into it, converging with unsettling precision.


    A chill ran down his spine.


    This wasn''t just creepy¡ªit was downright wrong.


    "Okay," he whispered, stepping back instinctively. "Definitely not a treasure. Definitely alive. And definitely something I don''t want to get near."


    His gaze swept the chamber, the cracks in the walls, the dead qi, the eerie mist¡ªit all revolved around this thing.


    And then it hit him.


    "This isn''t a treasure vault¡­" His voice trembled as the realization sank in. "It''s a damn soul forge!"


    From the Infernal Emperor''s memories, Su Xiaobai recognized the signs: the glowing cracks formed a ''Soul Refining Array'', an ancient formation designed to extract the essence of fallen cultivators and refine it into pure qi.


    The embryo wasn''t just alive¡ªit was feeding on their souls, the same cultivators who had died in the trials above.


    Su Xiaobai''s stomach churned. He glanced back at the way he''d come, as if expecting to hear their screams echoing from above. "Wait a second¡­" he muttered, his throat dry.


    All the chambers above weren''t designed to be passed¡ªthey were never trials at all. From the very beginning, this place had been a trap, a slaughterhouse wrapped in the illusion of glory.


    His gaze snapped back to the embryo, the swirling threads of qi around it suddenly feeling much more sinister. A horrifying thought made its way into his mind.


    "Some of this qi¡­ could it be¡­" He swallowed hard. "Could it be the souls of that hot Elder Bai and the Xiantian Sect disciples?"


    He grimaced, the image of their faces flashing in his mind.


    They''d been so confident, so proud. But if they''d fallen for the traps¡­ if they''d died here¡­


    For a moment, panic clawed at him.


    But then, his mind leapt to a more comforting thought:


    "Wait¡­" He glanced around, his lips quirking into a weak smile. "Since I''m the only one who made it this far, that must mean the higher-ups set this up just for me! They wouldn''t actually let me die here, right?"


    He straightened, a nervous laugh escaping him. "Right? This is just one of their twisted ways of helping me grow stronger. They''re testing me. Yeah, that''s it."


    The smile faded as his eyes drifted back to the embryo. "They''re also trying to kill me, but, you know, details."


    As his gaze lowered, something else caught his attention.


    Beneath the embryo, half-hidden in the mist, was a coffin.


    A Fate-Deceiving Coffin.


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes froze for a second ¡ª a real treasure!


    If not for the Infernal Emperor''s memories, he wouldn''t have recognized it. This wasn''t mortal craftsmanship¡ªit was an artifact from the Four Heavens, the kind of item Immortal Emperors waged wars over.


    And here it was, just¡­ lying around.


    He stared at it for a long moment, his hands trembling. "What kind of lunatic leaves something like this sitting in a soul-devouring array?"


    Despite himself, Su Xiaobai stepped closer, his curiosity outweighing his sense of self-preservation.


    The carvings on the coffin glowed faintly, their patterns radiating an aura of ancient power.


    Surrounding the coffin were several stone tables, each piled with decayed scrolls and shattered artifacts.


    Su Xiaobai approached cautiously, brushing the dust off a brittle scroll.


    As he unrolled it, the runes etched on the parchment sent a jolt of recognition through him.


    "Runic script¡­" he murmured, his fingers tracing the faded characters.


    This wasn''t ordinary language. It was the language of the gods, the kind of thing that could rewrite reality itself.


    He swallowed, glancing at the glowing cracks on the walls and the eerie stillness of the chamber. Everything about this place¡ªthe array, the embryo, the Fate-Deceiving Coffin¡ªwas far beyond the realm of mortals.


    "This isn''t just some ancient dungeon," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "This¡­ this has to be the tomb of an immortal cultivator. None of this stuff belongs in the mortal world."


    His gaze flicked to the glowing cracks along the walls, then back to the scroll.


    The words seemed to leap off the page, charged with an energy that made his hair stand on end.


    ____


    "I, Tian Yu, the Emperor of the Northern Heavens, inscribe this record with a heart burdened by grief and regret, for these may be the last words I leave in this world. My beloved... I remember the first time I met her, like it was carved into my very soul."*


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes skimmed the scroll''s opening lines.


    "Of course," he muttered, glancing up briefly at the cavern around him. "Why would I find treasure here when I can find another tragic backstory? Thanks, higher-ups. Really appreciate it."


    Despite his grumbling, he read on. The scroll carried an undeniable temptation, the kind of story that pulled at even the most jaded hearts.


    The tale began vividly, almost dreamlike.


    Tian Yu described traveling across the desolate Northern Plains, a land of endless storms and winds that howled like grieving ghosts.


    ___


    "The first time I saw her, the heavens wept, for even the skies knew that their most beautiful creation was no longer their own. I found her on the Northern Plains, lost and fragile in the cold. I had taken refuge in a small, broken-down hut as rain poured down from above. And there she was, a girl no older than fourteen, soaked to the bone, trembling in the storm. She was a vision of delicate strength, her eyes holding the wild determination of someone who had lost everything but refused to yield to fate."


    "I had seen many beauties in my time, but none like her. Yue''er. That was her name. Her presence struck me like a blade to the heart. Even as I saved her from bandits that descended upon the hut, she showed no gratitude. No, instead, she raised her dagger against me, a foolish attempt to take my life. Ha-ha-ha... But even in her weakness, even in her desperation, there was a fire in her that called to me, and I knew... I could never let her go."

 Chapter 41 Alone!

    Su Xiaobai let out a long breath. The Emperor''s words were steeped in longing and awe, the memory seared into his soul. He could almost picture the scene: the rain, the violence, the girl''s beautiful gaze."Sure," Su Xiaobai muttered, rubbing his temples. "Let''s ignore the red flags in that story. What could possibly go wrong with chaining yourself to someone who greets you with a dagger?"


    Still, as he read further, even Su Xiaobai couldn''t deny the Emperor''s devotion.


    ____


    "She was no ordinary girl. Yue''er told me that she was dying, a cruel disease had already begun to devour her vitality, consuming her slowly, painfully, from within. It had left her wandering the world, seeking a cure she knew she would never find. How could someone so fierce, so young, be condemned to such a fate?"


    "I could not accept it. I bound her with chains at first to keep her by my side¡ªshe hated me for it, fought me every step of the way. But over time, we fought side by side. I vowed to find a cure for her as we conquered the North together, and then the South. Together, we united lands, defeated warlords, and brought peace to realms that had known nothing but chaos. Together, we forged the White Jade Sword, and I stole the strings from the heavens themselves to craft the Heavenly Bow as my gift to her. We were unstoppable. I believed, with all the arrogance of a young Emperor, that we could conquer even death itself."


    ____


    Su Xiaobai''s fingers tightened around the scroll. The White Jade Sword. The Heavenly Bow.


    Artifacts whispered about in the legends of the northern plains, which no longer exist in the world, could be relics potentially dating back hundreds of millions of years.


    He blinked, glancing up at the coffin and the embryo above it. A bitter laugh escaped his lips. "So, let me get this straight. While I''m stuck here trying to find a way home, I''ve stumbled onto the love story of the century¡ªcomplete with star-crossed lovers, legendary weapons, and a whole lot of unresolved trauma. Yeah, thanks for that."


    But the humor couldn''t fully mask the pang in his chest.


    He read on, compelled by the Emperor''s desperation.


    _____


    "We built the ''Lost City'', a monument to our victories, and within it, the ''Heaven''s Library'', a place where the knowledge of the world could be preserved. But all the knowledge, all the power we had amassed¡ªnone of it could save her. As the days passed, I watched helplessly as her vibrant spirit withered. The disease came back fiercer than ever, draining her vitality at a terrifying pace. I... I was powerless to stop it."


    "Yue''er, always the stronger of us, made me promise to live on after her. To ascend alone if I must. Even as her strength faded, she smiled at me, telling me to look at the stars and not mourn her. But how could I? How could I live on, knowing the only person I ever loved was taken from me? I vowed that day... I would never let her go. I wouldn''t abandon her, not to the cruel hands of fate, not to the heavens."


    _____


    Su Xiaobai let out a low whistle. "Now that''s dedication. Crazy, obsessive, self-destructive dedication, but dedication nonetheless."


    The image of Tian Yu, a mighty Emperor brought to his knees by love, flickered vividly in his mind. For all his flaws, the man had been willing to defy heaven itself to keep his promise.


    It was foolish.


    And yet, Su Xiaobai found it¡­ inspiring. In a twisted, hopeless sort of way.


    _____


    "I sealed her body in the Fate-Deceiving Coffin, a relic that even the gods themselves would covet. It preserved her, kept her beauty and essence intact, hidden from the prying eyes of the death. But it wasn''t enough. It was never enough. I needed to bring her back."


    ____


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes flicked to the coffin in the chamber before him. It pulsed faintly, as if responding to the words in the scroll.


    He felt a shiver crawl up his spine.


    "Nope," he muttered. "Not creepy at all. Definitely not about to bite me in the ass later."


    And yet, he kept reading.


    _____


    "I searched for centuries, no longer an Emperor but a grieving man chasing shadows, until I found mention of the ''Immortal Fetus'', a legendary creation said to be born in places rich with qi. To consume it was to gain the strength of a genius who appears once in a million years. I became obsessed. I believed¡ªno, I knew¡ªthat if I could create one artificially, I could use it to bring her back to life."


    "For this, I built the Soul Refining Array, a monstrous thing that feeds on the souls of those who wander into this cave, lured by rumors of treasure. I became the monster I once swore to destroy. For thousands of years, I harvested the souls of the foolish, all to fuel the creation of this Immortal Fetus. And yet, I failed. Again and again, I failed."


    _____


    Su Xiaobai exhaled sharply.


    He closed his eyes, letting Tian Yu''s words sink in.


    So he was right. It had been a trap from the very beginning¡ªeverything orchestrated to fuel this immortal fetus that was meant to heal Yue''er?


    _____


    "Now, even as I write this, I feel it¡ªthe Immortal Fetus has begun to devour me as well. The very thing I created to save Yue''er is draining my vitality. My body weakens. My life slips away, just as hers did. The irony of it... I cannot help but laugh bitterly."


    "Please. If anyone finds this, I beg you¡ªuse the Immortal Fetus to bring her back. If you delay too long, the Fetus will mature into an Immortal Embryo, and it will bring nothing but calamity. But if you act quickly, you can still save her. You must save her. I have failed her, but perhaps... perhaps someone else can succeed where I could not."


    _____


    The scroll ended abruptly, the final words trailing off as if the Emperor''s strength had finally given out.


    Su Xiaobai stared at the crumpled parchment in his hands, the silence of the chamber pressing down on him like a suffocating fog.


    The sadness of centuries, of grief and failure, seemed to seep from the walls, curling into his thoughts.


    "This isn''t a trial ground," he muttered finally, his voice hoarse. He glanced at the coffin, the embryo pulsing faintly above it. "This is a tomb. And I''m the latest idiot to stumble into it, thinking I''d get a prize."


    His laugh came out hollow, echoing through the cavern. Somewhere in this cursed mess was the treasure he needed to escape¡ªthe key to going home.


    The reason he''d pushed himself through trap after trap.


    But how could he even begin to understand the legacy of an obsession so destructive it had defied heaven itself? A love that had devoured souls, shattered dreams, and consumed a man who once ruled the stars?


    Su Xiaobai clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms. The desperation that had driven Tian Yu wasn''t unfamiliar¡ªit mirrored his own.


    "Why¡­" He exhaled shakily, glaring at the embryo, the coffin, the very aura around him. "Why can''t you just give me the treasure and stop playing with me?"


    The faint pulse of the embryo offered no answer.


    His temples throbbed as frustration and exhaustion flooded him. His entire body felt heavy, as if the universe itself was bearing down on him. He closed his eyes, trying to make sense of the chaos, but the same thought kept surfacing.


    Wasn''t this entire cave meant for him to get the Spatial Treasure?


    Wasn''t someone up there planning all this, guiding him toward the next step, like in every other trial he''d faced?


    The question burned at the back of his mind, sharp and painful.


    "..."


    His legs buckled without warning, and he sank to the ground.


    Thud.


    For a moment, he simply sat there, staring at the floor. The cold stone bit into his skin, but he didn''t care. A bitter laugh escaped his lips as a thought, unbidden, crashed into his mind.


    "Am I not¡­ the main character?" he whispered.


    The words tasted foreign, wrong, like poison on his tongue. But once spoken, they refused to fade.


    His eyes widened as the doubt took root, spreading like wildfire through his thoughts. Was he really the center of this grand, cosmic stage? S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Or had he just fooled himself into thinking so?


    Wasn''t it strange? The trials, the dangers, the supposed "help" from the higher-ups¡ªwhy had he always assumed they cared about him?


    Why had he believed, even for a second, that the plot had his survival in mind?


    "What if I was never the focus of this story?" he murmured, his voice trembling. His gaze drifted upward, to the shadows of the cavern''s ceiling. "What if¡­ no one''s even watching?"


    The silence offered no comfort, no reassurance.


    His mind shook as memories hit him like tidal waves. The Fairy Lianhua. The bizarre coincidences. The narrow escapes. Could those really have been planned?


    Or were they just¡­ accidents?


    ¡ª Flukes of a story that didn''t even include him in its pages?


    "Is no one there anymore¡­?"

 Chapter 42 Celestial Inscriber! Astral Gateway Array!

    "Is no one there anymore¡­?"The words echoed against the cold stone walls. For the first time in years, Su Xiaobai felt truly, utterly alone.


    This was what he''d wanted.


    To live as an insignificant character. To escape the gaze of the higher-ups. To slip through the cracks of the cosmic stage and avoid the world''s cruel whims.


    And he''d gotten it.


    But why did it hurt?


    Why did the thought of being insignificant, of being just another nameless figure swept away by someone else''s story, make his chest ache?


    He still had a family to save¡ªhis mother and sisters, if they were even alive.


    Or were they, too, like insignificant characters erased from the story without so much as a mention? Killed in the background, forgotten by everyone, even the heavens?


    Was he working for nothing?


    Did it all even make sense anymore?


    Insignificant characters weren''t people of focus. They weren''t the ones whose stories were written. Even someone like Sun Liang¡ªsomeone adored by everyone, someone whose life was the stage¡ªmight''ve trampled families like his.


    Would anyone even notice?


    His wish to be insignificant had been fulfilled.


    But did it make his life any better?


    Tears pricked at the corners of his eyes, though he refused to let them fall. The bitterness of his doubts threatened to choke him.


    It felt hollow now.


    He could still continue. But what for?


    For revenge that might never feel complete? For a family that might no longer exist?


    And when he returned to White Cloud Star¡ªif he returned¡ªwould there be anything left for him to find?


    "Maybe¡­ everyone I knew is already gone."


    The thought, cold and unshakable.


    For a long moment, Su Xiaobai sat in silence, the cavern''s chill seeping into his bones. The glow of the embryo mocked him from above, a silent reminder of his insignificance.


    And he?


    He was left alone.


    He didn''t know how long he''d been sitting there.


    The cavern''s oppressive silence swallowed time, each second dragging on like an eternity. The faint glow of the ''Immortal Fetus'' pulsed rhythmically, a cruel reminder of life feeding on death.


    At first, Su Xiaobai thought it was just his exhaustion, but soon he felt it¡ªa subtle, insidious pull.


    His spiritual energy was being drained.


    Much like Emperor Tian Yu, Su Xiaobai had become another source of fuel for the growing embryo.


    Two faint, shimmering threads, almost imperceptible in the dim light, stretched from either side of his body toward the glowing fetus. They shimmered with an ethereal beauty, their slow undulation resembling the weaving of life and death.


    The sight might have been mesmerizing¡­ if it weren''t so terrifying.


    Su Xiaobai sat motionless, feeling the vitality drain from his body. It wasn''t sudden or painful¡ªit was quiet, gentle, almost serene, as if nature itself had accepted his fate.


    The embryo''s heartbeats grew louder, echoing through the cavern with a slow, deliberate rhythm. Thump¡­ thump¡­ thump¡­


    His own heart, in contrast, felt weaker, each beat softer, slower.


    The fetus had already transformed into an embryo, and now it was reaching its final stage. The last step before it hatched.


    Su Xiaobai''s vision blurred as his strength ebbed away.


    If there''s still any hope¡­ just give me a sign.


    His lips moved silently, as if praying to a entity that had long stopped listening.


    Just one sign¡­


    But nothing came.


    His head tilted back, a hollow laugh escaping his lips. The sound cracked and echoed through the chamber. He was about to give in completely when something caught his attention.


    "What¡­?"


    He froze, his breath catching in his throat.


    The threads.


    The two shimmering strings latched to his face¡ªthey''d been so faint, so silent, that he hadn''t even noticed them before. Now, they horrified him.


    A cold dread sank into his chest as he watched the threads pulse with life, their ends rooted in the glowing embryo. They pulsed and pulled like veins, draining him with every second.


    "!!!!"


    He tried to move, tried to rip them off, but his body refused to obey.


    And then¡­


    Snap!


    The threads broke.


    Rustle~~


    The severed ends didn''t retract violently or vanish¡ªthey drifted toward him, brushing against his face like the soft caress of tiny hands.


    He flinched instinctively but stopped when he realized what he was feeling.


    Gentle. Curious. Almost¡­ tender.


    It was as though something small, fragile, and impossibly delicate had touched him, lingering briefly before pulling back.


    "!!" sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Su Xiaobai''s chest heaved as he shot to his feet, his blood pounding in his ears. He didn''t know whether to laugh, cry, or scream.


    "Did¡­ did you see that?" he whispered to no one in particular, a faint chuckle escaping his lips. His voice trembled, caught somewhere between disbelief and wonder.


    Was it a hand? He thought. So tiny¡­ so delicate¡­


    He rubbed his face, his heart starting to beat very loudly, as if it were a roaring flame.


    Was it a sign?


    The cavern around him seemed unchanged, the embryo still glowing faintly, but something in the air felt different. Lighter. Like a whisper of reassurance had passed through the void.


    Taking a shaky breath, Su Xiaobai looked around, his gaze sweeping across the chamber with renewed focus. He couldn''t afford to sit here and let himself waste away. Not now.


    It was then that his eyes landed on another stone table, partially hidden in the shadows.


    His breath stopped.


    There was something there¡ªa piece of parchment, weathered and brittle, lying amidst the dust.


    Another note.


    ______


    "To the one who has found this,


    I have little left to offer but my gratitude. You''ve read my story, and for that, I thank you. Perhaps it was a selfish thing to leave behind, but even a broken man wishes to be remembered.


    I can no longer speak of pride, yet I will not deny the truth: I was one of the greatest formation masters in the mortal plane. My knowledge, my legacy, I have consolidated into a single book. It contains the foundations of formation theory, mortal and immortal alike. Whether you are a novice or an adept, this knowledge will serve you well.


    Take it. Use it as you will. And as a final gift, I leave you my Celestial Inscriber¡ªa tool that has inscribed arrays that shaped history. May it guide you in crafting your own fate.


    If nothing else, let this be a better inheritance than the tomb you now stand in.


    ¡ªTian Yu


    _____


    Su Xiaobai blinked, rereading the note. His hand brushed over the stone table, where a slim, worn book rested beside a slender, glowing brush.


    The book''s surface was plain and dark brown, with no symbols to suggest its significance¡ªjust an unassuming relic, like something you''d find in a dusty old library.


    But the moment Su Xiaobai flipped through its pages, his heart skipped a beat.


    "Astral Gateway Array¡­" he whispered, his grin widening with every word.


    This was what he needed.


    The array wasn''t just a formation¡ªit was a miracle. Theoretically, it could summon anyone from anywhere, bridging realms and distances as long as certain conditions were met.


    But Su Xiaobai''s initial excitement dimmed as he skimmed the requirements:


    First, spatial anchor token: a personal object linked to the person being summoned; second, void fracture Stones: essential for stabilizing the spatial rift, the stronger the person being summoned, the more stones required; astral alignment: the array could only be activated under specific celestial conditions, requiring careful timing; at last, spiritual energy, the user needed at least twice the spiritual energy of the person being summoned.


    Su Xiaobai frowned as he read the last part.


    "Twice the spiritual energy?" he muttered, rubbing his temple. That was the real kicker. His current cultivation wouldn''t even allow him to summon his little sister, let alone his mother, who might be in the Heavenly Tribulation Realm.


    Still, the gloom that had weighed on him earlier began to lift. The array was possible. He just needed to grow stronger, gather the materials, and summon them one by one¡ªstarting with his little sister.


    "Step by step," Su Xiaobai said, smiling despite himself.


    His attention shifted to the glowing brush beside the book. It was slender, with a golden body and a small green gem embedded near its tip. The faint hum of power radiating from it told him this was no ordinary tool.


    "Celestial Inscriber¡­"

 Chapter 43 Yueer!

    "Celestial Inscriber¡­"Su Xiaobai muttered, picking up the brush.


    The name alone sounded important, but it wasn''t until he read the note''s final lines that he understood its true value.


    Unlike most formation tools, which required profound Qi to create arrays, this brush used spirit stones as fuel. The quality of the spirit stones dictated the strength and precision of the formations it inscribed.


    Su Xiaobai chuckled, his grip tightening on the brush. "So I don''t have to wait until Core Formation Realm to use this? Perfect."


    His smile widened as he pocketed the pen. For once, something in this damned tomb was actually useful.


    With the book and brush secured in his spatial ring, Su Xiaobai''s mood lightened considerably. Between Tian Yu''s practical legacy and the Infernal Emperor''s overwhelming one, he now had access to the knowledge of two formation masters.


    Tian Yu''s formations were practical, mostly mortal-grade arrays with achievable requirements. On the other hand, the Infernal Emperor''s were the complete opposite¡ªoverkill, grand designs that were simply impossible for Su Xiaobai in his current state.


    "There are some things in the Infernal Emperor''s memories that might help," Su Xiaobai murmured, shaking his head. "But by the time I can use his Heavenly Bridge Summoning Array, I''ll probably be punching through stars with one hand."


    He laughed at the absurdity of it all. Yet deep down, he felt a spark of hope reignite.


    His priorities had shifted. Finding the Spatial Treasure could is no longer needed. Now, he needed to focus on gathering the materials to activate the Astral Gateway Array. His family might still be alive. He''d bring them back¡ªno matter how long it took.


    Sliding the book and pen into his ring, he grinned to himself.


    "Perfect."


    For the first time in what felt like forever, Su Xiaobai''s path forward seemed clear.


    "Let''s check the coffin!"


    Su Xiaobai took a deep breath, steadying his nerves. For now, it seemed like a few of the higher-ups were still watching. He wouldn''t dare jinx it by saying it out loud again¡ªhe''d learned his lesson the hard way.


    But his new strategy seemed to be working.


    Mutual benefit.


    He''d healed Fairy Lianhua and gotten the treasure in return. Now, he just needed to check on this Yue''er, see what the fuss was about, and¡ªif possible¡ªraise her from the coffin.


    Because that''s why he was here, right?


    Totally planned!


    ''As long as I pretend to help the higher-ups, they''ll keep throwing me things,'' he muttered under his breath. ''Fine by me. I''m a tool man, and I know it.''


    For now, he''d keep his emotions in check, at least until his family was safe.


    Afterwards? He grinned to himself. Once his mother and sisters were back, he could go right back to his daily sessions of cursing the higher-ups.


    After all, their hate was perfectly mutual: they hated him, and he hated them.


    As long as the benefits kept flowing, the system worked¡ªor so he told himself.


    He approached the coffin, his steps slow and deliberate.


    "You guys stop acting like my mute girlfriend," he muttered, the words meant as much for himself as for the supposed higher-ups watching. "Just say it directly next time if you want me to do something, okay?"


    The humor helped keep his anxiety at bay. He didn''t know what he''d see inside the coffin, and the thought made his palms sweat.


    But as he stood before it, staring at the intricately carved surface, he exhaled sharply and rolled his shoulders.


    "Alright, Yue''er," he said, placing his hands on the coffin lid. "Let''s see what all the fuss is about."


    Creaaaaak.


    The coffin lid groaned, stale cold air hissing out like a dying breath. Su Xiaobai waved a hand in front of his face, muttering, "Smells like dead regrets."


    But when he looked inside, the words caught in his throat.


    There she was.


    Yue''er.


    Hair like rivers of midnight framed a face so ethereal it felt wrong to look at. Her pale skin shimmered faintly, not like flesh, but like frost kissed by moonlight.


    The deep blue gown she wore, adorned with snowflake-like patterns that seemed alive, shifting with the faint light. A sapphire pendant rested against her chest, and tiny beads of frost glimmered on her lashes.


    She wasn''t just beautiful. She was untouchable¡ªan immortal painting trapped in death.


    "Yue''er," he whispered, her name slipping free before he could stop himself.


    She lay motionless, her chest rising and falling so faintly it was barely there. The air around her was cold¡ªbiting, distant, like winter itself had settled into her veins.


    For a moment, Su Xiaobai just stared, his usual wit deserting him.


    He couldn''t deny it¡ªif Yue''er wasn''t Tian Yu''s woman, he would have definitely thought about making her his own.


    Her beauty was unreal, the kind that made men wage wars and abandon empires. But knowing she was tied to Tian Yu''s tragic tale kept him in check.


    "Alright," he muttered finally, his voice breaking the silence. "You''re perfect, I get it. But what the hell am I supposed to do with you?"


    The words unanswered, as if the coffin itself was daring him to act.


    "..."


    Su Xiaobai stared at the coffin, then glanced up at the ''Immortal Fetus'' hovering ominously above. He rubbed his chin.


    "By the original plan, I''m supposed to merge the fetus with you," he muttered, his voice low, "so your disease is cured before I pull you out. Otherwise¡­" He glanced at Yue''er''s still, fragile form. "You''d die instantly."


    Hisss¡­


    Before he could think further, the *Immortal Fetus* thumped violently, releasing thin, tendril-like threads that slithered downward toward the coffin. Su Xiaobai''s eyes widened in panic.


    "Oh, hell no!"


    BANG!


    He slammed the coffin lid shut.


    Creeeek.


    A heavy silence followed. Su Xiaobai let out a long sigh, running a hand through his hair.


    "Really, what a pain¡­" he muttered, his frown deepening. The problem was obvious¡ªif the coffin was exposed, the fetus would try to drain Yue''er''s vitality. But keeping it shut wasn''t exactly a permanent solution either.


    "Should I just throw it into my spatial ring?"


    He gave it a shot, holding his hand over the coffin and willing it into storage. Nothing happened. The coffin remained stubbornly in place.


    "Of course it doesn''t work," Su Xiaobai grumbled. "Probably because she''s inside. Figures."


    He sighed again, glancing at the fetus. "If this was an option, Tian Yu would''ve carried her to the heavens himself. Guess I''m stuck with you."


    His gaze lingered on the ''Immortal Fetus''. The pulsing light within it had grown stronger. It wasn''t just a tool anymore¡ªit had life. A life that was nearing its final stage.


    "It''s beyond the point where I could merge it with you, anyway," he muttered, shaking his head. "And honestly, I don''t feel like pissing it off. That thing''s powerful enough to give me nightmares."


    Turning back to the coffin, Su Xiaobai''s eyes narrowed in thought.


    "Alright," he said aloud. "If I can''t use the fetus, maybe I can redirect some of the spiritual energy flow from the Soul Refining Array. If luck''s on your side, it might help your recovery¡­ or at least give you a fighting chance."


    The plan wasn''t foolproof. Hell, it wasn''t even a plan. But it was better than doing nothing.


    Tian Yu hadn''t been able to alter the Soul Refining Array. But he could.


    After all, Su Xiaobai wasn''t relying on Tian Yu''s limited knowledge¡ªhe had the Infernal Emperor''s memories to back him up. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    If the Infernal Emperor could create arrays that turned entire dynasties into ash, redirecting a sliver of energy to a coffin should be child''s play. Right?


    He cracked his knuckles and pulled out the Celestial Inscriber.


    ____


    Hours later, Su Xiaobai wiped the sweat from his brow, glaring at the dozens of depleted spirit stones scattered around him.


    "Damn this thing eats like a starving beast," he muttered, pocketing the celestial inscriber. "Didn''t think it''d drain me dry on its first round..."


    He glanced at the array''s glowing runes, now slightly altered to redirect a thin stream of refined spiritual energy toward the coffin. From the cracks, a faint glimmer of power seeped into the sealed space.


    "It''s done," Su Xiaobai announced, stepping back to admire his handiwork.


    Honestly, he had no idea if it would work. He didn''t even know what Yue''er''s disease was. But maybe¡ªjust maybe¡ªthis would give her enough strength to wake up on her own.


    He shrugged.


    "Well, whatever," he said, stretching his arms above his head. "It''s out of my hands now. If the higher-ups want you alive, they''ll make it happen. If not¡­"


    He trailed off, staring at the faint light trickling into the coffin.


    "Well, it''s not my problem anymore."


    With that, Su Xiaobai turned away, though he couldn''t quite shake the uneasy feeling at the edge of his thoughts.

 Chapter 44 Peak Foundation Establishment Realm! Mastering Void Steps!

    "Hm?"Just as Su Xiaobai turned to leave the underground chamber, his eyes caught the faint violet glow threading across the stone walls. The cracks pulsed, jagged streaks of energy carving through reality like an artist gone mad.


    He had noticed them long ago but dismissed them in favor of more pressing priorities. Now, with his tasks momentarily complete, curiosity finally demanded his attention.


    "¡­Alright," Su Xiaobai muttered, narrowing his eyes. "That doesn''t scream safe, but who am I to judge?"


    Picking up a nearby rock, he tossed it at the nearest crack. It vanished soundlessly, as if swallowed by the void.


    "Right. Totally decorative. Nothing to worry about," he said, his tone filled with sarcasm. "Higher-ups, if this is another one of your little surprises, I¡ª"


    He cut himself off, realizing he was talking to a cosmic peanut gallery that probably ''lived'' for his reactions.


    Still, curiosity burned hotter than his caution. "Fine. You win. Let''s see where this rabbit hole goes."


    He extended a hand toward the crack, hesitating briefly before plunging his fingers into its shimmering depths. The sensation was unsettling¡ªlike plunging his hand into a pool of liquid starlight. His lips twitched into a grin.


    "Not even gonna explain this one, are you?" he muttered. Pulling out Tian Yu''s formation manual from his spatial ring, he quickly flipped through its worn pages until one particular entry caught his eye.


    "Void Cracks," he read aloud. "Fragments of space torn by a failed Soul Refining Array. They may serve as unstable portals, linking random locations¡­ or leading to realms beyond mortal comprehension. Use at your own risk."


    He whistled low, a mix of awe and nervous energy coursing through him. "So, basically... instant teleportation to anywhere within this cave. Good to know."


    ______


    For the next few hours, Su Xiaobai threw himself through the Void Cracks with reckless smile. One jump spat him out upside-down, slamming his head against the chamber ceiling. Another dumped him ankle-deep into glowing sludge that reeked of sulfur.


    "Yeah, no. Definitely not decorative," he grumbled, shaking off the slime. "Are you guys having fun yet? Because I¡ª" He stepped through another crack and promptly tripped over his own feet, landing face-first on cold stone.


    Unbeknownst to him, the Void Thunder Dragon in his spirit sea had been watching. Its colossal, serpentine body coiled lazily in the endless void of his spirit sea. Its massive golden eyes gleamed with interest, following Su Xiaobai''s antics like a bored god watching a mortal circus.


    When Su Xiaobai tripped and fell out of a crack, landing face-first on the ground, the dragon snorted.


    WHOOSH!


    A beam of multicolored light erupted from the dragon''s head, condensing into a small black manual. Threads of vibrant energy wove together, forming a book whose surface shimmered like polished obsidian.


    Whoosh!


    With a flick of its tail, the dragon hurled the manual through space, sending it hurtling toward Su Xiaobai.


    Unaware of the dragon''s interference, Su Xiaobai dusted himself off after hopping out of another crack. "Alright, one more jump, and then¡ª"


    BAM!


    "Ow!" Su Xiaobai staggered as the manual abruptly collided with his head. "What the¡ªwho just hit me?!"


    Rubbing the sore spot, he glared upward at the ceiling as if daring it to answer.


    "Alright, which one of you bastards did it?" he snapped, glaring at the stone ceiling. "We need to talk about boundaries. Come forward and face me! Can''t stand to see me happy for once, huh?"


    As he rubbed his head, his gaze fell to the ground, making his eyes surprised like a curious puppy.


    There, lying at his feet, was a small black-covered manual. Its surface gleamed like polished obsidian, smooth and unmarked except for faint silver threads along the edges, shimmering as though stitched with starlight. A strange, subtle energy pulsed from it, steady and deliberate, like the heartbeat of something alive.


    "What''s this?" Su Xiaobai crouched, picking it up. He flipped through the pages, his eyes widening as he read.


    "Void Steps¡­ A movement technique?" His lips curled into a delighted grin. "Now this¡ªthis is exactly what I needed."


    For a moment, he laughed in his luck before quickly coughing and schooling his expression. Glancing upward, he muttered, "Alright, what''s the catch? Or are you guys just rewarding me for not dying? Either way, thanks, I guess. But next time, maybe deliver it without a concussion?"


    He paused, then added with a wry smile, "I know one of you is watching. Probably giggling right now. Sadists." He then hook his head, as if passing judgment. "Whoever you are¡ªyou''re insane. But I''ll take it."


    He turned back to the glowing cracks, brushing dust off his robes and cracking his knuckles.


    For the next few hours, Su Xiaobai focused on learning the Void Steps technique. Well, ''focused'' might be a strong word. Between swearing at the manual, glaring at the Void Thunder Dragon for not helping, and taking breaks to complain about his existential suffering, he somehow made progress.


    Maybe it was thanks to the Void Thunder Dragon chilling in his spirit sea, or maybe he was just a genius (a conclusion he came to often).


    Either way, the process felt oddly smooth.


    The first stage? Mastering "Void Concealment."


    But before he could actually ''conceal'' himself, he had to "perceive the void." Oh, just ''perceive'' something that exists outside existence. No big deal, right?


    He muttered darkly as he skimmed the manual. "It''s always the same crap with cultivation manuals. ''Step one: do the impossible. Step two: somehow don''t die.''"


    The text described the void as cracks that occasionally touched reality, like celestial spiders weaving cosmic cobwebs. Su Xiaobai had to find these cracks using Qi Suppression¡ªan absurdly overcomplicated breathing technique.


    "Inhale. Match the flow. Hold. Exhale," he muttered, mimicking the instructions. "Why not just say ''breathe like a normal person?''"


    He tried several times, and while he managed to hide his presence, he remained visible to the human eye. Frustration mounted.


    "Great. I''m invisible to rocks. Too bad I''m not fighting rocks!"


    His mind wandered to Elder Bai''s gift¡ªthe Frostwhisper Lotus. Originally, the lotus was meant to stabilize his foundation after his reckless breakthroughs, but its calming properties could help him focus.


    Without overthinking, Su Xiaobai tossed the lotus into his mouth like candy.


    Whoosh!


    His entire body lit up with icy Qi, the chill biting into his bones. His mind sharpened, and his scattered thoughts stilled.


    For once, he felt¡­ quiet.


    He muttered, impressed. "So this is what it''s like to not be a complete mess."


    Two days passed in frozen silence as he meditated. And then, like the curtains of reality parting, he saw them¡ªthe void cracks.


    They were faint, like whispers in the air, barely visible to the naked eye. Nothing like the glaring rifts on the cave walls, but they were there.


    He grinned. "Gotcha, you sneaky bastards."


    Repeating the Qi Suppression technique, Su Xiaobai failed repeatedly, but persistence (and swearing) finally paid off. Bit by bit, his presence dissolved until he vanished completely.


    "I am ''officially'' a ghost. Suck it, mortal eyes!"


    Flipping to the next page of the Void Steps manual, Su Xiaobai''s excitement fizzled. The requirements for stage two were a joke¡ªsome ridiculous nonsense about ''merging with the void and flickering like a lantern.''


    "Tch..." He tossed the book aside. "Who writes these things? The author with no concept of pacing?"


    A faint ripple in his spiritual ring drew his attention. "Xiao Lu''s awake."


    Peering into the Ring World, he saw his little servant meditating, her cultivation aura calm but steady. The effects of the Frostwhisper Lotus still in his body, so he decided to seize the moment.


    The cave was silent, undisturbed by any threats.


    "Alright, let''s do this," he said, sitting cross-legged. It was time to break through to Foundation Establishment.


    Whoosh! S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Spiritual pond water poured from his spatial ring, coiling around him like a living stream. He absorbed it slowly, directing a smaller flow into the Ring World to aid Xiao Lu''s cultivation.


    Even as he meditated, he calculated how much water he''d need to save for the future. Breaking through Foundation Establishment was just the start¡ªforming a core would require ten times this much Qi.


    The process began with fortifying his body, a step that felt less like cultivation and more like being crushed by a mountain. He grimaced through the pain, gritting his teeth.


    "Oh yeah, this is ''exactly'' what I signed up for. Love it. Ten out of ten, would recommend."


    Next came forming the Qi nodes, reservoirs for storing excess Qi. As each node formed, he felt like his insides were being poked by celestial needles.


    "Fantastic. Nothing like stabbing yourself repeatedly to feel alive."


    Finally, he worked on creating the three Meridian Cores: one in his spirit sea, one in his dantian, and one near his essence. The cores glowed faintly as they stabilized, linking with the Qi nodes across his body.


    The last step was opening all his meridians. This was, by far, the worst part.


    It felt like molten lava coursing through his veins, burning everything in its path.


    Two months later, Su Xiaobai finally opened his eyes, his body radiating with vitality.


    "Haaa¡­" He stood and stretched, feeling like a new man.


    "Master!" Xiao Lu appeared, her cheeks flushed and glowing. "You''ve reached the peak of Foundation Establishment! Congratulations!"

 Chapter 45 Wind Serpant Mountain! Rescuing a Beauty!

    "Master!" Xiao Lu appeared, cheeks flushed and glowing with vitality. "You''ve reached the peak of the Foundation Establishment Realm! Congratulations!"Su Xiaobai smirked, his gaze briefly drifting to Xiao Lu''s waist. "Not bad. Seems you''ve climbed a little higher up the mountain, but you''re still a few steps behind me. Keep going¡ªmaybe one day you''ll catch up."


    She blinked, startled. "How did you know?"


    "I''m your master. I know everything," he replied, smiling before muttering under his breath, "And I''ve been spying on you, so¡­ yeah."


    "!"


    Xiao Lu froze, her face rapidly reddening as the words sank in. She had recently broken through to the intermediate stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm, thanks to Su Xiaobai''s generosity in transferring a portion of the spiritual pond water for her to absorb.


    B-but...If he could see the Ring World, that meant¡­ everything.


    All the times she adjusted her robes, practiced her poses, even that one time she¡ª


    She shook her head furiously, trying to banish the thought. But the damage was done, and her embarrassment burned like a furnace.


    Meanwhile, Su Xiaobai''s attention had already wandered. He rummaged through his spatial ring, his frown deepening.


    "Where the hell did all my spiritual water go?" he muttered, irritation mounting.


    Xiao Lu''s thoughts snapped back to reality. "Master?" she asked hesitantly, sensing his rising frustration.


    The spiritual pond¡ªthe entire thing¡ªwas gone. Su Xiaobai stared at the now-empty space, disbelief etched across his face.


    "There''s only Xiao Lu and me here," he growled. "How the hell¡­?"


    "Uhh¡­ Master?" Xiao Lu''s hesitant voice broke through his thoughts. She pointed behind him, her face pale. "Is that¡­ supposed to happen?"


    "What now?" Su Xiaobai turned, still fuming, but the moment his eyes landed on the scene behind him, he froze.


    The immortal fetus hovered in the air like a harbinger of doom. Its once-blue glow had turned blood-red, and its aura pulsed with a sinister rhythm, like the heartbeat of a wicked beast.


    The remnants of the spiritual pond swirled in a vortex, sucked into the unholy thing. The blood-red aura writhed like a living entity, exuding a hunger that made Su Xiaobai''s skin crawl.


    "¡­"


    Su Xiaobai''s brows twitched violently. ''This thing ate my core-forming chance....?''


    Rage bubbled up inside him. "I''ll kill¡ªno, no. Nope. Not worth it. This is way above my pay grade."


    WHOOSH!


    Without a second thought, he grabbed Xiao Lu by the arm and bolted toward the exit.


    "Master?! Why are we running?!" Xiao Lu''s voice trembled, her confusion evident.


    Su Xiaobai''s face twisted into a grimace. "Shut your mouth and run! That demon child''s about to hatch, and when it does, it''ll eat everything in its path¡ªincluding us!"


    Their footsteps thundered through the chamber as Su Xiaobai''s mind shook in disbelief. Damn it. Damn it. Why does this kind of crap always happen to me? Did I piss off someone again? Or is this just their idea of entertainment?!


    Breaking through to the first chamber, Su Xiaobai didn''t slow. With a burst of Qi, he shattered the exit and bolted into the open air, dragging Xiao Lu along. Only when the oppressive aura of the immortal fetus was far behind them did he finally stop, panting heavily.


    _______


    One week had passed since Su Xiaobai''s great escape from the immortal fetus¡ªa term he would never forget, no matter how grand it sounded.


    What a ridiculous, nightmarish chapter that was ¡ª filled with near-death experiences.


    Still, there was no denying the gains: once a lowly no-talent Qi Refinement scrub, Su Xiaobai now stood at the ''peak of Foundation Establishment'', his dantian brimming with refined energy so pure it probably qualified as a noble heirloom.


    Xiao Lu, his new loyal servant and occasional source of headaches, had also grown stronger¡ªnow at the ''intermediate stage of Foundation Establishment'', a vast leap from her earlier mediocrity.


    And let''s not forget the ''Devouring Thorny Flower'', an eldritch plant baby that had evolved into a terrifying predator after munching on the corpses from red flame fortress.


    It was quite the power boost. Techniques? Countless. Artifacts? Oh, just the Infernal Flames and the Celestial Inscriber, thank you very much. And knowledge? Su Xiaobai had absorbed the minds of not one but two formation masters, giving him enough intellectual firepower to choke an entire sect of nerds.


    But here''s the thing: it wasn''t enough. It would ''never'' be enough.


    The "Astral Gate Array," a colossal formation that seemed to bridge the heavens and the earth, demanded materials so rare and treasures so precious that no self-respecting sect would ever leave them unattended, let alone lying around.


    So, Su Xiaobai wandered towns, gathering scraps of intel from merchants who didn''t realize they were selling out their secrets for a few spirit stones.


    That''s how he found himself in ''Yunan City,'' a vibrant place, nestled hundreds of mountains away from the Thousand Beast Forest.


    A bustling hive where even the air smelled like desperation. But while the streets were alive with shouting vendors and bartering fools, Su Xiaobai''s attention was locked on the distant horizon.


    The ''Serpent Wind Mountains'' stood far beyond the city, jagged and ancient, their peaks pierced the sky like the fangs of some celestial wyrm, sheathed in swirling mists.


    The moment Su Xiaobai saw them, he felt it: ancient qi rolled off those mountains in waves, a dormant presence so suffocating it felt like a judge waiting to see if you were worth sentencing.


    It was in Yunan City that Su Xiaobai learned about the ''Xiantian Sect''.


    The tenth-ranked sect of Yue Country.


    A merchant''s words stuck in his mind:


    "Yunan City? It''s a dog tied to the Xiantian Sect''s leash. They control everything¡ªthe people, the trade, even the land. Their power runs through the soil itself."


    The thought brought a wry smile to his face. "Xiantian Sect, huh? Weren''t you the lot Elder Bai belonged to?" Elder Bai, who, along with his disciples, now served as fertilized compost after an unfortunate encounter with Su Xiaobai in a cave.


    "Think their vaults are worth the risk?" Su Xiaobai asked casually as he strolled the streets with Xiao Lu.


    She took a bite out of a wild apple, the juice staining her crimson lips like spilled wine. "A sect treasury could provide everything you need for the array," she said between bites, her tone so thoughtful.


    Su Xiaobai nodded, "You''re not wrong. Let''s see if their mountains bite."


    ____


    The foothills greeted him with a stiff breeze that nearly tore the hair from his scalp. Spiritual energy in this place wasn''t just dense; it was aggressive, crackling through the air like an angry spirit''s breath.


    Wind serpents appeared almost immediately, their translucent forms darting through the currents. They weren''t physical creatures but manifestations of the mountain''s ambient qi, their writhing bodies shimmering like mirages on hot sand.


    Sizzzzzz!


    One serpent lunged at Su Xiaobai. With a casual flick of his sleeve, it disintegrated, scattering like mist. "Is this it?" he muttered, unimpressed. "If this is the best they''ve got, even a blind rogue cultivator could waltz in and loot the place."


    The serpents grew larger as he climbed higher.


    Crackle... Crackle...


    Some were veined with arcs of lightning, their movements jerky and unnatural.


    "Wait ¡ª Lightning Essence?" Su Xiaobai murmured, his brows furrowing. "In a mountain dominated by Wind Qi? That doesn''t add up."


    He paused, narrowing his eyes at one of the larger serpents. Its translucent body twitched weakly, its mouth hanging open in frozen agony.


    The other serpents were no better¡ªflickering like dying flames, as if they had been¡­


    "Assaulted," Su Xiaobai muttered. "By what?"


    He didn''t have time to investigate. A shrill scream pierced the air. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "AHHHHHH!"


    Su Xiaobai''s ears twitched at the scream ripping through the forest¡ªhigh-pitched, desperate, and getting closer.


    "Oh, for fuck''s sake," he muttered, shoving Xiao Lu into the ring world. "If this is another damsel in distress like that fraud Fairy Lian, I''m leaving them to the fate..."


    CRACK!


    A tree splintered ahead, and a figure burst into view, weaving through the undergrowth like a headless chicken.


    Behind them came the boar¡ªno, not a boar, a walking battering ram of muscle and rage. Its tusks gleamed like molten spears, arcs of lightning crawling across their surface, while red eyes burned with the promise of violence.


    "Yup," Su Xiaobai said flatly, "that''s not my problem."


    The fleeing figure didn''t seem to agree. "BROTHER, SAVE ME!"


    Su Xiaobai squinted. Long black hair? Check. Flowing blue robes? Check. Porcelain face glistening with tears? Aha.


    But something was wrong.


    Too slender. Too flat.


    His eyes dropped, confirming the truth. Flat. As. A. Jade. Plate.


    He sighed, disgusted. "That''s¡­ not a woman."


    The man stumbled toward him, grabbing at his sleeve with trembling hands. Up close, the illusion shattered further¡ªdirt-streaked robes, cracked lips, and desperation pouring off him like cheap wine. "Brother, help me!"


    Su Xiaobai raised an eyebrow. "No."


    "Please!" The man dodged left, the boar''s tusks gouging a trench into the ground behind him. "Spirit crystals, treasures¡ªwhatever you want! Just kill this thing!"


    Su Xiaobai''s gaze drifted to the boar, then back to the man. "Kill it? Nah. I''ll just take the crystals off your corpse after it''s done."


    "WHAT?!"


    CRUNCH!


    The boar slammed into a tree, splitting it clean in half. It snorted, hooves pounding the earth as it charged again.


    "Think of it this way," Su Xiaobai said. "I''m just respecting the food chain. You get skewered, I loot your stuff, the boar eats what''s left¡ªeveryone wins."

 Chapter 46 Demon Child!

    The man darted behind Su Xiaobai, clutching his arm as though holding onto the last tether to life. "My tyrant of a grandfather sealed my cultivation! I can''t even squash a Spirit Bug, let alone fend off that thing!"Su Xiaobai sighed, his patience fraying. He peeled the man''s hands off his robes as if removing stubborn lotus sap. "So, let me get this straight¡ªyou''re weak, useless, and currently taunting a thunder-charged Ironhide Boar. Anything else, or can I start running?"


    Wei Jun''s face froze, panic morphing into sudden clarity. "Wait! I can introduce you to my sister!"


    Su Xiaobai paused mid-step, his brow twitching. "What?"


    "She''s nearby! Exquisite beauty, refined temperament, and... completely untouched."


    "Untouched?"


    Ding.


    In the depths of Su Xiaobai''s soul, a phantom bell tolled¡ªa sign from the heavens or, more likely, the meddling higher-ups. He cracked his knuckles, a wicked grin spreading across his face. "You lead with that next time."


    The boar thundered toward them, its tusks crackling with arcs of wild lightning.


    BOOM!


    Su Xiaobai''s fist met the beast''s skull with the force of a falling meteor. A shockwave rippled outward, flattening the surrounding grass. The boar didn''t even have time to squeal as its head caved in with a bloody crunch, its colossal body crashing lifeless to the ground.


    Wei Jun stumbled backward, his legs giving out beneath him. "You killed it... with a single strike?"


    Su Xiaobai brushed flecks of blood from his sleeve, his expression aloof. "Naturally. Now, about this sister of yours..."


    Wei Jun scrambled to his feet, hastily adjusting his disheveled robes. His voice carried an almost breezy charm as he said, "Brother, allow me a moment to make myself presentable before we proceed. If my grandfather learns I was anywhere near the sect¡­" His words trailed off, the smile persistent but his eyes watchful.


    Su Xiaobai caught the faint shift in tone. He arched an eyebrow, smirking faintly. "So, you were poking around where you shouldn''t have been. Why does that not surprise me?"


    Wei Jun froze mid-motion, his fan clutched tightly. "How... how did you know?"


    "I''m not blind," Su Xiaobai replied dryly, though his thoughts whispered otherwise. ''You guys send me this? A smooth-tongued wanderer with secrets? At least give me someone with a treasure map.''


    Wei Jun chuckled lightly, his fan snapping open with a practiced flick. "Brother, you''re too clever by half. But I assure you, my intentions are as pure as a Spirit Lotus in moonlight." S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Spit!


    "Pure as mud," Su Xiaobai muttered under his breath, turning away. "Hurry up and change before the stench of the boar attracts something worse."


    As Wei Jun shrugged off his robe, Su Xiaobai pointedly looked away. "Quit wasting time. This isn''t a low-budget brothel drama."


    Wei Jun''s laughter came light and teasing. "Brother, why so shy? We''re both men, are we not?"


    Su Xiaobai rolled his eyes, tone dripping with sarcasm. "I''m merely shielding myself from the blinding radiance of your unmatched charm. Hurry it up."


    Draping himself in a fresh green robe of fine silk, Wei Jun snapped his fan closed and inclined his head with an easy smile. "Shall we proceed, Brother?"


    Su Xiaobai''s gaze sharpened. "You''d better not be lying about this sister of yours. If this is some elaborate joke, I''ll ensure you regret it for the rest of your fleeting existence."


    Wei Jun laughed softly, waving his fan dismissively. "Brother, do I look like a man who would deceive his benefactor?"


    "Yes." Su Xiaobai''s thoughts were less charitable, but he gave a curt nod. "Let''s go."


    The forest deepened around them, the trees whispering secrets to the wind. Su Xiaobai''s instincts remained taut as a drawn bowstring. "Why are we heading away from the Xiantian Sect?"


    Wei Jun glanced back, his expression shadowed with a faint melancholy. "Brother, did you plan to visit the sect?"


    Su Xiaobai frowned. Aloud, he said, "Didn''t you say your sister was connected to the sect? Or was that just bait?"


    Wei Jun tilted his head, his smile tinged with something unreadable. "Connected? No. My sister has no ties to the sect."


    Su Xiaobai halted mid-step, his voice cold. "No ties? Then what was the point of saving you?"


    Wei Jun''s fan snapped shut, and he turned fully toward Su Xiaobai, his gaze steady. "Brother, do you truly believe every encounter is preordained by the heavens?"


    "Don''t try to wax philosophical with me," Su Xiaobai shot back. "Just tell me the truth."


    Wei Jun hesitated before speaking, his voice soft. "My sister is real. But I admit, she''s not connected to the Xiantian Sect. As for why I was there... Let''s just say, admiration can take many forms."


    "Peeping," Su Xiaobai said flatly.


    Wei Jun stumbled, his fan slipping slightly. "It''s not peeping¡ªit''s reverence from afar!"


    "Right. You walked a day to spy on someone. That''s ''so'' dignified."


    Wei Jun sighed, closing his fan with a snap. "Brother, must you always view the world through such a harsh lens?"


    "Harsh? No. Practical." Su Xiaobai''s tone turned light, almost mocking. "The only person worth admiring is yourself. Everyone else? Baggage."


    Wei Jun''s eyes flickered, a subtle sharpness behind his easy smile. "Perhaps you''re right. But even baggage can surprise you."


    They resumed walking, the rustling leaves masking the noise between them.


    ''If this wild goose chase doesn''t lead to something worthwhile,'' Su Xiaobai thought grimly, ''I''ll feed him to the Devouring Thorny Flower myself.''


    Su Xiaobai had no direct path into the Xiantian Sect. If Elder Bai still lived, there might have been a thread to pull, but that lifeline had long since frayed, leaving him tethered to the whims of the ''charismatic'' Wei Jun.


    Still, Su Xiaobai wasn''t overly concerned.


    The setup was far too convenient to be coincidence. A sealed cultivation, a clumsy escape from a wild boar¡ªone even Xiao Lu, could dispatch with a flick of her hand. This had the higher-ups'' meddling written all over it.


    Fate often wrapped rewards in frustrating packaging, and Su Xiaobai''s instincts told him to play along. For now.


    Of course, nothing came without a price. But Su Xiaobai smirked.


    "You fuck the ones below, and the ones above fuck you back. Since I can''t reach the heavens, I''ll make sure to fuck over everyone else¡ªwith style!"


    The mantra echoed in his mind as he glanced at Xiao Lu, resting silently in the ring world. She was his hidden ace, a blade in waiting should the need arise.


    By nightfall, the two had camped beneath towering trees. Enchanted stones encircled their makeshift refuge, casting faint, star-like glimmers against the gloom.


    "By tomorrow afternoon, we''ll reach my grandfather''s retreat," Wei Jun said with a casual smile. His eyes, however, glinted with cunningness.


    Su Xiaobai shrugged, stretching out on the ground. "Fine. Just don''t let some prank hit me at sunrise."


    ______


    Morning ~~


    Golden rays pierced through the forest canopy, painting the world in shades of gold and jade. The air was crisp, filled with the soft murmurs of birdsong, while dew-kissed leaves shimmered like fragments of shattered crystal.


    But peace, as always, was fleeting.


    Wei Jun paced near the dying embers of the campfire, his fan tapping against his palm in a restless rhythm¡ªthap, thap, thap.


    His sharp eyes darted repeatedly toward Su Xiaobai, who lay sprawled carelessly, utterly unbothered by the unease saturating the air.


    Yet Wei Jun''s vigilance wasn''t without cause. His attention locked onto Su Xiaobai''s outstretched hand.


    Nestled in Su Xiaobai''s hand was a small doll, no larger than a clenched fist. Its porcelain face was smooth and round, framed by long black hair that cascaded like shadows. Crimson eyes, dim and half-lidded, glowed faintly as its tiny arms clung to his fingers.


    The doll''s lips latched onto his fingertip with soft nchu, nchu sounds, a rhythmic sucking that might have seemed childlike¡ªif not for the faint beads of blood welling around its mouth.


    Wei Jun swallowed hard, ''What in the name of the Heavenly Dao is that?''


    He had encountered cursed talismans, blood-forged puppets, and even soul-devouring artifacts.


    But this¡ªthis thing¡ªdefied comparison.


    His gaze flicked to the faintly glowing barrier encircling the camp.


    Designed to repel beasts, rogue cultivators, and wandering disciples, it had proven steadfast through countless nights. Yet this creature had bypassed it effortlessly, as if slipping through the threads of reality itself.


    Wei Jun''s instincts screamed at him to flee, but his curiosity rooted him in place. "Brother Su¡­" he whispered, his voice barely louder than the rustling leaves. "Brother Su, wake up. Something''s¡­ not right."


    Su Xiaobai stirred faintly, muttering under his breath, but remained in a dreamlike haze. His fingers twitched, but the doll didn''t release her grip. Instead, she nuzzled his palm softly, her crimson eyes gleaming faintly as the sucking continued¡ªschlp, nchu, schlp¡ªa steady rhythm both innocent and unnerving cute.


    Wei Jun, trembling, accidentally brushed his fan against an enchanted stone, and the barrier let out a faint hum¡ªwrrnnn.


    "Brother Su!" Wei Jun hissed, louder this time. "Wake up, damn it!"


    With a groggy groan, Su Xiaobai cracked an eye open, his vision blurred as Wei Jun''s pale, frantic face swam into view.


    "What?" Su Xiaobai grumbled, his voice thick with irritation. Without thinking, he waved his hand lazily in Wei Jun''s direction, a reflexive motion born of annoyance.


    The motion dislodged the doll entirely, sending her tumbling through the air with a soft movement.


    She landed silently, her glowing crimson eyes narrowing as she scuttled backward like a startled kitten.

 Chapter 47 Grandpa Zhong!

    "Why are you pacing like a Qi-deviated duck about to be plucked?" Su Xiaobai asked, his voice sharp with irritation. "Did your inner demon escape, or has Old Grandma finally ascended to the underworld?"Wei Jun''s lips curved into a faint smile, his tone unhurried but measured. "Brother, it''s¡ª"


    "It''s what?" Su Xiaobai cut in, his patience already wearing thin. "If you''re here to waste my time with half a sentence, remember: my patience is thinner than spider silk."


    Wei Jun raised a hand, his fingers moving with deliberate grace to point at Su Xiaobai''s hand. "There''s something on you. I thought you''d prefer to notice it yourself."


    Su Xiaobai frowned and followed his gaze.


    A pale, tiny figure was clinging to his finger.


    His brow twitched. "What¡­ is this?"


    The creature gave no answer, tightening its grip like a starving tick.


    Su Xiaobai flicked his hand lightly. No effect. He flicked again, Qi swirling with precision. Still, the thing clung tighter.


    It was a doll¡ªsmall, pale, and unnervingly lifelike. Porcelain skin framed by flowing black hair. Crimson eyes glimmered faintly, gazing up with an innocent pout¡ªthough its sharp, bloodstained teeth betrayed it.


    "Brother," Wei Jun said, his voice calm but watchful, "that''s what I''ve been trying to warn you about. It''s been latched on for quite some time now."


    Su Xiaobai''s gaze lifted slowly, "And you didn''t think to stop it?"


    Wei Jun''s faint smile didn''t waver. "I didn''t want to act rashly and escalate the situation. Sometimes, caution yields better results."


    "Ah, yes," Su Xiaobai said coldly. "A masterstroke of calculated wisdom."


    Without further ceremony, he grasped the doll by its hair and pulled it free. Blood beaded on his fingertip as he held the creature aloft.


    It dangled limp, its crimson eyes dim, as harmless as a discarded talisman.


    Su Xiaobai sneered. "A parasitic treasure? A cursed child''s toy? Or some second-rate demonic technique?"


    Wei Jun tilted his head thoughtfully. "It might be a rare spiritual artifact¡­ one that recognizes you as its master. Or," he added with a knowing edge, "perhaps something more troublesome."


    Su Xiaobai hummed, turning the doll over. "If that''s true, its method of introduction sucks."


    Satisfied, he flicked his wrist to discard it.


    BAM!


    Suddenly, the doll''s crimson eyes reignited, blazing like infernal rubies. Twisting midair, it executed a flawless backflip and latched back onto his finger.


    Its teeth bit deeper, Qi swirling faintly as it drank.


    For a moment, Su Xiaobai''s expression was unreadable. Calm. Cold. Calculating.


    Then he exhaled slowly, his voice like a whisper of death. "You little fucker."


    Wei Jun raised an eyebrow, his tone betraying faint amusement. "It seems quite determined to stay. Perhaps you should entertain its attachment¡­ or find a way to leash it."


    Su Xiaobai''s gaze darkened, Qi flaring as trees swayed violently around them. Golden light wreathed his hand.


    He ripped the doll free, holding it up like a captured criminal. "You''ve drunk enough blood to rebuild a small sect. Let''s see if you can handle some backlash."


    The doll tilted its head innocently, then grinned¡ªa tiny, rebellious smile.


    ______


    "Ehehe ~"


    A soft, bell-like laugh echoed through the forest, sweet yet mocking. The tiny creature Su Xiaobai had tried roasting alive not an hour ago now perched smugly on his shoulder, its fluffy hands swaying in victory. It nibbled on his sleeve as his fingers lazily flicked its gemstone-like ears.


    Wei Jun stared, slack-jawed, his fan-like lashes blinking furiously. "Brother Su, weren''t you trying to murder that thing just now? With actual murder intent?"


    Su Xiaobai''s grin sharpened. "What''s love without a little hate, Brother Jun?"


    Wei Jun froze, his brain grinding to a halt. "...?" What in the four heavens was this guy talking about? Just an hour ago, Su Xiaobai had unleashed fire, lightning, and even a blade glowing with ominous Qi at the creature. And now, it snuggled into his neck like they were long-lost companions.


    "You ''let'' it suck your blood," Wei Jun muttered, "You''re insane."


    Su Xiaobai chuckled, his gaze drifting up toward the vast blue sky.


    His voice distant, "You know, Brother Jun, men willingly offer far more precious vessels of their vitality to women. Compared to that, letting this little one drink a few drops of blood is practically harmless."


    Wei Jun pressed his palm against his face, shaking his head in despair. "By the heavens. If insanity were contagious, I think I''ve been infected."


    Su Xiaobai glanced sidelong at him, the faint smile never leaving his lips.


    For the last day, they''d been traveling together¡ªunintentionally, at first.


    Wei Jun had claimed it was fate, a sentiment Su Xiaobai scoffed at until he noticed the cracks in the man''s polished facade. Beneath his fan-waving elegance and a girl-like smile that could make flowers bloom in spring, there was a cold, calculating edge¡ªa cunning that reminded Su Xiaobai of himself.


    Of course, he wasn''t talking about being "girl-like." No, Su Xiaobai meant hiding your true nature behind a mask.


    [A/N: Let''s call it "Villains'' Mutual Recognition Syndrome." A term coined just now, by yours truly. Pretty catchy, right?]


    _____


    The sun hung high, its light piercing the forest like golden blades. Shadows pooled at the gnarled roots, coiling like hungry serpents.


    After endless trudging, Su Xiaobai and Wei Jun stumbled upon a shack¡ªor the sad remains of one.


    The walls leaned like a drunk, the roof sagged, and the air stank of mildew. The whole place whispered: ''Enter and die, fool.''


    Wei Jun rapped on the crooked frame, his delicate face twisting in confusion. "Where''s everyone?"


    Su Xiaobai shrugged, "Dead. Waiting for you."


    Before Wei Jun could retort, the ground quaked. A roar tore through the forest, shaking the leaves like thunder announcing the end of days.


    "YOU LITTLE BASTARD!"


    A towering figure stormed out, his silhouette blotting the sun. Each step cracked the earth, his beard crackling with faint sparks of spiritual energy, like thunderclouds on the verge of fury. His muscles bulged under tattered robes, veins writhing like spirit-snakes beneath his skin. His fiery eyes promised death.


    Su Xiaobai moved without haste, stepping aside as his ''Invincible Domain'' shimmered to life.


    Wei Jun, however, lacked such foresight.


    THWACK!


    The old man''s fist smashed the back of his head, planting Wei Jun face-first in the dirt.


    BAM!


    A crater swallowed him. Dust rose. He groaned. "What the hell?!"


    The old man roared, his voice like thunder. "Don''t ''what'' me, you shameless bastard! Spying on that Xiantian Sect girl again, huh?"


    Wei Jun paled. "Grandpa, I¡ª"


    THWACK!


    A casual kick sent him tumbling.


    "Didn''t I tell you to stay away from her?!"


    Though stunned by the series of events, Su Xiaobai leaned against a tree, arms crossed, a smile playing on his lips. "The heavens must truly favor you, Brother Jun. To be graced by such divine attention."


    Wei Jun spat dirt, glaring at him. "Divine attention? I''m being fucking murdered!"


    The old man cracked his knuckles, each sound like a stone splitting. "Enough excuses!"


    THWACK! THWACK! THWACK!


    Each blow sent Wei Jun bouncing like a battered doll, his once-pristine robes now ruins of regret.


    "Grandpa, wait¡ª"


    THWACK!


    "It''s not what it looks like¡ª"


    THWACK!


    "I was just passing by¡ª"


    THWACK!


    The old man''s final kick sent Wei Jun crashing into a tree, the trunk groaning as leaves rained down.


    "Next time, I''ll bury you myself!" the old man barked, his aura suffocating as he turned.


    Wei Jun lay crumpled, limbs akimbo. "...I... think I''m dead..."


    Su Xiaobai crouched, peering down with a smirk that could cut jade. His voice, calm and cutting, felt like salt in a wound. "Don''t worry, Brother Jun. Death''s just a detour."


    Wei Jun''s glare carried all the hate of a dying man. "Screw you..."


    Su Xiaobai stood, brushing off his robes with maddening care. "Didn''t he already?" S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Wei Jun: "..."

 Chapter 48 Demon Empress! River of Time!

    Su Xiaobai stood at a respectful distance, his sharp gaze fixed on the old man. Wei Zhong moved with practiced ease, unloading herbs and spirit fruits onto a flat stone.Yet, nothing about him was ordinary.


    The faint ripple of spiritual energy around the elder weighed on the air, pressing against Su Xiaobai''s skin like an invisible hand. His faded purple robes, brushed by the wind, carried an authority that defied time.


    His gray hair framed a face both weathered and unyielding, while his beard lent him the majesty of a storm-bound mountain.


    Danger stood in the man''s very presence¡ªsilent, suppressed, but unmistakable.


    ''Heavenly Tribulation Realm,'' Su Xiaobai thought grimly. The old man''s cultivation was so far above his own, it wasn''t even worth counting the difference.


    What kind of family is this?


    And yet, irritation itched at the back of Su Xiaobai''s mind.


    ''The Higher-ups,'' he thought darkly, ''are at it again.''


    He''d spent an entire day trudging through this damned forest¡ªfor what? A crooked shack and a family drama with a thundering patriarch?


    ''They could''ve just handed me a script,'' Su Xiaobai thought sourly. ''Are they allies? Informants? Or just another set of side characters to amuse the Higher-ups?'' sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    No instructions. No hints. Nothing but vague purpose and this absurd scenario.


    Of course, there was another possibility.


    Wei Jun''s sister.


    The thought blindsided him, and Su Xiaobai stiffened. Was this some Higher-ups'' scheme to shove him into a romance subplot? Was the old man''s granddaughter supposed to be his destined love interest?


    Impossible.


    He wasn''t some starry-eyed protagonist chasing flowers in the sect. Love was a distraction¡ªa detour he couldn''t afford.


    ''Xiao Lu was different,'' he reasoned, glancing at his hand, ''She''s useful.''


    And ¡ª she could accompany him in his journey!


    But Wei Jun''s sister? Trouble. He could already picture Wei Zhong glaring at him, spiritual energy crackling like thunder, just for daring to suggest her involvement in his plans.


    Su Xiaobai''s jaw tightened. ''No. Absolutely not. I don''t care what the Higher-ups want. I won''t be their puppet for romance.''


    And yet, the more he tried to ignore it, the more absurd the thought became.


    ''Why am I even thinking about this?''


    Shaking himself, he muttered under his breath, "Forget it. I''m here for the treasury, not a love story."


    [A/N: Look at this guy, planting his own red flags. Don''t blame me when things go downhill later! :P]


    Su Xiaobai''s thoughts were cut short by Wei Zhong''s sudden movement.


    "Why are you standing there like an idiot?" The old man''s voice cracked again like a sharp whip.


    Wei Jun froze. "I¡ª"


    "THWACK!"


    The old man''s fist struck the back of Wei Jun''s head with a resounding crack, planting him face-first into the dirt.


    Su Xiaobai blinked, surprised.


    "Brother Jun," he muttered, crouching near the cratered figure. "if this were a story, I''d say you''ve been demoted to slapstick sidekick. Thoughts?"


    Wei Jun groaned, his face half-buried in soil. "I have none."


    "Smart," Su Xiaobai said, grinning. "Wouldn''t want to overexert yourself."


    When Wei Jun finally staggered to his feet, swaying like a drunken immortal, Wei Zhong turned to Su Xiaobai.


    "You," the old man said, his tone sharp and suspicious, "What do you want?"


    Su Xiaobai clasped his hands in a gesture of respect, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Elder Wei, I merely seek guidance. As someone new to Yue Country, I find myself in need of¡­ perspective."


    "Perspective?" Wei Zhong repeated, his lips curling faintly. "Is that what they''re calling greed these days?"


    The old man''s gaze tore into Su Xiaobai, sharp and knowing, yet tinged with something else¡ªamusement, perhaps.


    "Go on," Wei Zhong said, lighting a pipe. Smoke curled around him like a dragon''s breath. "What do you want to know?"


    "The Xiantian Sect," Su Xiaobai said smoothly.


    The air seemed to chill. Wei Zhong''s expression darkened, his voice turning to iron.


    "That den of vipers."


    The hate in his tone was as clear ¡ª as the vast blue sky.


    "Forgive me," Su Xiaobai said lightly, tilting his head. "I didn''t realize the sect''s reputation was so¡­ poor."


    Wei Zhong barked a harsh laugh. "Poor? Boy, the Xiantian Sect was once a lion¡ªmighty, proud, and feared by all. But now?" He spat on the ground. "It''s a rotting carcass, picked apart by jackals and rats."


    He took a slow drag from his pipe, his eyes glinting with distant memories. "War is coming. Blood will flow. And anyone foolish enough to get caught in the middle will drown in it."


    Su Xiaobai nodded solemnly, his face a mask of respect. "Thank you for the warning, Elder. I will take it to heart."


    Inside, though, his thoughts ran even faster than his luck. ''Jackals? Rats? Blood? Sounds like my kind of party."


    Chaos meant opportunity.


    It meant treasures forgotten, vaults abandoned, and materials for his Astral Gate Array lying in wait.


    "Thanks for the advice, Elder," Su Xiaobai said aloud, his voice tinged with mischief. "I''ll be sure to ''avoid'' the Xiantian Sect¡­"


    ____


    Later that day, Su Xiaobai casually probed Wei Jun about the Xiantian Sect. He noticed the faint flicker of suspicion in Wei Jun''s eyes, despite the man''s carefree demeanor.


    Su Xiaobai didn''t care.


    When it came to the Higher-ups, there were only two outcomes.


    If they wanted to screw him over, they would¡ªno reason needed. And if they didn''t, no one else in this damned world could.


    So, he pestered Wei Jun until he got everything he wanted.


    Xiantian Sect was holding a recruitment in a week. Wei Jun, misunderstanding Su Xiaobai''s sudden interest, casually asked if he intended to join.


    "Yes," Su Xiaobai answered, surprising him.


    Wei Jun shook his head, rattling off the names of other sects and urging him to reconsider. But Su Xiaobai had already decided.


    He didn''t care about joining. It was perfect timing¡ªtoo perfect to be a coincidence. If the Higher-ups wanted him to play along, he''d oblige, at least for now. Somewhere inside that sect was the rare material he needed for the Astral Gate Array.


    Until then, he''d bide his time here, pretending to enjoy his "role." Wei Jun didn''t mind, even teasing that Su Xiaobai could meet his sister when she arrived tomorrow.


    Annoyed, Su Xiaobai waved him off and left for the nearby stream.


    ___


    "Sigh~"


    Standing beneath the roaring waterfall, Su Xiaobai let the icy torrent pound against his shoulders. Each droplet struck his skin like shards of glass, tearing away the sadness of the day.


    The cascade masked the world''s noise, leaving only the primal rhythm of water and stone.


    For a fleeting moment, it was as though time had stopped.


    Here, within the waterfall''s embrace, Su Xiaobai could almost believe that the chaos of the outside world didn''t exist¡ªthe Higher-ups, their endless schemes, and the burdens of his own inadequacies faded into an illusion.


    But peace, as Su Xiaobai knew all too well, was a lie.


    A faint vibration hummed from the ring on his finger, shattering his fragile reprieve.


    His brow furrowed. "Huh?" He lifted his hand, the ancient black band gleaming faintly against his damp skin.


    Before he could investigate further, the water around him surged unnaturally.


    Splosh!


    A sharp tug from below made him stagger. His eyes darted downward¡ªand froze.


    It was her.


    The demon child.


    She no longer resembled the tiny, harmless creature he''d first found. Now standing nearly two feet tall, her features had sharpened into an unsettling blend of innocence and beauty.


    Her round face, once merely endearing, now radiated a doll-like perfection, her porcelain skin eerily flawless, as though sculpted by a master artisan.


    But it was her eyes¡ªtwo glowing crimson orbs¡ªthat rooted him in place.


    Su Xiaobai exhaled slowly. "So, it''s happening," he muttered to himself.


    Somehow, he wasn''t surprised. If anything, this transformation confirmed what he had suspected from the moment she appeared.


    She was no ordinary creature.


    She was rare. Precious. Dangerous.


    Not only could she slip in and out of the ring world at will¡ªa feat no one else, not even Xiao Lu, could achieve¡ªbut she grew at an alarming, almost unnatural pace.


    Perhaps she was a gift, wrapped in the Higher-ups'' usual way of ruddiles..


    "A gift wrapped in a curse," he thought bitterly, imagining the smug voices.


    [Su Xiaobai, you''ve fulfilled your duties. Enjoy your prize, the Demon Empress. She''ll handle everything from here. Go on, live your salted fish dreams.]


    He snorted. "Yeah, sure."


    Before he could dream further, a violent splash yanked his attention back to the water.


    "!"


    ____


    Gasp!


    Beneath the water, the demon child''s eyes snapped open beneath the turbulent currents. Panic set in immediately as icy water forced its way into her lungs.


    ''I¡­ I can''t breathe!''


    Her tiny arms flailed desperately, slapping against the unyielding waves. Her soft cries, muffled and pitiful, were swallowed by the roaring waterfall.


    ''I''m too weak!''


    Her mind shook. Fragments of memories clawed at her mind, fractured and incomplete. She remembered once standing atop a desolate peak, her shadow stretching across the heavens. She had been invincible, her will absolute. Nothing and no one had dared to stand before her.


    But now?


    Now she was this.


    A trembling squeak escaped her lips as another realization slammed into her¡ªa memory so sharp it felt like a blade.


    ''The river of time¡­ I forgot¡­ I fell.''


    Her panic surged, her fragile body twisting uselessly in the current.


    ''I refuse to die here!'' she thought fiercely, though her strength was fading fast.


    Her hands shot out blindly, brushing against something solid¡ªlong, firm, and blisteringly hot. It was her salvation.

 Chapter 49 Xiao Hei!

    Hiss~~Above the roaring water, Su Xiaobai froze. A sudden, fiery pain tore through his lower half¡ªa sensation so sharp it felt as though the heavens themselves had sent a lightning tribulation directly to his ''jade rod of destiny''.


    His knees buckled, his breath hitched, and for a moment, the world stood still.


    Then came the scream.


    "AAAAAHHHHH!"


    It was a sound that shattered the forest''s peace, sending birds fleeing and shaking squirrels from their branches. Beneath the water, the demon child grabbed to him with the grip of the damned, her delicate fingers wrapped tightly around his ''heavenly pillar of justice''.


    "THAT''S NOT A HANDLE, YOU LITTLE MONSTER!" Su Xiaobai howled, his voice climbing higher than a phoenix in flight.


    His face burned crimson, shame and agony warring for dominance.


    CLENCH.


    A fresh wave of torment coursed through him, and his scream hit a register that no mortal man should reach.


    It was pain so profound it felt as if his bloodline itself was about to be severed, his entire ancestral lineage on the edge of oblivion.


    "Let go! LET GO!" he begged, thrashing in the water. "You''re going to destroy my ''Dao of Manhood!''"


    But the demon child, her crimson eyes vacant and serene, pulled it tighter, as though holding the very lifeline of her existence.


    Summoning every shred of will¡ªand an instinctual, primal need to preserve his progeny¡ªSu Xiaobai plunged his hands into the water and gripped her arms.


    With a desperate roar, he tore her free.


    SPLASH!


    The river exploded around them as he hoisted her high into the air. She dangled like a soaked kitten, her crimson eyes blinking innocently, her small hands twitching as though still searching for a grip.


    "ENOUGH!" he yelled again.


    Finally, the it ended. Collapsing onto the riverbank, Su Xiaobai lay sprawled on the grass, gasping for breath.


    His trembling hands hovered over his ''most sacred treasures'', terrified of what he might find.


    With the care of a craftsman inspecting a fragile artifact, he reached down and gingerly assessed the damage.


    Relief surged through him like a heavenly blessing.


    "Still¡­ intact¡­" he whispered, tears streaming freely down his face. "Thank the heavens, my lineage is safe."


    He lay there for a long moment, staring at the endless sky. Somewhere deep inside, he could feel his dignity packing its things and quietly walking away.


    The demon child sat a short distance away, her small hands folded neatly in her lap, her expression as serene as a monk meditating atop a mountain.


    Yet her fingers twitched faintly, as though contemplating another attempt.


    Su Xiaobai glared at her, clutching his robes tightly around him.


    "Don''t you dare!" he barked, his voice still trembling.


    The child tilted her head, a faint smile curving her lips¡ªa smile that carried a hint of mischief and far too much satisfaction for his liking.


    Groaning, Su Xiaobai covered his face with a hand.


    The demon child in return tilted her head, her faint smile vanishing like a wisp of smoke, replaced by a feeling of sadness.


    Her small hand quivered as she reached out, her fingers brushing against Su Xiaobai''s cheek. The touch was hesitant, almost reverent, as if testing whether he was real or a fading dream.


    "Hey!" Su Xiaobai jerked back, slapping her hand away with a scowl. "Don''t act all innocent now. We both know what you just did to me!"


    The demon child''s face flushed a deep crimson, her ears twitching faintly.


    "What are you¡ª" Su Xiaobai began, determined not to be swayed by her deceptively cute appearance, but the words faltered in his throat.


    A sudden jolt coursed through him. His eyes snapped to her palm.


    "Wait¡­ You''ve already formed a core?!"


    The words spilled from his mouth in disbelief. The realization struck him like a thunderclap.


    This tiny creature, barely more than a child, had surpassed him in cultivation.


    Su Xiaobai''s bitter laugh echoed through the clearing. "Even a demon baby''s more talented than me. What''s next? You ascending while I''m stuck breaking rocks?"


    The demon child''s expression remained unreadable, though her head tilted slightly as if pondering his words.


    He sighed, waving her off. "Fine. You''re my bodyguard now. I won''t kick you away, just kill anyone who comes for me."


    But before he could relax, a strange sweetness filled the air.


    A white mist crept from the demon child''s body, wrapping around him like silk. His limbs grew heavy, his eyelids drooping as his consciousness slipped away.


    "What¡­" His words slurred, his limbs going heavy. "What''s¡­ happening¡­"


    The world spun.


    Thud!


    His head drooped, and he collapsed into a defenseless slumber. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The demon child crouched beside him as he slumped to the ground. Her glowing eyes shimmered with unreadable intent.


    For a long moment, she simply watched.


    Then, she smiled.


    Minutes passed in silence, broken only by the soft rustle of leaves and the steady murmur of the waterfall. Su Xiaobai lay sprawled on the grass, exhaustion pulling him into a sudden, unguarded sleep.


    The demon girl approached quietly, her bare feet brushing the ground with the lightness of a falling petal. Without hesitation, she climbed onto his chest, her small frame pressing against him as if she belonged there.


    Her crimson eyes locked onto his sleeping face, unblinking and intent. Her head rested over his heart, the steady rhythm of its beat echoing in her ears.


    Ba-dump. Ba-dump.


    For a fleeting moment, her expressionless mask cracked. Her lips trembled, and tears shimmered at the corners of her eyes.


    But the moment passed too quickly. Her porcelain face twisted, a storm of emotions battling for dominance¡ªsorrow, confusion, longing. Her expression shifted from a soft smile to quiet laughter, tears streaking her cheeks, only to harden again into an unsettling calm.


    She clung to his neck, her breath ragged, her tiny claws brushing his skin as though tempted by something... vicious.


    Her arms tightened. Her crimson gaze darkened.


    And then¡ª


    "Grrrrroooowl~~"


    The sound shattered the tension.


    Her stomach''s cry of hunger rang out like a declaration of betrayal, loud and clear. She froze, her predatory expression crumbling into wide-eyed panic.


    Su Xiaobai stirred beneath her, his eyes fluttering open groggily.


    "Huh¡­? What¡­ was that?" he mumbled, his voice thick with sleep. He blinked blearily at the demon girl perched on his chest.


    Her face went blank instantly, a childlike innocence washing over her features as her long black hair fell forward, obscuring her panicked expression.


    "¡­Your stomach?" he guessed, raising an eyebrow as the memory of the growl replayed in his head.


    Her heart pounded as she scrambled off him, retreating with unsteady steps. Her claws retracted as she forced a small, artificial smile onto her face.


    Su Xiaobai rubbed his temples, sitting up slowly. "Did I¡­ fall asleep here? On the shore?"


    He glanced at the sky. It was already evening, the fading light painting the forest in shades of amber and shadow.


    He sighed deeply. Guess the waterfall did me in. Months of endless strain had finally caught up to him, dragging him into an exhaustion he couldn''t fight off.


    His eyes shifted to the demon girl. She was hunched over a short distance away, her head bowed low as if hiding her face. Another loud growl rumbled from her stomach, louder this time, sealing her betrayal.


    Su Xiaobai smirked. "You''re hungry again? After drinking half my blood? Greedy little thing¡­" He chuckled, though his tone carried a bitter edge.


    Yet, as he stared at her small, trembling frame, a strange warmth stirred within him.


    He didn''t understand why, but something about her softened the edges of his heart.


    Normally, he loved crushing cute things¡ªbugs, spirits, even plush toys if they annoyed him.


    But this one¡­ this one was different. She was sharp, dangerous, and unsettlingly adorable, yet he felt no desire to break her.


    Perhaps that''s what unsettled him the most.


    The demon girl shuffled further back, trying to mask her embarrassment. Another growl from her stomach betrayed her once more.


    "Alright, alright," Su Xiaobai said, standing up and dusting himself off. "Stop glaring at me like a starving puppy. Let''s get you something to eat before you decide to literally eat me again."


    He stalked into the woods, returning shortly with a rabbit dangling from one hand. With a practiced motion, he dispatched the creature, gutting it cleanly with the efficiency of someone who''d butchered more lives than he cared to count.


    For a moment, as he stared at the lifeless rabbit, a strange thought struck him.


    ''Is this how the one above us feel? Watching us from above, able to destroy anything on a whim?''


    A faint, unsettling smirk crossed his lips. It was a dangerous feeling¡ªpower, unrestrained and unchecked.


    Shaking it off, he focused on roasting the rabbit over a fire.


    The demon girl sat cross-legged beside him, her eyes fixed on the flames. Her expression was unreadable, but her crimson gaze never wavered from the cooking meat.


    When it was done, Su Xiaobai tore off a piece and handed it to her. She nibbled at it hesitantly at first, her sharp teeth working awkwardly. Despite her earlier terror-inducing strength, she now looked absurdly harmless, like a child with no idea how to behave.


    "You''re a weird one," Su Xiaobai murmured, leaning back against a tree. His gaze on her small frame as she chewed. "If the heavens sent you, they''ve got a sick mind."


    Because if he had something like this, there was no chance he''d let it go.


    "Xiao Hei," he said suddenly.


    The demon girl paused mid-bite, tilting her head.


    "That''s your name," Su Xiaobai said confidently. "Small, dangerous, and black-haired. Simple enough."


    Her expression didn''t change, but for a moment, her eyes flickered with something¡ªannoyance? Amusement? It was hard to tell.


    ''Xiao Hei,'' she repeated silently to herself, rolling the name around in her mind. ''Stupid name. Xiao Bai calls himself "Little White," and now I''m "Little Black?" What''s next, naming me after the color of dirt?''


    She looked away, her thoughts masked by her usual blank stare.


    "Don''t like it?" Su Xiaobai asked, smirking. "Too bad. Xiao Hei it is."


    The demon girl dipped her head slightly, not bothering to argue.


    Su Xiaobai grinned, leaning back with his hands behind his head. "Guess I''ll keep you around, Xiao Hei. Just don''t grab anything you''re not supposed to again."


    Her eyes flickered briefly, unreadable as ever, but she said nothing, focusing instead on her meal.


    For now, Su Xiaobai let it slide. The forest seemed calm, the air unusually sweet. He glanced at her again, an odd feeling at the back of his mind.


    "Something''s strange about this place," he muttered, his gaze scanning the woods.


    Xiao Hei stiffened almost imperceptibly, her chewing slowing for a fraction of a second before resuming.


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes narrowed slightly. Suspicious.


    But for now, she was calm. And, truth be told, he didn''t mind the quiet.


    If she stayed this docile, maybe she''d make a decent bodyguard. Or, at the very least, a terrifyingly adorable pet.


    For now, though, he let the Higher-ups keep their secrets.

 Chapter 50 The Righteous Brother Su & The Little Demon!

    "Where''s your friend?"Back at the worn, moss-covered cottage, Grandpa Zhong snorted, his wizened face twisting with disdain as he glanced at Wei Jun, who crouched over the fire pit, coaxing the flames to life.


    "It''s been hours since he disappeared."


    Wei Jun shrugged, his sleeves rolled up as he fanned the fire, beads of sweat rolling down his brow. His irritation barely concealed itself beneath his calm tone. "Shouldn''t you be more worried about unsealing my cultivation instead of him?"


    Grandpa Zhong sneered, waving a hand lazily. "Figure it out yourself. Learn to master the ''Ancient Sealing Gate'' and undo it, or stay weak. Makes no difference to me."


    Wei Jun''s face darkened, the firelight glinting off his narrowing eyes. "¡­Old man."


    The [Ancient Sealing Gate]¡ªa bloodline technique unique to their clan¡ªwas a terrifying ability capable of sealing even the strongest cultivator''s strength.


    But unsealing it was another matter entirely, requiring mastery far beyond Wei Jun''s current abilities. Grandpa Zhong, of course, delighted in his grandson''s helplessness.


    Grinding his teeth, Wei Jun stood, brushing dirt from his robes. "Fine. I''ll go find him. At least he doesn''t spend all day taunting me." S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Anything was better than enduring Grandpa Zhong''s barbs.


    As Wei Jun turned to leave, the old man watched him go, his lips curling into a faint smirk. "That boy never brings anyone here," he murmured, almost to himself.


    For Wei Jun to have brought Su Xiaobai to their secluded home, there had to be a reason. Grandpa Zhong didn''t know the specifics, but he had learned long ago not to underestimate his grandson.


    Beneath Wei Jun''s lazy, carefree facade lay a sharp, calculating mind¡ªa serpent lying in wait, its fangs hidden until the perfect moment to strike.


    "Not showing your fangs until the moment to bite," Grandpa Zhong murmured approvingly. "The first rule of survival."


    His expression soured as his thoughts wandered to the past.


    "If only that cursed girl wasn''t in the picture¡­" he muttered, his voice laced with bitterness.


    The Xiantian Sect woman had plagued their family for generations. Even his son had failed to escape her grasp. A sigh escaped him, heavy and resigned.


    "That wretched woman¡­"


    ____


    "Whistle~~"


    By the lake, Wei Jun strolled toward the water''s edge, whistling a light tune. As his gaze settled on the scene before him, he froze mid-step, his sharp eyes locking onto the figure sitting by the lake.


    At first, he thought it was the doll-like girl from earlier¡ªa fragile, tiny thing. But now...


    ''What the hell...?'' His brows furrowed. The girl was taller now, her porcelain skin glowing faintly in the twilight, her long black hair swaying with the breeze.


    Wei Jun quickly hid his surprise behind a casual smirk.


    "Brother Su," he called out, his tone playful, "congratulations! Your little daughter has grown up. Should I call her Lady Su now?"


    Leaning against a tree, Su Xiaobai snorted, not even sparing Wei Jun a glance. "Call her what you want, Brother Jun. Just don''t call her ''Mother'' when she decides to devour your soul."


    Wei Jun''s steps faltered, a chill creeping up his spine, but he recovered quickly, laughing. "So elegant, Brother Su. Truly, a man of words."


    Su Xiaobai tilted his head lazily. "Words or not, she nearly ended my bloodline earlier. If you think she''s harmless, go ahead¡ªoffer her your heavenly treasures. Let''s see if you fare better."


    Wei Jun blinked. Then, realization struck. He instinctively stepped back, his voice trembling with mock fear. "That''s priceless, Brother Su. Did she really think you were hiding treasures there?"


    Su Xiaobai rolled his eyes. "Treasure? Sure. But if she clings any harder, my clan''s lineage ends here. Do you have a spare jade root of vitality? Because I''ll need one soon."


    Wei Jun burst into laughter, clutching his stomach. "Su Xiaobai, you might be the first man to nearly lose his legacy to a demon toddler. No wonder you looked half-dead earlier!"


    The demon girl tilted her head, her crimson eyes narrowing slightly at their exchange, though her expression remained calm.


    "Enough jokes," Su Xiaobai cut in, sensing her growing irritation. He didn''t trust her not to lash out, and sparing Wei Jun''s life felt like a courtesy. "Why are you here anyway? Can''t I have a moment of peace?"


    Wei Jun smiled wryly, stepping closer but keeping his distance from the girl. "I got bored babysitting Grandpa. Then I find your ''baby'' babysitting you? How could I miss this?"


    Su Xiaobai sighed, rubbing his temple. "She''s not my baby. She''s¡­" He glanced at the demon girl, his expression softening briefly before hardening again. "Something I don''t understand yet."


    Wei Jun studied her, his usual grin fading. Despite her calm demeanor, there was something wrong¡ªan unnatural aura that felt out of place.


    She was no mere girl.


    She felt like a celestial, her presence overwhelming the mortal soil beneath her feet.


    "Whatever she is," Wei Jun said quietly, "she''s not ordinary. That''s obvious."


    Su Xiaobai gave a half-shrug. "Ordinary things don''t stay around me. I''ve come to terms with it." His tone sharpened as he turned back to Wei Jun. "But if you''re done laughing, keep your distance. She bites, and she doesn''t aim for places you''d survive losing."


    Wei Jun chuckled nervously, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Understood. No sudden moves around Lady Su."


    The demon girl''s eyes flickered briefly, unreadable, before settling again.


    Wei Jun frowned slightly, his instincts uneasy. "Brother, have you thought about how to explain her existence to others? She doesn''t seem¡­ alive."


    Su Xiaobai frowned, but Wei Jun pressed on. "Call her a puppet. It''s believable, and no one would question you too much."


    Su Xiaobai studied Xiao Hei thoughtfully. It was plausible. Puppet refiners were rare, but he had enough knowledge to feign expertise if needed.


    For the first time, Su Xiaobai grinned. "You''re not completely useless, Brother Jun."


    Later, he tested the story with Grandpa Zhong, asking if he could distinguish Xiao Hei from a puppet. The old man nearly gouged out his eyes in frustration when he failed.


    Not satisfied, Grandpa Zhong summoned ''four'' massive ancient sealing gates to test her, only to be met with failure again.


    Red-faced and defeated, Grandpa Zhong muttered something about feeling unwell and retreated to his chambers.


    Wei Jun had never seen the old man so frustrated.


    Watching Grandpa Zhong retreat with stiff shoulders and muttered curses, Wei Jun leaned closer to Su Xiaobai and whispered with a smile, "I think he just realized there''s a bigger monster than him out there. Brother Su, you might want to sleep with one eye open tonight¡­"


    Su Xiaobai sighed, leading Xiao Hei into the woods to sleep far from the cottage.


    "What if the old man tries to sneak attack her?" Su Xiaobai muttered. "Safer this way."


    _____


    That night, Su Xiaobai rested high in a towering tree, Xiao Hei nestled in his arms. The forest below lay silent, broken only by the rustle of leaves and the soft call of crickets.


    Her warmth pressed against him, carrying the faint scent of dried roses¡ªa fragrance both soothing and haunting, like a memory just out of reach.


    Rustle~~


    A breeze brushed past, her black hair grazing his face. He frowned but let it be, his gaze falling on her doll-like face.


    Peaceful. Innocent.


    Why did it feel like they''d always slept this way, as though bound by threads beyond time?


    "Acting harmless," Su Xiaobai muttered, brushing a strand from her cheek. He couldn''t help but chuckle. "Cute face, deadly grip. If the world knew a one-day-old was Core Formation, shrines or chaos¡ªit''s a coin toss."


    His fingers brushed her small hand, smooth and cool like jade. "But if I left you, you''d sell yourself for a shiny bauble." His smile turned bitter. "Guess that makes me your babysitter."


    Leaning back, he sighed. "The righteous Brother Su and the little demon¡­ What a pair."


    "..."


    Her lashes flickered; the corners of her lips twitched.


    Su Xiaobai smirked. "Awake, huh? Playing innocent suits you."


    He closed his eyes, his head resting against the trunk. Above, stars gleamed faintly, scattered like shards of a shattered mirror. For years, his thoughts had been consumed by the path home.


    Tonight, for the first time, he wondered if this was where he was meant to be.


    But Xiao Hei wasn''t so idle.


    Nine times ¡ª that night, she tried to kill him.


    Each time, her claws extended, gleaming faintly under the moonlight. Each time, they hovered, trembling above his neck. Her crimson eyes glowed with intent, her hand poised for the strike¡ªyet the killing blow refused to land.


    Su Xiaobai snored softly, oblivious. His arm cradled her loosely, his breath warm against her hair.


    Her claws hovered closer, so near she could feel the faint pulse beneath his skin. One swipe, and it would end.


    Why do I hesitate?


    The starlight fell on his face, serene and unguarded. He looked nothing like the fierce fighter who had outwitted beasts and men alike. His sleeping face, softened by dreams, unsettled her more than any blade could.


    Her chest burned with an unfamiliar heat.


    Kill him! Now!


    Her claws trembled. Instead of striking, they brushed his robe.


    Shnick!


    The faintest graze of her claws drew a thin red line across his neck. A bead of blood welled up, shimmering like ruby dew.


    Her breath hitched.


    She froze, staring at the blood. Her claws retracted, trembling.


    Ugh, stop this!


    Her chest heaved as if she''d been struck, the pain inexplicable.


    "Tch¡­ mosquitos," Su Xiaobai muttered, scratching at his neck in his sleep.


    Her eye twitched.


    Without a sound, she slipped from his embrace. The branch shuddered beneath her light step as she fell silently into the void below.


    Whoosh!


    A crimson mist caught her, cradling her small jade feet like silk. She glided into the darkness, leaving only the faint scent of roses behind.


    Below, tiny droplets fell softly to the ground. Not dew.


    Tears.

 Chapter 51 Princess Ling Er!

    At the riverbank, Xiao Hei crouched low, her claws tracing the soil.She carved a jagged cave. Inside, a small figure¡ªSu Xiaobai¡ªfled, arms flailing, chased by a dark wisp.


    It was the Weeping Emperor''s cave, where the immortal fetus, still unhatched, had pursued him.


    She remembered the moment: two red orbs glowed in the mist, staring into his back as he ran like a startled chicken.


    Her claws stilled. A tear fell, blurring the image.


    She swiped it away and began again.


    This time, the image was of Su Xiaobai and Xiao Hei sitting beside a roasted rabbit. But now, it was ''she'' who had hunted it, her claws gripping the lifeless prey, blood dripping from its side.


    Another tear fell. She erased the image.


    Again.


    Su Xiaobai beneath a tree, head tilted back in sleep. She curled against him, her head resting on his chest. Her fingers lingered before wiping this one away.


    Her movements grew frantic.


    Su Xiaobai laughing, carefree, his smile blinding. She sat beside him, silent and still.


    A throne, jagged and rough. He sat atop it, shadowed, as though carrying the weight of countless lives. She stood behind him, a faint silhouette in the gloom. At their feet, blood spilled in rivers, a kneeling figure awaiting judgment.


    Her claws dug deep, tearing through the soil. She wiped it away with a trembling hand.


    Her last drawing was heavier, darker. Endless bodies paved the ground, rivers of blood stretching into infinity.


    In the center stood a woman, eyes cold as a blade.


    Above her, Su Xiaobai, wounded but unyielding, glared as though their conflict had spanned lifetimes.


    Her claws stopped.


    Tears fell freely now, soaking the earth.


    Drip. Drip. Drip.


    The soil turned dark, her final drawing blurred beyond recognition. She pressed her claws deeper, carving jagged scars into the earth.


    Finally, she stood. Her crimson eyes shimmered, unshed tears reflecting the moonlight.


    She gazed into the river, her pale reflection rippling like a ghost unbound.


    Rustle ~


    The current murmured softly, uncaring, as it carried her tears into the dark.


    _____


    The next morning, Su Xiaobai was pacing back and forth in the forest, his expression dark. Wei Jun, noticing his agitation, approached with curiosity.


    "Brother Su, what''s wrong?" Wei Jun asked, folding his arms.


    Su Xiaobai stopped, instinctively ready to spit a few curses but swallowed them back. His tone was clipped. "It''s nothing. That little demon, Xiao Hei, sneaked off somewhere."


    "Huh¡­" Wei Jun frowned, surprised. "Didn''t you have her under control?"


    Su Xiaobai frowned, "So did I."


    Wei Jun''s expression shifted, a trace of unease flickering across his face. "How can something like that just¡­ disappear on its own?"


    Su Xiaobai shook his head, muttering curses under his breath. That little demon had slipped away like a wisp of smoke.


    "Tsk, that little idiot wouldn''t have gone and pissed off some bigshot and gotten herself nabbed, would she?"


    Su Xiaobai smacked his forehead, groaning. Xiao Hei had the brains of a rock and the temper of a wild boar. If she''d gone and picked a fight with some fancy princess cruising down the road in their shiny carriage...


    Damn, he could already picture the mess¡ªheads rolling, his included.


    "That girl''s gonna be the death of me," he muttered, launching himself into the sky. His qi rippled out like an old drunk spilling wine, brushing over the forest below as he squinted for any sign of trouble.


    Somewhere in the distance, Wei Jun wandered aimlessly, grumbling about being stuck with the boring search duty.


    Meanwhile, deeper in the forest, a luxurious carriage rolled forward, flanked by armored guards.


    The spirit beasts scattered around it looked more curious than afraid, their bright eyes glinting in the dappled light.


    Inside, Princess Ling Er huffed, her delicate fingers fidgeting with her silk sleeve. She peeked out the curtain, scowling at the endless trees.


    "What''s so special about this place anyway?" she muttered, kicking her heels against the cushioned seat. Her grandfather had once called this wilderness a hidden treasure, but to her, it was just dirt and bugs.


    Crunch.


    She stiffened. A sharp, unnatural sound shattered the quiet harmony of chirping birds and rustling leaves.


    "!?"


    "Commander!" Ling Er''s voice rang out, high-pitched and trembling. "What was that?! Do something¡ªnow!"


    Wu Jian, the lead commander, raised a hand, signaling his guards to stop. His silver armor gleamed, but the sweat beading on his forehead dulled its luster.


    The sound hadn''t come from animals or stray bandits. It was something else.


    "Form a perimeter," Wu Jian ordered.


    The guards drew their swords, their steel flashing under the canopy as they surrounded the carriage.


    Crunch.


    The sound came again¡ªcloser this time.


    Bones snapping.


    Flesh tearing.


    Then, she emerged.


    Xiao Hei stepped out of the shadows, blood dripping from her tiny fingers. Her crimson eyes gleamed faintly, glowing like embers in the dark. In her hands hung the half-eaten remains of a rabbit, its guts dangling like decorations.


    Her black hair clung to her face in damp strands, and she chewed leisurely, the sound of bones cracking unnervingly loud in the silence. She looked at the guards like they were no more than passing scenery.


    "W-What¡­ is that?!" Princess Ling Er screeched, her face as pale as her silk robes. "Monster! Kill it! KILL IT!"


    Wu Jian''s grip on his sword tightened, his instincts screaming. That was no child.


    The aura rolling off her was like standing before a coiled dragon¡ªcalm on the surface, but deadly underneath.


    "Princess," he began, his voice low, "perhaps we should¡ª"


    "I DON''T CARE!" Ling Er cut him off, her voice breaking with panic. "I don''t want to see that thing again! Kill it! Right now!"


    The guards hesitated. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xiao Hei looked small, harmless even, but every instinct they had screamed at them to run.


    Orders, however, were orders.


    Wu Jian exhaled sharply, raising his sword. "Surround her. Don''t let your guard down."


    Kacha! Kacha!


    The guards moved in, forming a tight semicircle. Xiao Hei tilted her head, watching them with the curiosity of a child watching ants.


    Her lips twitched¡ªa faint, knowing smile¡ªas she bit into the rabbit again, the crunch of bone echoing in the still forest.


    For a moment, no one moved.


    At this moment, all seventeen guards, including Commander Wu Jian, had moved to encircle Xiao Hei.


    It was almost laughable¡ªa fully trained battalion of elite warriors, surrounding a small girl who barely reached their waists.


    Two of them were at Core Formation, five at the Earthly Rebirth Realm, six at Nascent Soul, and four at the mighty Soul Fusion Realm. At their head, Wu Jian, a Spirit Severing expert, stood like an immovable mountain.


    By all logic, they had the absolute advantage.


    If only all of them hadn''t focused entirely on Xiao Hei.


    "Move one inch, and she dies!"


    A voice echoed, sharp and mocking.


    "Wh¡ª" Wu Jian''s head whipped around, his eyes narrowing as he searched for the source.


    There, near the carriage, stood a man who looked more amused than menacing. Su Xiaobai''s grin stretched wide, his teeth gleaming like a wolf who''d stumbled upon a banquet.


    One arm was wrapped snugly around Princess Ling Er''s waist, while the other held a dagger so close to her pale neck it whispered promises of blood.


    "Wh-What?!" Ling Er''s voice cracked, her eyes darting around frantically. Her legs wobbled, her hands clawing weakly at Su Xiaobai''s arm. "Unhand me, you¡ªyou degenerate! Do you have any idea who I am?"


    Su Xiaobai sighed dramatically, as if her screams were the dullest part of his day. "Oh, I know exactly who you are, Princess." He pressed the blade a touch closer, just enough to make her freeze. "You''re the one screaming loud enough to scare the spirit beasts. Now hush, unless you want me to give you a permanent smile."


    At that moment, all seventeen guards, including Commander Wu Jian, were focused entirely on Su Xiaobai.


    Taking advantage of the opportunity, Xiao Hei smirked, her lips curling into something cold and playful.


    Without warning, she sprang upward, her petite figure blurring as she sailed over their heads like a ghost on the wind.


    Thud.


    She landed gracefully atop the carriage, her balance effortless, her claws tapping lightly on the roof as if taunting them.


    Su Xiaobai''s grin widened as he glanced at her. ''Good girl,'' he thought, his chest swelling with pride for his chaotic little demon.


    "Commander!" one of the guards shouted. "She''s¡ª"


    "Focus!" Wu Jian barked, his eyes snapping back to Su Xiaobai, whose dagger remained pressed against Ling Er''s trembling neck.


    "Good advice," Su Xiaobai said, his tone light and teasing. "If you''re going to babysit a princess, at least ''try'' not to let her get snatched. Oh wait, too late."


    Ling Er whimpered, her tears streaming freely now. "Uncle Wu¡­ help me¡­ please!"


    Su Xiaobai rolled his eyes. "Uncle Wu? Seriously? You''re a ''grown woman'' calling for ''Uncle Wu''? What''s next¡ªcrying for your nanny? Oh wait." He leaned in, grinning wickedly as he whispered into her ear, "Bet you''re one of those princesses who still needs help getting dressed, huh?"


    Her face turned scarlet¡ªnot from anger, but pure mortification.


    "Release her now, and I''ll spare your life," Wu Jian yelled, his grip tightening on his sword.


    Su Xiaobai raised an eyebrow. "Spare my life?" He let out a laugh, his shoulders shaking. "Oh, Commander, you kill me. Wait¡­ no, you don''t." He tilted the dagger slightly, drawing a thin red line across Ling Er''s neck.


    She squeaked, trembling in his arms.


    "I mean it!" Wu Jian barked, his voice thunderous.


    "Yeah, yeah, and ''I'' mean this." Su Xiaobai''s voice dropped, cold and biting. "You so much as twitch, and I''ll give your little princess here a makeover. Bet she''d look real cute with her head rolling across the dirt, don''t you think?"

 Chapter 52 Wei Juns little sister!

    "Bet she''d look real cute with her head rolling across the dirt, don''t you think?"The guards tensed, their weapons inching forward, but the sight of the princess''s blood stopped them cold.


    One of them¡ªa bold Earthly Rebirth cultivator¡ªsneered, his voice dripping with disdain. "Do you even know who you''re threatening?"


    Su Xiaobai turned his head slowly, his grin widening. "Do you even know how much I don''t care?" He scanned the guards like a merchant appraising cheap goods.


    "Seventeen guards, huh? And not one of you geniuses thought to guard the carriage properly. Instead, you all piled on a little girl who wasn''t even trying. Bravo." He gave them a mocking golf clap, dagger still steady against Ling Er''s neck.


    "Shut your mouth!" one of the guards snapped, his face red with fury. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Oh, I''d love to, but you lot are making this too easy." Su Xiaobai smirked, tilting his head. "Seriously, who trains you? Blind monks? Let me guess¡ªyour motto is ''protect the princess by letting her get snatched.''"


    "Enough!" Wu Jian barked, his voice filled with steel. "What do you want?"


    Su Xiaobai pretended to think, tapping the dagger lightly against Ling Er''s cheek. "Hmm¡­ how about this? All of you kneel. Right now. And you, Commander¡ªslap yourself three times. Loud enough to amuse me."


    The guards froze, their eyes darting to Wu Jian in disbelief.


    "You''re joking," one of them muttered.


    "Do I look like I''m joking?" Su Xiaobai''s smile turned cruel, his eyes gleaming. "Three seconds, or I start carving."


    Ling Er sobbed, her voice cracking. "Uncle Wu! Please, just do it! I-I don''t want to die!"


    Wu Jian''s jaw tightened, the veins on his neck bulging. Every instinct screamed to attack, but the blade pressing into Ling Er''s delicate skin left him no choice.


    Slowly, he lowered his sword and sank to his knees.


    "That''s a good start," Su Xiaobai said cheerfully. "Now, let''s hear those slaps, Commander."


    Wu Jian''s hand trembled before he struck himself.


    Slap!


    The sound echoed, sharp and humiliating.


    Slap!


    His face turned red, but he didn''t stop.


    Slap!


    The final strike left Wu Jian''s hands shaking, his eyes blazing with unbridled fury as he glared at Su Xiaobai.


    "See? That wasn''t so hard," Su Xiaobai teased, his grin widening. "Although I gotta say, you hit like my grandma. Maybe next time use your sword hand, huh?"


    The guards'' faces darkened with rage, but they stayed frozen, their weapons at their sides.


    "Now then," Su Xiaobai said, taking a step back. He tugged Ling Er closer, ignoring her pathetic whimpers. "It''s been fun, boys, but I think it''s time I hit the road. Don''t worry, I''ll send her back in¡­ mostly one piece."


    Ling Er sobbed louder, trembling as Su Xiaobai dragged her toward the forest.


    "Uncle Wu¡­" she choked out, her voice weak and broken. "P-please¡­"


    Su Xiaobai sighed, exasperated. "Ugh, you''re so clingy. Don''t worry, Princess, I''m not into crybabies. You''ll be back in your cozy palace in no time¡ªunless I change my mind."


    And with a final, mocking wink, he vanished into the trees, leaving only the echoes of Ling Er''s cries behind him.


    Or so was the plan¡ª


    "SURROUND HIM!"


    "Don''t let him leave!"


    Su Xiaobai''s smirk faltered as the guards moved with surprising coordination, forming a tight circle around him. Their gleaming blades caught the sunlight, and their murderous intent clear.


    "Tch¡­" He clicked his tongue, shifting his grip on Ling Er, who squirmed helplessly in his arms. At his feet, Xiao Hei crouched like a shadow.


    ''Ha! How could I forget you bastards wrote my last life?'' Su Xiaobai thought bitterly, his irritation bubbling to the surface. This trick¡ªthe classic hostage gambit¡ªhad worked perfectly in his previous life. Every. Single. Time. But today?


    Today, it seemed like the higher-ups in charge of this world had decided to collectively lose their damn minds.


    ''The same higher-ups who ignored my prayers for twenty seven years straight,'' he thought, his lip curling. ''The same assholes who threw me into a reincarnation cycle without a cheat system. And now, when I jokingly pray for Xiao Hei not to offend some noble brat, they actually listen?''


    He glanced at the terrified princess in his grip.


    ''Guess what? They heard me alright. Loud and clear. And gave me a fucking princess!''


    His gaze darted skyward, his expression darkening. "Fuck you!" he spat.


    The guards flinched, exchanging uneasy glances. Was he yelling at them? At the heavens? At himself? Even Xiao Hei tilted her head, a faintly confused expression reflected on her otherwise adorable face.


    Wu Jian, bewildered by Su Xiaobai''s erratic behavior, tightened his grip on his sword. His face still burned with humiliation from earlier, but his voice remained steady. "Let her go first. Then you can leave. Or no one is leaving today."


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes narrowed, his grip on Ling Er tightening as she let out a weak whimper. "Oh, is that how it is?" he added, his tone dripping with mockery. "You think I''m dumb enough to hand her over so you can gut me five seconds later?"


    His mind worked overtime. He had banked on breaking Wu Jian''s "spirit" to fight¡ªhumiliating him enough to make him hesitate.


    But no, the script wasn''t going according to plan. Not even close.


    ''This wasn''t supposed to happen! By now, they''re supposed to be groveling, offering me a safe passage, and maybe even some spirit stones for my trouble!''


    Instead, the guards were closing in, and Xiao Hei, his supposed backup, was just¡­ standing there.


    He glanced at her, his expression darkening. "Xiao Hei, what the hell are you doing?"


    She blinked up at him, then tilted her head slightly.


    Her large doe-like eyes flicked toward the guards, then back at Su Xiaobai, as if silently saying, Why should I bother? You''re the one who made this mess.


    Su Xiaobai groaned inwardly. For someone who couldn''t talk, she was very good at saying "this is your problem."


    "I would deal with you later," he muttered, adjusting his grip on the princess.


    Wu Jian''s patience snapped. "Enough of this nonsense!" He took a step forward, "Release her now, or I swear¡ª"


    "Swear what?" Su Xiaobai cut him off, his grin returning. "That you''ll make my death really painful? Hate to break it to you, Commander, but that''s already the script. No need to rub it in."


    Wu Jian faltered, momentarily thrown off by Su Xiaobai''s casual disregard for his threats.


    ''That''s right,'' Su Xiaobai thought, his confidence flickering back to life. ''Confuse them. Make them second-guess. I''ve survived worse odds than this!''


    But just as he was beginning to feel the tide shift in his favor, Ling Er stirred in his arms, her voice weak but annoyingly persistent. "L-let me go¡­ You''ll only make it worse¡­"


    He froze, glancing down at her pale, pitful tear-streaked face.


    ''Oh, come on,'' he thought bitterly. ''Now she grows a conscience? The damsel-in-distress act was bad enough¡ªdon''t start making sense!''


    The guards, emboldened by her words, began closing in, their formation tightening. Wu Jian''s sword rose, his intent sharp and deadly.


    Xiao Hei''s gaze flicked between Su Xiaobai and the encroaching guards. Slowly, she crouched lower, her claws curling into the dirt.


    Her movement was subtle, but it sent a ripple through the guards'' ranks.


    Hiss!~


    Several shifted uneasily, their instincts screaming that this girl was no ordinary child.


    Su Xiaobai glanced down at her and caught the faintest flicker of a smirk on her lips.


    "Finally!" Su Xiaobai thought, a wave of relief washing over him like cool rain after a scorching day. ''She must be the main protagonist! All of this chaos, all of this buildup¡ªit has to be for her grand moment to reveal her true abilities!''


    Suddenly, it all clicked into place, the cosmic puzzle aligning in perfect clarity. The guards, the tension, the dramatic standoff¡ªof course! This was the setup for her big entrance, the kind that would make everyone gasp in awe.


    ''She''s going to¡ª'' Su Xiaobai''s thoughts unfurled, his heart pounding with anticipation as he turned to Xiao Hei with shining eyes.


    This was it. Her moment of glory! Surely, she''d¡ª


    But Xiao Hei didn''t move.


    Instead, she reached down, grabbed a pebble, and flicked it lazily at one of the guards.


    PENG!~~


    The pebble hit his helmet with a faint ping.


    "..."


    The guard froze, his face turning red as his comrades stifled laughs.


    "XIAO HEI!" Su Xiaobai hissed, barely holding back his frustration. "What the hell was that?"


    She simply looked up at him, her aborable round eyes gleaming with mischief, and shrugged.


    Wu Jian took advantage of the distraction, raising his sword higher. "This is your last chance, rogue. Release her, or we''ll cut you down where you stand!"


    Su Xiaobai''s mind shook, his options dwindling faster than a spirit stone in a gambling den.


    ''Fine,'' Su Xiaobai thought.


    They''d snap soon, and when they did, this clearing would turn into a butcher''s block.


    But then¡ª


    "What''s happening here!?"


    A booming voice cracked through the forest.


    BAM!


    The pressure hit like a tidal wave. Wu Jian staggered, his Spirit Severing aura reduced to a candle flicker.


    Su Xiaobai''s lips curled.


    "I''ve never been happier to see an old geezer in the middle of a lonely forest," he thought.


    "Brother Su? Ling Er?" A second voice, smoother but no less sharp.


    Wei Jun strode into view, gold robes swaying. His confident steps faltered as he took in the scene: guards tense and surrounding three individuals: Xiao Hei, standing near the carriage with her face streaked with blood, and Su Xiaobai¡ªgrinning smugly as he held Ling Er by the waist.


    Her tear-streaked face and the thin red line on her neck completed the picture¡ªa trembling flower plucked too soon.


    Wei Jun''s brow twitched. ''Sure, I joked about introducing them,'' his gaze narrowed at Su Xiaobai''s hand on Ling Er''s waist, ''but what the hell is this?''


    Wu Jian exhaled loudly, relief and frustration colliding. "Grand Elder Wei! Prince Wei!"


    Su Xiaobai blinked. "???"


    ''They''re not here for me?''


    He looked at Ling Er in his arms. A moment passed. His grin stiffened. ''No way... this brat''s Wei Jun''s sister?''


    He almost laughed. ''Nice one, Fate Weaver. Really pulled out all the plot twists this time.''

 Chapter 53 Prince & Princess of Yue Country!

    Wei Jun approached slowly, his forced smile like a knife wrapped in silk. "Brother Su, you really didn''t give me face today, huh?" He sighed theatrically. "I thought you were righteous¡­ but cutting my sister? You''ve broken my heart."Su Xiaobai''s lips twitched. ''This clown¡­''


    Fine.


    "Cut her?" His grin turned razor-sharp. "Your little sister and I were just having fun. She''s clever, you know. Adorable, even. How could I even hurt her?"


    The sharp dagger vanished with a flick. His hand shifted, fingers brushing her neck. Ling Er shivered, her trembling growing worse.


    Her lips moved silently. ''Liar.''


    Wei Jun''s eyes narrowed. Too narrow.


    Wu Jian, however, had had enough. "You dare disobey orders, kidnap the princess, and injure her¡ªthen lie to the Grand Elder and Prince Wei!?" His sword glinted, his voice shaking. "You''ll pay for this, rogue!"


    The guards tensed, but no one moved. Ling Er''s tear-streaked, trembling figure held them back.


    Su Xiaobai''s gaze flicked to Wu Jian. ''Can this idiot read the room?''


    His hand lingered on Ling Er''s neck, fingers pressing just enough to make her shiver again. She looked as fragile as she felt¡ªlike a flower about to wilt. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "So tell me," Su Xiaobai said, his tone light, "where exactly did I injure her?"


    Wu Jian snorted. "You drew a blade on her neck¡ªeveryone saw it! Even a scratch on her body is worth more than your life!"


    Wei Jun stepped closer. "Brother Su, if that''s true, even I can''t save you."


    Su Xiaobai''s gaze flicked between Wei Jun and Grandpa Wei.


    ''Alright,'' Su Xiaobai thought. ''Let''s turn this circus on its head.''


    "What if," he said, "there''s no scar on the Little Princess''s neck?"


    Wu Jian gritted his teeth. "If there''s no scar, I''ll dig out my own eye!"


    "Good," Su Xiaobai said, his grin widening. "Remember that."


    With deliberate care, he lifted his hand.


    The clearing fell silent.


    Ling Er''s neck was flawless. No blood. No scar. Nothing.


    Wu Jian''s jaw dropped. His sword trembled. The guards rubbed their eyes like children trying to wake from a nightmare.


    Wei Jun stepped closer, his voice faltering. "This¡­ this is impossible. Were you just¡­ playing?"


    Ling Er blinked, her fingers brushing her neck. "Strange," she murmured. "It hurt before, but now¡­" Her wide eyes locked onto Su Xiaobai.


    "Big Bastard!" she chirped, her voice bright with childish wonder. "Teach me that! I could scare so many people!"


    Su Xiaobai''s brow twitched. "Big Bastard?" His grin returned. "At least call me Big Brother."


    Ling Er pouted. "Big Brother Bastard?"


    "Close enough."


    Scars from enchanted weapons and spiritual energy didn''t vanish so easily. But for Su Xiaobai, a thread of true qi was enough.


    A cheap trick¡ªbut an effective one.


    ____


    "Big Bastard Brother?" Su Xiaobai repeated, smirking. "Close enough. But if you want me to teach you, you''ll have to call me Big Brother."


    Ling Er bit her lip, her face scrunching with frustration. Finally, she muttered, "Big Brother¡­"


    "Good girl," Su Xiaobai said slyly, patting her small, round butt. "I''ll teach you. But when? That''s my call."


    "You¡­!" Ling Er''s cheeks puffed, her eyes shimmering like she might cry.


    Su Xiaobai chuckled. "Careful, girl. Cry too much, and people might think you like me." With that, he pushed her gently toward the carriage.


    "Lower your weapons," Wei Jun said sharply.


    Wu Jian stepped forward, his voice cold. "Your Highness, this man dared to kidnap the princess in broad daylight! Letting him go would disgrace Yue Country!"


    "Oh, Commander," Su Xiaobai said lazily. "Didn''t you promise to dig out your eye if there wasn''t a scar on her neck? Don''t tell me you''ve forgotten?"


    Wu Jian''s face twitched. "Why honor promises made with kidnappers?"


    Su Xiaobai laughed softly. "Ah, so Yue Country''s proud commander is also Yue Country''s biggest liar. What''s next? Crying to mommy?"


    Wu Jian''s face flushed red.


    "You talk about honor," Su Xiaobai said, his voice turning cold. "But what use is it when you can''t even guard your own princess? You let her get kidnapped, humiliated, and nearly killed. Was that honor slapping itself on its knees earlier?"


    Wu Jian''s sword trembled.


    "If I were truly evil," Su Xiaobai continued, stepping closer, "you''d still be kneeling. Or worse, breaking your own bones. Maybe I''d have killed her outright. And what would you have done then?"


    Wu Jian''s knuckles whitened, but he stayed silent.


    "Enough!" Wei Jun interjected, stepping between them. "This is getting ridiculous. Why did this start in the first place?"


    Wu Jian opened his mouth. "The princess asked to¡ª"


    "Silence!" Wei Zhong''s glare cut him off.


    Dragging the princess into this would be suicide. Grinding his teeth, Wu Jian corrected himself. "I mistook her for a demon."


    "A demon?" Wei Jun frowned. "And even if she were, how could you execute her without cause?"


    Wu Jian froze. The truth was clear: we provoked them.


    Su Xiaobai smiled. Dig faster, Commander.


    "Presumptuous!" Wei Zhong''s voice thundered. "Commander! Do you think Yue Country''s treaties will survive if word spreads we execute children on a whim? Offer your hand and leg in apology, or leave Yue Country!"


    Wu Jian''s face darkened, but his guards moved to stand with him.


    Wei Zhong didn''t flinch. Their loyalty was meaningless.


    Su Xiaobai stepped forward, smiling. "Let''s end this. The commander was just protecting the princess, right?"


    Wu Jian''s eyes darted toward Su Xiaobai, unsure whether to feel relieved or insulted. "Y-Yes," he stammered.


    Wei Jun exhaled. Su Xiaobai, of course, wasn''t being merciful.


    This wasn''t about forgiveness¡ªit was about winning. And Su Xiaobai had already won. Wu Jian''s pride was in shreds, and the princess was still alive.


    As Wei Jun sighed, Su Xiaobai smiled inwardly. For now, let it go. An ally well-timed is worth more than a hundred dead enemies.


    _____


    Returning to the quiet camp, Su Xiaobai reclined against a moss-covered rock, watching the river flow as if it owed him answers.


    The earlier storm of accusations, guards, and flailing incompetence had finally passed, leaving him with one persistent headache: Ling Er.


    Wei Jun had vanished like smoke on the wind. No apology, no excuses¡ªjust a flick of princely indifference before he slipped away.


    Su Xiaobai wasn''t surprised. Disappointed, maybe.


    The lack of someone from the Xiantian Sect to aid him stung his pride, but the unexpected boon of having the Yue prince in his pocket more than made up for it. Small kingdoms had their uses, after all.


    He let out a breath, the peace broken by a far more immediate disturbance.


    "Big Brother!"


    Ling Er''s voice rang out, high and clear, sticky with childish glee.


    She stood knee-deep in the river, splashing water in his direction. Her soaked robes betrayed every line and curve, clinging so tightly they seemed painted on. Droplets slid down her collarbones, vanishing into the valley below¡ªa sight any mortal man would find arresting.


    Su Xiaobai, however, sighed. This brat doesn''t know when to quit.


    "Hey, big scary villain! Why aren''t you playing with me?" she called, her voice full of mock indignation.


    "I''m busy," he replied flatly, wiping his face as another splash hit him. "Try growing up first. Then we''ll talk."


    "What?¡ª" Her gasp could''ve been torn straight from the pages of a cheap melodrama. "Are you saying I''m not a woman?"


    He raised an eyebrow, his tone drier than desert winds. "You''re a sparrow pretending to be a phoenix. Go chirp somewhere else."


    "!"


    Her cheeks flushed crimson, and she stomped her foot, sending ripples through the water. "Villains are supposed to be exciting, you boring lump! Do something villainous!"


    Exciting? She has no idea what she''s asking for.


    Su Xiaobai''s lips curled into a smirk as he leaned forward. "Exciting, huh? Fine. But don''t cry later."


    His fingers dipped into the river, and a ripple of qi shot outward, slithering through the water like a serpent answering its master''s call. The river trembled, currents swirling unnaturally before wrapping themselves around Ling Er''s legs.


    SPLASH!


    The water surged like a coiling dragon, tossing Ling Er skyward. She hit the river with an unceremonious yelp, vanishing beneath the surface before sputtering back to life moments later.


    Her glare, sharp enough to carve stone, locked onto him.


    "You¡ª!"


    "Oops." Su Xiaobai''s mock concern dripped as thick as the water running down her face. "Thought you liked playing rough."


    Ling Er''s lips trembled, caught between fury and humiliation. Her drenched robes left nothing to the imagination, her hair, a tangled mess, clung to flushed cheeks as droplets slid down her heaving chest.


    "You bastard!" she spat, her voice cracking as she tried to steady herself.


    "Finally, something you''re right about." He crouched at the river''s edge, his grin wolfish. "You wanted attention. You got it. Or did you think villains were here to splash and giggle with you?"


    Her fists clenched, her cheeks blazing red. "You''re the worst!"


    "Not the first time I''ve heard that," he said lazily, watching as she stumbled toward him, her wet robes trailing like a siren''s trap.


    She hissed in return. "Fine! Take this!"


    WHOOSH!


    A crimson silk ribbon materialized in her hand, twisting to life as if summoned from the ether. She leapt onto it, her form gleaming in the sunlight, her wild hair framing eyes that burned with vengeance.


    Oh, shit.


    Before Su Xiaobai could react, the ribbon lunged forward.


    BAM!


    Ling Er slammed into him with the force of a battering ram, sending them both tumbling into the river in a chaotic spray of water.


    "Ha! Got you!"

 Chapter 54 Immortal Daughter! Learning Offensive techniques!

    "Ha! Got you!"Ling Er perched triumphantly on his chest, her crimson ribbon curling possessively around her. Her smile was brighter than the noonday sun, daring him to retort.


    Su Xiaobai blinked, the world spinning as the river''s cold bite seeped into his clothes.


    Then realization struck him as her body pressed down on him. His hand?


    Boing.


    It rested somewhere warm. Somewhere soft.


    Boing. Boing.


    Ling Er froze, her breath catching as she glanced down. Her robe had shifted sinfully, baring smooth, moonlit shoulders and far too much skin.


    "You..."


    Her voice trembled, the words barely audible as heat flared across her cheeks.


    Su Xiaobai''s fingers twitched, his brain lagging behind the situation.


    Boing.


    He yanked his hand back as if burned, raising both palms in mock surrender. "Honest mistake. You know how these things happen..."


    "Mistake?!" she shrieked, clutching at her robe as if it could undo the moment.


    He tilted his head, his grin shameless and lazy. "You''re the one who jumped on me. If anyone''s to blame..."


    "You shameless bastard!"


    "Shameless? Princess, you''re the one sitting on me like it''s a throne. Should I bow?"


    Her face burned so red it could''ve boiled the river dry. She scrambled to her feet, stumbling as her robe slipped again, forcing her to clutch it tighter.


    "I hate you!" she spat, her glare murderous as she spun away, hastily fixing her clothes.


    Su Xiaobai leaned back in the river, his laughter echoing in the air. "Too easy," he muttered, shaking his head.


    But before he could savor his small victory, a blur shot past him.


    "Idiot-Idiot-Idiot," Ling Er muttered, her face glowing like an overripe peach as she vanished into the trees, riding her crimson ribbon. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Whoosh.


    Moments later, Wei Jun emerged from the woods, his steps casual but his gaze sharp as it fell on Su Xiaobai. The villain sat by the riverbank, soaked to the bone, a smug grin plastered across his face as if he had just conquered an empire.


    "What happened here?"


    Su Xiaobai wrung his sleeve. "Nothing. Just a little... game." He smiled, sharp and lazy. "Looks like I won."


    Wei Jun stared. "..."


    After a pause, he sighed and pulled out a talisman. "Here. My grandfather thought you''d prefer the Imperial Academy over the Xianxia Sect. You kno... how he feels about that one."


    Su Xiaobai stared at the talisman. Simple. Plain. Dangerous. "Imperial Academy?"


    Wei Jun nodded. "The top sects have joined hands¡ªsomething about uniting their resources. They''ve set up a shared training ground in the capital. Supposed to prepare the next generation for... bigger things."


    Su Xiaobai raised a brow. "Sects working together?" His lips curved, ''What''s next? A pig learning alchemy?''


    Unless¡­


    The thought troubled him. Too coincidental. Too clean. What could force sects to sacrifice their pride like this? The plot was shoving him, and he didn''t like it.


    "I don''t need it." He shoved the talisman back.


    Wei Jun''s smile faltered. "Brother, don''t tell me..." He leaned closer. "You''re planning to marry my little sister, are you? Let me warn you, our family background doesn''t¡ª"


    BAM!


    Su Xiaobai''s foot shut him up.


    "Quiet." His voice was cold, his thoughts colder.


    Wei Jun staggered, groaning, before his gaze landed on the riverbank.


    Xiao Hei stepped out of the water, droplets sliding down smooth skin. Her crimson eyes gleamed under the sunlight. Her black-and-red outfit perfectly matching her petite figure.


    Wei Jun''s lips twitched. "Brother, she''s perfect. Does everything herself. Obeys everything you say. Bathes herself. I can''t even get my servants to pour tea properly."


    Su Xiaobai smirked. "Envious?"


    Wei Jun sighed. "Jealous."


    Xiao Hei suddenly turned. Her gaze landed on Wei Jun.


    The world froze.


    BOOM!


    Abruptly ¡ª a chill swept over the river. Bloodlust crashed into Wei Jun like a wave. He froze. His breath caught.


    Her eyes gleamed, sharp as blades.


    "What the¡ª" Wei Jun stumbled, his voice cracking.


    Whoosh!


    Without any explanation, Xiao Hei moved.


    A blur.


    Su Xiaobai stunned, caught her mid-air, his arms tightening. "Xiao Hei. Stop."


    BAM!


    Her aura blasting against him, sharp and wild, before vanishing.


    Wei Jun staggered back. Pale. A hand at his neck, as if checking his head was still attached. "What... was that?"


    Su Xiaobai frowned. She wasn''t like this. Never like this.


    "Hahaha..." Wei Jun forced a laugh, still pale and visibly shaken. "Brother, I think she doesn''t like me."


    "Seems like that..." Su Xiaobai muttered, glancing at Xiao Hei. His face held a complicated expression¡ªhalf curious, half resigned.


    Wei Jun straightened, brushing at his robes as though it could wipe away his embarrassment. "You know, Brother, I''ve decided¡ªI don''t envy you anymore. Having a girl like her seems... risky."


    Her crimson eyes flickered, glinting with a predatory light. Wei Jun''s throat bobbed as he swallowed, his legs retreating instinctively. "I-I''ll take my leave! Good luck, Brother Su!"


    Su Xiaobai didn''t bother to respond. His gaze stayed locked on Xiao Hei, still nestled against his chest like nothing had happened.


    Wei Jun''s retreat turned into a sprint.


    Silence.


    Xiao Hei''s breathing slowed, her body softening in his arms. She leaned into him like a spoiled kitten, completely unbothered by the mess she''d caused.


    "Xiao Hei," Su Xiaobai said, his voice low as he brushed a damp strand of hair from her face. "What are you?"


    She didn''t answer.


    Her crimson eyes stayed fixed on the treeline, unblinking, watching until Wei Jun''s figure disappeared entirely. Only then did a smile curl across her lips.


    It wasn''t sweet. It wasn''t innocent. It was the kind of smile that could spark wars.


    Su Xiaobai stiffened, his thoughts spiraling. ''That aura... What the hell is going on?''


    Wei Jun''s strength was unsealed¡ªRebirth Realm. Xiao Hei was barely at Core Formation, a whole realm below him. Logically, she shouldn''t have been able to make him flinch, let alone terrify him.


    But that wasn''t the part that left Su Xiaobai''s heart pounding. No, it was that killing intent. Even as a bystander, it clung to his bones like frostbite. Familiar. Ancient. Too much like... them.


    The memories hit him like a wave. Immortals clashing in the void. Mountains shattered. Stars collapsing. Those heavenly figures locked in battle, their killing intent shaking entire worlds.


    Xiao Hei''s aura. That same feeling. Smaller, yes, but no less suffocating.


    His breath caught. ''Is she... immortal?''


    The thought planted itself in his mind like a thorn. Her strength, her mystery, her stagnant cultivation¡ªit all pointed in one direction. A child of immortals.


    He clenched his jaw. If that were true, it explained everything. Her Immortal vessel. Heaven Qi. The whole package.


    Unlike mortals, children born to immortals weren''t shackled by ordinary profound energy. Their bodies absorbed Heaven Qi¡ªpure, untouchable, divine. For someone like Xiao Hei, Core Formation would be the limit here.


    There simply wasn''t enough Heaven Qi in the mortal plane for her to advance further.


    Su Xiaobai groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "Of course. My little demon empress just had to be high maintenance."


    His gaze flicked to Xiao Hei, still clinging to him with that faint smile, her head resting against his chest.


    She looked harmless¡ªadorable, even. But the memories of her earlier bloodlust sent a shiver down his spine.


    "Trouble magnet," he muttered. "That''s what you are."


    Because if his suspicions were right, it wouldn''t be long before immortals came sniffing around. And when they did, they wouldn''t be asking politely.


    Just the thought made his temples throb. "Great. First I get dragged into this stupid story, and now I might have to run for my life while immortals chase me to the ends of the earth."


    His temples throbbed. Just the thought gave him a headache.


    "Looks like I''ll be running underground soon," he muttered. "Great. Just great."


    Xiao Hei, oblivious, nestled closer into his chest. Her soft, faint smile remained, as if mocking his plight.


    _____


    BAM!


    BAM!


    SHATTER!


    The quiet of the night was rudely interrupted as Su Xiaobai''s punch reduced yet another boulder to dust. The echoes of his training rolled across the valley like thunder, scaring the wits out of countless beasts trying to sleep.


    "Grand Collapsing Fist: First Form¡ªCollapsing Mountain Strike!"


    He lowered his fist, his breath steady, his gaze sharper than the rubble at his feet. Around him, the once-pristine forest now looked like a disaster zone. His practice was going great. For the local wildlife? Not so much.


    He reached into his spatial ring and pulled out a sword. "Seven Moves of Judgment¡ªSky Splitting Blade!"


    The blade hummed as he slashed at the air. The arc was clean, the form perfect. But something felt... off. He swapped it for another sword. Then another. Each one felt like kissing someone through a veil¡ªunsatisfying, disconnected.


    "Tch." He tossed the sword aside, raising his bare hand instead. "Who needs a damn sword anyway? My fingers are sharper than anything forged in this backwater world."


    He grinned, channeling qi into an invisible blade. His strikes carved through the air, each swing sharper, deadlier.


    As the hours passed, his movements grew fluid, each attack flowing like water and hitting like a landslide.


    Unaware¡ªor so he thought¡ªof the world beyond his training, he began climbing toward the source of the waterfall, the rhythmic sound masking his movements.


    Above him, hidden among the trees, Ling Er watched with wide eyes, her curiosity burning brighter than the stars above.


    "What''s this idiot up to now?" she muttered, crouched low to avoid being seen.


    Her eyes widened as he pulled out a celestial inscriber. With slow, deliberate movements, Su Xiaobai etched a formation into the ground.


    The lines glowed faintly at first, but when he activated it, the array burst to life.


    Starlight cascaded down like a waterfall, swirling into the formation in a vortex of light. It was breathtaking, like watching the heavens bow down to the earth.


    Ling Er''s jaw dropped. She didn''t think much of him¡ªarrogant, shameless, annoying¡ªbut this? This was something else. "He knows how to draw formations? Since when?"


    Her gaze lingered on him, the stars in his array reflected in her eyes. The scene was mesmerizing, yes, but there was something... tempting about it.


    She bit her lip. "Not bad, big scary villain. Not bad at all."

 Chapter 55 Game got wrong!

    She bit her lip. "Not bad, big scary villain. Not bad at all."Moonlight bathed her face, catching the soft curve of her lips and the shimmer in her eyes. She leaned forward unconsciously, the charm of the moment pulling her closer.


    She didn''t realize Su Xiaobai had already noticed her.


    In the lake''s reflection, her shadow betrayed her hiding place.


    A smirk tugged at his lips. ''Caught you, little sparrow.''


    He continued his work, acting as if he hadn''t seen her. The inscriber''s glow pulsed in rhythm with his movements, his fingers steady as they etched celestial patterns.


    Ling Er''s gaze lingered on his hands, then drifted lower.


    Her face burned. Stop it, stop it, stop it! You''re not supposed to think about that!


    But she couldn''t help herself. His stance, his focus, even the way his robe was soaked after hours of training¡ªit was maddening.


    "What''s wrong with me?!" she whispered, shaking her head furiously.


    Su Xiaobai, still pretending not to notice her, fought the urge to laugh. Her reflection in the lake was more entertaining than any technique he''d practiced tonight.


    But he didn''t let her off the hook just yet.


    "Enjoying the view, princess?" he called out suddenly, his voice carrying through the night like a whip.


    "!!"


    Ling Er froze, her muscles locking up like a rabbit caught in the gaze of a tiger. "W-What view?!" she stammered, louder than intended, her voice carrying into the quiet night.


    Su Xiaobai stood lazily, his smirk as wide as the crescent moon. "I don''t know. You tell me. Been enjoying the scenery for a while now, haven''t you?" S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Her cheeks flared like cherry blossoms in spring. "I-I wasn''t watching anything!" she yelled, leaping to her feet like a startled hare.


    "Oh?" His tone dripped with mockery as he turned slightly, letting the starlight sculpt his figure like a divine statue. "Then why''s your face so red? Admiring my technique, or something else entirely?"


    Ling Er slapped her hands over her burning cheeks, only making it worse. "Y-You shameless bastard!"


    He laughed, a low, infuriating chuckle that made her want to punch him straight through the heavens. "Shameless? Says the girl sneaking around to spy on a lonely man dead in the dead of night. So, what''s the story, Ling Er? Couldn''t sleep? Or were you hoping for a... private lesson?"


    Her mouth flapped open like a fish gasping for air. "I¡ªI didn''t¡ª!"


    Before she could sputter further, Su Xiaobai took a step forward, the array behind him flickering out and leaving only the dim light of the moon. His smirk was maddening, his eyes gleaming with evil.


    "If you''re that curious," he purred, voice low and mocking, "come closer next time. I don''t bite. Much." His grin widened. "Unless that''s what you''re into."


    Ling Er''s face went volcanic. "You''re pervert!" she shrieked, stomping over with murderous intent, only to pause as she realized something painfully obvious¡ªhe was a head taller than her.


    She craned her neck, glaring up at him, a stiff smile plastered on her face as if trying to suppress her murderous rage. "Big Brother Su~" she said sweetly, her tone dripping with venomous sugar. "You wouldn''t dare hurt your precious little sister, right?"


    Her syrupy words triggered a memory from earlier that evening¡ªone he hadn''t entirely recovered from.


    Su Xiaobai raised an eyebrow, glancing down at her suspiciously. "Oh, please. What are you scheming now?"


    "Who, me?" she said innocently, her hands clasped behind her back like a naughty child caught stealing buns.


    He reached out instinctively, pinching her cheek. "Tch. You think I can''t tell when you''re up to something?"


    "..."


    Her blank stare spoke everything, but Su Xiaobai ignored it, only realizing too late he might have made a mistake.


    "You... have a bad habit, you know," she said, her voice unnervingly calm.


    Su Xiaobai hesitated. "What habit?"


    "THIS!" Her hand shot out, grabbing his face and squeezing with vengeance.


    Squish. Squish.


    "Argh¡ªLing Er!" he growled, his voice muffled as she pinched his cheeks hard, her delicate fingers digging in like a demoness exacting punishment.


    She pressed her forehead against his, her smug grin almost criminal. "What''s the matter, Big Brother Su? I thought you didn''t mind people getting close? Or was that just big talk? Want to show me a private lesson now, hmm?"


    "..."


    His eye twitched. "Let go. Or else."


    Whoosh!


    Her silk ribbon snapped to life in response, wrapping protectively around her. "Or else what?" she teased, her face glowing with triumph as she leaped back, the crimson silk twirling like a fiery dragon.


    Su Xiaobai rubbed his aching cheeks, glaring at her. "You¡ª little¡ª@#¡ê#, you''re not getting away with this."


    Whoosh!


    Ling Er''s laugh rang out like silver bells, echoing across the night sky. "Catch me if you can, Big Brother Su!"


    She darted into the air, her ribbon lifting her like the wings of a phoenix. The moonlight gleamed off its shimmering threads as it coiled around her figure, making her look untouchable, ethereal.


    "Damn brat!" Su Xiaobai spat, his Qi igniting in a flash of light. He kicked off the ground, the air trembling as his figure shot after her like a comet.


    Ling Er glanced over her shoulder, her face alight with a provocative smile. "Too slow, old man! Is that all you''ve got?"


    His eyes narrowed. "Old man?!" His veins bulged as he pushed harder.


    Her ribbon snapped in front of him like a whip, forcing him to dodge. It danced like a living thing, an extension of her will.


    "Come on, Big Brother Su! Aren''t you supposed to be stronger than me?" Her voice was sweet as honey, but the mockery was sharp enough to cut jade.


    "You''re dead meat when I catch you!" he roared.


    "Oh, if~" she sang, her ribbon flicking past his nose.


    But Su Xiaobai''s face darkened. As he pushed harder, something inside him began to churn¡ªa shadow of frustration that wasn''t entirely about Ling Er. No, this was deeper.


    The air around him grew hot, infernal flames sparking to life as his Qi surged uncontrollably.


    "Eh?" Ling Er''s smugness faltered. Her ribbon kissed the flames and hissed in protest, its edge curling into ash.


    WHOOSH!


    "!"


    Her face paled. "No!" she gasped, yanking the silk back before it could burn further. The ribbon coiled into her hand like a retreating serpent, but its absence betrayed her.


    Without its guiding grace, her body faltered. The air that once lifted her now dragged her down, gravity yanking her back to reality.


    "Wh¡ª!"


    Her gasp cut short as she plummeted, limbs flailing.


    Above, Su Xiaobai watched the spectacle with wide eyes, his brows knitting into confusion and fury. ''Did she just... retract the damn ribbon?''


    His heart twisted sharply. ''That idiot. Does she think the ground is soft or something?!''


    Whoosh!


    Instinct overrode thought. His Qi exploded in a burst of speed as he shot forward, the night air tearing around him. The stars blurred, the forest below a dark smear, but all he saw was her falling form.


    The shadows of his own frustrations, his failures, melted away. Right now, nothing mattered but catching her.


    His arms wrapped around her just before the ground could claim her.


    For a moment, they hovered midair, weightless and suspended in time. Her warmth pressed against him, her trembling body a clear contrast to the cold night.


    "Ah¡ª"


    Then gravity, pissed at being cheated, pulled them both down.


    Thud! Thud!


    The slope caught them, rolling them downhill like a pair of tumbling dice. Rocks bit at them, dirt clung to their robes, and the world became a spinning blur of chaos.


    "Ugh¡ªdamn it!" Su Xiaobai grunted as his shoulder slammed into a jagged rock. He tightened his hold on Ling Er, ''instinctively'' shielding her from the worst of it.


    Her small frame pressed against him, soft and trembling, while the ground punished him like an angry creditor collecting debts.


    Finally, they slowed, crashing to a messy stop in a heap at the bottom of the slope.


    The world stilled. The night air whispered around them, the only sounds their labored breathing and the faint rustle of leaves above.


    Ling Er, cradled in his arms, shifted first. Slowly, she raised her head. Her wide eyes, shimmering with unshed tears, searched his face as if trying to make sense of the chaos.


    "You¡­ idiot," she breathed, her voice cracking somewhere between relief and disbelief.


    Tears clung to her lashes, glinting faintly in the starlight. Her body trembled, her usual cockiness stripped away by the shock of the fall.


    Su Xiaobai met her gaze, his expression hard, though his eyes betrayed a flicker of something softer¡ªsomething he''d deny if anyone asked.


    "If you''re going to fall," he muttered, his voice tinged with frustration, "fall alone next time. What the hell were you thinking, pulling back your ribbon? Can''t even fly properly, and now you''re trying to decorate the ground with your face?"


    Her lips parted, her wide-eyed sorrow giving way to something far more familiar: rage.


    "Shut up!" she snapped, her voice cracking unconsciously as her mind on the image of her burning ribbon.

 Chapter 56 The Red Silk....

    Her lips parted, sorrow fracturing into rage."Shut up!"


    Tears spilled, unbidden, as she shoved at his chest with trembling hands. Her glare burned, daring him to flinch.


    "Go away! I don''t want to talk to you!"


    She stomped her foot¡ªa useless gesture, given her half-sprawled position on top of him¡ªand jabbed a shaking finger at his face, as if her anger alone could strike him down.


    "You think you''re so great, don''t you? You¡ª"


    "¡ªsaved your reckless ass," Su Xiaobai cut in, his voice flat and heavy with irritation. He dragged a hand down his face, sighing as if dealing with a tantrum-prone child. "Let''s review, shall we? I''m sore, I''m bruised, and now I''ve got this ungrateful brat yelling at me like I''m the bad guy. What do you want? Should I leave you for the wolves? Or maybe act the part of the villain you''re so desperate for? Go on, princess¡ªkeep pushing. Let''s see where this goes."


    HISS~!


    His words struck like a whip, her anger faltering under their weight. Ling Er froze, lips trembling.


    "You¡ªyou wouldn''t!" she stammered, scrambling off him, her face reddening as unease flickered in her wide eyes.


    The forest pressed in around them, the branches above knitting into a suffocating cage. Even the moonlight struggled to reach them, casting weak, pale slivers that only deepened the shadows.


    Hiss...


    The air coiled around her like a serpent, cold and scary, brushing against her skin and drawing a shiver. Hugging herself, she turned to him, her voice small and unsteady.


    "You''re not going to¡­ do anything, are you?"


    Su Xiaobai snorted, leaning back against a rock, his smirk sharp. "Do anything? To you?" His gaze flicked over her, slow and deliberate.


    Long legs? Check.


    Phoenix brows, bright eyes, flawless porcelain skin? Sure.


    Silky dark hair and curves in all the right places? Not bad.


    She was beautiful, no question. But delicate, like a flower too fragile to survive the storm he intended to unleash on the heavens. Pretty, yes¡ªbut not his type.


    Her family, though? That was something else. Even her brother¡ªa man¡ªlooked like he''d been sculpted by a drunk deity with an obsession for perfection.


    ''Goddamn genes.'' His grin widened. If this girl was the lesser jewel, her mother had to be the masterpiece¡ªa true milf. One day, when he''d claimed the heavens themselves, he might stop by to pay his respects. Strictly academic curiosity, of course.


    Ling Er''s voice broke through his thoughts, sharp but trembling. She shut her eyes, shoulders sagging in defeat. "You''re disgusting," she whispered, too weak to fight back.


    "Relax," he drawled, his smile widening. "If I wanted to do something, you''d already know. Lucky for you, I don''t waste time on little birds who can''t even stand without shaking."


    Her lips quivered, but her glare returned, fierce, though weakened by her trembling frame. "I hate you," she spat.


    "Good." He rose with a lazy stretch, brushing dirt from his sleeves like her words were nothing more than dust. "Hate''s honest. More useful than gratitude."


    "Why¡­ Why are you coming near me?"


    Seeing him dust himself off and stride in her direction, Ling Er flinched, her legs trembling like brittle reeds in a storm.


    She wasn''t a body cultivator like Su Xiaobai, whose physique seemed forged from stars. The fall had drained her, leaving her sore and barely able to stand.


    Her face, smudged with dirt, twisted into a wary glare. "D-Don''t think you can take advantage of me! I have concealed treasures that will¡ª"


    "Yeah, sure," Su Xiaobai cut in with a snort, not slowing his approach. ''Concealed treasures? Then where were they when she was flopping around like a headless chicken?''


    Before she could react, his hand clamped down on her shoulders.


    "!!"


    She stiffened, her breath hitching. His fiery gaze bore into her, shaand far too close. Panic bloomed across her face like a sudden sunrise, and she shut her eyes tight, words tumbling out in a flurry.


    "I-I''m not a good girl! You won''t like me!"


    Su Xiaobai froze mid-motion, blinking slowly. "What the hell are you talking about?"


    "I-I mean¡­ you don''t want me as a wife or anything!" she blurted, her words tumbling over themselves. "I bite! I''m loud! I¡ªI''m difficult to handle!"


    "..."


    His brow twitched, his expression darkening.


    "And! And I''m not scared of you!" she added hurriedly, her trembling betraying her every word. "So don''t be¡ªrough or¡ª"


    "Enough." His sharp tone cut through her rambling like a blade. Pinching the bridge of his nose, Su Xiaobai muttered under his breath, "Who in the heavens raised you like this?"


    With one fluid motion, he grabbed her hand and plucked the spatial ring from her finger.


    Ling Er gasped, her free hand darting to her ring finger. "What are you doing?! That''s mine!"


    He ignored her protests, turning the ring over in his hand, his expression mildly bored.


    Ling Er cracked one eye open, cautiously peeking to see if the worst had passed. What she didn''t expect was¡ª


    SLAP!


    Her head jerked to the side, the sound of his palm connecting with her cheek ringing through the air.


    "Wh¡ª!"


    "You need to get your head checked," Su Xiaobai said flatly, flexing his fingers as if he''d just lifted a heavy burden off his chest.


    Ling Er clutched her stinging cheek, too stunned to speak.


    Meanwhile, Su Xiaobai examined the spatial ring with sharp, calculating eyes, flipping it in his hand as though inspecting a market trinket. "Seriously, you should thank me. I might actually find something useful in here¡ªunlike you."


    Buzzzzz¡­


    Ling Er''s mind buzzed, the fiery mark on her cheek burning alongside the indignation twisting in her chest.


    Her lips parted, but no words came. She could only watch, frozen, as Su Xiaobai rifled through her spatial ring with maddening casualness.


    "Hmph¡­ Is there nothing here that could help us get back to camp?" Su Xiaobai muttered, frowning as he scanned the contents. "No hidden treasures, no life-saving talismans¡­ not even a flying sword?"


    His gaze flicked to her, skeptical. "Aren''t you supposed to be a princess? Is Yue Country that poor?"


    Ling Er stared at the ground, her gaze fixed on her dirtied boots. Her lips trembled, but no excuses came. Su Xiaobai sighed heavily, rolling his eyes.


    Looking skyward, he grumbled internally. ''Who''s writing this crap? Abandoning us in the middle of a dark forest¡ªwhat''s next? A demonic beast ambush?''


    His irritation deepened as he massaged his temples. Whoever was in charge of this so-called plot, Su Xiaobai vowed they''d be first on his hit list.


    [A/N: (??? ?¨Œ? ???;?) sweating profusely ]


    He turned back to Ling Er, voice weary but firm. "Alright, listen up. We''re far from camp, it''s midnight, and this forest is crawling with trouble. I can fly back on my own, but what about you?"


    "¡­"


    "You can''t fly on you own, can you?" he guessed, narrowing his eyes.


    Ling Er shook her head faintly, her voice little more than a whimper.


    Su Xiaobai clicked his tongue.


    Whoosh!


    From her ring, he pulled out a half-charred silk ribbon. It felt unnaturally warm in his hands, its subtle vibrations betraying its true nature.


    "This thing... can it still be used¡­?" Su Xiaobai murmured, examining it. A soul-grade weapon. Rare and valuable, forged through immense skill and imbued with consciousness. Equipment like this didn''t just exist¡ªit carried history, purpose.


    Ling Er''s eyes widened as he handled the ribbon. "Don''t¡­ Don''t touch it!"


    Somehow, she found her courage, snatching the ribbon from his hands. She clutched it close, trembling slightly, as though the ribbon itself offered her protection.


    Su Xiaobai raised his hands in mock surrender. "Fine, fine. Keep your precious ribbon. I don''t care."


    Stepping away, he shrugged. "Stay here if you want. I''m leaving."


    "¡­"


    "Or¡­" He paused, glancing back at her. "Follow me. Once I''m recovered, I might have enough strength to carry us both out of here. But for now, we walk."


    Ling Er didn''t move, her stubbornness keeping her rooted to the spot.


    Rustle¡­


    A cold wind swept through the forest, biting at her exposed skin and sending chills up her spine. The dark expanse of trees casted shadow over their faces, silent and scary. Ling Er shivered, her courage faltering under the night''s emptiness.


    With a reluctant huff, she hobbled after him, each step slow and awkward, her face wincing with every movement. "¡ªWait!"


    Su Xiaobai glanced back, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Ha! Already falling in line?"


    "Humph¡­" She glared at him, ignoring his insult, though her cheeks flushed at the memory of his slap.


    "Give me my ring back!" she snapped, grabbing at his hand.


    He didn''t resist, letting her snatch it away, but even after reclaiming it, she hesitated. Without a word, she leaned against him, using his shoulder for support as they walked.


    Su Xiaobai frowned, glancing down at her. "What are you doing now?"


    "You''re warm," she muttered, her voice barely audible.


    He groaned but didn''t push her away. "Unbelievable. You''d get lost in this forest without me, wouldn''t you?"


    She didn''t respond, her gaze fixed firmly ahead, her grip awkward but determined.


    A moment passed.


    "¡­Are you used to the dark?" Ling Er asked, her voice hesitant.


    Su Xiaobai''s face darkened, his sharp gaze scanning the shadows. "Where I grew up, this would''ve been a luxury. It was darker¡­ crueler."


    His voice dropped, heavy with distant memories. "Every night, it was the same. You either fought to survive, or you didn''t see the morning." S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    They had lived beyond the sacred wall, where humanity''s safety ended, and the ''hunters'' began. Outside, in the unclaimed lands of White Cloud Star, survival wasn''t guaranteed¡ªit was a gamble, a cruel game played with death.


    For Su Xiaobai, the world beyond the wall wasn''t just dangerous; it was merciless. The hunters prowled endlessly, their eyes gleaming with hunger, their blades sharper than despair. Even the nights reeked of blood, the shadows filled with threats that never slept.


    His fingers flexed, the memories creeping over him like the cold wind of the forest.


    It was darker back then¡­ crueler.

 Chapter 57 The Heavenly Spirit tree!

    Ling Er glanced at Su Xiaobai from the corner of her eye but said nothing.The playful spark that usually lit her face was gone. Her steps slowed, her grip on his hand loosening as she absorbed his words. She had never considered where he came from¡ªor what kind of life had shaped him.


    Crunch. Crunch.


    The sound of their footsteps on the uneven forest floor echoed softly, filling the silence.


    Su Xiaobai noticed the shift but didn''t comment, adjusting his pace to match hers.


    As they moved, his fingers brushed against the pills hidden in his robes. Rare and irreplaceable, they were his last line of defense. He wouldn''t waste them unless it was life or death¡ªand certainly not on a girl who''d caused more trouble than she was worth.


    But Wei Zhong would kill him if something happened to her. With a sigh, he stayed close, his sharp gaze sweeping the forest for any sign of danger.


    After ten minutes of walking, the steady rhythm of their steps faltered.


    Sweat began to bead on Ling Er''s forehead. Her shallow breaths, though faint, didn''t escape his notice.


    "Let''s.... stop there for a while," she murmured, her voice soft, almost embarrassed at her own weakness.


    "Mm." Su Xiaobai nodded, leaning against a towering tree.


    Thump.


    The solid trunk supported his weight easily, its girth almost unnatural¡ªnearly twenty meters wide.


    Rustle.


    The branches above swayed in the faint wind, their shadows stretching like claws.


    "Hah¡­" He let out a grunt, sliding down to rest his back against the bark.


    Ling Er hesitated before settling down a few inches away, using the tree for support.


    For a while, silence stretched between them, broken only by the faint rustle of leaves and their quiet breathing.


    "¡­?"


    Su Xiaobai stared blankly at the moon above, its pale light seeping through the gaps. His body unconsciously absorbed the stellar energy, his thoughts wandering elsewhere.


    ''Xiao Hei?''


    The realization struck him. He still had her. If anyone could carry Ling Er back, it was that little menace.


    Whoosh!


    With a flick of his wrist, Xiao Hei appeared.


    Ling Er instinctively recoiled, her body trembling as thud-thud¡ªtwo glowing red orbs glared at her from the darkness.


    "??"


    From the shadows, a figure stepped forward. A girl, no older than twelve, emerged, her curious gaze fixed on Su Xiaobai.


    "Xiao Hei, can you fly?" he asked.


    "??"


    Before she could answer, Su Xiaobai waved a hand dismissively. "Of course you can. I''m being stupid. You almost killed Wei Jun¡ªof course you can fly."


    Creak!


    The branches above swayed, their movement accompanied by the faint rustling of leaves. It was as if the forest itself mocked him.


    He sighed. "Never mind. Can you carry her with you?" He gestured toward Ling Er, who was frozen in place.


    Xiao Hei''s crimson eyes flicked to Ling Er. She blinked twice before shaking her head firmly.


    "You''re lying," Su Xiaobai said, narrowing his eyes. "You can, can''t you?"


    "Uh-huh!" Xiao Hei shook her head even more vehemently, her expression playful yet unyielding.


    Tap-tap.


    Her small foot tapped against the ground, her protest almost childish.


    "Ugh¡­" He rubbed his temples. This girl was helpful when it came to him, but for anyone else? She acted like they weren''t even worth acknowledging.


    Finally giving up, he muttered, "Fine. Just patrol the perimeter and don''t cause trouble."


    Whoosh!


    Xiao Hei''s mischievous smile widened, and with a burst of speed, she vanished into the trees, her figure darting between the branches like a shadow. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ling Er, still frozen, stared after her, heart pounding. Her mind flashed back to the image of Xiao Hei chewing on bones, blood smeared across her face. How could that savage creature and this playful child be the same?


    She gulped audibly, unable to shake the unease crawling up her spine. There was something about Xiao Hei she couldn''t understand¡ªand that made her all the more terrifying.


    But as Xiao Hei flitted farther away, something changed.


    The farther she moved from Su Xiaobai, the more radiant she became. Her aura, once subdued near him, seemed to bloom like a flower unfurling at dawn.


    Ling Er''s breath caught.


    She wasn''t a demon¡ªnot exactly. If anything, she was a lotus blooming in mud, her beauty ethereal and otherworldly, as though she didn''t belong to this mortal plane.


    When she stood near Su Xiaobai, her presence dimmed, like a flame tucked behind glass. But as she leapt further away, it was impossible to ignore her radiance.


    Rustle~~


    The wind picked up, sweeping through the forest and brushing against Ling Er''s arms. She shivered, her instincts drawing her closer to Su Xiaobai for warmth.


    Su Xiaobai noticed her subtle movements¡ªthe way her grip slackened on his hand, her steps faltering. But he said nothing. The moment felt strangely fragile, like a scene pulled from some celestial script.


    For some reason, it struck him: if he pushed this girl even slightly, she wouldn''t resist.


    His gaze instinctively flicked to her face, glowing faintly under the silver light of the moon. It wasn''t a deliberate move¡ªjust a passing glance. Definitely not because of any improper thoughts.


    It wasn''t that he was a monk, abstaining from worldly desires. No, Su Xiaobai knew when to indulge and when to walk away. And Ling Er? She was a walking catastrophe, a bundle of trouble wrapped in a delicate package. He wasn''t stupid enough to take a bite.


    After all, his main goal wasn''t to wander the world picking flowers.


    But then again, when the food delivered itself to your mouth, how could you not be tempted?


    He shook his head, shoving the thought away. ''What''s next? A secret treasure conveniently appearing to help me form my core? Is that the plan, bastards?'' His lips curled in a sadistic smile. It wouldn''t surprise him if the heavens themselves were scheming to test his resolve.


    But he wasn''t that easy to manipulate. Iron will wasn''t just a phrase¡ªit was his creed. Even if they dangled a heaven-grade treasure in front of him, he wouldn''t give in.


    "This girl," he muttered under his breath, shaking his head again. "Not my responsibility."


    As Su Xiaobai wrestled with his thoughts, Ling Er watched him from the corner of her eye. At first, she felt his scrutiny, his gaze brushing her like a faint whisper. But then, he started shaking his head and mumbling to himself.


    She bit back a laugh, her lips twitching into a faint smile. Why does he look like he''s fighting some great internal battle?


    Just as the quiet of the night began to settle over them, like lovers basking in the moonlight''s tender glow, a sudden disruption tore through the quiet, sharp as a dagger slicing silk.


    Thud!


    Xiao Hei dropped from above, landing with unsettling grace, her crimson eyes gleaming like twin embers.


    "Hm! Hm!" she huffed impatiently, her small figure vibrating with barely contained energy.


    Su Xiaobai flinched, his instincts flaring for a moment, before her tiny hand clamped onto his wrist with surprising strength. Ling Er yelped softly, startled out of her thoughts.


    "Oi, what''s this now?" Su Xiaobai muttered, frowning as Xiao Hei pulled at him with the determination of a child dragging an unwilling parent.


    "You want me to follow you?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.


    Xiao Hei nodded twice, her expression as serious as a general commanding an army. She tugged harder, leaving no room for debate.


    Ling Er stumbled to her feet, her confusion etched across her face. "Wait! What''s happening? Where are we going?"


    Her question went unanswered. Xiao Hei had already dragged Su Xiaobai into motion, her small figure weaving confidently through the thick underbrush. With no other choice, Ling Er hurried after them, her steps clumsy as she struggled to keep pace.


    As they ventured deeper into the forest, the surroundings grew more surreal. The trees they passed were larger, their trunks wide and ancient, the bark grooved with deep scars that seemed to whisper tales of a bygone era.


    Then the air shifted.


    It became heavier, filled with an indescribable vitality. It kissed their bodies in turn, each breath tasting faintly of sweetness.


    And finally, under the vast expanse of a starry sky, it came into view.


    Ling Er froze. "What¡­ is that?"


    A single tree, colossal beyond comprehension, towered over them. Its golden trunk glowed faintly, as though bathed in sunlight eternal.


    The bark shimmered with a divine warmth, exuding an aura of majesty that made the surrounding forest feel like an afterthought.


    Its sprawling branches stretched toward the heavens, their leaves glimmering like fragments of starlight. Each rustle sent ripples through the air, a sound both melodic and alien, as though the tree itself were alive and breathing.


    Beneath its grandeur, the forest floor was littered with the forms of wild beasts. They lay scattered, their bodies unnaturally still, their breaths shallow as though they were in a trance¡ªor worse.


    Ling Er instinctively clutched Su Xiaobai''s arm, her fingers trembling. "Are they¡­ fainted?" she whispered, warily.

 Chapter 58 Unexpected Treasure!

    "Are they¡­ fainted?"Su Xiaobai''s sharp gaze swept over the scene, lingering on the beasts before shifting to the golden trunk of the colossal tree. His tone was calm but wary as he murmured, "Drugged, maybe. Or just overwhelmed by the spiritual energy."


    Xiao Hei tugged at his wrist again, eyes gleaming like burning coals. There was something playful in her expression, but it carried a knowing edge¡ªmischievous, as if to say, ''Returning the spiritual water I took to hatch, with interest, no less. Let''s see if this helps you form your Core.''


    [A/N: Yes, this is the baby that hatched from the Immortal Fetus. You guys were paying attention, right...?]


    Su Xiaobai''s lips curled into a faint smirk as his thoughts began to spiral into a fictional story of his own. The scene before him¡ªthe glowing tree, Xiao Hei''s insistent tugging, the spiritual energy thick enough to choke a demonic beast¡ªwas just too perfect.


    "What''s this? You guys think I''m that desperate?" he muttered, his voice filled with sarcasm. "I dream about a treasure to break through, and suddenly, they drop one right in front of me? How generous."


    He glanced at Xiao Hei, who was practically dragging him closer to the tree, her expression only fueling his suspicions.


    ''This little brat¡­ is she working with them?'' he thought bitterly, his gaze narrowing. Xiao Hei''s earlier smirk had been too smug, as if she were some messenger of fate, gleefully carrying out the whims of those bastards above.


    The Higher-ups¡­ always watching, always meddling. Like some bored deity flipping through my life like it''s a cheap drama.


    He tilted his head toward the heavens, his grin twisting into something sharper. "What''s the angle this time? You toss me a golden carrot so I''ll trip over myself chasing it? Or maybe¡­" His eyes gleamed. "You''re trying to bribe me for something...?"


    The thought infuriated him. His voice rose, breaking the eerie silence of the clearing.


    "INSTANT IMMORTALITY PILL!"


    "Huh?"


    Ling Er flinched at his sudden outburst, staring at him as if he''d lost his mind. "What¡­ what are you talking about? Who are you yelling at?"


    Su Xiaobai ignored her, his smile deepening as he continued his one-man performance.


    "C''mon, don''t stop there! At least throw in an immortal wife while you''re at it! One that cooks, cleans, and sweeps away all the damn trouble in my life!"


    Ling Er''s jaw dropped, her cheeks reddening with both embarrassment and frustration. "Brother Su, have you lost your mind?! Stop spouting such shameless nonsense!"


    She glanced nervously at the tree, as if expecting it to come alive and strike him down for his blasphemy.


    As if listening to her thoughts, above them, the massive branches swayed ominously, their golden leaves shimmering in the faint light.


    CRACK!


    The sound was deafening, a sudden fracture splitting, as a colossal branch broke free.


    Su Xiaobai''s smirk vanished in an instant.


    "Fuck!"


    Without hesitation, he grabbed Ling Er by the waist and leapt back, his instincts sharper than any blade.


    "Ah!?"


    Her startled cry barely escaped her lips before the branch slammed into the ground where they''d just been standing.


    CRASH!


    The earth trembled, a plume of dust and debris erupting around the impact site. Su Xiaobai landed gracefully a few feet away, Ling Er still clutched against him, her wide eyes staring at the shattered remains of the branch.


    A long silence stretched between them, broken only by Ling Er''s trembling voice. "What¡­ just happened?"


    Su Xiaobai exhaled sharply, setting Ling Er down with a faint scowl. "Looks like the Higher-ups didn''t appreciate my request for a wife...."


    Ling Er groaned, burying her face in her hands. "Y-You''re¡­ an idiot!"


    She couldn''t fathom how he could swing from being deadly serious to utterly ridiculous in a matter of moments. Yet, despite herself, a wry smile tugged at her lips. It was absurd¡ªhe was absurd.


    Meanwhile, Su Xiaobai dusted himself off like a proud rooster after a scuffle, completely unfazed. Standing tall, he took a deep breath, his sharp gaze locking onto the endless stars above.


    "Tonight is ''The Night of Eternal Stars,''" he declared, his tone almost reverent. "The perfect time to drain the heavens and lay claim to the celestial bounty."


    He sighed, flinging an arm skyward as though mourning a lost opportunity. "If someone hadn''t interrupted me, I''d already have my ''Celestial Ripple Array'' in place, summoning meteors and bathing in their radiance."


    "Celestial Ripple¡­ what?" Ling Er tilted her head, curiosity betraying the faint furrow of her brows.


    Su Xiaobai''s lips curled into a smirk as he began pacing, his tone turning instructive. "An array that channels the energy of a meteor shower into starlight-infused water. I''d have soaked in it, let the starlight seep into my bones, and leveled up my ''Star Slayer God Arts.''"


    He paused for effect, lowering his voice. "And then¡­ I''d form my ''Stary Veins.'' Veins that repair themselves with the power of the stars. No more ruptures when I''m pushing too hard in battle¡ªor elsewhere."


    Ling Er''s mouth opened, then closed. She wasn''t sure whether to be impressed or appalled.


    "But noooo," Su Xiaobai groaned, throwing her a glare. "Someone had to interrupt. Now all I''ve got is this tree and a broken dream."


    Ling Er scowled, her cheeks tinged with a blush as she crossed her arms tightly "I-I didn''t ruin anything!"


    How was I supposed to know it was so important? she thought bitterly, biting her lip. If she''d realized, she wouldn''t have dared interrupt him¡ªprobably. But his ridiculous words didn''t make it easy to take him seriously. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Still, a faint pang of guilt pricked at her.


    Ignoring her entirely, Su Xiaobai turned his attention to the glowing tree before them. His smirk faded, replaced by something sharper, hungrier. "But this¡­" he muttered. "This changes everything."


    The tree stood like a golden titan, its trunk shimmering faintly as its rustling leaves scattered the starlight into delicate, dancing patterns.


    "This isn''t just any tree," Su Xiaobai said, his voice lowering, "It''s a ''Heavenly Spiritual Tree.'' Its leaves act as a natural array, filtering starlight and stuffing its trunk with pure, refined spiritual energy."


    He gestured toward the wild beasts sprawled across the clearing. "That''s why those fools passed out. They took one bite too many and overdosed on spiritual sap. They''re drunk on starlight."


    Ling Er stifled a smile, biting her lip.


    "And it''s called ''Heavenly,''" Su Xiaobai continued, his voice taking on a poetic lilt, "because it''s too damn perfect. The way the starlight filters through its leaves, condenses in its trunk, and refines into spiritual energy¡ªit''s as if the heavens themselves blessed it. Coincidences like this don''t happen. Not without someone¡ªor something¡ªpulling strings."


    He paused, tilting his head toward the glowing bark. "But it won''t last. Trees like this burn too brightly. It''s been devouring the heavens'' energy... Now, it''s at its limit. Soon, it''ll collapse."


    Ling Er''s lips quirked up. "So¡­ how do we extract the energy before it''s too late?"


    Su Xiaobai gave her a crooked grin, reaching into his spatial ring. "Simple. You poke a hole in the trunk, shove this in¡ª" he held up a small metallic funnel like it was the crown jewel of his collection, "¡ªand let it gush out."


    Ling Er blinked. "Gush out?"


    "Exactly," he said, his grin widening. "The purest essence you''ll ever touch. Just don''t waste it, or I''ll have your head."


    Before he could elaborate, Ling Er snatched the funnel from his hands, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Let me try!" she exclaimed, darting toward the tree like a child chasing treasure.


    Su Xiaobai stared after her, shaking his head. "Hah... Don''t blame me if it splashes on your face."


    Pulling out a second funnel, he moved to another part of the trunk. Nearby, Xiao Hei crouched, her eyes gleaming with faint curiosity as she watched the pair.


    "You too," Su Xiaobai said, tossing her a spare spatial ring. "Fill it up. No slacking off."


    Xiao Hei caught the ring effortlessly, tilting her head like she was debating whether or not to bother. After a beat, she strolled to another section of the tree and began poking at it with calculated indifference.


    With everyone on task, Su Xiaobai jabbed his funnel into the golden bark.


    Whoosh!


    A thick stream of spiritual energy, glowing faintly with a golden hue, began to flow. The air grew warm, buzzing with vitality, and the clearing filled with a faint, heady scent¡ªlike sweet nectar mixed with the tang of starlight.


    Su Xiaobai watched the liquid flow into his container, a satisfied smile tugging at his lips. "Now this," he murmured, "this is the good stuff."


    For the first time in ages, something in his life felt right. No schemes, no backstabbing, just pure, unadulterated power dripping into his hands.


    With this, breaking into the Core Formation realm was no longer a pipe dream. He''d enter the Xiantian Sect with his head held high¡ªno debts, no favors owed, and most importantly, no need to rely on that unpredictable little menace, Xiao Hei.


    His gaze flicked toward her, crouched cutely on the other side of the tree, casually poking at the bark with a funnel like she had all the time in the world.


    Su Xiaobai snorted.


    She looked innocent now, but he knew better.


    This girl was like a ticking time bomb¡ªuseful when aimed at others, dangerous when left to her own devices.

 Chapter 59 Twisted Royal Family!

    "Here!"Xiao Hei and Ling Er returned, handing Su Xiaobai the sap essence dripping with spiritual power.


    Without hesitation, Su Xiaobai snatched the ring from Xiao Hei. Why leave it with her? She''d probably spill it or blow it up¡ªlittle firecracker that she was.


    Behind them, the once-radiant tree dimmed, its glow snuffed out like a drunk at dawn.


    He turned to Ling Er, brow raised as she shoved her spatial ring toward him. "What? You don''t want it?"


    "Just take it!" she huffed, arms crossed, face red. "Break through already and fly us back to camp!"


    "???"


    Su Xiaobai blinked, debating whether to tease her. Nah, she had a point. Shrugging, he grabbed the ring.


    "Don''t regret it later," he said with a smirk, heading to an open patch. Sitting cross-legged, he drew out the sap essence. Golden energy spiraled into his dantian, stirring the air like a rising storm.


    Ling Er lingered nearby, glaring at nothing in particular. Why is it so hard to just say thanks? Or sorry?


    She bit her lip and kicked at a rock. Her muttering slipped out: "Stupid. So stupid. Why''s he gotta look so smug? Bet he thinks I''m in love with him."


    "???"


    Xiao Hei tilted her head, crimson eyes gleaming. She didn''t speak, but her mischievous grin said it all.


    Ling Er flushed, kicking harder. "This is dumb. He cleans up my messes, and now I''m stuck feeling guilty? Ridiculous."


    Her gaze flicked back to Su Xiaobai, glowing like some smug golden deity mid-breakthrough.


    Her gut churned. Gratitude? Apologies? She didn''t do those. Never had.


    But this time, it felt like she had to.


    Since yesterday, Ling Er had brought Su Xiaobai nothing but trouble. Yet, watching him glow faintly in meditation, she wondered: Is he evil? Or just cursed with endless bad luck?


    Core Formation was a cultivator''s true baptism, the leap from mediocrity to greatness. With a golden core, Su Xiaobai would finally escape true qi endless grind, wielding profound Qi without it eating away his life.


    But it wasn''t without risk.


    A core wasn''t just energy¡ªit was a molten sun, forged in one''s dantian. Its heat purified, stabilized Qi, and burned away impurities. Without it, even the strongest cultivators would wither under their own power.


    Golden light rippled from Su Xiaobai, brightening with every breath. Ling Er stepped back, her voice hushed. "Is¡­ is that normal?"


    The sap essence¡ªenough for two¡ªwas vanishing, devoured by his thirsty dantian.


    The air shifted. Everything¡ªground, trees, even the sky¡ªseemed to bow.


    BOOM!


    A golden pillar erupted, piercing the heavens. The earth trembled; a shockwave tore through the forest, scattering leaves and dust like a hurricane.


    As the haze cleared, Ling Er coughed, staring at Su Xiaobai. He sat unscathed in the destruction, radiant and calm. In his dantian, a golden bead shimmered¡ªa miniature sun, pure and unyielding.


    "This¡­" she whispered. "This is a golden core?"


    Su Xiaobai stood, glowing faintly, a wide grin splitting his face. For someone who couldn''t even cultivate months ago, this felt like spitting in the heavens'' eye.


    "Hah!" His laugh rang out. "Who''s the genius now?!" He slapped his chest. "Mark it down higher-ups¡ªyour so-called villain just broke through!"


    Before Ling Er could react, he moved.


    Swoosh!


    He grabbed her by the waist, scooped up Xiao Hei with his other arm, and shot into the air.


    "Wha¡ª!" Ling Er''s face flushed as his hand gripped her soft waist. "H-Hey! Put me down!"


    "Relax," Su Xiaobai said, grinning. "You can''t fly, and I''m not leaving my entourage behind."


    "I¡ªI can manage!" she stammered, clutching his robes.


    "Sure," he teased. "Just like you''ve been managing so far."


    Ling Er glared but said nothing, the wind stealing her words.


    Xiao Hei, dangling from his other arm, glanced at Ling Er, then closed her eyes, clearly unbothered.


    Golden light flared as Su Xiaobai rose higher, his laughter ringing out. "Core Formation! I''m finally done crawling in the dirt!"


    Ling Er yelped, gripping his robes tighter as the ground vanished. "Don''t drop me!"


    "Relax, Princess," he chuckled. "You''re safer here. Besides, if I did drop you¡­ well, the crater would be impressive."


    ¡ª ZAP!


    They vanished into the night, a golden streak blazing across the sky like a comet ascending to the heavens.


    ____


    The overexcited Su Xiaobai didn''t calm down after returning. Why would he? Core Formation had him giddy, his ego roaring louder than a celestial dragon. Instead of resting, he dashed straight to the waterfall, eager to soak in the ''Celestial Ripple Array'' and forge his ''Starry Veins'' while adrenaline coursed through him.


    But excitement had its pitfalls.


    His hands, caught up in the thrill of flight, had¡­ wandered. Ling Er''s waist, her hips¡ªeach accidental graze turned her face redder than molten iron.


    Naturally, Su Xiaobai proclaimed his innocence. His hands? Pure. Blameless.


    The real culprit? Adrenaline.


    Ling Er wasn''t having it. She landed with a stomp, her curses cutting the air like flying swords. "Pervert! Scoundrel! Idiot!"


    Su Xiaobai scratched his head, pretending to ignore her. "Ah, such refined vocabulary. Truly the voice of a princess," he muttered, watching her storm off, her face burning like the setting sun.


    Back at the cottage, Ling Er''s muttering hadn''t cooled. She stomped through the moonlit night, frustration trailing her like a shadow. But just as she reached the door¡ª


    "You find anything?"


    "!"


    Ling Er froze, her spine stiffening at the familiar voice. Slowly, she turned, her glare like a sharp jade. "No," she snapped.


    Wei Zhong stepped out of the shadows, his cold, calculating eyes sweeping over her. His fingers stroked his silver beard, his silence more unsettling than words.


    Ling Er''s skin crawled under his appraisal, but she stood her ground.


    Finally, he spoke. "Good. No foolish mistakes." S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    His gaze lingered a moment longer, sharp and deliberate. To his relief, the girl remained untouched. A maiden''s purity was value, a bargaining chip for Yue Country''s survival. Ling Er?


    She wasn''t a warrior¡ªshe was leverage.


    Her marriage, not her cultivation, would save their kingdom.


    "You are Yue country''s key to future," Wei Zhong said, his voice low and pointed. "Remember your place."


    Ling Er''s fists trembled at her sides. She wanted to scream. Instead, she stormed inside, slamming the door behind her.


    "Ugh! What does he take me for?!" she growled, pacing the room. First Su Xiaobai, now her grandfather. Why was she always a pawn? Why couldn''t she just exist without someone pulling her strings?


    She paced the room, her agitation barely contained.


    After a few moments, she flung on her cloak and slipped out into the night, he sneaky figure vanishing beneath the moon''s pale light.


    _____


    "Ha¡­ finally, a good night''s sleep!"


    Su Xiaobai stretched lazily, a grin plastered on his face. After a day of breakthroughs and victories, rest was his rightful reward.


    Setting up the makeshift cottage had been simple: logs stacked neatly, a patchy grass floor, and a wobbly door. Not exactly a palace, but good enough. A refreshing bath had washed away the grime, leaving him feeling more accomplished than ever.


    With a satisfied sigh, he flopped onto the grass. ''Today wasn''t half bad.'' Exhaustion tugged at him, ready to lull him into blissful sleep.


    But, of course, peace wasn''t in the cards.


    BANG! BANG!


    "Hey, Villain! Open the door!"


    Su Xiaobai twitched, glaring at the ceiling like it owed him an apology. ''Can''t a guy sleep? Do side quests have to pop up at night?''


    Grumbling, he dragged himself up, yanking on his robe to avoid giving Ling Er an accidental glimpse of his ''mighty Little Su.'' Fainting princesses were too much trouble.


    "Open up!"


    "First, say, ''Big Brother, please open~!''" Su Xiaobai''s lazy voice carried a smirk.


    "Wh¡ª" Ling Er froze mid-bang, her face turning crimson. ''Why is he always like this?!'' She glared at the door as if it were him, debating whether to kick it down.


    But the night''s chill bit harder than her pride. With a growl, she spat out sweetly, "Big Brother Su, please open the gate for your cute little sister~! Or she''ll freeze to death~~!"


    Click!


    The door creaked open, revealing Su Xiaobai''s infuriatingly smug grin.


    "Good girl," he teased. "Now, what could the little princess possibly need at this ungodly hour?"


    "Humph!"


    Once the door opened, Ling Er marched inside without so much as a thank-you. She plopped onto Su Xiaobai''s spot, staring out of the small window like she owned the place.


    Su Xiaobai scratched his head, already regretting his decision. Closing the door with a sigh, he muttered, "Princess, if you''ve got something to say, spit it out and leave. Dawn isn''t the best time for girls to hang around men, you know. We can be¡­ aggressive."


    Poof!


    Ling Er froze, suddenly realizing she''d stormed in without a plan. Worse, he wasn''t wrong¡ªit was risky. But thankfully, Xiao Hei was still in the corner, curled up on her leaf bed.


    Or she was, until the noise woke her. With a glare and a huff, the little demon dragged her makeshift bed to the farthest corner, clearly done with them both.


    Su Xiaobai shot Xiao Hei an approving glance. She''d been banned from leaving at night after last time''s chaos, but at least she was following rules now.


    Ling Er, seeing Xiao Hei retreat, lit up with sudden inspiration. She straightened, puffed out her chest, and declared, "I''m here to apologize!"


    Su Xiaobai froze mid-thought, one foot practically out the door to kick her out. "Apologize?" His tone dripped with suspicion as he eyed her squirming figure.


    Was this an actual apology or some convoluted scheme?

 Chapter 60 Sneak Granddaughter! Bastard Grandpa!

    "Apologize?"Su Xiaobai''s eyes narrowed, staring into Ling Er, who immediately grew anxious.


    Why was he still standing at the door, blocking her exit? And why was his gaze lingering near her legs?


    "It''s for Xiao Hei!" she blurted, shutting her eyes before calming herself.


    "Hm?" Su Xiaobai tilted his head. Xiao Hei? What could his little firecracker have done to upset Ling Er? Did she have beef with both siblings now¡ªWei Jun and his sister?


    "??"


    Xiao Hei, disturbed yet again, pointed to herself with a tiny finger, as if to say; Me? Are you talking about me?


    Ling Er forced a stiff smile. "Yes. I shouldn''t have said bad things about her yesterday. She''s¡­ very beautiful. Prettier than me, even, once she grows up!"


    "..."


    Su Xiaobai stared blankly, then sighed.


    Xiao Hei waved her hands dismissively. Seriously? You woke me up for this? Pathetic. Turning away, she curled up on her leaf bed, resolutely ignoring them.


    Su Xiaobai approached Ling Er, his shadow looming over her. Her forced smile twitched as his smirk deepened.


    "Princess, let''s be real. You came because you were too bored to sleep alone, didn''t you?"


    "..."


    Ling Er flinched, her face darkening.


    "Yeah¡­" she admitted, glancing down. A barely audible murmur escaped her lips, softer than a mosquito''s hum.


    "..."


    Seeing Su Xiaobai''s disappointed look, Ling Er''s words dried up. Before she could respond, she felt someone grab her from behind.


    "What... are you doing?" she yelped, her voice shooting up as goosebumps prickled across her skin.


    Su Xiaobai grinned slyly. "Emotional support doll. Don''t mind it¡ªyou scared my Xiao Hei away."


    "..."


    Ling Er''s face darkened. Without a word, she bit down on his hand.


    "Ow¡ª!" Su Xiaobai''s eyes shot wide. Then, to her horror, he chuckled. "Not bad..."


    "..."


    Ling Er''s face darkened as realization dawned¡ªthis guy wasn''t good at all. He''d spent every opportunity mocking her as a brat or little sister, but now he was blatantly taking advantage.


    She wriggled, trying to break free, but Su Xiaobai''s strength easily outmatched hers. Ten of her couldn''t overpower him now.


    Oddly enough, he seemed to enjoy her resistance¡ªnot maliciously, but with a teasing fondness. What started as her being an annoying little brat had turned into something else: an amusing little sister he could annoy and play with.


    She even smelled nice.


    "!!"


    Ling Er''s face turned scarlet as she noticed him sniffing the air near her. Shivering, she snapped, "Y-You! Stop acting like a hooligan!"


    Su Xiaobai grinned. "Relax. I was going to tell you about your brother."


    "??"


    Ling Er froze, confused by the sudden shift. Did he mean that bastard Wei Jun? She tilted her head. "What about him?"


    Su Xiaobai''s grin widened as he continued, "Do you know how I met him?"


    "No," she admitted, still wary.


    Taking the chance, Su Xiaobai launched into the story. He told her how he first saw Wei Jun getting chased by a boar, mistook him for a girl, and learned about the prince''s brilliant escapades.


    "And the best part?" Su Xiaobai''s chuckle turned into a full-blown laugh. "Your so-called princely brother got his cultivation sealed after peeping on a sect girl. Just imagine¡ªa prince, caught peeing in the bushes while trying to sneak a glance!"


    Ling Er blinked, stunned, her face flushing faintly. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "What? Not funny?" Su Xiaobai''s smile flatered, noticing her flustered reaction.


    "It wouldn''t be¡­ if you knew who that woman was," Ling Er muttered, biting her lip.


    "Who?" Su Xiaobai leaned in, curiosity piqued.


    Ling Er hesitated, her voice dropping. "Promise you won''t laugh."


    "Cross my heart." Su Xiaobai''s solemn look was fake enough to make her glare.


    She sighed deeply. "She''s¡­ one of the king''s consorts."


    "Wait..." Su Xiaobai froze. "The King?... Your father?"


    Ling Er nodded reluctantly.


    "But Wei Jun''s your brother? And she''s¡ª"


    "Yes!" Ling Er groaned, covering her face. "Welcome to my family!"


    Su Xiaobai leaned back, stunned. ''Fucking hell, what kind of circus is this?''


    "She''s called White Jade Sword," Ling Er continued bitterly. "Six hundred years ago, my father fell for her first. Back then, my father was just another spoiled prince. Then he saw her. Everything changed."


    "How much?"


    "Enough to burn the capital red," Ling Er muttered. "He killed his way to the throne, declared their engagement, and sent an envoy to bring her to the palace."


    "And?"


    "She ignored him." Ling Er let out a humorless laugh. "When my father tried to collect her himself, she beat him bloody."


    "Pfft¡ª" Su Xiaobai''s restraint failed. "Beaten up? By her? Good!"


    Ling Er nodded grimly, unimpressed.


    "She''s strong," Ling Er said, her voice softening. "Stronger than the Xiantian Sect lets on. On paper, she''s just an elder. In reality, her strength rivals the kingdom''s first great official. And anyone who gets close to her¡­" Ling Er''s gaze darkened. "She drives them mad. Even my father''s still chasing her, throwing everything at her feet."


    Su Xiaobai sighed. "Masochists, all of you."


    "It''s not funny!" Ling Er snapped.


    "It''s rather hilarious," Su Xiaobai replied with a grin. "A woman who beats up kings and breaks minds? She''s either cursed or brilliant."


    Su Xiaobai finally understood why Wei Zhong beat the crap out of Wei Jun for going near the Xiantian Sect. The old man wasn''t just paranoid¡ªhe was desperate. He''d already seen one heir fall to obsession and wasn''t about to let it happen again.


    Too late. Wei Jun had already fallen for his stepmother.


    What kind of circus is this? Su Xiaobai groaned. But something about the name "White Jade Sword" itched at the back of his mind. ''Where have I heard this before?'' It felt like someone had padlocked the gate to his memories to keep him from ruining the plot.


    "If she''s the queen," Su Xiaobai asked, his tone dry, "then who''s your mother?"


    Ling Er''s lips tightened. "The second concubine."


    "Second concubine?" His brow twitched.


    Ling Er sighed. "White Jade Sword never accepted my father. He declared their engagement anyway. She ignored him. When he tried to force it, she beat him bloody. Panicked, he took a concubine to secure an heir. But that didn''t work either."


    "Why not?"


    "Their son left Yue. Abandoned the throne." Ling Er''s tone was bitter. "He became the First Great Official."


    Su Xiaobai blinked. ''Him?'' Wei Zhong had mentioned him¡ªa cultivator who rose beyond kings and courts. ''Smart guy. Ran while he could.''


    Ling Er continued, sharper now. "So my father tried again. Took a second concubine¡ªmy mother. That''s where elder brother and I come in."


    "And the first concubine?"


    "She rules the court." Ling Er''s expression darkened. "My father barely has a voice anymore. She made sure of that. As long as my Brother is next in line, she holds the reins. But if he takes the throne, she''ll lose everything. If he fails¡­" her meaning unspoken but clear.


    Su Xiaobai rubbed his chin. "Let me guess¡ªshe sent him off defenseless?"


    Ling Er nodded grimly. "It''s tradition. When princes come of age, they''re sent out to train. My father met White Jade Sword that way. Brother followed the same path. But this time, no guards. The first concubine called it a ''test of strength.'' My father agreed."


    "And let me guess¡ªyour father''s easier to control than Wei Jun would ever be?"


    Ling Er glanced away, but her silence was answer enough.


    Su Xiaobai snorted. "No wonder you''re stuck without treasures or protection. She''s bled you both dry."


    Ling Er''s voice softened. "My mother died years ago. After that, the first concubine had free rein. Brother might still have a shot at the throne, but me? Without the family''s ''Ancient Sealing Gate Technique,'' I was never even in the running."


    The silence stretched, alas, twisted family politics.


    Finally, Su Xiaobai shook his head, muttering, "People are like onions. Peel back a layer, and it just gets worse."


    Pft...


    Ling Er blinked, caught between laughing and frowning. This guy. How could he turn a depressing story into something that made her want to chuckle?


    She pressed her lips together, holding back a smile. This is why it''s easy to stay near him, she thought. No matter how bleak things got, Su Xiaobai had a knack for pulling the absurd out of the unbearable.


    Then, as if it were nothing, she dropped a bombshell. "Grandpa asked me to gather more information about her."


    Su Xiaobai froze mid-thought. "...What?"


    Ling Er''s gaze slid toward Xiao Hei, her expression casual but her eyes sparkling with mischief. He really doesn''t know anything, huh?


    She added, almost too innocently, "Grandpa said it''d be easier for me. You wouldn''t suspect me, after all."


    "¡­"


    Su Xiaobai''s face darkened. ''That old fox! He''s even got his granddaughter running errands? Playing games behind my back?''


    Ling Er grinned at his reaction, like a cat toying with its prey. "So¡­ how much should I tell him, big brother su~?" Her tone was sweet, but her eyes gleamed with wicked amusement.


    Su Xiaobai rubbed his temples, letting out a long sigh.


    Did she just sell her grandpa out, huh...

 Chapter 61 End: Parting (1)

    ''If she hadn''t said anything, I wouldn''t have suspected a thing,'' Su Xiaobai thought, irritation simmering under his skin.Xiao Hei was his ace, his trump card. If even the faintest whisper of her abilities leaked out, vultures would descend, claws out and ready to rip him apart. ''Good thing Xiao Lu and the Devouring Thorny Flower are still hidden. They''re safe¡­ for now.''


    His gaze shifted to Ling Er. A mischievous smile danced on her lips, but there was a sharpness in her eyes that sent a chill down his spine. ''Unpredictable. A playful kitten with the claws of a tiger.''


    Ling Er''s grin faded, her lips pulling tight as she rested her chin on her knees, eyes distant and locked on the silver glow of the moon. "I don''t care about his filthy politics," she muttered, her words tinged with bitterness, "Always scheming, always pulling strings. I hate it¡­"


    Her voice, usually light and teasing, was now filled with sadness.


    Su Xiaobai studied her in the pale moonlight. In that moment, she looked¡­ different. The cracks in her mask were showing¡ªgenuine, tired, maybe even scared. It stirred something in him.


    Women soaked in sorrow are like broken jade¡ªdamaged but irresistible. A man can''t help but want to hold them, even if it cuts him.


    His hand tightened around her waist. Instinctively possessive. Even a monk would abandon his vows for less. And I? I''ve never claimed to be holy.


    Ling Er''s sharp reminder broke through his wandering thoughts.


    "You haven''t apologized to me yet," she said suddenly, her pout deliberate and filled with false innocence.


    "Huh?" Su Xiaobai arched a brow, a wicked grin curling on his lips. "Apologize? For what, girl?"


    Ling Er folded her arms, shooting him a glare that would''ve been intimidating if her cheeks weren''t tinged pink. "You know what!"


    Su Xiaobai snorted, leaning closer, his tone mocking. "Oh, I''m sorry, Princess. My list of sins is too long to guess. The waterfall? Or was it when I held you too tightly on the way back? Help me out here¡ªI''m not a mind reader."


    Ling Er''s face burned crimson. Her lips parted, sputtering in outrage. "Y-you¡­!"


    "Oh, don''t look so shy." His grin sharpened, his eyes dragging over her with shameless intent. "While we''re at it, Princess, I''m still waiting for my apology."


    "For what?" she snapped, her voice rising.


    "For ruining my quiet night the moment you barged in," Su Xiaobai said smoothly, "Now, are we done with this drama, or are you planning to drag it out till dawn?"


    "..."


    Ling Er shot to her feet, fists clenched, fire blazing in her eyes. "Fine! Then I''ll just go and tell everyone how you ''harassed me'' this afternoon!"


    "Hm?" Su Xiaobai''s brow twitched as she stormed off, her determination sparking like kindling.


    Swoosh!


    Before she could take another step, his hand darted out, grabbing her wrist and yanking her back with ease. She stumbled into him, her glare searing.


    "Hold on, Princess," he murmured, "Let''s not throw accusations around. At least explain how I harassed you."


    "Was it¡­ like this?"


    Before Ling Er could respond, the world spun.


    Thud! ~


    Her back hit the soft grass, the cool night air licking at her flushed skin. Su Xiaobai pressed above her, his wicked grin illuminated by the pale moonlight.


    "Y-you¡­!" Ling Er stammered, her voice trembling as his heated gaze dragged down her body, shamelessly on the smooth curve of her waist.


    His hand slid across her side, deliberate and teasing. "Hmm¡­ soft," he murmured, his grin sharpening. "Plush enough to make a man lose sleep. No wonder you''ve been whining all day."


    "Bastard! Get off me!" she snapped, her hands pressing against his chest. But her strength was laughable against his, and her struggles only pressed her deeper into the ground.


    Her scent teased him¡ªpeach blossoms mixed with something hotter, headier. His gaze flicked to her trembling lips, parted just enough to invite trouble.


    Why stop now?


    His fingers tipped her chin up, commanding with the lightest touch. His lips crashed onto hers, hot and hungry, devouring her protests like a starving beast.


    "Mmmph!?"


    Ling Er froze, her eyes wide as the shock of his kiss rippled through her body. Her mind screamed to resist, but her lips betrayed her, softening under his assault.


    When he pulled back, his grin was sharp, his voice dropped to a low murmur, dripping with mockery. "Well, Princess? Was it¡­ like this?"


    "Haaa... ha..." Ling Er''s breaths came in ragged bursts, her chest heaving as her face burned hotter than embers. "¡ªI was right," she whispered hoarsely, her voice trembling. "You''re dangerous. A wolf hiding in sheep''s skin!"


    Su Xiaobai chuckled darkly, his breath hot against her ear. "Wolf? Princess, you flatter me. I''ve never pretended to be tame."


    Before she could retort, his lips descended again, trailing fire along her jaw and cheeks.


    "Stop that!" she shrieked, her hands weakly slapping at him. But her resistance lacked conviction, and Su Xiaobai could feel it.


    If she truly wanted me gone, she''d have burned me alive by now.


    She squirmed beneath him, her body trembling, her half-lidded eyes betraying the last dregs of her resolve.


    His lips claimed hers again, slower, deeper, savoring every inch of her crumbling resistance. His hand slipped beneath her robe like a thief in the night, brushing over her heated skin, palming the soft weight of her breast.


    Her breath hitched as his thumb grazed her ripped pink nipple, stiffened and aching under his touch.


    "G-get your hands off me!" she hissed, her voice trembling but lacking bite.


    "Hm?" Su Xiaobai tilted his head, his gaze mocking. "No touching? But kissing''s fine? What kind of backwards logic is that, Princess?"


    "..."


    Ling Er glared at him, lips trembling as her outrage warred with confusion.


    "Careful, Princess," Su Xiaobai murmured, his breath ghosting over her ear. "Scream too loud, and your grandfather might show up. Imagine explaining this to him¡­"


    Her struggles froze instantly.


    "Good," Su Xiaobai murmured, his fingers brushing Ling Er''s hair aside as if unveiling a forbidden treasure. "Now, look at the stars. Pretend I''m not here¡­ though I doubt you could even if you tried."


    His lips descended to her neck, hot and tempting, planting kisses that seared her skin. Each one was slow, deliberate, a predator savoring his prey before the feast.


    Beneath her robes, his hands moved boldly, fingers tracing every place as though he were memorizing the landscape of her body. He cupped the softness of her breasts with shameless confidence, his touch both teasing and possessive.


    Ling Er''s breath hitched, her trembling hands flying to her face as though hiding her expression could shield her from his assault.


    "This isn''t fair," she muttered hoarsely, her voice unsteady as heat bloomed beneath his every touch.


    "Life rarely is," Su Xiaobai replied, his grin sharpening like a blade. "But when you''ve got beautiful babies like these¡­" He gave her a deliberate squeeze, thumbs grazing the hardened peaks that strained against his palm. "¡­you make life fun for men like me."


    "Y-you bastard!" Ling Er gasped, her breath catching in her throat.


    "Bastard?" Su Xiaobai chuckled, his hands continuing their exploration. "Please, Princess. Call me something new. How about ''Master of the Peaks''? Or ''Conqueror of the Cherry Blossoms''?"


    "You''re idiot! Just idiot!¡­" Ling Er hissed, though her glare lacked venom. Her body betrayed her¡ªleaning into his touch, her chest rising and falling in uneven breaths.


    "And you," Su Xiaobai murmured, dipping his head to kiss the hollow of her throat, "are adorable when you''re flustered. Like a kitten hissing at a tiger."


    "I''ll chop off your¡­ your little¡­" she growled weakly, her words faltering as heat flooded her face.


    Su Xiaobai threw his head back and laughed, the sound deep and rich. "Little? Oh, Princess, that''s slander." He leaned down, his grin wicked. "Maybe it''s time I showed you just how wrong you are."


    Before she could muster a retort, he grabbed her trembling hand and guided it beneath his robe with deliberate force.


    "Still think it''s little?" he teased, his voice husky and filled with smug amusement.


    Hiss~~


    Ling Er''s eyes widened as her fingers brushed against something hot, hard, and unreasonably large. Her breath caught, her mind blanking as realization struck.


    That''s not supposed to be that big¡­!


    She tried to yank her hand away, but his grip was firm, pressing her palm firmly against the throbbing heat.


    "Careful," Su Xiaobai whispered, his lips grazing her temple. "If you squeeze it like that, you might awaken the dragon. And trust me, once it''s up, it doesn''t go down easily."


    "G-get it away from me~!" Ling Er shrieked, her voice high-pitched and frantic. Her cheeks burned brighter than a sunrise, her wide eyes darting everywhere but at him.


    "Oh, don''t act so innocent," Su Xiaobai said lazily, "You''re the one holding it now. Own it."


    The musky scent of him blasted at her face, intoxicating and impossible to ignore. Every shaky breath she took seemed to pull more of him into her senses.


    "First, help me pull this down," Su Xiaobai murmured nonchalantly, tugging at the waistband of her robe with a casual arrogance that set her teeth on edge.


    "Do it yourself!" Ling Er snapped, her voice shaky and flustered.


    Su Xiaobai let out a chuckle, "Shy now, huh? For someone who just had her hand on the dragon, you''re acting awfully cute."


    Before she could fire back, his lips descended once more, trailing lower with maddening slowness.


    Her skin prickled as his tongue traced a deliberate path along her collarbone, leaving her gasping and squirming beneath him.


    "Stop playing around!" she finally managed, her voice a mixture of indignation and desperation.


    "Playing?" Su Xiaobai smirked against her skin, his teeth grazing her lightly. "Oh, Princess, I''m dead serious. But if you want me to get serious-serious¡­" His hand slipped lower, grazing the edge of her waistband.


    "Y-you wouldn''t dare!" Ling Er sputtered, trying to wriggle away, but her movements only pressed her closer to him.


    "Wouldn''t I?" Su Xiaobai quipped, his fingers hooking beneath the fabric. "Do you really want to test me? Because I promise, Princess, once I''ve crossed this line¡­" His lips brushed her ear, his voice dropping to a sinful whisper. "¡­I''m not stopping until I''ve reached the finish."


    Ling Er gulped nervously, her heart pounding wildly.


    He''s insane!


    This wolf doesn''t just nip¡ªhe devours! Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 62 *END: Parting! (2)* [R18]

    "I''ll¡­ I''ll tell my grandfather!" she blurted, her voice trembling."Oh, please do," Su Xiaobai replied with a laugh, "Tell the old man how my ''rod of chaos'' terrorized his innocent granddaughter. I''m sure he''ll love the story."


    "Y-you''re shameless!"


    "And you," Su Xiaobai countered smoothly, his lips claiming hers in a heated, possessive kiss, "are delicious."


    "Ugh¡­"


    Ling Er groaned, her slender frame trembling as she lay sprawled like a defeated warrior on the battlefield of lust. Su Xiaobai smiled down at her, victorious. A man had to defend his territory, after all, and barging into his den unprepared was the kind of offense that demanded punishment¡ªa thorough, soul-rattling punishment.


    Fifteen minutes later.


    "YOU BASTARD! NEVER COME NEAR ME AGAIN!"


    Ling Er''s scream echoed through the night as she gripped to the wall, her once-pristine robe now a pitiful mess clutched haphazardly to her chest. Her bare shoulders gleamed with sweat, her skin glowing pink with heat as though she''d been dipped in a furnace.


    Her delicate legs trembled like a newborn fawn''s, struggling to hold her up, while trails of forbidden nectar slid sinfully down her inner thighs. The sticky, glistening streams held to her skin, a humiliating reminder of how her so-called sacred cave had betrayed her.


    "What the hell did you do to me?!" she screamed, her voice filled with fury and embarrassment.


    Su Xiaobai stood nearby, leaning lazily against the doorframe like a rogue fresh from plunder, a smug grin plastered across his face. "Hey, Princess, I was just teaching you something new," he said, his voice a mix of mockery and innocence that only infuriated her more.


    "New?!" Ling Er hissed, her fists clenching at her sides as her blazing eyes shot daggers at him. New?! That wasn''t teaching! That was¡­ that was desecration! She bit her lip as flashes of the last fifteen minutes invaded her mind¡ªher own voice moaning his name, the traitorous heat pooling in her lower abdomen, and the way his damned fingers had explored every inch of her most intimate depths.


    Su Xiaobai''s grin only widened. The art of fingers was a skill he had perfected over years of practice, and judging by the trembling mess before him, Ling Er was woefully unprepared for such expertise.


    Her sacred cave had been unlocked, tested, and utterly conquered¡ªall without crossing the final threshold.


    "You''ll thank me later," he said, shrugging casually. "Once you calm down, you''ll realize this was an invaluable lesson."


    "Lesson?! That was a goddamn invasion!" Ling Er shrieked, her voice cracking as she hugged her robe tighter to her body. Her trembling fingers brushed against the thin patch of soft hair above her mound, the slight friction igniting fresh waves of humiliation.


    "Alright, alright," Su Xiaobai said, holding up his hands as though to placate her, "How about I teach you something else? Something even better?"


    Ling Er''s eyes narrowed. "Better?!"


    "Trust me, Princess," Su Xiaobai said smoothly, cracking his knuckles. "I''ve got skills you''ve never dreamed of. This is just the beginning."


    Before Ling Er could process his words, she found herself pinned once again, her back against the cool grass as his infuriatingly smug face hovered above hers.


    "What are you¡ª"


    "Relax, Princess," Su Xiaobai murmured, "You''re in good hands. Literally."


    Her protest died in her throat as his hand slipped lower, his fingers trailing across the small patch of soft hair below her abdomen before descending further.


    "Stop¡ª!"


    Her voice turned into a choked gasp as his fingers found her slick entrance, sliding along the delicate folds with unholy precision. Her hips bucked instinctively, her body betraying her once more.


    "See? That''s the art of fingers," Su Xiaobai murmured, his tone maddeningly casual. "It''s like calligraphy, but messier. And wetter."


    "You¡­ you perverted bastard!" Ling Er sputtered, her voice trembling as her legs quaked on either side of him.


    "Perverted?" Su Xiaobai chuckled, his grin sharpening. "Oh, Princess, that''s just foreplay where I come from."


    Her sacred cave clenched involuntarily around his fingers, and her thighs squeezed together, trapping his hand in place. She gasped as the sensations overwhelmed her, her breath coming in short, uneven bursts.


    "Stop it! I¡ªahhh!" Ling Er''s voice melted into a moan, her head falling back as her body betrayed her completely.


    Su Xiaobai leaned closer, his breath hot against her ear. "What''s wrong, Princess? You''re making such cute noises. Don''t tell me you''re actually enjoying this."


    "I¡ªshut up!" Ling Er snapped, though her words lacked conviction.


    "You sound like you''re about to start begging," Su Xiaobai teased, his fingers working her with a rhythm that sent sparks shooting up her spine. "Want me to stop?"


    "Yes! No! I¡ªahhh!" Ling Er''s head thrashed as her back arched, her entire body trembling as the pleasure overwhelmed her. Her vision blurred, her thighs spasming as she let out one final, shuddering cry.


    Fifteen more minutes later.


    "Bastard," Ling Er spat weakly, her voice. She was slumped against the wall again, her robe slipping off one shoulder, her raven hair a wild mess of tangles.


    Her thighs were sticky, her throat was sore, and her body felt like it had been wrung out and hung to dry. And still, that smug look on his face made her want to punch him.


    Su Xiaobai, the shameless rogue, leaned back with a satisfied smirk. "Hey, Princess," he said casually. "Since you liked the first lesson so much, how about we move on to the next one?"


    Ling Er''s glare could''ve melted mountains. "Next one?! I''ll kill you first!" S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Kill me later," Su Xiaobai replied breezily. "Right now, I''ve got something ''really'' special to show you¡­"


    Her eyes widened as he guided her toward his lap. "Wh¡ªno way!" she shrieked, her hands flying up to block him.


    Su Xiaobai chuckled darkly. "Don''t worry, Princess. I''ll be gentle¡­ this time."


    Gwak!


    Before Ling Er could react, the world tilted, and she found herself sprawled once again beneath Su Xiaobai. His face hovered above hers, wicked and smug, like the devil himself preparing to collect a very overdue debt.


    It didn''t take long for her to realize that yes, he was introducing her to something new¡ªand no, it was absolutely not something she wanted to learn.


    "Let go of me, you filthy, perverted wolf!" she spat, her flushed face burning hotter than molten steel.


    Su Xiaobai leaned in closer, his grin so smug it could have insulted the gods. "Perverted wolf? Princess, you sell me short. I''m not just a wolf¡ªI''m the apex predator. And tonight, you''re the prey."


    Her glare could have melted mountains, but Su Xiaobai wasn''t just any man. No, he was the kind of bastard who looked danger in the eye and grinned wider.


    Having already broken her with his fingers, Su Xiaobai decided it was time for her to return the favor. He wasn''t cruel, after all¡ªhe believed in fair exchanges. Naturally, this meant introducing her to the forbidden art of his homeland: ''Let the Princess Gag on the Dragon.''


    "What are you doing now?!" Ling Er demanded, her voice trembling as she tried to push him away.


    "You''ll see," Su Xiaobai replied smoothly, his voice dripping with mockery as he grabbed her wrists with ease. His smile widened, practically oozing sin.


    He guided her head downward, her soft lips brushing against the tip of his throbbing dragon for the first time. His breath stopped in anticipation¡ªbut his pleasure was short-lived.


    "FUCK!"


    A sharp, searing pain shot through him as her teeth scraped along the sensitive skin. Su Xiaobai yelped, clutching his poor dragon like a soldier shielding a fallen comrade.


    "HEY! What the hell are you doing?!" he screamed, his voice strained with pain.


    Ling Er glared up at him, her face twisted with equal parts rage and mortification. "What am I doing?! You shoved it in my face, you villian! What did you expect?!"


    SQELCH!


    Her words were punctuated by a savage squeeze of her small hand, her fingers wrapping around him with the strength of a blacksmith testing steel.


    "Careful, careful!" Su Xiaobai yelped, his voice pitching higher as his eyes watered. "That''s not dough you''re kneading! Handle it like a priceless jade artifact, not a damn lump of clay!"


    "Oh, shut up!" Ling Er snapped, though her hands trembled as she adjusted her grip. "If you''re forcing me into this disgusting art, then I''ll do it MY way!"


    What followed could only be described as thirty minutes of chaotic warfare.


    Su Xiaobai, ever the patient teacher, endured an onslaught of disasters. Her teeth grazed him so often he was convinced she was sharpening them for battle. Her crushing grip had him questioning whether she was secretly training in ''Heavenly Palm of Iron Wrath.'' And her constant gagging sounded less like sensual learning and more like she was choking on a dumpling.


    "Not so deep!" Ling Er gasped, pulling away with watery eyes.


    "Stop choking, then!" Su Xiaobai snapped back, frustration creeping into his voice. "Relax your damn throat!"


    "I''ll relax your face...!" Ling Er whispered, her words muffled as he pushed her back down.


    Her hands clawed at his thighs as her lips wrapped clumsily around him, her cheeks burning with shame. Su Xiaobai groaned, torn between agony and ecstasy as her tongue flicked against him.


    "Easy¡ªeasy!" he coached, his voice tight. "You''re not biting into sugarcane!"


    Ling Er pulled back with a sharp glare, her lips red and swollen. "I HATE you!"


    "Yeah, yeah," Su Xiaobai replied, his grin never faltering. "Keep going. You''re doing great¡ªif we were grading on a curve."


    Spit!


    Finally, after what felt like an eternity of near-misses and painful lessons, Ling Er pulled away with a gasp, her jaw slack and her face drenched in sweat. She spat a thick stream of milky white liquid onto the ground, glaring at Su Xiaobai as though she could kill him with her eyes.


    "You¡­!" she hissed, her voice hoarse and shaky. "I swear, if I ever see that thing again, I''ll CUT IT OFF!"


    Su Xiaobai leaned back with a satisfied sigh, looking far too pleased with himself. "See? That wasn''t so bad. Congratulations, Princess¡ªyou''re officially my first disciple in the ''Heavenly Path of Oral Devotion.''"


    "Disciple?!" Ling Er screeched, grabbing the nearest object¡ªa stone¡ªand hurling it at his face with all her might. "I''LL KILL YOU, YOU PERVERTED BEAST!"


    Su Xiaobai ducked effortlessly, laughing as the stone sailed harmlessly past him. "Aw, don''t be so harsh, Princess. You''ve got talent¡ªyou just need to work on your technique. Oh, and maybe stop trying to bite me in half."


    Ling Er clutched her robe tighter, trembling with fury and shame. Her thighs were sticky, her jaw was sore, and her mind was a mess.


    This man¡­ this wolf¡­ this absolute demon!


    Su Xiaobai watched her with an amused grin, scratching the back of his head. ''Taking her virginity might be a bigger headache than It''s worth,'' he thought. But damn if it wasn''t the most fun he''d had in ages.


    "Alright, Princess," he said, waving her off. "Take your time to calm down. First times are always dramatic. You''ll feel better tomorrow."


    "Humph!"


    Ling Er stormed away, her robe swaying desperatelyas she muttered curses under her breath.


    "Never again," she vowed silently. Yet deep down, a treacherous thought took birth: "What other secret arts does this bastard know¡­?"

 Chapter 63 End: Parting (3.1)

    Five Days Later...The last few days had been a mess wrapped in routine. Between prepping to infiltrate the Xiantian Sect, tweaking formations, and playing reluctant mentor to Xiao Hei, Su Xiaobai had somehow settled into this madhouse of a life.


    And then there was Ling Er.


    Tormenting the little princess was his favorite pastime. A whispered tease to turn her red, a casual trip into the river to hear her shriek¡ªit was endless entertainment. She was a kitten hissing at a tiger, and he couldn''t get enough of it.


    But today was his last day. Yunan City awaited, and with it, the Xiantian Sect. He couldn''t stay. Wei Jun was leaving for the capital, and Wei Zhong''s sharp eyes lingered too long on Xiao Hei.


    Xiao Hei, his so-called "faithful" helper, was a prodigy with the attitude of a cat. Techniques that took him hours, she mastered in seconds, yawning like it was beneath her.


    "Little demon," Su Xiaobai muttered, half-admiring, half-annoyed.


    She wasn''t just talented¡ªshe was trouble. Unbeknownst to him, Xiao Hei spent her free time trying to kill him. Poisoned tea? Check. Exploding talismans? Classic. Knife to the throat? Bonus points for style.


    Her record stood at sixty-nine attempts. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Perfect!" Su Xiaobai had said after narrowly dodging a flying talisman that left a smoking crater behind him. "You almost killed me there, haha! Great aim¡ªyou''re ready for real battle!"


    Xiao Hei tilted her head, blank-faced. In her mind, she was being praised for failing to murder him.


    It only fueled her.


    The seventy-first attempt came minutes later¡ªa poisoned dart aimed at his back. But, as always, fate seemed determined to keep him alive, sparing him at the last second.


    Su Xiaobai, still clueless, grinned as he adjusted her training. "Raising a future warlord," he muttered, slightly proud, oblivious to the poisoned needle under his pillow. "She''s gonna be unstoppable!"


    Xiao Hei sat nearby, calmly fiddling with a vial of venom. Her face said nothing; her mind screamed, Attempt seventy-two incoming.


    Meanwhile, Ling Er had avoided him ever since their lessons. Yet, today, she came to see him.


    "Miss me already?" Su Xiaobai whispered, his breath tickling her ear.


    To his shock, she nodded, her face redder than the setting sun.


    "Mm¡­"


    "!?"


    The soft fragrance of her hit him, catching him off guard. Their relationship had been transactional¡ªa master and disciple. Nothing more.


    Grinning like the devil, he leaned closer, his lips brushing her ear.


    "Next time we meet, Princess," he murmured, his voice dripping with sin, "will you let me pop that forbidden cherry of yours?"


    His breath ghosted over her neck, sending a visible shiver rippling through her.


    Yet ¡ª For a moment, there was only silence.


    Su Xiaobai waited, expecting the usual storm, curses, threats, maybe even a slap. Instead, something soft and warm brushed his lips. The fleeting touch left him momentarily frozen.


    Rustle ~ ~


    By the time he opened his mouth to tease her again, the little princess was already gone, her figure disappearing into the distance like a crimson shadow.


    "Huh?" He blinked, staring after her. "That''s it?"


    Her voice drifted back, soft and clear, carried by the evening breeze:


    "Big bad villain, take care."


    Before he could process the words, a flash of red floated into his vision, brushing against his face before landing in his hands.


    He looked down. It was her silk ribbon¡ªthe one she always kept near her.


    The fabric was smooth between his fingers, carrying a faint trace of her fragrance. Su Xiaobai''s lips curled into a wry smile, part amused, part surprised. "What a dramatic girl," he muttered.


    For all her fiery bravado, this felt¡­ different.


    He tucked the ribbon into his pocket, shaking his head with a chuckle. Five days of avoiding me, and now this?


    "Guess I''ll keep it," he said, his grin sharpening. "Wouldn''t want the big bad villain forgetting his favorite little tigress."


    The ribbon sat safely in his hands as Su Xiaobai turned toward the horizon, his thoughts lingering longer than he''d admit.


    ___


    Moments before Su Xiaobai could step out of the forest and breathe some free air, a shadow bloomed across the path like an unwelcome weed. Wei Jun appeared, striding forward in his shimmering blue robes, the kind that seemed designed to announce, ''Look at me! I''m here!'' His movements were too polished, like a jade statue trying to pass for a real prince.


    To the world, Wei Jun was nobility incarnate. To Su Xiaobai? Just another peacock.


    Still, Wei Jun wasn''t the problem. The real headache followed right behind him. Wei Zhong.


    The old man''s hawk-like eyes scanned the area with a sharpness that could flay the skin off lesser cultivators. His presence was a tidal wave of suffocating Qi, cold and vast, as if heaven itself was leaning down to judge the ants below. Even Su Xiaobai felt the weight of it, though he didn''t let it show. For a brief moment, those eyes flickered toward him¡ªdismissive, cold. Then Wei Zhong turned and strode away, his retreat as sudden as his arrival.


    Su Xiaobai exhaled, his lips curling into a mocking smile. ''What am I, a patch of moss? A pebble by the roadside? Tch, old bastard didn''t even stay to sneer properly.''


    Wei Jun sighed dramatically as he stepped closer, his smile apologetic. "Brother Su, forgive my grandfather. He has much on his mind."


    "Much?" Su Xiaobai raised an eyebrow. "What''s he doing, plotting to overthrow heaven itself?"


    Wei Jun hesitated, his gaze drifting toward where Wei Zhong had disappeared. "He''s¡­ searching."


    ''Searching?'' Su Xiaobai didn''t need a divine jade to know what¡ªor rather, who¡ªWei Zhong was sniffing out. The old hawk had come for Xiao Hei. The little brat had attracted far too much attention with her growing aura. Wei Zhong likely suspected she wasn''t some random kid but a child of immortals.


    ''Not that you''ll find her, old man,'' Su Xiaobai thought, suppressing a smirk. Xiao Hei was safely tucked away in his ring world, nibbling on spiritual fruits and drawing crude pictures of mountains ¡ª or ¡ª Probably of him getting kicked by a donkey.


    "Searching for what?" Su Xiaobai asked, keeping his tone light, though his fingers twitched, ready to summon his sword.


    Wei Jun waved it off. "Family matters, nothing you''d care for."


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes narrowed. ''Family matters, huh? Sure. And I''m a saint sent to spread enlightenment.''


    But before he could dig further, Wei Jun''s gaze shifted to the ribbon in Su Xiaobai''s hand¡ªa flash of crimson that seemed to steal the light around it. His smile stiffened.


    "That ribbon," Wei Jun said, his voice low, almost accusatory. "It''s Lingling''s, isn''t it?"

 Chapter 64 End: Parting (3.2)

    "It''s Lingling''s, isn''t it?"Su Xiaobai twirled the ribbon, its silk smooth against his fingers, like a lover''s teasing caress. "A gift. Her parting words? ''Keep it.'' Guess she thinks I''m sentimental."


    He smirked¡ªa fleeting curve of disdain¡ªas he clapped Wei Jun''s shoulder. The slap wasn''t friendly; it mocked. "Brother Jun, your sister''s too naive. One day, she''ll hand her ''life'' to some bastard who''d trade it for spirit wine. Someone like me, maybe."


    Hiss~


    Wei Jun struck like a snake, his grip crushing Su Xiaobai''s shoulder with mountain-like weight. His voice was low, icy. "Brother Su¡­ Lingling isn''t some clueless girl chasing butterflies. She grew up with poisoned tea and shadows of daggers. If she trusts you, don''t spit on it."


    For once, Su Xiaobai''s smirk faltered, his mask slipping. "Damn, you''re dramatic. Fine. Now, let go. My shoulder isn''t a spirit ore for refining."


    Wei Jun released him, slowly, deliberately. His fingers left faint creases in the fabric. "That ribbon isn''t just a keepsake. It''s her pride, her identity. She wouldn''t part with it¡ªnot even for me."


    The smile vanished. Su Xiaobai turned the ribbon in his hands. Its faint glow shimmered, like the last ember of a dying fire. Her scent lingered¡ªsweet, fleeting, like a dream slipping away. Scorch marks marred its edges, yet its brilliance endured.


    "A soul-grade artifact," he muttered, his tone tinged with disbelief.


    Wei Jun nodded, his expression dark with grief. "The last thing she has of her mother."


    Su Xiaobai stilled. The ribbon in his hand no longer felt like silk but chains, heavy with someone else''s pain. He forced a dry chuckle. "She doesn''t think her mom''s soul is in this thing, does she?"


    Wei Jun said nothing.


    The silence crushed down, suffocating.


    "Brilliant," Su Xiaobai muttered bitterly. Soul imprisonment wasn''t a joke¡ªit was reserved for rebels who spat in heaven''s face. Could Lingling''s mother have been one? No. Impossible.


    He flicked the thought away like a burning ember. Tucking the ribbon into his spatial ring, he muttered, "It''s just a ribbon. I''ll get it fixed, hand it back, and we''ll move on."


    But as he turned, a bitter whisper hissed at him: Aren''t you clinging to broken things too? Chasing ghosts you can''t bury?


    "Shut up," he hissed, rubbing his temples. "Later. I''ll deal with this shit later."


    Wei Jun''s gaze softened slightly, though his stance remained guarded. "Brother Su, I''ve seen more honesty from you in five minutes than most cultivators show in a lifetime."


    "And I''ve seen more paranoia from you than a sect full of failed alchemists," Su Xiaobai snapped back.


    Wei Jun snorted. "Brother Su¡­ do you even have a goal?"


    Su Xiaobai raised a brow. "Why the philosophy? Trying to marry me off to your sister?"


    Wei Jun''s tone grew serious. "You''re not wandering aimlessly. You''re running¡ªfrom something, or toward something."


    Su Xiaobai sighed, raking a hand through his hair. "My goal? Simple. Go home, kill bastards, save others. Clean and tidy." He grinned, but it didn''t reach his eyes. "Easy, right?"


    Wei Jun studied him for a moment. "How strong are these bastards of yours?"


    Su Xiaobai laughed sharply, bitterly. "Strong enough to flatten Yue Country with a sneeze."


    Wei Jun''s face darkened. "Brother Su¡­ are you trying to get my sister killed by association?!"


    "Relax," Su Xiaobai said, his grin flashing. "I''m not some runaway prince of an empire."


    Wei Jun exhaled, tension bleeding out. "Good. For a moment, I thought you were from the Eternal Ice Abyss."


    "..." Su Xiaobai blinked. "The hell is that...?"


    Wei Jun hesitated. "Your red eyes, white hair¡ªthey reminded me of a legend. Descendants of an immortal who mastered the Dao of Ice. They say emperors bow to them. But the abyss was destroyed a century ago."


    Su Xiaobai groaned, dragging a hand down his face. Removing his black dye after leaving Red Flame Fortress was a genius move¡ªto make himself a damn beacon.


    "Fantastic," he muttered. He turned, waving a hand dismissively. "Hold that thought."


    Wei Jun frowned. "What¡ª"


    Whoosh!


    Hiding behind a tree, Su Xiaobai glared at the sky, hissing under his breath. "Oi, my lovely bastards, can we not do this? I''m not some hidden prince or celestial bastard with a tragic backstory! I''m a lazy villain trying to keep my head down! Don''t throw another empire or immortal grudge at me!"


    He exhaled sharply, leaning back against the tree. "Calm. I''m calm."


    Straightening, Su Xiaobai returned with his usual smirk, as if the moment hadn''t cracked his veneer. "Now, what was that about abyss monsters? Sounds like my kind of bedtime story."


    Wei Jun stared at him, bewildered. "You alright?"


    "No," Su Xiaobai said smoothly. "I''m surrounded by lunatics, and you''re the loudest one."


    Wei Jun sighed, shaking his head. Living with Su Xiaobai was like guarding a drunk phoenix¡ªchaotic, loud, and destined to burn everything around him before soaring off, leaving only ashes behind.


    From his robes, Wei Jun pulled a cloth-wrapped package, his expression sour, like someone had replaced his tea with piss. "I need a favor. Deliver this to a woman called the White Jade Sword at Xiantian Sect."


    Su Xiaobai raised a brow, a wolfish grin spreading across his face. "A love letter? Oh, Brother Wei, who knew you had such poetic flair? Should I seal it with a kiss for luck?"


    He reached for the package, but Wei Jun''s grip didn''t falter. His eyes hardened, steel beneath the surface. "Brother Su, I''ll say this once. Don''t drag Ling''er into your chaos. She''s not one of your games."


    Su Xiaobai froze mid-grin, his fingers stilling. "Ah, I see. I''m the villain in this family now, am I? Should I call you ''Brother Protective,'' or just stick to Wei Jun?"


    Wei Jun''s grip tightened, just enough to make his point, before he let go. "Call me what you like, but understand this: Ling''er may seem soft, but she''s tougher than you think. Even so, she doesn''t belong in the kind of messes you and I swim in."


    Su Xiaobai sighed theatrically, slipping the package into his spatial ring. "Brother Wei, must we choke the air with clich¨¦s? ''Stay away from my sister''? Next, you''ll challenge me to a duel for her honor."


    Wei Jun chuckled, but the sound was sharp, without warmth. "Act the clown all you want, but you''ve already carved a hole in her heart. The only question now is whether you''ll plant something¡­ or piss on the soil and leave."


    Su Xiaobai''s grin thinned, his voice sharpening. "What do you expect? A blood-oath to the heavens? I''m no storybook hero. Ling''er isn''t part of my path."


    "Isn''t she?" Wei Jun''s tone was quiet but carried the weight of a falling mountain. "She''s already tied herself to you, Brother Su. Our ancestral technique¡ªthe one she''s kept hidden from everyone¡ªcould drag her into your bloody games."


    For the first time, Su Xiaobai faltered. Ling''er, the princess who claimed no heritage, no significance in the royal family¡­ had lied?


    Wei Jun''s gaze darkened, "Before our mother passed, she made me swear to protect Ling''er, no matter what. That oath led me into this throne struggle, and it''ll keep me here until the end. You might think you''re above it all, but your shadow is enough to pull others into the abyss."


    Su Xiaobai had no clever retort this time. Wei Jun''s words hit like a slap¡ªnot enough to hurt, but impossible to ignore.


    Wei Jun''s tone softened slightly, though the edge remained. "Enough about Ling''er. What about you, Brother Su? Do you really think you can face the monsters waiting for you as you are? Or are you just a fool playing at greatness?"


    The words landed like a hammer, cracking Su Xiaobai''s confidence. He thought of the titans on his path¡ªbeings who turned battlefields to graveyards, sect masters whose palms split mountains, immortals who played with storms.


    Could he beat them?


    The question coiled in his mind like a venomous serpent, hissing doubts he couldn''t silence.


    Wei Jun placed a hand on his shoulder, grounding him with surprising warmth. "You don''t need to answer now," he said quietly. "But if you want to protect anyone¡ªor anything¡ªyou''ll need more than a sharp tongue and bravado."


    Su Xiaobai said nothing, stepping away as the words lodged in his chest like splinters. Protect? Conquer? Rule? Once, those ambitions had burned brighter than any sun. Now, they were ashes scattered in the winds of a world he no longer recognized.


    Descending the mountain, Wei Jun''s questions filled his mind.


    What did he want?


    In his past life, he had been a tyrant¡ªa storm that crushed armies and left nations trembling. But that path had cost him everything. Now? He was a shadow of that man, wandering a road he no longer understood.


    His enemies hadn''t changed¡ªthey were still monstrous forces of power and ambition. The only thing that had shifted was him. He wasn''t ready. Not yet. But he could be.


    Su Xiaobai, are you ready to pick up the brush and rewrite your legend?


    A bitter laugh escaped his lips, echoing through the tense silence. He clenched his fists, forcing doubt and pain into the corners of his mind.


    The questions could wait. The ache could wait.


    For now, there was only one truth: move forward, or die standing still.


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    . S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


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    [A/N: Alright, you degenerates, that''s the end of Volume 1! Clap it up, because your boy Su Xiaobai has officially leveled up from "family reunion simp" to "power-hungry badass" ¡ª thanks to your suggestions. Give yourselves a pat on the back (or a slap, whatever works).


    Now, let''s talk Volume 2. It''s gonna be longer, juicier, and packed with more evil than Xiao Hei''s murder attempts. By the end, Su Xiaobai will leave the mortal plane, reunite with his crew, and¡ªwait for it¡ªstart his own empire. Yep, Little Su is gunning for the big leagues. But hey, he can''t do it without your support. Gifts? Gold coins? You know the drill. Feed the beast if you want to see him conquer the heavens!


    Oh, and about Ling Er''s mom¡ªwill she show up? Will she not? That''s up to you. Vote or forever hold your complaints.


    Thanks for sticking around, you legends. Peace out, and remember: no gifts, no empire!]

 Chapter 65 Xiantian Sect! Landing With a Bang!

    One day later¡­Atop the colossal Wind Serpent Mountains, where the skies flirted shamelessly with eternity, the gates of the Xiantian Sect began to creak open. Each slab of black jade, taller than a hundred men stacked like kindling, celestial sigils that pulsed faintly, like the drunken breaths of a slumbering god.


    Crrrrrraaaak¡­


    The sound rolled through the mountain range like thunder on a bad mood, crashing into valleys that stretched for thousands of li. This wasn''t just some run-of-the-mill sect. No, this was the Xiantian Sect¡ªthe place where legends were born and lesser sects came to grovel. Once, it had stood at the very pinnacle of cultivation, not just in Yue Country but across every nearby province where men and beasts dared to tread.


    The Xiantian Sect wasn''t a quaint collection of courtyards and temples¡ªit was a sprawling empire gouged from the bones of the mountains themselves. Its domain spanned three hundred peaks, each one stabbing into the heavens like a god''s personal spear.


    The main peaks were so high their summits vanished into the mist, where, according to rumors, dragon spirits snoozed and Qi grew so thick you could choke on it. Even mortals, with their pathetic little lungs, might catch a glimpse of the Dao up there¡ªif they didn''t pass out first.


    Each peak was its own little kingdom of absurdity. Iron Mountain Peak? A place where the air constantly smelled like wet rocks and thunder, and the martial disciples were madmen who could split mountains with their punches and scare the heavens with their shouts.


    Then there was Starfire Peak, where forges roared without rest, spewing out treasures that could either extend your life for centuries or blow your enemies into pieces small enough to sprinkle on rice.


    And let''s not forget Jade Moon Peak, bathed in creepy silver light and home to scholars and seers who spent their days poking into the secrets of heaven.


    They read forbidden texts and made calculations so obscure even the gods probably scratched their heads.


    And the lesser peaks? No less majestic. Rivers poured like liquid silk from unseen heights, feeding lakes that shimmered with spiritual light. Sacred beasts roamed dense forests. Hidden valleys brimmed with herbs that could heal or kill with a single leaf.


    Outside the gates, thousands gathered. Twenty thousand, to be precise, each staring at the towering doors as if hoping they might part the heavens themselves.


    Hiss~~


    The crowd buzzed¡ªnervous, eager, desperate. Nobles in embroidered robes fidgeted beside mercenaries with faces like old leather. A farmer clutched a jade token so tightly his hand bled. No one cared. No one noticed.


    When the gates opened, a man stepped forth.


    Elder Han Xuan.


    Silence fell. It wasn''t just his presence¡ªit was his aura, heavy as the mountains themselves. His purple robe, embroidered with the jagged sigil of Iron Mountain Peak, shook like a storm. His face was a mask of stone, his eyes sharp enough to carve souls.


    "LISTEN UP!" Elder Han''s voice cracked like a whip made of thunder. "Today, the Xiantian Sect will accept only nine disciples. Nine! Not ten! Not eleven! If you haven''t reached Core Formation by the age of thirty, turn around and go home. Or better yet, find the nearest cliff and jump¡ªyou''ll save yourself the humiliation."


    Gasp!


    The crowd shifted uneasily. Core Formation by thirty? For most people, that was about as realistic as seducing the moon fairy. Achieving it required the kind of talent, resources, and luck that entire clans couldn''t muster.


    Elder Han''s lip curled into something between a sneer and a smile. "Let me spell it out for you frogs in a well. At Qi Condensation, your dantian is like a leaky bucket¡ªbarely capable of holding enough Qi to light a lantern. But Core Formation? That''s when you forge a spiritual core¡ªa star burning in your chest, a furnace of power that separates cultivators from the piss-drinking mortals below. Without it, you''re dirt. With it, you''re worth my attention."


    His gaze swept the crowd, and for a moment, it felt like the heavens themselves were judging every pore on their faces. "But don''t think brute strength will get you far. This sect demands genius, vision, and guts big enough to challenge the heavens themselves. If you lack that, kindly scram before you embarrass yourself."


    The trials began, each one crueler than the last.


    First came the ''Path of Shadows'', a labyrinth of illusions that rooted through the aspirants'' minds like a nosy neighbor. Some stumbled out with blank eyes, others wept uncontrollably, and one poor fool collapsed while muttering about a broken promise to his dead sister.


    Then there was ''The Stone Heavens'', an arena where gravity increased until even breathing felt like a mortal sin. Aspirants collapsed left and right, their faces purple as rotten plums. Elder Han''s laughter echoed coldly through the arena. "Is this the best Yue Country has to offer? Even my sect''s pigs have more spine!"


    Finally, the ''Martial Ascension Arena'', a battlefield of chaos. Qi flared. Blood spilled. Alliances were forged and shattered in heartbeats. The weak fell. The strong stood. When the dust settled, fewer than twenty remained.


    _______


    As the sun dipped low, nine figures stepped forward, battered but triumphant. Elder Han''s sharp eyes swept over them, his gaze heavy as the mountains themselves.


    "These nine¡­," he began,"You have earned your place. But don''t think the trials are over."


    "You will begin as outer court disciples, the lowest rung. On the lower slopes, you will share barracks and fight for scraps like starving dogs. Grueling labor, endless training, missions that flirt with death¡ªyou''ll face it all. Prove yourselves worthy, and you may rise. Fail¡­"


    He let the silence answer for him.


    The hierarchy was clear. The inner court, where cultivation treasures flowed like rivers, was reserved for the elite. Beyond that stood the core disciples, the sect''s pride¡ªtrained by ''peak masters'', wielding power that could shake kingdoms. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But for now, these nine stood at the bottom of a mountain they barely understood.


    His gaze turned to the rest of the crowd. "For those who failed, the gates are closing. Return in fifty years¡ªif you survive that long."


    Creakkkkk¡­


    The massive jade gates groaned shut, the sound swallowing the mountain air. A hush fell over the rejected as they turned to leave, their dreams crushed under the weight of reality. A quiet sniffle. A muttered curse. A soft, bitter laugh.


    Then¡ª


    "WAIT!"


    The shout shattered the silence. Heads swiveled as a figure staggered forward, disheveled and gasping. A man, drenched in sweat, clutched a small girl under one arm¡ªher wide eyes gleaming with cunning innocence.


    Behind him, another woman in crimson robes, stumbled into view, panting.


    "Haa¡­ haa¡­ Master¡­" Xiao Lu bent over, gripping her knees, "I-Is it gone?" Her crimson robes clung to her, streaked with dirt. She cast a frantic look over her shoulder, her flushed face framed by loose strands of hair.


    Elder Han stepped forward, his voice sharp as a blade. "Who are you fools? Explain yourselves before I throw you down the mountain."


    Before anyone could respond, the ground shuddered.


    THOOM. THOOM. THOOM.


    The distant horizon shifted. A shadow, vast and terrifying, rose higher with each step.


    "What¡­ what is that?" someone whispered, their voice trembling.


    "Is it a¡­ mountain?"


    The "mountain" actually moved.


    Glowing violet eyes flickered to life, blazing like twin suns. Its craggy face twisted as it lumbered forward, each step shaking the earth.


    CRACK! BOOM!


    Boulders split and fell, the air itself seemed to shake with its presence.


    Elder Han''s voice dropped to a whisper. "The Crimson Ore Behemoth¡­"


    Gasps rippled through the crowd like wildfire.


    "The Crimson Ore Behemoth?"


    "Impossible¡­ it''s a Deity Transformation beast!"


    "A legendary existence!"


    The behemoth, a creature of legend. Its body shimmered like molten ore, veins of spiritual energy coursing through its hulking frame. For eons, it had slumbered deep within the mountains, undisturbed and unmovable. Until now.


    Elder Han''s gaze snapped to Su Xiaobai, sharp enough to cut through steel. "You. What did you do?"


    Su Xiaobai, still catching his breath, glared down at Xiao Hei, dangling from his arm like a sack of rice. "You¡­ What did I tell you about touching things?"


    "Humph~!" Xiao Hei pouted, her glossy lips trembling as she stared at the now-awakened object.


    The plan had been simple: dispose of it quietly. Yet, a single careless touch had ruined everything. If left unchecked, that thing could have nearly killed them in the future.


    But how could she possibly explain all this to the furious Su Xiaobai standing before her?


    "Toys?!" Su Xiaobai''s voice cracked with fury. "It''s always toys! Everything is a toy to you!"


    Behind them, Xiao Lu groaned, pressing a hand to her forehead, with a deft flick of her rope, she wiped the sweat off Su Xiaobai''s brow. "Master, please. Less shouting, more running!"


    The crowd erupted in panic.


    "A Deity Transformation beast?"


    "We''re dead!"


    "We can''t fight that!"


    "Shut up!" Su Xiaobai barked, glaring at the crowd. "You think I ''wanted'' this thing chasing me?"


    "ENOUGH!"


    Elder Han''s voice split the crowd like a thunderclap. BOOM! His spiritual energy erupted, crushing the air. Stones cracked beneath his feet as his aura surged, coalescing into the jagged silhouette of a towering mountain.


    "If any of you flee now," he said, his voice low and threatening, "I''ll kill you myself..."

 Chapter 66 Defeating the most Talented Disciple?!

    "ENOUGH!"Elder Han''s voice boomed like thunder cracking the heavens. His glare could have flattened mountains, but the disciples quaked more at his next words:


    "Anyone who flees now, I''ll kill you myself! This is Iron Mountain Peak! A mangy beast will not disgrace it!"


    He shot into the air, the ground fracturing beneath his feet.


    WHOOSH!


    Elder Han''s right fist ballooned with spiritual energy, glowing brighter than a pissed-off sun. By the time he reached the Crimson Ore Behemoth, his punch was less "fist" and more "meteor of annihilation."


    ROOOOAR!


    The behemoth swung its colossal, ore-encrusted arm to counter.


    BOOOOM!


    The impact shook the heavens. Trees flattened. Rocks soared. Somewhere, a squirrel died of shock. The mountains groaned as if questioning their life choices.


    For a moment, the beast stood firm, its shimmering ore body like a fortress forged by the cosmos.


    But then¡ª


    KACHA!


    A crack. Then another.


    The beast''s arm shattered, fragments raining like a crimson meteor shower. With a final, earth-shattering boom, the beast collapsed into a pile of glittering rubble.


    Elder Han descended like an avenging god, dusting off his sleeve with the same nonchalance one might show while swatting a fly. His cold eyes turned to Su Xiaobai and his companions.


    "You three... don''t think this is over."


    Su Xiaobai groaned, rubbing his temples as Xiao Hei dangled from his arm like a particularly annoying ornament. Her mischievous grin promised trouble, the kind that would likely end with him buried alive¡ªor worse.


    "Touch one more thing," Su Xiaobai growled, "and I swear I''ll seal you in a cave so deep, even the worms will pity you."


    Xiao Lu sighed, her robes half-covered in dust. "Master, maybe dial down the threats. Especially in front of the guy who just punched a mountain to death."


    Su Xiaobai stiffened, his gaze darting to Elder Han, who now looked like he could freeze a sun with sheer disdain. "...Noted," he muttered.


    The crowd remained deathly silent.


    The destruction of the Crimson Ore Behemoth was a tale for the ages, but nobody envied Su Xiaobai¡ªnot with Elder Han''s predatory gaze locked on him.


    The wind howled through the ruins, carrying the faint clink of falling ore fragments, as if the mountains themselves sighed in pity.


    BAM!


    With a deafening destruction, Han Xuan landed, the earth splintering beneath his weight. He stood like a mountain given human form: bald, scarred, and radiating the kind of aura that made children cry and grown men reconsider their life choices. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Su Xiaobai looked him up and down. A walking slab of granite. Wonderful.


    Cupping his fists, Su Xiaobai plastered on his most innocent smile. "Senior, we''re here for the sect''s recruitment. As for the, uh¡­ incident? Nothing to do with us."


    Han Xuan''s eyes narrowed. His gaze swept over the nine disciples behind him before landing on Xiao Lu.


    "You''re late," he growled. His voice hit like a hammer. "And her¡ª"


    "No core. No entry," he spat, his disdain a boulder dropped into the conversation.


    Then his eyes caught Xiao Hei, still dangling from Su Xiaobai''s sleeve. Suspicion flickered in his expression, but before he could speak, Su Xiaobai flicked his wrist, and Xiao Hei vanished into the ring world. His smile didn''t waver.


    "She''s not part of the recruitment, Senior," Su Xiaobai said smoothly.


    Han Xuan grunted, but curiosity lingered in his gaze. What the hell was that?


    "And her?" he barked, pointing at Xiao Lu.


    "My maid," Su Xiaobai replied without missing a beat.


    Xiao Lu bowed stiffly.


    Han Xuan sneered. "A Foundation Establishment maid? Humph! Looks like you''re swimming in wealth, boy."


    He stepped closer, towering over Su Xiaobai like a thundercloud about to burst. His voice dropped,."This mess is your fault." He gestured to the wreckage. "Here''s the deal: pick one of the nine disciples. Beat them in a single round, and you''re in. Lose, and you''ll clean this up. For free."


    The crowd murmured. This was unexpected. The ''Iron Peak Tyrant'', offering a chance?


    His reputation painted him as merciless, yet here he was, granting an opportunity¡ªhowever harsh it seemed.


    "Could it be¡­" someone whispered, their voice trembling. "The sect truly values fairness above all?"


    "Even against outsiders?" another murmured, their tone laced with awe.


    For a moment, even the scornful disciples behind Han Xuan hesitated, glancing at their peak master with newfound respect. The righteousness of the Xiantian Sect wasn''t just a story, it seemed.


    Han Xuan''s grin turned cruel. "If you lose, don''t even bother begging. Dogs earn their scraps."


    Su Xiaobai gave a faint smile, stepping forward with a casual flick of his sleeve. "Senior''s terms are fair." His gaze swept the nine disciples. "So, who''s ready to take a beating?"


    Hiss~!


    The rest froze. The disciples narrowed their eyes, anger flickering like sparks.


    Han Xuan''s lips twitched, amusement breaking through his frost. "A maniac? Good. I like maniacs."


    The disciples lined up.Three men. Five women. All glaring daggers, their glares sharp enough to skin a dragon.


    Su Xiaobai''s gaze flitted over them:


    A thin man with a sword, glaring daggers. Too sharp.


    A burly, short fighter with crackling thunder fists. Too punchy.


    A mysterious masked man with a spear. Too edgy.


    A silver-haired ice queen, Mei Yuilin, radiating frosty disdain. Su Xiaobai''s lip curled. Too frosty.


    Mei Yuilin huffed. How dare he dismiss her so quickly?


    Another woman had spikes growing out of her¡ªnope. Two adorable twins sparkled with deceptive innocence. Also nope.


    Then there was¡­ her. Yu Feiyan, a celestial maiden with starlit eyes and a soft, teasing smile, her robes shimmering like moonlight as if the heavens themselves had tailored them.


    But her aura? Weak as a newborn kitten.


    The weakest of the nine, barely scratching the initial stage of the Core Formation Realm.


    "Perfect," Su Xiaobai muttered.


    Yu Feiyan blinked, surpised, then smirked, waving coyly. "Hi, little brother~" Her tone practically screamed trouble.


    She wasn''t worried at all. If it had been a female opponent, her odds might have faltered¡ªthere was always the risk of clashing against someone resistant to her charms. But to defeat a man? Among the three male disciples selected for admission today, she dared say none could resist the pull of her Siren Technique.


    It was her trump card, she haven''t revealed yet, a skill honed to perfection, capable of shaking even the most disciplined minds.


    Su Xiaobai ignored the red flags. He wasn''t here to flirt; he was here to survive.


    Han Xuan''s face twisted, dark as storm clouds about to spill their fury. "You''re picking her? Fine! Get on the stage!"


    His voice thundered, but his disappointment was louder. Su Xiaobai wasn''t the valiant fool Iron Peak revered¡ªhe was a rat sniffing for the path of least resistance. Not wrong, but it left a sour taste.


    Yu Feiyan''s lips curled, her voice dripping honey and mockery. "Be gentle, little brother. I bruise easily."


    Su Xiaobai raised a hand like a magistrate halting an execution. "Wait, senior! Wait!"


    Han Xuan''s patience was fraying. "What now?"


    Clearing his throat, Su Xiaobai stood tall, as if addressing the celestial courts themselves. "Senior, it''s unjust to force me to choose like this. I believe in the will of heaven! Let the divine guide me to my opponent!"


    Silence. The kind that spoke of collective confusion. Even Han Xuan blinked, clearly wondering if this brat had been dropped on his head at birth.


    "¡­Heaven?" someone whispered.


    "What''s this idiot yammering about?"


    But Su Xiaobai wasn''t speaking to them. His gaze tilted skyward, a sly grin tugging at his lips. Beneath his breath, he muttered, ''Alright, you guys up there, enough watching! You''ve been laughing at me all chapter. Time to pull your weight. Do me a favor and point out the weakest one, alright?''


    He then crouched, grabbing nine pebbles from the dirt. "Let''s see who the heavens deem¡­ uh, unlucky today."


    He tossed the pebbles skyward, their rough surfaces catching the sunlight like stars in freefall. It was a beautiful sight, utterly wasted on a fool''s errand.


    "What in the¡ª" Han Xuan''s words halted mid-sentence, confusion plain in his voice.


    "Maybe he really is heaven''s favorite idiot," someone whispered.


    Su Xiaobai watched the stones soar, his expression serene. Heaven will guide me¡­ or at least gravity will. He''d decided this was foolproof: whoever couldn''t block a falling pebble was obviously the weakest. Perfect logic.


    The stones arced high and began their descent. Su Xiaobai''s eyes darted between the disciples, muttering, "C''mon, someone mess up¡­ don''t make me look like an idiot here¡­"


    The disciples stood motionless, their expressions ranging from mild disdain to outright pity. Not a single pebble was dodged or deflected.


    Then, a sudden gust of wind roared through the arena, redirecting the stones.


    Peng!


    Peng!


    Peng!


    The pebbles ricocheted off heads, shoulders, and weapons, but the final one smacked into Li Jianfeng''s forehead with the precision of a celestial decree.


    "¡­"


    The swordsman froze, his hand twitching instinctively to deflect the offending rock a second too late.


    "Good!" Su Xiaobai''s grin widened. "Senior, I pick him! Heaven''s guidance is absolute!"


    Li Jianfeng stood motionless, his expression shifting from disbelief to murderous intent. The crowd erupted into laughter, the absurdity of the situation dawning on them: Su Xiaobai had just "chosen" the strongest disciple present.


    Han Xuan snorted, struggling to suppress his laughter. "Are you sure? That''s Li Jianfeng, he''s the strongest of the lot. The Heaven''s trying to get you killed, brat."


    Su Xiaobai''s smile froze, and a twitch tugged at his lips. "Strongest? Not¡­ weakest?"

 Chapter 67 Two against one!

    "Strongest? Not¡­ weakest?"His stomach dropped as Li Jianfeng''s glared at him like a vengeful spirit.


    "I''ll kill you," Li Jianfeng growled, his tone low and deadly.


    Su Xiaobai groaned, rubbing his temples. ''You traitorous bastards¡­ I asked for the weakest, not the strongest¡­''


    Xiao Lu, his ever-loyal but perpetually exhausted maid, stepped closer with a groan. "Master, you really have a gift¡­ for making everything worse."


    "Ha-ha-ha," Han Xuan clapped his hands, his smirk widening. "Good, brat! You''ve got guts, I''ll give you that. If you win, his reward is yours. If not, it''s Li Jianfeng''s by right." With a flourish, he revealed a glowing crimson orb, pulsating with intense energy.


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes widened. "Is that¡ª?"


    "The core of the Crimson Ore Behemoth," Han Xuan confirmed with a smirk.


    Excited murmurs rippled through the audience. If they''d known such a treasure was at stake, they might''ve fought harder during the third round of the Material Ascension Arena.


    Su Xiaobai''s grin slowly returned. ''If I get that, I''ll have enough spare spiritual energy to summon Xiao Mei. Haha, and here I was doubting those bastards for no reason! Su Xiaobai, you genius¡­ Alright, time to play along.''


    Han Xuan''s voice boomed. "BEGIN!"


    "Eat this!" Li Jianfeng roared, not wasting a second¡ªhis rage at Su Xiaobai already boiling over. He stormed onto the stage, unsheathing his blade in one swift motion. His aura flared, the ground trembling beneath his feet.


    "Crimson Sword¡ªFirst Form: Severing Slash!"


    Flames erupted from his blade, spiraling into a whirlwind of blazing crimson energy. The arena filled with scorching heat as the attack screamed toward Su Xiaobai, a tidal wave of fiery death.


    Su Xiaobai froze, the reflection of the flames growing larger in his wide eyes.


    And in that moment, he knew one thing with absolute certainty: he had royally fucked up.


    ___


    "Ugh¡­ not this shit again¡­" Su Xiaobai groaned, wiping soot from his face as the arena erupted in fire.


    The battle had drawn a crowd¡ªouter court disciples, a few elders, and curious onlookers drawn by the sight of the Crimson Ore Behemoth. What they got instead was Su Xiaobai, bruised but still standing, facing off against a furious opponent who looked ready to burn the world down.


    With a sharp ''Grand Collapsing Punch'', Su Xiaobai shattered the air, the shockwave silencing murmurs of disbelief. Despite his scrappy appearance, he was holding his own.


    Among the spectators, Fatty Zhou leaned against a post, chewing seeds. Beside him, Xiao Yu struggled under a swarm of outer court girls shoving love letters into his arms.


    "Zhou Fang, can you please help me?" Xiao Yu asked, his voice strained but polite as another handkerchief landed on his growing pile.


    "Not a chance," Fatty Zhou said, spitting out a seed shell. "You''re the one who beat Elder Liu''s brat last week. Don''t act surprised."


    Xiao Yu sighed, adjusting the letters. "I didn''t ask to be popular." He followed Zhou''s gaze to the stage¡ªand froze. "Wait¡­ is that...?"


    Fatty Zhou squinted, laughing. "Right¡ªWhat the hell? He''s alive!"


    "I thought he died back in the trials!" Xiao Yu whispered. Memories of the weeping emperor''s cave surfaced¡ªcrumbling chambers, deadly traps, and Elder Bai Yujian''s sword slicing through the final collapse to save them.


    They''d barely escaped. Su Xiaobai, they''d assumed, hadn''t.


    "How the hell did that bastard survive?" Fatty Zhou muttered.


    Xiao Yu''s gaze on the stage. ''Not just alive¡­ he''s fighting...''


    They turned to Su Xiaobai''s opponent, a dark-haired youth wielding a crimson sword that pulsed like a living thing. Its blade glowed, drinking Su Xiaobai''s blood from the ground, its flames roaring higher with every drop.


    "That sword''s alive," Xiao Yu said softly.


    Fatty Zhou frowned. "Alive? Like it talks?"


    "No," Xiao Yu replied, his tone measured. "It''s a soul-grade weapon. Ancient, bloodthirsty, and dangerous."


    "Great. So he''s fighting a guy and his man-eating sword," Fatty Zhou said, shaking his head. "Why doesn''t he just flash the Elder Bai token and walk into the sect?"


    Xiao Yu hesitated. ''Maybe¡­ he thinks we are dead?''


    On the stage, Su Xiaobai groaned as his opponent raised the sword high.


    "Crimson Sword¡ªSecond Form: Blazing Sun!"


    A blazing orb condensed above the sword, radiating unbearable heat. The stage cracked under it''s heat.


    "¡­Fantastic," Su Xiaobai muttered.


    The sword''s pissed, the guy''s pissed, and he''s about to get roasted.


    WHOOSH!


    The fiery orb shot forward like a falling star. Su Xiaobai clenched his teeth, his qi condensing into a blade at his fingertip.


    "Seven Moves of Judgement¡ªSky-Splitting Blade!"


    BAM!


    The two attacks collided with a thunderous roar, scattering flames and light across the arena. When the smoke cleared, Su Xiaobai was lying bloodied but grinning, his tattered robes barely scattered around him.


    From the stands, Fatty Zhou let out a whistle. "You know, I think that lunatic might actually win."


    ____


    "Surrender already!"


    Li Jianfeng''s voice roared like a beast, his grip on the crimson sword trembling with fury. He stalked toward Su Xiaobai, who lay sprawled on the scorched stage, broken, beaten, and¡ªgrinning.


    That grin. That fucking grin.


    Li Jianfeng''s jaw tightened, a vein throbbing at his temple. "Tch. Still acting tough, you useless cockroach?" He sneered, raising his sword. Blood seeped from his wounds, but the blade wasn''t done. Its sinister aura clawed at him, feasting on his blood like a parasitic leech.


    "Damn it¡­" he muttered. The sword wasn''t just hungry¡ªit was starting to take over.


    "What a nasty little weapon¡­" Elder Han Xuan observed from the stands, his voice low. The sword pulsed with an evil that sent shivers down his spine. This wasn''t just a tool¡ªit was a predator, and its prey included its wielder.


    Li Jianfeng''s patience snapped. Raising the blade high, his bloodshot eyes fixed on Su Xiaobai''s infuriating grin. "Let''s see if you can grin when your head''s rolling¡ª"


    WHOOSH!


    Han Xuan moved, his figure blurring as he shot forward. "STOP¡ª!" He reached out, aiming to snatch the blade before it devoured the boy entirely.


    But someone, or something, was faster.


    PUCHI!


    A wet, tearing sound echoed across the arena. Gasps erupted as blood sprayed the stage.


    Standing behind Li Jianfeng was a small figure, soaked in crimson. Her delicate hands held something grisly¡ªhis spine.


    She''d ripped it clean out, like pulling weeds from a garden.


    "Wh¡ª"


    CRASH!


    Li Jianfeng collapsed, his body hitting the stage.


    SPLURT! SPLURT! SPLURT!


    Blood spurted from the gaping hole in his torso, pooling around the fallen cimson sword, which trembled like a satiated predator.


    The girl¡ªa petite, blood-drenched shadow¡ªstood silent, a terrifying smile curling her lips. The air around her froze, as if death itself had stepped onto the stage.


    Su Xiaobai groaned, sitting up and dusting himself off like a man waking from a nap. "Not bad," he muttered, rolling his shoulders. "Lasted a whole ten minutes."


    The girl tossed the spine aside like trash and approached Su Xiaobai. Despite the blood smeared across her face, her steps were eerily graceful, her movements calm.


    "Perfect, Xiao Hei," Su Xiaobai replied, patting her head like she was a loyal hunting pet that had brought back a prize.


    "Did¡­ did he just win?" Fatty Zhou muttered, his round face pale as he looked at Xiao Yu, who seemed equally stunned.


    "That''s cheating!" a voice from the crowd finally broke the silence. "Two against one! That''s unfair!" S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Yes! He cheated!"


    The protests spread like wildfire, voices rising in outrage. But Elder Han Xuan''s attention was fixed on Xiao Hei, his sharp gaze studying her every move. Her lifelike mannerisms. "Is that thing alive?"


    Her chilling smile didn''t falter as the crowd''s voices grew louder.


    Han Xuan frowned, shaking his head. "No. Impossible. A living being couldn''t survive inside a spatial ring¡­" His voice trailed off, the ''ring world'' was beyond what any mortal could comprehend at a glance.


    Han Xuan''s first thought was clear: Xiao Hei wasn''t a living being.


    He raised his voice to silence the crowd. "The winner of this round is Su Xiaobai!"


    "What?! He cheated!" the protests grew louder.


    Han Xuan''s glare swept the arena, shutting them up in an instant. "Cheated? He used a puppet. Li Jianfeng used a sword. What''s the problem? Or do you think a puppet''s claws are somehow more unfair than a bloodthirsty sword?"


    "A puppet?" someone murmured.


    "He''s¡­ a puppet refiner?"


    All eyes turned to Xiao Hei. Her expression remained eerily calm, her small frame betraying none of the blood she''d unleashed moments earlier.


    Han Xuan stared at her, his brow furrowed. "A puppet? No¡­ but what else could she be?" He looked at Su Xiaobai, who crouched over the Crimson Sword, inspecting it like a shiny new toy.


    "Elder, can I keep this thing?" Su Xiaobai asked, his tone casual, as though he were asking for a leftover meat bun.


    Han Xuan gave him a long, hard look before glancing at the sword. The weapon''s blood thirsty aura still radiated, even as its flames dimmed. "¡­We''ll have Elder Liu inspect it. If it''s safe, it''s yours. If not, it''ll be destroyed."


    "Tch." Su Xiaobai clicked his tongue but shrugged. "Fine."


    The crowd remained restless, whispers swirling.


    Han Xuan silenced them with a final glare. His voice dropped low, muttering to himself as he walked away. "If she''s not a puppet¡­ then what in the heavens is she?"

 Chapter 68 Chopping Vegetables! Lost Control!

    "If she''s not a puppet¡­ then what in the heavens is she?"But no answer came.


    Su Xiaobai lounged on the stage, his posture lazy yet deliberate, like a king too bored to care about his throne. His fingers flicked blood off the trembling crimson sword, its sinister glow dimming, sulking as though mourning the loss of a worthier master.


    Behind him, Xiao Hei stood motionless. Her petite frame soaked in crimson. Her smile faint. Beautiful. Terrifying.


    The arena was silent, save for the scattered whispers that soon broke through.


    "Tch¡­ so it really was a puppet."


    "Cheated! Without that thing, he''d be dead meat!"


    Most of the complaints came from the failed contestants¡ªresentful voices tinged with jealousy, their bruised egos showing more than their bruised bodies.


    But the eight selected disciples stood quiet. Some watched Su Xiaobai with wariness, their earlier confidence shaken. They''d dismissed him as a weakling, yet the sight of him standing over Li Jianfeng''s corpse painted a different picture.


    Yu Feiyan, who had once been so sure of her strength, bit her lip. Pale. Silent. Her eyes darted between Su Xiaobai''s mocking grin and the crumpled body of Li Jianfeng, her pride refusing to let her join the whining masses.


    Su Xiaobai dusted his hands, his grin widening as his gaze swept over the crowd. His voice rang out, silencing the murmurs like a sharp blade.


    "Oh? What''s that noise? A flock of sparrows chirping?" His sneer deepened. "No, wait. It''s the howling of sore losers!"


    The murmurs faltered, only to surge back louder.


    "He cheated!"


    "Without that puppet, he''d be trash!"


    "Just lucky! If I''d known, I''d have crushed him!"


    Su Xiaobai''s laughter rang, "Lucky? Cheating? If you''d known?" He paused, his grin turning vicious. "Well, you know now. So what''s stopping you? Come! Let''s see if any of you noisy clowns dare step forward."


    The crowd stiffened.


    One man, his face red with fury, pushed forward. "Don''t think you''re untouchable just because of that puppet! It''s only a tool. Without it, you''re nothing!"


    Su Xiaobai''s smile froze for a moment, his eyes glinting with something darker. Tools? These fools didn''t realize they weren''t dealing with.


    "...Fertilizer," he muttered to himself, the word rolling off his tongue like a casual observation.


    Elder Han Xuan, who had been quietly observing, narrowed his eyes. "What are you scheming now, boy?"


    Su Xiaobai didn''t answer. His gaze swept over the crowd, but he didn''t see people. He saw resources. Walking sacks of Yin Qi.


    When Li Jianfeng had died, a faint wisp of Yin Qi had seeped from his body, and Su Xiaobai had remembered. How could he not? It wasn''t like he''d had the chance to rely on this ability before. Hell, he hadn''t even known it existed until recently.


    His Devourer Bloodline.


    It had awakened only after he''d been slapped¡ªquite literally¡ªinto the Immortal Rain Valley, tossed into this dog-eat-dog world like a lamb among wolves. Before that, he was just a clueless brat stumbling through cultivation with no idea he was carrying Yin Qi veins, twisted and incomplete but terrifyingly dangerous.


    And oh, how his bloodline loved Yin Qi. It craved it like a drunk reaching for another cup. Now, standing in this arena of whining fools, it was hard not to see the potential.


    It seemed fate had carved his path in blood, no matter the life. But hey, he thought with a grin, it''s the higher-ups'' fault, right? Why give me powers like this if they didn''t want me to use them?


    He stepped forward, his grin stretching wider. "Elder," he said, his tone casual. "Can I challenge them all? Whoever kills me first gets my spot."


    Hiss~~


    The arena fell into stunned silence.


    Han Xuan blinked, his brows furrowing. "Challenge¡­ everyone?"


    "Everyone," Su Xiaobai confirmed, spinning the crimson sword in his hand with casual ease. "Don''t worry, Elder. No deaths, right? I''ll just beat them into the ground. Simple."


    He couldn''t kill them. Not technically. But if someone happened to die by accident¡­ well, that wasn''t really his fault, was it?


    The thought amused him, but he wisely kept it to himself.


    Han Xuan stared at him, half-amused, half-concerned. After a long pause, he nodded. "Very well. But no killing. That was an exception, and I won''t allow it again."


    Su Xiaobai''s grin faltered briefly. ''No killing? Then how the hell am I supposed to collect Yin Qi from their corpses?''


    On the sidelines, Xiao Yu pinched the bridge of her nose, a weary sigh escaping her lips. "He''s completely insane¡­" She turned to Fatty Zhou, her expression tense. "Go. Call Elder Bai. Now."


    "Huh? Why?" Fatty Zhou cracked a sunflower seed lazily.


    "Because if we don''t, this lunatic will get himself killed," Xiao Yu snapped.


    Fatty Zhou chuckled, flicking the seed shell to the ground. "Fine, fine¡­ I''ll go. But it''s gonna be a hell of a show before she gets here."


    Back in the arena, Su Xiaobai stretched, loosening his shoulders. The challengers¡ªnearly two dozen of them¡ªstepped forward, their faces hard with determination.


    Xiao Hei moved beside him. Silent. Deadly.


    "Well," Su Xiaobai said, gripping the crimson sword tightly, his grin turning feral. "Let''s get started."


    A heavy, a fleeting breath of stillness before it shattered into chaos.


    With Xiao Hei at his side, Su Xiaobai charged. The crimson sword blazed in his hands, its flames roaring to life as he met the first wave of opponents. Xiao Hei fought beside him, her movements fluid and terrifying, her small frame cutting through the them like a shadow of death.


    It wasn''t a battle. It was a frenzy.


    The crowd watched in stunned silence. Even with Han Xuan''s rule of no deaths, Su Xiaobai''s attacks carried humiliation like a poison.


    One by one, his challengers fell, beaten and broken, their confidence shattered.


    Han Xuan shook his head, a bitter smile tugging at his lips. "Reckless. Suicidal. But I like him." He crossed his arms, nodding to himself. ''Even if this idiot loses, I''ll take him into Iron Mountain Peak. This kind of madness can''t go to waste.''


    On the stage, Su Xiaobai''s laughter rang out again, sharp and mocking, as he swung the crimson sword at another opponent. Each clash brought him closer to what he wanted.


    Because to him, this wasn''t just a fight.


    It was like months of pent-up frustration pouring out in one glorious, bloody release.


    Su Xiaobai couldn''t deny it¡ªhe loved the blood, the thrill, the carnage. He never thought blood would excite him so much until today.


    For a fleeting moment, he''d been scared shitless¡ªthe sight of Li Jianfeng''s flaming tornado had made his knees wobble. But after exchanging a few blows, he realized the truth. This guy wasn''t shit.


    With his body reinforced by stellar energy, Su Xiaobai had the strength to crush even a peak Core Formation cultivator. And Xiao Hei? She was in a league of her own. Her claws sang through the air like a heavenly judgement, slicing her enemies like vegetables. If he hadn''t held her back, she might have turned the entire arena into a slaughterhouse already.


    Clink. Clink.


    Heavy footsteps interrupted the show. A woman clad in bronze armor approached Elder Han Xuan. Towering over most men, her two-meter-tall frame intimidating. Qi Ling. One of the nine selected disciples.


    She stopped a few paces from the elder, her voice sharp. "Elder Han, is it really fine to let this go on?"


    Han Xuan raised a brow, glancing at her. Qi Ling''s earlier defeat by Li Jianfeng had been a blow to her pride, and now she seemed oddly satisfied seeing him dead. But her gaze flicked toward the crimson sword in Su Xiaobai''s hand, her tone cautious.


    "That blade''s cursed, isn''t it? Should it be used like this in a competition?"


    Han Xuan waved her off, a lazy grin on his face. "As long as no one dies, what''s the harm? Let the boy vent." He crossed his arms. "Two disciples in one day¡ªone sturdy mountain and one raving lunatic. What a haul."


    "Uh¡­ you might want to look again."


    The voice came from behind. Mei Yuelin, the silver-haired woman Su Xiaobai had rejected earlier, strode forward, her expression cautious as she pointed toward the arena.


    Han Xuan turned. His grin froze.


    "!!"


    The arena was drowning in blood.


    Thud. Thud. Thud.


    Heads rolled across the stage, hollow eyes staring back at Han Xuan as if cursing him for letting Su Xiaobai loose.


    "..."


    Han Xuan''s face darkened. "Enough! Abort the match!"


    He leapt into the arena, his aura surging as his glare bore down on Su Xiaobai, who stood with a bitter smile.


    "Elder," Su Xiaobai said, raising his hands in surrender. "I¡­ lost control." He shrugged, feigning innocence.


    "Lost control?" Han Xuan''s voice was sharp, his gaze darting to Xiao Hei. She was a crimson blur, her blade decapitating another challenger with precision.


    "They were too many," Su Xiaobai said, sighing . "She got¡­ overwhelmed."


    Han Xuan''s glare turned colder. A puppet master losing control of their creation was a believable excuse, but this brat¡­ This brat was something else entirely.


    Han Xuan could see through him¡ªSu Xiaobai was about as innocent as a snake in a chicken coop.


    "Enough!" Han Xuan roared, his arm extending like a whip. His qi wrapped around Xiao Hei, pulling her from the arena.


    She went limp immediately, her eyes shutting as though someone had flipped a switch.


    Han Xuan''s eyes swept over the arena. Blood-soaked bodies littered the ground. Most of the challengers were dead or unconscious.


    He exhaled sharply, "You," he said, pointing a finger at Su Xiaobai. "Do you realize what you''ve done? I''ll have to explain this to the Grand Elder!"


    "Ah¡­" Su Xiaobai scratched the back of his head, "That sounds like a¡­ tough job." S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Han Xuan''s veins bulged. "You little¡ª"


    "I''ll help write the report?" Su Xiaobai offered, his tone tinged with fake sincerity.

 Chapter 69 Give me a Break!

    A/N: Alright, listen up, you demonic cultivators. The little skully ain''t in the country right now, so the chapters might come out feeling a bit half-assed. Yeah, I know, excuses, excuses. But cut me some slack¡ªI''m juggling this shit like a drunk acrobat.The updates will still roll in because consistency is king, but don''t expect them to be dripping with my usual brilliance until after the 14th of December. So bear with it, suck it up, and remember: even meh chapters are better than no chapters.


    Now, stop whining and get back to reading.


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    Han Xuan''s veins bulged, his face a picture of barely restrained fury. "You little¡ª"


    "I''ll help write the report?" Su Xiaobai interrupted, his voice sugary sweet with fake politeness, a smirk tugging at his lips like a mischievous fox eyeing the henhouse.


    "Shut up!" Han Xuan snapped, rubbing his temples as though trying to massage away the curse that was Su Xiaobai''s existence. "You''re worse than a plague, I swear."


    Su Xiaobai chuckled to himself, feeling the cold tendrils of Yin Qi snake through his veins. The sensation was intoxicating, like a forbidden drink that burned and soothed all at once. ''Perfect. This will nudge me into another breakthrough,'' he thought, excited, his expression betraying nothing but quiet amusement.


    Around the arena, the crowd hummed with unease, their whispers spreading like ripples in a pond. Even Bai Yujian, the sect''s aloof sword goddess, had left her peak to investigate. Draped in robes of twilight purple, she descended like a celestial maiden from a painting, her movements elegant yet smooth.


    Her serene expression betrayed nothing, but deep down, you just knew she was thinking: What kind of nonsense is going on?


    Not that Su Xiaobai needed to hear the murmurs. The scene spoke for itself¡ªscattered bodies, the metallic tang of blood, and the unmistakable stench of rotten carcasses.


    The body count alone shattered the sect''s five-thousand-year record. No one¡ªnot a single soul¡ªin the storied history of the Xiantian Sect had ever racked up so many kills in something as trivial as a Disciple Selection Tournament.


    It wasn''t even a serious tournament! Just a glorified scuffle meant to weed out the weaklings. And yet, here lay a small graveyard''s worth of contestants, sprawled lifeless as if they''d wandered into a battlefield instead of a test.


    Honestly, it was almost impressive.


    ¡ª This wasn''t a victory at all.


    It was a massacre.


    An ex-villain joining a Righteous sect, now clad in the so-called robes of virtue¡ªas if "Righteous" and "virtue" weren''t already an oxymoron.


    No matter how polished the robes, trouble still followed him, creeping into every corner like an uninvited shadow. Wherever Su Xiaobai stepped, balance crumbled, and disorder reigned supreme. It seemed some things were simply written in the stars.


    However, he wasn''t worried at all...


    The dead were mere outsiders, expendable fodder in the sect''s grand selection. And him? A newly minted disciple with terrifying talent.


    Who would the Xiantian Sect favor? The corpses, or me¡ªthe prize?


    "Hehe¡­ I''m a genius. No one could ever come up with a clever idea like this," Su Xiaobai thought, thoroughly satisfied with himself, as if he''d just invented the Dao itself.


    With casual ease, he went about planting red flags everywhere, as if it were the most natural thing in the world¡ªcompletely unfazed by the ominous storm clouds gathering over his own future.


    The crowd became buzzing as more inner disciples arrived, their curiosity drawn by the blood. At the forefront was Liu Zhenhai, his golden hair gleaming like a lion ready to claim the throne. Behind him stormed Lan Meiyu, her face flushed red with the kind of anger that only betrayal¡ªor humiliation¡ªcould cause.


    "It''s like seeing a ghost," Liu Zhenhai muttered, his sharp gaze fixed on Su Xiaobai.


    He couldn''t believe it, this guy was alive?


    Lan Meiyu, however, seemed ready to explode. Her fists trembled, her knuckles white as bone. "Good! This time¡ªthis time¡ªI''ll kill him!" she hissed, her voice shaking with fury.


    "Meiyu?" Liu Zhenhai glanced at her, startled. Her fixation on Su Xiaobai was baffling. Is she still fixated to what happened in the cave? Her anger seemed almost childish¡ªa clear contrast to the composed cultivator he knew.


    But before she could act, another voice echoed.


    "No. I''ll kill him."


    The crowd parted instinctively as a tall figure stepped forward. Huang Shao, hawk-eyed and exuding an aura of quiet menace, strode into the arena. His dark blue robes shimmered with faint golden embroidery, marking him as one of the sect''s brightest stars.


    Huang Shao wasn''t just any inner disciple¡ªhe was one of the top ten, a prodigy of the soul fusion realm, and a name that could make even the bravest cultivators think twice. However, despite his lofty position, he still ranked slightly below Liu Zhenhai¡ªa fact that no doubt hurt his pride. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The sight of such ranked cultivators, usually buried in seclusion for years, appearing in the open was enough to throw the crowd into another frenzy. Whispers turned into shouts, curiosity teetering on the edge of panic. Yet, neither Huang Shao nor Liu Zhenhai paid any mind.


    "Huang Shao? You made a breakthrough?" Liu Zhenhai''s frown deepened, his gaze sharpening like a blade. If Huang Shao had truly stepped into the late stage of the soul fusion realm, it was no small matter.


    A breakthrough at this level was a leap, not a step. The implications were clear¡ªif this were true, Huang Shao wouldn''t just catch up to him. He''d surpass him. And in the world of cultivation, today''s rival was tomorrow''s conqueror.


    But Huang Shao wasn''t looking at him. His gaze locked onto Su Xiaobai, his expression a storm of rage and disgust.


    "That bastard is here¡­?" Huang Shao muttered, his voice cold and sharp. His hand dipped into his robe, retrieving a scroll that he unfurled with precision.


    The face staring back at him was unmistakable¡ªit was Su Xiaobai, wearing the same infuriating grin that practically begged for a slap.


    Thunder roared in his mind.


    Months ago, after Li Gong''s death, his father had sent him this scroll with a single, clear command: Find this bastard. End him.


    But Huang Shao had brushed it aside. His sole focus had always been the peak of cultivation, and he''d abandoned even his original name to bury himself within the Xiantian Sect, seeking power above all else. For months, he had been deep in seclusion, shutting out the outside world to refine his foundation.


    Only today, moments before stepping out from his retreat, had he received the long-neglected message from his father¡ªand when he finally looked, it was as if fate had laid the answer before him. That man? Here?


    And not just here. This troublemaker was responsible for causing an uproar in the disciple selection event¡ªa supposedly simple trial turned bloodbath.


    "Bastard," Huang Shao spat, his teeth grinding. ''If this man is allowed to grow, he''ll become harder and harder to kill.''


    The thought ignited his fury. While Huang Shao didn''t care much for Li Gong, a useless idiot of a brother, his death had been an insult to his family''s pride. Letting Su Xiaobai walk free wasn''t just a threat¡ªit was a stain on his reputation.


    Ironic, really. The best way to end Su Xiaobai was the same way Su Xiaobai had dispatched others¡ªwith one swift, decisive strike. Before the formal disciple initiation, the rules were¡­ flexible. Killing Su Xiaobai now wouldn''t result in too harsh a punishment. And as long as Huang Shao lived to be the sect''s next genius, who would care about a dead troublemaker?


    BOOM!


    Golden light erupted from Huang Shao, his aura surging like a sun at its zenith, blinding and overwhelming.


    The ground beneath him cracked and splintered as he launched himself forward, faster than a streaking comet. The sheer force of his killing intent flooded the arena, suffocating and absolute.


    Somewhere in the distance, someone muttered under their breath, "Yup. He''s dead."


    It was as if the universe itself had conspired to ensure Su Xiaobai''s last breath would be drawn today. Or so they thought.


    ___


    Han Xuan didn''t notice anything strange at first. Crouched beside one of the bodies, his brow furrowed as he poked and prodded like a scholar unraveling an ancient mystery.


    He was too focused. Too lost in his meticulous work.


    "No Yin Qi¡­ none at all."


    The realization hit him like a slap to the face. His chest tightened as he moved from one corpse to the next. All of them¡ªdrained, hollowed out, completely devoid of Yin energy. It wasn''t just unusual. It was downright terrifying.


    No puppet techniques could do this. No known cultivation art could leave behind such lifeless shells.


    "Could it be¡­ that brat causing this? No¡­ impossible. Not at his level."


    The absurdity of the thought froze him. Su Xiaobai? That cheeky kid who treated life and death like a game?


    Yet, as his mind whirred with questions, time betrayed him.


    Too late.


    BAM!


    An overwhelming wave of bloodlust surged toward him, thick and suffocating like the maw of a beast snapping shut.


    "Die!"


    Huang Shao''s roar split the air, his killing intent crashing through the arena like a tsunami.


    Whoosh!


    ''Who now?'' Su Xiaobai barely had a moment to blink before a golden streak of light pierced through the air and slammed into his chest.


    BOOM!


    The impact detonated like the heavens cracking open.


    "Ah¡ª" Su Xiaobai''s body was sent flying, skidding across the stone floor like a ragdoll tossed by an angry child.


    CRASH!


    He collided with the edge of the arena, the impact so brutal that the stone barrier crumbled. A massive crater, nearly ten meters wide, gaped where he landed. Instantly, dust and debris erupted in a choking cloud.


    "!!"


    Gasps swept through the crowd like wildfire, a ripple of shock silencing even the loudest voices. Eyes widened, breaths caught. The crowd was stunned¡ªevery face frozen in disbelief.


    "Dead? Good!" Lan Meiyu sneered, her anger momentarily giving way to smug satisfaction. "I don''t have to dirty my hands now!"

 Chapter 70 Fellow Brother— No Fellow Sister! Identity Exposed!

    "Dead? Good!" Lan Meiyu sneered, her lips curling in a smug grin that screamed, Finally, less work for me. "I don''t have to sully my hands now."Above, Bai Yujian hovered mid-air, radiant like an untouchable celestial phoenix. For once, her calm, untouchable demeanor cracked.


    Her serene expression gave way to a sharp, incredulous gaze, locked onto the dust-choked crater below. She had just shown up, fashionably late as always, only to catch the grand finale: someone getting blasted straight into next week.


    And yet¡­ she knew that someone. Knew them well enough for her chest to tighten, though she''d never admit it.


    This was supposed to be it¡ªthe end, the last time she''d ever have to deal with that ridiculous thorn in her side. Or so she''d thought.


    Because through the swirling chaos, faint signs of life stirred¡ªlike an ember refusing to die, stubborn to the point of pissing off the entire universe.


    Her lips twitched upward, a wisp of amusement breaking her cold fa?ade. "Him... again," she murmured, her tone a mix of awe and exasperation.


    How? How did this cockroach¡ªno, this suicidal lunatic¡ªkeep surviving?


    Su Xiaobai wasn''t just hard to kill; he was ''offensively'' unkillable. A walking slap to the face of mortality itself, as if death had tried to claim him one too many times and finally given up in sheer frustration.


    First, he''d popped up here alive, kicking, and obnoxiously breathing after everyone was sure he''d died in the trials. And now, after practically begging for another round of heavenly beatings, the bastard clawed his way back from the brink again, defying reason and, apparently, all divine patience.


    What was he? The heavens'' favorite chew toy? Their relationship with him was like a drunk ex¡ªmessy, toxic, and way too clingy.


    But Bai Yujian had no time to ponder the twisted romantic drama between Su Xiaobai and fate itself. Her eyes snapped to Huang Shao, whose fists crackled with golden lightning as he prepared to strike again.


    "Enough!"


    Her figure blurred, and in the blink of an eye, she stood before him, her fingers clamping around his throat with hawk-like precision.


    "You''ve got guts," she said, her voice dangerously soft. "Attacking a fellow disciple in front of the entire sect. Shall I rip them out to see how much?"


    "..."


    ".. Elder, I didn''t mean¡ª" Huang Shao stammered, sweat pouring down his face like a busted reservoir.


    "Quiet." Her tone cut like a blade. "Pray the sect spares you for this stupidity. Personally, I wouldn''t."


    Her eyes slid to Han Xuan, who stood frozen in place, his face whiter than a virgin''s wedding robe. Moments ago, he had been casually checking on some dead bodies, thinking his day couldn''t get worse. Now? The kill count was on the verge of rising right in front of him.


    "Well? Don''t just stand there¡ªfetch Xu Tianran! Or perhaps you''d prefer to explain to the sect master yourself why this fool perished under your watch?"


    "Yes!" Han Xuan jolted like a slapped child and bolted toward the Medicinal Valley, his movements so frantic he nearly tripped over his own feet.


    Of course, Han Xuan was terrified out of his wits. To most disciples, Han Xuan himself was an untouchable figure¡ªa Peak Lord, equal in rank to Bai Yujian. Yet, to her, he was nothing more than a child.


    The gap between them wasn''t merely one of rank; it was the chasm of entire generations. Bai Yujian''s presence in the sect predated its very founding¡ªshe was one of the sect''s original pillars, a legend who had watched dynasties rise and fall. Even the current sect master, revered by all, was a full generation beneath her.


    And yet, no one dared question why this immortal-like woman remained stuck at the peak of the Tribulation Realm for thousands of years. It was a mystery wrapped in silence, and few were bold enough to even speculate.


    Bai Yujian''s gaze returned to the crater, her expression a complicated mixture of irritation and curiosity. How does he keep pulling this off? she wondered, the question ringing at the edge of her mind.


    But answers could wait. Her aura turned icy, oppressive, as her attention snapped back to Huang Shao.


    "Attacking a fellow disciple with lethal intent..." Her voice dropped, each word like a tolling funeral bell. "The punishment is death."


    Huang Shao''s heart plummeted into his stomach, and then straight through the floor of his soul. If it had been anyone else, he might''ve pleaded, groveled, or found some loophole to exploit. But Bai Yujian? Her words were carved in stone. What she decreed, she executed¡ªsometimes literally.


    Even the sect''s rules, bent and twisted as they were, couldn''t shield him now. Bai Yujian wasn''t like the others. She didn''t play politics or dabble in moral gray areas. She was the Sword Peak Lord, the sect''s uncompromising executioner, and the grim enforcer of righteousness.


    Just as Huang Shao''s mind scrambled for an escape, the crater below erupted with a brilliant, otherworldly light.


    Then¡ª


    ROAR!


    A deafening sound, like the battle cry of an enraged dragon, ripped through the air, shaking the arena to its foundations.


    WHIZZZ!


    A beam of searing energy blasted from the crater, screaming skyward like the wrath of a scorned deity. It was a divine middle finger in radiant form¡ªhuge, powerful, and painfully hard to dodge.


    Huang Shao didn''t even get the chance to blink.


    BOOM!


    The beam slammed into him, its force reducing his body to ash-coated jerky.


    "AHHHHHH¡ª" His scream was mercifully drowned by the deafening explosion.


    Even Bai Yujian flinched, her eyes darting to the crater in something dangerously close to alarm.


    From the settling dust, a figure emerged, battered but somehow still standing.


    Su Xiaobai.


    He staggered forward, his movements like a drunk crab trying to walk on broken glass. His clothes were gone, his body blackened with soot, but somehow, the bastard was still alive.


    THUD!


    He managed two more steps before collapsing face-first onto the ground.


    The arena fell silent, heavy with disbelief. No one moved, no one spoke, and no one dared breathe too loudly, lest they disturb the twisted reality of what they''d just witnessed.


    Did this little Core Formation brat seriously just obliterate a Soul Fusion cultivator¡ªthree realms above him?


    It didn''t make sense. It shouldn''t have been possible. It was the kind of crap you''d expect from drunk bard songs, not real life.


    And yet, there he was.


    Finally, Xu Tianran arrived, his robes fluttering dramatically as he stepped into the chaos. His expression soured the moment he realized he wasn''t here to heal Su Xiaobai. No, he was now crouching over Huang Shao''s charred, twitching remains, desperately trying to patch together what was left of the so-called prodigy.


    The irony wasn''t lost on anyone. Xu Tianran had come expecting to save Su Xiaobai, the victim. Instead, he was left scrambling to keep Huang Shao from becoming a cautionary tale about picking on the wrong lunatic.


    And Su Xiaobai? That smug bastard was lying there like a soot-covered deity after a particularly chaotic night out. Not a scratch on him.


    It was as if the heavens themselves had decided to play favorites¡ªjust to mess with everyone else.


    ______


    Morning arrived quietly in the sect.


    Sunlight streamed through the windows, casting a soft glow over the chamber where Su Xiaobai lay unconscious. Or sleeping. Or possibly just faking it to enjoy his current circumstances¡ªwho knew with him?


    Xiao Lu sat beside him, nervously fidgeting. She glanced at his face, pale but peaceful, then at the room around them. She still couldn''t believe it. This wasn''t just any chamber¡ªit was Bai Yujian''s personal quarters.


    And Su Xiaobai? The bastard was sprawled across her bed, snoring lightly, looking more comfortable than any man had a right to.


    Why her bed, of all places? Xiao Lu thought with a mix of embarrassment and irritation. The sect had decided to formally admit him as an outer disciple, but apparently, the barracks were too risky for someone with a habit of nearly dying every other day. Or maybe Bai Yujian had her reasons.


    The door creaked open, and Bai Yujian stepped inside, her gaze sharp as always. Xiao Lu stiffened, her worry spilling out in a rush.


    "Elder, why isn''t he waking up?"


    Bai Yujian crossed the room, her steps deliberate. "He''s fine. Just burned through too much energy and slipped into a deep sleep. He''ll wake when his body''s done healing itself together." Her voice was as cold as her expression, though there was a faint flicker of something¡ªannoyance? Curiosity?¡ªin her eyes.


    Behind her, Xiao Yu shuffled in, looking as grumpy as ever, followed by Fatty Zhou, whose restless hands kept fidgeting with the ring on his finger.


    Bai Yujian''s gaze lingered on Su Xiaobai for a moment. He should''ve woken up by now. She didn''t like loose ends, and this one was starting to tie itself into knots. If he was going to be an outer disciple, she''d need to introduce him to someone who could show him around. The problem? His acquaintances.


    Su Xiaobai knew three people in the outer court. One of them wanted him dead. The remaining options weren''t much better, but she''d have to work with what she had.


    "You," Bai Yujian said, placing a hand on Xiao Lu''s shoulder. The girl jumped as though struck by lightning.


    "??"


    "Come with me," Bai Yujian abruptly ordered, her tone leaving no room for argument.


    "But I am¡ª"


    "Now."


    Xiao Lu bit her lip, reluctant but obedient, and followed Bai Yujian out of the room. She cast one last worried glance at Su Xiaobai before the door shut behind them.


    Fatty Zhou took the opportunity to slip away as well. "Uh¡­ I''ve got something to finish in the alchemy room," he muttered, shuffling toward the exit like a guilty child sneaking out of trouble.


    That left only Xiao Yu, who groaned audibly, slumping into the nearest stool.


    "Why am I the one stuck babysitting this guy...?" he muttered, glaring half-heartedly at Su Xiaobai''s unconscious form.


    Security reasons, Bai Yujian had said. Apparently, she was convinced Su Xiaobai could find a way to self-destruct even in his sleep.


    With nothing better to do, Xiao Yu leaned back, staring blankly at Su Xiaobai''s face. "You don''t even look that impressive, you know," he mumbled. His gaze above Su Xiaobai''s face, and he frowned slightly.


    Actually¡­ he''s not that bad-looking. Kind of handsome, in a punchable way.


    The thought startled him, and he shook his head. "What the hell am I thinking?" he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck.


    S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 71 Phoenix Ancestor!

    "What in the heavens am I thinking?" Xiao Yu muttered, running a hand over the back of her neck. A stray strand of hair slid free, curling along her shoulder like a lover''s sly whisper.She froze.


    Her gaze flicked to the mirror¡ªan obnoxiously polished bronze monstrosity sitting in the corner like it owned the place. The sunlight hit its surface, and the reflection staring back made her breath froze.


    That¡­ wasn''t her.


    No, the person in the mirror was someone else entirely: an ethereal beauty with features too delicate, too haunting. Midnight-dark-blue hair spilled down her back like a river in mourning, and her lips, curved in a faint, mocking smile, seemed to say, Caught you, didn''t I?


    "Damn it," she hissed, voice tight with panic. "My mask is already cracking?"


    Her fingers skimmed her face, feeling the illusion''s edges fray like threadbare silk. This couldn''t be happening¡ªnot now. She flicked a glance at the door, nerves wound tighter than a bowstring.


    The room was silent save for the steady breathing of Su Xiaobai, sprawled across the opposite bed, snoring like a particularly lazy demon king.


    Xiao Yu¡ªno, Yu Feng¡ªcollapsed into the nearest chair, dragging a hand over her face. The spiritual disguise was everything. Without it, her mission¡ªher entire existence¡ªwas dust.


    With a sharp breath, she summoned her qi, forcing the mask back into place.


    The mirror blurred. Her hair shrank into a boyish crop. Delicate features hardened into sharp edges. The illusion was back. Mostly. Those damn eyes¡ªstill dark, still endless¡ªwere impossible to hide.


    "Great," she muttered, glaring at her reflection. "Even the mask can''t tone down these cursed eyes."


    Her self-loathing was interrupted by a voice, casual and unbearably smug.


    "I preferred the first look."


    Hiss!~


    Her blood ran cold.


    Slowly, she turned toward the bed. Su Xiaobai was awake, watching her with an expression so neutral it felt insulting.


    A beat of silence passed.


    "...You''re awake."


    "Yeah. Great performance with the mirror, by the way. Very dramatic." He stretched lazily, smirking like a cat who''d just upended a shrine offering. "You''d make an excellent villainess, you know."


    Yu Feng''s face darkened. "What. Did. You. See?"


    He tilted his head, feigning thought. "Enough to know that your whole ''I''m totally a guy'' act is about as convincing as my humility."


    Her hand shot out, yanking his collar. "You dare¡ª"


    "Relax, sweetheart." He raised his hands in surrender, though that smile didn''t budge. "Your secret''s safe. Why would I bother? Too much effort."


    Her grip tightened. "And why should I trust you?"


    "Because you don''t have a choice."** He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Besides, killing me would be messy. And inconvenient. And¡­ let''s face it¡ªI''m probably stronger than you."


    Yu Feng''s eyes narrowed, dangerously close to murder. "Stronger? You? You''re a Core Formation nobody who survives on dumb luck."


    "Oh," he sighed, shaking his head like a disappointed elder. "I''m stronger where it counts."


    Her fist twitched, but instead of decking him, she shoved him back onto the bed, pinning him with one glowing hand on his wrist.


    BAM!


    "Listen closely," she growled, leaning in until their faces were mere inches apart. "If you so much as breathe a word¡ª"


    "Oho! Rough already?" Su Xiaobai interrupted, chuckling dryly. "At least buy me wine first."


    "..."


    Yu Feng froze.


    Realization hit her like a flying sword to the chest. She was straddling him, one hand pinning his wrist, while he looked up at her with the kind of smirk you wanted to slap into another realm.


    "Perverted idiot!" she snapped, slamming his wrists into the bed. But something buzzed faintly under her palm.


    Her eyes darted down.


    "What the¡ª?"


    A glowing array shimmered across her hand, and in Su Xiaobai''s other hand was a formation pen, twirling smugly between his fingers. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Relax," he said, waggling the pen like a conductor. "Just a little Retribution Array. If you kill me, you die too. Romantic, isn''t it?"


    Yu Feng snorted, "You think I''m stupid? That only works on people in the same realm or weaker."


    Su Xiaobai''s grin faltered. "Okay, true. But it''s not a ''normal'' Retribution Array¡ª"


    "..." Yu Feng let out a long, sharp exhale, suppressing the urge to punch him into next week. Let him think it works, she decided. If the fool wanted to play games, she''d play along. For now.


    What he didn''t know¡ªcouldn''t know¡ªwas that she wasn''t just hiding her face. She was hiding her cultivation. Two realms above him, Yu Feng could''ve crushed him like a bug if she felt like it. But Bai Yujian''s eyes were everywhere, and cleaning up his corpse would be more trouble than it was worth.


    Before she could make her next move, Su Xiaobai lunged forward.


    He kissed her.


    "!!!"


    Yu Feng froze, her brain short-circuiting. Out of all the insane, suicidal things he could''ve done, this had to be the dumbest.


    Her mind screamed: Kill him. Break his spine. Burn his soul into ash.


    But her body? Betrayed her completely.


    Worse still, a treacherous thought crept in: ...It wasn''t that bad.


    And, because the heavens loved irony, a swirl of mist coalesced into the room.


    Bai Yujian and Xiao Lu stepped in just in time to see Su Xiaobai locking lips with "Xiao Yu," the allegedly male disciple.


    A silence heavier than a mountain followed.


    "¡­"


    Xiao Lu''s face darkened immediately. Her master always had¡­ peculiar habits. This? This was a new low.


    Bai Yujian''s expression was harder to pin down. She stood there, staring blankly, as though her brain was actively trying to delete the scene from her memory. Slowly, her lips curled into a grimace, like she''d just stepped on something unspeakable.


    Without a word, she turned and walked out of the room. "I''ll come back later," she muttered stiffly, her tone robotic. She needs a minute. Maybe ten. Possibly a month. Meditation will clear this from my mind. Yes, meditate or risk a heart demon.


    Xiao Lu stayed behind, glaring at her master with undisguised embarrassment. Why do I follow this man? Why haven''t I run away yet?


    Su Xiaobai, meanwhile, blinked at the retreating mist of Bai Yujian and sighed. "Well, that could''ve gone better." He glanced back at Yu Feng, still frozen like a sculpture,"You can stop pretending you''re stunned now. Or should I kiss you again?"


    Yu Feng''s fist clenched, and this time, she didn''t hold back.


    BAM!


    "You¡ª" Su Xiaobai doubled over, clutching his stomach as pain lanced through him, hot and unforgiving. His grand plan to break the girl''s spirit had clearly blown up in his face.


    Serves me right for poking a snake without gloves, he thought, staggering upright.


    Bai Yujian, who hadn''t gone far, paused mid-step. She glanced back briefly, her expression that of a senior tired of witnessing juniors'' stupidity.


    Shaking her head, she muttered something under her, and kept walking.


    Su Xiaobai straightened, brushing the sweat from his brow, only to notice Xiao Lu watching him. Her gaze was sharp and focused, like she was deciding whether to laugh or call for a healer.


    "What?" he snapped, but she just smiled.


    Xiao Lu quickly recounted the events since yesterday: his miraculous survival, the elders begrudgingly acknowledging him as an official disciple, and how Bai Yujian had dragged her away for a private chat. But something still tempted Su Xiaobai''s curiosity.


    "Fine," he said, stretching lazily, his joints cracking like an old door hinge. "But¡ªwhat did she want with you, anyway? Why''d she drag you off to some secret corner for a private little chat? Sounds scandalous, as if she was plotting to buy you off with something,"


    ''How does he knows?'' Xiao Lu stiffened, the memory flashing in her mind:


    "You have a drop of phoenix blood in your veins."


    Fifteen minutes earlier, Bai Yujian had pulled Xiao Lu aside, her expression unreadable as she dropped a bombshell: the reason Xiao Lu''s cultivation was soaring during the daytime. It wasn''t luck. It wasn''t even talent.


    "You''re absorbing the sun''s heat directly, thanks to the phoenix blood in your veins."


    The words hit Xiao Lu like a divine tribulation. She hadn''t even managed to stammer out a response before Bai Yujian continued, her tone sharp and uncompromising:


    "Remaining a maid is beneath you. Join the sect as a trainee disciple. Once your strength matures, you''ll ascend to the outer court."


    The subtext had been painfully clear: *Stop hugging to Su Xiaobai''s thighs and grow some wings, little phoenix.


    Xiao Lu snapped out of the memory to find Su Xiaobai staring at her, his arms crossed, his patience wearing thin.


    "Well? What did you choose?" he asked calmly. But inside, he wasn''t calm at all.


    Xiao Lu''s lips curled into a mischievous smile. "Won''t tell."


    "..."


    Su Xiaobai blinked. He''d been expecting some grand declaration, maybe even a heartfelt confession. Instead, he got this, "You little¡ª" His eyebrow twitched dangerously.


    "Ah!?¡ªMaster! Wait, wait! I''ll talk! I''ll tell you everything! Just stop whatever crazy idea you''re about to¡ª" Xiao Lu''s panicked words spilled out in a rush, her hands raised defensively.


    Before she could even blink, Su Xiaobai lunged, completely ignoring her desperate plea, his grin wide enough to rival a bandit chief about to loot a treasure trove.


    What followed was an undignified mess of yelps, vague threats, and Su Xiaobai doling out "discipline" that involved Xiao Lu''s backside and an open palm.


    By the time Bai Yujian returned, she found Xiao Lu sulking with an unmistakably red butt, while Su Xiaobai sat smugly nearby, the picture of innocence.


    The elder gave them one long, disapproving look. What in the heavens did she unleash by letting this bastard into the sect?


    Bai Yujian didn''t bother assigning Su Xiaobai any tasks for the day, though he had a few demands of his own. Chief among them was the stone Elder Han Xuan had bet during the competition. Bai Yujian promised to deliver it tomorrow. The negotiation went smoothly¡ªtoo smoothly, which made Su Xiaobai suspicious.


    But when Bai Yujian questioned him about Huang Shao''s injuries, he shrugged with the nonchalance of a drunk monk.


    "No idea," he lied easily.


    Of course, he knew. That overwhelming attack¡ªthe ''Heavenly Dragon Breath''¡ªwas unmistakable. It was the signature move of the Azure Dragon Clan, one of the oldest and most fearsome bloodlines in the cultivation world.


    The thing was, Su Xiaobai wasn''t part of the Azure Dragon Clan.


    The technique had erupted from him instinctively, drawn from the bloodline he''d stolen in a moment of forbidden passion with his aunt, Long Lifen.


    And this wasn''t just a normal dragon breath either¡ªit had fused with the ''Void Thunder Dragon''s Presence'' within him, amplifying its power to absurd levels.


    Naturally, he kept this little information to himself. Bai Yujian was clever, but her intentions were murkier than a brothel''s accounts ledger. No point handing her more ammunition.


    Tomorrow, he would etch the summoning array, and Xiao Mei would descend upon this realm. With her arrival, the first threads of his grand plan would finally weave into motion.

 Chapter 72 Huang Shao — Dead! Peak lord of Stormfire Peak!

    Meanwhile, in the dead of the night.Under the smug gaze of the crescent moon...


    Su Xiaobai sprawled across Bai Yujian''s bed like a sloth that had won the lottery, his arms and legs stretched wide across the soft, silk-covered paradise. The faint scent of jasmine sneakily tickling his nose.


    "Pfft, fancy women and their fancy smells," he muttered, rubbing his face against the pillow with a grin. "She doesn''t even use this bed. Wasteful! It''s mine now. Mine!"


    He yawned, stretching until his joints popped. "Ah¡­ so soft. So perf¡ª"


    He smiled, blissfully ignorant of the faint pulse of light deep within his storage ring. A soft thrum echoed in the void, and something stirred.


    With a gentle pop¡ªpop!¡ªXiao Hei emerged from the ring, her tiny feet landing soundlessly on the wooden floor. She stood there for a moment, tilting her head as she gazed at Su Xiaobai, her crimson eyes gleaming softly in the dim light.


    She blinked.


    Her small hand rose to her lips, as though suppressing a giggle. But no sound came from her. Silent as the night, Xiao Hei climbed onto the bed, crouching beside the sleeping Su Xiaobai.


    She poked his cheek. Boop.


    Su Xiaobai didn''t stir. A snore escaped him, loud and triumphant.


    Xiao Hei tilted her head the other way, as if pondering something. Then, with a light hop, she leapt off the bed. Her tiny feet landed with a soft *tap tap*. She turned once to glance at Su Xiaobai, her lips curling into a faint, almost protective smile.


    And then, she vanished into the shadows.


    ____


    At Stormfire Peak, in a chamber lit by a single flickering flame, lay Huang Shao.


    Once a proud disciple of the sect, Huang Shao was now reduced to a pitiful wreck. Layers of bandages cocooned his broken body, soaked in blood that smelled of desperation. His shattered dantian left his spiritual core an empty void, and his breaths came in shallow, uneven gasps.


    The door creaked open.


    Huang Shao''s eyes snapped open, wild with fear. "Wh-Who''s there?" he rasped, his voice cracking.


    From the shadows emerged Xiao Hei. Her small frame seemed almost too delicate to belong to this dark place. Her red dress flowed like ink, her crimson eyes glowing faintly in the gloom.


    Huang Shao froze. A bead of sweat slid down his temple.


    "Wait," he stammered, trying to push himself upright. "Wait¡ªdon''t¡ª"


    Xiao Hei stepped closer, her footsteps as soft as falling petals. Tap. Tap. Tap. She stopped at the edge of the bed, her head tilting as she stared at him.


    "W-Who are you?" Huang Shao whispered, trembling.


    Xiao Hei blinked. Slowly, she raised a small hand and brushed the bandages on his chest.


    Her touch was feather-light, but it sent a shiver down Huang Shao''s spine.


    Her lips curled into a sweet, innocent smile.


    Then her fingers pressed harder¡ªcrunch!


    "H-Help¡ª" Huang Shao let out a choked scream before darkness consumed him.


    _____


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    Next day, the peaceful morning exploded with noise.


    "OPEN THE DAMN GATES!"


    "Stop shielding that rat!"


    "BRING ME HIS HEAD!"


    Su Xiaobai jolted awake, his dream of swimming in a sea of roasted ducks rudely interrupted.


    "What the hell?" He rubbed his eyes and shuffled toward the door. "Can''t a guy get some sleep around here?"


    Before he could reach the handle, the door exploded inward. Splinters rained down as a towering figure stormed into the room.


    BAM!


    Standing amidst the destruction was Elder Liu, Peak Lord of Stormfire Peak. The man was tall and skeletal, his crimson robes fluttering in the morning wind. His eyes, sharp and predatory, locked onto Su Xiaobai like a hawk sighting prey. Behind him, a mob of disciples glared at Su Xiaobai like he''d personally insulted their ancestors.


    "You!" Elder Liu''s voice cracked like thunder. "You dare assassinate my disciple?!"


    Su Xiaobai stared blankly. "Assassinate? What? Me?" He pointed to himself. "Buddy, I don''t even have the energy to climb out of this bed, let alone go around murdering people. You''ve got the wrong guy!"


    "Don''t play dumb!" Elder Liu roared, his aura bursting out like a wildfire.


    Behind him, a swarm of Stormfire Peak disciples filled the courtyard, their glares sharp enough to peel paint.


    "Liar!"


    "Coward!"


    "Let''s string him up!"


    The disciples didn''t look convinced.


    Su Xiaobai threw his hands in the air. "Why," he groaned to himself, "why does every psycho with a grudge show up at my door? What next? A fairy descending from the heavens to save my ass?"


    BOOM!


    The thought made him laugh¡ªright up until it didn''t.


    The roof exploded, and in swept Bai Yujian like a goddess late to her own party. Dark hair flowed behind her like a stormcloud, and her eyes burned with the fury of a thousand unpaid debts. She landed lightly amidst the rubble, her aura clashing against Elder Liu''s like two wild beasts fighting for dominance.


    "Liu Chenfu," she said, her voice sharp as a blade. "Are you actually insane?"


    Elder Liu''s aura blasted in response, burning like molten steel. "Stay out of this, Bai Yujian! That rat murdered my disciple!"


    Bai Yujian''s expression didn''t change, "Your disciple deserved it."


    "You¡ª!"


    The two auras clashed, shaking the entire mountain. Su Xiaobai, now pinned against a wall by the sheer pressure, wheezed.


    "Master!"


    Xiao Lu burst through the crowd of disciples, ducking debris as she reached Su Xiaobai. She grabbed him by the arm, dragging him upright.


    "What''s going on?!" she demanded, her voice high with panic.


    "I don''t know!" Su Xiaobai shouted back. "But if someone doesn''t stop these lunatics!"


    His eyes darted toward Elder Liu, and his frustration boiled over.


    "If I wasn''t so weak," he muttered through gritted teeth, "I''d slice him into little pieces and use him as bait for my chickens."


    Xiao Lu snorted, "You''d need to be stronger than him to do that, Master."


    Su Xiaobai''s face darkened. Why was he the one being insulted here? Some old fossil, a hundred times his age, wanted to murder him, and he''s the weakling? What was he supposed to do¡ªwrestle the guy barehanded?


    And worse, he still didn''t even know what crime he was supposed to have committed.


    More elders began to arrive, shuffling into the courtyard with stiff expressions. Su Xiaobai eyed them warily, muttering under his breath, "Who the hell are these geezers?" He had never seen any of them before, but judging by their presence, the mess must''ve been serious.


    The newcomers quickly separated Bai Yujian and Liu Chenfu, who had been seconds away from tearing the mountain in half. Their auras faded, but the tension in the air like the aftertaste of bad wine.


    After what felt like an eternity, things finally calmed down. That''s when Su Xiaobai got the news.


    It turned out that Huang Shao, the very disciple who had tried to assassinate Su Xiaobai during the tournament, had been assassinated himself.


    In his own home.


    Last night.


    The irony hit Su Xiaobai like a slap to the face. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    For Elder Liu, though, it was worse. His prized disciple, his supposed future star, had not only broken sect rules during the tournament and been humiliated, but now someone had murdered him right under Elder Liu''s nose. It was as if the killer had marched up to Stormfire Peak, smeared mud all over their faces, and laughed while doing it.


    The humiliation ran deep, and the anger even deeper.


    It didn''t take long for the "small incident" to escalate into a full-blown war.


    Sword Peak disciples, looking for an excuse to show off their supposed superiority, joined the fray to beat down Stormfire Peak''s disciples. Accusations flew. Grudges reignited. Soon, the peaceful sect grounds were transformed into a battleground, with cultivators clashing in the courtyards, roofs, and even the training halls.


    ____


    "Hahaha!"


    Su Xiaobai leaned lazily on the balcony railing, watching the war with a grin on his face. A small pile of peanut shells grew beside him as he popped another into his mouth. "Look at them go! They''re like dogs fighting over scraps!"


    He laughed harder as two disciples from opposing peaks tripped over a stray broom and tumbled face-first into the mud.


    "I don''t know who killed Huang Shao," Su Xiaobai said between bites, "but that bastard deserves a feast. They''ve done us all a favor!"


    Behind him, Xiao Hei silently emerged, balancing a tray of sweets in her small hands. She sat down beside Su Xiaobai without a word, offering him a plate of candied lotus seeds before taking a piece for herself.


    Together, they munched on snacks like it was a festival.


    ___


    Xiao Lu stood a few steps away, her face a mix of disbelief and exasperation. "You two¡­ The sect is practically at war, and this is what you''re doing? Watching the show like it''s a play?"


    Su Xiaobai shrugged, crunching on a particularly crispy peanut. "What else am I supposed to do? Jump in and mediate? I''d rather fight a rabid tiger."


    Xiao Lu slapped her forehead. "Master, don''t you care that one of these maniacs might barge in here to kill you?"


    "Oh, I care," Su Xiaobai said, smirking. "I care so much that I''m ready to welcome them with open arms and a snack." He waved his peanut bag. "Want one? It''s salted."


    "..."

 Chapter 73 Sugarmommy +1

    "..."Xiao Lu had no words.


    The elders had all mysteriously vanished, likely retreating for some kind of private meeting to "resolve grievances" in a way only old men knew how¡ªby drinking tea and yelling at each other behind closed doors.


    Without supervision, the disciples of both peaks fought like crazed beasts, their spiritual auras smashing through walls and ripping up the gardens.


    At any moment, one of them could charge straight toward Su Xiaobai with murder in their eyes, and yet here he was, treating it all like a spectator sport.


    Xiao Lu didn''t understand. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    What she didn''t know was that Su Xiaobai had stopped caring about death a long time ago. He''d had close calls so often that the fear had worn thin, like a blade dulled from overuse. These days, he didn''t flinch when death came knocking.


    Hell, he even laughed when it came close enough to touch.


    "You''re still here?"


    The voice was sweet, almost melodic, but the frost in it could freeze an entire lake.


    Su Xiaobai turned around, and there she was¡ªBai Yujian, her hair shimmering in the sunlight, her expression a frosty mask of disdain. His shoulders slumped. This woman again?


    "What? Weren''t all the elders supposed to be off resolving their grudges in a personal deathmatch or whatever?" he muttered under his breath.


    Bai Yujian snorted, a sound both elegant and cutting. "Liu Chenfu, the ignorant fool? If it weren''t for the Sect Master, I''d have taken his heart out and used it to feed the spirit beasts." Her lips curled, as if the mere thought of restraint disgusted her.


    Su Xiaobai''s face darkened. He hadn''t even met this so-called Sect Master yet, but from the way Bai Yujian spoke, it seemed like he was the only leash holding her back. What baffled him more was how little she seemed to care whether or not he had killed Huang Shao.


    Instead, her gaze wandered over the fighting disciples below, a mix of amusement and disgust flickering in her eyes.


    "Uh, shouldn''t you, you know¡­ stop them?" Su Xiaobai asked, jerking his thumb toward the war in the courtyard. "They''re your disciples, aren''t they?"


    Bai Yujian''s expression didn''t change, "Why bother? They''ll stop on their own soon enough. The weaklings will collapse. The stronger ones will get bored. Balance restored."


    "..."


    Su Xiaobai stared at her in stunned silence. Balance restored? Was she really just going to let them brawl until someone either passed out or broke an arm?


    "Come," Bai Yujian said sharply, her gaze snapping back to him. "I''ll explain the basics of the sect and cultivators. Your ignorance is embarrassing at this point." Her tone brooked no argument, and the glare she shot him screamed don''t even think about saying no.


    Su Xiaobai sighed and hopped down from the balcony, landing beside her. As he followed her elegant strides, he muttered, "So, you''re really not going to stop them?"


    Bai Yujian glanced over her shoulder, her face devoid of expression. "They''ll stop when they''ve had enough."


    "..."


    Su Xiaobai had so many questions, but he wisely decided to keep them to himself.


    He didn''t feel like testing his luck.


    This woman was too beautiful, her sword too sharp, and his head¡­ well, it wouldn''t look any better rolling off her blade.


    For now, he''d follow her lead. After all, surviving the day intact was a victory in itself.


    ___


    On the way, Bai Yujian explained why the Xiantian Sect was known as the ''Righteous Sect.''


    Her voice was steady but carried the kind of authority that dared anyone to question her. "The sect operates on a credit system," she began. "Disciples, elders, even the Sect Master himself¡ªeveryone earns ''contribution points'' for performing righteous deeds. These points are the sole currency in the sect. You can exchange them for cultivation resources at the Treasure Pavilion."


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes lit up. "So¡­ basically, you''re saying the sect is one big meritocracy?"


    Bai Yujian gave him a sidelong glance. "That''s a fancy word for someone who just learned how to wield a sword, but¡­ yes."


    Su Xiaobai nodded, pretending not to hear the insult.


    She continued, her tone still as cold as the wind over a frozen lake. "Contribution points aren''t just for righteous deeds. Completing missions from the Mission Hall, discovering and selling precious herbs, or even selling alchemical pills to the sect¡ªthose are valid ways to earn them too."


    "Sounds easy," Su Xiaobai said. "I could just grab some herbs and¡ª"


    "Easy?" Bai Yujian snorted. "Do you think demonic beasts guarding those herbs will let you pluck them? Or that missions won''t involve breaking your bones? Idiot."


    "..." Su Xiaobai wisely kept quiet, already regretting his comment.


    Bai Yujian explained further: "The ''Mission Hall'' ensures all posted missions align with the sect''s founding principles¡ªsubjugating demonic beasts, eliminating heretical cultivators, protecting villages. By tying rewards to righteous deeds, even if someone with¡­ unsavory intentions joins the sect, they''re forced to do good to progress. Clever, isn''t it?"


    Su Xiaobai scratched his head. "Wait, that''s great and all, but what about punishment? What if someone screws up?"


    Her frosty gaze landed on him, sharp enough to pin him in place. "Punishment Hall. Any actions that go against the sect''s principles result in contribution point deductions. If your points drop below zero¡­" She paused, letting the weight of her words sink in. "You''ll be punished. And in severe cases, expelled. Or executed."


    Su Xiaobai looked at her dubiously, "Executed....?''


    "Yes. For instance¡­" She glanced at him meaningfully. "When Huang Shao attacked you during the tournament, his contribution points were reduced to zero. His crime was scheduled to be judged by the Punishment Hall."


    "So you didn''t care whether I killed him because¡­" Su Xiaobai trailed off.


    "Because his death was inevitable," Bai Yujian replied coldly. "But it was obvious you didn''t kill him. You can barely lift a ban, much less infiltrate Stormfire Peak."


    Su Xiaobai nodded. "That''s¡­ fair." he really didn''t do anything this time.


    She continued explaining the system:


    Unranked ''outer court disciples'' receive a fixed 1,000 points per month. ''Inner court disciples'' earn 10,000. ''Core disciples'', the true elites, are awarded 100,000 points monthly. Contribution points can also be earned by challenging ranked disciples and taking their spot on the leaderboard.


    "But¡­" Bai Yujian added, "core disciples have no rankings amongst themselves. They''re too few, and their strength speaks for itself. They''re instead ranked on the main leaderboard of the entire sect."


    Even elders weren''t exempt from the system. They, too, could earn and spend contribution points.


    "When Liu Chenfu barged into mine room this morning," she added with a smile, "his contribution points were deducted. The disciples fighting outside? Theirs will be docked too. If they fall into negatives, they''ll face punishment."


    Suddenly, it all made sense to Su Xiaobai. "That''s why you''re so chill about this mess. The system handles everything for you..."


    Bai Yujian gave a faint smile. "Precisely."


    Su Xiaobai wasn''t entirely paying attention to the rest of her explanations about the sect''s rules, hierarchy, and the founding ancestor. His ears perked up again only when they visited the ''Treasure Pavilion''.


    Inside, his jaw nearly dropped. Rare herbs, legendary weapons, soul-grade pills¡ªeverything he could dream of was on display, available for purchase with contribution points.


    He winced, remembering that his own balance was likely at zero. Or so he thought.


    One million points.


    That was the number staring back at him.


    "What...?" Su Xiaobai muttered, rubbing his eyes.


    Bai Yujian didn''t even blink at his reaction.


    It turned out that his surprising windfall came from a combination of sources:


    - 100,000 points for being first in the Disciple Selection Tournament.


    - 500,000 points for defeating Huang Shao, three realms above him, and taking all his contribution points.


    - And a staggering 400,000 points transferred directly by Bai Yujian.


    "Wait, what''s this last one for?" he asked, squinting at the record.


    Bai Yujian waved dismissively. "I''ve decided to take you as my personal disciple."


    Su Xiaobai blinked. "Just like that?!"


    She raised an eyebrow. "Do you want me to change my mind?"


    "No, no! Thank you, sugarmommy¡ª" He froze mid-sentence, realizing he''d nearly said the wrong thing.


    "Sugarmommy?" Bai Yujian''s sharp ears caught the slip. Her eyes narrowed curiously. "What''s that?"


    Su Xiaobai''s lips twitched. Crap. She has superhuman hearing.


    "It''s¡­ nothing," He instantly made up a lie, "Where I come from, when someone loses their mother, the woman closest to them¡ªwho takes care of them¡ªis called a sugar mommy."


    Bai Yujian''s frosty demeanor softened slightly, and she tilted her head as if deep in thought. "Ah. It''s natural for elders to treat their personal disciples as family. I see. So¡­ I''m your sugar mommy now."


    "..."


    Hiss~


    Su Xiaobai nearly choked. Her innocent tone and lack of irony made it ten times worse. He coughed awkwardly, avoiding her gaze.


    Bai Yujian, however, seemed unbothered. She walked on, muttering to herself, "Sugar mommy. How quaint."


    Su Xiaobai sighed heavily, rubbing his forehead. This woman needs to be educated. Someday¡­ someday I''ll explain. For now, let''s just survive this embarrassment.

 Chapter 74 Proposing Bai Yujian!

    "What do you even know about the Dao?"Bai Yujian''s voice carried the soft authority of a thousand years atop Sword Peak, but her curiosity was met with an unexpected twist. She had been eager to educate this new disciple, to speak of the Sword, the Righteous Dao, and the legacy of their peak. Instead, Su Xiaobai raised his hand, casually cutting her off.


    The audacity.


    The absolute gall.


    He was, without a doubt, the first sect member who had ever dared to interrupt her.


    "Uh¡­ yeah, we can circle back to the ''Dao talk'' later," Su Xiaobai said, scratching his head. "I''ve got more important business to handle right now."


    Bai Yujian: "???"


    Her beautiful eyes blinked at him¡ªcrystalline pools that could drown a weaker man. But Su Xiaobai? Oh, no. He wasn''t diving in there. He had no time for that kind of trouble. His goals were crystal clear: get his hands on some rare resources and avoid unnecessary drama. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I need the core of a Crimson Ore Behemoth," he said plainly.


    Bai Yujian pursed her lips. The audacity was annoying, but the request? Simple enough. She had the core lying around, no big deal. In fact, she even transferred him contribution points so he could arrange for some Void Fracture Stones from the treasury¡ªa rare and priceless resource, each piece costing a hundred thousand contribution points.


    When he bought ten at once, her eyes widened.


    ''This guy¡­''


    "Finally!" Su Xiaobai grinned like a man who''d just won the lottery. Clutching the crimson ore core and the stones, he looked as smug as a cat with cream. "Now I just need an open space. Is there one around here?"


    Bai Yujian blinked again, nodding hesitantly. "???" was practically written on her face.


    To say she didn''t understand this strange new disciple of hers would be the understatement of the century. After all, she''d only ever had one other personal disciple in a thousand years, Liu Zhenhai, and even that was more out of obligation than choice.


    Yet this guy¡ªSu Xiaobai¡ªhad shown up on his first day, casually beaten a dozen Core Formation brats into submission, and revealed himself to be a puppet refiner, a craft so niche it wasn''t even its own peak anymore.


    Stormfire Peak handled puppets as a side hustle, but putting Su Xiaobai next to their lead crafter, Elder Liu? That would be a death sentence.


    No, she''d taken him in to protect him¡­ or so she thought. In her mind, Su Xiaobai was earnest and sincere, proving his worth through trials instead of abusing her token to sneak into the sect. The truth? She was delusional. He was delusional. Truly, a match made by the heavens.


    They walked together to the practice arena. A few Core Disciples in red robes crossed their path, but the moment they saw Bai Yujian, they bowed and scattered like frightened sparrows.


    ''Damn,'' Su Xiaobai thought, watching them vanish. This woman''s reputation must be terrifying. Still, to him, she seemed¡­ pretty harmless so far.


    "Hey," he said, glancing at her. "Since this is a Righteous Sect, don''t you think people could fake being righteous while secretly being scumbags? Like that Crimson Sword guy. His weapon looked demonic as hell. Why''d you even let him participate?"


    Bai Yujian paused, turning to him with a trace of surprise. On day one, this brat had already poked a hole in the sect''s ideology. His observational skills were sharper than most elders''.


    "Yes," she admitted after a moment. "It''s true that some try to hide their corruption behind a mask of virtue. But the heart of the Righteous Dao isn''t about appearances. It''s about motives. A demonic sword raised against evil is righteous at heart, and we accept that. But even a sword forged in the heavens, if used for evil, goes against our values. Those who pretend to be righteous? They don''t last long here."


    Her voice grew cold toward the end, and Su Xiaobai shivered slightly.


    "Good to know," he said, stepping onto the vast training ground and beginning to arrange the Void Fracture Stones. "I''ll help you root out ''those'' hypocrites. Someone''s gotta keep the books balanced, right?"


    Bai Yujian blinked again, genuinely stunned by his words. ''Perhaps my choice wasn''t wrong after all¡­''


    But Su Xiaobai''s thoughts were far from noble. ''If I''m the warden of justice, there''s no way I''d prosecute myself. Easy win.''


    With a grin, he pulled out a Celestial Inscriber and fed it the Crimson Ore Behemoth''s core. Bai Yujian''s eyes widened as he began working.


    "Is that¡­ a formation pen?"


    "You understand formations?" Bai Yujian asked, stepping closer. Her fragrance¡ªlight, like spring rain¡ªlingered in the air, teasing the senses.


    Su Xiaobai didn''t look up. His hands moved swiftly, tracing lines of light across the ground, stitching the heavens into the earth. The formation glowed, intricate and beautiful, pulling silent gasps from the disciples who dared to sneak closer despite their fear of Bai Yujian.


    "Summoning array?" she asked again, her tone soft, her curiosity sharper than her sword.


    Su Xiaobai glanced up, unimpressed. "What gave it away? The glowing runes or the ''giant interdimensional tear'' vibe?"


    Bai Yujian''s lips tightened, half amused. Her eyes lingered on the Void Fracture Stones¡ªtools of immense power, capable of slicing through dimensions.


    "Why aren''t you at Mystic Vein Peak?" she asked, stepping closer. "Formation masters thrive there. You''d be their star."


    He snorted, dusting his hands. "Sure. I''ll give up Sword Peak, forget stabbing people, and go meditate on celestial geometry. Great plan."


    Bai Yujian arched a brow. "Strange," she muttered. "Why someone like you even needs all this. Who are you summoning?"


    Su Xiaobai paused. For once, his hands stilled.


    "Family," he said. "The last one left."


    Bai Yujian blinked, her composure slipping. The single word struck harder than she expected.


    ''I see,'' she thought, imagining hidden pain, some tragic saga of loss.


    Su Xiaobai almost rolled his eyes. ''Here we go. She''s writing my biography in her head.''


    The truth? No epic drama.


    He was weak.


    He''d screwed up.


    He was fixing it.


    End of story.


    "What now?" Bai Yujian asked, her tone softer.


    The answer roared to life.


    Swoosh!


    The Void Fracture Stones blazed. Light shot skyward, carving a rift in the heavens. Day turned to night in an instant, and above them, stars swirled in a massive astral projection. It was breathtaking.


    Disciples from every peak turned to Sword Peak, whispers rising like wind. Bai Yujian raised her hand, her qi forming a barrier. "No one comes closer," she commanded.


    Meanwhile, Su Xiaobai moved with calm efficiency. He tossed items into the array¡ªa cursed talisman, a broken bone, and what might''ve been a mummified claw. Each vanished in the light, consumed by the array.


    Finally, he pulled out a frayed ''scrap of cloth'', belonging to his little sister ¡ª Xiao Mei, its edges worn by time.


    The cloth hovered, spinning faster and faster until it became a blinding spiral. The astral projection shifted, and a gateway began to form¡ªa shimmering tear between realms.


    Bai Yujian''s breath caught. "An Astral Gate¡­" she murmured. "He''s tearing through dimensions like it''s nothing."


    For the first time in centuries, awe flickered in her gaze. She almost summoned Mystic Vein Peak''s lord to witness the feat but held back. Disruption now would be catastrophic.


    Her gaze returned to Su Xiaobai, who stood calm amidst the mess. At first, she''d thought him an oddity, then a mystery.


    Now, she realized he was something far greater.


    What is he?


    Opening an Astral Gate so recklessly¡­ Did this brat not value his life? Her lips thinned as she watched the formation glow, its energy pulsating with dangerous intensity. One misstep, one slight miscalculation, and the entire Xiantian Sect would cease to exist. She reinforced the barrier surrounding the training grounds, her qi flowing like a steady river. If it weren''t for her, this thing would''ve exploded five steps ago, she thought grimly.


    At the center stood Su Xiaobai, unnervingly calm as the storm of spiritual energy roared around him. With the array stabilizing, all that remained was for the gate to connect to White Cloud Star¡ªor wherever his sister might be.


    The weight on his shoulders eased. He glanced around, noting the now-empty training grounds. Spotting Bai Yujian standing guard and ensuring their privacy, he raised a hand, ready to give her a casual thumbs-up.


    Then he froze.


    She was staring at him.


    Not her usual amused or curious gaze. No, this was deeper, sharper, like a blade above his neck. It was the kind of look that made Su Xiaobai feel like a frog skewered on a spit, ready to roast.


    ''What now?'' he thought.


    For a moment, an absurd thought crossed his mind. If this were his old world, maybe this could be romantic¡ªa girl gazing at him under a light drizzle. Except here, it wasn''t an umbrella but a parasol of pure killing intent. And instead of romance, it felt like she was about to turn him into research material.


    "Uh¡­" Su Xiaobai coughed to shatter the silence, suddenly remembering a critical distraction. "Do you, uh, know someone called White Jade Sword?"


    Bai Yujian blinked, her razor-sharp focus faltering. "White Jade Sword?" she repeated, her voice carefully blank.


    "Yeah," Su Xiaobai said, pulling a neatly wrapped scroll from his robes. "I''ve got this love letter for her. Big deal, super important. Figured I''d deliver it personally, y''know? Make a strong impression."


    "..."


    Her lips twitched, and for a moment, it looked like she might laugh. But instead, she snorted. "You''re delivering a love letter to someone whose real name you don''t even know?"


    Su Xiaobai shrugged, slipping the scroll back into his robes. "True love transcends names, alright? When you feel it, you just


    know. The moment I heard her name¡ªWhite Jade Sword¡ªI knew she was the one."


    £Ü?(?¡ã?o?¡ã?)?£¯ Bai Yujian''s eyebrow twitched violently.


    This idiot.


    She stared at him, stunned. He was standing right in front of her, delivering a love letter to her, and had no idea.


    Was he mocking her? No¡­ his sincerity was too genuine. That almost made it worse.


    Su Xiaobai''s tone shifted to one of heartfelt earnestness, though inwardly he cursed Wei Jun. Pretending this was his task was risky, but there was no way he could reveal the prince''s identity now. "I''ve heard all about her deeds. A righteous cultivator, a hero who''s changed the world! That''s enough to fall in love with her shadow. If I have to chase her across the realms, so be it! I''ll even kneel at her feet, live under her feet¡ªwhatever it takes! That''s the power of true love!"


    Bai Yujian blinked rapidly, completely stunned.


    "¡­You''ve never even seen her," she muttered. "What if she''s an ugly witch?"


    Su Xiaobai snorted. "If she''s an ugly witch, then I''ll marry an ugly witch. What''s appearance got to do with it?"


    Inwardly, he added, Not my problem anyway. Wei Jun can deal with whatever happens after this.


    Hiss~~


    Bai Yujian''s expression faltered. For a moment, her face turned the faintest shade of red. She quickly masked it with a sharp exhale, holding out her hand. "Give me the letter."


    "Oh, great," Su Xiaobai said, relieved, and handed it over without hesitation. "Saves me the trouble of running all over the sect."


    Her fingers brushed the scroll briefly before she slipped it into her sleeve. "I''ll deliver it personally," she said, her voice calm.


    But as she walked away, her gaze lingered on Su Xiaobai.


    ''This fool¡­ does he have any idea what he''s done?''

 Chapter 75 Black Tortoise Empire! Summoning Xiao Mei!

    As Su Xiaobai''s array neared completion, the spiritual energy around Sword Peak surged unnaturally, crackling with a power that stretched far beyond the sect''s borders. The air shook with an eerie light, and for a brief moment, the heavens seemed to hold their eyes.Unseen by those gathered, the ripple did not stop at the Xiantian Sect.


    Across the continent, the disturbance reached the Black Tortoise Empire¡ªa celestial ripple that would shatter more than just peace.


    ____


    Black Tortoise Empire, Imperial Castle ¨C A Night of Screaming and Shadows!


    The Imperial Castle gleamed beneath the night sky, its jade towers and golden spires an arrogant declaration of wealth and might. Yet, within the emperor''s private chambers, disorder had replaced splendor.


    The source of the disorder? A coffin.


    It sat at the center of the room, an obsidian monolith that seemed to consume the light around it. Its golden runes writhed like living things, pulsing with an ominous rhythm. The emperor, a man accustomed to bending the heavens to his will, now paced before it like a caged animal.


    "This wasn''t part of the deal!" he hissed, his voice trembling. His crown sat askew, his usually pristine robes crumpled from his restless movements. "I was promised power¡ªlimitless power! Not¡­ not this thing!"


    Two figures stood to his left, their presence suffocating despite their silence. Pale as moonlight, with crimson eyes that gleamed like smoldering embers, they radiated an aura that made even the emperor''s aura falter.


    "This is your problem now," the old man said, his tone cold and sharp. His grin was cruel, as if mocking the emperor''s panic. "You signed the blood contract. We delivered what you asked for. The rest is on you."


    The emperor''s glare could have melted steel, but the pale man didn''t so much as flinch.


    "And what am I supposed to do with this¡­ this coffin?!" The emperor gestured wildly at the ominous object.


    The old woman''s expression was inscrutable, her voice calm and chilling. "Inside that coffin lies what you sought: the power to reverse the flow of river of time itself. But that kind of power does not come without consequences."


    The coffin pulsed again, the runes flaring brighter, casting golden light across the chamber. It almost seemed to hum¡ªlike the growl of a slumbering beast.


    Suddenly, the space shifted.


    CRACK!


    A thunderous roar split the night, and the sky above the Imperial Castle shattered like glass. A vortex of energy tore through the heavens, swirling with a ferocity that sent waves of pressure cascading across the land.


    The emperor froze, "What¡­ what is that?"


    Neither elder answered. Their attention was fixed on the coffin, which had begun to levitate, its runes blazing like molten gold.


    "No! Stop it!" The emperor stumbled backward, fear flooding his features. "Seal it! Destroy it! Do something!"


    The old woman shook her head. "It''s too late."


    WHOOSH!


    With a sound like a celestial blade cutting through the fabric of reality, the coffin shot upward, swallowed whole by the vortex.


    The emperor could only watch as the vortex roared louder, ripping the roof of his chambers clean off. Shards of jade and marble rained down as the celestial disturbance consumed the heavens. And then, just as quickly as it had appeared, the vortex vanished, leaving behind an eerie silence.


    The emperor stood amidst the rubble, his breathing ragged. His once-pristine chambers now resembled a battlefield, with shattered jade and splintered beams strewn everywhere.


    "What¡­ what just happened?" he whispered, his voice hollow.


    The old man chuckled, the sound low and grating. "What happened, Your Majesty, is the beginning of a celestial disaster. If that girl grows into her full power, she''ll bring the fall of reality itself. I''d start hunting her now¡ªif I were you."


    And with that, the two elders disappeared into the shadows, leaving the emperor alone in the ruins of his ambition.


    He slumped onto a pile of shattered jade, dragging a trembling hand down his face. Somewhere out there, that coffin had landed. Somewhere, that impossible power was loose.


    "The fall of reality¡­" The words felt like poison on his tongue.


    ____


    Back at the Xiantian Sect!


    Su Xiaobai''s formation pulsed with light, the intricate lines of energy weaving together like a divine maze. The Void Fracture Stones shimmered in perfect harmony, and the vortex above Sword Peak rippled as if responding to his command.


    "It''s working," he breathed, his voice brimming with a rare, almost smug relief.


    But of course, the heavens had other plans.


    CRACK!


    A thunderous roar ripped through the night as the skies above split apart. Lightning, bright enough to blind a dragon, lashed out from the vortex.


    Su Xiaobai''s first instinct? To squint at it and hope it wasn''t his fault. Spoiler: it was.


    "Get away from it!"


    Before he could come up with a sarcastic retort, Bai Yujian''s hand closed around his arm, yanking him back with the kind of strength that brooked no argument.


    "???"


    Su Xiaobai barely had time to grunt in protest before the formation erupted. A pillar of raw energy shot skyward, colliding with the vortex in a spectacular explosion that felt more like the heavens flipping the table.


    BOOM!


    The training ground didn''t just crack¡ªit disintegrated. A crater, wide enough to make any sect elder faint, yawned beneath their feet. Dust and debris swirled through the air as Bai Yujian landed effortlessly on solid ground, still holding Su Xiaobai upright like a misbehaving toddler.


    She released him with an exhale that sounded suspiciously like disappointment.


    Her gaze swept over the carnage, her expression grim. "It failed..."


    "..."


    Her words were like a brick to the face, heavy and impossible to ignore.


    Buzzzz...


    Su Xiaobai swayed, his head ringing like he''d been hit by a celestial gong.


    His ears buzzed, his vision swam, but the sight of the smoldering crater before him was all too clear.


    "It¡­ failed?" he muttered, his voice shaky.


    Bai Yujian''s tone didn''t soften. "Whoever you were summoning¡­ they''ve been thrown somewhere random. Could be this continent. Could be the next one over. Or worse..."


    Her words hit like a hammer, but Su Xiaobai barely noticed. His mind was already in mess, replaying the collapse over and over. Failed? No. Everything had been perfect. Every rune, every calculation, every line¡ªit had been flawless.


    But as his gaze glued on the crater, a dark thought wormed its way into his mind. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Something had interfered.


    His hands clenched into fists, frustration bubbling beneath his skin. He''d felt it¡ªa ripple of foreign energy cutting through his array just before the explosion. Whatever it was, it had ruined everything.


    Bai Yujian''s voice broke through his spiraling thoughts. "Listen." She sounded cautious now, like she was trying to soothe a particularly grumpy tiger cub. "We can track the disturbance. It''ll take time, but we''ll find them."


    For a moment, Su Xiaobai didn''t respond. His gaze stayed locked on the crater, his jaw tight.


    Bai Yujian hesitated before stepping closer. She placed a hand on his shoulder, her tone soft but firm. "Hear me¡ª"


    Slap!


    The sound echoed across the ruins.


    Su Xiaobai slapped her hand away without so much as a glance. His voice was cold, laced with a bitterness that wasn''t entirely meant for her. "Leave me alone."


    Bai Yujian froze, her hand hovering midair.


    "..."


    For a moment, the silence was louder than the earlier explosion. Her gaze flicked to her hand, and she stared at it, not in shock, but with the kind of calm that made men start writing their wills.


    Without a word, she turned and walked away, her movements sharp and precise. The snap of her robes was the only sound as she disappeared into the night.


    _____


    The Empty Night Sky!


    Above them, the vortex had long since faded, leaving the heavens eerily still. Su Xiaobai took a few unsteady steps forward, his mind filled with half-formed thoughts.


    Then reality hit him like a flying brick.


    "Fuck¡­"


    He froze mid-step, a cold sweat breaking out on his forehead. He hadn''t just slapped away anyone. That was Bai Yujian¡ªSword Peak''s cold-as-ice elder. The same woman who had just saved his ass from being vaporized by heavenly lightning.


    And now? She was probably adding him to her list of Things to Deal With, right under "polish sword" and "cultivate godlike killing intent."


    Su Xiaobai groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "Great. Just great. I''m out here cursing the higher-ups¡ªyes, you lot¡ªfor screwing with me and wrecking my array, and now I''ve gone and pissed off the scariest woman in the sect. Perfect timing, Xiaobai. Truly. Give yourselves a round of applause."


    He glanced back over his shoulder, half-expecting to see Bai Yujian standing there with her sword already half-drawn.


    But there was nothing¡ªjust the faint wind carrying the scent of scorched earth.


    "She''s going to kill me, isn''t she?" he muttered, his voice flat.


    Still, even as the weight of his mistake pressed down on him, his pride refused to budge. Apologizing? To her? That was about as likely as him giving up cultivation and taking up poetry.


    He rubbed the back of his neck, sighing. "She''ll deal with it. Probably. Maybe. Hopefully."


    But as he turned back toward the shadows, the unease stared back at him. It wasn''t just that he''d slapped her hand away¡ªit was the look in her eyes.


    That brief flicker of something before she''d walked off.


    Shaking off the thought, Su Xiaobai trudged forward, muttering under his breath. "I''ve had worse days. Haven''t I?"

 Chapter 76 The Letter!

    Shaking off the thought, Su Xiaobai trudged forward, muttering under his breath. "I''ve had worse days. Haven''t I?"_____


    Elsewhere in the Sect


    In her chambers, Bai Yujian stood by the window, her cold gaze fixed on the ruined training grounds. The crater left behind by Su Xiaobai''s summoning attempt still shimmered faintly under the moonlight, a quiet reminder of the mess that seemed to follow him like a shadow.


    Her lips curved into the faintest smile, though it did not reach her eyes. "What an odd man," she murmured, her voice flat, devoid of warmth or disdain.


    The silence in her chambers stretched, broken only by the faint rustle of her robes as she shifted her stance.


    ''This new disciple of mine¡­ he''s either a genius or an idiot.''


    For some reason, she couldn''t quite decide which.


    She had expected him to return to her chambers by now, perhaps to grovel or offer some half-hearted excuse for slapping her hand away earlier.


    But the night stretched on, and he had not appeared.


    Even the maid who usually followed him like a shadow was nowhere to be seen.


    Her gaze drifted to the wooden table in the corner, where the scroll he had handed her earlier rested. The memory of his bold declarations flickered in her mind: the way he had spoken with such unshakable sincerity about delivering a love letter to "White Jade Sword," completely unaware that he was speaking to her.


    With a soft sigh, she turned away from the window and crossed the room. Her parasol clattered softly as she leaned it against the wall before settling into the wooden chair.


    Her cold fingers brushed over the scroll''s edge, her curiosity betraying her usual composure. For a moment, she hesitated. Did she really need to read it? It was likely just nonsense.


    But the temptation proved too strong. She unrolled the parchment slowly, her pale fingers lingering on the edges as her eyes began to scan the opening lines.


    _____


    The Letter: Part One


    "To the Peerless White Jade Sword,"


    "You are not merely a woman¡ªyou are a celestial masterpiece. When I first heard your name, I thought it belonged to an ancient artifact, a weapon capable of cleaving stars and splitting heavens. But no, it belongs to you, a goddess whose beauty renders the heavens dull."


    Bai Yujian''s lips twitched faintly, betraying the smallest hint of amusement. She leaned back in her chair, the scroll resting lightly in her pale fingers.


    "A goddess, am I?" she murmured to the empty room, her tone laced with mockery. "This disciple thinks flattery will earn him merit points."


    Yet, as her eyes drifted back to the parchment, she felt a flicker of curiosity. How far will this fool take it?


    _____


    The Letter: Part Two


    "I know I am unworthy of you. I am but a grain of sand beneath the endless ocean of your brilliance. Yet, I swear this: I will ascend every realm, endure every tribulation, and carve my soul into a blade to protect you. My devotion is eternal, and my love boundless."


    Her fingers paused on the edge of the scroll. She exhaled sharply, her usually impassive face softening just slightly.


    A grain of sand beneath my ocean? she thought, an odd sensation stirring in her chest. His words were ridiculous, but¡­ sincere. She could almost hear his voice saying them, his usual arrogance replaced with genuine conviction.


    "No," she muttered, shaking her head. "Conviction isn''t in him. He''s playing some game."


    Yet, her fingers tightened on the parchment as she read on.


    ____ S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Letter: Part Three


    "I dream of holding your hand, walking beneath starlit skies. I dream of our first date¡ªsimple, yet perfect. Beneath a sacred willow, I would pour tea for you, trembling as your lips brushed the cup, each moment burned into my soul like heavenly scripture.*


    Her breath caught slightly, and she frowned.


    She could almost see it: the two of them seated under the swaying branches of a willow tree, moonlight cascading through the leaves. His hand brushed hers as he poured her tea, his sharp eyes uncharacteristically gentle¡ª


    She slammed the scroll onto the table, her spiritual energy rippling faintly. "Ridiculous," she muttered, but her voice lacked its usual icy edge. "He''s never shown me anything close to sincerity."


    Yet the scene in her mind, like a leaf caught on a still pond.


    ____


    The Letter: Part Four


    "Even your robes are sacred. If the dust of the mortal realm dared touch them, I would clean it with my tongue, polishing every thread until it gleamed brighter than the stars."


    Her parasol clattered to the floor as her aura spiked, sending a faint tremor through the room.


    "With his¡­ tongue?!" she hissed, her face flushing crimson.


    The mental image of the scene made its way into her mind: Su Xiaobai kneeling before her, his gaze maddeningly reverent, his lips brushing the hem of her robes¡ª his face unusually sincere as he murmured, ''For you, Master.''


    She shook her head violently, banishing the thought. "What insanity is this?!"


    Her aura swirled around her, cooling the heat rising to her cheeks. She considered tossing the scroll into the nearest brazier but hesitated, her curiosity proving far too stubborn.


    ____


    The Letter: Part Five


    "But even this is not enough. I dream of worshipping at your feet, kissing them until my lips are swollen, offering my back as your eternal throne. My unworthy body exists solely to carry your divine weight."


    Her aura surged wildly, the air in her chamber growing heavy as her face burned a deep crimson.


    "Divine weight?" she exclaimed, slamming her palm against the table.


    The image of Su Xiaobai¡ªhis usual smirk replaced with sincerity¡ªkneeling at her feet, his lips brushing the curve of her ankle, burned unbidden into her thoughts.


    "This boy¡­" she muttered hoarsely, pacing furiously. "Has he gone insane?!"


    She rubbed her temples, trying to suppress the vivid mental images. ''This has to be some kind of test of fate.''


    _____


    The Letter: Part Six


    "But most of all, I dream of undressing you. My trembling hands would slip beneath your robes, tracing the perfection of your skin. Your soft cries would echo like the sweetest hymn, carving themselves into my soul for eternity."


    She exploded, shaking the chamber as her parasol flew across the room.


    "WHAT?!" she shouted, her voice reverberating through the walls.


    But the words had already sunk into her mind, refusing to leave. She could almost feel his hands, his lips grazing the curve of her neck, his voice murmuring her name like a prayer¡ª


    Her fist clenched, and she forced herself to her feet. "This is filth!" she snapped, pacing with sharp, angry strides.


    Yet despite her protests, her gaze kept drifting back to the scroll.


    ____


    The Letter: Part Seven


    "Even if I can never touch you, I would carve my devotion into the stars themselves. The heavens would be my parchment, the cosmos my ink. Every living thing would know of my love for you."


    Her breath caught, and she froze. The sheer absurdity of his words¡ªand the unshakable sincerity behind them¡ªsent an unbidden warmth curling in her chest.


    She slammed the scroll shut, breathing heavily as she sat down. "This disciple¡­ what is he thinking?"


    Her eyes flickered to the window, her thoughts spinning. She had half a mind to summon him and demand an explanation, but the very idea made her cheeks burn.


    ____


    Outside the Sect Grounds.


    Su Xiaobai lounged comfortably beneath a sprawling tree, arms crossed behind his head as he gazed at the stars. The cool night breeze carried the faint aroma of roasting meat, mingling with the soft crackle of a small fire nearby.


    "I don''t know why," he muttered, a sly smile curling his lips, "but I feel like someone''s cursing me right now."


    Abruptly, he sneezed, rubbing his nose with an exaggerated sniff. "Or maybe they''re just thinking about how handsome I am. Can''t blame them, really."


    Xiao Lu, crouched by the fire and meticulously turning a spit of meat, rolled her eyes so hard it seemed they might stick. "Master, could you try being humble just once in your life?"


    Su Xiaobai waved her off lazily, his smirk deepening. "Humble? Impossible. A man destined for greatness can''t afford to be ordinary. How could I, Su Xiaobai, be anything but extraordinary?"


    Xiao Lu muttered under her breath, tossing another log into the fire. "Fine, fine. You''re extraordinary, Master. But even the great and mighty Su Xiaobai still can''t hunt for himself."


    ______


    Far Away, in the Royal Palace.


    Deep within the grand halls of the royal palace, Wei Jun paced back and forth, his hands wringing together as anxiety etched lines across his pale face.


    "Has Brother Su delivered it yet?" he mumbled, clutching at his hair. "She must have received it by now. She has to fall for me this time!"


    Straightening his posture, he puffed out his chest, imagining Bai Yujian swooning over his carefully crafted calligraphy. "There''s no way my letter didn''t work. My passion, my sincerity¡ªthey''re unmatched!"


    Unmatched indeed¡ªunmatched in how they had stirred utter chaos.

 Chapter 77 Angry Bai Yujian!

    In Bai Yujian''s Chambers.Bai Yujian leaned back in her chair, the scroll discarded on the table before her. Her gaze was cold, yet beneath her icy exterior, her thoughts churned like a turbulent storm.


    "This night¡­" she murmured hoarsely, her voice trembling with suppressed rage, "¡­will haunt me for eternity."


    Her fingers twitched as she struggled to remain composed. The memory of the letter burned in her mind, each absurd line rekindling emotions she had buried long ago.


    With a sharp inhale, she rose, her expression hardening into resolve. "No," she muttered, gripping her parasol tightly. "I must speak to him. I can''t allow him to continue down this path."


    Her gaze drifted to the moonlit window. As an elder of the Xiantian Sect, she had faced countless love-struck disciples in her time. Her presence, radiant and unapproachable, had once sparked countless infatuations, some even leading disciples to abandon their cultivation.


    In the end, she retreated into solitude, drawing a boundary not out of preference but necessity¡ªfor the sect''s stability.


    But Su Xiaobai''s letter¡­


    She clenched her fists. "This is different. This isn''t love¡ªit''s obsession." S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Yet it wasn''t merely his words that troubled her. It was the memories the letter had unearthed.


    ____


    Memories of the Past.


    Five thousand years ago, the Xiantian Sect was founded on a foundation of righteousness, a bastion of virtue in an increasingly chaotic world. Bai Yujian had grown alongside the sect, mentored personally by its first sect master. Yet over time, that foundation had begun to crumble.


    The sect''s founder¡ªthe man who had raised and taught her¡ªhad strayed. What had begun as a righteous bond between master and disciple had twisted into something far darker. He had abandoned the sect''s principles, proposing to her in his madness.


    Bai Yujian had been forced to act. She had cleaved his heart in half, an act of mercy shrouded in the guise of justice. To this day, the truth was known only to her¡ªa secret buried to protect the sect''s dignity.


    And now, that same story seemed poised to repeat itself, though in reverse.


    "Su Xiaobai¡­" she murmured, pacing her chambers. "Was it a mistake to accept him as my disciple?"


    Her gaze darkened as she clutched her parasol. "No. I won''t let history repeat itself. Not again."


    As she brooded, a single line from the letter resurfaced in her mind.


    ____


    "After my mother passed, the most treasured person in my heart was my little sister¡­ until I met you."


    The words froze her. He had never mentioned his family before¡ªnot his sister, not his mother.


    Her frown deepened as fragments of Su Xiaobai''s behavior began to slot together. His desperation, his obsession¡ªwas it all tied to his sister? Was she the "most treasured person" he had mentioned?


    She sighed, frustration creeping into her voice. "If this was about his family, why didn''t he simply ask for help?"


    Yet the letter hinted at something deeper. His sister was important, yes¡ªbut he had placed his master above her.


    Her chest tightened. "Me?" she murmured.


    Despite herself, Bai Yujian felt a flicker of sympathy. Shaking her head, she resolved, "I must help him."


    ____


    The moonlit night stretched on as Bai Yujian stepped outside, her figure drifting weightlessly into the air. The stars shimmered faintly as she flew across the sect grounds, her senses sharpening. If Su Xiaobai truly had a surviving family member, she would find them. If his summoning array had malfunctioned, she would uncover its remnants.


    Few in the sect understood her true power. Though she lived under the guise of an elder, Bai Yujian was one of the sect''s silent protectors¡ªa cultivator at the peak of the Great Ascension Realm, standing on the cusp of the Human Immortal Realm.


    Her role was simple: to guide the sect along its principles and, when necessary, eliminate those who strayed¡ªeven the sect master.


    Su Xiaobai had no idea he was playing with fire.


    The night blurred as Bai Yujian traversed Yue Country and even ventured into the vast Tianlong Empire. Her divine senses swept through countless towns and cities, searching for traces of his family or his failed astral gate.


    Yet, no definitive clues emerged. Her frustration only deepened her resolve.


    _____


    Back at the Tree.


    Unaware of the storm brewing around him, Su Xiaobai stretched under the tree, yawning. "Tomorrow''s going to be interesting," he said, grinning at the stars.


    Xiao Lu glanced at him warily. "Why do you look so ''confident'', Master?"


    Su Xiaobai''s grin widened lazily. "Oh, just a hunch."


    He had come up with a brilliant plan: if he could take points by defeating others, why not start beating people tomorrow?


    Above him, Bai Yujian flew across the mainland, her mind heavy with questions she wasn''t certain she wanted answered.


    _______


    Outside the Sect Grounds.


    The morning sun beat down on Sword Peak like a fiery bastard with no shame, and Bai Yujian''s face looked like she was one insult away from murdering the sun itself. Twelve fucking hours.


    She''d combed through the entire continent like some crazed debt collector chasing late payments, only to land here¡ªon the stone path¡ªlooking like she''d been dragged face-first through a charcoal pit and rolled down the mountain for good measure.


    Her once pristine robes? Filthy. Her usually impeccable hair? Loose and wild like she''d gone drinking with demons. Her face, normally so untouchably serene, now wore a thin layer of dust like an insult to her dignity. Bai Yujian was the very picture of an overworked, underpaid immortal who''d been handed the sect''s collective bullshit on a platter.


    And the worst part?


    Sword Peak was empty.


    Not a disciple in sight. No shouts, no grunts, no training. Just silence¡ªdead, suspicious silence.


    "What in the nine flaming hells¡­" she muttered, voice colder than her ex''s heart.


    Then she heard it¡ªROOOOAR.


    A thunderous roar erupted across the mountains, loud enough to rattle her teeth. She whipped her head toward the Martial Ascension Arena, where tens of thousands of disciples swarmed like flies on fresh cow shit, screaming and hooting like they were at some heavenly brothel''s grand opening.


    "What now?" she hissed.


    Her answer arrived in the form of two all-too-familiar figures walking up the path: Hu Mei''er and Hu Jiao''er, the infamous Hu twins.


    Now, let''s get this straight¡ªthese two weren''t just hot. Calling them "beautiful" would be like calling a dragon "just a lizard." The kind of women whose curves could derail a meditation session, whose smiles could make seasoned cultivators renounce celibacy and beg for punishment. Hu Mei''er, with her soft, honey-dripping voice and demure elegance, was every pervert''s dream concubine. Meanwhile, Hu Jiao''er had that dangerous, brash confidence that made men want to get stepped on¡ªand thank her for it.


    The twins came strolling up, their robes tight in all the right places, their long white hair swaying like silk banners in the breeze. Perfection? Sure. But Bai Yujian wasn''t in the mood to appreciate anyone''s tits today.


    They froze when they saw her. To be fair, Bai Yujian looked less like the revered Elder of Sword Peak and more like a demoness who''d just crawled out of a warzone.


    "Uh¡­ Elder Bai?" Hu Mei''er blinked innocently, her soft voice trying to cover her shock.


    Hu Jiao''er, though? That bitch wasn''t subtle.


    She let out a long, teasing whistle that echoed through the mountain. "Holy shit, Elder Bai, did you wrestle a dragon last night? And win?"


    Bai Yujian''s left eye twitched violently, her grip on her parasol tightening like it was the twins'' necks. "What''s happening in the sect?" she snapped, her voice so sharp it could''ve cut through plate armor. "Why is everyone at the arena?"


    The twins exchanged a look¡ªa sly, knowing glance that screamed "we know something you don''t."


    Now, anyone who wasn''t a complete moron could see these two were up to no good.


    Hell, Su Xiaobai himself had taken one look at them during the disciple selection process and muttered, ''These two? They''re either spies, succubi, or both. I''m not touching that with a ten-foot spear.''


    He wasn''t wrong.


    On paper, the Hu twins were simple ''newly joined'' outer court disciples¡ªgorgeous, charming, and harmless. But in truth?


    The truth was far juicier. Hu Mei''er and Hu Jiao''er were core disciples in disguise, tasked with rooting out spies, irregularities, and all-around nonsense during the selection process. Every tournament, one peak drew the short straw. This year, Sword Peak got screwed.


    Hu Mei''er finally cleared her throat, a delicate little sound that would''ve seemed innocent if she didn''t look like a fox about to raid a henhouse. "It''s the new disciple, Elder."


    Bai Yujian''s eyes narrowed like a predator spotting prey. "Su Xiaobai¡­?"


    Hu Jiao''er grinned like the devil had just whispered a dirty joke in her ear. "That''s the one. The little bastard''s challenged the entire outer court. Every last one of them."


    Bai Yujian blinked. Just once. Then again. "¡­He did what?"


    "It''s true." Hu Mei''er''s smile widened, full of amusement. "He''s been at it since dawn. He''s already wiped the floor with the ranked disciples."


    Hu Jiao''er shrugged, stretching her arms lazily. Her robes pulled just so, and Bai Yujian swore she heard the collective groans of a thousand desperate male disciples somewhere in the distance. "It''s honestly embarrassing for them now. We left halfway through. It''s like watching a child beat up sandbags."


    Bai Yujian''s knuckles turned white as she gripped her parasol harder, her jaw clenching. This dumbass¡ªthis suicidal, arrogant, no-brain idiot¡ªhad challenged thousands of disciples? The outer court wasn''t some random group of wannabe cultivators either. Many of them were already at Core Formation or Earthly Rebirth Realm.


    "¡­Does he think he''s a god?"

 Chapter 78 Harvesting Contribution Points like a Madman!

    "¡­Does he think he''s a god?"Bai Yujian muttered, her voice trembling between disbelief and homicidal rage.


    Hu Mei''er tilted her head innocently, her eyes glinting with mischief. "It''s impressive, isn''t it? Not every day someone kicks the sect in the nuts like this."


    Hu Jiao''er smirked wickedly. "The kid''s got balls, Elder Bai. Giant, shiny ones. Core disciples are even peeking in now, wondering how long he can keep it up. We''re not missing a show like this."


    WHOOSH!


    Before either of them could blink, Bai Yujian vanished¡ªher figure tearing through the air in a flash of silver light, like a divine sword slicing straight toward the arena.


    The twins stared at the empty space where she''d been, the air still buzzing with her lingering aura.


    "¡­She''s pissed," Hu Jiao''er muttered, crossing her arms beneath her chest.


    Hu Mei''er chuckled softly, her voice dripping with amusement. "She''s not as calm as she looks. That new guy''s really shaking up the place. It''s been a while since the sect''s seen someone so¡­ entertaining."


    Jiao''er grinned, her eyes narrowing as she watched the arena in the distance. "I''ll give the little villain this¡ªhe knows how to make life interesting. If he keeps this up, I might even let him peek down my robes as a reward."


    Hu Mei''er rolled her eyes, though a smile tugged at her lips. "Only after he earns it."


    The distant roar of the crowd shook the air again, echoing across Sword Peak. Somewhere down there, Su Xiaobai was probably grinning like a lunatic, wondering which idiot would come up next.


    And high above, Bai Yujian was closing in, her killing intent so heavy it could''ve flattened mountains.


    If Su Xiaobai had any sense left in his skull, he''d start running now.


    Here she was, burning through her precious time and patience, scouring every corner of the continent to track down his little sister¡ªonly to find out this dumb bastard was off stirring up more trouble like a goddamned calamity given human form.


    More than that, did he not get it?!


    Half the sect already wanted his head on a platter, sharpening their swords and praying to the heavens for the tiniest excuse to gut him. And without her watching his back, that arrogant brat wouldn''t last two breaths before someone turned him into a corpse.


    "Does this fool not understand?!" Bai Yujian seethed as she shot through the sky, qi roaring behind her like a comet. I leave him alone for one night¡ªONE NIGHT¡ªand he''s already challenging half the sect to a death match?!


    She could almost see it now¡ªsome conniving bastard from another peak shoving a sword through his back the second he got tired, then claiming it was "an accident" while everyone else nodded along like it wasn''t total bullshit.


    Bai Yujian''s fingers curled tighter around her parasol as killing intent crackled through the air. "That ungrateful disciple," she hissed. "If anyone kills him, it''ll be me first!"


    ______


    Martial Ascension Arena!


    "Hahaha! Who''s next?!"


    Su Xiaobai''s voice thundered across the arena, casual as if he were calling dibs on the last dumpling at a banquet. His name blazed on the ranking board, now parked smugly in third place¡ªbasically a giant middle finger to the entire sect. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Around him, the stage was a disaster zone: broken limbs, shattered egos, and overworked healers dragging away groaning disciples who had learned the hard way that arrogance doesn''t count as cultivation.


    At his feet, Lan Meiyu lay sprawled in the dirt, her once-pristine robes caked in mud. Her hair looked like it had been through a windstorm, and her fists clenched tight as her body trembled¡ªnot from fear, but from sheer, unfiltered rage.


    "Ugh¡­ You bastard, get off me!" she snarled, her voice dripping with venom.


    Su Xiaobai grinned down at her, his foot planted beside her head like he was claiming a mountain peak. "Didn''t you say you''d slap me to death? Go on, Senior Sister, I''m still waiting for that slap."


    Lan Meiyu''s face turned the color of a ripe tomato. She had strutted onto this stage intending to grind him into paste. She was no small fry, either¡ªa late-stage Rebirth Realm cultivator, ranked third in the outer court. People trembled at her name!


    But now? She was tasting dirt.


    The crowd was having the time of their lives.


    "Is he really just standing there? What an asshole."


    "At least help her up! What kind of barbarian is this?"


    "Help her up? The guy probably doesn''t even know what ''help'' means!"


    Su Xiaobai ignored the peanut gallery. His gaze swept the crowd, calculating his total loot. Three hundred thousand contribution points. Not bad for a morning''s work.


    "Su Xiaobai! Enough of this farce!"


    The voice that boomed across the arena could have flattened mountains. Han Xuan, the iron mountain peak lord, was not a man to mess with. Built like a boulder and just as easy to move, his aura practically screamed, Behave, or I''ll grind you into a fine powder.


    He had come here for the spectacle but ended up playing referee, keeping the mob from rushing the stage and ending Su Xiaobai in a "tragic accident."


    Afterall, left unchecked, the cocky brat was about one step away from inspiring a riot.


    "You''ve caused enough mess! Get off the stage before I throw you off myself!"


    Su Xiaobai arched an eyebrow, completely unfazed. "Mess? I''m just following the sect rules, Elder Han. They challenge me; I fight. I win, I take their points. Isn''t that how it works?"


    The crowd exchanged uneasy glances. Technically, he wasn''t wrong. But there''s "following the rules," and then there''s what Su Xiaobai was doing. The guy wasn''t just fighting; he was systematically bulldozing through the entire outer court.


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    At first, it had been funny. A cocky disciple taking on a handful of challengers? Classic. But then he started taking down hundreds. When he moved on to the top ten ranked disciples, it stopped being funny and became terrifying.


    Now only the top two outer court disciples remained. Or rather, they had remained. Both had conveniently ''remembered important appointments'' and bolted before Su Xiaobai could humiliate them too.


    "This guy hasn''t even used his puppet yet," someone muttered.


    Han Xuan stiffened. He''d noticed it too. At the edge of the stage stood Su Xiaobai''s infamous trump card¡ªa puppet in the form of a girl, its combat abilities so devastating it could mop the floor with entire teams of disciples. And yet, it had remained idle the entire time.


    "This monster¡­" Han Xuan muttered under his breath.


    Su Xiaobai stretched lazily, his hands on his hips as he scanned the crowd like a predator eyeing fresh prey.


    ''Three hundred thousand points isn''t enough¡­ I need more.''


    Thanks to his celestial inscriber''s skills, he had already drawn combat arrays mid-fight, conserving energy and smashing challengers like it was child''s play. Against Mystic Peak disciples, he''d had to put in some effort. But these outer court amateurs?


    They couldn''t even spell "f.o.r.m.a.t.i.o.n.s."


    Still, there was a problem.


    Even after all this, he wasn''t close to the ''million points'' he needed to ''retry'' the Astral Gate Array.


    Yesterday''s failure still stung, and if he had to crush every idiot in this sect to succeed, so be it.


    The only question was¡­ who to crush next?

 Chapter 79 Identity Exposed!! The Side Chick Turns Out to Be the Main Wife?!

    "Oi, you two!" His voice rang out, sharp and loud, as he pointed at two figures in the crowd¡ªYu Feng and Zhou Feng, his favourite odd couple. "Get your asses up here. Let''s have a chat!"Yu Feng''s lip twitched. This brat! Did he have any idea who he was messing with? She fought the urge to break her cover, unleash her true cultivation, and bury him six feet under.


    "Brother Xiaobai, I don''t have time for your idiocy," she said coldly, her arms crossed as though she were judging an insect. Right now, in her disguise as Xiao Yu, her voice carried a manly tone¡ªdeep and unruffled, like she was above it all. She tilted her head and added with a sweet smile, "But if you really want contribution points, try begging! Who knows? It might just work."


    The crowd burst into laughter, the sharp, mocking kind that only made things worse.


    "..." Su Xiaobai''s grin twitched.


    Fatty Zhou scratched his head, looking sheepish, added. "Uh, brother¡­ I don''t have many points left. If you want a big haul, you should try Brother Zhenhai. He''s got more points than all of us combined."


    He gestured toward a tall, imposing figure at the edge of the crowd¡ªLiu Zhenhai, ranked eighth in the inner court.


    Like Su Xiaobai, he was one of Bai Yujian''s personal disciples.


    Liu Zhenhai had originally come to watch Lan Meiyu put Su Xiaobai in his place. But after seeing her get stomped into the ground, he''d lost interest. Now, his sharp gaze was fixed squarely on Su Xiaobai.


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes lit up for a moment¡ªthen dimmed when he felt the man''s aura.


    Liu Zhenhai wasn''t just strong.


    He was at the soul fusion realm.


    "Fatty, why the hell are you trying to ruin my reputation?" Su Xiaobai hissed under his breath.


    Liu Zhenhai snorted, his gaze like a blade. Did this cocky brat actually think he could take on a Soul Fusion Realm cultivator?


    Beating outer disciples was one thing.


    But this?


    This was practically begging for a beating.


    Hiss~~


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    "Is he really gonna fight Liu Zhenhai?" someone whispered.


    "Does he even have a death wish that big?"


    Su Xiaobai''s fingers twitched as his brain worked overtime. This wasn''t part of the plan. He''d wanted points, not a one-way ticket to the afterlife.


    ''Fatty Zhou, you big-mouthed traitor. If I live through this, I''m feeding you to a spirit beast.''


    The arena fell silent. All eyes were on Su Xiaobai, waiting to see if he''d dare to take the bait.


    His confident smile stiffened. For once, it seemed like his carefully crafted plans had come crashing down around him.


    Liu Zhenhai didn''t wait for Su Xiaobai to respond. Instead, he stepped into the arena with an unhurried grace, each step a measured strike against the silence. His boots hit the stage like the rhythmic beat of war drums, steady and ominous.


    Su Xiaobai raised an eyebrow. Oh, great. Here comes Sword Saint.


    Liu Zhenhai''s eyes were cold, sharp, and unwavering¡ªlike a sword tempered in the void itself. His expression betrayed no emotion at first glance, but the subtle clench of his jaw and the faint flicker of disdain in his gaze spoke everything.


    He hadn''t always looked at Su Xiaobai like this. No, the disdain came later¡ªwhen Bai Yujian, the revered Sword Fairy of Bai Peak, made an announcement that shook his world.


    She had taken another disciple.


    And not just any disciple. A rat.


    That''s what Su Xiaobai was to him. Not even a proper opponent, but some scrappy, opportunistic rodden who had clawed his way up the ranks through sheer audacity and luck. To Liu Zhenhai, the idea of sharing the title of "personal disciple" with Su Xiaobai was nothing short of blasphemy.


    "I will teach my Junior Brother a few moves," Liu Zhenhai said, his voice calm but heavy with unsaid threats. His words cut through the crowd''s murmurs like the slash of a blade. There was no arrogance in his tone, only the quiet confidence of a man who knew exactly where he stood¡ªwith his sword above all.


    He didn''t smirk or sneer. No, Liu Zhenhai wasn''t the type to lower himself with cheap theatrics. Instead, he regarded Su Xiaobai with the same dispassion he might show a practice dummy.


    The crowd erupted in whispers.


    "Is he really going to fight Su Xiaobai?"


    "This isn''t a fight; it''s a funeral in the making!"


    Su Xiaobai tilted his head, lazily scratching the back of his neck. "Oh? You want to teach me? That''s sweet, Senior Brother. Are you planning to tuck me in after, too? Maybe read me a bedtime story?"


    Liu Zhenhai''s expression didn''t change, but the faintest twitch in his fingers betrayed his irritation. "Your tongue is as reckless as your actions, Junior Brother. I simply can''t have you dragging our master''s name through the dirt with your¡­ antics."


    He gestured toward the arena, where defeated disciples still groaned and healers scrambled to patch them up. "A proper disciple of the White Jade Sword should carry himself with honor. Not like some¡­ rabid dog off its leash."


    Su Xiaobai''s smirk faltered for a moment. "Wait, what did you say again?"


    "I said, stop embarrassing our master."


    "No, you idiot," Su Xiaobai snapped. "Who the hell did you call the White Jade Sword?"


    Liu Zhenhai frowned, his brow furrowing just slightly. "You don''t even know Master''s title?" His voice dropped an octave, his disdain sharpening, "And you call yourself her disciple. Tch. You''re an insult to her name."


    "..."


    Su Xiaobai''s face darkened, but not for the reasons the crowd suspected. While they whispered among themselves about how disgraceful it was that Su Xiaobai didn''t even know his own master''s title, Su Xiaobai was spiraling into an inner crisis.


    Their opinions didn''t even matter. What mattered was the nuclear-level panic detonating in his head.


    Fuck. Fuck. FUCK.


    Bai Yujian is the White Jade Sword!?


    The legendary White Jade Sword!??


    The one whom that Prince was simping for day and night after!?


    All this time she was the one¡­ Wait¡­ shit. He remembered now. She did call herself that during the trials in the cave!


    Dammit!


    And then there was the love letter.


    Oh, heavens. Yesterday, he''d handed her the damn thing with a cocky grin, practically throwing himself at her feet like a horny beast in heat. Not to mention the endless stream of bullshit he''d spat right to her face.


    ''Wei Jun, please tell me you clarified your identity in that letter. Otherwise, I''m beyond screwed.''


    "..."


    Liu Zhenhai''s cold glare softened into something unreadable. Then, to Su Xiaobai''s absolute horror, the man bowed. Deeply.


    The crowd''s whispers turned into a roar.


    Su Xiaobai blinked, his brain stalling like a rusted sword jammed in its sheath. Wait. Why is he bowing?


    A cold chill crept up his spine. Oh no. Oh no, no, no, no.


    He chuckled nervously, his laugh as shaky as his knees. Slowly, he began to turn his head, every muscle in his neck protesting as if the heavens themselves were trying to stop him.


    Behind him, the faint sound of footsteps echoed¡ªcalm, deliberate, and far too ominous for his liking.


    Don''t tell me she''s behind me. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He chuckled again, this time louder and more forced. His head tilted back just enough to catch the edge of a white robe and a glint of steel at her hip.


    The words he''d been dreading finally came, spoken in that calm, measured tone that could chill even the bravest soul to the core.


    "Su Xiaobai," Bai Yujian said softly, her words cleaving through the air like a blade through silk. "I believe we need to have a proper¡­ conversation."


    Su Xiaobai''s vision blurred for a moment. ''Of course. The chapter just had to end on a cliffhanger.''

 Chapter 80 Meeting the Big Boss!

    "...""..."


    Tap... Tap...


    The faint echo of Bai Yujian''s footsteps filled the silence, each step measured, each tap like a drumbeat announcing Su Xiaobai''s impending doom. He trailed behind her like a criminal on death row, his thoughts swirling in evil.


    Her last words, "We need to have a proper... conversation," hugged to him like a leech, sucking away any hope of this being just another casual stroll.


    ''What kind of ''conversation'' needs a scenic hike up the sect''s grandest peak?'' he wondered bitterly, his gaze drifting upward.


    The grand staircase stretched endlessly into the heavens, lined by waterfalls that shimmered like liquid jade¡ªpretentious, and entirely unnecessary, just like most things in this world.


    "Where are we going?" he asked, trying to sound casual but failing miserably.


    Bai Yujian moved with her usual unhurried grace, her parasol swaying lightly in her grip.


    She gave no answer.


    Eventually, they stopped before a narrow archway carved seamlessly into the mountainside. Its runes pulsed faintly with an otherworldly glow, practically screaming: Trespassers will be obliterated.


    "This will be your residence moving forward," Bai Yujian said, her tone as flat as her interest in his opinion.


    Su Xiaobai blinked. "Wait, my own residence?"


    Her gaze shifted to him, icy and unimpressed. "Did you expect to live in a chicken coop? You are my personal disciple, not some nameless sect drifter."


    He raised an eyebrow, muttering under his breath, "Considering how I''ve treated you so far, I wouldn''t blame you for chucking me into a chicken coop."


    She ignored him and gestured for him to enter.


    Buzz~


    Inside, the air hummed faintly with spiritual energy. The polished stone floors gleamed with embedded spirit veins, pulsing in time with the mountain''s heartbeat. A skylight above bathed the room in ethereal moonlight, which cascaded onto a pristine jade bed.


    Shelves lined the walls, still empty but clearly waiting for manuals, treasures, or whatever other nonsense the sect thought he''d earn. An adjoining meditation chamber glimmered invitingly, its aura practically whispering, Work harder, loser.


    "Personal disciples of peak lords are afforded certain privileges," Bai Yujian explained coolly. "This cave is outfitted with a spiritual gathering array. It will amplify your cultivation efforts. You are free to use it as you see fit¡ªso long as you don''t squander the opportunity."


    Su Xiaobai whistled low as he strolled through the room, "Well, this is... extravagant. Definitely better than the damp dorm I was expecting."


    However, as his gaze wandered, his eyes fell on a peculiar inscription carved into the wall in bold, elegant script:


    [Disciple Su Xiaobai''s cultivation progress: 2%.


    Love letter writing skills: 200%.]


    His smile froze.


    "...What the hell is this?"


    Bai Yujian''s stoic face betrayed a flicker of amusement. "Truth, as recorded by the mountain itself. Do you take issue with it?"


    Su Xiaobai ran a hand down his face, groaning, "Elder, are we really doing this? Are we playing ''Who Can Roast Who Better'' now?"


    Her lips curved slightly, a faint smile breaking her icy veneer. "Did I lie?"


    "..."


    ''This woman... Is she seriously messing with me?''


    The love letter wasn''t even his fault.


    Su Xiaobai forced a calm smile, though his thoughts were disdainfull, ''I, a modern villain from the twenty-first century, believe in driving sports cars and taking shortcuts¡ªnot delivering love letters like some middle school fool.''


    However, after a moment of frustration, he added, "Well, thank you for the luxurious accommodations. I''ll be sure to engrave your generosity into my heart¡ªor perhaps onto the walls next time."


    She turned without comment, her parasol swaying as she headed for the exit. Over her shoulder, she said, "Once you''re done settling in, come to the sect hall. The sect master wishes to see you. As for your little incident outside, it''s up for review..."


    ___


    In the Cave.


    Thud!


    The moment Bai Yujian left, Su Xiaobai flopped onto the jade bed like a dead fish. The cool surface kissed his bruised body, dragging a groan out of him that sounded like a dying donkey. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Fancy place," he muttered, eyeing sunlight pouring through the skylight. "Feels like I should be sacrificing virgins to it."


    He let out a snort, shaking his head. "The sect master, huh?" A grin tugged at his lips. "Guess my little act impressed the big boss."


    His plan had been straightforward¡ªjoin the sect, snatch some treasures, and disappear. But noooo, one little "accident" at the entrance ceremony, and suddenly everyone was calling him "heaven''s favored genius."


    Now, blending in was about as likely as sneaking past a dragon with a dinner bell tied to his ass.


    "If you can''t hide," he muttered, smirking, "then blind them with your brilliance."


    He stretched out lazily, his eyes gleaming. If they wanted a prodigy, he''d give them one. He''d drink their resources dry, hide behind their protection, and climb the ladder while they patted themselves on the back for "raising a genius."


    Challenging the outer court en masse?


    Risky, but worth it.


    He''d just raised his value like a rare auction item.


    "Resources, protection¡­ maybe even a way to deal with that blowhard Elder Liu," he thought, grin turning wicked. "All they have to do is think I''m worth more alive than dead."


    Still, things hadn''t been smooth.


    "That fat bastard," he growled, remembering the loudmouth disciple who almost blew his cover.


    Then there was Bai Yujian¡ªhis "master," the White Jade Sword. Her presence was a wild card that complicated everything.


    Likely, the higher-ups saw through his act, a reminder that while he could pretend to be heaven''s chosen, they weren''t blind.


    "No problem," he muttered, voice low. "Too late for them to stop me now. They need me. If they don''t know it yet, they will soon."


    He leaned back, eyes narrowing. Worst case? They left him to fend for himself. But with three hundred thousand contribution points in the bag and seven hundred thousand more to go, the Astral Gate Array was still in reach.


    "If they won''t help me, I''ll strip this place clean and reach my goal anyway," he said, his tone icy but determined.


    Sitting up, he dusted off his robes like a peacock preening. "Mid-stage Core Formation already," he muttered, the smallest flicker of pride slipping out.


    The recent fights had shoved his cultivation forward.


    Stay connected via My Virtual Library Empire


    "Life-and-death brawls¡ªnature''s cheat code," he added with a dry laugh.


    His gaze flicked to the glowing spiritual veins under the bed. "Pain is progress, suffering is strength... What kind of sadist wrote the rules of this world?"


    Standing, he adjusted his robes, every move slow and deliberate. His face was blank, but his eyes burned with sharp intent.


    Whatever the sect hall had planned, he''d twist it to his advantage.


    Let them bask in their illusion of control. By the time they realized the truth, the game would already be his to claim.


    ____


    An Hour Later ¡ª Sect Hall


    The sect hall buzzed with an unusual tension. Today, it was packed¡ªelders from every peak had gathered, their sharp gazes slicing through everything like invisible swords.


    Hiss~!


    The moment Su Xiaobai stepped inside, it felt as if the weight of a hundred eyes pinned him in place, each one scrutinizing him like a piece of meat tossed into a den of starving lions.


    If not for Bai Yujian at his side, there was no way in hell he''d willingly walk into this den of monsters. Whatever awaited him here, it wasn''t going to be pretty¡ªbut backing out now wasn''t an option.

 Chapter 81 Trial of Shadows!

    The Sect Hall.Whoosh!


    Su Xiaobai stepped through towering doors etched with phoenixes and dragons locked in eternal battle. The hall yawned out like a beast''s belly, lit by jade lanterns that floated around like drunken fireflies, casting long shadows.


    Rows of elders lined the sides, their robes a vivid display of sect hierarchy. Fire Peak Elders glowed in red like walking coals, Verdant Peak''s green robes oozed ''look at us, we''re so earthy,'' and Frost Peak''s icy blue screamed, ''don''t talk to me.'' But their faces? Predatory. Every single one of them. Like hawks eyeing a chicken dinner.


    Yeah, the hall was exactly what Su Xiaobai had imagined¡ªstuffy, judgmental, and packed with people he wouldn''t piss on if they were on fire.


    ''Vultures. All of them. Just waiting for me to trip so they can claw me to bits.''


    His eye twitched. Not a single "regular" elder in sight.


    Nope, every seat was occupied by a Peak Lord, the highest echelon of power, who flaunted their freedom from uniform constraints. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Meanwhile, the regular elders were stuck with their grape-colored uniforms.


    Seriously, who thought ''purple'' was intimidating?


    Wait¡ªscratch that. There was one grape.


    Elder Xu An. Oh, great. The same guy who''d watched him "discipline" some bratty disciples earlier and didn''t lift a finger because Elder Han had been nearby. And now? There he was, standing next to the Sect Master.


    Su Xiaobai''s eyebrow twitched harder. This guy? Su Xiaobai thought he was just a mid-level watchdog, barking at juniors for fun. But now he''s playing the big dog next to the Sect Master?


    Judging by the Sect Master''s face, even he wasn''t thrilled about the reshuffling.


    Little did Su Xiaobai know, the Sect Master was having the same ''what the hell'' moment.


    ''Someone standing beside Bai Yujian? She doesn''t escort anyone¡ªnot even Liu Zhenhai, her other disciple. What game is she playing now?''


    Before Su Xiaobai could puzzle it out, his gaze snagged on Liu Chenfu, the Peak Lord of Stormfire Peak, whose fiery glare practically screamed die.


    Ah, right. He ''accidentally'' crippled some of his disciples today. Boo-hoo. Not Su Xiaobai''s fault they couldn''t handle a little sparring. Discover exclusive tales on My Virtual Library Empire


    Some elders looked like they wanted to roast him alive; others seemed torn between annoyance and reluctant respect. Su Xiaobai smiled to himself. Guess today''s big event is "How to Screw Over Su Xiaobai."


    And then, he saw her.


    A woman lounging in her chair like she owned the place, waving at him as if they were best friends from another life. Her green robe hugged her figure like it was sewn by a pervert, not exposing much but somehow making him feel like it didn''t need to.


    She looked like she belonged in a pleasure house, not a Sect Hall¡ªbreathtaking, sultry, and completely out of place.


    Su Xiaobai blinked. ''Do I know her?''


    Before he could sort through his mental catalog of mistakes and regrets, the Sect Master''s voice echoed sharply, "Qingqing, behave yourself."


    The room collectively snapped to attention as the woman¡ªQingqing, apparently¡ªdropped her hand with a lazy smile. But her gaze stayed locked on Su Xiaobai, gleaming with amusement, like she knew something he didn''t.


    Her eyes sent a chill down his spine.


    What is she? A predator? A serial heartbreaker?


    "Ahem." Bai Yujian''s cold glare shut Qingqing up faster than a slapped talisman. Straightening her posture, Qingqing gave the Bai Yujian a fake smile but couldn''t resist sneaking glances at Su Xiaobai.


    ''Who the hell is this woman?'' Su Xiaobai''s brain buzzed with questions.


    And why is she interested in him?


    His irritation bubbled up. Don''t tell me they''re about to drop a bomb like, "Hey, Su Xiaobai, congrats on your new psycho wife." No thanks. He''s not signing up for a lifetime of dodging a woman who can kill him by sneezing.


    Finally, his gaze landed on the Sect Master himself¡ªa man who looked like he balanced calm wisdom and imminent homicide on the daily. With his silver-streaked hair and calm but intimidating presence, the guy felt like a volcano pretending it wasn''t about to blow.


    But compared to Bai Yujian? He was¡ªsomehow¡ªtame.


    "Su Xiaobai," the Sect Master''s voice boomed, shaking the hall like thunderclouds rolling in. "Do you know why you''ve been summoned here?"


    Su Xiaobai fought the urge to roll his eyes. ''Why else? To slap my wrist in front of everyone, hand me a reward under the table, and act all magnanimous about it.''


    Instead, he bowed respectfully, his face a perfect mask of clueless innocence. "This humble disciple is unsure, Sect Master. I can only hope I haven''t disgraced the sect."


    A loud snort broke the silence. Of course, it was Liu Chenfu, who spat, "Disgrace? You practically set the outer court on fire!"


    Another elder chimed in, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "You crippled eight of our disciples! How do you plan to compensate for that, boy?"


    Su Xiaobai''s eye twitched. *L''Compensate? Maybe they should compensate me for wasting my time.''


    He smiled politely. "Apologies, elders. But perhaps your disciples shouldn''t walk the path of cultivation if they''re scared of minor fights."


    "!!"


    The room went dead silent.


    Yan Zhenwu, the elder who spoke, looked like someone had just slapped him with a fish. "What did you¡ª?"


    ''Yep, told him to fuck off. Politely.''


    The murmurs began, low and scornful, but Su Xiaobai didn''t care. He kept his head down and thought, ''Let them argue. Old people love to bicker. It''s like their sport.''


    Finally, Bai Yujian''s icy voice cut through the noise. "Enough."


    The room fell silent.


    "My disciple broke no rules," she declared, her gaze sweeping over the elders like a blade. "If any of you still shamelessly demand compensation, perhaps you should reconsider your qualifications as Peak Lords. This is the path of cultivation, not a playground. Disciples will clash, and they will suffer. That is their reality. Stop embarrassing yourselves."


    The silence that followed was deafening.


    Even Su Xiaobai, who always had a comeback locked and loaded, found himself momentarily speechless.


    Damn. Savage.


    Did she just, in her cold, elegant way, tell them all to fuck off?


    The Sect Master nodded, his tone measured. "For better or worse, the boy has shown potential."


    Su Xiaobai nearly snorted. Here it comes. The ''potential'' speech.


    "However," the Sect Master continued, his voice turning sharp, "potential without discipline is a disaster waiting to happen."


    Before he could finish, Bai Yujian''s gaze landed on Su Xiaobai, she added with an confident smile, "That is why he will undergo the Sect''s Trial of Shadows."


    The murmurs erupted once more, louder this time.


    Su Xiaobai''s lips twitched. ''Trial of Shadows? What next, public execution?''


    This wasn''t part of the script, okay. Could we please stick to the original plan where he didn''t end up as some sacrificial lamb for everyone''s entertainment?


    He glanced at Bai Yujian. She stood there with her parasol, smiling like the trial was a done deal. Her confidence was maddening. ''Does she think I''m some righteous hero here to prove my worth? Lady, my heart''s not a shrine¡ªit''s a den of thieves, and they''re armed.''


    Zhao Tianxuan, the Sect Master, was just as stunned, his eyes shining with a complicated light.


    He knew Bai Yujian''s true identity¡ªa figure far beyond their crumbling sect''s grasp. He had planned to let Su Xiaobai off lightly, but her suggestion? It changed everything.


    "So be it," Zhao Tianxuan declared, his voice firm. "Prepare him for the Trial of Shadows."


    The words hit like a hammer, sealing Su Xiaobai''s fate.


    He let out a slow breath, suppressing the urge to laugh. ''A trial to test my soul? What are they expecting? A spotless saint? My soul''s a bottomless pit, and I''m the one who dug it.''


    The Trial of Shadows was infamous, designed to strip a cultivator bare, forcing them to confront their deepest truths.


    Bai Yujian, of course, looked utterly unbothered, twirling her parasol like this was all part of her master plan. Her serene smile only made her look more dangerous.


    ''She''s either testing me or setting me up to fail spectacularly. Knowing her, she''s probably in her delusional phase again.''


    The elders whispered among themselves, some gleeful, others wary. He could feel their anticipation, their hunger to see him stumble.


    ''Dream on,'' Su Xiaobai thought, his lips curling into a sharp smile. ''You want a villain? I''ll give you a villain.''


    That sharp smile, however, didn''t last long. It faded into nothingness the moment reality came crashing down.


    What the hell...


    That was Su Xiaobai''s first coherent thought as he was unceremoniously shoved into a pitch-black chamber. The air was filled with swirling mist, the kind that kissed his skin and seeped into his lungs, making him feel like he was drowning on dry land.


    Everywhere he looked, the mist stretched endlessly, a suffocating eternity where nothing existed but shadow and silence.


    Then came the voice.


    [MAKE YOUR CHOICE, WARRIOR. WHO WOULD YOU SAVE?]


    The words didn''t simply echo¡ªthey drilled into his mind, buzzing with an unnatural intensity. Su Xiaobai winced, clutching his head as the sound reverberated inside his skull.


    "!"


    When his eyes finally focused, he froze.


    In front of him, illuminated by an eerie, ghostly light, were faces he never thought he''d see again. Faces from a past he had buried deep, faces that shouldn''t be here.


    ''What kind of sick joke is this?''

 Chapter 82 Killing past to save the Future!

    [MAKE YOUR CHOICE, WARRIOR. WHO WOULD YOU SAVE?]The voice thundered through Su Xiaobai''s mind, cold and unforgiving. Before he could curse the heavens, the mist coiled, shaping itself into a flickering humanoid figure.


    The shadow stepped forward, its presence oppressive, its voice a quiet blade breaking through his thoughts.


    "Take this," it said, extending a dagger that shimmered like molten starlight. "Kill three, and one may leave. That is the price of passage."


    Su Xiaobai''s lips curled in a sneer. "Kill three? How original. Who dreams up this garbage?"


    But his disdain faltered as the figures ahead emerged from the mist.


    Four shapes.


    Four faces.


    The first figure? Oh, fantastic¡ªit was him.


    Or, rather, his past self: Caine Wilson. Short black hair, a grin that could make saints swear, and eyes that glowed like someone lit a bonfire in them. The sight made Su Xiaobai want to vomit and punch a wall simultaneously.


    "Sup," Past Him said, smirking like he owned the place. "Bet you didn''t think you''d see me again, huh?"


    Su Xiaobai''s face twitched, "You''re not real," he snapped, mostly to convince himself. "This is some twisted magic trick. An illusion."


    "Sure," Caine Wilson drawled, rolling his eyes. "Keep telling yourself that, buddy. But between you and me? You''re still the same bastard, just in a fancier outfit."


    Before Su Xiaobai could lunge at his annoying ghost of Christmas past, his eyes shifted to the other three figures¡ªand oh boy, the universe wasn''t pulling its punches today.


    His mother stood there, her kind eyes looking at him with this soul-crushing sadness that made his chest feel like it was in a vice. She looked¡­ smaller. Fragile, even.


    Then there was Su Yiran, his elder sister, standing tall with that "I will punch you if you mess this up" energy she always had. Her sharp gaze cut through the shadows, daring him to screw up.


    And Su Xiaomei, the youngest, clutching a tattered doll, her wide eyes brimming with fragile hope.


    "Choose," the shadow repeated, its voice calm, yet heavier than mountains. "Kill three, and one may leave. Or do nothing, and all will perish."


    Su Xiaobai''s brain was going a million miles an hour, but all he could manage was a dry chuckle, "So, the great path of cultivation just boils down to slaughter. Shocking."


    "This is the truth," the shadow said. "Sacrifice. Detachment. Strength. Or you can cling to them and die here."


    Caine laughed, low and mocking. "It''s not a hard choice, is it? Face it. You''ve always been good at survival, Xiaobai. Ruthless, practical, selfish. That''s why I''m still here¡ªbecause you can''t erase me."


    "Shut up," Su Xiaobai snapped, his grip on the dagger tightening.


    His gaze shifted between the faces. His mother, who had shielded him when his choices set the world against their family. Su Yiran, who fought for him when no one else would. And Xiaomei, the last fragment of hope tied to his name.


    And then, there was Caine Wilson.


    Not a weakness. Not a regret.


    A hatred¡ªone he wanted to tear apart and bury for good.


    ''Could I kill my past to save my future?''


    The dagger felt like lead in his hand, heavy with more than just steel.


    He had dismissed the trial as utter nonsense, confident he could break through with ease¡ªbut no, this was the real deal.


    The truth made him chuckle bitterly.


    _____


    On the far end of the chamber, three figures loomed like ominous deities judging the fate of mortals, their eyes glued to the swirling mist within a mirrored formation.


    "Think he''ll pass?" Zhu Qing''s voice was as light as the breeze that stirred mountain blossoms, though her sharp emerald eyes betrayed a piercing curiosity.


    Leaning against the stone wall, her Mystic Vein Peak robes shimmered like jade rivers, their flow as effortless as her confidence.


    Sect Master Zhao Tianxuan, his silver-streaked hair glowing faintly in the formation''s light, didn''t reply right away. The old fox''s face was locked in an expression so contemplative, you''d think he was calculating the lifespan of stars


    "It depends," he said finally, his tone measured. "The Trial of Shadows doesn''t test strength alone. It strips a cultivator bare, revealing their essence. If he falters, talent means nothing."


    Zhu Qing''s lips curved faintly. "Talent''s useless if you die before you wield it."


    Her interest in Su Xiaobai was no secret.


    As Mystic Vein Peak''s lord and the sect''s reigning queen of formations, Zhu Qing had seen more brilliance than most¡ªbut even she had nearly choked on her tea when she''d heard about Su Xiaobai. A disciple from Sword Peak, barely wet behind the ears, had whipped up a formation so flawless it could probably make the heavens blush.


    Curiosity had yanked her straight out of closed-door cultivation, and when she saw the truth with her own eyes? Oh, she''d been floored. A Sword Peak brat, of all people, had managed this feat. The sheer truth of it had nearly cracked her composed facade.


    "Does he even know how rare he is?" she mused, her gaze still on the formation. "An outer disciple mastering formations¡­ If he survives, I''ll take him. I want to see what he''s truly capable of." Your journey continues on My Virtual Library Empire


    Beside her, Bai Yujian''s icy gaze flickered. "His path is the sword. He chose it himself," she said, she said, standing rigid as a frost statue, her tone sharp and curt as if she were chopping vegetables.


    Zhu Qing arched an elegant brow. "Is it? A sword cuts, but a formation bends the heavens. Perhaps his path is broader than you think."


    Hiss~ S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Bai Yujian''s lips tightened, and for a moment, it seemed like she might hurl an icicle at Zhu Qing.


    Yet, deep down, even she didn''t know why she felt so defensive.


    By logic, it didn''t matter which peak Su Xiaobai ended up in, as long as it benefited the sect?¡ªonly the sect''s future did.


    Yet her gaze returned to the formation, her expression impassive, though her thoughts churned like storm clouds. Unlike her companions, Bai Yujian wasn''t merely a Peak Lord. She was the Sect Guardian, a being of ancient wisdom and power who had shaped the sect for centuries.


    It was she who had selected Zhao Tianxuan as Sect Master, and Zhu Qing as Peak Lord.


    They were her juniors, capable yet still far beneath her in experience.


    And yet, Su Xiaobai¡­


    His potential disturbed her. The Trial of Shadows was merciless; failure meant expulsion.


    Few dared attempt it. Fewer still succeeded.


    It stripped cultivators of illusions, forcing them to confront their fears and attachments.


    Zhao Tianxuan broke the silence, his voice steady. "The trial demands choice without hesitation. Linger too long, and it breaks you."


    "He''s already taking too long," Bai Yujian murmured, her tone colder than the mountain''s peak winds.


    Zhu Qing smirked, glancing at her. "Worried? That''s rare. He must be special if even you''re stirred."


    Bai Yujian turned to Zhu Qing, her gaze sharp. "If he fails, he leaves. That''s the rule. And you? ¡ª You abandoned a breakthrough to chase him. Who''s stirred now?"


    "..." Zhu Qing''s smirk faltered, a faint blush creeping into her cheeks as she looked away.


    Zhao Tianxuan took a step back, his movements slow and deliberate, like a man tiptoeing past a sleeping beast. Two beasts, in fact¡ªZhu Qing, bristling with wounded pride, and Bai Yujian, exuding a chill that could freeze hell itself. This was no place for the Sect Master to die.


    Zhu Qing turned her glare toward Zhao Tianxuan, clearly expecting him to intervene. But Zhao Tianxuan wasn''t stupid. No amount of authority as Sect Master could make him willingly dive into the mess between these two. Their shared history was¡­complicated, to say the least.


    Once, Bai Yujian, in her infinite wisdom, had arranged for him to marry Zhu Qing. ''A perfect union,'' she''d declared. Right. A match so "perfect" that the moment he became Sect Master, he''d shattered the engagement faster than a loose sword shattered in combat.


    Zhu Qing''s personality? Not for him. But that decision still haunted him like a bad debt.


    Now, centuries later, here they stood, all that tension bubbling beneath the surface. Zhao Tianxuan shot a quick glance at Han Xuan, who had wisely stationed himself on the sidelines with the others. Clever bastard.


    Han Xuan was joined by Xu An, the sect enforcer whose face had all the enthusiasm of a man chewing raw spirit grass; the Frost Peak Elder, whose far-off stare suggested he''d mentally retired already; and the Fire Peak Elder, who looked one step away from setting himself ablaze to escape this nonsense.


    All of them were from the same generation, bonded by the Trial of Shadows¡ªa trial that had shaped their lives and elevated them to their current positions.


    Most had risen from within the sect, like Zhao Tianxuan and Zhu Qing, forged in the sect''s fires.


    The Frost Peak Elder, however, was a wildcard¡ªa foreigner they''d picked up centuries ago during an intercontinental tournament in Tianlong Empire.


    He''d passed the trial too, proving himself as worthy as the rest.


    That shared history was why they now stood here, watching Su Xiaobai¡ªa brat barely out of the outer court¡ªfacing a trial usually reserved for core disciples and elders. Bai Yujian''s decision to throw him in? Controversial didn''t begin to cover it.


    "If he passes," Han Xuan said with a sly grin, "we''ve got ourselves a monster. Kid like that? Put him anywhere¡ªSword Peak, Mystic Vein Peak, even Iron Mountain Peak¡ªand he''ll conquer it."


    Zhao Tianxuan crossed his arms, his expression grave. "Pass or fail, it''s the trial''s call. No one can meddle."


    The trial wasn''t just about strength or skill; it was about heart. The easiest way to pass? Refuse the trial, admitting you weren''t ready. That showed the humility of a righteous heart.


    But to pass with true glory? To shine? That demanded sacrifice. The kind that left scars on your soul. Zhao Tianxuan had made that choice long ago, and it had earned him the Sect Master''s seat.


    Zhu Qing, sensing the tension, slyly drifted away from Bai Yujian and sidled up to the group, "Of course, we can''t intervene. But if he fails, I''ll still want to meet him. He''s too fascinating to ignore."


    Her teasing words didn''t distract Bai Yujian.


    Bai Yujian said nothing, though her sharp eyes flicked briefly toward the group. The way they all shuffled around like nervous rabbits trying to avoid her glare was almost amusing.


    Almost. She didn''t care about their petty evasions.


    Her gaze remained locked on the mirrored formation, her expression carved from ice, but a faint crease marred her brow.


    ''He has to pass,'' she thought, her ancient heart betraying a rare flicker of concern.

 Chapter 83 Money Grubber!

    Back in the Trial!"Tick-tock, warrior," the shadow sneered, its voice colder than a winter night on Frost Peak. "Make your choice¡ªor let them all die."


    Su Xiaobai''s grip tightened on the dagger, his lips pressing into a thin line. A whisper escaped him, soft but sharp: "This isn''t right¡­"


    Cultivation was freedom. The path of rebellion. A giant middle finger to the heavens, the earth, and anything else that thought it could control you. Rules? Restrictions? That was for mortals who didn''t know how to dream big.


    And yet here he was, caught in a formation that demanded he play executioner. It was wrong¡ªso wrong it made his skin crawl.


    The shadow let out a low, mocking laugh, its voice echoing like the bastard child of thunder and mockery. "Right? Wrong? Don''t kid yourself. The path of cultivation isn''t built on sunshine and daisy fields¡ªit''s built on blood. On sacrifice. If you don''t have the guts to make the hard choices, you''re nothing but a weakling waiting to die."


    Its tone turned sharper, more menacing. "You already know this, don''t you? How many bodies have you left behind already? How much blood stains those hands of yours? You think the future''s going to be any different?"


    The words hit like a slap, and Su Xiaobai flinched. But then it clicked¡ªthis wasn''t just a test. The shadow wasn''t some random boogeyman conjured by the formation.


    No, this thing was him.


    The mist curling tighter around him like a jealous lover. The figures in the distance grew hazy, their faces fading into the void.


    His heart raced. He felt trapped, the walls closing in.


    "Choose," the shadow demanded, its tone slashed with finality.


    But then, like a heavenly slap to the back of his head, realization struck.


    His panic stilled, his breath evened.


    The weight lifted.


    A slow smirk crept across Su Xiaobai''s face. He straightened, the trembling in his hands vanishing like smoke in the wind.


    "I won''t choose," he said, his voice low but resolute.


    The shadow''s form flickered, its head tilting in mock confusion. "Then you will all perish. Weakness has no place on this path."


    "Weakness?" Su Xiaobai scoffed, his smirk widening. "No, weakness is letting someone else pull your strings. And if you think I''m going to play your little game, you''re dumber than you look."


    Without hesitation, Su Xiaobai spun, gripping the dagger tightly.


    Puchi!


    He drove the blade straight into the shadow''s chest, the force of his strike carrying the weight of his rebellion.


    The shadow''s scream was a mix of shock and rage, its form convulsing violently. "What¡ª"


    CRASH!


    The blade shattered, a deafening shockwave tearing through the chamber. The mist evaporated in an instant, the distant figures exploding into motes of light.


    The shadow disintegrated with a final scream, its form vanishing into nothingness.


    ____


    Outside the Chamber.


    "What the¡ª?"


    Bai Yujian, Zhu Qing, and Zhao Tianxuan spoke in unison, their shock momentarily uniting them¡ªa rarity in itself.


    Inside the mirrored formation, the trial wasn''t just completed¡ªit was obliterated.


    "Did he¡­?" Han Xuan began, his brows shooting up in disbelief.


    "Oh, he did," Zhu Qing said, letting out a low, incredulous laugh. "The boy didn''t just beat the trial¡ªhe broke the whole thing."


    Zhao Tianxuan pinched the bridge of his nose, muttering something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like a curse. "This¡­ this is exactly why outer court disciples shouldn''t touch this test."


    Xu An, the awkward enforcer, cleared his throat. "Should we¡­ you know¡­ be concerned that he just destroyed an ancient sect treasure?"


    "Concerned?" The Fire Peak Elder finally broke his silence, his voice sharp and brimming with amusement. His grin was all predator, more wolf than man. "I''m not concerned¡ªI''m impressed. Breaking rules and formations? The boy''s got guts."


    Han Xuan chuckled, shaking his head. "Kid''s got more than guts. He just declared war on the trial itself. I like him already."


    Bai Yujian said nothing, her frosty gaze fixed on the remnants of the formation. Then, without a word, she turned and darted toward the collapsing chamber''s exit.


    "Hm? Where''s Elder Bai?" Zhao Tianxuan asked, glancing around as the others realized she was gone.


    But Bai Yujian wasn''t the only one quick on her feet. Unknown to her, someone else had already slipped away¡ªfaster and quieter than even the Sect Guardian herself.


    _____


    Inside the Chamber.


    Zhu Qing moved through the collapsing chamber with graceful steps, her green robes untouched by the debris swirling around her. Her snow hair glinted faintly in the dim light as she weaved through the falling debris with an unbothered elegance.


    "Where is he?" she murmured, her tone soft but edged with irritation.


    Her emerald eyes locked onto Su Xiaobai, who stood frozen at the center of the devastation. His gaze was fixed on the spot where the shadow had vanished, as if it had left something behind.


    "Still staring at that damn thing?" Her voice echoed through the ringing silence, smooth yet commanding. She closed the distance between them with a few strides, her expression calm but undeniably firm. "Are you planning to die here, or can we leave now?"


    Her sharp words jolted Su Xiaobai from his daze. Without giving him a chance to reply, Zhu Qing reached out, her touch light yet unyielding, and pulled him toward the exit.


    "What were you thinking, just standing there?" she asked once they were out, her delicate fingers brushing dust off her pristine robes.


    Su Xiaobai blinked, his mind still shaking from the shadow''s final words:


    [You think breaking me will set you free?] it had hissed, its writhing form shattering into nothingness. [Foolish boy. You''ve merely traded one cage for another. The ones above are always watching.]


    He shook the thought from his head, forcing a weak smile as he leaned against a nearby rock. "Thanks, Elder Bai. I can see now why everyone says your heart''s as vast as the heavens."


    "?!"


    Zhu Qing arched a perfect brow, her expression unreadable.


    "Elder Bai?" she repeated, her voice a touch colder now. "I wasn''t aware I had turned into her shadow. Tell me, boy¡ªwhat does that make me, a ghost?"


    Her words caught him off guard, and his gaze lifted to meet hers properly for the first time. She wasn''t Bai Yujian. The woman before him was striking in every sense¡ªsilver hair flowing like moonlight, a faint flower etched over her eye, and an aura that danced between elegance and danger.


    "You''re¡­"


    Before he could finish, Zhu Qing placed a single finger over her ruby lips, silencing him. "Shh," she whispered, her tone low and sultry. "The others will be here soon. Let''s not waste time."


    She leaned in slightly, her eyes glowing faintly as she spoke. "How about you join my Mystic Vein Peak? I could teach you things no one else could. You''d be my most treasured disciple."


    "!!"


    Su Xiaobai blinked, stunned. ''Did this woman just ask me to ditch Elder Bai?''


    He narrowed his eyes slightly, smirking faintly as he crossed his arms. "Impossible."


    Zhu Qing''s lips twitched. Could this man not even pretend?


    He was tempted¡ªobviously. How could he not be? Bai Yujian was a blade honed to perfection, sharp and unmatched. To grab her was to risk losing a hand¡ªor worse. No matter how he reached for her, she would cut him down without a moment''s hesitation.


    But Zhu Qing? She wasn''t a sword; she was a lotus. Soft, charming, and dangerous in her own way. The kind of trap that lured men with beauty, only for them to step into the mud and sink deeper than they''d ever imagined.


    Would he bite? Probably not. But appreciating beauty from afar? That didn''t seem like a crime.


    His gaze wandered. Her figure¡­ well, it demanded attention. Those curves, especially her chest¡ªBai Yujian could keep hers hidden under layers of robes and frost. Zhu Qing? She let the world know. And Su Xiaobai liked that. He liked that a lot.


    "Touch."


    "Huh?"


    His head snapped up, his thoughts shattering as Zhu Qing''s words sank in. She was smiling now, her lips curling like a devil offering forbidden fruit, her finger still pressed against them.


    "Touch it," she said again, her tone teasing, almost mocking. "Quickly."


    Su Xiaobai blinked, his brain stumbling over itself. Was this still the same tribulation realm expert? He arched a brow, leaning back slightly. "I need contribution points."


    "Five hundred thousand," Zhu Qing shot back, her gaze darting around like a guilty thief checking for witnesses.


    "Seven hundred thousand," Su Xiaobai countered without missing a beat.


    "Deal," Zhu Qing agreed instantly, inwardly cursing him for being such a money-grubbing bastard.


    She''d thought he was the lustful type, easy to manipulate, but this guy¡­


    "Good." Su Xiaobai smirked, but before anything else could happen¡ª


    "Where are those two!?"


    The voice echoed through the ruins, accompanied by the sound of hurried footsteps.


    "Ah!?" Zhu Qing yelped, straightening as more elders began pouring into the chamber.


    "There you are¡­" Zhao Tianxuan appeared first, his tone laced with relief as he spotted the pair. Behind him, the other elders filed in, their gazes sweeping over the destruction with a mix of awe and frustration.


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    Su Xiaobai, ever the picture of innocence, simply turned and strolled toward Bai Yujian without so much as a glance back. His posture was calm, his expression serene¡ªas if nothing had happened.


    Zhu Qing, however, wasn''t so composed. Her gaze followed him, her mind shaking. Why did it feel like¡­ like this bastard had stolen a quick scoop of her chest in all the commotion?


    Her eyes narrowed dangerously, though her lips curved into a stiff smile as she addressed the rest of the elders.


    This man¡­


    As the others moved past her, inspecting the remnants of the chamber, she stayed for a moment longer. Watching. Thinking. Su Xiaobai wasn''t as innocent as he pretended to be. Destroying the trial formation instead of bending to its rules? That was the kind of heresy even the heretic sects would applaud.


    Her lips curved further, her gaze gleaming with interest. Interesting¡­ S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Bai Yujian, oblivious to the chaos in Zhu Qing''s mind, was inspecting Su Xiaobai with clinical precision. "Are you injured?" she asked, her tone softer than usual as she checked him over.


    And Su Xiaobai? That bastard looked like he was enjoying the attention.


    Wolf in sheep''s clothing, Zhu Qing thought with a scoff. Bai Yujian still seemed to see him as an innocent rabbit, but Zhu Qing wasn''t so easily fooled.


    "Are you alright, Qingqing?" Zhao Tianxuan''s voice interrupted her thoughts, his concern thick in his tone.


    She snorted, brushing him off with a flick of her wrist. "Perfect," she said curtly before striding away, her hips swaying with deliberate elegance.


    Zhao Tianxuan''s gaze lingered on her retreating figure, a strange look flickering across his face¡ªregret? Longing?


    The other elders exchanged uneasy glances. They all knew the rumors. Zhao Tianxuan had broken off an engagement with Zhu Qing years ago.


    And now he was pretending to care?


    But no one said a word, brushing it off as a sect master''s concern for his subordinates. None of them suspected the deeper story lurking beneath.

 Chapter 84 Promotion or Plot Twist!

    "Su Xiaobai, we are promoting you to inner court disciple.""...Come again?"


    Su Xiaobai stared at the elder, his brain doing the mental equivalent of a cart stuck in quicksand. He had walked into the sect hall expecting the usual: yelling, maybe a slap on the wrist. A demotion at worst. After all, who could forget his masterpiece¡ªobliterating the trial formation?


    But a promotion? Seriously?


    His eyes flicked to the elders. Their expressions ranged from ''smug bastard who planned this'' to ''grudging boomer approval.'' If this were a drama, the soundtrack would be screaming, ''Something ain''t right!''


    ''Wait, wait, inner court? Don''t I need to hit Nascent Soul Realm for that?'' Su Xiaobai scratched his head. He was still happily loafing around in core formation realm, after all. Did someone mix up the paperwork? Or was this some sort of elaborate sect hazing ritual?


    Oh, the elders were whispering in their heads, he just knew it: ''Oh, Su Xiaobai, you''re so screwed. But let''s make it look like a promotion first.''


    "Uh... thanks, I guess?" Su Xiaobai ventured cautiously.


    Before he could process this disaster properly, she arrived.


    ______


    That night, Bai Yujian graced his quarters unannounced¡ªbecause why wouldn''t she? Privacy was for mortals, apparently.


    She stood in the doorway like a tender goddess, yet her eyes colder than a bank vault.


    "You start training tomorrow," she announced, voice so cold it could''ve flash-frozen his morning tea.


    "Training? For what...?" Su Xiaobai''s gut churned. Training always meant two things: pain, and more pain.


    "In one month, we head to the capital."


    "The capital? Why?"


    "Do you think you can defeat a Nascent Soul cultivator while at Earthly Rebirth Realm?"


    Su Xiaobai''s brain hit the brakes. If this were a regular protagonist moment, he''d puff up his chest and declare, ''I will rise to the challenge!'' But let''s be real¡ªif someone''s asking you this, they''ve already signed you up for a deathmatch.


    "Sure," he said finally, giving her a shit-eating grin. "One realm above? Piece of cake."


    For a moment, her icy glare softened into something suspiciously amused. "Good." And with that, she vanished like a ghost with a packed schedule.


    "Piece of cake," Su Xiaobai muttered to himself. "What could possibly go wrong?"


    Xiao Lu, still lying next to him in bed, smacked her forehead. ''STOP SAYING THAT, It only gets worse,'' her expression screamed. ''Do you want to die?''


    _____


    Meanwhile, in the Sect Hall...


    Bai Yujian had single-handedly turned the elders'' meeting into a battlefield.


    "This is ridiculous," one elder scoffed. "The boy hasn''t proven himself. Destroying a trial formation doesn''t make him inner court worthy!"


    "He chose not to sacrifice innocent lives during the trial and eradicated the true evil¡ªthe shadow that commanded it. That alone proves his worth. As it stands, he could easily rank at the top of the outer court." Bai Yujian said coolly.


    "He lacks experience!" another elder protested. "What message does this send to the others?"


    "Fine," she said, her smile sharp,"Let him earn it. Two Nascent Soul disciples will challenge him. One by one. Ten days. No breaks."


    The room erupted in gasps.


    "Two?!"


    "For every peak lord who disagrees," she added sweetly. "Two per disagreement."


    Zhao Tianxuan nodded mechanically, doing his best to appear like he was on board with the plan.


    Truth be told, he was quietly losing his mind trying to figure out how to sell this insanity to the rest of the sect. But from the look in Bai Yujian''s eyes, it was clear she already had something diabolical up her sleeve.


    Whatever scheme she had cooked up, though, one thing was certain¡ªit was Su Xiaobai who was about to get roasted.


    A heavy, sinister silence settled over the room as the elders exchanged uneasy glances. One by one, they nodded in reluctant agreement, sealing the poor boy''s fate with every bob of their heads.


    ______


    Morning Reality Check!


    Su Xiaobai woke up suspiciously alive. Which, frankly, felt wrong. Life going smoothly? Yeah, no. He called this sixth sense ''cultivator PTSD.''


    He stretched lazily, enjoying Xiao Lu''s soft, warm body nestled against his. For a brief, fleeting moment, life felt... okay.


    Then Bai Yujian kicked his door open.


    "Get up," she ordered, glaring at him like he''d stolen her life savings.


    "Morning," he muttered sarcastically, rubbing his eyes. Her gaze zeroed in on Xiao Lu, who was naked next to him.


    For the first time, her icy mask cracked. She turned away with a scowl. Was she... blushing? Su Xiaobai scratched his head. Why''s this thousand-year-old hag acting shy now?


    "Five minutes," she snapped. "Get dressed."


    After lazily trailing behind Bai Yujian, Su Xiaobai found himself standing in what seemed like a painfully familiar place¡ªthe sect''s training grounds. Or, more accurately, the scene of his crime. Yep, the same training grounds he had obliterated during his spectacular (and unintentional) destruction of the Astral Gate Formation.


    The once-pristine area was now a patchwork of broken ground and haphazard repairs, with core disciples trudging around in their signature red robes, grumbling as they patched up the damage like underpaid contractors. One particularly pissed-off disciple shot Su Xiaobai a glare that screamed, ''You did this.''


    But what really caught his attention were two unexpected figures in the crowd.


    Hu Jiao''er and Hu Mei''er.


    The twins noticed him instantly, their lips curling into identical mischievous smiles as they gave him a synchronized wink.


    Su Xiaobai shivered. That wasn''t flirtatious¡ªit was predatory.


    Weren''t these two ''newly selected'' outer disciples just two days ago? The same clueless newbies who had barely survived the trial with him? So why were they now strutting around in core disciple uniforms like they owned the place?


    "Am I hallucinating?" Su Xiaobai muttered, rubbing his eyes. "Or did these two get some kind of fast pass to the top?"


    Before he could ask, Bai Yujian hurled a wooden sword at him.


    "Strike the training dummy. Ten thousand times."


    "Ten thousand?! Are you serious?!"


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    "Do I look like I''m joking?" Her tone was flatter than the sect''s annual dumpling festival.


    Spoiler alert: She wasn''t.


    And so, Su Xiaobai cursed his luck, his life, and most importantly, Zhu Qing for not rescuing him yet.


    Where was she, anyway?


    Shouldn''t she have dragged him to her mystic peak by now?


    ___


    By midday, Su Xiaobai''s arms felt like he''d been commissioned to personally lift the damn mountains the sect was named after. Sweat poured down his face as he glared daggers at the training dummy, which somehow managed to look smug despite being an inanimate object.


    "Why aren''t you broken yet, you wooden bastard?" he snarled, swiping at it half-heartedly. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Nearby, Bai Yujian sipped tea, reclining in the shade like some kind of frosty empress on vacation.


    "Done!" Su Xiaobai gasped, letting the sword clatter to the ground.


    Bai Yujian set her cup down with an infuriatingly serene smile. "Good. Now double it."


    "Double¡­?"


    If this were some romance novel, he could practically hear the audience swooning over her ''tough love'' routine. But guess what? It''s not romantic when you''re the one getting ground into paste.


    "You''ve got two months," she said coldly, her tone more chilling than the Frost Peak winds. "Ten Nascent Soul disciples. No one will hold back."


    "Two months? Ten Nascent Soul disciples?" Su Xiaobai''s expression darkened, his lips curling into a sneer. "Why don''t you just poison my tea and save us all some time?"


    Around him, the core disciples fixing the training grounds looked at him with equal parts pity and amusement. The rumor mill had clearly been spinning¡ªeveryone but him seemed to know the full story.


    When Bai Yujian finally explained the "deal," Su Xiaobai raised an eyebrow so high it threatened to escape his forehead.


    "Ten of them?" he repeated, his tone laced with venomous mockery. "Sure. Let me just ascend to deityhood real quick. Maybe I''ll make it a fair fight while I''m at it."


    For once, Bai Yujian hesitated. Her smile cracked, revealing the faintest flicker of doubt. Even she knew this plan was insane. But the sect''s elders had forced her hand. Five peak lords had opposed his promotion, each sending two Nascent Soul disciples to crush him in "honorable" combat.


    She looked at him with steely determination. "That''s why we''re going to the Dragon Spirit Sea in a month. If you reach Earthly Rebirth Realm there, you''ll stand a chance."


    Su Xiaobai let out a sharp, humorless laugh. "Oh, so now I''m your pet project? Is this the part where I thank you for the generous opportunity to be slaughtered in style?"


    Bai Yujian didn''t flinch, but her gaze grew distant, like she was calculating how many ways this whole thing could blow up in her face.


    Defeating one Nascent Soul disciple? Sure, it was ambitious, but not impossible. Ten? Even she knew that was about as likely as an elder admitting they were wrong. The five peak lords had made sure of it¡ªeach sending their personal favorites to crush Su Xiaobai into fertilizer.


    Her gaze sharpened again. Nope, she wasn''t about to let them win.


    The capital... Yes, the Dragon Spirit Sea. That was her move.

 Chapter 85 Plot Twist (1)

    The capital... Yes, the Dragon Spirit Sea.That was her move.


    If Su Xiaobai could break through to Earthly Rebirth Realm there, the odds would shift. He didn''t need to win against all ten challengers¡ªfive victories would be enough to slap the doubters into silence. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But it wasn''t just about his promotion. When Su Xiaobai had smashed the trial formation, she saw something no one else did: the guts to flip the bird to the old ways. The sect had been riding its traditions straight into the grave, choking on ancient rules while the world moved on.


    The Xiantian Sect, once a powerhouse boasting Great Ascension masters and even a Human Immortal, was now limping along with only three Great Ascension cultivators.


    The sect''s mysterious healer, Xu Tianran, was reliable as a guardian, sure¡ªbut Zhao Tianxuan?


    Still stuck at the initial stage.


    A strong breeze could knock that guy out.


    And Bai Yujian herself? She''d been standing at the peak of the Great Ascension Realm for centuries, one step from transcending. But the sect''s decline had chained her here. Leaving now to seek her breakthrough wasn''t just risky¡ªit was a death sentence for the sect.


    Yet Su Xiaobai''s defiance gave her hope. If he could rise¡ªand if Zhao Tianxuan stopped being useless¡ªshe could step away, however briefly, and finally break through. Maybe even drag the sect out of its endless spiral while she was at it.


    The boy didn''t realize it, but he could lead the sect into a new age. People followed him. Even that maid of his, Xiao Lu, had chosen him over the sect itself. And while Su Xiaobai was too busy grumbling to notice, he already had hundreds of admirers in the outer court.


    Did he see it?


    Nope. He was too busy stomping off to his quarters.


    "Where are you going?" Bai Yujian called after him, exasperation bleeding into her voice.


    Su Xiaobai didn''t even look back. "Stop making decisions for me. You''re not my wife, my mom, or my master."


    Hands tucked smugly into his robe, he sauntered off, radiating the energy of someone who thought the world should bend to his whims.


    What did she expect? That he''d happily fight ten Nascent Soul disciples just because she decided it was "character building"? Inner court status? Contribution points? Please. Zhu Qing could get him those without the whole ''almost dying'' part.


    Honestly, joining her peak sounded like the better deal at this point. He could just kick back in the outer sect, nap, and wait for her to come around.


    As for the sparring match in two months? Even if he could beat them, why bother?


    The peak lords weren''t sending challengers to spar¡ªthey were sending executioners. Sparring? Just a fancy term for "grave digging" in this world. Su Xiaobai wasn''t complaining, though; he''d mastered the same "accidental" technique himself.


    Yesterday, he''d already crippled half a mountain''s worth of disciples without even trying to kill anyone.


    And now she expected him to line up as her sacrificial lamb? Yeah, no.


    If this was about that love letter incident, she should''ve just said it to his face. Torture disguised as "opportunities"? Nice try, but he wasn''t buying it.


    "..."


    Bai Yujian watched Su Xiaobai leave, her expression as frozen as her reputation. Did he just walk away? No disciple had ever dared show such blatant disregard for her authority.


    Her hands tightened at her sides, nails pressing against her palm. She could crush him with a flick of her wrist. Yet she stood rooted, watching his retreating back.


    Why?


    She didn''t know whether to feel insulted, amused, or something far more dangerous. Sadness? Anger? For the first time in centuries, Bai Yujian felt an unfamiliar ache she couldn''t name. If it weren''t for the patience forged by thousands of years, she might have dragged him back by his collar and personally taught him how to address an elder.


    The core disciples who had witnessed the spectacle stood frozen, wide-eyed.


    "He just left¡­" one murmured, breaking the silence.


    "Elder is going to lose it," another whispered.


    But Bai Yujian didn''t. Instead, she turned and walked away, leaving the disciples dumbfounded.


    "What just happened? Did they have a lovers'' spat or something?"


    "Shouldn''t she beat him to a pulp? Why''s she letting him off?"


    ___


    As Bai Yujian walked, her mind spun in a hundred different directions.


    She hated to admit it, but perhaps she''d been too heavy-handed. Ten Nascent Soul disciples, ''properly prepared'', were a different beast compared to Huang Shao''s sloppy arrogance. Expecting him to overcome such odds was madness.


    She clenched her jaw. She had seen the spark of rebellion and potential in Su Xiaobai¡ªthe traits of a leader who could shake the sect from its stagnation. She had acted on excitement, seeing in him the heir the sect so desperately needed.


    But he wasn''t wrong to be frustrated. He wasn''t her tool, and she had treated him like one.


    I''ve gone too far.


    ____


    Back in Su Xiaobai''s Quarters!


    "Hm? You''re back, Master?" Xiao Lu''s soft voice broke through the quiet as Su Xiaobai strode into the room, drenched in sweat and irritation.


    Unlike him, Xiao Lu''s day had been easy. Choosing to remain a maid rather than a disciple, she had no obligations beyond lounging in the quarters he provided.


    Su Xiaobai ripped off his soaked robe, tossing it aside. "Yeah. That insane woman nearly killed me with her nonsense today."


    "What happened?" Xiao Lu asked, sitting up as Su Xiaobai headed toward the small pond to soak.


    He launched into a frustrated retelling of Bai Yujian''s unreasonable expectations. By the end, Xiao Lu sighed softly. "It sounds like you two have fallen out."


    "Fallen out?" Su Xiaobai sneered as he stepped into the water. "That implies we were on the same side to begin with."


    Xiao Lu''s gaze softened. If he decided to leave the sect, she would follow him. The sect had nothing to offer her beyond its grandeur¡ªa grandeur she could live without.


    Still, she liked the life of a cultivator. The sprawling mountains, the endless halls of the sect, the faint taste of qi in the air¡ªit had been a dream come true. If not for Su Xiaobai, she''d never have even realized her potential.


    But if he left, so would she. No questions asked.


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    Her thoughts were interrupted when she noticed Su Xiaobai''s sharp gaze land on the object beside her.


    "What''s that?" he asked, frowning.


    Xiao Lu blinked, then glanced at the wooden coffin she had nearly forgotten about.


    "Oh, this? Elder Bai left it here after you left. She said it''s yours."


    "...Mine?" Su Xiaobai''s eyes narrowed. His heart skipped a beat as he approached the coffin, his steps slow and cautious. For a moment, he thought of Yue''er''s coffin from the Emperor Tian Yu''s cave. But this one was different¡ªsimpler, cruder. It lacked the mystical apperance of Yue''er''s tomb.


    And yet¡­


    He felt something familiar radiating from within.


    His chest tightened for no reason, and without hesitation, he flung the lid open.

 Chapter 86 Plot Twist! (2)

    "Haa¡­"A strange scene cccurred atop Sword Peak as Su Xiaobai bolted back with a speed that dwarfed his initial departure. His robes flew like storm clouds, and his expression was twisted into one of barely-contained surprise.


    Fortunately, the inner and outer courts were nestled farther down the mountain. Otherwise, his mad dash might have caused a stir.


    "Where is that woman?"


    He appeared out of nowhere, grabbing Hu Jiao''er by the shoulder and spinning her around.


    "Ah!?" Hu Jiao''er''s startled cry turned into a glare as she instinctively raised her hand to slap whoever had dared touch her. But when her eyes landed on Su Xiaobai, the fiery anger in her gaze was replaced by a sly, calculating glint.


    "Oh, looking for Elder Bai?" she asked, her lips curling into a smile.


    "Who else...?" Su Xiaobai snapped. For a moment, his fingers twitched like he was considering wringing her neck. He thought better of it¡ªshe might be weaker than Bai Yujian, but she was still stronger than him.


    Hu Mei''er, standing to the side, blinked in astonishment. Did this guy really just call Elder Bai ''that woman''? Out loud?


    Hu Jiao''er was stunned too, though she quickly recovered. She jabbed her finger toward the villa at the peak''s summit. "She went back to her residence."


    "Finally." Su Xiaobai snorted before turning and vanishing again, his silhouette disappearing like a fleeting shadow.


    The two sisters stood in stunned silence for a moment. Then Hu Mei''er nudged her sibling, pointing to her hand.


    It was only then that Hu Jiao''er noticed the smooth weight of spirit stones in her palm.


    "That man¡­" Her lips twitched as her face flushed with both anger and begrudging amusement.


    Without a second thought, she hurled the stones to the ground. "Does he think I''m some cheap courtesan who needs payment for a favor!?"


    Hu Mei''er stared at her sister blankly, unsure whether she was more furious or impressed. After all, Hu Jiao''er was clenching her fists like she wanted to pulverize Su Xiaobai into paste¡ªwhile smiling like she had just found her favorite new plaything.


    "What a clever bastard¡­" Hu Jiao''er muttered, her voice caught somewhere between a growl and a laugh.


    _____


    Back at the Peak Lord''s Residence.


    BAM!


    The doors slammed open, creaking like they might shatter under Su Xiaobai''s sheer courage. Knocking? Politeness? That was for people not plotting revenge against Bai Yujian.


    "Hey¡ª"


    The servant barely got a word out before Su Xiaobai waved them off. His eyes were locked on the inner hall, his target in sight.


    And there she was.


    Bai Yujian.


    Seated before a mirror, her robe barely clinging to her shoulders, revealing pale skin that seemed to glow in the light. A faint trace of steam hung in the air, the scent of herbal oils betraying her intent¡ªshe''d been preparing for a bath. Her hair spilled like rivers of ink, framing a face too flawless for mortal comprehension.


    Her phoenix eyes flicked to him in the mirror, sharp and cold, glowing with the dangerous amusement of someone who might kill just for fun.


    For a moment, Su Xiaobai froze. Not out of guilt¡ªhe''d long since killed off whatever shame he might''ve had¡ªbut because seeing her like this, so unguarded, was like catching a predator mid-yawn.


    "Perfect," he thought, his grin curling. "A goddess when she''s calm, a demon when she''s angry. She''s wasted on this mountain."


    His eyes dipped. He didn''t even pretend to be subtle. The robe teased curves that could topple empires, and her bare legs¡ªsmooth, toned, and unbothered¡ªrested against the chair with careless grace. The room itself seemed blessed by her presence, except for one glaring anomaly.


    That parasol.


    It stood propped casually by her side, its handle resting within arm''s reach, as if it were just an accessory. But Su Xiaobai knew better. He''d seen enough to recognize the hum of power that pulsed faintly from its surface, the runes etched into its surface almost invisible until the light hit them just right.


    "Why the hell does she drag that thing everywhere?" he''d wondered before.


    Then it moved.


    Bai Yujian''s fingers brushed the handle, almost absentmindedly, and with a soft hiss, the parasol shifted. Its canopy folded in with a metallic click, revealing the shield hidden within¡ªsleek, elegant, and etched with ancient markings that pulsed faintly.


    But that wasn''t all.


    With a fluid motion, she pulled on the parasol''s handle, and Su Xiaobai''s eyes widened as a blade slid free, its edge gleaming like a crescent moon.


    A parasol, a shield, and a sword¡ªall in one.


    "No wonder she keeps it close," he thought, the grin slipping from his face for a split second.


    Her reflection caught his surprise, and her lips curved into the faintest smirk.


    "If you''re done gawking," Bai Yujian said, her voice cool as a mountain stream, "I''ll give you a reason to kneel. First your head, then your other head."


    She was still angry. The last incident clearly hadn''t blown over. Not that Su Xiaobai cared.


    He barked out a laugh, his usual arrogance returning. "Relax," he said, his tone light, "I''m not here to stare at your weapons."


    His eyes dipped again, bold and shameless. "Well, not just those weapons."


    Bai Yujian''s fingers twitched as she glared at him through the mirror.


    That glare of hers could break men¡ªor beds.


    Why was this insufferable disciple so casual, so bold? Her patience, already thinner than the edge of her blade, was starting to fray.


    Before she could lash out, Su Xiaobai moved first.


    From his spatial ring, he pulled a coffin.


    THUD.


    The sound echoed like a thunderclap, silencing the room.


    Bai Yujian froze, her gaze snapping to the coffin. Slowly, she turned, her robe slipping just enough to reveal the soft valley between her breasts. Her phoenix eyes narrowed. She''d been changing clothes, preparing for her bath, and this bastard had barged in uninvited.


    "Speak," she said, her voice sharp as steel. "Or I''ll bury you in it."


    Su Xiaobai didn''t flinch. Instead, he hefted the coffin with exaggerated care, the grin on his face sharpening into something mocking.


    "This," he said, slapping the lid, "you left in my room. Care to explain why you thought this was a funny joke?"


    Her brows furrowed, but her expression remained unreadable.


    It was the same coffin.


    So, he''d found it.


    Without a word, Bai Yujian rose. The parasol vanished in a shimmer of light as she draped a robe over her shoulders. Her movements were deliberate, graceful, yet filled with an air of menace.


    She stepped closer, stopping just before the coffin. Its lid was already open.


    Inside lay a block of crystalline ice, shimmering faintly.


    But Su Xiaobai''s eyes weren''t on the ice. They were fixed on the figure sealed within.


    Long white hair spilled across the frozen surface, obscuring most of the face, but there was no mistaking her. That delicate face. Those fragile hands.


    Xiao Mei.


    His little sister.


    Alive.


    But untouchable.


    The silence grew heavy, almost suffocating, until Bai Yujian finally broke it.


    "It''s her, isn''t it? Your sister." S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Find your next adventure on My Virtual Library Empire


    "Yes." His tone was flat, but his eyes burned with fury.


    His mind shook, his thoughts a mix of disbelief and anger. How did she know? Xiao Mei had appeared during the trial yesterday¡ªa painful memory dredged up from his heart. Had Bai Yujian seen it?


    Of course, she did.


    The trial had laid bare everything he wanted to protect. And this woman¡ªthis arrogant, sadistic goddess¡ªhad taken that memory and twisted it into this. A replica.


    She recreated her, he thought, his fists clenching. She dragged Xiao Mei out of my nightmares and left her here like a joke.


    His chest tightened, his fury bubbling over.


    Was this some sick prank?

 Chapter 87 Delusional Pro Max!

    Su Xiaobai''s chest tightened, fury boiling over like molten lava ready to erupt.A sick joke? A pointed jab at his formation failure two days ago?


    Fine.


    If Bai Yujian thought she could toy with him, she''d soon learn the hard way. His fingers brushed his storage ring, where a ''last'' bottle of aphrodisiac rested¡ªa stolen trophy from the Institute of Science.


    Risky? Sure. Insane? Maybe.


    But fuck it. If this cold-hearted goddess wanted to play games, he''d flip the board. He''d shove the script down her throat, screw her brains out, and feed her to his Devouring Thorny Flower.


    A grin slid across his face, darker than night.


    "Let''s see how you like being the one who''s played," he muttered.


    Bai Yujian, unfazed as ever, met his bloodshot gaze. Her tone was maddeningly calm: "I found her the day your formation malfunctioned." Arms crossed, words flat. "Didn''t tell you earlier. Needed to confirm. After you stormed off, I tracked the Qi traces into the wilderness. And there she was. Alive."


    What she didn''t mention was how that


    godforsaken letter had sealed her decision.


    That''s what brought her here.


    Meanwhile, Su Xiaobai''s mind splintered like a poorly forged spirit sword.


    Fuck.


    Sure, he''d considered this possibility. But hearing it confirmed? Like getting sucker-punched by a celestial beast mid-breakthrough.


    For thirty minutes, he''d been planning how to ruin everything¡ªthe high-ups, Bai Yujian, his own dignity, all of it. Drugging her? Done deal. Humiliation? Practically scripted. Feeding her to his Devouring Thorny Flower? Cherry on top.


    And now?


    "This¡­ isn''t a prank?" His voice cracked as his eyes shifted to Xiao Mei, lying silent in the coffin.


    Alive.


    His breath hitched, gaze softening as it lingered on her delicate face.


    She was here. She was real. The formation hadn''t been a failure after all.


    If¡ªno, when¡ªshe woke up, she''d have answers: about their family, their shattered lives, everything. The months of guilt and rage he''d carried like a mountain on his back, whispers that every wasted second might cost another life¡­ finally, those whispers began to fade.


    Relief hit him like a collapsing dam. For the first time in months, he could breathe.


    And then his gaze fell on Bai Yujian again.


    Her frosty beauty had always seemed untouchable, like a snow-capped peak best admired from afar. But now, standing here in a simple robe, strength and elegance woven into her very being, she looked¡­ different.


    She hadn''t needed to do any of this


    But she''d gone out of her way. For him.


    No payment. No manipulation. No strings.


    Su Xiaobai wasn''t used to that. He wasn''t used to anyone doing something for him without an angle, without being pulled into his schemes.


    And yet, here she was. Calm. Indifferent on the surface. But he wasn''t blind.


    Everyone had misunderstood her.


    The calmness on her otherwise flawless face wasn''t indifference¡ªit was resolve. She had made this choice on her own, without asking, without waiting for his gratitude. Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire


    His lips twitched into a small, uncharacteristically soft smile. His gaze locked on her shimmering eyes.


    And then it happened.


    "I think¡ªI love you."


    The words slipped out, casual as breathing¡ªsomething he used to say on Earth when someone did something awesome, like lending him money or saving his ass. No romance, no thought¡ªjust instinct.


    But here, in this world? Those words were like setting fire to a powder keg.


    Before Bai Yujian could react, he stepped forward and hugged her.


    Whoosh~!


    Warm. Soft. Fragrant.


    Her scent¡ªlotus, faint and teasing¡ªlingered in his nose. But then came the real suprise: something firm pressed against his chest.


    His eyes darted down, sharp and appraising.


    Twin jade peaks. Proud, rounded, and barely restrained by thin silk.


    Bigger than Zhu Qing''s.


    A wicked grin tugged at his lips. So, the sword fairy''s been hiding these mountains?


    "Poof."


    Bai Yujian''s phoenix eyes widened, her body stiff in his arms, her mind spiraling.


    Did he just say he loves me?


    And then the memories of that letter slammed into her.


    That stupid, ridiculous letter. Starlit strolls, eternal devotion¡ªshe''d tried to burn its absurd sincerity from her mind, but it clung like a curse. And now, this?


    Her heart pounded, her thoughts racing.


    ''Is he serious? Did he just confess again?''


    ''Does he not realize I am the White Jade Sword?''


    ''Elder and disciple relationships are forbidden!''


    But then she remembered¡ªhe didn''t care. He''d once confessed he''d marry her, even if she were an ugly witch, not even knowing she was the White Jade Sword.


    ''An ugly witch!''


    Meanwhile, Su Xiaobai stepped back, utterly oblivious to the chaos brewing in her head.


    To him, the hug was just¡­ habit. A reflex. A leftover from his old life. As he glanced at her stiff figure, he couldn''t help but feel a pang of pity.


    ''Poor girl.''


    ''She''s so damn awkward. Maybe she''s too shy to admit she cares?''


    The thought lingered as he crouched by the coffin, his focus shifting to Xiao Mei.


    Her face was serene beneath the shimmering ice. Her life signature pulsed strong and steady. She was alive. Safe.


    He sighed, running a hand through his hair. ''How the hell do I get her out of this thing? If I try anything stupid, might give Bai Yujian the wrong idea. She''ll think I''m confessing again.''


    Little did he know, his cursed tongue had already set the wheels in motion!


    Behind him, Bai Yujian stood frozen, one hand hovering over her chest, trying to calm the pounding in her heart.


    She watched him, crouched by the coffin, completely indifferent to the chaos he''d unleashed.


    Her mind screamed: Does he not realize what he just said?


    But Su Xiaobai?


    All he cared about was the coffin, Xiao Mei, and figuring out how to open it without Bai Yujian adding ''grave robber'' to his list of sins.


    And then it hit him.


    My sugarmommy.


    Yes, Bai Yujian deserved the title. If she asked again, he''d plunge into hell, slap a hundred Nascent Soul cultivators across their smug faces, and come back with their heads¡ªand wallets. Surely, this frosty empress held the key to his little problem.


    He turned to her with his best grin¡ªthe kind that made women want to throw him into a lake, only to fish him out and throw him back in again.


    But Bai Yujian was spiraling.


    "I¡ªI need to think about it," she stammered, mistaking his hopeful gaze as a plea for an answer to his confession.


    "Oh," Su Xiaobai''s grin froze, the light in his eyes dimming.


    She doesn''t know. That must be why she''d dumped the coffin in his room¡ªhoping he could figure it out.


    The two of them were working in sync¡­ in the worst way possible.


    Bai Yujian''s heart plummeted when she saw his expression drop. Damn heavens! Was he disappointed? Would he abandon cultivation and wander into depravity?


    This was exactly why she avoided disciples. Most of them were slobbering fools or shameless dogs who thought staring at her chest could help them comprehend the mysteries of the Dao. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    There was the one disciple who wrote her a poem titled "The Frosty Peaks of Heaven: A Tribute to My Sect Mistress''s Grand Dao of Cleavage."


    She''d burned it immediately¡ªbut the words haunted her like a tribulation.


    Then there were the truly ''delusional'' ones.


    And then there was the idiot who claimed her frosty glare had frozen his inner demons. Two days later, he was found carving her name into his cultivation furnace.


    But Su Xiaobai? He was different.


    He didn''t leer. Didn''t ogle. Not even now, when her robe looked one gust of wind away from revealing secrets that could rewrite the heavenly scriptures.


    Does he suppress his desires out of respect for me?


    Her lips twitched as the memories of that letter returned. Starlit hand-holding. Eternal devotion. ''Was he restraining himself to prove he''s worthy of my soul?''


    Her delusions surged. ''Does he crave my Dao, not my¡­ body?''


    Even though he''d stared once¡ªjust once¡ªhe''d looked away. Not in shame, but as if her parasol was somehow more interesting than the "forbidden wonders" barely concealed beneath her robe.


    ''How noble.''


    Her thoughts spun faster than a tribulation storm, the gears of her imagination roaring like a divine furnace about to ignite the heavens.


    ____


    "Let''s¡­" Bai Yujian started, but her words faltered, a new thought crashing into her mind like a celestial boulder.


    "Let''s what?" Su Xiaobai snapped, his annoyance plain. He''d almost thought of a solution¡ªalmost¡ªand now she''d interrupted him, making him lose it completely.


    Bai Yujian remained silent, her eyes distant, as if contemplating the meaning of the universe itself.


    Su Xiaobai frowned, shaking his head. Weird woman. Whatever. Back to the problem at hand. He was considering using his infernal flames to burn the ice.


    However, something else was already burning.


    It was Bai Yujian''s delusions.


    The memory resurfaced: Su Xiaobai, tangled in sheets with his busty maid Xiao Lu, both of them naked under the morning light. Surely, they hadn''t been practicing the Dao like that?!


    Her beautiful eyes narrowed. ''Does he want to step on two boats at the same time?''


    Her logic twisted itself into knots. ''Then why does he act so sincere around me?''


    Another horrifying thought struck her. Oh no. What if he''s just using his maid to¡­ to vent his frustrations?!


    Her face burned brighter than an alchemist''s furnace, her thoughts spiraling out of control. Is he waiting for me to make the first move?


    The pressure was unbearable. She''d dodged this question once before, but now there was no escape. If she hesitated again, it might shatter their fragile bond forever.


    No choice.


    Her composure cracked like brittle ice. She blurted out, "Let''s start by holding hands."


    "!!"


    The room went dead silent.


    "Huh?" Su Xiaobai froze, staring at her as if she''d grown a second head.


    His eyes darted to the coffin, then back at her glowing, red face. Start by holding hands? What the actual fuck?


    "Wait," he muttered, "is this¡­ some kind of secret technique?"


    Bai Yujian blinked, caught off guard. "A¡­ secret technique?"


    "To melt the ice," he added cautiously, glancing at her hands.


    Her lips twitched. ''So, he truly respects my abilities as a senior!''

 Chapter 88 Melting the ice!

    Her lips twitched, ''So, he truly respects my abilities as a senior!''To melt the ice between us?


    ''Yes, this could work. I''ll let him hold hands and let him think I''ve accepted. I''ll just wait until he actually grows up. Nothing could go wrong¡­ right?''


    "Yes," she replied, nodding gravely. "A secret technique."


    He hesitated, his gaze flitting between her hand and her expression. It was too soft, too perfect¡ªalmost suspicious. Was this really a secret technique¡­ or just another trap?


    With a resigned sigh, Su Xiaobai complied, taking her hand in his.


    It was indeed soft. His fingers brushed against her delicate skin, and for a moment, he forgot himself.


    Her hand wasn''t cold like he imagined but warm, almost hot.


    But then his attention snapped back to the coffin. Why isn''t the ice melting? He stared harder, even managing a faint smile of hope. It might work any second now!


    Meanwhile, Bai Yujian''s chest swelled with pride. ''He''s so moved by my willingness to lower myself for his sake.''


    Su Xiaobai frowned as the truth hit him like a cold slap. This technique doesn''t work at all.


    "Damn it," he muttered under his breath, glancing at her. ''Can''t say that out loud, though, or I might prick her ego.''


    But Bai Yujian''s imagination had already spiraled. ''Poor thing. He can barely contain his excitement. I truly am too generous.''


    Su Xiaobai scratched his head, muttering, "Did this woman just scam me¡­?"


    "..."


    A bitter smile tugged at his lips. Of course, she had.


    Meanwhile, Bai Yujian''s mind played a different script entirely.


    ''He''s probably in awe of me,'' she thought, her chest puffing up slightly. ''After all, not every Peak Lord can be this magnanimous.''


    The sight of Bai Yujian and Su Xiaobai standing hand in hand, staring at the coffin like it held the secrets of immortality, nearly killed the two maids cleaning nearby.


    One of them clutched her chest. "By the heavens¡­ are they swearing an oath of eternal love?"


    "Shut up!" hissed the other, dragging her back. "Do you want to die?! If we''re caught, we''ll be the next ''accidents.''"


    The difference between Righteous Sects and Heretical Sects? Branding. Heretics called it murder. Righteous folks called it ''tragic mishaps.''


    The two maids didn''t want their names added to the ledger of "tragic mishaps." Cleaning buckets abandoned, they fled the scene faster than a elder dodging a child support claim.


    Unfortunately for Zhu Qing, she wasn''t as lucky.


    She stepped inside, her mission simple: find Su Xiaobai and drag him to Mystic Vein Peak. He hadn''t been in his quarters, and his maid had directed her to the Peak Lord''s residence.


    Big mistake. Worst mistake. Possibly the last mistake of my life.


    Because what awaited her was a sight she couldn''t unsee:


    Bai Yujian and Su Xiaobai, hand in hand, staring at the coffin like they were taking a sacred vow. Su Xiaobai''s reluctant face screamed, this isn''t my fault, while Bai Yujian''s chest puffed with so much pride she looked ready to nominate herself for ''Sect''s Most Generous Deity.''


    Hiss!


    Zhu Qing froze. Her mouth opened slightly, but no sound came out.


    "Qingqing?" Bai Yujian''s head snapped toward the intruder. Her pupils shrank, a rare panic flashing across her frosty face.


    No¡­ no! Her elder image¡ªshattered. Ground into dust. Swept away by the winds of fate!


    Zhu Qing''s expression said it all: disbelief, betrayal, and¡­ was that pity?


    "Elder¡­" Zhu Qing whispered, her voice trembling.


    And the heavens weren''t done yet.


    The door creaked open with an ominous EEEEEEEEEK¡­


    This time, Liu Zhenhai strode in, scrolls tucked neatly under his arm. He was here to discuss Su Xiaobai''s promotion and had been in a decent mood¡ªuntil now.


    What he saw hit him like a tribulation bolt straight to the forehead.


    There they were. Bai Yujian, the Frost Sword Fairy of his dreams, standing hand in hand with Su Xiaobai, the infamous troublemaker.


    "..."


    THUD! The scrolls slipped from his hands, scattering like leaves caught in a storm. His jaw tightened, his face darkening faster than a tribulation cloud ready to smite. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The fairy of his dreams¡­ holding hands with this wretched boy?


    For a moment, the room was silent, save for the distant whistle of the mountain wind.


    "...What in the nine hells is going on here?" Liu Zhenhai finally asked, his voice cold enough to freeze the air itself.


    Su Xiaobai opened his mouth, then shut it. What could he even say? Sup guys, we''re¡­ unlocking the sacred ice?


    Who in their right mind would believe that? Hell, even he didn''t believe it! Little did he know, everyone else had already jumped to the exact ''right'' conclusion¡ªwith unwavering confidence.


    He glanced at Bai Yujian, desperate for her to take the lead. Her frosty smile screamed ''I''ve got this,'' but Su Xiaobai knew better. Her straightened posture and faint smile only ever meant one thing.


    His eye twitched. She''s about to do something dumb, isn''t she?


    He glared at her, as if daring her to not escalate the situation.


    "..."


    "And that''s the 3rd stage of¡­" Bai Yujian began serenely, speaking as if she were explaining the Dao to wide-eyed disciples. Then, as if possessed by some celestial beast, she straightened further, grabbed Su Xiaobai''s wrist, and yanked.


    "..." Su Xiaobai''s body flew into the air like a poorly thrown javelin.


    WHOOSH!


    The world spun, and so did Su Xiaobai, flung like a sack of trash by Bai Yujian''s idiotic antics.


    "STOP¡ª!" he growled, his voice grating with frustration rather than fear. Arms flailed, legs kicked, and somewhere deep down, he cursed the heavens. "This isn''t breaking ice, Elder¡ªthis is breaking me! If you''re going to kill me, at least do it efficiently!"


    And then¡ªbam.


    Everything froze.


    Not the satisfying kind of freeze where she''d faceplant him into the ground so he could fake unconsciousness and save some face. No, this was worse. Time itself had paused, and he was left hovering mid-air, spread out like a failed attempt at celestial calligraphy.


    "..."


    He glanced down at Bai Yujian, who had the audacity to look smug, as if twirling him like a training dummy was part of her grand plan. His lip curled. She looked elegant, sure, but that didn''t make her any less of a delusional idiot.


    "Bai Yujian," he said flatly, "If this is your idea of cultivating camaraderie, you''re an even bigger moron than I thought."


    She didn''t respond.


    "..."


    "Great," Su Xiaobai muttered, annoyed, shooting a glare at everything around him. "First, I''m her test dummy. Now, I''m the only one alive while everyone else''s frozen? I told her to stop¡ªnot to stop time itself! What''s next? Someone slaps my face on a banner and declares me the sect master?"


    He rubbed his temples, the absurdity of it all giving him a headache. Why the hell did these people only listen to him when they shouldn''t¡ªand in the dumbest ways possible?


    Dust floated lazily in the air. Zhu Qing and Liu Zhenhai stood like statues, wide-eyed and horrified, while Bai Yujian was still mid-swing, frozen in that infuriatingly confident pose of hers.


    "Can someone please unfreeze time so I can strangle this woman properly?" Su Xiaobai muttered, his voice dripping with exasperation.


    Honestly, what part of her thought throwing him like some sack of trash was the best solution? Couldn''t she just explain the situation like a normal person? What was she, some shy, tsundere heroine straight out of those shameless romance scrolls?


    And then, as if the heavens themselves heard his prayer.


    WHAM!


    Gravity returned with the enthusiasm of a drunk elder, slamming Su Xiaobai into the ground like a pile of spirit beast dung. He groaned as pain shot through his back.


    "You''re¡­ alive¡­"


    The voice was soft, unfamiliar, and unsettlingly close.


    "Ugh¡­ Yep, still alive. Thanks for asking¡ª" Su Xiaobai froze mid-grumble. That wasn''t Bai Yujian''s frosty tone, nor Zhu Qing''s sweet-but-cunning lilt, and definitely not Liu Zhenhai''s self-righteous blather.


    Slowly, he turned toward the source, his heart thudding in his chest.


    Two deep ocean-blue eyes blinked at him from within the coffin.


    The ice surrounding it hissed and cracked, splitting apart in glittering shards that scattered across the floor.


    "Brother¡­"


    The voice was soft, trembling with a fragile warmth, Su Xiaobai froze, as the word reached him like an echo from a forgotten lifetime. Memories surged forward¡ªshards of laughter, tears, and whispered promises¡ªeach one deeper than the last.


    "Xiaomei¡­" his voice barely rose, his throat tight.


    Su Xiaomei''s lips quivered, forming a quiet smile, as if in great relief at seeing him, even slightly proud. But just as she was piecing together her next words, her body began to glow.


    "No¡ªwait!" Su Xiaobai surged forward, panic flashing across his face. But it was too late.


    Poof!


    Her form dissolved like mist caught in the morning sun, leaving behind nothing but silence¡ªand questions he wasn''t sure he wanted answered.


    For a moment, Su Xiaobai stayed frozen, his hand outstretched as if he could somehow grab hold of what was already gone.


    His breath came in shallow gasps.


    Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire


    Behind him, Bai Yujian let out a sharp breath, her composure cracking for the briefest second. Zhu Qing, meanwhile, was caught between horror and confusion, her usual voice nowhere to be found.


    Even Liu Zhenhai, the sect''s poster boy for righteous indignation, looked like he''d seen a ghost.


    The coffin groaned ominously, fractures spreading across its icy surface like veins.


    Zhu Qing finally found her voice. "So, uh¡­ it''s not a lover''s spat, then," she muttered, her earlier assumptions crumbling under the seriousness of the situation.


    Her tone shifted, uncharacteristically serious. "Let me take a look."


    Without waiting for permission, she shoved Su Xiaobai aside¡ªearning a grunt of protest¡ªand knelt by the coffin.


    Her hand hovered over the cracked ice, a faint glow emanating from her palm.


    Zhu Qing murmured, her voice tinged with unease. "It''s¡­ wrong..."


    The more she observed, the worse it became, her words casting a shadow over the faces of Su Xiaobai and Bai Yujian alike. What had she discovered?

 Chapter 89 Time Skip!

    The ice shattered.Both literally and between the uneasy group standing around Su Xiaomei. She lay sprawled on Bai Yujian''s bed, her frail frame like a ghostly shadow clinging to life.


    Her wide, glassy eyes darted between faces, silent and stiff, as though even breathing might break her.


    Su Xiaobai wasn''t faring better. He stood frozen, his eyes locked onto his sister.


    She''s just fragile...


    As if death kissed her and forgot to finish the job.


    Pale hands trembled against the bed''s edge, slick with sweat.


    Hollow cheeks, skin thin as paper, but those eyes¡ªdull, yet familiar¡ªwere unmistakably hers.


    When did she become this? His fists clenched.


    Behind him, Bai Yujian leaned against the wall, one brow arched. She had already kicked Liu Zhenhai out. Not her problem if his jealousy burned brighter than Su Xiaobai''s eyes.


    His glare when leaving had been almost funny. Almost.


    But this? This wasn''t funny. And Bai Yujian hated when things weren''t funny.


    She dragged Zhu Qing aside, "What did you mean earlier? About her being... unnatural?"


    Zhu Qing hesitated, then raised her hands. "Look."


    Bai Yujian''s eyes narrowed. The burns and frostbite on Zhu Qing''s once-flawless hands were impossible to miss. Tiny shards of ice embedded themselves in her skin, gleaming like stars caught in flesh.


    "It''s not healing," Zhu Qing said, her voice brittle. "The ice¡­ it''s stopping time around the wounds. That girl¡ªshe''s not normal."


    Bai Yujian glanced at Su Xiaomei. Pale. Shaking. Tears clinging to her lashes like dew. "Doesn''t look like much of a threat to me."


    "She froze time earlier."


    "Did she?" Bai Yujian''s tone was light, but her gaze darkened. Fragile? No. That girl''s a blade wrapped in silk.


    Meanwhile, Su Xiaobai stood over his sister, unmoving. No one noticed the faint coil of black qi creeping into Liu Zhenhai''s chest as he left. No one but the heavens. Rejection and shame always made good fertilizer for a heart demon.


    "Where did you even find these two?" Zhu Qing muttered, her voice low.


    "I didn''t," Bai Yujian replied. "The boy found me."


    Zhu Qing''s lips twitched. "Elder, keeping them here is like inviting a storm to live with us. Lightning doesn''t knock before it hits."


    "Then let it strike," Bai Yujian said coolly.


    Zhu Qing stared at her, exasperated. "If his presence draws trouble¡ª"


    Bai Yujian cut her off. "Qingqing, remember the Dark Sparrow Sect?"


    Zhu Qing''s face darkened. Memories she''d buried rose like corpses from the grave: blood, fire, and the shattering collapse of the sect she once called home.


    Heretics crushed under righteous might.


    "You think he''s like you?" Bai Yujian said.


    Zhu Qing didn''t respond.


    Bai Yujian stepped closer, her voice soft, "He''s dangerous, yes. So''s a blade in untrained hands. But if we turn him away? That''s not just a blade¡ªit''s a blade aimed back at us."


    Zhu Qing hesitated.


    Bai Yujian continued, her smile returning. "Push him out, and someone will pick him up. And then? Well¡­" She waved a hand lazily. "I hope you like explaining to the heavens why we made our own enemy."


    Zhu Qing sighed, rubbing her temples. "I wasn''t saying to throw him out, but¡ª


    "Good," Bai Yujian interrupted, leaning back against the wall. "Because ¡ª If anyone''s stupid enough to come after him here, they deserve what they get. I could use the entertainment."


    Her smile widened as she remembered Su Xiaobai mentioning some kind of demon that killed his family. Oh, how she wanted to see that "demon" crawl to her doorstep. It''d been too long since she cut something fun.


    Zhu Qing pinched the bridge of her nose, muttering something about how they were all doomed.


    She''d planned to shift Su Xiaobai to her peak, use his danger to scare Bai Yujian into handing him over. Now? Bai Yujian''s protectiveness turned that plan to ash.


    Zhu Qing glanced at Bai Yujian, whose eyes gleamed with a fire that screamed try me.


    Bai Yujian, the mighty Sword Fairy, protective over a boy? Ugh. Did he actually manage to unsheath her heart? If he did, Zhu Qing wasn''t sure whether to be impressed or horrified.


    Unknowingly, Su Xiaobai had sparked a quiet war between the two¡ªa battle of pride neither would admit to.


    Zhu Qing glanced at Su Xiaobai, who stood there smiling faintly. Trouble? She didn''t care. If pests came knocking, they''d be good practice.


    _______


    The days after Xiaomei''s arrival were anything but peaceful.


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    Between Bai Yujian''s antics, sect chores, and Su Xiaomei adjusting to life outside her icy coffin, Su Xiaobai barely had time to breathe. Yet somehow, he found himself listening to his sister''s fragmented memories one evening, seated under the dim glow of moonlight.


    "So, let me get this straight," Su Xiaobai said, arms crossed, "Mom grabs you, swords start flying like angry mosquitoes, you stop time so she can escape, you get injured, and then she freezes you in ice to heal?"


    Su Xiaomei nodded, biting her lip. "I couldn''t stop the swords completely. They were¡­ strong. I just froze time long enough to block them, but one still¡­" She trailed off, pressing a hand against her chest.


    "...Hit you," Su Xiaobai finished for her, his eyes narrowing.


    Su Xiaomei nodded silently, her fingers trembling against her ribs. Her voice was small when she spoke again. "After that, I don''t remember much. Mother brought us somewhere underground, safe from the swords, but nothing worked on the wound. She tried elixirs, spells¡ªnothing could close it. That''s when she¡­"


    "Froze you," Su Xiaobai muttered, his tone sharper now. Swords that couldn''t be stopped. A wound even elixir couldn''t heal. What the hell was happening back at home?


    "Yeah." Su Xiaomei''s gaze dropped to her lap. "She said it would¡­ buy time."


    Unbeknownst to Su Xiaomei, something much stranger had occurred while she was in the ice.


    The temporal manipulation ability she''d inherited from her bloodline hadn''t just stopped time when she was attacked¡ªit had reversed it. Subconsciously, instinctively, her power had turned back the clock on her own body to heal the wound.


    Earlier, Su Xiaobai''s yelling had triggered her release from the ice, that same ability had rewound the ice itself, undoing the months it had held her captive.


    But Su Xiaomei didn''t know. And Su Xiaobai? He could only guess at the enormity of her power. For now, all he understood was what he could see: his sister could stop time. Anything beyond that was a mystery.


    _____


    Later that night, Su Xiaobai sat in his room, staring blankly at the ceiling. The pieces didn''t add up. His invincible body, Su Xiaomei''s ability to stop time, and their mother''s eternal frost¡ªnone of it was normal.


    "Three siblings, three freakish bloodlines," he muttered to himself. "What are the odds of that?"


    The so-called "blessing" they''d received from the Immortal Tianlong Spirit back on the White Cloud Star might''ve awakened their bloodlines, but his family''s powers weren''t just awakened¡ªthey were monstrous.


    His Demon Devourer bloodline was proof enough of that. The black mist in his spirit sea devoured Yin Qi and bloodlines alike. It was how he''d absorbed the Azure Dragon''s bloodline from Long Lifen, and now? That same mist allowed him to use his invincible body for five whole seconds¡ªenough to turn the tide in a fight.


    But Su Xiaomei? Her temporal manipulation was in a league of its own. Stopping time was one thing, but the full extent of her ability had never been explored.


    Even their mother''s eternal frost¡ªonce thought to be just a bloodline ability¡ªhad proven capable of saving lives in ways no one could''ve imagined.


    "Three hybrids," he muttered bitterly. "Hybrids with powers that don''t belong on White Cloud Star."


    It all led back to one conclusion: their mother wasn''t fully human. She couldn''t be. A demonic heritage would explain everything¡ªfrom their bizarre powers to their hybrid bloodlines.


    "What kind of bloodline can make something like us?" Su Xiaobai wondered aloud. "Something ancient. Primordial. Like¡­" He scoffed, shaking his head. "Eternal ice demon? Sure, why not. At this point, nothing would surprise me."


    Afterall, that''d fit the theme of ''how much trouble can we be?''


    But even with the questions circling in his mind, one thing was certain. Both Su Yiran and their mother were alive. That was enough.


    ______


    Training and Sect Life.


    Su Xiaobai''s mornings were filled with grueling training¡ªmostly because Bai Yujian thought it''d be funny to schedule a duel for him in two months.


    "You could''ve asked," Su Xiaobai complained one afternoon, panting as he finished another set of sparring drills.


    Bai Yujian smiled, twirling her sword lazily. "Where''s the fun in that? Besides, you owe me. I found your sister, didn''t I?"


    "You''re delusional," he muttered. "And not even in a charming way."


    "Oh?" Bai Yujian stepped closer, her smile widening. "Then what way am I charming?"


    Su Xiaobai blinked, caught off guard. "Uh¡­ passively¡­ dangerous?"


    "Good answer," she said with a satisfied nod, patting his shoulder hard enough to make him stumble.


    _____


    Xiao Hei and the "Xiao" Army!


    As Su Xiaomei settled into the sect, she met Su Xiaobai''s unlikely companions¡ªXiao Lu and Xiao Hei.


    "Too many Xiaos," Su Xiaobai grumbled after introductions. "I''m calling you Lulu."


    Xiao Lu rolled her eyes. "Creative."


    Xiao Hei, the youngest, was an odd one. Unable to form sentences, she alternated between eerie silence and unpredictable outbursts. One moment she was sweet, the next she''d nearly stabbed him over a bun.


    But her strangest behavior was toward Su Xiaomei. She avoided her like the plague, scurrying away whenever Su Xiaomei got too close.


    "It''s not that bad," Su Xiaomei pouted one day, holding up a bright red dress. "Just try it on!"


    "Nuh-uh!" Xiao Hei clung to the nearest pillar, glaring at the dress like it might bite her.


    "Come on, I''m not a monster," Su Xiaomei said, exasperated.


    "Debatable," Su Xiaobai muttered, watching Xiao Hei darting behind him, using his legs as a shield. "Alright, enough. If she doesn''t want to wear it, leave her alone."


    "But she''d look so cute!"


    "Not worth the trauma," Su Xiaobai deadpanned. "Also, how is this funny? Isn''t she the kid who nearly killed Lan Meiyu last week?"


    "She has her quirks," Xiaomei admitted sheepishly.


    "Quirks? You mean ''issues,'' right?" Su Xiaobai shook his head. "Whatever. Lulu, make sure she doesn''t stab anyone else."


    "Why me?" Xiao Lu asked.


    "Because I''m busy preparing for my stupid duel, and Xiaomei''s too focused on dressing her up to notice if she kills someone."


    "..."


    Su Xiaobai had long accepted that some things were beyond his understanding. Like Xiao Hei''s erratic behavior.


    Or why Bai Yujian, the sect''s resident Sword Fairy, kept calling him for no reason at all. Always about stupid, petty things. Like she was his lowkey, cheap dao wife, rather than the terrifying master everyone whispered about behind closed doors.


    But this? This was a new low.


    It started innocently enough.


    "Go to the weapon hall and pick a weapon," Bai Yujian had said casually over tea.


    That alone was suspicious. No lecture about swords being the only true path? No disdain for sabers, spears, or axes? Who was this woman, and what had she done with Bai Yujian?


    Still, Su Xiaobai wasn''t about to look a gift horse in the mouth. Or so he thought¡ªbecause this particular "gift horse" always had teeth.


    In three days, they''d leave for the capital. Time flew, fleeting as smoke. The divine author, impatient as ever, seemed intent on pushing him into disaster¡ªfor no reason other than to move the plot forward.


    He could only hope some ancient bastard with a grudge wouldn''t stab him out of nowhere. But with his luck? He was practically inviting calamity.


    The celestials above likely lounged on their jade thrones, sipping wine, tossing bets on how he would destroy his life, and laughing at his misery.


    If they truly wanted him to suffer, why not cast him as a villainous young master in a shameless harem tale? At least then, he''d know the softness of snowy peaks, the warmth of trembling thighs, and the sweetness of dew-kissed petals¡ªbefore the self-righteous hero burst in to ruin it all.


    And if he must die, let it be beneath a pomegranate skirt. Lips. Thighs. Nectar. Nails. A melody of cries. And a cuckold waiting outside, too ashamed to interrupt.

 Chapter 90 AJin! Pleasure Pavillion!

    The Weapon Hall!The weapon hall was quiet, save for the faint hum of spiritual energy vibrating through the racks of blades, spears, and various exotic instruments of death. Su Xiaobai expected to be greeted by an elder, maybe a bored inner disciple. Instead, he found himself face-to-face with Zhao Tianxuan¡ªthe sect master himself.


    "Sect Master...?" Su Xiaobai halted mid-step.


    Zhao Tianxuan, draped in his usual white robe, stood near a weapons rack with his hands behind his back.


    His aura was calm yet powerful.


    "Ah, Su Xiaobai," Zhao Tianxuan greeted, his fox-like eyes narrowing with a sharp smile. "You''re here."


    The words meaningful, as though Su Xiaobai had just stepped into a game he hadn''t agreed to play.


    "Why are you here...?" Su Xiaobai asked cautiously.


    "To deliver this," Zhao Tianxuan replied, unsheathing a crimson sword and holding it out. The blade gleamed ominously, its once-corrupted aura now silent. "Your requested weapon. Purged of evil by Elder Liu Chenfu."


    Su Xiaobai''s brows furrowed. "And Elder Liu couldn''t deliver it himself because¡­?"


    "Do you think someone of his status has the time to deal with disciples?" Zhao Tianxuan''s tone was sharp, like a reprimand disguised as an answer. "Consider this a privilege."


    Su Xiaobai''s instincts screamed louder. "What do you really want?"


    Zhao Tianxuan''s smile widened slightly. "Sharp as ever. There''s a small errand I need you to handle in Yunnan City. You''ll visit a place called Pleasure Pavilion and meet a woman named A''Jin. She''ll hand you¡­ goods."


    Pleasure Pavilion. Su Xiaobai stared blankly.


    "Do I even need to say it?" he muttered.


    Zhao Tianxuan''s brow arched imperiously. "Say what, exactly?"


    "That this is as suspicious as Elder Liu purging evil from this sword," Su Xiaobai replied flatly, giving the blade a wary glance.


    The sect master chuckled, his suspicious demeanor unshaken. "Suspicion is the foundation of caution, and caution keeps one alive. You''ll manage."


    "And if I refuse?"


    "Ah," Zhao Tianxuan said, his smile sharpening, "I''ve already prepared for that. Outer disciple Xiao Yu will accompany you."


    Su Xiaobai blinked. "Xiao Yu?" That blue-haired woman?


    "Yes," Zhao Tianxuan replied, waving dismissively. "A promising young disciple. His temperament complements yours."


    "His?" Su Xiaobai repeated slowly.


    Zhao Tianxuan''s eyes narrowed. "Is there a problem?"


    "..." Su Xiaobai decided not to elaborate. The man didn''t know, and it was better that way.


    _____


    The Streets of Yunnan City!


    The bustling streets of Yunnan City were as colorful as they were chaotic. Su Xiaobai walked side by side with Yu Feng¡ªalso known as Xiao Yu¡ªa woman who dressed like a man and played the role convincingly enough to fool even the sect master.


    "Pleasure Pavilion?" Yu Feng said, her tone laced with amusement. "The old foggy of Xiantian sect has truly outdone himself this time."


    "You''re awfully cheerful for someone on an errand to a brothel," Su Xiaobai muttered.


    Yu Feng smiled, tipping her hat slightly. "Why wouldn''t I be? Do you know how much leverage we''ll have against Zhao Tianxuan after this?"


    "..." Su Xiaobai was speechless.


    The more time he spent with Xiao Yu, the more he realized her personality changed with her disguise. Dressed as a man, she exuded a carefree confidence that bordered on cocky.


    "You''re not even going to complain about the errand?" Su Xiaobai asked, raising a brow.


    "Oh, I''m complaining," she replied with a laugh. "Just quietly. And to myself. You, on the other hand, should be grateful. I''m saving you from looking like a pervert wandering into a brothel alone."


    "Thanks," Su Xiaobai said dryly.


    _______


    The Pleasure Pavilion wouldn''t open until evening. With hours to kill, Su Xiaobai wandered the market, his eyes scanning jade trinkets with the focus of a miser inspecting gold.


    Yu Feng leaned against a stall, yawning. "Why so serious? Buying gifts for a lover?"


    Su Xiaobai picked up a red ribbon, its golden embroidery gleaming under the sun. "It''s none of your business," he muttered, tossing it into his bag.


    Yu Feng''s lips curled into a wicked grin. "Touchy. Don''t worry, I won''t report your secret to Elder Bai... for now."


    His glare could have cracked stone. "Do you have a death wish?"


    She laughed, throwing an arm over his shoulder. "Relax. If you''re this much fun now, I can''t wait to see you in the Pavilion. Imagine the stories!"


    Su Xiaobai sighed, brushing her arm off. "You''re getting too comfortable."


    "Comfortable? Me?" Yu Feng feigned innocence, her smile widening.


    Before she could react, his hand moved like lightning¡ªsmack!


    Her body jolted. Heat exploded in her face as she realized Su Xiaobai''s hand was firmly planted on her rear.


    "Soft," he said, squeezing as if testing a ripe peach. "Still feels like a woman to me."


    "You¡ª!" Yu Feng''s voice caught in her throat.


    "What? Can''t take a little teasing?" Su Xiaobai smirked, his tone dripping with mockery.


    Slap! Yu Feng''s hand flew to his wrist, knocking it away with enough force to send a shockwave through the crowd.


    All eyes turned to the two of them.


    "Did that young master just get groped by another man?"


    "What''s the world coming to? The city is too progressive these days!"


    Yu Feng stood frozen, her male disguise betraying her. Her flushed face only made things worse, painting her as an embarrassed "young master" caught in an indecent act.


    Su Xiaobai waved lazily. "Don''t take too long, Xiao Yu. The Pavilion won''t wait forever."


    "I''ll skin you alive for this!" she hissed through gritted teeth as he sauntered off.


    The whispers and stares bore into her like needles. She swore she''d repay this humiliation tenfold, but for now, she could only endure, her fists trembling with rage.


    "Humph!"


    Yu Feng snorted, already plotting Su Xiaobai''s demise once her mission with the Xiantian Sect was complete. Skinning him alive was too kind. He''d already pushed his luck in Bai Yujian''s bedroom, and today''s market stunt was just fuel to the fire.


    Second place. That was where he now ranked on her kill list. First belonged to the last Dark Pope of the Dark Church, a fugitive hunted continent-wide by his successor and their zealots.


    The Dark Church wasn''t just a cult¡ªit was a shadow empire. Its influence stretched across the Soaring Dragon Continent, hidden in temples, whispered in streets.


    Su Xiaobai? Blissfully ignorant of how many people wanted him dead. If he knew, he might''ve dealt with Yu Feng early, saving himself from future trouble with the Dark Church.


    But that was future Su Xiaobai''s problem.


    Present Su Xiaobai knocked on the Pleasure Pavilion''s door like it was his second home.


    Knock-knock!


    Yu Feng folded her arms, her voice low. "What a degenerate," she muttered, wondering if he made it a habit to frequent places like this.


    Whoosh!


    The door opened. A gust of peach blossom fragrance hit them like a slap. Sweet, overwhelming, almost dizzying. Su Xiaobai''s nose twitched as his gaze shot up.


    And froze.


    A woman stood there¡ªno, a goddess, if gods favored excess.


    She towered over seven feet, her figure unreal. Mountains for breasts, barely restrained by a slitted red robe. Long legs stretched endlessly, smooth as jade and just as flawless.


    Her face? Lethal. Lips plump and red as ripe cherries, eyes dewy with forbidden promises, and hair smooth enough to make emperors weep.


    For men of certain tastes, she was no less than perfection. A single glance, and most would stammer, "Mommy."


    "Guests already?" Her voice was a purr, silky and commanding. She leaned forward, making mountains shift, valleys deepen.


    "...!" Yu Feng''s face turned crimson, her fists clenching. Just standing here felt like a crime.


    "What the hell is this place?" she muttered, her words a strangled whisper.


    Su Xiaobai, to his credit, straightened. Hands behind his back, face calm¡ªexcept for his eyes, which betrayed him. They flicked to her chest. Once. Twice. Thrice.


    He cleared his throat. "We''re here for business."


    Yu Feng rolled her eyes. Business? She scoffed inwardly. She knew it¡ªhe definitely comes here often.


    The woman chuckled, her laughter soft and honeyed. "A cultivator with confidence. I like that. Come in, both of you." She turned, her robe swaying dangerously. Long legs flashed; hips swayed. Nothing was left to the imagination.


    Su Xiaobai stepped forward, pretending not to notice. Yu Feng stayed behind, trembling.


    "Gods above," she muttered. "Kill me now."


    She walked forward, reluctantly, as the doors of her fate shut behind her.


    Little did Yu Feng know, her nightmare was just beginning.


    Inside the Pleasure Pavilion, it wasn''t what she''d expected. No drunken men, no cheap perfume. The floors gleamed, lanterns cast a warm glow, and stairs lined with silk led upward like a lover''s inviting hand. Too clean to be just a brothel.


    Ahead, Su Xiaobai whispered something to A''Jin. The towering beauty leaned down, her curves shifting dangerously as her hair swept over her shoulders. Yu Feng''s lips twitched.


    A''Jin giggled, her voice dripping honey. "Oh, so you''re here for that shy boy from Xiantian Sect? You should''ve told me earlier! I thought you two were disguised enemies."


    Su Xiaobai gave a bitter shake of his head, the universal look of a man resigned to being played.


    Clap! Clap!


    A''Jin''s hands rang out like a judge''s gavel. "Girls! Take these two brave warriors upstairs!" sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    And then the flood came. Women poured in like a tide¡ªrobes clinging to soft curves, hips swaying as if on command. They came in every shape and size: short, tall, slim, voluptuous. But all had one thing in common¡ªthey could make saints blush.


    Before Yu Feng could react, delicate hands latched onto hers and Su Xiaobai''s, tugging them toward the stairs.


    "What''s going on?" Yu Feng asked, her tone steady, though a vein pulsed on her forehead.


    "Just play along," Su Xiaobai said with a smile that could punch holes in her patience.


    Her chest tightened. Play along?


    "What didn''t you tell me?" she hissed, her voice colder now, though her cheeks burned faintly.


    Su Xiaobai''s grin deepened. "You''ll see soon enough."


    And then she did.


    The truth hit like a slap. This wasn''t a brothel¡ªit was a spy den. The women weren''t just escorts; they were operatives, trained to extract secrets as easily as they did moans. And Zhao Tianxuan? That crafty bastard had sent them here to retrieve information he couldn''t risk being tied to.


    Two young, vigorous male disciples indulging in the pleasures of a brothel? No one would bat an eye.


    But here''s the twist: they couldn''t just pretend. No, they had to commit. Fully.


    The women separated her and Su Xiaobai at the top of the stairs. Yu Feng''s stomach churned as she was dragged toward a private room, her composure slipping.


    "I hope you''re proud of yourself," she muttered.


    Su Xiaobai met her glare without flinching, his smile infuriatingly casual. "Think of it as broadening your horizons."


    Her eye twitched. Expanding horizons?


    The door swung open, and Yu Feng was pulled into a room draped in silks and heavy with jasmine. The hands on her were soft but firm, giving her no chance to resist.


    BAM!


    The door slammed shut behind her, cutting off her escape¡ªand sealing her fate.


    She stood there for a moment, her expression composed but her thoughts screaming.


    This bastard.


    Her fists tightened as she forced her breath to steady. She couldn''t blow her cover, not now. No matter how much she wanted to beat Su Xiaobai to death, she had a mission to complete.


    But the fact remained: Su Xiaobai had royally screwed her over.

 Chapter 91 *Climbing the tall tree* [R18]

    "Muah~~!"The wet kiss landed on his face, leaving a slick trace. Su Xiaobai''s robe dangerously loose, his chest exposed to wandering hands. Giggles filled the air, sticky and sweet.


    "One at a time," he said, though his chuckle faltered as fingers tugged harder at his belt, their intentions clear.


    "Young master, is this your first time~?" A sultry voice tickled his ear.


    "Would you believe me if I said yes?"


    "Liar." A woman leaned in, her breasts pressing firmly against his arm. Another slid her fingers along his thigh, brushing against his dragon vein with feigned innocence.


    Su Xiaobai flinched, his smile stiffening. Pleasure or peril, he couldn''t tell anymore. Each touch carried poison. Each giggle hid a blade.


    Zhao Tianxuan had set this trap with care, and Su Xiaobai''s body¡ªtraitorous as it was¡ªseemed hellbent on betraying him.


    _____


    On the other side!


    Yu Feng''s fists trembled. Her robe tugged this way and that, silk hands grabbing what they could. Her disguise felt tighter with every second.


    "Young master, why so stiff?" The woman smiled, her lips like cherry blossoms dipped in wine.


    "Stiff? My ass!" Yu Feng snapped, her voice cracking. She forced a grin, though it looked more like a grimace.


    "Oh? How feisty." Another slid in close. A hand¡ªquick, daring¡ªbrushed Yu Feng''s chest.


    A pause. Her fingers pressed. Softness met palm.


    Yu Feng froze, her blood boiling. Then¡ªexplosion.


    "Hands off my goddamn treasure!" she barked, slapping the woman''s hand away.


    Another woman laughed, unbothered. "Such a fiery temper, young master. Are you this passionate in bed too?" Her eyes gleamed as if peeling away Yu Feng''s disguise inch by inch.


    Shame, fury, humiliation. Yu Feng wanted to burn the whole building down. Her glare shot toward the door. Su Xiaobai, that bastard, was probably swimming in silk valleys and breasts while she had to endure this hell.


    _____


    Back to Su Xiaobai.


    "Tell me, young master." A woman''s lips grazed his ear, her voice sweet and sultry. "Do you prefer teasing? Or would you rather¡­ show us your strength?"


    Her hand slid south.


    Shffft.


    His belt fell, and without hesitation, her fingers wrapped around his proud and mighty ''heavenly pillar.''


    "Mm," she murmured, giving a slow squeeze. "So powerful. Is this what holds up the heavens?"


    Su Xiaobai caught her wrist. Slap! His grip steady, firm. "If I told you, wouldn''t that spoil the fun?"


    Her pout deepened, but her eyes glinted with mischief. She pressed closer, her twin peaks brushing his chest. Her robe slipped further, and her hardened immortal buds grazed his skin.


    Smooch~!


    Her lips brushed his neck, moist and warm.


    Bootsteps shattered the heated air.


    Thud, thud.


    A''Jin strode in, her commanding presence startling everyone present, "Enough!"


    Her voice cut cold, sharp.


    The women froze. Hands withdrew, though hesitantly.


    Su Xiaobai adjusted his robe, though his eyes wandered toward A''Jin. She was stunning¡ªlong legs, absurd proportions, and a face of pure authority. He''d known enough long-legged models in the past, but this one¡­ this one dwarfed them all.


    Why was she here?


    "First sister, what''s wrong?" The question came from Rong Xin, the blonde-haired beauty who''d first teased him. Her blue eyes sparkled, her figure flawless¡ªcommanding breasts, thick thighs, smooth skin that seemed carved by gods.


    Su Xiaobai glanced at her. Brothel workers here could conquer kingdoms. Smooth skin, thick thighs, and an aura that screamed temptation.


    His gaze dipped briefly, taking in the long, commanding legs and the fierce curves, before returning to A''Jin''s sharp, seductive face.


    ''I''d love to chop this tall tree down,'' he thought wickedly.


    A''Jin''s gaze flicked to Su Xiaobai. Her lips tightened as her eyes lowered, catching sight of his ''heavenly pillar,'' standing tall like it was ready to deliver judgment.


    She swallowed, her cheeks faintly pink.


    "Your friend is acting strange," A''Jin said, forcing her focus back to Su Xiaobai.


    Su Xiaobai rubbed his chin, feigning thoughtfulness. "He''s not my friend," he replied, nonchalant.


    A''Jin frowned. Zhao Tianxuan''s plot? Was something already going wrong?


    Rong Xin laughed softly, brushing her hair behind her ear. "First sister, why not let this little brother go? He''s harmless. Go deal with that rat instead."


    ''Rat?'' Su Xiaobai''s eyes narrowed. So, they''d already marked Yu Feng as a spy. Would they kill her? Troublesome. He didn''t know Yu Feng well, but he couldn''t let her die.


    Yet these women¡­ he couldn''t sense their cultivation.


    A headache.


    A''Jin''s glare darkened. She turned to Rong Xin. "Second sister," she said icily. "Are you so eager to defy me?"


    Rong Xin didn''t flinch. She leaned closer to Mei Lian, the pink-haired beauty with an innocent, doll-like face. Despite her shy bangs and adorable features, her heavenly peaks rivaled the others.


    "Third sister," Rong Xin said casually, "help me undress him."


    Mei Lian blinked. Then, nodding awkwardly, she stepped forward, her soft hands brushing against Su Xiaobai as she fumbled with his robe. Tap, tap. Her touch was delicate, almost shy.


    "You two¡­" A''Jin groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose. Discipline was a joke here.


    The truth was simple: A''Jin, the "First Sister," rarely allowed her elites to serve normal guests. Rong Xin, Mei Lian, and the others were used to being out of reach. Now, their bottled-up desires had erupted like a dam breaking.


    It was a mess!


    The remaining women exchanged glances. Should they follow A''Jin or Rong Xin?


    Then, boldness struck.


    The fourth sister¡ªa blue-haired vixen with a devil''s figure¡ªslid between Su Xiaobai''s legs.


    Schlick. Her hot breath hit his jade family jewels, and without hesitation, she swallowed them into her wet mouth. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Slurp!


    "Mmmph..."


    ''Fuck.'' Su Xiaobai''s face darkened. They''re actually know this?!


    He glanced down, stunned, as Rong Xin and Mei Lian smirked. Their hands returned to his heavenly pillar, stroking in unison


    Shlick, shlick.


    Their fingers moved in perfect rhythm.


    The others joined in. Smack, smack. Kisses trailed his neck. Lick. Their tongues flicked over his skin, tasting him greedily


    One grabbed his hand, guiding it to her dripping forbidden valley.


    Su Xiaobai slapped her ass.


    Pah!


    Hiss~


    She squealed, wiggling her hips. "Ah, naughty!" she cried, but didn''t retreat. Instead, she ground against his thigh, her secret garden wet and hot.


    "You thirsty bitches," A''Jin growled, her tongue clicking in frustration. Her face turned red¡ªnot just from anger.


    She clenched her jaw. These were supposed to be elite courtesans, untouchable and disciplined. But months of pent-up thirst had turned them into untamed wolves. And Su Xiaobai? He was fresh meat.


    Her fists tightened as Rong Xin winked at her rebillious.


    Meanwhile, Mei Lian''s soft hands trembled as she worked. The blue-haired woman below polished his jewels.


    Slurp, slurp.


    Her tongue swirled, her cheeks hollowing as she sucked him clean.


    Su Xiaobai groaned, torn between resisting and giving in.


    A''Jin''s glare sharpened. Enough. Discipline would return soon. She sent a transmission through her jade slip. "Restrain the rat," she ordered coldly.


    But even as her focus shifted, her eyes flicked back to Su Xiaobai''s heavenly pillar, standing proudly amidst everything. Her lips twitched. Heat rose to her cheeks again.


    "Dammit."


    Does she have to wait here until they''re finished?!


    "You don''t wanna join...?"


    Su Xiaobai managed to lift his head, though barely, as two women shoved their cherries into his mouth, moaning for him to squeeze their ''heavenly peaks'' and slap them harder.


    A''Jin''s eyes narrowed, her gaze sharp. She said nothing, but the silent pressure radiating from her was enough.


    Normally, Su Xiaobai didn''t give a damn about women playing hard to get. But the more this tall beauty refused, the more the fire inside him burned. A tree that refuses to fall only tempts the axe further.


    "I have¡ª"


    "Shhh..." Rong Xin leaned in, cutting him off with her lips nearly brushing his ear. Her warm breath sent tingles down his spine. "She doesn''t like wealth," she whispered, her voice daring. "If you have information... offer her that."


    Her words, daring and dangerous, as her tongue flicked against his earlobe. Nearby, the fifth sister, a green-haired vixen with an annoyed expression, rolled her eyes as if to say, "Good luck with that."


    Rong Xin ignored her, biting her crimson lips, her warmth smearing across them. Without hesitation, she slid lower, her gaze locked onto the pillar of flesh towering before her. Mei Lian joined her, shy yet eager, her pink tongue flicking out like a serpent. Together, they began their work, their tongues coiling around his length.


    Slurp... Slurp..


    Their synchronized motions sent shockwaves up Su Xiaobai''s spine. Like twin serpents worshipping a divine root, he thought, his mind a haze of lust and amusement.


    Below them, the fourth sister hadn''t given up. Her mouth was still firmly wrapped around his family jewels, sucking hard enough to make his knees weak.


    Slurp, slurp.


    Occasionally, she squeezed them, her hands merciless.


    Hiss!


    Su Xiaobai groaned, his hips twitching. Yet, his thoughts weren''t on the women servicing him¡ªthey were on the tall figure in front of him.


    Information?


    A''Jin stood there, arms crossed, her expression unreadable. Her intense gaze burned into him, not with lust, but with cold calculation.


    That icy distance only fanned the flames inside Su Xiaobai.


    ¡ª A prize that doesn''t fall easily is worth conquering!


    "You want to know about the rat?" Su Xiaobai''s eyes lit up, a plan forming in his mind¡ªsave Yu Feng and climb this tall and mighty mountain at the same time.


    "Hm?" The women paused, their lips and hands still, turning their curious gazes toward him. A''Jin raised a brow, her voice cold. "Say."


    "Not like this¡ªcome closer." Su Xiaobai grinned, extending his hand as if to invite her into his embrace. His shamelessness burned bright, daring and unrestrained.


    If anything, the grin made A''Jin want to punch him.


    "Ehehe~ First Sister, he''s harmless!" Rong Xin teased, a sly smirk playing on her lips. She nudged Mei Lian, whispering loudly enough for all to hear, "I bet she''s scared to get too close!"


    "Quiet," A''Jin snapped, her glare like a whip.


    "It''s just a hug, First Sister!" Rong Xin giggled, her eyes sparkling with mischief. She gestured for Mei Lian, and the two moved behind A''Jin, their hands pushing her forward.


    "!!"


    A''Jin stumbled slightly, glaring daggers at the duo before shifting her fiery gaze to Su Xiaobai. "Don''t even think about touching me with your hands."


    "Okay, okay, haha..." Su Xiaobai raised his hands in surrender, grinning like a fox that had just outwitted the hen.


    A''Jin stepped forward, climbing onto him with an aura that screamed both authority and restrained fury. Her loose red robe dapped over her tall, commanding frame, but even through the layers, she could feel his ''thing'' pressing firmly against her forbidden valley.


    Her teeth clenched as the sensation sent a jolt through her¡ªof irritation, of course.


    She placed her elbows beside his head, trapping him beneath her towering figure. Her emerald-tinted eyes locked onto his, sharp enough to slice through his grin.


    "Now talk!" Her tone was... dangerous.


    Her lips twisted into a wicked smile, her gaze daring him to waste her time. She would ensure this day would be the last Little Su¡ªthe one between his legs¡ªwould ever see the light of day.


    "Haa..." Su Xiaobai, blissfully indifferent to her warning, inhaled deeply, taking in the sweet jasmine scent clinging to her. Her long legs straddled him, her sheer presence towering even as she leaned close.


    The other women burst into giggles, covering their mouths as they watched the exchange.


    "First Sister, you''re blushing!" Mei Lian teased softly, her doll-like face lighting up with laughter.


    "Doesn''t she look like she wants to eat him up?" Rong Xin added, her eyes glinting with amusement. "Careful, little brother, you might lose more than your tongue!"


    "Enough!" A''Jin snapped, her voice sharp, but her red cheeks betrayed her rising frustration.


    Su Xiaobai''s grin widened, A tree this tall doesn''t just fall¡ªit begs to be conquered, he thought wickedly.


    "Hm?" As Su Xiaobai plotted his next move, A''Jin''s sharp gaze flicked to his discarded robe. Her slender fingers plucked the ''Sword Peak'' badge from it, her eyes narrowing.


    "You''re from Sword Peak?"

 Chapter 92 **An Unopened Lotus** [R18]

    "You''re from Sword Peak?"Su Xiaobai''s grin faltered. That tone didn''t sound friendly. Still, he nodded cautiously.


    "And the other one?"


    Another hesitant nod.


    Her expression darkened instantly. Sword Peak, huh? No wonder Zhao Tianxuan had sent these two. Killing them would be as suicidal as swallowing her own poison stash. If Su Xiaobai poked around, he''d find out his righteous master Bai Yujian¡ªthe fairy saint of Sword Peak¡ªwas actually infamous for hunting down enemies over spilled tea.


    The other women exchanged confused glances, blissfully unaware of the storm brewing. They didn''t care about politics¡ªthey were here to get paid and get laid.


    "What''s your relationship with Bai Yujian?" A''Jin''s lips curved into a dangerous smile.


    Su Xiaobai stiffened. Was this woman about to drop some deep, dark grudge on him? Whatever it was, he already had a backup plan: rely on his invincible body to shield ''Little Su'' between his legs and sprint away as fast as possible.


    But why not go big first?


    With a wide grin, he puffed out his chest and bragged shamelessly. "One and only¡ªher personal disciple and lover!" For extra points, he waved Bai Yujian''s token like a trophy.


    "What...?" A''Jin''s sharp gaze wavered, momentarily stunned.


    Su Xiaobai''s grin widened. Lying through his teeth? Easy. Bai Yujian would probably roll her eyes, but what she didn''t know wouldn''t kill her.


    A''Jin rolled her eyes. Lover? Unlikely. But personal disciple? She cursed inwardly. Damn, can''t kill this one.


    Su Xiaobai leaned in with his trademark shamelessness. "Now, what can you offer me for information?"


    "Depends on the information," A''Jin replied icily, her patience hanging by a thread.


    He pointed at his ''Little Su,'' grinning boldly. "How about polishing my sword of heavenly truth with your sharp tongue?"


    "..."


    Her face froze, completely blank.


    Before she could explode, Su Xiaobai reached out and grabbed her shoulders.


    The other women stiffened, ready to pounce, but relaxed when he leaned in close, whispering into her ear.


    "!!"


    "Is it true?" A''Jin''s emerald eyes gleamed with sudden interest. Her earlier annoyance was replaced by sharp curiosity.


    "One hundred percent true," Su Xiaobai said confidently, his grin even wider now.


    Of course, he''d just sold Yu Feng out, spilling her secret as a woman disguised as a man. Not like she wasn''t already exposed¡ªhe just gave A''Jin''s imagination a little nudge.


    "What''s her purpose?" A''Jin leaned in, her earlier composure gone. Her chest brushed against Su Xiaobai''s, her lips hovering close to his, teasing him with her warmth.


    Su Xiaobai didn''t hesitate, pulling her waist closer. A''Jin squirmed in his grasp, glaring at him like he''d crossed some forbidden line¡ªbut she didn''t push away.


    His face twitched. Why do women always make everything so transactional?


    "Tch." A''Jin clicked her tongue, leaning back slightly. The lead was incomplete, but useful. Her breath tickled his ear as she whispered, "Go and tell Zhao Tianxuan: ''When the dragon descends into the valley, the gathered wolves bare their fangs; the phoenix''s nest may soon face the storm.''"


    "Huh?" Su Xiaobai blinked. A riddle? A secret code?


    Smooch!


    "You didn''t have full information¡ªbe happy with this," A''Jin said, planting a quick kiss on his stunned face before moving to pull away.


    "Wait¡ª" Su Xiaobai grabbed instinctively, but his hand caught her robe instead.


    Tear! Tear!


    The red fabric ripped, revealing her twin peaks, tightly bound by a cloth. Nestled snugly between them was a small purple vial.


    Crack!


    The vial shattered against Su Xiaobai''s chest, the shimmering liquid immediately soaking into his skin.


    "You idiot!" A''Jin cursed, moving like lightning to swipe the shards away, but it was already too late.


    "Huh?" Su Xiaobai''s brain short-circuited as the poison settled into him.


    "What were you doing?!" A''Jin growled, her face red with panic. Without hesitation, she bent down and began licking his chest furiously.


    Slurp... slurp...


    Her tongue darted out like a frantic cat, trying to expel the poison.


    "Ticklish!" Su Xiaobai yelped, squirming under her assault. The mixture of her frantic licks and soft curses left him torn between bewilderment and arousal.


    "It''s too late..." A''Jin spat the last bit of liquid to the side, her face stormy with frustration.


    "What the hell was that?" Su Xiaobai asked, his voice tinged with both confusion and panic.


    The other women leaned closer, their earlier lustful gazes replaced by wide-eyed concern.


    "That vial," A''Jin muttered bitterly, fixing her torn robe, "was poison. Enough to kill you a thousand times over."


    Hiss~!


    The women gasped, glancing at Su Xiaobai with pity.


    "It reacts with Yang energy," A''Jin explained, glaring at him like he''d stolen her last shred of sanity. "It floods the body with Yin, destroying it from the inside out. I kept it there in case some beast tried to take liberties. Now, congratulations¡ªyou''re today''s unlucky fool."


    Su Xiaobai''s face paled. The more she explained, the worse his expression became.


    "Not good..." He muttered, beads of sweat rolling down his temples as he felt his body spiraling out of control. Death wasn''t just around¡ªit was sitting on his chest, waiting to collect him.


    "Of course, it''s not good." A''Jin snorted, her eyes cold. She gestured sharply to Rong Xin and Mei Lian, signaling them to prepare. Dispose of the body. Quietly.


    The two nodded, their faces serious. Meanwhile, A''Jin issued a command through her jade slip. Release him. No need to blow Yu Feng''s cover yet¡ªshe''d let her little nephew handle that mess later.


    "..."


    But Su Xiaobai wasn''t focused on any of this. His body had turned into a pressure cooker of wild Yin Qi. His veins bulged; his breath came in sharp, uneven gasps; and Little Su¡ªwell, it had become ''Big Su,'' throbbing violently.


    "Huh? First Sister, you didn''t give him an aphrodisiac, did you?" Rong Xin asked, her playful tone mixed with genuine curiosity as her gaze dipped lower.


    A''Jin blinked, stunned by the sight. "Of course not!"


    But even she faltered. What was happening to him? The poison wasn''t supposed to act this way¡ªit overwhelmed with Yin, not¡­ this. Yet Su Xiaobai''s body was devouring the Yin Qi, amplifying it until his eyes turned blood-red, and his Heavenly Pillar stood as if ready to split mountains.


    SWOOSH!


    "Ah!?" A''Jin gasped as Su Xiaobai grabbed her wrist, yanking her down.


    Thud!


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    She landed hard on the bed, her loose robe slipping from her shoulders, exposing her creamy skin.


    "What the hell are you doing~!?" A''Jin snapped, her voice trembling with a mix of shock and anger.


    The other women froze, their eyes wide as they watched Su Xiaobai''s beastly transformation.


    Tear! Tear! Tear!


    With unrestrained force, Su Xiaobai shredded A''Jin''s robe completely, leaving her bare under his hungry gaze. His lips latched onto her twin peaks, sucking aggressively, while his throbbing heavenly pillar pressed against her forbidden valley, hot and demanding.


    "You¡ªugh...!" A''Jin groaned, her voice breaking as her body betrayed her.


    "Payback for the poison," Su Xiaobai growled, his hands gripping her hips tightly as he thrust forward, burying himself in her entirely.


    "Ahhh! You dare¡ªmmph!" Her words were swallowed as Su Xiaobai kissed her roughly, his tongue claiming her mouth as if it was his right.


    "Mmmghhh... idiot!" A''Jin squirmed, her fists pounding weakly against his chest before falling limp. The flood of Yin Qi transferring from him into her body overwhelmed her senses, replacing resistance with heated moans.


    Her legs curled tightly around his waist, locking him in place.


    "First Sister...?" Mei Lian whispered, her face crimson as she watched her usually fierce leader fall apart.


    "Look at her face!" Rong Xin gasped, her voice trembling with suppressed laughter. "She''s glowing... She''s actually enjoying this!"


    "Wait... First Sister is...?" Mei Lian''s eyes widened as her gaze dropped between A''Jin''s legs, where a faint redness bloomed.


    "An unopened lotus!?" Rong Xin finished, her tone a mix of disbelief and amusement.


    Slap!


    Su Xiaobai''s hand came down on A''Jin''s plump buttocks, the sharp sound echoing through the room.


    "Ahhh! Stop¡ªugh...!" Her voice cracked, but her moans betrayed her as Su Xiaobai''s relentless rhythm shook her to her core.


    Her proud composure shattered entirely. The once-dominant First Sister was now mewling beneath him, her face flushed, her nails scraping at his back in desperation.


    "Mmm... nghh... more...!" Her legs tightened around him, her body arching to meet his every thrust.


    The other women stared, their jaws nearly hitting the floor.


    "Who knew First Sister could look like this..." Rong Xin muttered, licking her lips.


    "Should we help her?" Mei Lian asked, her voice trembling as her fingers toyed nervously with her robe.


    Su Xiaobai wasn''t done. Driven purely by instinct, he flipped A''Jin over, her legs dangling over his shoulders as he pounded into her mercilessly.


    Slap! Slap! Slap!


    "Ahnnn! No¡ªdon''t...!" A''Jin''s cries were a mix of protest and pleasure as her body shook violently beneath him.


    By now, the other women couldn''t hold back any longer. Their robes slipped from their shoulders as they approached the bed. One by one, they joined, their eyes glinting with lust.


    Rong Xin was the first to climb onto Su Xiaobai''s back, her hands running over his sweat-slicked shoulders. "Be gentle with me, big guy," she purred, before yelping as he threw her down.


    Mei Lian followed, her shy demeanor replaced by unrestrained desire as she hugged him, gasping, "It''s my turn...!"


    Su Xiaobai worked through them like a man possessed. Each one fell under him, their moans filling the room as his movements left them trembling and spent.


    Essence dripped from their valleys, their legs giving out as they sprawled across the bed, tongues hanging out.


    "This... this is heaven," Su Xiaobai muttered, his grin stretching wider than it had any right to. He leaned down, once again claiming A''Jin''s lips like a conqueror marking his territory.


    "Y-You''re a monster," A''Jin moaned, her voice shaky and weak, yet her traitorous arms hugged him closer.


    "Monster?" Su Xiaobai smirked, biting her lower lip as he flipped her over like a sack of rice. "No. I''m the farmer, and you''re tonight''s plowed field."


    Slap! Slap! Slap!


    "Ahhh! Damn you¡ªstop!" A''Jin cried out, though her nails clawing his back said otherwise.


    "Not stopping until you''re as dry as a desert," Su Xiaobai growled, gripping her hips like a beast going for the kill.


    From the side, Rong Xin strolled over, her "Heavenly Peaks" bouncing as if drawn by magnetic force.


    "I''ll take his mouth," she purred, grabbing Su Xiaobai''s head like a prize she won at a festival. She shoved her chest against his face, her nipples grazing his lips. "Suck these, you savage!"


    "Mmph!" Su Xiaobai didn''t argue. His mouth latched on immediately, his tongue swirling like he was tasting fine wine, even as his hips relentlessly battered A''Jin below him.


    Meanwhile, Mei Lian, shaking like a leaf in the wind, hesitated before straddling his lap. "P-Ple-Please be gentle..."


    Su Xiaobai looked at her and grinned. "Gentle? I''ll be gentle-ish." His hands shot out, gripping her soft thighs as he yanked her down onto him like a child slamming a door shut.


    "Ahhhhhh!" Mei Lian squealed, her shy facade shattering as her voice hit notes that could make glass crack.


    "I... I can''t¡ªahhh!" Rong Xin gasped, her eyes rolling back like dice in a gambler''s hands. Her body trembled violently as Su Xiaobai switched between her "Peaks" like a connoisseur sampling delicacies.


    Mei Lian clung to him desperately, her cries growing louder with every thrust. "I-I''m gonna¡ªnghhh!"


    Splurt! Splurt! Splurt!


    By the end, the once-proud courtesans were sprawled across the bed like discarded ragdolls, their legs twitching and their tongues lolling out.


    Su Xiaobai stood at the center of the chaos, sweat glistening on his chest like he was posing for a painting. His grin was wide, wicked, and entirely too smug. He reached out, brushing a strand of sweat-soaked hair from A''Jin''s flushed face.


    "Ready for round two?"


    "Don''t even think about it," A''Jin croaked, her glare lacking its usual menace as her limp body betrayed her.


    But Su Xiaobai? He was feeling like a million spirit stones. Most of the poison was gone, though he couldn''t help but think, If I had a few more women, I''d be good as new.


    A''Jin, meanwhile, was stuck glaring at him like he''d just eaten her last dumpling. Her limbs refused to move, her body limp from absorbing most of his excess Yin Qi. Unlike him, she didn''t have specialized veins to handle the storm, leaving her like a wrung-out towel.


    But Su Xiaobai didn''t care. Consequences were for future him. Right now, panting women sprawled across the room? Chef''s kiss.


    Grinning like the shameless rogue he was, he grabbed A''Jin''s silky hair, wrapping it around his still-throbbing "Dragon."


    Her eyes widened in horror. "You wouldn''t¡ª" S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But he would.


    Thwap!


    "Ngghk!"

 Chapter 93 Like a Brother!

    "You wouldn''t¡ª"But he would.


    Thwap!


    "Ngghk!" A''Jin gagged as the tip of his dragon smacked against her lips, a sour musk making her nose wrinkle.


    Without a moment''s hesitation, Su Xiaobai thrust into her mouth, his hands gripping her head like reins.


    "Gllrrkkk¡ª!"


    Her cheeks bulged, her throat tightening around him as the once-proud First Sister found herself choking on his "Dragon." Her emerald eyes glared daggers at him, but her muffled gags betrayed her helplessness.


    The other women began to stir awake, their groggy eyes landing on the scene before them.


    "Is... is that First Sister?" Rong Xin blinked, rubbing her eyes as though she couldn''t trust them.


    "Wow," Mei Lian muttered, still trembling. "Her throat''s doing better than mine..."


    Su Xiaobai groaned, slamming into A''Jin''s mouth one last time before releasing.


    Splurt.


    "Gwaakk!" A''Jin''s eyes shot wide as warmth flooded her mouth, some dribbling down her chin as Su Xiaobai pulled free.


    Splurt!


    Another wave splattered across her flushed face and tangled hair, leaving her drenched and utterly humiliated.


    "You¡ªcough..." A''Jin tried to speak, her voice raspy, but the words caught in her throat. Before she could recover, the creak of the door interrupted her.


    Her gaze, still hazy and furious, shifted to the figure stepping inside. A dark-haired woman stood in the doorway, exuding an air of dangerous charm, her waist wrapped in tight, devilish black robes.


    "Seventh Sister?" A''Jin muttered weakly, her voice tinged with disbelief, as though she''d just seen a fallen angel walk into a den of sin.


    Five more women peeked in, their curious expressions turning to shock. "Why''s it smell like... oh..."


    Their jaws dropped as they took in the sight: A''Jin, kneeling and drenched. The room reeked of sweat, sourness, and pure debauchery.


    "What the hell is going on?" one of them asked, wide-eyed.


    Su Xiaobai turned toward them, his grin growing even wider. "What''s going on? Your turn, of course."


    That was the last thing they heard before being thrown into the fray.


    By the time Su Xiaobai finished, the room was filled with the scent of sweat and the groans of ''twelve'' thoroughly plundered women. They lay sprawled across the floor and bed, their limbs twitching, their faces flushed, and their moans echoing faintly.


    _____


    Back in time, as soon as the women released Yu Feng, she snatched up her clothes and bolted like a rabbit fleeing a hawk.


    BAM!


    The door slammed behind her, and she darted into the living area, her chest heaving. Her sharp eyes scanned the room, ensuring none of those shameless women were around.


    "... they let me go," she muttered, wiping the sweat off her brow.


    Spotting a shadow under the table, she ducked down, tucking herself in like a thief hiding from patrol guards.


    If Su Xiaobai ever saw her "hiding technique," he''d probably keel over laughing before dying of second-hand embarrassment.


    "Tch. That man better finish whatever nonsense he''s up to." Her brows furrowed, and she hugged her knees, trying to calm her racing heart.


    But then¡ªit started.


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    At first, it was faint. Barely a murmur from upstairs. But then, like a dam bursting, the moans rolled down the staircase, drowning the silence.


    "Aahhhh~!"


    "Mmmghhh~ Master, I want your monkeyyyy~!"


    Thud!


    Yu Feng''s head hit the underside of the table, her entire face heating up like she''d just walked into a furnace.


    "What... what the hell is going on up there?!" she thought, her composure slipping. Clapping her hands over her ears, she curled into herself, trying to block out the obscene sounds.


    But it was no use. The vulgar symphony continued, each moan more shameless than the last.


    "Is he taming wild beasts?" she thought, gritting her teeth.


    ___


    Time crawled by. Minutes turned to hours.


    Yu Feng''s patience burned away like incense at an altar. Her frazzled hair and bloodshot eyes made her look like someone who''d spent the night fighting demons.


    By dawn the next day, her hands were trembling from frustration.


    She peeked out from under the table, her face dark.


    "Why hasn''t he come out yet?! Is he planning to die in there?"


    Finally, unable to bear it any longer, she climbed out and marched upstairs, her steps light but purposeful.


    When she pushed open the door, her eyes widened, her body freezing mid-step.


    "...What in the heavens?"


    The room looked like the aftermath of a siege. Twelve naked women sprawled across the bed, tangled limbs and heaving chests everywhere. The scent of sweat and something else in the air like a curse.


    And in the middle of it all, buried underneath was Su Xiaobai. His face was barely visible beneath a mountain of heavenly peaks, his body limp and unmoving.


    Yu Feng stared, her eye twitching.


    "This man... actually died under a pomegranate skirt."


    A dry laugh escaped her lips as she pinched her nose to block the overwhelming stench, she cautiously stepped closer, poking his shoulder. No response. She poked again, harder. Still nothing.


    "...You unbelievable fool."


    Her expression darkened as she grabbed his limp and naked body, groaning under his weight as she hauled him onto her shoulders.


    "Why are you so heavy? Did you absorb their essence along with their shamelessness?"


    Each step made her regret her choices more. The room squelched with every movement, the sticky sounds making her gag.


    "This smells worse than a beast''s mating den. And to think I''m stuck dragging your filthy corpse," she mumbled, her tone dripping with disdain.


    As she staggered toward the exit, her eyes swept over the carnage one last time.


    And with that, Yu Feng escaped the Pleasure Pavilion, Su Xiaobai''s disgraceful body slung over her shoulders like unwanted baggage.


    She dragged Su Xiaobai out just in time.


    Barely an hour later, A''Jin stirred awake, her body stiff but her mind clear as a cloudless sky.


    Her sharp eyes swept the room, her expression darkening as she failed to spot Su Xiaobai.


    "...Gone," she muttered, her jaw tightening. That little bastard ran off!


    She gritted her teeth, slamming her hand down in frustration¡ªonly for it to land squarely on Mei Lian''s plump buttocks.


    Smack!


    "Ugh¡­ First Sister, why are you spanking me?" Mei Lian groaned, her eyes fluttering open. Her voice was half-annoyed, half-dreamy.


    "Shut up!" A''Jin barked, her glare sharp enough to make the other women stir nervously. She swept her gaze over the room, lips curling with disdain. Idiots, all of them.


    A''Jin''s frustration grew. Compared to Su Xiaobai''s limp corpse-like exit, she was far better off. Her body, though a little sore, could''ve gone for days if it weren''t for the overwhelming Yin Qi she had absorbed. She cracked her neck, sneering inwardly. Su Xiaobai was damn lucky it wasn''t an aphrodisiac. Otherwise, she''d have plowed him into the afterlife herself.


    Her legs, long and smooth, staggered briefly before she steadied herself, her thighs brushing together. Every step felt like a reminder of last night''s ridiculous events.


    Taking a deep breath, she grabbed a brush and paper, her hand moving swiftly as she wrote a letter. The message was direct and aimed at the Xiantian Sect¡ªher frustration bleeding into every stroke of ink.


    Sealing the letter, she placed it in a jade pouch and handed it to her most trusted messenger.


    Her eyes narrowed as the messenger vanished into the distance. "Let''s just hope no enemy forces intercept it," she muttered. Not that she truly cared anymore¡ªher frustration was laser-focused elsewhere.


    The soreness in her thighs? It was more than just physical pain. Her pride had taken a hit too. That memory flashed in her mind, bringing fresh waves of humiliation: when she''d tried to strangle Su Xiaobai with her thighs, fully intending to crush his neck like a melon.


    But no. That slippery bastard had to pull some ridiculous trick!


    His body had hardened¡ªliterally! The idiot somehow turned his flesh into jade mid-squeeze, leaving her thighs trembling in pain instead of his throat.


    She''d let out a scream of pure agony, clutching her legs while Su Xiaobai lay there smirking like the smug pest he was. That stupid look on his face, like he hadn''t just ruined her attempt at revenge, still haunted her.


    The memory burned like a flame. Her fists clenched. "Next time, I''ll crush him with more than just my thighs, that smug little piece of¡ª"


    Whoosh!


    A streak of light burst from the room as A''Jin rocketed outside, her anger boiling over. She tore through the air, heading straight for the woods.


    She didn''t care who it was¡ªbandits, wandering cultivators, or innocent passersby¡ªsomeone was going to feel her wrath tonight. If they were dumb enough to cross her path, they''d be lucky to leave with a single tooth still intact.


    Her thoughts raged as she sped through the forest. "Little Ant! I''ll make you regret being born! But first, let me break someone else''s face to warm up!"


    Somewhere deep in the woods, a group of bandits lounging around a campfire suddenly shivered, their instincts screaming that something terrible was coming.


    ______


    "Aw¡­"


    Somewhere in Yunnan City, a man groaned pitifully, clutching his jewels like a farmer protecting his last grains of rice. His legs quivered; his face was pale¡ªan image of a man drained dry, left with nothing but a limp rod and memories of sinful bliss.


    "You brought this upon yourself," Yu Feng said coolly, seated on a log with the dignity of a queen. Her eyes didn''t waver as she glanced at the sprawled figure beside her.


    Su Xiaobai lay like a corpse dumped in the gutter, his vitality stolen by those brothel vixens. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The mission? Destroyed.


    Their reputation? Shattered.


    Babysitting him? Worse than death.


    Her patience was wearing thin, but she wouldn''t leave until he woke up.


    Su Xiaobai''s brows twitched. Pain stabbed through his body, and hazy memories clawed at his mind. Slowly, his eyes opened, heavy with exhaustion.


    And there she was.


    Her disguise was gone.


    Sharp eyes glittered coldly, crescent brows like blades. Her face¡ªsmooth as jade and cruelly perfect¡ªwas the kind of beauty that made men forget their own mortality. Yet, her lips curled faintly, mocking and disdainful.


    His chest tightened, but his shameless grin came naturally.


    "You''re enjoying this, aren''t you?"


    "Humph. Immensely," Yu Feng replied, her tone as sharp as her gaze.


    Su Xiaobai''s grin widened. His body moved slowly, lazily, like a beast awakening from slumber. "If you care for me so much, why not massage it for me?"


    Yu Feng''s brows arched. "Massage what?"


    "This," he said with a smirk, grabbing her hand and shoving it into his robes.


    Time froze.


    Her fingers touched something warm and firm, pulsing with heat¡ªalive, monstrous.


    For a moment, Yu Feng''s mind went blank. Then her expression turned to ice. Without hesitation, she ripped her hand free, her killing intent spilling out like a flood.


    Whoosh!


    A black spear appeared in her grip, its dark tip shinning with an ominous light. "Do that again, and I''ll cut it off."


    Su Xiaobai chuckled, utterly unrepentant. "Relax. It''s not like I planned it. Besides, you? A woman? Don''t flatter yourself."


    Her grip on the spear tightened, her knuckles whitening.


    "What did you just say?"


    "You''re like a brother to me," he said, completely unfazed. Dusting himself off, he even dared to pat her shoulder, his grin as infuriating as ever. "See? My good brother!"


    Hiss!


    The spear trembled.


    Yu Feng exhaled slowly, suppressing the urge to skewer him on the spot. This idiot was fortunate she hadn''t crushed his throat.


    "Let''s move," Su Xiaobai said, rising to his feet. He stretched leisurely, as though he hadn''t just dodged death. "You wouldn''t want your ''brother'' to leave you behind, would you?"


    Her eye twitched.


    The corner of her lips curled downward. Very soon, she thought darkly. Very soon, she''d teach this man what regret truly meant.


    Then the heavens roared.


    "Here he is!"


    The voice echoed like thunder, shaking the earth and snapping Yu Feng out of her thoughts.


    Su Xiaobai''s brows twitched. He glanced upward, his irritation barely masked. Now what?


    A figure hovered in the sky, his dark-circled eyes blazing with hatred...

 Chapter 94 Killing Three City Lords!

    Su Xiaobai''s brows twitched.Now what?


    Above him, a pale figure floated, his sunken eyes blazing with a hatred so raw it could peel flesh. His green robes fluttered in the wind, his aura shaking like a teacup in an earthquake.


    Su Xiaobai''s lips curled into a slow, lazy smile. "Another idiot who thinks he matters."


    Before he could utter another word, two more figures descended from the heavens.


    One was a slab of meat shaped like a man, his veins bulging with golden qi like he''d been binge-lifting celestial weights. The other was slim and sharp, a swordsman whose very presence screamed, ''My sword is longer than yours!'' His predatory eyes drifted to Yu Feng, gleaming with the kind of hunger that earned restraining orders.


    The pale man screeched, his voice as shrill as a banshee''s. "Kill him for me, Brother!"


    "Consider it done." The brute''s fist glowed with golden light, trembling with so much power it looked like he''d stuffed the sun in his hand.


    The swordsman''s cold gaze slid to Yu Feng. "Step aside, woman, or die with him. A noble swordsman doesn''t sully his blade with weaklings."


    "Humph!" Yu Feng sneered, "Big words for a man compensating with his sword. What happens when it goes limp under pressure?"


    Hiss~!


    The silence that followed wasn''t just awkward¡ªit was pure regret. The pale man shuffled his feet. Even the muscle-bound brute scratched his head, unsure whether to laugh or feel secondhand embarrassment.


    The swordsman''s face twisted like he''d bitten into sour plum, his grip on his hilt tightening. "You dare¡ª!"


    "Now, now," Su Xiaobai interjected, waving a hand lazily. "Let''s not get into sword-measuring contests. We''re already rated R as it is."


    He turned to the sky, raising his voice in mock frustration. "Seriously, is this the best you''ve got? A muscle-head, a swordsman compensating for his lack of personality, and a pale ghost with family issues?" He sighed, shaking his head theatrically. "Where''s the originality? Don''t tell me the celestial scriptwriters are on strike again."


    With a slow, deliberate shrug, he added, "I mean, I just finished last night''s missionary work, and now these weeds pop out of nowhere? Tch, Talk about bad pacing!"


    The pale man¡ªLi Xianfei¡ªroared, "QUIET! Enough of your nonsense! You killed my sons, you vile monster! I''ll annihilate your filthy bloodline and erase your name from this world!"


    Su Xiaobai tilted his head thoughtfully. "Killed your sons, huh? Refresh my memory. Did they cry? Beg? Or did they die so pathetically that even I forgot about it?"


    Li Xianfei''s face flushed, but before he could choke on his fury¡ª


    "BUDDHA''S PALM!"


    The brute roared, his golden fist swelling to monstrous proportions, blotting out the sun. The sheer force of his descending strike cracked the air itself, sending shockwaves rippling across the battlefield.


    Su Xiaobai yawned, patting imaginary dust off his sleeve. "Ah, yes. Another heaven-shaking attack doomed to fail spectacularly. I wonder what''s next¡ªdramatic dust clouds? Crater-sized ego?"


    He sighed, letting his qi surge as his body hardened like polished jade ¡ª [Invincible body]


    BOOM!


    The golden palm smashed into the earth with divine force, leaving behind a crater so vast it looked like heaven itself had thrown a tantrum.


    Dust shot into the air, blotting out the battlefield.


    From the sidelines, the brute, Tang Zhen turned to Li Xianfei, his laughter loud and obnoxious. "Brother Li, did you see that? He''s gone! We didn''t even need to try!"


    Then¡ª


    "Ah?"


    The brute froze mid-laugh, his eyes bulging as he craned his neck downward. Behind him floated Yu Feng, her spear buried deep in his back. Her gaze was as cold and merciless as winter''s breath.


    "Fools like you are all the same¡ªloud, stupid, and easily killed," she muttered, twisting the spear without ceremony.


    Puchi!


    Blood sprayed in an arc, painting the battlefield crimson. Tang Zhen''s heart exploded like an overripe melon under a hammer.


    Thud!


    The hulking brute crashed to the ground, his golden aura flickering out like a dying candle. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Su Xiaobai!" Yu Feng ignored the dead Tang Zhen, focusing on the dust cloud, her voice tinged with panic. "You better not be dead!"


    Cough!¡ª


    A shadow emerged from the dust cloud.


    Su Xiaobai stepped out, completely unharmed, brushing his robes as though he''d just escaped a mildly annoying rainstorm.


    "¡ªSup," he said nonchalantly, as if the crater behind him wasn''t even worth mentioning. "Did someone call for me? Oh, and good job with the big guy. Very stabby. Love the execution."


    Yu Feng''s eye twitched before she broke into soft laughter¡ªmelodic yet genuine. "You''re¡­ you''re fine? How? What are you made of, cockroaches and bad luck~?"


    "High-grade villain material," he replied with a wink. "Also, I ducked. Works every time."


    Inwardly, Su Xiaobai''s thoughts churned. ''So, she''s not Core Formation... She''s Nascent Soul, and at least mid-stage, too. No wonder she crushed that muscle-head like he was a paper doll.''


    His gaze flicked to the battlefield, masking his relief. If she hadn''t revealed her strength, he might''ve been forced to run. Three Nascent Souls, two at peak? Forget heroics¡ªhe''d have bolted faster than Tang''s Buddha Palm. But this woman?


    He suppressed a smirk. She''s been hiding an entire card deck. And to think, he faked getting struck by that palm just to see her reaction. What else is she hiding?


    "Quick! Restrain her!" shouted the pale man¡ªLi Xianfei¡ªas he gestured toward Yu Feng like a flustered old nanny.


    Li Xianfei''s aura blasted, his early Nascent Soul energy rippling wildly. His face twisted in rage, barely holding back the humiliation of seeing Tang Zhen flattened like a bug.


    Fang Yuecheng, the sword cultivator, snorted, his peak Nascent Soul aura surging as he charged forward, his sword glowing with ominous light.


    Clink!


    Yu Feng''s dark spear intercepted his strike, the clash of weapons sending sparks flying.


    "Girl," Fang Yuecheng sneered, "Give up now, and maybe I''ll let you die with your face intact. Your death will atone for killing Brother Tang!"


    Yu Feng''s spear spun in a deadly arc as she blocked his next strike, her eyes glinting with icy amusement. "Keep dreaming."


    Su Xiaobai leaned against a nearby rock, yawning theatrically. "You''ve got this, Yu Feng. Looks like you two have some unresolved beef anyway. Don''t let me get in the way."


    Yu Feng shot him a sharp glare but didn''t respond, her attention snapping back to Fang Yuecheng as his blade descended.


    "Focus, sweetheart," Fang Yuecheng growled, his voice dripping with venom.


    Before Yu Feng could retort, a dagger zipped through the air, nicking her cheek.


    Fang Yuecheng smirked, the dagger''s hilt gripped between his teeth like some deranged circus act.


    "You''re all filth," Yu Feng spat, her grip tightening on her spear.


    Meanwhile, Su Xiaobai''s lazy grin widened as he turned his gaze to Li Xianfei. "Hey, grandpa, you look like you''re about to pop a vein. Relax! I''ll send you to meet your sons soon enough. Family reunion, yay!"


    Li Xianfei''s face darkened, his early Nascent Soul aura surging as he roared, "I''ll kill you!"


    He launched himself at Su Xiaobai like a deranged rocket, his hand glowing with deadly qi.


    "Ah, great. Another fool in a hurry to die." Su Xiaobai unsheathed his new weapon¡ªa crimson blade that roared to life, fire crackling along its edge like an angry beast.


    WHOOSH!


    With one slash, a wave of flames surged forth, engulfing the entire area in a fiery inferno.


    Li Xianfei stumbled back, his robes singed, his dignity even more so. "You little¡ª"


    "Oh, don''t cry," Su Xiaobai taunted. "Did I burn your favorite pajamas, old man?"


    "Enough!" Li Xianfei charged again.


    Su Xiaobai sighed, shaking his head. "For all that screaming, I thought you''d be peak-Nascent Soul like your two dead buddies. But early stage? Really? Did you chug expired pills or what?"


    Li Xianfei''s next strike fizzled as Su Xiaobai''s sword flared again, forcing him back.


    Meanwhile, Yu Feng''s battle reached its peak. She drove Fang Yuecheng back with a brutal spear thrust, her movements fluid and lethal. Despite her focus, she couldn''t help noticing Su Xiaobai smirking at her. Read exclusive chapters at My Virtual Library Empire


    "She''s terrifying. Better not nudge her too much in the future¡ªwhat if she decides to skewer me like that golden idiot?" Su Xiaobai muttered, watching as her aura shifted. It was darker now, seething with an ominous energy.


    "Yup, definitely not aligned with the righteous path," he muttered, realization dawning. No wonder she hid her cultivation. The Xiantian Sect would never accept a heretic cultivator like her.


    His thoughts were interrupted by the city behind him erupting in flames. Screams echoed as buildings crumbled under stray attacks.


    "Fool! Don''t burn down the whole city!" Yu Feng yelled, glaring at him.


    Su Xiaobai glanced at his sword, which was spitting flames like a starving beast. "Ah, crap."


    He watched the fire spread, leveling a whole block in seconds. "Guess that''s on me."


    Behind him, Yunnan City spiraled into a glorious shitstorm. A''Jin, the long-legged vixen with a knack for "negotiating" city protection, was nowhere to be found¡ªprobably off shaking her assets somewhere else, thanks to Su Xiaobai''s hard work.


    Without her, Yunnan City was left to burn¡ªlike a drunken gambler''s last paycheck in a rigged game.

 Chapter 95 Grand Reveal!

    Meanwhile, Li Xianfei raged on, hurling insults and desperate attacks. "I came here for justice, you worm! You killed my sons!""Justice?" Su Xiaobai snorted, sidestepping another attack as if avoiding a lazy fly. "I don''t even remember their names! Were they memorable? Did they have hobbies? Maybe I''ll write their eulogies. Something like: ''Here lies some random guys I squashed like mosquitoes.''"


    Li Xianfei''s face twisted in rage, his veins bulging as his aura flared weakly. "You¡­ You bastard! My Blood¡­ They were my last hope, my legacy! You''ve ruined everything!" His voice cracked, desperation bleeding through his fury.


    "Aw, how touching," Su Xiaobai said, mockingly wiping a fake tear. "Too bad I don''t care. You''re not even a proper villain, old man. Just a walking sob story looking for a finale."


    "Die!" Li Xianfei screamed, but his movements were slowing, his aura flickering like a candle in a storm. His attacks grew more erratic, each one slower than the last. His legs wobbled, his breathing labored, but his eyes burned with stubborn hatred. "I¡­ will¡­ kill you!"


    Su Xiaobai yawned, feigning boredom. "Alright, old man. Time''s up."


    He inhaled deeply, steadying his breath. Two realms above me¡­ this isn''t fun anymore. But his lazy grin didn''t falter. Instead, it widened. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ZAAAAAAP!!!


    With an exaggerated exhale, Su Xiaobai unleashed a blinding beam of dragon breath that screamed destruction.


    "What¡ª" Li Xianfei froze mid-charge, his face twisting in horror as the beam sliced through him like a hot knife through tofu.


    For a brief moment, his mind flashed. My s... Forgive me. I wasn''t strong enough.


    The ray didn''t stop at his chest¡ªit cleaved the battlefield and kept going, splitting the city like it owed him rent.


    Su Xiaobai''s smile faltered. Oh, shit. This thing''s got a mind of its own.


    BOOM!


    The ray finally sputtered out, leaving a silence heavy with ash and smoke.


    Su Xiaobai¡ªexhausted¡ªwiped his brow, panting as if he''d just run a marathon. "Haa¡­ Haa¡­ Did he die, or is he just extra crispy?"


    He scanned the wreckage. Where Li Xianfei once stood, there was nothing but scorched earth. Half the city was gone¡ªhouses, streets, possibly a brothel or two¡ªall reduced to ash, as if heaven itself had pressed "delete."


    If the flames hadn''t cooked the stragglers, the beam had definitely finished the job.


    The battlefield fell eerily quiet.


    Yu Feng stood amidst the destruction, Fang Yuecheng''s lifeless body dangling from her grip. Her expression was a mix of irritation and reluctant awe as she stared at Su Xiaobai.


    "You''re insane," she said flatly.


    "Argh, harsh words," Su Xiaobai winced, clutching his chest like a wounded actor. "I prefer ''misunderstood genius.''"


    He wasn''t about to admit he hadn''t intended to level half the city.


    His gaze drifted until he spotted something charred and twitching in the distance. "Ah..." Li Xianfei''s body lay sizzling, looking like a kebab left on the grill too long.


    "What are you doing?" Yu Feng watched as Su Xiaobai casually strolled up to the corpse.


    "Being practical~!"


    Su Xiaobai waved his hand dismissively, crouching down with the ease of someone rifling through a bargain bin.


    Tilting his head, his gaze lingered on the charred remains of Li Xianfei. For a moment, a flicker of something¡ªhesitation? Regret?¡ªflickered in his eyes, but it vanished as quickly as it came.


    "Look at you," he murmured, his tone a strange mix of mockery and melancholy. "All that screaming, all that posturing¡­ and now you''re nothing more than a crunchy piece of toast. And the saddest part? No one''s left to give a damn. Not your sons, not your gods, and definitely not me."


    He hesitated, his fingers brushing against the corpse''s tattered robe before continuing in a quieter voice, almost as if speaking to himself. "This world''s a dog-eat-dog buffet, after all. So why bother pretending to care when all that''s left is crumbs?"


    With a sudden smile, Su Xiaobai straightened, his playful tone returning. "Now, if you''ll excuse me, this crispy fellow owes me rent."


    "I...." Li Xianfei''s lips trembled, but no sound came. A single tear rolled down his ashen cheek before Su Xiaobai stomped his head like a rotten melon underfoot.


    CRUNCH! CRUNCH!


    The sound was equal parts squelch and crunch, loud enough to make Yu Feng gag.


    Then, like a seasoned looter, Su Xiaobai crouched down and began rifling through the remains, pulling out a spatial ring and anything else shiny.


    "..."


    Yu Feng''s mouth opened slightly in disbelief. She hadn''t expected him to be so¡­ shameless.


    "What?" Su Xiaobai said, holding up the ring. "Take their treasures. They''re not using them anymore. Death is nature''s way of saying ''free loot.''" He paused, "Unless¡­ you''re into charity? Should I leave this stuff for the worms?"


    Yu Feng glared at him, her silence screaming, ''Touch my corpse pile and die.''


    Without a word, she tossed Fang Yuecheng''s corpse at him like a sack of potatoes.


    Catching it, Su Xiaobai raised an eyebrow at the gaping hole in the man''s head. "Did you skewer this guy like a barbecue? Damn. Nice work ¡ª You could charge admission for this kind of art!"


    "Humph!" Yu Feng scoffed, turning away, her spear dripping blood like a butcher''s blade fresh from slaughter.


    Su Xiaobai''s gaze on the weapon, his lips twitching into a crooked grin, "That''s your sword, huh? Like master, like disciple, I guess. None of you sword cultivators actually use swords. What''s next¡ªa sword whip? A parasol? Oh wait, Bai Yujian already stole that idea with her shield-sword combo."


    Yu Feng ignored his rambling, but her attention snapped back when she noticed something massive crawling out of Su Xiaobai''s spatial ring.


    A massive, thorny flower emerged, its vines writhing like drunken snakes, its petals glistening with something suspiciously blood-like. It was big enough to swallow a cow¡ªor a corpse.


    "What the hell is that?" Yu Feng instinctively stepped back, her spear raised. "Are you cultivating demons?"


    Su Xiaobai gave her his most disarming smile. "Relax. It''s just a harmless little pet. Think of it as¡­ eco-friendly cleanup."


    "Cleanup?" Yu Feng looked at him as if he''d grown a second head. "It''s eating people!"


    "Well, yeah. They''re dead. Recycling is important."


    Yu Feng''s face turned red¡ªnot from embarrassment, but rage.


    "Humph." She turned her head, relieved, "You''re just another monster in disguise."


    Su Xiaobai chuckled awkwardly. Not wrong. He gestured to the flower. "Alright, big girl. Breakfast''s served. Go feast on all those tasty bodies."


    Hiss~ Yu Feng''s eyes narrowed, the sharp glint of understanding flickering within. This man¡ªthis insufferable, smug bastard¡ªwas pretending to be righteous. A wolf in sheep''s robes. A heretic in disguise, just like her.


    "Is he from the Dark Church too?" she wondered. She sifted through her memories but came up empty¡ªhis face didn''t ring a single bell.


    Crunch! Crunch! Crunch!


    The carnivorous plant consumed one body after another, its vines coiling and snapping like snakes.


    Yu Feng glanced at it, curiosity, amazement, unease. "This thing¡­ it''s pure evil," she murmured, a mix of awe and disgust.


    "Evil?" Su Xiaobai shrugged, his tone as casual as discussing the weather. "It''s resourceful. Besides, it''s already at peak Foundation Establishment. If it hits Core Formation¡ªor higher¡ªit''ll be worth all the trouble. Better than letting the bodies go to waste."


    Yu Feng''s glare hardened. "You''re letting this thing devour their bodies just to power it up? What''s next¡ªfarming humans?"


    "Don''t give me ideas," Su Xiaobai said with a wink.


    Yu Feng clenched her fists, deciding she hated him just a little ''less''. But her gaze softened as she watched the flower work, its efficiency oddly mesmerizing.


    Su Xiaobai, however, was unfazed. His gaze turned toward the horizon, where faint streaks of light hinted at approaching cultivators.


    The Xiantian Sect elders are coming. Time''s running out.


    Flattening half the city wasn''t in his plans, but at least he could make the most of the mess.


    ________


    "YOU GUYS LEVELED HALF THE CITY!"


    Zhao Tianxuan''s voice thundered through the sect hall, shaking the rafters like an impending landslide.


    "..."


    Discover exclusive tales on My Virtual Library Empire


    "..."


    Su Xiaobai and Yu Feng stood silent, staring at their feet like two naughty kids caught stealing spirit fruits.


    After a grueling three-hour meeting, Zhao Tianxuan had dragged them back to the sect hall. Now, as the other elders dispersed, the sect leader slumped in his chair, clutching his head like he was one insult away from losing his mind.


    Yu Feng, now back in her "proper disciple" disguise, exchanged a subtle glance with Su Xiaobai. Their deal was simple¡ªhe wouldn''t reveal her true identity or cultivation, and she''d keep her lips sealed about his demonic flower. A mutual ''I know you''re shady, but let''s not die over it'' agreement.


    Zhao Tianxuan finally exhaled a long, defeated sigh. "Did you two at least complete the mission?"


    Yu Feng''s eyes flickered. She had no idea. Her gaze drifted toward Su Xiaobai, silently asking, Well?


    Su Xiaobai raised his head with the confidence of a man who knew exactly how far he could push his luck. "No goods, just a message."


    Zhao Tianxuan''s face twitched. "A message?"


    He leaned forward, whispering now as if the very walls had ears. "Write it down. Now."


    Su Xiaobai scribbled something onto a scroll, handing it back with an exaggerated flourish. "Here you go, Sect Master. But, uh¡­ didn''t you say we were supposed to bring back some goods? You never mentioned anything about this ''side quest.''"


    Zhao Tianxuan coughed, his face turning an interesting shade of red as he snatched the scroll. "Quiet! Do you have any idea who might be listening?!"


    Unrolling the scroll, his frown deepened.


    [When the dragon descends into the valley, the gathered wolves bare their fangs; the phoenix''s nest may soon face the storm.]


    Zhao Tianxuan scratched his head, muttering, "What the hell does this mean? Wolves, storms, dragons? Isn''t that just every day around here?" He shot them a glare. "You''re dismissed. Both of you. Go back to your peaks."


    Su Xiaobai gave a mock salute, clearly eager to escape.


    Yu Feng didn''t bother saying anything, slipping out quietly.


    _____


    Sword Peak Lord''s Residence!


    Bai Yujian wasn''t exactly the "wait patiently" type. The moment Su Xiaobai arrived, she grabbed his collar and hauled him straight to her residence.


    "You''re late," she snapped, her piercing gaze like twin swords ready to skewer him. "Now spill. Why were you attacked? Did you find out who sent them?"


    "Good to see you too, Elder," Su Xiaobai said sarcastically, carefully prying her fingers off his robe. "And no, I didn''t. But it''s not my fault! All the bodies conveniently disappeared. Mysteriously. Like magic!" He gestured dramatically, earning a suspicious flare from Bai Yujian.


    "They vanished?" she repeated, her tone sharp. "How? Who cleaned up that fast?"


    "No clue." Su Xiaobai shrugged, leaning against her desk like he owned the place. "But I''m guessing whoever sent them didn''t want us finding out. Real sneaky types, those assassins."


    Bai Yujian''s brows furrowed as she paced the room, her pristine sword hanging loosely at her side. "Three Nascent Soul cultivators ambush you, and nobody knows why? This doesn''t add up."


    "Look, I''m flattered everyone''s so concerned about me. But maybe I just offended the wrong person. Happens a lot, you know," Su Xiaobai said, his grin wide enough to spark suspicion.


    Bai Yujian''s eyes narrowed as her mind churned. Could it be Liu Chenfu? No, that arrogant fool wouldn''t dare betray the sect. Her gaze shifted back to Su Xiaobai, catching the mischievous glint in his eyes.


    "!"

 Chapter 96 Posion and Women!

    Bai Yujian''s gaze shifted back to Su Xiaobai, catching the mischievous glint in his eyes.Continue your adventure with My Virtual Library Empire


    "!"


    Without warning, she marched up to him, grabbed his face with both hands, and stretched his cheeks mercilessly. "You! Stop smirking like a fox that just raided the chicken coop! Speak! What happened there!?"


    "..." Su Xiaobai, his face pulled in ways that would make a lesser man cry, narrowed his eyes. Seeing the faint twitch at the corner of Bai Yujian''s lips, he muttered under his breath, "Elder, if you weren''t the peak lord, I wouldn''t let this disrespect slide."


    He grabbed her hands and pulled them away, his grip firm.


    "Eh?" Bai Yujian froze, a flicker of embarrassment crossing her face before she quickly masked it. Was that¡­ inappropriate? Did he hate it?


    Trying to play it cool, she said, "Good, then. Act like I''m your friend and not your peak lord¡ªexcept during training." She expected this magnanimous offer to make him smile.


    Friend? Su Xiaobai raised an eyebrow, his expression screaming disbelief.


    Puchi!


    "Huh?" Bai Yujian blinked. Contrary to her expectations, Su Xiaobai showed no hesitation. The moment he got the green flag, he reached out and gently pinched her cheeks.


    Her skin, soft as untouched silk, reddened under his hands.


    "Now we''re even," Su Xiaobai said, smiling as if he''d just settled a lifelong grudge.


    "..." Bai Yujian stared at him, stunned into silence. She should have thrown him out by now, but for some reason, she didn''t.


    Sensing the awkwardness, Su Xiaobai cleared his throat and pulled out the items he''d retrieved from the corpses.


    "What are these?" Bai Yujian''s sharp gaze immediately locked onto the tokens and scrolls.


    Su Xiaobai held up the items one by one, his tone as casual as if he were auctioning off cabbage at a marketplace. "Token of Red Flame Fortress'' City Lord. Token of Fu City. Token of Golden Spring City. And these¡­" He waved a stack of papers lazily. "Came from the old man''s ring. You know, the old fossil leading the attack¡ªthe esteemed Patriarch Li of Red Flame Fortress."


    Bai Yujian''s eyes sharpened as Su Xiaobai held up the papers. "What are those?" S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Sketches of me." Su Xiaobai smirked. "Surprisingly flattering ones, actually. And¡­ a letter."


    "Let me see that."


    Bai Yujian snatched the letter from his hand, her brows furrowing as she skimmed through it. "... Huang Shao?"


    Nowhere was the name ''Huang Shao'' mentioned. Only ''Li Shao.''


    But the events... too familiar. Su Xiaobai crippling him. His "accidental" death.


    "Seems so." Su Xiaobai crossed his arms, leaning back lazily. "Before I joined the sect, I had a disagreement. Red Flame Fortress. The guy? Patriarch Li''s younger son, Li Gong. As for Huang Shao? Bet my last spirit stone he''s the elder son. Explains why he wanted my head on a silver platter."


    He shrugged. Unbothered. "Not my fault. They started it. Provoking me and Lulu like he owned the place. One thing led to another... and, well¡­ I might''ve accidentally made him permanently horizontal."


    Bai Yujian''s frown deepened. Patriarch Li came to demand answers. His elder son''s life jade broke. Found Su Xiaobai outside... and decided to skip the diplomacy and go straight for a cheap assassination attempt?


    Too convenient.


    Why did the other two follow? Emotional support killers? Or bored, flexing their overinflated egos?


    She tucked the letter into her sleeve. Her thoughts spun. If this ties to Liu Chenfu... leverage. Enough to crush him. And, knowing that slimy bastard, maybe she''d uncover a few more skeletons in the closet¡ªif not a full graveyard.


    A disciple, hiding under Liu Chenfu''s nose. Enough to ruin him.


    The irony.


    Bai Yujian herself was sheltering two shady disciples. Su Xiaobai, the troublemaker. Yu Feng, the heretic. A wolf and a viper, playing innocent under her roof.


    Perfect.


    Her eyes flicked to a dusty manual among the items Su Xiaobai had pulled out. "Buddha''s Palm Technique? Did any of them use this?"


    "Oh," Su Xiaobai pointed at the Golden Spring City token. "That guy. You know, the one who tried to crush me with a hand bigger than his brain."


    "..." Bai Yujian''s expression soured. Without hesitation, she summoned a small flame in her palm and burned every item related to Tang Zhen to ash.


    "Don''t mention this to anyone," she instructed, her tone cold.


    "Of course, Elder," Su Xiaobai replied smoothly, flashing a smile that left her feeling distinctly uneasy. "It''ll be our little secret~"


    Bai Yujian narrowed her eyes, the faintest pink dusting her cheeks. Why does this man always say things that sound¡­ indecent?


    "..."


    For her own sanity, she decided to send him away. But as she was pushing him out the door, he made a request that froze her in place


    "Actually, Elder, there''s one more thing I need."


    She raised an eyebrow, her patience fraying. "What is it?"


    "I need access to all the Yin Poison in the sect," he said bluntly, his grin widening at her stunned expression.


    Bai Yujian''s eyes narrowed dangerously. "Yin Poison? Why? Are you planning to assassinate someone?"


    "Check my cultivation," Su Xiaobai replied, spreading his arms wide.


    Her spiritual sense swept over him, and her eyes widened in shock. "Late Core Formation Realm? How? You just broke through recently!"


    Su Xiaobai grinned, crossing his arms. "I absorb Yin energy naturally. That poison? Works wonders for me. Think of it as... recycling."


    Her frown deepened. "That''s not how cultivation works."


    ?????


    Su Xiaobai''s smile was so shady it could cause an eclipse. The kind that screamed, ''I know something you don''t, and it''s hilarious.''


    Bai Yujian sighed. Her patience was thinning faster than her respect for the sect''s decision-making.


    "I''ll also need some special¡ª"


    Before he could finish, she tossed her token into his lap like an annoyed noble throwing coins at a beggar.


    "Take it. Use it. Whatever. Just don''t set the sect on fire," she said, her tone clipped.


    "Oh?" Su Xiaobai blinked, picking it up. The token was shaped like a sword, shining with VIP arrogance. Way fancier than the last one. High-tier loot.


    He smirked, already plotting.


    Little did Bai Yujian know¡­ she had just handed the equivalent of nuke codes to a teenager with a grudge against reality.


    This wouldn''t end well.


    ______


    Sect Hall!


    Bai Yujian stormed in, her boots crunching against the gravel path. Her expression colder than a eunuch''s wedding night.


    Zhao Tianxuan sat at the head of the table, fingers drumming. His face was the picture of doom. "Take a look at this," he said, sliding a scroll across the table.


    Bai Yujian frowned, unrolling it. "Dragon¡­ Phoenix¡­ Wolves¡­"


    Her face shifted. Her normally icy composure cracked, disbelief flickering in her eyes.


    WHOOSH!


    "!!"


    The scroll erupted into flames, ashes fluttering to the floor.


    "Hm?¡ª What did it say?" Xu Tianran, seated nearby, arched a brow. His green robe was immaculate, his broad shoulders and sharp features giving him the look of a man who could crack ribs for fun and then offer free medical advice.


    Bai Yujian''s cold gaze snapped to him and Zhao Tianxuan. After ensuring the seals were intact, she spoke.


    "The dragon will march to the phoenix''s nest¡­ and the wolves will join the feast."


    "..."


    Silence. Heavy.


    "It can''t be¡­" Zhao Tianxuan muttered, his voice cracking slightly.


    "Too proud," Xu Tianran snorted. "The royal family wouldn''t stoop this low. Let them try. I''ll send them back in pieces."


    Bai Yujian said nothing. Unlike them, she wasn''t convinced.


    The dragon¡ªclearly the royal family. An attack? Unthinkable. The king had trained here. The palace explicitly forbade targeting the Xiantian Sect.


    The wolves? Other sects. Circling. Hungry. A coalition to dismantle them.


    But why? Why would the royals risk it all? Their heritage. Their reputation.


    The idea reeked of madness. Or worse¡­ desperation.


    "Where did you get this?" Her voice was sharp. Cold.


    "..." Zhao Tianxuan hesitated. He''d mentioned sending two of her disciples. Not where. Not to whom.


    "First, read this." He slid another scroll forward.


    Bai Yujian grabbed it, her eyes scanning the contents.


    Xu Tianran leaned in, snatching it up as she read. His lips curled into a smirk. "Knew it."


    "Hm?" Zhao Tianxuan stiffened. "You knew disciple Xiao Yu was a woman? And a possible spy?"


    Bai Yujian''s eyes narrowed.


    Xu Tianran. The great-uncle of Xu An. The sect guardian who spent more time flexing his title than earning it.


    Her fist tightened. If the sect weren''t desperate for guardians, Xu Tianran wouldn''t even have a seat at this table.


    The ashes of the first scroll lay at her feet.


    The sect wasn''t just under threat. It was a powder keg. And someone was already striking the match.


    Something was very wrong. Bai Yujian could feel it.


    "Who sent this information?" Her glare zeroed in on Zhao Tianxuan, sharp enough to flay skin. He looked unusually suspicious today.


    "My aunt," Zhao Tianxuan replied, his smile as bitter as a spoiled wine.


    "And the other one?" Bai Yujian didn''t miss a beat, her tone colder than a monk''s night out. She gestured at the second scroll. "Did Su Xiaobai bring this? Where did he get it? Where the hell did you even send him?"


    Zhao Tianxuan''s face twitched. Why is she so overbearing today? "That¡­ also came from her."


    "..."


    Bai Yujian''s expression darkened. If her glare could talk, it would''ve been screaming, Spill. Now. Or I''ll wring the answers out of your throat.


    Cornered, Zhao Tianxuan sighed heavily and spilled everything. The mission. The targets. The brothel.


    "You sent him¡­ to a brothel?"

 Chapter 97 Tired Bai Yujian!

    "You sent him¡­ to a brothel?""..."


    Zhao Tianxuan froze. He didn''t understand. Was Su Xiaobai cultivating some strange technique that required him to remain pure? Surely not. That kid had the aura of someone who could charm a widow into selling her funeral robes.


    But Bai Yujian wasn''t just angry. She was livid. Her mind conjured vivid, unwelcome images... That brat¡­ in a den full of vixens, being devoured whole? The idea made her stomach churn.


    Her fists clenched. She wanted to grab Zhao Tianxuan by the collar and shake the stupidity out of him.


    How dare he send her disciple into a den of debauchery?


    If jealousy were a bonfire, she''d already burned Zhao Tianxuan, the scrolls, and half the sect to the ground.


    Zhao Tianxuan, blissfully oblivious, glanced at Xu Tianran for support. The elder leaned back, crossing his arms, his lips twitching into a sly grin.


    "Brat, you really don''t know?"


    "Know what?" Zhao Tianxuan frowned.


    Xu Tianran chuckled. "Her new disciple, Su Xiaobai? He''s been visiting her courtyard. At night. Often. And staying for hours."


    Hiss~!


    Zhao Tianxuan''s jaw dropped. His face twisted like he''d just bitten into a bitter bug. It couldn''t be true¡­ could it? But as he thought back to Bai Yujian''s reaction, the dots started connecting.


    "Damn it," he muttered. His voice was hollow, like a man who had just realized he''d lost his life savings in a rigged gamble.


    Just weeks ago, he''d confidently bet with Zhu Qing that Bai Yujian would die single, bitter, and surrounded by her swords. Now, it looked like he owed Zhu Qing a mountain of spirit stones¡ªand his pride along with it


    Or maybe not. Maybe there was still hope.


    As Bai Yujian''s loyal disciples, it was now their solemn duty to ensure that this ship not only sailed but docked triumphantly at the promised land.


    Emergency meeting. Immediately.


    If Bai Yujian had even the faintest clue what was cooking in his brain, she wouldn''t hesitate to cook him alive.


    Meanwhile, Zhao Tianxuan¡ªoblivious as ever¡ªhad no idea about his aunt, A''Jin, the tall, mysterious woman whose very existence was a carefully guarded secret. To the world, she was long dead. A ghost. A shadow.


    But if he knew that the towering figure of his aunt had already been climbed and conquered by Su Xiaobai, would he still be so calm?


    Probably not.


    After all¡­ she wasn''t just his aunt.


    ____ sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Back in Pleasure Pavilion ¡ª Yunnan City!


    BAM!


    A''Jin kicked her chamber doors open like a debtor on collection day, her robe hugging to her waist like a desperate lover.


    "Half the city''s on fire, and I''m stuck cleaning up!" she growled, slamming the door shut, the walls trembling at her fury.


    She couldn''t believe it¡ªthose brats had burned down half her city and vanished without a trace, leaving her to deal with the mess.


    Her gaze fell on the pond at the room''s center. Its cool waters rippled softly, tempting her to dive in and erase the stench of smoke and sweat.


    Without hesitation, she stepped in. The water rose along her thick thighs, licking at her skin as if jealous of the sweat. She dropped to her knees, letting the soothing chill crawl up her body, her fists clenching beneath the surface.


    The steam curled around her like a clingy ex, but her mind was anything but relaxed.


    "If I ever catch that bastard," she muttered, "I''ll hang his balls on a flagpole¡­"


    BANG!


    The door exploded open, and A''Jin shot upright like a startled cat.


    "!!!"


    Water streamed off her, her robe doing little to hide the long legs beneath. Not that it mattered; she wasn''t in the mood to entertain uninvited guests.


    "Rong Xin!" she snapped. "What''s the meaning of this?!"


    Rong Xin froze in the doorway, guilt written all over her face. "I¡­ uh¡­"


    Before she could stammer her excuses, another figure stepped into view.


    Veiled. Silent. Cold.


    The aura around this intruder was the kind that made even a street thug think twice before cracking a joke.


    "Who the hell are you?" A''Jin demanded, instinctively covering herself with one arm while the other fumbled for the blade she''d left somewhere by the pond. Damn her for trying to look sexy earlier.


    The veiled figure didn''t answer. Instead, they raised a hand and tossed something her way.


    SPLASH!


    A pouch landed in the water, spraying droplets over A''Jin''s chest. She blinked, then snatched it up, shaking off the excess water. "What''s this?"


    The figure lowered their veil.


    "Bai Yujian!?" A''Jin''s voice rose, her mouth gaping.


    Standing before her was the ice-cold goddess herself¡ªPeak Lord Bai Yujian of the Xiantian Sect. Regal. Unapproachable. And glaring at her like a mother catching her daughter with a hand in the family savings.


    "Bai Yujian¡­" A''Jin hissed, clutching the pouch. "To what do I owe this pleasure? I thought you sect types stayed up on your mountains, too busy fondling your swords to deal with us mortals."


    Her fingers worked quickly to open the pouch, but the treasures inside made her pause. Spirit stones, jade slips, treasures that practically screamed money¡ªenough wealth to tempt even a monk into buying a brothel.


    "What¡­ What is this?"


    Bai Yujian stepped forward, "Compensation," she said, her tone frosty. "And a warning. Leave Su Xiaobai alone. Some prey isn''t worth hunting."


    A''Jin leaned back against the pond''s edge, letting the water lap at her chest. Her lips curled into a grin, "Compensation, huh? Or desperation? Tell me, Peak Lord, do you always bribe with this much, or am I just special?"


    Bai Yujian''s gaze didn''t flinch, though her lips thinned. "Be careful, A''Jin. Testing my patience is a game you''re not equipped to win."


    "Testing your patience?" A''Jin snorted. "Lady, you barged into my bath, threw a sack of goodies at me, and now you''re trying to play hard to get. What''s next? You gonna climb in here and wash my back?"


    Behind her, Rong Xin made a noise somewhere between a squeak and a cough. "I''ll¡­ just be going." The servant scurried out like a rabbit running from a wolf.


    A''Jin chuckled low as she shook the pouch again, its glittering contents catching the candlelight. "So, what''s the price? My silence? My innocence? Hate to break it to you, but both are overpriced."


    Bai Yujian snorted, "Don''t flatter yourself. I know about the poison. Be thankful I''m offering you a deal and not carving your name into your grave."


    "What¡ª" A''Jin froze, her face flushed with anger and disbelief. "You think I''d waste poison on that spineless brat? If I wanted him dead, I''d just¡ª"


    Bai Yujian cut her off with a raised hand. "Save your excuses. Forget him. This is your only warning."


    BAM!


    The door slammed shut behind her, leaving A''Jin alone with the pouch and a mountain of questions.


    "Forget him?" A''Jin muttered, her smile returning. "When things are just getting fun? Not a chance."


    She tossed the pouch aside, her mind already spinning. Why would someone like Bai Yujian get involved over a nobody like Su Xiaobai? Was he some secret heir? A hidden prodigy? Or¡­ her boy toy?


    Her face burned at the thought. "Tch, lucky bastard."


    But before she could dwell on it¡ª


    BOOM!


    A sword intent exploded through the air, slicing the roof clean off.


    Whoosh!


    A''Jin''s instincts kicked in, and she rolled to the side just in time to avoid being skewered. Looking up, she saw mountains in the distance¡ªcleaved in half as if the heavens themselves were showing off their cutlery.


    "...!"


    Her stomach dropped. She heard me.


    The Xiantian Sect rarely sent their big dogs down from their heavenly perches, but Bai Yujian? She''d broken every rule just to stomp in here. Walls might have ears, but hers could probably hear someone moaning from another continent.


    A''Jin''s eyes flicked to the pouch. She scooped it up, shoving it into her robes with a low hiss.


    "Fine. I''ll behave¡­ for now."


    Her lips twisted into a defeated smile. Some battles weren''t worth the effort. But others?


    Oh, she''d fight them naked if it came to that.


    _____


    Back at the Xiantian Sect, night had fallen when Bai Yujian returned, landing on Sword Peak like a lover caught sneaking back into the marital bed after leaving bribe money on the mistress''s nightstand.


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    Her arrival was quiet, but her face wasn''t. A faint heat lingered on her cheeks, the kind she hadn''t felt in centuries. Protecting my disciple, she reminded herself, though the excuse tasted hollow.


    No, this wasn''t protection. It was possession.


    Meanwhile, Su Xiaobai, blissfully unaware of his master''s existential crisis, had other issues.


    "What the hell is going on?" he muttered, peeking out his door.


    Bai Yujian''s sharp gaze landed on the scene outside his residence¡ªa winding line of disciples stretching so far down the peak it looked like a sect-wide sale on dual cultivation manuals. Most of them were women, their eyes shining with anticipation, some whispering, some blushing, and all climbing toward Su Xiaobai''s door like it held the secrets to immortality¡ªor something far dirtier.


    Her lips pressed into a thin line.


    What kind of depraved pilgrimage was this?


    Why were all these women gathered here? She''d just dealt with one foolish woman in Yunnan City, and now her disciple had summoned a harem?


    Then the memory hit her like a drunk elder falling off a flying sword¡ªher token. She''d left it with him.


    Her expression darkened. That little bastard was supposed to buy poison, not¡­


    Wait ¡ª Poison?


    Her chest seized, the realization blooming like a weed she couldn''t pluck.


    Oh, no.


    In a blur of movement, she surged forward, pushing through the crowd with the grace of a peak lord and the impatience of a scorned woman.


    "Move," she said, sending shivers through the crowd.


    The disciples barely noticed her arrival. They were too busy whispering to each other in hushed, excited tones.


    "I heard Senior Brother Su''s techniques make even the heavens cry!" one girl gushed, her cheeks pink.


    "Do you think he''ll let me try them?" another asked, biting her lip.


    One particularly bold disciple held a jade slip in hand, muttering something about learning advanced sword grips. Bai Yujian''s eye twitched.


    Sword grips? Was this what her sect had come to?


    Her fury simmered beneath the surface, her voice soft but cold as she muttered, "I leave for a single day, and already the foxes dig at the henhouse."


    She shoved past another disciple, her steps unhurried yet purposeful. The sight of these foolish girls simpering over her disciple ignited a flicker of something unfamiliar in her chest¡ªa deep, irrational urge to unsheathe her sword and carve her name into their affections.


    But no. She was Bai Yujian, a cultivator who''d weathered five millennia of storms. She wasn''t going to let the actions of one foolish disciple shake her.

 Chapter 98 Peak Core formation!

    BAM!The doors crashed open like a dragon''s tail tearing through a mountain.


    "Disciple Su¡ª!"


    Bai Yujian strode in, her robes snapping in the windless chamber, she''d braced for filth. Sweat, sin, and the usual sludge of human depravity. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Instead¡ªsteam.


    It slithered through the air like a courtesan''s idle fingers, brushing against her skin as if to test her patience. At its heart, Su Xiaobai lounged in a jade bath, his body glowing faintly blue and black, as if carved by the heavens themselves.


    Her eye twitched.


    The brat was surrounded by kneeling disciples, their faces disturbingly serene. Meditation? No, this wasn''t calm¡ªit was the resignation of fish circling a net.


    "What... is this?"


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    No response. Su Xiaobai''s half-lidded eyes barely flickered, his expression hovering somewhere between holy enlightenment and the afterglow of sin.


    SPLASH!


    The disciples stirred. Without a word, they shuffled out, only to be replaced by another group sliding in with the grim resolve of livestock headed to slaughter.


    Bai Yujian''s lips thinned. Her gaze fell to a pile of pouches stacked beside the bath, spilling yin qi into the air. The scent hit her¡ªcloying and sweet, with the undertone of rot, like a flower blooming from a corpse.


    ¡ª This wasn''t dual cultivation.


    No, this was something worse.


    "Su Xiaobai, is this what you turned my sect into while I was gone? A brothel disguised as a bathhouse?" Now she regretted it, handing her token over to him like a fool.


    "Don''t. It''s necessary."


    The single word froze her.


    It came from the shadows. Bai Yujian''s head snapped toward the source.


    Su Xiaomei.


    The younger woman emerged, soft and unassuming as a dewdrop. But her eyes betrayed her¡ªstormy, guilt-ridden.


    Bai Yujian''s gaze sharpened. Su Xiaomei: Peak Core Formation at twenty-one. This cursed family had a habit of treating cultivation''s sacred laws like drunken party favors.


    "Necessary?" Bai Yujian''s words were a blade wrapped in silk. "For what exactly?"


    Her gaze swept back to the line outside. Outer disciples. Inner disciples. Even core disciples¡ªall waiting their turn with the desperation of gamblers clutching losing dice.


    "Hu Mei''er? Hu Jiao''er?" Her gaze narrowed at the sight of the twins, normally aloof yet kneeling like the rest.


    Just what insanity has her disciple unleashed now?


    Bai Yujian''s eyes narrowed further, focusing on Xiaomei. "Explain."


    Xiao Mei shifted, arms crossed as if freezing despite the heat. That coffin''s mark still on her, skin pale as though she''d just risen from the grave. "He... absorbed too much yin qi. His body... couldn''t handle it."


    "..." Bai Yujian''s brow twitched, her sharp gaze falling on Su Xiaobai, who lounged in the jade bath like a deranged monk.


    "Too much yin qi?" Her tone was soft, almost languid, though her words carried the weight of command.


    The brat didn''t respond. His pale skin, tinged blue and black, glimmered faintly, as if his veins had been filled with liquid poison instead of blood. He looked both ethereal and ridiculous¡ªa fool caught in a self-inflicted disaster.


    Her eyes narrowed slightly. "Don''t tell me¡ª"


    "He consumed them all," Su Xiaomei added before she could finish, her voice firm yet heavy with frustration. Her gaze flicked toward the pile of empty containers.


    Bai Yujian''s eyes followed hers, landing on the hollowed pouches that once held the sect''s yin poisons. Her lips quirked into something resembling a wry smile.


    "All of them," she murmured. "Bold. Even for him."


    Xiaomei straightened, her expression tense. "It stabilized him. He¡­ he can refine yin qi through his veins, but there was too much. His dantian couldn''t keep up."


    Bai Yujian hummed, eyes drifting between the pouches, Su Xiaobai, and her half-naked disciples. "He bites off more than he can chew," she murmured, voice tinged with resentment. "And the rest of you scramble for the leftovers. Sounds right."


    The tone shifted¡ªjust a hint of something grudging, possessive¡­ A slip. Her brows furrowed, irritation not with him, but with herself.


    Xiaomei pursed her lips, mistaking the tone for blame toward Su Xiaobai, and gave a quick, dismissive glance. "He isn''t a burden," she added softly.


    "Hm?" Bai Yujian''s brows arched slightly, but she said nothing.


    After a moment, the Xiaomei exhaled, her tension easing as she spoke again. "The yin qi he releases isn''t harmful. It''s pure and¡­ beneficial. Sister Lulu broke through to Core Formation just by meditating near him."


    "How fortunate for her," Bai Yujian said, tone dry but not unkind. Lulu''s phoenix lineage didn''t matter anymore. Maybe it was the way she devoured Su Xiaobai with her eyes. Or the unconscious competition. Not that Bai Yujian would admit it.


    If swallowing bitterness were a cultivation technique, she''d already be a god.


    Her gaze lingered on Xiaomei, then shifted to the scene, "And yet, I see outer disciples, inner disciples, even core disciples standing in line. He needs them all?"


    Xiaomei nodded. "No matter how many of us help, it''s not enough. His body is overloaded. If he doesn''t release the qi¡­"


    "It will tear him apart," Bai Yujian finished calmly.


    Su Xiaomei ¡ª didn''t deny it.


    Bai Yujian stepped closer to the pool, the suffocating yin qi swirling around her like a restless tide.


    She looked down at Su Xiaobai, his eyes half-lidded, his expression hovering between serene enlightenment and sheer exhaustion.


    "He always take things too far..." she said softly, her words more a statement than a rebuke.


    Her gaze shifted to the line of disciples outside, their faces lit with desperation and faint reverence. A faint sigh escaped her lips. "How long has this been going on?"


    "Since evening," Xiaomei replied, her voice quieter now. "He''s been converting the yin qi into profound energy to refine his cultivation, but there''s simply too much. The poisons¡­" She trailed off, hesitating.


    "Should have killed him," Bai Yujian finished again, her tone as steady as her gaze.


    Xiaomei looked away, her lips tightening.


    For a moment, Bai Yujian said nothing, her eyes tracing the ripples in the pond, the way the excess qi dissolved into the water and was absorbed by the female disciples who rotated in and out with precise efficiency. Despite the insanity of the situation, the system seemed to work¡ªbarely.


    But her gaze returned to Su Xiaobai.


    "All of you. Outside," Bai Yujian said suddenly, her voice carrying a quiet authority that left no room for argument.


    "!?"


    The disciples hesitated, then scurried out like they were running from a ghost¡ªwary but obedient. Only Su Xiaobai had the guts to talk back to Peak Lord; the rest looked like chickens who''d seen a fox.


    Xiaomei, however, didn''t move. She stepped forward instead, lowering herself to the edge of the pond. Splash! Her feet dipped into the water, her body still tense but steady.


    "What are you doing?" Bai Yujian asked, her tone sharper now.


    Xiaomei''s face lifted, her ocean-like eyes catching the pond''s faint glow. "Helping," she said, short and simple.


    Bai Yujian''s frown deepened. "You''re already at your limit. If you push yourself any further¡ª"


    "I know my limits," Xiaomei cut in, her tone firm but not disrespectful. "And I wouldn''t stand here if I didn''t trust him. Or you."


    Even if Su Xiaobai hadn''t worked his ass off to bring her here, she''d still have done the same. And now, with a touch of respect for his progress... well, things were different.


    Bai Yujian went silent, her eyes sharp as knives. Then, a sigh... her lips curving faintly.


    "Pride must run deep in your family," she murmured, almost to herself.


    Xiaomei said nothing, eyes fixed on the pond, absorbing excess qi, her body faintly glowing as it balanced the energy.


    Bai Yujian folded her arms, watching in silence. The girl''s stubbornness... damn infuriating, but admirable too. No denying her resolve.


    Bai Yujian''s gaze shifted back to Su Xiaobai, still as stone. Her expression softened... just a hint. Her voice held a quiet reprimand, almost a whisper to herself.


    "If you insist on courting death, Su Xiaobai, at least have the courtesy to warn me next time."


    She inhaled deeply, a flicker of an idea forming. If this reckless brat wouldn''t stop himself, she''d be finding a new disciple soon.


    "You too," she said, turning to Xiaomei, ready to set her plan in motion. "Leave."


    Xiaomei didn''t budge. "But¡ª"


    Shhk. Bai Yujian placed a hand on her back, then yanked it away with a sharp hiss. A chill, colder than frost, bit into her fingers. Her eyes narrowed. "The eternal ice is still there?"


    Xiaomei blinked, then nodded, hesitant. "It''s harmless¡­ but I feel weaker."


    Bai Yujian studied her, then sighed, her tone softening. "Go. I''ll handle this."


    "But¡ª" Xiaomei''s eyes flickered to Su Xiaobai, her lips pressing into a thin line.


    "He won''t die." Bai Yujian''s voice was steady, carrying no room for argument. "Now go."


    Xiaomei hesitated, then nodded. "Take care of him."


    With that, she turned and left.


    Alone now, Bai Yujian shook her head, her lips curling faintly in a mix of resignation and amusement.


    She loosened her robe, letting it slip from her shoulders. Pale skin met the moonlight as she stepped into the pond, the cool water lapping at her ankles.


    Splash!


    "What a troublesome man," she murmured, her voice almost inaudible.


    She moved closer to him, her cultivation activating instinctively.


    WHOOSH~!


    The yin qi rushed into her, a torrent of icy energy. Her body absorbed it swiftly, smoothly¡ªlightning against the storm.

 Chapter 99 *Exploring the Forbidden Dao!* [R18]

    Splash. Splash.Knee-deep in the water, Bai Yujian exhaled, dragging a hand over her bare shoulder. The coolness barely registered. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Hours. She''d been stuck here for hours. Her lips curled in a sneer. "How long does it take to reinforce a golden core? Or is he just cultivating laziness now?"


    The yin qi swirled around her like a drunken lover, pressing close, refusing to let go. Her body devoured it instinctively, an endless void that swallowed everything without a ripple. At her level, even if someone dumped a sea of poison into this pond, it wouldn''t so much as tickle her meridians.


    But patience? That was running dangerously thin.


    Her gaze flicked toward the brat. Su Xiaobai sat unmoving, bathed in faint light, looking like a half-dead monk pretending to be a god. She snorted. A''Jin had handled his mess last time. A deity transformation expert cleaning up after this reckless fool.


    Now it was her turn.


    Her lips twitched, halfway between amusement and scorn. "Talent¡­" she muttered, her voice dripping with venom. Zhao Tianxuan, a generation younger than A''Jin, hit Great Ascension like it was a casual stroll. And yet, A''Jin? Stuck.


    Bai Yujian''s lips twitched. Heaven had its favorites. And here she was, babysitting this fool.


    Puchi.


    A sound. A sensation. Something poked her back.


    "Eh?"


    Her body tensed. Slowly, her hand reached behind her, fingers brushing against something¡­ solid. Hot. Pulsing.


    "!" She froze.


    Her mind tried to catch up. Was it a treasure? A hidden array? Her brow furrowed¡ªthen her eyes widened.


    It twitched. Her grip tightened.


    Her face went blank for a moment, and then the dam broke.


    "PRESUMPTIOUS!"


    She spun around, a blade of energy flared to life in her hand, humming with suppressed fury.


    There he was. Su Xiaobai. Eyes closed, head tilted slightly, his silver hair framing his face like some celestial painting. Serene. Unbothered.


    Her teeth clenched. "Reckless little..."


    The blade hovered an inch from his chest, trembling as her grip tightened.


    "Su Xiaobai," she growled, each word deliberate and dangerous. "If you''re awake, explain yourself. If you''re asleep¡­" Her lips curled into a slow, venomous smile. "Pray I don''t wake you the hard way."


    Nothing. The brat didn''t so much as twitch.


    Her glare didn''t fade, heat pooling in her chest, threatening to boil over. Hiss! Then, with a sharp breath, the blade dissolved, and her shoulders fell.


    "You''re lucky I''m too tired to kill you."


    But her gaze didn''t leave him. The faint light glimmered over his chest, each shallow breath pulling at her attention. He looked ridiculous. He looked divine.


    Her lips quirked. "If you weren''t so young, I''d have considered that love letter of yours."


    She scoffed, the moment of weakness vanishing like mist. Her fingers flexed, brushing against warmth on her palm.


    ____


    Minutes dragged.


    Bai Yujian''s annoyance was starting to turn into unease.


    Her glare still pinned on Su Xiaobai''s face. The brat looked serene, his pale hair floating like a saint lost in enlightenment.


    "Is he¡­ alive?"


    Her lips tightened. Whatever he was to her¡ªa brat, a headache, or just bad karma¡ªhis value to the sect was undeniable. A dead Su Xiaobai would mean disaster. For the sect. For her. For cultivation itself; it''d be a headache she''d never live down.


    Her shimmering eyes hesitated. To check his state, she''d need to touch his dantian. The problem? His "sword" stood tall, proud, and obnoxiously rightous in the way. One wrong move, and she''d be wrestling it again.


    Her jaw tightened. "Yin qi side effects," she muttered, a poor excuse for the absurd. Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire


    Finally, she steeled herself. "For the sect. For the future. For medical reasons only ¡ª Just this once."


    Splash!


    Her hand slipped into the water, skimming just beneath his abdomen. Qi flowed from her palm, brushing through his core to assess the state of his energy.


    "!"


    Heat. Hardness. Her wrist bumped against it.


    Her body stiffened. It twitched. Alive. Throbbing. She felt it through the water like a smug beast declaring its dominance.


    Bai Yujian gritted her teeth. Ignoring it was impossible, but she tried anyway.


    "It''s almost done¡­" she murmured, her lips twitching, torn between relief and the urge to drown him then and there.


    His energy was stabilizing; a breakthrough was imminent.


    Her thoughts wandered. When they first met, the brat was barely at Foundation Establishment. Now? He was leaping realms like rabbits in spring. "What kind of demonic buffet has he been eating?"


    Then¡ª


    Puchi!


    Her brow twitched. Another twitch below the water. She glanced down. Her hand was still there.


    "You¡ª!" Irritation boiled over. She grabbed it without thinking.


    Snap!


    Hot. Firm. Throbbing. Her fingers wrapped around it instinctively, a warrior''s reflex¡ªthough no sword she''d ever held felt like this.


    Her body froze. Her face ignited. What am I grabbing?!


    Her thoughts scrambled for answers, latching onto the first scapegoat. "Yin qi¡ªit''s clouding my judgment!"


    But her fingers didn''t let go. If anything, they moved, tracing it experimentally. Light pressure. Tentative strokes.


    Her brow furrowed. "So¡­ this is what men have? Feels more like a weapon than an organ."


    Her other hand joined, moving cautiously like a scholar handling a forbidden artifact. It was hot, firm, but yielding in strange ways, as though forged by a celestial prankster.


    She tugged experimentally, pulling at the skin.


    Shhh...


    It shifted, unveiling something beneath... Like a concealed mechanism in a cursed treasure¡ªone revealing secrets no righteous dao should uncover.


    Her eyes widened. "It¡­ transforms?"


    A soft gasp escaped her lips, part disbelief, part fascination. How did this thing work? Why did it move like this?


    ''Was this some hidden mechanism? A spiritual treasure with layers of secrets?'' she thought, grimly.


    Her hands moved on their own, pressing, squeezing, discovering, deeper into this forbidden dao, each touch revealing secrets more baffling¡ªand blasphemous¡ªthan the last.


    "This brat¡­" she muttered, her voice caught between a scold and awe. "It''s like discovering a forbidden dao."


    For Bai Yujian, the righteous sword master, this was an entirely different realm. One less righteous. And far too distracting. And she wasn''t ready for any of it.


    No cultivation manual had prepared her for this.


    If heaven had a punishment for this, Bai Yujian was certain it was coming soon.


    And it did.


    ____


    A few minutes later, Su Xiaobai stirred. Consciousness returned in fragments, but his body refused to move. Breaking through from late stage to peak stage required complete focus¡ªhis golden core had been reforged, his qi purified, and everything was stabilizing.


    Until he felt it.


    A hand.


    Sliding lower. And lower.


    It wasn''t light or accidental. These were "deliberate" strokes. His sword twitched, a reflex he couldn''t control, and he almost cried. It was unbearable. Ticklish. Invasive.


    And then the hands moved¡ªto his abdomen, his shoulders, even his back. It wasn''t just touching. It was inspection. Like he was some divine treasure on display for mortal hands.


    "..."


    Su Xiaobai''s face darkened. Who is this presumptuous woman?! Lulu? Hu Mei''er? No, even they wouldn''t dare grope a man mid-breakthrough!


    Then, a familiar fragrance drifted toward him. Subtle. Distinct.


    His heart stopped.


    Peak Lord!?


    The realization hit him like a heavenly tribulation. Wait, if it''s her¡­ is she the one doing this?!


    His mind spun in disbelief. Peak Lord Bai Yujian? The untouchable, righteous sword master? He wanted to believe this was a hallucination brought on by qi overload, but the hands didn''t stop.


    Just as Su Xiaobai braced himself for more indignity, the hands wandered lower¡ªuntil they grabbed his family jewels.


    CRACK!


    The sound was deafening, echoing through the water like a divine gavel striking judgment.


    Su Xiaobai''s poker face shattered. His body jolted, qi surging violently as the golden core breakthrough hit like an avalanche. ''FUCK!''


    Bai Yujian froze. Her hands stiffened around the¡­ thing.


    Her eyes widened in horror. ''What did I just do?!''


    She couldn''t breathe. Her gaze darted to Su Xiaobai''s face. His clenched jaw, his twitching muscles, the way his entire body seized up¡ªeverything screamed pain.


    Her face turned ghostly pale. "D-Did I¡­ crush it?"


    Her hands jerked away as though burned. She stared at them in disbelief. These hands had slain beasts, shattered mountains, and now¡­ destroyed a disciple''s lineage?!


    Her thoughts spiraled. Years of cultivation. Thousands of battles. None of it had prepared her for accidentally crushing a disciple''s¡­ future.


    Her heart pounded. Her gaze drifted downward, and a thousand horrifying thoughts flashed through her mind.


    ''This is it. This is how I die.''


    She braced for Su Xiaobai''s wrath, but instead¡ª


    A golden light exploded from his chest. The water around them rippled violently as profound energy surged, breaking through in a display so brilliant it bordered on divine.


    Bai Yujian blinked, her mind catching up. "Wait¡­ that sound wasn''t¡­?"


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes flickered open, sharp and glowing, his aura settling around him like a blazing sun.


    "He broke through!" Bai Yujian exhaled in relief before her heart sank again. ''No, this is the worst possible timing!''


    Su Xiaobai''s lips twitched. He couldn''t hold back anymore. His eyes locked onto hers, guilt written all over her panic-ridden face.


    "Peak Lord¡­"


    Bai Yujian froze. "..."


    Her mind froze. What could she do? Apologize? No, she''d rather face a heavenly tribulation. Run? Impossible. Everyone in the sect would know.


    There was only one solution.


    She reached for a nearby stone, her hand trembling. "Forgive me, heavens..."


    BANG!


    With a loud noise, she slammed it onto his head.


    "..."


    Su Xiaobai, watching the stone descend like a meteor from the heavens, saw his life flash before his eyes ¡ª the last thing he thought, ''What did I do to deserve this?''


    And then¡ªdarkness.

 Chapter 100 Complicated Woman!

    BANG!Bai Yujian''s eyes shot open. Perfect, she thought, expecting Su Xiaobai to be out cold. But the bastard was gone.


    Her brows furrowed. "Did I¡­ hit too hard?"


    "No. You hit too light."


    "!!!"


    The voice behind her sent a chill down her spine. Before she could turn, she felt it¡ªhis hand wrapping snugly around her neck, like he was testing how far he could squeeze before she''d pop.


    "If not for this invincible body of mine," Su Xiaobai murmured, his tone mocking, "I should be halfway to reincarnation, not standing here, wondering why my Peak Lord is groping me like a desperate widow¡ªnice ''love tap,'' by the way."


    Bai Yujian froze. What the hell? He was supposed to be unconscious, utterly unaware of her¡­ inspection. Instead, here he was, not only conscious but standing smugly behind her, alive enough to mock her.


    "Peak Lord," Su Xiaobai''s voice turned evil, "since when did cultivation require assaulting your disciple''s dignity?"


    Hiss~!


    Bai Yujian''s cheeks flared with heat, burning hotter than phoenix fire.


    "At least be gentle next time," He added, smirking. "I''m invincible, not emotionless.


    "I¡ªI was checking your core," Bai Yujian answered, struggling to regain control. "I may have¡­ gotten carried away."


    Su Xiaobai sneered. "Carried away? Elder, you weren''t inspecting¡ªyou were exploring. If you went any further, you''d have mapped my meridians and branded your sect''s symbol on my chest!"


    "Wh¡ª" Bai Yujian''s composure wavered, but only for a moment. With a flick of her wrist, a white cloth flew into her hand.


    Swoosh! She wrapped it around her upper body, though the view of her backside¡ªround, firm, unfairly perfect¡ªwas still very much on display.


    She straightened her back and turned to meet his gaze directly, "Pretend it never happened. No discussion ¡ª Tomorrow morning, you''ll meet me at the training grounds to test your newfound strength."


    "..." Su Xiaobai leaned against the bath''s edge, his lips twitching in disbelief. Pretend it never happened? Like hell I will.


    He scoffed, running a hand through his damp hair. "Impossible. You fondled my honor. My manly pride. And you think I''ll just let you off?"


    "What do you take me for, Peak Lord? A monk who''s blind to sin!"


    His ego bristled as much as his pride. Being treated like some spiritual experiment? If he let her walk away scot-free, he''d never live it down.


    Bai Yujian''s glare turned icy. "If you dare mention this to anyone, I''ll cut out your tongue."


    Su Xiaobai only smiled. This woman could fake a saint''s dignity while standing in the middle of a brothel.


    He snickered. "Oh, Peak Lord, your threats are emptier than a drunkard''s wine jar. You could''ve at least pretended to feel bad."


    "I won''t repeat myself," she snapped, but Su Xiaobai was already shaking his head.


    "I won''t tell anyone," he said, his grin turning wolfish. "But I''ll need compensation."


    Her brow twitched. "Compensation?" S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Yes. Something to mend my wounded dignity."


    Her silence was deafening, but Su Xiaobai imagined treasures¡ªheavenly manuals, jade artifacts, maybe a cultivation pill so rare it would make the heavens weep. What Bai Yujian did next, however, nearly shattered his soul.


    Splash.


    The cloth fell into the water.


    Su Xiaobai''s mocking grin froze, a ripple of silk disturbing the water. Eyes widening as her figure emerged like a goddess rising from an immortal spring, droplets shinning like scattered stars on her flawless skin.


    "Be quick, I haven''t got all day." she commanded, her voice like a celestial decree, though the traitorous flush on her cheeks made her look more like a novice than a Peak Lord.


    Su Xiaobai stared, utterly dumbfounded. ''Be quick? Woman, I''ve already ascended three realms just looking at you!''


    "You''re not serious," he croaked, his voice cracking like a faulty sword.


    Bai Yujian glare pierced him like a spear. "Would you prefer I carve your name on my back?"


    "No," Su Xiaobai said, his lips twitching as he struggled to keep his composure. So this is what they meant by surviving a heavenly tribulation. No lightning, no thunder¡ªjust a poor disciple, standing face-to-face with the ultimate trial: a naked Peak Lord.


    Forget cultivation. Surviving this moment without combusting would surely be the true path to immortality.


    Did Su Xiaobai survive?


    "Ah!? You¡ª"


    He ''definitely'' did, because the next thing Bai Yujian knew, Su Xiaobai''s face had crashed straight between her heavenly twin peaks. The softness engulfed him like clouds wrapping around a mountain, while Bai Yujian startled in shock, her body betraying her with the faintest bloom of red spreading across her neck.


    Her composure shattered, but Su Xiaobai? Oh, he was thriving.


    It was soft¡ªno, calling it soft was an insult. This was the texture of jade refined over millennia, impossibly smooth, impossibly rare. His hands, as if moved by the heavens themselves, instinctively took every measurement they could get. For research purposes, obviously.


    Bai Yujian''s voice finally broke through. "S-Su Xiaobai, what are you doing!?"


    He ignored her, his mind buzzing like a sect full of bees. Su Xiaobai had no idea what the hell was happening anymore, but there was one thing he did know: this woman had practically waved the green flag to smash.


    Treasures were always nice, but if she wanted to pay him back with her body, who was he to refuse such a heavenly offer? He was a disciple of practicality, after all.


    "Su Xiaobai, behave yourself!" Bai Yujian gritted her teeth as his hands drifted lower, brazenly exploring her backside like a shameless bandit pillaging a treasure vault.


    "Behave?" Su Xiaobai murmured, his lips close to her neck. "Peak Lord, your words were ''be quick.'' You didn''t specify how."


    She gasped as he began sniffing along the valley of her neck, his lips brushing her skin with kisses that sent strange, foreign shivers down her spine.


    "I¡ª! I didn''t agree to this!" Bai Yujian snapped, her voice sharp yet trembling as she pressed her hands against his chest, trying to push him away. Her mind was spinning. "This wasn''t part of the deal!"


    But no matter how hard she shoved, Su Xiaobai hugged to her like a shameless leech.


    "Not part of the deal?" he murmured, voice low and teasing. "Elder, you''re the one who started this. If anything, I''m just following your lead!"


    Her face burned hotter than phoenix flames. She started this? What nonsense was this man spouting? She didn''t remember doing anything this shameless!


    "What are you talking about!?" Bai Yujian snapped, her composure cracking as his hands roamed lower, squeezing her thighs like he was evaluating a divine artifact.


    "You know," Su Xiaobai said, his grin widening as he tightened his hold, "when you were fondling my core¡ªor was it my chest? Your hands got a little lost, didn''t they?"


    Her eyes widened, a flash of guilt crossing her face. "That was for cultivation! I didn''t do¡­ this!"


    "Oh? And sniffing me? Rubbing all over me like I''m some spirit stone to be polished? That wasn''t you?" Su Xiaobai''s tone was both accusatory and smug as he nuzzled against her neck.


    Bai Yujian''s thoughts shook. She didn''t remember doing anything like that!


    "No! That''s ridiculous!" she finally barked, though her voice lacked its usual authority. Her palms pushed harder against his chest, "I did nothing of the sort, you traitorous fool!" Continue your adventure at My Virtual Library Empire


    Su Xiaobai snickered, "Deny it all you want, Peak Lord, but my body doesn''t lie. These handprints? Yours. The bruised pride? Also yours."


    "Handprints?" Her eyes darted to his chest, and sure enough, faint impressions of her fingers marred his otherwise flawless skin. Her heart skipped, though whether it was from embarrassment or rage, she couldn''t tell.


    "That''s¡ª! You''re twisting the truth!" Bai Yujian sputtered, her voice rising.


    Her entire face turned crimson. She didn''t know whether to slap him, strangle him, or throw herself into the bath to drown her humiliation.


    ___


    "SU XIAOBAI!"


    Just when Su Xiaobai was going to take her for a ride on his ''world-defying dragon stallion that pierces both heavens and maidenly defenses'', Bai Yujian froze.


    Her face went redder than demon blood as her qi surged uncontrollably. The entire cave shook, dust cascading from the ceiling, cracks splitting the stone walls. Water from the bath evaporated in an instant as if the heat of her shame had triggered a volcanic eruption.


    BOOM!


    Before Su Xiaobai could even ask what the hell was happening, the Peak Lord launched herself upward with the force of a thousand suns, tearing through the roof like a rampaging spirit beast in heat. Debris flew, steam roared, and Bai Yujian shot into the sky like a phoenix fleeing its virginity.


    "¡­ What?" Su Xiaobai blinked, his ''pillar of eternal dominance'' still standing tall, trembling slightly, as if mourning the loss of its promised conquest.


    He glanced down at the water, then back at the sky, where Bai Yujian''s silhouette was rapidly disappearing into the clouds. Did she just achieve enlightenment... by running away from me?!


    A stray rock clattered to the floor. Su Xiaobai sighed, leaning back in the bath, his hands lazily trailing through the water.


    "Well," he muttered, his brow furrowing as he tried to figure out the Peak Lord''s motives.


    Sure, women were complicated creatures¡ªlike spiritual beasts that couldn''t decide if they wanted to kill you or cuddle you¡ªbut this one? She was a completely new puzzle.


    A naked puzzle with more pieces than a cursed formation.

 Chapter 101 Captial! Heavenly Frost!

    The Next Day!Su Xiaobai strolled toward the training grounds, his stride confident. Today, he would solve the mystery called Bai Yujian ¡ªor, more likely, bask in the fallout of her shame.


    Yet when he arrived, she didn''t so much as glance his way.


    Cold, distant, indifferent.


    Her focus was entirely on preparing for their journey, her demeanor a perfect mask of composure.


    Naturally, Su Xiaobai arrived at one conclusion: the heavens must have blessed him with a ''heavenly rod''¡ªa celestial weapon capable of stirring even the coldest of women. Clearly, Bai Yujian''s icy attitude was just a fa?ade to protect her fragile dignity.


    With this burning bright, Su Xiaobai decided to put his theory to the ultimate test.


    By walking into Yu Feng''s room. Naked.


    _____


    Inside Yu Feng''s Room!


    The door creaked open, and Su Xiaobai entered like he owned not just the room, but the whole damn sect. His body, bare as the day he was born, radiated smugness, his grin as sharp as a spirit blade.


    "Brother Yu," he announced, striking a pose that made the heavens weep, "do you feel something¡­ different about me today?"


    Yu Feng looked up from her cultivation scroll, her brow arching as she gave him one unimpressed sweep. "Different? You look like a fool who lost a bet¡ªand his pants."


    She suddenly had an flashback of the torture chamber, back at the dark church, and thousand ways to torture him flashed to her mind.


    Su Xiaobai waved off her disdain, stepping closer. "Relax, Brother. It''s an experiment."


    "Experiment?"


    "Yes." He spread his arms, his voice oozing confidence. "The heavens have blessed me with a curse most divine. My body¡ªirresistible to women! A cosmic tragedy, but I endure for the sake of existence."


    For a moment, Yu Feng stared. Then, she leaned back, crossing her arms, her lips curling into a grin that could shatter boulders. "Fine," she said, a dangerous glint in her eyes. "Let''s test this heavenly curse of yours."


    Before he could gloat, her hand shot forward, swift as a lightning strike. "?!" Su Xiaobai''s instincts roared to life, and he twisted away, barely dodging her strike.


    "WHAT THE HELL?" he barked, jumping back.


    Yu Feng''s smile widened, "What? I''m just checking if your blessing is resistant to castration."


    _____


    The Aftermath!


    Su Xiaobai exited the room with as much dignity as a man fleeing for his life could muster. "Clearly," he muttered, brushing dust off his shoulder, "the cheat doesn''t work on everyone." Discover more stories at My Virtual Library Empire


    But the setback didn''t bother him. If anything, it confirmed something far more important: not all women were simple prey.


    Interesting. So even lions like Yu Feng can bite. But a lioness is still an animal¡ªand every animal has a weakness. I''ll find it when the time is right.


    Behind him, Yu Feng''s laughter echoed through the halls like a victorious war cry. "Come back anytime, Brother. I''m always happy to help with your experiments!"


    ____


    Two Days Later! S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The dawn broke over the sect''s main platform, golden light spilling across the skies like molten jade.


    There it stood¡ªthe flying ship. A majestic vessel, its hull adorned with spiritual engravings that shimmered faintly, its sails fluttering despite the still air. It hovered, grand and otherworldly, as if daring the heavens themselves to challenge its dominion.


    Su Xiaobai stood there, gazing at the ship with narrowed eyes. "It''s just like a ship on water," he muttered. "Only shinier¡ªand more pretentious."


    "Finally decided to show up?" Zhu Qing''s voice broke through his thoughts. She stood nearby, her arms crossed.


    Trailing behind her was Su Xiaomei, her steps light but her expression sulky. Officially, Su Xiaobai had chosen her to accompany him on this journey.


    Unofficially?


    Lulu was already tucked inside his ring world, Xiao Hei snoozed nearby.


    And then there was the Devouring Thorny Flower. Recently breaking through to the Earth Rebirth Realm, the sinister plant had taken on some¡­ unusual habits.


    Su Xiaobai had caught it giggling to itself, its leaves trembling as it muttered things like "feed me more" in a voice far too sultry for a plant.


    He didn''t mind.


    ____


    "Where are we heading?"


    The words spilled from Su Xiaobai the moment he stepped aboard the ship.


    Zhu Qing froze mid-step. Her head turned slowly, her eyes wide with disbelief. "You don''t know?"


    Su Xiaobai, "¡­"


    Su Xiaomei, "¡­"


    Of course, he didn''t know. Why would he? Geography lessons weren''t exactly covered in the ''Villain Starter Pack'' he received upon reincarnating. Clearly, someone needed to sue the heavenly administrators for negligence.


    Zhu Qing sighed, the kind of sigh that belonged to someone saddled with a fool. "Alright, fine. Listen up, so you don''t wander off and get eaten by a demoniy beast halfway through."


    And thus began her impromptu geography lecture, complete with all the enthusiasm of a sect elder explaining taxes.


    _______


    Geography, Simplified (Because Who Cares?):


    Yueling Plains: Where they were now. Boring. Green. Mostly irrelevant.


    Chi Xie Wasteland: Dangerous because of¡­ reasons Zhu Qing refused to explain. She just winked and said, "You''ll find out." Lovely.


    Xuetian Valley: A frozen hellscape filled with frost and despair. A natural barrier between Yue Country and Frostfall Dominion. "If you ever see a Frostlord," Zhu Qing warned with a suspiciously cheerful smile, "run."


    "Why? Do they eat humans?" Su Xiaobai asked, hopeful for a simple answer.


    "Worse," she said, her voice dead serious. "They''re heretics. Even other heretics avoid them."


    "¡­Okay then."


    _____


    Back to Reality!


    Xuetian Valley was the last real danger, Zhu Qing explained. Once they passed it, they''d reach the capital¡ªHeavenly Frost City, home to Tianshuang Palace.


    Su Xiaobai, of course, tuned out halfway through. Geography was like background lore in a game: mildly interesting but completely optional. He only asked one more question before leaving.


    "Why isn''t Peak Lord with us?"


    "She''s faster than the ship," Zhu Qing said with a shrug. "She''ll catch up."


    Su Xiaobai''s brow twitched. "Then why aren''t you flying ahead too?"


    Zhu Qing gave him a look. "Who else would babysit you?"


    Babysit? Babysit?! Su Xiaobai laughed it off and walked away, though he made a mental note to sneak poison into her tea one day.


    _____


    Night Falls!


    Two days into the journey, the ship sailed under sheet of stars, the air crisp and quiet. Su Xiaobai stood on the deck, practicing his [Iron Blood Technique] under the faint glow of moonlight.


    Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!


    The crimson sword in his hands hissed with suppressed energy, its edge sharper and cleaner than the original bloodthirsty version. Bai Yujian''s "improvements," to the [Irong Blood Technique] as she called them, had tamed its violent nature.


    But Su Xiaobai''s thoughts weren''t on the sword. As he swung it, he felt the subtle flow of spiritual energy around it''s blade¡ªa skill he''d recently learned.


    This was [Sword Aura], one of the first skills Bai Yujian had drilled into him. A fancy way of saying, "concentrate your qi on the blade."


    "Good for show, useless in real combat," he muttered to himself. His sword flicked again, splitting the air.


    Sword Aura wasn''t the only thing he''d learned. Over the past month, Bai Yujian had hammered the basics into him: [Sword Qi], the art of releasing energy from the blade to strike from afar; [Sword Aura], the foundation of weapon reinforcement; and even glimpses of higher realms like [Sword Intent], which she swore would make him "more than just a glorified stick-wielder."


    For weeks, Su Xiaobai had poured his energy into mastering these basics. Yet tonight, something felt¡­ off.


    Hiss~!


    A faint ache spread through his limbs as he practiced. When he paused to examine himself, his sharp eyes caught it¡ªa thin, almost dark line running along his forearm.


    "What the hell?" he muttered.


    The line wasn''t a scar or a bruise. It looked like a crack, as if his flesh were porcelain.


    As confusion bubbled in his chest, a soft voice interrupted him.


    "Your body''s breaking down."


    The words hit like a kick to the jewels¡ªsharp, humiliating, and utterly undeserved.


    Su Xiaobai turned, expecting some faceless death god. Instead, he got Zhu Qing.


    She leaned against the rail, moonlight sculpting her into a jade masterpiece. Her green-and-white robe danced lazily in the breeze, teasing just enough to stir thoughts no disciple should have. Her skin glowed, a shade too perfect to be anything but heavenly interference.


    For half a second, Su Xiaobai thought, Is this my sub-plot? Villain meets seductress under the stars?


    But then she smiled.


    That devil''s curve to her lips snapped him out of it. No, this wasn''t romance¡ªit was Zhu Qing, the mighty peak lord of Mystic peak, and she didn''t do love stories. She did calculated craftiness, mixed with just enough malice to ruin your week.


    She reeked of evil, the kind that didn''t just kill¡ªit humiliated. Bai Yujian might strike you down out of duty, but Zhu Qing? She''d break your legs, then make you crawl home naked just for a charming laugh.


    Don''t ask him how he knew. Instinct. A villain''s sixth sense.


    And he wasn''t wrong. He never was.


    "What do you mean, breaking down?"

 Chapter 102 Chi Xie Wasteland!

    "What do you mean, breaking down?"Su Xiaobai''s voice came tight, strangled, like he''d swallowed a fistful of sand.


    Zhu Qing pushed off the rail, her steps slow and deliberate, a cat stalking a crippled mouse. "Exactly what it sounds like. Your precious body? Crumbling. Slowly. Like an old whorehouse held together with hope and prayers."


    "¡­Why?"


    "Because you''re an idiot," she said, the words sharp and blunt all at once. "You''ve been using spiritual Qi raw, haven''t you? Ever since you formed your core."


    "Of course," Su Xiaobai snapped, rolling his eyes. "That''s the point of forming a core!" He glared at her. "What else am I supposed to do? Crochet a sweater with it?"


    Her smile widened, "¡ªAnd it''s killing you."


    "Explain."


    "Unrefined profound Qi is poison," she said simply, tapping a finger to her temple like it was common sense, "Didn''t Bai Yujian tell you that? It''s too strong, too raw. Sure, it gives life¡ªwhen refined. But you''re not refining it properly. You''re chugging wine straight from the barrel, sludge and all. Your core can''t clean it fully, so it leaves behind¡­ residue."


    She flicked a lazy hand toward his arm. "And that residue? It''s eating you alive."


    Su Xiaobai glanced down.


    The cracks were there¡ªfine, pale, and snaking across his skin like the first fractures in a porcelain vase on the verge of shattering.


    Rotting. Fragile. Laughably mortal.


    "How do I fix it?"


    "You don''t."


    The words hit flat, final, filled with satisfaction.


    Zhu Qing crossed her arms, leaning back with all the grace of someone delivering a punchline. "Not unless you hit Earthly Rebirth Realm. Forge your body with Earth Qi, burn the impurities away, and come out shiny and indestructible. That''s why they call it rebirth. You evolve, or you die. Simple."


    "So I''m dying unless I break through?"


    "Congratulations, genius," she said, clapping slowly, "Welcome to cultivation. The same thing that makes you strong is grinding you into dust. Poetic, isn''t it? Life, death, power¡ªthey''re all just different ways to screw you."


    Poetic?


    Su Xiaobai let out a laugh, bitter and sharp. "Yeah. Sure. Poetic. Let''s carve it into my gravestone: Here lies Su Xiaobai / Strong as a dragon, dead like a fool / What a f***ing scam."


    For a moment, Zhu Qing stared at him, stunned. Then a soft laugh slipped past her lips, low and wicked, "You know," she said, "you''re surprisingly good at this. Maybe dying will finally give you time to work on your poetry."


    "..." Su Xiaobai stared at her, his expression as flat as a plank of wood. "So¡­ that''s it? That''s the grand secret? I''m lugging around a ticking time bomb because this world''s energy system was designed by a lunatic?"


    Zhu Qing chuckled softly, tilting her head as if admiring the moon. Her voice dripped with nostalgia¡ªor something crueler. "Exactly. But look on the bright side... If you survive, you''ll outlive every idiot still crawling toward immortality."


    "''If'' being the key word."


    The words slipped out like an afterthought as Su Xiaobai glanced down at his arm.


    The cracks shimmered faintly, a cruel work of art mocking his fragile mortality


    For the first time, he felt it. Not the power. Not the strength. Just the weight. The cost.


    The moon seemed colder, the silence heavier, pressing down like a debt he''d never repay.


    He let out a laugh, sharp and bitter, more like a bark than anything sane. ''Great. Just great. I get reincarnated as¡­ whatever this is, thrown into some mystical hellhole, and what''s the reward? A slow, painful death. What a f***ing deal.'' Enjoy exclusive content from My Virtual Library Empire


    His hand tightened on the hilt of his sword, "No one told me the energy of the gods came with a side of ''drop dead before thirty.'' I didn''t sign up for this! I wanted power, women, and maybe an immortal peach or two¡ªnot a fucking timer counting down to my funeral!"


    Zhu Qing''s laughter rolled out soft and wicked, "Oh, really? Did you think cultivation was a charity? Power isn''t free. You pay in blood, sweat, and sometimes your very soul. The heavens don''t hand out gifts¡ªthey make bets. And if you''re going to climb to the top¡­"


    She turned to him, eyes glinting with amusement, "...you''d better be ready to bleed for it. Or die trying. But hey¡ªat least you''ll die looking good."


    Su Xiaobai glared, his frustration bubbling under his skin, but Zhu Qing only smiled wider. With a casual flick of her hair, she turned back to the railing, her movements entirely too charming.


    She walked away, each step slow, deliberate¡ªa rhythm built to shatter kingdoms and hearts


    He stayed behind, his breathing measured, his grip on his sword firm. The cracks on his arm pulsed faintly under the pale light, like they were alive¡ªreminding him how close he danced to the edge.


    Cultivation. The pursuit of immortality, glory, and power. It had always seemed grand. Infinite. Divine.


    Now? It felt like a game. A cruel, rigged game designed by the higher-ups to shatter anyone foolish enough to play.


    A death game masquerading as enlightenment. And Su Xiaobai? Just another fool playing along¡ªfor now.


    ________


    Next Day ¡ª Morning!


    "Brace yourselves! We are entering Chi Xie Wastelands!"


    The booming voice shattered Su Xiaobai''s sleep like a brick through glass. Groaning, he stumbled out of bed, muttering curses aimed squarely at Zhu Qing''s lungs. Did she have to be this loud before breakfast?


    But as he stepped outside, his complaints died on his lips.


    Whoosh!


    A ripple of energy swept through the air, brushing against his skin like icy needles. The bright sun vanished in an instant, swallowed whole. Day twisted into night.


    Above, the sky turned a deep, oppressive blue, the kind of color that whispered despair into your soul. Thick mist coiled around the ship, clinging to every surface like ghostly fingers.


    Su Xiaobai shivered. It wasn''t cold, but something about this place crawled under his skin.


    He moved to the edge of the ship and glanced down. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Roarrr!


    A deafening roar erupted from below, shaking the air and rattling the deck beneath his feet.


    And then he saw it.


    A battlefield stretched endlessly beneath them, a swirling mess of blood and death. Rivers of crimson carved jagged paths through the land, bodies strewn like discarded leaves. Swords clashed, axes cleaved, and the air reeked of death.


    Screams filled the air¡ªloud, sharp, and haunting:


    "Help! HELP ME!"


    "NO! NOOO!"


    "PLEASE, STOP¡ªAAAAARGH!"


    Each cry seemed to stab into his chest, omnious and unfiltered.


    This wasn''t just a battlefield. This was hell made real.


    Su Xiaobai swallowed hard. "...What the unholy f** is this?"*

 Chapter 103 Pirates! Star Essence!

    Su Xiaobai swallowed hard. "...What the unholy f** is this?"*This wasn''t a battlefield. It was hell. And not the fun, sexy kind either¡ªthe "let''s grind your soul into paste" kind.


    Below, warriors were tearing each other apart like starving dogs over a scrap of meat. One poor bastard was sliced clean in half¡ªvertically¡ªand yet his screaming ghost buddy picked up his spear and dove right back into the slaughter. Scarlet-furred wolves prowled through the bloody battlefield, their veins bulging like rotting vines, feasting on severed limbs with the kind of crunch that made Su Xiaobai''s stomach churn.


    "Are they undead?" Su Xiaobai muttered, the first thought spilling out of his mouth.


    "No." S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Zhu Qing''s voice, calm and detached, drifted from above. A soft thud followed as she landed beside him with the grace of someone who had far too much experience with nightmares.


    "Those are wraith soldiers," she explained, her gaze fixed on the battlefield, "and the others? Scarlet dire wolves¡ªa type of blood beast."


    Su Xiaobai blinked, then glanced at her, his confusion as clear as daylight. "Am I supposed to know what that means? Or is there, like¡­ a follow-up coming?"


    "..." Zhu Qing''s expression froze, her patience evaporating like cheap liquor left in the sun.


    "You really don''t respect your elders, do you?" she muttered. Then, with a casual flick of her finger, she tapped his forehead.


    Zap!


    He didn''t even have time to scream.


    Every nerve in his body lit up like he''d been struck by divine lightning. His knees buckled, his legs gave out, and his vision went white.


    Su Xiaobai crumpled to the ground, clutching his head. "Y-O-U¡ªWHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO?!"


    "Oh, nothing," Zhu Qing said, her lips twitching into a small, satisfied smile. "Just a little heavenly Qi to wake you up."


    She''d barely passed a sliver of heavenly Qi into him, just enough to make him reconsider every life choice that had led him here.


    Su Xiaobai''s ears were still ringing, his head pounding like a war drum. He struggled to sit up, glaring at her through blurry eyes. "Wake me up?! Lady, you just fried my brain! I can''t even feel my tongue¡ªoh wait, there it is. Great. Tastes like smoke and regret."


    "Regret? And you?" Zhu Qing''s smile widened.


    So this is what Bai Yujian deals with every day? No wonder she looks like she''s constantly planning a murder.


    Buzzzz..!


    A faint, ominous hum buzzed in Su Xiaobai''s ears, ringing into his thoughts like a poorly tuned zither.


    "Did you say something?" he groaned, his voice strained as he staggered to his feet like a drunkard fresh off a losing bar fight. "I can''t hear you over the ringing in my head!"


    "No," Zhu Qing replied, her brows furrowing in mild confusion.


    "Oh, so you are a f***ing idiot," Su Xiaobai muttered, his voice tinged with mockery as he swayed unsteadily.


    "..." Zhu Qing blinked. Did this little bastard just call her an idiot? On purpose?


    Her smile twitched. He really doesn''t fear retaliation, does he?


    Fine. If he wanted to play stupid games, she''d happily provide a stupid prize.


    Whoosh!


    She tapped her foot, and instantly the ground around Su Xiaobai began to glow. Crimson light spiraled outward, forming a perfect circle around his feet.


    "..."


    Su Xiaobai stared down at the glowing circle, his brain still trying to process the last assault. ''Hazy vision. Ringing ears. Weird lights. Perfect. My death will be sponsored by gravity.''


    BAM!


    The circle lit up like a fireworks show, and the ground beneath him vanished.


    "Bye-bye~! Enjoy your ride," Zhu Qing called, her voice dripping with honeyed malice as Su Xiaobai was launched into the air.


    A heartbeat later, gravity took over, and he plummeted like a rock straight into the battlefield below.


    ____


    Hours Later!


    Zhu Qing reclined on her stool at the ship''s edge, sipping tea like a goddess on her throne, the mess below her private spectacle.


    The battlefield''s earlier screams and roars had dulled into a dying hum¡ªlike a dying drunk mumbling his last curse.


    Above, red and black clouds covered everything, choking out the stars. Night in Chi Xie Wastelands wasn''t just dark¡ªit was hostile, like the land resented the living.


    "Where are you, little rat?" she murmured, eyes scanning the blood-soaked wasteland.


    Below, a lone figure darted between wraiths and beasts, dodging claws and blades with blind luck. A smile tugged at her lips.


    "Found you." Stay tuned with My Virtual Library Empire


    She sipped her tea, savoring the sight.


    HISSSSS!


    "!!" The sharp cry shattered her peace. Zhu Qing''s eyes snapped up, her smile vanishing.


    From the mist emerged a monstrous serpent, its ruby scales glistening like freshly spilled blood. Cannons jutted from its sides, glowing faintly with Blood Qi. Atop its head stood a crooked figure, robed in black, his scarred face split by a grin.


    "Sister White! It''s really you!"


    "!" Her tea nearly spilled. Zhu Qing''s expression curdled into one of pure disgust. ''Which filthy bastard dares to call me that?''


    She turned, venom in her eyes. "Who wants to die today¡ª"


    The words died on her tongue.


    The Sanguine Serpent. A beast as large as her ship, its hiss promising death. Behind it, a fleet of smaller serpents¡ªBloodfang Leviathans¡ªfifteen feet of coiled muscle and evil. Pirates loaded to their backs, eyes gleaming with hunger.


    Most would''ve panicked. Zhu Qing just looked annoyed.


    The man atop the Sanguine Serpent took a dramatic step forward, his robe flaring as if it had a personal grudge against subtlety.


    "Captain Red Fang, do you know this woman?" one of his lackeys called out. "Are we looting the ship?"


    SLAP!


    Fang Tian''s hand shot out, stretching unnaturally. The pirate didn''t stumble¡ªhe exploded into a mist of blood.


    HISSSS!


    "Shut up, you brainless pigs!" Fang Tian barked, his face twisted in fury. "Do you want me to dig my own grave?! Don''t you idiots see who this is?! That''s Sister White!"


    The remaining pirates froze, hands gripping their weapons like lifelines.


    But Fang Tian''s temper had consequences. The Soul Lamp in the dead pirate''s hand shattered.


    SCREEEEE!


    The Bloodfang Leviathan''s eyes flared red. With a furious cry, it thrashed violently and dove, dragging three screaming pirates straight into the battlefield below.


    Zhu Qing raised a brow, unimpressed. ''So much for teamwork.''


    She glanced at the glowing ''Soul Lamps'' hanging from her ship''s rails, their faint light a protective aura. Without them, flying here was suicide. Blood beasts craved flesh, and Soul Lamps¡ªinfused with spiritual Qi and diluted Blood Qi¡ªwere the only thing keeping them at bay.


    Delicate things, though. Break one, and you''re dinner.


    "Sister White!" Fang Tian called again, his earlier fury replaced by awe. "I didn''t know you were after the ''Starlight Essence'' too!"


    Her brow arched. "Starlight Essence?"


    "Yes!" He gestured dramatically, like a preacher selling salvation. "A piece of the heavens fell last week, blazing with power! It''s surrounded by beasts and wraiths near the Warlord''s Palace. Breaking through is hell!"


    Zhu Qing''s expression was bored, "I''m not here for that. Go ahead. Knock yourselves out."


    "Of course, Sister!" Fang Tian bowed, signaling his fleet.


    The Bloodfang Leviathans hissed softly as they turned, vanishing into the mist.


    Zhu Qing exhaled, setting her teacup down. "So, the brat survived being my junior and grew up, huh..."


    She sighed, a hint of disdain curling her lips. "From scrubbing floors to riding serpents... what a glow-up for a cockroach."


    Her gaze drifted down, past the battlefield and into memory. Centuries ago, the ''Dark Sparrow Sect'' had burned. She''d crawled her way into the xiantian sect, but most of her peers hadn''t been so lucky.


    Fang Tian. A nobody, scrubbing floors and fetching tea. And now? A pirate, leading serpents in a cursed wasteland.


    She sighed. "Ambition''s such a cheap drug..."

 Chapter 104 Goddess fell from Sky!

    "Ambition''s such a cheap drug..."Zhu Qing''s eyes returned to the cursed battlefield.


    ''Chi Xie Wastelands'' reeked of death, regret, and bad decisions¡ªa cursed dump left by the ''Crimson Blood Sect,'' dead for millennia, even before she had the misfortune of existing.


    When the righteous sects finally cornered their ''Warlord'', his last act was a ritual so vile it cursed the land forever.


    Blood Qi soaked the earth, turning beasts into monsters and binding the souls of the damned. Wraith soldiers still roamed, locked in endless battle.


    Then there were the pirates¡ªFang Tian''s kind. Mainland rejects and glory hounds too stubborn to stay dead. They prowled the wastelands, knives in hand and brains firmly in their asses, picking off innocent travelers while scavenging for treasures left behind by the Warlord''s fallen empire.


    And at the center of this rotting cesspit? The ''Warlord''s Palace,'' a nest of horrors and promises for the stupid or desperate. Somewhere inside lay the ''Warlord''s Seal,'' a legend whispered to grant dominion over the cursed armies. If anyone lived long enough to claim it, that is. Your next chapter is on My Virtual Library Empire


    She doubted it existed. Too many fools had died chasing it.


    Above, the red-and-black sky shook. Below, screams rose once more. Somewhere in that mess, Su Xiaobai was still alive.


    Probably.


    For now, she poured herself another cup of tea.


    "Idiots."


    Just as Zhu Qing settled back to enjoy her show, the wooden stool beneath her wobbled¡ªhard.


    "Qingqing."


    "!!"


    Her back straightened instantly, the voice chilling her more than the wasteland''s cursed air, the overwhelming aura crashing over her left no doubt¡ªshe already knew who it was!


    "Elder? You''re here..." She stood awkwardly, her usual smile vanishing under Bai Yujian''s hawk-like stare.


    For once, there was no clever words¡ªjust the harsh reality of being at the mercy of a woman who could cut down mountains with a single stroke.


    She hesitated before muttering, "By chance, did you¡­ see anything earlier?"


    Bai Yujian''s eyes remained steady, "Everything," she replied coolly. Standing there with a parasol in her hand and clad in dark robes adorned with intricate golden lines, she looked less like a sword fairy and more like a goddess of death descending to pass judgment.


    Zhu Qing''s heart sank.


    If there was one thing Bai Yujian truly hated, it was evil. She despised anything tainted by it with an endless wrath. And Zhu Qing had just been caught mingling with a pirate gang... This was bad.


    Her past was already a tangled mess of black and white; she couldn''t afford to be seen aligning with heretics again, even if it was a misunderstanding.


    But Bai Yujian''s focus wasn''t on Zhu Qing''s unsavory companions. Her gaze swept the battlefield below. "Where is my disciple?"


    Zhu Qing''s lips twisted into a sour grimace. Explaining this was going to be about as fun as getting whipped with a flaming thorn vine. Why couldn''t that little rat just survive quietly for once?


    With a sigh, she pointed downward. Bai Yujian''s brows furrowed as she stepped to the ship''s edge, her robes trailing like a celestial judge preparing to deliver punishment. Her gaze pierced through the clouds, landing on the battlefield below.


    "..."


    Her face darkened, lips pressing into a thin, dangerous line.


    Su Xiaobai, the supposed disciple under her "care," was riding a one-horned beast the size of a bull, its bloodshot eyes rolling wildly as he yanked a rope tied around its neck.


    He steered it like some unhinged warlord, plowing through a horde of its kind with reckless smile. Blood sprayed like rain, and Su Xiaobai cackled like a demon who''d just found a way to scam the heavens.


    "What... is this madness?" Bai Yujian''s voice trembled between disbelief and barely-contained fury.


    Zhu Qing, fighting back a grin, casually poured herself another cup of tea. "Oh, that? He''s playing beast herder."


    Bai Yujian shot her a glare that could''ve frozen a phoenix mid-flight.


    Reluctantly, Zhu Qing explained everything¡ªhow she''d sent him down to "reflect" and how, instead of learning humility, the little villain had apparently decided to declare war on the wasteland itself. Bai Yujian listened, her expression growing darker with every word.


    She agreed¡ªthis disciple was a walking insult to the concept of discipline. Yet, as she watched him fend for himself, a small twinge of guilt crept in.


    Ugh. The Peak Lord''s inner sigh was deafening.


    Why must she have the heart of a maiden?


    If Su Xiaobai were here, he''d smile smugly, knowing he''d just won a sliver of sympathy from his ever-so-holy master. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Where''s the other one?" Bai Yujian finally asked, her tone clipped. Her eyes swept the ship''s deck, searching for Su Xiaomei.


    It didn''t take long to find her. The girl stood at the ship''s edge, staring into the mist with a dull face and slumped shoulders, like a flower wilting under too much sun.


    Bai Yujian''s face shifted, concern flashing briefly.


    "She''s fine," Zhu Qing replied lazily, waving a hand. "Su Xiaobai said it''s ''homesickness.'' Apparently, it''ll pass in a couple of months."


    "Homesickness?" Bai Yujian arched a brow.


    "His words, not mine," Zhu Qing said, sipping her tea. "It seems, landing in foreign lands is hard on the spirit. He brought her along so she could ''adjust.'' Something about throwing her to the wolves being good for her."


    Bai Yujian''s lips twitched, an exasperated sigh slipping free. ''Maybe he''s not entirely useless... just mostly.''


    Her gaze shifted back to Zhu Qing, narrowing like a blade honing itself for execution.


    "Uh... Elder?" Zhu Qing stiffened, the hairs on her neck prickling. ''Why do I suddenly feel like prey?''


    Without a word, Bai Yujian grabbed her by the collar, hoisting her effortlessly like a sack of rice.


    "Wait, wait, wait¡ª!" Zhu Qing''s voice rose in alarm, but Bai Yujian ignored her entirely.


    Whoosh!~


    With a single smooth motion, she hurled Zhu Qing off the ship like she was tossing out yesterday''s garbage.


    "Go check on him," Bai Yujian called after her, her tone calm as still water.


    "WHAT IN THE SEVEN¡ª!" Zhu Qing''s scream faded as she plummeted, disappearing into the swirling mists below.


    Bai Yujian dusted off her hands with a quiet smile.


    The truth? She was salty. Su Xiaobai was her disciple, and Zhu Qing had dared to punish him first. A little petty revenge was in order.


    ______


    Chi Xie Wastelands!


    Crackle!~


    "Haa¡­ I''m so bored, I could die," Su Xiaobai muttered, poking the fire like it owed him money. Around him, the one-horned bull tribe lay in pieces, their corpses now serving as snacks. What a way to leave a legacy.


    He yanked a strip of roasted meat free, tossing a smaller piece to Xiao Hei, who nibbled on it delicately. Her glowing eyes watched him, radiating judgment that said, ''I can''t believe I''m stuck with you.''


    Then, without ceremony, Su Xiaobai hurled a dripping slab of flesh at the beast lounging at the camp''s edge.


    "Snort!"


    The massive one-horned bull snapped it up in midair, crunching down with the gusto of someone devouring their ex at a family BBQ. Blood smeared its jaws as it chewed noisily, clearly unbothered by the fact it was eating its own kind.


    Two meters tall, four meters wide, with glowing red eyes that could scare a spirit beast into therapy, it looked every bit the nightmare parents told kids about to keep them in bed.


    And yet, Su Xiaobai slapped its horn like a proud farmer.


    "Good job, Little Red. You''re learning."


    Because, of course, only a lunatic like Su Xiaobai would look at this bloodthirsty demon and think, hmm, you need a cute name. Little Red it is.


    "Oye, you know any treasures around here we can hunt?" Su Xiaobai drawled, poking the fire lazily.


    This wasteland was a special kind of hell¡ªno music, no women, no adventure. Just boring beasts and those annoying, unkillable wraith soldiers. Even their screams were monotonous now.


    Feeling his boredom, Su Xiaobai turned to Xiao Hei, who was perched on a giant bone like a queen surveying her kingdom. He jabbed her cheek with a finger. "Well? Got any secrets, you little menace?"


    Xiao Hei''s brows furrowed, her tiny face twisting with the kind of fury that made Su Xiaobai wonder if she''d finally snap and go for his throat. But then, just as he braced for the tantrum, her eyes gleamed¡ªsharp, calculating, like a predator spotting prey.


    She leapt down, claws slicing into the dirt with purpose, her movements deliberate, almost adorable.


    "What now, brat?" Su Xiaobai drawled, leaning back lazily but watching her closely. "Unless you''re digging up something worth my time, I''d rather you get back to sulking prettily."


    Xiao Hei didn''t even glance at him, focused entirely on carving into the dirt. A crude map took shape¡ªa castle, jagged and scary, surrounded by strange symbols. Su Xiaobai''s eyes narrowed, his smile sharpening into something dangerous.


    "So, you''ve been holding out on me, huh?" he murmured, his tone soft but tinged with suspicion.


    Xiao Hei snorted, her expression somewhere between smug satisfaction and ''about time, idiot.'' She tapped her claw sharply on the castle''s center, the gesture unmistakable: Here. Go.


    Su Xiaobai''s smile widened, wicked and full of promise. "Good girl. Maybe I won''t sell you to the highest bidder after all."


    He turned to Little Red, still happily crunching through its dead kin. "Oi, Little Red. You know this place? Or are you too busy proving that being a monster runs in your family?"


    "Grrrr!"


    The one-horned bull growled in response, its glowing red eyes gleaming with what might''ve been a nod.


    "Good, looks like we''ve got a destination," Su Xiaobai said, a grin spreading across his face. He patted Little Red''s horn and stood up, dusting himself off. "Finally, some action! All we''re missing now is a heavenly beauty to complete this adventure. Sigh... if only a fairy would drop out of the sky..."


    He tilted his head toward the heavens, sighing dramatically.


    Nothing happened.


    He shrugged. "Guess the higher-ups are stingy today. Let''s go!"


    BOOM!


    A deafening crash shook the air, and before Su Xiaobai could even blink, something¡ªor someone¡ªslammed into him with the force of a celestial tribulation.


    WHUMP!


    "ACK!" He staggered, nearly toppling as his arms instinctively wrapped around the unexpected payload. He looked down, wide-eyed, at the crumpled figure now dangling in his grip.


    "...Huh?"


    The dust cleared, revealing his "goddess."

 Chapter 105 Crazy Plot Twist!!

    "...Huh?"The dust cleared, revealing his "goddess."


    Green-robed, beautiful. Check. Lips made for kissing? Check. Eyes charming enough to guarantee good genetics? Double check. A bosom he could admire now and play with later¡ªonce their future kids were running around? Absolute perfection. The rest? A body carved by the heavens themselves.


    His heart raced for a blissful second¡ªbefore his brain caught up.


    His initial grin froze, "Wait a minute¡­"


    The "goddess" shifted, groaning in his arms. Zhu Qing. His supposed "guardian," the one who had sent him to this wasteland in the first place.


    "Oh, great," he muttered, his earlier excitement replaced by exasperation. "Not a fairy, just my personal harbinger of bad luck. Thanks a lot, heavens!"


    Zhu Qing''s eyes snapped open, narrowing into dangerous slits. "Put. Me. Down."


    Su Xiaobai''s lips twitched into a grin, his earlier frustration forgotten. "Not happening! You''re my fairy, sent by the heavens to bless my adventure! I wished for a beauty, and bam¡ªhere you are!"


    "Beauty?" Zhu Qing spat, wriggling in his grip. "I''ll show you my beauty when I carve my name into your skull!"


    "Hah!" Su Xiaobai laughed, casually adjusting his hold so she didn''t slip. "Aw, come on, Qingqing. I''ve never caught a fairy before. Can''t I at least enjoy the moment?"


    "Qingqing?! PUT. ME. DOWN!"


    She kicked, aiming for his ribs, but Su Xiaobai just dodged, grinning wider. "Not until you agree to sit prettily on the back of my noble steed!" He patted Little Red, who snorted as if it too found the situation hilarious.


    "I swear on the heavens¡ª" Zhu Qing hissed, wriggling harder.


    "Yeah, yeah, blame the heavens," Su Xiaobai quipped, finally setting her down. "They''re the ones who tossed you my way. Don''t blame me for being too charming." S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Zhu Qing brushed herself off, her face dark with fury. "You''re lucky the heavens cursed me before I could curse you."


    "Haha¡­" Su Xiaobai chuckled, savoring her misery like fine wine. But he reined himself in¡ªbarely. "Who did this to you, Elder?" he asked, his lips twitching as he struggled to keep a straight face.


    The sight was too much. Zhu Qing, the terrifying and suspiciously cunning woman, now standing here powerless, dropped like trash from the heavens? Whoever pulled this off deserved a medal¡ªor maybe an exorcism.


    He couldn''t sense a shred of power from her. Whoever sealed her Qi and tossed her down like a sack of potatoes was no ordinary foe. A ruthless demon, for sure, Su Xiaobai thought, his smile widening.


    Your next chapter is on My Virtual Library Empire


    Note to self: never meet that demon.


    If only he knew¡­


    "Humph!" Zhu Qing snorted angrily, crossing her arms. "Who else if not the Sword Peak Lord?"


    "Ah, makes sense," Su Xiaobai nodded sagely before his expression shifted to confusion. "Wait¡­ no, it doesn''t make sense at all."


    He glanced at Zhu Qing, whose gaze darted away.


    How could Bai Yujian just tie her hands, seal her Qi, and toss her like trash? Weren''t they both Peak Lords?


    "..." Zhu Qing bit her lips, her expression souring. "Keep this to yourself," she said, her glare daring him to breathe a word.


    Su Xiaobai gave her an innocent nod. ''Of course, I''ll keep it safe in my treasure vault of secrets. Right next to the pile labeled ''leverage.''''


    He smirked inwardly. Information was power, and this little gem about Zhu Qing was worth more than any treasure.


    The story began as Zhu Qing begrudgingly explained her predicament. When she joined the Xiantian Sect after escaping the destruction of her previous sect, a spell had been placed on her¡ªa binding curse meant to ensure her loyalty.


    She''d forgotten it even existed over the centuries, but Bai Yujian hadn''t. And apparently, the Sword Peak Lord had decided to exploit it today.


    Su Xiaobai stroked his chin like a professional negotiator. "Makes sense, but still doesn''t explain why you''re here¡­ helpless¡­ being carried like a sack of rice."


    "..." Zhu Qing''s lips twitched. She couldn''t exactly admit Bai Yujian had yeeted her off the ship like trash. That would shatter her carefully crafted aura of seniority.


    "Little devil, how about I tell you an even better story?" Zhu Qing''s tone turned sweet, her voice dripping honey.


    Su Xiaobai raised a brow. That sweetness didn''t fool him for a second. He gestured toward the one-horned bull. "Go ahead, Elder. Mount up. I''m listening."


    Zhu Qing climbed onto the beast with a twitching eye, only for Su Xiaobai to slide in behind her. He placed his hands on her waist with zero hesitation. "For protection," he said, grinning.


    Zhu Qing''s fingers twitched, her pride screaming in protest, but she swallowed her anger. ''Helpless chicken, helpless chicken'' she repeated to herself.


    Xiao Hei flew overhead, following them effortlessly. That girl, Su Xiaobai had learned, had stamina that could rival a blood beast.


    "You know about Zhao Tianxuan?" Zhu Qing began, her voice light, almost evil.


    "The Sect Master? Of course," Su Xiaobai replied. His brow furrowed. "Why?"


    Her lips curled into a suspicious smile. "Do you know¡­ more?"


    Su Xiaobai''s instincts screamed. This woman was up to something. "What about him?"


    Zhu Qing leaned back slightly, her cunning smile widening. "He and I were once engaged."


    "..." Su Xiaobai blinked. "Wait, that was real...?"


    He''d heard whispers¡ªLulu mentioned it once in passing¡ªbut he''d assumed it was nonsense. His eyes flicked to Zhu Qing''s profile. She did have the looks: charming face, suspicious aura, a body that could lead armies to ruin. But still¡­ Zhao Tianxuan?


    "It was real." Zhu Qing sighed dramatically. "And do you know why the marriage was called off?"


    "He didn''t want to marry a¡ª"


    Su Xiaobai''s words cut off as Zhu Qing shot him a glare that could have frozen his blood mid-flow.


    "Humph! He would die just to touch me!" she snapped, her voice filled with indignation. "That bastard''s dream was about to come true, and he ruined it!"


    "..." Su Xiaobai wisely chose silence. After all, his hands were currently on her waist, and despite the "protection" excuse, he wasn''t dying to touch her either.


    The one-horned bull beneath them galloped wildly, trampling wraith soldiers as it charged through the wasteland. The land''s unspoken rule¡ªno fighting at night¡ªleft the battlefield eerily calm, save for the sound of hooves crushing bones.


    "Right before the wedding, I snuck into Zhao Tianxuan''s room," Zhu Qing continued, her tone turning downright gleeful.


    Su Xiaobai''s face darkened. Oh no¡­


    She went on, describing how she''d "peacefully" terrorized Zhao Tianxuan. In reality, she''d given him a simple choice: marry her and lose his manhood, or break off the engagement and keep his family jewels intact.


    Like any sensible man, Zhao Tianxuan chose the latter, announcing the end of the engagement the very next day.


    The fallout? Bai Yujian had unleashed holy wrath upon him for "wasting her efforts." Zhao Tianxuan had been sidelined for years, licking his wounds.


    Su Xiaobai''s eye twitched as the story ended. ''Why did she tell me this?''


    "You understand now, Disciple Su?" Zhu Qing''s voice was low, almost whispering, as she casually placed a hand behind her back.


    Crunch~! Crunch~~!


    Her fingers curled into a twisting motion, pointing ominously toward his crotch.


    The message was clear: Don''t try anything, or you''ll lose more than your dignity.


    "Ha-ha," Su Xiaobai let out a strained laugh, quickly raising his hands. "Don''t worry, Elder Qing! I already have a lover, and she''s very strict about ''extra decorations.'' Last time I joked about it, she nearly turned my heavenly meat sword into a toothpick! Trust me, I''d rather keep it where it belongs."


    To emphasize his point, he gently placed his hands on her rear and slid her slightly forward.


    "For safety," he added with a grin.


    "You¡ª!" Zhu Qing turned, stunned by his audacity, her face flushing with a mixture of outrage and disbelief.


    Behind them, Xiao Hei snickered quietly.


    Seeing his grin, Zhu Qing shook her head. Tired. Even after her explicit threat, this rat was still grinning like he''d won the heavens'' lottery.


    She laughed softly¡ªjust once. Beautiful, almost.


    But she wasn''t joking. If this rat tried anything, he''d learn why you don''t mess with a tribulation expert¡ªeven one with sealed Qi. She could''ve landed earlier without a scratch.


    And now? She could snap his neck like a twig.


    Last time, during the sect trial, she''d let his little mischief slide. But luck? It runs out. Rats are cute when they nibble¡­ until they bite. Then? Slap. One hit. Dead.


    "Who''s this woman you''re so scared of?" Zhu Qing asked suddenly, her lips twitching. "How about I discipline her? Train her to ''serve'' you properly?"


    Her smile deepened. For once, his sour face didn''t seem so unsatisfying. Almost¡­ enjoyable.


    "Nah, you''re full of shit, Elder," Su Xiaobai said, shaking his head like he''d just heard the joke of the century. "The woman I like? No one could tame her."


    Zhu Qing''s brow arched. Dangerous. "Are you challenging me?" Her voice lowered, smooth as silk. "I''ve tamed more warriors than the hairs on your head back in the Dark Sparrow Sect."


    Su Xiaobai''s smile turned bitter. "Elder, it''s not about doubting your capabilities. It''s just¡­ this woman is a bit special. No one could match her."


    He wasn''t lying. Su Xiaobai truly believed Matriarch Su, his mother, was the strongest. In a fair fight, she might even take down Sun Liang. The only reason he''d resorted to dirty tricks was because that''s what worked on someone untouchable.


    But Bai Yujian? She changed everything.


    Despite her easygoing personality¡ªwhich only he seemed to witness¡ªSu Xiaobai knew better. Beneath that calm exterior? A storm. The kind that left blood on its path. Enough blood that she probably didn''t even blink flattening cities by mistake.


    Even now, sitting behind Zhu Qing, he didn''t feel the suffocating dread Bai Yujian radiated. Sure, both women smelled amazing. But Bai Yujian? She smelled like death disguised as jasmine.


    Lost in his thoughts, Su Xiaobai''s expression turned dreamy, and Zhu Qing''s lips twitched.


    Such. Disrespect.


    She was sitting right here, and this brat had the audacity to fantasize about another woman? Natural jealousy bubbled up¡ªnot because she liked him, of course. But because he dared to suggest someone was better than her.


    "Mind sharing her name, Disciple Su?" Zhu Qing said, her tone deceptively sweet. "If I can''t discipline her for you, I''ll be your disciple for a month."


    "¡­What?" Su Xiaobai blinked, stunned. Did he hear that right? A Peak Lord¡­ offering to become his disciple?


    What kind of crazy plot twist was this?


    "Are you sure, Elder Qing?" Su Xiaobai asked, though his heart was pounding with excitement. He could already imagine making her scrub floors or, better yet, fetching his tea.


    "I pledge on my honor," Zhu Qing replied without hesitation.


    Su Xiaobai''s face darkened¡ªbarely hiding the grin threatening to split his face.


    "Don''t stall. Tell me. Who is it?" Zhu Qing urged, turning toward him impatiently.


    Su Xiaobai''s lips moved. Two words slipped out, clear as a bell.


    Boom.

 Chapter 106 Stealing Star Essence!

    Boom.The sky, clear just moments ago, suddenly erupted with rain. Heavy, dramatic, like the heavens themselves were weeping at Zhu Qing''s despair.


    Her smile dropped faster than a falling cultivator with no Qi.


    "Bai Yujian?" she whispered. "Are you¡­ sick?"


    Su Xiaobai wasn''t joking. Not even a little. After their last encounter, he had concluded that no one¡ªno one¡ªwould let him touch them so casually unless there were thoughts. Thoughts she clearly didn''t mind showing when she inspected his body.


    Now, he was planning a little "heart-to-heart" conversation with her. See where things stood. Maybe figure out how far he could push that ice wall down.


    "You both have gone insane," Zhu Qing growled, her teeth grinding audibly.


    "Both?" Su Xiaobai tilted his head, genuinely curious. "Wait¡­ has someone else told you this before?"


    Zhu Qing''s brows twitched, her expression complicated. Just a few days ago, Zhao Tianxuan had called an urgent meeting. His brilliant idea? Push Bai Yujian closer to Su Xiaobai.


    The result? The room burst into laughter, Elder Han Xuan nearly choking on his tea while everyone treated Zhao Tianxuan like the sect''s official clown.


    But now Su Xiaobai was saying the same thing? Continue reading at My Virtual Library Empire


    What''s going on here? Is Zhao Tianxuan the fool, or are we all the idiots?


    "Believe it or not..." Su Xiaobai shrugged, clearly enjoying her expression. He''s not clarifying anything. Not until he clarifies it with Bai Yujian first.


    "..." Zhu Qing stared at him, biting her lip. Panic flickered behind her eyes. Would she actually have to keep her ridiculous promise? A month as his disciple?


    No. Absolutely not. She''d strangle him before that happened.


    And so, what Su Xiaobai imagined as a romantic journey¡ªriding through the wasteland on a saddle with his "fairy from the heavens"¡ªbecame an awkward, painfully silent trek that stretched for hours.


    The sky above shifted to a dark, suffocating blue. In this cursed wasteland, it wasn''t the arrival of night¡ªit was the signal of day.


    At last, something broke the monotony. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A grand palace stood in the distance, its silhouette black and jagged like a scar on the horizon. Sand and rust covered its surface, and at the apex of its central dome, an ominous skull-shaped monument sneered down at the world.


    At first, it seemed small¡ªunderwhelming even. But as they approached, the desert winds howled louder, whipping red sand into a furious blur that stung their faces and blinded their sight.


    The palace grew. Bigger. More oppressive.


    By the time they reached its shadow, it towered over them¡ªvast as two mountains stacked atop each other.


    "...I liked it better when it looked small," Su Xiaobai muttered, brushing sand off his face.


    Even the air felt scarier, like the wasteland itself wanted them to turn back.


    "Stop!" Zhu Qing suddenly yelled.


    "Huh?" Su Xiaobai blinked, startled, but pulled the one-horned bull to a halt. Xiao Hei, floating in the air, froze mid-flap.


    "What is it?"


    Zhu Qing jabbed a finger at the palace. Her voice was suspicious, "Why the hell are we heading toward the Warlord''s Palace...?"


    Her teeth clenched so hard it was a miracle they didn''t shatter. This was bad. No, worse than bad. Without her Qi, even approaching that cursed tomb was like offering her neck to the guillotine.


    And this idiot? This idiot was charging straight toward it like it was a roadside inn?!


    "Uh... to search for treasures?" Su Xiaobai replied, looking genuinely confused, like she''d just asked why water was wet.


    Zhu Qing''s eye twitched. "Which fool told you that...?"


    Su Xiaobai glanced at Xiao Hei, who immediately averted her gaze, pretending to admire the sandstorm as if it were the most fascinating thing she''d ever seen.


    Not my fault, Xiao Hei thought to herself. The treasure is there. Sure, he might die in the process¡­ but that''s part of the plan.


    "...Your scheming puppet wants you dead, idiot!" Zhu Qing snapped, clutching her forehead like she was warding off a migraine.


    "My puppet¡­ wants to kill me?" Su Xiaobai repeated, stunned.


    "Yes!" Zhu Qing threw her arms in the air. "She''s baiting you! The treasures might exist, but so do the fifty thousand ways you''ll die trying to grab them!"


    Su Xiaobai squinted at Xiao Hei, suspicion dawning on his face.


    The little menace, floating as serenely as ever, turned her head away, feigning deep interest in the sandstorm.


    "You''re saying¡­ she wants me dead?"


    "That''s precisely what I said! And after spending a night with you...I understand where she''s coming from."


    Zhu Qing froze, her own words ringing in her ears. A faint flush crept up her cheeks as irritation and embarrassment wrestled for dominance. Why did it sound so¡­ ambiguous?


    But pride kept her from correcting herself. She straightened her back, forcing a casual expression.


    "..."


    Su Xiaobai, thankfully, was too preoccupied to notice Zhu Qing''s slip of the tongue. His focus was locked onto Xiao Hei, who continued to avoid his gaze with the grace of someone who had long perfected the art of selective deafness.


    "Did you refine... a human puppet?" Zhu Qing''s voice rang sharp. Suspicious. Curious. A touch surprised.


    Su Xiaobai shook his head lazily, a smile tugging at his lips. "Human puppet? Please. She''s¡­ something else entirely."


    "Something else?" Zhu Qing''s lips twitched, her eyes narrowing as she assessed the little floating mystery.


    Before she could start interrogating him like a peak lord at confession, the wasteland roared.


    CRACK-BOOM!


    KRA-KOOM!~


    The ground beneath them shook as a deafening explosion shattered the air. "!!" Su Xiaobai''s head jerked toward the Warlord''s Palace, the smile dropping off his face faster than a drunk''s coin purse.


    HISSSSSS-KRAAA!


    In the distance, a massive red serpent shrieked, its massive torso splitting open like a stuffed dumpling with too much filling. Blood sprayed in steaming sheets, painting the horizon in red.


    "That''s Fang Tian," Zhu Qing muttered darkly, her tone a mix of contempt and resignation.


    "Eh?" Su Xiaobai squinted, eyes narrowing as another explosion ripped through the palace. Shockwaves crashed, rattling bones¡­ kicking up sand.


    His grin returned, wicked and sharp. "Let''s take a look."


    "Wait¡ª?" Zhu Qing snapped. "That''s a death trap!"


    "Relax, Elder," Su Xiaobai shot back, "Just looking. No touching."


    "..." Zhu Qing glared at him, her lips twitching with the kind of irritation that could birth entire wars, but Little Red took that as a command.


    With a grunt and a snort, the one-horned bull charged forward like a battering ram, kicking up a storm of red sand behind it.


    ______


    As they rode, Su Xiaobai''s expression shifted, becoming something calculating and wicked.


    Above them, Xiao Hei floated silently, her expression as blank as ever.


    "Not so fast, little schemer," he muttered under his breath, his hand darting out.


    Whoosh!


    Before she could react, Su Xiaobai snatched her by the wrist. Xiao Hei''s glowing eyes widened slightly, a rare flicker of emotion slipping through her cold fa?ade.


    "You''ve schemed enough for one day,"," Su Xiaobai said, his tone far too cheerful.


    Xiao Hei''s glowing eyes flickered¡ªwas that panic? Regret?


    Swoosh!


    With a flick of his hand, she vanished into his ring world before anyone could tell.


    Zhu Qing turned, frowning at the now-empty air. "Where''s your scheming brat of a doll?"


    Su Xiaobai shrugged, smiling like a cat that had just swallowed a canary. "Probably floated off to scheme in peace. Can''t blame her¡ªit''s a full-time job plotting my demise."


    ______


    Warlord''s Palace!


    The palace erect like a drunken god''s bad decision¡ªtowering, ominous, and absolutely f***ed up. Blood-red sands howled around it in an endless cyclone, as if the earth itself was trying to spit it out.


    At its base, a faint glow pulsed: the Celestial Star.


    A shard of heaven, they said. The kind of treasure that could grant immortality, unimaginable power, or a lifetime supply of virgins (depending on who you asked). In reality? It was just a gleaming excuse for idiots to kill each other.


    A week ago, it had crashed into the wasteland, sparking a blood-soaked festival. At first, the scum of the land worked together to fight off the wraith soldiers guarding the palace¡ªremnants of the Warlord''s cursed army. But alliances here had the lifespan of a drunk sect disciple in a brothel.


    Now, the sands were soaked with betrayal, and the Celestial Star sat at the center of it all, practically laughing at the fools dying to claim it.


    "Filthy bastards!"


    Fang Tian, leader of the ''Sanguine Serpents'', stood atop his dying mount¡ªa once-mighty serpent now leaking blood like a torn wineskin. His dark robes in shredded disgrace, his face streaked with grime, but his rage burned brighter than a phoenix on steroids.


    "You think you can rob me? Betray me?! Do you know who I am?!"


    The pirates who''d betrayed him didn''t answer. Why waste time on dead men walking? His precious ''Sanguine Serpent'', once a symbol of terror, was now a twitching heap of overcooked steak.


    "Rob you?" A voice rumbled. "Betray you? Fang Tian, you''re lucky we didn''t piss on your corpse already."


    ''Boneblade Liang'' stomped forward, a hulking mountain of muscle and questionable hygiene. His sword, a jagged monstrosity that looked like it chewed through rock for fun, hung casually over his shoulder.


    "You think your crew was loyal? Please. Even your snake hated you."


    "Ha-ha-ha."


    The rest howled with laughter.


    "Men..."


    The laughter died faster than a rookie cultivator at his first tribulation.


    Perched atop a winged lion was ''Violet Crane'', her lavender robes fluttering like she was the protagonist of some trashy romance scroll. SPLASH! Her whip crackled faintly with electric Qi, coiled at her side like a smug pet.


    "You boys and your pissing contests... It''s tragic, really."

 Chapter 107 Battle for the Celestial Star!

    "You boys and your pissing contests¡­"Violet Crane, queen of the ''Fiery Whip'' gang, lounged on her winged lion, her lavender robe draped in ways that whispered war crimes into men''s thoughts. She wasn''t a leader¡ªshe was a goddess deciding whose skull deserved her heel first.


    Below her, Boneblade Liang had Fang Tian pinned like a dog begging for slaughter. The Sanguine Serpent¡ªonce a nightmare of coiled scales¡ªlay torn open in the sand, its guts spilling out like a drunk''s bad decisions.


    Boneblade''s jagged sword, oozing poison as thick as envy, hovered over Fang''s throat. It didn''t kill clean¡ªit killed slow. Painful. Personal.


    "Your crew?" Boneblade sneered. "Dog food. Your beast? A bloody rug. You? Worm bait."


    Fang Tian spat blood, eyes darting wildly. Left. Right. Nowhere. No allies. No miracles. Just the wheezing sound of his serpent''s death rattle.


    Above them, nine gangs stood like vultures circling a rotting corpse.


    Watching. Waiting.


    They weren''t here to fight¡ªnot yet. Let Boneblade and Fang tear each other apart. Once the last one fell, they''d swarm, butcher the survivor, and strip the bones clean.


    A filthy game. Played by filthier men.


    WHOOSH!


    The whip cracked. A blur of purple and gold.


    Before anyone blinked, the ''Celestial Star fragment''¡ªa glowing meteorite the size of a fist¡ªrested in Violet''s hand. Its light spilled over her, draping her in brilliance sharp enough to carve reputations. Blinding. Impossible to look away.


    "Mine now." Your next read awaits at My Virtual Library Empire


    She tucked the star into her robes, slow enough to make every man there choke on his regrets. Her gaze swept over the crowd like a hammer.


    "Rest of you! Crawl back to your caves¡­ or stay. I could use the exercise."


    "You whore¡ª!"


    Boneblade''s grip tightened around the rotting hilt of his blade.


    This bitch. This smug, thieving bitch. She''d strolled in, snatched his prize, and left him standing there with nothing but his own rage.


    The Green Frog Gang''s leader stepped forward, his grin wide and rotting, yellow teeth jutting out like tombstones in a forgotten graveyard.


    "She''s got treasure already¡­" His eyes dragged over Violet, slimy and slow, like maggots finding fresh meat. "Let''s take her down first. Together. Then¡­ we''ll strip the rest."


    Violet''s smile didn''t waver. It grew sharper.


    "Vermins." Her voice was sweet, soft¡­ venom dripping from silk.


    Her lion growled beneath her, claws tearing lines in the sand, wings flaring wide. But it wasn''t enough. Not against the tide of blades, sweat, and filthy, grabbing hands surging toward her.


    "Take her down!" someone spat.


    And the flood came.


    Blades flashed. Bloodlust spilled. Every bastard there with one thought: Violet Crane on her knees.


    She laughed. Not a giggle. Not a chuckle. A laugh that scraped like steel against bone.


    "Alright then¡­"


    The whip cracked again, louder, sharper.


    She stood tall on her lion''s back, every inch of her a challenge.


    "You dogs want a bitch?" Her voice rang, sweet and taunting. "Then come. Let me show you how this bitch bites."


    _______


    As the battlefield raged, the wasteland turned into a bloody circus. Swords clashed, Qi flared, and pirates tore each other apart like starving dogs over a scrap of meat.


    And then¡ª


    "Ah!?"


    Violet Crane''s sharp cry rang out. In a flash, a filthy green blur leapt from the fray, snatching the celestial orb right out of her hand.


    "Hahaha! It''s mine now!" howled the Green Fog leader, holding the glowing orb above his head like it was his first kiss. His laughter boomed¡ªhigh, wheezy, and ugly enough to sterilize nearby grass.


    But it didn''t last.


    "Not so fast!"


    A hawk screamed from the sky, a flash of feathers and fury as it snatched the orb from his greasy fingers.


    "Catch that bird!"


    And just like that, grown men¡ªseasoned killers, self-proclaimed legends¡ªdescended into full-blown toddler tantrums. Blades flashed, Qi soared, and techniques exploded like fireworks in the sky. Big shots lunged at each other, shouting threats that sounded more like awkward marriage proposals.


    "Mine!"


    "Over my dead body!"


    "Your dead body wouldn''t fetch a bowl of rice in the wastelands!"


    "I''ll shove that orb where your hands can''t reach!"


    Meanwhile, the hawk zigzagged through the mess, probably wondering how it got stuck in the middle of a pornographic murder circus.


    Down below, the battlefield was just as glorious.


    Lackeys butchered each other with the enthusiasm of drunkards at a brothel brawl. Someone got stabbed for looking at another man''s sword the wrong way. Another pirate tried to steal a sword mid-swing¡ªand got split like a melon for his trouble.


    "Wow¡­"


    Su Xiaobai leaned forward, eyes wide and sparkling. "I''d pay a fortune to watch this every day."


    (A/N: Please pay! Author''s starving here!)


    Zhu Qing stared at him like he''d grown a second head. "What the hell''s wrong with you?"


    (A/N: Poor AF, T~T)


    She didn''t get it. This was just another wasteland brawl to her¡ªa tiresome, bloody mess. But to Su Xiaobai? This was art. A masterpiece of stupidity and violence. Cultivators who''d lived for centuries, acting like teenagers at their first sect dance. Absolute gold.


    Of course, Su Xiaobai''s two lifetimes combined didn''t amount to even a fraction of the madness these lunatics had survived. And it showed.


    They stood in what Su Xiaobai proudly declared was the safest spot on the battlefield: directly in front of the giant, ominous doors of the Warlord''s Palace.


    Why here? Because no one was dumb enough to get this close to the palace. Even these pirates¡ªmen who''d kill for a slice of moldy bread¡ªkept their distance.


    The Warlord''s undead generals never left the palace. That was the one unbreakable rule of the wasteland. But cross those doors? That was like asking to be turned into a human mural.


    Some pirates glanced at Su Xiaobai and Zhu Qing. Their gazes screamed pity¡ªor maybe they were just wondering if the two of them had death wishes kinkier than most brothel contracts.


    "Idiots," one muttered, shaking his head before diving back into the battle.


    Zhu Qing rolled her eyes, her contempt dripping like sweat on a pig. "Fools. They''ve been living in this wasteland for years and still don''t get it."


    She waved dismissively at the massive palace doors, like she was pointing at a roadside noodle stall. "As long as you don''t step inside, it''s perfectly safe. Bunch of cowards."


    Su Xiaobai blinked at her, a bead of sweat rolling down his face. Did she seriously have to say it like that?


    Unknowingly, Zhu Qing planted the reddest flag in wasteland history.


    Su Xiaobai silently prayed that the higher-ups had even a shred of fairness. He didn''t say a damn thing! He was innocent! (Yup, sending both of you in. Talk about fairness.)


    And so it happened.


    "You men and your bickering," Long Tian rasped, barely able to sit upright. "The star is mine. Kneel now, and save yourselves the embarrassment of dying on empty stomachs." S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Somehow, the celestial orb landed on the dying Long Tian''s hand. Bloodied, coughing, and half-dead, he still managed to clutch it and laugh like he''d just won the lottery.


    "Now that''s a plot twist¡­" Su Xiaobai whistled under his breath. ''Author''s definitely smoking something strong today.''


    Zhu Qing squinted at Long Tian. Did this idiot have a death wish? He could''ve just used the chaos to escape! Instead, here he was, practically waving a ''stab me'' flag in a sea of murderers.


    "Fang Tian, pass it to me! I''ll save your life!" Violet Crane''s smile turned radiant, her charm cranked up to eleven, like a goddess offering salvation¡ªif salvation had strings attached.


    "Save him?" Boneblade Liang sneered, staggering forward, "Idiots! I''ll kill both of you! Then I''ll take the star and his head!" Blood poured from the stump where his arm used to be, dripping like a broken faucet, but his rage kept him standing.


    "Ha-ha-ha¡­"


    Fang Tian broke into hysterical laughter, his bloodied teeth flashing as he clutched the star. "Save me? Kill me? Bastards! Every single one of you! What makes you think any of you deserve this!?"


    Violet''s eyes narrowed, her charm fading into irritation. "You want to lecture us about deserving? You''re barely alive, you moron. Just hand it over before I snap your spine like a twig."


    Boneblade staggered closer, dragging his sword as he snarled, "Spine? I''ll slice him open like a pig and dig the star out myself!"


    Fang Tian''s grin widened. Blood dripped from his chin, but his voice rang loud and clear: "Shut up. All of you. Fight, die, kill each other¡ªI don''t care!"


    And then¡ª


    GULP!


    Before anyone could react, Fang Tian tilted his head back and swallowed the fragment of the star whole.


    The battlefield froze.


    "Did¡­ Did he just eat it?"


    Boneblade blinked, his fury momentarily replaced by disbelief. "What kind of lunatic swallows something that could kill him?! Are you insane!?"


    Fang Tian grinned, wiping blood from his lips. "Insane? Maybe. But at least I''m not a¡ª"


    "Disgusting! You''re disgusting! Swallowing something that big? You deserve to burn!"


    BOOM!


    "AH¡ª!"


    Before Fang Tian could finish, a wave of flames erupted, swallowing him whole. His scream cut off as his skin bubbled and melted, his flesh cooked to a crisp, and even his bones turned to dust. He didn''t just die¡ªhe evaporated.


    Out of the swirling inferno, the celestial orb burst free from his liquefied remains, glowing brighter than ever.


    Swoosh~!


    It floated lazily toward toward the source of the voice like an obedient servant, as if mocking the poor bastard who thought swallowing it was a good idea.

 Chapter 108 Inside the Warlords Palace (Part 1)

    [A/N: I have split this chapter into two parts; it was too long.].


    .


    .


    BOOM!


    The orb shot up, spinning like a drunk star before slamming into an outstretched hand. A pressure followed¡ªheavy, suffocating, like Mount Tai was squatting on their chests.


    "Who is the lord here...?"


    A figure descended slow, like a god too bored to care. His flaming white robe glowed in the dusty haze. The fiery lotus beneath him spun lazily, like it just woke up from a nap. Behind him, two dozen disciples floated in formation, faces smug enough to make saints reach for alcohol.


    The pirates'' faces dropped faster than their balls. White robes. A lotus. This wasn''t just some righteous prick¡ªthis was the righteous prick.


    And they were fucked.


    Every one of them¡ªthieves, killers, has-beens¡ªhad been chased out of the mainland to rot out here. Sins didn''t matter in the wasteland. Until now. This guy had waltzed into their turf with a grin that screamed, ''I don''t need a reason to kill you, but I''ll do it anyway.''


    Still, it was their land.


    Boneblade Liang, blood pouring from his stump of an arm, stumbled forward, "I''m the lord here! What do you want, brat?"


    His voice had balls. His legs didn''t. Sure, this guy was peak Deity Transformation, but they had eight Integration Realm fighters. Together, they could kill him. Probably.


    Zhao Feng''s eyes swept the crowd, cold and calculating, like deciding which cockroach deserved to die first.


    Finally, his lips curled into a blade of a smile.


    "You? A lord?" His voice dripped venom. "You''re not fit to lick the dirt off my boots, let alone my shit."


    "..." Boneblade''s sneer cracked. His hand gripped his sword tight. "You arrogant¡ª"


    BOOM!


    Flames snaked up Zhao Feng''s arm, coiling like a predator ready to pounce. A flick of his wrist, and the inferno roared forward.


    WHOOSH!


    Boneblade raised his sword, but the flames didn''t care. They swallowed him whole. "Ah¡ª" His screams lasted a second before his body turned to ash. When the fire cleared, only a melted lump of steel remained.


    "!!" S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The pirates froze.


    Bravado? Ash. Courage? Evaporated. Bloodlust? Now puddled at their feet.


    Zhao Feng drifted forward, lotus petals spinning faster. The air around him burned, heat close enough to peel skin.


    "This is the Warlord''s Palace," he said, voice molten and bored, "Sacred ground. Drenched in the blood of saints and sinners alike. And you? Crawling filth, thinking you can steal from the heavens."


    The orb in his hand flared brighter, painting his face in firelight. "Steal this? From me? You''d have better luck jerking off a dragon."


    Weapons shook. Sweat poured. Eyes darted for exits that didn''t exist.


    "I''m Zhao Feng of the Blazing Sun Sect," he said. "The heavens demand your death... and I''m here to deliver."


    Flames roared higher, turning sand to molten glass.


    That''s when Iron Fang, boss of the Black Gale Syndicate, stomped forward. A scarred giant with a bloodstained axe, he looked like bad decisions had come to life and put on weight.


    "You righteous bastards think you own everything!" he barked, voice like gravel being chewed. "The star doesn''t belong to your sects or heavens. It belongs to whoever''s got the balls to take it!"


    Zhao Feng tilted his head, mild amusement flashing in his eyes. "Balls, huh?"


    Iron Fang spat, hefting his axe. "I''ve faced flames hotter than yours, boy. You''re just another¡ª"


    SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH!


    The lotus spun faster, petals slicing outward like a molten buzzsaw. Heat blasted forward, flames swallowing Iron Fang whole. His scream tore through the wasteland as his flesh cooked off his bones. When he hit the ground, there wasn''t even ash left to bury.


    Zhao Feng turned to the pirates, his smile sharp as a knife.


    "Who''s next?"


    No one spoke. No one moved.


    Silence. Just silence... and the smell of burning piss.


    ____


    "He looks like Zhao Mei¡­" Su Xiaobai muttered from the sidelines, his eyebrows twitching in surprise.


    Who was Zhao Mei?


    One of the few lucky enough¡ªor unlucky enough, depending on your view¡ªto enter the Xiantian Sect alongside him. Short orange hair spiked like a warning sign, dressed in the kind of dark, tight outfit that screamed bad decisions ahead. She was trouble wrapped in sex appeal and walked like she owned the place.


    Su Xiaobai had "accidentally" bumped into her a couple of times over the last month. She thought he was harmless¡ªa clown at best. She wasn''t wrong¡­ and that was exactly how he liked it.


    But the real kicker? Zhao Mei had a fire technique that used a flaming lotus. And now, here was this ''Zhao Feng,'' descending like some divine peacock, wielding the same tricks.


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    "He''s her great-uncle," Zhu Qing said casually, shattering Su Xiaobai''s thoughts.


    Su Xiaobai blinked. "Great-uncle?" His eye twitched. That chick already had an elder in another sect and still joined Xiantian? He sighed, shaking his head like a disappointed parent. "Nepotism''s alive and well, huh?"


    "Blazing Sun Sect is a tier below Xiantian," Zhu Qing added, probably trying to justify the girl''s sect-hopping.


    "Not my problem," Su Xiaobai muttered, shrugging. "Not my girl, not my sect. Why care? I''m just here for the fireworks." His lips twisted into a smile. "Though, if someone snatched the orb from that pompous idiot right now, that''d make my day."


    Scree!


    "What the¡ª?!"


    The universe, apparently, had been listening. The hawk from earlier swooped back, claws shinning, and snatched the orb like it was collecting overdue rent.


    Zhao Feng lunged, flames roaring, but¡ªclang!¡ªthree figures appeared in black, their weapons flashing as they blocked his advance. All peak Integration Realm.


    "Who the hell are you?!" Zhao Feng roared, his flames flaring.


    Another party.


    Su Xiaobai''s jaw hung open. ''You''ve got to be kidding me. What''s next, the emperor himself showing up for this stupid orb?''


    As if summoned by his words, slow clapping echoed across the battlefield. A man stepped forward, his black robes immaculate, his face obscured like some low-effort spy.


    Clap. Clap. Clap.


    "Good work, everyone," the newcomer said, voice dripping with self-importance.


    "¡­"


    Su Xiaobai''s face twitched. Oh, great, he thought, deciding to put his storytelling instincts to the test. ''A late-entry boss character. Let me guess: he''s here for the orb, he''s got some connection to the royal family, and he''s about to make everything more complicated. Bet he also has a tragic backstory that no one cares about.''


    "Leave the orb," the man announced, flexing dramatically. "By order of the prince, it belongs to us. Unless, of course, you''d like to defy the royal family."


    As if to hammer the point home, his aura exploded outward¡ªpeak Deity Transformation Realm.


    Bingo.


    "Prince?!" someone squeaked, their voice cracking like a cheap plate dropped on stone.

 Chapter 109 Inside the Warlords Palace (Part 2)

    "Prince?!" someone squeaked, their voice cracking like a cheap plate dropped on stone.The royal family? Already? Faces turned pale, guts shriveling faster than a eunuch in winter.


    Su Xiaobai raised an eyebrow. Prince? Wei Jun wants the star fragment? That wasn''t in the damn script. What''s next, Bai Yujian herself showing up to recite poetry and demand tea?


    Not that it didn''t track. Zhu Qing had spilled all about the celestial star fragment. Star Qi¡ªrare, potent, and hyped harder than a brothel with free drinks. It could forge weapons, make pills, or give those pompous alchemists something else to jerk themselves off about. A treasure like this? It could flip cities upside down.


    Even Wei Jun, the lady boy of the royal family, couldn''t resist licking his chops for it.


    Not that Su Xiaobai blamed him. He wanted it too. The fragment could whip up a Star Essence Pill, and with that, his Star Slayer God Arts would jump two stages. His fingers twitched at the thought. ''Maybe I''ll play nice in the capital¡­ you know, after I break the prince''s face and call it a "negotiation."''


    But fate? It had other plans.


    "Humph!"


    Zhao Feng''s eyes flashed, before narrowing with a sneer. Like he''d spotted some cosmic ''scam'' no one else got. He didn''t explain. Didn''t bother with words.


    BOOM!


    Lotus flames roared from his palm, exploding skyward like a dragon''s tantrum.


    Scree¡ªBOOM!


    The hawk didn''t stand a chance. One second it was soaring; the next, it was roasted mid-flight. Feathers turned to ash. Meat? Gone.


    "What are you doing?!" the prince''s lackey shrieked, his voice trembling like a boy catching his first beating. "Stop him¡ª!"


    Too late.


    The celestial star fragment tumbled from the sky, slow and heavy, like fate itself was flipping the bird to everyone watching. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Not good..."


    Thump!


    It landed. Squarely.


    In Su Xiaobai''s hands, like the universe itself had decided, ''Here, you deal with this mess.''


    "..."


    "..."


    And just like that, all eyes snapped to him.


    If earlier he''d been a fly on the wall, now he was the centerpiece. Hundreds¡ªno, thousands¡ªof eyes locked onto him. Wide, angry, calculating. Like a pack of starving wolves who''d just realized dinner was sitting right there.


    "..."


    Su Xiaobai blinked. "Well¡­ shit."


    "Fool! Hide behind me!" Zhu Qing snapped, her face pale as death. She could already see the future¡ªthis bastard was about to get skewered, roasted, and maybe turned into a human pincushion by half the battlefield.


    "Kill him!"


    One command, and the crowd erupted. Pirates, disciples, beasts¡ªeveryone lunged at Su Xiaobai like he owed them money. Swords screamed through the air, fiery techniques lit the battlefield, and flying beasts dove, snapping and snarling for blood.


    Zhu Qing''s chest tightened. Her eyes darted around, frantic, as she braced herself to shield him. She cursed silently, wondering which past life''s sins had chained her to this disaster.


    But before she could act¡ª


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    Su Xiaobai''s voice was calm. Too calm. Like a man about to ruin her day. His hand grabbed her waist.


    "What the hell are you¡ª?!"


    She barely finished the sentence before Su Xiaobai ''spun her around,'' pulling her close as a wall of attacks bore down on them.


    BOOM!


    The impact slammed into Su Xiaobai''s back like an angry god''s hammer, sending both of them rocketing through the air. Zhu Qing screamed, her vision spinning as they hurtled straight toward the Warlord''s Palace gates.


    And then¡ª


    CRASH!


    The massive gates of the palace buckled with a thunderous groan, swinging wide open to swallow them whole. Inside, dust and echoes filled the palace halls as the duo skidded to a stop.


    Outside, silence fell.


    Pirates, disciples, and beasts froze mid-step, staring slack-jawed at the now-open gates.


    "..."


    One pirate pointed a trembling finger at the palace. "Did... Did they just walk in?"


    Another disciple, trembling, whispered, "The attacks didn''t crush them? How is that possible¡­?"


    A voice, low and hoarse, sent shivers through the crowd. "The undead generals¡­"


    At that, the color drained from every face.


    The undead generals of the Warlord''s Palace¡ªTribulation Realm monsters who could crush armies with a flick of their fingers. Nobody here could survive them. Hell, no one was dumb enough to step into their domain.


    Until now.


    _____


    Inside the palace, Su Xiaobai groaned, sitting up with Zhu Qing sprawled over him. Dusting off his robes, he smilled lazily, unfazed. "You alright? Or should I carry you too?"


    "Carry me?! You¡­!" Zhu Qing smacked his chest, face red with both rage and embarrassment. "Do you have any idea how close we were to dying?!"


    "Close?" Su Xiaobai chuckled, "Relax. We''re alive, aren''t we? It''s all about the script."


    Zhu Qing glared at him, her hand twitching like she was debating between strangling him and slapping him. Before she could decide, the rumbling from the gates caught her attention.


    ______


    Outside the Palace!


    The black-clothed man gritted his teeth, rage boiling over. "This¡­ This is your fault!" he glared at Zhao Feng. "How will I explain this to the prince now?!"


    Zhao Feng''s face twisted into a sneer, his flames crackling. "My fault? That was my orb, you dog! And since when do the bastard spawn of the First Battalion Commander bark orders at me?"


    "You dare insult me¡ª!"


    "I dare?" Zhao Feng''s eyes burned with fury. "You think I care about your no name prince? He''s just a pampered peacock hiding behind his daddy''s name. And you? You''re not even a dog¡ªyou''re the flea riding on the dog''s ass.


    Without waiting for a response, Zhao Feng unleashed a torrent of flames, aiming directly at the black-clothed man.


    "First Battalion Commander''s lackey?"


    The murmurs in the crowd grew louder, the realization spreading like wildfire.


    "That wasn''t the prince?" someone muttered, stunned.


    "No," another replied, spitting on the ground. "That''s one of the commander''s dogs."


    The First Battalion Commander¡ªan illegitimate son of the king. A bastard, born from a maid''s womb, his bloodline tainted. Strong enough to lead soldiers, but too low to ever sit on the throne.


    Realizing the truth, the crowd''s restraint shattered.


    "Fuck it!" a pirate shouted, raising his blade.


    With that, the battlefield descended into mess. Blades clashed, beasts roared, and the ground itself seemed to quake as techniques exploded across the wasteland.


    The black-clothed man''s face twisted with regret. His trembling hand brushed against the hilt of his sword¡ªthe unmistakable emblem of the First Battalion Commander etched into the pommel.


    ''Damn it¡­ I forgot to switch swords!''


    His head snapped toward the palace gates. If I don''t recover the fragment¡­


    But it was too late. The battlefield roared around him, swallowing him whole in its frenzy.

 Chapter 110 Trapped in Well of Blood!

    Inside the Warlord''s Palace! S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality."Rustle ~~"


    A cold wind slipped through the suffocating dark, caressing skin like a lover with icy hands.


    A man was on top of a woman. His weight pinning her down. Her hands braced against his chest. Their stained clothes hugging tightly, damp with sweat, blood, and who-knows-what else.


    Blood pooled between her legs.


    Or rather¡­ beneath them, seeping from the floor itself¡ªmuddy, sticky, and thick with the stench of iron and rot.


    Zhu Qing''s face was a storm cloud. Wet. Filthy. Pinned by a smirking fool whose breath was far too close to hers. And this fool? He was still grinning like they''d just rolled out of bed after a night of passion instead of crashing into this gods-forsaken death pit.


    They didn''t even know when¡ªor if¡ªthey''d die here.


    And he thought this was the time to joke?


    "Mind letting go?" Su Xiaobai asked, his voice tinged with dry amusement, as if he weren''t the one sprawled on top of her.


    Her glare sharpened, colder than the biting air around them. "You''re the one on top of me."


    Her hands were braced firmly against his chest, pushing him back with enough force to suggest that if it wouldn''t kill them both, she''d shove him straight through the floor.


    "Hey, hey, I have a delicate heart, okay?" Su Xiaobai said, flashing a smile as though the situation amused him. "If you press like that, it might stop beating. Not that I blame you¡ªI know the effect I have on women."


    "..." Zhu Qing glared at Su Xiaobai, her hand twitching like she was deciding whether to scold him or shove his head into the blood-soaked floor until he stopped talking.


    "Grrrr ~~"


    Before she could decide, a low rumble rolled through the floor, interrupting her murderous contemplation.


    "!" Her head snapped up.


    The sound didn''t come from behind¡ªbut above.


    Darkness stretched above them, vast and endless, like the gaping maw of some celestial beast. The torchlight flickering pitifully against the walls cast jagged shadows, but the room remained mostly hidden.


    Circular. Tight. Damp.


    Less ''palace'' and more ''death pit built by a sadist with too much free time.''


    "What is this cursed place¡­" Zhu Qing muttered as she stood, shoving Su Xiaobai off her without so much as a glance. The words were sharp, filled with disdain, her gaze sweeping the blood-slick floor and scary surroundings.


    Su Xiaobai landed on his feet, unfazed, already looking around like a bored tourist in a cursed death trap.


    A couple of skeletons were sprawled across the floor, their brittle bones half-buried in the mud and blood. He gave one an idle nudge with his boot, his lips twitching as if already plotting something evil.


    Zhu Qing, however, wasn''t paying him any attention. Her gaze shifted to the walls, narrowing like a hawk spotting prey. Something clicked in her mind, sharp and sudden.


    "This is a trap..." She muttered, stepping forward. "This formation... It''s suppressing both spiritual and physical strength. We''re meant to rot here. Slowly."


    "Or," Su Xiaobai said, crouching by a lonely skeleton, "we could make new friends. Look at Skully here, still hanging around after death. Loyal. That''s rare." He yanked up the skeleton''s arm, waving it at Zhu Qing with all the enthusiasm of a street vendor hawking fake talismans.


    "He says hi. Go on, don''t be rude."


    "..." Zhu Qing''s expression? Ice. The kind that could freeze fire.


    "What?" Su Xiaobai shrugged, the skeleton''s hand still in his grasp. "I just saved your life. A little gratitude wouldn''t hurt. Maybe a kiss on the cheek? Or a ''thank you, Su Xiaobai, for being the most amazing shield I''ve ever had''?"


    Zhu Qing said nothing. Her glare screamed ''you''re one brain cell away from a public execution''. She turned toward the walls, studying the strange symbols etched into the stone. The greenish runes pulsed faintly, their glow like the dying embers of a fire¡ªfragile, yet seething with hostility.


    "Suppressive seals," she murmured, brushing her fingers over one of the symbols. "But they''re¡­ crude. The energy flow is fractured, as if the formation''s decaying. This place is collapsing under its own weight."


    "Comforting," Su Xiaobai said, tossing the skeleton''s hand aside. "At least we''re not trapped in a perfectly functioning death pit. Now, how about finding a way out before the walls start dripping demon piss or something?"


    Zhu Qing didn''t dignify that with a response. Her fingers on the seal. It resisted her touch, humming faintly, like a stubborn door refusing to open.


    "No doors. No windows," she muttered, stepping back. "If this is meant to trap intruders, the only way out will likely require¡ª"


    "Death," Su Xiaobai interjected, grinning as he kicked the skeleton. Clank! ¡ª It clattered apart, scattering bones across the blood-slick floor. "These guys didn''t figure it out either, obviously. So what''s the plan? Stand here and die dramatically? I''m good at that, by the way."


    Zhu Qing''s brow twitched, but her gaze on him, sharp and calculating. "How did you survive that attack?"


    Su Xiaobai raised an eyebrow, his smile widening. "Why? Finally falling for me?"


    "Curious," she replied, her arms crossing over her chest. Her voice was calm, but her eyes bored into him, "You shielded the entire blast. I could have done it, but I wouldn''t be standing right now, let alone joking about skeletons."


    For a moment, Su Xiaobai said nothing. Then he smiled¡ªthe kind of grin that made people want to punch it off his face. "Let''s just say I''m built different. And tougher than I look."


    Zhu Qing''s eyes narrowed, cool but piercing, her scrutiny like a blade hovering over his neck.


    Su Xiaobai stretched casually, rolling his shoulders as if completely oblivious¡ªor maybe just immune¡ªto the pressure. "Relax, Peak Lord Zhu. If I can survive that, I can survive this. Worst case? We die together. Very romantic."


    Zhu Qing stared at him blankly, her expression exhausted.


    Not that Su Xiaobai cared. No way was he spilling the truth about his so-called "invincible body." Let them keep guessing. Let them overestimate him. The more they feared what he might be capable of, the less they''d dare to challenge him.


    As for surviving? He''d have done that anyway. He always did. Somehow. He''d died before¡ªor at least, he thought he had¡ªand come back to life in a different world, a different time. Not unscathed, of course, but alive.


    Weakness wasn''t Su Xiaobai''s style. It wasn''t part of the brand. So he plastered the grin back on, the sharp edge returning. "Anyway, if I die first, I''m coming back to haunt you. Naked. Every night. You''ll love it."


    Zhu Qing sighed, her fingers twitching as if debating whether strangling him would solve their current predicament¡ªor just make it more satisfying. "We''ll decide this later," she said coldly, her gaze flicking toward the dark void above. "For now, focus on staying alive


    "Fine, fine," Su Xiaobai said, rolling his eyes. "But let''s agree now: if either of us gets eaten by a skeleton army, the other one has to write something nice on the gravestone. Maybe ''Died Pretty'' for me. And for you¡­" He trailed off, smiling. "Let''s just say I''ll carve something fitting when the time comes."


    "Carve that a disciple choked an elder to death with his words," Zhu Qing muttered, smiling faintly.


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    Her eyes darted around, scanning for the undead generals of the Blood Warlord. Those monstrosities could appear at any moment. And if they did? She already knew how that would end. Even at her full strength, a fight against them wasn''t survival¡ªit was stalling death.


    They continued their search for an escape.


    Well, Zhu Qing did.


    Su Xiaobai? He''d already figured out the secret to this little death trap.


    There was no exit.


    Yup, it was tailor-made to kill intruders. Physical strength? Sealed. Spiritual strength? Also sealed. Zhu Qing had tried using her immortal vessel''s natural power to leap out, only for the trap to slam her down with gravitational force so overwhelming it might as well have laughed at her effort.


    Now, he was just passing time. Maybe a solution would pop into his head. Or maybe he''d stumble across a tear in the void he could slip through. Nope. Not even a whisper of dimensional instability.


    Just the faint sound of dripping water.


    Slow. Rhythmic. Obnoxiously loud.


    For the first time, Su Xiaobai genuinely felt he might die here. Alone. With Zhu Qing. It had only been a few hours, but the suffocating silence made it feel like eternity.


    "Ugh! This filthy, disgusting palace!"


    Zhu Qing collapsed onto her back for the eleventh time, wincing as she cradled her bruised hand. Her attempts to jump out were taking their toll, and her patience had long since snapped.


    "Didn''t know you had it in you," Su Xiaobai said, chuckling as he leaned against his lonely skeleton companion. "I thought righteous sect types didn''t curse at all."


    "Ha-ha~ Not funny at all," Zhu Qing snapped, glaring at him as she wiped blood off her face and robes. "Mind doing something useful? Or should I ask Elder Bai to increase your punishment by a hundredfold when we get back?"


    "Bold of you to assume we''re making it back," Su Xiaobai quipped.


    Zhu Qing ignored him, her lips pressed into a thin line as she tried to clean herself. The cold air stuck to her like a second skin, carrying the metallic tang of blood that seemed to forever pool around them in patches¡ªnever drying, always splashing no matter where they stepped.


    She hated it. Every bit of it.

 Chapter 111 Escaping!

    Zhu Qing hated it. Every bit of it.Centuries of studying formations and she was still trapped here, helpless against a crude design like this.


    "Hey, hey," Su Xiaobai said, squinting at her. "Don''t wipe so hard. Your skin''s going to come off at this rate."


    "I hate blood!" Zhu Qing gritted her teeth, her movements becoming even harsher.


    Su Xiaobai raised an eyebrow, leaning casually against the wall. "Yeah, well, so does everyone. But you should be used to it by now, right? Pretty sure you''ve got a decent kill streak."


    "I do," Zhu Qing snapped, her glare shifting to the blood splattered across the floor as though it were her mortal enemy. "But I hate it splashing on me."


    Su Xiaobai tilted his head, curiosity glinting in his eyes. "That''s cute, but the splashing? Really? That''s¡­ oddly specific."


    She didn''t answer immediately. Her gaze darkened, the irritation in her expression curling into something deeper. Something bitter. "It''s when the bad things start."


    "Bad things?" Su Xiaobai asked, arching an eyebrow.


    Zhu Qing''s voice softened, barely above a mutter. "The formations let me fight from a distance. No mess. No blood. Not like that freak Bai Yujian." She paused, her hands tightening around the hem of her sleeve. "She carves people apart with her sword, drowning in the blood herself. I don''t¡­" She shook her head. "I don''t like it."


    "Ah," Su Xiaobai said, his tone half amused, half thoughtful. "So that''s why you didn''t take up the sword. Too much splatter."


    Zhu Qing glared at him.


    "What?" he said, hands raised defensively. "I''m not judging. Just didn''t expect Peak Lord Zhu to have a phobia of messy kills. Guess that explains why you''re not a walking tornado of limbs and blood."


    Zhu Qing, "..."


    Su Xiaobai chuckled softly, his eyes glinting with mock sympathy. "Well, good thing I''m here to brighten the mood. Otherwise, you''d be stuck with nothing but this lovely ambiance and your homicidal thoughts. Cheer up. At least the skeletons aren''t judging you."


    Zhu Qing sighed sharply, dragging her hand across her blood-smeared face. The sticky mess stuck to her fingers, smearing more than it cleaned. "I don''t know how you''re still joking in this disgusting pit," she muttered, glaring at the filth splattered across her robes.


    "Disgusting? Nah," Su Xiaobai said, grinning as he leaned back against the wall. "I think it''s cozy. Got blood, skeletons, and free ambiance. What''s not to love?"


    Zhu Qing''s patience snapped. Her sharp glare turned deadly, but before she could say anything, she pulled the celestial star fragment from her robes¡ªthe same one he''d shoved into her hands earlier.


    Fwoosh!


    The fragment burst to life, its blinding brilliance flooding the chamber and casting jagged shadows across the blood-slicked walls.


    "Hey¡ªcareful!" Su Xiaobai squinted, shielding his eyes. "You''re going to blind me!"


    Zhu Qing ignored him. Tap! Tap! Her footsteps clicked against the blood-splattered floor as she marched toward him, the fragment''s light illuminating her icy expression.


    She grabbed his collar, yanking him close until they were nearly nose-to-nose. The fragment''s heat pressed against his forehead, and her glare burned hotter than the light. "You want to brighten my mood?" she hissed. "Go ahead. Do it¡ªbefore I smash this thing over your head."


    Su Xiaobai froze, the usual smile slipping off his face for a fraction of a second. Then he coughed, feigning composure. "Careful. I''m fragile."


    "Humph!" Zhu Qing snorted, shoving him backward with enough force to send him stumbling. Thud!


    "Staring at my back isn''t going to get us out of here," she snapped, turning her back on him with a sharp flick of her sleeves.


    Su Xiaobai blinked, "Well, to be fair, you do have a distracting backside. Hard not to stare when it''s right there, covered in all that blood¡­" His eyes wandered lower, noting how each step sent those perfectly separated mounds bouncing, almost taunting him. Truly, a masterpiece.


    "You little¡ª" Zhu Qing whirled around, her eyes flashing with fury.


    Su Xiaobai raised his hands in mock surrender. "What? It''s a compliment!"


    "Quiet!" Zhu Qing snapped, hurling the glowing fragment at him.


    Whoosh¡ªThunk!


    He caught it mid-air, his eyes widening in disbelief. Quickly, he slipped the fragment into his spatial ring, cradling it protectively. How could she treat something so valuable like trash? Discover hidden tales at My Virtual Library Empire


    For a brief moment, guilt flickered across his face. He had been staring¡ªnot entirely on purpose. Totally instinctual. Not his fault at all.


    Clearing his throat, Su Xiaobai straightened and declared, "I have a plan."


    "!?" Zhu Qing spun around, stunned. Had she misheard? "What did you just say?"


    "I can get us out of here," Su Xiaobai repeated, his tone casual, almost smug. "But you''re not going to like it."


    "I don''t care! Just get us out already!" Zhu Qing''s irritation flared. "If you had a plan this whole time, why haven''t you used it yet?"


    "Well¡­" Su Xiaobai rubbed the back of his neck, his grin widening mischievously. "It involves blowing ourselves up."


    "Blowing ourselves up?" Zhu Qing froze, her thoughts stumbling. A soft chuckle slipped out, sharp with disbelief. "Have you¡­ cultivated the Dao of Idiocy?"


    "Yup." He nodded, completely unfazed. "It''s simple. I plant a big enough explosive under us, and we ride the blast straight up. Same way we came in, right? Down got us here, so up should get us out. Simple."


    Zhu Qing''s face dropped. For a moment, she didn''t know whether to laugh or cry. "You want us to detonate ourselves? Insane..!"


    "Only a little," Su Xiaobai replied with a shrug. "But it''ll work. Trust me."


    "Trust you?! That''s suicide!" Zhu Qing snapped, fists clenched as she glared at him. Trust this lunatic who thinks blowing himself up is a strategy? ''The heavens must be laughing at me!''


    "Not necessarily." Su Xiaobai''s grin widened, his voice lowering into a conspiratorial whisper. "I''ve got a few tricks up my sleeve. You''ve noticed, haven''t you? I always survive."


    Her eyes narrowed as realization dawned. This brat¡­ he''s hiding something. Some secret trick that keeps him alive, no matter what happens.


    Zhu Qing exhaled sharply, her gaze narrowing with skepticism. "...But we''d need a massive explosive for something like that to even work. And I don''t have one lying around."


    Everything in her spatial ring required spiritual energy to activate¡ªuseless in this suffocating trap.


    ?????


    Su Xiaobai''s lips curled into a slow, devilish grin. It was the kind of smile that promised chaos, and Zhu Qing, an experienced cultivator who''d seen too much already, felt a flicker of unease.


    "You have something, don''t you?" she said, her voice calm but edged with suspicion.


    _____


    Minutes later, Zhu Qing''s suspicions were confirmed as she stared at the massive barrel Su Xiaobai had pulled from his spatial ring. Her eyes flicked to the glowing red skull painted on its surface, its ominous hue practically screaming ''run.''


    "Is that what I think it is?"


    "Relax," Su Xiaobai said, sprawled across the barrel like it was the most comfortable chair in the world. "No spiritual energy required. Just a little spark, and this baby does the rest."


    Zhu Qing folded her arms, her tone dry. "That barrel is practically announcing danger, and you want to use it to blow us sky-high?"


    "Exactly." He patted the barrel fondly. "It''s genius, isn''t it?"


    Her gaze sharpened. "And where, exactly, did you get something like that?"


    Su Xiaobai grinned wider. "Ah, that''s a story. Back before I could cultivate, I had to get creative. The place I came from? Let''s just say they really know how to blow stuff up. I replicated it, improved it, and boom!" He gestured grandly at the barrel. "Smoke bombs, flashbangs, and these beauties. Enough firepower to turn a city into a memory."


    Zhu Qing snorted faintly, her lips twisting into a mocking grin. "A heretic before you could even cultivate. How in the nine heavens did you end up in the Xiantian Sect?"


    This man was a contradiction wrapped in chaos. A heretic in a righteous sect¡ªlike her, but somehow worse. And before he could cultivate? What kind of star-forsaken backwater had produced him?


    "Cough, cough," Su Xiaobai cleared his throat, his grin faltering for the briefest moment. "I''m righteous at heart, okay? Don''t slander me."


    "Righteous?" Zhu Qing raised an eyebrow, her tone dripping with disbelief. "And yet here you are, hugging a barrel of doom, ready to blow us sky-high. Should I start calling you Saint Su? Or Demolition Daoist?"


    "Well, technically¡­" Su Xiaobai scratched the back of his neck, laughing awkwardly. "Explosions are neutral. It''s how you use them that matters. Pure righteousness, if you think about it."


    She shook her head with an exasperated sigh. "I don''t care what you call it. Just don''t let Bai Yujian see these things."


    Her voice dipped slightly, carrying an edge of caution.


    "Bai Yujian?" Su Xiaobai tilted his head. "What''s the big deal? Sure, she''s got that intense sword-aura thing, but she can''t be that bad."


    Zhu Qing''s gaze darkened as her thoughts drifted. If only he knew.


    The Bai Yujian of today was restrained, focused on sect survival, her infamous reputation dulled over the last couple of centuries. But before that? Zhu Qing could still hear the blood-soaked whispers of the Dark Sparrow Sect''s purge, when Bai Yujian''s blade danced through their ranks like a vengeful storm.


    For centuries, she had been the nightmare of heretics and dissidents alike, her sword carving stories that parents used to frighten their children. Now, she mostly stayed in the sect, her worries tied to greater threats. But Su Xiaobai¡­ He didn''t know. He''d arrived centuries too late to see the full extent of her madness.


    And he was lucky for it. If he''d stumbled into the Xiantian Sect a few centuries earlier? He wouldn''t be standing here, grinning like a fool.


    "Sigh..." She muttered, shaking off the thought. "You''ll find out one day. If you live long enough."


    Without further words, she climbed onto Su Xiaobai''s back, pressing herself firmly against him. The position was¡­ intimate, but practicality overrode modesty in a place like this.


    Her hands brushed his shoulders as she adjusted, her body fitting snugly against his. ''Too much skin contact,'' she thought fleetingly, but it couldn''t be helped. The Blood Warlord''s minions were likely waiting above. Whatever madness waited, Su Xiaobai''s strange invincibility would be her best shield.


    "Once we''re out of here," she began, her voice steady and commanding, "stay close to me. If the undead generals show up¡ª" sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Shk!


    The sharp scrape of stones shattered the silence.


    Her eyes widened. "Wait¡ª!"


    BOOOOM!


    The explosion tore through the chamber like a wrathful beast, swallowing her words in a deafening roar.


    "Woo~! I''ve always wanted to do this! Hahaha!"


    Su Xiaobai''s gleeful cry rang out, his laugh echoing through the rising inferno like a blade.


    "Explosion Dao Sect, here I come!"


    Flames erupted in all directions, the air turning into a blistering furnace.


    Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!


    The heat licked at Zhu Qing''s exposed skin, searing even from behind him. She gritted her teeth, the sheer force of the blast throwing them upward with brutal momentum.


    This villain, Su Xiaobai¡­ was actually enjoying this!


    Ugh. What karmic debt did she owe to end up with him?


    BOOM!


    The explosion roared below, a final shockwave hurling them into the suffocating darkness. Rustle~~ Flames licked at her feet before an icy gust of air swept down her back.


    The chill wasn''t comforting¡ªit was the breath of death itself, vast and open, like they were being swallowed whole by its slobbering jaws.


    Zhu Qing''s instincts flared, her body tensing. The oppressive sensation wrapped around her like the spectral claws of something ancient and hungry.


    The undead generals¡­


    Her grip on Su Xiaobai tightened. Whatever awaited them above wasn''t welcoming them into freedom.

 Chapter 112 Two Great Rivers!

    The Hall of the Blood Warlord¡­Vast. Gloomy. Unholy.


    Pillars, thick as a dragon''s thigh, clawed toward a roof hidden in shadows. Their surfaces wept with carvings of¡ªheaps of bodies, rivers of blood, and twisted creatures kneeling before an unseen horror.


    The air was suffocating with the copper tang of spilled blood and something fouler... as if the Hall itself had been steeped in death for millennia.


    At the far end stood two colossal doors. Black. Silent. Shut.


    Massive and unyielding, they devoured the faint light around them. Bone and sinew coiled across their surface, forming omnious shapes¡ªwarriors kneeling, blades dripping crimson, and a faceless figure at the center... its void-like gaze promising death.


    Beneath the doors sat a fountain.


    Not of water.


    A thick, viscous red spilled from the mouths of screaming faces carved into the fountain''s edges. It pooled in a basin, bubbling faintly as if alive. Blood? Qi? Or maybe the remains of fools who had dared to knock on those doors.


    And to the right¡­


    A hole.


    A jagged, gaping wound in reality. It stretched endlessly, its edges rough and raw, as if the Hall itself had been ripped apart by a vengeful hand. From its depths, red mist coiled like restless vipers, hissing and writhing as if daring anyone to come closer.


    RUMBLE.


    The Hall quaked as the hole spat fire¡ªwild, hungry flames that surged forward like a predator let loose.


    Whoosh¡ªBOOM!


    A deafening roar split the Hall as the fire vomited out two figures, flinging them across the air like discarded trash.


    Su Xiaobai and Zhu Qing.


    WHOOSH!


    They shot through the flames, limbs flailing like drunks on their first flying sword ride.


    "Hold on!" Zhu Qing''s voice rang, sharp and commanding.


    She spotted the jagged edge of the stone floor and didn''t hesitate. Grabbing Su Xiaobai''s arm mid-air, she twisted their momentum sharply, redirecting their trajectory.


    CRASH!


    With a hard thud, they crashed near a towering pillar, rolling across the blood-slicked floor.


    Su Xiaobai groaned, sprawled out like a corpse, "Ugh¡­ Next time, can we not ride the mouth of hell? Or at least get a better landing strategy?"


    After rolling three and a half times¡ªyes, he counted¡ªhe finally sat up, shaking soot from his hair. His eyes scanned the Hall, and his expression soured.


    Scary walls? Check. Giant demon pillars? Check. Massive murder doors with a side of creepy fountain? Double check.


    "This," he muttered, wiping soot off his face, "is exactly where we should''ve landed. Not that shitty pit."


    Zhu Qing clutched her arm, wincing as she sat upright. Her robes were torn, streaked with ash, blood, and something that smelled suspiciously like regret. "From now on, you''re banned from making plans!"


    Su Xiaobai glanced at her, raising an eyebrow. Sure, she looked pissed, but her passive healing was already at work, and her reinforced robes had done their job.


    Still, her tone screamed murder. Discover exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire


    "Hey," he said, shrugging lazily. "Not my fault my creative plans always work... eventually."


    She shot him a glare that could''ve peeled paint off a sword. "Eventually, I''m going to stab you."


    Su Xiaobai grinned, lying back against the pillar. "Make sure you aim for the good parts. Wouldn''t want you ruining the goods."


    Zhu Qing straightened, her expression darkening as she started walking toward him with deliberate steps.


    "Fuck¡­" Su Xiaobai''s grin faltered. Why was this woman so vengeful? A heart of a demon, no doubt.


    For a moment, a fleeting thought crossed his mind. Should I off her? Permanently? Now would be the perfect time¡­


    But before his imagination got too creative, Zhu Qing walked right past him without so much as a glance, heading toward the massive doors at the far end of the Hall.


    "Uh¡­ I think we should be looking for an exit," Su Xiaobai called after her, confused.


    Zhu Qing didn''t even bother to respond, her focus entirely on the doors. The faster they got out, the better. "There are no exits in the palace," she said flatly. "Anyone who enters can only leave with the Blood Warlord''s permission. But since he''s dead¡­"


    Su Xiaobai''s stomach sank. "We''re stuck," he muttered. That explained why those pirates hadn''t dared to touch this place, no matter how many treasures it promised. What good was treasure if you couldn''t leave with it?


    Zhu Qing, "We need to find the Blood Warlord''s throne. If there''s anything that can release us, it''ll be there."


    She planted her feet and pressed her hands against the massive doors, putting all her strength into pushing them open. The stone groaned but didn''t budge. "Argh..." Zhu Qing grit her teeth, her arms trembling slightly, but it was no use.


    "How strong was this Warlord, exactly?" Su Xiaobai asked, his eyes darting around the Hall. The sheer size of the place was enough to make his skin crawl.


    Zhu Qing stepped back, her expression grim. "During his final battle, his strength reached the Human Immortal Realm."


    "..."


    Su Xiaobai''s face darkened. "The Human Immortal Realm? And you didn''t even think twice before dropping me into this godforsaken wasteland...?"


    For a moment, he genuinely wondered if this woman was secretly trying to murder him.


    Why does everyone want to kill him? Xiao Hei, that brat, had tried it. Twice. Now her? Was it his face? His charm? His undeniable talent?


    Zhu Qing turned to him, a faint, knowing smile tugging at her lips. "What''s wrong, Little Villain? Feeling scared now?"


    Scared? She didn''t think this man could even comprehend the meaning of fear.


    "Humph." Su Xiaobai restrained a chuckle, brushing off her words like dust on his robes. "What''s there to fear? Strong or weak, everyone dies in the end. Even the heavens can''t protect you from that."


    (?????????), Zhu Qing frowned, confused by his sudden confidence, but turned her attention back to the door. The veins running across its surface pulsed faintly, feeding into patterns she couldn''t decipher.


    Nearby, the fountain''s crimson flow shimmered ominously.


    "The Blood Warlord didn''t design this place for fools," she muttered, running her hand along the cold stone walls. "Even warriors bearing his token had to pass through here. To open this door, they would''ve needed¡­ something. A ritual. A mastery of blood qi."


    She glanced at the fountain, then at the veins on the door, her mind working for a solution.


    ____


    Su Xiaobai crossed his arms, leaning lazily against the blood-soaked door. He watched Zhu Qing fumble with the mechanisms like a blindfolded fool searching for a needle in a swamp.


    Sharp? Sure. Experienced? Maybe. But she didn''t truly understand this place. Not its veins. Not its pulse.


    She didn''t know the Dao.


    Not like he did.


    The Dao... It wasn''t something you learned, or something you held. It was everything. Vast. Infinite. So immense it pressed against the world like an iron weight, shaping life, death, and the chaotic mess in between. It wasn''t kind. It wasn''t cruel. It didn''t care.


    The Dao was the shadow every warrior chased¡ªand the trap every fool fell into. It was said to split into ''two great rivers'': the Dao of Righteousness and the Dao of Evil.


    The righteous believed in the heavens, in karma and justice. They thought the Dao was a holy flame, meant to burn away chaos and forge the world anew. Their path was sharp and clean, like a sword cutting through lies. They liked words like ''honor'' and ''balance''. But in the end? Their swords broke, just like everyone else''s.


    The heretics saw things differently.


    They called the Dao a mirror, reflecting heaven''s true nature: cold, indifferent, uncaring. They believed heaven didn''t mourn the dead or praise the righteous. The only truth was power¡ªtaking it, keeping it, drowning the weak in it. They weren''t wrong. But they weren''t right either.


    These weren''t philosophies. They were roads. Roads carved from broken bodies, paved with rivers of blood.


    Zhu Qing''s former path, the Devil''s Path, was one of those roads.


    It was tied to the law of slaughter, the most famous law in the lower realms. Killing to survive, surviving to kill. Simple. Brutal. And disgustingly popular among heretics too foolish or desperate to grasp the bigger picture. It worked because it was easy. Slaughter didn''t need enlightenment¡ªit just needed a sword.


    And the righteous hated it for that simplicity.


    But the Blood Warlord? His road wasn''t simple. It wasn''t clean.


    The Path of Life. At first glance, it sounded noble¡ªhealing, restoring, preserving life. But no one talked about the screams that came with it. His mastery of blood law wasn''t a gift; it was domination. Control. His will could heal an army with a whisper¡ªor reduce it to crimson mist with a single thought.


    The Blood Warlord didn''t walk the Path of Life. He made others crawl along it while he stood above, holding their veins hostage.


    And yet, there were darker paths still. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Abyssal Path, tied to destruction, where annihilation wasn''t just a method¡ªit was an obsession.


    The Path of Corruption, where souls and bodies were twisted into puppets, toys for the strong.


    And the Path of Sin¡­


    Ah, the Path of Sin. The forgotten road. The erased road.


    It wasn''t just feared¡ªit was gone. Removed from memory, as if the heavens had reached down and said, "this is where we draw the line". No one practiced it anymore, and those who dared¡­ They didn''t just fail.


    They didn''t just die. They fell apart, body and soul, as though heaven itself had decided their existence was an insult.


    But all of these paths, no matter how vile or virtuous, were drops in the same ocean. Each law¡ªwhether slaughter, blood, or destruction¡ªwas a sliver of the Dao''s vastness. To master one was to inch closer to understanding the ultimate truth: the heavenly Dao.


    And the heavenly Dao?


    It didn''t give a damn about righteousness or evil. It didn''t care about saints or sinners, heroes or monsters.


    In the lower realms, the divide between righteousness and heresy ruled everything¡ªsects bled for it, clans died for it.


    But that was the ignorance of mortals clawing at shadows.


    To ascend beyond the Great Ascension Realm, to step into the realm of true Human Immortals, meant breaking through that divide.


    The Blood Warlord had done it¡ªhe hadn''t just grasped power; he''d begun touching the strings of the bigger picture.


    The heavenly Dao.


    It didn''t care if you walked, crawled, or dragged yourself through the muck. It didn''t care how much blood you spilled or how much virtue you clung to.


    All that mattered was how far you were willing to go¡ªand whether your legs would break before you reached the end.


    ____


    Zhu Qing stood before the door, her gaze conflicted as she inspected the veins. "This place is steeped in the Blood Warlord''s path. The law of blood and life..."


    Su Xiaobai leaned against the door, his fingers tracing the veins. He could feel it. Faint but undeniable. The flow of blood qi, pulsing faintly beneath his touch.


    "Blood," he murmured.


    Zhu Qing turned to him, frowning. "What?"


    "This door¡­ It''s alive," Su Xiaobai said, motioning toward the fountain. "If we want it open, we need to feed it. Blood is the key."


    Zhu Qing crossed her arms, her gaze skeptical. "And how, exactly, do you know that?"


    Su Xiaobai shrugged lazily, a grin tugging at his lips. "Lucky guess."


    "..."

 Chapter 113 Predatory Elder Zhu!

    "Lucky guess.""¡­"


    Zhu Qing rolled her eyes. A slow curl of her lips. Sharp. Mocking.


    This brat¡­ Su Xiaobai didn''t even know how to properly refine Qi, yet here he stood, acting like the heavens owed him a favor. Amusing? Sure. Useful? Rarely. To think he might one day surpass her? Bitter. Laughable. Infuriating.


    "Let''s hope your guess doesn''t get us both killed," she muttered, dipping her hand into the fountain.


    Splash~! The blood was thick. Warm. Sticky. It stuck to her fingers, refusing to let go... Sliding between them like a drunken lover, insistent and messy.


    Her lips twisted in disgust.


    She smeared the blood onto the door''s veins¡ªcarved ridges that snaked across black stone, coiled and intricate like something alive.


    "Come on¡­" she breathed, voice dropping. Her palm moved, slow and deliberate. A tease. A coax. "Open up for me."


    Nothing.


    The veins stayed cold. Dark.


    Her brow twitched. Her smile thinned. She pressed harder, dragging her hand with all the care of a courtesan working a stubborn patron. Still, the veins refused her.


    "Not even a twitch?" she muttered. Irritation flared. She dragged her hand across again¡­ harder this time. Nothing.


    Again.


    And again.


    The veins pulsed faintly¡ªonly to spit the blood back. A quiet rejection.


    Behind her, Su Xiaobai leaned against the wall. Silent. Watching. His eyes darted between her, the door, and the fountain. The quiet stretched... unbearable.


    Zhu Qing clenched her jaw.


    "Problem?" Su Xiaobai''s voice broke the silence, smooth and low. His smile curled, sharp as a knife.


    She flicked her hand, blood splattering the ground. "Problem is this thing has no taste," she snapped. "I''ve tried everything short of selling my soul, and it still won''t open."


    Su Xiaobai straightened, stepping closer. His gaze lingered on the door¡­ the veins¡­ the endless fountain spewing crimson.


    Then he grinned.


    Slash.


    The sound of blade slicing flesh was soft¡­ clean. Blood welled on his fingertip, dripping onto the metallic veins.


    Zhu Qing crossed her arms. Smiling. "You do realize I already tried this, right? The door doesn''t like handouts."


    WHOOSH!


    The veins shuddered.


    A deep, pulsing red spread through the ridges, glowing like molten fire. The grooves came alive, twisting and writhing like snakes tasting fresh meat.


    The air trembled.


    The door groaned. Ancient gears shifted, grinding against time itself.


    Zhu Qing blinked. The faintest flicker of surprise cracked through her mask.


    Su Xiaobai turned. That smug grin. He didn''t need words¡ªhis face said it all: See that? Who''s lucky now?


    Discover more content at My Virtual Library Empire


    "¡­Huh." Zhu Qing stepped forward, studying the glowing veins. Her eyes narrowed. "Curious. It seems the door prefers... unpolished offerings." Her smile returned. Slow. Wicked. Sharp.


    "Unpolished?" Su Xiaobai leaned lazily against the door, "If you''re calling that ''standards,'' then we''ve got a bigger problem than I thought."


    The smile on Zhu Qing''s face slipped. "It''s still not fully open, though."


    Su Xiaobai shrugged, his bloodied finger tracing a glowing ridge. "These doors don''t open for just anyone. Blood''s just the handshake¡­ the door won''t embrace you unless you''re worth it."


    He nodded at the fountain. Its endless cascade of blood shinning in the dark, "That thing? A cheap distraction. If its blood worked, this place would already be crawling with idiots. Doors like this? They want something real. Something... alive."


    Zhu Qing''s gaze sharpened, glinting with danger. "Alive, huh?"


    "¡­"


    She studied him in silence, her brow arching slightly. This man¡­ His ability to treat death like a punchline should have annoyed her. And yet... it didn''t. It intrigued her.


    The sigh escaped before she could stop it. Tossing him off the ship should have humbled him, driven some sense into that smug skull of his.


    Clearly, it hadn''t.


    Now, thanks to his antics, they were staring down a door that fed on blood as greedily as a demon feeds on fear.


    She glanced at the veins, throbbing greedily. Even if they both bled themselves dry, she doubted it would be enough. The door didn''t just take. It demanded.


    Tip¡­ Tip¡­


    The sound dragged her attention back.


    Her eyes narrowed.


    This idiot... Su Xiaobai, had pulled out a folding chair (why in the hells did he even own one?) and sat himself down. His wrist hung lazily over the veins, slit open, blood dripping freely onto the glowing ridges.


    "Su Xiaobai," Zhu Qing said coolly, stepping closer. "Have you lost what little sense you had?"


    "No," he replied flatly, his eyes fixed on the door.


    "Fool." Her fingers closed around his arm, her grip like steel. Snap. She yanked it aside, her voice low and sharp. "Do you think you''re immortal, or are you just tired of living?"


    "??" Su Xiaobai blinked at her, startled. Then his lips curled into a smile. "Peak Lord Zhu, I didn''t know you cared. Or are you just feeling guilty for tossing me off that ship?"


    Zhu Qing''s eyes narrowed, her grip tightening briefly before letting him go. Her voice was soft, but every word carried weight. "If I wanted you dead, I wouldn''t have wasted time teaching you a lesson."


    "Lesson not learned, then." Su Xiaobai rubbed his arm, "Now, if you don''t mind, I do have a plan. And yes, I can grow back limbs¡ªand blood."


    Zhu Qing''s gaze flicked to his wrist. The wound was already closing, the skin knitting itself back together as if mocking her. Then, without hesitation, he slashed it open again.


    Splash!


    Blood flowed, pooling in the grooves like wine poured for a thirsty guest.


    Her expression didn''t waver, but her eyes... There was something oddly satisfying about watching his body defy logic.


    Crude. Slow. But effective.


    She tilted her head, her lips curving faintly. "Your body really is like an unkillable pest."


    Su Xiaobai snorted, leaning back in his chair with lazy arrogance. "Pest? You wound me. Cockroach, maybe. But pests don''t survive this long."


    Her smile sharpened. "Survival isn''t proof of worth, Little Villain. Even weeds thrive in ruins."


    His laugh was soft, almost genuine. "And yet, I''m the one doing the work. You''re welcome."


    "Work?" Zhu Qing''s gaze flicked to the glowing veins, now brighter than before, then back to him. "Bleeding yourself out like livestock isn''t work. It''s desperation." Her tone was calm, detached. "But by all means, carry on. I''ll intervene when you start looking pale."


    Su Xiaobai gave her a flat look. "Appreciate the concern."


    "Concern?" Zhu Qing chuckled, low and smooth. "Hardly. If you keel over, I''ll just toss your body at the door and see if it takes the rest of you."


    Su Xiaobai, "..."


    He stared at her, deadpan. Zhu Qing met his gaze, her face perfectly composed... until it cracked.


    Laughter spilled from her lips¡ªrich, soft, and entirely unguarded.


    "Enough."


    Her laughter faded, sharpening like a blade. Her eyes rested on him. Calm. Searching. A flicker of curiosity burned beneath her iron mask.


    "These little abilities of yours¡­ Who else knows?"


    "¡­"


    Su Xiaobai stared at her blankly, then sighed. "Do I look like an idiot who''d go around flaunting my abilities?"


    "Mm..." Zhu Qing almost nodded. She wanted to.


    This man¡­ Beneath the cocky smirk and casual charm, there was something else. Something sharper. Something dangerous.


    The way he sat there, so at ease, so unbothered, only made her more uneasy. He didn''t just hide his cards¡­ He buried them deep, under layers of wit and arrogance.


    And now, there was this.


    First, that strange skill. The one where nothing¡ªnothing¡ªcould harm him. Invincible Body, he called it. A joke of a name¡­ but it wasn''t funny.


    Now, his healing.


    The wound on his wrist was already gone. Clean. Smooth. Perfect. She''d seen lesser cultivators crawl to their graves with injuries half as severe. Yet here he was. Cutting himself open again, blood spilling like wine, and smiling through it all.


    Her eyes narrowed.


    Tip¡­ Tip¡­


    The blood fell, feeding the veins. The grooves glowed brighter, throbbing with life.


    Zhu Qing''s fingers twitched. She almost warned him. Almost told him to stop showing off, to stop flashing these abilities like a brothel sign on a stormy night. But no¡­ That wasn''t necessary. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This bastard¡­ He was hiding his hand better than a thief.


    Su Xiaobai''s smile didn''t waver. But inside, he felt anything but confident.


    These abilities¡­ He''d always had them. Gifts from his Demonic bloodline. Gifts no one respected. Invincible Body? Trash. It barely lasted a breath. Immortal Vitality Dormant.


    But now¡­


    His Qi had changed everything. The Invincible Body shielded him longer. The Immortal Vitality burned brighter. And the third¡­ The one he hadn''t revealed yet.


    Infernal Flames.


    Hotter than hell. Deadlier than poison. Even Zhu Qing and Bai Yujian didn''t know about it. And he planned to keep it that way.


    Zhu Qing''s eyes on him. For a moment, she considered speaking. A warning? A lesson?


    No.


    There was no need. This cockroach was careful. Too careful. He wasn''t about to show off for free.


    Her lips curled into a faint smile. Sharp. Cruel. "Hide it well, Little Villain¡­ The wolves will come when they catch the scent of blood."


    Su Xiaobai''s face darkened. "And what about the wolf in front of me¡­?"


    Her shadow drew closer. Closer. Her face leaned in, smiling. Disarming. Yet there was no romance in her gaze. No warmth.


    "This wolf just needs a little of your¡­"


    Su Xiaobai, "¡­"


    Every nerve in his body screamed at him to run. Flee. Escape.


    Something was wrong. Very wrong.


    ____


    A few minutes later, Su Xiaobai found out exactly how wrong.


    ''Thirsty bitch!''


    The first sensation was a tingling.


    Strange. Wrong.


    Her lips pressed against his skin, soft and warm, but the way her tongue moved...


    Slurp... Slurp...


    Slithering. Twisting. Wet. Like a snake curling around its prey.


    Molested. That was the word. It was as if she was violating him.


    Hot. Wet. Slurping sounds filled the air. Each one a sharp, sticky sound against his discomfort.


    "Don''t complain," Zhu Qing murmured, her voice a sultry hum against his skin. "Once I regain my strength, I could break these doors like matchsticks."


    Su Xiaobai chuckled dryly, though it felt more like a gasp. "And what technique for regaining strength involves sucking me dry?"

 Chapter 114 Blood Transfusion!

    "And what technique for regaining strength involves sucking me dry?"Zhu Qing didn''t answer.


    She simply grabbed his chair, yanked it closer, and dropped herself onto his lap like she owned him.


    "Hiss~!"


    Su Xiaobai stiffened. Something stirred within him, sharp and primal. Definitely not comfortable.


    Zhu Qing, utterly shameless, seized his arm with the grip of a predator. Cold. Firm.


    Then her lips pressed against his skin.


    Warm. Wet. Wrong.


    Slurp...


    Her tongue slithered, curling and flicking, tracing circles that were far too deliberate. The obscene, wet sounds of sucking¡ªsticky, slurpy, loud enough to haunt his dreams.


    The sensation shot up his spine, molten, like he was being violated.


    "¡­"


    Su Xiaobai stared at her, his mind caught between horror and¡­ something else he''d rather not name.


    ____


    The truth, of course, wasn''t what it seemed.


    Zhu Qing was cursed. A Blood Curse, coiled in her veins like a venomous snake, suffocating her Qi, blocking her dantian. Bai Yujian''s handiwork.


    The solution? Drain her cursed blood and replace it with something pure. Something alive.


    Unfortunately for Su Xiaobai, his potent blood was the perfect antidote.


    Her wrist flicked. Splash! Black blood, thick and clotted, spilled onto the floor like sludge. Without hesitation, she latched onto his arm again, her mouth moving with an unsettling hunger.


    His blood flooded her veins, warm and electric. Her body didn''t just accept it¡ªit devoured it.


    When she pulled back, her lips were stained crimson, her tongue flicking out to savor the taste. Her smile was slow. Sharp. Shameless.


    "Don''t mind me," she murmured sweetly. "Your blood''s surprisingly¡­ delicious."


    Su Xiaobai blinked. "So, you''re just draining me dry because it''s convenient?"


    "Convenient?" Zhu Qing tilted her head, smiling like the devil. "Hardly. If I wanted to be efficient, I''d drink straight from the source."


    He froze.


    "¡­"


    Then deadpan: "Source? You mean¡­"


    Her gaze flicked downward, playful and pointed.


    Su Xiaobai''s face darkened¡ªnot at her words, but her gaze. It wasn''t on his face. Sitting on him, her weight felt like a mountain pressing him down. Her strength wasn''t just physical; it dwarfed his. Even without Qi, if they fought¡­ he wasn''t sure he''d win.


    She laughed, rich and indulgent, like she was enjoying a private joke. "Relax, Little Villain. I don''t bite¡­ hard."


    He glared at her, deadpan.


    She ignored him completely, slicing her wrist again. SPLASH! More blackened blood oozed out, pooling at her feet in thick, clotted streams as his life essence replaced it.


    The ritual was slow. Precise. Far too intimate.


    "You know," Su Xiaobai muttered, trying to reclaim some dignity, "for someone so proud, you''re surprisingly shameless."


    Zhu Qing chuckled, her tone dripping with amusement. "Pride doesn''t save lives."


    ____


    Su Xiaobai wanted to shove her off. Wanted to demand answers.


    But his eyes flicked to her aura, steadily rising like a phoenix clawing its way from the ashes. Her cursed blood drained away, replaced by his vitality.


    It wasn''t concern. Definitely not.


    It was strategy.


    She owed him now.


    "Fine," he said grudgingly. "But I''m keeping track. You''ll owe me interest."


    Her lips curled into a wicked grin. "Oh? Careful. I might charge you for the privilege."


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes narrowed. This woman was enjoying this far too much.


    Fine. Two could play this game.


    "Humph¡­" He leaned back, smirking. "Then raise the charge and suck it directly from my mouth."


    Zhu Qing''s laughter spilled out, bright and unbothered. "From your mouth? Bold. But you''d need to cut your tongue first."


    Splash!


    Her words barely landed before Su Xiaobai moved. Quick as a snake, he leaned forward, brow arched, his grin smug and triumphant.


    Got you.


    "¡­"


    Zhu Qing''s face twitched. Her little act crumbled like a broken kite. Arrogant? Not anymore. If she was shameless, this bastard was the goddamn emperor of it.


    "Huh!?"


    Or so Su Xiaobai thought.


    Have you heard of a wolf above a wolf? Well, there was always an elder above a disciple.


    Her slender hands slammed onto his shoulders.


    Thud!


    The little ''innocent'' chair beneath him gave up on life, collapsing to the ground. Before Su Xiaobai could react, her weight bore down on him, pressing him into the cold, unfeeling stone like a bitch in heat.


    Her flawless face above his, wild and dangerous. Too close. He could see the subtle green hue in her eyes.


    Then her lips met his.


    He didn''t have time to process.


    She didn''t just kiss him¡ªshe fucked him with her tongue.


    Her lips crushed his, hot and hungry. Her tongue invaded his mouth, curling and stroking his like it had every right to be there. Wet. Insistent. She sucked blood straight from his tongue, each pull deep and deliberate, as if milking him dry.


    Their tongues clashed like swords in an ancient duel, wet noises echoing obscenely in the shadows. Her taste hit him¡ªdark lilies and danger, laced with the metallic tang of his own blood.


    His body reacted before his brain could stop it. A heat coiled low in his stomach, traitorous and lustful.


    ''Damn this bastard...''


    Zhu Qing felt his lower body stiffen beneath her, the faint hitch in his breath, the dilated pupils. That look.


    Her lips twitched. She wanted to bite him, to smash that smug expression into the ground. But no.


    The work wasn''t done yet.


    Her cheeks burned faintly, but she ignored it. This wasn''t about him¡ªit was about survival.


    "Haah...!" She broke the kiss, her tongue flicking over her lips to savor the blood she''d stolen. Then, with zero hesitation, she dove back in.


    Slurp! sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This time, it was rougher. Her teeth grazed his lips, her tongue plunged deeper, claiming every corner of his mouth as if she wanted to scrape the essence right out of him.


    Her hips pressed hard against him, pinning him further as her body greedily drank in his vitality.


    ____


    For Su Xiaobai, it was chaos.


    The heat coursing through him was unbearable, his blood boiling as her lips claimed him. Her weight, her scent, the way her tongue invaded him¡ªit was too much.


    Worse, his body betrayed him. Heat coiled low in his stomach, pooling like molten iron. A traitorous, primal response that only fanned the flames of his frustration.


    And yet¡­ he couldn''t stop.


    "Fucking hell¡­" he muttered against her lips, his voice hoarse.


    "Mmmghhh!?"


    Zhu Qing blinked, confused for a moment¡ªuntil his hand gripped the back of her head, fingers tangled in her hair. He yanked her closer, pressing her hard against him. Before she could react, his burning tongue dove into her mouth, sweeping deep and forceful.


    ''This bastard¡ª!''


    Her eyes widened, her face flushing crimson. Did this bastard think he could dominate her?


    His other hand slid down her body, shamelessly gripping her thigh. Soft. Warm. Spongy under his fingers, like nothing he''d ever held before.


    Snap!


    Zhu Qing slapped his hand away, her eyes blazing. Her lips parted, glistening red from their clash, but her glare burned like fire.


    This man¡­ Did he think she was his to claim?


    Her lips, sweet as forbidden fruit, her mouth even sweeter¡ªthose were privileges no man had dared take. Yet here he was, greedy enough to push further.


    What an audacious rat.


    She wanted to deal with him. Smash him into the ground, humiliate him until he crawled.


    But not yet.


    For now, she just needed to finish what she''d started.


    Her lips crashed back onto his with renewed intensity, her tongue sweeping to reclaim dominance. Blood flowed between them, her cursed veins greedily absorbing his vitality.


    They didn''t even notice when the glow began.


    Zhu Qing''s body surged with power, her strength returning like a tide. And yet, it wasn''t just her. A faint light enveloped them both, threads of energy binding them together like strings on a puppeteer''s stage.


    Something was changing. Something neither of them could control.


    But Zhu Qing didn''t stop. She couldn''t.


    For now, she would take what she needed. Later, she''d crush this bastard for daring to want more.


    _____


    Above the Grand Hall of the Warlord''s Palace, high in the sky¡ª


    "What¡ª?"

 Chapter 115 Fairy in a Wasteland!

    Above the Grand Hall of the Warlord''s Palace, high in the sky¡ª"What¡ª?"


    Bai Yujian''s serene facade cracked, her lips twitching. She had been seated on the jade deck, all grace and control, as she picked at Su Xiaomei like a vulture circling a carcass.


    "How long has your brother been here?"


    "Does he talk about¡­ what he''s left behind?"


    A pause. Then, softer:


    "¡­Or who?"


    Su Xiaomei''s lips tightened. Her answers were clipped, polite. Just sharp enough to warn.


    "I don''t know."


    "No."


    "Should he?"


    Her tone was polite. Polished. But the edge cut deep. She wasn''t about to hand her brother over on a silver platter. Especially not to this¡­ whatever Bai Yujian was pretending to be.


    Bai Yujian''s smile lingered, soft and syrupy. Like poison honey. Or a cat deciding if it wanted to bat at its prey or swallow it whole.


    Su Xiaomei didn''t blink. She wasn''t prey. Not today.


    BOOM!


    Abruptly ¡ª the airship jolted, the sky cracking like thunder in the heavens.


    Bai Yujian''s tea rippled. Stilled. Her expression soured like she''d just bitten into a rotten peach.


    The connection to Zhu Qing. Snapped.


    What... just happened?


    "¡­"


    She rose, smooth and deliberate. The air chilled. Her robes settled like falling snow¡ªsoft, silent, but heavy enough to crush bones.


    "Stay here," she said, her voice cold and lazy. Like she wasn''t giving an order but stating a fact of nature. "Don''t leave the ship."


    No glance back. No room for argument.


    Su Xiaomei arched an eyebrow as Bai Yujian stepped off the deck.


    She didn''t fall. She floated. Drifted down like a feather¡­ or like a goddess descending to smite a mortal or two.


    Su Xiaomei exhaled. Long. Slow.


    "¡­Stay here?" she muttered. "Where does she think I''m going? The nearest exit is death-by-falling, and I''m not interested."


    Her gaze wandered. Half out of habit. Half out of curiosity.


    The teacup wobbled. Tipped.


    The tea spilled¡ªexcept it didn''t.


    The liquid froze mid-air. Droplets hung, glimmering like the ship was scattering golden pearls into the sunlight.


    Her breath hitched.


    The droplets¡­ reversed. Slowly. Lazily. They curled back into the cup, sliding as though time itself had decided it was her servant for the day.


    Her chest tightened.


    It happened too fast, but she saw it. Her reflection. Her eyes gleaming¡ªsilver. Like cold fire, there and gone.


    "¡­Did I just¡ª?"


    The teacup wobbled again.


    This time, it fell.


    Crash!


    Shards scattered across the deck, tea splattering into a pathetic, lifeless puddle.


    Su Xiaomei stared at the mess, her hands curling into fists. Her lips stayed neutral. Her mind didn''t.


    What the actual hell was that?


    Something was changing inside her. Slipping loose. Twisting. She didn''t know what it was¡ªor how to stop it.


    Was that¡­ time? Did I freeze it? Reverse it? Both?


    Her pulse thundered in her ears. The jade beneath her feet felt colder now.


    She straightened, dragging air into her lungs. The truth was unavoidable.


    Whatever just happened¡­ wasn''t an accident.


    And it was only getting worse.


    _____


    On the ground, near the Warlord''s Palace¡ª!


    The battlefield was a bloodbath.


    Steel clashed. Bones snapped. Blood soaked the red sands, painting the earth like it was bleeding. Pirates from the Chi Xie Wasteland tore into desperate cultivators, while wraith soldiers hovered at the edges like spectators to a barbaric show.


    It wasn''t just pirates.


    Treasure hunters flooded in, drawn by rumors of fortune. One by one, cultivators arrived¡ªsome from the wasteland itself, others from far-off lands. They came seeking riches and left as corpses, dragged into the battlefield like moths into a flame.


    The dam holding the wasteland''s fragile peace had shattered. What spilled out wasn''t just violence¡ªit was madness.


    Even the wraith soldiers seemed hesitant to join.


    As though they were thinking: Animals. Worse than us. And they call us monsters?


    The slaughter dragged on, raw and animalistic.


    Until¡ª


    FWOOOOOSH!


    The sky lit up.


    Blinding light swallowed the wasteland, so brilliant it made the blood-streaked dawn look dull. Shadows vanished, the crimson sands glowing gold. Warriors froze mid-swing, shielding their eyes as confusion rippled through the battlefield.


    "What¡­ is that?"


    For the first time, silence blanketed the carnage. Even the dying stopped screaming, their gazes snapping to the heavens.


    The wasteland sky was always black and red. Dark and cruel.


    From when did it start birthing suns?


    Zhao Feng, elder of the Blazing Sun Sect, froze. Blood dripped from his shoulders, but he didn''t notice. His heart thundered as he squinted at the heavens.


    Beside him, Lei Shoushan, a black-clad warrior with a royal sneer, spat into the dirt.


    "Did¡­ did the Ancestor arrive?" Zhao Feng whispered, trembling. Awe filled his expression. "Have my deeds¡­ truly moved the heavens?" Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Heaven itself must have noticed him! Surely the Ancestor of the Blazing Sun Sect had descended, touched by his righteousness!


    Lei Shoushan barked a laugh. "You?" He sneered. "Heaven doesn''t even know you exist."


    "..." Zhao Feng shot him a glare but held back. No need to sully his divine image before a deity.


    The light didn''t fade, but confusion replaced awe.


    From the heavens, a lone figure descended.


    A woman.


    White robes fluttered as she drifted down, her feet touching the air with the grace of a falling petal. Her sharp eyes swept over the battlefield, drinking in the blood and red sand. Her expression remained cold. Detached.


    A predator sizing up its prey.


    Her gaze shifted to the Warlord''s Palace, distant but clear. Zhu Qing''s energy, faint, flickering like a dying flame. Her Blood Curse¡ªgone.


    And Su Xiaobai? Vanished.


    Bai Yujian''s lips pressed into a thin line.


    Ants.


    Her eyes flicked back to the battlefield. The cultivators. The pirates. The endless carnage.


    What are they fighting for?


    "Explain yourselves¡­ Pirates of the Chi Xie Wasteland."


    It wasn''t loud.


    It didn''t need to be.


    The words rolled through the silence like thunder, soft but heavy, rippling like a blade slicing through water.


    Zhao Feng''s face froze. He blinked, smoothing his robes with stiff hands, feigning nonchalance.


    "Not my problem¡­" he muttered. His voice was tight. Too tight. He wasn''t a pirate. Whatever punishment was coming? Not his problem.


    He wasn''t stupid, though. If this had been his ancestor, maybe things would be different. Unfortunately, it wasn''t.


    Some other cultivators, outsiders from beyond the wasteland, edged closer to him, their smug expressions a shield of false confidence. They were content to watch, certain it wasn''t their mess to clean up.


    But the pirates?


    The pirates laughed.


    "Explain myself?" one of them sneered, dragging a blade across his toungue to clean off the blood. "This is Chi Xie, fairy. We fight. We drink. We fuck. We kill. You want a problem with that?"


    Another pirate barked a laugh, his teeth yellow and sharp. "Go home, princess! This ain''t some dainty tea party!"


    Bai Yujian''s eyes narrowed. Her lips curved slightly, her smile sharp enough to draw blood.


    "Is that so¡­?"

 Chapter 116 Complete Obliteration!

    Bai Yujian''s eyes narrowed to slits sharper than her blade. Her lips curved into a smile so wicked it could peel the skin off a demon''s face."Oh? Is that so¡­?"


    ZIIIIIIINGGGG!


    The heavens didn''t wait for anyone''s opinion.


    The sky tore apart like cheap paper under a cleaver, light exploding from the gash like the universe had a grudge. And then it appeared.


    Not a sword.


    A goddamn monstrosity.


    The blade stretched so far it might as well have been a second horizon, its edge gleaming with enough malice to split reality in half. Mountains? Meh. They''d be kindling. Warlord''s palace? Just a crumb in its shadow.


    The battlefield reflected faintly in its surface, like it didn''t even care about the ants beneath it.


    Zhao Feng''s knees buckled, rattling like an old man''s dentures in a hurricane.


    "Holy¡­ sun¡­" His voice cracked like a chicken finding out it was dinner.


    Above that colossal slab of death, tens of thousands of swords popped into existence, shining like celestial fireflies with a bad attitude. Zing~ Zing~ They buzzed like angry hornets, each blade singing its intent to ruin someone''s day.


    Each one was six feet tall. The perfect size for digging six-foot-deep graves.


    The pirates froze faster than dumplings in the freezer.


    One scrawny bastard with a face paler than tofu coughed, trying to laugh. "Wha¡ªwhat the fuck¡­ is this?"


    A soft, ethereal voice echoed through the wasteland, calm as a lake before a tsunami.


    "Eternal Sword Rain."


    The first sword fell.


    BOOM!


    The ground didn''t just shake¡ªit threw a tantrum. Sand, blood, and god-knows-what else erupted in a blinding plume as the blade hit, reducing a whole pirate squad to red mist.


    And then it began.


    FWOOOSH! FWOOOSH!


    The sky unloaded, swords raining down like the heavens had decided: "Screw it, let''s delete them."


    Each blade slammed into the ground with the force of a pissed-off comet, skewering pirates like kebabs at a bad barbecue. Screams ripped through the battlefield as bodies were split, squashed, or pinned like sad little bugs on display.


    The tofu-faced pirate''s voice cracked like a chicken getting stuffed in a stew. "That''s not a blade! That''s a¡ªa celestial punishment with delusions of grandeur!" He stumbled backward, clutching his chest. "Who even brings a weapon big enough to slice reality to a pirate raid?! I just wanted to loot some grain! ¡ª ACK!"


    A sword silenced him, splitting him clean in two.


    "NO! Nope, nope, nope!" Barked a burly pirate who looked like he bench-pressed cows. He threw his sword to the ground and raised his hands. "I surrender! I''ll become a farmer! I''ll¡ª" FWOOOSH. A sword bigger than his dreams crashed down and turned him into ground beef.


    Another pirate, barely able to hold his sword, dropped it and screamed, "I''M TOO GOOD-LOOKING TO DIE!" His face hit the dirt right before a blade slammed into him with a sickening splurch.


    Another one flung himself face-first into the sand. "If I bury myself, they can''t hit me! Genius! Absolute¡ª" Smash! A blade bigger than his life expectancy turned his brilliant plan into a smoking crater.


    "Mercy!" shouted a skinny fellow with wild eyes, chucking his blade away like it was cursed. "I''ll be a monk! I swear on my great-grandma''s ashes¡ªACK!" A blade sliced clean through him, leaving a faint scorch mark where he stood, shaped like a thumbs-down.


    But the pi¨¨ce de r¨¦sistance?


    One particularly dramatic pirate climbed onto a rock and shouted at the heavens: "I AM IMMORTAL!" He spread his arms wide, a crazed grin plastered on his face. For a split second, it seemed like he believed it too. That was, until three swords slammed into him at once, pinning him like an ugly coat rack.


    Lei Shoushan''s face twisted like someone had shoved a lemon down his throat. He spun toward Zhao Feng, eyes blazing with fury.


    "This is your fault, you brainless turd! I told you not to antagonize her!


    "I DIDN''T SAY ANYTHING!" Zhao Feng yelped, trying to shield himself with his sleeve like that would help. "Blame these filthy pirates!"


    Lei Shoushan sneered, stabbing a finger at Zhao Feng. "Shut up, you spineless worm. You''re the kind of fool who farts in the wind and blames the weather. If we live, I''m going to¡ª"


    CRUNCH.


    The swords weren''t here to talk poetry.


    A blade the size of a small house speared Lei Shoushan straight through the chest, cutting him off mid-threat. As he staggered, blood pouring from his mouth, he croaked, "I die¡­ a hero¡­"


    "WHAT HERO?!" Zhao Feng cackled, his laugh high-pitched and nervous as his flying Lotus shot away at full speed. "YOU DIED SCREAMING AT ME!"


    He tried to escape, but his luck was as bad as his speed¡ªwhich is to say, nonexistent. Tripping over a corpse, he barely managed to dodge one blade before another came down, lopping his leg off cleanly.


    "ARGHH!"


    ____


    Above the wasteland, Bai Yujian floated like a goddess who''d had enough of mortals and their bullshit. Her expression? Not even a twitch.


    The pirates? S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Oh, they died. Messily. Screaming, begging, and crying like toddlers who''d lost their candy. Their bodies piled up in heaps, staining the black sand red.


    As for the cultivators who''d smugly stepped back earlier? Yeah, they ran.


    They ran like their asses were on fire, learning firsthand what it felt like to have the heavens decide your life was a mistake.


    "Fucking hell¡­" one of them muttered, his voice shaking as he bolted like a scared rabbit. "This is worse than facing a Warlord''s undead general!"


    Bai Yujian didn''t bother chasing. She didn''t need to.


    Her cold gaze swept over the bloody battlefield, calculating and calm.


    "Break their spirits first," she murmured, voice soft enough to send shivers down anyone''s spine. "Leave a few alive to talk. Then take what you need."


    Mercy?


    For pirates?


    Not in this lifetime. Not in any.


    But as the blood kept pooling¡ªseriously, it was starting to look like someone overturned a barrel of red paint¡ªBai Yujian realized she had a problem. She had skewered every last screaming bastard, and yet thousands of swords still hovered above, all shiny and ready to strike.


    She sighed, one hand lazily brushing a stray hair from her face. "Maybe I should''ve just thrown one sword," she muttered. "Oh well."


    "..."


    "..."


    "..."


    The battlefield seemed to roll its eyes at her words, now eerily quiet save for the crackle of burning corpses and the occasional squelch of someone stepping in guts.


    But elsewhere? Oh, shit was brewing. No swords, no screaming, just an array was lighting up¡ªbuzzing, crackling, and ready to throw hands in the loudest, flashiest way possible.


    ____


    Back in the Warlord''s Palace!


    [Starfall Obliteration Array]


    SWOOSH!


    The array lit up like the gods had just dumped a cauldron of molten gold onto the ground. Star-shaped patterns spiraled out, blazing and endless, carving into the stone floor like the claws of a lover dragging across bare skin.


    CRACK!


    The power surged, splitting a massive stone pillar like a toothpick caught in a tantrum.


    BOOM!


    The explosion sent shards flying in all directions, a deadly storm of debris. The air sizzled with heat, the taste of destruction sharp on the tongue.


    Zhu Qing stood in the middle of it all, untouchable. Not a speck of dust dared stain her pristine white robe. She was a storm in human form, calm yet blazing with strength. Her lips curved in that damned sharp smile that could probably kill someone at twenty paces.


    Her eyes darted to Su Xiaobai, mischief glinting in their depths.


    See that, Little Villain? her gaze seemed to taunt. This is power. Watch closely and take notes, because you''ll never reach this level.


    Su Xiaobai nodded. He wasn''t dumb enough to argue. After all, the earlier kiss? Yeah, no. That didn''t happen. It had been wiped from history, scrubbed from the records of heaven and earth.


    ¡­Mostly.


    His gaze flicked to the floor, refusing to meet hers. Because despite his best efforts, the memory clawed at the edges of his mind like a feral beast. He could still feel her, every soft, perfect¡ª


    FOCUS.


    He shook his head, banishing the thought. Now wasn''t the time to mentally throw himself into a pit of regrets (or revisit the image of her lips for the thousandth time).

 Chapter 117 Tiny Fang! Adorable!

    "Sigh¡­"Su Xiaobai exhaled, slow and heavy, like a condemned man savoring his last moments of peace. The calm didn''t feel earned¡ªit was the calm of a fool too tired to fight fate anymore.


    Beside him, Zhu Qing stood, violet lightning flickering at her fingertips, her lips curled in that infuriating almost-smile that screamed trouble.


    The same woman who once crushed him with her presence now felt¡­ manageable.


    Not soft¡ªhell no¡ªbut maybe a little less murdery.


    "What the hell changed?" he muttered under his breath, half hoping, someone would answer. Continue reading at My Virtual Library Empire


    A nasty thought whispered back: "Is it because your thing is throbbing inside her now?"


    He shoved it down. Didn''t matter. None of it mattered. Right now, there was only the damn door¡ªtowering, ancient, and smug, as though it enjoyed blocking their way.


    "How do we open it?" he asked, rubbing his temples.


    "Open it?" Zhu Qing''s voice was low, mocking. She flexed her fingers, sparks snapping like restless serpents.


    "Why open it¡­" Lightning erupted from her palms, dark and hungry.


    "¡­when I can make it kneel?"


    "..." Su Xiaobai groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "Right. Let''s skip the reasonable solutions and go straight to pissing off whatever ancient bastard built this thing. Makes so much sense."


    "Don''t be boring," Zhu Qing chuckled, raising her hands as if she were about to punch a hole in the heavens.


    BOOM!


    The dark jade ground trembled, cracks racing outward, glowing with a violent purple light ¡ª sharp, like breathing in broken glass.


    Su Xiaobai froze. His instincts screamed run, but his feet stayed rooted, heavy as lead. The formation carved into the ground¡ªit wasn''t just ominous. It was a neon sign screaming: Welcome to Hell. Enjoy your stay.


    "Hellgate Array!"


    The name hissed through his mind, dredging up every cautionary tale he''d ever heard.


    A cursed formation.


    A lock forged to keep the worst monsters of the underworld chained.


    And now, a summoning circle in the hands of a woman who clearly didn''t give a shit.


    Zhu Qing tilted her head back, hair spilling across her face like silk shadows. Just enough to tease. "What''s wrong, Little Villain? Shaking already?"


    "Shaking?" Su Xiaobai snorted. "No... just thrilled to stand on an exploding death trap with you, Miss ''Expert.'' Nothing like it. Really."


    She rolled her eyes. Almost. Her lips twitched instead. His knowledge of the array? A surprise. But grilling him could wait. Not dying came first.


    Swoosh.


    Zhu Qing crouched, her fingers gliding over the array. Slow. Precise. Every stroke shimmered like molten silver, weaving a trap delicate enough to be art... or disaster.


    "These seals..." Her tone? Too casual. Like she wasn''t summoning something hell wouldn''t miss. "They''ll keep the beast''s strength at my level. Wouldn''t want to become wall art, right?"


    Su Xiaobai raised a brow. "Oh, sure. So when it kills us, it''ll feel... dignified. At your power level. Comforting."


    She froze. Just a flicker. The glare she gave him could''ve boiled water. "Relax. It''s controlled."


    "Controlled?" He laughed. "Like your temper?"


    Her fingers twitched, but she stayed silent. Focused. As if this was normal. But summoning hellspawn? Overkill. She could just blow the damn door.


    No. She had to do it the hard way. And him? He wasn''t scared of claws or teeth. No. Worse. These things... broke rules. Laws of reality? Nothing to them. What if his Invincible Body¡ªhis trump card¡ªdidn''t work?


    Too late.


    Whoosh.


    The chamber shuddered. Air howled. Bitter. Sharp. Burnt bones and regret.


    The array lit up. Blinding. Runes twisted... coiled... wrong.


    And then...


    The air tore.


    Something stepped through. Big. Hungry.


    Reality bent to greet it. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    BOOM.


    THUD.


    The ground shook. Dust rained from the ceiling. Massive claws struck the stone, each impact like a hammer pounding reality itself. The beast rose. Slow. Deliberate. A storm of molten shadow, twisting and writhing as though the darkness itself had come alive to kill.


    Whoosh! Black and violet flames licked along its body, devouring light with every flicker.


    Then came the heads. Three of them.


    Necks arched high, crowned with blazing ruby eyes. Six orbs, burning and furious, glowing with hatred so pure it didn''t just see you¡ªit judged you.


    All six locked on Su Xiaobai.


    It didn''t move. Didn''t blink. Just stared at him. Like he wasn''t a man but an itch it was about to scratch... and tear open.


    "YOU."


    A beat. Its molten breath rolled over him, hot and rank.


    "Who dares... summon me?"


    The left head tilted, molten eyes narrowing, lips curling in disgust. "A human? This whelp calls upon the Keeper of Hells?"


    The right head laughed, low and grinding, like boulders splitting. "Pathetic... and brave. Brave enough to die."


    Su Xiaobai didn''t flinch. Barely. The thing was ten meters long, four meters tall, and radiated more bad ideas than Zhu Qing''s entire existence. What now? Let it eat him feet-first to savor the crunch?


    And Zhu Qing? Oh, she grinned. Broad and confident. Like she''d just summoned a housepet instead of the underworld''s worst nightmare.


    She clapped. CRACK! The sound echoed, like a whip across the beast''s pride. "Tiny Fang! Stop gawking at him like he''s dessert. You''re not eating that today!"


    "!?¡ª" Su Xiaobai choked on his words. His eyes darted to her, then to the beast, and back again. Tiny? She couldn''t be serious. That thing was ten meters of claws, hate, and bad intentions.


    The beast snorted, all six ruby eyes narrowing. "Humph!" Smoke curled from its nostrils in sharp, angry bursts. Tiny? Who did this woman think she was?


    But then it saw her.


    A hazy figure of defiance, white hair cascading like silver fire, staring it down with an expression that screamed: touch me and die.


    The center head blinked. Once. Twice.


    "¡­grrrr~¡­"


    The growl rumbled low, reluctant, almost embarrassed. And then, impossibly, the beast sat back, tails curling tight as though trying to contain its fury. Flames simmered along its jaws, but it didn''t move.


    Zhu Qing smiled, full of smug satisfaction. She pointed a finger at the towering door.


    "Break it."


    "Growl~!" The beast''s eyes flashed. Aggressive. Hungry.


    BOOM! It leapt, claws tearing into the air as it soared over their heads.


    THUD!


    All three heads lowered. Jaws parted wide. Flames surged from its mouths¡ªblack and white streams, twisting and spiraling like unholy serpents.


    WHOOSH!


    The flames roared, devouring, heat bending the stone like molten clay.


    Zhu Qing watched as Tiny Fang''s fire ate away at the door''s reinforced seal. She clapped, sharp and deliberate. "Good boy."


    Meanwhile, someone else wasn''t having fun. Someone was spiraling into an existential crisis.


    "Ahem, Elder," Su Xiaobai said, glaring at her like she''d upended the universe. "Care to explain?"


    Why did this woman have a three-headed apocalypse mutt as a pet? Was she the real villain of the story? Who rewrote the goddamn plot?


    Zhu Qing tilted her head, her eyes glittering mischievously. "Explain what?"


    Su Xiaobai''s face darkened. Was this woman playing dumb? How did she know this beast? Don''t tell him she was about to spin some tragic tale of rescuing it when it was small, fluffy, and injured.


    Of course, she didn''t. Zhu Qing had a hundred secrets, and she wasn''t sharing a single one. Not that Su Xiaobai could complain¡ªhe wasn''t exactly forthcoming with his own truths.


    Cultivators lived and died on secrets. Monsters like her? They thrived on them.


    The fire slammed into the door again, a endless torrent of black and white flame. The heat hit like dragon breath, forcing Su Xiaobai and Zhu Qing back several paces.


    Zhu Qing crossed her arms, her gaze fixed on the three-headed hound. "Obedient, isn''t he? Unlike someone I know."


    Su Xiaobai didn''t flinch. He shot her a sharp look. "Obedient? This mutt just stared me down like I''m its next chew toy. What do you even feed it? Cultivators?"


    "Sometimes."


    "Sometimes?"


    "A few lesser demons. A wandering soul or two. And¡­" Her voice turned sweet, the kind of sweet that dripped poison. "A sect elder who thought I''d make a good wife."


    Su Xiaobai blinked. Then narrowed his eyes, lips twitching like he might laugh. "Good to know. Note to self¡ªnever argue with you. Or marry you."


    Grrr-whoosh!


    Tiny Fang wagged its tails, sending a gust so strong it almost knocked Su Xiaobai over. He staggered, his glare locking on the beast. His jaw tightened. If it weren''t for the suffocating aura, he''d turn it into stew.


    "Pfft..." Zhu Qing stifled a laugh, her tone dripping with mockery. "Don''t look at me like that, Little Villain. Even if you begged, I wouldn''t marry you. I''m not in the market for weak men. "


    "¡­."


    Su Xiaobai chuckled, low and dark, his gaze dripping with mockery. Weak? Maybe. But marry her? Not a chance. This was the same woman who once threatened to crush her ex-fianc¨¦''s balls just to end an engagement.


    Ridiculous.


    Poor Zhao Tianxuan. That fool. Su Xiaobai had pitied him before. Now? He almost wanted to light incense for the man''s spirit.


    Yes, Zhu Qing was beautiful¡ªtoo beautiful. No sane man would deny it. She even had moments of kindness, fleeting glimpses of sweetness that could disarm anyone.


    But no beauty was worth the walking hurricane.


    He brushed off his sleeve, smirking. "Don''t worry, Elder. If I were blind, drunk, half-dead, and desperate for company in hell, you''d still be my last choice. Even the devil has standards."


    (A/N: Ahem, ?????)


    Zhu Qing sneered, her lips curling. This ''Devil'' was the same man who practically begged her to take blood from his tongue? Hypocrite.


    Men were all the same. Sigh. Get what they wanted, then act high and mighty.


    "Let''s go."


    The door was gone, reduced to molten sludge. Without waiting for a reply, she grabbed his hand and yanked him forward, her grip like iron.


    "Wait¡ª"


    BOOM!


    His protest disappeared as she launched them forward, faster than thought, faster than light.


    "Woof~!"


    Tiny Fang wagged its tails, the massive gust nearly knocking Su Xiaobai off balance again. It bounded after them, its fiery paws leaving scorch marks as they entered the core of the Warlord''s palace.


    Blood, old and blackened, was smeared across the ancient walls, flaking with age yet like a curse. Each step brought more¡ªfresh splatter atop the dry. The deeper they went, the worse it became, the metallic stench clawing at their senses.


    Zhu Qing''s expression turned sharp, her usual smile replaced by something colder. She knew what this place meant.


    There would be challenges.


    And that was why she''d summoned Tiny Fang. The three-headed hound was no ordinary beast¡ªit was a monster she had crossed paths with by sheer accident long ago. Their meeting had been¡­ eventful. A clash of claws and lightning, blood and fury. Somehow, against all odds, it had ended in an uneasy bond.


    But even she hadn''t expected what happened next.


    No one could have.


    Not in their wildest dreams.

 Chapter 118 Blood Wordlord and Its Seven Generals!

    Throne Room ¡ª Warlord''s Palace!As Su Xiaobai, Zhu Qing, and Tiny Fang crossed the threshold, the air hit them... like a slap from a spiked whip.


    This wasn''t a throne room.


    It was a battlefield. A slaughterhouse. A place so cursed even death packed its bags and moved out.


    The black jade walls pulsed. Crimson veins. Living blood. They throbbed like a predator''s heartbeat... slow, deliberate, hungry.


    Murals twisted under the dim light. Faces. Screams. Hands clawing at invisible throats. Ready to jump out. Ready to choke the nearest idiot.


    Probably Su Xiaobai.


    Above, relics dangled on chains. Rusted swords. Cracked helms. Shattered banners. They whispered... softly. Threats.


    One spear hissed as he passed. The blade glinted like a thief''s grin.


    Su Xiaobai smirked. "Friendly place. Bet the Blood Warlord himself comes out next with tea and a stabbing."


    Zhu Qing glared. She didn''t speak. She didn''t have to.


    Her eyes screamed: You''ve doomed us all.


    And, because fate loves a good punchline¡ª


    [Visitors...]


    The voice hit like a mountain collapsing.


    Heavy. Unstoppable. It didn''t echo. It crushed.


    They froze.


    Tiny Fang''s tails stiffened like spears. Zhu Qing hesitated. Even the air seemed to shiver.


    At the far end of the room... a dais (platform) rose. Black stone. Jagged edges. Blood pooled beneath it.


    On it sat a suit of crimson armor.


    Dark. Hollow. No flesh. No face. Just a frame carved with glowing runes... dripping blood.


    It didn''t move.


    But it radiated power. The kind that made your knees knock and your guts churn. The kind that whispered... Die quietly. It''s faster that way.


    [You tread where the living should not.]


    The words sliced through them like a blade to the throat.


    Su Xiaobai''s instincts screamed: Run.


    Zhu Qing frowned. "The Blood Warlord..." Her voice dropped. "This isn''t possible. He was destroyed centuries ago."


    Her glare shifted to Su Xiaobai, who was already cursing himself. Why does my mouth keep writing checks my ass can''t cash?


    Before he could reply, shadows stirred.


    Seven figures rose from the blood-soaked floor. Twisted. Wrong. Broken marionettes brought to life.


    The Blood Warlord spoke again¡ª[Rise.]¡ªand they obeyed.


    The Seven Generals of Blood began to rise¡­ one by one.


    First came Ku Rong, the Crimson Butcher.


    Thud! Thud! Thud!


    A monster in a man''s shape¡ªor close enough. Hulking, red-skinned, muscles bulging like they''d been packed in by a butcher drunk on his own work. His head? Pure bull. Horns black and jagged, dripping with the ghosts of every fool who tried to test them.


    Screech....


    Behind him, a cleaver dragged on the stone floor, screeching as it spat sparks¡ªless a weapon, more a feral child born of steel and slaughter.


    Ku Rong belonged to the barbarian bull race, said to carry the blood of a forgotten beast god. Holy blood, they claimed. Holy or not, it tore men apart just the same.


    He sniffed, his black tongue slid over teeth cracked and yellow, as if they''d chewed stone and bone alike. "Kekeke¡­"


    His eyes, dark pits, fixed on Su Xiaobai, Zhu Qing, and Tiny Fang.


    "You stink of fear, boy..." He leaned closer, inhaling deeply, "Good¡­ Fear makes the meat tender." He grinned, his breath hot and foul, "When I carve you, I''ll start with the belly. It screams the best. Heh. Screams make the meat sweeter."


    "Back off, bull."


    The words echoed... Feminine, soft, dangerous, and far too intoxicating.


    Yi Muqing, the Plumshade Immortal, rose.


    Rustle~


    She moved like sin given shape¡ªevery step a trap wrapped in beauty. Her emerald hair cascaded like silk, her eyes jewels that shone too bright to be trusted. Her body was the kind sculptors would die to touch, but the vines writhing at her feet said touching her was the last thing you''d ever do.


    Flowers bloomed with every movement, feeding on her aura like parasites drunk on a god.


    Even the arrogant Ku Rong, soaked in bloodlust, took a step back.


    Her smile unfurled, slow and sweet, poison wrapped in sugar. Her gaze on Su Xiaobai, tracing him like a predator deciding where to bite first. "So soft..." Her voice dripped honey and rot. "So fertile..."


    Ssshhhhk!


    Vines twisted tighter, hungry. "You''ll bear my children," she purred, "My roots are thirsty. My blossoms hunger." Her lips curved into something too sweet to be human.


    She stepped closer, her every movement a trap.


    "Don''t fight it..." she said, her voice soft, almost loving. "You''ll bloom for me¡­ beautifully¡­ for centuries."


    ____


    "..."


    Su Xiaobai didn''t know whether to laugh or puke. A bull on steroids. A horny plant. And the freak parade wasn''t done yet.


    More nightmares slithered out.


    A bird-man strutted forward, wings metallic and razor-sharp. Every feather shinning like a blade, ready to pluck flesh. Behind him, a panther brute growled, fangs bared, an aura so feral it practically drooled violence.


    "Ehehe~" Then came the spider-woman. Beauty up top¡ªobsidian eyes, flowing hair, curves that belonged in some scandalous jade painting. Below the waist? Eight twitching legs. A fat, glistening abdomen that looked like it could lay eggs in a man''s chest and call it romance.


    And then¡­ the dragon skeleton. Its hollow eyes burned blue, flames flickering with hunger. Bones creaked as it moved, like it still remembered what flesh felt like between its jaws.


    Last came the hooded figure. Thin. Fragile. Pale hands poking out of black robes like a corpse halfway to the grave. Mist coiled at its feet, cold and alive. Its presence felt like a whisper promising, You''ll die screaming.


    Su Xiaobai scratched his chin, his lip curling. "This is either the Blood Warlord''s personal zoo¡­ or he''s got some really kinky tastes."


    The ground rumbled. Pillars cracked. The bloodlust pressed down like it wanted to grind his lungs into paste.


    Beside him, Zhu Qing looked like she''d swallowed something worse than spirit bees. Her expression soured... with a side of homicide.


    "You''ve got a plan, right?" Su Xiaobai nudged her, arrogant grin barely hiding the tremor in his voice.


    "..." Zhu Qing turned her head so slowly it could''ve been measured in centuries. Then forced a smile¡ªbrittle, counterfeit, and very much homicidal.


    "Nope."


    Su Xiaobai blinked. "What do you mean nope? You''re the Peak Lord! You''re supposed to have a plan!"


    "I had a plan," Zhu Qing hissed, low and resentful, "But that plan didn''t involve the actual Blood Warlord sitting on his damn throne!"


    As if on cue, the crimson armor on the dais shimmered faintly, like it was alive. Watching. Mocking.


    Zhu Qing''s teeth clenched, her words ground out like boulders. "If it were just the Seven Generals, maybe¡ªmaybe¡ªwe could stall long enough to escape. But him?" She glanced at the throne, "There''s no plan for him."


    Su Xiaobai sighed, cracking his neck. "Well, great. Guess we fight it." He glanced at the generals, smirking. "How hard can it be?"


    "..." Zhu Qing practically laughed in his face.


    "Fight? You''re an idiot." She shook her head like she couldn''t believe what she was hearing. "You couldn''t sneeze near them without dying, let alone fight."


    Her patience frayed. What was the point of this fool? Every enemy in front of them was peak Tribulation Realm. And even if by some miracle they took out the Seven Generals, the Blood Warlord sat there on his throne, as untouchable as heaven itself.


    "Yup. Can''t fight." Su Xiaobai didn''t even blink, his voice drenched in casual indifference. But his lips moved silently. His gaze flicked to Zhu Qing, speaking louder than words: But you can.


    Her brow furrowed. What the hell was he playing at now?


    He didn''t answer. His focus shifted, locking onto the advancing Seven Generals. Behind them, the Blood Warlord sat grinning on his throne, armor gleaming like a devil''s promise. He didn''t move. He didn''t need to. His grin said it all: Dance, puppets. Make it entertaining.


    "Hey, cowhead!" Su Xiaobai''s voice tore through, "Tell your boss to get his ass down here and fight his own damn battles!"


    The Seven Generals froze, their combined auras flaring like a volcano about to erupt.


    Ku Rong sneered, his grin twisted, teeth like yellowed tombstones. "Careful, boy¡­ Your screams will decorate my cleaver."


    Su Xiaobai shrugged. "Sure. But you''ll have to catch me first¡­ cow."


    Beside him, Zhu Qing''s face twitched. She looked like she was deciding whether to strangle him now or wait until they were dead.


    Grabbing his shoulders, she leaned in with a smile that wasn''t a smile, her voice a venomous whisper. "Little Villain, must you antagonize everyone?"


    "Keeps things fun," Su Xiaobai shot back, grinning. "Just wait and see." Your journey continues on My Virtual Library Empire


    But inside, his mind was elsewhere. His thoughts reached for Xiao Hei, the little murderous girl sulking in his ring world. Her anger was simmering like a boiling cauldron.


    [Now is not the time for tantrums!] Su Xiaobai''s mental voice snapped, hoping to pierce through her stubborn silence.


    No response. Just her cold resentment.


    Su Xiaobai sighed, exasperation creeping into his thoughts, but his attention shifted back to his real target: the flower freak.


    "Hey, tree lady," he called, his grin curling wickedly. "I''ll pass on the root babies. I''m not into being planted. I prefer planting elsewhere, you know?"


    Yi Muqing''s smile widened, her head tilting in mock curiosity. Then she giggled¡ªa sound too sweet, too sharp. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Oh, you''ll change your mind¡­" Her voice dripped honeyed malice as her vines thickened, twisting around her like predators waiting to pounce.


    The ground beneath her shook. The vines slithered, wet and glistening, curling like obscene tentacles in a forbidden scroll.


    They reached out, coiling, stroking the air as if tasting it.


    "Once my vines bury themselves in you¡­" Her voice dropped to a whisper, sickly sweet. "You''ll beg me to plant you deeper."


    "..."

 Chapter 119 Lost Control!

    Yi Muqing''s smile turned cruel. "Once my vines bury themselves in you¡­ you''ll beg me to plant you deeper.""..."


    Su Xiaobai shuddered, letting out a sharp hiss. "Fuck. Why do I always get the shameless ones?" Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Her vines lashed out, snapping toward him. Thick. Pulsing. Greedy.


    "Holy shit, it''s one of those days," he muttered, dodging back. His expression darkened as he glanced at Zhu Qing. "Remind me¡ªare we the villains, or is this just a really bad porn plot?"


    "??"


    "Porn? What''s that?" Zhu Qing asked, her face blank with confusion. Was it a mantra? Some forbidden technique?


    Su Xiaobai nearly choked. He grinned, the kind of grin that could get a man slapped. "Don''t worry. I''ll show you later."


    Zhu Qing''s eye twitched. Why do I even ask this fool questions? Before she could respond, Su Xiaobai''s eyes lit up, and he burst into laughter, wild and sudden.


    "What happened!?" Zhu Qing snapped, gripping her sword. Had he lost his mind completely?


    Even the Seven Generals stopped mid-motion to stare at him, their collective aura still crackling like a storm ready to break.


    Su Xiaobai ignored them all. "That armor''s fake!" He jabbed a finger at the crimson figure on the throne. "The Blood Warlord''s dead! It''s just a puppet¡ªa leftover spirit wearing dead man''s clothes!"


    The crimson armor trembled, as if the words had slapped it across the face.


    [KILL THEM!]


    BOOM!


    The puppet slammed its fists into the throne. At the same time, Yi Muqing''s vines shot forward, thick and glistening like something plucked out of a filthy novel.


    Shua! Shua! Shua!


    Zhu Qing didn''t hesitate. Her hand swept out... an emerald array ignited. Vines shot forward¡ªthicker, sharper, hungrier.


    They met Yi Muqing''s mid-air, slicing through her tendrils like blades through overstuffed sausage.


    "ARRRGGHH! My babies!" Yi Muqing screeched, her eyes burning red as her severed vines hit the ground, flopping like headless worms.


    Her body jerked in rage, her mind clearly incapable of handling loss.


    "Tree lady''s losing it," Su Xiaobai muttered, shaking his head. "Guess undead brains don''t handle rejection well."


    Zhu Qing turned to him, her glare sharp, "Are you sure about this?"


    "One hundred percent," he said, grinning. "That armor''s as harmless as a neutered dog."


    He''d just confirmed it with Xiao Hei! Even he couldn''t believe it at first. An Immortal Realm master? Alive? Sealed in this palace without so much as a ripple of power? Impossible. Something was definitely wrong.


    "Good." Zhu Qing smiled. Calm. Serene. Too calm. Too serene. The kind of smile that told you pain was coming.


    CRACK!


    Her boot collided with Su Xiaobai''s chest, sending him flying like a broken kite.


    "WHAT¡ª"


    CRASH!


    He slammed into the wall, groaning. "Argh¡­ What the fuck!?" His head spun as pain jolted through his back.


    BOOM!


    The battlefield erupted before him. Tiny Fang, the three-headed hellhound, roared as all three mouths unleashed streams of fire. Ku Rong roared back, his massive cleaver held high, flames splashing against its blade as sparks and embers filled the air.


    Above it all, Zhu Qing floated like a goddess of war. Her dress fluttered, then transformed, ribbons sharpening into blades that lashed out with terrifying speed. Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Each ribbon speared through the air, leaving streaks of emerald light.


    Su Xiaobai''s jaw dropped. He''d never seen her fight before. She was¡­ ridiculous. Terrifying. And maybe a little hot.


    "Stop drooling and move!" Zhu Qing snapped, dodging a swarm of spiders unleashed by the spider-woman. "Find the Warlord''s seal! Now!"


    Tiny Fang pounced, its massive form smashing through the spider horde, incinerating them with a single blast of flame.


    Su Xiaobai''s face darkened. Every shockwave hit like a hammer, each wave of power rattling his bones. If I go near that¡­ I''ll turn into meat paste.


    Zhu Qing, however, was unshaken. Confidence blazed in her eyes. With the Blood Warlord out of the picture, she and Tiny Fang could stall the Seven Generals. All Su Xiaobai had to do was find the Warlord''s seal. That cursed object controlled everything¡ªhis army, his generals, even the remnants of his soul.


    Su Xiaobai understood. He scrambled to his feet, tearing through walls, smashing paintings, and flipping over statues. "Where the hell is it!?"


    The crimson armor on the throne stilled, its earlier trembling replaced with an eerie calm. Let them struggle. It thought coldly. As long as they don''t find my seal, they''ll die. Their souls will be mine. And with enough power¡­ I''ll rise again.


    ____


    Minutes dragged by as Su Xiaobai ran like a madman, hunting for a Warlord''s seal that might as well have been a bedtime story.


    Shockwaves rolled through the battlefield, slamming into his back like a thousand fiery lashes. Each hit tore at his robes, slicing his skin raw until blood dripped down his spine. Pain hit him, but he grit his teeth and kept moving.


    "Come on, you sneaky bastard¡­" he hissed, his voice trembling. "Where are you hiding?"


    Behind him, hell had broken loose.


    Zhu Qing was barely holding her own against four generals¡ªCrimson Butcher, Flower Freak, Spider Queen, and Birdman. Her ribbon-like blades lashed out like furious serpents, slicing vines and claws with precision. But it wasn''t enough. Blood streaked her pale skin, and her breaths came ragged, sharp.


    "AGH!" Her scream tore through the air as Spider Queen''s leg speared her shoulder, pinning her in place. Crimson Butcher seized the moment, his massive cleaver whistling toward her neck.


    BAM!


    Zhu Qing caught the blade. Barehanded.


    Her feet cracked the stone beneath her as she absorbed the impact, arms trembling.


    Blood ran down her fingers.


    "Zhu Qing!" Su Xiaobai''s heart tightened, but he forced himself to keep searching. Find the seal. Find the damn seal.


    Not far away, Tiny Fang was a blur of fire and rage, the three-headed hellhound wrestling the skeletal dragon. Flames roared from its mouths, but the beast was bleeding badly. One of the panther brute''s fangs sank into its flank, tearing muscle. Puchi! Blood sprayed like a fountain.


    Then the hooded figure stepped forward.


    Its pale hands gripped a scythe that practically dripped death. It swung the blade down, aiming for Tiny Fang''s middle head.


    "MOVE!" Su Xiaobai''s voice echoed.


    Tiny Fang barely leapt back in time, the scythe cleaving through empty air. Its three heads snapped in unison, growling, but the beast''s steps were slower, its movements heavy.


    Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire


    Blood pooled beneath its paws, soaking the stone.


    "How does the seal look?!" Su Xiaobai roared, smashing through another statue


    His knuckles were bleeding, his breaths ragged.


    "No one knows!" Zhu Qing spat through clenched teeth. She caught the cleaver again, but her knees buckled under the strain. "We just know it exists!"


    Spider Queen''s leg drove deeper into her shoulder with a sickening crack.


    "Agh!" Zhu Qing screamed, her voice painful.


    Su Xiaobai slammed his fist into a mural, shattering it. Nothing. He kicked over a chest¡ªempty. His voice cracked as he yelled, "How hard is it to find one stupid cursed seal?! It''s like trying to find a virgin in a brothel!"


    BOOM!


    A beam of blue fire roared past him, singeing his face. He stumbled back, glaring at the skeletal dragon.


    "Oi, watch it, mutt!" he snapped at Tiny Fang, who lunged at the dragon''s throat, knocking its aim off.


    CRASH!


    The fire beam hit the ceiling instead, sending boulders crashing down. Su Xiaobai barely rolled away in time. His laugh came dry, bitter. "This dragon wants me dead more than my exes."


    Then he saw it.


    A faint crimson glow, pulsing from the floor like a heartbeat. His breath caught. "This has to be it!"


    He bolted, weaving through. His fingers brushed the stone¡ª


    WHAM!


    A vine slammed into the ground, inches from his hand.


    "Stay away!" Yi Muqing shrieked, her voice cracking. Her eyes were wild, bloodshot. "It''s mine!"


    Su Xiaobai froze. "Wait¡­ This isn''t the seal?"


    "It''s my heirloom!" she screamed, her vines coiling around the gemstone like obscene tentacles, twitching with possessiveness.


    "For f*ck''s sake," Su Xiaobai groaned. Then he grabbed the gemstone anyway and hurled it toward Tiny Fang. "Doggo! catch!"


    "NOOOO!" Yi Muqing''s scream rattled the battlefield as Tiny Fang''s middle head snatched the stone mid-air and crunched it into shards.


    "Hah!" Su Xiaobai barked a laugh, blood dripping down his chin. "Good boy!"


    But Zhu Qing''s voice echoed sharp, snapping him out of his imaginary victory. "Careful!"


    Too late¡ª


    CRACK!


    The ground exploded beneath him. A massive stone pillar shot upward, slamming into his chest and pinning him to the ceiling like a skewered chicken.


    "ARGH!" Blood dripped from his lips as his ribs groaned under the pressure. "What the hell?! Is this¡ª"


    "I WILL KILL YOU!" Yi Muqing''s voice shattered the air as her vines surged forward, writhing like something out of a depraved dream.


    CRASH!


    Before the vines could reach him, Zhu Qing blasted through the pillar. Su Xiaobai hit the ground with a dull thud, gasping for breath, his ribs screaming in protest.


    THUD!


    "Hahaha¡­" He coughed, the bitter taste of dust filling his mouth. Pain tore through his body, but the adrenaline drowned it out. The whole scene felt absurd. Too absurd not to laugh.


    Zhu Qing resumed her fight, her ribbons slashing through like living blades. Occasionally, she glanced back, catching him sprawled there, grinning like a madman.


    Time felt strange. For Su Xiaobai, the world slowed, his senses hyper-focused. But around him, everything raced forward¡ªa blur of fire, echo, and blood.


    "Elder!" he suddenly shouted.


    "??"


    Zhu Qing turned, her bloodied face twisting into an impatient glare.


    "If we survive this¡­ would you let me hit?" His voice echoed, laced with laughter.


    "Huh?" Zhu Qing froze mid-motion, startled. Her bloodied face contorted in confusion. What the hell was he talking about now? His strange modern words eluded her until she locked eyes with him.


    Then she understood.


    Her lips curled into a sneer, her voice sharp. "I''d rather die!"


    Su Xiaobai erupted into laughter, clutching his stomach. "Then there''s still a chance of survival!"


    Zhu Qing ignored him, focusing on the battle ahead. Blood streamed from a deep gash in her shoulder, her hands and face covered in smaller cuts.


    Without hesitation, she tore at the wound on her shoulder, ripping it open further. Blood sprayed from the gash like a fountain, pooling at her feet.


    Su Xiaobai''s laughter froze, his breath catching. Something was wrong.


    The blood slithered across the ground, crawling together unnaturally. It writhed and pulsed, forming the shape of a demonic skull.


    The lines around it glowed crimson, jagged and sinister, an array carved in blood.


    [Soul Reaping Array.]

 Chapter 120 Another Celestial is Born!

    [Soul Reaping Array.]The name alone carried weight.


    Forbidden. Terrifying. Dangerous beyond comprehension.


    It was said to summon an army from the darkest pits of the underworld, binding them to the user''s will. But the cost? A fragment of the soul. Zhu Qing wasn''t just pouring her blood into this spell¡ªshe was burning her very existence.


    Su Xiaobai''s voice cracked as he staggered to his feet. "Woman, are you crazy?! That thing''s eating your soul!"


    His heart sank.


    If she didn''t want to warm his bed, she could''ve just said so! Trading her soul to avoid him? That was overkill¡ªeven by her standards! He was joking!


    Zhu Qing didn''t answer.


    Her hands moved on their own, forming seals faster than he could process. Her teeth clenched as she struggled against the array''s demands. It wanted more¡ªher blood, her soul¡ªtearing her apart in its hunger. But she couldn''t stop.


    If I don''t¡­ we''ll all die.


    Blood hissed and bubbled beneath her feet, the crimson glow intensifying. The jagged lines of the array pulsed like a demonic heartbeat, each thrum shaking the ground.


    Then¡ª


    CRACK! Experience more on My Virtual Library Empire


    The ground split open.


    "Kekkeekee~!"


    Bony claws tore through the cracks, followed by an army of skeletons dragging themselves free. They were "Underworld Scuttlers"¡ªsmall, twitchy, and swarming like rats.


    Their glowing runes pulsed red, their hollow eyes blazing with hellish light. "Kekeke!" They clicked and clattered, snapping their jaws like they were chomping on invisible prey.


    They swarmed the generals like rats drunk on bloodlust, their claws scratching, jaws clamping onto anything that moved¡ªeven each other. One leapt onto Birdman''s back, chomping his feathers like it was snacking on roasted meat.


    [STOP HER!] The Blood Warlord''s voice boomed, his hollow shell trembling on the throne.


    Even the cursed puppet could feel the shift¡ªthe array was doing more than summoning creatures. It was feeding on Zhu Qing, pulling her deeper into its grasp.


    Zhu Qing''s body floated into the air, her eyes glowing crimson. The ribbons around her twisted and lashed out uncontrollably, their movements erratic and violent.


    "Gr¡ª!"


    One lashed Tiny Fang''s neck, coiling tight. The hellhound yelped, struggling as flames sputtered from its mouths.


    Su Xiaobai shouted again, panic rising in his chest. But she couldn''t hear him.


    The array pulsed again, brighter this time. The blood painting the ground boiled furiously, releasing plumes of red steam.


    Su Xiaobai staggered, his own blood burning. It rebelled inside him, rushing toward Zhu Qing as though being sucked out of his veins.


    "Damn it! Do you know how much effort it takes to stay this handsome while bleeding?!" Su Xiaobai hissed, clutching his chest.


    Crack! Crimson cracks spread across his skin, blood pouring from the fissures. It felt like thousands of snakes were crawling beneath his flesh, tearing him apart from the inside out.


    "!!"


    Zhu Qing''s aura surged violently, a crimson wave tearing through the air. The Scuttlers froze mid-crawl, their jagged bones shattering as the array collapsed in an instant¡ªher control snapping like a frayed thread.


    The jagged lines beneath her feet splintered, glowing too brightly to look at.


    Then¡ª


    BOOM!


    A flash of crimson light erupted, brighter than the sun. Su Xiaobai threw his arms up, but it didn''t matter. The pain inside him was unbearable, like his blood had been tossed into a boiling cauldron. His skin flushed, blood bubbling out of the cracks spreading across his body.


    "AGHHHH!" His scream ripped through the air, but no one could hear it over the roar of Zhu Qing''s collapsing power.


    WHOOSH!


    Suddenly, Xiao Hei burst out of the ring, her face frantic. Without a word, she grabbed Su Xiaobai by the collar and hurled him like a sack of trash.


    Su Xiaobai roared, flailing mid-flight. "You little psycho! Are you trying to kill me?!"


    Crash! His words turned into a grunt as he crashed into the crimson armor sitting on the throne. The hollow shell split open, sucking him in like a hungry beast.


    Darkness swallowed him whole.


    Zhu Qing''s scream echoed through the battlefield, her power tearing through the palace.


    The tendrils of her aura lashed out at everything¡ªpillars, statues, even the collapsing walls. The palace groaned as its roof caved in. Her aura spiraled out of control, feeding on itself and consuming everything around her.


    Had Xiao Hei not acted, Su Xiaobai would have been reduced to dust.


    Rumble.... Rumble...


    Outside, the wasteland skies darkened. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    KA¡ªboom!


    Heavenly lightning split the heavens, crashing down with deafening force as the warlord''s palace crumbled into ruin, swallowed by it.


    ______


    Chi Xie Wasteland, outside the Warlord''s Palace.


    The battlefield was a mess of blood-soaked sand and shattered dreams. Thousands had fallen, yet to Bai Yujian, their deaths were like fallen leaves in autumn¡ªexpected, unremarkable, irrelevant.


    She stood with her parsol shinning in the crimson haze, her gaze piercing through everyone alive.


    In front of her knelt Zhao Feng, trembling like a chicken plucked of its feathers. Around him, a dozen pirates leaders slouched, barely alive, their bodies broken by her rain of swords.


    Anyone below Integration Realm had directly perished with no chances to resist.


    As for the alive ones, they got the scars for life with missing limbs¡ªlegs severed, hands gone¡ªand one poor bastard still had a blade lodged in his spine.


    The truly unlucky? Lei Shoushan, the so-called envoy of the prince. He hadn''t even lived long enough to beg for his life.


    "Yama herself¡­" one pirate muttered under his breath, his voice shaky.


    "Shut up!" hissed Violent Crane. "She''ll hear you!"


    They weren''t wrong. Bai Yujian was their Yama today, and her smile promised nothing but hell. She pointed her sword at Zhao Feng, the last man standing in her way¡ªfiguratively speaking. The guy was missing a leg and kneeling in a puddle of his own blood.


    "Speak." Her voice was soft, almost sweet, but Zhao Feng shivered like a plucked chicken. His life hung by a thread, and he knew it.


    He babbled something about a grand-niece in the Xiantian Sect, clinging to that slim connection like it was a lifeline. Dumb luck, really. But for some reason, she let him live.


    "¡­So it''s like that," she murmured, piecing together his fragmented words.


    It was all Su Xiaobai''s fault. That reckless idiot, running off with some star fragment and dragging Zhu Qing into the mess. Now they were trapped inside the palace, probably knee-deep in shit.


    Her eyes drifted to the palace, its jagged silhouette in the distance. Should she intervene? Or let them stew? Testing her disciple''s luck and Zhu Qing''s nerve was tempting. If they lived, great. If not¡­ well, ashes weren''t hard to sweep up.


    Her thoughts were cut short.


    BOOM!


    The Warlord''s palace convulsed like a dying beast. Its roof exploded, lightning ripping through the heavens with a roar that shook the wasteland.


    Rumble... Rumble...


    In seconds, the sky darkened. Clouds churned like ink spilled across the heavens. Then came the lightning¡ªbolts as thick as mountains, crashing down with enough force to make the earth bleed.


    Bai Yujian''s parasol tilted slightly. Her pupils shrank. "Tribulation lightning¡­"


    And then it came.


    WHOOSH!


    A pillar of light pierced the palace ruins, stabbing into the ground like the heavens themselves had drawn their sword. The lightning hissed, the red sand glowing gold under its radiance. But this was no divine blessing. The light burned. It cracked the earth and charred everything it touched.


    "Get back!" Bai Yujian''s voice echoed. She vanished in a blur, reappearing miles away. The pirates scrambled after her, dragging their broken bodies through the sand. Those too slow to move screamed as the light kissed them, their flesh bubbling like overcooked meat.


    Hovering in the air, Bai Yujian stared at the apocalyptic display. The pillar of light shook with arcs of wild lightning, tearing the heavens apart. Her lips twitched.


    "Is¡­ is someone breaking through?"


    Her voice was filled with disbelief. This wasn''t just a breakthrough. This was the "Judgement of the Heavens."


    The "Judgement of the Heavens" was a trial reserved for warriors at the ''Peak Tribulation Realm'', attempting to ascend into the fabled ''Great Ascension Realm''. Unlike other breakthroughs, it wasn''t just about enduring pain or hardship¡ªit was a direct judgment of worth.


    The light would first tear apart the cultivator''s "Immortal Vessel'', the pinnacle of their mortal body, before rebuilding it into something truly divine. Only those deemed worthy by the heavens could step into the realm of celestials. It was rare, cruel, and utterly magnificent.


    For the unworthy, there would be no second chance. Only obliteration.


    Bai Yujian''s gaze narrowed with worry. "Who''s it?" she muttered.


    There were only two people inside: Su Xiaobai, a Core Formation warrior, and Zhu Qing, a Tribulation Realm veteran who had failed her breakthroughs so many times, she''d practically turned it into a hobby.


    "Qingqing¡­" she murmured. Was it really her? Could she have finally succeeded after all those humiliating failures?


    Her grip on her parasol tightened. If it was true, then the Xiantian Sect had just gained another Great Ascension powerhouse. A celestial being. The kind that made warriors bow and lesser sects grovel.


    The pirates behind her muttered in awe, their usual curses silenced by the sheer spectacle. One scratched his head. "Heavens, I didn''t sign up for this shit¡­"


    Another slapped him. "Shut up and watch! How often do you see something like this?"


    The scene was no less surreal... The heavens had opened their doors, their light burning away the sins of the earth.


    But deep down, Bai Yujian''s chest tightened with worry.

 Chapter 121 Apes Together Strong!

    Deep down, Bai Yujian''s chest tightened with worry.What if it wasn''t Zhu Qing?


    Her gaze on the ruins of the Warlord''s palace. If it was Su Xiaobai¡­ well, there was no way he was ready for something like this. His body would pop like an overripe fruit, splattering the sand with whatever guts he had left.


    She sighed, her expression a mix of awe and exasperation. "That reckless disciple¡­ what the hell are you up to now?"


    For now, all she could do was watch. And wait.


    _______


    "Hmph! Who dares to challenge the will of the heavens now?"


    The majestic voice thundered through the storm, sharp and commanding. Across the wasteland, lightning tore the sky¡ªviolet, gold, crimson¡ªpainting wrath across the clouds. Figures descended one by one, their auras smashing into the battlefield like celestial fists.


    The big shots finally showed their faces. Half because their lackeys were getting slaughtered... half because the tribulation above could be seen from a thousand miles away.


    The first to land was a man in gaudy purple robes, streaked with silver that flickered like stormlight. His angular face radiated arrogance¡ªthe kind that came from stomping on enough heads to climb his way to the top. His hair was slicked back like he was heading to a banquet, but his eyes burned with petty envy.


    Wei Houtian. First commander of the royal family... and a man who clawed into the ''Great Ascension Realm'' like a dog with too much bite. His tribulation had flattened mountains, turned rivers to steam, and left peasants pissing themselves for days. Now, he strutted across the kingdom like a rooster who thought the sky existed just to hear him crow.


    But his smile faded as he stared at the storm brewing in the distance. His lips curled.


    "Tch... just when I got used to walking sideways in this country, another fish jumps into the pond."


    Another figure touched down beside him. Quiet. Simple. Dangerous. His plain violet robes somehow made Wei Houtian''s flashy garb look like a cheap circus act. His long white beard shimmered faintly in the stormlight, and his weathered hands carried centuries of experience.


    Master Qingxuan. The royal alchemist... and the kingdom''s grumpiest elder. At the ''Peak Great Ascension Realm'', he''d seen kings rise, dynasties crumble, and fools like Wei Houtian come and go.


    To him, another celestial ascension wasn''t awe-inspiring. It was a headache. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    His piercing gaze ignored the tribulation and the mess in the Warlord''s palace. Instead, it fell on a lone figure in the distance¡ªa woman with sharp eyes and a parasol spinning lazily over her shoulder.


    "The Sword Fairy..." His voice was cold. Bitter. "So... she''s the one who turned Lei Shoushan into fertilizer."


    Lei Shoushan. The royal envoy sent to grab the star fragment quietly. Instead, Bai Yujian turned him into worm food. Because of her, Qingxuan had to dirty his hands and drag his ancient bones out here.


    Wei Houtian''s eyes twitched. His envoy, sent as a "proxy," had been swatted like a fly. Embarrassing. He lowered his head, unable to meet Master Qingxuan''s gaze.


    "Elder Xuan, I didn''t expect her to arrive¡ª"


    "Quiet."


    The old alchemist''s tone was sharp. He hadn''t let Wei Houtian finish. Initially, this was supposed to be a simple task. Snatch the star fragment. Walk out. Easy. That''s why he''d delegated it. Now? A royal envoy was dead, and the Sword Fairy was here.


    Qingxuan''s lips pressed into a tight line. If it were anyone else, he''d have crushed them without a second thought. But Bai Yujian? She wasn''t some nobody.


    For now, he exhaled slowly, turning his sharp gaze to the pirates scrambling in the sand like worms after rain. Desperate. Pathetic.


    Maybe crushing a few of these rats would take the edge off... but the bitter stench of failure refused to fade, heavy and suffocating. Master Qingxuan''s gaze darkened. He could only hope¡ªpray¡ªthat Bai Yujian wasn''t here for the star fragment.


    If she was... a fight would be unavoidable. And worse, he wasn''t sure he''d walk away from it unscathed.


    ____


    "..."


    Far away, Bai Yujian felt Master Qingxuan''s glare, sharp and probing. Her parasol tilted slightly, hiding the amused curve of her lips.


    She recognized them immediately¡ªMaster Qingxuan, the palace''s ancient schemer, and Wei Houtian, his loyal mutt.


    But something didn''t add up. Why are they here?


    Her focus returned to the tribulation. Zhu Qing''s breakthrough was paramount. Floating closer to the storm, her message was clear: Anyone who interferes will meet a blade sharp enough to cut the heavens.


    "She''s not after the star fragment?" Qingxuan''s lips tightened, relief flickering across his face. Good. The fragment was his prize, the final piece for an ancient pill he''d been crafting for decades.


    Bai Yujian''s disinterest meant she wouldn''t complicate things.


    With a flick of his wrist, a silver cauldron materialized in the air, its metallic sheen shinning like molten moonlight.


    WHOOSH! BOOM!


    The cauldron slammed into the earth, cracking the ground like a divine hammer.


    "Speak." Qingxuan''s tone was soft but deadly. "Who has the star fragment? Tell me, or I''ll scatter what''s left of your miserable lives into the wind."


    The pirate leaders who had somehow survived the storm froze in place, their bodies trembling as though the heavens might smite them next. Their eyes darted nervously between one another, searching for answers they didn''t have.


    Zhao Feng stood stiffly among them, his fists clenched and sweat dripping down his face.


    One pirate, clearly lacking self-preservation instincts, let out a strained laugh. "Star fragment? If we had it, do you think we''d still be here?"


    SLAM!


    The cauldron shifted and smashed into the sand beside him. Poof! The pirate screamed, legs buckling, the ground beneath him splitting like glass.


    "Wrong answer."


    The alchemist''s aura pressed down like a mountain. The pirate''s spirit snapped. He fell limp, his body twitching before falling still.


    The others scrambled, bowing so low their foreheads bled against the cracked ground. "We don''t have it! Please! We swear!"


    Qingxuan''s cold gaze swept over them. Then, his sharp eyes shifted to Bai Yujian. Her back remained turned, her parasol spinning lazily toward the heavens. Her silence spoke louder than words: Their lives mean nothing to me.


    "Does she have it?" Qingxuan muttered under his breath, suspicion flickering in his eyes. If Bai Yujian had already secured the fragment, then this entire trip was a waste.


    Before he could act, the air trembled.


    Whoosh!


    A figure in golden robes descended from the storm, his presence radiating authority like a blazing sun.


    "I have it."


    The voice was calm, yet it hit like a divine proclamation. Golden Saint Wuji.


    Zhao Feng''s face turned ashen. His heart sank like a stone as the golden-robed man touched down with deliberate ease.


    "Zhao Feng." Saint Wuji''s voice was soft, but each word carried weight. "What happened to the task I gave you?"


    Zhao Feng''s legs buckled. He staggered forward, collapsing to his knees. "Saint Wuji¡­ forgive me. This junior has failed you."


    "Failed me?"


    BAM! A suffocating pressure descended, crushing Zhao Feng into the sand. "Agh!" He gritted his teeth, veins bulging as he fought against it. Just as his body was about to give out, the pressure lifted, leaving him trembling and drenched in cold sweat.


    "Explain."


    Zhao Feng gulped. "I¡­ I tried. I fought for it. But¡­ I couldn''t. Please, I only wanted to complete the mission. I¡­ I wanted to earn a place in the sect."


    That was the truth. Zhao Feng''s desperation had led him here. Saint Wuji had promised him a place as a ''core disciple'' in the ''Golden Buddha Sect'', one of the most powerful sect in the ''Tianlong Empire''. For someone from Yue country, where the strongest sects were no more than frogs at the bottom of a well, this was a chance to leave mediocrity behind and step onto the empire''s grand stage.


    Wei Houtian sneered. "So, you''re just some errand boy, begging for scraps from your master?"


    "Enough." Qingxuan raised a hand, silencing him. His sharp gaze fixed on Wuji. "The star fragment belongs to the palace. Hand it over."


    Wuji''s lips curved into a faint, mocking smile. "The palace? Yue country? To the ''Golden Buddha Sect,'' your king is but an insect crawling beneath our boots. If you want it... come take it."


    Qingxuan''s face darkened, but before he could reply, Wuji raised a hand.


    A colossal golden palm appeared mid-air, swelling to monstrous proportions before crashing down.


    BOOM!


    Wei Houtian was sent flying, his body smashing into the ground like a broken puppet. He staggered back up, unharmed yet trembling. Though he forced a glare at Wuji, fear flickered in his eyes. His gaze darted to Qingxuan: What now?


    Qingxuan ignored him, his mind racing. The ''Golden Buddha Sect'' wasn''t just a sect. It was a behemoth¡ªa colossus that towered over the ''Tianlong Empire,'' its saints numbering in the hundreds. Their arrival in Yue country had already shaken the kingdom to its core. The palace thought it was merely a token branch, perhaps for resources. But with Wuji here... something was wrong.


    Why would a juggernaut like Wuji come to a backwater kingdom? For a trivial treasure? Impossible.


    The star fragment was no longer the problem. The sect''s motives were.


    Master Qingxuan''s fists tightened. Killing Wuji here would bring swift annihilation. The sect would grind Yue country into dust without hesitation.


    One misstep, and this fragile calm would ignite into war.


    Wuji''s gaze shifted, and a sly grin spread across his face. "Who is this exquisite creature?"


    His eyes locked onto Bai Yujian, who stood with serene authority, ensuring no one disrupted Zhu Qing''s breakthrough.


    She wasn''t just beautiful. To Wuji, she was divine¡ªa celestial figure misplaced in the mortal realm. Her aura, her indifference, the slight turn of her face... it ignited something primal within him.


    In the Tianlong Empire, he''d seen women like this before¡ªstriking, ethereal¡ªbut they were always far beyond his reach, surrounded by power, status, and sects stronger than even the Golden Buddha.


    Here, in a backwater like Yue country? He was certain. Whatever¡ªor whoever¡ªhe desired was his to claim


    The others caught his leering gaze and exchanged knowing glances.


    "Humph!" Wei Houtian and Qingxuan snorted in unison. Even Zhao Feng grimaced, his face screaming: This idiot is about to court death.


    The fate of Yue''s king¡ªand countless others¡ªwho lusted after Bai Yujian was no secret. None had survived. Unless turning to ash or fertilizer counted as success.


    Yet Wuji either didn''t know or didn''t care. His grin deepened.


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    Unbeknownst to him, the ''Golden Buddha Sect''s'' presence in Yue country wasn''t just to establish a branch. The Emperor had grown displeased with Yue''s decay. Wuji''s orders were clear: evaluate, dominate, and destroy if necessary.


    Meanwhile, amidst the gathered rogues, Violet Crane and Iron Mountain¡ªmortal enemies hours ago¡ªnow shared a knowing glance. Survival trumped grudges. Betrayal was cheap, and both were more than willing to pay the price.


    Violet Crane, her severed arm bandaged, was first to move. She stepped forward, her voice quivering just enough to sound convincing. "Senior! The star fragment... it''s with her people!" She pointed at Bai Yujian, as though divulging a sacred secret.


    "Hm?"


    Saint Wuji''s eyes lit up, his grin turning predatory. He had already been wondering how to entangle Bai Yujian in this. Now, the answer was handed to him on a silver platter.


    "Good. You may leave."


    Violet Crane froze, momentarily stunned by her own luck. Without hesitation, she summoned her spirit beast¡ªa massive eagle¡ªand shot into the sky.


    "Thank you, Senior!" she called, her voice fading into the clouds.


    The remaining rogues looked on, their envy growing. Why didn''t I think of that?!


    Zhao Feng clenched his teeth, the thought of betrayal flitting through his mind before vanishing. Crossing Bai Yujian? That was courting death. He had already failed Saint Wuji¡ªoffending both sides would seal his fate.


    But Iron Mountain wasn''t as wise. Seeing Violet Crane escape, his envy boiled into resolve. He stomped the ground and Thatdashed off, yelling, "Don''t mind me!"


    SLASH!


    Wuji didn''t even blink. A casual flick of his hand turned Iron Mountain into four perfect pieces. Blood sprayed across the sand as the crowd sucked in sharp breaths.


    Hiss!


    The death of an ant didn''t warrant attention. The world moved on as if nothing had happened.


    Wuji and Qingxuan''s gazes met, a sharp, unspoken understanding passing between them. The star fragment was with Bai Yujian.


    Qingxuan''s lips curled into a calculating smile. "Saint Wuji... let''s stop wasting time. I only need half the star essence to finish my pill. The rest is yours. Let''s take her down together."


    "..."


    Bai Yujian, who had remained silent until now, finally turned. Her parasol tilted slightly, casting a shadow over her sharp gaze. A faint smirk curled her lips, cold and disdainful.


    "Two monkeys scheming to ambush me? How amusing," she whispered, as though addressing insects daring to bite a dragon.

 Chapter 122 Immortal Sword Spirit!

    "... Two monkeys scheming to ambush me? How amusing.""..."


    "..."


    "Monkey!?" Master Qingxuan''s face twisted like he''d just bitten into week-old tofu... black and blue, veins writhing under his skin like worms trapped in parchment. An insult? That was one thing. But in front of juniors? From a woman? Blasphemy.


    His fists clenched, knuckles cracking. Rage boiled over, his voice trembling as he hissed, "You dare..."


    Saint Wuji, the opportunist buddha, was no better. Bai Yujian''s casual disdain hit him too, though he masked it with a grin sharp enough to gut a fish.


    "Good." His teeth gleamed like a merchant spotting free gold. "Let''s deal with her... together."


    He turned to Qingxuan, voice dripping with fake brotherhood. But beneath the grin? Schemes. Once she''s down, the old dog''s next. And her? That sword wouldn''t be the only thing she''d polish for him.


    Wuji''s fantasies shattered when Bai Yujian turned, her parasol dipping low, shadowing her eyes. She stared. First at him. Then at his golden robes. Then... at that smug grin stretched across his face.


    Her lips curled faintly. Was it pity? Disgust? Maybe both.


    The parasol spun once, snapping into place. Its jade handle... gone. In its place? A thin, unassuming wooden stick. The White Jade Sword? Gone too¡ªalong with its handle!


    It wasn''t just a weapon; it was the legend. The kind of blade that made men weep and legends stutter. Even sheathed, its radiance could scorch the eyes of the heavens themselves. That''s why she disguised it¡ªbecause blinding fools wasn''t as satisfying as cutting them down.


    But now, it had vanished.


    Wuji, of course, didn''t notice. His eyes weren''t on her parasol, nor her hands.


    No, his eyes wandered to places they shouldn''t. Bai Yujian noticed. Her smile? It sharpened.


    "Do you wish to die blind?" She said softly, "Keep staring, and I''ll oblige."


    Wuji didn''t hear. Or maybe he didn''t care. He raised his hands high, roaring, "Golden Wheel of Samsara!"


    Crack! Crack! Crack!


    Above him, the reality cracked. A colossal golden wheel tore through the void, ten meters wide, its edges shimming with the promise of decapitation. Vrrrmm! it spun, slowly at first, like a drunk monk murmuring curses at a funeral pyre. The spokes at its center¡ªshinning, razor-straight¡ªwhistled with every turn.


    "Surrender," Wuji growled, catching the wheel mid-spin¡ªclang! Sparks spat. His veins bulged, arms trembling, "And I''ll spare you. Resist, and this wheel will carve your soul so cleanly even reincarnation won''t have scraps to work with."


    Bai Yujian... waved. Not at him. Just... waved. Like she was dismissing a drunk uncle at a family feast.


    Wuji blinked. Then laughed. "What''s that? Surrender already? Good gir¡ª"


    "Who¡ª!?" His instincts screamed. Slowly, like a man realizing he''d stepped on a snake''s tail, he turned.


    Behind him, the White Jade Sword floated unsheathed, its edge shinning across the dark sky. And behind it? A figure.


    Tall. Radiant. Terrifying. Her emerald hair cascaded like a waterfall of jade. Her eyes, twin stars of anger, burned with the promise of pain. And her lips... that smile could''ve killed lesser men outright.


    The Sword Spirit.


    Worst of all? She towered like a mountain, her form immense, and the blade in her hand stretched a hundred meters long. Its radiance ignited the heavens, momentarily blinding all beneath it. Yet her blazing eyes never wavered, locked squarely on Wuji, burning with unholy wrath.


    "Oh... shit," Wuji whispered.


    Now, if you''re new here, you''re probably wondering: what''s a Sword Spirit? Think of it like this: most swords are dumb chunks of metal. Fancy, sure, but dead. But when a blade drinks enough blood, enough will, enough ''everything,'' it grows a soul. A Sword Spirit.


    Out of millions of swords, maybe one grows one. It''s like a pair of balls so colossal they make heaven itself flinch.


    And one stood here, glaring at Wuji.


    "[Azure Sky Slash]," she intoned.


    The sword rose like a second sun, blinding in its radiance. Then it fell.


    Clang!


    Wuji threw his wheel up in desperation. Sparks sprayed as steel met sword¡ªclang!¡ªand crashed to the ground. The earth split beneath him, knees shaking, blood spraying from his mouth.


    The sword pressed down, grinding mercilessly, shrieking as if to cleave him and the wheel in two.


    "How...?" he gasped, trembling. "How does she have this here?!"


    If the fool had bothered to do even a shred of research on Bai Yujian, he''d have known. A Sword Spirit. Rare enough to be whispered about in empires, let alone faced on the battlefield. But ignorance had its cost¡ªand he was paying in blood.


    Watching from the side, Qingxuan''s lips curled into a faint smile. ''Good. Bleed, you idiot. Let her break you, so I can break her.''


    The memory festered. Bai Yujian. That woman. Last time, she nearly skewered the king. If Qingxuan hadn''t intervened, the royal legacy would''ve become a joke¡ªa king, gutted by a woman. Unthinkable.


    The thought burned. He didn''t want to face her again¡ªsharp edges, sharper words. But today was different. With Wuji as the sacrificial lamb, he''d teach her a lesson. Break her pride. Her blade. Maybe a few other things.


    With the anger burning through him.


    His trembling hand rose, his fury sharpening into resolve. "[Heavenly Devouring Cauldron.]"


    WHOOSH!


    Behind Bai Yujian, the air twisted, birthing a massive silver cauldron. It spun, sucking in spiritual energy like a beggar at an all-you-can-drink wine stall.


    "!" Bai Yujian slowed, panic flickering in her eyes.


    The Sword Spirit didn''t. It turned from Saint Wuji, who let out a shaky sigh, relief washing over him like a coward spared from the fight he started.


    Then the spirit screamed.


    "EEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAARRRRRGGGHHHH!"


    The furious wail ripped through the air, sharp, like a banshee on a killing spree.


    The White Jade Sword fell, unleashing a slash of intent so vicious it warped space, tearing toward the cauldron like it had a debt to settle. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Now, here''s the thing about sword intent: it''s not about swinging harder. It''s soul. It''s essence. A manifestation of pure, unrelenting dominance. Sword intent doesn''t cut. It erases.


    The Lunarforge Cauldron, for all its "immortal" name, learned that the hard way.


    Crack!


    The cauldron split cleanly in two. Its remnants crashed, useless. Even the storm above paused, as if muttering, "Damn."


    Qingxuan froze, his hand twitching. His treasure. Gone. Years of forging, wasted.


    "You... bitch," he hissed, composure shattering.


    "Now!" he roared.


    Wuji, still coughing blood, nodded weakly. He chanted:


    "[Celestial Buddha Descent!]"


    BOOM!


    The sky ripped open. A massive golden hand emerged, fingers curled, ready to crush Bai Yujian like a gnat.


    She reached for her sword. But it never returned.


    Before she could move, the massive Buddha''s palm descended, pinning her in place like an ant beneath a boulder.


    Her eyes narrowed.


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    Between her and the Sword Spirit stood... Wei Houtian.


    His aura flared like a torch caught in the wind, flickering but powerful. He grinned, unsteady but bold. Raising his huge hammer, he pointed it at the Sword Spirit.


    "Don''t worry, Senior," he muttered, grinning. "I''ll handle the slut spirit. You take the woman."


    The Sword Spirit tilted her head. Slowly.


    Her smile deepened, cold and cruel.


    "Argh!"


    Then ¡ª The Sword Spirit moved like a thunderclap, raising her leg high and slamming it down on him. BOOM! Her heel crushed his chest like a boulder flattening an ant.


    Puchi! Puchi! Puchi!


    Blood erupted from his mouth in a crimson arc, splattering the ground. With a flick of her wrist, she swung the sword toward Bai Yujian, its sharp edge splitting the very air.


    The spirit could act independently, but there was one inconvenient truth: there was only one sword.


    Bai Yujian''s pupils shrank. The Sword Spirit was ''sending the blade back to her''. But her shield was already trembling under the crushing weight of the massive golden palm descending from above.


    If she reached for the sword, she''d lose her shield¡ªand be flattened into paste.


    [Buddha''s Thousand Radiant Palms]


    Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!


    Thousands of smaller, golden palms shot out, rippling like a divine tidal wave. Saint Wuji''s grin stretched wide, a snake savoring the moment before the bite.


    And then...


    BOOM!


    The Wheel of Samsara roared, a spinning golden nightmare that tore through space itself. It shot forward, screaming toward her at impossible speed, its edges gleaming with enough sharpness to slice through heaven.


    Even Bai Yujian''s composure faltered. A weapon capable of matching the White Jade Sword? She hadn''t expected that.


    Moments earlier, the Lunar Cauldron of Master Qingxuan had been obliterated in a single strike. But Wuji''s wheel? It absorbed the full brunt of the sword''s power, its radiance unwavering.


    In front of her, doom approached: the Wheel of Samsara. Behind it, the storm of a thousand palms. Above, the massive Buddha''s hand that promised annihilation.


    Every angle. Every move. It was calculated.


    Saint Wuji licked his lips and sneered. "Checkmate."


    "EEEEEEKKKKKKKKK!"


    The scream tore through the battlefield like a banshee''s wail. The Sword Spirit... she abandoned Wei Houtian, who crumpled to the ground, half-dead and utterly forgotten. With blinding speed, she hurled herself desperately into the barrage of palms, her glowing figure acting as a shield.


    Each palm struck her, tearing through her luminous form, ripping pieces from her body. Blood-like essence sprayed from her spirit, dissipating into the wind. But she didn''t falter.


    "!!"

 Chapter 123 Playing Hero!

    "EEEEEEKKKKKKKKK!"


    Each palm struck the spirit, tearing through her luminous form, ripping pieces from her body. Blood-like essence sprayed from her spirit, dissipating into the wind. But she didn''t falter.


    "!!" S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Bai Yujian gasped, agony tearing through her soul as the Sword Spirit was cut down in front of her eyes. Her bond with the spirit burned like fire in her chest. Blood seeped from her tear ducts, but she didn''t hesitate.


    The sword. She had to grab the sword.


    With trembling fingers, she reached for the hilt of the White Jade Sword. At that moment, the shield protecting her shattered into a thousand fragments, leaving her exposed to the crushing Buddha''s Palm above.


    Her hand closed around the hilt.


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    A deafening explosion swallowed the battlefield. Dust and golden light erupted, swallowing everything. The heavens themselves seemed to pause in reverence¡ªor fear.


    "Impossible!"


    Saint Wuji''s smug grin faltered, his eyes wide with disbelief. Master Qingxuan''s face twitched, unable to comprehend what had just happened.


    No one... not even these seasoned cultivators, had foreseen this.


    The loyalty of a Sword Spirit was the stuff of legends. Stories told by old men in teahouses. But seeing it? Witnessing the lengths a spirit would go for its master? It was a different kind of awe.


    The Sword Spirit... though battered and torn, floated weakly. Her back faced them. She turned, glancing at the explosion... worry in her eyes. Dim, yet unyielding, her light flickered. Even near death, she radiated an unshakable aura.


    Saint Wuji''s voice broke, trembling as he muttered, "It''s still alive...? What... what kind of monster is she?"


    Master Qingxuan''s gaze snapped to the mangled heap that was Wei Houtian, lying in a pool of his own blood, his face smashed beyond recognition. His breath came shallow, labored. A pathetic whimper escaped his lips.


    Qingxuan''s heart sank further. If Bai Yujian and that damn Sword Spirit survived this mess... they were all as good as dead.


    "The Sword Spirit is the heart of the sword..." he muttered, dread seeping his voice as his hairs rose, a chill gripping his spine.


    For any swordsman, the blade was more than steel¡ªit was blood, bond, and bone. This spirit hadn''t just emerged overnight. No... it was forged over centuries, thousands of years of unyielding loyalty and growth.


    "Damnit!" he spat, cursing his stars, his ancestors, and the heavens above. This woman¡­ this cursed spirit!


    His hands trembled as he strode over to Wei Houtian, grabbing the broken fool by his shoulder. His grip was tight, almost crushing, as though holding onto him could anchor what little chance of escape they had.


    "We''re leaving!" Qingxuan hissed, dragging Wei Houtian like a sack of rotten potatoes. His voice cracked with desperation. He didn''t even bother to glance back at Wuji. If the bastard didn''t have the sense to retreat, then let him die.


    Survival mattered more than pride. And right now, pride was a luxury he couldn''t afford.


    _______


    "Master!"


    The battlefield was chaotic, but behind it? A whole other world of wreckage.


    The Warlord''s palace was no longer a palace. The roof? Gone. The pillars? Rubble. The throne? Split like a cheap melon. Yet, in the center of the destruction, Zhu Qing floated.


    Suspended in heavenly light.


    Her eyes were closed, her clothes in tatters, barely stuck to her body. What remained left her exposed, bathing in divine radiance. She hung there like some forbidden painting¡ªholy, untouchable, and a little too much for Su Xiaobai''s spinning head.


    He groaned. "What the hell is this? A strip show!?"


    The generals knelt below her. All seven, battered and bruised, had somehow survived. Yet now they were reduced to kneeling grunts, their heads pressed to the ground like guilty schoolboys caught red-handed.


    At the corner of the hall, Su Xiaobai noticed movement. The crimson glint of his armor caught his eye, and in the shattered remains of a mirror, the truth slapped him across the face.


    The Warlord''s Seal.


    It wasn''t just equipment... It was the armor itself.


    Now it made sense. Why the Crimson Armor hugged the throne like a stubborn drunk at last call.


    It was alive. A cursed relic, bound to the palace¡ªand now, apparently, bound to him.


    "Shit¡­" Su Xiaobai muttered, running a hand through his hair.


    "Woof!"


    He turned. The Bloodhound, once a monstrous terror with three heads, now lay curled up in a corner. One head. One tiny, adorable, puppy-sized head. The former hellish beast now looked like it belonged on a silk cushion.


    "You¡­" Su Xiaobai pointed, dumbfounded. "You''re kidding me. You were trying to eat me an hour ago, and now you''re this?"


    The Bloodhound gave another pathetic bark, wagging its tail like a kicked mutt.


    "Unbelievable."


    At the edge of the room, Su Xiaobai spotted Xiao Hei. Sprawled on the ground, glaring at him like a cat who''d just been stepped on.


    "You knew, didn''t you!?" Su Xiaobai whispered, pointing a trembling finger. "You threw me into this damn armor on purpose!"


    Xiao Hei didn''t answer. She just smirked, propping her chin on her palm like a smug little devil.


    "Of course you knew¡­" Su Xiaobai groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "You''re always scheming something. You think I won''t discipline you? Just wait till¡ª"


    His words caught in his throat as a deafening boom shook the heavens.


    The fight outside.


    Three figures tore the sky apart with blinding flashes of white and streaks of golden destruction. Su Xiaobai''s heart sank. He didn''t have time for this.


    "Stay here!" he snapped.


    With a thought, the armor vanished. Gone in an instant, yet its presence remained, pulsing within him like an extra heartbeat. He could feel it¡ªlurking, waiting. An ''immortal'' grade equipment. A real one.


    No time to celebrate. Su Xiaobai swept the generals into his ring world with a wave, even grabbing the whimpering flower lady. He shot one last glance at Zhu Qing, suspended in her holy light, and froze.


    Too much had happened¡ªthings he still didn''t have answers to. Her losing control. Sucking the life out of him. What the hell was even going on?


    Complicated. That''s all he could feel.


    He gritted his teeth, muttering, "I''ll deal with you later," before launching himself toward the sky.


    "Humph!" Xiao Hei snorted as his figure disappeared, leaving her alone with Zhu Qing.


    Her lips curled into a smile. "Stupid..." she whispered, her voice low and rare, as her eyes flicked toward Zhu Qing.


    The light around Zhu Qing intensified, the divine glow burning brighter, hotter. Her body trembled. Xiao Hei''s smile vanished as she watched the impossible.


    Zhu Qing''s body¡­ began to shed.


    Piece by piece, her exisiting Immortal Vessel fell. Skin. Flesh. Even bones dissolved into golden wisps, scattering like petals in the wind. What remained was her soul¡ªa tiny orb of light, floating in the divine glow.


    The remnants of her vessel fell to the ground. Xiao Hei''s eyes lit up.


    Treasure¡­! she whispered, her smile returning.


    WHOOSH!


    She darted forward, snatching the fragments before the divine light could destroy them. Normally, anyone who dared step into such radiance would be reduced to ash. But Xiao Hei? She soaked it up like it was a warm summer sun.


    Her body glowed. Her silhouette expanded, growing taller, fuller. Her childlike figure morphed as heavenly qi poured into her, and her eyes¡ªnow crimson orbs¡ªshone with a wicked light.


    The Bloodhound whimpered, curling into a ball, its single head refusing to look her way.


    This was the brat who didn''t die. The monster who bathed in heaven''s wrath like it was bathwater.


    ______


    Back in the sky above the wasteland...


    "Did she die¡­? Haha¡­"


    Golden Saint Wuji chuckled. Nervously. The excitement in his voice didn''t hide the fact that, just moments ago, he''d nearly shit himself.


    The smoke began to clear.


    His words froze Master Qingxuan, who had been dragging Wei Houtian away like a sack of potatoes.


    "Sword Fairy¡­ dead?"


    No. It couldn''t be.


    That woman wasn''t easy to kill. If she had died, though¡­ what about the Star Fragment?


    Greed whispered in his ear. If she was really gone, there was still a chance. His chance. A slimy grin crept across his face, but then¡ª


    RUMBLE! ¡ª BOOM!


    The first heavenly lightning struck, shattering his dreams like brittle glass. It slammed down onto the Warlord''s palace with the wrath of an angry god.


    "She succeeded!?"


    The words slipped from his lips, trembling.


    Everyone paused. The battle, the greed, the schemes¡ªall momentarily forgotten. All eyes turned toward the blinding flash of light that followed the strike.


    It wasn''t just lightning. It was judgment.


    Heaven''s nod.


    When the heavens assented, they reforged your vessel through tribulation lightning¡ªa brutal trial that pushed body, spirit, and mind to their limits. Only nine bolts separated a cultivator from divinity, and Zhu Qing had just begun her ascent.


    Her survival meant one thing: today, Zhu Qing would become something else. Something greater.


    "Idiots! Eyes here!"


    A voice snapped through the air, cold and sharp as a blade.


    Everyone froze.


    Their eyes widened.


    It was Bai Yujian.


    She stood tall in the air, her hand gripping the hilt of the White Jade Sword, its radiance shining like a beacon. Her clothes were in tatters, her body bruised, but she was alive.


    But even she looked stunned.

 Chapter 124 Mantis Stalks Cicada!

    "Idiots! Eyes here!" Explore more stories at My Virtual Library Empire


    In front of Bai Yujian, gripping the gigantic Wheel of Samsara with his bare hands¡­ stood a white-haired man. His presence was a mystery, his aura unfamiliar.


    Everyone, except a select few, stared at him for the first time¡ªconfused, bewildered, and utterly speechless.


    He looked calm. Smiling, even.


    But Bai Yujian knew better. That smile? That was a man hiding a mountain''s worth of sweat.


    Saint Wuji''s jaw dropped. "You¡ªwho are you!?"


    This¡­ this man! Who the hell grabs the Wheel of Samsara barehanded!? Even he couldn''t do it without the proper techniques. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It was impossible.


    Bai Yujian was no less shaken. Her mind shook as she recalled the last few seconds. She had shattered the Buddha''s Palm pressing down on her, but the Wheel? That was unavoidable. Yet somehow, this fool had popped out of nowhere and stopped it?


    Su Xiaobai sighed inwardly. Fuck my fate!


    He hadn''t come here to save anyone. He just wanted to look cool for once. Be the hero. Maybe even get some applause. But no. Zhu Qing had to go and hog the spotlight with her heavenly lightning.


    "Now no one''s even looking at me¡­" he muttered under his breath.


    Outwardly, though, he maintained his grin, sweat sliding down his back like a waterfall.


    Fuck.


    He didn''t even want to be here. These were the kinds of people who blew up mountains just to make a point. And now he was standing in the middle of them, holding a unshakeable weapon like it was his morning workout.


    But who made Bai Yujian his master!? What choice did he have!?


    His invincible body saved him¡ªfor now. But it wouldn''t last. The timer was ticking.


    Think, Su Xiaobai. Think fast!


    And then¡­


    Whoosh!


    He waved his hand.


    The Wheel of Samsara vanished, sucked into his spatial ring world like it was nothing more than a fancy trinket.


    Silence.


    Dead silence.


    Everyone''s jaw hit the ground.


    Saint Wuji nearly fainted. The Wheel of Samsara¡ªa weapon so powerful it could erase souls from reincarnation¡ªwas gone. Just¡­ gone.


    "How¡­? How did he¡­?" Wuji stammered, his voice barely a whisper.


    Even Bai Yujian blinked, her grip tightening on her sword. The Wheel was at least soul grade, maybe even an immortal weapon. For its will to be discarded so easily¡­ it didn''t make sense.


    Who was this man?


    Su Xiaobai smiled wider, playing the role of a mysterious master perfectly. Inside, though, he was screaming.


    ''Fuck, fuck, fuck!''


    He prayed the Wheel wouldn''t rebel inside the ring. If it did? He was screwed. But for now, it seemed calm. Maybe the Infernal Emperor''s ring was truly as monstrous as him!


    Either way, he wasn''t sticking around to find out.


    "Call me Master!" Su Xiaobai turned, grinning like a scoundrel, his voice low enough to sound sly but loud enough for Bai Yujian to hear.


    She froze, staring at him like he''d just slapped the heavens. "What?"


    "Call me Master," he repeated, the grin widening.


    Bai Yujian''s eyes twitched. For a moment, it looked like she''d cut him in half. Then she caught the gleam in his eyes¡­ and understood.


    "You¡­ shameless disciple," she muttered.


    "It''s called survival, Jianjian. Play along," he whispered, his grin turning wolfish.


    "Despicable." Her voice dripped venom. She''d rather bite her tongue and choke to death than bow her head like this.


    "¡­"


    Su Xiaobai''s face darkened. Does this crazy woman want us both to die?


    Bonk!


    The slap on her head echoed across the battlefield.


    Dead silence.


    Every eye turned toward them, wide with disbelief. Saint Wuji froze mid-step. Master Qingxuan, dragging Wei Houtian, stopped in his tracks. Even the pirates and Zhao Feng on the sidelines gawked.


    Did this lunatic just hit the Sword Fairy on the head?


    Bai Yujian''s expression turned murderous. Her hand twitched toward her sword.


    Su Xiaobai didn''t care. He raised his voice loud enough for the heavens to hear.


    "Jianjian! Is this how you greet your Master? Have you forgotten your manners!?"


    Bonk!


    He slapped her head again.


    Master Qingxuan blinked, sweat sliding down his brow. "He¡­ he really hit her again?"


    Bai Yujian''s teeth clenched audibly. Her icy gaze locked onto Su Xiaobai''s hand, as if measuring how many ways she could break it. Slowly, she leaned in close, her voice low enough to chill his soul.


    "Master," she hissed, smiling sweetly, "do you want to die?"


    Her fingers wrapped around his wrist.


    "!"


    Su Xiaobai flinched. His grin faltered as he quickly yanked his hand back like he''d just touched a live wire. "Good girl!"


    Bai Yujian''s fingers tightened around her sword. "If we survive this, you''re dead."


    Su Xiaobai chuckled nervously. "Of course, of course. But first¡­"


    He turned to the crowd, his voice booming with false authority:


    "WHO ELSE WANTS TO BULLY MY DISCIPLE TODAY!?"


    "!!"


    The silence hit like a slap to the face.


    Ka¡ªBOOM!


    At that exact moment, the second tribulation lightning struck behind them, splitting the heavens like a divine exclamation point. It was as if the heavens themselves were backing Su Xiaobai''s audacity.


    Saint Wuji staggered back, his face pale. "Senior¡­ this is a misunderstanding," he stammered, forcing a stiff smile that made him look more like a cornered rat than a Golden Buddha Saint.


    What they didn''t know was that Su Xiaobai had pushed spiritual energy into his voice when he spoke¡ªa cheap trick by heavenly standards, but here? It was enough to make these idiots wet themselves.


    Master Qingxuan gritted his teeth. He was already inching toward an escape when¡ª


    "Don''t even dream about leaving!"


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes locked onto him, Qingxuan froze mid-step, sweat dripping down his temples.


    "Venerable Senior!" The old man smiled so wide it looked painful. "We were only here for the Star Fragment! For the King! Everything else is just¡­ a misunderstanding!"


    He thought invoking the name of the king would either frighten Su Xiaobai or pacify him. After all, who wouldn''t hesitate at the mention of royal authority?


    Whoosh!


    Su Xiaobai waved his hand, a golden token flying into the air. Its radiant phoenix insignia shimmered in the light.


    "Your King?" Su Xiaobai sneered, his expression full of mockery. "What does he have to do with me? Only I get to bully my disciple! Who the hell said anyone else gets a turn!?"


    "!!"


    The crowd froze, their hearts sinking.


    "Vermillion Phoenix Dynasty!?" Saint Wuji''s face turned ashen. His lips quivered, his earlier bravado long gone.


    The Vermillion Phoenix Dynasty. The name alone was enough to crush his plans. He''d thought about dropping the name of his Golden Buddha Sect earlier, hoping to intimidate Su Xiaobai, but now?


    No way in hell. If Su Xiaobai was connected to the Vermillion Phoenix Dynasty, he was playing with fire. The Vermillion Phoenix Dynasty and the Tianlong Empire were notorious rivals.


    Meanwhile, Su Xiaobai smirked inwardly. This token? Stolen off some poor girl back in the Silver Wolf territory. He hadn''t even looked at it until now and definitely hadn''t expected it to save his skin today.


    "Ha, who knew a random robbery would pay off this well¡­" he muttered under his breath, just as¡ª


    BOOM!


    The third bolt of tribulation lightning struck, illuminating the sky in blinding light.


    Su Xiaobai used the moment to pull another wild stunt. With a dramatic flourish, he whipped out a radiant, gleaming orb¡ªthe Star Fragment itself.


    "Which one of you wants it?!" he shouted, holding the fragment high in the air. "Step forward! Let''s see who''s stupid enough!"

 Chapter 125 Masscare!

    "Which one of you wants it?!" Su Xiaobai shouted, holding the fragment high in the air. "Step forward! Let''s see who''s stupid enough!"


    The crowd''s eyes locked onto the fragment, their faces a mix of greed and fear.


    So it''s with him! The realization hit like a hammer.


    Their imaginations filled in the blanks instantly. It wasn''t hard to forge a story. Clearly, Bai Yujian hadn''t come here alone. She was escorting her master, who must''ve traveled all this way for the Star Fragment! That''s why she was here! That''s why he was here!


    Su Xiaobai didn''t even need to speak.


    The idiots were doing all the work for him, their brains running wild with delusions. In their minds, he wasn''t just strong¡ªhe was an unstoppable force of nature, a legend in the flesh. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Senior¡­ my Samsara Wheel¡­" Saint Wuji finally muttered, his voice weak, his face pale.


    The Star Fragment? He didn''t care about it anymore. Not one bit.


    The Wheel of Samsara was everything.


    That weapon had been entrusted to him by the sect master of the Golden Buddha Sect, with clear instructions: Don''t lose it. Don''t fail. If he went back empty-handed? He wouldn''t just lose his rank. He''d lose his head.


    But to fight this monster in front of him? He clenched his teeth so hard his jaw ached.


    "Humph!" Su Xiaobai''s frown deepened, his eyes scanning Wuji like he was scolding a dog. "Still thinking about your cheap toys? Come here and get it, then!"


    BAM!


    With a flick of his hand, he released the Wheel of Samsara from his ring. It dropped onto the red sand below, landing with a heavy, resounding thud.


    Saint Wuji froze.


    Was it¡­ that easy?


    "Sigh¡­" He exhaled in relief, his shoulders relaxing as tension melted away. Without wasting another second, he flew toward the wheel, his heart soaring with hope.


    At the same moment, Su Xiaobai gave Bai Yujian a subtle signal with his hand.


    She smiled. Got it!


    "Master, wait¡ª!"


    The two disciples who had followed Saint Wuji cried out, panic flashing in their eyes. But it was already too late.


    "What¡ªargh!"


    Wuji turned mid-flight, sensing something behind him, but his reaction wasn''t fast enough.


    Bai Yujian moved like a shadow.


    Puchi!


    A single leap brought her into striking range. Her sword gleamed in the light, flashing like a shooting star.


    He barely had time to register the pain.


    Her blade pierced through his body with deadly precision, cleaving him clean in half.


    Splurt! Splurt! Splurt! Blood sprayed across the red sands below, painting the ground in a arc.


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    Wuji''s upper half trembled as his life drained away, his eyes wide with disbelief. "Y-you¡­!"


    Bai Yujian''s expression was cold, indifferent, as she flicked the blood from her sword. "Didn''t your golden budda teach you? Never turn your back on an enemy."


    Thud!


    She Yujian kicked Saint Wuji''s severed torso aside like a bag of trash, her lips curling into a sneer.


    "Good disciple," Su Xiaobai muttered under his breath, smirking.


    But just to be sure, he extended his hand.


    Whoosh!


    A wave of reddish infernal flames burst forth, oozing like molten lava and engulfing Wuji''s remains in an instant.


    "Agh¡ª!!"


    Wuji''s scream was short-lived, snuffed out by the roaring flames as they consumed him entirely.


    For a moment, Su Xiaobai felt proud. His flames were badass, no doubt about it. But then his grin faltered. Something felt¡­ off.


    "Those flames¡­"


    Master Qingxuan''s eyes narrowed, his expression darkening. He''d seen many things in his long life, but those flames? They were too strong, yet too wild, even for a cultivator of Su Xiaobai''s supposed level.


    Before anyone could dwell on it further¡ª


    Swoosh! Swoosh!


    Bai Yujian was already on the move, her sword flashing as she appeared behind Wuji''s two disciples.


    "W-wait!" they cried, their voices trembling.


    "Too late."


    Puh! Puh! Puh!


    Her blade swept through the air. Blood splattered the sands as their bodies crumpled to the ground in pieces.


    The pirates tried to flee next.


    BOOM!


    One strike. That''s all it took. Bai Yujian cleaved through them like she was chopping vegetables.


    "Sword Fairy! Wait!" Zhao Feng raised his trembling hands, desperation etched across his face. "I''m an elder of the Righteous Cloud Sect! My niece is¡ª"


    Swish!


    He didn''t get to finish. Bai Yujian''s sword split him down the middle with precision.


    Puh!


    Blood sprayed like a fountain, painting the already crimson sands an even deeper red.


    Though Bai Yujian was clearly injured, she showed no weakness. She stood tall, radiating cold authority, her sword dripping blood.


    Su Xiaobai stared, speechless.


    This woman¡­ she was terrifying. He finally understood why Zhu Qing looked so uneasy around her sometimes. His gaze drifted behind him, and he shivered. The thousands of impaled corpses from earlier still stood like a forest of death.


    When Bai Yujian wasn''t looking, Su Xiaobai stealthily stashed a few of the fresher bodies into his ring. His ''Devouring Thorny Flower'' could use a meal, and who knew? It might even evolve.


    "Those flames¡­ they tricked us," Master Qingxuan muttered under his breath, realization slapped on his face.


    His eyes darted to Su Xiaobai. Those flames were far too powerful for someone who didn''t seem to be able to fully control them. It could only mean one thing: he was pretending to be stronger than he actually was.


    It''s all an act!


    But the realization came too late.


    BOOM!


    The final tribulation lightning struck the Warlord''s palace, signaling the end of Zhu Qing''s breakthrough. The skies began to clear, the oppressive heavenly energy fading as calm returned to the battlefield.


    Master Qingxuan turned to leave, but the cold press of a blade against his throat froze him in place.


    "Leaving so soon?~"


    A melodious, seductive voice echoed beside him. He turned his head, and his breath froze.


    A breathtaking woman stood there, her green eyes deep and unfathomable, like endless abysses.


    She hovered barefoot in the air, as if silk itself cradled her steps. Her beauty, now elevated to an unearthly level after her breakthrough, radiated a deadly charm. The fragrance of death hugged her like a lover''s perfume¡ªsweet, intoxicating, and suffocating all at once.


    Her smile was dazzling, but her eyes burned with cold, endless wraith.


    Su Xiaobai let out a low whistle. Damn, Zhu Qing was looking better than ever. Surprisingly, she didn''t scold him this time. Instead, she winked at him, as if inviting him to enjoy the show.


    The last two standing were Master Qingxuan and the unconscious Wei Houtian. The latter had fainted long ago, missing everything.


    But Master Qingxuan? He''d seen far too much.


    Neither Bai Yujian nor Zhu Qing would let him leave alive¡ªnot after Su Xiaobai''s flames had been revealed.


    Even Bai Yujian and Zhu Qing, despite their cold facades, couldn''t hide their shock. How many secrets does this so-called disciple of ours have?


    Those flames weren''t ordinary. Not by a long shot.


    "Spiritual flames" were common among alchemists¡ªuseful for refining pills, but not much else. ''Earth-grade'' flames were rarer, treasured by powerful alchemists and considered priceless artifacts. But Su Xiaobai''s flames?


    They were ''half-step Sky Grade''.


    ''Sky Grade'' flames were the stuff of legends, flames so powerful they were considered sentient. No one could control them¡ªanyone who tried would be consumed, their body taken over by the flames themselves. Even a half-step Sky Grade flame like Su Xiaobai''s was a treasure that could incite wars.


    The problem?


    Su Xiaobai shouldn''t even be alive, let alone using those flames. By all logic, they should''ve devoured him long ago.


    If word of his flames leaked, alchemists from Immortal Rain Valley¡ªand beyond¡ªwould descend upon him like vultures. Not just from the mortal realm, but even from the heavens above.


    He knew this.


    That''s why he never used them unless it was an emergency.


    But now? It was too late.


    Master Qingxuan had seen them. And while everyone else who witnessed the flames was already dead, Qingxuan wasn''t. Yet.

 Chapter 126 Aftermath!

    "Why not just kill him?"


    Su Xiaobai muttered from the side, his tone filled with annoyance, as he watched Bai Yujian at work.


    She had stripped Master Qingxuan of every treasure he owned¡ªcalling it "compensation" for today''s trouble¡ªbut instead of finishing the job and spilling his blood, she was making him swear a heavenly oath.


    An oath.


    Su Xiaobai scoffed, crossing his arms like a lord. His eyes glinted with frustration, and a faint sneer tugged at his lips. "What''s the point of an oath? Just slit his throat and be done with it."


    Zhu Qing, standing nearby, caught his sulking. She sighed softly, the sound almost pitying, and shook her head. "Do you remember where we''re going?"


    Su Xiaobai frowned, his irritation briefly giving way to confusion. "The capital?"


    "Yes," Zhu Qing said, her voice tinged with calm authority. "To the royal palace."


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes narrowed. "And?"


    "Think," Zhu Qing murmured, her tone almost teasing. "How do you think we''re going to get inside?"


    Realization slapped him, his face twisting in disbelief as he glanced at Bai Yujian''s back.


    "The dragon pond¡­" he muttered. That ancient treasure was the pride of the royal family. Entry was reserved for those with imperial blood or high favor.


    Zhu Qing smiled faintly, her voice soft, "Don''t think too much. It''s just borrowing a name. Your Elder Bai doesn''t bow to anyone¡ªshe''s merely using her identity."


    Su Xiaobai''s brows furrowed. He could feel his irritation building again. Was she really doing all of this¡­ for him?


    Zhu Qing''s expression flickered, sensing his anger. "She''s not bending to the king. That man''s hopes are nothing more than a dog barking at the moon. He still grips to the title of ''husband,'' hoping to trap her, but she''s no one''s to claim."


    "Then why let this bastard live?" Su Xiaobai snapped, gesturing toward Master Qingxuan. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "If we kill him, there will be chaos," Zhu Qing explained patiently. "The royal family will cause trouble, and the path to the dragon pond will close to us."


    Her words struck a chord, but they only fanned the flames of Su Xiaobai''s anger. He didn''t care about politics or royal entanglements. To him, it was all an excuse.


    "She''s doing this for me, isn''t she?" he muttered darkly, clenching his fists. That woman thinks I need her protection.


    It infuriated him. He wasn''t weak. He wasn''t some damsel in distress needing to be coddled. His cultivation was growing steadily, and it wouldn''t be long before he stepped into the nascant soul realm. The dragon pond? It wasn''t necessary.


    "She should''ve just killed him," he grumbled under his breath, his tone colder now.


    Zhu Qing stepped closer, gently placing her hand on his. Her touch was warm, calming, but it only deepened his brooding.


    "Don''t worry," she murmured. "He''ll die¡­ just not today."


    Su Xiaobai''s lips curled into a faint sneer. *Not today? What''s the point? Killing is like weeding¡ªleave the roots, and they''ll grow back stronger.*


    He glanced at Bai Yujian, who was still coldly speaking to Master Qingxuan. This so-called master of his¡­ ruthless and efficient, but still holding back.


    It made his blood boil.


    ______


    "Blazing Sun Sect," Bai Yujian said, her voice sharp and commanding, as her cold gaze locked onto Master Qingxuan. "I don''t want to hear its name again."


    Master Qingxuan stiffened, his teeth grinding audibly. ''What am I? Her dog?''


    But he didn''t dare speak the thought aloud. Not after today''s crushing defeat. He had no choice but to bow his head, swallow his humiliation, and retreat.


    Flying toward the Blazing Sun Sect, he cursed his luck. Not only had he failed to obtain the Star Fragment, but he''d also been stripped of every treasure he owned. Worse, he had to carry out this woman''s orders and destroy the sect.


    Even the chickens wouldn''t be spared.


    But his anger burned brightest toward Su Xiaobai.


    Master Qingxuan''s eyes gleamed with greed as he glanced back toward the young man. The flames Su Xiaobai had unleashed¡­ those weren''t ordinary flames.


    ''If those flames were mine¡­'' The thought sent a shiver of excitement down his spine. If he could claim them, his alchemy would ascend to unparalleled heights.


    The entire Immortal Rain Valley would bow to him.


    Su Xiaobai felt the old bastard''s gaze even as he left.


    ''This old foggy still dares to covet what''s mine?'' His fingers twitched, the urge to kill bubbling beneath his calm fa?ade.


    "He can''t speak about your flames," Zhu Qing reassured him.


    "Not after swearing a heavenly oath," Bai Yujian added curtly.


    Su Xiaobai didn''t respond. Heavenly oaths? Rules? He didn''t trust them. He''d seen too many "righteous" cultivators bend the heavens to their will.


    But his anger waned as the spoils of the day were divided. Rare treasures, gleaming tools, and precious pills sat before him like an offering.


    "This¡­" Su Xiaobai muttered, his scowl melting into a grin. "This feels right."


    _____


    Back on the Flying Ship!


    The group returned to the flying ship in silence, the tension from the earlier events hanging heavy like a storm cloud.


    "Qingqing, come with me," Bai Yujian said suddenly, her tone brisk. Without waiting for a response, she grabbed Zhu Qing''s wrist and disappeared into the ship.


    Su Xiaobai blinked, watching them leave. "An interrogation, huh?" he muttered. "Women''s stuff."


    He shrugged and returned to his room. Collapsing onto his bed, he let out a long sigh, the events of the day playing through his mind.


    His gaze darkened. That old bastard Qingxuan¡­ he would return. Greedy cockroaches always do.


    But for now, Su Xiaobai turned his attention to the treasures he''d looted. Among them were a severed arm, several rare pills, and some spiritual tools.


    "Oh, right¡­" he whispered, smirking as he glanced at the stolen corpses in his ring. "Time to feed you, Thorny Flower. Eat up and grow big for me."


    The sinister plant stirred within his ring, its presence pressing against his mind like a hungry beast.


    Su Xiaobai chuckled softly. "Good. Keep eating. One day, you''ll be even scarier than Bai Yujian."


    He leaned back, his grin sharp and cruel. The storm wasn''t over¡ªnot with Master Qingxuan''s greed left unchecked. But if that fool came back?


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes gleamed.


    I''ll burn him to ash.


    Thud!


    His thoughts shattered as the door to his room burst open.


    "Meimei?"


    Su Xiaobai sat up quickly, his body tense, but he relaxed when he saw his little sister''s worried face.


    Her chest rose and fell as if she''d run all the way here. "Gege¡­ are you alright?"


    "I''m fine. What''s with you?" Su Xiaobai waved her off lazily, already annoyed.


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    But Su Xiaomei didn''t move. Her gaze darted around the room before locking onto something in the corner.


    Her face paled.


    "What''s¡­ that?" Her voice trembled, and her feet took an unconscious step back.


    Su Xiaobai raised an eyebrow. "What? Did you see a ghost?"


    He turned toward the corner, expecting nothing.


    But what he saw made even his breath froze.


    Rustle ~


    A faint, cold wind blew past the window, near which a woman sat sprawled, her body half-hidden in shadows. Her crimson wedding dress shimmered faintly, its fabric tight against a figure that seemed sculpted to tempt men into ruin. Her skin, pale and flawless, glowed faintly in the faint light, and her long, dark hair spilled like silk over her shoulders.


    But it was her eyes that froze him.


    Blood-red. Piercing. They stared at him with a strange, haunting charm, equal parts sorrow and hunger.


    Su Xiaobai''s grip tightened on the bed frame.


    "Who are you?!" he demanded, jumping off the bed and summoning his crimson sword in a single motion.

 Chapter 127 Changes in Bloodline! First Descendent!

    "Who are you?!"


    Su Xiaobai demanded, jumping off the bed and summoning his crimson sword in a single motion.


    "..." The woman didn''t reply. She simply sat there, unblinking. Those sorrowful eyes seemed to pierce through him, cutting deep into his soul.


    For a fleeting moment, Su Xiaobai felt an ache in his chest. What the hell is this? Some kind of charm technique?


    His thoughts twisted. No matter how beautiful she is, if she''s here to eat me alive, she''ll choke on my bones.


    Thud.


    The woman''s lips curled into a small smile. Her blood-red eyes gleamed with mischief, and without warning, she moved.


    On all fours.


    She crawled toward them slowly, her movements predatory and deliberate.


    Su Xiaomei let out a small scream, stumbling backward until her back hit the doorframe.


    "What is she?!"


    Su Xiaobai''s body tensed, his sword ready to strike, but then he saw it.


    The way the woman tilted her head, her teasing grin¡ªthere was something annoyingly familiar about it.


    "¡­ Xiao Hei?" he muttered.


    The woman stopped crawling and sat upright, her grin widening.


    Su Xiaomei stared, horrified. "This¡­ this thing is Xiao Hei?"


    Su Xiaobai didn''t respond immediately. The figure before him was nothing like the little brat he remembered. Her frame was no longer petite but tall and full, with curves that seemed designed to test his self-control. Her red charming dress, its low cut revealing just enough to make his throat dry.


    "Meimei, move out," he said suddenly, his voice sharp.


    "B-but¡ª"


    "Now."


    Su Xiaomei hesitated, but she couldn''t stop her body from obeying. Every instinct screamed at her to leave. Even standing near Xiao Hei made her chest feel tight, as if her very soul rejected the woman''s presence.


    Without another word, she bolted from the room, slamming the door behind her.


    Now alone, Su Xiaobai sighed heavily, tossing his sword onto the bed as he collapsed beside it.


    "How the hell did you grow up so fast?" he muttered, glaring at Xiao Hei.


    The once small and troublesome brat had turned into a full-grown woman¡ªno, a dangerous woman. Her charm wasn''t normal. It was a blade wrapped in silk, and it was aimed directly at him.


    Her eyes sparkled as she crawled closer, now sitting at the edge of his bed. She didn''t speak, but her teasing smile spoke everything.


    Su Xiaobai''s gaze flicked down, tracing her thin crimson lips for just a second too long before snapping his eyes back up. Stop. No way. This is Xiao Hei.


    He shook his head sharply, forcing himself to focus on her cultivation. Her strength had skyrocketed¡ªpeak Nascent Soul Realm. A monstrous leap for someone like her.


    "You can talk," Su Xiaobai said, narrowing his eyes at her. "Stop pretending to be some ghostly mute."


    "I liked it better when you were small and annoying," he grumbled, his voice rough.


    Xiao Hei tilted her head, her gaze challenging.


    For a moment, Su Xiaobai couldn''t look away.


    The woman before him was a paradox¡ªhauntingly beautiful yet unsettling, fragile yet brimming with dangerous strength.


    His gaze drifted downward, taking in the crimson wedding dress. Its fabric shimmered faintly, as though soaked in moonlight and blood.


    "Where did you even find a dress like this?" he muttered, his voice unusually soft. "It''s¡­ beautiful."


    He couldn''t remember the last time he''d complimented a woman. And yet, here he was, his words slipping out before he could stop them.


    His hand moved cautiously, reaching out to touch the fabric. He wasn''t sure why¡ªcuriosity, instinct, or something deeper. Though calm on the surface, his heart wasn''t steady.


    This woman¡­ she didn''t make sense.


    She wants to kill me, but she saved me. She should''ve left, but she''s here.


    His thoughts churned. What does she want?


    "Funeral."


    The word was barely a whisper, but it struck him like a thunderclap. Enjoy more content from My Virtual Library Empire


    Su Xiaobai froze. Her lips had moved, and her voice¡ªsoft, lilting, yet filled with an aching sorrow¡ªreached deep into him, stirring something he didn''t recognize.


    His heart twisted painfully.


    "Funeral?" he repeated, his voice quieter now. He looked into her eyes, only to find them glassy, filled with an inexplicable sadness.


    "Whose funeral?" he asked, frowning.


    A funeral dress? In a wasteland like this? What kind of lunatic would wear something like that?


    His thoughts darkened. Did this brat kill someone and destroy their wedding? The idea almost made him laugh, but the heaviness in her gaze silenced the humor.


    But then, just as quickly as it appeared, the sadness in her eyes vanished.


    It was like it had never existed.


    Xiao Hei tilted her head, her lips curving into a faint, unreadable smile.


    Her pale, delicate finger slowly rose, pointing directly at him. Despite its fragile appearance, the weight of her gesture was suffocating, as if the heavens themselves were leaning against his chest.


    Thud!


    Her finger pressed against his chest, firm and unwavering.


    "Your funeral."


    Her lips curled further into a sly smile, her red eyes gleaming with wicked intent.


    "!!!"


    Su Xiaobai''s face paled.


    ____


    "Rustle~~"


    The flying ship sailed through the blood-red clouds of the Chi Xie Wasteland... silent as a thief, but bold as a drunk in a brothel.


    On the top deck¡­


    "Do you think Wei Houtian will just swallow this mess and move on?" Zhu Qing muttered, taking a deep breath. She wasn''t worried about a sly old bastard like Master Qiangxuan; foxes like him knew when to bow and when to bite.


    But Wei Houtian? That hot-headed lunatic? Oh, he''d wake up, all right. And when he did? He''d be spitting flames and looking to burn everyone involved.


    Bai Yujian''s eyes barely flickered. Not her circus, not her monkeys. "What happened in the palace?" she asked flatly, as though she already knew Zhu Qing was neck-deep in some divine dung heap.


    Zhu Qing''s lips twitched... She knew the question was coming, but damn, too much had happened in there.


    The cold wind whipped around them as she spilled most of the story... but not all of it. She didn''t breathe a word about Su Xiaobai''s bizarre powers, her demonic arrays, or that cursed Warlord''s Seal now snug in his sticky fingers. Why? Simple. If Bai Yujian found out, that armor Su Xiaobai had? Gone faster than a drunk''s wallet in a gambling den.


    And truth be told, Zhu Qing felt... complicated. Guilty? Not really. Protective? Maybe. She didn''t know why she cared, but there it was, itching under her skin like a rash she couldn''t scratch.


    "Your breakthrough¡­ what about your heart demon?" Bai Yujian asked suddenly, her words cold enough to freeze the marrow in Zhu Qing''s bones.


    "My¡­ heart demon?"


    Ah, the heart demon. Cultivators'' worst nightmare. The nasty little shadow of their deepest fears, regrets, and desires... one wrong step, and it chews through you like rot through wood. Cultivation? Gone. Soul? Corrupted. Dreams of immortality? Kiss ''em goodbye.


    For those with weak bloodlines or mediocre talent, the heart demon''s grip is tighter than a virgin''s first-night nerves.


    Zhu Qing''s gaze darkened as memories flooded in. Back at the Dark Sparrow Sect, the Trial of Shadows had been her crucible¡ªa game of death where the opponents were real. Kill, or be killed.


    She survived. Barely. But survival came with a price. Blood on her hands, her clothes... even her soul.


    Her worst crime? She had killed her last blood relatives.


    The guilt? Eternal. The hate? Oh, she hated blood for this very reason. And yet, the Warlord''s palace had made her confront it all over again.


    Still, something didn''t add up. She shouldn''t have been able to pass the Trial of Heaven, let alone break through. Heaven never forgives a reject. Once you''re marked, you''re stuck forever at peak Tribulation Realm, no matter how much you beg, cheat, or bleed. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    So how? How did she break through?


    "Qingqing, what are you hiding?" Bai Yujian''s tone sharpened, her eyes narrowing.


    Zhu Qing swallowed hard. She exhaled slowly, then raised her hand.


    "Look at this..."


    From her palm, a serpent materialized¡ªa colossal thing with dark, misty scales, crimson eyes, and a crown on its head. Regal. Deadly. Otherworldly.


    "Your bloodline?"


    "Not anymore¡­" Zhu Qing whispered, shaking her head. Her Shadow Serpent Bloodline? Gone. This... this was something else entirely.


    [Primordial Serpent Emperor Bloodline.]

 Chapter 128 Primordial Serpent Emperor Bloodline!

    [Primordial Serpent Emperor Bloodline.]


    It all started when she exchanged blood with Su Xiaobai. His blood had wormed its way into her body and refused to leave, dominating her own and mutating it into¡­ this.


    Now? She couldn''t even sense her old bloodline. All that remained was the serpent¡­ slithering within her Sea of Consciousness.


    And during that battle at the Warlord''s Palace? Her bloodline had gone berserk, sucking in Death Qi like a starving beast. Hell, even the tiny Hellhound pup at her feet was drained dry, left as nothing but a sleepy, harmless fluffball.


    It didn''t stop there. When Death Qi ran out, her bloodline latched onto Su Xiaobai, greedily drinking his blood until Xiao Hei¡ªhad to step in and save him.


    The result? Her bloodline had evolved, skyrocketing her talent and smashing her limits.


    "So, I was right¡­" Bai Yujian muttered, half-smiling, half-scowling. That brat, Su Xiaobai, was a freak. If his blood alone could shove Zhu Qing past her heart demon and talent cap, then his potential was monstrous. Immortal-level monstrous.


    "Can you feel him?" Bai Yujian asked hesitantly.


    "Feel him? What¡ª" Zhu Qing closed her eyes to try¡­ and immediately regretted it. Her face darkened, her lips trembling in frustration.


    "Elder¡­ I think I''m tied to that brat now¡­"


    Bai Yujian smiled, her amusement poorly hidden. "Well, you''ve become his descendant, after all. What did you expect?"


    Descendant...? Excuse me!


    Zhu Qing nearly choked. Descendant! Wasn''t that just a fancy way of saying she was now Su Xiaobai''s junior?!


    She clenched her fists. No way! Impossible! If that smug bastard found out, he''d tease her forever. Her dignity would never recover!


    Bai Yujian, on the other hand, was thoroughly enjoying this rare moment of Zhu Qing''s panic. "Why are you acting like you''re losing out? If it weren''t for him, you''d be stuck at peak Tribulation Realm forever. You should be thanking him!"


    "Elder, you and your man¡­ you''re both scheming against me!" Zhu Qing blurted, flustered, only to realize she had said too much.


    "Oh?" Bai Yujian''s eyes narrowed dangerously. "What did you just say?"


    Forced to spill the beans, Zhu Qing recounted some of Su Xiaobai''s less-than-flattering remarks about Bai Yujian.


    The elder''s face twitched. A deadly calm settled over her.


    "...Where is he now?"


    Without waiting for an answer, Bai Yujian stormed off to find the brat. Zhu Qing, left alone on the deck, prayed for his survival.


    ___


    "Sigh..."


    Zhu Qing leaned against the ship''s railing, her fingers brushing its edge as if grounding herself to reality. The crimson clouds stretched endlessly, painting the horizon in hues of blood and flame.


    The wind whispered cold secrets against her skin, but her thoughts were louder.


    Su Xiaobai''s survival? She didn''t care. Not really. If he wanted to drag Bai Yujian''s name through the mud by calling her his lover, then he deserved whatever hell came his way. If anything, she''d enjoy watching him crawl out of it.


    But¡­ her grip on the railing tightened. A bitter laugh escaped her lips, soft and slow, like the last notes of a dying song.


    "Strange, isn''t it?" she muttered to herself. "I hated him. Still do, sometimes. And yet, here I am, carrying pieces of him I can never give back."


    Her eyes flickered with a melancholy light, reflecting the sky''s bloodied glow. Death Qi. That dark, suffocating force now coiled within her veins like an unwanted lover. She hadn''t asked for this. She hadn''t asked for any of this. But Su Xiaobai¡­ that brat¡­ had a way of forcing things on her. His bloodline, his secrets, his mess¡ªit was all hers now, whether she wanted it or not.


    Her lips quirked upward, but the smile didn''t reach her eyes. "He gave me a new life I didn''t ask for. And now, I''ll spend the rest of it carrying the weight of his mess. Some gift."


    The ship shuddered slightly as it cut through the crimson clouds, but Zhu Qing didn''t flinch. Her fingers eased on the railing, and a different kind of calm settled over her¡ªone born not of peace, but of surrender.


    "Maybe that''s what broke my heart demon," she murmured, her voice low and distant. "Not the guilt, not the killings, but this¡­ this strange, twisted bond. The one person I trusted enough to show my shadows, and he handed me his in return. How stupid of me."


    She laughed again, this time sharper, louder, tinged with bitterness. It wasn''t a laugh of joy¡ªit was the sound of someone making peace with a wound that would never heal.


    "Whatever," she said finally, her voice taking on a steely edge. "I''ll repay him. I''m not ungrateful. But if he thinks I''ll bow and scrape, he''s more wishful than I am."


    She straightened her back, letting the cold wind whip her hair into a wild tangle. Her pristine white robes fluttered behind her, a splash of religion against the darkening sky.


    For the first time in a long while, she felt alive. Broken? Sure. Shattered like a wine jar dropped from heaven? Definitely. But alive... and that was its own kind of twisted salvation.


    Finally free, maybe she didn''t need to keep hiding her demonic arrays or those filthy shadows she''d kept locked away¡ªat least not from him.


    And the way of righteousness? Ha! That was always a tight-assed fantasy, wasn''t it? No point lying to herself anymore.


    She was meant for darker roads, ones paved with blood and sin¡­ and she was starting to like how they felt under her feet.


    ____


    Click!


    Down below, Bai Yujian stood before Su Xiaobai''s door, her hand resting on the handle. She took a slow, measured breath, though her eyes gleamed with cold fire.


    That brat had dared to drag her name through the mud, claiming her as his lover. She should''ve crushed his boldness the moment he joined the sect, but no¡­ she''d indulged him. And now? Now he thought he could get away with this?


    Her lips curled into a smile, cruel and sharp.


    Without another thought, she pushed the door open, stepping inside with the storm of her anger trailing behind her.


    But the scene that greeted her was not what she expected.


    Her breath froze, her eyes widening slightly as she went still.


    For the first time in years, Bai Yujian found herself at a loss for words.


    "AGH¡ª! You little hellspawn! Not my ears!"


    Inside the room, Su Xiaobai and Xiao Hei were locked in what could only be described as a brawl of pure savagery. No martial arts, no spiritual techniques¡ªjust pure, unfiltered street brawling. Hair was pulled. Faces were bitten. Dignity? Left outside the door.


    Xiao Hei latched onto his ear with a vicious chomp. Su Xiaobai howled in pain. But if she thought he''d let it slide, she had another thing coming¡ªhe bit her right back.


    It was a battle of the most primal kind.


    Until¡ª


    "..."


    "..."


    Both combatants froze mid-scrap, teeth still bared, limbs tangled, as they turned their heads ever so slowly toward the doorway.


    There stood Bai Yujian, frozen in place.


    Her expression? A mask of eerie, almost too sweet amusement. The kind that sent shivers up a man''s spine and made him reconsider all his life choices.


    Su Xiaobai immediately stuffed Xiao Hei into his ring world. The little demon tried clawing her way back out, but he shoved her down again.


    Whoosh! Gone.


    Now, with a forced smile plastered across his face, he straightened up like a proper disciple. "Uh¡­ Peak Lord, you need something?"


    Bai Yujian took slow, deliberate steps into the room, her eyes lazily sweeping over the space, like she expected someone to pop out from under the bed.


    "Who was that woman?" she asked, voice smooth, calm¡­ and deeply suspicious.


    Su Xiaobai''s face darkened. Why is she acting like a jealous wife catching her man in the act?!


    He cleared his throat. "She''s my puppet,* Xiao Hei. After bathing in the divine light of the heavens, she evolved. I, uh¡­ forgot to take her back with me when Peak Lord Zhu was breaking through. Didn''t expect results like this..."


    For once, Su Xiaobai wasn''t lying.


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    Completely, utterly honest.


    But life was unfair. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Because the moment he finished speaking, Bai Yujian''s lips curled.


    "Lies."


    A single word. Flat. Cold. Absolute.


    Heavenly lightning blessing a puppet? Normally, that shit vaporized things! Did he think she was an idiot?!


    Before Su Xiaobai could protest, Bai Yujian stepped forward and¡ª


    SNATCH!


    Her fingers clamped onto his chin, tilting his face up. Their eyes locked.


    Su Xiaobai blinked. ¡­What?


    Bai Yujian narrowed her gaze, searching his expression like a scholar analyzing ancient texts. What is this man hiding?


    Meanwhile, Su Xiaobai''s brain stalled. Not because of fear¡ªoh no. But because at this distance¡­


    Fragrant body¡­ soft breath¡­ is this woman trying to steal a kiss?


    The scent of cold orchids and faint sword qi, stirring something between them. If she leaned in just a little more¡ª


    "Su Xiaobai¡­" Bai Yujian''s voice was low, warning. "What exactly did you say to Qingqing back in the Warlord''s Palace?"


    Su Xiaobai''s scalp tingled. Shit.


    Bai Yujian''s cheeks¡ªjust the slightest hint of pink. But her face? A mask of absolute discipline.


    "From when did I, Bai Yujian, become your lover?"


    Su Xiaobai felt the heavens crashing down on him.


    Zhu Qing, you traitorous wench! You actually snitched!


    Damn.


    "Peak Lord¡­ I can explain."

 Chapter 129 Xuetian Valley!

    Rustle~~


    The wind shrieked through Xuetian Valley¡­ like a widow wailing for her husband''s impotent Dao.


    On either side of the narrow pathway, walls of ice stood, jagged and endless, as if the heavens had split open and frozen over mid-scream. Each gust of wind carried a faint echo¡­ whispers of the countless souls who had perished here.


    This was no ordinary canyon.


    It was Yue Country''s first line of defense against the Frost Dominion.


    Generations of war had turned this place into a mass grave. The frost had devoured thousands of cultivators, their blood crystallizing into the very ice that now sealed the valley''s fate. The walls weren''t just cold¡ªthey remembered.


    And yet, amidst all this death and solemnity¡­


    A lone bastard stood there, kicking at imaginary pebbles.


    Su Xiaobai sighed, his breath turning to mist, his boot casually nudging a half-buried sword.


    If any soldier from Yue saw him, they''d spit blood, drag his soul back from reincarnation, and make him apologize to every single corpse.


    "Tsk¡­ Tak¡­ What did I even say wrong¡­"


    A rustling sounded behind him.


    Zhu Qing followed lazily, wrapped in her cloak, her smile barely hidden. If anyone else saw them, they''d think they were two top assassins on a covert mission.


    The truth?


    Su Xiaobai was mourning the death of his rizz.


    And Zhu Qing? She was just here to inspect his ''goods''.


    Two days ago, Su Xiaobai had left Chi Xie Wasteland¡­ only to be struck by a realization as devastating as a Qi deviation.


    His old-world rizz was useless.


    He had thought¡ªno, believed¡ªthat Bai Yujian had fallen into his verbal formation. That his silver tongue had slipped past her defenses like a rogue cultivator sneaking into a sect''s forbidden grounds.


    He had spoken. She had listened. And then¡­


    "Never mention it again in front of anyone."


    And left.


    No sword drawn. No cold sneer. Not even a casual threat to cut off his limbs and hang him outside her sect.


    Just that single, soul-crushing sentence.


    No.


    No, no, no.


    Had he just been¡ªfriend-zoned? Disciple-zoned? Or had Bai Yujian invented a new, even crueler zone just for him?


    A great loss.


    With ordinary women, he wouldn''t care. But Bai Yujian? That woman was a celestial fortress with a single entrance¡­ guarded by a divine beast that slaughtered all who dared approach.


    One wrong move¡­ and he''d be crossing reincarnation itself.


    Zhu Qing finally spoke, barely holding back her laughter.


    "Little villain¡­ don''t tell me you''re planning to dig a tunnel instead of climbing the mountain¡­"


    Su Xiaobai turned.


    Shock.


    "How did you know?"


    Zhu Qing''s eye twitched.


    "It''s written all over your face¡­"


    If any other man had dared to utter such thoughts, she''d have castrated them on the spot. But this one?


    This one wasn''t content with admiring the peak from afar.


    No¡­


    He wanted to scale the sacred summit¡­ bare-handed.


    Understanding slammed into Zhu Qing like a rogue demonic beast in heat.


    Su Xiaobai had the ability to absorb Yin Qi. And now, after running into a legendary Sword Fairy, this bastard was seriously considering using her Dao foundation as a dual cultivation shortcut.


    Hah. A cheat code.


    Did he think the heavens would allow this kind of blasphemy so easily?


    Zhu Qing broke. She couldn''t hold it anymore.


    Laughter burst from her lips, the kind of laugh that only a woman who has seen the abyss of shamelessness could make.


    Still¡­ she had her own matters to consider.


    Two days ago, something had changed in her. She could now absorb Death Qi¡ªa power different from his, but undeniably connected.


    It didn''t take long for Su Xiaobai to piece it together. Find adventures at My Virtual Library Empire


    It was his blood.


    That discovery had led to some¡­experimental research. And now, finally away from Bai Yujian''s piercing gaze, they had snuck off to a secluded place.


    Zhu Qing wanted to see his spoils¡ªthe Seven Warlords'' treasures, the Crimson Armor, and whatever other depraved trinkets this bastard collected. There was no way they could do such transactions under Bai Yujian''s nose.


    So Zhu Qing led them here¡­


    And yet¡­


    A thought chewed at her mind.


    Would Su Xiaobai really be daring enough¡­ to try and climb the Sword Fairy''s sacred peak with nothing but reckless ambition and a thirst for Yin Qi?


    Would he truly dare to plant his flag where no man had before?


    Hah.


    She almost wanted to see him try.


    "Okay, stop whining. What else did you loot from the Blood Warlord''s palace?" Zhu Qing nudged Su Xiaobai, impatient. She had zero interest in the accidental romance saga between him and Bai Yujian.


    But ancient war treasures? Forbidden artifacts? Undead relics that could shake the heavens? Now that was worth her time.


    Su Xiaobai stroked his chin. "Well¡­ not much¡­"


    Then he shook his hand.


    Thud!


    A crimson glow burst from thin air, and with a heavy crash, a bloodstained armor landed before them, its crimson plates pulsing like living flesh.


    Zhu Qing narrowed her eyes. She had expected this.


    "That''s the Warlord''s seal," Su Xiaobai explained. "But it doesn''t work the way the rumors said¡­" Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Zhu Qing frowned. "Then how does it work?"


    If it couldn''t control the undead army of Chi Xie Wasteland, what was its purpose?


    Su Xiaobai snorted.


    He already expected that the failed creatures from the Blood Warlord''s ritual wouldn''t recognize him.


    But something else did.


    His generals.


    Whoosh!


    A sudden gust of cold killing intent** swept through the air.


    "MASTER!"


    One by one, figures emerged. Clad in broken battle gear, their eyes flickered with eerie crimson light as they knelt in unison.


    Zhu Qing stiffened.


    Her PTSD hit like a heavenly tribulation. These bastards.


    These undead warlords.


    Her fingers twitched, ready to eviscerate them, but¡ª


    "Not needed."


    Su Xiaobai held her wrist. Calm. Unfazed.


    "The Crimson Armor has recognized me as its new master," he said. "They answer only to me now."


    Zhu Qing''s jaw nearly dislocated.


    "What¡ª!?"


    Such a fortune. If she had known¡­ she would''ve taken the damn armor herself!


    That should have been her first thought. But for some reason, she didn''t feel that way. Instead¡­ she felt pleased.


    Why?


    She wasn''t used to this feeling. Not at all.


    Then¡ª


    BONK!


    A loud thud echoed through the valley.


    Zhu Qing snapped her head up.


    Su Xiaobai had just casually smashed his fist onto the head of the first kneeling warlord general.


    Or rather¡ª


    A woman.


    A beautiful woman.


    Emerald-green hair flowed like living vines, cascading over her shoulders. Her eyes shimmered like jade pools, deep and unfathomable.


    And yet, she knelt obediently, her delicate face downcast.


    Su Xiaobai towered over her, cracking his knuckles.


    "You little flower slut."


    Zhu Qing''s eyebrow twitched.


    "You were so eager to plant your seeds in me before¡ªwhat happened now?"


    The kneeling woman lifted her head slightly. Her lips curved.


    "Lord¡­" Her voice was soft. Breathy. "I have no offspring¡­"


    Hiss~! A chill rushed down Su Xiaobai''s spine.


    This woman.


    Even after death¡ªshe hadn''t given up.


    Zhu Qing''s brows rose with amusement. This crazy plant demon still wanted to root herself inside Su Xiaobai?!


    Little did she know¡ª


    This wasn''t just any undead warlord.


    This was Yi Muqing.


    The Plumshade Immortal.


    ____


    [The Tragic Bloom of Yi Muqing]


    Yi Muqing was the last-born of the "Plum Spirit race".


    She cultivated the ''Everblooming Plum Dao'', a path that drew vitality from the world itself.


    But when her clan was slaughtered by a mysterious man, she chose revenge over the Dao of Life.


    She abandoned her sacred art.


    She turned to forbidden techniques.


    Betrayed by her own master¡­ she perished in agony.


    The Blood Warlord found her broken soul and dragged her back from the underworld.


    Now¡ª


    She was no longer a being of life.


    She was a ghost immortal.


    A cursed entity whose presence sapped vitality instead of nurturing it.


    Her pale beautiful skin had a faint otherworldly green hue, like a spirit caught between the realms of the living and the dead. Wherever she walked, ''ghostly plum blossoms'' bloomed¡ªonly to wither away instantly.


    The last of her kind.


    And her final wish?


    To repopulate her extinct race.


    To bear offspring and bring her clan back.


    She had tried thousands of times.


    With thousands of men.


    (Through entirely asexual methods. Cough. Cough.)


    She had attempted everything.


    Pill concoctions. Spirit formation rituals. Dao harmonization arrays. Ancient self-fertilization techniques long thought lost to time.


    Yet, she had failed.


    Every. Single. Time.


    Because she was no longer of the Plum Spirit race.


    But a Ghost Immortal.


    And now¡ª


    Her last hope¡­


    Had been passed to her new lord.


    Before dying, the Blood Warlord had given one last decree.


    "The next master¡­ shall fulfill your wish."


    Her ghostly green eyes locked onto Su Xiaobai.


    And her lips parted¡ª


    "Master¡­ shall we try?"


    Su Xiaobai instinctively stepped back.


    One step.


    Two steps.


    Three steps.


    He almost tripped on a half-buried corpse.


    His eyes darted to Yi Muqing''s eerie jade gaze¡ªexpectant, unwavering, far too eager.


    Hell no.


    He had seen bottomless abysses before.


    But this one?


    This was the kind of abyss that swallowed men whole.


    And never spit them back out.


    He needed a distraction. Fast.


    "Wait¡ª" Zhu Qing suddenly interjected, her voice breaking through the awkward tension. "You said the Blood Warlord knew he was dying?"


    Su Xiaobai''s brow furrowed.


    Right.


    That part didn''t add up.


    Yi Muqing nodded, unbothered by his obvious attempt to change the subject.


    "Yes. The old lord used his immortal blood for divination."


    "..."


    "..."


    Zhu Qing and Su Xiaobai exchanged glances.


    Something wasn''t right.

 Chapter 130 Seven Undead Generals (1)

    "Yes. The old lord used his immortal blood for divination."


    "..."


    "..."


    Zhu Qing and Su Xiaobai exchanged glances.


    Something wasn''t right.


    If the Blood Warlord had already foreseen his death¡­ Then why hadn''t he prevented it Why did it feel like his death wasn''t a mistake¡­ but an inevitability?


    Why did it feel like¡­ The story of the Blood Warlord wasn''t as simple as it seemed?


    Before Su Xiaobai could voice his thoughts¡ª


    Yi Muqing tilted her head, then lazily pointed to a kneeling figure beside them.


    "Lord, that''s his son. You could just ask him."


    Ku Rong, Crimson Butcher. The towering warlord general remained kneeling, his massive frame as still as the frozen valley around him.


    Yet¡ª


    The moment his name was mentioned¡­ His fists clenched. His body shook. His eyes turned bloodshot. The ground beneath him cracked.


    And then¡ª


    Without looking up, he let out a low, ragged breath.


    "...You wish to know the truth?"


    "Truth?"


    Su Xiaobai frowned, scanning the kneeling generals. He already knew¡ªexcept for Yi Muqing, none of them were truly loyal.


    They weren''t following him out of respect.


    They were following him because they were chained to his balls by the Crimson Armor.


    If the spell failed for even a second¡­ They''d rip his spine out and use it as a walking stick.


    Even Yi Muqing wasn''t much better¡ªshe was just here because the Blood Warlord told her to listen to the ''new lord.''


    For now. Su Xiaobai rubbed his temples. How the hell was he supposed to control these bastards?


    Zhu Qing, sensing his hesitation, smiled.


    "You wanna keep them? Why not just kill them?"


    Su Xiaobai shook his head.


    "It''s good to have¡­ extra strength when the time comes."


    Zhu Qing rolled her eyes.


    Extra strength? Or was this bastard secretly laying the foundation for his own heretic sect, built on depravity and nonsense?


    Still, she didn''t argue. Su Xiaobai didn''t trust the Blood Warlord''s control over these warlords, so Zhu Qing layered another soul-binding array on top.


    Now, these undead couldn''t ''accidentally'' butcher him while he slept.


    Once the array was complete¡ª


    Su Xiaobai cracked his knuckles and turned to the generals. Time to break them in.


    "Hey, Black Horn."


    His gaze landed on Crimson Butcher, Ku Rong.


    "What''s your story?"


    For a brief moment, Ku Rong''s bloodshot eyes flickered with rebellion.


    The thought of resistance barely had time to form¡ª


    CRACK!


    A bolt of soul-searing lightning erupted from his body.


    "ARGHHHHHHHH¡ª!"


    Su Xiaobai grinned as the warlord howled like a virgin cultivator experiencing dual cultivation for the first time.


    The rest of the generals? Sweat trickled down their undead foreheads. If Ku Rong, the strongest of them all, couldn''t endure it¡ª


    Wouldn''t they die instantly?


    "ENOUGH!"


    Ku Rong slammed his fist into the ground, panting.


    His veins bulged. His body trembled.


    But he didn''t dare show further rebellion. He took a shuddering breath and spat out the truth.


    ____


    Once¡­


    He was human.


    A child, born to one of the many lovers of the Blood Warlord.


    Until the Blood Warlord threw him into an experiment.


    It burned him from within.


    His tongue blackened.


    His blood curdled into poison.


    His skin turned red, swollen, unnatural.


    He grew monstrous, towering, overflowing with bloodlust.


    His eyes?


    They burned.


    Not with rage.


    But with the thirst for endless souls.


    The Blood Warlord, pleased, gave him a cleaver.


    A cleaver that devoured the souls of everyone it cut.


    A weapon so drenched in agony that its wielder would hear pain of thousand souls every time they touched it.


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes gleamed. An interesting blade. Naturally, he wanted to take a look. He reached for it¡ª


    SCREAMS.


    Endless.


    Thousands. Millions.


    The moment his fingers brushed the cleaver''s handle, an avalanche of tormented souls slammed into his mind.


    Agony. Rage. Madness.


    A tsunami of spiritual filth trying to drown him in depravity.


    He saw things. Men ripped apart from the inside. Women forced into eternal nightmares, their bodies absorbed into the blade itself. A beast with a thousand mouths whispering filth into his ear.


    A black pit.


    Deep. Wet. Bottomless.


    And it wanted him inside.


    "You¡ª!"


    Su Xiaobai yanked his hand back.For a split second, his vision blurred. For a split second, he saw himself sinking into a pit of writhing corpses, his body torn apart, his soul devoured.


    Hiss~!


    His fingers tingled with the aftershock.


    Across from him¡ª


    Ku Rong snorted. His bloodshot eyes flickered with amusement.


    "You think you can wield my weapon?"


    Impossible. Su Xiaobai shrugged.


    "No big deal."


    The other warlords stared at him, unconvinced.


    But inside¡ª


    Su Xiaobai was sweating buckets. What the hell was that just now?!


    For a moment¡ªjust a moment¡ªhe thought he had already died. And Ku Rong? This bastard carried that feeling every time he picked up his blade.


    Su Xiaobai looked at him again. Not as a Blood Demon. But as something else entirely. A man who had already gone insane¡­ but simply hadn''t admitted it yet.


    A man who should have slaughtered the Blood Warlord himself¡­


    And yet, for some reason¡ªhadn''t.


    ____


    Su Xiaobai narrowed his eyes.


    He was sure this bastard wasn''t telling him everything. What happened to his mother?


    Why was he chosen for an experiment?


    Su Xiaobai considered pressing him.


    But after looking at his so-called ''Slaughter Dao'' and ''Blood Refining Demon Sutra,'' he lost interest.


    A good butcher, sure.


    But still just a butcher.


    ¡­Or so he thought.


    Little did Su Xiaobai know¡ª


    This was the moment history recorded as the birth of the Bloodfiend Asura.


    The only one of his race.


    A being who would massacre entire worlds. A butcher who would one day leave for ''just a few days''¡­ and return to find an entire star system erased.


    Mere mention of his name would make the Heavenly Court tremble.


    But that was the future''s problem.


    For now¡ª


    Su Xiaobai was more concerned with the next guy.


    ____


    Golden Winged Reaper ¨C Jin Yuhuang!


    Su Xiaobai cocked his head. At first glance, Jin Yuhuang looked normal.


    Handsome. Golden-haired. Flawless skin that could make jealous fairies spit blood.


    If you took a random celestial young master from the Four Heavens, sprinkled in divine arrogance, and let him age like fine wine in the Qi of superiority, you''d get this guy.


    Except for the metallic golden wings snapped to his back.


    Sharp. Razor-like. Each feather shimmered like a celestial blade.


    Su Xiaobai''s curiosity sparked.


    He reached out¡ª


    Pluck.A golden feather snapped free.


    "..." Jin Yuhuang''s eye twitched.


    Su Xiaobai flipped the feather between his fingers, examining it.


    "Huh¡­ so it''s real."


    He shoved it back in place. Hiss! Jin Yuhuang winced.


    Zhu Qing shook her head, smiling.


    This guy was really testing each one of them. Contrary to what it seemed, Su Xiaobai wasn''t just messing around.


    He was mapping his army. His goals were no longer small. At first, he just wanted to rescue his sister and mother from White Cloud Star.


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    But now?


    Now, he wanted to burn that place to the ground. And that demanded power. Serious power. His seemingly useless actions were actually testing their patience, their personalities, and their hidden desires.


    By poking at their backgrounds, he was digging for leverage. If they fought for him willingly¡­ they''d slaughter nations without question.


    Su Xiaobai silently thanked the old man from his past life. That geezer may have been a bitter, scheming bastard, but he had taught him one invaluable lesson¡ª


    How to spot a person''s weakness¡­ and use it.


    And if he conquered Bai Yujian¡­


    Oh, then things would be even easier.


    Once she broke through to Human Immortal Realm, she could traverse space and void freely. With her righteous heart¡­


    He could definitely trick her into a ''justified war'' on his behalf.


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    That meant turning her current misunderstanding into reality. One punch from her could obliterate him.


    One wrong move, and he''d be struck down faster than a sect master caught in a brothel raid. But Su Xiaobai was a man who never retreated from a challenge.


    "Bai Yujian¡­ just you wait."


    For now¡ª


    He focused back on Jin Yuhuang.


    Jin Yuhuang''s background was strange. He was a Divine Garuda¡ªa race from the Four Heavens.

 Chapter 131 Seven Undead Generals! Panther Girl! (2)

    Jin Yuhuang''s background was strange. He was a Divine Garuda¡ªa race from the Four Heavens.


    But he had been cast out from his clan. Why? Too ambitious. His punishment? His wings plucked out. The source of his strength, torn away. The Blood Warlord had given him these metal feathers¡ªa new body, a new chance.


    And so, Jin Yuhuang had created his own path¡ª


    A Dao of Severance.


    And the Sky Tyrant Feather Scripture.


    But here''s where things got interesting.


    None of them were truly alive.


    Yi Muqing had been dragged back from the underworld.


    Crimson Butcher had become a Blood Demon.


    And Jin Yuhuang? His Divine Garuda bloodline was long gone. Now, he was an Undead Garuda.


    Divine Garudas were known for their selflessness. Their noble pride. Yet this one had none of it. Maybe that''s why he was kicked out.


    Su Xiaobai''s voice rang out¡ª


    "You want to go back and kill the people who killed you?"


    Jin Yuhuang''s body shivered.


    His deep blue eyes widened.


    "How¡­ do you know?"


    Su Xiaobai smirked. "You agreed to serve the Blood Warlord¡­in exchange for new wings and a chance to return, right?"


    Jin Yuhuang''s eyes shook. He had never told anyone this. They were cursed for lying¡­ But staying silent? That wasn''t forbidden.


    Yet this bastard had seen straight through his heart. What the hell is this guy¡­?


    Su Xiaobai just smiled.


    Then¡ª


    He turned away. Not waiting for an answer. Because he already knew. Jin Yuhuang sat there, stunned. Watching as his new master moved to the next target.


    And for the first time since his resurrection¡­ He felt a trace of something unsettling. Something he hadn''t felt since he was alive.


    Fear.


    "You are¡­?"


    Su Xiaobai stopped near the panther lying at his feet. Its sleek black fur shimmered, a darkness too deep to be just a mortal beast. Golden slit-pupils flickered with intelligence¡ªfar too aware, far too resentful.


    Su Xiaobai nudged it with his boot.


    "Can this thing even speak?"


    No response.


    He chuckled, already moving on.


    But then¡ª


    "Wait, I know this one!"


    Zhu Qing''s voice broke through the air like a villainess making a dramatic entrance.


    Ye Cuilian, who had almost relaxed, suddenly tensed again.


    "This one is a Phantomkin from the Mingyao Clan." Zhu Qing''s voice dripped with recognition¡­ and amusement. "They''re a nearly extinct race of half-spirit, half-demon hunters from the underworld."


    Su Xiaobai paused. "Half-spirit, half-demon hunter¡­"


    So not just any panther. A seductress of shadows. A huntress bred to kill creatures like her.


    A beast that devoured monsters. And right now? She was the one being hunted.


    His lips curled. "Interesting."


    BAM!


    A sharp crack echoed through the valley.


    Su Xiaobai blinked.


    Zhu Qing had just kicked the panther straight in the face. Aka, Zhu Qing''s ''Welcome Gift'' ¨C A Boot!


    Even Su Xiaobai was startled. But then again¡­ Who was he kidding? He liked this side of her.


    Zhu Qing snorted, arms crossed. "Humph! Stop pretending¡ªwhere''s your demonic form?!"


    Su Xiaobai raised an eyebrow. "Damn. What did this little kitty do to piss you off?"


    Zhu Qing''s eyes darkened. "Bite me."


    Su Xiaobai smirked. "Can''t say I blame it."


    Zhu Qing ignored him.


    "The Nethermoon poison from its bite almost corrupted my entire bloodstream during the battle."


    That had been the moment her blood lost control¡ª


    A venomous infection merging with the cursed blood Su Xiaobai had given her.


    It had almost remade her into something else entirely. And this little panther was the cause. See if it dares now.


    "Grrr...."


    A low growl rumbled from the panther''s throat. Its golden slit-pupils locked onto them¡ªtwo figures above her, one smirking, the other radiating murderous intent.


    Swish!


    It understood. It had no choice. Fate was already sealed. A faint mist rose from its body. Its form flickered. Like a spirit shedding its shell.


    Then¡ª


    It changed. Fur receded. Curves sharpened.


    A feminine figure emerged, clad in black mist that barely concealed anything.


    The sleek black panther melted into something dangerously human. Long midnight hair cascaded past her shoulders, strands shifting like liquid shadow.


    Her eyes¡ªgolden slits that gleamed with residual rebellion. Her skin? Smooth. Unnaturally perfect. She was primal beauty wrapped in danger.


    A woman built for both the hunt¡­ and the kill. And right now? She was kneeling before him.


    Su Xiaobai''s smile widened. "Much better."


    The transformation was complete. No longer a panther¡ªbut a woman.Her body was wrapped in skimpy battle armor, plates covering her chest and lower half, but doing an absolute shit job of actually concealing anything.


    Su Xiaobai almost thought she was human¡ª


    If not for the tails, ears¡­And those two enormous, gravity-defying divine melons that jiggled with every tiny breath she took.


    Big. Round. Soft. Plump rabbits threatening to break out.


    Su Xiaobai momentarily questioned fate. He had always prided himself as a pure human supremacist. Beastkin? Disgusting.


    But now¡­


    As those heavenly twin peaks pressed against her barely-there armor, rising and falling like divine treasures waiting to be plundered¡­


    A dangerous thought surfaced.


    Was this Heaven''s way of telling him to reconsider? Had fate itself decided to forcibly correct his ''preferences''?


    His hand twitched. His Dao heart wavered. His Rod of Justice stood at half-mast. His principles were under attack. He swallowed.


    "Hmph. I''m a man of culture, not a beastkin lover."


    Probably.


    _____


    Su Xiaobai was still fighting his existential crisis when¡ª


    "If you torture this one¡­ I''ll reward you."


    Su Xiaobai blinked.


    "What?"


    He turned to Zhu Qing, who was watching Ye Cuilian with a hungry, sadistic gleam. She wasn''t joking.


    Su Xiaobai''s brows lifted.


    "¡­What reward?"


    Zhu Qing looked just as confused as him. But there was a hint of excitement in her eyes. Ye Cuilian, still on all fours, had just barely adjusted to her humanoid form.


    And the first thing these two psychos wanted to do?


    TORTURE HER?! Her ears flattened. Her golden slit-eyes darted between them in panic. What kind of sick perverts were these two?!


    "Let''s see...." Su Xiaobai cracked his knuckles.


    Then¡ªhe crouched behind her. His fingers wrapped around her tail.


    A gentle grip.


    Testing. Feeling.


    The soft, velvety fur ran between his fingers, warm, slightly twitching under his touch.


    "Hmm¡­ So it''s real."


    Ye Cuilian was already sweating rivers. She cast a pleading look at Zhu Qing¡ªOnly for Zhu Qing''s face to twist in delight.


    This was too good. Su Xiaobai''s grin widened.


    "This one gave you trouble in battle, huh?"


    Zhu Qing snorted. "She didn''t just fight me. She mocked me."


    "Mocked you?"


    "Purposely."


    "I see..." Su Xiaobai nodded in understanding. "That explains it."


    Then¡ª


    His grip tightened.


    Ye Cuilian flinched.


    "Hiyaaah¡ª?!?"


    Her breath froze as he pulled her tail upward. Zhu Qing crossed her arms, nodding approvingly.


    Su Xiaobai was just getting started.


    His hands slid lower. Armor plates unbuckled. Metal slid off.


    A gasp.


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    A perfectly shaped, plump, delicate¡ª


    PAUSE.


    Su Xiaobai stopped. His expression turned scientific. His fingers drifted lower¡­ and lower¡­


    He was checking. Confirming. Making sure. And then¡ª His thumb gently pressed against a certain spot.


    A tiny, pink, wrinkled¡ª


    "!!?"


    Ye Cuilian''s entire body tensed. Her face turned red. Tears formed in her golden slit-eyes.


    "Y-you¡­ YOU PERVERTED LUNATICS!!" Ye Cuilian''s breath hitched. Her thighs trembled.


    Her tails twitched violently, the soft fur bristling under invisible shame. Zhu Qing threw her head back, laughing.


    Su Xiaobai sighed, shaking his head. With the dignity of a sage reciting heavenly scripture, he placed a hand over his chest.


    "Peak Lord Zhu, how could you suggest such vile acts? I, the Righteous Su, could never bully the weak!"


    Zhu Qing stumbled.


    "PFFT¡ª!"


    She clutched her stomach.


    "Good lord¡­ save me¡­"


    She ran a hand across her face, gasping for air.


    Su Xiaobai, as if contemplating profound cosmic truths, nodded sagely.


    "With pleasure."


    His voice was calm. Absolute. A Daoist master speaking the Heavenly Law.


    Zhu Qing''s eyebrow twitched. Her instincts screamed suspicion¡ª But before she could react¡ª


    Su Xiaobai turned back to his ''subject of study.''


    Ye Cuilian lay collapsed on the cold ground, her once-proud golden slit-eyes glazed in disbelief. Her spirit had left her body. Her breath came shaky, uneven, as if her soul itself had been touched.


    Her delicate white thighs pressed together, an unconscious act of defiance against further humiliation.


    Her tail curled, no longer majestic, but limp¡ª


    A once-proud huntress, now reduced to a shivering, tattered flower swaying in a storm. And Su Xiaobai?


    He paid no attention.


    Instead, he turned to Zhu Qing with a scholarly air.


    "Come, take a look."


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    Zhu Qing raised a brow.


    "I''m not into this."


    Her voice was dry.


    This bastard didn''t hold back at all.


    He was still crouching behind the naked back of this beast-woman, his hands resting somewhere Heaven itself refused to acknowledge.

 Chapter 132 Seven Undead Generals! Half-Ghoul Yin Mistress! (3)

    "C''mon." Su Xiaobai tilted his head, smirking. "A rare sight such as this¡­ it would be a crime against the Dao not to witness it."


    His tone was serious. Almost disappointed.


    Zhu Qing hesitated. Her curiosity, against her better judgment, itched.


    Su Xiaobai gestured at his findings. "Observe." His fingers traced along the soft, exposed skin. "Exactly like a human."


    His voice was filled with genuine marvel, as if he had uncovered an ancient divine artifact. His fingers hovered¡ªthen pointed, like a master explaining a profound array formation.


    "Behold. A tiny celestial gate, round and delicate¡­" His touch drifted lower. "And just beneath it, a hidden valley, warm with Yin Qi¡­"


    Zhu Qing froze. "QUIET!"


    Her face exploded crimson. Her hands clenched. Her Dao heart shook. This shameless, degenerate bastard¡­Did she spoil him too much recently?!


    Zhu Qing had been enjoying Ye Cuilian''s suffering. But now¡ªWatching Su Xiaobai continue without the slightest concern for her presence¡­


    Something felt off. Her arms crossed. Her lips curled slightly. Then¡ª


    "Leave her alone. Don''t violate her in front of me!"


    THUD!


    A heavy silence.


    Su Xiaobai paused. His lips curved, "Oh? So the Elder is suggesting I do it¡­ just not in front of you?" He stood up, smiling.


    Slowly, he wiped his fingers against his robe. Ye Cuilian, still collapsed on the ground, let out a long, shuddering sigh of relief.


    Zhu Qing: "..."


    Her entire brain stopped functioning. Did she really just¡­ Did she really just advise this bastard to violate a woman?! Or did he hear her wrong?!


    Her face soured.


    "The longer I stay near you, the worse my judgment becomes¡­"


    It was true. Her buried, evil heart¡ªwhenever she was near him, it surfaced.


    Like a serpent waking from hibernation.


    "¡­Have I¡­ have I been gaslit into enabling this bastard?" she thought bitterly.


    Su Xiaobai, smiling, spoke casually¡ª"Then don''t stay near me." He stepped forward. Unexpectedly, he helped Ye Cuilian stand up.


    Zhu Qing''s brows furrowed. Then, his gaze locked onto hers.


    "Or¡­ might as well stop suppressing yourself." His voice was smooth. Calm.


    But the words¡ª


    They stabbed into her heart. Zhu Qing''s glare sharpened. What does he even know? If she stops suppressing herself¡­


    A thought surfaced.


    "!!"


    Her pupils contracted. Her heart pounded. Su Xiaobai, meanwhile, was too busy to notice.


    Ye Cuilian stared at him, confused. "Why¡­ are you helping me?"


    Su Xiaobai shrugged. "Don''t look at me like that. If you work honestly for me, I''d never bully you."


    Ye Cuilian''s ears twitched. Her golden eyes burned with resentment.


    "Lies!"


    She spat. Her tails bristled, her fists clenched.


    Su Xiaobai chuckled. "The Lord never lies."


    This panther girl¡­ was the perfect target. A creature summoned from the Underworld, bound by contract. She hadn''t followed the Blood Warlord out of loyalty.


    She had followed him because she had no choice. Which meant¡ªIf Su Xiaobai played his cards right, she would do the same for him. And unlike the others, she wouldn''t need to be beaten into submission.


    No, no.


    She just needed to understand one simple truth. Serving Su Xiaobai was the easiest way to avoid suffering.


    Hiss~ Ye Cuilian lowered her gaze, and took a deep breath.


    Her expression became complicated.


    She slowly stepped behind him. The other generals stared in shock.


    But Ye Cuilian had already made her choice. Old master, new master¡­ it was all the same to her.


    She would simply choose the one who let her suffer the least. And Su Xiaobai¡­? She could already tell. He was far more dangerous than the last one.


    The last master? The Blood Warlord? He was cruel. Brutal. But he never played with her body. Never made indecent actions. He had been harsh, but distant. A man of power, but not of corruption. But this one? Su Xiaobai? His cruelty was different.


    It wasn''t just about control. It was about amusement. The Blood Warlord ruled with fear.


    Su Xiaobai? He ruled with pleasure. A twisted, playful dominance. A master who would laugh as he crushed you. A man who wouldn''t just take your will¡­ He would make you give it to him willingly.


    That. That was far more terrifying.


    She sighed. Then, she spoke.


    "Lord, there are three more."


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes flickered with interest.


    Ye Cuilian continued¡ª


    "The Widow of the Abyss. Mo Jingzhu."


    Su Xiaobai''s brows raised.


    Ye Cuilian, "The Blood Warlord made her himself ¡ª By mating a human and an Abyss Spider."


    Silence. Then, Su Xiaobai laughed heartedly. "That old man was wild."


    Zhu Qing massaged her temples.


    ___


    Mo Jingzhu stepped forward.


    Her obsidian-black eyes glowed, pulsating with hypnotic energy. Dark violet hair cascaded down her smooth, pale shoulders. From the waist up, she was a beautiful woman. From the waist down¡ª A nightmare.


    A massive black spider''s body, its long, sleek legs moving fluidly, eerily silent, exuding cold predatory aura.


    Her lips curved. Her voice dripped with silk and venom.


    "Lord, I can warm your bed~~"


    She licked her lips. Her thick lashes lowered seductively. Her spider legs shifted.She was tempting. Deadly. A woman whose every touch was laced with poison.


    Su Xiaobai almost considered. But then, he glanced at her cultivation technique. "Thousand Venoms Scripture."


    A woman who cultivated a venomous body¡­ and wanted to ''mate'' with him?


    "Humph."


    He could already imagine the tragic fate of any man stupid enough to try.


    Su Xiaobai smirked. "Nice try."


    Ye Cuilian''s ears twitched. She was stunned. How did he already know? She hadn''t even told him yet¡ª


    SLAP!


    A sharp crack.echoed through the air. "Lord¡ªYou!" Mo Jingzhu''s head snapped to the side. Her obsidian eyes widened. Her lips parted slightly.


    In front of her¡ª Su Xiaobai stood tall, his palm still raised. His voice was cold. Commanding.


    "Try some trick again¡­ and I''ll break your legs."


    "..." Mo Jingzhu''s expression twisted.


    She licked the blood from her lips. Then, slowly, her smile deepened. Her eyes burned with hunger.


    "Humph."


    She stepped closer. Her voice lowered, husky.


    "Lord¡­ do that again."


    Her breath brushed against his neck.


    Su Xiaobai blinked. "Huh?"


    Her obsidian-black eyes never left him. Her excitement only grew.


    "I mean¡ªhow dare you! That was cruel! ¡­But if you must punish me, at least do it¡­ properly."


    Su Xiaobai sighed, groaning, ''This woman is a fucking liability.''


    She no¡ª These were not easy to control.


    He glanced around¡ªa Phantomkin assassin who had given up on resistance, an Abyss Spider seductress who enjoyed being put in her place¡­


    And a growing list of women who weren''t just subordinates¡­


    They were walking calamities.


    One wrong step¡ª


    And he''d be the one on his knees.


    Su Xiaobai rubbed his temples.


    He''d have to break them in¡­ one by one.


    _____


    The next one¡ª


    A massive skeletal beast, its towering figure wreathed in ghostly ''nether fire'', its hollow eyes pulsing with eerie blue flames. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Boneclaw Dragon.


    Su Xiaobai had already seen its nether fire during the battle. A majestic, terrifying creature. Its origins?


    From the River of Spirits in the Underworld. A guardian of passing souls, meant to escort the dead safely to the afterlife.


    And yet¡ª It was now stuck here, serving a perverted lunatic.


    Su Xiaobai''s lips curled. ''The Blood Warlord really had some deep ties to the Underworld¡­''


    If it were anyone else, the Underworld Lord himself would have intervened by now.


    And yet! The Blood Warlord? He had these creatures as pets. Su Xiaobai nodded to himself. That old bastard wasn''t just playing around.


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    _____


    The last one.


    Yinyin.


    Half-Ghoul Yin Mistress.

 Chapter 133 Yinyin: Probably Ugly, Definitely Trouble!

    The last one.


    Yinyin.


    Half-Ghoul Yin Mistress.


    Unlike Ku Rong, the Crimson Butcher, who was a raging battle maniac¡ª Unlike Mo Jingzhu, the Abyss Spider, who was a venomous seductress¡ªThis one¡­ was the hardest to crack.


    Harder than any of them.


    Her origins? A tragedy.


    Her father¡ªa Ghoul Lord.


    Her mother¡ªa human prisoner.


    Born in captivity. Kept imprisoned for hundreds of years. Until one day...


    The Blood Warlord freed her.


    "Hah. That bastard at least did one good thing."


    But if Su Xiaobai wanted this one on his side...It wasn''t going to be easy.


    She was neither alive nor dead. Her cultivation? A bizarre Eclipsed Yin Dao. Even Su Xiaobai couldn''t comprehend it.


    And her appearance? Completely concealed. Not even her feet were visible beneath that flowing black robe. Her face? Hidden.


    Her hands? Gloved. Her entire existence? Wrapped in mystery.


    Su Xiaobai squinted. ''She must be ugly.'' It was the only logical reason. Even Ye Cuilian told him the same thing.


    No one had ever seen her without her robes.


    So naturally¡ªeveryone just assumed.


    Su Xiaobai squinted at Yinyin for a long moment, his villainous brain running through the only two logical possibilities.


    Either she was so ugly she could cripple a Nascent Soul cultivator on sight¡­


    Or so beautiful she''d spark a sect-wide civil war.


    Either way, too much fucking trouble!


    On the surface, Yinyin didn''t seem unwilling to serve him. But she didn''t seem willing either.


    "Tch," Su Xiaobai clicked his tongue.


    This one¡ª He couldn''t force or manipulate.


    So for now, he let her be.


    And with that, all the generals were sealed into his ring ¡ª almost!


    _____


    After Zhu Qing drained them of their Death Qi, their strength had dropped to Nascent Soul Realm.


    A crippling drop¡ªbut not permanent.


    With the right source of Death Qi, they''d recover quickly.


    ''They''re a bit weak now¡­ but give me time.''


    Once fully restored, these seven warlords alone could flatten an entire sect overnight.


    Su Xiaobai grinned. Things were coming together.


    _____


    Just as they were about to leave¡ª


    A small voice whined.


    "Woof!"


    Su Xiaobai rubbed his temples.


    The Hellhound.


    A once-monstrous beast¡ªNow shrunk to the size of a puppy.


    And it had¡­ a request.


    Su Xiaobai sighed.


    "Is this really important?"


    The Hellhound''s red tongue flopped out.


    Then¡ª


    It lifted its leg.


    And began pissing on the carcass of the Boneclaw Dragon.


    A full stream.


    Steaming.


    Hot.


    A golden baptism of victory.


    The Boneclaw Dragon stared blankly at the ground.


    Its massive skeletal body radiated deep, existential regret.


    "Hah¡­!"


    Su Xiaobai exhaled.


    Then¡ªhe laughed.


    "Someone send this depraved puppy back to the Underworld!"


    ____


    As Su Xiaobai left Xuetian Valley, a smirk stretched across his face. Zhu Qing actually believed him.


    She had no idea that, on the side, he had swiped very special cultivation manual from the Crimson Armor''s remains.


    A true treasure!


    Some things were best cultivated in the dead of night, behind locked doors, preferably with a sinister laugh echoing in the background.


    At this moment, his evil heart had unknowingly crept deeper into the abyss. The desire for power, pleasure, and plundering¡ªit was all getting stronger.


    And yet¡­ something had changed.


    He hadn''t noticed it before, but ever since he entered Xiantian Sect, something about roaming in the valley of flowers had suppressed his nature. Tamed him, even.


    Hah. Ridiculous.


    The filth of the world was bound to splash onto the valley one day.


    And when it did, Su Xiaobai would receive a very rude awakening.


    ____


    After arriving at the flying ship, Zhu Qing was ready to take off again, but¡ª


    A firm grip.


    "Peak Lord Zhu, are you forgetting something?"


    "!!" Zhu Qing turned¡ªand immediately froze.


    This fucking bastard. Grabbed. Her. Ass. The shamelessness. The gall. The absolute villainy.


    A tingling sensation crawled up her spine, and for half a second, her Dao heart shook.


    Then, her fist clenched.


    "Little Villain, do you want a beating?"


    Su Xiaobai, completely unfazed, withdrew his hand like nothing happened. "What about my reward?"


    She narrowed her eyes. If she didn''t know this degenerate, she might have actually taken it seriously.


    Instead, she sighed, massaging her temples. "Hah¡­ you''ve already robbed so much, and you''re still trying to squeeze your Elder dry?"


    Su Xiaobai''s face darkened. "Elder, are you going back on your word?"


    Zhu Qing sighed dramatically. "Alright, fine. Hand over the Star Fragrant. Once we return to the sect, I''ll get it refined into a Star Essence Pill. You need that, right?"


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes lit up like a degenerate spotting free brothel coupons.


    "Here!"


    No hesitation.


    With this, his Godslayer Star Arts would advance two steps! Combined with his other gains, he''d hit Rebirth Realm in no time!


    A small army, a massive power boost¡ªthis trip had been filthy with profit.


    Just as Zhu Qing turned to leave, she felt it.


    That bastard''s gaze.


    Expectant. Shameless. A practiced look of false innocence.


    She shot him a glare. "What now? Didn''t I already promise you?"


    Su Xiaobai smirked. "What if I also throw in a very heartfelt ''Thank you, Elder Zhu Qing''?"


    Zhu Qing scoffed. "I''d rather take back the fragment and make you beg."


    Su Xiaobai paused, then grinned like a devil whispering blasphemy. "...I see. You like hearing me beg."


    Zhu Qing''s fingers twitched. "Scram."


    She shook her head, chuckling as she took off. This guy. If he knew how to haggle properly, she might''ve thrown in an extra gift.


    But she had no time to waste.


    With a flick of her sleeve, she vanished into the sky.


    _____


    From the top deck of the flying ship, a figure watched with clear irritation.


    Bai Yujian.


    She leaned against the railing, arms crossed, lips pursed in a suspicious frown.


    Lately, those two had been spending a lot of time together. Too much time.


    She squinted. "¡­Is it the blood connection?"


    She was right. And also so, so wrong.


    Yes, the blood connection had changed Zhu Qing. Once upon a time, she saw Su Xiaobai as a bug to be crushed under her boot.


    Now? She no longer wanted to crush him.


    No, no. She wanted to keep him close.


    Not because of sentiment. Because they were the same type of bastard. They had the same twisted, conniving, villainous brains.


    That''s why Zhu Qing always noticed him first. That''s why she was always suspicious of him.


    And she wasn''t wrong.


    This bastard was cultivating evil techniques in secret. Although, like her, he didn''t seem to have entered the sect with ulterior motives. He just wanted a place to exist.


    ¡­Or so she thought.


    And that misunderstanding? Only pulled her closer. Right now, however, Zhu Qing had no time for games. She was already tearing through the sky at the speed of a debt collector chasing a runaway debtor.


    She hadn''t forgotten.


    Unlike Bai Yujian, she knew there was still one last loose end.


    ____


    Chi Xie Wasteland!


    Deep in a burrow, nestled beneath ancient rock and mist, a lone Violet Crane rested peacefully.


    She had survived.


    She had escaped the battlefield.


    She had evaded death.


    She had outlived the massacre.


    And now, she believed she was safe.


    ¡­She was so, so wrong.


    A shadow streaked across the sky.


    It moved with the speed of heavenly tribulation, with the force of a wife discovering her husband''s secret savings.


    Calamity was not over.


    It was coming.


    And it was coming for her.


    "W-What do you want to do?"


    Violet Crane''s voice trembled.


    She had fled, hidden, convinced herself that she had escaped the calamity.


    And yet¡ªit found her.


    Zhu Qing''s shadow stood over her, a dark, inescapable force. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Then¡ª


    A haunting scream pierced the air.


    It echoed through the burrow, reverberating against the stone walls. It lasted minutes¡ªhigh, desperate, shuddering.


    Thud!


    Violet Crane collapsed, drenched in sweat.


    Her breath froze. Her body trembled from the shock.


    "It''s done." Zhu Qing smiled.


    Her silhouette, bathed in the dim glow of the burrow, was the most terrifying thing Violet Crane had ever seen.


    No one would ever know what happened here.


    Zhu Qing had originally planned to kill her.


    Or better yet¡ªgift her to Su Xiaobai.


    That Villain loved beautiful women anyway. She could already imagine his smug face:


    "Oh? A gift from Peak Lord Zhu? How thoughtful!"


    Just imagining it pissed her off.


    Lately, she''d been thinking about him too much.


    Way too much.


    That wasn''t good.


    So instead, she made a different choice.


    Killing was too boring.


    Handing her over to the Little Villain for torture and amusement? Also too boring.


    So why not keep her?


    A hidden piece on the board. A card to play later.


    Fate was bullshit, but if things ever went south, having spies scattered around might be useful.


    At that moment¡ª


    A sickening squelch filled the burrow.


    Violet Crane''s eyes bulged.


    A Gu insect had just torn into her chest. Stay updated via My Virtual Library Empire


    "Wh¡ªcough! cough!" She spasmed, choking, before hacking up a mouthful of black sludge.


    She stared at Zhu Qing, horror stretching across her sweat-slicked face. Zhu Qing''s lips curled. "Go back to your life."


    Her voice was calm. Cold. Absolute.


    "You already know how Gu works. At my single command, it will eat your heart from the inside out."


    Violet Crane shuddered.


    "Wait for my signal. Until then, forget everything that happened two days ago in the wasteland."


    And then¡ª


    Whoosh! She was gone.


    Like she had never existed.


    Violet Crane lay there, panting, her chest still heaving, staring at the empty space where Zhu Qing once stood.


    She didn''t know it yet¡ª


    But Zhu Qing''s decision to spare her life today


    ¡­would save her own just a few months later.

 Chapter 134 Tianshuang Palace! Dragon Spirit Sea!

    Heavenly Frost Citadel!


    The capital of Yue Country¡ªfrozen in an eternal winter of arrogance and political backstabbing¡ªstood tall within a massive dome-like barrier. Outside, the scorching sun blazed like an angry alchemist''s furnace. Inside? A cool, refreshing chill, as if the heavens themselves had decided to give the nobility free air conditioning.


    This was where all the influential families resided, scheming over tea and deciding the fate of lesser mortals.


    Su Xiaobai, a man who had long since made peace with the fact that the universe had a personal vendetta against him, had expected to be ambushed, poisoned, or at the very least, humiliated in some obscure and creative way.


    He had not, however, expected to be shoved into a goddamn dragon-infused sea.


    Splash!


    The water was crystalline, shimmering with an unnatural green glow¡ªthe kind of glow that made a man wonder: Is this spiritual energy¡­ or just really toxic?


    He didn''t get to ponder long.


    Standing at the edge of the pond, Zhu Qing, his dear ''companion,'' wiped away fake tears of sympathy. She grinned, her delicate fingers covered her lips as she let out a sweet, completely unrepentant laugh.


    "Oh no! Little Villain, you actually fell!"


    Su Xiaobai surfaced, spluttering. "Oh, I''m sorry, was I supposed to fly instead? Let me just flap my arms and ascend to the heavens real quick¡ª"


    He cut himself off as he realized where they were.


    The Hall of Tianshuang Palace.


    Towering crimson pillars stood over them, holding up the grand hall like the spines of an ancient beast. The walls bore the solemn gazes of long-dead rulers, their portraits judging every fool who dared enter.


    The pond he had just been unceremoniously dunked into?


    Yeah, just a tiny entrance to the sea beneath¡ªthe legendary Dragon Spirit Sea, a place where spiritual energy was denser than a sect elder''s ego.


    The legends weren''t just for show.


    The sea had been formed when ancient glacial ice melted, condensing into a lake so rich in spiritual energy that even standing near it could boost cultivation. Then, some mystical heavenly dragon blessed it, probably because it had nothing better to do. Supposedly, cultivating here was like sitting inside an overpowered, cheat-tier alchemical furnace.


    Normally, this place was locked down tighter than an old virgin''s belt buckle. But today?


    It was completely empty.


    No guards. No imperial watchdogs. Just silence.


    Su Xiaobai wiped the water off his face, suspicion rising. "Wait¡­ where the hell are the guards?"


    Zhu Qing''s grin widened. "Busy."


    BOOM!


    A faint tremor rumbled beneath their feet. The sound of something enormous slamming into the earth echoed through the palace halls.


    Even from inside, they could hear the distant uproar¡ªshouts, panicked voices, the hurried stomping of officials scrambling like rats.


    Zhu Qing stretched her arms lazily. "It seems our little diversion is working splendidly."


    Su Xiaobai narrowed his eyes. "Diversion?"


    Zhu Qing flicked a water droplet off her sleeve and chuckled.


    "Oh, you''ll see soon enough."


    _______


    Meanwhile, in the Royal Courtyard...


    The capital was losing its collective shit.


    "What''s going on!?" Experience more content on My Virtual Library Empire


    "Who the hell put this sword here!?"


    "Alert the king! Call the commander! Someone fetch the minister of ''We Have No Idea How To Deal With This Shit''!"


    BOOM!


    The ground trembled as something colossal had been slammed into the heart of the royal courtyard. Dust and shattered tiles scattered into the air. People backed away in horror, staring up at the ridiculously oversized sword that had just impaled itself into the earth like a divine punishment from the heavens.


    Atop it, perched like a lazy goddess enjoying the morning breeze, was a lone figure.


    Bai Yujian.


    Her long dark hair fluttered against the wind. She tucked a strand behind her ear, her gaze sweeping over the stunned officials below.


    Her lips twitched. Amusement crinkled her eyes.


    "Oh? Did I cause a little commotion?"


    A little? A little!?


    The capital was one panic attack away from declaring a national emergency!


    She had done it again. She had come here, dropped her gigantic sword like an unruly houseguest kicking in the front door, and dared the king to come out and face her.


    Knowing full well that he wouldn''t.


    Her aura flared¡ªan invisible mountain of pressure that crushed everything within a hundred meters. Palace guards collapsed like puppets with their strings cut. Ministers struggled to stay upright. Even the birds in the sky reconsidered their life choices and veered off.


    And so, she waited.


    And waited.


    And waited.


    After an hour, she sighed. "Tch. Still no response? Ugh. At least send a eunuch out to cry at me."


    _______


    Meanwhile, at the Imperial Academy...


    Across the city, at the newly established ''Royal Academy'', a man dressed in elegant robes held a zither in his lap and sighed.


    "It''s happening again," he muttered, shaking his head.


    One of the capital''s top experts, a hidden ace responsible for its security¡­ and a man who absolutely did not get paid enough to interfere in royal marriage drama.


    Officially, Bai Yujian was the king''s wife. Unofficially, she was the walking embodiment of a political disaster.


    If the king broke off the marriage, he would be seen as unworthy to rule. If he didn''t¡­ well, this was what he had to deal with every few decades.


    ______ Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Meanwhile, in the Royal Palace...


    At the royal palace, Master Qiagxuan clenched his fists upon witnessing the scene. Then, with a quiet "fuck this," he retreated back to his alchemy chambers, locking himself inside.


    The same couldn''t be said for Wei Houtian, the army commander¡ªwho, unlike Qiagxuan, lacked the wisdom to know when to stay out of things.


    He stormed toward the king''s chambers, dragging an entire council of terrified ministers behind him.


    "Royal father!" he barked, slamming the doors open. "She is here...again!"


    The king did not respond.


    Because the king was currently pretending to be asleep.


    Wei Houtian''s eye twitched.


    "Your majesty! This is a crisis!"


    Still no response.


    A minister nudged Wei Houtian and whispered, "Maybe if we pretend it''s not happening, it''ll go away?"


    Another one sighed. "If that worked, we wouldn''t be in this situation in the first place."


    _____


    Back in the Hall of Tianshuang Palace...


    Su Xiaobai shivered. Not just from the cold¡ªno, this spiritual energy was touching places it had no business touching.


    It wrapped around him, caressed him, seeped into his pores like an overly affectionate mistress desperate for attention.


    His entire body felt like it was being tickled by a thousand tiny, invisible hands.


    And to make things worse?


    The distant screams did absolutely nothing to help.


    "Okay, explain." He rubbed his arms, glaring at Zhu Qing. "What the hell is going on out there?"


    Zhu Qing smiled, the kind of smile that made men check if their wallets were still there.


    "Let''s just say¡­" She casually dusted off her sleeves and strolled toward the grand exit. "While you were taking a bath, someone was taking over the city."


    Su Xiaobai groaned. "What is that supposed to¡­ mean?"


    "Nothing," Zhu Qing waved him off. "Just go dive deeper. The surface only has ten times the normal spiritual energy. At the peak of its depth, it''s a hundred times denser."


    She clapped his shoulder, voice turning too sweet.


    "Little Villain, go sink or swim. We''ll handle the storm outside. But if you crawl back up without a breakthrough¡­ I''ll personally hold you down and make sure you learn how to breathe underwater."


    Su Xiaobai narrowed his eyes.


    There was something very wrong with this situation.


    And yet, before he could process it¡ª


    Splash!


    He was already in the water.


    He sank.


    A massive pillar stretched down into the abyss, disappearing into the depths. He followed it, swimming lower and lower.


    And that''s when it hit him¡ª


    This wasn''t just a pond.


    It was a whole fucking ocean.


    Schools of glowing spirit fish swam lazily around him. A massive spiritual sea cucumber lurked near some rocks, pulsating ominously.


    And on the sidelines, a pair of spiritual starfish were aggressively mating.


    Su Xiaobai looked away, disgusted.


    "Even the damn sea creatures are getting more action than me¡­"


    He kept diving, watching as the usual profound Qi around him slowly vanished¡ª


    And was replaced by something else.


    Earth Qi.


    Heavy. Dense. A full-body workout just by existing.


    Su Xiaobai''s eye twitched.


    He had been scammed.


    Earth Qi wasn''t like normal profound Qi. There was a limit to how much the body could absorb. It was mostly used by body cultivators¡ªthe kind of lunatics who punched mountains for fun.


    It was not something delicate little Qi refiners liked to mess with.


    For normal cultivators, this place was basically a death trap wrapped in a treasure chest.


    But for him?


    It was a golden opportunity.


    He grinned.


    To break through into the Earthly Rebirth Realm, he needed to reinforce his body. And this place? It was one big tempering cauldron.


    Without hesitation, he dove even deeper, vanishing into the dark abyss.


    _____


    Above the dragon spirit sea, Zhu Qing watched as Su Xiaobai disappeared into the depths.


    Her smile faded.


    She knew why Bai Yujian had arrived with such a loud, dramatic entrance. As long as she was still officially the queen, no one could touch her.


    The king could not break off the marriage.


    If he did, without ever even consummating the union, it would destroy his reputation. He would become a national joke.


    A ruler who couldn''t even conquer his own woman had no business sitting on the throne.


    And the king knew it.


    That''s why he was pretending this wasn''t happening.


    But Bai Yujian''s actions were still humiliating him.


    And a man like the king? He wasn''t the type to tolerate humiliation for long.


    "How long will that eunuch keep playing magnanimous?" Zhu Qing wondered. Because when he finally retaliated¡­ it wouldn''t be pretty.


    _____


    Inside the Royal Chambers!


    A middle-aged man reclined behind an elegant silk curtain, his golden robes half-open, revealing a muscular chest sculpted by divine physique techniques.


    A cup of fine spiritual wine rested in his hand, swirling lightly.


    "Is she gone yet?" he asked tired.


    The shadowy eunuch beside him, his personal shadow guard, bowed.


    "Your Majesty, she has brought a man to the Dragon Spirit Sea."


    The king''s peaceful expression froze.


    "¡­A man?"


    A cold, vicious glint flickered in his eyes. His grip on the jade cup tightened slightly.


    The eunuch, sensing immediate danger, quickly clarified:


    "It is a young boy. Our sources say¡­ he is her disciple."


    The tension melted.


    "Oh."


    The king leaned back again, some of his anger dissipating. So Bai Yujian hadn''t come to provoke him¡ªjust to train her disciple.


    For now, he''d let it slide.


    It wasn''t that the king had lost interest in her. Far from it. But the last time he had tried to assert his "authority" over Bai Yujian¡­


    It was less of a battle and more of a one-sided thrashing. And getting his royal ass handed to him by his own wife was, frankly, humiliating.


    If he wanted her, he needed to restrain her first.


    A slow, vicious smile crept onto his lips.


    "I will have you, Sword Fairy"


    He swirled his wine.


    "You just won''t know it until it''s too late."


    His gaze sharpened.


    "Let Houtian in."


    The time had come. The final stage of his plan was in motion¡ªthere was no room for failure.


    Wei Houtian stormed into the chamber, his fury barely contained. His last defeat had only stoked the fire within him, turning his hatred for the Xiantian Sect into an unquenchable blaze.


    He dropped to one knee, fists clenched.


    "Your Majesty!"

 Chapter 135 Breakthrough! Late Earthly rebirth realm! (1)

    Dragon Spirit Sea ¨C Abyssal Depths!


    SPLASH!~


    The world above shimmered with soft green light, a gentle, ethereal glow that whispered promises of enlightenment.


    The world below?


    A black void of ''fuck around and find out'' energy.


    The further Su Xiaobai descended, the more the water thickened¡ªno longer the light, refreshing spiritual mist of the surface but something dense, ancient, and unnervingly intimate. Like an overenthusiastic masseuse that didn''t understand personal boundaries, it hugged to him, wrapping around his limbs, kneading into his bones like it had already paid for the full-body service.


    And the abyss? It yawned open below him, vast and patient, like the mouth of a sleeping behemoth waiting to see if he tasted good enough to bother waking up for.


    Whoosh!


    Then, the ruins emerged.


    An ancient palace, its grand halls long swallowed by time, lay sprawled across the seabed like the discarded corpse of an empire.


    Towering jade pillars jutted from the ground¡ªsome cracked, some half-buried, and all radiating the silent dignity of someone who had been absolutely fucked over by history.


    Then came the chains.


    Massive, each link the size of a small mansion, shattered and scattered across the ruins.


    Whatever had once been bound here? It got out.


    And if the sheer absence of it wasn''t terrifying enough¡ª


    Then the dragon skeleton coiled around the ruins certainly was.


    Colossal. Monstrous. The bones gleamed with an eerie light, their sheer size enough to shove entire mountain ranges into existential crises. Even in death, its aura pressed down on the seabed, as if reminding the world:


    "I was here. I mattered. You will fear me still."


    Su Xiaobai took it all in.


    Then, he exhaled slowly, shaking his head.


    ''A massive, ancient dragon skeleton in a hidden abyss? Right, let me guess¡ªa wise old ancestor spirit is about to pop out and drop cryptic life advice on me?''


    He snorted to himself.


    "Tch. Lazy writing..."


    Then¡ª


    "FUCK!"


    Pain exploded through his meridians.


    His Golden Core was failing.


    ____


    At Peak Core Formation, his Golden Core had condensed to near-perfection¡ªgleaming, flawless, a jewel of cultivated power.


    But therein lay the big, fatal flaw.


    Like an overstuffed stomach after an all-you-can-eat banquet, it had reached its absolute limit.


    Golden Cores could only refine so much before they backfired. And right now, Su Xiaobai was experiencing the spiritual equivalent of food poisoning¡ªexcept instead of a bad stomach, it was his entire goddamn existence on the line.


    His meridians burned.


    His bones creaked, overfilled with traces of unrefined, chaotic Spiritual Qi.


    His blood poisoned¡ªsluggish, corroded from the inside out by his own cultivation.


    Su Xiaobai realized, with soul-crushing certainty, that Zhu Qing hadn''t been lying.


    "That crazy bitch really threw me in here to either die or evolve¡­"


    And knowing her? She was probably smiling like a satisfied courtesan who just scammed a prince out of his fortune¡ªchaming, confident, and completely unrepentant.


    Her face flashed in his mind¡ªsoft cherry-pink lips curving into a honeyed smile, teasing eyes sharper than a blade dipped in perfume.


    Silver hair, that kind of face¡­? Shouldn''t she be a virtuous saint, with a heart so righteous it could put Bai Yujian to shame?


    How could someone look so divine, yet be so damn ruthless?


    Thinking about it¡­ was she even the worst offender?


    That demonic little hellspawn, Xiao Hei¡ªwasn''t she the same? All beauty, all curves, and a heart blacker than the bottom of a cauldron?


    Was he cursed?


    Su Xiaobai suddenly had a terrifying realization¡ªhe was surrounded by lunatic women.


    What if Bai Yujian changed too?


    No. No, no, no. He refused to believe it. She was a battle maniac, sure, but she had principles. She wouldn''t one day just wake up and decide to kill him too¡­ right?


    For the first time in his life, he prayed.


    Please, Bai Yujian, don''t switch up on me.


    Su Xiaobai almost smiled bitterly. Almost.


    Why was he planting red flags at a time like this?


    Then¡ªhis heart pounded, his body broke down.


    And suddenly, the only thing he could think about was survival.


    If he didn''t transition to the ''Earthly Rebirth Realm'', his own cultivation would quite literally murder him in cold blood.


    He had no choice. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    So, he let go.


    He dropped his restraints, allowed the Earth Qi to surge into him unfiltered, unrestrained.


    And immediately¡ª


    The first tribulation of Earthly Rebirth hit him like a divine bitch slap from the heavens.


    CRACK!


    His bones exploded.


    Not metaphorically. Literally.


    Pain ripped through him, his entire skeleton shattering as if the heavens had decided, "Eh, let''s rebuild this one from scratch."


    This was Bone Forging¡ªthe first stage of Earthly Rebirth, where the mortal body was ripped apart and reforged with ''Earth Qi'', purging every lingering impurity left by his Golden Core.


    Whoosh!


    The ''Earth Qi'' flooded in, breaking down his brittle human skeleton into pure bone essence, reforging it into something denser, stronger, no longer bound by mortal limits.


    His flesh tore open¡ªbut no blood spilled.


    Instead, flickers of violet lightning crackled from his wounds, dancing along his exposed muscles. His sinew, once soft, reformed, layered with the unyielding toughness of draconic lineage.


    Then¡ª


    His hands twisted.


    Fingers lengthened into razor-sharp claws.


    Blackened scales surfaced, wrapping around his forearms, pulsating with a faint golden glow, veins glowing like molten metal. His body was no longer fully human.


    The Void Thunder Dragon bloodline had stirred.


    A transformation had begun.


    But before he could process the primordial strength surging through him¡ª


    Something in the depths stirred.


    Rumble~!


    A deep, ancient voice echoed through the abyss, sending shockwaves through the water.


    "Void Thunder Dragon Bloodline¡­ Inheritor¡­? How unexpected."


    Su Xiaobai''s vision blurred, his breath caught in his throat.


    From the colossal skeleton, something rose¡ªa serpentine figure, translucent like moonlight on water.


    An ''Azure Dragon Spirit''.


    Even in death, its presence crushed the surroundings with divine majesty. Its gaze, glowing with boundless wisdom, locked onto him.


    And in that instant¡ªSu Xiaobai understood.


    This wasn''t just any Azure Dragon.


    It knew about his bloodline.


    FUCK.


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    If he could move, he would have bolted back to shore so fast he''d leave afterimages.


    Because if his guess was right, then this place¡ªthese ruins, the shattered chains, and the massive skeleton¡ªmeant something far worse than he wanted to admit.


    The Wei family ancestors.


    They had controlled this place for generations. The ancestors of the royal clan wielded draconic power.


    And if he combined the evidence in front of him¡­?


    Su Xiaobai''s stomach sank.


    Either:


    The Wei family sealed this dragon here, and it died imprisoned.


    Or worse¡ªthey found it dying and sucked it dry, infusing its blood into themselves to strengthen their own lineage.


    Both options were bad.


    And now, he was standing here with Void Thunder Dragon blood in his veins, in front of a dragon who might think he''s one of the bastards responsible.


    How wonderful.


    Maybe if he played dead¡ª


    Too late.


    The serpent-like dragon spirit lowered its head, peering deep into him.


    Even though it was just a remnant, the sheer weight of its gaze buried him beneath an invisible mountain.


    The water shook.


    This was Long Shao¡ªthe Azure Dragon Spirit that had created the Dragon Spirit Sea.

 Chapter 136 Breakthrough! Late Earthly rebirth realm! (2)

    Long Shao''s voice was weary, distant¡ªthe sound of a man who had lived too long and given too much.


    "Had you come earlier, I could have given you everything¡­ but I am no longer whole. My remnant is fading."


    His glowing eyes dimmed, like the last embers of a once-roaring fire.


    Eons of battle and imprisonment weighed on his soul.


    Once, he had soared freely, unchallenged. A beast of legend, a divine force that ruled the skies with an iron wing and a fuck-you attitude.


    And then?


    Chains. Sealed, trapped, drained like a divine keg at a mortal drinking contest.


    For eons, he had lingered, waiting.


    Then came the humans.


    Greedy hands. Filthy, mortal fingers siphoning his essence, sucking him dry one piece at a time.


    Su Xiaobai swallowed hard. That phrasing did not sit right.


    And yet, Long Shao had let it happen.


    Not out of weakness.


    Out of indifference.


    What was power, when there was nothing left to protect?


    But now, as he gazed at Su Xiaobai, something in his faded soul stirred.


    "The Void Thunder Dragon¡­ the god revered by the Ancient Might Dragons, the one even the Dragon Clan refused to bow to¡­ It was through its sacrifice that the Dragon Clan still exists today."


    His voice grew faint, his final words heavy with meaning.


    "And now¡­ its legacy rests in you."


    CRACK!


    The spirit shattered.


    Not an explosion.


    A dissolution¡ªlike a thousand tiny stars into the abyss.


    Whoosh!


    The remnants of Long Shao rushed into Su Xiaobai''s body. His dantian twisted violently, expanding like an overloaded cauldron about to burst.


    His body drank in the energy, devouring it like a starving beast at an all-you-can-eat buffet of divine power.


    BOOM!


    A tidal wave of pure, ancient power flooded through him¡ª


    And it did not stop.


    Su Xiaobai''s meridians stretched, Earth Qi and Azure Dragon Essence reinforcing them, widening them to handle the monstrous influx of power.


    His bone marrow liquefied¡ªnot in a "you''re dying" way, but in a "let''s rebuild this bastard into something unkillable" kind of way.


    Golden marrow reformed, infused with lightning, pulsating with the might of draconic lineage.


    His body adapted.


    His strength skyrocketed.


    And yet¡ª


    It wasn''t over.


    Ba¡ªDump!


    His heart throbbed, pulsing like a war drum.


    Then¡ª


    It fucking exploded.


    Not in the "oh no, I''m dead" way.


    In the "let''s yeet this weak mortal organ out and replace it with something made for legends" way.


    A new heart reformed, its every beat rippling with thunderous vitality.


    His lungs burned, restructuring.


    They no longer simply breathed air¡ªthey refined the very environment, extracting energy from everything around him.


    His ''Qi Sea'' expanded, vast as an endless ocean, stretching to house the kind of power that shattered mountains and humbled sect elders.


    Then¡ª


    BOOM!


    A final eruption of energy surged outward, his very existence shifting.


    He had stepped fully into Late Earthly Rebirth realm.


    Not just Bone Forging.


    Not just Flesh Remolding.


    He had burned through the next stages¡ªMarrow Cleansing, Organ Rebirth, and Internal Refinement.


    His body was only one step away from reaching Peak Earthly Rebirth Realm.


    The only things missing?


    Qi Embodiment¡ªwhere his very skin would become immune to mundane weapons, making him capable of fighting lower-realm cultivators with just his bare hands.


    And the best part¡ª"Soul Resonance".


    Spirit and body merging seamlessly.


    A powerful ''Qi Aura'' that would passively suppress weaker beings, making them tremble before his mere presence.


    But¡ª


    The Azure Dragon''s essence hadn''t been enough.


    Long Shao''s final gift had carried him to ''Late Earthly Rebirth Realm'', but Soul Resonance and Qi Embodiment required something more.


    Su Xiaobai exhaled, his breath crackling with residual power.


    His eyes opened.


    His hands trembled.


    Whoosh!


    With a mere thought, his fingernails sharpened, morphing into draconic claws.


    His eyes widened.


    "Holy shit¡­ I can transform!?"


    ____


    Above the Water¡ªDisaster Strikes!


    Zhu Qing stood at the edge, staring into the churning waters below.


    A deep, rolling thunder echoed from the abyss.


    Then¡ª


    A ripple of pure draconic aura surged outward, shaking the entire Dragon Spirit Sea.


    Her pupils shrunk.


    "...That little villain¡­ what the hell did he do?"


    She had a really bad premonition.


    Then¡ªit fucking happened.


    The green, dense spiritual waters of the ''Dragon Spirit Sea'' suddenly turned ordinary blue.


    The Earth Qi¡ªvanished.


    Continue reading on My Virtual Library Empire


    "¡­"


    Zhu Qing''s face fell.


    It was one thing to steal from the Royal Family.


    It was another thing entirely to fucking destroy their holy land.


    Su Xiaobai hadn''t just drained the Dragon Spirit Sea''s power.


    He had wiped it out of existence.


    ____


    An hour later...


    SPLASH!


    Su Xiaobai erupted from the Dragon Spirit Sea like a divine beast ascending to the heavens¡ªunstoppable, unshackled, dripping with newfound power.


    Also dripping with water.


    Also dripping with indecency.


    Because in his grand moment of transcendence, in this glorious display of evolution¡ªHis robes were completely gone.


    Gone. Reduced to atoms.


    His little brother stood proudly between his legs, waving in the wind like a battle banner, greeting the world, the heavens, and whatever unfortunate souls were looking his way.


    And he did not notice.


    Rather, grinned ear to ear, high on power, enlightenment, and absolutely zero shame. His body hummed with uncontainable energy, his very Qi vibrating with the power of an ancient dragon''s inheritance.


    And he did what any self-respecting protagonist would do at that moment¡ª


    He marched toward the nearest witness.


    Which happened to be horrified Peak Lord Zhu Qing.


    ___


    "Elder, you won''t believe it¡ª!"


    Zhu Qing, standing coolly by the shore, arms crossed, eyes sharp, took one look at him.


    Her expression went from curious ¡ú mildly shocked ¡ú horrified ¡ú pure, undiluted disgust.


    Su Xiaobai, still in full naked celebration mode, did not notice. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I broke through into¡ª"


    And before she could react¡ª


    He wrapped his arms around her, dragging her into a full-body, wet-ass embrace.


    Her entire body stiffened.


    Her pristine robes soaked through in an instant. Something warm pressed against her stomach.


    Her smile collapsed like a fucking dynasty. Su Xiaobai, for the first time in history, made a woman regret ever meeting him.


    Zhu Qing did not hesitate. Her expression went from ''mildly pissed'' to ''I am about to kill a man''.


    "Little Villain, it''s time to run."


    She didn''t wait for him to process anything¡ªher hand latched onto his shoulder, and together, they BLASTED into the sky.


    "Wait, what¡ª?!"


    Su Xiaobai barely had time to process that his feet had left the ground before his entire world turned into a blur of wind and speed.


    He was so goddamn excited about Late Earthly Rebirth Realm, so caught up in his power-up high, that he completely ignored the fact that his dick was still flopping around mid-air.


    Even as the wind whipped against his very exposed lower half, even as Zhu Qing gritted her teeth in frustration, even as the palace below started entering full-scale crisis mode¡ª


    He was still arguing about cultivation realms.


    "Elder Zhu! Do you even get it?! Do you understand how close I am to Nascent Soul Realm?! I can already feel¡ª"


    "I can already SEE too much!!" she snapped, eyes glued straight ahead as she refused to look down.


    "For God''s sake, Little Villain, cover yourself or I will personally throw you into the sun!"


    The only reason Zhu Qing had even bothered grabbing him instead of kicking him into the sea again¡­


    Was because they needed to leave. Immediately.


    The Royal Family was about to find out that their most sacred, treasured, irreplaceable Dragon Spirit Sea had just been permanently fucking deleted.


    ______


    Meanwhile...


    Bai Yujian, standing coolly on her oversized sword, glanced up. She saw Zhu Qing''s panicked evacuation.


    Her eyebrows raised. Then she got the signal...Her sword shrunk.


    And then¡ª


    BOOM!


    She vanished from the palace grounds, following them at lightning speed.


    The flying ship was already waiting.


    The moment Zhu Qing crash-landed onto the deck, she shoved Su Xiaobai inside like a fucking package delivery.


    The ship took off.


    They were gone.


    The ministers, nobles, and guards on the ground all collectively sighed in relief.


    "Thank the heavens, the Sword Fairy didn''t start a war this time¡ª"


    Then.


    An hour later.


    A single trembling eunuch burst into the royal court, face pale, knees shaking.


    "Y-Your Majesty¡­ T-The¡­ T-The Dragon Spirit Sea¡­ i-it''s¡­"


    Everyone stared.


    "WHAT?! SPIT IT OUT!"


    "IT''S FUCKING GONE!"


    Silence.


    Then¡ª


    BAM!


    The entire court erupted into full-scale circus.


    "WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU MEAN GONE?!"


    "IT''S A FUCKING OCEAN! HOW DOES IT JUST DISAPPEAR?!"


    "WHERE IS THAT BASTARD DISCIPLE OF THE SWORD FAIRY?! HUNT HIM DOWN! BRING HIM BACK!"

 Chapter 137 What Else Could Go Wrong?

    Meanwhile, on the Flying Ship¡­


    Su Xiaobai, now thankfully clothed, lay sprawled on the deck like a man fresh out of a heavenly brothel, letting the cool night breeze wash over him.


    He stretched, groaning in satisfaction, body still buzzing from his monstrous breakthrough.


    His Qi flowed smoother than a well-oiled courtesan, his muscles felt harder than a sect leader''s moral dilemmas, and his mind?


    Blissfully unaware.


    Because this dumb bastard had absolutely no fucking clue what he had just done.


    Across from him, Zhu Qing sat stiffly, arms folded, expression dark as a widow at a gambling den.


    Bai Yujian stood by the railing, sharpening her sword with slow, deliberate strokes, occasionally throwing him glances that carried far too many possible meanings.


    Su Xiaobai blinked, scratching his chest lazily.


    "...Why do I feel like something bad happened?"


    The night was cool. Too cool.


    The air carried a strange, unnatural peace, like the universe was holding its breath before unleashing hell.


    And the ship?


    Why the actual fuck was it moving so fast?


    Zhu Qing rubbed her temples, **muttering curses under her breath.


    Bai Yujian, already preparing for the inevitable royal ambush, let out a dry, bitter chuckle.


    Something bad?


    Oh, Su Xiaobai¡­


    You just committed an act of divine robbery and planetary-scale vandalism.


    You just erased a royal heritage site off the fucking map.


    How much worse could it get?


    BOOM!


    Below them¡ª


    The entire fucking kingdom had just declared a national manhunt for his ass.


    ___


    A week later...


    They had barely fucking escaped a kingdom-wide manhunt, barely made it back to the sect in one piece, and just when Zhu Qing and Bai Yujian thought it couldn''t possibly get worse¡ª


    BOOM!


    A thunderous roar split the air as a violent shockwave tore through the sect courtyard.


    "GRAND COLLAPSING FIST: FOURTH FORM¡ªSHATTERED HEAVEN PUNCH!"


    "Su Xiaobai, don''t go too far¡ª!"


    BOOM!


    Su Xiaobai turned his head just in time to see a blue-robed bastard charging at him with the enthusiasm of a debt collector who had just found his biggest defaulter.


    Behind him?


    A small fucking army of inner court disciples¡ªall wearing the insignias of Verdant Peak, Stormfire Peak, Fire Peak, and Frost Peak.


    Their eyes burned with righteous fury.


    Their postures screamed ''we''re about to teach you a lesson.''


    Su Xiaobai blinked.


    Then swung his fist.


    They Wanted Drama? He Gave Them War!


    BOOM!


    His fist expanded, morphing mid-air, scales ripping through his skin, claws forming at his knuckles.


    Space compressed.


    A single punch shook the entire fucking courtyard, sending dozens of them flying like ragdolls in a hurricane, their bodies tumbling across the ground like discarded vegetables at a market stall.


    The very earth beneath them cracked.


    Su Xiaobai lowered his arm, eyes cold.


    "I don''t go too far?"


    His voice was calm, but it carried the aura of an executioner sharpening his blade.


    "You bastards came out here to test the waters for your master? Who the fuck feeds you dogs?"


    Chen Yong, Wang Fei, and Cai Lei''s faces collectively fell.


    Originally, they had a very simple plan.


    1. Find Su Xiaobai.


    2. Verbally humiliate him a little.


    3. Provoke him into fighting.


    4. Beat the shit out of him under a reasonable excuse.


    5. Look good in front of their masters.


    But the bastard didn''t even wait for step two.


    He had skipped straight to breaking bones.


    And now, they were all rethinking their life choices.


    From the sidelines, a young man in red robes watched silently¡ªCai Lei, the disciple of Xu An, the sect''s enforcement elder.


    He had come to observe, to make sure things didn''t escalate too much. But seeing how quickly things had gone to absolute shit, his lips twitched.


    Su Xiaobai wasn''t just strong.


    He had seen through their plan instantly and responded with the subtlety of a meteor crashing into a chicken farm.


    Chen Yong and Wang Fei¡ª


    These two were originally underlings of Liu Zhenhai, one of Bai Yujian''s personal disciples.


    They had been sent here to ''test'' Su Xiaobai, but now? They were the ones being tested.


    From a distance, Liu Zhenhai clenched his fists, his eyes narrowing.


    He hadn''t expected this.


    And Cai Lei?


    He was here on orders from Liu Chenfu, the Peak Lord of Stormfire Peak, a man who had personal beef with Su Xiaobai.


    He, too, had wanted to test the waters. And together, these factions had formed a plan.


    A simple plan.


    A brilliant, flawless plan.


    At least, until they realized¡ª


    The waters they were testing belonged to a fucking dragon.


    And they were drowning.


    "Su Xiaobai! You are causing unnecessary trouble in the sect¡ªcome with me to the disciplinary hall!"


    A stern voice rang out as Cai Lei stepped forward, shoulders squared, expression righteous.


    The moment the core disciple revealed himself, the other inner disciples exhaled in relief.


    Finally.


    A lifeline.


    Because let''s be honest¡ª


    They had only come here for ten thousand spirit stones to ''teach Su Xiaobai a lesson.''


    Ten thousand.


    To get their bones potentially broken.


    To risk their dignity.


    To challenge a man whose fists now bent space itself. And now? Now, they weren''t even sure that bribe money was enough to cover their fucking medical bills.


    This wasn''t worth it.


    Su Xiaobai glanced at Cai Lei, his face stiff, brows straight.


    If he didn''t know what was happening by now, he would be a fucking idiot. "Good, good." He nodded, slow and deliberate. "I beat some guys up, and now Senior Brother is suddenly interested? It was a ''friendly spar'' within the inner court. Since when did that become a crime?"


    Then, his eyes narrowed.


    "Or is Senior Brother overstepping his bounds?"


    "You¡ª!"


    Cai Lei''s expression twitched. This bastard wasn''t even giving him face?!


    Rustle~ Then, the Wind Changed¡ªAnd So Did the Atmosphere. A delicate fragrance drifted into the air.


    Soft. Sweet. It wasn''t spiritual herbs, nor was it incense.


    It was something far deadlier.


    Womanly scent.


    Su Xiaobai''s instincts flared. His skin prickled.


    The inner disciples felt it too¡ªa strange, subconscious pressure pressing down on them, making their spines straighten, their throats dry, and their thoughts suddenly unclean.


    Then¡ª


    click. click. click.


    Two sets of delicate, yet elegant footsteps rang through the courtyard.


    And then, they emerged.


    Two identical figures, wrapped in skin-tight robes that made sinful promises with every step.


    Their snow-white hair, long and silky, swayed with a teasing rhythm, framing fox-like cunning eyes that gleamed with undisguised amusement.


    Hu Jiao''er.


    Hu Mei''er.


    "Cai Lei, I advise you to stay out of it." Hu Jiao''er, interrupted.


    And stepping forward with her? Her identical twin sister, Hu Mei''er.


    Cai Lei froze, his face instantly paling.


    "Snow sisters?! What the hell are you doing here?!"


    Why were these two here?!


    This wasn''t part of the fucking script!


    Hu Jiao''er smiled, crossing her arms.


    "Did you forget where you are? This is Sword Peak. Or did you hit your head too hard on your master''s lap?"


    Su Xiaobai blinked. Damn. That was unnecessarily personal.


    "Junior Brother," Hu Jiao''er winked at Su Xiaobai''s stunned expression, her fox-like eyes shimmering with mischief. "Give us a good show, beat them up nicely¡­ and we''ll let you experience a golden sandwich."


    Su Xiaobai''s pupils shrank...His very soul trembled.


    A golden sandwich?! Was she for real?!


    Two silver-haired, fox-eyed, sinfully curvaceous twins, standing before him, dangling a perverted dream like a poisoned fruit¡ªand he was supposed to just ignore it?!


    His mind screamed caution, but his heart? His heart was already cupping its hands in gratitude to the heavens.


    But then¡ªHis eyes narrowed.


    A trace of divinity.


    Heaven Qi?!


    Deity Transformation Realm?! What the fuck?!


    Weren''t they just core disciples a few weeks ago? When the hell did they climb to Elder-tier?!


    Even Cai Lei, an Integration Realm expert, was completely suppressed in their presence.


    Seems like a lot of shit happened while he was gone.


    "Jiaojiao! What the hell are you saying?!" Hu Mei''er''s face turned crimson, eyes wide in horror.


    Their original plan had been simple¡ªStep in, support Su Xiaobai, block Cai Lei, keep things from escalating.


    WHEN THE FUCK DID IT TURN INTO A DEGENERATE TRANSACTION?!


    Hu Jiao''er winked at Su Xiaobai, ignoring her twin''s silent meltdown. "I''ll keep this idiot in check," she gestured lazily at Cai Lei, not even sparing him a glance.


    Then¡ªher gaze sharpened


    She turned to Chen Yong and Wang Fei.


    And just like that¡ªThe temperature in the courtyard dropped. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "As for these two traitors¡­"


    Chen Yong and Wang Fei''s souls left their bodies.


    They hadn''t accounted for core disciples interfering.


    They hadn''t accounted for Su Xiaobai being this terrifying.


    They hadn''t accounted for the fact that they were now completely and utterly fucked.


    Su Xiaobai''s lips curled into a slow, wicked grin.


    He didn''t need to be told twice.


    With a snap of his fingers, Xiao Hei manifested, her crimson eyes glowing with bloodthirsty amusement.


    Su Xiaobai rolled his shoulders, cracking his neck. If a golden sandwich was on the line, then these bastards¡­


    Were about to be ground into paste.


    And whether Hu Jiao''er was serious, bluffing, or outright lying didn''t matter.


    Because Su Xiaobai knew one thing. He knew how to make people keep their promises.


    And if anyone dared deny him his reward...Well.


    His dear Elder Zhu Qing would surely ensure justice was served.


    BOOM!


    He vanished.


    Then¡ª


    CRACK.


    A scream.


    BANG.


    A body flew through the air like discarded garbage.


    CRASH. Enjoy new stories from My Virtual Library Empire


    Another inner disciple crashed headfirst into a training dummy, snapping it in half.

 Chapter 138 Casually Terorrising the Sect! — Su Xiaobais Edition!

    CRACK.


    BANG.


    A body flew through the air like discarded garbage.


    CRASH.


    Another inner disciple crashed headfirst into a training dummy, snapping it in half.


    "W-Wait! We can talk¡ªARGHHH!"


    "PLEASE! WE WERE JUST FOLLOWING ORDERS!"


    "MY LEGS! WHERE ARE MY LEGS¡ªoh, wait, they''re still here."


    "SPARE ME! I HAVE A WIFE¡ªNO, WAIT, I''M STILL SINGLE¡ªBUT I WANT ONE EVENTUALLY!" Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The entire courtyard shook with the whisper of regret. The highest among them was peak Nascent Soul Realm.


    And yet¡ª


    Su Xiaobai dismantled them like a butcher prepping meat for the market.


    The ground cracked, bodies tumbled, teeth scattered, and dignity was permanently erased


    The place was filled with dust, despair, and the sound of future cripples lamenting their poor life choices.


    Hu Jiao''er''s eyebrow twitched. Then, her face turned pale. She had already promised him a golden sandwich.


    And this?


    This was not a man who forgot rewards.


    Her gaze snapped to Hu Mei''er.


    Her twin was already staring daggers at her, eyes full of silent, merciless murder.


    Hu Jiao''er swallowed.


    She may have just fucked up.


    Her delicate fingers twitched, resisting the urge to wipe away the cold sweat forming at the back of her neck. She stole a sideways glance at her twin, her eyes flickering with panic.


    "Sister, don''t worry! We''ll negotiate with him!"


    "Humph!"


    Hu Mei''er snorted, folding her arms under her absurdly divine peaks, refusing to entertain such nonsense.


    Negotiate?


    That was her damn problem!


    She wasn''t about to sacrifice her body for some reckless bet! Hu Jiao''er wanted to wager her thighs? Fine. But why involve her in this shitstorm?!


    Hu Jiao''er''s expression worsened. This was not good¡­


    ____


    Su Xiaobai had been back in the sect for less than a few hours.


    And he had already caused an uproar.


    First, it was the outer disciples.


    Now?


    Now, he had returned from his "trip", walked in like he owned the fucking place, and obliterated a whole squad of inner disciples.


    What the hell was wrong with this man?!


    At this rate, by next week, he''d be punching Elders.


    By next month?


    He''d be demanding the Sect Master''s wife.


    Hu Jiao''er felt a headache forming.


    This bastard wasn''t just fighting¡ªhe was conquering.


    ____


    "Tch." From afar, a pale man draped in dark robes watched the scene his expression a storm of irritation and disbelief.


    Liu Chenfu.


    The Peak Lord of Stormfire Peak.


    His narrowed gaze locked onto Su Xiaobai, his fingers digging into his sleeves.


    "His puppet reached Nascent Soul Realm¡­"


    His fists tightened. It wasn''t Su Xiaobai himself that made his blood boil. It was that damned puppet.


    That freakish thing standing behind him, radiating killing intent like a war goddess fresh out of an ancient battlefield.


    This was a problem.


    The inner Court Challenge was in two weeks. Su Xiaobai was eligible to enter.


    If things had gone as planned, the brat should have been crushed like a bug beneath his heel.


    But now?


    Now, this Nascent Soul Realm puppet had flipped the fucking board.


    Had Liu Chenfu not sent Cai Lei and others to ''test the waters,'' he might have walked into a slaughter.


    The realization made his skin crawl.


    But now? Now, he had time to prepare. His lips curled into a sinister gri. "You think you''re untouchable, Su Xiaobai? That just means you haven''t met the right blade yet."


    And with that venomous thought, he turned and disappeared into the shadows.


    Oblivious to one fatal mistake¡ª


    Su Xiaobai had already anticipated this. He had never once assumed his enemies would play fair.


    Because in his world¡ª


    Fair play was for the weak.


    ______


    The uproar spread through the sect like an unchecked wildfire.


    A Core Formation disciple reaching Rebirth Realm within two months?!


    The halls buzzed. The disciples whispered.


    Even the Elders, who had ignored Su Xiaobai until now, suddenly turned their gazes toward him.


    For the first time, the old masters stirred.


    And deep within the sect master''s chamber¡­


    Zhao Tianxuan, the Sect Master himself, sat in silence, the news freshly delivered.


    He rubbed his temples, his expression a complicated blend of resignation and distress.


    "This guy¡­"


    At this rate¡ª


    If Su Xiaobai kept up this momentum¡­


    He might just snatch my sect master seat one day¡­!


    Little did he know¡­


    He was planting exactly what Su Xiaobai called ''red flags.''


    ____


    Crack!


    "Argh¡­ Su Xiaobai! You will regret this¡ªahhh!"


    Chen Yong''s scream was something out of a brothel¡ªhigh, pathetic, and completely fucking useless. His once-proud face was twisted in agony, drenched in cold sweat, his wrist bent the wrong fucking way under Su Xiaobai''s boot.


    "Break both your hands¡­ and I''ll let you crawl away."


    Su Xiaobai grinned.


    Not the kind of grin you''d see on some righteous sect genius. No.


    This was the grin of a man who would fuck your wife, kill your son, and then sleep like a baby.


    "Each of you¡­ did you hear me?"


    "!!!"


    The fallen bodies twitched.


    "Brother! Don''t think you own the sect just because¡ª"


    Own the sect?


    Su Xiaobai laughed.


    Fuck your grandma, I don''t just own it¡­ I am the fucking sect.


    "Xiao Hei¡­ break it."


    The command was casual. The way a drunk scholar might ask for another cup of wine.


    "Aghhh!"


    A fresh scream echoed.


    The fool who had spoken was dragged forward. Xiao Hei sighed, walked over, and without hesitation¡ªcrack!


    Spine shattered. Arms twisted. Flesh ripped. Blood sprayed like a fucking geyser.


    Thud!


    The guy didn''t just fall. He crumpled. Like a used whore tossed out of a brothel at dawn.


    "!!!"


    The rest turned white as ghost cunts.


    Why the fuck was no elder stopping this?!


    Ah.


    Because the elders were already here.


    Watching.


    Enjoying.


    Their expressions were calm, but their eyes? Their eyes were shining like they were looking at a rare treasure!


    Let the brat play. Let him break the rules.


    Because once a man''s talent reached a certain level¡­ rules stopped applying.


    In his last life, it was the rich who trampled the weak. In this world, it was the strong and talented.


    And Su Xiaobai?


    He was fucking both.


    "Aghhh¡­!"


    "Ah¡ª!"


    One by one, the disciples broke their own fucking hands. One by one, they crawled away, eyes hollow, souls crushed.


    _____


    Hiss~!


    "!!" Hu Jiao''er''s seductive smile froze. This¡­ this wasn''t some naive little brother she could wrap around her little finger.


    This was a fucking nightmare in human skin.


    Her legs squeezed together¡ªout of fear, of course. Definitely fear.


    "Sister¡­ let''s go¡­" she whispered, dragging Hu Mei''er away.


    But Su Xiaobai?


    He was too busy terrorizing people to even notice.


    Only Chen Yong and Wang Fei remained. Find exclusive stories on My Virtual Library Empire


    And they looked like they''d rather deepthroat a spear than stay another second.


    "Your master won''t save you¡­" Su Xiaobai murmured. "He already threw you away like cum-stained rags. Haven''t you realized it yet?"


    "It¡­ it can''t be¡­" Wang Fei''s voice cracked.


    Chen Yong''s face darkened.


    They turned toward the crowd.


    Liu Zhenhai.


    Their master.


    *Where the fuck was he?!*


    Didn''t he promise to save them?!


    "Bastard¡­!"


    Liu Zhenhai, watching from afar, clenched his fists. He understood exactly what Su Xiaobai was doing¡ªturning his own men against him.


    But ¡ª The sect had already allowed this.


    By doing nothing, they had acknowledged this as punishment for their ambush. If Liu Zhenhai interfered now, he would be challenging the sect''s will.


    But this villain wasn''t just punishing them¡ªhe was destroying their loyalty.


    His dark circles deepened as rage bubbled within.

 Chapter 139 Joining Mystic Peak? Demonic Su Xiaobai!

    Crack!


    Crack!


    Wang Fei and Chen Yong screamed as their final hands snapped like cheap firewood.


    "Where do you think you''re going?"


    They tried to crawl away, but Su Xiaobai grabbed them again.


    "You two¡­ started this. Shouldn''t the punishment be¡­ even better?"


    "Wha¡ªwhat the fuck else do you want?!"


    Chen Yong''s voice was hoarse. His mouth was bloody, his teeth barely hanging on. His eyes begged for mercy.


    Wang Fei snot-cried like a bitch. "Brother Xiaobai! Please! We were wrong! We¡ªwe were fucking blind! Stupid! Retarded! Please!"


    "You''re right." Su Xiaobai nodded. "You really are fucking retarded."


    Wang Fei sobbed, "I''ll never go against you again! I''ll be your dog! I''ll lick your fucking boots! Your feet! Your balls if you want! Just¡ªjust don''t¡ª"


    "Shut up," Su Xiaobai sighed.


    Then¡ªhe stabbed.


    Shnk!


    The blade slammed into Wang Fei''s back, pinning him to the ground like a worthless insect. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "!!!"


    Wang Fei gurgled, choking on his own blood. His body twitched like a fish out of water.


    Chen Yong?


    His soul left his body.


    "Brother¡­ Brother Xiaobai¡­ please¡­"


    His voice cracked.


    His knees shook.


    "I¡ªI''ll do anything¡­!"


    Su Xiaobai tilted his head.


    "Anything?"


    Chen Yong nodded frantically, like a dying virgin begging for one last fuck.


    Su Xiaobai grinned.


    "Then beg properly."


    Chen Yong collapsed.


    He kowtowed.


    Then again.


    Then again.


    Thud.


    Thud.


    Thud.


    Blood smeared the dirt. His forehead split open.


    He didn''t dare stop.


    Su Xiaobai leaned in, voice soft.


    "Sing for me, dog."


    Chen Yong sobbed. "I¡ªI don''t know what to¡ª"


    Su Xiaobai grabbed his hair and slammed his face into the ground.


    "Then learn."


    ____


    Hiss~!


    Even the elders watching from the distance frowned slightly.


    "¡­"


    Bai Yujian, watching with a faint smile, blinked.


    She extended a hand, stopping Zhu Qing, who was about to interfere.


    "Don''t. He''s luring the real wolf out."


    "Oh¡­" Zhu Qing nodded in understanding.


    Su Xiaobai couldn''t deal with Liu Chenfu, but Liu Zhenhai? An inner disciple? Much easier prey.


    Why was she even worried? This was fun.


    _____


    Su Xiaobai wiped his sword against Wang Fei''s spasming, pathetic body and let out a long sigh.


    "Now¡­ what should I do with you, Chen Yong?"


    Piss.


    A warm, yellow, cowardly puddle formed beneath Chen Yong''s trembling legs.


    Was this the same arrogant little shit who once acted high and mighty in that cave months ago? Back then, he could have crushed Su Xiaobai with a single sneeze. But today?


    The bastard looked into his eyes¡ªthose red, demon-like eyes. His hair, once black, now pale like a ghost that had crawled out of the abyss.


    Chen Yong''s lips quivered.


    "M-Monster¡­"


    Then.


    Thud!


    The bitch fainted.


    "Tch¡­" Su Xiaobai clicked his tongue. How fucking inconvenient. If these two just passed out, how the hell was he supposed to figure out who was pulling their strings?


    And he couldn''t kill them in front of everyone either. Not yet.


    His jaw clenched. His fingers curled tighter around his sword.


    Fine. Fuck it.


    A low, bitter chuckle escaped his lips before he raised his blade.


    "Die already¡ª"


    Clank!


    Like a thunderclap, Su Xiaobai''s fingers numbed.


    BAM!


    A fist slammed against his sword¡ªLiu Zhenhai.


    He had appeared out of nowhere, face dark, aura oppressive.


    "Su Xiaobai¡­ don''t cross all limits." His voice was calm, but the words pressed like a mountain. "Your actions would disappoint the master."


    Su Xiaobai winced. His hands were fucking numb. Your next read is at My Virtual Library Empire


    Soul Fusion Realm¡­


    Yeah, he wasn''t quite there yet.


    But he didn''t need to be.


    He had already won.


    A grin stretched across his lips as he sheathed his sword.


    "Didn''t know these two martial brother dogs were so¡­ valued," he muttered, barely restraining a mocking laugh. "Don''t worry, I''ll spare their pathetic lives."


    As he spoke, his eyes flicked toward Xiao Hei, who had been standing behind Liu Zhenhai, ready to strike.


    Not yet.


    With a mere glance, Xiao Hei understood. He stepped back.


    Liu Zhenhai''s face twisted in frustration. He looked down at the twitching, bloodied mess that was Chen Yong and Wang Fei.


    Fucking hell.


    Dragging their worthless bodies, he turned, his face dark as the abyss.


    But as he walked away, he could feel it.


    The gazes.


    Sharp.


    Judging.


    A ranked inner disciple plotting against a newcomer?


    It wasn''t a good look.


    His reputation had just taken a hit.


    But what could he do? Chen Yong and Wang Fei¡­ those two worthless bastards¡­


    They weren''t just subordinates.


    They were brothers.


    The kind that had shared meals and drinks with him even when he was still a weakling.


    He couldn''t let them die.


    Even if¡­


    Su Xiaobai was a maniac who dared to kill people in broad daylight.


    "Humph!" Liu Zhenhai disappeared, his eyes flashing with a vicious light.


    Never in his life had he suffered such disgrace.


    A mere newcomer, a brat he had once ignored as insignificant, had toyed with him before the entire sect.


    But worse than humiliation¡­


    It was Su Xiaobai''s ways.


    And in the eyes of Liu Zhenhai¡­


    It was demonic.


    ____


    By dawn, Su Xiaobai''s name was carried by every mouth in the sect.


    A devil in human skin.


    A maniac who dared to spill blood in broad daylight.


    And Su Xiaobai?


    He lay beneath the morning sun, fingers idly tapping his sword, a lazy smirk on his lips.


    The result was achieved.


    Fear. Chaos. A new order being carved into the bones of the sect.


    Yet, a small thought nagged at the back of his mind.


    If the ranked disciples of the inner court banded together to deal with him two weeks later¡­


    He would be royally fucked.


    Dual cultivating with Bai Yujian might help him push forward¡­ but two weeks?


    Too damn short.


    No.


    He needed those twins.


    Originally, he had planned to be a good boy in this life. But when the choice was between surviving and dying¡­The answer was clear.


    His gaze flickered. Tonight¡­ he would find Zhu Qing. She could make those two women break before sunrise.


    Little did he know¡­Tonight, something completely unexpected awaited him.


    "Master¡­ is the pressure enough?"


    He lay upon a slab of cold ice, his body still, his breath slow.


    Behind him, Lulu''s delicate hands worked against his shoulders, pressing with an almost absentminded gentleness.


    A perfect picture of tranquility.


    Yet, not a single soul could have guessed what was running through his mind.


    ____


    Sword Peak Lord''s Residence!


    The halls of Sword Peak Lord''s residence were bathed in the soft light of the afternoon.


    Bai Yujian sat upon a chair, her gaze placid, her presence calm.


    Across from her, upon a silk-draped bed, lay Zhu Qing¡ª


    One leg crossed over the other. A cup of wine idly swirling between her fingers.


    "¡­You''re leaving?"


    The words were soft, but her eyes gleamed dangerously. Bai Yujian did not turn.


    "Yes. After Su Xiaobai''s battle, I will be gone for some time."


    Zhu Qing''s fingers tapped against the porcelain cup, her smile faint. How¡­ unfortunate. Right when things were getting interesting. Still, as Bai Yujian continued, she understood.


    With Zhao Tianxuan, Zhu Qing, and Xu Tianran at Great Ascension Realm, she could leave without concern.


    Her path was solitary.


    The pursuit of empires, the watchful eyes of those beyond the sect¡ªthis was a journey she could take alone.


    Even so¡­


    "Take care of Su Xiaobai while I''m gone," Bai Yujian said.


    Zhu Qing paused.


    Then¡­


    Her soft lips twitched. "¡­Take care of him?"


    Him? She nearly laughed aloud. Not a single fucking day had been peaceful since he arrived.


    Not. One. Day.


    "Before I leave, I will teach him Sword Intent," Bai Yujian continued. "I hope he will reach good progress before I return. Also¡­"


    She glanced at Zhu Qing, voice calm.


    "I will pass him to Mystic Peak. As your disciple."


    Zhu Qing''s hand froze mid-air.


    "¡­Eh?"

 Chapter 140 Mystic Peak!

    "¡­Eh?"


    Bai Yujian did not repeat herself.


    Zhu Qing blinked.


    Then¡­ she chuckled. "Oh, Elder¡­ I don''t think you understand," she muttered, "That brat''s knowledge of formations is better than mine."


    She leaned back, "Why are you handing him to me? What could I possibly teach him?" She sighed, shaking her head.


    She had seen it¡ªback in Chi Xie wasteland. He knew ancient arrays. Arrays that he should not have known.


    A small frown formed on her lips. And beyond all else¡­


    She didn''t want to get too close to him.


    That damn blood of his.


    That damn presence of his.


    She didn''t want to wake up in his bed one day, unsure of whether it was seduction or fate.


    But Bai Yujian''s eyes held a calm amusement.


    "If you cannot teach him¡­" she said softly. "Then learn from him."


    Zhu Qing''s fingers paused. She blinked.


    Then¡ª


    A low, elegant laugh escaped her lips, a sound both mischievous and deadly. "That little villain¡­" she whispered. "I was planning to let him go¡­But now?"


    "Now, I suppose¡­ I should teach him a lesson."


    Bai Yujian paid no heed to their rivalry, her gaze drifted. Her expression darkened. "Be careful of Zhao Tianxuan."


    Zhu Qing tilted her head, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "Does his opinion¡­ truly matter?"


    Bai Yujian shook her head.


    It had always been these two.


    Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire


    Once, they climbed together.


    Then¡ªShe stagnated.


    And Zhao Tianxuan rose.


    Then his ambitions changed.


    He wanted her.


    And then, mysteriously, he called off the wedding. What Bai Yujian did not know¡ª Was that Zhu Qing had ended it first. Now that she had broken through¡­


    Would he see her as a threat?


    Would he try to bury her before she surpassed him?


    Bai Yujian was not sure. But ambitious men never liked competition.


    Zhu Qing sipped her wine, her voice light as a whisper, "Elder¡­ if there is one person I would be truly wary of¡­It is that old medic."


    Bai Yujian''s eyes narrowed. "Xu Tianran?"


    "Mm."


    Zhu Qing''s smile was sweet¡­ but her gaze was cold.


    "That man gives off a scent I do not like." She traced the rim of her cup, voice gentle as silk. "Like something¡­ watching. Waiting. Biding its time."


    Bai Yujian did not speak.


    But deep in her heart¡­


    A shadow of a doubt had already begun to form.


    For years, Bai Yujian had put off breaking into the Human Immortal Realm. Always a war to fight, always a fire to put out. But after that royal palace visit, hesitation wasn''t just a chain¡ªit was a noose. If she didn''t break through, the empire would grind them into dust beneath its heel. And with the Golden Buddha Sect worming its way deeper into the land, the scent of slaughter was already on the wind.


    Her thoughts knotted, pulled in a dozen directions, tangled beyond reason¡ª


    Knock. Knock.


    Her gaze snapped to the door.


    A man stepped inside. Broad shoulders, long blond hair spilling past them. Dark eyes shadowed, jaw set like a blade too long left in its sheath.


    "Liu Zhenhai." Bai Yujian''s stare was cool, voice even. "What do you need?"


    Hiss!


    His jaw tightened. Why the hell was she always so distant?


    Why was it that when she spoke to him, it was duty, cold and precise¡ªbut with Su Xiaobai, her words were loose and careless.


    Liu Zhenhai''s expression stayed calm, but his fists curled as he cupped his hands and bowed. "Elder, I request permission to challenge Su Xiaobai in the duel two weeks from now, on behalf of... Sword Peak."


    Bai Yujian''s fingers, resting on the table, paused.


    Across the room, Zhu Qing exhaled a slow laugh, her lips curling at the edges.


    "What¡­?" Bai Yujian''s voice was flat, but beneath it, disbelief twisted.


    The bet was set in stone¡ªDissenting Peak Lord''s brats would fight Su Xiaobai, and if he won, he''d jump ranks straight into the inner court. That was all. Simple. But now, one of her own was stepping in?


    Liu Zhenhai had already set up an ambush against Su Xiaobai. And now this?


    Bai Yujian''s irritation crackled, but before she could cut him down with words, a soft chuckle echoed.


    Zhu Qing, fingers idly tracing the rim of her wine cup, tilted her head. "Elder, Su Xiaobai has already qualified for the inner court. His puppet has reached the Nascent Soul Realm¡­ why not let him join the fun?"


    Bai Yujian''s gaze flicked to her. Zhu Qing only smiled, eyes lazy, but confident beneath the haze of wine.


    Silence stretched. Then, a sigh. A slow nod.


    Liu Zhenhai''s lips curled¡ªjust a fraction¡ªbefore he bowed three times and left without another word.


    He would repay today''s humiliation a hundredfold... carved into flesh, branded into bone.


    Bai Yujian exhaled, watching his figure disappear. Something unreadable flickered behind her gaze.


    "¡­What''s going on?" she muttered, half to herself.


    These two were going to kill each other at this rate. Liu Zhenhai was ranked eighth in the inner court. Against Su Xiaobai, it wasn''t a duel¡ªit was a goddamn execution.


    Was this because of today''s humiliation?


    Or something worse?


    "Elder, stop pretending," Zhu Qing murmured, her voice smooth.


    Bai Yujian''s eyes slid to her. "Pretending what?"


    Zhu Qing chuckled, her voice amused, but colder than before. "His jealousy."


    Bai Yujian stilled, her brows drawing together for a fraction of a second before she exhaled and shook her head.


    "¡­Short-sighted fool."


    If Liu Zhenhai thought challenging Su Xiaobai would impress her, then he was a lost cause. If he truly wanted to stand out, he should rise above, shatter his limits, carve his name into the heavens.


    Instead, he was throwing a tantrum like some lovesick fool, trying to solve his grievances with a sword rather than his own damned cultivation.


    As for Su Xiaobai¡­


    Bai Yujian''s fingers tapped against the table again, slow, thoughtful. She wasn''t sure about him either. And now that the thought had been planted, her frown only deepened.


    What the hell was she supposed to do about it?


    _______


    Xiantian Sect, Mystic Peak ¨C Midnight!


    Crack¡­


    A branch snapped beneath his step. Su Xiaobai froze. The silence that followed was too deep, too unnatural¡ªas if the mountain itself had turned its gaze upon him.


    What kind of sick bastard lived here?


    Mystic Peak. A domain of grand formations, where the very air thrummed with ancient enchantments. A place where one wrong step wouldn''t just kill you¡ªit''d erase the last ten generations of your bloodline out of sheer spite.


    And yet, this was the road to Peak Lord Zhu Qing''s residence.


    A shortcut to greatness? Or a one-way trip to the underworld? Hard to tell.


    Su Xiaobai crept forward, placing each step with the reverence of a man defusing a spirit bomb. If not for the senior sister down below warning him, he would''ve already died a hundred times over.


    "Don''t leave the path," she had said. "Not unless you want to meet the things that never left it."


    Vines slithered through the undergrowth, their movements just a little too deliberate. The scent of crushed spirit herbs filled the air¡ªearthy and bitter. In the faint glow of the moon, a cluster of Phantom Orchids shook in ghostly hues, their petals gently swaying.


    Beneath them, half-buried in the roots, lay a row of skulls. Above him, something buzzed. A shadow flitted past.


    A hell-bee.


    The size of his goddamn head.


    He forced himself to keep moving, swallowing the string of curses clawing up his throat. This was fine. Totally fine. A perfectly reasonable path for a perfectly reasonable Peak Lord.


    ¡­Who the fuck was he kidding?


    Zhu Qing was insane. Had to be. What kind of person looked at this place and thought, "Yes, this is exactly where I want to live."


    What next, a haunted¡ª


    Oh.


    The fortress stood ahead, black iron walls stretching toward the heavens like the ribs of some long-dead titan. It didn''t just stand against the night¡ªit swallowed it whole.


    A fortress? No. A prison.


    Engraved along its surface were concealment sigils, their glow barely visible beneath layers of illusionary formations.


    It wasn''t a home. It wasn''t even a stronghold.


    It was a tomb that had forgotten it was supposed to stay buried.


    And somewhere inside, Zhu Qing lived.


    Su Xiaobai exhaled slowly.


    If he had to wade through a fucking eldritch horror exhibit just to have a conversation, he really didn''t want to know what she considered "training."


    ___


    Creak¡­


    Su Xiaobai pushed open the massive doors of the fortress.


    No locks. No guards. No servants.


    Suspicious as fuck.


    Not that he knew this, but anyone who came uninvited to Peak Lord Zhu Qing''s domain didn''t just die¡ªthey fucking vanished. Formation-digested. Reality-deleted. Probably ground up into spiritual fertilizer for her garden.


    Yet here he was.


    Thanks to his finely honed villain instincts (and a complete lack of moral restraint), Su Xiaobai had walked past more than a few ''step here and get turned into cosmic diarrhea'' traps along the way. Straightening his robes, he called out¡ª


    "Peak Lord Zhu?"


    Silence.


    Then, a voice from above.


    "Here."


    Low. Cool. Dripping with that natural condescension that only powerful cultivators and rich bastards had.


    He followed the sound up the staircase, the fortress surprisingly¡­ pleasant? The air was warm, the scent of sandalwood and aged scrolls in the halls. Candlelight flickered along the stone walls, giving it that cozy ''I have way too much money for my own good'' aesthetic.


    Not haunted. Not filled with the anguished wails of tortured souls.


    ¡­Which was a little disappointing, honestly.


    He reached a door at the top, hesitation flickering through his mind for just a second.


    This was a woman''s room.


    A Peak Lord''s room.


    The lone brain cell of reason in his head whispered, "Villain or not, maybe don''t just barge in?"


    The other 699 brain cells kicked that thought in the spine and spat on it.


    What if this was one of those stupid clich¨¦ moments?


    What if he opened the door and saw something he shouldn''t?


    ¡­The author wouldn''t be that much of a dumbass, right? S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Smirking to himself, he pushed the door open.


    Splash!


    ''FUCK.''


    A wall of steam punched him straight in the face. The air smelled of lotus and spirit herbs, the kind of scent rich women used when they wanted to smell like wealth and make poor men feel inadequate.


    He had not just walked into a room.


    He had walked straight into a goddamn celestial bathhouse.


    A massive hot spring stretched out before him, steam curling through the air like ghostly fingers. The water shimmered, reflecting the candlelight with an almost ethereal glow.


    And then¡ª


    Splash.


    A woman knelt at the water''s edge, her bare back facing him.


    She scooped up a handful of steaming water, letting it cascade down her milky-white skin, droplets tracing slow, sinful paths over curves sculpted by the heavens themselves. Strands of obnoxiously divine hair hugged to her body, the rest flowing down her back like a waterfall stolen from a goddamn heavenly realm.


    No¡ªwait.


    There was an actual fucking waterfall here.


    Right in the middle of the bath. A miniature hot spring gushing from the stone, spitting scalding water like a damn heavenly beast nutting endlessly into the pool.


    Su Xiaobai''s brain short-circuited. His legs refused to move. His villainous instincts screamed¡ª


    [TURN AROUND, MOTHERFUCKER. IT''S A TRAP!]


    His body, the traitorous sack of flesh that it was, remained rooted in place.


    What the hell was this situation?

 Chapter 141 Negotiations!

    "¡­Oh? Still looking?"


    A feigned surprised voice echoed through the mist, followed by a playful splash of water.


    Zhu Qing''s back remained turned, but her shoulders quivered ever so slightly¡ªshe was holding back laughter.


    "Disciple Su Xiaobai," she drawled, her tone tinged with mock authority, "you barged into a Peak Lord''s bathhouse, with ''bad intentions'', and ''assaulted'' her¡­ Tell me, what do you think your punishment should be?"


    "¡­"


    Su Xiaobai''s face darkened. A trap. A fucking trap.


    His fingers twitched. He knew this woman was going to mess with him, but this? This was next-level bullshit.


    He took a slow breath, pushing back the urge to roll his eyes. "Elder, do I need to remind you that there''s nothing I haven''t already seen?"


    Hiss¡ª!


    Zhu Qing stiffened.


    Her head snapped up, brows rising in disbelief. "¡­What did you just say?"


    For a brief moment, her mind blanked. When the hell did this little bastard see her body?!


    Splash!


    Before she could interrogate him, another disturbance in the water. She turned¡ªonly to see Su Xiaobai stepping into the hot spring.


    Her breath froze.


    The ripples spread out, lapping against her bare skin. The sound of his slow, deliberate movements. The heat in the air.


    For some reason¡ªone she absolutely refused to acknowledge¡ªher heartbeat quickened.


    The closer he got, the more suffocating his presence felt.


    Then¡ª


    A low, smug voice right behind her.


    "Elder Zhu, the great Peak Lord of Divine Mystic Valley, kidnapped an innocent disciple and assaulted him in the dead of night¡­" His lips curled. "What do you think would happen if this news got out?"


    Zhu Qing froze.


    Then¡ª


    "Pfft¡ª!"


    She couldn''t hold it in anymore.


    Soft, breathy laughter spilled past her lips as she shook her head, turning to meet his gaze.


    "You¡ª!" She gave him a look of pure amusement. "Do you seriously think anyone would believe that?"


    Su Xiaobai frowned. "Why not?"


    "What would I even get from ''assaulting'' you~?" She leaned in slightly, voice teasing. "Little villain, don''t overestimate yourself."


    Her playful, lazy smile made something tighten in his chest.


    Su Xiaobai had no intention of backing down.


    Unfortunately, the moment she turned fully around, his vision snapped downward.


    White. Flawless. Skin.


    Two jade melons sat proud and unrestrained, bigger than he had initially anticipated. And when she laughed¡ªthey shook.


    His soul left his body.


    For the first time in his life, Su Xiaobai lost all capacity for thought.


    The air felt heavier. His tongue was dry.


    Zhu Qing caught the shift in his gaze.


    Her smile froze.


    A slow realization dawned¡ª


    Splash!


    She turned away with a scoff, gracefully gliding toward the edge of the bath.


    Su Xiaobai blinked, his mind struggling to reboot.


    ¡­Wait. Was she not mad?


    She wasn''t. In fact, as she pulled herself up, wrapping a white silk robe around her damp body, he could swear he saw the faintest hint of red on her ears.


    She sat at the bath''s edge, dipping her long, smooth legs back into the water, and turned to glare at him.


    "¡­Not my fault," Su Xiaobai muttered. "You were the one proudly displaying your body."


    "You¡ª!"


    Zhu Qing whipped around, furious.


    She had just walked out, barely covered, and this bastard had the gall to act like it was her fault?!


    ¡­But after a moment, she hesitated.


    Technically¡­ she had called him here.


    Technically¡­ she had set him up.


    Technically¡­ she had turned around first.


    Zhu Qing''s expression twitched.


    "¡­Hmph. Leave it," she muttered, brushing the thought aside. "What do you even need?"


    She crossed her legs, resting her chin in her palm, watching him.


    For a moment, Su Xiaobai was distracted.


    Her robe was covering her, sure¡ªbut not enough. Her bare shoulders, her damp hair, the way her skin glowed under the candlelight¡ª


    "Uh¡­" He quickly forced himself to focus. "I need¡­ a little help."


    Zhu Qing''s eyebrow twitched.


    "Help?" She blinked, as if she had just heard Yama himself talk about peace and mercy. "¡­From me?"


    Su Xiaobai grimaced. He already knew this conversation was about to go sideways.


    Zhu Qing''s smile turned dangerous.


    "Little villain¡­" she purred, voice dripping with mockery, "Did you become a herbivore? What happened to your warrior pride?"


    Su Xiaobai bit back a curse.


    Of course. Of fucking course.


    The moment he showed even the slightest weakness, this woman latched onto it like a hungry beast.


    Zhu Qing''s eyes gleamed with renewed interest.


    At first, she had invited him here just to mess with him.


    To be precise ¡ª bait him.


    To see if he would crack.


    If Su Xiaobai was the villain she assumed¡­ then he should''ve done what villains do.


    Darkened eyes. Heavy breathing. The moment he saw her bare back, he should''ve snapped¡ªpinned her against the bath''s edge, teeth at her throat, hands roaming.


    Reckless. Desperate. The kind of hunger that separates men from boys.


    And that? That was when she would have fucked him up.


    The moment his fingers so much as twitched¡­ she would''ve slammed his ass through seven layers of formations. Sent him crawling back to Bai Yujian¡ªthoroughly reformed, half a man lighter.


    All with the serene patience of a Peak Lord bestowing enlightenment upon an ignorant disciple.


    She had set a trap. Steam, skin, temptation. A perfectly laid-out "ruin your life" scenario.


    And what had this little bastard done?


    He jumped into the water like a panicked dog hiding his damn boner.


    Zhu Qing''s brow twitched. To her mild disappointment¡ª


    He hadn''t lost control.


    For a split second¡ªjust a split second¡ªshe almost respected him. Almost. Because the only thing worse than a man who couldn''t control himself¡­ was a man who could, and still chose to be a little bitch about it.


    And now?


    Now he was asking for her help?


    Oh, this was fun.


    ____


    "Go on," she purred, resting her elbow on her knee, her chin in her palm. "I''m listening."


    Su Xiaobai exhaled. Fine. He quickly explained what had happened in the courtyard, detailing the bet with Hu Jiao''er and how those twins were now trying to wriggle out of it.


    Zhu Qing''s eyebrows lifted.


    "¡­So let me get this straight."


    She tapped a single delicate finger against her knee.


    "You want me¡ªa Peak Lord¡ªto help you force two twins into your bed?"


    Su Xiaobai nodded. "Basically."


    The silence stretched.


    Then¡ª


    Zhu Qing''s entire face darkened.


    "¡­Su Xiaobai," she said, voice slow, deliberate.


    Her gaze was murderous.


    "What do you take me for? A brothel madam?!"


    Su Xiaobai sighed. "Elder Zhu, you''re overreacting. I never asked you to warm my bed¡ªjust help me get my rightful winnings."


    Zhu Qing''s brows twitched.


    "Rightful¡­ winnings?"


    A pause.


    "¡­I mean, technically," he muttered.


    Her knuckles cracked.


    Su Xiaobai suddenly had a very bad feeling.


    Zhu Qing''s face darkened like a storm gathering on the horizon.


    Moments ago, she had been enjoying herself, basking in the sweet suffering of her little villain. But now? This bastard had flipped the game on her.


    Her lips pressed into a thin line. She sighed, dragging a hand down her face.


    "Okay¡­" she muttered. "Tell me you have a good reason for this. If you''re just looking for an excuse to drown in debauchery, I''m kicking you out."


    Su Xiaobai''s lips curled.


    The smirk of a man who had already won.


    Calmly, he explained his abilities¡ªhis gifted physique, his unparalleled talent for absorbing Yin Qi, and how, without it, his breakthrough would be delayed.


    Zhu Qing''s fingers drummed against her knee.


    She remembered now.


    Her own ''Death Qi absorption'' had originated from him. If his abilities extended to ''Yin Qi'', then this wasn''t just some cheap excuse to collect women¡ª


    It was a really well-justified excuse to collect women.


    Two weeks from now, if he didn''t break into the ''Nascent Soul Realm'', he''d get his ass obliterated.


    Not her problem.


    ¡­But still.


    A tiny flicker of guilt wormed its way into her heart.


    After all, she had made things harder for him by letting Liu Zhenhai enter the duel. Naturally, she wasn''t going to tell him that¡ªhe''d explode from rage¡ªbut¡­


    She waved a hand lazily.


    "So you just need women, right?" she said, already bored. "Go take all the single disciples from my Mystic Peak. Tell them it''s my order."


    Su Xiaobai squinted.


    Something wasn''t right.


    This woman, who loved to mess with him, was suddenly being cooperative?


    He narrowed his eyes. "Not just any women. I need maidens. Their ''Primordial Yin Qi'' works best."


    Zhu Qing''s brows arched. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Oh~?"


    So, he needed maidens?


    She leaned back, tapping her chin. Most female disciples weren''t exactly innocent little fairies, but¡­ Hu Jiao''er and Hu Mei''er?


    She didn''t recall those two ever getting involved with anyone.


    Could that be why he targeted them?


    Her gaze flicked back to him.


    "How much does your cultivation increase from absorbing primordial yin?" she asked, voice slow. "Have you¡­ tested it before?"


    Something about this felt off.


    She wasn''t about to be tricked into playing sect-wide brothel keeper for him, was she?


    Su Xiaobai''s lips curled.


    He had anticipated her doubts. Of course, he had proof.


    He told her about how he exhausted the sect''s yin poison reserves. Then¡ª


    "A''Jin?" Zhu Qing suddenly interrupted, frowning.


    Su Xiaobai paused. "Ah¡­ Yes?"


    For a moment, silence.


    Then¡ª


    Zhu Qing burst out laughing.


    Not a quiet chuckle. Not a smug snicker.


    She threw her head back, her entire body trembling.


    Her resentment? Gone. Her bad mood? Obliterated.


    She looked at Su Xiaobai with an expression so warm, so dangerously amused, it made him want to leave immediately.


    "Little villain," she purred, eyes gleaming, "did you really break that cold-blooded queen?"


    Su Xiaobai hesitated.


    Why was she asking that?


    He nodded cautiously.


    Did he fuck up? Was she A''Jin''s relative?!


    Shit. He hadn''t checked her background completely!


    Zhu Qing''s smile deepened.


    Her voice dropped into something slow, seductive, and deeply concerning.


    "Did you fuck her senseless?" she muttered, eyes narrowing. "Did she scream your name? Did she beg?"


    Su Xiaobai''s entire brain crashed.


    "¡ªWHAT?!"


    Zhu Qing just tilted her head.


    "What?" she asked innocently.


    Su Xiaobai stared.


    Oh, Elder. Did you forget your status?!


    Zhu Qing blinked. Then, as if she had just processed what she said¡ª


    Her face flushed.


    She coughed into her hand, looking away.


    "Ahem. Forget that!" she snapped. "I''ll ask her myself later!"


    Su Xiaobai, meanwhile, was having a crisis.


    Ask her yourself?!


    Was she going to conduct a post-battle interview?!


    Before he could question his entire existence, Zhu Qing waved a hand.


    "You¡ª" she said, moving past her own embarrassment, "I''ll help you."


    Su Xiaobai blinked.


    "Huh?"


    What just happened?


    Why did she go from mocking him to suddenly being on his side?!


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    Did she and A''Jin have some kind of blood feud?!


    Zhu Qing, meanwhile, was grinning ear to ear.


    She was very, very happy.


    Suspiciously happy.


    Su Xiaobai''s villain instincts screamed.


    Something was wrong.


    Something was very, very wrong.

 Chapter 142 *Elder—Why are Trembling?* [R18]

    "What Are You Waiting For...?"


    ___


    "Huh?"


    Zhu Qing stretched, raising her arms above her head, exposing her smooth, snow-white armpits.


    Su Xiaobai paused.


    Too dazzling.


    It was like a celestial fairy had descended from the heavens, her beauty beyond mortal comprehension. If the poets of his old world had seen this¡ª


    They''d eat fart.


    Zhu Qing sighed lazily, closing her eyes as if she had all the time in the world. But then¡ªher lashes flickered. One eye cracked open, her hazy gaze landing squarely on him.


    "What are you waiting for~?"


    Su Xiaobai''s breath froze.


    His instincts screamed.


    "¡­Elder," he asked warily, "what exactly do you mean?"


    Zhu Qing''s lips curved.


    "What do I mean?" she echoed playfully. "You want to reach Nascent Soul Realm, don''t you? I said I''d help you¡­"


    She patted her lap.


    Invitation.


    Confirmed.


    Su Xiaobai felt like he was standing on lava.


    The water beneath him wasn''t hot enough to explain the fire burning through his body.


    Was this a signal?


    Did she mean he could just¡ªgo for it?


    The plan was twins.


    Hu Jiao''er and Hu Mei''er¡ªthey were the goal.


    Of course, Zhu Qing herself was always on the list, but she was too damn unpredictable.


    If this was a trap, he''d rather eat Bai Yujian''s sword than fall for it.


    ¡­But.


    Puchi!


    Zhu Qing noticed his hesitation.


    Her cheeks flushed slightly, an embarrassed pout forming.


    "Little villain," she muttered, crossing her arms. "I''ll say it one last time¡ªif you don''t want it, then forget it¡ª"


    Splash!


    Before she could finish, Su Xiaobai''s hesitation vanished.


    He crossed the spring in an instant.


    Before Zhu Qing could even react, he was already holding her.


    Her soft waist.


    His face, pressed between those impossibly plush peaks.


    He inhaled deeply.


    ¡­Heaven.


    A delicate fragrance of spirit herbs and lotus filled his nose, but all he could think about was softness, warmth, and the years of suffering he had endured without this.


    Hiss~


    Zhu Qing shuddered.


    A light bite landed on the tip of her ear.


    Su Xiaobai grinned against her skin.


    "Elder," he murmured, "who said I didn''t want this? I just¡­ didn''t realize my great Elder was still a... little maiden."


    Boom.


    Zhu Qing''s face turned crimson.


    "You¡ª!"


    Her mind short-circuited.


    She was about to shove him away, but instead¡ªher hands landed on his chest.


    Her fingers trembled.


    For some inexplicable reason, her spiritual strength was¡­ nonexistent.


    Su Xiaobai felt the weakestpush of his life.


    He snickered.


    "Going back on your words, Elder?" His grin turned devilish. "That''s impossible!"


    Zhu Qing bit her lip.


    Why was she not pushing him properly?


    Why was her heart pounding so fast?


    Even after so many centuries¡­


    Did she still have a playful heart?


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    Things had happened between them before.


    But when Su Xiaobai grabbed her waist, yanked her into the water, and felt the soft flesh of her body mold against his own¡ª


    It felt like he was touching her for the first time.


    A subtle thrill coiled in his gut.


    Whatever this woman had plotted¡ªirrelevant.


    He could deal with it.


    After he finished her.


    His lips crashed against hers.


    Warm. Soft. The faintest taste of spirit wine... Sweet.


    Her lashes fluttered, her body instinctively melting, but before she could fully give in¡ª


    He pulled back.


    A tease.


    A provocation.


    "....?" Zhu Qing''s eyes snapped open, dazed and confused.


    Su Xiaobai was staring.


    Not at her body. Not at her lips.


    At her face.


    Unmoving. Intense.


    Her throat went dry. She blinked, a flicker of nervousness creeping in. "What?"


    Su Xiaobai clicked his tongue. "Tsk. Elder, one should always pray before eating. It''s an old tradition."


    "???"


    Her brows twitched.


    She had never heard of this bullshit before.


    As for what ''eating'' meant?


    Of course she knew.


    Su Xiaobai, however, wasn''t rushing.


    His fingers lifted, pressing against her cool cheeks, sandwiching her delicate, flawless face between his burning palms. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    His touch seared her skin.


    His breath, hot and slow, ghosted over her lips.


    Zhu Qing exhaled sharply.


    For a brief, foolish moment, she thought¡ªmaybe¡ªhe was actually about to pray.


    And then she felt it.


    The way he held her.


    The way his thumbs traced the edges of her rosy lips.


    The way his grip tightened¡ªfirm, possessive, hungry.


    This bastard.


    He had no intention of forgetting his old habits just because he ascended to the throne.


    Messing with her?


    At this moment?


    Before she could curse him¡ª


    Before she could say anything¡ª


    Before she could even breathe¡ª


    His lips were on hers again.


    And this time¡ª


    He didn''t stop.


    "Nnn¡ª!" Zhu Qing''s muffled moan vibrated against his lips.


    Su Xiaobai devoured her whole.


    His tongue plunged in, twisting, curling, tasting her like a starved beast that had just been given the finest heavenly fruit.


    A wet, obscene noise echoed in the chamber, the sounds of their saliva mixing, of tongues battling, of teeth clashing as he sucked, licked, bit.


    "Mm¡ª! Hhngh¡­!" Zhu Qing''s hands fisted against his chest¡ªa pitiful attempt at resistance, but her fingers only ended up clawing into him, pulling him closer.


    Her lips trembled, but he didn''t let up.


    His teeth grazed against her lower lip.


    A sting¡ªthen heat.


    A muffled, breathless whimper left her throat.


    Su Xiaobai grinned against her lips, then¡ª


    He bit down harder.


    Zhu Qing''s eyes snapped open wide.


    "Ahn¡ª! Hah¡­ y-you bastard¡­!"


    She tried to pull away¡ªonly for his hands to tighten around her jaw, forcing her right back into his feral kiss.


    "Hhng¡ªmmph! F-Fuck¡ª!"


    Her breath ragged, short and desperate.


    Her mind, a foggy mess.


    She had kissed him before.


    But this¡ªthis was no kiss.


    It was a goddamn massacre.


    "Ah¡ªmm¡­ ngh! Hah¡ª!"


    Her legs clenched.


    Her body arched.


    Su Xiaobai groaned into her mouth, one hand sliding down, tracing her waist, pulling her flush against him.


    "Still playing hard to get, Elder?" he murmured, his breath scorching against her wet, swollen lips.


    "Y-You¡­! Hah¡ªahh¡­! Y-You''re¡­ still the same bastard¡­ ngh¡­!" Zhu Qing panted between messy, sloppy kisses.


    Su Xiaobai chuckled, his tongue swiping across her bottom lip, savoring the taste of her spit, heat, and surrender.


    "You sound out of breath, Elder," he teased, voice dark and amused. "Want me to help you breathe?"


    Zhu Qing trembled.


    She was drenched¡ªand not just from the water.


    Her fingers dug into his hair, his back, his shoulders¡ª


    Su Xiaobai groaned into her mouth, his hands sliding lower¡ªgrabbing her ass, fingers digging into plush flesh, squeezing like he owned her.


    Zhu Qing twitched, shuddering, her arms locking around his neck, yanking him deeper.


    And still, he didn''t stop.


    Didn''t give her a moment to think.


    By the time he finally pulled away, leaving her panting, trembling, dazed beyond recognition¡ª


    His lips were shiny with her spit.


    His breath was ragged.


    And Zhu Qing¡­


    Zhu Qing looked like she had just been fucking ruined.


    Her lips¡ªswollen, red, kiss-bitten.


    Her eyes¡ªglazed, confused, still drowning in the aftershock.


    Her chest¡ªrising, falling, rising, falling, struggling for air.


    Su Xiaobai licked his lips.


    Then¡ª He chuckled.


    Low. Deep. Smug as fuck.


    "So," he murmured, tilting his head.


    "Was that prayer good enough for you, Elder?"


    Zhu Qing¡­


    Had no words.


    Just a single thought.


    Fuck.


    She might have just dug her own grave.


    Her thighs instinctively pressed together, her body trembling as if she were prey cornered by a predator.


    What the hell was going on?


    Why was her heart pounding in fear, as if she were on the verge of being devoured?


    Su Xiaobai, watching her awkwardly flushed expression, knew¡ª


    It would take her time to recover.


    His hand, still hidden beneath the water, cupped her ass.


    Soft. Juicy.


    His fingers sank into the plush flesh, squeezing¡ªa handful of perfection.


    Gods.


    It was even better than he imagined.


    His palm slid lower, caressing the back of her thighs, tracing the delicate skin, feeling the slight tremors in her muscles.


    He chuckled.


    "Elder, there''s still time¡­"


    His voice was low, taunting, dangerous.


    "Don''t worry, I won''t belittle you if you back off. After all, it''s normal for people to be cowards in certain matters¡ª"


    Before he could even finish, Zhu Qing''s mind snapped.


    She gritted her teeth.


    "Stop blabbering. Who the hell is backing off?"


    The second the words left her mouth, her eyes widened.


    Shit.


    She fucking played herself.


    She had been thinking about it¡ªjust throw some core disciples at him, cite some bullshit excuse, get away for now¡­


    But now?


    That wasn''t fucking possible anymore.


    Su Xiaobai''s grin widened.


    "Good," he murmured, his hot breath tickling her ear.


    "I knew it. My Qingqing is anything but a coward."


    Zhu Qing froze.


    Her face flushed deeper.


    This guy¡ª!


    Twisting words. Playing tricks. Very cunning.


    She clicked her tongue.


    Fine.


    Good.


    She would teach this little bastard what it meant to get sucked dry.


    Su Xiaobai barely had time to react before¡ª


    Her hands rose to her shoulders.


    And then¡ª


    The robe slid off.


    "!!"


    His breath caught.


    The white fabric fell, pooling around her waist, revealing¡ª


    Everything.


    His hands, unconsciously reaching out, traced from her shoulders down¡ª


    Sliding down the curve of her collarbones¡­


    Further down¡ª


    Soft. Warm. Heavy.


    His palms pressed into the two massive jade peaks, fingers sinking deep into pillowy, flawless flesh.


    His throat went dry.


    So fucking soft.


    A low groan rumbled from his chest as he leaned forward.


    His lips crashed against her skin.


    A sharp, wet sound echoed as he bit down.


    "Ah¡ª!"


    Zhu Qing jerked, her back arching.


    The moment her helpless moan slipped, Su Xiaobai pushed her further back, trapping her against the edge of the spring.


    His tongue dragged lower, tasting her, kissing, sucking, marking¡ª


    From her collarbone to the base of her throat, then down toward the valley between her peaks.


    Zhu Qing''s hands flew up, grabbing his hair helplessly.


    His breath scorched her skin, his lips burning trails of heat down her exposed, trembling body.


    "Little Villain¡­"


    Her voice was shaky, breathless.


    "Haven''t you felt a woman before?~"


    She laughed awkwardly, trying to regain composure.


    "Why do you¡ªhnngh¡ªwhy do you wanna take out all your anger on me?"


    She gasped as he bit down on the side of her neck.


    Hard.


    Sucking.


    Licking.


    She felt it¡ªthe wet, sloppy pressure, the pull of his lips dragging against her skin.


    Gods.


    He was sucking her so hard¡ª


    "Ahh¡ª! Hah¡ª! Nnnh¡­! You...!"


    A delicious shiver coursed through her.


    Su Xiaobai didn''t answer.


    He growled against her throat, his grip tightening, his fingers sinking deeper into her flesh.


    His hands moved lower¡ªgrabbing her thighs, pulling them apart, forcing her legs to spread around his waist.


    Zhu Qing''s heart pounded.


    Damn.


    If he was already like this now¡­


    What the hell was it going to be like later?


    She let out a low, bitter chuckle, exhaling shakily.


    Then, she shut off her brain.


    Screw it.


    You started this fire, Zhu Qing. Now burn with it.

 Chapter 143 **Ruining Peak Lord** [R18]

    "Nnnhh¡ª! T-Tch¡­ y-you¡ªahh¡­!"


    Splash!


    Water rippled violently, waves crashing against the edges of the steaming spring.


    At the very edge, a woman''s flushed, quivering body was trapped. Her smooth, pale legs wrapped tightly around a man''s waist, locked like iron chains.


    Thick, powerful thighs¡ªbut soft as sin.


    Su Xiaobai grinned darkly.


    Fuck.


    This was paradise.


    Soft, warm flesh molding against him, her strong yet sinful legs locked around his waist¡ªbut his head?


    His head was somewhere else.


    "Hahh¡­ ahh¡ª!"


    His hands¡ªlarge, greedy, demanding¡ª


    Scooped up the two massive, god-tier breasts before him.


    Fuck.


    Fucking amazing.


    Each heavenly mound was so massive, so perfectly shaped, he needed both hands just to grab one properly.


    Smooth. White. Tender.


    "Hahaha¡­" He couldn''t help but laugh inwardly.


    Indeed. Fucking amazing.


    His thumb pressed against her trembling red cherry, flicking, teasing, rolling it between his fingers, testing its sensitivity.


    Zhu Qing shuddered violently.


    "Hnnngh¡ª! Hhaah¡ªw-wait¡­!"


    He ignored her.


    His lips descended.


    He kissed. He sucked. He devoured. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    His tongue darted out, swirling around the hardened cherry, tracing slow circles before sinking down, sucking ruthlessly.


    "Mnngh¡ªhhhaahh!~"


    Zhu Qing''s head snapped back, her moans spilling uncontrollably, her fingers tangling into his hair.


    Fuck, she tasted divine.


    Her skin was sweet¡ªbut not just any sweetness.


    A dark, seductive flavor, like a black lotus blooming in the abyss. A taste that invited destruction, yet whispered of purity.


    It fucking stunned him.


    And made him even more aggressive.


    His teeth grazed against her swollen peak, biting down just enough to make her hips jerk upward violently.


    "Ahh¡ª! D-damn, you¡­ nghh¡ª!


    Her breath hitched, her legs twitching¡ªbut she couldn''t even curse him properly.


    His other hand was already claiming her other jade peak, fingers digging into the soft mound, pressing, molding, shaping it in his palm.


    She was helpless.


    Completely fucking helpless.


    Every time he dragged his teeth, her hips jerked upward involuntarily.


    "Nnngh¡ª! L-Little Villain, I''ll¡­ hhaah¡ª! Tch¡­! T-this¡­"


    A warning? A plea?


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    Even she didn''t know.


    Su Xiaobai''s other hand didn''t stay idle.


    His fingers slid lower.


    Deep. Beneath the water.


    He let her hug him desperately, while his left hand traced between her ass cheeks, down to the forbidden valley between her legs.


    "¡­!!"


    The second his fingers pressed against the wet slit, Zhu Qing''s entire body snapped taut.


    Her legs twitched, her breathing shattered.


    Su Xiaobai chuckled darkly.


    His fingers slid lower, brushing against her entrance, circling, teasing¡ªnever fully giving her what she wanted.


    "Nnnh¡ª!¡ª!" Zhu Qing''s voice broke, her hips betraying her, pressing forward into his fingers.


    And then¡ª


    He slid a finger inside.


    Hot. Tight. Moist.


    His erect pillar twitched violently, just from the feeling of her walls sucking in his finger.


    "Haaah¡ª! Nghh¡ªy-you¡­! D-don''t just¡­ nghhh¡­! M-move it¡­"


    Her words failed as her nails raked down his back, her body shuddering, trying to close her legs¡ªbut she was locked around him.


    Trapped.


    Completely fucking trapped.


    "Fuck," Su Xiaobai grunted, his tone rough, almost pained.


    His finger curled, dragging out slowly, testing her reactions.


    Zhu Qing whimpered.


    "Nhh¡ª! I-I¡­ t-this isn''t¡­ nghh¡­ I''ll¡ªhhaaah¡­!"


    She was losing herself.


    She hated it.


    She loved it.


    Her fingers shook, struggling to grab onto anything solid as his thumb pressed against the tiny bundle of nerves above her slit.


    The second he rubbed in slow, deliberate circles¡ª


    Her entire body jerked violently.


    "¡ª!! L-Little V-Villain, w-wait¡ª! Hnnnngh!"


    Her voice broke.


    A mixture of moan and curse, pleasure and shame blending into one.


    Su Xiaobai''s grin widened.


    Her walls clenched around his fingers, her legs trembling against his hips, her lips parted, gasping, desperate.


    This Peak Lord¡ªthis proud, untouchable, arrogant Zhu Qing¡ª


    Was falling apart in his hands.


    And then¡ª


    He stopped.


    Her eyes shot open.


    "W-wait, w-why¡ª"


    Su Xiaobai pulled his fingers out completely, leaving her aching, empty, twitching.


    Zhu Qing bit her lip hard.


    Her face flushed, her chest heaving, her hands gripping his shoulders, her thighs twitching around his waist.


    "W-what are you¡­ ngh¡­!"


    She trailed off¡ªembarrassed.


    Because she knew.


    Su Xiaobai''s cock was already pressed against her entrance.


    His shaft was burning hot, twitching, aching to take what belonged to him.


    She knew.


    She fucking knew.


    If he pushed in now¡ª


    If he gave her no chance to resist¡ª


    There would be no going back.


    And yet¡ª


    Her legs didn''t unlock from his waist.


    Her hands didn''t push him away.


    Her breathing didn''t steady.


    Because deep down, her body already knew the answer.


    Even if her mind refused to accept it.


    Su Xiaobai chuckled, his manhood throbbing, teasing her entrance.


    "Scared?"


    Zhu Qing snapped.


    "You wish¡ª!"


    Su Xiaobai''s grin widened.


    His throbbing cock pressed against her sopping wet entrance, the thick tip teasing, rubbing, sliding.


    Fuck.


    So warm. So hot. So tight.


    But¡ª


    It wouldn''t go in.


    Each time he tried to push forward, it slid off, unable to find its way inside.


    Too tight. Too small. Too fucking impossible to fit underwater.


    "Damn¡­" he grunted, grinding against her folds, feeling her walls quivering, already trying to suck him in.


    Zhu Qing bit her lip hard, her eyes glazed, her body twitching beneath him.


    She felt everything.


    Every time his tip dragged over her slit.


    Every time he nudged against the entrance.


    Every time he almost slipped inside.


    Her heart pounded like a drum.


    "T-Take me to my bedroom!"


    Her voice cracked as the tip finally pushed just barely inside.


    Su Xiaobai halted.


    His lust-clouded mind barely registered her words.


    He stared at her flushed, helpless face.


    Her chest rose and fell, her lips quivering, her thighs trembling around his waist.


    "Where?" His voice was rough, his breath ragged.


    Zhu Qing''s moist eyes flickered behind him.


    She didn''t speak¡ªshe couldn''t.


    Instead, she clung to him, and he took the cue.


    With one swift motion, Su Xiaobai lifted her up, her legs wrapping tighter around his waist, her body pressed against his, and¡ª


    Splash!


    He leaped out of the hot spring.


    Dripping. Naked. Skin against skin.


    Fucking hell.


    His cock, still hard as stone, rubbed against her ass with every step.


    Each time he moved, it slid between her soft cheeks, brushing against her sensitive entrance, making her shudder violently.


    Zhu Qing''s face burned.


    This¡­


    This was a disaster.


    She was naked.


    He was naked.


    His monster of a cock was rubbing against her with every goddamn step.


    And¡ª


    She was letting him carry her like this.


    Fuck.


    Fucking hell.


    Her arms wrapped around his neck, fingers digging into his skin, her nails twitching with every step.


    The cold air brushed against her damp skin, but she barely even felt it¡ª


    All she could focus on was him.


    His breath against her ear.


    His muscles flexing beneath her grip.


    His cock dragging between her ass cheeks.


    She wanted to die.


    She wanted to kill him.


    She wanted him to hurry the fuck up before she lost her mind.


    By the time they reached her bedroom, she was half-crazed.


    Su Xiaobai didn''t even pause.


    He kicked the door open, stepping inside as the dim, golden glow of candlelight filled his vision.


    Damn.


    This woman definitely loved aesthetics.


    Silken curtains.


    A large, lavishly soft bed covered in thin, translucent veils.


    But Su Xiaobai?


    He had no interest in the decor.


    With one motion, he threw her onto the bed.


    Zhu Qing bounced lightly, the silken sheets cold against her burning skin.


    Before she could even process it¡ª


    Su Xiaobai climbed over her.


    Towering. Dominating. Mounting her like a beast claiming its prize.


    Her breath ragged.


    His gaze burned into her.


    Lust. Hunger. Possession.


    Zhu Qing shivered.


    There was no turning back now.


    Su Xiaobai spread her legs apart, his hands gripping the soft flesh of her trembling thighs.


    Damn.


    He wanted to play with them.


    He wanted to grab, bite, touch every inch of these thighs, to feel them wrapped around his head, suffocating him in heat.


    He would.


    But not yet.


    Not before he fucking destroyed her.


    His eyes zeroed in on the glistening, trembling valley between her legs.


    Wet. Swollen.


    A delicate slit, barely spread¡­ flushed deep red. Silken petals quivered, wet with arousal. Beneath, her entrance throbbed¡ªglistening, tight, aching... a small, clenching hole.


    Soft, plump flesh, tinged with pink¡­ a forbidden fruit, swollen with desire, begging to be devoured.


    Fuck.


    If she wasn''t already burning with heat, he would''ve buried his tongue inside her first.


    Would''ve tasted every inch, licked up every drop, sucked her raw until she forgot her own fucking name.


    But¡ª


    No.


    His cock was aching too much.


    Right now, he needed to be inside her.


    He pressed his throbbing shaft against her slit.


    The wet petals parted instantly.


    Hot. Dripping.


    And then¡ª


    The head pushed in.


    "Ahh¡ª!"


    Zhu Qing''s breath caught, her body stiffening, her walls instinctively clamping down.


    Su Xiaobai grunted.


    Tight.


    Her walls sucked him in, stretching as he sank deeper, inch by inch, the wet, obscene sound of her flesh swallowing him echoing in the candlelit room.


    Zhu Qing lay beneath him, her brows furrowed, her breath shaky.


    She felt it.


    Every inch sinking inside her, her insides stretching around him, gripping him too tightly, resisting, yet pulling him in deeper.


    And then¡ª


    He hit it.


    The final barrier.


    Her virginity.


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes snapped to hers.


    Zhu Qing''s gaze met his.


    Wide. Uncertain. Burning.


    But before she could say a single word¡ª


    Before she could even register what was happening¡ª


    Su Xiaobai grabbed her shoulders¡ª


    And thrust forward.


    Hard. Deep. Violent.


    "Ugh¡ª!"


    Zhu Qing arched off the bed, her entire body trembling, her fingers clawing into his back.


    Tight. Unbelievably tight.


    Her walls spasmed violently, clenching down hard, trying to reject him, yet sucking him in deeper at the same time.


    Su Xiaobai gritted his teeth, feeling her entire body convulse beneath him.


    "Shit¡­" he groaned.


    So fucking hot.


    Like she was made for this.


    Like she was meant to be ruined by him.


    Zhu Qing shuddered, her breath ragged. She felt full. Overwhelmed. Stretched beyond belief.


    Her legs tensed, her nails dragging down his back, struggling to process the sensation.


    "S-slow down¡­ y-you¡­ hhaaah¡­! L-Little Villain, you¡­ nghh¡­!"


    Her voice was broken, breathless.


    Her body betrayed her.


    The pain was there¡ªbut so was something else.


    Something...


    Something dangerous.


    Something that made her stomach tighten, made her legs shake, made her insides burn.


    Su Xiaobai felt it.


    Felt her walls fluttering around him.


    Felt the way her body clenched down hard, the way she twitched beneath him.


    And then¡ª


    He grinned.


    "Too late now..."


    His hips drew back¡ª


    And he thrust in again.


    Hard. Deep. Unforgiving.


    "Ahn~!"


    Zhu Qing cried out, her head snapping back, her hands tightening around his shoulders.


    There was no stopping now.


    No turning back.


    She was his.


    And he was going to fucking ruin her.

 Chapter 144 Mystic Peak in Uproar!

    One Hour Later¡­


    Su Xiaobai''s breath turned ragged, his grip on her thighs waist as he drove into her one last time.


    Deep. Burying himself to the hilt.


    His body tensed, heat coiling in his core before he finally¡ª


    "Nnghh¡ªHhaaah¡ª!"


    A final, violent thrust¡ªand he spilled deep inside her.


    Zhu Qing jerked, her nails dragging down his back, her walls clamping down in an involuntary, merciless grip.


    A warm flood filled her, her thighs tightening around his waist, her legs locking him in place as her body shuddered violently beneath him.


    But as soon as she registered what just happened¡ª


    Her eyes snapped open.


    "You¡ª! Hhhaaah¡ª! D-Did you just¡ªinside¡ª?!"


    Su Xiaobai exhaled sharply, his forehead resting against her shoulder.


    "Yeah."


    Zhu Qing''s brows twitched violently.


    "T-Take it out! Now!"


    Su Xiaobai snickered.


    "Too late."


    "You¡ª!"


    She tried to shove him off¡ª


    But before she could even lift her arms¡ª


    Su Xiaobai''s hands gripped her waist, his fingers digging into soft flesh as he flipped her onto her stomach and pinned her down.


    "Nnh¡­" Zhu Qing groaned, shivering.


    Her face burned, a violent mix of shame and anger twisting in her chest.


    But then¡ª


    Schlp...schlp...


    A sticky, obscene noise echoed in the room.


    Her entire body tensed.


    She felt it.


    His hands sliding lower, cupping her swollen, abused entrance, fingers scooping up the mess dripping between her trembling thighs.


    The sticky blend of her virgin blood and his thick, white essence was still leaking from her, trickling down the insides of her legs.


    Zhu Qing''s entire body stiffened.


    Disgusting. Filthy.


    Her stomach twisted, her breath froze as the unbearable heat of humiliation crawled up her spine.


    She could feel it.


    Every sticky, obscene drop.


    Every wet, shameful smear against her inner thighs.


    Her walls clenched involuntarily, still pulsing, sore, sensitive.


    "W-Wait¡ª! S-Stop¡ª!"


    Her heart pounded violently.


    Su Xiaobai leaned down, his breath hot against her flushed ear.


    His voice, low, dark, utterly merciless.


    "You think I''m stopping after that?"


    Her eyes widened.


    "N-No, wait¡ª!"


    _____


    Two Hours Later¡­


    Creak¡ªCreak¡ªCreak¡ªBANG!


    The walls trembled.


    The bedframe groaned.


    Silk ripped apart.


    The candlelight flickered violently as the room was thrashed beyond recognition.


    Outside, under the full moon, stars trembled as the music of destruction continued.


    Creak¡ªCreak¡ªCreak¡ªCRACK!


    The bedframe split apart.


    The wood shattered.


    But the movements didn''t stop.


    If anything¡ª


    They only became harder.


    Faster.


    More ruthless.


    _____


    Three Hours Later¡­


    Zhu Qing was on all fours, her fingers gripping the torn sheets, her hips slamming back to meet him.


    "Nnngh¡ª! T-Too deep¡ª! Ahnn¡ª! S-Su Xiaobai, y-you¡ª!"


    Su Xiaobai gritted his teeth, his grip digging into her waist.


    "Too deep? Heh. You''re sucking me in like you don''t want me to stop."


    Zhu Qing''s arms trembled, her moans turning breathless and wild, her body convulsing beneath him.


    "Hhaaah¡ª! Y-You¡ª! Nnghh¡ª! B-Bastard¡ª!"


    Su Xiaobai grabbed a fistful of her silver hair, yanking her back.


    Her sweat-drenched skin glowed under the moonlight, her face a mess of desire and beauty.


    "Say my name."


    Zhu Qing bit her lip, refusing.


    His hips snapped forward.


    Hard.


    "Nnnnh¡ª! Hhhaaah¡ª! S-Su Xiaobai¡ª!"


    His grin widened.


    "Louder."


    "S-Su Xiaobai¡ª! Hhhaaah¡ª! I-I''ll k-kill you¡ª! Ahnn¡ª!"


    He flipped her over, pressing her legs against her chest, bending her completely in half.


    The new position forced him even deeper, making her voice crack into a broken, desperate moan.


    "Nnhh¡ª! Hhaaah¡ª! I-I¡ªahh¡ª!"


    "You wanted this."


    Zhu Qing''s thighs quivered, her breath lost in helpless gasps.


    "Hhaaah¡ª! I-I¡ªnghh¡ª!" Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "So take it."


    Creak¡ªCreak¡ªCreak¡ªCRASH!


    The bed collapsed entirely.


    The entire frame shattered beneath them, silk and wood crumbling to the floor.


    Zhu Qing gasped, momentarily stunned¡ª


    Then¡ª


    She laughed.


    A low, bitter, breathless chuckle, her eyes burning with something dangerous.


    Not exhaustion.


    Not submission.


    Rage.


    "You better not think this is over."


    Su Xiaobai froze.


    "Huh?"


    She shoved him down, straddling him, her thighs locking him in place.


    Su Xiaobai felt immediate regret.


    This woman¡ª


    This fucking woman¡ª


    Her hips crashed down mercilessly, forcing a low, strangled groan out of him.


    Zhu Qing leaned forward, panting against his ear.


    "You broke my bed, Little Villain."


    Her hips moved again.


    "You''re paying for it."


    Su Xiaobai gritted his teeth, gripping her waist.


    "Then I''ll make you forget about it."


    He flipped her over again, ignoring her protests.


    The bed was gone.


    But the night was far from over.


    ______


    Meanwhile, Outside¡­


    A group of passersby stood in the middle of the night, their faces pale, their eyes wide with horror.


    From the direction of Peak Lord Zhu Qing''s residence¡ª


    Moans.


    Loud. Obscene. Endless.


    And still going.


    "W-Who the hell is going at it for this long¡­?!"


    "S-Someone check! I-It might be an attack!"


    "You check! That''s the Peak Lord''s residence!"


    "Fuck that! I''m not dying today!"


    More people started sneaking into their dao partners'' chambers, their faces red from secondhand embarrassment.


    Eventually¡ª


    A few core disciples gathered, whispering amongst themselves.


    "We should report this¡­ right?"


    "Who the hell do we even report this to?!"


    "Another Peak Lord, obviously!"


    And so, unknowingly¡ª


    Overnight, Su Xiaobai and Zhu Qing created a mess far bigger than they ever expected.


    _______


    Rustle~


    A faint morning breeze drifted in, sunlight slipping through the torn curtains, illuminating the wreckage of the room.


    Silk shredded.


    Wood splintered.


    The scent of sweat, heat, and indulgence still filled the air.


    Zhu Qing''s eyelashes fluttered.


    "Haaah¡­"


    She inhaled deeply, her chest rising, an odd weight pressing down on her.


    Her instincts kicked in.


    Her spiritual energy stirred, her body ready to react¡ª


    Until she realized.


    It wasn''t pressure.


    It was a naked body.


    A warm, solid, snoring naked body.


    "..."


    Her eyes twitched.


    Memories flooded back.


    The bed-shattering chaos. The debauched moans that lasted for hours. The sensation of being filled again and again until she lost her mind.


    Zhu Qing''s gaze lowered. Su Xiaobai was still asleep.


    His arms were wrapped around her waist.


    His leg thrown over hers.


    His face¡­


    Buried between her breasts.


    Using them as a fucking pillow.


    "¡­"


    Her expression darkened.


    Even after everything, even after she nearly fucked him into oblivion by the end of the night¡ª


    This bastard still had the audacity to sleep like a king.


    She wanted to strangle him.


    Or herself.


    Zhu Qing''s cheeks burned faintly.


    She was still a cultivation realm above him, yet somehow, this man had gone all night and almost¡ªalmost¡ªpushed her to the edge of exhaustion.


    It was infuriating. It was unbelievable. And worst of all¡­


    It was addicting.


    "Haaah¡ª"


    She exhaled sharply, pressing a hand to her forehead.


    Her body still tingled, and she could feel the lingering trace of Yin Qi flowing into him.


    At least that explained how he kept going.


    Otherwise, she would have woken him up right now and demanded to know what kind of demonic arts he used on her.


    But just as she was about to move him off her¡ª


    A voice, cold and stern, shattered the silence.


    "You two created a mess."


    Zhu Qing''s entire body stiffened.


    Her head snapped up so fast her neck nearly cracked.


    There¡ª


    Standing near the window, a woman in a white robe, her parasol reclining against the wall.


    Expression calm.


    But her eyes? Her eyes burned with disappointment. With displeasure. With the kind of deep-seated irritation only an Elder could have when dealing with reckless juniors.


    Zhu Qing''s mind blanked.


    "Bai Yujian¡­?!" Stay connected via My Virtual Library Empire


    Panic surged through her as she gripped the sheets, suddenly very aware of her nakedness.


    "Elder, why are you here?!"


    Her voice cracked.


    What the hell was happening?! How long had she been standing there?! How much did she see?!


    Bai Yujian''s gaze flickered over the scene.


    The utter wreckage of the room. The sweaty, tangled limbs.


    The Peak Lord of Mystic Peak, stark naked, pinned beneath a snoring Junior.


    Her lips curved slightly. Not into a smile. But into the kind of expression that said: You absolute fucking idiot.


    "Oh? Would you prefer if I let everyone outside in, then?"


    Zhu Qing''s heart sank.


    "¡­What?"


    Her spiritual sense exploded outward.


    And then¡ª


    Her face lost all color. Outside. Below the residence.


    A dozen disciples¡ªall her own Mystic Peak juniors¡ª


    Gathered.


    Whispering.


    Fidgeting.


    Clearly debating whether or not they should knock.


    Or run.


    Or alert the Sect Master.


    Zhu Qing''s entire soul left her body.


    "..."


    Bai Yujian''s expression didn''t change.


    But there was amusement hidden in her eyes.


    "Yes. A mess indeed."


    Zhu Qing sighed, shifting uncomfortably under Bai Yujian''s gaze.


    She was a strong, confident woman. But right now? Right now, she felt like a guilty concubine who had just been caught by the main wife.


    She had no idea how deep the relationship between Su Xiaobai and Bai Yujian actually was¡ª


    But she was certain of one thing. It was not the normal relationship of master and disciple.


    Zhu Qing''s fingers twitched, the reality pressing down on her.


    The fact that her moans were so loud, disciples had actually gathered and called another Peak Lord for help¡ª


    She wanted to crawl into a puddle and drown. She had completely forgotten to set up a sound-restricting barrier.


    A basic precaution.


    Something that even lust-drunk idiots wouldn''t forget.


    And now¡ª


    Now she could only stare at Bai Yujian with a fragile hope in her eyes.


    Tell me.


    Tell me the whole sect doesn''t know.

 Chapter 145 Bai Yujians Preparations!

    Zhu Qing may be a Peak Lord, but in terms of seniority, sleeping with Su Xiaobai was moral suicide.


    Bai Yujian''s finger twitched slightly, before she pointed¡ªawkwardly¡ªat Su Xiaobai, who was still snoring soundly between Zhu Qing''s breasts.


    "It''s only your disciples."


    Zhu Qing''s breath caught.


    Bai Yujian continued, voice calm but firm.


    "Some of them heard and called me for help. I gathered them below. You can deal with them as you wish."


    "As long as you tell them not to speak, they wouldn''t dare."


    Then¡ª


    She glanced at Su Xiaobai again.


    "Besides¡­ they don''t even know about him."


    Zhu Qing stiffened.


    For a moment¡ª


    For a single, glorious, life-saving moment¡ª


    She felt like her soul had been pulled back from the gates of hell.


    "Oh¡­" She exhaled deeply, her tensed shoulders loosening slightly. If it was just her own disciples¡­ She could handle that. Her reputation wouldn''t be completely shattered.


    Bai Yujian, however¡ªDidn''t move to leave.


    Instead¡ª


    She stepped closer. Zhu Qing''s spine tensed. But Bai Yujian only sat on the edge of the bed.


    Then¡ª


    She reached out, touching Zhu Qing''s face.


    Zhu Qing startled, her first instinct to pull back¡ª


    But Bai Yujian''s grip was gentle.


    Her voice¡ªeven softer.


    "Qingqing¡­"


    Zhu Qing froze.


    Bai Yujian''s gaze searched hers, expression complicated.


    "What happened to you?"


    Zhu Qing''s throat tightened.


    Bai Yujian''s fingers brushed against her cheek, her voice dipping lower.


    "Just yesterday, before leaving my residence, you told me you wanted to keep your distance from him."


    A pause.


    Her eyes darkened, flickering between Zhu Qing and Su Xiaobai.


    "You said you didn''t want to accidentally wake up in his bed."


    The words slapped.


    Sharp. Heavy. Undeniable.


    Zhu Qing''s fingertips dug into the ruined sheets. Because Bai Yujian was right. She did say that. And now? Now, she was naked, trapped beneath a snoring Su Xiaobai, with her own moans having echoed through the night for half the sect to hear.


    What¡­What the hell happened?


    Zhu Qing pressed her lips together, unable to meet Bai Yujian''s gaze. Bai Yujian''s expression didn''t shift. But her voice did. It was no longer strict.


    No longer cold. It was¡­


    Concerned.


    "I was angry at first, Qingqing."


    Her eyes softened.


    "Angry at him. But more than that¡­ I was worried about you."


    She hesitated.


    Then¡ª


    "This isn''t like you."


    And she meant it.


    This wasn''t the fearsome, cunning, untouchable Zhu Qing she had known for years.


    This was something else. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Something even Zhu Qing herself didn''t understand.


    "..."


    Facing Bai Yujian''s honest words, Zhu Qing felt cornered.


    She had no way out.


    Bai Yujian, however¡ª


    For her, this was a strange situation.


    Zhu Qing wasn''t just a Peak Lord.


    She was someone Bai Yujian had brought into the sect, someone she had watched grow.


    If not for Zhu Qing''s deep-seated distaste for blood, she would have been her personal disciple.


    Bai Yujian''s gaze softened slightly, recalling the past.


    The Trial of Shadows.


    The one in their sect was merely a toned-down version¡ªa test of survival, filled with illusions and constructs.


    But in the Dark Sparrow Sect, where Zhu Qing came from¡ª


    The people were real.


    Completing the trial meant killing the only close people to her.


    And she did.


    It left a scar¡ªone that never truly faded.


    A deep-rooted, unshakable distaste for blood.


    Instead of walking the bloody path of swords, Zhu Qing had chosen formations.


    And she mastered them.


    Before her, the sect had no proper formation master. She was the first. With no teacher. No guidance. Only her own determination.


    Bai Yujian had watched her struggles firsthand.


    And she admired her for it.


    If things had played out differently, if Zhu Qing had broken through before Zhao Tianxuan¡ª


    It would be her, not him, standing at the threshold of Sect Master.


    And now¡ª


    Zhu Qing, the unyielding, untouchable Peak Lord¡ª


    Had ended up in Su Xiaobai''s bed.


    Bai Yujian''s eyes flickered to the sleeping man.


    Su Xiaobai.


    She hadn''t spent much time with him¡ª


    But she knew.


    By all standards, this man was unnatural.


    Mysterious. Monstrous.


    If nothing went wrong, he would reach Great Ascension Realm within the next two centuries.


    And this time¡ª


    He was her personal disciple.


    Her disciple.


    Zhu Qing''s former junior.


    Both had ended up with each other.


    Generations apart.


    A thousand years ago, if someone had brought this to Bai Yujian''s attention¡ª


    She would have immediately rejected it.


    Would have said it was against the rules.


    Would have said it was dangerous.


    Because the rules were created for a reason.


    Senior masters getting into relationships with disciples or juniors never ended well.


    Because one day, the master would ascend.


    And the junior¡ª


    The junior would be left behind.


    A difference in lifespan.


    A difference in realm.


    A difference in destiny.


    A master''s heart would become shackled.


    And in time¡ª


    That heart demon would destroy them both.


    But this time¡ª


    This time, Bai Yujian wasn''t so sure.


    Because Su Xiaobai¡­


    Su Xiaobai wouldn''t be left behind.


    If anything¡ª


    He would be the one to surpass them all.


    The real question was¡ª


    What was wrong with Zhu Qing?


    _____


    Zhu Qing bit her lip, lowering her gaze.


    She didn''t hesitate.


    Didn''t try to hide it. She explained everything. Meanwhile¡ª Su Xiaobai, blissfully snoring, had no idea that his actions were being exposed in full detail.


    He had assumed Zhu Qing would keep quiet. Would hide what happened. Would never share it with Bai Yujian.


    He was wrong.


    Zhu Qing''s voice softened.


    "Elder¡­ He came to me with so much hope." She hesitated, "I wasn''t able to deny him¡­"


    Bai Yujian''s eyes narrowed.


    Zhu Qing bit her lower lip harder.


    It was true. When she heard that he needed a woman to break through, her first thought had been¡ªIsn''t she a woman?


    A maiden on top of it.


    If it could help him ascend, then what was the issue? He had helped her break through to Great Ascension Realm. For a long time, she had felt indebted to him.


    She had wanted to return the favor.


    Bai Yujian watched her silently.


    Her lips curved faintly, but her eyes remained sharp.


    She smiled.


    But behind that smile¡ª


    Suspicion flickered.


    "I wasn''t able to deny him¡­"


    That was not a phrase she expected from Zhu Qing.


    Not from the woman who had once slaughtered her past to move forward. Not from the woman who had pushed aside every weakness. Not from the woman who had never needed anyone.


    Bai Yujian said nothing.


    But in her heart¡ª


    A small seed of doubt had already been planted.


    But Zhu Qing misunderstood Bai Yujian''s expression, thinking she was unconvinced.


    So she continued.


    "Think about it, Elder."


    Her voice carried a rare excitement.


    "His ability is unnatural. If he had been born into an emperor''s bloodline, raised in an imperial household, he would''ve shattered every record." Zhu Qing''s eyes gleamed. "He would be the youngest Immortal in the history of Rain Immortal Valley."


    Bai Yujian''s gaze flickered.


    She couldn''t deny it. Being able to absorb Yin Qi? It was a broken ability, even with its many limitations.


    Yes, he needed time to stabilize after breakthroughs. Yes, he couldn''t rush his ascension too quickly.


    But¡ª


    If he had been born as the prince of an imperial dynasty¡­ He would have a supply of women at his feet.


    Cultivation, at that point, would become a matter of resources, not effort. A strange realization struck Bai Yujian.


    Her eyes gleamed.


    If he can cross realms this quickly¡­ Then what happens if he absorbs the Primordial Essence of a Human Immortal?


    Her fingers clenched slightly. If he obtained that¡ª He could skip past Spirit Severing Realm entirely.


    He could forge his ''True Spirit'' before anyone else.


    He could ascend faster than any prodigy in history.


    A quiet determination settled in her heart.


    She needed to break through soon. She needed to reach Human Immortal Realm first.


    Because if her disciple''s growth outpaced her own¡­She wouldn''t be his master anymore. She would be left behind.


    Her cheeks warmed¡ªa rare thing. Her thoughts were gradually veering into dangerous territory.


    It was¡­ a matter of benefits.


    After breaking through, her Yin Essence would transform, reaching an unimaginable purity. The kind that would grant far greater benefits than anything he could obtain from her now.


    Bai Yujian''s lips parted slightly, then pressed into a thin line. She banished the thought immediately. It was far too early for such considerations.


    But¡ª


    Her fingers tensed slightly at her side.


    The idea had already taken root.


    ____


    Zhu Qing, however, didn''t notice Bai Yujian''s thoughts at all. She only sighed, glancing at Su Xiaobai''s sleeping form.


    "Let him stabilize first." Bai Yujian''s voice was firm. "And don''t force him to break through again." Her eyes narrowed. "He''s not an experimental rat for you. Let him earn it."


    Zhu Qing blinked.


    "Huh? I didn''t even¡ª"


    Before she could even explain, Bai Yujian had already turned away.


    And she wasn''t wrong.


    Su Xiaobai had just stepped into Earthly Rebirth Realm.


    Barely had time to stabilize. Now, he had already pushed into Nascent Soul Realm.


    For any normal cultivator, this would''ve been suicide. If not for his Infernal Emperor''s Legacy, his foundation would have collapsed entirely.


    But Zhu Qing''s words had awakened a dangerous idea inside Bai Yujian.


    So what if Su Xiaobai wasn''t born in an emperor''s household?


    She was still here.


    If he needed women from each peak to accelerate his growth? Then he could take them.


    All the female Elders of Sword Peak? Each of them at Deity Transformation Realm?


    He could have them. Bai Yujian, previously, would have never even considered this thought.


    But now¡ª


    Now she wasn''t so sure.


    Because Su Xiaobai was different.


    The youngest Nascent Soul cultivator in the sect''s history.


    Probably the youngest in the entire country.


    From being a late-starting Qi Condensation nobody¡ª To a once-in-a-lifetime monster.


    Even Bai Yujian was struggling to process how fast this was happening.


    Let alone the rest of the sect.


    And once the news spread¡­


    The other sects would come.


    They would try to recruit him.


    And if they offered better benefits than she could¡­


    There would be no reason for him to stay.


    It wasn''t just about sect rules anymore.


    It wasn''t just about personal attachments.


    Su Xiaobai was outgrowing the sect itself.


    And Bai Yujian wasn''t going to let that happen.


    Without waiting for Zhu Qing''s response, she left.


    She stepped out, overlooking the nervous disciples gathered below.


    Their eyes widened in fear as she descended.


    And her voice, cold and ethereal, echoed through the morning air.


    "No one speaks of what happened today."


    She paused.


    "Not to the other peaks."


    "Not to the elders."


    "Not to anyone."


    A quiet depression settled over the crowd.


    The disciples bowed, terrified.


    And Bai Yujian knew they wouldn''t dare disobey. Stay connected through My Virtual Library Empire


    But this? This was only a temporary fix.


    Because the truth was¡ª


    The sect was already changing.


    Rules that had stood unshaken for centuries¡­


    Were being broken.


    And the falling sect, once teetering on decline¡­


    Had seen a spark of hope.


    But little did they know¡ª


    This was only the calm before the storm.

 Chapter 146 Conspiracy!

    "Sigh..."


    Once Bai Yujian was gone, Zhu Qing did nothing all day.


    She simply gathered those scared little souls, her expression cold, sharp, unforgiving.


    She didn''t bother with flowery words.


    She didn''t pretend to be gentle.


    "If I hear so much as a whisper¡­"


    Her smile was not kind.


    "Then Yama will be the least of your worries."


    A few disciples visibly flinched.


    Some lowered their heads, breaking into cold sweat.


    And a couple¡ª


    A couple were nervous.


    Too nervous.


    Zhu Qing''s eyes narrowed.


    ''They already snitched.''


    Even without using her spiritual sense, she could feel the guilt in their bones.


    They must have told a close friend.


    A harmless secret whispered behind closed doors.


    But that was how rumors started.


    Zhu Qing clicked her tongue. If it had been her handling this from the start¡­She would have made them swear a Sword Blood Oath.


    But Bai Yujian had already given the warning, and Zhu Qing wasn''t about to overcomplicate things.


    Besides¡ªIn the end, both she and Bai Yujian had been careless.


    Why? Because the sect never forbade relationships. As long as Su Xiaobai''s name didn''t come out, this wouldn''t be a scandal.


    It was just Peak Lord Zhu being a freak in the sheets.


    Nothing shocking.


    Nothing new.


    No one in the sect had a brain cunning enough to connect the dots¡ª


    To realize the "mystery man" was actually Su Xiaobai.


    So, neither she nor Bai Yujian wasted much thought on it.


    Zhu Qing had thicker skin than most.


    She sneered inwardly.


    ''Let someone try to call me out.''


    She had just broken through.


    Even other Peak Lords had to be careful of her now.


    Let alone some nosy juniors.


    With the matter settled, Zhu Qing returned to her residence, intending to check on Su Xiaobai''s breakthrough.


    But when she stepped inside¡ª


    It was already noon.


    Su Xiaobai sat on the wrecked bed, eyes closed, his skin glowing with a faint golden hue of Earth Qi. It pulsed around him, shifting like an invisible armor¡ªthick, heavy, and suffocating, as if the very world was kneeling at his feet.


    A quiet oppression filled the air.


    Zhu Qing paused.


    This wasn''t just cultivation energy, this was Soul Resonance. He had already reached the peak of Earthly Rebirth Realm ¡ª Standing at the threshold of Nascent Soul.


    Zhu Qing walked closer, unaffected.


    But if a Core Formation disciple had entered this room¡­They would have collapsed on the spot.


    Shaking. Trembling. Terrified.


    Zhu Qing sighed, resting her chin on her palm.


    "Little Villain, you''re such a headache¡­"


    She pursed her lips, then sat down near him, watching curiously.


    There was a weird urge to tap his face.


    His features were sharp, focused, almost mesmerizing.


    Why can''t he always be like this?


    Serious. Charming.


    Silent.


    Not running his poisonous mouth every two seconds.


    Zhu Qing exhaled deeply.


    "Tch."


    She shook her head, disgusted with herself.


    "What the hell is wrong with me?"


    Secondhand embarrassment burned her skin.


    Her own thoughts were making her cringe.


    Since when did she think of Su Xiaobai as "charming"?


    She should be keeping her distance.


    She should be calculating her next move.


    Not sitting here, admiring his face.


    And yet¡ª


    For the first time since she inherited his bloodline¡­


    Her heart felt calm.


    The uneasy pull toward him, the instinctive wariness she had carried for days¡ª


    It was gone.


    Zhu Qing exhaled slowly.


    It was a small change.


    But she didn''t know what it meant.


    And Su Xiaobai¡ª


    Completely unaware of the shifts happening inside her¡ª


    Remained focused on his ascent into Nascent Soul Realm.


    ____


    Deep Within His Dantian¡­


    Su Xiaobai''s consciousness retreated inward.


    Everything ceased to exist.


    No body.


    No thoughts.


    No distractions.


    Only cultivation.


    This was it.


    The birthplace of his Nascent Soul.


    Instantly¡ª


    The world around him disappeared.


    ___


    Step One ¨C Soul Nourishment


    A blinding light shone within his Dantian.


    His core.


    Around it¡ª


    Two forces clashed.


    Profound Qi slammed into the core like a horny bull in mating season, forcing its way inside.


    The Refined Earth Qi fought back, resisting the invasion like a stubborn virgin.


    Two titanic forces, surging violently.


    But Su Xiaobai?


    He didn''t play nice.


    Instead¡ª


    He fucked the rules and forced them together.


    The process was supposed to be slow. Gentle. A tender union.


    But Su Xiaobai?


    Raw dogged it.


    Tch¡ª!


    His meridians screamed.


    His bones howled in protest.


    His forehead was slick with sweat, and for a second, his soul whispered:


    "Congratulations, you''ve chosen PAIN."


    But his star physique roared to life, slapping the pain in the face, as Stellar Qi surged out like a self-repairing cheat code.


    The pain vanished.


    Back in his Dantian¡ª


    The energies twisted together, forming a small, trembling sphere.


    The Soul Cocoon.


    It hovered within his core¡ª


    A fragile, swirling mass of condensed energy.


    Inside it¡ª


    His spiritual consciousness detached.


    For the first time¡ª


    His soul was no longer bound to his body.


    Which meant¡ª


    He was about to experience Illusory Death.


    ___


    Step Two.


    The Soul Abyss


    Darkness.


    His heartbeat slowed.


    Then¡ª


    It stopped.


    His entire body went cold.


    The sensation of limbs, breath, thought¡ª


    Gone.


    His soul drifted, weightless, floating in the endless void.


    This was the Soul Abyss.


    A cultivator''s final test before forming their Nascent Soul.


    Where one''s inner demons, karma, and fears manifested.


    And then¡ª


    They came.


    Whispers.


    "...Useless..."


    "...Cursed child..."


    "...You will never cultivate..."


    Shadows stirred in the abyss.


    Figures emerged.


    The mocking faces of his past.


    The people who had shit on him.


    The people who had abandoned him.


    And then¡ª


    A voice, deeper, colder.


    "You are not worthy of my inheritance."


    A pair of eyes opened in the void.


    Towering. Unfathomable.


    The Infernal Emperor''s shadow stood, vast like an ancient deity.


    Su Xiaobai''s soul trembled under its gaze.


    This was it.


    His final trial.


    If his will shattered here, his soul would fragment forever.


    But¡ª


    "Heh."


    Su Xiaobai grinned.


    This was supposed to scare him?


    A year ago¡ª


    Maybe.


    Maybe he would have curled up and cried like a bitch.


    Maybe he would have questioned everything.


    But now?


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    Now, he simply laughed.


    "Shut the fuck up."


    He stepped forward.


    The abyss shattered.


    The Soul Cocoon trembled violently, cracks spreading across its surface. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ____


    Step Three ¨C The Breaking of the Cocoon.


    Deep within his Dantian¡ª


    Something shifted.


    The condensed Soul Cocoon¡ª


    Cracked open.


    BOOM!


    A shockwave burst outward.


    And inside¡ª


    A miniature version of himself floated in midair.


    Eyes closed.


    Breath steady.


    Hands sealed in cultivation posture.


    His Nascent Soul.


    A perfect, refined entity, no longer bound by flesh and mortality.


    BOOM!


    An invisible pressure erupted outward.


    For a moment¡ª


    All of Mystic Peak felt it.


    A wave of pure consciousness slapped them across the face.


    The weaker disciples collapsed.


    The stronger ones shuddered, questioning their life choices.


    "A new Nascent Soul cultivator?"


    Before they could even move to investigate¡ª


    The pressure vanished.


    Zhu Qing, yawning, lazily set up a formation.


    "Tch. Too noisy."


    She blocked Su Xiaobai''s aura, cockblocking the entire sect from sensing his breakthrough.


    She leaned back, exhausted.


    "He''s too fast¡­"


    It normally took a week.


    This villain did it in three days.


    She sighed bitterly.


    And the last three days?


    They had been hell.


    _____


    Zhu Qing''s Three Days of Rampage...


    She was angry.


    Not just at Su Xiaobai.


    But at the absolute dipshit who spread the rumors.


    Because somehow¡ª


    Some loose-lipped motherfucker figured out it was Su Xiaobai who entered her chambers that night.


    And now¡ª


    The sect was buzzing.


    So what had she been doing for the last three days?


    Committing war crimes.


    Every disciple she found whispering about it¡ª


    She dragged them by the collar and baptized them in fists.


    Every elder she suspected¡ª


    She challenged them to a spar and caved in their ribcage.


    Even the other Peak Lords weren''t safe.


    She had stormed into Zhao Tianxuan''s residence, ready to beat the smug off his face.


    By now¡ª


    Half the sect was in therapy.


    But it didn''t matter.


    Because the damage was done.


    If Su Xiaobai had been ''officially'' a disciple from her mystic peak¡ª


    She would have been stripped of her title and thrown out.


    If Bai Yujian hadn''t covered for her¡ª


    She would be fighting for her life in a sect tribunal.


    Now¡ª


    Her reputation was officially in the gutter.


    She could barely step outside without someone pretending to meditate to avoid eye contact.


    "Haaah¡­"


    She exhaled slowly.


    Her fingers twitched.


    If she found out who started this¡­


    They would be unrecognizable when she was done.


    Meanwhile¡ª


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes flickered, preparing to open.


    And he had no idea how much bullshit had exploded into existence while he was busy ascending.


    ____


    Crack!


    Su Xiaobai''s body twitched violently one last time before his eyes snapped open. A deep breath rushed into his lungs as his senses kicked back in, the familiar sensation of spiritual power coursing through his veins.


    "Haaah¡­ it feels good to be alive."


    He stretched, joints popping like fireworks, his entire body basking in the high of his recent breakthrough.


    Then¡ªhe noticed he wasn''t alone.


    Zhu Qing sat across from him, watching.


    Not just watching¡ªstaring.


    A slow, eerie smile on her lips. Not a good smile. A smile that said ''I have suffered, and now, so will you.''

 Chapter 147 Raiding a Little Thief!

    Su Xiaobai''s brows furrowed, eyes instinctively sweeping over Zhu Qing.


    Her arms rested on her knees, her chin propped up, giving off the distinct energy of a depressed maiden after a bad breakup. It was such a bizarre contrast to her usual sharp, domineering presence that Su Xiaobai actually felt concerned.


    "Elder, what happened? Who hurt you?!" His gaze instinctively dropped to her chest.


    Damn.


    The posture made certain assets look even better.


    She snorted. Didn''t answer.


    And that''s when Su Xiaobai realized¡ªhe must''ve fucked up somewhere.


    "Uh¡­ I broke through, I guess?"


    Wrong.


    Wrong move.


    Wrong answer.


    The moment those words left his mouth, her melancholic expression twisted into something demonic.


    A slow, vindictive smile spread across her face.


    "Oh, Little Villain¡­ since you''ve broken through¡­ let this Elder reward you properly."


    BAM!


    A thick-ass book slammed onto the floor in front of him.


    "Soul Shatter Palm."


    BAM!


    Another one.


    "Ethereal Chains of Binding."


    BAM!


    A third.


    "Soul Devouring Gaze."


    BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM!


    One by one, cultivation manuals rained down like divine judgment.


    By the time she was done, the entire floor was buried under books. Su Xiaobai swallowed dryly. His forehead was already sweating.


    Zhu Qing leaned forward, eyes gleaming with dark amusement.


    "Little Villain, you''ve already harmed the Elder¡­ now, for my sake, please learn all of these within a week."


    That last smile was not a smile.


    That was the expression of a woman who had reached rock bottom and decided to drag someone else down with her.


    Su Xiaobai wanted to cry, but no tears came. He forced out a dry chuckle, "Elder, I can''t possibly learn all of this, can I? At least pick out the best one for your man."


    For a moment¡ªjust a moment¡ªZhu Qing softened.


    Her man?


    Her brows twitched.


    She had been pissed off for three days straight, barely keeping herself from massacring the sect. But somehow, that phrase chipped at her rage.


    Then she looked at the pile of books.


    Okay. Maybe she did go a little overboard. Some of these techniques were far beyond him. Like "True Spirit Manifestation," which wasn''t even practicable until Spirit Severing Realm.


    "Tch¡­ Fine." She started sorting through them, placing the unnecessary ones aside. "Soul Shatter Palm, Ethereal Chains of Binding, Soul Devouring Gaze for your attacks¡­"


    Then she picked another, "Heavenly Soul Barrier. A defensive technique. Take it too."


    Su Xiaobai blinked.


    He had no idea how much effort Zhu Qing had put into gathering these techniques.


    Once the scandal broke, she could have hidden away, locked herself inside her residence, and waited for the storm to pass¡ªJust like he did.


    But no.


    She didn''t hide.


    She didn''t avoid the rumors.


    Instead¡ª


    She spent the last three days tearing through the entire sect like a debt collector from hell.


    She raided the elder archives.


    She ransacked other peaks.


    She dragged people out of their homes, beat the shit out of them, and looted their techniques as ''compensation.''


    Every single person she pummeled into the dirt¡ª


    She did it under the noble excuse of "slandering her image using rumours."


    It was a blatant lie.


    But did that stop her?


    No.


    She used it as a free pass to beat up anyone she didn''t like and take their stuff.


    At one point, a junior disciple had cried, swearing he knew nothing.


    She robbed him anyway.


    All for this bastard.


    And he had no fucking clue.


    Su Xiaobai reached out, catching her wrist.


    "Elder, it''s enough."


    Zhu Qing paused. His touch was warm, firm. For some reason, her heart did a weird little flutter. Before she could react¡ª


    "Ah?!" S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She was suddenly pulled into a hug.


    "Little Villain¡ª? What the hell are you doing?! Let me go!"


    Her face burned. She tried pushing him off, but Su Xiaobai tightened his grip.


    This woman.


    She was acting tough, pretending like this was all just a transaction.


    But he knew better.


    She was soft inside... Very soft.


    "Elder, how about I call you Qingqing from now on? Elder sounds too distant."


    His voice was low, teasing.


    Zhu Qing''s entire body shivered.


    "D-Do whatever you want¡ª! Just let me go! Or I''ll break your face! Humph! I still haven''t punished you for¡ª"


    She stopped mid-sentence.


    Her face turned scarlet.


    Su Xiaobai grinned knowingly. She was about to say something embarrassing.


    He released her, stepping back.


    Zhu Qing frowned. She could see through all his bullshit.


    But what could she do? The whole sect already knew. Even if she denied it, they wouldn''t believe her.


    She sighed and tossed him one last book.


    A white, patchy manual.


    Su Xiaobai caught it, frowning. "What''s this?"


    Zhu Qing hesitated. "Soul Rebirth Art. If your body is destroyed, your soul can escape and reconstruct itself over time."


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes lit up.


    "There''s an advanced version," she continued. "True Soul Regeneration. It instantly reforms a body. But¡­"


    She hesitated.


    "Even I haven''t mastered it."


    His grin widened. Something even Zhu Qing couldn''t master? That meant¡ªit was fucking amazing.


    Before he could start something dangerous, Zhu Qing pushed him away. "Go meet Peak Lord Xu Tianran. He should have your Star Essence Pill."


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    Su Xiaobai frowned. "Can''t you bring it for me?"


    Zhu Qing gritted her teeth. "I CAN''T."


    Su Xiaobai blinked. Her face looked ugly.


    Then¡ªshe told him everything.


    The rumors. The house arrest. The sect talking shit.


    Su Xiaobai''s mood plummeted.


    His woman was locked up?!


    Fuck that!


    "Elder, come with me."


    "Where?"


    "To get you justice."


    His righteous words echoed. Zhu Qing nearly vomited blood.


    Since when did this man become righteous?!


    But she was also curious. And if they found the bastards responsible for this¡ª


    She was going to skin them alive.


    And Su Xiaobai?


    He was about to start a fucking war.


    ________


    Bottom of Sword Peak¡ªA Certain Dormitory!


    BAM!


    A wooden crate toppled over, scrolls spilling across the dimly lit dormitory. The candle on the desk flickered dangerously, casting trembling shadows along the walls as a woman tore through every corner of the room, her breaths ragged and uneven.


    Her fingers trembled as she flipped over bedding, yanked open drawers, and shoved aside wooden boxes, her entire body burning with frustration.


    Dark blue strands of hair stuck to her sweat-kissed skin, her usually sharp gaze clouded with panic.


    "Where is it¡­? Heaven damn it, where did I put it!?" she muttered, teeth digging into her lower lip.


    Her heartbeat hammered in her ears.


    Tonight was the night. The night she had planned for months¡ªher final day in this cursed sect.


    She had pulled off the heist of a lifetime.


    Sneaking into Xiantian Sect''s treasury was impossible for most, but she had done it. With careful precision, she had evaded the formation surveillance and stolen the one thing she had come here for¡ªan ancient map, the key to everything.


    But now?


    She had fucking lost it.


    "Curse the darkness!" Yu Feng growled, nearly tearing her hair out.


    Her eyes flickered toward the side of the room, where Ji Hong''s unconscious body lay slumped against the wooden wall.


    Her fellow martial brother. Her roommate.


    Her spy.


    She had discovered a while ago that Ji Hong had been planted here by Xu Tianran to monitor her. And tonight? Yu Feng made sure he wouldn''t wake up again.


    But none of that mattered if she didn''t find the damn map.


    Crouching down, she frantically searched beneath the wooden bed, her bare legs brushing against the cold floor. Then, her fingers brushed against something smooth and wooden.


    Her breath caught.


    "Found it!"


    She grabbed the oak scroll, relief flooding her veins like divine nectar.


    Then¡ª


    A voice, smooth as flowing jade yet carrying a hint of amused wickedness, echoed through the room.


    "Found what, I wonder?"


    Yu Feng''s entire body went rigid.


    The air in her lungs turned ice-cold.


    Her grip on the scroll tightened involuntarily.


    A long shadow stretched over her, covering her delicate form entirely.


    Slowly¡ªso painfully slowly¡ªshe turned her head.


    And there¡ªstanding behind her, arms crossed, grin sharp enough to cut the moon¡ª


    Was Su Xiaobai.


    His broad frame blocked the candlelight, casting him in an ominous silhouette. But what sent a shiver down her spine wasn''t his presence.


    It was his eyes. They weren''t looking at her face. They were locked lower ¡ª Directly at her ass.


    Fixed upon her raised hips, her supple body barely hidden beneath the thin silk of her night robe.


    Yu Feng''s stomach tightened.


    She had been too absorbed in her search, too careless. Her robe, already light and breathable, was hugging to her skin, exposing the soft swell of her thighs, the perfect curve of her hips.


    And Su Xiaobai?


    He was staring. Not subtly. Not discreetly.


    Blatantly.


    Like a starving man admiring a fresh meal.


    His fingers twitched, and Yu Feng could see the exact moment the thought crossed his mind¡ª


    "What if I just grabbed her hips and ruined her life?"


    Yu Feng''s brows twitched violently.


    She had encountered shameless men before.


    But this one¡ªthis wicked creature of depravity and unchecked arrogance¡ª


    Was on a different level.


    Taking a deep breath, she forced down her rage, her voice dropping dangerously low.


    "What the hell are you doing here?"


    Su Xiaobai didn''t answer. Instead, his smirk widened. "Just enjoying the view."


    Yu Feng saw red.


    This fucking degenerate.


    Before she could even think, Nascent Soul energy erupted from her body. In a single swift motion, she spun, claws glowing with spiritual energy, and aimed straight for his crotch.


    No hesitation. No mercy.


    She went straight for the bloodline.


    "!"

 Chapter 148 Map to Dark Tab!

    Yu Feng went straight for the bloodline.


    Su Xiaobai''s face drained of color.


    "WHAT THE FUCK, WOMAN¡ª!? I JUST CAME TO GET YOU TO CONFESS, WHY ARE YOU TRYING TO MURDER MY BLOODLINE!?"


    He barely dodged back, but her claws scraped through his robes, slicing dangerously close.


    Holy fuck. This wasn''t some casual kick to the balls. This was a full-powered ''I never want you to reproduce'' strike.


    He stumbled back, heart pounding.


    "Crazy bitch! What kind of woman goes straight for a man''s dick without hesitation!?"


    Yu Feng''s eyes burned with fury. "The kind who does not suffer beasts who let their eyes wander where they do not belong!"


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    Before she could launch another attack¡ª S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    SMACK!


    A sharp, resounding slap echoed through the room.


    "Huh¡ª!?" Yu Feng''s head jerked violently to the side.


    For a second, her vision blurred.


    Then¡ªshe felt it.


    Her wrist twisted behind her back, her entire body lifted mid-air like a fucking ragdoll.


    Pain shot through her shoulder.


    "What sorcery¡ª!?¡ª?! Let me go!"


    A calm, smooth voice followed.


    "Not so soon, girl."


    Yu Feng''s breath froze.


    That wasn''t Su Xiaobai.


    Her heart pounded as she realized she wasn''t the only one in the room.


    Su Xiaobai, still clutching his almost-murdered bloodline, let out a long sigh, looking genuinely aggrieved.


    "Why does everyone wish to cripple my future sons?"


    In front of him, still holding Yu Feng effortlessly mid-air, one hand raised from the slap, the other twirling the oak scroll that had once been hers¡ª


    Was Zhu Qing.


    And she was smiling.


    Not the kind that brought comfort.


    The kind that promised misery.


    Her fingers ran idly over the scroll''s surface as she whispered aloud, "Now, what is this, I wonder~?"


    Yu Feng''s stomach dropped.


    She had been caught.


    This was it.


    This was the end.


    Zhu Qing''s grip tightened slightly, just enough to make Yu Feng grimace. The silent pressure was suffocating.


    Su Xiaobai, now fully recovered from his near-castration, let out a slow exhale, cracking his knuckles as he stepped forward, his eyes gleaming with interest.


    "Well, well, well¡­ if it isn''t our little thief." His lips curled, voice carrying an easy confidence, he crouched slightly, tilting his head, his tone turning mockingly gentle. "Now¡­ why don''t we have a little chat?"


    Yu Feng swallowed hard, struggling against Zhu Qing''s grip.


    "W-What do you two want?"


    For the first time in a very, very long time¡­


    She felt fear.


    ____


    Bang!


    Before Yu Feng could react, her wrists were bound, and she was thrown to the side like discarded prey. Her breath came in sharp gasps, dark blue hair falling over her face, obscuring the storm raging in her eyes. Where had it all gone wrong? Everything had been perfect.


    Her teeth clenched as she glared at the two before her.


    Zhu Qing, standing with arms crossed, smiled in satisfaction.


    "Disicple Su, this time you''ve caught a big fish. This one''s from the Dark Church of Tianlong Dynasty. To think such vermin had wormed their way into our sect¡­"


    Yu Feng''s nails dug into her palms.


    Zhu Qing wasn''t even looking at her. She was merely studying her like an afterthought, already deciding her fate.


    Although Zhu Qing didn''t think this woman held much true value, her capture was still useful. With this, she could expose the sect''s intelligence failures and gain merit. Another step toward solidifying her position.


    Su Xiaobai, arms lazily folded behind his head, raised a brow.


    "Is this scroll valuable?" His voice carried a feigned curiosity.


    Zhu Qing didn''t even hand it to him.


    "It''s very valuable," she replied smoothly. "It''s the map to the ''Dark Tab''. I don''t know who leaked its existence, but someone clearly wants it found."


    "Dark Tab?" Su Xiaobai''s interest piqued, but he quickly refocused.


    He shook his head. "Elder, I didn''t catch her to hand her over to the sect. She can help us find out who spread the rumors."


    Zhu Qing paused.


    Her smile faded slightly as she turned, looking at him in surprise. "So that wasn''t the plan?"


    Even Yu Feng hesitated.


    Su Xiaobai exhaled, rubbing his temples. "Just a coincidence."


    Indeed, if this were before, things would have been different. Zhu Qing was powerful, but that alone wouldn''t have been enough for him to take such a risk.


    Yet now¡ªeven though he lacked the strength to truly possess her¡ªhe regarded her as his.


    Not just as a woman, but as a pillar in the sect. A shield when needed, a blade when required.


    More importantly, she wasn''t the kind of person he hated most.


    Su Xiaobai feared true, ungrateful evil¡ªthe kind that took without giving, that betrayed without hesitation.


    Zhu Qing wasn''t like that.


    She knew how to repay favors.


    After all, they had already shared the bond of life and death.


    And then¡ªthe journey to bed.


    To say he was willing to let her go now would be a lie.


    So when he heard she was bullied, when he saw how the sect forced her into isolation, when he realized they dared to push his woman into such a position¡ª


    It was no longer just about reputation.


    It was revenge.


    Zhu Qing studied him for a moment, then¡­ laughed softly.


    Not mocking. Not teasing.


    Just knowing.


    Su Xiaobai wasn''t obligated to step in for her.


    Yet he had.


    And for some reason¡ªthat pleased her more than she expected.


    Yu Feng, meanwhile, was staring between them.


    What was this unspoken understanding?


    The realization settled in her stomach like cold iron.


    Hah. So the rumors were true.


    She had thought the sect''s gossip was exaggerated. That the idea of Xiantian Sect''s most mean Elder sharing her bed with a disciple was absurd.


    But now?


    Now, she understood.


    She was doomed.


    Yu Feng exhaled sharply, regaining her composure.


    "Hah!" She snorted coldly, her bound arms tensing. "What are you pretending to be innocent for, Su Xiaobai? Breeding demonic flowers, massacring cities¡ª and yet you still wear the mask of righteousness and honor?"


    Zhu Qing''s gaze shifted to Su Xiaobai, intrigued.


    Su Xiaobai didn''t react.


    No anger. No denial.


    Zhu Qing chuckled. "So that''s how it is¡­"


    Su Xiaobai merely shrugged. "Nothing can be done about it."


    Sometimes, blackmail was a two-way street.


    Yu Feng had her secrets. He had his.


    Until now, both had abided by an unspoken agreement, neither daring to expose the other.


    But the moment Su Xiaobai forced her into the open¡ªshe didn''t even hesitate to strike back.


    Zhu Qing watched the exchange, her expression unreadable, then simply nodded. Unconcerned.


    She had already accepted long ago¡ªSu Xiaobai was no righteous.


    Neither was she.


    Yu Feng''s heart hammered in her ears.


    She had expected this Peak Lord Zhu to punish him, distance herself, reject him.


    But instead¡ªshe accepted it.


    Not with hesitation. Not with reluctance.


    With understanding.


    Her loyalty had already leaned toward him.


    And that¡­


    That was far more terrifying than any punishment.


    It meant they were the same kind.


    Which meant¡ª


    Rules no longer mattered.


    They could do whatever they wanted


    And she was at their mercy.


    Damn it!


    These wretched dog-man and dog-woman!


    She wanted to kill them both¡ªwipe those knowing smiles from their faces.


    But one was like a cunning fox, always a step ahead, weaving traps in the dark


    The other stood like a towering mountain, unshaken, unyielding, impossible to climb.


    And she?


    She was a trapped rabbit.


    No matter how hard she struggled, no matter how much hatred burned in her chest¡­


    The hunter''s hand was already on her throat.

 Chapter 149 Enslaving Yu Feng!

    "You broke through again? When¡ª?!"


    Yu Feng''s face paled.


    Her mind had been too tangled in failure to register it before¡ªbut now, reality hit like a guillotine.


    Su Xiaobai''s aura had changed.


    Core Formation? Gone.


    Nascent Soul.


    This bastard¡ªwhen the hell did he cross realms like a peasant scarfing down potatoes!?


    Su Xiaobai sneered, exuding the kind of lazy confidence that begged for a knife to the throat. She couldn''t kill him now. Not alone. And not with Zhu Qing standing beside him like a personal executioner.


    Zhu Qing didn''t share Su Xiaobai''s smugness.


    She brushed Yu Feng''s wrist¡ªjust a touch.


    A pulse of energy surged.


    Her expression shifted.


    "Such a talent¡­" she murmured. "A waste to kill."


    She wasn''t talking about Su Xiaobai.


    Yu Feng''s bone age was younger than his.


    And yet¡ªIntermediate Nascent Soul Realm.


    No tricks. No special bloodline. No bullshit cultivation hacks like Su Xiaobai''s absurd Yin-absorbing powers.


    Pure, unfiltered talent.


    Zhu Qing''s brows furrowed. She had always known the Dark Church had powerful forces, but this? This was something else.


    This was proof that the empire''s hidden powers were raising monsters.


    Meanwhile, Su Xiaobai grinned, his mind was already sharpening its blade.


    If a mere foot soldier in the Dark Church could hit Nascent Soul this young¡­ then what kind of titans were lurking in the shadows?


    Tsk. Now that was worth looking into.


    Before Zhu Qing could entertain snapping Yu Feng''s neck on the spot, Su Xiaobai grabbed her wrist and pulled her aside.


    "Elder, leave her alive. I still have use for her."


    Zhu Qing frowned, her instincts screaming that this was a bad idea.


    Yu Feng''s glare could''ve skinned a tiger alive. If hatred had a blade, Su Xiaobai''s dick would be first on the chopping block.


    But then¡ªhe spoke.


    And for the first time since this nightmare began¡­ a flicker of hope clawed its way through the blood in her throat.


    "Do you know who started spreading the rumors about Peak Lord Zhu and me first?"


    The moment the words left his lips¡ªYu Feng''s face cracked. Continue reading stories on My Virtual Library Empire


    Her stomach plummeted.


    This¡­ this was why she got caught?


    This?!


    She felt like vomiting blood. For this insignificant thing, her years of careful planning collapsed overnight!?


    She wanted to kill something.


    Preferably Su Xiaobai.


    Su Xiaobai saw her face twist into something between agony and contempt and sighed dramatically, shaking his head like a disappointed father.


    "Well, if you''re useless to me, then we might as well kill you¡ª"


    "Wait!" Yu Feng bit her lip hard. "I can find out¡­"


    Su Xiaobai smirked. "Oh? And how exactly?"


    Yu Feng hesitated for a moment before muttering, "There are¡­ a lot of female disciples who admire me."


    Su Xiaobai''s brow arched. "Admire?"


    Yu Feng''s fingers twitched. "They¡­ think I''m a man. If I ask around, I can find out who spread the rumors."


    There was a beat of silence.


    Then¡ª


    Su Xiaobai''s grin widened.


    "Wait, wait, wait¡ªyou''re telling me you''ve been seducing women while pretending to be a man?"


    Yu Feng''s face darkened instantly.


    "Seducing!?" she spat. "Those girls latched onto me on their own! I did nothing!"


    Su Xiaobai gave a long, exaggerated sigh.


    "Ahh¡­ how tragic. The elegant, aloof ''Xiao Yu,'' hiding the truth of her forbidden flower, unknowingly gathering a harem of lovesick maidens¡­ only for her secret to be discovered under such humiliating circumstances¡­"


    Yu Feng wanted to rip out his tongue and shove it up his ass.


    Before she could spit curses, she felt Zhu Qing''s gaze. Zhu Qing was silent, unreadable, and most terrifying of all¡ªconsidering something.


    Yu Feng swallowed.


    She had seen that look before.


    It was the look of someone deciding whether to kill her or keep her.


    And Yu Feng wasn''t sure which one was worse.


    "What do you plan to do with me?" she asked slowly, voice cautious. If they wanted to kill her anyway, she would rather die now than be toyed with.


    Zhu Qing was already leaning toward slitting her throat, but Su Xiaobai?


    He had other ideas. Before Zhu Qing could make up her mind, Su Xiaobai grabbed her wrist and pulled her further aside.


    She clicked her tongue but allowed it. The moment they were out of Yu Feng''s earshot, Zhu Qing crossed her arms.


    "Little Villain, I know you love women, but there''s a difference between liking something and letting it control you."


    Her tone was firm, but her expression was complicated. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Su Xiaobai sighed. "Qingqing, do you really think I''d risk my own neck for a pretty face?"


    Zhu Qing arched a brow. "Aren''t you?"


    Su Xiaobai nearly choked on air.


    "If all I wanted was to have fun with her, I could do that right now. Take my time, use her thoroughly, then dispose of her."


    Zhu Qing''s expression didn''t change, but she felt something twist in her chest.


    A second later, she smiled.


    "You certainly know how to make a woman feel safe, Little Villain."


    Su Xiaobai grinned. "Only the ones worth keeping."


    Her smirk faltered for half a second.


    Then¡ªshe looked at him, realization flickering in her gaze.


    "You''re thinking of enslaving her?"


    Su Xiaobai''s smile widened.


    Zhu Qing''s brows knit together.


    If Su Xiaobai could control her, this was a double agent situation.


    This was planting a hidden seed inside the Dark Church. A chess piece. To let her grow on her own, unrestrained.


    Zhu Qing exhaled sharply, eyeing him.


    "Your ambitions are getting out of hand."


    Su Xiaobai chuckled. "Elder, this is just a little hobby."


    Zhu Qing massaged her temples.


    If he called plotting to infiltrate the Dark Church a ''hobby,'' then she didn''t want to know what he called an actual ambition.


    Even Zhu Qing felt a shiver of temptation¡ªand she wasn''t easily moved.


    This brat wasn''t just ambitious. He was a walking declaration of war.First, he picked apart the Blood Warlord''s corpse. Now, he was sinking his claws into the Dark Church. At this rate, she wouldn''t be surprised if he started eyeing a princess, an empire, or the fucking heavens themselves.


    She didn''t even want to interrogate him further¡ªbecause knowing this man, the next thing out of his mouth would be something like:


    "Why stop at one agent when I could control the entire Dark Church?"


    And at that point, Zhu Qing might faint.


    The Dark Church wasn''t some back-alley sect. Even the mighty Golden Buddha Sect wouldn''t dare fart in its direction.


    And this Yu Feng? At best, she was a small clergy member.


    Yet Su Xiaobai wanted to leash her like a stray dog and let her loose in the forest?


    Madness.


    She glanced over her shoulder, catching Yu Feng''s murderous glare.


    Of course, this woman wasn''t thinking about politics. She was glaring at Zhu Qing''s body, burning with venom and resentment.


    What a shame.


    She had all this talent, yet still acted like a jealous bitch.


    "Su Xiaobai, you aren''t really sparing her just because of her body, are you?"


    Zhu Qing''s tone was light, but her gaze was dead serious.


    "These women are poisonous. You can''t expect loyalty from them."


    Su Xiaobai didn''t even blink.


    His voice turned cold.


    "I won''t even touch her¡ªlet alone think about her."


    Zhu Qing raised a brow.


    Oh?


    That was a first.


    Su Xiaobai, seeing her doubt, sighed and explained.


    It wasn''t about pleasure or indulgence. It was about use.


    Yu Feng wasn''t worth playing with.


    She was worth exploiting.


    Talented. Young. Cunning. Beautiful.


    The kind of woman who could tear through a sect''s defenses alone¡ªthat alone was enough to make Su Xiaobai reconsider everything.


    This wasn''t just some disposable pawn. This was a knife. A sharp, ambitious, blood-soaked knife¡ªand all he had to do was point it in the right direction.


    He would release her from the sect, let her crawl back to the Dark Church, and live her life freely. If one day, she climbed high enough¡ªhe''d reap the benefits.


    If not? Forget her.


    Zhu Qing didn''t argue. She understood now.


    This wasn''t about lust. This was about planting a time bomb. If one day, the Xiantian Sect turned against him, he wouldn''t be left scrambling for survival. He''d already have a retreat prepared.


    A hidden piece in the Dark Church, waiting to be played.


    Zhu Qing''s fingers twitched slightly. Didn''t she do the same thing in the Chi Xie Wasteland?


    Even she had a path of escape if things went south. Realizing this, she found herself surprised by this man''s thinking.


    So, without another word, she set up the Blood Oath.


    Yu Feng resisted.


    She fought.


    She cursed them both to hell.


    But in the end¡ªshe failed.


    The oath was sealed.


    From this moment on, her life and death were in Su Xiaobai''s hands.


    "If you speak of anything that happened today, you will die."


    Su Xiaobai''s voice was velvet-wrapped steel¡ªcalm, almost playful.


    "Be a good dog for a few days. Sniff out the bastard who spread the rumors. Then piss off wherever you like¡ªcrawl back to the hole, run, build an empire, go find a sugar daddy¡ªI don''t give a fuck.


    But if you even think about crossing me¡­"


    His grin widened, the kind of smile that made people lose sleep at night.


    "Well¡ªhaha."


    Yu Feng froze.


    She had expected threats.


    But this? He was letting her go?


    Suspicious. But the moment Su Xiaobai turned and walked away without hesitation¡ªshe felt something loosen in her chest.


    ¡­Was he really that much of a pervert?


    Did he just spare her because he wanted to sleep with her later? She scoffed, hugging her arms.


    "Tch. Men."


    She sneered. What an idiot. This man was so easily moved by a beautiful woman, he let his guard down.


    Disgusting. She could use this. For now, she would pretend to obey. When the time came, she''d sink a blade into his throat.


    With that thought, Yu Feng curled up in bed and fell asleep like a woman with zero survival instincts.


    But little did she know¡ª


    As she slept soundly, thinking she had fooled a lustful idiot¡­


    A shadow crept into her room.


    Soft footsteps.


    A faint chuckle in the darkness.


    "Such an innocent little thing¡­" Zhu Qing''s voice was silk and poison as she knelt beside the sleeping woman, her fingers forming a seal.


    A soft, invisible pulse of energy seeped into Yu Feng''s body.


    An enslavement seal. One connected to Su Xiaobai.


    Zhu Qing''s smile turned sharper. This foolish girl thought she had gotten away. She had no idea she had just been leashed like a hunting dog.


    Su Xiaobai didn''t want her to know she was enslaved.


    That was the most beautiful part.


    Let her claw her way up the heavens, believing she was untouchable.


    Let her build her little kingdom, wear her little crown, and taste the sweetness of power. Because when the moment came¡ªwhen she stood at the peak, thinking she had conquered it all¡ª


    Su Xiaobai would tighten the leash.


    And rip it all from her throat.


    Compared to using her body, making her work like a dog for centuries¡ªcompletely unaware she was only working for him¡ª


    Now that was truly satisfying.


    Zhu Qing almost laughed.


    Su Xiaobai, standing outside, let out a low chuckle.


    Even if she never amounted to anything¡ªit wasn''t his loss.


    She would either become his sword¡­ or be forgotten.


    And this was just the beginning.


    His mentality had changed.


    He was no longer scrambling for survival.


    Now¡ªhe was building his foundation.


    Planting seeds.


    Cultivating pawns.


    Leaving a path for his future self to walk upon.


    The weight of rescuing his family had lifted.


    And with it¡ªhis hesitation.


    The destruction of White Cloud Star.


    The rise of his own empire.


    One step at a time.


    Compared to that¡ª


    This?


    This was just another night in Xiantian Sect.

 Chapter 150 Dao of Feline Enlightenment!

    "Hm? Qingqing, I think we''re going the wrong way..."


    Su Xiaobai had assumed Zhu Qing was taking him back to her residence, probably for another night of questionable moral decisions. Instead, she was leading him out of the sect.


    A mysterious smile played on Zhu Qing''s lips. Alarm bells rang in Su Xiaobai''s mind¡ªthis woman was up to some serious shit.


    Before he could question further, they arrived at ruined Yunnan City, a once-thriving place now reduced to rubble.


    This was where Su Xiaobai had once been given an important life-saving mission¡ªto uphold the Dao! (Translation: Do something righteous enough that others wouldn''t kill him.)


    Now, standing in the infamous Pleasure Pavilion, he found himself facing a terrified, half-dressed beauty¡ªA''Jin.


    The woman clutched at her robes, staring at Su Xiaobai and Zhu Qing in horror.


    Next to him, Zhu Qing grinned and delivered her decree:


    "Little Villain, screw her up!"


    "..."


    Su Xiaobai felt both his soul and lower half ascend at the same time. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Heaven? Hell? He wasn''t sure. All he knew was¡ªa long-legged beauty stood before him, and he had been given a free pass to pounce.


    What kind of cosmic merit had he unknowingly accumulated to deserve such a fate!?


    A''Jin''s eyes burned with rage. "Xiao Qing, what did this old lady ever do to you!?"


    "Humph! Do you really want me to list it all?" Zhu Qing sneered. "Acting innocent now? You were the one who started everything!"


    A''Jin''s face twisted. "Didn''t you already have me kicked out of the sect for that?"


    "You think that was enough?" Zhu Qing''s voice was as cold as the abyss.


    At that moment, A''Jin knew.


    Retribution had come.


    The little girl she once dismissed had grown up¡ªvengeful, ruthless, and holding a grudge that could last multiple reincarnations.


    ____


    The Schemes of Aunt A''Jin...


    To understand this night''s events, one had to look back a full generation.


    When Zhao Tianxuan first entered the sect, he arrived with his caretaker and personal bodyguard¡ªA''Jin.


    A''Jin wasn''t just some random servant. She was a high-ranking member of the Zhao Family, sent personally by the old Zhao Lords of Tianlong Empire to guard their heir.


    But the moment Zhao Tianxuan set foot in the sect, the Zhao Family was erased.


    Gone. Wiped from the empire like a stain on a brothel bed.


    No one knew which mysterious power had done it, but the entire Zhao bloodline was silently crushed.


    Zhao Tianxuan became an orphan overnight.


    A''Jin? She became his sole surviving family, his guide, his protector¡­ his shadow.


    And, most importantly¡ªhis chess master.


    Through years of observing their interactions, A''Jin quickly discovered a crucial fact¡ªZhao Tianxuan was interested in his martial sister, Zhu Qing.


    And just like that, a grand scheme was born.


    A''Jin played the long game.


    She counseled patience. "Wait," she told Zhao Tianxuan. Bide your time. Climb the ranks. Earn power. When you become Sect Master, she will have no choice but to accept you."


    And when the time was right?


    She struck.


    A''Jin orchestrated everything flawlessly.


    Through manipulation and careful scheming, she used Bai Yujian to push an arranged marriage between Zhao Tianxuan and Zhu Qing.


    The result?


    A volcanic eruption of sect-wide drama.


    Zhu Qing felt betrayed beyond words.


    Her response?


    She declared all-out war.


    First, she confronted Zhao Tianxuan directly. "Get lost, or I''ll personally dismember you." That was Step One.


    Step Two?


    She plotted against A''Jin for an entire decade¡ªsystematically tearing apart everything the woman built.


    And in the end?


    A''Jin was kicked out of the sect, exiled like a diseased dog.


    But even after all that, was the grudge gone?


    Absolutely not.


    Zhu Qing wanted this woman erased from her existence.


    And yet, Zhao Tianxuan saved her.


    Not only that, he rewarded her¡ªsecuring her a cushy job as a shadow informant for Xiantian Sect.


    And now?


    Now, Zhu Qing had finally found the perfect revenge tool.


    A shameless, degenerate bastard named Su Xiaobai.


    ____


    Zhu Qing grinned as she saw A''Jin''s expression crumble.


    Retribution had arrived.


    Moments later, the Pleasure Pavilion rang with the sounds of tortured moans and desperate cries.


    That bastard Su Xiaobai had been thoroughly bought out.


    After all, Zhu Qing had made him an offer he couldn''t refuse¡ªif he performed well, she would help him get the Snow Sisters to fulfill their "promises."


    And so, in the end¡ª


    A''Jin was the one who got screwed.


    The grudge of an era finally faded that night.


    Zhu Qing leaned back, watching the aftermath with a smile. A smile that was both intoxicating and terrifying.


    The sisters hiding in the shadows?


    They shuddered.


    This woman¡­ had completely lost her mind.


    ______


    Meanwhile, at Iron Mountain Peak, Elder Han Xuan sighed.


    "This woman has no restraint..."


    Zhu Qing had only just escaped punishment from last scandal, and now she''d gone and pulled this shit!?


    Did she want to fall out completely with Zhao Tianxuan!?


    The next morning, Sect Master Zhao Tianxuan sat in the hall meeting, looking like a man who had witnessed his entire bloodline die a second time.


    His face was ashen, his eyes bloodshot.


    He had high expectations for Su Xiaobai.


    But NOT to the extent that he would offer up his own mother-figure to be screwed over!


    Zhao Tianxuan trembled in rage.


    That woman wasn''t his biological mother, but she had raised him!


    And now, a junior disciple had ruined her completely!?


    WHERE WAS HIS DIGNITY!?


    WHERE WAS HIS FACE!?


    ______


    The night passed.


    By morning, Su Xiaobai sauntered into a meeting with Xu Tianran, who tossed the Star Essence Pill at him like he was handing over a used pair of chopsticks.


    The whole exchange was so cold and lifeless that even a jade slip had more personality.


    For some reason, Xu Tianran''s gaze stayed on him, expression sourer than a monk watching a dual cultivation manual being distributed for free.


    Did Xu Tianran not like him?


    Maybe.


    Did it matter?


    Absolutely not.


    ___


    "Woah¡­"


    He popped the pill into his mouth, and instantly¡ª Enjoy new chapters from My Virtual Library Empire


    BOOM!


    His Star Slayer God Arts surged.


    His veins filled with astral energy, his muscles ignited in divine light, and his entire body felt like it was being bathed in the essence of the cosmos.


    If this were a serious story, the heavens would be roaring, elders would be vomiting blood in shock, and some arrogant young master would be screaming, "Impossible! He broke through in an instant!?"


    But instead, all that happened was¡ª


    SHOOOM!


    His arm stretched out a full ten meters.


    Su Xiaobai froze.


    His brain short-circuited.


    A ridiculous, forbidden thought slithered into his mind like a demonic voice whispering dark secrets.


    Like any true martial scholar, he had to test the limits of this newfound ability.


    If his arm could stretch ten meters¡ª


    What about his ten-inch little brother?


    Could it, perhaps¡­ climb Mount Tai?


    He focused his Qi, held his breath, and willed it to grow.


    The result¡­?


    HAHA.


    IT WASN''T A FUCKING MUSCLE!


    The heavens had given him the power of divine elasticity, but cruelly denied him the one application that truly mattered.


    Life was suffering.


    _____


    Next came his Astral Bones.


    With this power, he could store explosive Qi inside his skeleton and unleash it like a spiritual orgasm¡ªblasting his body forward, enhancing attacks, or even¡­


    If he was feeling particularly deranged¡ª


    He could rip out his own bones and hurl them at enemies.


    A true peak martial art¡ªwhere one could literally beat people with their own femur.


    Honestly, if some secret sect saw him using this technique, they might immediately start calling him "Bone Saint Xiaobai", founder of the "Path of Self-Cannibalistic Weaponry".


    (Not that he would. He had some standards.)


    With these two broken abilities, Su Xiaobai now felt unstoppable.


    _____


    That night, he steeled himself and went to check on Bai Yujian¡­


    Only to find her residence empty.


    Well, no matter. He had more important things to do¡ªlike testing his new abilities.


    Tonight, he would attempt the legendary Flicker Steps¡ªa technique that required a Netherroot Elixir to master.


    Now, at this point, any normal protagonist would either:


    1. Go on a thirty-chapter side quest to find the rare elixir, or


    2. Have some old grandpa in his soul suddenly remember a lost technique that worked even better.


    But Su Xiaobai?


    He was built different.


    Instead of wasting time, he brute-forced his way through the technique by doing what he did best¡ªbullshitting the system.


    If he channeled explosive Qi into his bones while simultaneously hiding in the void, he might be able to¡ª


    BOOM!


    His body vanished into the shadows¡ªonly to reappear five meters away in the blink of an eye.


    A perfect Flicker Step imitation!


    Unfortunately, his test subject happened to be an innocent stray cat.


    The poor creature had been licking its own ass in peace, only to witness a shadowy figure materialize before its very eyes.


    "NYAAA¡ª!"


    The cat''s soul nearly left its body.


    It exploded into the air like a firework on New Year''s Eve, its fur standing on end, eyes filled with the horrors of the abyss.


    At this moment, the Dao of Feline Enlightenment recorded a new chapter¡ª


    "On This Night, a Cat Witnessed the Dao and Nearly Ascended From Fear..."


    Meanwhile, Su Xiaobai¡ª


    "Hahahaha¡ª!"


    His laughter echoed through the night.


    He was supposed to need a Netherroot Elixir for Flicker Steps, but he had brute-forced his way through the laws of martial arts with nothing but raw creativity and shameless Qi abuse!


    He flexed his glowing, star-infused muscles and grinned.


    "Tsk, tsk."


    If he had any doubts before, now they were gone.


    With these new abilities, he could effortlessly beat down anyone who dared to challenge him in the Inner Court.


    Those unsuspecting bastards had no idea what was coming.

 Chapter 151 Sword Intent!

    Rustle~!


    Bang! Bang!


    The cold wind howled through the midnight air.


    A towering tree trunk shuddered, its bark groaning like an unwilling maiden before¡ª


    CRACK!


    It split apart, collapsing like a sect disciple who had just heard his fianc¨¦e call another man ''Senior Brother.''


    And the culprit?


    Su Xiaobai.


    He was practicing Flicker Steps in front of Bai Yujian''s residence, and by practicing, what he really meant was absolutely obliterating everything in sight.


    He had completely forgotten why he came here.


    Originally, it was to check on Bai Yujian, maybe have a polite conversation.


    Or¡ªmore realistically¡ªhe had planned to flirt, stare at her smooth legs, and see if today was the day fate would let him "accidentally" fall into her arms.


    But all that vanished the moment he discovered new ways to abuse Flicker Steps.


    It was as if a new world had opened before him.


    Now, he was vanishing, reappearing, stretching, twisting¡ªlike some immortal illusionist on aphrodisiacs.


    His body flickered, his limbs extended, and his every move carried the madness of a man who had discovered forbidden knowledge.


    If other disciples saw him destroying the sacred, beautiful gardens of the Peak Lord, they would have foamed at the mouth and hanged themselves.


    But they didn''t know Sword Fairy Bai Yujian.


    ____


    Bai Yujian sat on the roof of her mansion, legs crossed gracefully, her figure bathed in the moonlight.


    She had been here long before Su Xiaobai arrived.


    At first, she had idly watched him hop around like a crazed grasshopper.


    Then, she had seen his arm stretch out ten meters.


    Her elegant fingers paused mid-air.


    Then, he vanished and reappeared, his foot landing on a pavilion beam¡ªonly for the entire structure to collapse behind him.


    Her icy gaze narrowed.


    Bai Yujian had seen countless talents, countless prodigies, but never before had she seen someone so talented in absolute nonsense.


    There was no order, no discipline, no refined mastery.


    And yet, this man was somehow making it work.


    Her long lashes fluttered, a rare trace of surpise appearing in her cold, celestial eyes.


    Even while destroying everything in his path, Su Xiaobai''s body had a certain untamed beauty, like a feral beast that refused to be tamed.


    His muscles flexed under the starlight, his robes loose, exposing a chiseled chest that glowed faintly with astral energy.


    Bai Yujian was silent, but she couldn''t deny the truth¡ª


    This bastard looked good.


    Too good.


    If he weren''t such a menace, some might even consider him a dangerous temptation.


    ¡­Not that she cared.


    Absolutely not.


    Right?


    ____


    "You are right."


    Bai Yujian suddenly nodded, as if responding to an unseen voice.


    And she was.


    A small glowing orb floated beside her, the size of a fist, shimmering softly.


    Not an orb¡ªa feminine figure.


    With long green hair, sharp phoenix eyes, and a figure small enough to sit in Bai Yujian''s palm, she floated effortlessly, circling her master like a celestial wisp.


    This was Yingying¡ªher Sword Spirit.


    A proud, noble entity¡ªnow in a weakened state, slowly recovering from a brutal injury.


    She had been watching Su Xiaobai''s antics in complete silence¡ªuntil finally, she spoke.


    [What did I just witness?]


    "A man who doesn''t know fear." Bai Yujian replied.


    [Or consequences.] Yingying added.


    "Or restraint."


    The tiny sword spirit sighed, then narrowed her sharp phoenix eyes.


    Her gaze swept over Su Xiaobai''s half-exposed chest, his smirking, devilish face, and the sheer arrogance in his posture.


    Then, with absolute certainty, Yingying declared¡ª


    [This little sexy man¡­ does he even know how to use those techniques normally!?]


    Bai Yujian didn''t answer.


    She watched as Su Xiaobai flickered through the air, limbs stretching unnaturally, demolishing the garden like a divine calamity.


    It was a bizarre mix of brilliance and madness.


    She had seen countless prodigies¡ªelegant, refined, deadly.


    But this?


    This was a man who had turned absolute nonsense into an art form.


    For a moment, she almost respected it.


    Then¡ª


    [Pfft¡ª!]


    A suppressed giggle snapped her focus.


    Bai Yujian''s gaze snapped to Yingying, who was covering her mouth, shoulders trembling.


    Her emerald eyes flashed with pure mischief.


    "Yingying."


    Her voice carried a warning.


    "You''re being vulgar."


    Yingying snorted.


    [Me? Vulgar? Master, you were staring pretty hard for someone who doesn''t care.]


    Bai Yujian''s fingers twitched.


    "I was analyzing his technique."


    [Oh? Analyzing what, exactly? His footwork? His hand movements? Or that tight, Qi-tempered chest he''s been flashing all night?]


    Bai Yujian''s cheeks twitched.


    This little¡ª


    "Yingying, shut up."


    She reached out and grabbed the tiny spirit, squeezing just a little harder than necessary.


    Yingying squealed.


    [Ahhh! Master! If you want that man, take him! Why the hell are you fucking me instead!?]


    Bai Yujian froze.


    A faint, treacherous warmth crept up her neck.


    "You¡ª!"


    She was speechless.


    Her grip tightened.


    Yingying giggled wildly.


    [What? Did I say something wrong?]


    "Quiet."


    Bai Yujian spat.


    Yingying huffed but didn''t say another word.


    For now.


    Bai Yujian exhaled, rubbing her temples.


    This fairy¡­ was too vulgar!


    She was definitely locking Yingying in a sword sheath for a month.


    Maybe two.


    In fact, Bai Yujian herself had never even uttered a curse in over a century¡ªnot once. And yet this little thing spat them out like an old drunkard outside a brothel.


    What kind of mystical imbalance was this?


    Then¡ª


    [Master, aren''t you jealous that Zhu Qing stole your man?]


    Bai Yujian froze.


    Her expression darkened.


    Slowly, she turned her gaze back to Yingying.


    The sword spirit hovered there innocently, her green hair swaying, eyes gleaming with amusement.


    "Don''t say nonsense... Qingqing is my friend."


    [Humph.]


    Yingying snorted, spun around, and vanished¡ªretreating back into the parasol handle resting on the side.


    Leaving Bai Yujian speechless.


    This damn spirit!


    For months, Yingying had done nothing but warn her about Su Xiaobai.


    Constantly nagging¡ª"Don''t get close to him, Master!"


    Scolding¡ª"This man is nothing but trouble!"


    Exploding¡ªespecially after that poison bath incident¡ª"The gap between you two is too big! Don''t let his sweet words fool you!"


    And now?


    Now, the little traitor had switched sides!?


    Ever since that day¡ª


    The day Su Xiaobai caught the Wheel of Samsara out of nowhere during the battle between Saint Wuji and Bai Yujian¡­


    Yingying''s opinion had shifted.


    Now, she was vehemently supporting Su Xiaobai.


    Why?


    Bai Yujian didn''t know.


    But it bothered her.


    ____


    Meanwhile, completely unaware that Bai Yujian had a little spy watching his every move¡ª


    Su Xiaobai was engaged in some serious martial research.


    Right now, he stood before a rock.


    A single, innocent, sturdy, absolutely unoffending rock.


    A thought struck him.


    Could he break it just by breathing?


    Wouldn''t that be cool as hell!?


    And so he did.


    Su Xiaobai inhaled.


    Then¡ª


    "HAAAH¡ª!"


    He exhaled loudly, his breath rolling forth like a divine decree.


    CRACK!


    The rock instantly cracked¡ªthen exploded into dust.


    Su Xiaobai''s smile vanished.


    His entire body stiffened.


    Just now¡ª


    A small ray of light had whizzed past him at terrifying speed, striking the rock before it exploded.


    From start to finish¡ª


    He had no control over it.


    He didn''t even feel it. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    If that attack had hit him instead of the rock¡­


    He would''ve been cleaved in half.


    His eyes sharpened.


    "Who is it?"


    He turned around, muscles tense¡ªready for a fight.


    Su Xiaobai blinked.


    "Oh... It''s Peak Lord..." His expression eased as he saw the approaching figure¡ªa beautiful woman bathed in moonlight, her long hair swaying like the river of stars.


    The one that he could recognize.


    Oh, right. He came here to meet her?


    For what again?


    His brows furrowed. Honestly, he forgot. It happened a lot in his past life¡ªwalking into a room and immediately losing track of why he was there. He didn''t expect bad habits to follow him even after reincarnation.


    Meanwhile, Bai Yujian had no idea Su Xiaobai was currently engaged in mortal combat with his own memory.


    "Take this."


    A scroll appeared in her hand, wrapped in thin silver threads, exuding a quiet but sharp presence.


    Su Xiaobai instinctively took a step back.


    His eyes flickered between Bai Yujian''s cold, perfect face and the scroll.


    "¡­Why do women keep handing me weird things?" he muttered under his breath, recalling his traumatic session with Zhu Qing.


    Did this one also come with an unreasonable demand? A test? Maybe an ancient contract binding him into an eternity of servitude?


    He hesitated.


    "I''m getting PTSD from the last one. What is it this time?"


    Bai Yujian''s brow twitched.


    "This is a Sword Dao scroll," she said, tone frosty. "It contains the fundamentals of Sword Intent."


    Su Xiaobai stared blankly.


    "¡­Why are you giving it to me?"


    "You want to learn, don''t you?"


    "...Do I?"


    Bai Yujian''s lips pressed into a thin line.


    Your next chapter awaits on My Virtual Library Empire


    Did this man not just pull off impossible feats with Flicker Steps? Did he not just obliterate a rock by accident?


    Was he not the same man who caught the Wheel of Samsara?


    And yet¡ªhe stood here, staring at her like a confused duck, questioning why she would bother explaining Sword Dao to him?


    While standing at the very peak of Sword Summit.


    Face to face with the Peak Lord of Sword Peak herself.


    Bai Yujian''s patience, tempered by a century of cold discipline, wavered¡ªjust for a moment.


    Then she exhaled, steadying herself.


    "Take it. I won''t repeat myself."


    Her tone was absolute. Unyielding. The kind that left no room for nonsense.


    Su Xiaobai hesitated. He eyed the scroll warily, as if it might explode in his hands at any moment.


    But after confirming there were no immediate life-threatening consequences, he reluctantly accepted it.


    "¡­Alright," he muttered. "But if this gives me PTSD, I''m blaming you."


    Bai Yujian ignored him.


    She had no other thoughts¡ª


    But in the moonlight, she really did look like an annoyed lover.

 Chapter 152 The Way of Sword!

    "Wait¡ªdon''t open it right now¡­"


    Bai Yujian''s voice was sharp, but toward the end, it softened into resignation.


    Because Su Xiaobai had already unrolled the scroll, eyes scanning over the contents with casual curiosity.


    Bai Yujian stood there like a celestial statue, unmoving as the cold wind swept past her stiff face.


    This scroll¡­ this entire scroll could take centuries to fully comprehend.


    Did he seriously intend to stand here, right now, flipping through it like a street vendor''s menu, expecting her to wait until he was done before she continued speaking?


    She needed help.


    Serious help.


    But she could not cry for help.


    She was a senior, the Peak Lord of Sword Peak!


    Meanwhile, Su Xiaobai¡ªcompletely oblivious to Bai Yujian''s quiet existential crisis¡ªwas simply checking out what Sword Dao was all about.


    His eyes skimmed over the words:


    [Way of the Sword]


    Sword Qi ¨C The Foundation of the Path


    Sword Aura ¨C The Refinement of Presence


    Sword Intent ¨C The Manifestation of Will (1 to 9 levels)


    Sword Spirit ¨C The Birth of the Sword''s Soul


    Sword Will ¨C The Unshakable Edge


    Sword Heart ¨C Becoming One With the Sword


    Su Xiaobai squinted.


    "¡­Seems simple enough."


    Bai Yujian''s fingers twitched.


    Simple? SIMPLE?!


    Sword cultivation was the sacred, arduous path walked by countless generations of righteous cultivators! The foundation of all swordsmanship, the bridge between mortals and the true way of the sword, the manifestation of one''s Dao!


    And this man¡ª


    This absolute demon¡ª


    Was acting like he had just read the instruction manual for a kitchen knife.


    She inhaled deeply, suppressing the urge to stab him.


    "¡­You fool. Do you even understand what you just read?"


    Su Xiaobai looked up. "Yeah, I got it. You start with Sword Qi, level up to Sword Aura, then grind your Sword Intent up to level 9 before unlocking Sword Spirit, which lets you form Sword Will, and then finally¡ªif you don''t get murdered along the way¡ªyou achieve Sword Heart and become a sword god. Right?"


    Bai Yujian closed her eyes.


    "¡­I am going to pretend you didn''t just phrase it like that."


    She took a step forward, her presence subtly shifting.


    "Listen carefully, Su Xiaobai. The sword is not just a path of strength¡ªit is a path of righteousness, a reflection of the heart. Without discipline, without clarity, a sword is nothing more than a weapon of destruction."


    She extended a single finger.


    A sharp pulse of energy flickered into existence.


    "This is Sword Qi¡ªthe most basic form of sword energy. It is the first step, channeling one''s cultivation through the sword."


    With a small movement, she flicked her finger outward¡ª


    A distant rock exploded into dust.


    Su Xiaobai raised a brow. "Pretty cool."


    Bai Yujian ignored him and continued.


    "When Sword Qi is refined and solidified, it becomes Sword Aura¡ªthe presence of the sword. It is what allows a swordsman to exert pressure without lifting their blade."


    She took another step forward.


    Instantly, Su Xiaobai felt it.


    The air turned razor-sharp. He instinctively tensed, feeling as though countless invisible blades were hovering at his throat.


    "Damn¡­ so it''s like a passive intimidation buff," he muttered.


    Bai Yujian exhaled through her nose.


    "¡­Moving on."


    Her gaze grew sharper.


    "The true essence of swordsmanship begins with Sword Intent."


    She gestured toward another rock.


    A single line of formless energy sliced through it¡ªwithout her even touching a blade.


    "Sword Intent is the manifestation of one''s will. It can cut without a sword. It is not just power¡ªit is conviction. Without a firm heart, your intent will never grow."


    Su Xiaobai stroked his chin. "So you''re saying¡­ I need to believe in the cut?"


    "¡­You are making this extremely difficult for me."


    Bai Yujian moved forward again.


    "When one has fully comprehended their Sword Intent, they may give birth to a Sword Spirit¡ªa living embodiment of their sword''s soul."


    A faint shimmer of ethereal light flickered around her, as if an unseen entity coiled within her presence.


    "With a Sword Spirit, one can begin forging their Sword Will¡ªa will so unbreakable that not even death can sever their blade."


    She looked directly into Su Xiaobai''s eyes.


    "Only those who have reached this step can truly be called swordsmen."


    Su Xiaobai was silent for a moment.


    Then he pointed at her. "So what level are you at?"


    Bai Yujian didn''t answer.


    Instead, she let everything fall silent.


    No Sword Qi.


    No Sword Aura.


    No Sword Intent.


    Nothing.


    Yet¡ªSu Xiaobai felt a terrifying truth settle in his bones.


    She no longer needed to show it.


    Because she was the sword.


    Bai Yujian''s voice was quiet, but absolute.


    "The final step¡ªSword Heart¡ªis when one becomes the sword. There is no longer separation between blade and self."


    She let her words sink in before she continued.


    "And Su Xiaobai¡­"


    Her cold gaze locked onto him.


    "If you truly wish to step onto this path, then you must learn one thing¡ª"


    "The righteous sword does not waver. It does not doubt. It does not fear."


    For once, Su Xiaobai actually understood.


    This wasn''t just about sword techniques.


    It was about the heart.


    Seeing him nod like a well-behaved disciple, standing there as if he had already comprehended the Dao, Bai Yujian suddenly doubted everything.


    Did this fool really get it?


    Her cold eyes narrowed.


    "Sword Qi. Show me."


    It was the simplest of basics, something any sword cultivator should have mastered in their first year.


    Su Xiaobai blinked.


    "¡­Oh? Just that?"


    Wasn''t this too elementary? Shouldn''t they already be testing his Sword Intent?


    Still, he humored her. With a casual flick, he summoned his crimson sword, its red blade glowing faintly with Qi.


    Bai Yujian''s expression instantly darkened.


    "Useless."


    Her voice carried undisguised contempt.


    Not for him¡ª


    But for the sheer audacity of what he had just done.


    Her disgust ran so deep that she felt physically ill.


    Su Xiaobai froze.


    "Huh?"


    Before he could even process her reaction, she moved.


    With an elegant flick, she lifted the top of her parasol¡ªa shield she had wielded for centuries.


    Then, with her other hand, she snatched his sword from him. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Clang!


    The next moment¡ª


    She struck.


    CRACK!


    In one clean, decisive movement, the crimson sword snapped in two.


    Su Xiaobai''s soul nearly left his body.


    His soul weapon¡ªwas shattered like a brittle twig.


    "¡­"


    His brain went blank.


    Then¡ª


    A barrage of rage-filled corrections rained down on him.


    "Is that how you plan to fight?! By relying on a weapon''s sharpness like some common mortal?!"


    Bai Yujian''s eyes blazed with fury.


    "You think a sword exists to do the work for you?! That you can just infuse a blade with Qi and suddenly it''s a divine weapon?! Where is your control?! Where is your precision?! Do you even understand the difference between externalized Sword Qi and condensed internal refinement?!"


    She took a step forward, her presence pressing down on him.


    "What happens when your blade dulls? Will you drop it and grab another mid-battle?! Is that your grand strategy?!"


    Her voice grew sharper, faster, as her frustration spilled over.


    "Sword Qi is not Sword Aura! Sword Aura is not Sword Intent! Sword Intent is not Sword Will! And none of them¡ªNONE of them¡ªrely on the weapon in your hand! They come from you!"


    She lifted the two broken halves of his sword, her delicate fingers brushing against them.


    Then, with Sword Intent alone, she fused them back together.


    A blade reborn.


    Then¡ªshe swung.


    This time, she didn''t even touch her parasol-shield.


    Yet¡ª


    Crack!


    Her centuries-old shield split in half.


    Su Xiaobai barely had time to swallow his shock before she continued.


    As if to further drive the lesson into his thick skull, she grabbed the broken halves again and slammed them against each other¡ª


    Clang!


    Then, with an almost casual gesture, she discarded the sword entirely.


    Instead, she bent down, picked up a small, brittle branch from the ground.


    A dying twig, barely worth notice.


    She infused it with Sword Qi.


    Clang!


    And with that twig¡ªshe shattered the remains of her own shield.


    It was gone.


    Completely and utterly reduced to dust.


    She turned to him, her breath steady, but her eyes filled with seething disappointment.


    "Sword Qi. Is. Not. The. Sword."


    Her voice was slow, deliberate, as if she were explaining something to a particularly slow-witted child.


    "It is a technique. It is a force. A sword is only a vessel. A swordsman who needs a blade to cut is a ¡ª disgrace."


    She inhaled sharply.


    "Su Xiaobai, do you even know why your Sword Qi is weak?!"


    She didn''t wait for an answer.


    "You use it like a mere extension of your strength¡ªlike some cheap martial technique! That is why your edge is dull, why your pressure is nonexistent! You pour Qi into the blade without tempering, without refinement, without will! That is why it breaks!"


    A cold sneer tugged at her lips.


    Su Xiaobai flinched violently. Stay updated through My Virtual Library Empire


    That was unnecessary.


    But Bai Yujian wasn''t finished.


    "And here I thought you might actually be ready for Sword Intent. I almost¡ªalmost¡ªbelieved you had real talent."


    She turned with a flick of her sleeve.


    "Forget Sword Intent. Forget everything beyond the basics. Fix your foundation first."


    And with that¡ª


    She left.


    Su Xiaobai stood there, silent, watching her figure disappear into the night.


    His entire soul ached.


    Not just from the loss of his sword.


    Not just from being insulted into oblivion.


    But because¡ª


    For the first time¡ª


    He realized he had completely misunderstood the Way of the Sword.


    His mind was chaos.


    ''Fucking bitch¡­''


    His expression darkened.


    Never¡ªnever in his life¡ªhad he been insulted this thoroughly.


    And the worst part?


    She was right.


    His entire cultivation had been half-assed, relying on external power rather than internal refinement.


    With a deep breath, he crouched down to pick up his sword.


    Then¡ª


    Ssss¡ª!!


    The moment his fingers brushed against the blade, a searing burn spread through his skin.


    His own sword¡ªhis own damn sword¡ªwas rejecting him.


    Because of her Sword Intent.


    Because of what she had done.


    It was as if her will had left a scar upon it.


    A wound that would not heal until he truly understood.


    A bitter laugh escaped his lips.


    "Tch."


    Expectations.


    That was the problem.


    They both had too many expectations of each other.


    He had thought she would be kind, would treat him gently.


    She had thought he was a genius, someone who could understand everything at a glance.


    And now¡ª


    Now, they were both thoroughly disappointed.


    A/N: You know who else were more disappointed? Readers. :)

 Chapter 153 Master Su Xiaomei!

    "Tch¡­Didn''t think I''d see the day where I''d have to study scriptures."


    Su Xiaobai muttered to himself as he returned to his quarters, the private cave dwelling assigned to him.


    Not that he had actually used it.


    His little sister lived here, and his maid, Xiao Lu, either stayed with her or inside his ring world.


    And since the cultivation speed inside the ring world was the same as outside, Su Xiaobai didn''t bother micromanaging them.


    He stepped inside, glaring at the scroll in his hand, still thinking about Bai Yujian''s scathing insults.


    Without paying attention, he walked straight to the stiff jade bed and sat down.


    Then¡ª


    A soft splash.


    A small intake of breath.


    And a very distinct feeling that he was not alone.


    Su Xiaobai froze.


    Slowly, he turned his head.


    And there¡ª


    A girl, submerged in a steaming spiritual bath, her bare shoulders snow-white under the mist, her delicate collarbones faintly visible above the rippling water.


    The faint glow of the spiritual spring highlighted the natural flush on her skin, her damp hair stuck to her swan-like neck.


    Her cherry lips parted slightly, but no words came out¡ªonly a stunned, breathless silence.


    Their eyes met.


    "¡­Gege?"


    Mei Mei''s voice was soft, startled, her long lashes fluttering.


    Su Xiaobai blinked for a second. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Then, as if the sword scriptures had suddenly become the most fascinating text in existence, he snapped his gaze back down at the scroll in his hands.


    "¡­Truly, the Dao of the Sword is deep and boundless."


    His face was the picture of solemnity, like a monk meditating on the meaning of life.


    (A/N: Using Mei Mei for Su Xiaomei¡ªtoo many ''Xiao''s were causing issues.)


    Continue your journey on My Virtual Library Empire


    Mei Mei: "¡­"


    A faint rosy hue crept onto her cheeks, but it wasn''t clear whether it was from the heat of the bath or something else.


    The moment passed.


    Then¡ª


    Without another word, she stood up, the water cascading off her skin in shimmering streams, the steam swirling around her like an ethereal veil.


    Su Xiaobai did not look.


    He was a respectable man.


    A gentleman.


    A dedicated scholar of the sword.


    But he definitely felt her leave.


    Minutes later, she returned.


    Her short, measured steps barely made a sound as she approached, now dressed in a light blue robe, her long wet hair falling down her back.


    Her gaze flickered toward him¡ªsoft, unreadable.


    Then¡ª


    "¡­You didn''t even knock, Gege."


    Her tone carried a hint of complaint.


    Su Xiaobai kept his eyes firmly on the scroll.


    "¡­Didn''t think I needed to."


    Mei Mei''s lips curled slightly, as if suppressing a smile.


    She sat beside him on the bed, close enough that the faint scent of spiritual herbs and lotus blossom between them.


    She tilted her head.


    "¡­Are you actually reading that?"


    Su Xiaobai nodded sagely.


    "Of course. My thirst for knowledge is endless."


    Mei Mei leaned closer, her warm breath brushing against his shoulder.


    "¡­It''s upside down."


    Su Xiaobai: "¡­ ¡­ ¡­"


    "Ahem."


    With extreme dignity, he flipped the scroll around.


    Mei Mei didn''t say anything. But the slight curve at the corner of her lips clearly meant she had seen through him.


    Su Xiaobai coughed.


    "Mei Mei, how do you find it here?"


    His eyes should have stayed on the scroll.


    But they didn''t.


    Against his better judgment, they wandered.


    A moment of silence passed.


    His gaze peeked sideways¡ªjust a quick glance.


    A glimpse of faintly bulged tender white skin beneath the robe''s loose collar.


    ¡­Soft.


    Su Xiaobai blinked.


    He had not expected this girl to grow up this well.


    His last accidental glimpse years ago? Flat.


    Now? Very much not.


    "¡­Hmm." Mei Mei leaned slightly against the bed, her fingers running absently over the fabric. "It''s not bad. Better than our home."


    Her voice was soft, touched with nostalgia.


    The sect was safer. More eventful.


    But¡ª


    "¡­Something still feels lacking."


    Su Xiaobai nodded sagely.


    "Oh."


    He had no idea what she meant.


    But he pretended to understand.


    It was probably the lack of family, right?


    Mei Mei had always had that delicate aura¡ªthe kind that naturally made others feel protective.


    In fact, if he had to describe her¡­


    She was exactly what that Princess Lingling should have been at her age¡ªdelicate, well-mannered, and innocent.


    Unlike a certain other woman who threw him into pits for fun.


    His eyes flickered again.


    ¡­Damn.


    If he didn''t feel an unshakable sense of guilt, he probably would''ve stared longer.


    But he wasn''t an idiot.


    His mother wasn''t here, but one day she would be.


    And if she ever found out he did something criminal against his own sister¡ª


    Not even the Dao of Immortality could save him.


    Su Xiaobai exhaled.


    He was very good at recognizing impulses.


    More importantly¡ªhe was good at knowing which ones to act on and which ones to avoid.


    Right now, she was sitting close, comfortably, with absolute trust.


    No hidden intent. No ulterior motives.


    He would not ruin that.


    Su Xiaobai suddenly remembered something.


    "Mei Mei, could you show me your temporal ability for a moment?"


    She had mentioned something about a change in her powers before, but at the time, he hadn''t paid much attention.


    Now, though, after getting his pride shredded by Bai Yujian, he suddenly felt very interested in anything not related to swords.


    Mei Mei tilted her head slightly.


    "Okay."


    She reached out, her slender fingers picking up a small pebble from the ground.


    Then¡ª


    Everything stopped.


    The flickering candles. The faint ripples in the bath''s water. Even the drifting specks of dust in the air froze in place.


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes widened.


    No matter how many times he saw it, he was fascinated.


    This¡ªthis was a truly broken ability!


    Not just powerful. Absurd.


    Mei Mei, however, looked completely unfazed.


    For her, this was nothing special.


    Then¡ª


    She hesitated.


    A slight pause. A flicker of uncertainty in her calm, clear eyes.


    And then¡ª


    The pebble rolled back into her palm.


    The dust in the air retreated back to where it was.


    The ripples in the bath reversed.


    Everything returned to a moment before.


    Su Xiaobai''s breath caught in his throat.


    "¡­What?"


    His gaze snapped to Mei Mei.


    She hesitated for another second, then spoke softly.


    "I¡­ I can reverse it as well."


    "Only for a small duration¡­ but I can do it now."


    Su Xiaobai''s face darkened.


    What the hell is going on?!


    On the one hand, he was completely lost in the Dao of the Sword, getting insulted into enlightenment.


    On the other hand¡ª


    His sister was casually bending the laws of time.


    "Ah!?"


    Mei Mei let out a startled yelp as Su Xiaobai hugged her thin waist and pinched her side.


    "Little girl, why don''t you cultivate faster? If you get strong enough, you can just go deal with all our enemies by yourself."


    Mei Mei let out a small ''humph'', puffing out her cheeks in an exaggerated pout.


    "If I do everything, what would you do then?"


    Her lips pressed together in a soft, playful scowl, though there was a distinct hint of happiness in her voice.


    Even if she didn''t admit it, she liked it when her brother acknowledged her strength.


    She had been trying to cultivate.


    But no matter what¡ª


    Su Xiaobai''s speed was monstrous.


    There was simply no way to catch up.


    She wasn''t like their elder sister, who enjoyed battle and sought out challenges.


    Mei Mei wasn''t a fighter. She didn''t enjoy reckless combat.


    Yet¡ª


    Even though she spent most of her time simply existing, her cultivation still soared past most people.


    It was unfair.


    Talent was truly cruel.


    Even now, as she sat beside him, her body was naturally absorbing Spiritual Qi without any effort.


    She didn''t even need to meditate.


    It just happened.


    Su Xiaobai sighed internally.


    A monster. His sister was a natural-born monster.


    Then¡ª


    "Gege, are you learning about swords?"


    Mei Mei''s soft voice broke his thoughts.


    She had leaned forward, peering at the scroll in his lap.


    Her eyes flickered as she scanned the characters.


    A moment later, a small look of realization appeared on her face.


    "¡­Oh. It''s about swordsmanship."


    Su Xiaobai''s eye twitched.


    The disdain in her tone was subtle.


    But he felt it.


    Very clearly.


    Even this girl thinks it''s beneath her?!


    ¡­Fuck.


    "Huh, it''s more detailed than what Mother taught us¡­"


    The more Mei Mei read, the more fascinated she became.


    Su Xiaobai shook his head.


    "Taught you and Yiran, not us."


    He wasn''t included. Learning swordsmanship without cultivation was pointless¡ªa waste of time for someone who, back then, couldn''t even refine Qi.


    But now¡ª


    His eyes lit up.


    Since Bai Yujian was throwing the modern equivalent of a sword-cultivator temper tantrum, this girl¡ªcouldn''t she just explain it to him?


    It would save so much time.


    Mei Mei suddenly felt there was something wrong with the way Su Xiaobai glanced at her.


    His gaze was sharp, calculating¡ªlike she was a big, juicy piece of free labor.


    Her cheeks turned slightly red.


    Then¡ª


    Before she could protest, she was dragged into unpaid tutoring.


    ____


    "It''s Sword Qi."


    Mei Mei pulled up a small wooden table between them, slipping into full tutor mode.


    Her delicate hands moved as she spoke, reinforcing her words with visual examples.


    "Think of it as projecting energy in the shape of a blade¡ª"


    Su Xiaobai frowned.


    "Isn''t that what I did?"


    Mei Mei shook her head, lifting a finger.


    "Look here, Gege."


    A soft glow of blue Spiritual Qi flickered to life at her fingertip, like a dancing flame.


    "Sword Qi doesn''t always have to be a sword. It is just Qi shaped into a cutting force, allowing slashes from a distance or enhancing a strike."


    The energy at her fingertip suddenly elongated, turning razor-sharp.


    Then¡ª


    Shing!


    The energy shot forward¡ªswift, precise¡ªcleanly slicing a chair in half.


    Su Xiaobai blinked.


    "¡­So that''s it."

 Chapter 154 Intelligent Sister — Mei Mei! Sword Qi, Aura & Intent!

    Shing!


    The energy shot forward¡ªswift, precise¡ªcleanly slicing a chair in half.


    Su Xiaobai blinked.


    "¡­So that''s it."


    Suddenly, Bai Yujian''s violent outburst earlier made sense.


    She could have just said that!


    Without breaking his sword.


    Without roasting his entire existence.


    Without turning his soul into minced meat.


    He exhaled.


    Whatever. No point in dwelling on it.


    Instead, he raised his own hand.


    He had already used a technique like this before¡ª


    "Sky Splitting Blade."


    A technique from the "Seven Moves of Judgment".


    It was literally just colossal Sword Qi¡ªan overwhelming force that could cut through anything.


    By moving his hand in an arc, he could unleash a massive edge of energy, severing everything in its path.


    But now¡ª


    After a few minor adjustments, he could control it.


    He didn''t need a full-powered arc anymore.


    He could alter its shape, change its trajectory, refine its size¡ª


    Sword Qi became an extension of his spiritual energy.


    Mei Mei''s eye twitched.


    She had only just explained the concept.


    And this guy was already playing around with variations?!


    If she had known he already had ''Sky Splitting Blade'', she wouldn''t have bothered explaining.


    The night continued.


    Mei Mei moved to the next step.


    "Next¡ªSword Aura."


    She leaned forward slightly, her finger tapping the scroll.


    "Sword Aura is when Sword Qi is refined into a stable, consistent force."


    Su Xiaobai listened carefully.


    "Instead of throwing out energy waves, the air around you carries sword-like sharpness at all times. The moment you draw your sword¡ª"


    She gestured with her hands, as if shaping something invisible.


    "¡ªthe battlefield bends to it."


    Su Xiaobai nodded.


    So it was like Soul Resonance¡ªan ability that exerted dominance over weaker minds.


    But unlike Soul Resonance, which was oppressive pressure, this was pure lethality.


    It didn''t just make people feel weak.


    If unfocused, it could actually cut them.


    Mei Mei gave a small nod.


    "Think of it like this."


    She lifted a single slender finger.


    "Right now, your Sword Qi is focused in your hand, in your attacks. But Sword Aura¡ª"


    She gestured outward.


    "¡ªis when your entire presence becomes a blade."


    Su Xiaobai narrowed his eyes.


    "You mean¡­ spreading it out?"


    "Yes."


    She pointed to a vase in the corner of the room.


    "Try focusing your Sword Qi¡ªnot on a weapon, not in your hand, but all around you. Imagine thousands of tiny blades forming in the air."


    Su Xiaobai exhaled.


    He closed his eyes.


    The concept was simple enough.


    He let his energy spread outward, coating the air, turning his presence into a field of silent, unseen blades.


    Then¡ª


    CRASH!


    The vase shattered.


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes snapped open.


    Mei Mei nodded approvingly.


    "If anyone walks into it, they''ll feel the oppression of a thousand cutting blades."


    Su Xiaobai exhaled slowly.


    This¡ªthis was actually good!


    If perfected, he wouldn''t even need to attack.


    Simply standing there would be enough to turn enemies into mincemeat.


    Read exclusive chapters at My Virtual Library Empire


    [A passive death field]


    Mei Mei gave a small smile.


    She had read about these techniques for years but had never practiced them seriously.


    Meanwhile¡ª


    Her brother was casually mastering them in minutes.


    She wasn''t sure if she should feel proud or concerned.


    Slash!


    Just when Mei Mei thought nothing could go wrong ¡ª he attempted to refine his Sword Aura, his fingers, previously perfectly intact, were suddenly bleeding.


    Su Xiaobai''s eye twitched.


    "You¡ª"


    Mei Mei barely had time to react.


    But before she could scold him for being careless¡ª


    "Huh?"


    Su Xiaobai blinked ''innocently'', feigning complete surprise.


    Mei Mei''s sharp gaze narrowed.


    Then¡ª


    With the tiniest sigh of resignation, she grabbed his injured hand, brought it closer, and leaned down.


    Her soft cherry lips pressed lightly against his finger¡ªher warm breath brushing against his skin.


    Then¡ª


    She sucked.


    A slow, natural movement. Instinctive. Thoughtless.


    As if she had done this a thousand times before.


    Su Xiaobai blinked.


    For a second, he had almost forgotten why he did this in the first place.


    "You don''t really need to¡­" His voice came out lower than expected. "It''ll heal on its own."


    Mei Mei didn''t stop.


    She simply responded with a casual, "Hmm."


    Completely unbothered.


    Completely unaware.


    She had always done this for him as children¡ªinstinctively nursing his wounds whenever he got hurt.


    But now¡ª


    Now, Su Xiaobai wasn''t a child.


    His lips twitched slightly.


    This had been a small test¡ªa dumb little impulse to see if she still had this habit.


    And clearly, she did.


    His plan succeeded.


    But then¡ª


    A second later¡ª


    His eyes widened slightly.


    ''Wait¡­ what the hell am I doing?''


    A sudden wave of realization crashed into him.


    Why¡ª


    Why did he trick her into this?


    Why did he feel so satisfied seeing her do it?


    Why did his gaze stay too long at the sight of her soft lips pressed against his finger?


    Mei Mei, still unaware, lifted her head slightly.


    "What''s with that look?"


    Su Xiaobai smiled, "¡­Nothing."


    Nothing at all.


    Absolutely nothing.


    This was just a dumb habit.


    It didn''t mean anything.


    ¡­Right?


    There is a devil in every man''s heart, lurking beneath reason, waiting for the right moment to rise.


    No matter how much it is suppressed, given the right conditions, it will always awaken. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    And right now, Su Xiaobai was feeling it.


    Some hours ago, he had glimpsed Mei Mei''s bare skin, the bath''s mist curling around her delicate frame, water glistening over soft, pale shoulders. He had dismissed it then, shoved it to the back of his mind as nothing¡ª


    But now, sitting alone with her in the quiet of the cave dwelling, her presence too close, too warm, that suppressed thought came creeping back.


    His gaze flickered sideways.


    She was sitting with casual ease, dressed lightly after her bath, completely unguarded.


    And suddenly, his mind whispered a thought he shouldn''t have.


    Just take her.


    Pull her into his lap.


    Press her down.


    Ravage her beneath him until she shivered and whimpered his name.


    His fingers tensed.


    The worst part? She wouldn''t even resist.


    She trusted him.


    That was the problem.


    Su Xiaobai''s jaw clenched.


    Thei animalistic impulse?


    When had he ever thought of her this way?


    This was Mei Mei¡ªhis sister, his little Mei Mei who had always trusted him. He had never once felt this kind of urge toward her before.


    But now?


    The more he fought it, the more he felt something clawing at his restraint.


    Something foreign. Something wrong.


    Like an impulse that didn''t fully belong to him.


    His anger flared.


    It had been festering ever since Bai Yujian had humiliated him, but now it felt like it was twisting into something uglier.


    It wasn''t directed at Mei Mei.


    It wasn''t even directed at himself.


    It was just there¡ªboiling, suffocating, drowning his usual self-control.


    Then¡ª


    His vision warped.


    For a split second, Mei Mei''s soft, delicate features changed.


    Long black hair. Crimson-red eyes.


    Xiao Hei?


    Su Xiaobai frowned.


    It wasn''t Mei Mei he had just tricked.


    It was Xiao Hei.


    A phantom sensation rushed through him¡ªfingers gripping delicate wrists, soft lips trembling beneath his, a body pinned helplessly beneath him.


    His heartbeat slammed against his ribs.


    Memories surged¡ªmemories that weren''t his.


    ____


    "Sword Intent."


    Mei Mei''s voice snapped Su Xiaobai back to reality.


    The images vanished. The pressure in his chest eased.


    She was still beside him, completely unaware of the storm in his head.


    Her fingers moved in the air, forming a thin wisp of glowing energy as she continued.


    "It''s when the sword becomes an extension of your will. You don''t even need to swing your sword. If your will is strong enough, the world itself responds¡­"


    Mei Mei paused, finally noticing Su Xiaobai''s dazed expression.


    "¡­Gege, are you listening?"


    Su Xiaobai let out a slow breath.


    The shadow was gone.


    The red eyes had vanished.


    His gaze settled on Mei Mei''s familiar face, her soft white hair, her clear blue eyes¡ª


    Not Xiao Hei.


    Not anyone else.


    He forced a smirk. "Yes¡­ it was about Sword Intent, right?"


    Mei Mei narrowed her eyes slightly but didn''t push further. Instead, she sighed, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.


    "Pay attention..."


    Su Xiaobai rubbed his temples.


    What the hell was that just now?


    Su Xiaobai barely had time to dwell on it.


    Before he knew it, the moment had already slipped away¡ªburied beneath the steady rhythm of Mei Mei''s voice as she continued.


    "The Sword Intent is divided into nine levels¡­"


    Her tone was calm, unhurried, as if discussing something ordinary, but the sheer words settled in the air like an unsheathed blade.


    She lifted a slender finger, writing the characters in the air with glowing blue Qi, each stroke carrying a faint, cutting pressure.


    "Level 1¡ªCutting Stone."


    The most basic level. A single thought, a single swing, and ordinary rock splits like soft clay.


    "Level 2¡ªSplitting Trees."


    Sword Intent refines further, extending its force. A cultivator at this stage could clear an entire forest with a single strike.


    "Level 3¡ªSlicing Metal."


    Weapons, armor¡ªmere obstacles. A proper swordsman at this level could slice through spirit-forged steel as if it were brittle wood.


    "Level 4¡ªSevering Rivers."


    The sword''s will extends beyond physical matter. A swing at full power can cleave through the very flow of water, cutting rivers apart as if striking solid ground.


    "Level 5¡ªCleaving Sky."


    A realm where Sword Intent surpasses simple destruction. A cultivator''s blade can leave scars in the heavens, cutting through clouds, storms, and even the natural Qi of the world.


    "Level 6¡ªCrushing Mountain."


    A strike no longer cuts through something¡ªit destroys it outright. Mountains that stood for thousands of years crumble beneath the sheer pressure of word Intent.


    "Level 7¡ªLaw-Breaking Blade."


    At this level, the very laws of nature no longer bind the swordsman. A master of this stage can slice through formations, illusions, and spatial restrictions¡ªa cut that ignores reality itself.


    "Level 8¡ªHeaven Severing Strike."


    A strike so powerful it can split the sky itself, parting storms, warping space, and cutting down divine beings. Those who reach this stage are feared as ''sword saints''¡ªbeings who could challenge heaven itself.


    "Level 9¡ªDao-Slaying Blade."


    Mei Mei paused.

 Chapter 155 Revenge! (1)

    "Level 9¡ªDao-Slaying Blade."


    Mei Mei paused, her voice softening.


    "¡­A cut that severs Dao itself."


    This was a realm few in history had ever touched.


    A single slash that could erase Karma, sever Fate, and even defile the heavens themselves.


    A blade that could kill the unkillable.


    Su Xiaobai let out a slow, lazy exhale, as if he hadn''t just been told about a sword technique that could castrate the very Will of Heaven.


    Then, his lips curled slightly. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "And you, little sister? What level have you reached?"


    Mei Mei blinked, before averting her gaze, a faint trace of embarrassment flashing in her eyes.


    "Me? Level two¡­ only. I did not put much effort into it."


    Su Xiaobai chuckled, tapping his fingers against his knee. "For someone who barely practices, you''re already enough to put most so-called geniuses to shame."


    Mei Mei huffed, puffing her cheeks slightly. "I wouldn''t be far behind you if I actually trained, you know." Explore new worlds at My Virtual Library Empire


    Su Xiaobai laughed, but didn''t deny it.


    "And what about the Peak Lord?"


    Mei Mei''s expression turned contemplative.


    "Her?" She tilted her head. "It should be around Level 7¡ªLaw-Breaking Blade. She has already formed a Sword Spirit, but has yet to be recognized as a ''Sword Saint,'' so it should be around that level."


    Su Xiaobai''s fingers drummed against the wooden table.


    Level Seven¡ªLaw-Breaking Blade.


    That meant Bai Yujian could slice through formations, ignore spatial restrictions, and cleave apart illusions like they were made of paper.


    His gaze flickered toward Mei Mei. "And the difference between Sword Qi and Sword Intent? They sound like the same thing to me."


    Mei Mei extended her hand. "Give me your sword, and I will show you."


    Su Xiaobai hesitated.


    After watching Bai Yujian break his sword like snapping a courtesan''s silk belt, he had trust issues.


    Still, he handed it over.


    Mei Mei took the crimson blade, fingers trailing along its length¡ªuntil they reached the place where it had been rejoined.


    She didn''t touch it immediately.


    Instead, her eyes narrowed.


    The thin blue aura pulsed along the fracture line, faint but stubborn, like an unwanted hickey that refused to fade.


    "You broke it?"


    Su Xiaobai sighed. "Not my fault."


    Mei Mei snorted lightly, but as soon as she reached out to touch the fracture¡ª


    Ssss¡ª!


    A sharp burn seared through her skin, and she jerked her hand back, eyes widening.


    "What?" Her voice sharpened. "What did you use to fix this?"


    Her shocked gaze locked onto Su Xiaobai, but before he could answer, her expression shifted¡ªrealization settling in, followed by something colder.


    She listened silently as he explained what happened with Bai Yujian.


    By the time he finished, her face had darkened.


    Then, in a low, firm voice¡ª"Stay away from her."


    Su Xiaobai raised an eyebrow. "Now, now. Since when did my little sister start dictating who I can and cannot play with?"


    Mei Mei''s lips pressed into a thin line.


    "If needed, we can leave this place," she said, tone unwavering. "She is not someone you should entangle yourself with."


    Her voice was steady, but there was a trace of something else.


    A quiet fury.


    She still remembered the Long Family women.


    Arrogant. Unreasonable. Rotten to their very core.


    Su Xiaobai had suffered beneath their schemes, but she had suffered too.


    If given the chance, she wouldn''t mind returning the favor.


    Su Xiaobai, however, merely smirked. "Leave it. If she thinks I''m her dog, she''ll be the one coming back licking, not me."


    Mei Mei exhaled sharply.


    "Do not let a woman lead you to ruin, Gege."


    Su Xiaobai chuckled. "Oh, little sister. Do I look like the type of man to be ruined by a woman?"


    Mei Mei did not answer.


    She did not believe her brother was weak¡ªfar from it.


    But Bai Yujian¡­


    Still, if Su Xiaobai wished to play with fire, she would not stop him.


    She only hoped he did not lose himself in the flames.


    "What is this? Any idea?"


    Su Xiaobai''s gaze returned to the blue energy along the fracture of his sword.


    Even after all this time, it had not faded.


    A stain. A mark of possession.


    Mei Mei''s expression hardened. "¡­That''s not normal."


    This time, she coated her fingers with her own Sword Qi before touching the fracture.


    But the moment her energy made contact¡ª


    CRACK¡ª!


    A thin ripple spread through the sword, like an invisible battle between two opposing wills.


    Mei Mei immediately withdrew her hand.


    Her brows furrowed.


    "That''s... troublesome."


    Su Xiaobai''s gaze sharpened. "You mean?"


    Mei Mei exhaled.


    "Sword Intent normally fades with time. But hers hasn''t. That means she left it there deliberately."


    Su Xiaobai''s gaze darkened.


    So that woman didn''t just break his sword¡ªshe branded it.


    Mark of a Sword Fairy, huh?


    For someone so cold self-righteous, Bai Yujian sure had a bad habit of leaving things dripping with her presence.


    If she wanted to mark me, there were better ways to do it.


    He chuckled, running his thumb along the faint blue glow pulsing along the fracture.


    Before he could think further, Mei Mei''s expression turned grim.


    "I saw something similar¡­ The Immortal Execution Order."


    Su Xiaobai''s fingers paused.


    Mei Mei''s brows furrowed as memories rose from the past.


    When the Immortal Execution Order had been placed on them, those cursed swords had followed them endlessly. Their edges were as sharp as Sword Intent, but what made them terrifying was that they never faded¡ªnot until they fulfilled their purpose.


    Now, looking at the mark Bai Yujian left behind¡­


    It felt eerily similar.


    Mei Mei stared at the sword, muttering to herself.


    "It should be Sword Will¡­"


    Sword Will.


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes narrowed slightly.


    Sword Intent was an extension of a swordsman''s power, but Sword Will?


    That was something far beyond.


    It was the mark of a swordsman whose will refused to die. Even if their body turned to dust, their ''will'' remained in the world.


    A power that belonged to legends, not living people.


    Even in the Sun Dynasty, those "Immortal Swords" weren''t actual Sword Will. They were just expensive imitations, weapons blessed with formations to mimic the effect.


    But Bai Yujian¡­


    She had done it naturally.


    A Sword Fairy who leaves her will behind?


    That''s interesting.


    Su Xiaobai leaned back, tapping his fingers against the sword.


    So this was how it felt, huh?


    To be hunted.


    To be branded.


    To have someone refuse to let you go, no matter what.


    It reminded him of Sun Liang.


    That bastard had tried to hunt him down, acting all righteous, declaring his name before sending people to kill him.


    Now that Su Xiaobai had survived?


    Oh, he would be returning the favor.


    Step one¡ªtrap Sun Liang.


    Make that arrogant bastard fall into a web he couldn''t escape.


    Step two¡ªbrand him a traitor.


    Let his Dynasty turn against him, force him to run like a rat.


    Step three¡ªlet the Sword Will hunt him.


    Let him run. Let him hide. Let him crawl through the mud, fearing for his life.


    Then, at the very end¡ª


    Watch him die.


    Slowly.


    Maybe even while sipping wine with his woman in his lap.


    A deep, satisfied chuckle left Su Xiaobai''s lips.


    That plan was far off, but oh, it would be beautiful.


    For now, though¡ªlearning Sword Intent came first.


    ____


    Sword Intent was¡­ bullshit.


    Unlike Sword Qi and Sword Aura, which at least followed some logic, Sword Intent was the kind of concept that sounded elegant in poetry but made no goddamn sense in reality.


    Mei Mei had tried to explain it.


    "When you slash against a stone, your intent cuts it even before your blade makes contact."


    "It is not the sword, nor the strike¡ªit is the will of the swordsman. Raw, polished, and lethal."


    Su Xiaobai scowled.


    "So you''re telling me that I can cut something just by wanting it to be cut?"


    Mei Mei nodded. "Yes."


    "¡­That''s stupid."


    Mei Mei''s lips twitched. "Then don''t learn it."


    Su Xiaobai sighed. He couldn''t argue.


    He tried. Again. And again.


    He slashed with his sword, but the rock remained unscathed.


    He focused, willed the cut into existence¡ªbut nothing happened.


    He even tried staring at the rock with the sheer hatred of a man who had once stubbed his toe in the middle of the night¡ª


    Nothing.


    Now, he finally understood why most Outer Disciples struggled for years to grasp Sword Intent.


    This wasn''t talent¡ªit was masochism.


    "Sigh..."


    After hours of failure, Su Xiaobai turned to Mei Mei, only to find her slumped over the table, snoring softly.


    His eyebrow twitched.


    "...Did she just fall asleep?"

 Chapter 156 Revenge (2)

    "...Did she just fall asleep?"


    For someone who lectured him like a damn instructor, she sure had no stamina.


    With a sigh, he lifted her into his arms.


    She wasn''t heavy¡ªhell, she felt lighter than a decently built sword.


    Despite all her sharp words and stubbornness, she was fragile in ways others were not.


    Her temporal ability was immensely taxing, draining her energy faster than a sect master''s treasury after one night at a brothel.


    That was why she never practiced other arts.


    Simply demonstrating Sword Intent earlier had worn her out completely.


    As he laid her gently on the bed, he smirked.


    If only all women were this obedient.


    Then again, that would be boring.


    With a final glance, he turned back to his sword.


    ______


    For the next two days, Su Xiaobai fought against the biggest enemy of all¡ªhis own incompetence.


    No matter how much he willed it, no matter how fiercely he focused, the rock refused to fucking die.


    At best, he left a shallow scratch.


    At worst, he just stood there like an idiot, glaring at the stone while imagining it crumbling under his will.


    Nothing.


    His patience? Gone.


    His dignity? Shattered.


    At one point, his fingers twitched, and a thought entered his mind.


    If Sword Intent didn''t work, he had another way.


    The easy way.


    The cheating way.


    Infernal Flames.


    The moment that thought formed, the air crackled, and black-red hellfire roared to life, coiling around the stone like a hungry beast.


    FWOOOSH!


    A second later¡ªthe rock was gone.


    Burned to ashes.


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes gleamed.


    "Now that''s more like it."


    If only he could use this all the time.


    If only Infernal Flames weren''t a heretical power that would get him hunted down by every dog in the Immortal Rain Valley.


    If only his plot armor wasn''t defective.


    Most protagonists had some divine protection, some heaven-defying ability that let them break the rules.


    His?


    His fucked him back in the ass.


    A talent so overwhelming that the heavens themselves conspired to keep him down.


    Sometimes, he wondered¡ª


    Were the higher-ups just afraid of letting him loose?


    Su Xiaobai sighed, rubbing his temples.


    That night, as he was sitting in frustration, he heard a light flutter of movement.


    A small paper bird landed on his shoulder, unfolding into a thin slip.


    Yu Feng''s handwriting.


    [I found them.]


    Su Xiaobai''s lips curled.


    Finally.


    He slid his sword back into its sheath, turned, and descended the mountain, his figure flickering under the moonlight.


    Elsewhere¡ª


    A certain someone was still waiting for news.


    Xu Tianran, the man who had planted a spy on Yu Feng, sat in his private chambers, tapping his fingers against the table.


    Why hadn''t he received any reports yet?


    He had planned to use Yu Feng as bait, let her lead him to the true mastermind behind the Dark Church.


    He thought he was hunting a bird.


    Little did he know¡ª


    Explore hidden tales at My Virtual Library Empire


    That bird had already been caged.


    And Su Xiaobai held the key.


    ______


    The Bottom of Sword Peak...


    Where the unworthy lingered, and the ambitious clawed their way up.


    The air was filled with moisture, the scent of earth and dampened grass mixing with the faint metallic tang of sword energy from countless practice sessions. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The moon, casting long, ghostly shadows over the stone pathways, where discarded training swords and half-broken wooden dummies lay abandoned¡ªforgotten by disciples who had either given up or moved on.


    And in the middle of this forgotten corner of the sect, three women lounged on the grass, their robes slightly undone, flushed from wine and the pleasure of their own success.


    Tonight, they were celebrating.


    Lan Meiyu lay on her back, staring dreamily at the sky, the fabric of her light green robe slightly loosened, revealing the soft bossom of a woman who knew how to use her body as a weapon.


    She smirked, listening lazily as her "good sisters" chattered beside her.


    "Sister Lan, you did a great job! Senior Brother will definitely not ignore you anymore~!"


    Jia Ying, the plumper one, giggled as she leaned forward, pressing her soft chest against Lan Meiyu''s arm, eyes glistening with excitement.


    "Lanlan, you wouldn''t forget your sisters after ascending the dragon, would you?"


    Xiong Xue, the cunning fox, chuckled softly, twirling a lock of her long brown hair, her lips curling as she sipped wine.


    She had already stripped off the outer layer of her robe, her delicate cleavage glistening under the moonlight, her pose relaxed¡ªa woman who took pleasure in others'' downfall.


    Lan Meiyu simply smiled.


    She had done her part.


    And tonight, she would reap the rewards.


    ____


    Five Days Ago...


    It started with resentment.


    A woman''s resentment.


    And there was nothing more poisonous in the world.


    It was a cool evening, the sky dyed in deep shades of twilight, soft mist coiling around the stone pathways of Mystic Peak. The Pavilion stood elegant and untouched, a place where the Outer Disciples gathered to sip tea, gossip, and dream about rising above their station.


    Xiong Xue was no different.


    She sat with a porcelain cup in her hands, the faint fragrance of spirit flowers drifting in the air. A woman with long brown hair tied loosely, her sharp, fox-like eyes gleaming with their usual cunning amusement.


    That amusement disappeared the moment she saw him.


    Su Xiaobai.


    He was climbing Mystic Peak, his stride smooth, unhurried, as if he owned the land beneath his feet.


    Even the other disciples who saw him paused, their eyes flickering with interest.


    It wasn''t his looks¡ªthough those were enough to make senior sisters bite their lips in secret.


    It was his fame.


    Xiong Xue, like many others, stood up and stepped forward, her lips curling into a charming invitation.


    But before a word could leave her mouth¡ª


    He walked past her.


    No greeting. No rejection.


    Not even a glance.


    Like she was invisible.


    Her fingers tightened around her cup.


    This was an Outer Disciple like her just a while ago.


    A nobody.


    And yet, now?


    Now, he didn''t even glance at her.


    Did he think himself too good?


    Did he think just because he gainedstrength , he could treat women like air?


    This wasn''t just about her.


    Su Xiaobai had been teased by nearly every female disciple he passed that day¡ªlaughs, whispers, bold invitations¡ª


    And he ignored all of them.


    To him, they were not even worth rejecting.


    Some women laughed it off.


    Some rolled their eyes and moved on.


    But some?


    Some carried resentment in their hearts.


    And a woman''s resentment?


    It was the deadliest poison.


    Xiong Xue''s lips curled slightly.


    A man like that?


    She thought he needed to learn a lesson in humility!


    That night, while bathing, Xiong Xue overheard a conversation¡ªa whisper passed from her roommate.


    A Core Disciple of Mystic Peak had spoken of something¡­ scandalous.


    Peak Lord Zhu Qing.


    A man had been seen entering her villa.


    A mysterious visitor.


    Someone powerful. Someone important.


    Xiong Xue''s breath froze.


    Then, as the moonlight hit the water''s surface, her lips curled.


    It didn''t matter who it actually was.


    She would make it him.


    ______


    That night, she ran to Sword Peak, robes still damp from her bath.


    Lan Meiyu, who had just finished her evening cultivation, raised an eyebrow as she saw Xiong Xue''s flustered state.


    "Why the rush?"


    Xiong Xue gasped, catching her breath, before she leaned close, pressing her lips near Lan Meiyu''s ear.


    "I found something interesting¡­"


    Lan Meiyu''s eyes sharpened.


    Su Xiaobai.


    The name alone made her blood boil.


    That bastard had humiliated her inside the inheritance cave¡ªtreating her like a dog in front of Bai Yujian.


    And now?


    Now she had a way to ruin him.


    She didn''t hesitate.


    Lan Meiyu ran straight to Liu Zhenhai.


    Behind her, Xiong Xue smirked.


    Truth be told, even she wasn''t certain if the rumor was real.


    But certainty didn''t matter.


    What mattered was revenge.


    A woman like her¡ªcunning yet cowardly¡ªwould never dirty her own hands.


    So she found someone eager to do it for her.


    Lan Meiyu.


    A woman as shameless as she was spiteful.


    Su Xiaobai had humiliated her once, and a woman scorned never forgets.


    Xiong Xue didn''t even like Lan Meiyu.


    In fact, she found her disgusting.


    A woman like Lan Meiyu was willing to ruin her own dignity just to crawl into the good graces of some Inner Court senior.


    She would do anything for a bit of favor.


    She was a whore, but without the decency of admitting it.


    And that''s exactly why Xiong Xue picked her.


    She wanted revenge.


    Lan Meiyu wanted opportunity.


    And when the two desires collided, what followed was chaos.


    That night, Lan Meiyu took the bait.


    And she ran straight to the dog that would eat it.

 Chapter 157 Revenge (3)

    "Senior brother!"


    Lan Meiyu approached Liu Zhenhai''s chamber, her heart pounding in excitement.


    Inside, the room was tinged with incense, the faint scent of burning sandalwood masking the rot beneath.


    Liu Zhenhai sat cross-legged, eyes closed, body still.


    But he wasn''t truly meditating.


    No.


    He was simply waiting.


    Waiting for someone to offer him a chance.


    And Lan Meiyu?


    She had arrived right on time.


    As Lan Meiyu finished speaking, he merely chuckled.


    "Are you certain?"


    Lan Meiyu bowed her head. "Not entirely, senior brother."


    Liu Zhenhai didn''t even blink.


    "Doesn''t matter."


    Truth? Lies?


    None of it mattered.


    What mattered was how people reacted to it.


    "Spread it. Make sure my name isn''t attached."


    Lan Meiyu smiled.


    She already knew who to use.


    Jin Ying.


    A Sword Peak gossip queen.


    She could make a rumor fly across the sect faster than an Inner Disciple climaxing for the first time.


    And she did.


    Within hours, all of Sword Peak was buzzing.


    By the next day, the whispers had crawled their way through all thirteen peaks¡ªLike a filthy stain spreading across silk.


    Once a rumor left Jin Ying''s lips, it became truth.


    It didn''t matter if it was a lie.


    Because in the end, people only believed the loudest voice.


    And she made sure hers was the loudest.


    "Did you hear? Senior brother Su Xiaobai was seen sneaking into Mystic Peak!"


    "I heard he and Peak Lord Zhu have a secret affair!"


    "Impossible! That''s a Peak Lord!"


    "If he''s so innocent, why hasn''t she denied it?"


    It didn''t matter if the rumor was weak.


    It didn''t matter if there was no proof.


    Liu Zhenhai knew this game well.


    If it was false, Zhu Qing would silence Su Xiaobai to protect her reputation.


    If it was true, she would still kill him to make the problem disappear.


    Either way¡ªSu Xiaobai would die.


    And if he didn''t?


    Then Bai Yujian would see his true face, cast him aside like a soiled handkerchief, and strip him of his status as her personal disciple.


    Liu Zhenhai smirked.


    Whether Su Xiaobai was buried or abandoned, the result was the same.


    He would fall.


    And that was all that mattered.


    Liu Zhenhai was so pleased with himself, he handed out a million contribution points like it was dirty money after a cheap night at a brothel. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Lan Meiyu pocketed six hundred thousand, her fellow whores¡ªJin Ying and Xiong Xue¡ªeach received two hundred thousand for their fine work in spreading their legs minds.


    To them?


    It was just a transaction.


    They sold a man''s reputation the way others sold their bodies.


    And in their eyes?


    There was no difference.


    They never considered the consequences.


    But consequences¡­


    They were coming.


    ____


    Back to the present.


    Lan Meiyu giggled, twirling a letter in her delicate fingers.


    Liu Zhenhai had personally invited her to his chambers tonight.


    Alone.


    Her heart raced with excitement. What could it mean?


    A personal reward for her efforts? Would he finally take her into his embrace? Would he give her a higher position?


    She bit her lip, her legs clenched toghether as if anticipation running through her. Tonight, she wore a special dress¡ªa gift from her mother, a piece of fabric designed to be easily undone.


    Her two "good sisters" laughed, raising their cups.


    "To Sister Lan''s success! You deserve it!"


    Lan Meiyu softly laughed.


    As for Su Xiaobai''s life or death? She didn''t care anymore.


    "Okay, you two, I''m going to meet Senior Brother¡ªhiccup!"


    She stumbled as she tried to stand, the wine making her legs weak.


    Jin Ying and Xiong Xue exchanged glances, both rolling their eyes.


    "Sigh¡­ let us escort you." Xiong Xue stretched lazily, eyeing Lan Meiyu with a smile.


    Lan Meiyu''s face flickered with hesitation.


    Liu Zhenhai had told her to come alone.


    The two women giggled knowingly, leaning in to whisper.


    "Don''t worry. We''ll just leave you at the door~"


    Lan Meiyu''s cheeks flushed, but she still nodded.


    A woman''s friendship was complicated.


    One moment, they were cheering you on.


    The next, they were praying you''d fail.


    Jin Ying had gotten her gossip.


    Xiong Xue had gotten her revenge.


    But now that Lan Meiyu was about to climb even higher, even they felt a twinge of jealousy. If she succeeded, she would advance to the Earthly Rebirth Realm just by riding the right man''s waist.


    And the three of them?


    They were still stuck in Core Formation.


    Not everyone was a monster like Su Xiaobai.


    As they escorted Lan Meiyu to the top of the peak, they hesitated at the closed doors of Liu Zhenhai''s chamber.


    Lan Meiyu bit her lip, adjusting her dress, her eyes gleaming with anticipation.


    Jin Ying grinned, knocking on the door.


    Silence.


    No response.


    They hesitated, then pushed it open.


    Creak¡ª


    The moment they stepped inside¡ª


    "Ahhhh¡ª!"


    Then ¡ª A piercing scream split the night.


    Then another.


    And another.


    The cries of three women, echoing through the peak.


    And they didn''t stop.


    _____


    [The Devil''s Punishment ¨C A Night of Ruin]


    Inside the room¡ª


    "W-Who¡ª?!"


    Lan Meiyu shrieked, her voice breaking as cold hands gripped her shoulders.


    She flinched, instinctively trying to turn, but her vision blurred¡ªthe room was filled with thick pink mist, distorting everything.


    The room felt suffocating, intoxicating.


    Her body refused to move.


    She couldn''t even hear the screams of Jin Ying and Xiong Xue, who were struggling against unseen forces.


    Finally, Lan Meiyu blinked rapidly, trying to clear her vision, but all she saw were shadows¡ªand a figure stood above her.


    A man in a mask.


    And behind him¡ª


    Two more figures.


    _____


    Bound Like Dogs.


    Jin Ying and Xiong Xue couldn''t move.


    Something wrapped around their throats, their arms, their legs¡ªan invisible force pinning them to the cold floor.


    Their bodies were weak, trembling, their limbs refusing to listen.


    It was the mist.


    It crawled through their veins, sinking into their nerves, rendering them helpless.


    A pair of gloved hands gripped Xiong Xue''s hair, yanking her roughly to her knees.


    Thud!


    "Ah¡ª"


    She gasped, her breath shuddering.


    Jin Ying tried to fight, but a sharp slap sent her screaming, her lips parting in a choked moan of pain.


    Two women stood over them.


    One had long, dark blue hair, her expression calm, indifferent¡ªlike she was merely observing livestock being disciplined.


    Yu Feng.


    The other¡­


    She was smaller, her short orange hair messy, her body wrapped in tight black silk, pressed against Jin Ying''s trembling form.


    Her identity was unknown.


    But it didn''t matter.


    Because both were working for Su Xiaobai.


    And they were holding them down.


    Watching them squirm.


    Like worthless bitches about to be put in their place.


    ___


    A Whore''s First Lesson...


    Lan Meiyu felt the floor against her back before she even realized what had happened.


    RIP!


    Her robe was ripped apart, the sound echoing in the deathly silence.


    A cold hand gripped her chin, forcing her head back.


    She whimpered.


    Then¡ª


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    Slap!


    Her cheek burned as her head snapped to the side.


    But instead of resisting¡ª


    "Aahh~"


    A moan spilled from her lips.


    The room fell silent.


    Even Su Xiaobai paused, his grip on her loosening for a moment.


    Jin Ying and Xiong Xue''s wide, horrified eyes flickered to Lan Meiyu.


    No way¡­


    She was enjoying this?!


    "A whore''s instincts run deep, huh?"


    Su Xiaobai''s voice was soft, mocking.


    Lan Meiyu flushed, her eyes darting to the side, her body squirming beneath him.


    She wanted to deny it.


    She wanted to say something.


    But before she could¡ª


    Her legs trembled violently, pried apart with no room for resistance, her delicate petals quivering as something thick, long, throbbing, and burning hot pressed mercilessly against her shameful entrance.


    A slow, taunting grind, teasing her slick folds apart, letting her feel every inch of the impending invasion¡ªbefore, without warning¡ª


    Splurt!


    A filthy, obscene sound, flesh stretching, yielding, as something ruthless forced its way inside.


    "S-Slow down! S-Slow down!"


    Her voice broke into frantic pleas, but her body betrayed her, her thighs twitching, her breath catching in her throat.


    Jin Ying and Xiong Xue shivered, their ears burning as they heard every horrifying screams for mercy.


    Why¡­


    Why couldn''t they move?!

 Chapter 158 *Revenge* (4) [R18]

    Jin Ying tried to crawl away, her nails digging into the cold stone floor.


    But the moment she moved¡ª


    A hand grabbed her ankle.


    Then¡ªa sharp pull.


    She screamed, her body dragged across the ground.


    Xiong Xue whimpered, trying to twist away, but the orange-haired woman pressed a bare foot against her back, pinning her down like a hunted animal.


    "Struggling?" The woman''s voice was amused, condescending. "Didn''t you want to teach someone a lesson? Consider this¡­ a lesson of your own."


    Jin Ying gasped, trembling, her body shaking violently.


    The mist wrapped around her like chains, pressing into her skin, her bones, making her numb, helpless.


    Su Xiaobai''s laughter echoed.


    "I wonder¡­" His voice was low, lazy, as he leaned over Lan Meiyu.


    His fingers traced her trembling lips, his other hand gripping her soft waist.


    "Does my bitch moans like a whore when she''s slapped?"


    Lan Meiyu gasped sharply, her face burning.


    "N-No¡­ stop¡­"


    Her eyes widened.


    She wanted to deny it.


    She wanted to run, hide, disappear.


    But she couldn''t.


    Jin Ying and Xiong Xue watched in pure horror, their stomachs twisting, their own helplessness sinking in.


    The door was sealed.


    The outside world wouldn''t hear them.


    And one by one¡ª


    They were ruined.


    _____


    After an Hour...


    Su Xiaobai pulled up his robe, fastened his belt, and laughed.


    Three bodies lay sprawled across the cold floor, collapsed in exhaustion, disgrace, and the remnants of their shattered pride.


    Their tattered robes barely covered them, their trembling limbs refused to move, and their expressions were beyond repair¡ªonly hollow emptiness remained.


    Yu Feng stood beside him, arms folded, her expression blank.


    This had nothing to do with her.


    The screams had long faded.


    What remained was only silence.


    A fitting punishment.


    Su Xiaobai removed his mask and smirked. His gaze fell upon Lan Meiyu''s ruined body, her skin tainted with bruises and red streaks.


    But he still wasn''t satisfied.


    With no hesitation, he grabbed his belt once more and lashed it across her bare flesh.


    Crack!


    A sharp snap echoed in the chamber.


    Lan Meiyu, who had drifted into unconsciousness, suddenly jerked awake.


    Her eyes widened in sheer terror.


    "A-Ahhh¡ª!"


    Her cry was cut short as Su Xiaobai slammed his boot against her face.


    "Ugh!"


    Her head snapped back, a muffled whimper escaping before her body went limp once more.


    A pathetic sight.


    Su Xiaobai clicked his tongue in amusement before turning toward Jin Ying. Her exhausted body twitched, her plump chest heaving, the once-proud gossip queen now reduced to a shaking mess.


    Her nipples were red and bruised, the evidence of her own suffering painted across her skin.


    Su Xiaobai kneaded her soft mounds one last time, his fingers digging into the tender flesh.


    Jin Ying let out a weak, shuddering moan, her body still responding despite her disgrace.


    Satisfied, he stepped back, surveying his work.


    The room was still filled with the pink mist, the Confusion Spell ensuring none of them would recognize his face.


    A soft scoff broke the silence.


    "What a pair of bitches..."


    The voice was cold.


    Zhao Mei stood there, her fiery-orange hair slightly disheveled, her tight black clothing hugging every dangerous curve.


    Her gaze burned with loathing as she spat onto Jin Ying''s battered face.


    But even that wasn''t enough.


    No¡ªZhao Mei wasn''t like Su Xiaobai.


    She was crueler.


    Her eyes flickered toward Xiong Xue, who was still trembling, still breathing.


    Too intact.


    That wouldn''t do.


    BAM!


    Xiong Xue''s scream barely left her lips before her skull met the cold stone floor.


    "A-Ahhh¡ª!"


    Then¡ª


    BAM! BAM! BAM!


    Again.


    And again.


    And again.


    The sound was horrifying, each impact shaking the chamber, each slam sending dark red splatters across the ground.


    By the time Zhao Mei finally let go, Xiong Xue''s face was an unrecognizable mess of blood and swollen flesh, her body limp, twitching like a dying insect.


    Zhao Mei exhaled, rolling her shoulders, as if she had simply been working out a cramp.


    Su Xiaobai smiled wryly.


    Zhao Mei.


    One of the few people who had entered the sect with him.


    Once, she had been famous for her Burning Lotus Technique and her dangerously seductive body.


    But her reputation had been ruined by Jin Ying.


    The same gossiping slut who spread rumors about him, had also branded Zhao Mei a whore.


    Why?


    Because Zhao Mei''s beauty, her tight clothing, and her body got more attention than Jin Ying ever could.


    A jealous woman is the most venomous snake.


    And Jin Ying had struck deep.


    The rumors spread like wildfire.


    It didn''t matter that Zhao Mei had never touched a man.


    It didn''t matter that her body was still untouched, still pure.


    Because now?


    Every time she walked through the sect, she felt the eyes


    The mocking stares.


    The lustful leers.


    The whispers.


    "How much for a night?"


    "That body''s too good to waste on cultivation."


    "She''s just another bitch playing innocent."


    It had ruined her.


    And now?


    Now, Zhao Mei was utterly satisfied.


    Because the bitch who made her suffer¡­


    Had finally been put where she belonged.


    On the floor. Broken. Used. Forgotten.


    She wiped the blood from her fingers, smiling.


    But she wasn''t done.


    Xiong Xue? That was just a face worth smashing.


    Jin Ying?


    Jin Ying was something else.


    As she moved toward the trembling, ruined woman, her gaze flickered over Jin Ying''s bare, milk-white body.


    Her lips curled. Your adventure continues at My Virtual Library Empire


    She had only disfigured Xiong Xue because she wasn''t fully certain of her role.


    But Jin Ying?


    Jin Ying was the real culprit.


    The one who spread the filth.


    The one who branded her a whore.


    The one who stole her dignity without ever laying a hand on her.


    And now?


    Now Zhao Mei stood over her, legs apart, looking down at the disgraceful sight beneath her.


    Jin Ying''s legs were still weakly spread, her swollen, ruined hole on full display. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Her most disgusting place, red, twitching¡ªher final piece of womanly dignity, stolen.


    Zhao Mei''s expression twisted in pure disdain.


    "I thought so. A slut."


    Her voice was dripping with cruely, yet her fingers did not hesitate.


    She spread Jin Ying''s legs further apart, the movement mechanical, deliberate.


    Then, her gaze flickered to curious Su Xiaobai and Yu Feng.


    "Close your eyes."


    There was hesitation in her tone.


    Su Xiaobai raised an eyebrow. "Hm?"


    Yu Feng frowned. "Why?"


    But the next moment¡ª


    They understood.


    Yu Feng flinched, a shiver running down her spine as she instinctively took a few steps back.


    Because¡ª


    Between Jin Ying''s trembling, ruined thighs¡­


    Zhao Mei''s fingers glowed.


    A small flicker of flame, barely visible at first¡ª


    Then¡ª


    A roaring inferno.


    "AAAHHHHHHHHH¡ª!"


    Jin Ying''s screams echoed, her body convulsing violently as fire seared into her most sacred place.


    Su Xiaobai''s face darkened.


    He had seen ruthlessness, cruelty, revenge.


    But this?


    This was something else.


    A punishment that no man would have ever even considered.


    Zhao Mei was destroying her.


    Ensuring that Jin Ying would never again have a future as a woman.


    Yu Feng clutched her own robes tightly, swallowing hard.


    Only a woman could understand the sheer, unbearable agony of this punishment.


    Jin Ying''s screams didn''t stop.


    Not even after the flames faded.


    Not even after Zhao Mei stepped back, wiping her fingers.


    She didn''t even look at the writhing mess on the floor.


    Her work was done.


    Su Xiaobai exhaled slowly, his expression complicated.


    ''What a cruel woman¡­''


    Fortunately, she was his now.


    His slave.


    His weapon.


    He had captured her by accident, but now?


    Now, he was glad he did.


    ______


    Two days ago, Su Xiaobai had enslaved Zhao Mei.


    Her uncle, once an Elder of the Blazing Sun Sect, had died fighting Bai Yujian in Chi Xie wasteland.


    The sect had been wiped, crushed under the might of Royal Family Master Qiangxuan.


    With no backing, no allies, and no escape, Zhao Mei had become his possession.


    And since she had nowhere to go, Su Xiaobai had sealed her away in his ring world.


    No one in the sect would notice her disappearance.


    No one would care.


    And now?


    She had gotten her final revenge.


    Jin Ying¡ªthe snake who destroyed her name¡ªhad finally been put in her place.


    Yu Feng let out a slow breath.


    She had spent two days tracking Jin Ying, uncovering every detail.


    Jin Ying spread the rumors.


    Xiong Xue fed the lies to Lan Meiyu.


    Lan Meiyu crawled to Liu Zhenhai like a dog.


    Each of them had played their role in trying to destroy Su Xiaobai.


    And now?


    They were the ones destroyed.


    Su Xiaobai brushed his fingers against Lan Meiyu''s swollen face, feeling the marks left from repeated slaps.


    His eyes flickered with amusement.


    This bitch wanted to be fucked by her ''Senior Brother''?


    Hah!


    Between her legs, faint blood stained the sheets.


    A virgin.


    Probably saving herself for Liu Zhenhai.


    How tragic.


    He chuckled, stepping away. "Let''s leave."


    Yu Feng frowned. "Just like that?"


    She had meticulously forged a letter in Liu Zhenhai''s handwriting to lure them here.


    And now, after all that planning¡ªSu Xiaobai was just walking away?


    Su Xiaobai smiled.


    "Don''t worry. Someone will take the blame."


    Yu Feng shivered.


    Her gaze flickered to the mist, realization sinking in.


    She turned toward the closed-door cultivation chamber nearby.


    Liu Zhenhai was inside...

 Chapter 159 The Fall of Liu Zhenhai – A Public Execution Without a Blade...

    "Don''t worry. Someone will take the blame."


    Yu Feng shivered.


    Her gaze flickered to the mist, realization sinking in.


    She turned toward the closed-door cultivation chamber nearby.


    Liu Zhenhai was inside.


    Completely unaware.


    Yu Feng''s throat went dry.


    "You did all of this¡­ right under his nose? What if he finds out?"


    Su Xiaobai laughed.


    "Then he can die."


    Then, like a phantom thief, he vanished into the night.


    The pink mist slowly faded.


    And as their consciousness returned, the three women stirred.


    Then¡ª


    The real screams began.


    Zhao Mei smiled, her lips curling as she turned toward the main chamber door.


    With a casual flick of her wrist, she left it wide open.


    Ensuring that the entire peak heard everything.


    _____


    The Fall of Liu Zhenhai ¨C A Public Execution Without a Blade...


    "Ahhhhhh¡ª!"


    A scream pierced the night, sharp enough to send chills down the spine of anyone who heard it.


    Inside his sealed chamber, Liu Zhenhai''s eyes snapped open.


    His body hummed with spiritual energy, the remnants of his secluded meditation still circulating through his meridians.


    For hours, he had been in deep focus, unaware of what was happening outside.


    Because he couldn''t hear anything.


    Su Xiaobai made sure of that.


    The bastard had sealed his door, ensuring he wouldn''t come out until everything was already set in stone.


    And now, with the seal gone, the first thing he heard was¡ª


    "AAAAAAHHHHH¡ª!"


    Liu Zhenhai''s brows furrowed.


    Something felt wrong.


    He stepped toward the door¡ª


    Then he froze.


    Three naked, trembling women.


    Jin Ying¡ªhunched over, wailing like a widow at a funeral.


    Her throat swollen, her hands clutching between her thighs, her entire body convulsing.


    Xiong Xue¡ªstaring at her own reflection in a shattered bronze mirror, her fingers ghosting over the bloody pulp that was once her face.


    Her lips quivered.


    Her chest heaved.


    She didn''t even scream.


    She just stared.


    As if she was watching herself die.


    And in the middle¡ª


    Lan Meiyu.


    She wasn''t crying.


    She wasn''t screaming.


    She just sat there, legs slightly pressed together, her breath shallow, her eyes lost in a daze.


    Liu Zhenhai''s heartbeat pounded in his ears.


    His eyes darted around, frantic, confused.


    His mouth opened¡ª


    "What the¡ª?"


    Before he could even process the living nightmare in front of him, the sound of rushing footsteps echoed in the distance.


    And then¡ª


    The peak was swarmed.


    "Liu Zhenhai, you fucking BEAST!"


    A voice roared from the entrance.


    Hu Jiao''er, one of the leading female Core Disciples, stormed forward, her sword half-drawn, her eyes blazing with fury.


    Behind her, dozens of disciples poured in.


    Men. Women.


    Outer disciples. Inner disciples.


    Some still rubbing sleep from their eyes, others holding weapons, all of them drawn by the screams.


    And the first thing they saw¡ª


    A half-dressed Senior Brother standing in front of three ruined women.


    Naked.


    Sweat-covered.


    Crying.


    "Holy fuck¡ª"


    A male disciple stumbled back, nearly tripping over himself.


    "H-He actually did it?! In the middle of the peak?!"


    "What kind of monster rapes three women at the same time?!"


    "Senior Brother¡­ you¡­ you''re a demon!"


    The whispers spread like wildfire, growing louder by the second.


    Liu Zhenhai''s entire body stiffened.


    His vision blurred at the edges.


    This wasn''t happening.


    This wasn''t fucking happening.


    "WAIT¡ª!"


    Hu Mei''er, Jiao''er''s twin sister, stepped forward, her eyes flashing.


    "What''s going on?"


    Her voice was sharp, accusing.


    "What''s going on?" She repeated, louder.


    Then she gestured to Xiong Xue, sobbing into her hands.


    "You RAPED your fellow martial sisters, THAT''S what''s going on!"


    Liu Zhenhai''s stomach dropped.


    "I DIDN''T! STOP SLANDERING ME! I WAS IN CLOSED-DOOR CULTIVATION!"


    He turned to Lan Meiyu.


    His loyal dog.


    His obedient, brainless follower.


    The one who always protected him.


    "Tell them! Tell them I didn''t do this!"


    But¡ª


    Lan Meiyu lowered her head.


    Her cheeks flushed.


    Her lips trembled.


    She didn''t say a word.


    Liu Zhenhai''s breath froze.


    No. No, no, no.


    Bitch!


    Not now! Not at a time like this!


    Lan Meiyu wasn''t harmed like Jin Ying and Xiong Xue.


    She wasn''t broken.


    But her mind?


    Her mind was still trapped in that hazy, twisted pleasure.


    She still didn''t know who the man was.


    The one who handled her so roughly.


    The one who made her lose control, lose herself.


    Was it¡­ Senior Brother?


    She pressed her thighs together, her body betraying her.


    Her face burned even hotter.


    And in that moment¡ªher mind broke further.


    Liu Zhenhai felt like vomiting.


    Jin Ying and Xiong Xue?


    They weren''t stupid like Lan Meiyu.


    They knew something was wrong.


    They knew there were more people that night.


    But right now?


    They were ruined.


    Their futures were gone.


    And in their eyes, someone had to take the fall.


    Xiong Xue''s shoulders trembled as she suddenly pointed at him, her voice filled with grievance.


    "S-Senior Brother¡­ how could you do this to me?!"


    She sobbed, clutching at her bloody, swollen face.


    Jin Ying?


    She couldn''t even speak properly.


    Her throat was hoarse, her body weak, but she still glared at him, her tear-filled eyes brimming with hatred.


    Liu Zhenhai''s knees buckled.


    Fuck.


    He turned to Lan Meiyu again.


    But she only bit her lip, trembling, as if remembering something¡­ sweet.


    She was actually enjoying it?!


    Liu Zhenhai''s vision swayed.


    The number of disciples outside kept growing.


    The sect had been on edge lately.


    Everyone was restless, paranoid.


    And now?


    They had caught a Senior Brother standing in front of three ruined women.


    Naked.


    Sweat-covered.


    Crying.


    And his only excuse?


    That he had been in closed-door cultivation?


    Who the fuck would believe that?


    A disciple spat on the ground.


    "Fucking bastard."


    Another cracked his knuckles.


    "What should we do with him?"


    A Core Disciple stepped forward.


    "Bind him."


    "Take him before the Sect Elders."


    "Let them deal with this filth."


    Liu Zhenhai''s breath shook.


    He couldn''t run.


    He couldn''t escape.


    And the worst part?


    The real mastermind was already gone.


    Somewhere in the distance, Su Xiaobai was laughing in the shadows.


    Watching his prey fall, piece by piece.


    And this?


    This was just the beginning.


    For too long, Su Xiaobai had been passive, focusing on cultivation, handling only what came his way.


    But now that he thought about it¡ª


    He had made a lot of enemies.


    And it was time to clean them all up.


    In one single sweep.


    Let them come.¡­ whoever else thought they could challenge him.


    It didn''t matter.


    Su Xiaobai didn''t need ''anyone'' to deal with a few rats.


    Bai Yujian had, ironically, taught him a valuable lesson.


    No one could be trusted.


    A man had to build his own forces, his own power.


    He had Zhao Mei, his personal slave, willing to burn down any bitch who crossed him.


    He had Yu Feng, a woman who might bring him unexpected benefits in the future.


    And this was only the beginning.


    _____


    Meanwhile, On the Roof of the Peak Lord''s Residence...


    Two women stood under the moonlight, their robes fluttering in the cold wind. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    From afar, it might have looked like a quiet conversation.


    But in reality¡ª


    It was a one-sided argument.


    "Let him do what he wants," Bai Yujian said calmly, gazing into the distance.


    "Didn''t you say it yourself, Qingqing? He''s at the Nascent Soul Realm now. He''s already qualified to be an inner court disciple. Even if he loses a week later, no one can object to his position."


    "Let it be a lesson for him. His journey has been too smooth."


    Zhu Qing stared at her, frustrated.


    "Elder, you can''t just throw him into the deep sea and say ''sink or swim.''"


    Her voice held traces of bitterness.


    She didn''t understand what had happened between these two.


    A few days ago, after their fallout, Bai Yujian had expected Su Xiaobai to return, to apologize or at least try to mend the situation.


    She had even prepared some compensation, thinking she had been too harsh.


    But he never came back.


    And now?


    Now, she had made up her mind.


    If he wanted to handle things on his own¡ªso be it.


    Zhu Qing, however, wasn''t convinced.


    After digging into the situation, she had gone to visit Su Xiaobai, even offering to help him.


    He had refused.


    That man, who had once sweet-talked every woman he met, had turned completely cold-hearted.


    Through some spying here and there, she had found out what happened.


    And now she was here, trying to convince Bai Yujian.


    If Su Xiaobai really got defeated, wouldn''t this woman''s heart be moved?


    Wouldn''t she finally intervene?


    But¡ª


    She didn''t.


    Bai Yujian remained silent.


    Zhu Qing sighed.


    She was starting to regret ever letting Liu Zhenhai join the competition.


    A man lost in love was the most dangerous kind.


    And Liu Zhenhai?


    He was taking this personally.


    He had gone into closed-door cultivation, desperately trying to break into the Late Soul Fusion Realm.


    And now?


    Zhu Qing wasn''t sure if she had made a mistake.


    A few days ago, she had received troubling news.


    Liu Chenfu.


    The Peak Lord of Stormfire Peak.


    He was planning something sneaky against Su Xiaobai.


    And it wasn''t just him.


    Su Xiaobai had offended too many Peak Lords.


    Broken too many disciples.


    Humiliated too many so-called geniuses.


    If they all came together this time¡ªIt wouldn''t be a simple fight.


    It would be a slaughter.


    And Zhu Qing wasn''t sure if Su Xiaobai even realized it yet.


    Or worse¡ª


    If he did.


    And he simply didn''t care.


    "Qingqing, don''t let your personal feelings cloud your judgment."


    Bai Yujian''s voice was calm but firm.


    Zhu Qing''s brows twitched.


    Personal relationship?


    Was she¡ª


    BOOM!


    A sudden eruption of noise shook the peak.


    A fire.


    A crowd.


    A ruckus.


    Both women snapped their heads toward the commotion.


    "What''s that?"


    Bai Yujian''s gaze hardened.


    "Let''s go check."


    And then¡ª


    They saw it.


    The angry disciples of Sword Peak had set fire to Liu Zhenhai''s residence.


    That night, the entire peak was in an uproar.


    Liu Zhenhai was dragged out, beaten like a dog.


    Against the Core Disciples, he was helpless.


    Fists.


    Kicks.


    Bones snapping.


    By the time Bai Yujian arrived, she was greeted with the sight of her ''personal disciple'' beaten to a pulp.


    And she?


    She said nothing.


    Only one thing echoed across the night¡ª


    "Liu Zhenhai is hereby expelled from Sword Peak."


    "Do not call me Master again. Your status as my personal disciple is revoked."


    "His contribution points will be transferred to the three girls as compensation."


    The moment those words left her lips¡ª


    Liu Zhenhai''s fate was sealed.


    The night spread faster than wildfire.


    By morning, he was on trial.


    And by noon, he was dragged into the sect dungeon.


    Waiting for his punishment to be decided.


    Overnight¡ª


    Liu Zhenhai became the most infamous figure in the sect.


    The "Beast of Xiantian Sect."


    His loyal friends, Wang Fei and Chen Yong?


    The men he once endured humiliation for?


    They didn''t even show up to defend him.


    Why?


    Because they had disappeared overnight.


    Devoured.


    By Su Xiaobai''s little pet.


    His thorny devouring flower.


    A creature that left no corpses behind.


    Liu Zhenhai was officially ruined.


    But Su Xiaobai?


    He wasn''t done yet.


    Everything had fallen into place perfectly.


    The forged letter to Lan Meiyu.


    The rumors about Jin Ying and Xiong Xue.


    Even the fact that the sect couldn''t let such a crime slide.


    Some whispered doubts.


    Some wondered.


    Why had Jin Ying and Xiong Xue been ruined too?


    Why had the Beast been so excessive, so brutal?


    But even if there were questions¡ª


    Who cared?


    The sect couldn''t ignore the crime.


    A real investigation would take months, maybe years.


    And in the meantime?


    Who would compensate the ''victims''?


    If Liu Zhenhai wasn''t the culprit, then who was?


    Would the sect admit they had no clue?


    Would they let the matter remain unresolved?


    Of course not.


    And so¡ª


    The truth was buried.


    The real culprit walked free.


    And Liu Zhenhai?


    Was left to rot.


    Jin Ying and Xiong Xue?


    They were more than happy with the results. Your next chapter awaits on My Virtual Library Empire


    They purposefully kept Lan Meiyu quiet.


    She was still too dazed, too lost in her own twisted thoughts to resist them.


    They took turns whispering into her ear¡ª


    "Senior Brother tricked you."


    "You were confused by his sweet words."


    "You didn''t know what was happening."


    Because if an official investigation started¡ª


    Wouldn''t they lose everything?


    Wouldn''t people ask too many questions?


    And so, Liu Zhenhai became the convenient scapegoat.


    It was easier that way.


    Cleaner.


    More efficient.


    In the end¡ª


    This was how the world worked.


    People don''t care about truth.


    People just want order.


    They want peace, silence¡ª


    They want the ruckus to die down.


    How many innocent men over the centuries had been thrown away like this?


    How many righteous fools had been devoured just to maintain the illusion of stability?


    And then¡ª


    People turn around and blame society for being unfair.


    But fairness? Unfairness?


    Those were human inventions.


    Nothing was ever fair.


    Nothing was ever unfair.


    There were only predators and prey.


    Only the calculating and the clueless.


    Only the devourers and the devoured.


    And Liu Zhenhai?


    He learned that lesson the hard way.

 Chapter 160 Killing the Chicken!

    One Day After Liu Zhenhai''s Imprisonment¡­


    "Here''s what you asked for."


    "Oh? That''s great!"


    "Hmm¡­"


    Beneath the twisting branches of a dark tree, two figures stood in the shadows, the way they whispered and exchanged items making them look like black market dealers conspiring over contraband. In reality? It was just Su Xiaobai and Hu Jiao''er engaging in what could only be called a very suspicious transaction in the middle of a very illegal meeting deep in the wild forests outside the sect.


    Su Xiaobai lazily flipped through the contents of the scroll before him, grinni at the grandiose title. "Astral Tyrant Codex¡­ what a fancy name. Should I expect lightning to strike when I open it?"


    Across from him, Hu Jiao''er let out a long, suffering sigh, pushing a few stray strands of hair behind her ear. "You''ll need to strengthen your spiritual energy first. Intent isn''t something you just ''use''¡ªit''s channeled through your unique spiritual signature. That''s why no two people have the same sword intent."


    Su Xiaobai grinned, his smile charming but completely insincere. "Senior Sister, you''re such a good person. How about I give you a reward?"


    Hu Jiao''er snorted immediately, eyes narrowing. "What reward? Just forget the bet we made. Don''t think I''ll sacrifice myself and my sister for you."


    Then, as if she just remembered something distasteful, her tone cooled. "Also¡­ Liu Zhenhai."


    Su Xiaobai blinked innocently. "What about him? I merely acted as any righteous disciple should." He even sighed dramatically, placing a hand over his heart like a devoted monk. "I heard Martial Brother was planning something vile, and as a loyal disciple of the sect, how could I ignore such villainy? Naturally, I had to inform you."


    His smile was pure, almost saintly.


    Yet it sent chills down Hu Jiao''er''s spine.


    When the fuck did this seemingly harmless little rabbit turn into such a walking nightmare?


    She scowled, arms crossed. "If you were truly acting in righteousness, why did you wait until after he was done before calling for us?"


    Su Xiaobai''s lips curled, but he didn''t answer immediately, simply watching her with that knowing smile.


    A moment later, he shrugged. "I wanted Senior Brother to suffer."


    Simple. Honest. Chillingly straightforward.


    Hu Jiao''er stared at him, unable to decide if she wanted to punch him or just leave. Finally, she shook her head and turned away. "Tsk. You''re dangerous."


    And then she disappeared into the night, far too tired to keep dealing with whatever mess this man was cooking up.


    But as she left, Su Xiaobai''s smile faded, replaced by something cold and calculating.


    Su Xiaobai hadn''t expected Bai Yujian to be so ruthless. Not only had she refused to plead for Liu Zhenhai, but she personally expelled him from Sword Peak, stripping him of everything. That woman hadn''t even flinched.


    For God''s sake, Liu Zhenhai had been her disciple for decades!


    And she threw him away like a used rag. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    If she could do that to someone who had served her loyally for years, then what about him?


    If she ever decided he was a threat, would she hesitate? Would she spare him out of sentimentality?


    No.


    She was the kind of woman who would cut off her own hand if it became corrupted.


    That made her far too dangerous.


    People like Hu Jiao''er and Zhu Qing? They were manageable.


    They understood that sometimes, the world wasn''t black and white, but a comfortable shade of self-serving gray.


    But Bai Yujian? She was a sword that cut only in absolutes.


    And Su Xiaobai had no intention of being on the wrong side of that blade.


    Not unless he could hold it in his own hands.


    Meanwhile, Liu Zhenhai was scheduled for execution.


    That was too easy. Too¡­ neat.


    If Su Xiaobai wanted to truly erase suspicion and secure his position, he needed to make an example of this situation.


    He needed to kill the chicken to scare the monkeys.


    With that in mind, he strode toward the Sect Hall, unhurried and calm.


    By the time he arrived, the hall was already filled with hostility.


    "Su Xiaobai¡­?"


    A voice that sounded like someone chewing on glass.


    Zhao Tianxuan''s face immediately darkened.


    This villain.


    Not only had he screwed Zhao Tianxuan''s childhood sweetheart and aunt, but now the son of a bitch had the audacity to waltz in here like he owned the place?


    "What the hell do you want?"


    He waved his hand, motioning for everyone in the hall to clear the room¡ªexcept for one man.


    Xu Tianran.


    Unlike Zhao Tianxuan, Xu Tianran''s expression remained easy going. His gaze flickered across Su Xiaobai with something like amusement.


    He wasn''t going to let Zhao Tianxuan act recklessly.


    This man was too valuable.


    Then, Su Xiaobai spoke, his voice steady, calm.


    "Sect Master, I wish to plead for Liu Zhenhai and request a delay in his trial."


    For a moment, the hall was deathly silent.


    Then¡ª


    "What?!"


    Zhao Tianxuan looked like he had just swallowed a bucket of horse piss.


    What did this little demon just say?


    Then, Su Xiaobai tilted his head slightly, eyes flashing with something dangerous.


    "You want to plead for him?" Xu Tianran''s lips quirked upward, his interest growing.


    Then, Su Xiaobai nodded.


    "Do you think someone is framing him?"


    Zhao Tianxuan''s entire face twisted.


    He looked at Su Xiaobai, then at Xu Tianran, then back at Su Xiaobai.


    What was going on?!


    "No, regardless of whether someone framed him or not, his actions can''t be forgiven. But I know Martial Brother¡ªthere must be more people behind him. If you let him die just like this, he will merely be a sacrificial pawn, and the true cause of filth will never be addressed."


    Su Xiaobai''s voice was calm, composed¡ªyet every word was like a poisoned needle slipping under the skin.


    And then he waited.


    And waited.


    And watched as Zhao Tianxuan sat there like a stunned idiot.


    Of course, the sect wasn''t as clean as it looked.


    Even Zhao Tianxuan, a man who barely had two brain cells to rub together when it came to women, knew that much.


    If there were other forces, then using Liu Zhenhai to draw them out was the best course of action.


    After a long pause, Zhao Tianxuan finally sighed. "What do you propose?"


    Su Xiaobai''s head remained slightly lowered, his expression stoic.


    But his lips?


    They curled into a devil''s grin.


    The plan was simple.


    Whoever was truly behind Liu Zhenhai, once they heard the sect was letting him go, they would move to silence him.


    The best time to strike?


    During the upcoming competition.


    It was the perfect stage.


    In front of countless disciples, under the eyes of elders and sect leaders, Liu Zhenhai would compete against Su Xiaobai.


    And then, at the right moment, someone from the shadows would try to "accidentally" kill him.


    Perhaps an elder stepping in to ''stop'' the fight¡­ and conveniently cutting Liu Zhenhai down.


    Or maybe they''d even plan a scenario where Su Xiaobai ''accidentally'' kills him.


    After all, people who play dirty rarely trust their own pawns.


    They would stack the odds.


    If he was right, then the real masterminds would expose themselves trying to manipulate the match.


    And once traces were found, once the first root was pulled¡­


    Everything would come crumbling down.


    Zhao Tianxuan frowned, slowly piecing things together. "If we follow your plan, your life will be at risk."


    Su Xiaobai let out a small laugh. "Sect Master, I can''t let my personal feelings cloud my judgment when it comes to the greater good."


    Zhao Tianxuan stared at him.


    Then stared some more.


    Then, his face twitched.


    Was this little fucker making fun of him?


    That was the most bullshit-filled, holy-sounding excuse he''d ever heard.


    But then, Zhao Tianxuan hesitated.


    Was he the one being petty?


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    Hadn''t he just wanted to ruin Su Xiaobai out of personal grudges?


    For the first time in years, Zhao Tianxuan felt like he had been slapped awake.


    His expression softened.


    His anger cooled.


    He looked at Su Xiaobai with a far more pleasant expression.


    Su Xiaobai, seeing the change, internally sneered.


    Hook, line, and sinker.


    Of course, his real plan was slightly different.


    Whoever wanted to kill him, whoever wanted to use Liu Zhenhai as a pawn, would try to boost Liu Zhenhai''s power before the match.


    Most likely, they would "help" Liu Zhenhai by giving him some mysterious substance, making sure that even if Su Xiaobai was strong, he could still be ''overpowered.''


    And once those traces were found¡­


    Once those strings were pulled¡­


    More filth would be dragged into the light.


    Then?


    Then he would make an example of them.


    Kill one chicken to scare the monkeys.


    Hah. Su Xiaobai never thought he would have to start using these old tricks again.


    But reality forced his hand.

 Chapter 161 A Small Gain!

    Su Xiaobai did not visit Liu Zhenhai to mock him.


    He left the idiot to rot in his cell.


    But Liu Zhenhai?


    The moment he heard that Su Xiaobai had "pleaded" for him, his entire being erupted in pure rage.


    "IT''S HIM! HE DID EVERYTHING!"


    His roar shook the prison walls, his eyes bloodshot.


    "IT''S DEFINITELY HIM!"


    But the guards?


    The disciples?


    The elders?


    They only shook their heads in disappointment.


    From their perspective, Su Xiaobai was just a good-hearted martial brother pleading for his fallen senior.


    Meanwhile, Liu Zhenhai was screaming like a madman.


    How ungrateful.


    How shameful.


    And the ones who actually suspected Su Xiaobai?


    Hah.


    Su Xiaobai wanted them to suspect him.


    If people didn''t realize who was truly pulling the strings, how would they learn to fear him?


    How would they feel the deterrence once this was all over?


    He was playing a risky battle.


    If his plan failed?


    He would lose everything.


    But if he succeeded?


    Then people would think twice before plotting against him ever again.


    Because there would already be an example of what happened to those who dared.


    ______


    Far away, beneath the moon''s quiet glow, a woman sat in silence, watching Su Xiaobai from a distance.


    Zhao Mei.


    She didn''t know what kind of devil''s game this man was playing.


    But she knew one thing.


    She would not survive it.


    She had no delusions.


    Her family was dead.


    Her sect was gone.


    She couldn''t stay in the sect.


    She couldn''t run anywhere else.


    So what was left?


    Death.


    She had already accepted it.


    She expected Su Xiaobai to kill her the moment he was done using her.


    But then¡ª


    She felt his eyes land on her.


    His gaze roamed over her body, over her tight black outfit, the kind of clothes that strippers back in his world would wear.


    The outfit was practically painted onto her skin.


    And yet¡ª


    Despite her appearance, her seductive frame, her full curves¡­


    Her mind wasn''t dirty at all.


    She was a woman waiting for execution.


    And yet, as Su Xiaobai watched her, his smirk deepened.


    A plaything waiting for death?


    Or perhaps¡­


    Something far more entertaining?


    "What... will happen to me in the future?"


    Zhao Mei''s voice was uncertain, her breath shallow as she watched Su Xiaobai''s silent gaze crawl over her body.


    Was he going to kill her?


    No¡ªhis expression was different.


    Something cruel.


    Something possessive.


    Was he going to defile her first?


    A shiver ran down her spine. That, she might struggle against.


    But Su Xiaobai ignored her completely, his lips curling into a smile.


    "Do you want to know what really happened to Blazing Sun Sect?"


    Zhao Mei''s breath caught.


    "Huh?"


    She only knew that everyone was erased overnight¡ªthat her family had vanished like dust on the wind.


    But he was implying¡ª


    Did he know more?


    "Zhao Feng. Do you know him?"


    Zhao Mei blinked. "H-He was my great-uncle!"


    Su Xiaobai nodded slowly, letting the weight of the name settle.


    "Well, he offended someone called Master Qingxuan." He let out a sigh, shaking his head. "I won''t tell you the details, but he died. And Master Qingxuan was the one who eradicated Blazing Sun Sect."


    Zhao Mei staggered back. "Y-You''re lying!"


    "Why would I?"


    Su Xiaobai''s smile never faltered, but his eyes were sharp.


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    "I was there when it happened. The only reason I survived was because Peak Lord Bai arrived in time to pull me out. You think you understand power? Let me tell you¡ªMaster Qingxuan is someone from the Royal Family. You can''t offend him, you can''t escape him, and if you hadn''t left with me that night, you would have been erased just like the rest."


    Zhao Mei''s hands clenched into fists.


    She didn''t need to ask.


    She could tell¡ªhis words weren''t empty.


    Even if there were lies woven between truths, the core of it was real.


    Su Xiaobai watched her face carefully. Mixing truth with lies always worked.


    It made people question their own doubts.


    "He wanted to kill me as well," Su Xiaobai continued, his voice light, almost casual. "But Peak Lord Bai''s presence stopped him."


    He let that fact sink in, watching as Zhao Mei''s mind raced through the implications.


    "Now, do you want to leave?" His tone remained gentle, almost coaxing. "I can remove the slave seal right now. But if you do, you can''t stay in the sect. You''ll be hunted. You''ll have to live the rest of your life as a fugitive, running from the shadows, waiting for the blade to fall."


    Then, he shrugged.


    "Or..."


    Zhao Mei''s lips parted slightly.


    She hesitated, but her eyes were searching his.


    "Would you really remove the seal?"


    Su Xiaobai simply motioned for her to turn around. "Come. I''ll do it now."


    Without waiting, he grabbed her by the shoulders, turning her smooth, tight back toward him.


    Zhao Mei visibly shivered under his touch, her breath hitching as she felt his spiritual energy flicker along her skin.


    He was really going to do it?


    Was she free?


    Her lips parted, about to say something¡ª


    Then her mind froze.


    Wait...


    Even if she was free... then what?


    Wouldn''t she just end up dead like the rest?


    "Wait!"


    Zhao Mei suddenly pulled away, separating herself from him.


    Su Xiaobai tilted his head, pretending to be confused. "What?"


    She swallowed hard.


    "You said ''or''¡­ What other option is there?"


    Su Xiaobai''s smile widened.


    Hooked.


    If he had told her himself, she would have been suspicious.


    But when people think it''s their own idea¡­


    They believe it.


    "Or you follow me," Su Xiaobai said smoothly, "and when I get the opportunity to kill Master Qingxuan, I''ll let you do it."


    "I won''t be in this sect forever. If you choose to stay, you have to say goodbye to your old self. We can''t take revenge the righteous way. You should already know that."


    His voice lowered, tempting.


    "And if I don''t deal with that bastard first, I''ll always have to watch my back."


    Zhao Mei''s fingers dug into her palms.


    Her lips parted slightly.


    She hesitated on the surface¡ª


    But in her heart, she had already made the decision.


    Su Xiaobai sealed her back into the ring world.


    If she chose to leave later, he would remove the slave seal and let her go.


    And once she was outside the sect?


    He would silence her.


    For now, there were more pressing matters.


    Liu Zhenhai''s death had to be planned properly.


    And after that¡ª


    Xiong Xue and Jin Ying.


    Those two couldn''t be allowed to live.


    They were worthless to him.


    Some women could be tamed.


    Some women could be trained.


    But those two?


    They were better off dead.


    As for Lan Meiyu¡­


    Hah.


    Her true suffering hadn''t even begun yet.


    She had no idea what was waiting for her once he took her away as his slave.


    Once all of them disappeared at once, the conclusion would be obvious to everyone.


    A desperate attempt by Liu Zhenhai to silence witnesses before his escape.


    The sect would investigate, naturally.


    But by the time they realized all three were gone, Liu Zhenhai himself would already be dead.


    No one would be left to take the blame.


    And with his execution closing the case, the matter would fade into obscurity.


    The sect would move on.


    No one would bother digging too deep.


    Everything was set in place.


    If people knew what was going on in Su Xiaobai''s mind, they would shiver.


    To him, people weren''t people.


    They were chess pieces.


    Some to be sacrificed.


    Some to be played.


    But in the end, they all existed for his game.


    ______


    Su Xiaobai looked up at the silver moon, his eyes narrowing.


    "Forcing me, huh? Don''t regret it."


    There had been a time when he had forgotten himself, when he had indulged in this new life too comfortably.


    But when Bai Yujian slapped him in the face, he was reminded.


    He wasn''t a favored son of fate.


    He wasn''t a hero.


    He was still a puppet in someone else''s grand play.


    And if that was the case¡ª


    Then he might as well let them taste the consequences of their entertainment.


    Of course, he knew they would retaliate.


    But Su Xiaobai wanted that.


    He needed to test their boundaries.


    How much could he take?


    How much could he push?


    Where did his position truly lie in this world?


    But he had no idea¡ª


    That his first test against the higher-ups would not end well for him.


    That his losses would be far greater than he ever imagined.


    He might win this round, might even snatch a small gain¡ª


    But the next game?


    A crushing loss.

 Chapter 162 *Zhu Qings Plea* [R18]

    A Week Later¡­


    Time flew by like a fleeting shadow.


    Su Xiaobai took no direct actions, not because he lacked the opportunity¡ªbut because he knew.


    He was being watched.


    Monitored.


    And not just by some random sect lackeys¡ªeven Zhao Tianxuan himself didn''t trust him completely.


    So, Su Xiaobai fed them a show.


    He trained.


    Very, very hard.


    The kind of training that required stamina, precision, and an opponent that could handle his "form" for extended periods.


    And that opponent?


    Zhu Qing.


    _____


    Creak¡­ creak¡­ creak¡­


    The wooden bed groaned, a rhythmic song of exhaustion and relentless practice.


    Through the open window, the moonlight poured in, illuminating the sweaty battlefield.


    A pair of trembling legs rested on broad shoulders.


    A pair of fingers clawed at the sheets, tangled in desperation.


    And in the center of it all¡ª


    Su Xiaobai.


    Perfecting his form.


    "Ahhhnn¡­ slower!"


    "Ahn~! Bastard, that''s deep¡ªahh!"


    "S-Su Xiaobai, you reckless little¡ªmmmph!"


    Zhu Qing''s moans twisted between pleasure and anger, her head tossing back, silver hair fanned out against the ruined sheets.


    Her words stumbled, interrupted by every endless stroke, every violent thrust that sent waves through her core.


    And Su Xiaobai?


    He wasn''t listening.


    His focus was absolute.


    He was "training."


    And his "sparring partner" was reaching her limits.


    Her breath desperate.


    Her body arched.


    Her core clenched, as if refusing to let go.


    Su Xiaobai felt it happening¡ª


    And he did exactly what she told him not to do.


    "Ohhh¡ª! L-Little Villain¡ªoutside! Outside, damn you!"


    "Nnghh¡ª! Don''t¡ª!"


    "Ahhhhh¡ª!"


    Zhu Qing screamed, her voice breaking into a helpless moan as her entire body trembled violently.


    And just like that¡ª


    The training session ended.


    Thud.


    Su Xiaobai collapsed onto her, chest heaving, heart pounding, his body still entangled with hers. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Zhu Qing lay beneath him, her breath shuddering, eyes fluttering, fingers still clenched into the sheets as if her body hadn''t realized it was over.


    She was wrecked.


    Su Xiaobai knew.


    Unlike men, women could be hit with multiple climaxes in rapid succession.


    And Zhu Qing?


    She had just been hit by all of them like a slap to the soul.


    Her core still twitched around him, unwilling to let go, like a spoiled brat refusing to part with her favorite toy.


    Su Xiaobai let out a satisfied sigh.


    Reaching up, he brushed her damp hair aside, watching as her cheeks glowed with redness.


    She groaned softly, eyes still hazy, body still trembling from aftershocks.


    And as he caressed her face, tracing his fingers down her flushed skin¡ª


    His lips curled into a slow, wicked grin.


    Because this wasn''t the end.


    After all¡ª


    A villain''s training never stops.


    "Mmmghhh¡­"


    Su Xiaobai leaned down, capturing Zhu Qing''s cherry-red lips, swallowing her soft moans as his tongue invaded her mouth.


    She gasped, but her body reacted instinctively.


    Her arms wrapped around his neck, her legs coiling around his waist like a desperate little koala, clinging, refusing to let go.


    Their tongues tangled, breath mingling, the kiss deepening¡ª


    Until they forgot how to breathe.


    By the time he pulled back, her lips were swollen, her breath ragged, and her eyes dazed.


    Su Xiaobai smirked, looking down at the ruined woman beneath him.


    Zhu Qing stared up at him, her body still trembling, her breath uneven, chest rising and falling as she tried to recover.


    "Haa¡­ ha¡­ ha¡­"


    Only the sound of her breathing echoed through the room.


    Her body still ached.


    Her mind still swam.


    Each night, Su Xiaobai was growing stronger, more powerful, more demanding.


    It wouldn''t be long before she couldn''t handle him alone.


    Just as he leaned in again, tilting her chin for another kiss¡ª


    She stopped him.


    Her hand pressed against his chest, her eyes flashing with frustration, with lingering hatred.


    "Little Villain, what did I tell you?"


    Her voice was breathy, accusing.


    "I told you¡ªdon''t finish inside me!"


    Her gaze darkened, her head throbbing as she groaned, fingers clutching at her temples.


    "Ugh¡­ you never listen! Why are you like this?!"


    No matter how much she begged, no matter how many times she pleaded¡ª


    But he?


    He always finished inside.


    He never listened.


    And from the wicked grin tugging at the corners of his lips¡ª


    He never intended to.


    "Qingqing, what''s the issue? Don''t you want us to have a little baby of our own?"


    Su Xiaobai''s voice was unbothered, lazy¡ªyet filled with arrogant indulgence.


    "Think about it¡ªthe child of the Great Su Xiaobai and the Peak Lord Zhu! Wouldn''t it dominate the world?"


    And just like that¡ªhis head sank between her soft, heaving breasts.


    His cheek pressed against her plush, sweat-slicked mounds, pillowing himself in comfort.


    His lips brushed her skin, tongue teasing lazily as if savoring the taste of victory.


    Meanwhile, Zhu Qing, still panting from exhaustion, barely had time to process his bullshit before her eye twitched violently.


    "Little Villain, do I need to remind you? We''re relatives now!"


    Su Xiaobai grinned, lips still teasingly pressed against her supple skin.


    "Oh? You mean you being my daughter?"


    Before she could even react, his fingers found their way to her already swollen cherry, pinching, rolling, twisting¡ª


    Zhu Qing jerked violently, her lips parting in a sharp gasp as her toes curled. Stay updated with My Virtual Library Empire


    "Damn you!"


    Her voice wavered, but not entirely from anger.


    "Who the hell said I was your daughter?! Just because of that little blood transfusion, everything is messed up!"


    She gritted her teeth, but her body betrayed her, trembling under his continued touch.


    This absurd situation!


    For years, she had been an orphan, no family, no ties¡ªand now because this bastard pumped his blood into her during the Warlord''s Palace trial, she suddenly had a ''relative''?!


    What the actual fuck?!


    Meanwhile, Su Xiaobai, completely indifferent to her turmoil, let his lips trail even lower.


    "Elder, if you don''t like it, we can switch places."


    Her eyebrow twitched. "Switch places? What do you mean?"


    Su Xiaobai licked his lips.


    "Well¡­ since you don''t like being my daughter, how about you be my mother, and I¡ª"


    "Shut up."


    Before he could finish, Zhu Qing slammed her hand over his mouth, her entire face burning red.


    This bastard!


    This absolute fucking bastard!


    "You¡ªSuck on these, then talk nonsense."


    Before he could even react, she grabbed his head and shoved him into her bountiful, sweat-slicked chest.


    Su Xiaobai grinned against her flushed skin, his teeth grazing over her hardened bud before latching on.


    Zhu Qing''s breath hitched, her thighs pressing together instinctively.


    A deep, satisfied moan slipped from her lips before she could stop it.


    Her fingers curled into his hair, pressing him deeper.


    And just like that¡ª


    Everything else disappeared.


    The blood connection.


    The technicalities.


    Because the way her body burned, the way her core throbbed and clenched¡ª


    None of it felt like family.


    It felt like something much, much worse.


    And it was so fucking exciting.


    ___


    Zhu Qing had always felt something strange about Su Xiaobai.


    A peculiar connection.


    The closer she got, the more she wanted him closer.


    It was like an itch she couldn''t scratch, a hunger she couldn''t name.


    There was a sense of trust, a sense of belonging¡ªwhich made it even more twisted.


    She truly felt like he was a part of her.


    Like he was her blood.


    And yet¡ª


    As she glanced down, watching him suck greedily at her swollen cherry, a deep, wicked thought crawled into her mind.


    If they actually had a child¡­


    Wouldn''t that be a mess?


    She had originally planned for this to be a one-time thing.


    Just one night of indulgence¡ªhelping him breakthrough.


    But somehow¡­


    Even when he forced her the second time, she didn''t stop him.


    The third time?


    The fourth?


    At some point, it didn''t even matter anymore.


    As long as there was a second time¡­


    It was too easy to keep going.


    Now, she had fallen so deep into the abyss of pleasure she couldn''t even see the surface anymore.


    Her fingers tangled in his hair, pulling him closer.


    Her mind drifted into a strange, perverse fantasy.


    If she actually got pregnant¡­


    Wouldn''t she be feeding their baby like this?


    The warmth, the intimacy, the way her body craved his touch¡ªit felt... so right.


    So right.


    Yet ¡ª So fucking wrong.


    She bit her lip, her thighs squeezed together, her hips shifting slightly as she angled herself just right.


    Mimicking the exact image in her mind.


    Her eyes softened, maternal instincts igniting, but mixed with something much darker.


    Something shameless.


    Something wrong.


    Su Xiaobai, noticing her sudden tenderness, lifted an eyebrow¡ªbut didn''t say anything.


    She looked so foolish, so lost in her own delusions.


    And yet¡­


    It was adorable in a fucked-up way.


    Then¡ª


    "Little Villain¡­"


    Her voice was softer than before.


    "Hm?"


    Su Xiaobai barely lifted his head, his lips still warm against her swollen peak.


    "Don''t go to the battle tomorrow."


    His eyes flickered with mild surprise.


    Zhu Qing was never this gentle with him.


    She hesitated for a moment, then sighed.


    "I got word¡­ Liu Chenfu met with Liu Zhenhai last night. They''re planning something."


    Her fingers unconsciously tightened around his back.


    "That old fox is using the cornered hyena to hunt you down. It''s not safe."


    Su Xiaobai''s gaze darkened slightly.


    "Other Peak Lords are also taking action. They want to teach you a lesson. They''re sending their best disciples."


    She bit her lip, her eyes filled with rare, genuine worry.


    "It''s not safe¡­"

 Chapter 163 The Day of Battle!

    "It''s not safe¡­"


    Zhu Qing''s chest rose and fell, her heartbeat unsteady.


    She had never imagined she would grow attached to him.


    But now?


    Now, the thought of losing him made her stomach twist.


    Zhu Qing was a woman who dared to love and hate.


    If she hated someone, she hated them to death.


    If she loved someone, she loved them to death.


    And right now¡­


    She didn''t know if this was love yet.


    But there was a bond between them.


    Something deep, something real.


    And she wasn''t sure¡ª


    If she would be able to control herself tomorrow.


    Because if they actually tried to hurt him¡ª


    She might just kill every last one of those...


    "Okay."


    Su Xiaobai''s response was calm, almost too casual.


    Zhu Qing blinked, stunned.


    She had expected resistance, expected arrogance¡ª


    But he actually agreed?


    Her lips parted slightly, a rare moment of disbelief flashing across her face.


    "You¡­ you''re actually going to listen?"


    Su Xiaobai smirked, resting his chin between her soft, heaving mounds.


    "What are you thinking? A dog-pair like us? Your reputation is already ruined. Now mine will be too. Isn''t it perfect?"


    Zhu Qing gritted her teeth, her eye twitching at his blatant shamelessness.


    "But¡ª" he dragged a lazy finger down her side, making her shiver slightly "¡ªI need you to do something for me."


    Zhu Qing sighed, rubbing her temple. "Mm¡­"


    She already knew she would say yes.


    But when he actually told her the request?


    Jin Ying and Xiong Xue¡ªdead.


    Lan Meiyu¡ªkidnapped.


    ¡­That''s it?


    Zhu Qing narrowed her eyes.


    She wasn''t stupid. Continue your saga on My Virtual Library Empire


    Liu Zhenhai had clearly been put in prison because of Su Xiaobai''s scheming.


    And this request?


    This was basically a confession.


    If she snitched on him, he was fucked.


    But instead of fear or calculation¡ª


    She felt something else.


    A strange, warmth blooming in her chest.


    He trusted her.


    Her body softened slightly, fingers gently stroking through his hair.


    Tomorrow, while everyone was waiting for Su Xiaobai to appear in battle¡­


    She would carry out his task.


    Su Xiaobai, still comfortably nestled against her chest, suddenly frowned.


    "Uh¡­ Qingqing, we have a problem."


    Zhu Qing, who had been completely lost in the maternal bliss of stroking his head like a treasured little pet, barely registered his words.


    Her fingers absently combed through his hair, her body warm and content.


    It wasn''t until she finally lifted her head¡ª


    That she felt it.


    A soft, warm splurt.


    Against her chest.


    Against her face.


    A sticky, white liquid.


    Her eyelashes fluttered.


    Her brain stalled.


    Her nipple quivered as Su Xiaobai pressed his fingers against it¡ª


    And another drop spurted out.


    ¡­Oh shit.


    Both their minds blanked.


    Silence.


    Zhu Qing slowly¡ªvery slowly¡ªlooked down at herself.


    At the thin, milky-white trail running down her skin.


    At Su Xiaobai''s slightly stunned expression.


    At the way his fingers pressed against her still-trembling bud, as if testing it¡ª


    And another drop leaked out.


    Her entire body stiffened.


    Her face darkened.


    Su Xiaobai blinked once.


    Then twice.


    His fingers twitched.


    His lips parted slightly.


    Then¡ª"¡­Qingqing, is this normal?"


    Zhu Qing''s entire body went stiff.


    A rare panic flickered in her eyes, her breath shallow as she stammered¡ª


    "I¡ªI don''t know¡­"


    Her voice quivered, her hands clutching at her chest, fingers pressing against her aching, swollen peaks.


    This¡­ this never happened before!


    Why now?!


    Su Xiaobai''s gaze lowered.


    She followed his line of sight.


    Both of their eyes landed on her stomach.


    And at the same time¡ª


    Both of their expressions darkened.


    Su Xiaobai definitely didn''t want any little bastards running around.


    He wasn''t ready to be a father.


    "Are you pregnant?"


    He didn''t need to ask.


    Zhu Qing was already checking herself, her spiritual sense sweeping through her body, searching for any abnormality.


    Nothing.


    No changes.


    No signs of pregnancy.


    And yet¡ª


    For some reason¡­


    The thought wasn''t as horrifying as it should''ve been.


    Somewhere, deep inside, she had always secretly dreamed of a child, of a family.


    But it was too soon.


    Way too soon.


    Her eyes met his.


    "I can''t find anything¡­"


    Her voice was quiet, uncertain.


    She felt uneasy.


    Su Xiaobai sighed.


    "Whatever it is, once you confirm it, you must tell me."


    He didn''t want to argue anymore.


    He simply pressed a kiss against her forehead, then pulled her into his arms, rolling her over, covering them both with the quilt.


    "Sleep."


    Zhu Qing nodded slowly, her body pressing closer, but her mind was still spinning.


    She wanted to believe this was just a bad dream.


    ______


    The Next Morning...


    When Zhu Qing woke up, she was still in a daze.


    Her thighs ached, her chest was sore, her mind foggy.


    She turned over¡ª


    Su Xiaobai was still asleep, his face peaceful, innocent even.


    She let out a small sigh of relief.


    At least he wasn''t running off to do anything stupid.


    Quietly, she slipped out of bed, dressing quickly.


    She had a task to complete before he woke up.


    By the time the morning sun rose over the sect, two lives had already vanished.


    Jin Ying and Xiong Xue.


    Their lifeless bodies collapsed, their faces pale, their last breath already stolen.


    "Why¡­?"


    Only one word slipped from their lips before their souls faded into nothingness.


    Zhu Qing stood above them, unmoving.


    No clues.


    No evidence.


    Just two corpses and a bloodstained past erased from existence.


    The truth was now buried forever.


    She turned to Lan Meiyu.


    The woman screamed, struggling, but Zhu Qing simply sealed her within a coffin, carrying her away.


    By the time she returned¡ª


    The bed was empty.


    And Su Xiaobai?


    Gone.


    Her heart skipped a beat.


    Her eyes flickered with realization¡ª


    And then darkened. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "That lying little bastard¡­"


    A cold, dangerous light flickered in her eyes.


    Whoosh!


    She stormed out.


    Her speed was frightening, her robes fluttering behind her like a storm closing in.


    As she moved closer to the stage,


    The roars and cheers of the sect grew louder and louder.


    Her teeth clenched.


    She finally found an elder from her peak, Ji Yutong¡ª


    And grabbed her by the shoulders.


    "Did you see Su Xiaobai?"


    Zhu Qing''s voice was sharp, her tone tinged with cold fury as she grabbed Ji Yutong''s shoulder.


    Ji Yutong, a sect elder from her peak with short brown hair and green eyes, turned in shock.


    "Peak Lord Zhu?"


    She quickly cupped her fists, bowing slightly.


    Zhu Qing didn''t care for formalities.


    She repeated herself, her grip tightening.


    "Where. Is. He?"


    Ji Yutong hesitated, then awkwardly glanced toward the arena.


    "Uh¡­ Junior Brother Su¡­ He¡­"


    She didn''t finish.


    She didn''t need to.


    Because at that moment¡ª


    A core disciple rushed past, grabbing Ji Yutong''s wrist.


    "Elder Tong! What are you waiting for?! If we''re late, we''ll miss the show!"


    It was Hong Yin, another core disciple, her face flushed with excitement.


    She barely even noticed Zhu Qing standing there.


    "No way, it''s too exciting! Junior Brother Su is CRUSHING EVERYONE!"


    Zhu Qing froze.


    Her entire face darkened.


    That bastard.


    That. Lying. Shameless. Disobedient. BASTARD.


    He told her he wouldn''t fight.


    He told her he would listen.


    He told her he''d stay put!


    And yet¡ª


    There he was.


    In front of thousands of disciples.


    Crushing them.


    Showing off.


    TEMPTING FATE.


    Her teeth clenched.


    Her spiritual pressure surged violently, distorting the air.


    A storm brewed inside her chest.


    "Su Xiaobai¡­"


    Her voice trembled, barely containing her fury.


    "Either you die by yourself¡­"


    Her eyes flashed dangerously.


    "Or I''ll kill you myself."


    And with that¡ª


    She stomped her foot down and vanished in a flash, soaring toward the arena.


    As she got closer¡ª


    The roars and cheers only grew louder.


    Her fists tightened.


    Her anger boiled.


    And she swore¡ª


    If he wasn''t dead by the time she got there¡­


    She was going to kill him herself.

 Chapter 164 The Grand Martial Arena!

    The Grand Martial Arena,


    Where villains rise & dogs fall...


    Today, the Xiantian Sect had outdone itself.


    The martial arena had been decorated so extravagantly, even the Sect''s Annual Competition looked like a farmer''s cockfight in comparison.


    The colossal white jade battle platform stretched across the heart of the sect, so polished and smooth, it could probably reflect a woman''s insecurities.


    The engravings along its edges weren''t just decorations¡ªthey were golden dragon motifs infused with sealing formations, ensuring no one accidentally blew up half the sect.


    The sun burned brightly above, its golden rays bathing the entire coliseum, making the air sizzle with heat.


    But nobody cared.


    Because today?


    It wasn''t about comfort.


    It was about violence.


    It was about watching some dumb bastard''s ambitions get shattered.


    It was about seeing who would rise to power and who would leave in a body bag.


    Stay connected via My Virtual Library Empire


    At the heart of it all¡ªfourteen grand thrones stood over the battlefield, positioned atop a towering balcony.


    Each was carved from spirit stone, exuding a presence that could make even an arrogant genius feel like an insect.


    And in the very center, one seat stood above all others¡ª


    The Sect Master''s Throne.


    Seated upon the highest throne, Zhao Tianxuan, the Sect Master, looked down at the arena like a npc watching peasants fight over scraps.


    His silver hair, streaked with white strands, reflected the sunlight, making him look like an old, wise sage¡ª


    ¡ªexcept everyone knew this "wise sage" was a cunning bloodthirsty bastard when provoked.


    To his right, the legendary Bai Yujian, the Sword Fairy, sat as still as a celestial blade resting in its sheath.


    Her flawless white robes embroidered with silver sword patterns made her look holy, but every man in the sect knew¡ª


    Trying to touch her was about as safe as shoving your dick into an array of flying swords.


    Her expression was icy, her gaze sharp enough to castrate a man at fifty paces.


    Yet, despite her stillness¡ª


    Her cold eyes flickered subtly toward the battlefield, scanning for one specific bastard.


    On the Sect Master''s left, however, a throne sat empty.


    Zhu Qing, the Mystic Peak Lord, hadn''t arrived.


    Yet even in her absence, a dark, misty aura curled around her seat, the trace of her presence.


    But right now?


    Nobody cared about that.


    Because the other Peak Lords were already seated.


    And what a divine lineup of bastards it was.


    ____


    The Sword Peak Lord ¨C Bai Yujian, the Sword Fairy.


    The Mystic Peak Lord ¨C Zhu Qing (Absent)


    The queen of formations, illusions, and all things mysterious.


    Currently not present, but definitely going to make an entrance by kicking someone''s ass later.


    The Fire Peak Lord ¡ª Huo Rong


    A man so hot-headed, his disciples probably carried buckets of water just in case.


    The Frost Peak Lord ¡ª Leng Tianhai


    A walking ice age. He and the Fire Peak Lord were sitting next to each other, and the temperature war between them had already begun.


    The Verdant Peak Lord ¡ª Lin Qingfeng


    A man who cultivated nature, peace, and way too many female disciples.


    The kind of bastard who definitely had at least three secret wives and a hundred illegitimate children.


    The Iron Mountain Peak Lord ¨C Elder Han Xuan


    Looked like he was sculpted from the very mountain he ruled. His broad shoulders, steel-gray hair, and war-hardened aura made even inner disciples shut up when he walked past.


    The Stormfire Peak Lord ¨C Liu Chenfu


    His entire existence crackled with lightning and flame. Every time he blinked, some poor bastard in the audience probably got mild burns.


    The Alchemy Peak Lord ¨C Xu Tianran


    An old fossil whose face looked like he had already died once but decided to keep breathing out of spite. Still, his status as an alchemy grandmaster made even the Sect Master respect him.


    The Beast Taming Peak Lord ¡ª Feng Ruhu


    A man surrounded by spiritual beasts, with a golden eagle perched beside him, staring hungrily at the weaker disciples below.


    The Profound Peak Lord ¡ª Mo Xuanyu


    A gaunt, scholarly figure who looked like he hadn''t eaten in days¡ªbut could probably erase someone from existence with a single flick of his finger.


    The War Peak Lord ¡ª Hong Tianbao


    A walking war crime with the strategic mind of a drunken general and the battle instincts of a rabid bull. His disciples? Meatheads with just enough brainpower to swing a weapon and call it "strategy."


    They lived by one rule: If you weren''t bleeding by noon, you weren''t training hard enough. Some even whispered that Hong Tianbao got hard just thinking about war.


    The Celestial Peak Lord ¡ª Yue Xiuying


    The kind of woman who could either bless you with fortune or curse your bloodline into extinction¡ªall while sipping tea.


    And she actually showed up.


    For a thousand years, no one had seen her outside Celestial Peak, where they read fate, fuck with karma, and pretend they''re above mortal struggles. Yet here she was, watching Su Xiaobai. Just that alone was enough to make people wet themselves in excitement¡ªor fear.


    The Radiant Peak Lord ¡ª Hei Wuying


    "Radiant" Peak, my ass. Hei Wuying stood there, draped in black, exuding the exact opposite of anything "radiant." The peak used to be called Shadow Peak, and let''s be real¡ªit still was.


    He was the Sect''s official spymaster, unofficial boogeyman, and the reason some disciples slept with one eye open. Even now, his face was covered, as if revealing it might give someone a heart attack.


    In short, all thirteen Peak Lords were present.


    Which meant shit was about to get serious.


    _____


    Below, the sect disciples sat in their respective seating areas.


    The Outer Court Disciples?


    Stuffed into the lowest seating, sweating under the sun like peasants watching a royal execution.


    Probably placing illegal bets on which bastard would die first.


    The Inner Court Disciples?


    Positioned higher, seated beneath elegant canopies, looking far too smug for their own good.


    Their expressions fluctuated between curiosity and jealousy.


    The Core Disciples?


    Sitting on floating jade pavilions, sipping spiritual wine like they were at a damn banquet.


    Most of them watched with disdain, already believing themselves superior.


    And then there were the elders.


    Positioned on a separate grand balcony, observing everything like wise sages¡ª


    ¡ªexcept let''s be real, some of them were probably just waiting to see a disciple get his spine broken for entertainment.


    The heat was sweltering, but the bloodlust in the arena was hotter.


    Because today?


    They weren''t just watching a fight.


    They were watching a goddamn bloodbath waiting to happen.


    And at the center of it all¡ª


    The one name on everyone''s lips?


    Su Xiaobai.


    The man who came from nowhere¡ª


    ¡ªand was now crushing his way through the ranks like a villain protagonist on a power trip.


    ____


    Bang!


    "Did I ask you to surrender?"


    Bang!


    "Did I ask you to surrender?"


    BANG! BANG!


    "DID I FUCKING ASK YOU TO SURRENDER?!"


    By now, Wen Aiguo¡ªa short, red-haired disciple who once had hopes and dreams¡ªhad neither. His head bounced against the jade like a damn drum, his nose vomiting blood, his legs twitching like a crushed bug that hadn''t figured out it was dead yet.


    At this point, the only thing keeping him conscious was sheer cruelty.


    And Su Xiaobai?


    Su Xiaobai was thriving.


    Today wasn''t about winning.


    Today was about sending a message.


    If the strong were too much trouble to bully¡ª


    Then the weak would do just fine.


    Behind him, another broken sack of disappointment groaned¡ªLuo Chang, another disciple of Stormfire Peak, currently reconsidering every choice that had led him here.


    Stormfire Peak had sent two disciples into the ring.


    And Su Xiaobai had sent them both straight to hell.


    Up in the stands, Liu Chenfu, the Stormfire Peak Lord, watched his disciples get used as pavement decorations.


    His jaw twitched.


    His eye twitched.


    His soul? Twitched.


    This wasn''t just a loss¡ªthis was a public castration.


    His disciples weren''t even fucking weak!


    Luo Chang, an initial-stage Soul Fusion cultivator, was supposed to outlast the first few rounds.


    And Wen Aiguo?


    Peak Nascent Soul Realm. A talented flame cultivator with a half-earth-grade spiritual flame.


    A flame that should''ve roasted Su Xiaobai like a damn roast duck.


    But instead¡ª


    Instead, Su Xiaobai was beating this man like he owed him three months'' rent.


    And the flame?


    Might as well have been a warm candle in a brothel.


    Because Su Xiaobai had Infernal Flames.


    A secret flame that made Wen Aiguo''s look like a fucking scented candle.


    Liu Chenfu''s face looked like he''d just swallowed a raw spirit beast testicle.


    And the crowd?


    Sucked in a sharp breath, many disciples suddenly wondering if maybe, just maybe, they should start calling Su Xiaobai Senior Brother.


    Because holy fuck.


    How did the honorable Sword Fairy produce this unscrupulous bastard?!


    Eyes flicked to Bai Yujian, the cold, untouchable Sword Fairy.


    Surely, surely, she would say something.


    Tell her disciple to stop.


    Discipline him.


    But she just sat there.


    Expression calm.


    Eyes distant.


    Like a wife watching her husband burn dinner and knowing it''s not her problem.


    She had long since given up on controlling him.


    At this point, Su Xiaobai was more like a natural disaster.


    You don''t stop him.


    You just hope he doesn''t hit your house next.


    And then¡ª


    From above, a voice boomed like divine law.


    "Su Xiaobai, that''s enough!"


    A gong echoed.


    A command from the heavens.


    Zhao Tianxuan, the Sect Master, had finally spoken.


    Su Xiaobai paused.


    Looked down at Wen Aiguo''s blood-smeared, twitching face.


    Then looked up at the Sect Master.


    Then smiled¡ªgently.


    And in that moment, everyone knew¡ª


    He was about to be a petty little shit.


    "As you wish, Sect Master. I was just testing Senior Brother Wen''s resolve."


    BANG.


    He dropped Wen Aiguo like a dead fish.


    ¡­And then¡ª


    Crunch.


    Oh no.


    "Oops."


    ''Accidentally'' ¡ª He stepped on him.


    Not just a step.


    A full, weight-on-the-heel, spiked-boot-to-the-back, life-ending stomp.


    "AAAAUGHHH!"


    Wen Aiguo screeched like a dying pig.


    The kind of sound that could haunt a man''s soul. The kind of sound that said "I have made the worst fucking decision of my life."


    Zhao Tianxuan''s face darkened.


    Liu Chenfu twitched harder.


    And Su Xiaobai?


    Didn''t even blink.


    Meanwhile, Wen Aiguo coughed up more blood, his last scrap of consciousness dangling by a thread. His spiritual flame, his pride, his only fucking advantage in life¡ª


    Useless.


    Against Infernal Flames, his little half-earth-grade fire was worthless.


    Like pissing on a volcano and expecting it to go out.


    And now?


    The Tournament Had Just Begun, and It Was Already a Shitshow


    Su Xiaobai had only been in the sect for a few months, and yet he operated on two modes:


    1. Disappear like a deadbeat father for weeks on end, doing god knows what.


    2. Come back, break a couple of senior brothers, and traumatize half the sect.


    Honestly?


    Everyone wanted to be like Senior Brother Su.


    The sect had sent six peaks to test him.


    Stormfire Peak was already fucked beyond repair, and the remaining four were looking nervous as hell.


    Only one figure stood tall, unbothered. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A dark-robed woman, standing right next to Yue Xiuying, the Celestial Peak Lord.


    Yue Xi ¨C The Mysterious #1 Inner Court Disciple


    Under that black robe, her eyes remained unimpressed, like she had seen better violence before breakfast.


    Her name was Yue Xi.


    No one knew where she came from.


    Not directly recruited into the sect.


    No trials. No selection. No backstory.


    Yue Xiuying simply "bought" her into the sect one day.


    A blatant case of nepotism.


    And yet, the woman dominated the rankings like it was her birthright.


    Never lost.


    Never even struggled.


    The sect''s greatest mystery in the form of a beautiful, cold-blooded fighter.


    If Yue Xiuying was personally bringing her out to fight Su Xiaobai, it meant only one thing:


    She took him seriously.

 Chapter 165 Facing a Crafty Fox!

    Yue Xiuying''s voice rippled through the air like a celestial melody.


    "Did you see anything~?"


    Yue Xi''s eyes narrowed beneath the hood.


    "He isn''t using his full strength."


    Yue Xiuying''s lips curled slightly.


    "Oh? Can you defeat him?"


    A pause.


    Then a single word.


    "Yes."


    No arrogance. No hesitation. Just cold, hard fact.


    Yue Xiuying smiled.


    That was all she needed to hear.


    ___


    Meanwhile, Elsewhere in the Shitshow¡­


    Su Xiaobai was still too busy stomping out the last remains of Stormfire Peak''s pride to notice any of this.


    That was, until¡ª


    "LITTLE VILLAIN! WHAT DID I TELL YOU? STOP RUNNING OFF ON YOUR OWN!"


    A woman in light green robes appeared out of nowhere, storming straight toward him with murder in her eyes.


    Zhu Qing had arrived.


    Su Xiaobai''s ears twitched.


    And like a guilty husband caught sneaking into the house at 3 a.m., he pretended not to hear her.


    The entire sect went silent.


    Zhu Qing¡ªMystic Peak Lord, Master of Formations, Queen of Illusions¡ªwas here.


    And she wasn''t even hiding it anymore.


    Her rage, her concern, her completely improper behavior for a Peak Lord.


    The rumors weren''t rumors anymore.


    Everyone knew it now¡ªSomething was going on between these two.


    And the one who took it the hardest?


    Zhao Tianxuan.


    The Sect Master.


    A man who had already lost faith in life multiple times today. His heart shattered like a jade slip dropped by a clumsy disciple.


    "Peak Lord Zhu, don''t interrupt the match," he forced out, voice heavy with pain. "Su Xiaobai chose to participate on his own. It has nothing to do with you."


    That''s when Zhu Qing, already pissed beyond reason, turned to look at Zhao Tianxuan.


    And with just a single glare¡ªThe Sect Master shut the fuck up.


    But instead of beating him, she found another target.


    ______


    At the back of the balcony, a man dressed in black was snickering.


    Hei Wuying¡ªspymaster, certified bastard, and the reason disciples checked under their beds before sleeping.


    His personal disciple, Yan Xue, wearing his signature fox mask, was already moving away.


    Because he knew.


    He fucking knew.


    But his master?


    His master was too damn stupid.


    Hei Wuying smirked, whispering like an old auntie gossiping at a funeral.


    "See? I told you. My sources confirmed it. Those two are totally fucking."


    Yan Xue was dying inside.


    "Master¡­ Peak Lord Zhu can hear us."


    Hei Wuying snorted.


    "Relax. She wouldn''t dare¡ª"


    WHOOSH!


    In a flash of light, Zhu Qing crossed the entire balcony in an instant. And before Hei Wuying could even process what the fuck just happened¡ª


    BANG!


    His skull kissed the balcony railing.


    "Did I ask you to speak?"


    BANG!


    "Did I ask you to speak?"


    BANG!


    "DID I ASK YOU TO SPEAK, YOU OLD GOSSIPING RAT?!"


    BANG! BANG!


    The sect watched in stunned silence.


    Yan Xue casually walked five steps away, pretending he had no idea who this man was.


    Even the other Peak Lords were frozen.


    Because this?


    This was the first time in history that a Peak Lord was getting his skull caved in by another Peak Lord.


    Publicly.


    And the worst part?


    It looked awfully familiar.


    All eyes snapped to Su Xiaobai.


    "Oh no. She''s learning from him."


    Su Xiaobai, who was watching helplessly as Zhu Qing recreated his signature move.


    Zhao Tianxuan covered his face.


    Hei Wuying, despite getting his skull caved in, somehow managed to survive.


    His mask cracked, but his dignity was already in shambles.


    He coughed, adjusted his half-broken mask, and returned to his seat like nothing happened.


    Zhu Qing, meanwhile, dusted off her robes, sat down, and pretended like she didn''t just publicly execute a fellow Peak Lord.


    _____


    The Tournament Was Definitely Off to a Glorious Start....


    Su Xiaobai was breaking bones.


    Zhu Qing was breaking faces.


    The sect disciples, who hadn''t gotten any action in their entire lives, were on the verge of a spiritual orgasm just watching.


    And as for Stormfire Peak?


    Their existence was already forgotten.


    Liu Chenfu''s loss didn''t matter.


    No one gave a fuck anymore.


    Zhao Tianxuan, defeated by life itself, merely sighed and gave out the next order:


    "Clean up the arena. Resume the match."


    At this point?


    He didn''t even care anymore. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    His disciples were getting massacred.


    His Peak Lords were beating each other like street thugs.


    His Sect was starting to resemble a low-budget martial arts drama.


    And Hei Wuying?


    That old cockroach?


    Despite having his skull used as a drum, he was just fine.


    Now sitting there sulking like a drunk uncle at a wedding.


    He had no injuries, no broken bones¡ªjust a damaged ego and a cracked mask.


    Zhao Tianxuan didn''t even waste a thought on him.


    Because he knew¡ª


    Zhu Qing, despite being an absolute menace, wouldn''t go too far.


    She knew her limits.


    But Su Xiaobai?


    Su Xiaobai had no fucking limits.


    And now?


    Now the match couldn''t be stopped.


    Because if earlier?


    If earlier it was just to test Su Xiaobai¡ª


    Now?


    The tournament had gone full circus mode.


    Sword Peak''s guy? Still MIA.


    Celestial Peak? Sitting pretty, sipping tea, watching the chaos like VIPs at a high-end brothel.


    The remaining three Peaks¡ªFire, Beast Taming, and Radiant¡ªhad contenders waiting in line like prostitutes picking clients.


    Liu Chenfu? Gone.


    His pride? Gone.


    His Peak''s dignity? Buried six feet under.


    No one even spared him a look as he slunk away like a cucked husband leaving a tavern.


    Except Su Xiaobai.


    Su Xiaobai watched.


    And he didn''t like what he saw.


    Fire Peak was supposed to be on their side, so why the fuck was Huo Rong sending people?


    And Celestial Peak? That cold-ass lady had been too quiet. Too still. That meant only one thing¡ªshe was planning something.


    But before he could think on it¡ª


    Hei Wuying, that masked cockroach, stood up.


    And then?


    The real tragedy began.


    Hei Wuying flicked his sleeve like some mysterious grandmaster¡ªexcept his mask was still half-broken from Zhu Qing''s beatdown, so he just looked like a cranky uncle at a wedding. He motioned to the poor bastard behind him.


    "Yan Xue, go show them the strength of our Radiant Peak."


    Silence.


    The entire sect turned to Yan Xue¡ªa slim, black-clothed figure wearing a fox spirit mask.


    Not human.


    Not strong enough for this shit.


    And definitely not fucking willing.


    Yan Xue looked like he''d just been told to fight naked in front of the Sect Master.


    "Master¡­ didn''t you say Senior Brother Feng and Huo were going to fight him first?" His voice was calm, but his soul had already left his body.


    Hei Wuying waved him off like a whore dismissing a cheap client. "Plans change."


    Translation: I don''t wanna get my ass beat again, so you go die instead.


    The crowd caught on fast¡ªthis wasn''t a strategy move.


    This was survival.


    Zhu Qing had pounded Hei Wuying''s head into the balcony earlier, and the bastard wasn''t about to risk another public execution. So instead?


    He threw his own fucking disciple into the meat grinder.


    Yan Xue sighed, accepting his fate like a man who just realized the brothel he paid for only had old women left.


    He jumped into the arena.


    Landing smoothly, he bowed slightly. "Senior Brother Su, please guide me."


    Then he hesitated.


    Looked Su Xiaobai up and down.


    And then?


    The quiet bitterness in his voice cut through the air.


    "We entered the sect at the same time¡­ and yet I still don''t know how you climbed so fast."


    And there it was.


    Not just his resentment¡ªeveryone''s.


    Every so-called genius, every talented recruit from the last twenty fucking years, all watching Su Xiaobai like he was the rich bastard who inherited a fortune while they were still out here sucking dicks for spirit stones.


    When someone rises too fast, everyone wants to see them fall.


    But Su Xiaobai?


    Su Xiaobai just blinked.


    Then frowned.


    Then tilted his head.


    Then, with genuine fucking confusion, said¡ª


    "¡­Who are you?"


    Hiss~!


    Silence.


    Dead silence.


    The entire sect collectively cringed.


    Yan Xue froze. His eye twitched. A vein popped on his forehead.


    Was he¡­ was he so fucking irrelevant that Su Xiaobai didn''t even know he existed?!


    Su Xiaobai, still genuinely trying to remember, muttered, "Same batch? Huh? Were you one of those outer court losers? No, no¡­ maybe an inner court nobody? Wait, wait¡ªwere you that guy who got his pants ripped off during the first combat test?"


    Yan Xue''s entire face darkened.


    "THAT WASN''T ME, YOU FUCKING PSYCHO!"


    The poor bastard snapped.


    He ripped his spear from his storage ring, spiritual energy crackling around him.


    "Enough talk." His grip on the spear was so tight it looked like he wanted to shove it up Su Xiaobai''s ass. His aura surged, and then¡ªhe vanished.


    Or at least, it looked like he vanished.


    A second later¡ªa storm of spears filled the air.


    "Phantom Spear Technique!"


    Whoosh!


    The first spear split into two.


    Whoosh!


    Whoosh!


    Whoosh!


    Then four.


    Then eight.


    Then¡ªfuck it, too many to count.


    Within a heartbeat, dozens of spears filled the arena, moving faster than a desperate virgin''s hands on his first night with a prostitute.


    They flickered, twisted, and blocked every escape route.


    Even if Su Xiaobai wanted to dodge¡ª


    It was already too fucking late.


    Yan Xue''s Phantom Spear Technique should have been unstoppable¡ªa storm of spears, fast as lightning, unpredictable as a whore''s loyalty.


    And yet¡ª


    Su Xiaobai fucking vanished.


    "What?!" Yan Xue''s spear arm stiffened, his pupils shaking like a gambling addict on his last bet.


    Not just him¡ªeven the Peak Lords were looking around like someone just snatched their wallets.


    Swoosh!


    "There!" someone pointed.


    No¡ªgone again.


    A flicker. There¡ªthen gone¡ªthen there.


    "Phantom steps?" The Fire Peak Lord Huo Rong''s thick brows furrowed as he rubbed his bald head. "No¡­ that ain''t just speed."


    Feng Ruhu, the Beast Taming Peak Lord, narrowed his eyes. His golden eagle, perched beside him, let out a shrill cry.


    "Even my bird cannot track him¡­"


    Beside him, Hei Wuying chuckled, voice tinged with amusement.


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    "Perhaps your bird is just as blind as its master."


    BANG!


    A loud slap rang out.


    Feng Ruhu''s palm landed clean across Hei Wuying''s masked face, sending his already cracked mask splintering further.


    "Did I ask for a opinion?" Feng Ruhu withdrew his hand as if swatting a fly.


    Hei Wuying tilted his head back up slowly, adjusting what was left of his mask. He didn''t respond. Not because he was merciful¡ª


    ¡ªbut because he wanted to keep his fucking head attached to his shoulders.


    Meanwhile, in the Arena¡­


    Yan Xue''s face darkened, "Coward! You think this is a game? Fight me like a man!"


    Su Xiaobai''s voice came from behind him.


    "Alright. I''ll be gentle."


    Yan Xue whipped around¡ªtoo late.


    A whisper¡ªa fist cutting through the air like a collapsing star.


    "Grand Collapsing Fist ¡ª First Form: Collapsing Mountain Strike."


    BOOM!


    The entire arena trembled as Su Xiaobai''s punch landed.


    Yan Xue''s body lifted from the ground¡ªlaunched like a meteor¡ªbefore slamming into the edge of the platform with a deafening crash.


    He didn''t just fall.


    He cratered into the jade platform.


    A deep, body-shaped imprint remained where he hit, smoke rising from the impact like the aftermath of a divine punishment.


    "AAAAAGH¡ª"


    The crowd flinched.


    "That''s mercy?! If he used full strength, that man would be dust!"


    "His bones must be shattered!"


    "Senior Brother Su, your kindness is terrifying!"


    Su Xiaobai cracked his knuckles. "He''s still breathing, isn''t he?"


    A low groan came from the rubble. Yan Xue twitched¡ªbarely hugging to consciousness.


    "Someone scrape him off the arena. We still have more to go."


    It was Hei Wuying who spoke, his tone as indifferent as if Yan Xue wasn''t his own fucking disciple.


    The crowd side-eyed him.


    "Damn, not even a word of concern?"


    "Tsk, Radiant Peak truly has no humanity."


    "What humanity? They''re all fucking spies!"


    But Hei Wuying didn''t care. He already knew.


    Yan Xue was never going to win.


    Su Xiaobai''s speed? That wasn''t Phantom Steps, the widely known movement technique among spies and assassins.


    No¡ªit was something far more terrifying.


    Something that tore space itself.


    The moment Su Xiaobai moved, Hei Wuying recognized it instantly.


    Spatial Steps.


    A technique so rare and mysterious that most cultivators never even heard of it.


    And yet, Su Xiaobai used it so casually, as if it was just another trick in his arsenal.


    Hei Wuying was impressed.


    But more importantly¡ª


    Hei Wuying wanted it.


    As Yan Xue was being dragged off the arena like a discarded corpse, Hei Wuying slowly stood up, brushing the dust off his black robes. His cracked mask glinted under the sunlight, his eyes hidden but his intent clear.


    "Su Xiaobai," his voice carried across the arena, smooth and unhurried, "I don''t want you to join our Radiant Peak."


    "Huh?"


    "Then what the hell does he want?"


    Hei Wuying''s lips curled behind his mask.


    "But that movement technique of yours¡­ that''s a different story."


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes narrowed.


    Hei Wuying continued, "Give it to us. It would greatly benefit the sect. Of course, it won''t be for free¡ª"


    His fingers tapped against the armrest of his chair.


    Then he named his price.


    "One million contribution points."

 Chapter 166 Bribes?

    "One million contribution points."


    The arena went silent.


    Then¡ª


    "WHAT?!"


    The crowd exploded.


    "ONE MILLION?! That''s not even enough to buy a mid-grade mystic-ranked treasure!"


    "Hei Wuying, you old fox! You''re trying to snatch a divine technique with just points?!"


    "Who the fuck has a million contribution points just lying around?!"


    Even the Peak Lords shifted in their seats, eyes flickering with interest.


    "What a crafty fox¡­"


    Zhao Tianxuan''s voice was barely above a whisper, but the weight behind it carried.


    Everyone had seen through Hei Wuying''s game.


    First, throw a weak disciple in the arena, creating the illusion of goodwill.


    Then, while Su Xiaobai stood at the peak of his momentum, slide in an offer that looked generous but was nothing short of a daylight robbery.


    One million contribution points¡ªfor a technique that could shake the world.


    A thief dressed as a benefactor.


    And Hei Wuying?


    That bastard had no shame.


    But Su Xiaobai?


    Su Xiaobai was worse.


    His eyes locked onto Hei Wuying with a slow, measured look¡ªlike a predator studying prey that thought itself untouchable.


    Then, he smiled.


    A slow, wicked smile, the kind that made people reconsider their life choices.


    "Peak Lord Hei, I am touched." His voice was light, almost lazy, like a merchant discussing the price of common goods. "For a respected senior to offer such generosity¡­ Truly, it moves me."


    Hei Wuying''s hidden eyes sharpened.


    The crowd shivered.


    That tone¡ªthat wasn''t gratitude.


    That was the tone of a man who already had his prey by the throat.


    Su Xiaobai sighed, shaking his head.


    "Unfortunately, this humble junior was born with a weakness¡ªI am sentimental."


    He placed a hand over his chest, looking mournful.


    "You see, this movement technique is not mine to give. It is a family heirloom, bound by blood and tradition. To part with it would be akin to carving out a piece of my own soul."


    A heavy sigh. A tragic expression.


    Then¡ªhis smile returned.


    "However."


    He tilted his head.


    "Since Peak Lord Hei is so kind-hearted, willing to offer one million contribution points for the mere scraps of a technique, perhaps I should be generous as well."


    He paused. Let that sink in.


    Then¡ªhe unsheathed the blade.


    "I possess ten superior movement techniques."


    The arena went still.


    "Ten?"


    "Superior? Better than what he just used?"


    "What kind of monster is this guy?!"


    Hei Wuying said nothing.


    Su Xiaobai continued.


    "Each of them, naturally, far beyond the likes of this..."


    A low hum ran through the audience.


    Even the Peak Lords stiffened.


    Spatial techniques¡ªone of the rarest and most mysterious techniques in existence. And yet, this little bastard was calling it inferior?


    Hei Wuying''s fingers tapped once against his chair.


    "A bold claim."


    Su Xiaobai laughed softly.


    "Oh, I would never dare deceive a Peak Lord. In fact, I am so confident, I would be willing to part with them¡ªif Peak Lord Hei truly desires them."


    Then came the execution.


    "Of course, I am still paying off the debt for them."


    A pause.


    A perfectly measured silence.


    Then¡ª


    "Ten million spirit stones each."


    BOOM.


    It wasn''t a real explosion. But it might as well have been.


    Because the entire sect fucking detonated.


    "TEN MILLION PER TECHNIQUE?!"


    "Has he lost his mind?!"


    "Who the hell buys techniques at that price?!"


    "Hei Wuying tried to con him, and this bastard is conning him right back!"


    The Peak Lords exchanged glances.


    Huo Rong''s jaw dropped. "The hell does he think he is, a divine auction house?"


    Feng Ruhu''s golden eagle let out a shrill, mocking cry.


    Hei Wuying''s fingers stopped tapping.


    And Su Xiaobai?


    Still smiling.


    Then, smoothly¡ªhe tightened the noose.


    "Of course, I understand that ten million may be a difficult price¡ªeven for a Peak Lord." His tone was sincere, considerate. "It would be unfair to ask for full payment immediately."


    A pause.


    Then¡ªthe kill.


    "So, I am willing to offer a generous installment plan."


    He spread his arms, like a merchant revealing a golden deal.


    "A mere one million spirit stones a year¡ªfor the next hundred years. Surely, Peak Lord Hei, for the sake of the sect, this is a small price to pay?"


    Silence.


    A cold, bone-chilling silence.


    Zhao Tianxuan almost choked on his own spit.


    The audience fucking lost it.


    "H-he''s extorting him!"


    "He just turned it into a fucking lifetime debt!"


    "I¡ªI don''t know whether to admire or fear him!"


    Hei Wuying sat still. Completely still.


    He had spent his life deceiving, manipulating, weaving webs of lies.


    And yet.


    And yet.


    This little bastard had just outplayed him.


    For the first time in decades¡ª


    Hei Wuying had nothing to say.


    Bai Yujian, who had watched in silence until now, smiled bitterly. This little devil.


    She flicked a glance at Zhao Tianxuan, a subtle signal only he could catch. If this farce dragged on, Hei Wuying might cough blood from sheer humiliation.


    One hundred million points. A number so absurd it could shatter even a seasoned merchant''s heart. Did Su Xiaobai possess such wealth?


    Of course not.


    But did he weave the lie so beautifully that none dared to question him?


    Absolutely.


    Zhao Tianxuan nodded, stepping forward with the grace of a man exhausted by life. His voice rang across the arena¡ª


    "The match is concluded. Let us proceed."


    Hei Wuying sighed in relief, wisely swallowing whatever words still lingered on his tongue. He had lost today¡ªnot in battle, but in a far crueler game.


    Next to step forward was Feng Ruhu, the Beast Taming Peak Lord.


    Originally, he was meant to send two of his strongest disciples.


    But after witnessing everything?


    Fuck that.


    Instead, he sent two inner court weaklings, knowing full well they would be crushed.


    And crushed they were.


    BANG! BANG!


    Two bodies soared through the air before slamming into the jade platform, leaving behind only groans and regret.


    The crowd didn''t even blink.


    At this point, one-shots were the standard.


    Feng Ruhu let out a long sigh, shoulders relaxing.


    He had sacrificed two nobodies, and in return, he had avoided enmity.


    A small price to pay.


    He cleared his throat. "Su Xiaobai¡ª"


    But before he could make his offer¡ª


    A deep chuckle interrupted him.


    "Disciple Su"


    The voice belonged to Lin Qingfeng, the Verdant Peak Lord.


    A man with a round belly, a long white beard, and eyes that gleamed like polished jade.


    To the ignorant, he appeared kind, wise, approachable.


    To those who knew better¡ª


    He was a merchant. A loan shark. A man who never made a deal that didn''t end in his favor.


    "Join our Verdant Peak, and we shall offer you ten million contribution points as a welcoming gift."


    The crowd stirred.


    A bold move.


    But Lin Qingfeng wasn''t finished.


    He smiled, stroking his beard.


    "And, of course, I have heard of your¡­ unique preferences. Fear not. I have just the thing."


    He clapped his hands.


    And then¡ª


    Five long-legged beauties stepped forward, moving in perfect synchronization, heads bowed at the exact same angle.


    They were like jade sculptures carved by a celestial artist, each possessing an otherworldly grace.


    Round, charming faces that invited sinful thoughts, emerald eyes that held the depth of ancient forests, and silken brown hair, each styled differently.


    One had a short, sharp cut, elegant yet seductive, the kind that whispered of danger.


    Even Su Xiaobai''s gaze flickered. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The others carried an ethereal charm, a delicate beauty that concealed deadly cultivation.


    For these were no mere flowers.


    Each one was already a Core Disciple.


    A harem prepared for convenience.


    The crowd exploded.


    "Shameless! Verdant Peak is throwing women at him now?!"


    Leng Tianhai, the Frost Peak Lord, snorted coldly. "Despicable."


    But none were truly surprised.


    Lin Qingfeng had one hundred and twenty concubines and over four hundred and fifty children.


    These quintuplets? They were his treasures.


    And now, he was offering them up.


    The sect''s standards had truly fallen.


    Sigh...


    A sigh drifted through the air.


    Soft, yet heavy.


    Bai Yujian.


    Her crystal-clear eyes, usually distant, now held a rare trace of emotion.


    But it was not contempt.


    It was inevitability.


    For this was not about standards.


    It was about Su Xiaobai.


    Today, it was confirmed¡ªhe had reached Nascent Soul Realm.


    And he was only twenty-seven.


    A dragon that had only just begun to ascend.


    To have him, even for a short time, would bring honor to any Peak.


    And so, Bai Yujian, who had once stood as an unshakable pillar of virtue, now stepped forward.


    And spoke.


    "Su Xiaobai."


    Su Xiaobai, who had been purposefully ignoring her presence, finally turned to meet her gaze. Continue your saga on My Virtual Library Empire


    And those cold, clear eyes locked onto his.


    Behind her, two figures stepped forward.


    Wrapped in white fox-fur robes, their faces flushed, their movements timid yet deliberate.


    Hu Jiao''er and Hu Mei''er.


    One glared at Su Xiaobai, as if this was all his fault.


    The other kept her head down, hands curling against her sleeves.

 Chapter 167 Sword Fairys offer!

    Bai Yujian exhaled slowly.


    Then, forcing the words past her lips, she spoke.


    "The Snow Sisters of Sword Peak have already reached Deity Transformation Realm, and they will be promoted to elders after the battle ends."


    And then¡ªthe blade fell.


    "You may accompany them. And from the Sword Peak, you may choose any woman you desire."


    The arena stilled.


    "???"


    Su Xiaobai''s brows lifted slightly.


    Even Zhu Qing turned, looking at Bai Yujian in disbelief.


    Leng Tianhai, the Frost Peak Lord, frowned. "Sword Fairy, is that truly you? When did your morals waver?"


    Bai Yujian snorted. She offered no explanation.


    For she knew¡ª


    This was only the beginning.


    The sect was not the only power watching.


    Beyond the arena, in the distant horizon, shadows had gathered.


    Not disciples.


    Not elders.


    Foreign forces.


    People from the Empire.


    Representatives from other sects. Experience tales with My Virtual Library Empire


    Eyes from beyond Yue Country.


    They had yet to descend.


    But once this battle ended¡ª


    They would.


    Bai Yujian knew.


    She knew Su Xiaobai had a unique ability.


    She knew what kind of sect he would seek.


    One that could provide him with Yin Qi sources.


    But the Xiantian Sect''s Yin Qi reserves were empty.


    So¡ªshe had no other choice.


    Even if it left a bitter taste in her mouth.


    For Su Xiaobai, it was simply fate.


    Born with a body that demanded Yin to rise, he had managed to maintain restraint.


    He had not fallen into depravity.


    Yet.


    What Bai Yujian didn''t know¡ª


    Was that Su Xiaobai had wanted to fall into depravity many, many times.


    But cultivation was a harsh mistress.


    Even a man like him needed rest.


    Today, he had come not just to fight¡ª


    ¡ªbut to consolidate his Nascent Soul Realm cultivation.


    Xu Tianran, the Peak Lord of Alchemy Peak, frowned, his aged face as still as the surface of a hidden lake.


    No one noticed.


    But Su Xiaobai did.


    This old man¡­ something about him was always off.


    For a mere alchemist, he was too silent, too observant, too deeply woven into the sect''s affairs.


    And now?


    Now, his eyes held displeasure.


    Not because Su Xiaobai was gaining attention¡ªno, it was something deeper.


    And that only made Su Xiaobai more suspicious.


    Then, in a voice loud enough to shake the air, Xu Tianran sighed, "Sect Master, we can have these discussions after the battle in the sect hall. Why are we making a mockery of ourselves in front of our disciples?"


    On the surface, a simple suggestion.


    But in reality?


    A warning.


    Bai Yujian and Xu Tianran''s roles as sect guardians were known only to a select few.


    Even most Peak Lords were unaware.


    Zhao Tianxuan''s expression eased. He had been trying to keep order, but now, even he saw the truth.


    This wasn''t about testing Su Xiaobai anymore.


    It was about claiming him.


    Like wolves circling fresh prey, the Peak Lords had abandoned all pretense.


    He let out a long sigh. "Then let''s take the discussions after the battle."


    As if waiting for that very moment, the battle horn rang out.


    A deep, reverberating sound that shook the hearts of all present.


    The remaining three Peaks would send their contenders after the break.


    Su Xiaobai retreated to the edge of the arena, his movements unhurried.


    A wooden stool awaited him.


    He sat.


    And as the Peak Lords vanished into the grand balcony, likely discussing new ways to scheme, only one stayed behind.


    Zhu Qing.


    She approached with a sly smile, her voice teasing yet laced with a hidden sharpness.


    "Little Villain, how does it feel? You''re the star of the sect now."


    But Su Xiaobai''s expression remained cold. Because nothing was going according to plan.


    This was supposed to be a slaughter.


    A warning.


    A bloody message carved into the bones of anyone who dared to cross him.


    And when Liu Zhenhai finally entered the arena, the plan was to push him to the edge.


    Make him lose control.


    Make him die.


    But now?


    Now, the game had changed.


    Liu Chenfu¡ªthe bastard Peak Lord of Stormfire Peak¡ªwas gone.


    Liu Zhenhai¡ªthe man who was supposed to be his opponent¡ªhadn''t arrived.


    That could only mean one thing.


    They were plotting.


    A deal had been made.


    And if things played out as expected, Liu Chenfu¡ªthe old dog who had been scheming against Su Xiaobai for months¡ª


    Would die tonight.


    One way or another.


    Zhu Qing, watching Su Xiaobai''s face grow darker, a rare trace of admiration flashed in her gaze.


    At least he wasn''t being lazy for once.


    "Why are they doing this?" Su Xiaobai exhaled, eyes locked on the distant balcony.


    Zhu Qing stood beside him, arms folded. "Why wouldn''t they? I told you not to come. You think this is the end of it? Right now, they''re just offering deals. But do you really think none of them will take coercive measures later?"


    Silence.


    Su Xiaobai''s face darkened further.


    Then, Zhu Qing''s hand rested lightly on his back.


    Her voice was quieter now, laced with something almost¡­ protective.


    "I''ve already sent your sister and your maid to a safe location. Even if they search the entire sect, they won''t find them."


    Su Xiaobai''s gaze snapped to her.


    He hadn''t even thought about them.


    Zhu Qing¡­ had already handled it.


    It was the first time he realized something.


    For everyone else, she was ruthless. Manipulative. Poisonous.


    But for him?


    That poisonous heart still pumped his blood.


    His lips parted slightly as he stared at her face.


    Zhu Qing''s cheeks turned faintly pink.


    "What?"


    She recovered quickly, clearing her throat.


    "Don''t take them lightly. They sent weaker opponents on purpose. If you were exhausted when you finally lost, it wouldn''t have been justified."


    Su Xiaobai''s brow furrowed. "Lost?"


    Zhu Qing chuckled. "The Fire Peak Lord is on our side. He''ll send weaklings, too. Liu Zhenhai? A mere dog. Win or lose, his fate is already sealed."


    Then, she pointed to the balcony.


    Her voice dropped lower.


    "But her."


    Su Xiaobai followed her gaze.


    There¡ªseated above all, untouched by the chaos¡ª


    Was Yue Xiuying, the Celestial Peak Lord.


    She was unmoved. Uninterested. Uninvolved.


    It was as if this entire tournament was beneath her.


    But behind her?


    A shadow stood.


    Wrapped in dark robes, head lowered, expression unreadable.


    Zhu Qing''s eyes sharpened. "See her?"


    Su Xiaobai nodded.


    Zhu Qing''s next words sent a chill down his spine.


    "That''s the Invincible Ghost of the Sect."


    His brows furrowed. "Invincible?"


    "She can predict your movements." Zhu Qing''s tone was grim. "Fighting her is nearly impossible¡ªunless you completely overpower her."


    Su Xiaobai tapped his fingers on the wooden stool.


    Predict movements?


    That wasn''t just talent.


    His eyes narrowed.


    "If she''s that strong, why is she still here?"


    Zhu Qing exhaled.


    "Because she''s a slave."


    Su Xiaobai''s fingers stilled.


    A slave?


    He glanced at the Celestial Peak Lord.


    And for the first time, he felt genuine discomfort.


    The woman was too perfect.


    A fox-like smile. Eyes that held the depth of galaxies, yet revealed nothing.


    A woman who could swallow men whole without even leaving bones behind.


    A woman whose gaze alone could make even the strongest men kneel.


    Su Xiaobai had seen many types of women.


    But he knew this type best.


    The kind that could make you sell your soul and thank her for it.


    His own strength was still limited.


    And too many enemies would only slow his ascent.


    Now, it was clear¡ª


    Liu Zhenhai?


    That was personal. A grudge.


    But his true opponent?


    The girl standing behind Yue Xiuying.


    That was the final test.


    And the Peak Lords?


    They knew.


    They had already decided the outcome.


    They weren''t trying to obstruct him.


    They didn''t care if he won or lost.


    Because they had already predicted it¡ª


    He would be defeated in the final match.


    Su Xiaobai''s fingers tightened on the stool.


    His jaw clenched.


    Then¡ªa slow exhale.


    He leaned back, shoulders relaxing. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Then, he smiled.


    A dark, slow, merciless smile.


    "Crafty bastards."


    Did they really think it would be that easy?


    Did they think he would fall so easily?

 Chapter 168 Betrayal! Su Xiaobais Sword Intent!

    One hour later...


    ROAR!


    The battle horn howled, shaking the very heavens.


    Fire Peak Lord Huo Rong rose to his feet, his black beard gleaming like polished obsidian, his long hair flowing like a noble scholar in a painting¡ª


    ¡ªif not for the sheer murderous intent twisting his features.


    Su Xiaobai''s brows lifted.


    He had assumed Huo Rong was on their side.


    So why was this bastard looking at him like he fucked his wife?


    And then¡ª


    With a lazy shove, Huo Rong sent his two disciples into the stage.


    At first glance, they were just two figures clad in flame-patterned robes.


    But the moment their auras ignited, the entire sect balcony stiffened.


    Because these weren''t just any disciples.


    One was Inner Court Rank #7¡ªBlazing Tyrant Yan Wushang.


    His Ninefold Inferno Body made his very bones burn with fire, every strike capable of melting steel into lava.


    The other?


    Inner Court Rank #4¡ªHuo Lingxue, the Ember-Frost Phoenix.


    A woman who wielded both fire and ice, suppressing flames while enhancing her own.


    Even Liu Zhenhai, the so-called "main event" of this tournament, wasn''t as strong as these two.


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes flickered.


    First thought?


    "Damn, this old man wants to burn me to death."


    His gaze flicked up.


    And there was Huo Rong, lounging on the balcony like a warlord watching his executioners work.


    Su Xiaobai''s expression darkened, and his eyes snapped to Zhu Qing.


    She immediately looked away.


    She had no fucking idea what happened either.


    Wasn''t Huo Rong supposed to be an ally?


    Before he could dwell on it, a sneering voice interrupted his thoughts.


    "What''s wrong, Brother Su? Looking for an escape route?"


    Yan Wushang chuckled, stepping forward, his aura twisting the air into waves of heat.


    Meanwhile¡ª


    Huo Lingxue didn''t move.


    She simply walked to the edge of the stage, leaned against the railing, and flicked open an ice-blue fan.


    The arrogance was staggering.


    She wasn''t even leaving the battlefield.


    Because she wasn''t worried.


    They had already decided¡ªYan Wushang would go first.


    And to her, neither of them were a threat.


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes swept over them both.


    Then, a wicked smile curled his lips.


    "Escape route? No."


    His voice was leisurely, amused¡ªbut sharp as a knife hidden beneath silk.


    "I was just recalling the path your mother took when she wandered into my chambers one fateful night."


    Yan Wushang''s smile faltered.


    Su Xiaobai continued, his tone filled with gentle reminiscence.


    "Such a tragic mistake¡­ for her to lose her way so thoroughly. And then to birth a grandson so utterly ignorant he can''t even recognize his elders?"


    BOOM.


    The entire sect balcony exploded in chaos.


    "HOLY FUCK¡ª"


    "HE... HE ... JUST INSULTED THREE GENERATIONS IN ONE BREATH!"


    "THIS ISN''T A FIGHT, THIS IS BLOODLINE ANNIHILATION....!"


    Even the Peak Lords twitched.


    Huo Rong''s fists clenched, his beard trembling like a storm-tossed tree. Although Yan Wushang wasn''t his biological son, the truth was¡­


    He was having an affair with Yan Wushang''s mother.


    And Su Xiaobai?


    Su Xiaobai had just implied, in front of the entire sect, that he fucked that woman first.


    And turned Huo Rong''s head green.


    The Peak Lords caught on instantly.


    The frost Peak Lord Leng Tianhai''s ice-cold face twitched. "Huo Rong, I see your temper flaring. Are you¡­ perhaps feeling personally attacked?"


    Beast Peak Lord Feng Ruhu let out a mocking chuckle. "Old Huo, I didn''t realize you had such a complicated family tree."


    Hei Wuying, the bastard of shadow peak, whispered to his disciple.


    "Remember this, Yan Xue. True villains never waste a fight¡ªthey attack the opponent''s bloodline before the battle even starts."


    Yan Xue, still battered from Su Xiaobai''s earlier beating, could only nod numbly.


    Yan Wushang, however¡ªwas about to explode.


    His veins bulged, his entire aura flaring like an erupting volcano.


    "Su Xiaobai, you dog¡ª" sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But before he could even finish, a soft clap rang through the arena.


    Huo Lingxue had lowered her fan, revealing her cool, amused gaze.


    The crowd expected her to be furious¡ªafter all, she was standing on the same side as Yan Wushang.


    But instead?


    She looked at Su Xiaobai with genuine intrigue.


    Because, unlike Yan Wushang, she wasn''t some blindly loyal disciple.


    She was just an orphan.


    A pawn picked up and molded by Huo Rong, trained for a future only he knew.


    So she didn''t feel offended.


    If anything¡ªshe was curious.


    This man¡­


    Had just publicly humiliated a Peak Lord and his strongest disciple, in front of the entire sect¡ª


    And he was still standing there, smiling.


    Like a villain who had set fire to the battlefield¡ª


    ¡ªand was watching it burn.


    "Su Xiaobai, You Fool! Why Are You Courting Death?!"


    This was the emotion in everyone''s eyes.


    Why?


    Why was he fanning the flames?


    Did he not fear getting burned?


    They didn''t understand.


    They thought Su Xiaobai was courting death.


    But Su Xiaobai?


    He knew the truth.


    Some flames can be extinguished.


    But others?


    They only burn hotter.


    "Good! Good! Brother Su, don''t blame me for not going easy¡­!"


    Yan Wushang had long heard that Su Xiaobai gave no one face¡ª


    But today?


    Today, he saw it firsthand.


    His eyes burned with fury as he lifted his hands, revealing a pair of golden gauntlets, glowing like molten suns.


    "These are my Tyrant Sun Gauntlets! Forged in the volcanic depths of the Hellfire Abyss! Become the first fool to die beneath them!"


    The crowd gasped.


    A treasure forged in the abyssal core of a volcano?!


    Even some elders couldn''t keep their greed hidden.


    And Su Xiaobai?


    He just gave them a curious glance.


    Then, without shame¡ª


    "Can I have them if I defeat you?"


    "...What?"


    Yan Wushang''s aura stumbled mid-surge.


    Then¡ªhe laughed.


    A deep, wild, tyrannical laugh.


    "HAHAHAHA! Sure! But first¡ªeat this!"


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    His body exploded into flames, his figure wrapped in a raging inferno.


    heatwaves rippled across the stage.


    The ground beneath him melted, the very jade platform darkening from the sheer intensity.


    And then¡ª


    "Heaven-Burning Tyrant Fist!"


    Two fireballs¡ªeach as large as a miniature sun¡ª


    BOOM!


    The world roared as they shot toward Su Xiaobai.


    The very sky burned, waves of flame consuming the battlefield.


    The sect felt as if they were sitting atop an erupting volcano.


    Disciples in the stands felt their robes ignite, some backing away instinctively.


    And Su Xiaobai?


    He stood still.


    As if he didn''t see the approaching twin suns.


    As if he didn''t feel the scorching heat threatening to consume him.


    Then¡ª


    A shift in the air.


    A weight so heavy it was like the heavens themselves had descended.


    Yan Wushang''s breath fastened.


    His body froze.


    Something pressed down on him.


    Like the gravity of a falling star, the pull of a collapsing celestial body.


    For just a single second, his eyes met Su Xiaobai''s.


    And in that moment¡ª


    It felt like thousands of celestial bodies were pressing down on his soul.


    Then¡ª


    The two miniature suns that were charging toward Su Xiaobai¡ª


    They contracted.


    And contracted.


    And contracted.


    Until¡ª


    CRASH!


    Like the shattering of a dying planet¡ª


    The twin suns imploded.


    And then¡ª


    BOOM!!!


    The sky split apart, a volcanic eruption of power sending shockwaves outward.


    Flames devoured the battlefield, scorching the ground, surging into the heavens.


    Elders leaped from their seats.


    "Cover yourselves!"


    A commanding roar rang through the arena, an elder''s voice sharp with urgency.


    The explosion''s shockwave expanded outward, drowning everything within a thousand meters in fire.


    "WHAT JUST HAPPENED?!"


    Gasps, disbelief, chaos.


    And then¡ª


    As the flames finally dissipated¡ª


    As the smoke began to clear¡ª


    All eyes locked onto Su Xiaobai.


    There he stood¡ªcompletely untouched.


    In his hand¡ª


    A sword.


    A long, red blade, still pulsing with a deep, eerie glow.


    And that''s when it hit them.


    Someone whispered.


    A single word¡ª


    "Sword Intent¡­?"


    But the moment they said it¡ªthey hesitated.


    No.


    Something was wrong.


    This wasn''t Sword Intent.

 Chapter 169 Su Xiaobai: The Art of Robbing Your Opponent Mid-Ass-Whooping!

    This wasn''t Sword Intent.


    Hong Tianbao, the War Peak Lord, a man draped in the mane of a silver lion, felt a rare chill crawl down his spine.


    He wiped the sweat off his forehead, his battle-hardened instincts screaming at him.


    "Sword Fairy, what exactly did you teach your disciple?"


    His voice was casual, but his gaze was sharp, wary.


    Sword Intent was meant to cut.


    But this?


    This was destruction.


    If Su Xiaobai was allowed to grow, no war strategy would be able to contain him.


    Bai Yujian sat still, her beautiful face unreadable.


    But inside?


    Inside, she was suffering from a storm of emotions.


    Confusion.


    Surprise.


    And something she hadn''t felt in years¡ªdoubt.


    The other Peak Lords pressed her for answers.


    "What kind of training did you use?"


    "Is this some hidden Sword Dao technique?"


    Bai Yujian sighed softly and shook her head.


    Then, she finally spoke her mind.


    "I didn''t train him at all." Her voice was calm, but beneath it lay a storm of emotions. "It''s a normal level-two Sword Intent¡­ I didn''t expect him to learn it by himself. Maybe¡ªmaybe he can go even higher and is still holding back."


    Silence.


    And then¡ª


    "Fart!"


    An elder directly cursed.


    "If you didn''t train him, then where the hell did this demonic existence crawl out from?!"


    The other Peak Lords weren''t any better.


    "Bullshit! A mere level-two Sword Intent shattering a Heaven-Burning Tyrant Fist?! Do you take us for fools?!"


    Bai Yujian said nothing.


    Because, truth be told¡ª


    Even she did not understand.


    Her disciple?


    Had become something beyond her comprehension.


    ____


    [Flame Devours Heaven]


    BOOM!


    The entire arena burned.


    Flames rose like a tidal wave, swallowing everything in their path, twisting into fiery hands that stretched toward the heavens.


    Yan Wushang had gone insane.


    His aura raged uncontrollably, the sheer heat of his Ninefold Inferno Body turning the battlefield into a furnace.


    For the audience, the battle was no longer visible¡ªonly an endless sea of flames.


    And within it¡ª


    A chase.


    Yan Wushang charged like a crazed beast, fists coated in molten fire, his every punch leaving scorching craters behind.


    And Su Xiaobai?


    He was dodging.


    Leaping, flickering, vanishing and reappearing like a phantom dancing between the flames.


    "Come here! Where the hell are you running?!"


    Yan Wushang''s voice roared through the inferno, his frustration fueling his madness.


    But the more Su Xiaobai ran, the more he lost control.


    The Peak Lords observed calmly.


    "Hmph. He can''t dodge forever. If even one of those punches lands, Su Xiaobai will be shattered."


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    They were already losing interest.


    After all, cultivation wasn''t just about strength¡ª


    It was about control.


    Only Bai Yujian''s gaze remained sharp, her focus locked onto Su Xiaobai.


    She wasn''t watching the flames.


    She was watching him.


    Waiting.


    Observing.


    She wanted to see it again.


    That strange sword intent.


    And then¡ª


    Su Xiaobai stopped.


    "Wh¡ª" Yan Wushang''s eyes widened mid-charge.


    From a fleeing shadow, Su Xiaobai had suddenly become a mountain.


    Unmoving.


    Unshakable.


    Then¡ª


    A whisper.


    "Celestial Decree."


    SHIIING!


    A single arc of sword light flashed¡ª


    Bright. Blinding. Absolute.


    And then¡ª


    SPLURT!


    Yan Wushang''s arms flew into the air.


    Blood sprayed like a crimson waterfall, his hands¡ªsevered cleanly at the wrist¡ªfalling to the ground.


    Everyone froze.


    Even the elders stood up.


    "Third-level Sword Intent?!"


    Yan Wushang stumbled back, breathing heavy.


    Then, he sneered.


    "Hah! Is that all?!" His voice boomed with arrogance.


    "I wield the Crimson Sun Baptism! I can drain the energy of the sun itself and regrow my limbs!"


    The crowd nodded.


    Yes. This wasn''t over.


    He simply had to channel his bloodline, absorb the flames, and¡ª


    Su Xiaobai''s laughter rang out.


    Like a villain about to unveil his final act.


    Yan Wushang frowned.


    Then¡ª


    He saw it.


    Su Xiaobai was holding something.


    His severed hands.


    And in one smooth motion¡ª


    He took the gauntlets off them.


    Then¡ª


    He wore them.


    Yan Wushang''s face drained of color.


    "YO-YOU! THAT''S AGAINST THE RULES!"


    The crowd barely had time to react¡ª


    BANG!


    A flaming fist collided with Yan Wushang''s face, sending him soaring out of the arena.


    The crowd exploded in shock.


    "DAMN! DID HE JUST ROB HIM MID-FIGHT?!"


    "SU XIAOBAI, YOU HAVE NO SHAME!"


    "A TRUE VILLAIN, THROUGH AND THROUGH!"


    And in the center of it all¡ª


    Yan Wushang lay motionless, buried in the aftermath of his own arrogance.


    The once blazing-red hair, ignited by the essence of the sun itself, dimmed back to black¡ªlike a dying ember in the ashes of defeat.


    His flaming gaze, once filled with untamed fury, had now dulled into blank emptiness.


    The fight was over.


    Or so it seemed.


    CRACK¡ª


    A deep, primordial rumble echoed through the air.


    And then¡ª


    BOOM!


    Su Xiaobai''s sword aura, bore down upon Yan Wushang like the weight of a collapsing firmament.


    The ground beneath him groaned in protest, his body sinking a foot into the earth.


    A sickening crunch followed¡ªhis bones grinding against themselves, blood splurting from his joints.


    A crater formed around him.


    The crowd collectively winced.


    "T-the fight was already over¡­!"


    "Then why the hell is Senior Brother Su still hammering him into the dirt like an unwanted bastard child?!"


    At that moment¡ª


    A furious bellow erupted from the balcony.


    "SU XIAOBAI, STOP BREAKING THE RULES!"


    It was the Fire Peak Lord.


    His balcony edge cracked beneath his grip, his aura flaring like an inferno about to devour the sky.


    Su Xiaobai blinked, tilting his head.


    Then¡ªhe smiled.


    "Oh? I accidentally forgot to retract my sword aura."


    His voice was light, almost polite.


    Like a scholar apologizing for spilling ink on a priceless scroll.


    Huo Rong''s temples throbbed.


    "ACCIDENT?! YOU CALL THAT AN ACCIDENT?!"


    The other Peak Lords chuckled into their sleeves.


    None of them moved to support him.


    Because this?


    This was nothing more than a betrayal returned in kind.


    Huo Rong had already thrown Su Xiaobai to the wolves¡ª


    Now he was watching, powerless, as the wolves feasted.


    Yet while the sect buzzed with chaos, some had already seen through the truth hidden within the flames.


    This wasn''t simply Sword Intent.


    No.


    This was something far more terrifying.


    A sword should sever.


    A blade should cleave.


    The Dao of the Sword was meant to slice apart all obstacles before it.


    But Su Xiaobai''s sword¡ª


    Did not cut.


    It bore down.


    It crushed. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It carried the will of celestial bodies, the weight of the boundless firmament, the pressure of stars drifting too close, ready to devour lesser moons into oblivion.


    His sword didn''t aim to pierce the flesh¡ª


    It sought to fold space itself, to reduce its victims into cosmic dust.


    A technique that did not slash through its enemies¡ª


    But instead collapsed upon them, devouring them like the event horizon of a dying star.


    One of the elders exhaled sharply, eyes trembling.


    "He¡­ He completely shattered the core principle of Sword Intent¡­ and reforged it into something else entirely."


    The Peak Lords were silent.


    But their eyes drifted toward Bai Yujian.


    And then¡ª


    A voice whispered, filled with reverence.


    "Only the Sword Fairy could have taught him something like that¡­"


    Bai Yujian''s face instantly flushed red in shame.


    Because she knew the truth.


    She didn''t teach him a thing!


    Her fingers twitched.


    She suddenly had the urge to grab Su Xiaobai by his collar and shake the secrets out of him.


    Where¡­ where the hell did this brat even learn that?!


    That was the thought burning through Bai Yujian''s mind.


    And it wasn''t just her.


    The entire sect had been thrown into mess.


    Su Xiaobai had not only cut down Yan Wushang¡ªhe had humiliated him, stolen his weapons, and left him buried like a forgotten corpse.


    And now?


    Now Huo Rong and Zhao Tianxuan were at each other''s throats.


    "This brat! Sect Master, we need to discuss proper punishment¡ª"


    "Punishment for what? For winning?" Zhao Tianxuan''s voice was calm, but his tone carried a hint of warning.


    Before Huo Rong could retort, a playful chuckle echoed.


    "Hey, Firecracker, stop whining."


    It was Zhu Qing, her arms crossed, amusement flickering in her fox-like eyes.


    "If your disciple is too weak, that''s not Su Xiaobai''s problem. Taking care of your weapon during battle is a warrior''s most basic instinct. If Yan Wushang couldn''t keep his gauntlets, then that''s his own fault."


    The crowd collectively inhaled.


    She just fucking said it.


    Huo Rong''s face darkened instantly, veins bulging at his temples.


    "You¡ª" His fists trembled, "Fine! Laugh while you can! Let''s see if you''re still laughing when he is lying broken at someone''s feet!"


    Zhao Tianxuan frowned, his expression cooling.


    "Huo Rong, do I need to remind you that this is a friendly spar at best?"


    "Friendly?" Huo Rong let out a cold laugh. "Is that what we''re calling it now? When the boy himself is fighting like a devil?!"


    "And yet, he hasn''t killed anyone." Zhao Tianxuan''s voice remained firm. "Unlike your disciple, who nearly turned the arena into a funeral pyre."


    Huo Rong didn''t respond.


    Because he wasn''t looking at them anymore.


    His gaze locked onto the battlefield below.


    His voice, though quiet, carried through the flames.


    "Lingxue. If you can''t defeat him, don''t bother coming back to Fire Peak."


    The crowd tensed.


    And then¡ªwithout another word¡ª


    Huo Rong turned and left.


    The sect was bewildered.


    "What the hell is wrong with the Fire Peak Lord today?!"


    "First Liu Chenfu, now Huo Rong¡­ Why are all these Peak Lords suddenly losing their shit over Su Xiaobai?!"

 Chapter 170 Lady Ember Frost!

    "First Liu Chenfu, now Huo Rong¡­ Why are all these Peak Lords suddenly losing their shit over Su Xiaobai?!"


    A lone voice spoke the words everyone was thinking.


    And then¡ª


    Silence.


    Disciples exchanged glances, their eyes flickering with realization.


    Until¡ª


    A deep, lovestruck sigh shattered the moment.


    "Charming¡­!"


    Heads snapped toward the source.


    A junior sister, her face flushed, clasped her hands like a maiden in a romance novel, her eyes practically forming heart-shaped talismans.


    "It''s because Brother Su is just too heroic!"


    The men in the crowd visibly choked.


    "What¡ª?! From which angle does he look like a hero?! That bastard''s a villa¡ª"


    "Heroic Brother Su!"


    "HEROIC BROTHER SU!"


    "HEROIC BROTHER SU!"


    Before he could even finish, he was swarmed.


    A horde of crazed junior sisters descended upon him like demonic beasts, their robes fluttering violently, fists pummeling down like divine tribulation lightning.


    "How dare you slander Brother Su''s noble image?!"


    "Are you blind?! His elegance, his ruthlessness, his devilish charm¡ªtruly the heart of a righteous hero!"


    "A true dragon amidst worms!"


    "If being a villain is what it takes to be this handsome, then what use is righteousness?!"


    The poor bastard tried to crawl away, teeth missing, blood dribbling from his nose.


    "You people are insane! I''m telling you, that man just crippled someone and robbed him mid-fight!"


    The girls ignored him completely, their chants shaking the heavens.


    Su Xiaobai¡ªstanding in the arena, fresh off his latest crime¡ª


    Smiled handsomely.


    But inside?


    Inside, he was utterly disgusted.


    "So this is what Liu Zhenhai feels when Lan Meiyu is around¡­"


    The same suffocating, brain-dead loyalty. The same fanaticism that defied reason itself.


    He finally understood the look of sheer misery that had always been on Liu Zhenhai''s face.


    Su Xiaobai exhaled deeply, his newly acquired gauntlets gleaming in the sunlight.


    The men in the crowd looked on in horror.


    The sect elders exchanged glances, shaking their heads.


    And the Peak Lords?


    They just watched, their faces filled with resignation.


    Because overnight, Su Xiaobai had somehow gone from a ruthless villain¡ª


    To the sect''s most ''heroic'' figure.


    And the worst part?


    Not even Su Xiaobai himself believed it.


    The fame came too fast. Too suffocating. Too fucking nauseating. Su Xiaobai had always imagined himself as a shadow leader, lurking behind the scenes, pulling strings in the dark¡ª


    Not this.


    Not standing in broad daylight, being worshiped like some divine war god, with a horde of brain-poisoned junior sisters screaming his name like they just hit enlightenment through sheer thirst.


    He sighed.


    A long, deep sigh, filled with the exhaustion of a man who had seen too much, suffered too much, and just wanted to be left the fuck alone.


    And then¡ª


    "HIS SIGH¡­!"


    The voice that echoed through the silence was breathy, desperate¡ªunhinged.


    Heads snapped toward the source of this degeneracy.


    A senior sister, her robes slightly disheveled, her thighs clenching so hard she was about to crack the earth itself.


    "His sigh¡­ is like the whisper of celestial winds caressing my soul¡­"


    Her breath ragged, and her eyes rolled back slightly.


    And then¡ª


    "If I could just¡­ just drink his sigh directly from his lips¡­"


    A pause.


    A deep, trembling exhale.


    "I could bathe in it for ten thousand years and never need to cultivate again¡­!"


    "..."


    The entire sect froze.


    The elders, hardened by centuries of battle, looked like they had just been struck by divine tribulation.


    The Peak Lords, masters of their respective Daos, suddenly felt their cultivation stagnate from sheer secondhand embarrassment.


    The men?


    They stared at the girl like she had transcended into a new level of depravity unknown to mankind.


    And then¡ª


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    "Hmph! What do you know?! He is not just Su Xiaobai anymore!"


    "That''s right! Call him by his true name¡ª"


    "The Devilishly Handsome Blade!"


    "The Celestial Tyrant of Love and War!"


    "The Midnight Phantom of the Sword!"


    "The Heart-Stealing Demon Lord!"


    "The Cunning Fox of the Martial Dao!"


    "The Peerless Dragon of Passion!"


    "The Saintly Tyrant of Dual Cultivation!"


    "THE UNTOUCHABLE SEX GOD OF THE XIANTIAN SECT!"


    "...What the actual fuck."


    A male disciple vomited blood on the spot.


    Another just sat down and stared at the sky, his will to live gone.


    One of the elders broke into a violent coughing fit.


    Even Zhao Tianxuan, the Sect Master himself, twitched violently, as if considering whether being struck by heavenly lightning would be preferable to witnessing this bullshit.


    The junior sisters, however, were unfazed.


    In fact¡ªthey were fucking inspired.


    A second girl stepped forward, her breathing erratic, pupils dilated.


    "B-Brother Su¡­ do you perhaps need a cauldron to help regulate your yang energy?"


    "No! Pick me! I have a dual-cultivation physique that can refine impurities!"


    "IMPURITIES MY ASS! YOU JUST WANT TO GET FUCKED!"


    "Hmph. Junior sisters, stop being so impatient. True love must be cultivated over time."


    "SAYS THE BITCH WHO HAS HIS SHRINE IN HER ROOM!"


    The sect stands exploded into civil war.


    Fists flew. Robes were torn. Hairpins became deadly hidden weapons.


    The men?


    They had given up.


    One inner disciple turned to his friend, his eyes blank.


    "Do you think if I start training in body refinement, I can turn myself into an actual rock?"


    "What? Why?"


    "Because rocks don''t have to hear this bullshit."


    Even the elders, men who had lived for centuries, were staring dead-eyed into the distance, their souls shattered beyond repair.


    And Su Xiaobai? Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Su Xiaobai just stood there.


    Motionless.


    Expressionless.


    Emotionally dead inside.


    "Do you like them? Aren''t they quite charming?"


    A voice, smooth as spring water yet tinged with teasing amusement, drifted through the battlefield. A graceful figure strode forward, each step slow, deliberate¡ªthe gait of someone who already knew how this match would end.


    Huo Lingxue.


    Dark red hair cascaded like molten jade, crystalline eyes framed by lashes that trembled as she studied him. A woman who had seen too many battles, grown too weary of arrogant men who thought they stood above the heavens. Her charming face, aristocratic nose, and soft peach-blossom lips carried an expression between amusement and condescension.


    Yet beneath that elegance, beneath the carefully crafted veneer of indifference¡ª


    Something dangerous lurked.


    The aura around her wavered with frost and embers. In her delicate hand rested the Frozen Ember Fan, its ethereal glow betraying the chaos within her physique¡ªthe war of winter and inferno that no ordinary weapon could endure.


    So she made one that could.


    And Su Xiaobai?


    His sixth sense¡ªhoned through countless schemes and brushes with death¡ªscreamed.


    This woman was trouble.


    Big.


    Fucking.


    Trouble.


    Still, his smirk remained roguish, though inwardly, he was already weeping blood.


    "Charming, very charming." His chuckle was dry, the kind only a man walking to his own execution could muster.


    Huo Lingxue''s lips curved slightly. "Summon your puppet." She spoke as if ordering tea. "Aren''t you a puppet master? You''ll need her¡ªunless, of course, you plan to spend the rest of your days lying in bed, unable to move, relying on kind-hearted sisters to feed and bathe you."


    Su Xiaobai''s brow twitched.


    Oh.


    Oh, this bitch.


    She was playing dirty.


    But he wasn''t stupid.


    Xiao Hei was off-limits. Summoning her now would invite questions¡ªquestions that could destroy everything.


    His smirk widened, lazy yet sharp. "I don''t need a puppet to defeat you. I alone am enough."


    Then¡ª


    BOOM.


    An immense aura crashed down, shaking the battlefield.


    Huo Lingxue''s smile froze.


    Su Xiaobai''s sword aura surged, pressing upon her like a celestial mountain, the air vibrating with suppressed violence.


    It wasn''t an attack.


    It was a proclamation.


    A whisper to the world¡ª


    Before this blade, all must kneel.


    Her eyes widened, the composure cracking just enough for a flicker of surprise.


    "So that''s how you overpowered Yan Wushang¡­"


    A chuckle¡ªsoft, bitter.


    She had wondered¡ªhow did he knock out Yan Wushang in a single blow, even with stolen gauntlets?


    Now she knew.


    It wasn''t power.


    It was suppression.


    An invisible chain, growing heavier with each breath, robbing strength, speed, will¡ªuntil collapse was inevitable.


    Then¡ª


    "Yin-Yang Flame Suppression..."


    BOOM!


    Twin forces erupted, colliding like warring gods.


    A pillar of fire roared skyward, twisting into a blazing dragon, the heat distorting reality itself.


    A pillar of ice surged forth, coiling like a divine serpent, freezing space into an abyss of absolute zero.


    The battlefield screamed, caught in a storm of elements that should not coexist¡ªyet did.


    And then¡ª


    It spread.


    A shockwave rippled outward, devouring the battlefield. Even those watching from above felt their breath cold.


    And at the center¡ªHuo Lingxue stood, untouched, her fan flicking open as if she had stirred a gentle breeze¡ªnot birthed a frozen inferno.


    What made it terrifying?


    It had neutralized Su Xiaobai''s sword aura.


    Not by overpowering it.


    By devouring it. Matching it. Making it useless within her range.


    Then, the whispers started.


    "Brother Su, be careful! That woman isn''t as easy as she looks!"


    "Even Senior Brother Chi Fanglin and Brother Yun are weaker than her! She was supposed to be #2 in the rankings, but she stopped fighting after losing to the Celestial Peak Lord''s disciple! Her ego must still be bruised!"


    "..."


    "..."


    Huo Lingxue''s brows twitched.


    Her grip on her fan tightened.


    Then¡ªshe smiled.


    The kind of smile that preceded genocides.


    "Whose ego is bruised?"


    Her voice was too calm.


    With a flick, she snapped her fan shut¡ª


    CRACK.


    "If you''re so powerful, go fight her yourself. Let''s see how long before you piss yourself."


    The disciples who had so helpfully dug up her past?


    Silent.


    Su Xiaobai?


    Too busy staring at the Celestial Peak Lord''s balcony.


    Behind her¡ªa shadow stood.


    Unmoving.


    Uninterested.


    But watching.


    Chi Fanglin¡ª#3 in the rankings¡ªsaid nothing.


    Brother Yun¡ª#2¡ªalso stayed silent.


    Because they knew.


    If Huo Lingxue fought them¡ª


    Their chances were slim.


    And this fight?


    Wouldn''t be simple.

 Chapter 171 Dragon Transformation!

    CLANG!


    Su Xiaobai''s golden gauntlet crashed against Huo Lingxue''s Ember Frost Fan¡ªonly for his fireball to explode into crystalline embers, freezing and burning at the same time, like a shattered nebula raining from the heavens.


    "Not bad¡­" she murmured, lips curving.


    And just like that, Su Xiaobai knew he was fucked.


    CLICK!


    Her fan split apart, twin daggers forming in her hands¡ªone wreathed in an eerie, soul-chilling frost, the other a molten river of hellfire.


    Then her boots tapped once¡ª


    And she was gone.


    SHING¡ª!


    A streak of fire flashed before his eyes¡ªhis instincts screamed¡ªhe barely twisted away¡ª


    CLANG!


    Her dagger scraped against his gauntlet, sending a shockwave that split the ground beneath them.


    SHING!


    Before he could counter, she was already above him¡ª


    CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!


    A blur of steel and fury.


    Each strike was faster than the last, a storm of dagger slashes that turned the air into a web of deadly arcs. Su Xiaobai''s arms went numb, his defenses crumbling as he staggered backward.


    "Shit¡ª!"


    Flicker Step!


    He vanished¡ªonly to reappear directly in her strike zone.


    Her smile widened.


    "Too slow."


    SHIIING!


    Twin blades ripped forward¡ª


    BOOM!


    Su Xiaobai kicked off the air itself, twisting his body mid-flight to dodge by a hair''s breadth. The twin daggers sliced past his ribs, missing his vitals but cutting clean through his outer robe.


    Cold sweat.


    She''s too fucking fast. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    His gauntlets were too slow. They couldn''t keep up.


    "Tch¡ªfuck this!"


    With a flick of his wrist, his gauntlets vanished into his storage ring. In the same instant, his sword flashed into existence.


    A heavy pressure exploded from his stance.


    "Sword Intent¡ªShattering Earth!"


    BOOOOOM!


    The ground split apart beneath them as a crushing sword aura locked onto Huo Lingxue, the sheer weight of his intent slowing her movements for just a fraction of a second.


    That was all he needed.


    SHHHING!


    Sword Qi surged along his blade as he lunged¡ªthe air howled as his sword descended in a perfect arc, sharp enough to cut the heavens themselves¡ª


    Before impact¡ª


    WHOOSH!


    Twin tornadoes of fire and ice exploded from Huo Lingxue''s body, the sheer force swallowing Su Xiaobai whole!


    The battlefield vanished.


    All that remained was a hurricane of blazing hellfire and absolute zero.


    No one could see them anymore.


    Only the relentless CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! of steel colliding within the storm.


    Inside that world of destruction, two monsters still fought.


    ____


    Inside the raging maelstrom of fire and ice, Su Xiaobai couldn''t see shit.


    Flames howled like a celestial inferno, devouring the air itself. Frost chewed at reality, freezing space into an abyss of absolute zero. Neither should exist together¡ªyet here they were, trying to kill him at the same time.


    And in the heart of it¡ª


    She was there.


    SHING!


    A dagger ripped toward his throat.


    CLANG!


    Su Xiaobai twisted his sword, deflecting it by a hair''s breadth. The moment steel met steel, his instincts screamed¡ª


    She was behind him.


    SHING!


    He barely ducked in time, her frost dagger missing his spine by a whisper.


    "Tch¡ªwhere the hell are you even moving from?!"


    Huo Lingxue laughed¡ªa soft, silken sound, despite the storm tearing reality apart around them.


    "Everywhere."


    SHING! SHING! SHING!


    Three slashes, three directions.


    Su Xiaobai barely blocked the first two¡ªthe third slid past his defenses. Continue your adventure with My Virtual Library Empire


    SLASH!


    Cold fire bit into his side, searing and freezing his flesh at the same time.


    His face twitched.


    "...Shit."


    "Don''t look so pained, Brother Su," she teased, circling him. "You should be honored. Not many men can say I''ve left a mark on them."


    CLANG!


    He parried another strike, flickering backward to create space¡ªbut there was no space.


    The storm was her domain.


    She was already at his side.


    Her breath ghosted his ear.


    "Or do you prefer leaving marks on women instead?"


    CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!


    A whirlwind of dagger strikes hammered against his blade, forcing him on the defensive. His arms burned from the endless impact¡ªhalf-step Immortal-rank weapons weren''t a joke.


    He gritted his teeth.


    If he stayed on defense, he was dead.


    "Tch¡ªsince you wanna play dirty¡ª"


    BOOM!


    A shockwave of Sword Qi blasted outward.


    She flickered back just in time, her daggers dragging two perfect lines through the air.


    Su Xiaobai grinned, raising his sword.


    "I''ll give you a taste too."


    "Sword Intent¡ªCelestial''s decree!"


    The moment the words left his mouth¡ª


    He was gone.


    A single lightning-fast sword arc sliced through the storm¡ª


    Straight for her neck.


    For the first time, her playful smile vanished.


    SHIIING!


    Twin daggers crossed.


    The storms tore apart as sword and daggers clashed, the sheer force of the impact blasting apart the tornadoes and revealing the battlefield once more.


    For a breathless moment¡ª


    They stood in the center of a ruined arena.


    Her blades trembled against his sword, the ground beneath them cracking under their feets.


    Huo Lingxue''s lips curved.


    "¡­You have something stronger?"


    Su Xiaobai''s smile stiffened.


    Shit.


    His body flipped back, landing smoothly fifty yards away. His grip tightened around his crimson sword, eyes flicking to his swollen, burning-red hands.


    Her Frost Ember Fan was too strong. His sword couldn''t cut through it.


    And she knew it.


    Yet, Huo Lingxue didn''t chase.


    She stood there, waiting. Watching.


    A slow, cruel smile stretched across her lips.


    "What happened to your Dragon Breath, Brother Su?" she chuckled. "I heard you had a draconic bloodline."


    The aura twisted, and behind her¡ª


    A mirage took shape.


    Not a tiger.


    A Lynx.


    A beast of flame and frost, its golden pupils locked onto him like prey.


    She was waiting for it.


    She had come prepared.


    Su Xiaobai''s eye twitched.


    Fuck.


    He could use Dragon Breath¡ªbut if he missed, he was done. And against her Phantom Flame Steps, he couldn''t escape.


    Her Frostfire Lynx Bloodline was insane.


    Her steps could rival his Flicker Steps.


    Her Molten Frost Domain could summon hellfire or absolute zero at will.


    And worst of all¡ª


    She was a realm above him.


    This wasn''t a fair fight.


    And she was still holding back.


    Earlier, Su Xiaobai didn''t believe the rumors.


    Now, he was sure.


    She could stand at the top of the Inner Court, maybe even challenge Yue Xi, the one who defeated her.


    But¡­


    He grinned.


    "I have something better."


    His sword vanished.


    His arms expanded.


    Dark violet scales rippled across his skin, gleaming with ethereal violet nectar that pulsed beneath the surface. His fingernails sharpened, morphing into obsidian spikes.


    A deep rumble echoed.


    BANG!


    The ground beneath him exploded.


    His legs transformed, claws tearing into the earth. His eyes¡ª


    No longer red.


    They burned golden.


    Huo Lingxue''s breath froze.


    "A transformation?"


    A moment of hesitation.


    Anyone at the Earthly Rebirth Realm and beyond could partially transform, drawing from their bloodline. But it was a double-edged sword.


    A weak bloodline? It''ll slow you down instead of helping.


    Even her own gave more agility, but at the cost of a limited field of view. If someone struck from behind¡ªshe was finished.


    She never used it.


    Which meant¡ª


    Why the fuck was he using it?!


    It didn''t make sense.


    Until it did.


    BANG!


    Before she could blink¡ª


    He was already in front of her.


    Faster.


    Far faster than her.


    "Wh¡ª!?"


    SHING!


    She barely raised her daggers¡ªbut sparks flew as claws scraped against steel.


    CRACK!


    Her blades shattered.


    Her eyes widened.


    "H-How¡ª?!"


    She leapt back, eyes flicking from Su Xiaobai¡ªto his claws.


    Half-step Immortal-grade weapons¡ªbroken?!


    Her gaze darkened.


    That bastard''s claws¡­


    Were stronger.


    Than.


    Her weapons.


    And she hated it.


    Su Xiaobai stood there, smiling, his dragon-scaled hands lowering.


    No more attacks.


    No more tension.


    He had no intention of fighting anymore.


    Across from him, Huo Lingxue glared¡ªher grip tight on the broken hilts of her daggers. Her chest rose and fell, her blood boiling with unreleased killing intent.


    And yet¡ª


    She raised her hand.


    "I surrender."

 Chapter 172 When a Woman Says ‘Meet Me Later—Its Either Bed or Death!

    "Surrender."


    The arena fell silent.


    Then¡ª


    "WHAT!?"


    "She can still fight!"


    "Right! Just use another weapon!"


    The disciples roared in disbelief, their faces twisted in confusion.


    It made no sense.


    Huo Lingxue wasn''t injured. She had more weapons. She was still stronger.


    Yet, she had chosen to forfeit.


    Above them, Zhao Tianxuan let out a deep sigh, as if he had just escaped death himself.


    Explore stories at My Virtual Library Empire


    He had been clenching his fists so tightly that his palms bled.


    This match had been a nightmare to watch.


    But he understood.


    Huo Lingxue was already over a hundred years old. Late Fusion Realm or not, her talent was nothing compared to Su Xiaobai''s.


    Stronger now? Yes.


    But ten years from now?


    Who knew?


    And so, Zhao Tianxuan accepted the result.


    Still¡ª


    His eyes narrowed.


    "What did he say to her?"


    Right before her daggers shattered, Su Xiaobai had whispered something.


    And in that moment¡ªHuo Lingxue changed her mind.


    Every expert above the Deity Transformation Realm had noticed it.


    And yet¡ªno one knew what it was.


    As she walked past Su Xiaobai, her shoulder slammed into his, a flash of cold fury in her eyes.


    Her voice was sharp, edged with something unreadable.


    "Who told you?"


    Su Xiaobai shrugged, the corner of his lips lifting.


    "Does it matter?"


    Huo Lingxue sneered.


    Then, without another word¡ªshe left.


    The crowd erupted.


    But Su Xiaobai wasn''t listening.


    He was still laughing.


    Many thought he had gone mad from victory, but in truth¡ª


    He was ecstatic.


    Because his transformation''s effects weren''t limited to speed alone.


    As his dragon scales receded, his hands and feet returned to normal, his eyes shifted back to crimson¡ª


    His vision returned to normal.


    But during his transformed state¡ª


    He saw everything.


    Not just the battlefield¡ªbut the flow of spiritual energy itself.


    Every meridian.


    Every dantian.


    Every trace of Qi.


    It was like thermal vision¡ªbut for spiritual energy.


    He could see the void.


    The Void Thunder Dragon¡ªa beast that lived in the abyss of emptiness itself¡ªhad evolved to see what could not be seen.


    Now, so could he.


    His Flicker Steps?


    He no longer had to rely on just nearby void cracks to teleport¡ª


    He could see distant ones.


    Which meant¡ª


    He could move even faster.


    The Void Thunder Dragon''s transformation had given him more than just speed. A gift beyond comprehension¡ªyet it made perfect sense.


    Deep in his Spirit Sea, an enormous entity slumbered.


    No¡ªnot slumbered. Watched.


    Those eyes alone were larger than the entire Immortal Rain Valley.


    And its full form?


    A being so vast it could dwarf the heavens themselves.


    [Meet me at my chambers after your battle...]


    A cold, indifferent voice transmission echoed in his mind.


    Huo Lingxue.


    Su Xiaobai''s face twitched.


    ''Oh, fuck me.''


    A woman whose deepest secret had just been exposed¡­


    And she was inviting him alone?


    What could this mean?


    A romantic confession?


    A passionate night of dual cultivation?


    ...No.


    She probably wanted to silence him permanently.


    Killing him in front of everyone was impossible.


    But behind closed doors?


    Easy.


    Su Xiaobai let out a long, tired sigh.


    "Life is just one problem after another."


    Should he ask Zhu Qing to kill her first?


    ¡­No, that''s too obvious.


    Instead¡ªhe''d bring Zhu Qing with him.


    And when Huo Lingxue tried to kill him¡ª


    She''d be the one dying instead.


    Zhu Qing wouldn''t just sit back and watch him die, right?


    "Heh. Two steps ahead as always."


    And with that, Su Xiaobai turned to leave.


    The next battle wouldn''t start¡ªnot until they brought Liu Zhenhai.


    The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the battlefield.


    Late afternoon.


    ________


    While the sect prepared to retrieve Liu Zhenhai from prison¡ª


    A lone shadow had already slipped inside.


    Just as Su Xiaobai predicted, those desperate to see him dead would use Liu Zhenhai as a scapegoat.


    A thin, pale man in ashen robes, bearing the insignia of Stormfire Peak, moved through the sect''s underground dungeon. His usual task was forging weapons, but today, his duty had shifted¡ª


    To delivering a prisoner.


    Bai Yujian had refused to meet Liu Zhenhai, so by tradition, a Peak Lord had to retrieve him.


    Liu Chenfu volunteered.


    And oddly¡ªno one questioned it.


    Any sane person would realize this was a trap.


    Anyone else would have backed off.


    But Liu Chenfu walked forward without hesitation.


    The dungeon was a maze of darkness and silence, the air heavy with dampness and the faint scent of rusted iron. At the end of the corridor, locked within a cold prison cell, sat a golden-haired man.


    Liu Zhenhai.


    His eyes were hollow, dark shadows beneath them. Yet, he did not struggle, did not rage¡ª


    He meditated.


    The energy around him fluctuated, spiritual power gently circulating as if awaiting judgment.


    "Master?"


    Hearing footsteps approach, Liu Zhenhai''s eyes lit up with hope.


    For a moment, he thought¡ªperhaps the Sword Fairy herself had come.


    But then¡ª


    A dark chuckle.


    "Haha¡­ It''s not your master, boy."


    Liu Chenfu.


    Liu Zhenhai''s face darkened.


    He already knew what was coming.


    And just as expected¡ª


    In mere moments, Liu Zhenhai had already rejected Liu Chenfu''s offer.


    "I have no way to prove my innocence if I take that!"


    In Liu Chenfu''s hand, a black pill shimmered ominously, its surface swirling with dark miasma.


    Liu Zhenhai''s fingers twitched, his clenched fists revealing his inner conflict.


    Liu Chenfu smirked, watching the hesitation spread like poison.


    "What''s the use of proving innocence if you''re dead?"


    Liu Zhenhai frowned.


    "Die?"


    Then, realization struck.


    "Impossible. Su Xiaobai can''t kill me. He''s too weak for that."


    Liu Chenfu merely smiled.


    And then¡ªhe told him everything.


    The previous battles. The terrifying way Su Xiaobai dismantled his opponents.


    The match with Huo Lingxue.


    Liu Zhenhai may have reached Late Soul Fusion Realm, but even he knew¡ªhe wasn''t confident against her.


    And Su Xiaobai?


    That bastard had fought her as an equal.


    "You think he''ll fight fair?" Liu Chenfu''s voice was silk laced with poison.


    "Disciple Liu, we share the same surname. I''m giving you a way out."


    "Don''t use this pill unless your life is truly in danger."


    "Would you rather die, unable to fight for your innocence?"


    "Or take revenge first¡ªbefore death becomes inevitable?"


    Liu Chenfu''s words hit deep.


    Liu Zhenhai stared at the pill, dark energy oozing from its surface.


    If he took it¡ªhis guilt would be undeniable.


    But¡­


    If Su Xiaobai tried to kill him first, then using it wouldn''t be wrong.


    He just had to survive long enough for his innocence to be proven.


    Right?


    He exhaled.


    And then¡ªhe took it.


    Little did he know¡ªthis was a game rigged from the start.


    Because at this very moment¡ªthe entire conversation was being listened to.


    ____


    Inside the sect''s grand chamber, several figures sat grim-faced.


    Zhao Tianxuan''s expression darkened. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Liu Chenfu has crossed his limits¡­"


    The other Peak Lords nodded.


    "Hmph! Let''s see how he dares betray the sect!" Xu Tianran stood up, fire burning in his gaze.


    But before they could move¡ª


    A voice cut through the silence.


    "No need."


    Su Xiaobai, lounging like a spectator, smirked.


    "Let them try what they want. Arrest him afterward."


    "Huh?" Zhao Tianxuan frowned. "But it''s dangerous¡ª"


    Su Xiaobai shrugged.


    "Dangerous? With so many experts watching the match?"


    His words silenced them.


    Of course.


    The fight was being observed by countless elders and peak lords.


    Killing someone in plain sight? Not easy.


    But Su Xiaobai didn''t care about catching them now.


    No¡ª


    He wanted to push Liu Zhenhai to the edge.


    He wanted him to use that pill.


    He had no clue what it was, but one thing was certain¡ªit would give him an excuse to kill Liu Zhenhai.


    And Su Xiaobai would not rest until Liu Zhenhai was dead.


    If he let him live, he''d never have peace.


    If he was exposed and investigated, he''d have no choice but to leave Yue Country.


    And as for Liu Chenfu?


    Once the truth was exposed, he would try to flee.


    And when he did¡ªhis list of crimes would only grow.


    Would the sect execute him?


    Su Xiaobai wasn''t sure.


    But he hoped they would.

 Chapter 173 Killing the final thorn!

    As the Peak Lords left, Su Xiaobai''s gaze drifted, landing on one figure¡ª


    Huo Rong.


    The Fire Peak Lord.


    His open hostility toward Su Xiaobai had been obvious for a while now, but the more Su Xiaobai thought about it, the less sense it made.


    Zhu Qing had told him not to overthink it, saying Fire Peak was simply avenging their crippled disciples.


    But bullshit.


    Those were just Outer Core disciples. Nobodies.


    And that was months ago.


    How could a Peak Lord¡ªa man who had lived for over a hundred years¡ªbear such a personal grudge over something so minor?


    No¡ªthis hatred was deeper.


    And as Huo Rong returned to Fire Peak, his actions only confirmed it.


    ________


    Inside the silent halls of Fire Peak, a small shadow flickered into existence.


    A voice, low and cautious, whispered through the darkness. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Brother¡­"


    Huo Rong''s face lit up with rare relief, his sharp eyes gleaming with expectation.


    "Is it done?"


    The shadow shifted.


    A man stood there, his fiery eyes cold, his sharp brows unwavering. Crimson hair cascaded down his back, and a golden robe, embroidered with the mark of a blazing sun, draped over his form.


    A sun-shaped brand burned against his forehead.


    Not a scar.


    A mark of vengeance.


    If Su Xiaobai or Bai Yujian were here, they would have recognized him instantly.


    Because this man should not exist.


    This man was from the Blazing Sun Sect.


    And that sect¡ª


    Was supposed to be dead.


    Huo Rong''s face darkened.


    "I failed, but we have another pawn to use." His voice was low, resolute. "If things go south, I''ll execute him myself¡ªthen escape."


    The shadowed man nodded, his voice dripping with suppressed rage.


    "Good."


    Then, he vanished.


    Far away, outside Xiantian Sect, in the dark forests where no disciples dared to tread, a figure stood alone.


    His golden robe fluttered, his crimson hair burned under the dim light.


    And then¡ª


    He laughed.


    A hollow, broken sound.


    A sound filled with insanity.


    "Hehehe¡­ hahahahaha¡­ HAAAAAA!"


    His voice ripped through, carrying the madness of a man with nothing left to lose.


    His name¡ª


    Ji Yan.


    Blazing Sun Sect Ancestor.


    A man who should have died.


    A man who should not exist.


    And yet¡ªhe lived.


    Master Qiangxuan had promised the world that the Blazing Sun Sect was annihilated.


    And he had delivered.


    Or so they thought.


    Because in truth¡ªhe left one survivor.


    Ji Yan.


    But he had not been spared out of mercy.


    He had been enslaved.


    Branded, shackled, forced to bow before Master Qiangxuan, who had whispered coldly¡ª


    "Live. Serve me. And destroy them."


    Ji Yan''s entire sect¡ªgone in a single day.


    His disciples¡ªmassacred.


    His family¡ªslaughtered.


    His wife¡ªburned alive.


    His sons, daughters¡ªripped apart.


    Everything he had built for a thousand years was erased in mere hours.


    And now¡ª


    Only hatred remained.


    Ji Yan''s hands trembled, his fingernails digging into his palms until blood dripped down his fingers.


    "Su Xiaobai¡­ Zhu Qing¡­ Bai Yujian¡­"


    His voice was a whisper of hellfire.


    He didn''t care that Bai Yujian was the one who forced Master Qiangxuan''s hand.


    He didn''t care that Zhu Qing had planned his sect''s downfall.


    He didn''t care that Master Qiangxuan was the true mastermind behind his ruin.


    Because Zhu Qing and Bai Yujian were too strong.


    And Master Qiangxuan was untouchable.


    But Su Xiaobai?


    That bastard was weak.


    He was the easiest to crush.


    Ji Yan clenched his fists.


    Right now, his grudge against stronger enemies had to be swallowed.


    He could only bully the weak.


    If not for Master Qiangxuan''s orders, he would have stormed into Su Xiaobai''s chambers and ripped him apart in his sleep. But Master Qiangxuan had his own plans, and Ji Yan didn''t dare disobey.


    Even thinking about that old alchemist''s allies sent a shiver down his spine.


    And Su Xiaobai?


    That brat had no idea what was happening behind the scenes.


    He had only joined the sect a few months ago. How could he possibly know that before the year was over¡ª


    Xiantian Sect would be erased from the Yue Kingdom?


    _____


    Back in Arena....


    Clash!


    "Sword Intent¡ªSlicing Rivers!"


    WHOOSH!


    Liu Zhenhai''s sword howled, an arc of razor-sharp Qi surging forward, splitting the entire arena in two.


    Su Xiaobai''s form flickered away at the last second¡ª


    BOOM!


    The ground ruptured, a massive gash carved through the stone stage, its edges smooth as a mirror.


    Su Xiaobai landed lightly on the far end, wiping the cold sweat off his forehead.


    "Tsk. A Level Four Sword Intent really is monstrous¡­ When the hell can I learn that?"


    Liu Zhenhai''s burning gaze locked onto him.


    "Su Xiaobai! If I defeat you¡ªacknowledge my innocence in front of everyone!"


    Hatred burned in Liu Zhenhai''s bloodshot eyes, dark circles hollowing his face. This wasn''t the same Liu Zhenhai that once stood proudly as a noble swordsman.


    This was a man pushed into a corner.


    Su Xiaobai sighed theatrically, shaking his head like a disappointed elder.


    "Brother Liu, what innocence? Just because the Peak Lord kicked you out, doesn''t mean you get to twist black and white."


    His hands spread wide in a gesture of ignorance.


    Liu Zhenhai''s killing intent surged.


    "Twisting black and white? Good. Then I''ll carve the truth into you."


    CLANG!


    Their swords met, sparks flying as the air trembled from the collision of their Sword Qi.


    Liu Zhenhai smirked¡ªbut before he could press forward, Su Xiaobai had already vanished.


    He wasn''t retreating.


    He was grinning.


    He wasn''t stupid.


    If this was a contest of pure swordsmanship, Su Xiaobai would be crushed.


    Liu Zhenhai had been wielding a sword since he was eight, reaching Late Soul Fusion Realm before even hitting eighty. His talent rivaled royalty, his lineage deeply tied to ancient martial traditions.


    But Su Xiaobai never fought fair.


    With a flick of his wrist, his sword disappeared.


    His body twisted¡ªscales bursting forth as his hands and feet transformed.


    Dark violet dragon scales gleamed under the evening sunlight, claws extending like razor-sharp obsidian spikes.


    Liu Zhenhai''s brows furrowed.


    "...??"


    Swish!


    Su Xiaobai moved.


    CLANG!


    Liu Zhenhai barely parried with his sword, his arms shaking from the sheer force.


    His confusion deepened.


    "What are you doing?! Fight like a real swordsman!"


    But Su Xiaobai just grinned wider.


    "A real swordsman? Brother Liu, you''re mistaken."


    "I''m a warrior not swordsman."


    A low hum¡ª


    Then, in an instant, Su Xiaobai''s claws tore through in a flurry of unpredictable strikes.


    SHING! SHING! SHING!


    Liu Zhenhai deflected most of them¡ªbut not all.


    A small cut appeared on his cheek.


    A thin scratch across his shoulder.


    A tiny gash on his arm.


    Nothing serious.


    At first.


    But Su Xiaobai didn''t stop.


    He wasn''t aiming to kill.


    He was shaving away at Liu Zhenhai''s pride.


    Liu Zhenhai''s expression twisted.


    He wasn''t injured.


    But his clothes were torn.


    His face had small cuts.


    His aura surged violently, but Su Xiaobai was untouched.


    And the worst part?


    The bastard was smiling.


    The disciples watching stared in disbelief.


    "What the hell is Brother Su doing?!"


    "He''s not even fighting properly¡ªhe''s just¡­ annoying him?!"


    Liu Zhenhai''s blood boiled.


    "Enough!"


    BOOM!


    A powerful wave of red bloodthirsty Sword Qi erupted from his blade, shattering the ground beneath them.


    Su Xiaobai flickered backward, still grinning like a fox.


    "Angry already? Brother Liu, you really are impatient."


    His claws flexed.


    "Don''t worry. I''ll make sure you feel much, much worse before this fight ends."


    Liu Zhenhai''s hands tightened around his sword.


    For the first time¡ª


    He had the feeling that this wasn''t a battle.


    This was a game.


    And Su Xiaobai was playing him like a fool.


    It was .... humiliating.


    Liu Zhenhai''s robes were in tatters, his body covered in thin, stinging cuts. None of them serious¡ªyet together, they painted the image of a man being slowly picked apart.


    But as his rage burned hotter¡ª


    A chill crept into the hearts of those watching.


    ______


    From the VIP seats, a Deity Transformation Elder narrowed his eyes.


    "Something''s wrong."


    "What do you mean?" another Peak Lord asked.


    The elder stroked his beard, voice grave.


    "The wounds."


    Everyone turned their gaze back to the battlefield.


    At first, it had seemed random¡ªSu Xiaobai''s playful harassment, leaving shallow cuts here and there.


    But now¡ª


    A pattern was forming.


    Each drop of blood landed too precisely.


    Too deliberately.


    One Elder suddenly shot to his feet, his voice filled with disbelief.


    "He''s not just fighting¡ª"


    "He''s drawing a formation!"


    ____


    The Truth Behind the Bloodshed....


    Su Xiaobai''s grin widened.


    By now, the arena floor beneath them was stained red.


    Every drip of blood that fell from Liu Zhenhai''s wounds was placed with precision.


    It wasn''t random.


    It was by design.


    Continue your adventure at My Virtual Library Empire


    The moment Liu Zhenhai moved one step back¡ª


    BOOM!


    A violent pulse of spiritual energy erupted beneath his feet.


    The ground shuddered.


    A web of crimson runes ignited across the arena, forming an intricate pattern woven from Liu Zhenhai''s own blood.


    The elders gasped in horror.


    A formation?!


    A Blood-Linked Array?!


    Su Xiaobai tilted his head, stretching lazily as if this wasn''t even worth his full effort.


    "Brother Liu, you look confused."


    His fingers casually traced, and the formation''s runes flared brighter.


    "Don''t tell me you thought I was just playing around this whole time?"


    SHINGGG!


    The array activated.


    A deep, oppressive force slammed onto Liu Zhenhai''s body.


    His knees buckled, his spiritual energy flickered.


    "W-What¡­?!"


    His Qi was being drained.


    No¡ªredirected.


    He could feel it.


    This wasn''t a simple formation¡ª


    It was a blood-based suppression array.


    One that used the opponent''s own essence to restrain them.


    A Peak Lord stood up in shock.


    "That''s the Crimson Tyrant Array!"


    "Impossible! That formation takes days to set up! And it requires blood as the catalyst!"


    Another Elder muttered in awe.


    "Which means¡­ he''s been setting it up from the first scratch."


    A shiver ran through the entire sect.


    "Terrifying."


    ______


    Liu Zhenhai tried to step forward¡ªbut his movements were sluggish.


    His qi refused to listen.


    Every ounce of sword energy he released¡ª


    Was absorbed by the array.


    The realization hit him like a lightning bolt.


    "You¡­ you planned this from the start?!"


    Su Xiaobai shrugged, stepping forward leisurely, like a predator that had already won.


    "Of course."


    His dragon claws flexed.


    "I knew from the beginning I couldn''t match you in pure swordsmanship."


    "So I simply made sure that swordsman couldn''t use his sword."


    Liu Zhenhai''s eyes widened in sheer disbelief.


    His strongest weapon¡ªneutralized.


    His own blood¡ªused against him.


    His greatest advantage¡ªrendered meaningless.


    And the worst part?


    He had never even noticed.


    A cold silence fell over the crowd.


    Even the elders¡ªbattle-hardened veterans¡ªfelt an unsettling chill in their bones.


    A disciple gulped.


    "He made a formation¡­ out of his opponent''s own blood?"


    "Without him even realizing?"


    Another whispered, his voice shaking.


    "Is he a swordsman¡­ or a demon?"


    Huo Rong clenched his fists.


    _____


    But Liu Zhenhai wasn''t done.


    His golden hair whipped in the wind, his aura burning with desperation.


    "I refuse to lose like this!"


    With a roar, he forcefully pushed his Qi to the limit, fighting against the formation''s hold.


    Su Xiaobai clicked his tongue.


    "Oh? Still struggling?"


    He shook his head, almost disappointed.


    "Then let''s see how long you last."


    He raised his clawed hand¡ªand with a flick of his fingers, the formation surged with power.


    The Crimson Tyrant Array wasn''t just a suppression formation¡ª


    It had another function.


    "Kneel."


    The runes flashed violently.


    The weight on Liu Zhenhai''s body doubled.


    His bones creaked.


    His legs shook.


    And in front of the entire sect¡ª


    Liu Zhenhai collapsed to his knees.

 Chapter 174 Descent into Madness!

    THUD!


    In front of thousands, under the gaze of elders, disciples, and peak lords¡ª


    Liu Zhenhai fell to his knees.


    Silence.


    Pure, absolute silence.


    Compared to the battles before this, this wasn''t even a fight.


    This was a public execution.


    Even Bai Yujian, Liu Zhenhai''s own previous master, refused to look at him.


    She was never the type to blindly protect her disciples, but this?


    This was humiliating beyond words.


    She had trained Liu Zhenhai for decades.


    And yet¡ªin just a few months, Su Xiaobai had turned him into this?


    Was her teaching that useless? S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Or was this brat simply too monstrous?


    ____


    Su Xiaobai''s grin widened as he watched Liu Zhenhai''s trembling body, soaked in sweat and disgrace.


    A few months ago, this man could have crushed him effortlessly.


    Now?


    He was nothing.


    And the best part?


    He did this to himself.


    A swordsman''s worst enemy isn''t another cultivator¡ªit''s his own emotions.


    Rage?


    A death sentence.


    A sword doesn''t move from anger.


    It moves from clarity.


    And Liu Zhenhai?


    He had none.


    He was so blinded by revenge, so desperate to defeat Su Xiaobai, that he had never even noticed the trap forming beneath his feet.


    And now¡ªit was too late.


    BANG!


    Liu Zhenhai''s fist slammed into the ground, his voice trembling.


    "Curse you..."


    His eyes burned red, his body shaking.


    Why?!


    WHY?!


    Just months ago, he could have crushed Su Xiaobai like an insect.


    But now?


    Now, he was the insect.


    His chest tightened, his thoughts spiraling.


    Tears of blood slid down his cheeks.


    And yet¡ªSu Xiaobai didn''t care.


    He strolled forward, his expression lighthearted, almost lazy.


    Then¡ª


    BAM!


    A impact.


    Su Xiaobai''s foot connected cleanly with Liu Zhenhai''s face, kicking him sideways like a discarded rag.


    "hiss!!"


    Liu Zhenhai''s head jerked violently, but he refused to scream.


    He bit his lip, his blood dripping onto the shattered ground.


    Some disciples flinched.


    They had seen Su Xiaobai be ruthless before.


    But this?


    Even when his opponent was already on his knees¡ª


    He still kicked him down.


    For a brief moment, the sect''s sympathy wavered.


    Was this¡­ too cruel?


    But just as the whispers began to rise¡ª


    Su Xiaobai laughed.


    Not a soft chuckle.


    A sharp, mocking sneer.


    Then, his voice thundered across the arena.


    "You fools."


    His eyes swept the crowd, his tone filled with mockery.


    "Are you really feeling sorry¡­ for a dog?"


    Silence.


    Then, confusion.


    "A beast that dared to harm his own martial sisters¡ª"


    His gaze narrowed, his voice filled with ridicule.


    "Do you think this kind of bastard deserves sympathy?"


    The disciples froze.


    Their sympathy evaporated.


    Then¡ªthey turned.


    One by one¡ª


    Their expressions twisted.


    From hesitation.


    To disgust.


    Then, the curses began.


    "Right! A filthy traitor like him deserves worse!"


    "Senior Brother Su is too kind! If it were me, I''d have cut off his thing!"


    "What''s the matter, Liu Zhenhai?! You were barking so loudly before! Why so quiet now?!"


    Laughter erupted.


    Mockery piled on top of him.


    They spat.


    They jeered.


    Even a core formation disciple smirked.


    "Tsk. All that training for what? To get beaten like a dog in public? What a fucking joke!"


    An inner sect disciple sneered.


    "Where''s your sword, Brother Liu?"


    He mockingly held out his own sword.


    "Come on, pick it up. Fight me! Or are you only good at bullying defenseless girls?!"


    More laughter.


    More taunts.


    They were enjoying it.


    They were feeding on it.


    And Liu Zhenhai?


    His body shook violently.


    "Shut up..."


    They didn''t.


    "Shut up...!!"


    The black miasma started coiling around his body.


    His breath turned ragged.


    His chest tightened, his body shook uncontrollably.


    He hadn''t done anything.


    He wasn''t the villain.


    It was Su Xiaobai.


    That bastard had framed him. Turned everyone against him.


    So why¡ª


    Why couldn''t anyone see it?!


    "IT WASN''T ME!"


    His voice cracked.


    But no one listened.


    They kept laughing.


    Kept mocking.


    Kept cursing him.


    And then¡ª


    His heart stopped beating.


    A deep, visceral silence filled his mind.


    And in that silence¡ª


    Something laughed.


    Heart demon....


    A Heart Demon is not a creature. It is not an external enemy.


    It is the darkest, most twisted reflection of oneself.


    The deeper a cultivator''s emotions, the stronger their Dao Heart¡ªthe core of their beliefs, the foundation of their cultivation.


    But when those emotions become too overwhelming¡ª


    When hatred, grief, humiliation, and despair fester unchecked¡ª


    A cultivator''s own mind becomes their worst enemy.


    And from that torment¡ª


    The Heart Demon is born.


    ___


    Liu Zhenhai''s vision blurred.


    A dark mist began coiling around his body¡ªthin tendrils of black miasma, slithering into his veins like living shadows.


    This was not ordinary Qi.


    This was corruption.


    The impurity formed when one''s Dao Heart collapses, when their spiritual foundation cracks.


    The moment the black miasma took root¡ª


    His aura twisted.


    It was no longer the sword aura of a noble cultivator.


    It became sinister, writhing, feeding on his rage.


    His body convulsed.


    His thoughts screeched in agony.


    And in the next moment¡ª


    The Heart Demon whispered.


    > "They hate you."


    > "They mock you."


    > "You are nothing to them."


    > "But I can make them suffer."


    Liu Zhenhai''s eyes trembled.


    A cold chill clawed at his very soul.


    "W-What is this...?"


    But it wasn''t a question.


    It was a realization.


    Because deep down¡ª


    He already knew.


    This was himself.


    The rage. The shame. The hatred.


    Everything he had tried to suppress¡ª


    Now had a voice.


    And it was laughing.


    > "Let go."


    > "You have nothing left."


    > "Destroy them."


    Liu Zhenhai''s fingernails dug into the dirt, his entire body trembling.


    But the miasma thickened.


    His cultivation base shook violently¡ªhis sword intent becoming unstable, distorted.


    His soul foundation¡ªhis very path of cultivation¡ª


    Was crumbling.


    > "Give in, Liu Zhenhai."


    > "Let me take control."


    And for the first time¡ª


    Liu Zhenhai felt fear.


    Real, bone-deep terror.


    Because he knew¡ª


    Once he fully succumbed¡ª


    He would never be Liu Zhenhai again.


    And then¡ª


    A shadow stood over him.


    Bang!


    Su Xiaobai''s foot pressed against his back, forcing him even lower into the dirt.


    "Crawling already, Brother Liu?"


    His voice was light, playful¡ªmocking.


    "At least act like a man."


    The crowd erupted in laughter.


    The curses poured like rain.


    "Look at him! He can''t even stand anymore!"


    "Senior Brother Su, just put a collar on him and take him home as a pet!"


    "No, no, no! You don''t keep a dog like this! You put it down! Hahaha!"


    "Liu Zhenhai? More like Liu ZhenGOU! (Liu Dog!)"


    The mockery dug deep.


    Every word was a blade.


    Every laugh was a cut to his soul.


    And beneath the pressure of the humiliation, the betrayal, and the dark whispers¡ª


    His Dao Heart collapsed.


    His vision turned black.


    His soul foundation cracked.


    And then¡ª


    The Heart Demon devoured him whole.


    Whoosh!


    Liu Zhenhai''s pupils vanished, swallowed by an abyss of eternal darkness.


    The black miasma was no longer hidden.


    It slithered around his body like ghostly serpents, visible to the naked eye, twisting and writhing like a living curse.


    And then¡ª


    "Su Xiaobai, be careful!"


    The first to shout wasn''t Bai Yujian, nor the sect elders¡ª


    It was Xu Tianran.


    His face twisted into a rare expression of genuine concern, his voice booming across the arena¡ªit felt like he actually cared whether Su Xiaobai lived or died.


    But the warning came too late.


    _____


    Liu Zhenhai¡ªstill kneeling in the dirt, humiliated, broken¡ª


    His fingers trembled.


    Then¡ª


    GULP.


    He threw the black obsidian pill into his mouth, swallowing it in one motion.


    A low hum vibrated through his body, the pill dissolving instantly, its contents surging through his dantian like molten lead.


    As the power spread, so did his madness.


    His face twisted, his lips curling back¡ªa sneer? A sob? Even he didn''t know anymore.


    And then he spoke.


    A low whisper at first, barely heard.


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    "That bitch¡­ Lan Meiyu¡­"


    The arena fell silent.


    But Liu Zhenhai''s voice rose, trembling with venom and agony.


    "Why?! Why was it always you?! I never cared about you! I never wanted you!"


    His eyes¡ªblack pits of hate and sorrow¡ªsnapped to the heavens.


    "I¡ª I only ever wanted to stand beside Bai Yujian¡­!"


    A shocked murmur rippled through the crowd.


    Bai Yujian''s beautiful face twisted in a frown.


    But Liu Zhenhai wasn''t finished.

 Chapter 175 Dying a Dogs Death!

    "Why did you never leave me alone?! Why did you keep chasing me, whispering my name, pestering me with your pity?!"


    His voice broke, rage mixing with something¡­ else.


    "Every time I tried to advance¡­ to prove myself¡­ you were there. Smiling. Watching. Wavering my Dao Heart!"


    A growl, then a scream¡ªdesperate.


    "I HATED YOU!!"


    The words rang out like a curse, heavy, final.


    And the crowd¡ªmisunderstood.


    A realization swept through them like wildfire.


    Hate. He hated her.


    And what had he done?


    Lan Meiyu and her friends had been raped. Brutalized. Left broken.


    The whispers turned to gasps.


    "It was him¡­" someone muttered in horror.


    "He did it¡ªbecause he hated her!"


    "Then¡­ where is she?!"


    A dreadful silence.


    Lan Meiyu was nowhere to be seen.


    Could he have¡­ killed her before coming here?!


    The idea sank into their bones¡ªa chilling, horrifying possibility.


    And as the fear settled, Liu Zhenhai''s blackened eyes snapped onto Su Xiaobai.


    "AND YOU¡ª!!"


    He roared, voice shaking the arena.


    "It''s because of you¡­!!"


    His nails dug into his palms, blood spilling freely.


    "If you weren''t here¡ªif you had just died like a dog in the Outer Sect¡ªnone of this would have happened!"


    The hatred in his voice was growing.


    "You think you''re untouchable?! You think your filthy bloodline makes you better than me?!"


    A crazed laugh.


    "I''LL TEAR YOU APART!"


    And then¡ª


    BOOM!


    A tornado of black miasma erupted from Liu Zhenhai''s body, swallowing the entire arena in an instant.


    "ARGHHHHHH!!"


    His agonized scream tore through, his veins bulging, pulsing like blackened roots spreading across his skin.


    His body swelled to twice its size, his robes exploding into shreds of fabric.


    His once sharp and noble features¡ª


    Gone.


    His golden hair darkened, streaked with ashen gray.


    His eyes¡ªno longer human.


    Two crimson orbs burned in their sockets, filled with nothing but insanity and slaughter.


    His mouth twisted into a permanent sneel, his lips curling over sharp, jagged fangs.


    A monster.


    A beast of pure, mindless destruction.


    A fallen swordsman, consumed by the abyss.


    KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL!"


    The arena trembled.


    The walls cracked.


    The disciples shivered.


    Just hearing his voice sent cold fear down their spines.


    This wasn''t Liu Zhenhai anymore.


    This was a demon wearing his skin.


    And before anyone could react¡ª


    SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!


    A thousand sword threads erupted from his body!


    Each thread whipped out violently, cutting through the air like invisible silk sharp with sword intent.


    Everywhere¡ªcutting, slashing, destroying.


    A simple flicker of his aura had turned into a torrent of blades.


    The terrified screams of people caught in the mutual destruction merged with the symphony of shattering steel¡ª


    And Su Xiaobai was caught in the storm.


    Puchi!


    In one second¡ª


    A hundred cuts.


    In three seconds¡ª


    A thousand.


    Blood poured from Su Xiaobai''s arms, chest, and legs.


    His clothes were shredded, his flesh sliced open by the endless bombardment of razor-thin sword intent.


    And yet¡ª


    Liu Zhenhai wasn''t done.


    He rose to his feet, his demonic eyes locking onto Su Xiaobai, his entire body dripping with black mist and slaughter intent.


    "KILL!!!"


    BAM!


    His foot slammed forward, sending a shockwave through the battlefield.


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    His sword¡ªor rather, the phantom of his shattered will¡ªburned with a mad, unstable reddish glow.


    A killing move.


    A technique fueled by nothing but destruction.


    And at its center¡ªSu Xiaobai, bloodied and smiling.


    ____


    "Su Xiaobai! Dodge!"


    "That''s not Liu Zhenhai anymore! That''s a monster!"


    "Is he even human at this point?!"


    Even the elders and peak lords¡ªmen who had lived for over a hundred years¡ª


    Felt unease.


    The Nine Hells Berserker Pill wasn''t just forbidden¡ª


    It was a death sentence.


    A temporary ascension into absolute madness, where the user''s strength multiplied endlessly, but their life burned away with every second.


    A man-made demon.


    And Liu Zhenhai had given in completely.


    Liu Zhenhai''s sword threads rippled, cutting apart the ground itself, forming a storm of death that threatened to consume everything in its path.


    And standing in the eye of the storm¡ª


    Was Su Xiaobai.


    His red eyes flickered, his smile widening.


    "Finally."


    He cracked his knuckles, letting the blood drip freely from his wounds.


    "I was wondering if you had any fight left in you."


    The rest gasped.


    Did he not understand the danger?!


    But Su Xiaobai only grinned wider.


    His dragon scales pulsed, his aura shifted, and¡ª


    He moved.


    The next strike¡ª


    Would decide everything.


    The sect elders, who had been ready to intervene, suddenly halted. A subtle yet absolute will descended from above, invisible yet commanding.


    The Sect Master had spoken¡ª


    The battle was not to be stopped.


    But how?


    Liu Zhenhai''s power had skyrocketed beyond reason. Every strike carried a bloodthirsty crimson aura, suffused with the essence of slaughter itself. Could they not see it?


    And yet¡ª


    "Hmph!"


    A cold snort echoed from above. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Liu Chenfu, seated in the Peak Lords'' postion, leaned forward, his eyes flashing with cruel delight.


    Before him, Liu Zhenhai¡ªa monster in human skin¡ªlunged forward.


    His sword arm blurred, and with each step¡ª


    BOOM!


    The earth shattered beneath his feet, deep cracks splintering out like a spiderweb.


    "KILL! KILL! KILL!"


    His howls of slaughter echoed through the air, his presence a beacon of unstoppable destruction.


    Liu Chenfu''s lips curled into a grin of victory.


    And that was the moment¡ª


    Su Xiaobai moved.


    A deep breath¡ª


    Then¡ª


    BOOOOOOOM!!!


    A shattered ray of pure spiritual energy burst forth, a roaring tidal wave of destruction straight from his core!


    Dragon''s Breath!


    It tore through space itself, a beam of absolute annihilation aimed at the berserk Liu Zhenhai, who was mere inches away.


    Time seemed to freeze.


    Liu Zhenhai''s eyes twitched.


    He glanced down.


    And saw it.


    Splurt! Splurt! Splurt!


    A gaping hole had been blasted clean through his stomach.


    The blackened blood of the berserker spilled onto the cracked ground, its cursed essence hissing as it ate away at the stone like corrosive poison.


    "AGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"


    A wail of agony and madness.


    A sound that did not belong to a human anymore.


    And yet¡ª


    He did not fall.


    He did not collapse.


    Instead¡ª


    He laughed.


    A ghastly, ear-splitting cackle.


    "HAHAHAHAHA!"


    Su Xiaobai''s pupils narrowed.


    Something was wrong.


    Instead of dying, Liu Zhenhai''s oozing blood began to twist, to rise.


    The dark gooey liquid coiled into the air, forming a tornado of cursed essence, thobbed with an insatiable hunger.


    The ground trembled.


    The very heavens seemed to recoil from the sheer abomination forming before them.


    And then¡ª


    "Enough. End the match."


    A voice.


    Ancient. Unshakable. Divine.


    Swiish!


    A single figure moved.


    Before anyone could react¡ª


    Zhao Tianxuan, had already appeared.


    Above Liu Zhenhai.


    His hands clasped lightly behind his back.


    His eyes indifferent, as if gazing at an ant.


    And then¡ª


    THUD.


    The blood tornado halted.


    It did not disperse¡ª


    It was pressed down.


    A force beyond comprehension descended, as if the sky itself had chosen to crush Liu Zhenhai.


    The entire arena shook, the winds howling, the ground caving in under the sheer magnitude of the suppression.


    Liu Zhenhai¡ª


    The monster, the berserker, the raging demon¡ª


    Was squeezed into the ground.


    Crushed like a mortal beneath an immortal''s decree.


    His body¡ª


    Exploded.


    Splash!


    A sickening splat¡ª


    And Liu Zhenhai was no more.


    The battlefield fell into absolute silence.


    Not even the wind dared to move.


    And above it all¡ª


    Zhao Tianxuan merely sighed.


    "How meaningless."


    And with that¡ªhe vanished.


    The next moment¡ª


    He was already back in his seat.


    The elders, peak lords, and disciples who had barely followed his movement felt a shiver of awe.


    For a brief, fleeting second, they simply stared.


    Then¡ª


    "SECT MASTER!!!"


    A deafening cheer erupted.


    The arena shook with the voices of thousands, roaring in unrestrained admiration.


    The Sect Master had taken action.


    After years¡ªdecades¡ªof ruling like a shadow in the heavens, he had finally moved.


    And it was effortless.


    No grand techniques, no flashing divine arts¡ªjust a simple suppression.


    That was true power.


    And Su Xiaobai?


    Standing there, staring at the puddle of blood that had once been Liu Zhenhai, he felt something strange¡ª


    His glory had been stolen.


    But¡ª


    He did not complain.


    He understood.


    Zhao Tianxuan had done this on purpose.


    It wasn''t just about stopping Liu Zhenhai¡ª


    It was about solidifying his own authority.


    And indeed, as Zhao Tianxuan sat, his gaze swept over the crowd, watching their unwavering devotion bloom.


    A slight curve touched his lips.


    Yes.


    This was how a sect master should be worshipped.


    But Su Xiaobai?


    He simply chuckled.


    He didn''t care.


    His own plans had went far smoother than expected.


    And there were more pressing matters.


    Zhao Tianxuan''s gaze turned sharp.


    "Where is Liu Chenfu?"


    His voice was calm, but within it was an undeniable authority.


    "Find him. Do not let him escape."


    At that moment¡ª


    His fingers moved slightly, an almost imperceptible signal.


    Xu Tianran, seated near, gave a slight nod¡ª And vanished. Somewhere beyond the arena, a fleeing figure tore through the sky.


    Liu Chenfu had already abandoned all dignity.


    The moment he saw Liu Zhenhai crushed like an insect, he knew¡ª


    He had lost.


    And now, he had to run.


    The sect acted as if nothing had happened, resuming the final match of the day¡ª


    But every peak lord present?


    Their eyes were elsewhere.


    They waited.


    Would Liu Chenfu be caught?


    Would he escape?


    The true storm had yet to begin.

 Chapter 1 - 1: Rejected Novel Villain!

    Heavenly Prison, White Cloud Star!


    "Hah... That''s enough about me, Junior. What''s your story?"


    "Huh? My story?"


    Su Xiaobai sat on a worn-out stone slab inside a chamber that looked like an ancient, abandoned jail cell. Steam rose from his skin as if he were in a sauna. Exhausted, he leaned back, his breathing causing the room to heat up even more with each exhale.


    After hearing the Senior''s question, who was sitting across from him, Su Xiaobai fell into bitter contemplation, chuckling to himself.


    "Senior, would you believe me if I told you... I was once a novel villain?" he asked, a smirk tugging at his lips.


    The old, brawny man, sitting stark naked, casually nodded as he ran a hand over his bald head. Su Xiaobai, also naked, couldn''t help but laugh at the ridiculousness of it all¡ªthe two of them sweating it out like it was a luxury bathhouse, locked away for the crimes they committed.


    Heavenly Prison was meant to be a place for the most ''heinous'' criminals, yet here they were, two bastards relaxing and talking about life, as if they were on a damn vacation.


    Even the heavens would have to look twice to believe it.


    Su Xiaobai had expected his time in prison to be lonely, but ''thankfully'', he had the company of an old senior who, on request, had somehow turned the prison into a makeshift sauna.


    "I believe you, Junior," the old man, Ning, said with a straight face.


    Su Xiaobai burst out laughing. "Nah, you''re full of shit, Senior! You just wanna laugh at me."


    The Old Ning''s face twisted in offense. "Junior, don''t underestimate this old man! I''ve seen all kinds of idiots in my life, and never once have I laughed at any of them!"


    Su Xiaobai''s eye twitched. Was this old man calling him a fool already? He sighed and decided to carry on regardless.


    Su Xiaobai hadn''t always been the person he was now.


    Long ago, he went by the name ''Caine Wilson'', the sole heir of the Wilson family, living on his home planet, Blue Star. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    More specifically¡ªhe had been the novel''s villain.


    Born into a filthy rich family, in a world where neither martial arts nor immortality existed, money was the only true power!


    Caine Wilson had everything: a spoiled upbringing, a loving family, more money than he could spend, and a maid prettier than most people''s wives.


    Hell, he even had a couple of girlfriends on the side.


    Life was sweet.


    Until one day, an enemy showed up¡ªthe one he later realized was supposed to be the story''s main protagonist!


    That night, a heavenly decree rang in his head.


    It told him he was destined to be the villain, or he''d be cast aside like trash.


    Caine Wilson, pampered all his life, damn near pissed himself.


    There he was, lying between a horny milf neighbor he''d kidnapped and her daughter, clutching them and screaming like a little bitch.


    A few days later, he came to terms with it. "Villain it is," he thought, and started playing the role like it was his life''s mission.


    He abducted the protagonist''s busty mother and fucked her senseless until she was screaming his name like he was her new daddy.


    He kidnapped the protagonist''s little sister and turned her into his personal maid.


    As for the protagonist''s fianc¨¦e?


    He used her mouth to clean his dick, then went straight to plowing her mother, knowing full well all these characters were meant to help the protagonist rise to greatness.


    He tortured everyone who was supposed to make his family fall.


    And then¡ªhe went after the protagonist himself.


    Turned the guy into a eunuch, dragged him naked through the streets along with his family, until the poor bastard threw himself into a gutter out of pure shame and offed himself.


    Ding!


    Old Man Ning''s excitement grew like a hot rod. His body stiffened, eyes wide in awe. Su Xiaobai, shaking his head in disgust, threw a rag over the old man''s legs to avoid any more of that visual assault.


    "Damn, Junior! You played the perfect villain! I''m about to cream myself just hearing about it!" the old man exclaimed.


    "Haha¡­" Su Xiaobai chuckled dryly. "Yeah, well¡­ they didn''t think so."


    "They? Who?" Old Ning asked, genuinely confused.


    Su Xiaobai pointed upward. "The higher-ups."


    That night, Caine Wilson had gone to sleep feeling like a king.


    He thought he''d beaten the system, figured they wouldn''t reject him now.


    But when he closed his eyes¡ªhe never opened them again.


    "Huh? What happened next?" Old Ning leaned forward, sensing a turn for the worse.


    Su Xiaobai sighed. "I was rejected."


    "WHAT?! THEY DARE?!" Old Ning shot up in outrage, fists clenched.


    Su Xiaobai, still unbothered, sighed again. "Apparently, the villain isn''t supposed to win¡­"


    "WHAT?! But he''s the villain!" Old Ning shouted, completely baffled.


    Su Xiaobai shook his head. "Yeah, you''d think that, right? But if villains win, the ant audience might start realizing that sometimes bad people ''do'' live better lives than the good ones. And that''s not what the higher-ups want. They made it a rule¡ªthe good guys always win, and the villain? Well, he either turns over a good leaf, or he dies."


    "That''s the dumbest thing I''ve ever heard!" Old Ning spat.


    Su Xiaobai shrugged. "It''s all part of the plan, Senior. They need to brainwash the ant audience. Get them to grow up fearing evil, believing that only good people live happily ever after. Keeps the ants in line."


    Su Xiaobai understood it well. As much as he enjoyed his free-wheeling lifestyle, if ''everyone'' were like him, where would his loyal servants, doting women, and obedient employees come from?


    Somebody had to buy into the bullshit.


    Old Man Ning, sitting back down, nodded in grim understanding. "So, what happened to you after all that, little brother?"


    Su Xiaobai let out a self-deprecating laugh. "My fate? The same as every other rejected character¡ªdiscarded."


    He went to sleep that night and never woke up again.


    Lost, forgotten, left to rot in the pages of a book no one would ever read again.


    He saw many others tossed into the void, just like him, abandoned by the story itself.


    Then, after what felt like an eternity¡ªhe opened his eyes again.


    This time, in a completely different world. White Cloud Star, where martial arts and cultivation ruled.


    "I see¡­ I see¡­" Ning Gufan muttered, deep in thought. "So, Junior¡­ do you think we''re all just characters in someone''s story? What if the higher-ups decide to kill us again? What role are we supposed to play?"

 Chapter 2 - 2: Talentless Trash! OP Mommy!

    "Perfect, Senior! You are very wise¡ªyou''ve understood everything perfectly!"


    Su Xiaobai was genuinely surprised at how quickly the old man seemed to grasp things. Or so he thought.


    The old man, gritting his teeth, asked, "So what do we do now, Junior!?" His voice had a hint of panic, though Su Xiaobai couldn''t tell if he was truly worried or just pretending.


    It seemed like the old man still didn''t take his words seriously.


    Su Xiaobai sighed.


    Once again, he realized the old bastard didn''t believe him.


    A wave of sadness and depression washed over him, but he quickly brushed it off.


    Standing up, he donned his robe with a dismissive grin.


    "Heh¡­ Don''t say ''we'', Senior. I''ve already got help. You can rot here alone."


    Crackle¡­ crackle¡­


    He smirked, his eyes drifting to the iron rods of the cell, crackling with heavenly thunder. These rods kept them imprisoned, supposedly inescapable¡ªsupposedly.


    When Su Xiaobai had first reincarnated into White Cloud Star, he''d landed himself a decent family.


    Not a perfect life, far from it¡ªthis world was a ''dog-eat-dog'' battlefield where people cultivated spiritual energy, ''Qi'', to survive.


    Hardships were endless.


    But still, he had a loving mother, an older sister, and a younger sister.


    For a brief while, he even had a father¡ªuntil his dad mysteriously passed away, leaving them behind.


    Despite the struggles, they lived a good life. That is, until an ''accident'' landed him here in this cursed prison.


    "Xiaobai¡­"


    A soft, sweet fragrance floated into the cell, accompanied by a calm, soothing voice. The moment he heard it, Su Xiaobai''s mind instantly relaxed. Since the day he had entered this world, that voice had been his anchor¡ªthe only thing that stopped him from giving a damn about anything else.


    Standing just outside the cell was a tall woman, nearly 180 centimeters in height, her long white hair cascading down her back.


    Her eyes brimmed with maternal concern, and her face, untouched by time, radiated a serene beauty.


    It didn''t matter how many times he saw her¡ªSu Xiaobai swore his mother was one of the most beautiful women he had ever laid eyes on.


    Though, of course, he might have been a little biased.


    Regardless, as he blankly walked toward the heavenly thunder-infused iron rods, she panicked.


    "Xiaobai, be careful¡­" she called out softly, Matriarch Su''s voice laced with worry, her eyes pleading as she watched her son approach the deadly barrier.


    "Oops..." Su Xiaobai barely stopped himself in time, rubbing his head in relief.


    He glanced over at Matriarch Su, who was visibly distressed by his reckless behavior.


    In White Cloud Star, powerful warriors must undergo the Star Guardian Test to earn the rank of Star Guardian.


    These ranks start from D-rank and go all the way to S-rank, the pinnacle of power.


    The Star Guardians are the shields of civilization, tasked with defending against the endless threats of both the ''hunters'' and the ''beasts.''


    Hunters, apparently, were once warriors themselves, twisted into monsters by some kind of outbreak.


    Those killed by hunters rise as one of them, spreading the infection like a curse.


    The defensive walls around civilization hold for now, but small outbreaks are frequent, always threatening to overwhelm the people.


    To combat this, the Star Guardians were formed.


    And Su Xiaobai''s mother, Matriarch Su, was no ordinary guardian¡ªshe was an A-rank Star Guardian, a very powerful one to begin with.


    Normally, she was cold and less-spoken, feared by many. But when it came to her children, she had a soft side she couldn''t hide.


    Matriarch Su took a deep breath, calming herself after seeing her son act so carelessly.


    "Xiaobai... Be careful and wait inside. In a few days, I''ll send someone to get you out of here. Until then, just¡ªdon''t do anything reckless, please." S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Her voice was firm, but the worry in her eyes betrayed her cold exterior. She hurriedly turned and walked away, risking her life just to visit him in this forsaken place.


    "Hm?" Su Xiaobai watched her leave, a little taken aback and sad.


    For a moment, he thought she might just break him out of the prison right then and there.


    But in a blink, she was gone, leaving him alone with his thoughts and the crackling thunder-infused iron bars.


    He couldn''t help but chuckle. "Guess I''ll be staying a little longer..."


    "Junior, how the hell did you end up in this dump?" Ning Gufan, now dressed in his robes but still looking like a half-baked sage with that bald head and shiny white beard, leaned forward with curiosity. "You couldn''t have possibly wiped out an entire country like me, could you?"


    Ning Gufan¡ªOld Man Ning, as Su Xiaobai called him¡ªhad been thrown into this prison after casually wiping out a small country while wandering around.


    "Accidentally," he said.


    But Su Xiaobai?


    The old man could tell this kid didn''t have that kind of strength.


    Su Xiaobai snorted. "It''s because of a ¡ªbitch."


    "Oh?" Ning''s eyebrows shot up, suddenly much more interested.


    Su Xiaobai let out a long, frustrated sigh. The whole story was a pain to remember.


    When he first reincarnated into this world and started growing up, he realized one brutal truth: his talent was non-existent.


    While his sisters had managed to raise all seven pillars during their bloodline awakening ceremony¡ªmarking them for greatness¡ªSu Xiaobai could barely scrape together one lousy pillar.


    Seven pillars meant a future of immense power, potentially rising to the rank of S-rank Guardian.


    One pillar?


    That was the kind of trash that couldn''t even make it as cannon fodder.


    And in a world where strength was everything and a flick of a finger could end your life, Su Xiaobai was ''defenseless''.


    To make it worse, he didn''t even get a cool ability during his awakening.


    No impressive bloodline, no hidden potential, nothing.


    Instead, he was saddled with the most broken-sounding ability ever: ''Invincible Body.''


    Sounds like a cheat, right?


    Wrong.


    It only lasted a short time, and since he couldn''t cultivate worth a damn, even toddlers could overpower him.


    It was useless¡ªa joke.


    So naturally, he became the laughingstock of the clan.


    And it wasn''t just any clan.


    Su Xiaobai came from a long line of famous warriors.


    His father, Guardian Hua Sheng, had been an S-rank powerhouse, one of the top ten strongest in the entire White Cloud Star.


    Then, ten years after Su Xiaobai''s birth, his father mysteriously died in an "accident."


    The rumors that followed were ''brutal''.


    Some said his father died from the shock that his only son was such a pathetic waste.


    Others claimed that Hua Sheng had been planning to kill Su Xiaobai out of shame, and Matriarch Su¡ªSu Xiaobai''s mother¡ªkilled him to protect her son.


    Su Xiaobai knew both stories were complete bullshit, but it didn''t matter.


    The damage was done, and the family was disgraced. Unable to prove her innocence, Matriarch Su took her children and fled from their home in Wuxia Province, settling in the wilderness to escape the ridicule.


    Then, just yesterday, on Su Xiaobai''s twenty-seventh birthday, Matriarch Su dropped a bombshell: they were going to try his bloodline awakening ''again''.


    He was stunned.


    That sort of thing was only supposed to happen once, and the ''Immortal Tianlong Spirit'', the divine stone used to awaken bloodlines, was kept under lock and key in the heavily guarded Institute of Science.


    But Su Xiaobai had already lived a life where he was feared as a villain, taking what he wanted and dominating others.


    The joke that was his current life disgusted him.


    He didn''t know why he ended up in this world, but now he was determined to take control of his fate.


    So, with his mother''s help, they infiltrated the Institute of Science.


    Well, ''he'' did the sneaking, while Matriarch Su worked from the shadows.


    Su Xiaobai managed to get inside and perform the awakening ritual.


    The result?


    Eight pillars.


    ''Eight fucking pillars'' rose to the heavens!


    He thought his life was finally turning around, that he''d be able to hold his head high again.


    But before he could even celebrate, the dean of the institute caught him.


    The bastard launched a devastating attack, and Su Xiaobai, panicking, activated his Invincible Body.


    It worked¡­ sort of.

 Chapter 3 - 3: Violating Dragon Lords Daughter! Breaking the Fourth Wall!

    It worked¡­ sort of.


    Instead of fighting back, he shot into the sky like a human cannonball.


    He flew for what felt like forever before crash-landing¡ªface first¡ªinto something soft.


    Two large, heavenly soft ''somethings''.


    When he pulled himself back, he found himself staring into the eyes of an unbelievably beautiful woman.


    She was naked, bathing in a river, and as his vision cleared, he recognized her immediately.


    Long Lifen.


    The daughter of the Dragon Lord, a S-ranked gaurdian!


    And more importantly, his ''aunt'' by engagement.


    Yep.


    Her niece was engaged to him before the world found out Su Xiaobai was trash.


    Though the engagement wasn''t officially broken, the entire Azure Dragon Clan hated his guts, and Long Lifen was at the #1 of that list.


    The moment she saw him, she went berserk and tried to kill him on the spot.


    Death by a thousand cuts would''ve been a mercy compared to what she had planned.


    Su Xiaobai panicked and fumbled through his bag, pulling out the stolen potions he''d grabbed from the institute


    Without thinking, he splashed them all over her face, praying for a miracle.


    What he didn''t realize was that one of those potions was a highly potent aphrodisiac.


    Within seconds, both of them were feeling the effects.


    Long Lifen''s rage turned into something much more dangerous.


    She pounced on him, and before he knew it, she was riding him like a wild beast until his eyes rolled back in his head.


    When Su Xiaobai woke up, he was locked in the Heavenly Prison, his body sore in places he didn''t know could be sore.


    He could only assume the Dragon Lord had thrown him in here for ''violating'' Long Lifen.


    But the truth?


    He was the one who got violated!


    Old Man Ning, who had been listening intently, suddenly burst out laughing, doubling over. "Hahahahaha! Oh, Junior, you really are the ''unluckiest'' bastard alive! Framed for getting laid by your aunt, huh? I don''t know what''s worse¡ªgetting locked up for a crime you didn''t commit or getting plowed by your aunt and not even getting to enjoy it!"


    Su Xiaobai scowled. "Glad you''re amused, Senior."


    Ning wiped tears from his eyes, still chuckling. "Life''s a real bitch sometimes, Junior."


    Su Xiaobai crossed his arms, muttering, "Tell me about it. You wiped out a country. I got fucked¡ªliterally and figuratively¡ªtwice. And neither time was fun..."


    Ning cackled, slapping Su Xiaobai on the back. "At least you''re still alive, Junior! That''s something!"


    Su Xiaobai just groaned, burying his face in his hands. "Yeah, yeah... still alive to live out this miserable joke of a life."


    "C''mon, Junior, don''t be so gloomy about life¡­ Sometimes life bends you over and fucks you, and sometimes, you get to fuck life back. It''s all a great cosmic cycle, nothing more!" Ning Gufan said with a grin, cracking his knuckles. "Why not tell me more about these higher-ups? There''s gotta be a way to put them in their place, right?"


    Ning, of course, had already convinced himself that Su Xiaobai was talking about none other than the "Great Heavenly Dao" itself¡ªthose mysterious forces that wove the threads of fate like drunken tailors.


    His misunderstanding only deepened his interest.


    Su Xiaobai narrowed his eyes and smirked. "First, massage my shoulders."


    "Hmph! You think the great Infernal Emperor would lower himself to rub your shoulders for some petty information?" Ning Gufan grumbled, but the old bastard couldn''t resist.


    A moment later, he was there, hands pressing into Su Xiaobai''s tense muscles, all while trying to worm out the secrets that could save his miserable hide.


    The Heavenly Dao had fucked him over enough times, and if there was any chance of revenge, he''d take it.


    Ning Gufan thought, ''This brat''s days are numbered,'' he murmured secretly.


    Su Xiaobai, unaware that Ning Gufan was already plotting his death, let out a sigh of satisfaction. "You know, Senior, the basic rule of life is simple: the higher-ups can fuck you however they like."


    Ning grunted, his hands still kneading Su Xiaobai''s shoulders.


    The brat might be speaking the truth, but there had to be more.


    His curiosity was practically dripping from his bald head.


    "But," Su Xiaobai continued, slipping into the wise tones of a celestial sage, "after spending years trapped in the discarded pages of forgotten stories, I discovered something... something even the higher-ups can''t control."


    Ning''s hands paused, his eyes gleaming with greed. "What is it?"


    "It''s the Plot Armour," Su Xiaobai said, a grin playing at his lips. "If you entertain the ''ants'' watching from above, the higher-ups lose their grip on you. They can''t touch you. In fact, they might even bless you with this special power. It''s a cheat¡ªlike defying the heavens themselves. It lets you come back from the dead, rewrite your fate, and laugh in the face of death."


    Ning Gufan''s eyes widened. "What!?"


    Before Ning could even form a proper question, Su Xiaobai continued, his tone more serious now. "But be warned, Senior. If you piss off those little ants, if you bore them, if you fail to dance to their tune¡­ they''ll discard you. Your plot armour will vanish, and the higher-ups? They''ll erase you like you never existed."


    Ning Gufan''s jaw dropped.


    So every death, every tragic end¡ªevery fool who fails in the cultivation path¡ªit''s because they didn''t entertain these so-called ants?


    He thought back to the legends of cultivators who rose to godhood, only to be struck down by sudden misfortune.


    It wasn''t fate, it was¡­ rejection.


    The ants, those petty observers from above, had decided they were no longer worth watching.


    Ning''s mind spun.


    So this plot armour... is it the threads of fate, or some karma system?


    The realization that their lives were being toyed with like pieces in a celestial game made him sick¡ªbut also excited.


    Meanwhile, Su Xiaobai could care less how Ning interpreted it.


    He had long since retired from playing the role of villain.


    He had once slapped these higher-ups¡ªthose celestial entities, constantly rewriting destinies and pruning stories¡ªand paid the price.


    They tossed him into the void like a discarded draft, and he had spent centuries languishing in obscurity.


    He had offended the wrong ''ants'' once, and he wasn''t eager to make that mistake again.


    This time, he would lay low, a mere side character, unnoticed and undisturbed.


    Ning Gufan chuckled darkly, shaking his head. "Junior, isn''t it something? We, great cultivators, laugh at the mortals beneath us, calling them ants. And yet there are ants above us, playing the same damn game with our lives."


    Su Xiaobai grinned, a wicked glint in his eyes. "That''s the cycle of life, Senior. You fuck the ones below, and the ones above fuck you right back. Just make sure you do it with style."


    Ning laughed heartily, slapping Su Xiaobai''s back. "So tell me, Junior, who''s the real enemy here? Is it the higher-ups we''re all railing against or those damn ants watching us squirm?"


    Su Xiaobai snorted and patted Ning''s shoulder with a smirk. "Senior, you''re wise beyond measure."


    But Su Xiaobai knew the truth¡ªthe real enemy?


    It was always the ones with their hands on the strings, the ones who fucked you over, whether they were the ants above or the great arrogant celestial entities who couldn''t help but meddle with every thread of fate.


    You could try to fight them, or you could play their game.


    And Su Xiaobai?


    This time, he was going to play it smarter than anyone had ever seen.


    Su Xiaobai had learned well¡ªover countless ages and discarded dustbins¡ªexactly how the fates of every type of character played out.


    The heroes, the villains, the side characters no one gave a damn about.


    He''d seen it all.


    Each one tossed aside when they no longer served the grand design.


    He had become an expert in survival, not through strength or cunning, but by understanding the delicate balance of staying just unimportant enough to be left alone.


    Two days later...


    The faint echo of footsteps echoed down the dim & damp corridor, growing louder with each passing second.


    Someone was approaching. Su Xiaobai''s eyes flickered open, his senses sharp despite the casual, bored expression on his face.


    Ning Gufan, sitting cross-legged nearby, straightened up, his usual smirk fading as he too heard the approaching steps.


    Both men turned their heads toward the iron bars of the cell.


    S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 4 - 4: Sun Lingxi! Breaking free form Heavenly Prison!

    "Who the hell...?" Su Xiaobai squinted at the shadowy figure outside the cell.


    Slowly, the silhouette took shape¡ªa woman, her face hidden behind a veil.


    Smooth, pale skin, and for a split second, he caught the flash of red eyes that practically screamed dangerous but sexy.


    Without a word, she started drawing some weird patterns on the wall. Su Xiaobai watched, confused, as she summoned a key from thin air and flicked off the heavenly lightning crackling around the bars like she was just turning off a damn light switch.


    She sighed, finally turning to him. "Su Xiaobai, you need to run. Head to Storm Peak Mountains. Matriarch Su and the others are waiting. Then get leave Wuxia Province forever." S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    With a casual flick, she pulled down her veil, revealing a face so beautiful it was like a slap to the ego.


    Her lips were red and thin, her expression cold¡ªlike she couldn''t care less whether he lived or died.


    Pretty, but terrifying.


    "Who are you?" Su Xiaobai shot back, eyes narrowing. His mother said she''d send someone, sure, but what if this lady was bait?


    He steps out, they nab him, and bam, he''s back in a cell with a bonus beating, and his mom''s implicated too.


    She sighed, clearly not in the mood.


    As she stepped closer, Su Xiaobai took a step back.


    BOOM!


    Suddenly, her aura hit like a damn tidal wave, nearly knocking the breath out of him. He wasn''t strong enough to deal with this kind of power¡ªit felt like she could turn him into soup with a flick of her wrist.


    ZIIIIING!


    The iron bars screeched and snapped, cracking under the pressure of her spiritual energy.


    "Go, now!" Sun Lingxi urged, glancing over her shoulder like someone was on her tail. Anxiety crept into her otherwise ice-cold voice.


    Su Xiaobai stepped out but stayed put, glaring at her. "I''m not stupid. How do I know this isn''t just another setup?"


    Sun Lingxi''s eyes gleamed with impatience. "I am Sun Lingxi of the Sun Dynasty! I have visited your elder sister, Su Yiran, many times atop Storm Peak. Do you not recall?"


    Her voice grew colder, more urgent. "Listen, there''s no time to waste. You''re being used as a scapegoat. If you don''t run now, they''ll crush you and put your head on display for all to see! The forces behind this are way too powerful for anyone to handle."


    Su Xiaobai wracked his brain, memories stirring.


    Yeah, he did recall a girl from the Sun Dynasty visiting his elder sister Su Yiran.


    But him, being used as a scapegoat? What the hell was going on?


    After that messy encounter with Long Lifen, things had gone black. Was someone plotting behind his back?


    Su Xiaobai couldn''t help but wonder,'' Why the hell am I getting dragged into this mess?'' He had done everything right¡ªor so he thought.


    He had mastered the art of being unimportant, a perfect side character. Blending into the background had been his specialty, avoiding the limelight and trouble alike! His whole plan was to stay low, just another faceless figure in the grand narrative of life.


    So why was fate determined to fuck him over? Why aren''t they just ignoring me?


    "Shouldn''t I be too insignificant for this shit?" he muttered to himself. There were plenty of other people who could be scapegoated, after all. Su Xiaobai had spent years trying to avoid exactly this sort of thing. He wasn''t some genius cultivator, not some hidden prodigy that everyone was waiting to rise¡ªhe was just Su Xiaobai, a guy who should be able to slip through life unnoticed.


    But somehow, he was caught in the storm again. Was it that Long Lifen incident? Surely, it wasn''t worth all this heat just because he got unlucky and faceplanted into some breasts. Sure, she was his aunt-by-engagement, but still! He wasn''t even important enough to make killing him a big deal. Right?


    He had no clue what anyone would gain by offing him.


    He clicked his tongue in frustration. Damn it. So much for living as the forgotten character...


    He was confused, but none of that mattered right now.


    There was only one thing to do.


    "Thanks, Senior Sister!" he blurted out, and without thinking, threw his arms around her soft, fragrant body.


    "!!"


    Sun Lingxi froze, her cold, impassive face suddenly glowing with a faint blush.


    The red tint on her cheeks betrayed the storm in her heart as it thudded loudly in her chest.


    She had never been this close to any man before, and now this reckless idiot was hugging her?


    Meanwhile, Su Xiaobai, oblivious to the internal chaos he was causing, grinned and shifted gears. "Old man, you wanna¡ª" He glanced toward where Old Man Ning had been sitting, only to find him gone, like a damn ghost.


    The old bastard had vanished the moment the prison door opened, disappearing into the wind.


    "Tsk, sly old fox," Su Xiaobai muttered with a smirk. "Guess I''m on my own."


    He turned back to Sun Lingxi, who still looked like she was processing that unexpected hug. "Alright, Senior Sister, thanks again! Gotta run!"


    Just as he bolted off in the wrong direction, Sun Lingxi snapped out of her daze. "Wait, this way! ¡ª Go ¡ª this way!" she called out in panic, her voice a mix of disbelief and exasperation.


    "Oh." Su Xiaobai shamelessly turned around and sprinted the way she pointed, not missing a beat.


    Su Xiaobai''s grin widened as he ran, "This Senior Sister is very helpful¡ªhard on the outside, but soft on the inside. If she''s not deceiving me, the ants watching from above and the higher-ups would definitely pair her with the protagonist."


    He licked his lips, the sweet scent of her lingering in his mind.


    ''Tasty.''


    ____


    "What a silly man¡­"


    Sun Lingxi stood at the cave exit, watching Su Xiaobai sprinting through the mountain peaks like he was being chased by demons.


    She sighed, shaking her head.


    ''He took advantage of you...!''


    A mist swirled beside her, dark and ominous, forming into a shadowy double of herself, hissing in anger.


    The damn mist clearly hadn''t missed Su Xiaobai''s little stunt during that hug.


    Her brows twitched, but she didn''t bother responding to the mist''s complaints.


    Instead, she stepped off into the air.


    Whoosh!


    Like a shadow, she shot off toward the Sun Dynasty Palace, careful not to be seen.


    She had to stay low, make sure no one noticed her involvement.


    Unfortunately for her, just across from the Heavenly Prison, perched on a towering mountain peak, two figures sat casually on the cliff''s edge, watching everything from a distance.


    "Checkmate."

 Chapter 5 - 5: Immortal Emperor & Son!

    "Checkmate."


    "Humph! Master, that''s so unfair!" Jiang Chuchu puffed her cheeks, pouting like a spoiled child.


    She was donned in an orange robe that hugged her curves, a small tear near her chest revealing just enough to hint at the big little rabbits hidden inside. Her figure, the kind that could make most women envious, and her round, lovable face gave off the perfect combination of innocence and temptation.


    Perched high on the cliff, she sat on a small stool across from a young man who looked evily innocent.


    Sun Liang, with his gentle smile and the symbol of the sun on his forehead, had the kind of face that could fool anyone into thinking he wasn''t capable of dark schemes.


    "There''s no unfairness in war, Chuchu," he said, smiling calmly. "Think of it like a battlefield."


    "Humph! You''re just bullying Chuchu¡­" she huffed, her eyes sparkling with mischief. Then her gaze drifted from the game, curiosity flickering as she scanned the horizon.


    "It''s Miss Lingxi¡­ she really had the guts to defy the Sun Dynasty?" Her gaze shifted to Su Xiaobai, who was stumbling through the mountains below like a clueless rabbit trying to escape. "That''s Hua Sheng''s son? Su Xiaobai? He''s so weak¡­" she murmered, her voice filled with disdain.


    Sun Liang''s calm smile never faltered. "His strength is irrelevant. Because of him, the dragon has been tied up in knots and can''t move. He''s far more useful than all the other pawns I''ve played¡­ But," he paused, his smile tightening slightly, "he''s outlived his usefulness."


    In the Immortal Cloud Continent, particularly within Wuxia Province¡ªthe strongest and most protected region¡ªSun Dynasty reigned supreme.


    The dynasty had produced two consecutive #1-ranked S-rank Guardians: the Immortal Emperor and his successor, Sun Liang, the Immortal Son.


    Jiang Chuchu, loyal and ever the obedient maid, frowned. "Master, are we going to kill him?"


    Sun Liang smiled, his expression calm. "Not us."


    "Huh?" Jiang Chuchu''s confusion deepened.


    She could never quite figure out her master''s intentions¡ªhe was always one step ahead, like a celestial being who didn''t even belong to this world.


    So powerful, so cunning, so... annoyingly unreadable.


    She often threw herself at him, hoping he''d give in to her charms, but the bastard never took the bait.


    Still pouting, she couldn''t help but admire his otherworldly presence.


    Sun Liang, on the other hand, smiled inwardly, his fingers tapping lightly on the table. ''For the second time...'' He chuckled silently to himself. ''Hua Sheng, you and your son really made things easy for me. You were the perfect cannon fodder, and now, with your son and wife, I''ll claim my spot as the sole Emperor of the Immortal Cloud Continent.'' S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Immortal Cloud Continent had never seen a single ruler before.


    Even now, its lands were divided into fragmented regions, Wuxia Province being the most dominant.


    But Sun Liang, after five decades of meticulous plotting, knew that today''s move would ensure the Sun Dynasty''s rise to absolute power.


    Soon, he would sit on the golden throne as the one true Emperor!


    Su Xiaobai, of course, couldn''t have dreamed that his father''s death wasn''t the result of the petty rumors accusing his mother.


    It was all part of a much larger plan.


    From the very beginning, his family had been nothing more than scapegoats, pawns in Sun Liang''s climb to the top.


    ______


    A day later¡ªStorm Peak Mountains!


    BOOM!


    Thunder ripped through the sky, cracking it open with violent force as rain poured like the heavens themselves were weeping.


    The air was filled with the stench of wet earth and something far more sinister¡ªblood.


    Pat! Pat! Pat!


    Su Xiaobai''s feet pounded against the wet, muddy ground as he climbed the cliff, excitement driving him forward.


    How long had it been since he last saw his mother? His little sister, Xiao Mei? The loyal servants who had stuck with them even after they were forced to flee Wuxia Province?


    He couldn''t wait to see them, to feel the warmth of home once more.


    Their refuge¡ªhidden deep in the Storm Peak Mountains, far from civilization¡ªwas their sanctuary.


    Though far from safe, with monsters and hunters constantly roaming nearby, it was a place they had fought to protect.


    His mother had always ensured they were shielded from the worst of it.


    Up there, they''d carved out a peaceful existence, a quiet life that had allowed Su Xiaobai to forget the blood-soaked days of his past life as a villain.


    As he climbed, rain drenched his clothes, and the sharp rocks beneath his feet tore into his skin, leaving bloody streaks with each step.


    But he was too eager to notice the pain.


    His mind was already with his family, wondering how long he''d been imprisoned, wondering what he had missed.


    "How long was I stuck in that hellhole?" he muttered, his sense of time warped after days¡ªor was it weeks?¡ªin the Heavenly Prison.


    He wiped the rain from his face, only to stop dead in his tracks.


    His eyes caught something in the water running down the cliffside.


    It wasn''t just rain.


    "Blood..."


    His heart froze in his chest.


    He looked up, and his breath stopped.


    A crimson stream ran down the rocks, mixing with the rain. Panic surged through him like a bolt of lightning, and he sprinted the rest of the way up, ignoring the sting in his feet and the burn in his lungs.


    As he reached the clearing where his home once stood, the world seemed to fall silent, except for the endless downpour.


    What greeted him wasn''t home.


    It was destruction.


    The buildings were nothing but rubble.


    His family''s sanctuary had been reduced to nothing but ruins.


    Blood pooled in the mud, bodies¡ªso many bodies¡ªscattered everywhere.


    The smell of iron and death was suffocating, choking the breath from his lungs.


    His feet sank into the wet earth as he stepped through the bloody mess.


    Each squelching step echoed in the hollow silence, the stench pressing in from all sides.


    This¡­ this wasn''t real. It couldn''t be.


    Then, his eyes fell on a small, lifeless form.


    A white-furred lion cub, soaked in blood.


    Pang Nue''er¡­


    His sister''s beloved magical beast. Its once proud and playful body now lay broken, motionless.


    Su Xiaobai collapsed beside the cub, cradling its limp form in his hands. "Pang Nue''er¡­ What¡­ what happened here? Where is everyone?" His voice cracked, trembling, his mind filled with terror of the worst.


    He could feel the familiar faces of those he loved flashing in his mind¡ªhis mother, Xiao Mei, the people who made this isolated place a home.


    The cold knot in his stomach twisted tighter.


    The cub let out one final, weak whimper before its neck snapped in his hands.


    "No¡­ no¡­" Su Xiaobai whispered, his voice barely audible over the rain.


    His chest heaved, heart splintering in his chest.


    If Pang Nue''er was dead, that meant his sister¡ªXiao Mei¡ªwas likely gone too.


    "Xiao Mei! Mother!" he screamed, his voice filled with anger and desperation, breaking through the storm night like a blade.


    But there was no answer.


    Just the rain¡ªendless, merciless.


    Why?


    What did they do?


    A dark, sinister thought crawled into his mind ¡ª His fists clenched as a wave of rage rose within him, burning through the despair.


    He looked up at the storming sky, his blood boiling. ''What the hell did they do to deserve this?''


    He hadn''t killed anyone this time.


    He hadn''t wronged anyone.


    This time, he''d done nothing, and yet¡­


    Here he was, watching everything he cared about torn apart.


    Again.


    The heavens remained silent, as if fate itself was watching him suffer, uncaring


    Even in his last life, the answer had been silence.

 Chapter 6 - 6: Destined to be Discarded!

    Again.


    The heavens remained silent, as if fate itself was watching him suffer, uncaring ¡ª again!


    Even in his last life, the answer had been silence.


    Su Xiaobai had been living a good life, basking in luxury and power. Until the decree came, forcing him into the role of a villain. And he played it damn well, didn''t he? He embraced it, did everything the story demanded¡ªcrushed the protagonist, broke their spirit, indulged in his darkest impulses.


    And yet, they discarded him. Just like that. Tossed him aside like a crumpled page from a script, forgotten and left to rot.


    He had a family in that life too. But what happened to them? Were they erased along with him, casualties of a fate that no longer needed them? He didn''t know. And that haunted him as much as anything. Had they even mattered?


    And now... this time.


    It was happening again.


    His hands trembled as he knelt in the mud, soaked in rain and blood. Why? He had done nothing this time. No schemes, no villainy, no provocation. Just trying to live a quiet, simple life.


    But here he was again¡ªalone in the wreckage of everything he cared about.


    The cruel irony was clear to him.


    It didn''t matter what role he played¡ªhero, villain, or faceless nobody in the background.


    The end was always the same.


    Silence. Destruction. Loss.


    And now, again.


    His fists clenched, fingers digging into the wet earth. His body shook with a mixture of rage and despair. ''Was he destined to always be discarded?''


    ____


    Swoosh!


    On the far side of the cliff, a woman in crimson armor raised her hand, commanding her soldiers to stand.


    The Blood Cavalry, silent and hidden until now, rose at her signal, their eyes locked on the man below.


    Xu Lia, captain of the Blood Cavalry, once filled with innocence, now burned with a fire of vengeance that matched the crimson of her armor.


    Her gaze bore into Su Xiaobai with a hatred that had long since consumed her.


    "Release!" she shouted, her voice cold as steel.


    With that single word, thousands of arrows shot into the sky, darkening the heavens like a storm of death.


    Swoosh!


    Swoosh!


    Swoosh!


    The arrows rained down, each one aimed to tear Su Xiaobai apart.


    "What¡ª!?" Su Xiaobai barely had time to react, instinctively triggering his ''Invincible Body''.


    Clink! Clink! Clink!


    The first wave of arrows slammed into him, deflecting off his temporary shield of spiritual energy, their force knocking him back.


    But he could feel it¡ªhis energy reserves were dangerously low.


    Squelch! Squelch! Squelch!


    With a flicker, his Invincible Body gave out.


    "Agh¡­!" Su Xiaobai gasped, his body shuddering as the arrows pierced through him.


    Flesh tore, his profound veins ruptured, and blood poured from his mouth. The pain was unlike anything he''d ever felt, each arrow sinking deeper, shredding his body as he crumbled to the ground, pinned by the merciless storm of arrows.


    High above, standing on the cliff''s edge, Sun Liang watched, completely unfazed. His eyes flicked to Xu Lia, who stood beside him, her gaze locked on Su Xiaobai''s broken form, her lips trembling with the satisfaction of revenge.


    "The trap worked perfectly," Sun Liang murmured, a cruel smile playing on his lips.


    Xu Lia''s eyes filled with a cold, fierce satisfaction. Her voice cracked as she whispered, "Miss Long Lifen, I''ve avenged you."


    No one had expected Su Xiaobai to meet his end like this.


    Not even Sun Liang, who had personally come to oversee the attack, just in case something went wrong.


    He always preferred to leave nothing to chance, but seeing the pitiful figure of Su Xiaobai lying in the mud, he knew there was no need for concern.


    Su Xiaobai had been reduced to a broken, bloodied husk.


    But Sun Liang''s gaze shifted to Xu Lia, the warrior who had carried out his plan to the letter.


    So fierce, so loyal¡ªand so unaware of how little she truly mattered.


    With a flicker of amusement in his eyes, he raised his hand.


    SWOOSH!


    In the blink of an eye, a wave of sword intent exploded from his fingers.


    Puchi!


    Puchi!


    Puchi!


    The hundred soldiers of the Blood Cavalry didn''t even have time to scream. Their bodies were sliced cleanly in half, their torsos slipping off their horses before the blood began to rain down.


    The sound of their bodies hitting the mud was almost drowned out by the rain.


    Thud. Thud. Thud.


    Xu Lia turned to face Sun Liang, shock contorting her features. "Master Sun?!" she gasped, her voice trembling as she looked at the blood-soaked corpses of her men.


    This wasn''t the deal. This wasn''t supposed to happen!


    Horror painted her face as the realization set in ¡ª She had been nothing more than a pawn in his grand game.


    Her loyalty, her sacrifices¡ªeverything had been for nothing.


    Xu Lia, the most loyal servant of Long Lifen, an orphan raised within the Azure Dragon Clan, had spent her life serving, fighting, and killing for the clan.


    She had risen through the ranks, earned her title, but had retired after too much bloodshed, choosing to return to Long Lifen''s side as her personal maid.


    She was one of the first to find Su Xiaobai and Long Lifen together after that fateful encounter by the river, their bodies entwined from the effects of the aphrodisiac.


    Her blood had boiled that day.


    She had wanted to kill Su Xiaobai right there and then, but Sun Liang had stopped her.


    He convinced her that killing him then would disgrace the Azure Dragon Clan. He promised her revenge, but in a way that would protect the clan''s honor.


    And now¡ªafter leading her personal army into this massacre, after betraying the Azure Dragon Clan for him¡ªhe had killed her men.


    "Why...?" she stammered, her body trembling with disbelief.


    Sun Liang''s smile didn''t fade. He didn''t bother to answer.


    Puchi!


    With a casual flick of his wrist, her head rolled clean off her shoulders, her lifeless eyes wide with shock as it tumbled into the bloodied earth.


    Thud.


    Her headless body collapsed moments later, joining the corpses of her cavalry. The same warriors who had followed her through life and death now lay as nothing more than discarded pawns, mere tools in a game far beyond her understanding.


    Sun Liang watched as her body twitched in the mud, wiping his hand against his robe with disdain. "Filthy," he muttered, stepping over her fallen corpse without a second glance.


    His gaze shifted back to Su Xiaobai, who lay pinned to the ground, barely alive. "Now... only the brat''s family is left," he whispered to himself, an evil grin spreading across his face.


    Oh, he had such ''delightful'' plans for them. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Su Xiaobai''s fate was sealed, but it was far from over.


    Sun Liang would make sure of that ¡ª to extract the most value from his pawn!

 Chapter 7 - 7: Sun Liangs Ambition!

    One Week Later ¡ª Mingyue Pond, Sun Dynasty Palace!


    Under the dying light of dusk, Sun Lingxi sat at the edge of the pond, her crimson robes glowing faintly in the fading light. Her hair, half-pinned with delicate silver ornaments, hung loosely around her shoulders like shadows, while her eyes¡ªonce bright with innocence¡ªnow brimmed with regret.


    In her hand, she held a red jade lotus, its deep glow flickering like the last ember of a dying fire. She let it slip from her fingers, watching it drift among the three others she had already released.


    Her reflection mingled with the moon''s in the still water, as if mocking her from below.


    A mist curled at her feet, rising slowly around her, its voice a familiar whisper. ''Why weep for the dead, Lingxi? You could have everything¡ªpower, wealth, and men bowing at your feet. With me, nothing is out of reach.''


    Lingxi''s gaze remained fixed on the water. "Do you think I''m to blame for his death? I should''ve known they were tracking me¡­"


    The mist coiled tighter, its voice smooth, seductive. ''Fate''s cruel to everyone but the strong. His path was doomed, as were theirs. But you, Lingxi¡­ you''re destined for more.''


    Her hand clenched at her side, knuckles whitening.


    ''Was it my fault?''


    No. She knew better.


    Sun Liang had been behind everything, pulling the strings from the start.


    Half-brother. Centuries older.


    The true heir to their father, the Immortal Emperor, who had too many children and too many ambitions.


    Lingxi was the youngest, the least important, but she had hoped to change that ¡ª She had tried to protect Su Yiran and Su Xiaobai, but Sun Liang''s plans were too deep, too perfect.


    ''Did Su Xiaobai die thinking I betrayed him?''


    Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps.


    "Ling''er¡­ why didn''t you come to my coronation?"


    Sun Liang''s smooth voice broke the silence, followed by his tall and majestic appearance.


    He appeared behind her, draped in black silk embroidered with golden dragons, his crown glinting in the twilight. His expression was calm, almost too perfect, as if nothing could unsettle him.


    Jiang Chuchu followed at his side, her lavender hanfu hugging to her waist like a seductive serpant, her eyes flashing with smug satisfaction.


    "I thought my mood might spoil the celebration," Sun Lingxi replied, her voice steady but cold.


    She didn''t turn to face him.


    Sun Liang''s brow arched slightly, his eyes flicking toward the floating lotuses. "What, you think you''re more important than me?" His tone was teasing, but there was a sharpness to it, a reminder of his position.


    "I didn''t say that," she muttered. "I just didn''t want my troubles casting a shadow over your glorious day."


    For a moment, his expression softened. He stepped closer, his gaze shifting from the lotuses to her. "We''re family, Lingxi. Your troubles are mine too. Don''t let guilt weigh you down."


    Her fingers curled into fists, her jaw tightening. She let out a bitter laugh. "Family? Then tell me, Brother¡ªdid you really care about the Dragon Lord''s daughter, Long Lifen when you threw Su Xiaobai into the Heavenly Prison?"


    "..."


    His silence was all she needed. The amusement faded from his face. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You didn''t care," she continued, her voice rising. "You saw an opportunity and seized it. You framed Su Xiaobai for dishonoring your fianc¨¦e and humiliated the Azure Dragon Clan. They could have been our equals, but you wanted them under your control. You played them like pawns, turning Long Lifen into nothing more than a tool to weaken the clan."


    Sun Liang remained impassive, but his eyes gleamed with the faintest hint of amusement.


    "And when they didn''t break," she spat, her voice trembling with fury, "you came in the dead of night¡ªGoddess Xue by your side, parading Xu Lia''s headless corpse like a trophy."


    Sun Liang''s smile didn''t waver ¡ª He seemed to enjoy her anger, as though it confirmed his control.


    "You framed the Azure Dragon Clan for assassinating Su Xiaobai and blamed Xu Lia for the massacre that followed¡ªrazed villages, scorched land. And when the world turned against them, you offered them salvation, didn''t you? As long as they became your subordinates, the proud Dragon Clan would kneel. And Long Lifen?" She sneered.


    "You paraded her as your concubine after tarnishing her name, stripping the Dragons of any hope."


    Her voice dropped lower, eyes narrowing. "And when Matriarch Su tried to free Su Xiaobai, you made sure the world would blame her for releasing that ''vile monster'' from the Heavenly Prison, too. You knew the collateral damage would turn everyone against her."


    She took a breath, her tone sharpening as she locked eyes with him. "And after all that, you passed the ''Immortal Execution Order''. You sacrificed a drop of Phoenix Blood¡ªone of only three¡ªjust to wipe out the Su family. Our father paved the way for you, set up the engagement with the Azure Dragon Clan. But you? You wanted more than alliances, didn''t you?


    You wanted control. Puppets, not allies. Does Father even know? Has he emerged from seclusion? How do you think he''ll react?"


    Sun Liang''s eyes gleamed with cold amusement. "You''re wiser than you give yourself credit for, Ling''er. I''ve always admired that about you."


    Her scowl deepened, disgust twisting her face.


    He stepped closer, lowering his voice. "But remember, the Heavenly Prison can only be opened by Sun Dynasty descendants. There''s a traitor among us ¡ª Any guesses who?"


    Hiss!


    Sun Lingxi heart skipped a beat. His words were cold, calculated¡ªa warning wrapped in a question.


    Without another word, Sun Liang turned, his robes sweeping behind him as he walked away, each step deliberate, full of authority.


    As soon as he disappeared from sight, the mist that had always surrounded Sun Lingxi hissed, ''I hate men!'' it spat. ''Especially him. Arrogant, walking like the whole world is his! How I wish to crush that smug face under my foot.''


    For once, Sun Lingxi found herself agreeing with her ''master''.


    _____


    As Sun Liang and Jiang Chuchu distanced themselves from the pond, the silence between them grew ¡ª Only when they had put enough space behind them did Jiang Chuchu finally dare to speak.


    "Master, do you¡­ covet that woman?" Her voice, though soft, carried a hint of tension.


    Sun Liang, ever composed, gave a slight nod. His eyes gleamed with a flicker of greed. "She has a quality I require," he said, his words as measured as always.


    For a fleeting moment, Jiang Chuchu''s expression faltered, a shadow passing over her delicate features before she masked it once more.


    Inwardly, she steeled herself. ''I can''t claim the master for myself¡­ I must help him reach all his ambitions,'' she resolved, swallowing her discontent.

 Chapter 8 - 8: Chains of Fate: Sacrificial Pawn!

    ''I can''t claim the master for myself¡­ I must help him reach all his ambitions,'' Jiang Chuchu resolved, swallowing her discontent.


    With practiced grace, she withdrew a vial of shimmering pink liquid from her sleeve. "Master," she offered cautiously, "shall I give her this? Or perhaps, I could arrange for her to be¡­ delivered to you directly?"


    There was a subtle intent in her words, a promise that she would ensure Sun Lingxi''s compliance¡ªwhether through poison or deceit.


    Sun Liang turned to her, a soft smile playing on his lips. He shook his head slowly, his gaze distant. "There''s no need for that," he said, his voice gentle but carrying finality. "To enslave someone''s soul is to bind yourself to them. And when those chains break, they will know your weaknesses better than anyone."


    His gaze shifted to the distant mountains, his thoughts already elsewhere. "The Immortal Cloud Continent is already mine. She has no escape," he said, his voice filled with quiet certainty. "The time will come when she realizes there is no sanctuary left for her¡ªbut I will not rush it."


    Though his words were calm, his mind was far from idle.


    There was still the matter of the ancient spirit guarding Sun Lingxi.


    It was not yet time to provoke it¡ªinformation was needed first.


    Patience, he had learned, was often the deadliest weapon.


    Jiang Chuchu, ever obedient, nodded.


    The pink elixir vanished back into the folds of her sleeve, and the two continued their walk in silence, their footfalls light against the stone path.


    _____


    The next day, clans and minor powers flooded the Sun Dynasty''s palace, desperate to secure Sun Liang''s favor and avoid being crushed beneath his growing empire.


    Fear had driven them there, fear of sharing the fate of those who had opposed him.


    His control over the Immortal Cloud Continent tightened with each passing day.


    Fifty years of meticulous scheming had led to this. Ever since Sun Liang had awakened his ''Devil Heart'', the wheels had been set in motion.


    Few knew the full depth of his ambition, and fewer still could comprehend it.


    Standing alone on his private balcony, his black robes billowing in the night wind, Sun Liang gazed out over his dominion.


    The stars glittered above, but his eyes were fixed on a point far beyond the horizon.


    "Unrivaled Immortal Dynasty¡­" he murmured, the name bitter on his tongue. "One day, you will fall. And when you do, Gu Xian will have his revenge..." His voice was cold, an echo of the vengeance burning inside him, sharper than any blade.


    He turned to leave, but another figure stood on the balcony, still as a statue.


    The air around him seemed to freeze, a presence so imposing that even the stars seemed to dim.


    It was the ''Immortal Emperor''¡ªonce feared across the entire continent. But the figure now was no longer a ruler. His once-piercing eyes were now empty sockets, devoid of life.


    A chained sun glowed faintly on his forehead, a mark of his enslavement.


    The world believed the Immortal Emperor was in seclusion, preparing for a legendary breakthrough. The truth, however, was far darker. He had been struck down during his attempt, betrayed from within.


    His corpse, reanimated by Sun Liang, now stood as a puppet, a mere shadow of the man who once commanded the very laws of nature.


    The immortal who had once ruled the continent with unchallenged might now answered only to his son, the true puppet master. Sun Liang had done it all, binding his father''s body in chains of soul manipulation, a fate worse than death.


    As the wind howled across the palace, Sun Liang turned his gaze back to the distant mountains, his mind already plotting his next move.


    And behind him, the hollowed shell of the Immortal Emperor remained, silent and still¡ªnothing more than another pawn in the empire of the Devil.


    ________


    Back in Time!


    As Sun Liang and the rest vanished into the distance, leaving Storm Peak Mountain engulfed in sea of blood, a shadow silently materialized beside the fallen body of Su Xiaobai. His back was pinned to the scorched earth by a dozen arrows, blood trickling into the charred soil.


    Snap! Snap! Snap!


    With a flick of his wrist, the arrows lodged in Su Xiaobai''s body shattered. The figure crouched beside him, his eyes gleaming with a sinister interest as he inspected the broken form.


    "Interesting¡­" he muttered, his fingers brushing the bloodstained ground. "The Demonic Veins stir only at death''s edge¡­ could this be the trigger?"


    A low, dark laugh echoed around him.


    "Kekeke... nothing more than a sacrificial offering, boy," cackled Old Man Ning, the same man who once crossed paths with Su Xiaobai in the Heavenly Prison.


    Unbeknownst to Su Xiaobai, Ning Gufan had been no ordinary prisoner.


    He had entered this lower realm after a tragedy in the higher planes, his veins poisoned, his strength crippled ¡ª Despite his best efforts, his attempts at healing had failed, and he was reduced to hiding, searching for a host whose power could mend his damaged ''Immortal Evil Veins''.


    The arrival of Su Xiaobai had been a stroke of luck.


    Fifty-six Profound Yin Veins, demonic in nature. Su Xiaobai''s rare bloodline had stirred briefly during his ''first'' bloodline awakening ceremony when he touched the ''Immortal Tianlong spirit'', but its true potential remained locked, waiting for the right trigger.


    Ning Gufan''s eyes sparkled with delight as he studied the young man''s broken body. "With your Demonic Veins, I can repair my own Immortal Evil Veins. It won''t restore my full power, but it will keep this broken vessel alive for much longer."


    He hovered over Su Xiaobai''s chest, his hands poised to extract the potent demonic energy within. Su Xiaobai''s fate was of no concern to him; the boy was already on death''s doorstep.


    "To defy destiny, you need strength beyond limits," Ning murmured to himself, the winds of Storm Peak howling as if to agree. "Only supreme power can control fate."


    With careful precision, Ning wrapped Su Xiaobai''s lifeless body in a dark cloth, placing him within an ancient coffin lined with cursed iron. Chains snapped into place, sealing the coffin.


    For a moment, Ning stood there, taking in the scent of death and burnt wood.


    With one final glance at the flames roaring over Storm Peak, he vanished into the shadows, dragging the coffin into the depths of the forest.


    Later, Sun Liang''s followers returned, torching the entire mountain range to the ground.


    The flames devoured every trace of the battlefield, leaving nothing but ashes.


    Villages and cities along the way burned, the perfect scapegoats for Sun Liang''s grand plan¡ªblaming it all on the Azure Dragon Clan. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 9 - 9: Evil Empress! Intercepted by An Old Enemy!

    Rain Immortal Valley, Soaring Dragon Continent!


    Near Nine Cloud Mountains ¡ª Explosions rocked the valley as a bloodied figure staggered through the miasma-filled forest, each step heavier than the last.


    "Tch, those bastards cost me too many life-saving treasures!" Ning Gufan cursed, wiping blood from his mouth. "Once I recover, I''ll turn this entire mountain to ash!"


    ROAAAR!


    Suddenly, a feral roar pierced the air, and a two-tailed white tiger lunged from the shadows, its claws gleaming with murderous intent.


    Ning reacted instantly, flames surging from his back. "You''re lucky, beast," he spat through gritted teeth, "you''ll be the first two-tailed tiger to burn in my Infernal Flames!"


    WHOOSH!


    The flames roared to life, consuming the tiger in a searing blaze.


    "Whimper..."


    The creature''s agonized cry echoed briefly before being silenced. The scent of burnt fur and charred flesh filled the air as the tiger''s body crumbled to ashes.


    Panting, Ning stumbled forward, battered but unbroken. His enemies were dead, but his body was close to collapsing.


    Blood¡ªnone of it his¡ªpainted the ground behind him. "Damn¡­ bastards," he muttered.


    For all his power, Ning Gufan wasn''t supposed to be in this lower realm. An immortal from the higher planes, he''d once been a terrifying force, feared and revered across the entire Four Heavens.


    But after a catastrophic battle with the Prison Emperor that poisoned his veins, he was forced to flee to the lower realms to find a cure¡ªor die in disgrace.


    But even here, in the pitiful mortal plane, he had enemies.


    And now, his senses screamed a warning. Something was coming.


    BANG!


    A colossal cauldron, glowing with golden light, smashed into the earth before him, its impact sending tremors through the ground. Ancient runes flickered along its surface, radiating an ethereal power.


    Ning''s heart pounded in his chest. "A treasure like this¡­ in the lower realm¡­?"


    Before he could react, a voice boomed from the sky.


    "Oi! Old monster Ning, your grandma''s here to rob you blind! Hand over your tax for entering my territory, or I''ll split your old skull open!"


    Ning''s expression darkened. Her of all people?


    Hovering in the air above him was the Evil Empress, her crimson eyes glowing with power. Her rose-pink hair cascaded down her back, shimmering like strands of silk, catching the fading sunlight.


    The wind carried a delicate fragrance, intoxicating and sweet, a scent that lingered long after she moved. Her armor, form-fitting and gleaming, hugged every curve of her voluptuous body, the shape of her ample breasts pressing tightly against her chestplate, threatening to spill out.


    Her waist was slender, flaring into hips that swayed provocatively with every step. Her lips¡ªcruel and seductive¡ªA beauty in every sense, but dangerous as hell.


    Like Ning Gufan, she too was from the higher realms. Once a mighty ruler, the Empress had been betrayed by her own disciple, her meridians¡ªpathways that allowed cultivators to channel spiritual energy¡ªshattered in a brutal betrayal.


    Forced to flee, she''d come to the lower realms in search of a cure, leaving a scent of devastation and fear wherever she went.


    The world knew her for one thing: taking what wasn''t hers, basically robbing others!


    Ning sneered despite his pain. "Evil Empress," he growled, "you think you can threaten me? I''d have crushed you like an insect if I were at full strength. If I were in my prime, you''d be calling me Ancestor Ning, not robbing me like a street rat."


    "Ha-ha-ha," She laughed¡ªa sound so sweet yet chilling, that it sent a shiver down his spine. Her laugh was like the caress of soft petals before they turned into thorns. "Hah! Big talk from a fossil on his last breath! Everyone knows your veins are shot, old man. The world of cultivation has no place for the weak.


    After I turn you to charcoal, your treasures are mine!"


    Ning clenched his fists, feeling his body strain under the pain. He knew his situation was dire. He watched as the cauldron''s light flickered off her armor, casting an unearthly glow across her ample figure, her round hips swaying as she descended.


    The curve of her breasts rose with each breath she took.


    Her heady fragrance filled the air, mixing with the scent of blood and smoke, arousing and unnerving all at once.


    Then she made her move.


    FWOOOOSH!


    She summoned a wave of black flames from the cauldron, forming a colossal dragon that reared back and roared, shaking the sky.


    ROAAARRRR!


    The fire dragon lunged toward Ning, flames swirling around its massive jaws. The heat was suffocating, burning the air as it closed in.


    Ning gritted his teeth, his spirit refusing to yield. "You want my treasures, Empress? Then come and take them!"


    With a roar of his own, Ning summoned every last drop of strength. He swung his sword in a wide arc, a blinding light clashing with the dragon, sending shockwaves through the valley.


    The ground trembled under the impact, but the Empress''s flames were too strong.


    CRACK! SIZZLE!


    His broken veins screamed in protest, his body collapsing under the pressure. The flames pushed forward, scorching his flesh, his robes burning away as his skin bubbled and sizzled.


    Sizzle¡­ Pop! Crack!


    The fire consumed him, burning away his defenses. The heat was unbearable, his skin blackening under the intense flames.


    POP! went his muscles as they tore from the bone, the stench of his own flesh roasting filling the air.


    "AAAAAAGH!


    Ning screamed in agony, his body twitching violently. Flames crawled up his legs, his arms, his back¡ªhe was nothing but a torch, a shadow of the powerful figure he had once been.


    Thud!


    He hit the ground, his body twitching and spasming in the dirt. His vision blurred, the world fading around him. No¡­ not like this¡­


    The Empress landed with an alluring swagger, her waist swaying seductively as she approached his broken form.


    Her face twisted into an evil grin, her lips glistening like blood-soaked rubies as she towered over his scorched body. Her heavy breasts heaved with excitement as she knelt, ripping the rings from his charred fingers. "Once feared, now fucking forgotten," she sneered, her warm breath brushing his burned skin. "This is what happens to trash like you. Your grandma''s here to collect!"


    Ning coughed, blood spilling from his mouth, his strength gone. If only¡­ if only I had my strength¡­


    But the Empress wasn''t done. Her crimson eyes glinted with sadistic amusement as she kicked his twitching form, the impact shattering more of his brittle ribs with a crunch.


    Kacha¡ª!


    "Fucking idiot! Is this all you got, old monster?" she spat, glaring at him. "What the hell''s in these rings, huh? You better not have wasted my time, you old sack of bones!"


    She flipped open one of the spatial rings and her expression darkened with disbelief.


    "A COFFIN?!"


    She rifled through the contents, rage swelling in her chest. "You carried around a goddamn coffin?! What, were you planning your own fucking funeral, you piece of shit?!" S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    BAM!


    Her frustration reached a boiling point, and with a growl, she drove her foot into Ning''s charred body again, sending him rolling like a burnt log.


    CRUNCH!


    Ning groaned, his body a broken, smoldering wreck. His skin peeled away in chunks, leaving exposed flesh that sizzled in the heat of the remaining flames.


    The Empress sneered, her voice dripping with contempt. "Fucking garbage! You think you can hide something from your Grandma? Hah, your grandma doesn''t play games. I came to rob, and I''m gonna take everything."


    SQELCH!


    Her armored boot came down hard between his legs with another crunch, her heel grinding into his bones. "You like that, huh?! That''s for wasting my time, you worthless old bastard!"


    "Ah..." Ning''s vision swam as the pain overwhelmed him. This is how it ends¡­ he thought bitterly, his pride shattered as completely as his body. Ants treating me like this?


    The Empress wasn''t finished. She spat on his broken form, a wicked grin spreading across her face. "I was expecting something legendary that can heal my meridians, and I find you carrying around your own damn coffin¡ªYou''re just a fucking disappointment."


    BAM!


    She kicked him one last time, her her silken pink hair swirling seductively in the wind as she turned and strutted away, her hips swaying provocatively with each step, her armor creaking in rhythm with the motion of her body.


    The smell of seductive fragrance was the last thing that entered Ning Gufan''s memories.


    His vision blurred, his last thoughts full of bitterness and rage. If only¡­ if only I had one more chance¡­ But it was too late. His body twitched one final time before going still, leaving behind the stench of charred flesh and a sense of profound defeat.


    As the Empress vanished into the mist, a twisted smirk still lingering on her lips, the once-feared Ning Gufan was nothing more than a broken corpse¡ªanother victim of the ruthless world of cultivation.


    For her, it was just another day of conquest.

 Chapter 10 - 10: Being Torn Apart! The Fate Weaver, Higher Ups & Ants!

    For Evil Empress, it was just another day of conquest!


    Immortals die every day¡ªthe upper realms are far more brutal than the lower realms.


    Ning Gufan was strong, just as the Evil Empress had been, but now, neither had enough power to reenter the upper realms without being torn apart.


    Even the once-mighty can fall prey to the merciless tides of fate. This is why Ning Gufan fled White Cloud Star, where he had once ruled without contest but now was hunted like a beast.


    Normally, the inhabitants there were insignificant ants, but in his weakened state, even they posed a significant threat.


    The cosmos is divided into upper and lower realms.


    The upper realms are home to immortals who, with a flick of their hands, can shatter entire dimensions in the lower realms. The most notable of these upper realms is the Four Heavens¡ªa realm of endless war and cultivation, where only the strong survive.


    Those who cultivate ''Qi'' in these realms are known as cultivators, but the upper realm''s immortal elites rule over countless lesser dimensions.


    These realms are controlled by Immortal Kings and those far beyond such titles¡ªbeings like Ning Gufan, who once commanded the Infernal Realm, or the Prison Emperor, ruler of the Prison Realm.


    By contrast, the lower realms are simple, consisting of only thirteen large worlds. Both White Cloud Star and Immortal Rain Valley belong to these thirteen.


    Other places in the lower realms are too small to be worth mentioning.


    In his desperation to recover his strength, Ning Gufan sought a hidden place where he could refine Su Xiaobai''s body¡ªextracting the veins that held the key to restoring his poisoned meridians.


    His plan was to hide and heal in peace, and Immortal Rain Valley seemed the perfect choice. It was vast, with no significant threats to disturb him. However, Ning never expected that the Evil Empress, another fallen immortal like himself, would find him and strike before he could recover.


    His original intention had been to hide beneath the Nine Cloud Mountain, waiting for his strength to return.


    After extracting the immortal treasures she desired, the Evil Empress discarded Ning''s coffin and spatial rings with a sneer.


    What remained inside were trinkets, useless to her but valuable enough to lure foolish mortals.


    She believed she had stripped everything of value.


    But, unnoticed by her, the coffin shuddered¡ªjust for a moment.


    Inside, Su Xiaobai''s body lay still, lifeless. But slowly, beneath the surface, veins pulsed with a dark energy, almost as if they had a life of their own.


    His wounds began to close, the scorched flesh knitting together as his body slowly repaired itself.


    It was as though some ancient force, lying dormant within him, had begun to stir.


    Something far more dangerous than mere life ¡ª a power that defied death itself.


    ______


    "Where¡­ am I?"


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes abruptly blinked open, but nothing greeted him.


    Only an endless, suffocating void, its oppressive silence coiling around his soul like chains. He felt weightless, adrift in a place where even time had lost meaning.


    No light. No warmth. Just¡­ emptiness.


    "Abandoned¡­ discarded¡­ again?"


    The thought tore through his mind like a jagged blade. Twenty-seven years. He had fought, struggled, clawed his way through endless trials, only to be cast aside once more, like a broken tool tossed into a fire.


    But this wasn''t the first time.


    His heart clenched as memories from long ago surfaced¡ªthe first time he had felt this same cold emptiness.


    Back then, when he was discarded after playing the villain in his first life, he had screamed into the void, pleading for recognition.


    "I am Caine Wilson!" he had shouted, desperate for them to remember.


    But just like now, the void had swallowed his cries, indifferent and cold.


    And just like now, there was no answer.


    The silence was infinite. Eternal.


    His heart sank.


    Then, deep in the shadows, it stirred. A presence so vast and ancient, it felt as though it had always existed.


    Su Xiaobai''s breath caught in his throat ¡ª The colossal being that stood in the darkness was beyond comprehension¡ªtoo large to see, too powerful to grasp.


    Yet its glow, faint and pulsing, radiated authority over all that existed.


    The Fate Weaver.


    That''s what Su Xiaobai had named it, long ago. The one who wrote destinies, who decided which lives continued and which were snuffed out like candles in the wind.


    It controlled everything, yet even it seemed... burdened.


    For Su Xiaobai had learned something over the years.


    The Fate Weaver, as omnipotent as it appeared, was not free


    There were voices¡ªunseen, whispering commands that echoed in the void.


    The Higher-Ups.


    They were there, lurking just beyond perception. He could never see them, only hear their cold, disembodied voices. Like faceless gods pulling the strings of fate, issuing commands that even the Fate Weaver had to obey.


    "Rejected."


    The words drifted down like frost, emotionless and final. The Fate Weaver twitched, its colossal form rippling in irritation.


    It wanted to shape the worlds, but it was bound, forced to follow the will of those above it.


    Then, the buzzing began.


    ___


    The noise filled the air¡ªso faint at first that Su Xiaobai almost believed it to be the last whispers of his own shattered soul.


    But it grew, louder and sharper, cutting through his soul like a sharpened blade.


    A swarm of voices, harsh and endless, gathered around him. The air itself seemed to hum with their demands.


    The Ants.


    They were Endless ... Faceless, voiceless, yet omnipresent. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Su Xiaobai could feel them, their criticisms tearing into him with each whispered word, each cruel thought.


    They didn''t care about him¡ªthey never had.


    He was nothing more than an object of their anger and frustration.


    "He''s weak!"


    "What a waste of time!"


    "Kill him already!"


    Their words pounded into him like hammers, each one more brutal than the last.


    Su Xiaobai''s hands flew to his ears, but the voices followed, worming their way inside his skull, crawling under his skin.


    "They won''t stop¡­ they never stop!"


    ____


    The Fate Weaver twitched again, restless. The ants were louder now, their buzzing filling even the colossal being with irritation.


    Su Xiaobai watched as it shifted, the weight of countless worlds in its hands.


    Yet, despite its immense power, it too was bound.


    "Rejected."


    "Change it."


    "Toss it away."


    Commands layered over the buzzing, spoken with such cold indifference that they felt more like the rustling of leaves in a winter storm.


    The Fate Weaver sighed, a sound so deep that it reverberated through Su Xiaobai''s bones. With a great, frustrated motion, the being reached out, its massive hand extending toward him.


    Su Xiaobai felt the pull.


    _____


    He was lifted, weightless and helpless, into the Fate Weaver''s grasp. His body dangled in its palm, suspended between life and oblivion.


    But it wasn''t just the sensation of floating that chilled him¡ªit was the tearing.


    RIIIIIIIP!


    It began slowly, agonizingly.


    His limbs stretched first, as though invisible hands were pulling him in different directions, forcing his body to tear apart.


    His arms strained, the joints popping, his legs twisting until the pain became unbearable.


    "Stop¡­ please¡­" Su Xiaobai gasped, his voice barely more than a whisper. But no one listened. The ants buzzed louder. Some praised him, others spat their venom at him, but all of them demanded more.


    Always more.


    And the Higher-Ups, still unseen, still distant, continued their commands.


    "Tear him apart."


    "Discarded."


    Su Xiaobai''s body felt as though it was coming undone, piece by piece. His arms, his legs, his very soul¡ªit all torn¡ªtorn apart by their voices.


    Every piece of him stretched thinner, breaking under the strain.


    The pain was infinite.


    Eternal.


    And in his torment, he began to understand.


    ____


    It wasn''t just him.


    It had never been just him.


    The trash of worlds¡­ he could see it now, clearer than ever before.


    The endless cycle of creation and destruction.


    The Fate Weaver creating, the Higher-Ups rejecting, the ants buzzing, demanding more. Worlds born only to be cast aside like forgotten toys. Characters, lives, destinies¡ªall torn apart, discarded the moment they no longer served a purpose.


    His eyes fell on the others¡ªthose discarded souls, drifting in the void like leaves swept away by a storm.


    Their faces were empty, their eyes hollow....


    None of them would speak to him...


    None of them cared...


    They were too far gone, lost to the same cycle of pain and rejection that had consumed him.


    ______


    "I am Caine Wilson!" Su Xiaobai screamed, his voice hoarse with desperation. "I''m¡­ I''m the great villain! You loved me once! Didn''t you¡­?" His voice broke.


    It wasn''t true.


    They never had. He was only ever the object of their scorn, their hate.


    The protagonist''s fall had been his doing, and they had cursed him for it ever since.


    But no matter how loudly he screamed, the rest wouldn''t listen.


    They never did.


    ____


    His mind spun, like the fragile threads of his existence.


    The Fate Weaver, frustrated and burdened by the ceaseless demands of the ants and the Higher-Ups, tossed him aside once more.


    His body was ripped apart, shredded into pieces.


    His limbs were pulled, his consciousness fractured, until he was nothing more than a tattered sheet of paper, torn and discarded.


    And finally¡ªfinally¡ªthe buzzing stopped.


    There, in the endless void¡ªTrash of Worlds¡ªSu Xiaobai''s torn soul drifted in silence.


    The pain was gone.


    The voices, gone.


    All of it, gone.


    He was free.


    For the first time in an eternity, there was peace.

 Chapter 11 - 11: The New Life — Flashbacks!

    An eternity later...


    Gasp!


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes abruptly snapped open again.


    Frustration surged through his body like a flood, and for a moment, all he could think was: Not again. His fists clenched tight, nails digging into his palms.


    He didn''t want to be tossed back into the cycle, into another nightmare where he was powerless.


    At first, everything felt wrong.


    His vision was blurry, and a strange sensation pressed against his cheek. A soft poke, then another, prodding him again and again.


    "What...?"


    He tried to swat the annoyance away, only to realize his arm felt too short. Too weak. He blinked, confused. He didn''t understand.


    His hand shot out to catch the offending finger, but instead of grabbing it easily, he had to wrap his entire palm around it. "Why does this finger seem so... big?"


    With growing frustration, Su Xiaobai stared up, only to find a beautiful woman, holding a soft smile as she gently poked his chubby baby face again.


    A beautiful face ¡ª a familiar, soothing fragrance wafted into his nostrils. It was warm, gentle, the kind of smell that chased away shadows.


    His breath stilled.


    Her cold red eyes, which he later found so fearsome, now looked oddly affectionate. Her long white hair framed her pale, ageless face.


    "Isn''t he cute?" she murmured, her voice like a soft wind, reserved only for him.


    Su Xiaobai scowled¡ªor tried to¡ªbut his face was too soft to express his usual irritation. ''What the hell is happening? Did I reincarnate?''


    "Stop it," he wanted to yell, but only a baby''s whine escaped his lips. "I don''t want this!"


    Eternal Su kept poking him, her smile never fading.


    She tilted her head, inspecting him with cold curiosity.


    Su Xiaobai groaned internally.


    Another life?


    Another damn story?


    I don''t want to play these games anymore!


    Just kill me already!


    But the world kept moving, and he grew up, slowly forgetting his past torment.


    _____


    Rustle...


    At age six, Su Xiaobai sat at a small table, scribbling lazily on parchment.


    He barely paid attention to the beast sketch he was working on. From the corner of his eye, he could see ''Matriarch Su'' standing nearby, watching him with her usual cold, tall demeanor.


    Her long white hair hung down like a veil, and her red eyes stared into him.


    "What are you drawing?" she asked, her voice distant, though she made an effort to sound interested.


    Su Xiaobai shrugged without looking up. "Just some random beast."


    Matriarch Su said nothing for a moment, then walked over and gently ran her fingers through his dark hair, as if testing her affection.


    Su Xiaobai squirmed under her touch, his brow furrowing in annoyance. "You don''t have to pretend to care," he muttered, but despite himself, a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Her attempts at affection were rare, but somehow, they always got to him.


    "You''re my son," she replied, her tone still cold, though her hand lingered in his hair longer than usual. "I care."


    He rolled his eyes. ''Cute,'' he thought, but he wouldn''t say it aloud.


    _____


    At age eight, Su Xiaobai sprinted toward the training post, his feet kicking up dust. His father, Hua Sheng, stood tall, inspecting the rows of weapons. His towering frame radiated power, and his sharp, calm gaze never missed a detail.


    His short black hair and weathered face were typical of a warrior who had seen countless battles.


    "Hey, old man!" Su Xiaobai called out, puffing out his chest. "Wanna see how strong I''ve gotten?"


    Hua Sheng turned his head, his gaze sharp but calm. "Show me, then."


    Su Xiaobai grinned and took his stance, but before he could strike, Hua Sheng''s eyes shifted, as if seeing something far beyond the training post¡ªsomething only he could understand.


    His lips pressed into a thin line, his mind elsewhere.


    That was the last time Su Xiaobai ever trained with him.


    ____


    After Hua Sheng died, everything changed.


    They were forced to flee ''Wuxia Province'', leaving behind their home and the prestige of the family name. The shame followed them like a curse, rumors spreading that Su Xiaobai''s father had died from the disgrace his son brought upon him¡ªor worse, that Matriarch Su had killed him out of shame.


    Su Xiaobai had been ten when they left.


    He remembered Su Yiran''s tense silence as they left the only home they had ever known.


    Her long white hair swayed slightly in the cold wind, and her blue eyes, which were usually so intense, were cold and unreadable.


    Xiao Mei, her long white hair trailing behind her, sobbed softly, clutching her small pet close.


    Matriarch Su led them forward without a word, her face an icy mask.


    In an attempt to break the tension, Su Xiaobai grinned. "Guess we''re the rebels now, huh?"


    But no one laughed.


    ____


    Xiao Mei lay sprawled across her bed, her long white hair tangled as she played with her pet, Pang Nue''er. Her light blue eyes sparkled with innocent joy, her fingers idly stroking the fur of the small creature.


    The room smelled like flowers, her favorite scent.


    "Hey, Mei-Mei!" Su Xiaobai called, bursting into the room with a grin. "How''s the little furball today?"


    Xiao Mei puffed her cheeks and pretended to be mad, but she couldn''t stop herself from smiling. "Ge-ge, you''re so annoying!"


    He walked over, ruffling her hair. "Suits you better this way..."


    "Ge-ge!" she pouted, swatting his hand away. "I just brushed it!" But there was laughter in her voice.


    Su Xiaobai chuckled, the tension in his chest easing.


    It was moments like this that made him forget the world outside their home¡ªif only for a while.


    ____


    By age sixteen, Su Xiaobai had become used to Su Yiran''s cold indifference.


    Her long white hair swayed as she practiced her sword forms in the courtyard, her blue eyes fixed on her blade. Every motion was deliberate, deadly.


    He approached her, determined. "Yiran, take me with you next time."


    She didn''t even pause. "No."


    "Why not?"


    "You''ll slow me down," she said, her voice as cold as the steel she wielded.


    Su Xiaobai scowled. "I''m not a kid anymore. I can handle myself."


    Su Yiran didn''t look at him. "You''re not ready."


    Frustrated, Su Xiaobai left, ignoring her words.


    If she wouldn''t take him, he''d go on his own.


    _____


    Wandering near ''Vermillion City'', Su Xiaobai found himself lost in thought, only to be snapped back to reality by a sharp voice.


    "SU XIAOBAI!"


    He froze.


    Standing a few feet away was Long Lian, his fianc¨¦e in name. Her long black hair whipped in the wind, and her blue eyes blazed with anger.


    He barely had time to process before her aunt, Long Lifen, emerged from behind her¡ªan A-ranked Guardian like his own mother had been.


    "You dare show your face back inside Wuxia province?" Long Lifen spat, stepping forward, her rage growing. "You''re a disgrace!"


    Before Su Xiaobai could open his mouth, Long Lian smirked and drew her blade. "Aunty, let your sweet little niece deal with this trash."


    "Wait, wait¡ª" Su Xiaobai stammered, trying to back away, but Long Lian''s killing intent surged like a storm.


    Long Lian unsheathed her own sword. "I''ll kill you myself."


    Before their blades could fall, a flash of white interrupted them¡ªSu Yiran. Her long white hair flowed behind her, and her blue eyes flashed with icy fury as she caught Long Lian''s strike mid-motion.


    "Back off, both of you," Su Yiran commanded, her voice as cold as a winter storm. "He''s still my family."


    Long Lian glared, but withdrew her blade. "He''s worthless."


    Su Yiran didn''t flinch. "He''s mine to protect."


    Without another word, the two women left, leaving Su Xiaobai standing next to his sister, feeling more humiliated than ever.


    "You should''ve stayed back," Su Yiran said flatly. Seeing his unresponsiveness, she sighed softly. "Where do you want to go? I would take you there, next time, tell me first before running away on your own..."


    Su Xiaobai stood there in silence, his mind blank.


    He understood¡ªhe lacked strength¡ªbut did that warrant killing him for it?


    The engagement wasn''t even his to break; she should take it up with the Dragon Lord, who had arranged it and refused to cancel it.


    For the first time, he truly grasped the brutal nature of this dog-eat-dog world, where people killed over the slightest inconvenience.


    "Let''s go back home," he finally responded to Su Yiran, blankly.


    _____


    Years later, Su Xiaobai, now twenty-one, pushed open the door to Xiao Mei''s room. She looked up from her bed, her light blue eyes glimmering with curiosity as her small pet, Pang Nue''er, rested on her lap.


    "Ge-ge, did you eat the spiritual fruit I kept?" she asked, her voice light and filled with suspicion.


    Su Xiaobai shrugged nonchalantly. "Just a fruit. No big deal."


    Xiao Mei puffed out her cheeks and stuck out her tongue. "That was mine!"


    Without missing a second, Su Xiaobai reached out and grabbed her tongue lightly between his fingers. "Gotcha."


    "Ah!?"


    Xiao Mei''s eyes widened in panic, her cheeks flushing as she waved her hands frantically. "Ge-ge!"


    He released her tongue with a smirk and ruffled her hair again. "Still a brat..."


    Xiao Mei crossed her arms, pouting as she tried to look serious. "You''re the worst."


    Su Xiaobai laughed, savoring the rare moments where the world outside their exile seemed far away.

 Chapter 12 - 12: Rise from Dead!

    Su Xiaobai''s whole life flashed before his eyes.


    From sneaking into the Institute of Science with Matriarch Su, to being imprisoned in the Heavenly Prison. He remembered the chains, the cold stone walls, and the moment of freedom that followed.


    His feet had bled as he fled, running through the night toward the Storm Peak Mountains, toward home.


    ____


    Now, in the cold snow of Storm Peak Mountains, Su Xiaobai lay broken after being pierced by a thousand arrows. His blood soaked into the white ground, his body numb, his thoughts scattered. But in the darkness of his mind, the faces of his family flickered one by one.


    Eternal Su, with her rare smile, brushing his hair.


    Xiao Mei, laughing as she pouted, her voice teasing in his ear.


    Su Yiran, turning her back on him, her figure fading into the distance.


    Ba-dum.


    His heart thudded weakly, the sound echoing in his chest.


    Ba-dum!


    The pounding grew louder, the memories flashing faster¡ªhis family slipping further from his grasp, their faces fading like smoke in the cold wind.


    I don''t want to forget them...


    But the cold was creeping in, numbing his body, and their faces were disappearing, swallowed by the encroaching silence.


    Ba-dum¡­


    And then¡­ nothing.


    ____


    "Get me out!"


    BAM!


    "Out of here!"


    BAM!


    Six hours later ,Ning Gufan lay on the ground, his body eaten away by flies and insects, his breath shallow as his life on edge of extinguishing.


    His vision was hazy, his mind clouded with pain, but suddenly, a strange noise cut through the dying hum of the forest.


    Weakly, he turned his head, blood dripping from his cracked lips. His body convulsed as he tried to focus on the sound.


    The coffin was moving.


    The pounding was faint at first, but it grew louder with each passing second, as if someone inside was striking it, desperate to get out.


    BANG!


    Ning Gufan''s eyes widened in disbelief. Was the dead rising?


    BANG!


    Another jolt shook the coffin, and with a final, resounding crack, the lid flew open.


    "Haaaa.....!"


    A chilling breath filled the air as Su Xiaobai sat up, his blue eyes eyes wide and unblinking like a ghost rising from the underworld. His clothes were soaked in dried blood, and a cold mist curled from his skin.


    The surroundings felt foreign, unnatural, filled with unease.


    He slowly turned his head, staring into the forest. His body, though covered in bloodstains, had no visible wounds.


    No injuries.


    Su Xiaobai inhaled deeply, his breath clouding in the frigid air.


    He looked down at his hands, still smeared with the blood of his past life, and for the first time since his death, a quiet madness settled in his gaze.


    The dead had risen.


    Hiss!


    Above him, the beautiful starry sky stretched infinitely, a vast canvas of glittering diamonds.


    Su Xiaobai blinked, disoriented. ''It''s not stormpeak mountains...Where am I?''


    As he stood, staggering, his gaze caught movement on the scarred ground.


    An old man lay there, his body ravaged, barely clinging to life. The man''s flesh was burned and hanging in charred strips, his skin a patchwork of raw, blistered wounds. Black flames still flickered at the edges of his seared flesh, blood pooling around him.


    The old man''s eyes locked onto Su Xiaobai, and for a moment, disbelief. Then, a manic grin split his face.


    "You¡­keheh¡­you''re alive!" he rasped, laughter bubbling up from his ruined throat. "The heavens truly are cuckolds!"


    His laughter grew more hysterical, mocking Su Xiaobai''s very existence. "Motherfucker, your fate is so unfortunate even the heavens refused to take you in! Kekekekeke!"


    SPLURT!


    A gush of blood erupted from the old man''s chest, spraying across Su Xiaobai''s face. Startled, Su Xiaobai wiped the warm blood from his cheek with subtle disgust as the old man continued to laugh, completely unbothered by the agony of his dying body.


    Ning Gufan''s chest heaved with each laugh, his twisted, near-skeletal form barely holding together.


    Su Xiaobai''s mind shook. He vaguely recognized this man¡ªthe old monster from the Heavenly Prison.


    ''But why are we both here? Why am I alive? The arrows? The attack? Was it all a dream?''


    "What¡­ happened here?" Su Xiaobai croaked, his voice hoarse, barely recognizing the weakness in it.


    Ning Gufan''s deranged grin faltered slightly as he rasped, "Your bloodline¡­ hah¡­ it saved you." He coughed, spitting more blood. "A mutated power, brat¡­ triggered by death. How fitting¡­"


    Su Xiaobai''s heart pounded as the words sank in. ''I had to die to awaken my bloodline?''


    His mind raced, struggling to process the absurdity of it. "You tried to kill me?" Su Xiaobai muttered, his voice now filled with anger.


    Ning Gufan chuckled, his bloody teeth showing through the broken remains of his lips. "I intended to refine you, brat¡­ to save myself. But¡­ now look at me," he rasped bitterly. "She took everything from me¡­ the Evil Empress¡­ my power¡­ my pride¡­"


    ''She? Who? What is he talking about? Wait¡ªI still have to find my family back... I have to warn them about the attacks..'' Su Xiaobai''s gaze hardened, recognizing the uneasy feeling he always had in the back of his mind.


    Ning Gufan''s body twitched as he saw Su Xiaobai turning to leave. "Brat, wait! This isn''t White Cloud Star! Walk carelessly, and you''ll die again before you even know it!"


    Su Xiaobai paused but didn''t turn, suspicion clouding his thoughts.


    Ning Gufan, sensing the hesitation, let out a laugh, spluttering blood as he rasped, "Good¡­ never trust anyone. But listen! I will give you my inheritance¡ªall my knowledge, all my treasures. But you must do one thing."


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes narrowed. "And what''s that?"


    Ning Gufan''s eyes, though dimming, still burned with fierce desperation. "Avenge my death. Annihilate the Evil Empress. Make her suffer as I have."


    Su Xiaobai stood there, weighing the risk. ''He wants me to fight someone who reduced him to this? Why should I?''


    Observing Su Xiaobai''s furrowed brow and the storm of contemplation in his gaze, Ning Gufan''s astonishment morphed into a mix of frustration and grim satisfaction. "Cough¡ªgood! Good! You little fool, doubting even a dying man''s plea!" His laughter grew, interspersed with bursts of blood. "Take this, you ungrateful wretch, and never approach me again!


    Also, seize that accursed ring and bind it with your blood!"


    With the last of his strength, he ripped a pendant from his neck and flung it toward Su Xiaobai, while his own form began to emit a radiant glow.


    Su Xiaobai, his heart drumming with unease, instinctively recoiled.


    Whoosh!


    A mighty pillar of Infernal Flame, deep crimson and searing, shot skyward, bathing the darkened forest in a sinister, blood-red light.


    "Damn... does he intend to take me with him even in death?" Su Xiaobai muttered under his breath, his eyes wide with a mixture of awe and fear as he reached for the ''Spirit Flame Pendant'' lying near his feet. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The small, circular pendant, pulsating with a captive drop of the Infernal Flame, was encased in a complex array of ancient runes that shimmered like a starry night.


    With a wary hand, he quickly picked up the golden spatial ring, noting its exceptional craftsmanship and the rich aura of power that seemed to pulse from within.


    Turning around, he observed the inferno beginning to subside, the flames drawing back as if inhaling, preparing for something yet unseen.


    "What new devilry is this?" he whispered, his curiosity piqued despite the danger.


    His relief at seeing Ning Gufan''s remains vaporize into the ether.


    "At least the old ghost''s wrath has burnt out with his bones," he sighed, hoping this old man was nearing its end.


    But as the last of the fire died down, a small wisp of flame, vibrant and almost sentient, emerged from the ashes.


    It moved with intent, darting towards him like a living thing.


    "Wha¡ª" Before Su Xiaobai could further articulate his surprise, the fiery essence slipped seamlessly into the gap between his brows, melding into him with a strange, tingling sensation that quickly spread through his entire being.


    There were shards of memories within the soul fragment left behind by Ning Gufan, ''four'' distinct fragments of memories in total.

 Chapter 13 - 13: Rebirth: A New Determination!

    The first shard of knowledge pierced Su Xiaobai''s mind, flooding him with the basics of cultivation and spiritual energy.


    It felt like a dam bursting inside his skull, an overwhelming flood of concepts slamming into his consciousness. His forehead beaded with sweat as he tried to process it all: the meridians, Qi circulation, foundation-building¡ªterms and ideas every warrior needed, yet now revealed in a depth far beyond anything he''d known.


    This was no ordinary "basic" knowledge. It was profound, coming from someone who had lived in the upper realms. The sheer difference between upper and lower realms was crushingly clear.


    Even toddlers in the upper realm could defeat fully trained warriors from his world.


    The disparity was staggering.


    The second shard followed quickly, hammering him with the life and memories of Ning Gufan, the Infernal Emperor.


    Su Xiaobai saw everything¡ªthe rise of the emperor, the countless battles that had forged his name in blood, and the final fight with the Prison Emperor, where Ning Gufan''s fate had been sealed.


    Su Xiaobai felt the crushing significance of each victory and defeat as if they were his own.


    But then, a shocking truth surfaced from within the memories: it wasn''t Ning Gufan who had planned to kill him¡­ there was another force at play, hidden in the shadows, manipulating everything.


    His chest burned with confusion, anger, but he had no time to dwell.


    The third shard tore into his mind like a blade, filling it with the complex knowledge of formations and arrays.


    Runes. Spirit-binding circles. Defensive matrices.


    His mind spun as the intricacies of array manipulation and defense strategies bombarded him.


    Veins popped on his forehead as he struggled to hold onto every thread of information.


    And then came the fourth shard¡ªknowledge of the sacred ''Dao,'' of righteousness, evil, and the eternal conflict between the two.


    The balance of the universe. The paths cultivators walked.


    What is power? What is control?


    These weren''t just concepts anymore¡ªthey were cosmic truths, crashing into Su Xiaobai''s mind with the immense weight of the heavens.


    By the time the onslaught ended, Su Xiaobai was drenched in sweat, his body trembling. He felt like his very soul had been reshaped by the knowledge forced upon him.


    But it wasn''t over.


    As Su Xiaobai gasped for air, a figure slowly floated upward. It was Ning Gufan''s spirit¡ªbut not the frail, dying version he had seen before.


    This was the Infernal Emperor in his prime: younger, vibrant, a terrifying presence whose power had once commanded respect across entire realms.


    Ning Gufan''s eyes gleamed with an eerie satisfaction, watching Su Xiaobai''s struggle. This wasn''t just the passing of knowledge. He was planting seeds¡ªseeds of obsession, of revenge.


    It was all intentional.


    Su Xiaobai''s enemies.


    The ones who had torn apart his life and family.


    The ones who had plotted against him.


    Ning Gufan revealed whatever he saw above Stormpeak mountains that day, one by one, igniting a fire in Su Xiaobai''s heart.


    A good teacher doesn''t just teach¡ªthey find their student''s driving force and fan it into an inferno.


    From this moment, Su Xiaobai was Ning Gufan''s successor¡ªwhether the Infernal Emperor liked it or not.


    As Su Xiaobai sat back, his eyes darkened with newfound determination, Ning Gufan smirked.


    The boy had already begun refining the ''Infernal Flames'' left behind as his final gift, solidifying his connection to the Infernal Emperor''s legacy.


    "Bastard got lucky," Ning muttered with a wry smile. If death weren''t already dragging him down, he would never have parted with the infernal flames¡ªpower that had saved him countless times.


    Su Xiaobai''s expression was set in stone, his heart ablaze with purpose.


    He now knew his enemy was still alive on White Cloud Star...


    They can''t die so easily...


    A mere blood cavalry is not enough to defeat the combined strength of his mother, Eternal Su, and the rest of the guards!


    His family''s fate was unclear in the balance.


    And he was stranded here, with no way to cross realms without immense strength or rare treasures.


    Everything had been flipped upside down once again.


    At first, he hadn''t wanted any of this.


    He had only wanted a quiet life, hidden away from the chaos of the world.


    But they had forced his hand.


    Now, they demanded he play the villain once more.


    His first life¡­ had it all been a delusion?


    Were the events that haunted him, the dreams of his past, just fragments of a broken memory? None of it mattered now.


    They were forcing him to be the villain again, and this time, he would play the role whether they loved or hated him.


    There were things that needed to be done.


    Ning Gufan''s spirit watched with satisfaction as Su Xiaobai''s attitude shifted. Had the boy not been worthy of the Infernal Flame, Ning would have gladly killed them both. But now... he had his successor.


    His face darkened, old memories surfacing in his final moments. His voice softened, carrying the weight of a man resigned to fate.


    "I''ve done all I can this time... Take your fate into your own hands now. Don''t let the higher-ups screw your life again."


    He chuckled to himself bitterly, as if ¡ªreminiscing about Su Xiaobai''s insane outlook towards fate and the vast Heavenly Dao.


    His translucent spirit began to drift upwards, his final moments slipping away into the void.


    Su Xiaobai watched, his heart pounding loudly, as the clouds overhead began to churn and twist. An immense, ancient shape formed in the sky¡ªan enormous turtle, its shell marked with runes of time and fate.


    The turtle''s unblinking eyes locked onto Ning Gufan''s spirit, and with a slow, deliberate motion, it opened its massive jaws.


    Ning''s spirit was swallowed whole, drawn into the swirling clouds.


    It was a haunting sight¡ªthe turtle, a creature of the heavens, consuming Ning Gufan''s legacy like a cosmic judge of fate.


    "Majestic," Su Xiaobai muttered, his body trembling as he stared up at the sky.


    For a long moment, Su Xiaobai remained still, processing everything that had just happened.


    It was all too abrupt!


    One moment, he was dead, the next he was alive, and all of a sudden, he had a destiny to fulfill.


    He couldn''t help but chuckle bitterly, feeling slightly self-deprecating, before determination crossed his face once more.


    The knowledge shards still pressed on his mind¡ªcultivation techniques, the secrets of the upper realms, the path Ning Gufan had walked.


    After a deep breath, Su Xiaobai sat down and began refining the infernal flames within his body. The memories, the emotions¡ªthey all began to settle, becoming a part of him.


    As his body absorbed the essence of the flames, Su Xiaobai''s heart hardened.


    From this moment on, he wasn''t just someone caught in a storm.


    He was the storm.


    And he would make sure everyone who wronged him felt its fury.


    Above him, the turtle-shaped cloud faded into the starry night.


    But Su Xiaobai wasn''t thinking of his destiny anymore. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He was thinking of revenge.


    ______


    Red Flame Fortress.


    Nestled beneath the towering shadow of Nine Cloud Mountain, Red Flame Fortress buzzed with life, its red walls glowing like embers in the fading light.


    The fortress sat on the outskirts of Yue Country, a small province within the mighty Tianlong Empire of the Soaring Dragon Continent.


    Despite its modest size, the town teemed with activity. Merchants hawked exotic wares, street performers dazzled with mystical tricks, and cultivators bargained for rare treasures.


    The air hummed with the low murmur of commerce and cultivation.


    Su Xiaobai, draped in a white jade linen robe with blue embroidery, walked through the fortress''s gates. His once-ragged clothes had been discarded after a grueling week-long journey, and now, dressed in cleaner attire, he cut a sharp figure between the tired crowd.


    But the new clothes brought unwanted attention.


    "Another young master come to flaunt his wealth," someone muttered, disdain thick in their voice.


    "Bet he''s never worked a day in his life," sneered another.


    Su Xiaobai''s heart chilled at their words. ''Idiots'', he thought. He had simply changed clothes to avoid looking like a beggar, yet here they were, already judging him.


    If they knew what he''d endured, they wouldn''t dare speak.


    Then came the comment that made Su Xiaobai stop in his tracks.


    "Maybe he''s here looking for his whore of a mother," Fatty Shang grunted, loud enough for the crowd to hear, his greasy face breaking into a smirk. "Heard she spread her legs to climb the ranks in the kingdom."


    "!"


    Laughter rippled through the onlookers, Su Xiaobai''s heart growing colder and more merciless with each word.

 Chapter 14 - 14: Future Goal & Path!

    With each word, Su Xiaobai''s heart grew colder and more merciless.


    ''This fat pig¡­''


    His cold eyes swept over the crowd, and they landed squarely on Shang Bao, a greasy merchant stuck in the Qi Consolidation realm for fifty years. The man''s bloated belly hung over his belt, and he reeked of arrogance.


    Fatty Shang waddled through the market, oblivious to the sharp gaze now locked onto him. To Su Xiaobai, the man radiated weakness¡ªa perfect target.


    With a wry smile, Su Xiaobai approached.


    Fatty Shang glanced at him, his lips curling in disdain. "Want something?" he muttered, still smug from his earlier jab.


    How dare a brat from a lower cultivation challenge him?


    Su Xiaobai stepped closer, a cunning smile playing on his lips. "Fatty, your spirit stones have fallen."


    Shang Bao''s eyes widened. "What?! Where?!" he gasped, frantically looking down, his massive belly blocking his view.


    In that instant, Su Xiaobai''s foot shot out, fueled by spiritual enegry, aiming directly at Shang Bao''s shaking buttocks.


    "Fatty Sent to Heavens Technique!"


    A howl like a dying pig pierced the air as Shang Bao was sent flying, his rotund body crashing to the ground.


    CRASH!


    Before anyone could react, Su Xiaobai had already melted into the crowd, vanishing like smoke.


    "Did you see that?" a bystander whispered, eyes wide with disbelief.


    "Who the hell was that kid?" another murmured.


    "Serves the fatty right! Talking shit about people''s mothers," someone chuckled.


    Shang Bao, now sprawled in the dirt, his face a mask of humiliation, struggled to get up, cursing through gritted teeth. "Bastard! You''ll pay for this!"


    The crowd snickered, watching with amusement as the merchant floundered. "Looks like Fatty finally met his match," one cultivator laughed.


    "Was that really the Fatty Kick Technique?" another joked, shaking their head in disbelief. "Never thought I''d see it used so beautifully."


    Su Xiaobai could hear the whispers behind him, but they barely registered. He shook his head, cursing his own pettiness for stooping to their level.


    "Heh, since the higher ups won''t punish insignificant characters like you, I just did them the favor," he muttered to himself. The anger that had flared so briefly began to cool as he made his way to a nearby inn.


    _____


    After finding a good inn, Su Xiaobai rented a room for a month.


    His mind felt clouded, and he needed time to gather his thoughts and plan his next move. The spirit stones in his spatial ring were sufficient, so at least money wasn''t a concern.


    As soon as he entered the room, he called for a young maid who had guided him up the stairs.


    "Can you fetch me some charcoal?" Su Xiaobai asked, catching the puzzled look on the girl''s face. "Just bring it, please," he added, trying to sound polite despite his fatigue.


    The girl nodded and hurried off, returning shortly with the requested item.


    "Here''s your charcoal, sir," she said, handing it to him.


    "Thanks," Su Xiaobai replied before closing the door with a soft thud.


    Once alone, he sighed deeply. "Now, I can focus."


    Su Xiaobai sat cross-legged on the floor, his mind racing. His white hair, distinct and easily recognizable, was a liability. Even if no one in this world knew him yet, he couldn''t take unnecessary risks. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He ground the charcoal into a fine powder, mixing it with water until it formed a thick paste. Carefully, he smeared it through his hair, blackening each strand.


    The dark color gave him a completely different appearance when he checked the cracked mirror in the corner of the room. His new look made him feel like a stranger.


    "At least now I can blend in," he muttered, rinsing the remaining charcoal from his hands and making sure no evidence of the change was left behind.


    _____


    After taking a deep breath, Su Xiaobai turned his thoughts to his next steps. He needed to leave this place soon, but more importantly, he needed answers.


    The memories from Ning Gufan haunted him¡ªtwo clans were involved in his family''s downfall.


    The Azure Dragon Clan and the Sun Dynasty.


    "Sun Dynasty¡­" His expression darkened as the name crossed his mind.


    He could still understand the Azure Dragon Clan going after his family, but the Sun Dynasty? There had been no major conflicts between them. Su Xiaobai frowned. ''Why would they get involved?''


    What Su Xiaobai didn''t yet know was that Long Lifen and Sun Liang had been secretly engaged for centuries, even before his birth.


    The events leading up to the attack on Storm Peak Mountain had started long before he was even born.


    The full vision of what had happened at Storm Peak Mountain had been revealed to him through Ning Gufan''s memories.


    He had seen it all¡ªthe ambush, the blood, and the hand Sun Dynasty had played in it.


    "Sun Lingxi..." Su Xiaobai''s face twisted into a snarl. He needed to find her. He needed answers. But there was one glaring obstacle¡ªhe was trapped in another world.


    To return to White Cloud Star, he would either need a powerful spatial treasure¡ªsomething rare and difficult to find¡ªor the strength to bend space itself.


    Both options seemed impossibly far off.


    Time wasn''t on his side, but he couldn''t afford to rush blindly into danger.


    ¡ª His immediate goal was clear: increase his strength and seek treasures in Immortal Rain Valley that could aid his journey back. If there was a chance to find anything that could help him traverse the space, it was here.


    The knowledge Ning Gufan had left behind hinted at the differences between White Cloud Star and Immortal Rain Valley.


    Here, there were no hunters or guardians.


    Instead, cultivators were divided into two distinct paths¡ªrighteous and evil.


    The evil path offered rapid power but at a great cost¡ªsacrifice, both of oneself and others. It was a temptation Su Xiaobai had to be wary of, though it didn''t seem much worse than the life he had already lived.


    He was relieved that Immortal Rain Valley wasn''t plagued by the hunter scourge that had devastated White Cloud Star. Back home, the hunters had killed indiscriminately, turning their victims into part of their army. It was an endless cycle of death.


    "Why didn''t we know about this?" Su Xiaobai muttered under his breath, thinking of White Cloud Star.


    Here, in Immortal Rain Valley, knowledge of the upper realms and the other lower relams was common, yet White Cloud Star had remained isolated, as if locked in ignorance.


    Was it all part of a bigger conspiracy?


    White Cloud Star was smaller, less significant compared to the vast empires and continents of Immortal Rain Valley. But now, it seemed more mysterious than ever¡ªa small world hiding far darker secrets.


    Su Xiaobai''s mind buzzed with possibilities.


    However right now, his goal was simple: get stronger.


    The answers he sought¡ªabout his family, his enemies, and his place in this world¡ªcould come later.


    Whoosh!


    He raised his hand, and a crimson red flame sprang to life, hovering in his palm. The temperature in the room soared instantly as the infernal flame danced and crackled, its intense heat causing the air to shimmer.


    This flame was the ''Infernal Flame'', an ancient and wild power he had inherited from Ning Gufan. Refining and stabilizing it had taken him an entire day, and even now, he could feel the flame''s resistance, as if it had a mind of its own.


    The flame had developed a quasi-consciousness, making it unpredictable and dangerous to control.


    To keep it in check, Su Xiaobai wore the ''Spirit Jade Pendant'' around his neck. The pendant acted as a stabilizer, calming the flame''s wild nature and allowing him to control it without being burned.


    He glanced down at his hand, his eyes flickering with determination before extinguishing the flame with a thought.


    Then, he turned his attention to his spatial ring, the storage treasure he had acquired from Ning Gufan. In the cultivation world, spatial rings were small artifacts that held a vast space within them, allowing cultivators to store weapons, treasures, and even food. Su Xiaobai had merged this new ring with his own, creating a single, much larger storage space.


    The ring was a rich golden color, with a thin green line running through the middle¡ªan unusual design that hinted at a hidden secret.


    Although the Evil Empress had taken anything valuable to her from Ning Gufan''s belongings, she had still left behind what she considered "trash."


    However, in the cultivation world, one man''s trash could be another man''s treasure.


    Su Xiaobai smiled to himself.


    There was much left for him to explore in this ring, but for now, he had more pressing matters.


    He reached into the spatial ring and withdrew a scroll. It was the cultivation technique he had carefully selected after a week of consideration: [Starslayer God Arts].

 Chapter 15 - 15: Starslayer God Arts! Steel-Balled Dragon!

    In the cultivation world, techniques define a cultivator''s path.


    Some focus on manipulating spiritual energy or external forces, but this technique was different. Starslayer God Arts was a body refinement technique¡ªa method that would transform Su Xiaobai''s physical body into a weapon of terrifying strength.


    Unlike typical techniques that channel Qi (spiritual energy), body refinement toughens the bones, muscles, and skin to withstand immense pressure and external attacks.


    Through this method, Su Xiaobai could turn his body into something capable of shattering mountains or enduring the harshest blows.


    Body refinement was the most grueling and dangerous path in cultivation.


    It required repeatedly pushing the body to its absolute limits, tearing it down and rebuilding it stronger with each cycle.


    But for Su Xiaobai, this was the strength he needed¡ªstrength beyond what spiritual energy alone could offer.


    _____


    ''Starslayer God Arts'' was renowned for drawing power directly from the stars, making the body as resilient as the celestial bodies themselves.


    He would need to absorb the essence of starlight and build a foundation first.


    The first stage was called ''Celestial Foundation'', and it required him to meditate under the stars for 30 consecutive nights.


    Each night, Su Xiaobai climbed to the rooftop of the inn, the cool night air surrounding him as he sat cross-legged, eyes closed, focusing on the distant stars.


    ____


    Night One ¨C Conditioning the Meridians


    On the first night, Su Xiaobai focused on conditioning his meridians¡ªthe energy channels that would allow his body to absorb celestial energy.


    As he chanted the incantations of the ''Starslayer God Arts'', the starlight intensified, seeping into his body. His meridians glowed faintly, but the sensation was painful, like molten metal flowing through his body.


    "Argh!" Su Xiaobai gritted his teeth, enduring the pain. Slowly, he activated one meridian after another, each one like a new star being born within him.


    ____


    Night Seven ¨C Strengthening the Veins


    By the seventh night, Su Xiaobai''s meridians were fully attuned to the starlight. ''Meridians'' acted as the primary channels for Qi (spiritual energy), responsible for circulating power throughout the body, while veins were the physical conduits that carried blood and energy to nourish the body''s strength.


    Now, Su Xiaobai directed the celestial energy into his veins, reinforcing them to handle the immense power of the stars. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    His veins pulsed with light, each beat strengthening his body further.


    ____


    Night Fifteen ¨C Fortifying the Muscles


    On the fifteenth night, Su Xiaobai shifted his focus to his muscles, bathing them in starlight. Each muscle fiber absorbed the energy, becoming denser and stronger. The pain was intense, but with each wave of agony, he could feel his body growing tougher.


    ___


    Night Thirty ¨C Establishing the Celestial Foundation


    By the thirtieth night, Su Xiaobai had absorbed enough celestial energy to establish a solid ''Celestial Foundation''.


    His body shimmered faintly, his strength and senses greatly enhanced.


    He had only mastered the first stage of the Starslayer God Arts, but the foundation was set. To advance to the next level, and form his ''Starry Veins'', Su Xiaobai would need to meditate under a ''meteor shower'' and absorb raw ''star energy'', which would grant his veins self-healing properties and further indestructibility.


    ____


    Knock! Knock! Knock!


    A knock on the door interrupted Su Xiaobai''s thoughts.


    "Ah, today''s the last day of my stay here," he muttered, walking over to open the door.


    "Mr. Su! I''ve brought you some warm water to freshen up." At the doorway stood a striking woman, Xiao Lu, dressed in a sleek qipao that hugged tightly to her slim waist. Her cleavage was shamelessly on display, and the way her hips swayed as she stepped inside was impossible to miss.


    Xiao Lu was just an inn waitress, but in this world, she was little more than an ant struggling to survive. Without family or connections, and lacking any access to cultivation techniques, all she had was her beauty. In a land dominated by cultivators capable of defying the heavens, her chances of rising on her own were slim to none.


    To Xiao Lu, men like Su Xiaobai were jackpots¡ªa way out of a life of scrubbing floors and scraping by on crumbs. Her flirtations weren''t just for fun. They were a means of survival.


    Su Xiaobai smirked as she strutted into the room, her hips swaying with deliberate sensuality. He stepped forward, his hand playfully cupping her firm buttocks, "Xiao Lu, has anyone asked about me these past few days?" His gaze lingered on her face, but his mind was already moving beyond the pleasantries.


    Xiao Lu''s cheeks flushed slightly, and she shook her head, smiling sweetly. "No one, sir. Just as you instructed. Everyone thinks you left without a refund. Now, they believe another man, Mr. Xiao Feng, is staying in your place." Her lips curled into a sly grin as her eyes sparkled with a mixture of admiration and calculation.


    For her, this wasn''t just flirting¡ªit was a chance. A shot at turning her miserable life into something worth living. If she played her cards right, maybe she could secure a better life¡­


    Su Xiaobai gave her hand a squeeze, his amusement barely concealed. "Good girl." He pulled out a small pouch of spirit stones and dangled it before her. "Here''s the rest of your payment, as promised."


    "!"


    Xiao Lu''s breath hitched.


    The sum in that pouch was more than she''d make in half a year¡ªenough to make her legs wobble. But she wasn''t going to let herself be bought off too easily.


    "Mr. Su, Xiao Lu is not a woman who serves merely for coin." She purred, leaning closer, the scent of her sweet perfume filling the air. "It is only for the honor of serving a man as esteemed as you that I''ve gone to such lengths."


    ''Tch, admirable indeed. Funny how a month ago, she didn''t mind accepting a partial payment,'' Su Xiaobai thought with a chuckle, seeing right through her game.


    "Well then," he said, pulling back the pouch, "if you insist."


    Swoosh!


    As the spirit stones vanished into his robes, Xiao Lu''s heart sank.


    She bit her lip in frustration, but her sweet smile remained intact. ''So heartless... doesn''t he know how to treat a woman?''


    Still, she wasn''t giving up. She had a chance here. If she could get on his good side, maybe she could grab onto his powerful thighs for good.


    "Mr. Su¡­" Her voice was soft, sultry, as she pressed her body against him, the curve of her waist fitting perfectly under his hands.


    Su Xiaobai grinned, enjoying the game as he pulled her closer, wrapping his hands around her hips.


    But before she could escalate¡ª


    Thud!


    Xiao Lu''s body hit the floor, her cry of surprise ringing out. "Ah~!"


    _____


    Thump! Thump! Thump!


    "Damn it, not again!" A man downstairs cursed, glaring at the ceiling as the thumping noises echoed through the inn.


    In the eatery below, the rest of the guests glanced upwards in irritation.


    Bang!


    A cup shattered as a man slammed his hand on the table. "Son of a bitch! Humping like rabbits at this hour?!" He swore, wiping spilled tea off his sleeve.


    "What the hell is this circus?" another grumbled. "Can''t they be a little quieter?"


    A third voice chimed in with a bark of laughter. "Steel-balled dragon up there, no doubt! This happens every morning!"


    The inn''s usual peaceful breakfast atmosphere was ruined by the racket from above.


    _____


    Later that evening, after freshening up, Xiao Lu lay watching Su Xiaobai curiously. She was a beauty¡ªround face, big eyes, with a body that was built to turn heads¡ªbut for Su Xiaobai, there was more to this arrangement than just satisfying his lust or erasing his tracks.


    His true goal was something else entirely.


    He was testing a theory about the strange changes happening within his body.

 Chapter 16 - 16: Devouring Thorny Flower & Tri-Bloodlines!

    Su Xiaobai''s Sea of Consciousness buzzed with activity.


    In cultivation, the "Sea of Consciousness" was the inner realm of a person''s mind, where thoughts, spiritual energy, and mental projections took form. It was where he could visualize his spiritual state and connect with the energies within him.


    Right now, his sea held not one but ''three bloodlines''¡ªan unusual occurrence even in the world of cultivation.


    His first bloodline had always been a mystery. It had never fully awakened, but when it did, it saved his life, bringing him back from the brink of death.


    This ''dark and cold bloodline'' gave him passive regenerative healing. It was slow but steady¡ªcapable of repairing damage over time, though not powerful enough to heal crippled meridians and veins.


    Yet it granted him the ''Invincible Body'', toughening his form like stone. However, activating this ability drained too much spiritual energy, so he could only use it for brief moments.


    His second bloodline, awakened during the second ''Bloodline Awakening Ceremony'', was tied to ''thunder'' and ''wind''.


    Within his Sea of Consciousness, he saw a ''majestic serpent'', coiled in a storm.


    This bloodline gave him powers related to controlling the storm, but its true abilities were still unclear.


    But then, there was the third bloodline¡ªone that shouldn''t have existed.


    It was the dormant ''Azure Dragon Bloodline'', belonging only to the descendants of the Azure Dragon Clan.


    The signature ability of this bloodline, ''Heavenly Dragon Breath'', unleashed a devastating wave of spiritual energy, obliterating anything in its path.


    How did he acquire this?


    Su Xiaobai grimaced, recalling his encounter with ''Long Lifen'', a member of the Azure Dragon Clan.


    After their intimate moment, he had somehow absorbed her bloodline. It had never happened with anyone else, which led him to wonder¡ªcould his second bloodline ''devour'' the bloodlines of others?


    To test this theory, he had been sleeping with Xiao Lu for days, hoping to extract something from her.


    But nothing happened.


    Only disappointment greeted him.


    Maybe it was because she didn''t have a bloodline, or perhaps the success rate was just too low.


    Regardless, Su Xiaobai had named his second bloodline the ''Devouring Sky Serpent Bloodline''.


    He suspected it was tied to his father, who had a similar ability to consume things around him.


    But this bloodline seemed mutated, stronger.


    In White Cloud Star, where Su Xiaobai grew up, every cultivator could touch the ''Immortal Tianlong Spirit'' during the ''Bloodline Awakening Ceremony'' and receive a single bloodline.


    Yet, Su Xiaobai had done it twice.


    After hearing Ning Gufan''s explanation, it all made sense¡ªhe wasn''t fully human.


    One of his parents was a demon, and that''s why he had two bloodlines.


    But which parent was the demon?


    He was fairly certain it was his ''mother''.


    Her distant nature and awkward behavior suddenly made sense.


    Had she been hiding this secret all along?


    In White Cloud Star, demons were hunted and killed because demonic energy was linked to the ''hunters''¡ªbeings who brought death and corruption.


    Was that why they had tried to kill him? Why his father, Hua Sheng, was murdered?


    In Immortal Rain Valley, demons and humans coexisted, but White Cloud Star was isolated and ignorant. Su Xiaobai had been raised to fear and hate demons, but now, with his broader understanding of the world, he realized how small-minded his home truly was.


    It no longer mattered if his mother was a demon.


    If she was, so be it.


    He would bring his family to Immortal Rain Valley, where they wouldn''t be persecuted.


    But before that, he would return and make those who had tried to kill them pay.


    Whether they were human or demon, they had no right to take his family''s life.


    If they believed being a demon justified their actions, then it also justified his vengeance.


    ___


    "What are you doing?" Xiao Lu, who had been quietly observing Su Xiaobai from behind, finally spoke up, her tone tinged with subtle hesitation.


    She took a few cautious steps toward him, clearly aware that cultivators valued their secrets.


    For cultivators like Su Xiaobai, trump cards could be a matter of life and death.


    Su Xiaobai liked this woman for a reason. Xiao Lu''s ambitions weren''t like those of most women seeking to climb the ranks through men. She just wanted a good life¡ªnot too extravagant, but comfortable. She wasn''t looking to use others for power.


    "Just organizing some things," Su Xiaobai replied, distracted as he continued sifting through the items in his spatial ring. The ring was a storage tool many cultivators used, capable of holding vast amounts of treasures, herbs, and tools within a small, accessible space.


    But right now, his ring was a complete mess, overflowing with spiritual herbs, materials, and random cultivation techniques.


    Most of it had belonged to the Infernal Emperor, but as the man''s successor, Su Xiaobai considered it all his now.


    Xiao Lu hugged him from behind, her soft body pressing against his back. A faint fragrance filled the air, causing Su Xiaobai to stiffen in discomfort.


    He could feel her breasts pressing against him, making the situation far more uncomfortable than he intended.


    He hadn''t even noticed she wasn''t wearing anything beneath her gown.


    Before Su Xiaobai could react to the situation, something caught both of their attention.


    Whoosh!


    From within his spatial ring, Su Xiaobai suddenly pulled out an enormous beast-flower, spanning a full meter in width.


    Its petals, a deep, otherworldly green, shimmered under the light, casting eerie reflections around the room. Sharp, jade-like thorns ran along its stem, exuding a sense of hidden danger.


    The center of the flower pulsed with a glowing emerald light, as if it had a life of its own. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Snake-like tendrils coiled and uncoiled at its base, moving like serpents ready to trap anything that wandered too close.


    "What''s this?" Xiao Lu asked, eyes wide with curiosity as she reached out to touch one of the petals. The moment she got too close, the plant shifted, making her retract her hand in fear.


    "Don''t touch what you don''t understand," Su Xiaobai warned sternly, shooting her a sharp glance.


    "Ah, I''m sorry..." Xiao Lu immediately apologized, stepping back.


    Her curiosity remained, but she knew better than to press further.


    Su Xiaobai, however, wasn''t angry.


    He was just as confused as she was. When he had infiltrated the Institute of Science to undergo his second bloodline awakening ceremony, he had stolen nearly everything in sight¡ªscrolls, potions, artifacts¡ªanything that seemed valuable.


    Among the stolen items was this strange plant-beast.


    He had no idea what it did.


    While rummaging through his spatial ring, he had come across the creature for the first time since the robbery.


    The flower-like beast had been sitting dormant among the other stolen treasures.


    Unlike the aphrodisiac potion he had used on Long Lifen, which had an immediate and obvious effect, this mutated flower remained a mystery.


    Su Xiaobai sighed, watching the tendrils twitch subtly, still uncertain of its purpose.


    ''Whatever it is, it''s definitely not normal,'' he muttered to himself, his eyes narrowing, ''I''ll need to figure out how it works... eventually.''


    "Hm?"


    "...Is something special going on today? There''s so much noise outside," Su Xiaobai asked, ignoring the flower beast for the moment and turning toward the window.


    The commotion in the streets was growing louder.


    "Ah, yes, today¡ª" Xiao Lu began, but before she could finish, Su Xiaobai''s eyes caught something behind her.


    HISSSSSS!


    The flower beast, with its eerie glow, had unfurled its tendrils, which now crept silently toward her back, its mouth yawning wide, revealing rows of jagged small white teeths.


    Su Xiaobai lunged forward in a blur, grabbing her wrist and yanking her out of the way just as one of the tendrils struck.


    "Careful!" he warned.

 Chapter 17 - 17: Heroic Beauty! Beauty Brings Trouble!

    "Careful!" Su Xiaobai warned.


    "Wh¡ªwhat''s happening?!"


    Xiao Lu spoke, flustered.


    Shlick!


    The tendrils recoiled, the beast''s mouth clicking shut as it prepared to strike again.


    Without hesitation, Su Xiaobai kicked the beast with full force.


    WHAM!


    "Skreeee!" S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The flower beast let out a shrill scream as it tumbled across the floor, its tendrils flailing wildly, searching for something to latch onto.


    WHOOSH!


    Su Xiaobai''s hand ignited with crackling Infernal Flames.


    The crimson blaze bathed the room in searing heat.


    The flower beast froze, its tendrils retracting as the fierce heat washed over it.


    "Shhh...."


    With a pitiful whimper, it shrank into a quivering ball, its once vibrant petals trembling in fear.


    Satisfied, Su Xiaobai extinguished the flames with a flick of his wrist. "Good boy. Try to eat someone without my permission again, and I''ll burn you to ash," he said, his voice calm but filled with a subtle threat.


    The ''Devouring Thorny Flower'' shuddered, its once aggressive tendrils retracting as though understanding the warning.


    Xiao Lu''s face had drained of all color. She stumbled back, her chest rising and falling rapidly, eyes wide in disbelief. "What... what "is'' that thing?" she stammered, still trembling from the shock.


    "Something I picked up a while back," Su Xiaobai replied, his gaze shifting to the now-docile creature. His expression was thoughtful and concerned. "Didn''t expect it to try and eat you."


    "Eat me?!" Xiao Lu gasped, her legs wobbling as she took another step back, the fear in her eyes clear as sky.


    Su Xiaobai shrugged, nonchalant.


    In truth, he hadn''t expected the flower to attack a human either. Walking over to the beast, he prodded it lightly with his finger, causing it to recoil further. "Devouring Thorny Flower," he muttered to himself.


    The name came to him on a whim, though it seemed fitting.


    The flower remained motionless now, its deadly tendrils curling protectively inward, the once-dangerous creature suddenly meek and harmless under his watchful gaze.


    "What are you...?" Su Xiaobai whispered, brow furrowed as he studied it further, wondering what secrets this beast held.


    Without wasting more time, he tossed it back into his spatial ring, deciding to figure it out later.


    For now, the noise outside demanded his attention.


    As the flower disappeared from view, Xiao Lu exhaled loudly, her pale face regaining a bit of color. "I thought that thing was going to swallow me whole..." she muttered, still shaken but trying to compose herself.


    Su Xiaobai shot her a sideways glance, amused by her nervous expression. "Don''t worry, you''re safe for now," he said, reassuring her while moving toward the window to investigate the noise from outside.


    The bustling streets were alive with sound, and something seemed to be drawing a crowd.


    "Let''s see what''s going on," he muttered, curious about what was causing such a stir in the town.


    _______


    Outside the Inn!


    Su Xiaobai and Xiao Lu made their way toward the bustling crowd gathered outside. A circle of city guards kept onlookers at a distance, allowing a grand spectacle to be observed from distance.


    Su Xiaobai''s attention was quickly drawn to a magnificent red horse in the clearing, its fiery fur gleaming under the sun. The horse''s powerful wings, half-spread, added to its regal and intimidating presence.


    As the crowd parted, a figure emerged that left everyone in awe.


    The horse''s rider was a woman. Her fiery red armor hugged her shapely figure, combining beauty with the strength of a seasoned warrior. A massive sword rested on her shoulder, radiating power. Her golden hair flowed down her back, tied with dark blue ribbons, while her sharp blue eyes shimmered with authority and confidence.


    Though she wasn''t a beauty that could topple kingdoms, her striking mix of heroic strength and feminine charm turned heads wherever she went.


    As she approached her horse, ready to mount, Su Xiaobai''s eyes instinctively drifted to her chest, admiring the perfect two round mounds beneath her armor.


    Feng Lianhua was about to depart when she suddenly felt as if thousands of ants were crawling on her chest.


    She turned her head, her eyes narrowing at the crowd with the intensity of a hawk spotting its prey.


    Her expression darkened with a flicker of annoyance. ''Pervert'', she thought.


    But rather than confront him, she dismissed it, more amused than angry.


    Without a word, she mounted her horse.


    Whoosh!


    The stallion spread its wings and soared into the sky, leaving trails of embers behind it.


    Su Xiaobai, realizing he''d been caught, turned away, his curiosity about Fairy Lianhua satisfied. It was time to leave the city.


    ______


    "Boss, that guy was staring at sister-in-law!"


    As Feng Lianhua''s horse took off, a young man near the front whispered angrily to his leader, Li Gong, who was escorting her. His eyes narrowed in fury.


    No one disrespected his guest like that in his town.


    Li Gong clenched his jaw, waiting for Feng Lianhua to disappear before making his move.


    ______


    Su Xiaobai, finding nothing else of interest, turned to leave, but Xiao Lu, walking behind him, suddenly stiffened.


    Her eyes widened as a group of seven men advanced towards them, led by a vicious-looking young man.


    The leader raised his hand with a sneer, and¡ª


    Swoosh!


    A wind blade materialized in an instant, tearing through the air and hurtling toward them at terrifying speed.


    "Watch out!"


    Before Su Xiaobai could react, Xiao Lu threw herself in front of him, shielding him with her body. Her arms shot up to block the attack¡ª


    Slash!


    A tearing sound echoed as the wind blade tore through her flesh.


    Splurt!


    Blood sprayed as Xiao Lu''s arms took the full force of the wind blade, her flesh shredded into a bloody mess.


    She gasped in pain, her eyes wide with shock before collapsing into Su Xiaobai''s arms, unconscious.


    For a moment, Su Xiaobai just stared.


    "..."


    Her pale, delicate face was now stained with blood, making her look pitiful. Her arms hung limp, torn and bleeding heavily. But there was no time for pity.


    Confusion flickered in his mind. "What... just happened?"


    Then a sharp voice broke through his thoughts:


    "Surround them!"


    Su Xiaobai''s head snapped up, his eyes narrowing as a group of city guards closed in, their spears gleaming under the evening sun. He instinctively tapped Xiao Lu''s forehead, sending her into the safety of his spatial ring in a flash of light.


    Alone now, he faced the circle of enemies.


    "So, you''re the one who dared to offend Fairy Lianhua?" a sneering voice echoed above the crowd.


    Su Xiaobai turned to see a young man in an emerald robe stepping forward, arrogance plastered across his face.


    Li Gong, the second son of the Li family¡ªpetty, cruel, and clearly eager to show off.


    "Offend?" Su Xiaobai''s voice was cold. He still had no idea what was going on, and that made him even angrier. "You just attacked my companion, and now you say I offended someone?"


    Li Gong''s sneer deepened. "Fairy Lianhua¡ªour guest¡ªwas disgusted by your filthy gaze. A worm like you doesn''t deserve to live after daring to look at her."


    Su Xiaobai blinked. "You mean... the woman on the red horse?" He scoffed, almost in disbelief. "You''re going to kill me because I looked at her? What are you ¡ª some obsessed psycho lover?"


    Li Gong''s eyes darkened, his tone turning venomous. "Shut up! Everyone outside kept their distance, but you crossed the circle and stared. That was enough to offend her. Do you understand the consequences? If she''s unhappy, it could ruin my entire family.


    Killing you is just the price to remove that disgust."


    It clicked. He''s killing me to impress her... to save face.


    However, Su Xiaobai misunderstood the situation. The Li family might have been the dominant force within the Red Flame Fortress, but outside of it, they were insignificant¡ªmere ants compared to true powers.


    Just two weeks ago, a mysterious and beautiful woman arrived at the Li family, guided by Patriarch Li himself. The entire household was ordered to serve her every need, and Li Gong had been secretly warned by his father: she was not someone to lust after. Even the slightest improper thought could have him turned into an eunuch in an instant.


    The patriarch had emphasized that maintaining a good relationship with her could elevate their small clan to one of the top families in Yue Country. That was the goal now.


    From then on, Li Gong had abandoned any thoughts of pursuing her. His greatest concern was that Su Xiaobai''s gaze had offended her, and if she felt truly disgusted, she might retaliate and destroy the Li family. To prevent that, he needed to offer Su Xiaobai''s head as a peace offering.

 Chapter 18 - 18: Burning Life Essence! Dumbmness—An incurable disease!

    Li Gong sneered at Su Xiaobai, "When she returns, I''ll show her your head. Then maybe she''ll smile on us."


    Su Xiaobai was taken aback by the absurdity of it all, his lips curling into a bitter smile. "Killing a weak cultivator like me? Is that what you think will win her over?"


    Li Gong''s face twisted in rage. "Mock me all you want. I''ll have your head regardless. Guards, tear him apart!"


    Su Xiaobai quickly scanned the group. Two hulking men, one of them Little Blackie, a bald, dark-skinned brute, stood at Foundation Establishment Peak¡ªtheir strength could crush boulders with a single punch.


    The other four were Qi Condensation cultivators, capable of manipulating the elements with ease.


    Li Gong himself was at Core Formation Initial Stage¡ªa realm where the true masters begin to emerge, condensing their Qi into a core that grants them immense power.


    He was an entire two realms above Su Xiaobai''s Qi Refinement Peak.


    In the world of cultivation, practitioners(cultivators) like Su Xiaobai trained in the art of harnessing mystical spiritual energy to grow their power, dividing their strength into various realms.


    Each realm represented a breakthrough in strength and ability, starting from Qi Awakening, followed by Qi Refinement, Qi Condensation, Foundation Establishment, and eventually reaching Core Formation. Beyond that were realms of even greater power like Earthly Rebirth, Nascent Soul, and more.


    Each realm had further divisions: Initial, Intermediate, Late, and Peak stages, marking the progress of the cultivator within that level. Su Xiaobai was still stuck at Qi Refinement Peak, one step away from the next breakthrough, but Li Gong was already two entire realms ahead.


    Solely considering their cultivation bases, Su Xiaobai was vastly outmatched here.


    He groaned inwardly, ''That''s the fate of nobodies like me, isn''t it? Dumb people like this are stepping stones for protagonists to show off... Shame I''m not him.''


    Li Gong barked an order to his men. "Little Blackie! Take his head, and I''ll reward you with one hundred spirit stones!"


    Little Blackie grinned, cracking his knuckles. "A hundred spirit stones? Heh, easy enough!" His muscles rippled as he stepped forward, eager to crush Su Xiaobai.


    The other guards joined in eagerly. "Boss, let us help! We''ll make quick work of him."


    Li Gong waved dismissively. "Fine, but don''t damage the head too much."


    Whoosh!


    They lunged toward Su Xiaobai, their auras flaring. Blackie led the charge, his fists glowing with energy. The four Qi Condensation guards rushed behind him like a pack of wolves.


    "Damn it... Time to gamble!" Su Xiaobai cursed, knowing he was cornered.


    But there was only one way out.


    With a deep breath, Su Xiaobai activated the forbidden technique he had learned through the Infernal Emperor inheritance.


    It involved burning his vital energy aka life essence for a temporary surge of power.


    Boom!


    His cultivation instantly shot up, from Qi Refinement Peak to Foundation Establishment Peak.


    His body rippled with new strength, muscles bulging, veins glowing with fiery power.


    The two Foundation Establishment guards, including Blackie, barely had time to react before Su Xiaobai met them head-on.


    BAM!


    Their fists collided with a force that sent shockwaves through the street.


    The impact sent Blackie and the other guard flying backward, crashing into the dirt like broken kites.


    "AHHH!" They screamed as their meridians shattered, their cultivation crumbling in one blow.


    Su Xiaobai''s strength, now rivaling the might of a hundred elephants, had utterly crippled them.


    HISS!


    The four Qi Condensation guards stared, wide-eyed.


    "What... just happened?!" one stammered, unable to comprehend the sudden surge in Su Xiaobai''s power.


    But Su Xiaobai wasn''t done.


    Bloodlust surged through him, fueled by the life essence he''d burned. He needed to finish this quickly¡ªthe longer he burned his life essence, the worse it would get, and he might even lose control.


    He hurled small balls toward their feet that instantly exploded.


    Boom!


    Thick smoke flew out, enveloping the guards.


    They were simple smoke bombs, part of his usual inventory for escaping from wild beasts, but they worked just as well to confuse enemies.


    "Where is he?!" one guard shouted, swinging his sword blindly through the smoke.


    "AHHH!"


    A bloodcurdling scream tore through the air as Su Xiaobai emerged from the fog, his hand plunging into a guard''s chest.


    Splurt!


    He ripped the man''s heart out in one swift motion, blood spraying everywhere as the lifeless body crumpled.


    Another guard, Hu Song, swung wildly through the smoke, his voice trembling. "Come on, you coward! Face me head-on!"


    But Su Xiaobai appeared behind him.


    Crack!


    Su Xiaobai grabbed Hu Song''s arm and tore it clean off, the guard''s screams filling the square.


    "No... no..." Hu Song whimpered, but Su Xiaobai showed no mercy, twisting his neck with a swift motion.


    Snap!


    Another guard, Chen Liang, backed away in terror, his sword shaking in his hand. But before he could flee, Su Xiaobai grabbed him by the throat and crushed his windpipe.


    Snap!


    Chen Liang''s lifeless body hit the ground.


    The last guard, Wang Jin, stood frozen, too terrified to move. But Su Xiaobai was already upon him, ripping his limbs apart brutally, blood splattering like rain.


    Puchi! Puchi!


    All of them¡ªripped, torn, and broken in moments.


    "You ¡ª take care of the small fries!" Su Xiaobai ordered abruptly, his voice colder than before.


    The devouring thorny flower wanted to feast?


    There was a full banquet here!


    "Go and eat all you want!"


    Whoosh!


    The Devouring Thorny Flower surged forward from his spatial ring, its tendrils lashing out with terrifying speed.


    "What the hell is this thing?!" one of the city guards screamed, his face pale as death. "AHHH!"


    The tendrils wrapped around the guard, sinking into his skin, draining his blood.


    Splurt!


    The city guards that had surrounded Su Xiaobai could only watch in horror as the Devouring Thorny Flower moved toward them, its face stained with blood.


    "No! Stay back!" one guard screamed, scrambling to flee.


    Whoosh!


    But the flower''s tendrils lashed out, piercing through his chest.


    Splurt!


    Blood sprayed as the beast drained him dry, his body collapsing into a lifeless husk.


    The other guards tried to run, but the Devouring Thorny Flower was too fast, its tendrils latching onto their flesh, ripping them apart. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The crowd recoiled in disgust.


    Only one man was left standing.


    Li Gong, his once-proud face now pale with fear, stumbled back as Su Xiaobai''s bloodied figure emerged from the smoke.


    "You... you demonic cultivator!" Li Gong shrieked, trembling as Su Xiaobai advanced.


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes burned with killing intent. "You wanted my head, right?" His voice was low, almost mocking. "Now, it''s your turn."


    Li Gong screamed, raising his hands in a feeble attempt to summon his Qi. But his foundation was weak¡ªhe had broken through with pills, and now he had no control over his power.


    Su Xiaobai was upon him in an instant.


    Whoosh!


    His hand ignited with Infernal Flames, and he slammed it into Li Gong''s head.


    "AHHHHHH!"


    Li Gong''s screams echoed as the flames burned through his skull, his face twisted in agony.


    SPLURT! SPLURT! SPLURT!


    With one brutal twist, Su Xiaobai tore Li Gong''s head apart, blood spraying in wild arcs.


    The Devouring Thorny Flower, now twice its size, finished devouring the last city guard, its tendrils twitching in satisfaction as it let out a loud burp.


    As the crowd watched, frozen in fear, Su Xiaobai turned to them, his eyes glowing with bloodlust.


    The longer he maintained this state, the worse he would get!


    "Move." His voice was filled with dangerous bloodlust, aimed at the vast crowd of people. "Or do you want to be refined into blood pills?"


    The crowd didn''t need to be told twice.


    "Run! Run!"


    They fled in all directions, screaming in terror as they scattered like rats, desperate to escape the wrath of the blood-soaked Su Xiaobai.


    Only when the square was empty did Su Xiaobai stop pretending to be tough and stagger like a broken kite.


    The adrenaline faded, and the toll of the forbidden technique hit him like a sledgehammer. His body trembled violently, his vision blurring as blood dripped from his mouth.


    "It''s painful..." he muttered, clutching his chest. The price for using the forbidden technique was steep¡ªdecades of his lifespan burned away in exchange for that brief surge of power.


    Now he understood why even the Infernal Emperor rarely used it.


    Burning away decades in just a few seconds?


    It was too much.


    The world around Su Xiaobai blurred as exhaustion hit him like a wave. His legs wobbled, and his vision dimmed, but he managed to steady himself, refusing to fall.


    "Dumb people wherever you go..." he thought bitterly.


    He glanced above as if staring at the sky, muttering to himself like a madman, "My villain life was better. What''s this nonsense where I have to clean up others'' messes? It isn''t my task to clear these useless pests... At least give me some reward¡ª"

 Chapter 19 - 19: Uncertain Fate!

    "My villain life was better. What''s this nonsense where I have to clean up others'' messes? It isn''t my task to clear these useless pests... At least give me some reward¡ª" Midway, Su Xiaobai''s bitter chuckle turned into a frown.


    Those bastards above were sadistic.


    What if he asked for a reward and they sent him a hundred more Li Gongs, packaged and ready to torment him?


    "!"


    He suddenly shut his mouth, shivering slightly at the thought.


    With a final, weary glance at the blood-soaked street, Su Xiaobai sent the Devouring Thorny Flower back into his spatial ring and walked away.


    As for Xiao Lu?


    Well, she was safe and clean in there as well.


    His spatial ring had a small green lining, and it wasn''t just for show. In fact, it was originally part of the Infernal Emperor''s ring, and when he merged it with his ring, it didn''t disappear.


    That''s when Su Xiaobai realized it was special. It contained an entire small world inside. When he glanced in, he was astonished. There was a whole empty world with everything from mountains to lakes.


    There had been no mention of it in the Infernal Emperor''s memories. He must have purposefully withheld some memories.


    But it was an incredible treasure. Once its existence was known, Su Xiaobai''s life would be in danger. Now that Xiao Lu knew about it, he would have to deal with her. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After healing her first, of course... And himself as well.


    _____


    Back in White Cloud Star!


    As Su Xiaobai fought for his life, trapped in a storm he never asked for, the others fared no better.


    BAM! BAM! BAM!


    Each slam against the door reverberated through the underground chamber like the death knell of time running out.


    In a dark basement, Su Yiran stood rigid by the door, her usual calm look morphed into a tense silence. Her slim, hourglass figure was taut with anxiety, and her wide sapphire-like eyes, normally so soft, were now stained by dark bags¡ªthanks to sleepless nights spent in fear.


    Her lips quivered as she stole a glance at her mother, Eternal Su.


    "It''s going to break through..." Su Yiran''s voice cracked under the pressure, trembling in sync with the slamming against the reinforced entrance.


    Eternal Su stood tall, her white hair cascading like a waterfall down her back. Her serene face, however, was shadowed by the burden she carried. "It''s going to be fine," she said, her voice calm, though a slight strain betrayed her unease.


    Though her expression remained stoic, her fingers trembled faintly. The situation was graver than she let on, but fear, now, would only weaken her daughter''s resolve.


    Beyond the door, something far deadlier than any mortal weapon waited.


    The ''Immortal Execution Order'' had been passed against them¡ªa curse that summoned immortal swords, bloodthirsty in their hunt.


    Three sword intents hammered against the door, sent to extinguish their lives for reasons they still didn''t fully understand.


    The closer those cursed blades came, the more their power surged, threatening to tear through their defenses.


    They had been hiding here for nearly a month.


    Eternal Su''s crimson eyes shifted to the coffin in the corner. Inside lay Xiao Mei, her delicate form ghostly pale, save for the shallow rise and fall of her chest.


    Blood seeped through the bandages wrapped around her abdomen, her once radiant white hair matted and clinging to her sweat-soaked skin. Despite the grave injury, her face remained serene, almost doll-like, her long lashes brushing against her cheeks as though she slept peacefully.


    Eternal Su''s hand hovered over a glowing talisman, her fingers shaking as she pressed it to the coffin.


    WHOOSH!


    In an instant, the coffin disappeared, leaving only the faint trace of the talisman''s lingering energy.


    "Xiao Mei? Mom...Where did you send her?" Su Yiran rushed forward, panic seeping into her voice as she looked at the empty space.


    Eternal Su exhaled slowly, a mix of relief and exhaustion softening her features. "Somewhere safe. Somewhere the swords cannot reach her."


    "..."


    Su Yiran swallowed hard, her throat dry.


    Even in the face of such overwhelming danger, her mother remained a pillar of unshakable strength.


    But Su Yiran was no longer a child.


    She could see the cracks¡ªtiny fractures in her mother''s facade, the subtle tremors of fear in her movements.


    Outside, the pounding grew fiercer, a constant reminder that death was impatiently knocking.


    Su Yiran''s hands curled into fists. "What about Xiaobai? He''s still out there... is he even¡ª"


    "He''s alive," Eternal Su interrupted, her tone firm but distant. From within her robes, she withdrew a small piece of red jade that glowed softly. Her gaze softened as she stared at it. "His life jade remains unbroken."


    A flicker of guilt crossed her delicate features, and for a brief moment, the weight she carried seemed almost unbearable.


    She had protected Xiao Mei and Su Yiran, but Xiaobai... his survival rested in his own hands.


    Su Yiran''s heart clenched. "Why can''t we bring him here too?... Why are we just hiding?"


    "..."


    Eternal Su finally turned to face her daughter, her beauty¡ªonce otherworldly¡ªnow marred by exhaustion. Her eyes, usually burning with determination, held a flicker of sorrow, like a candle struggling against the wind.


    Sighing, she placed a gentle hand on Su Yiran''s shoulder. "Ranran... leaving this place is a death sentence. Those swords will not stop until we are all dead. We have no choice but to wait."


    Su Yiran nodded, though her eyes still shimmered with fear.


    She had seen the devastation those immortal swords could bring¡ªXiao Mei''s injury was proof enough.


    Despite her unique ability to stop time, Xiao Mei had barely bought them enough time to escape and hide here.


    If not for her, they all would have perished.


    A wave of guilt surged within Su Yiran.


    She wasn''t a fighter like her mother, nor did she possess the unique power of Xiao Mei.


    She was helpless in this situation, where everyone was out for their blood.


    Everything had abruptly changed; their good life had turned into a nightmare.


    Eternal Su gave a rare, faint reassuring smile. "There''s something I need to tell you," she began, her voice hesitant, as though the words themselves were painful to say. "We... I... am not from this place."


    Su Yiran blinked, confusion clouding her already overwhelmed mind. "What do you mean?"


    "I sent Xiao Mei to her aunt, far from here. She will be safe." Eternal Su''s voice grew distant, as if recalling memories long buried. "You have an aunt¡ªthough I''ve never spoken of her before."


    Su Yiran''s confusion deepened. An aunt? Why had she never heard of this before?


    "If we have family, why don''t we call for help?" Su Yiran asked. "Why can''t we go there too?"


    Eternal Su''s smile grew bitter. "I only had one talisman, and it could only send one person."


    The glimmer of hope faded as quickly as it had appeared, leaving behind only the crushing reality of their isolation.


    Eternal Su took a deep breath, her eyes gleaming with determination despite the sorrow that lingered behind them. "I need you to stay close to Xiaobai. When the time is right, I''ll send you to him. Protect him, understand? No matter what happens, stay by his side."


    Su Yiran''s heart twisted in anguish. "What about you...?" she asked, her voice fragile.


    "I..." Eternal Su faltered for the first time, her eyes dimming. "I have something I must finish here." Her lips trembled, but she quickly steeled herself, masking her uncertainty.


    "You can''t....!" Su Yiran cried, her cold demeanor crumbling as she threw her arms around her mother.


    There was something ominous in the way she said those words, prompting a panicked movement from Su Yiran. "I won''t let you sacrifice yourself...."


    Eternal Su smiled softly, patting Su Yiran''s head. "I won''t. I promise." But deep down, she wasn''t sure if she could keep that promise.


    Her own fate remained uncertain, but her children''s safety came first.


    For a moment, mother and daughter stood together, next to one another as the whole world pressed down on them.


    The door shook violently, but within their embrace, there was a flicker of hope¡ªfragile, yet present.


    Eternal Su pulled away and retrieved a long, rectangular box, handing it to Su Yiran. Her expression grew grave. "Take this. It will protect you, but don''t use it unless there''s no other option. And never let anyone else touch it¡ªexcept your brother."


    Su Yiran accepted the box, feeling the cold, ominous energy radiating from within. Her blood ran cold, but she nodded. "I understand."


    Eternal Su watched her daughter with a mixture of pride and sorrow. Xiao Mei was safe.


    Su Xiaobai was still alive.


    Somehow, despite the odds, her children had survived.


    She could ask for nothing more.


    But she would fight until her last breath to ensure they stayed alive.


    The door rattled again, louder than before, but this time Eternal Su''s eyes burned with fierce determination. Her family was in danger, but they had not lost yet.


    As long as they breathed, there was still a chance to fight back.

 Chapter 20 - 20: Acquiring First Servant! Innocent Su Xiaobai?

    Back at Immortal Rain Valley, six hours after the fight at red flame fortress...


    "Why... why did they do it?" Xiao Lu''s voice trembled, confusion filling her hazy beautiful eyes.


    Sitting in the moonlit forest, Su Xiaobai remained calm, his gaze steady. "Because they can... People with power act ruthlessly when there are no consequences."


    Under the pale moonlight, he gently fed her a ''Rejuvenation Pill'', a small, round pill with a soft jade-green hue.


    It emitted a faint herbal fragrance, its essence refined to heal minor wounds swiftly.


    Pills like this were powerful medicinal items crafted by alchemists, each containing concentrated spiritual energy.


    Whoosh!


    The pill''s energy dissolved into her ''dantian'', the core of cultivation within every cultivator, where spiritual energy is stored and refined.


    Almost immediately, Xiao Lu''s torn hands began to regenerate.


    The bruises faded, and the pain vanished in moments. She stared in awe. "It''s... healing so fast," she whispered, marveling at the miraculous recovery.


    Su Xiaobai smiled faintly, resting beside her with a sigh. As the pill worked its magic, something stirred within him.


    Inside his ''dantian'', a small ''Elemental Seed'' shimmered¡ªa sign of his breakthrough from qi refinement to qi condensation realm. At this stage, he could not only manipulate elemental energy but also condense true qi outside his body, making his attacks far more powerful.


    The breakthrough had come unexpectedly. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    His veins, half attuned to ''Yin Qi'', had absorbed the cold, deathly energy lingering around the corpses of Li Gong and the others he had slain.


    ''Yin Qi'' is present in places of death, shadows, and cold environments, often feared for its dark nature.


    Yet, Su Xiaobai had unknowingly refined and absorbed it, allowing it to power his breakthrough.


    Until now, he had never known his body could harness ''Yin Qi'' so effectively.


    As the yin qi helped him advance, the other half of his one-hundred-six veins pulsed with the volatile force of thunder, an energy tied to his second devouring sky serpant bloodline.


    Both Yin and thunder now flowed within him, but his sea of consciousness remained turbulent, as his newly awakened azure dragon bloodline clashed with the others, fighting for dominance.


    Despite the pain in his head from their chaotic fight, Su Xiaobai''s smile remained ¡ª After nearly three decades of living a cursed existence, being able to cultivate like others filled him with quiet satisfaction.


    After being healed, Xiao Lu, dressed in a feminine white and seductive red robe, glanced at Su Xiaobai. Her usual sly, calculating expression softened as tears welled in her eyes.


    The woman who had always sought to seize opportunities now found herself at a loss.


    "Hm?" Su Xiaobai raised his brows as she stood up, then knelt before him, bowing deeply.


    Thud!


    "Thank you for healing me... but I don''t know how to repay you," her voice trembled, the usual confidence fading.


    Su Xiaobai blinked, surprised by her sudden sincerity. "Repay me? You shielded the attack for me, didn''t you?" His tone was casual, dismissing it as if it were nothing. In truth, his invincible body would have managed, but he hadn''t expected her to take the hit.


    After all, she had always seemed more concerned with her own survival.


    "But... you saved me before, more than once. I can''t just walk away as if it means nothing," Xiao Lu whispered, her eyes filled with guilt.


    She wasn''t used to this kind of indebtedness.


    Su Xiaobai watched her carefully. Was she talking about the ''deflowering thorny flower'' incident? He''d saved her for his own reasons back then, but seeing the conflict in her eyes now, he could tell something had changed, and she was quite determined all of a sudden.


    "It would take you years worth of spirit stones to repay me," he said, hoping to deflect her growing sense of obligation.


    Her eyes dimmed, her voice faltering. "I... I don''t have that kind of wealth."


    He sighed, not wanting to push her further. His mood was still good, and he had no interest in dragging this out. "If you''re really so set on repaying me, work for me. I''ll pay you a hundred spirit stones a month."


    Thud!


    To his surprise, Xiao Lu dropped to her knees, her voice trembling with emotion "... I don''t want payment. From now on, I''ll follow you¡ªwhether as your horse or your cow, I''ll serve you for the rest of my life."


    "..." Su Xiaobai groaned inwardly. "It''s only for a few years, how did it become a lifetime?" He chuckled bitterly.


    Xiao Lu, still kneeling before him, looked up, her eyes filled with determination. "You don''t understand. No one has ever shown me such kindness... I''ve spent my life scraping by, taking what I could. But you... you''ve saved me more than once, even when you didn''t have to."


    Su Xiaobai scratched the back of his head, a wry smile playing on his lips. "I didn''t save you to have you dedicate your life to me, just so you know."


    "But it''s different for me." Xiao Lu''s voice was steady, though tears clung to her eyes. "I''ve been alone for so long. Having someone who ''values'' my life... it''s worth more than anything I could ever repay. If you''ll allow it, I''ll follow you. Not for money, but because I believe in you.


    Just food and shelter would be enough."


    Su Xiaobai shook his head, groaning inwardly. He needed people, and he knew how to use their weaknesses to his advantage. If she were driven by spirit stones, he''d be happy to take her in as a maid to boost his strength.


    But her offer of lifelong service made her... unpredictable.


    "How old are you?" he asked suddenly.


    "Thirty-two," Xiao Lu replied quickly, her nervousness showing. Was he looking for younger women?


    "Thirty-two and still in the Qi Awakening realm..." Su Xiaobai muttered, sizing her up. Her cultivation was... mediocre at best. Unlike him, whose talent was restricted by locked meridians, she had no such excuse.


    At twenty-seven, even with his meridians sealed, he''d reached the peak of Qi Refinement.


    His talent wasn''t lacking¡ªhe could keep pace with geniuses once his restrictions were lifted. But her? She''d likely never make it past her current realm.


    Even if she started now ¡ª Unless she was some heaven-sent genius, catching up with him would be impossible.


    He was wary of taking someone so weak into his ranks. It could slow him down.


    "Was anyone in your family a cultivator?" Su Xiaobai asked, probing her background.


    Xiao Lu shook her head, her voice dimming. "No..."


    "Then how did you end up as a waitress?"


    Xiao Lu bit her lip and began explaining. Her mother had raised her alone, her father missing for most of their lives. Su Xiaobai inferred she was likely a bastard child, but let her continue.


    Her mother had once worked as a servant in the house of a powerful man in another part of the country, but after breaking something valuable, they lost everything.


    Her mother had to sell off what little they had left to repay the debt. Even that wasn''t enough, and when Xiao Lu was seven, they auctioned off everything¡ªincluding her.


    "And your mother? Any idea what happened to her?" Su Xiaobai asked, curious.


    He wouldn''t want someone bound by chains; it''s too risky given his current situation. His enemies could easily kidnap her mother and force her to betray him.


    Xiao Lu''s face darkened. "She... she wasn''t a practitioner. She had no value. She was either sold as a sex slave or killed for her organs...."


    Su Xiaobai sighed. "Leave it. What about you?"


    Xiao Lu nodded and told him about being brought to Silverblue City, where she worked for Fierce Tang. Fortunately, her body hadn''t matured at the time, or she would have been sold as a sex slave. She worked as a waitress until her looks started attracting attention, and Fierce Tang kept moving her to different businesses, using her to lure customers.


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes blinked. He''d already made up his mind, but he had to ask, "You''ve never done anything like this before. So why did you choose me back at the inn?" His gaze sharpened with curiosity.


    He looked her over, surprised she was still a virgin at her age, when she met him.


    For a practitioner, preserving yin essence had immense benefits for cultivation, but for someone like Xiao Lu, there was no such advantage.


    Xiao Lu hesitated, her eyes wavering before she finally spoke. "You... you looked innocent and easy to deceive."

 Chapter 21 - 21: Obedient Servant!

    "You... you looked innocent and easy to deceive."


    Su Xiaobai''s face darkened. Him, easy to deceive? His eyes gleamed with a cold, calculating light. A great villain such as himself, who had clawed his way through treachery and deceit, could see through her pitiful attempt with a mere glance.


    She wasn''t fooling anyone but herself.


    Seeing his expression harden, Xiao Lu panicked. "N-No, I meant... You wore expensive robes, and you paid a fortune just to mask your presence. It was clear you came from an extraordinary background." Her voice quivered. "At first, I only wanted to secure enough wealth to escape. The longer I stayed with Fierce Tang, the more dangerous it became.


    Once I grew too old to attract customers, I''d end up discarded... like my mother."


    Su Xiaobai sighed. Fierce Tang was no fool; he only kept her because she was valuable.


    But jade loses its luster over time.


    Xiao Lu had seen her chance and taken a gamble ¡ª She was bold, but she overestimated her cleverness.


    "Did I really look so easy to deceive?" Su Xiaobai''s voice turned sharp, as if questioning himself.


    Xiao Lu glanced at him, then quickly averted her gaze, instinctively nodding before shaking her head. The awkward mix of guilt and fear on her face was almost amusing, how easily people tried to manipulate what they didn''t understand.


    "Ha-ha-ha..." Su Xiaobai laughed bitterly, but his mind was already elsewhere. So much for remaining in the shadows.


    It seemed the higher-ups had already caught wind of his existence, their invisible eyes no longer blind to his movements.


    He considered burning the city to the ground¡ªone swift strike to erase all traces.


    But Recklessness now could cost him dearly.


    There would be time for flames later.


    With a shrug, he stood. "Fine. You can follow me. But don''t speak of secrets, and if there''s anyone you need to say goodbye to, do it now. Once we leave, we won''t be coming back."


    "Mm..." Xiao Lu stood up, following Su Xiaobai as he stretched his body. He had been meditating for hours to break through and was already feeling tired.


    "Can I meet with the inn owner?" she asked softly. Despite Fierce Tang''s opportunistic nature, part of her didn''t view him as entirely heartless¡ªjust a man driven by greed. He had, after all, paid her, kept her dressed well enough to attract customers. But trust? She knew better. Fierce Tang would wring her dry once she lost her value.


    Her mother''s last words echoed in her mind. The last time they spoke, her mother had told her to seize any chance to change her life. Now that Xiao Lu had made her decision, she wasn''t going back for help¡ªjust to say a final goodbye. The bracelet Fierce Tang used to control her had been broken during Li Gong''s attack.


    She was free now.


    Su Xiaobai raised a brow. "It''s useless."


    "Huh?" Xiao Lu blinked, her confusion evident.


    "They''ve likely killed everyone at the inn, including Fierce Tang," Su Xiaobai said bluntly.


    "Wh¡ª!?"


    Xiao Lu''s eyes widened in shock. Her hands flew to her mouth as the cold truth settled in.


    Su Xiaobai shook his head, a flicker of disdain crossing his features. "If I were them, I''d have done the same. By now, they''ve realized we stayed at the inn. Anyone who sheltered us would be considered a loose end, and loose ends aren''t tolerated. They''ve likely started their search already."


    He glanced toward the dense forest ahead. It was fortunate he had steered them toward the ''Silverwolf Territory''.


    The ''nascent soul-realm'' beast that ruled these lands was a terror few dared provoke. Its mere presence kept even the boldest hunters at bay.


    Over the past thirty days, whenever Su Xiaobai had a moment of peace, he gathered information about Yue Country, the Tianlong Empire, and the broader Soaring Dragon Continent. Survival in this world required knowledge, and he had discovered the Silverwolf''s domain by chance.


    A perfect place to evade their pursuers.


    With a single, fluid movement, Su Xiaobai leaped to the top of a towering tree, his figure disappearing into the darkness of the canopy.


    Below, Xiao Lu stood, staring up in confusion. She glanced around, unsure of what to do. Unlike him, she couldn''t scale treetops effortlessly. With a sigh, she moved toward a patch of grass beneath the tree, preparing to settle down for the night.


    Swoosh!


    But before she could rest, a soft movement landed in front of her.


    "Practice this, and don''t drag me down." Su Xiaobai''s lazy voice drifted down from the treetops. A scroll, worn and ancient, lay before her, making Xiao Lu blink in surprise.


    "This is..." Her fingers trembled slightly as she picked up the scroll.


    Su Xiaobai, despite his relaxed demeanor, was still as calculating as ever. He preferred followers he could control with material incentives¡ªmoney, power, status.


    But Xiao Lu was no longer motivated by those things ¡ª That made her a risk, and Su Xiaobai couldn''t afford unpredictability.


    Still, if she could strengthen herself, she would become less of a burden and more useful. It was a practical choice.


    As Su Xiaobai drifted off to meditate, Xiao Lu cautiously unrolled the scroll. Its fragile edges crackled under her touch, the scent of ancient ink filling the air.


    She had no idea that Su Xiaobai''s storage ring had long been emptied of its immortal techniques¡ªthose had been stolen by the Evil Empress. What remained were lower-grade techniques, but even those carried immense value.


    A ''mortal-grade technique'' could easily fetch thousands of spirit stones, enough to buy a lifetime of luxury.


    Profound-grade techniques, more specialized and tailored to combat or elemental mastery, could cost tens of thousands.


    But mystic-grade techniques¡ªah, those were the treasures that drew power from heaven and earth itself, capable of shaping the very flow of the world.


    Su Xiaobai''s own ''Starslayer God Arts'', which absorbed stellar energy, was worth a king''s ransom in spirit stones.


    The technique he gave her, however, was the ''Burning Lotus Charm'', a mystic-grade art that cultivated solar energy, particularly effective for those with a yin constitution.


    It wove the flames of the sun itself into one''s soul, capable of bending wills with a mere glance. Its true strength lay not in brute force, but in the quiet domination of minds.


    It wasn''t a combat-focused technique, as Su Xiaobai doubted her talent for battle, and besides, he himself specialized more in formations and arrays than direct combat.


    The ''Burning Lotus Charm'' could influence the minds of others¡ªa more fitting ability for someone like Xiao Lu.


    Xiao Lu had no idea that she held a technique worth millions of spirit stones. If she knew, she might have fainted from shock.


    But Su Xiaobai wasn''t truly asleep¡ªhe kept one eye half-open, watching her closely.


    If she tried to take the scroll and flee, he wouldn''t hesitate to silence her.


    Permanently.


    But to his mild surprise, Xiao Lu didn''t run. Instead, she sat down, her brows furrowed in concentration as she began to study the technique.


    There was something almost endearing in the way her face softened, utterly absorbed in deciphering the complex cultivation method.


    Su Xiaobai shook his head, mildly amused. For now, she wasn''t a threat


    Satisfied, he allowed himself to drift into a deeper sleep, knowing that tomorrow would bring new troubles.


    _____


    Next Day ¡ª In the morning!


    Whoosh!


    As Su Xiaobai descended gracefully, the golden morning light pierced through the dense trees, scattering like threads of silk across the forest clearing.


    A gentle breeze carried the scent of smoldering embers, a small fire crackling nearby¡ªundoubtedly Xiao Lu''s doing.


    Yet, where was she? S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Master, I have stirred some soup for you..."


    Her voice, soothing as falling sunlight, came from behind. Su Xiaobai turned, and his body froze, ''No way...''


    Xiao Lu stood in the morning light, holding a simple leaf-woven bowl. Her crimson lips curved slightly.


    His eyes unconciously traced the smooth line of her bare waist, each curve as seductive as molten sunlight, stirring the hot desire with a single glance.


    But Su Xiaobai wasn''t confused by her beauty.


    No, it was her ... Aura.

 Chapter 22 - 22: Heavenly Punishment!

    Her Aura!


    It wasn''t just any aura¡ªit was the presence of someone who had touched the peak of Qi Awakening.


    Every cultivator, once they begin their path, develops an aura¡ªa ripple of power that emanates from their body, the manifestation of their control over spiritual qi.


    The stronger the cultivator, the more potent their aura, bending the very energy around them. For those at the highest realms, it becomes almost like an extension of their will, oppressive to weaker beings, but in her case... the spiritual qi now flowed around her like a gentle stream, bending effortlessly to her command.


    "You... made a breakthrough?" Su Xiaobai asked, disbelief creeping into his voice.


    "..."


    Xiao Lu blinked and nodded, her lips pressed together as if holding back a secret.


    Su Xiaobai blinked. Twice.


    Three breakthroughs... in single night? His mind shook from shock.


    "Am I... too slow?" she asked, completely misunderstanding his stunned look.


    Su Xiaobai snapped back to reality, coughing awkwardly as he adopted a sage-like expression, "Well, you''re a bit slower than average, as for your breakthroughs... it''s probably because you had too much spiritual qi trapped in your meridians from last three decades. That definitely helped."


    Xiao Lu nodded thoughtfully, as if he''d just imparted great wisdom. "So... I was slow after all."


    Determination blazed in her eyes. ''I have to work ten times harder!''


    Su Xiaobai, seeing her newfound resolve, felt a chill run down his spine.


    He had unintentionally fanned the flames of this woman...


    "Wait, wait!" he hurriedly took the bowl of soup from her hands. "Don''t go breaking through again! You need to consolidate your foundation first, or... it could be dangerous."


    Or he might just have a heart attack...


    Was his talent really trash? What about those eight pillars at his second awakening? Where the hell are his three breakthroughs?


    The higher-ups can''t all be fucking simps, right?


    Su Xiaobai never quite knows who''s messing with him¡ªwhether it''s the fate weaver pulling strings, the ant-like buzzing voices driving him nuts, or the so-called higher-ups lurking in their thrones.


    So, he just lumps them all together under the ''higher-ups'' category and gives them a collective ''fuck you.''


    To him, they''re all the same when it comes to royally screwing him over.


    And from what he could tell, those buzzing ants were mostly just weak-ass snowflakes¡ªdelicate, ladylike, and always running their mouths.


    No matter what the fate weaver tried, there''d always be a batch of them still buzzing like a swarm of flies on a pile of leftover food.


    ''It must be them,'' he thought, and with the grace of a madman, unleashed a torrent of curses¡ªeach one grander than the last.


    He knew, of course, it wouldn''t do a damn thing, but it soothed his soul like a hot cup of tea after a stormy day, leaving him grumbling with a twisted sense of peace


    Xiao Lu smiled, mistaking his gloomy face for care ¡ª He was worried about her!


    Su Xiaobai groaned internally, her smile only deepening his growing sense of doom.


    She already looked younger, her mature body and innocent face forming a lethal combination.


    But there was no time for distractions. "Here, take this," he handed her his old spatial ring. "We need to cross the forest."


    The journey ahead was no joke.


    Even though the Silverwolf was known not to attack first, the forest was dangerous, and it would take two weeks to cross.


    On the way, Su Xiaobai tried to explain the basics of cultivation¡ªanything to distract them both.


    He talked about spiritual qi, the three dantians, and the path of cultivation.


    The Lower Dantian below the navel housed a cultivator''s Jing (essence), the Middle Dantian at the heart stored Qi (vital energy), and the Upper Dantian in the head was home to the Shen (spirit).


    Basic of veins, meridians, and how certain practitioners had special veins and bloodlines that granted unique advantages. He mentioned different techniques, from breathing and movement to body cultivation, and the various weapons used by cultivators. All these were things he had learned from the knowledge inherited from the Infernal Emperor.


    But with each passing moment, he couldn''t help but glance at Xiao Lu.


    She was absorbing it all so seriously, unaware that her breakthroughs had turned his peaceful world upside down.


    Within a week, Su Xiaobai had almost finished giving her an overview of the vast world of cultivation, but there were still mysteries that not even he fully understood...


    ______


    After a week of navigating the Silverwolf territory, Su Xiaobai and Xiao Lu had finally covered a significant portion of the distance.


    Today, as they moved swiftly through the forest, leaping across tree branches like shadows, Xiao Lu suddenly shouted, "There!"


    WHOOSH!


    Su Xiaobai reacted instantly, grabbing her hand and pulling her into the dense cover of a nearby tree. "Shh... don''t make a sound," he whispered sharply.


    "Mm." Xiao Lu nodded, her lips pressed together.


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes narrowed as he scanned the forest floor below. The signs were unmistakable¡ªdeep claw marks etched into the earth, and footprints¡­ large ones.


    Wolves¡ªnot just one, but a whole pack.


    Among them, a set of tracks that were much larger, belonging to something far more dangerous.


    On the opposite side, there appeared to be traces of a single person.


    The aftermath of the battle was clear. Tree trunks had been smashed apart, the ground torn open.


    Whatever had happened here, it was fierce.


    "Let''s check it out," Su Xiaobai muttered, as they followed the traces for several hours, moving silently.


    By late afternoon, Su Xiaobai noticed something that made him stop dead in his tracks.


    ___


    The forest reeked of blood.


    Feng Lianhua stood, her armor fractured, her body streaked with crimson. Golden strands, matted with dirt, stained her delicate face. Her breath was shallow, the weight of the colossal sword in her hand growing unbearable.


    GRRRR!


    The Silver Wolf, its fur gleaming like molten silver, prowled closer, eyes burning with a fury that echoed through the forest. Its pack circled her¡ª overwhelming. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She wiped the blood from her lips, her slender fingers trembling. Why? Why attack me?


    Her voice, though hoarse, carried a melodic edge, her figure graceful even in this state of ruin.


    Each swing of her sword was precise, her body moving with lethal elegance, though her strength was fading.


    More wolves came. The pack, endless. Sweat and blood glistened on her skin, but there was no room for vanity.


    The larger Silver Wolf, its gaze cold and calculating, prowled closer.


    "Ugh!"


    She staggered back, clutching her side.


    The metallic taste of blood filled her mouth, yet her eyes blazed. "I won''t fall so easily," she muttered, raising her sword once more, her body trembling from exhaustion.


    The Silver Wolf lunged.


    Fairy Lianhua barely managed to block, the force sending her crashing back. Pain surged through her, but she remained upright, her grip tightening.


    The wolves moved in, their eyes gleaming with hunger.


    Her vision blurred, desperation creeping into her heart. She reached into her robe, pulling out a weathered map, her last hope.


    "Silver Wolf¡­" Her voice, though ragged, still carried a dangerous grace. "This map¡­ It holds the key to your evolution. Let me live, and it''s yours."


    The beast''s eyes remained fixed on hers¡ªintelligent, unforgiving.


    WOOF!


    Its rejection was final.


    Before she could react, pain tore through her abdomen. Her knees buckled as a wolf''s fangs sank into her side.


    The map slipped from her hand, fluttering to the ground like a forgotten dream.


    Darkness closed in as she fought to stay conscious.


    ____


    "Isn''t that the same woman¡ªFairy Lianhua?" Xiao Lu muttered, her eyes narrowing. The woman looked eerily similar to the one from Red Flame Fortress.


    "Yes..." Su Xiaobai grinned, a chuckle bubbling up inside. Finally!


    It was her¡ªthe one responsible for their near-death experience. The Higher Ups had granted him the chance for revenge.


    Heavenly punishment, delivered personally.


    Did this mean he was finally the apple of their eye?


    Just the thought made him grin wider.


    Maybe now, he''d stumble upon some miraculous opportunity, get back to White Cloud Star, and crush those who had looked down on him.


    No.


    He couldn''t get ahead of himself.


    First, deliver her punishment¡ªthen think about the rest.


    His grin faded, replaced by a sharp, focused look.


    From their vantage point, he could see the Silver Wolf and its entire pack attacking her. Fairy Lianhua must''ve really provoked them¡ªenough for the beast to forgo a chance at evolution.


    Scanning the scene, he saw it¡ªbehind the Silver Wolf, two small pups, one injured.


    ''So that''s it.'' The realization struck him like a spark, and Su Xiaobai''s eyes glinted with wickedness as he leaped down from the tree.

 Chapter 23 - 23: *Struck by Heavenly Thunder* [R18]

    "Yip! Yip!"


    The Silverwolf''s cub yipped, oblivious to the danger, chasing a butterfly despite its injuries. It bounded toward Su Xiaobai''s position, unaware of the predator nearby.


    From the shadows of a tree, Su Xiaobai watched the Silver Wolf and its pack tear into Fairy Lianhua. Her bloodied form struggled, but his focus wasn''t on her. It was on the weathered treasure map that slipped from her grasp.


    A map to treasure?


    It should have ¡ª spatial equipment... my way home.


    ''This is it.''


    Just then, the cub stumbled closer. Su Xiaobai''s eyes narrowed. ''Perfect.''


    He dropped from the tree with barely a sound, landing in front of the cub. Startled, it looked up, its innocent eyes meeting his cold gaze.


    Whoosh!


    Su Xiaobai snatched it up without hesitation.


    "Silver Wolf!" His voice rang out, sharp and loud.


    "??"


    The massive beast froze, turning its furious eyes on him, the beast''s killing intent pushing down on him.


    Su Xiaobai raised his hand, igniting it in crimson flames. "One step, and this ''little whitie'' becomes ash. Leave my companion alive and get lost! Follow my words, and I''ll release this cub within an hour¡ªalive and untouched. Defy me, and¡ª"


    "Whimper..." The cub whispered, its neck strangled by Su Xiaobai.


    Grrrr...


    The Silver Wolf growled low, its pack echoing the sound, but none dared move.


    The Inferno Flames crackled¡ªdeadly, burning not just flesh but soul.


    Su Xiaobai smirked. ''He won''t risk it.''


    But then¡ªBoom!¡ªa cold wave of pressure hit him.


    Soul attack!


    Only those in the Nascent Soul realm or higher could launch such attacks, directly targeting the spirit of their enemies.


    Swoosh!


    "!"


    Su Xiaobai froze for a heartbeat, feeling the icy grip of death... until the Inferno Flames surged on it''s own, snuffing out the attack.


    The Silver Wolf staggered, its plan foiled.


    "I warned you," Su Xiaobai said, his panicked expression slowly melting into a bitter chuckle.


    "Rrrrrr..." The Silver Wolf growled again, but its rage turned to resignation.


    With a final snarl, it backed away, its pack following.


    "Smart choice," As they vanished into the forest, he muttered, his gaze shifting back to the battlefield.


    Fairy Lianhua lay motionless, the treasure map fluttering just out of reach.


    ''The map... it''s mine.''


    Surprising his excitement, he glanced back at Xiao Lu, who had silently watched everything from behind.


    He held out the squirming cub¡ªa small creature with snowy white fur stained with dirt and blood, its bright eyes filled with confusion and fear¡ªhe commanded, "Grab it and don''t let it escape. If it does, we''re as good as dead."


    "Mm¡­" Xiao Lu nodded, but her gaze lingered on him, her expression curious as she gently cradled the cub, which let out a soft whimper, its tiny body trembling.


    Su Xiaobai frowned. "What''s with that look?"


    She hesitated but then spoke anyway. "Why did you call it Little Whitie?"


    Su Xiaobai''s face darkened. "No food for you today."


    Xiao Lu groaned inwardly, but amusement flickered in her eyes as she stroked the cub''s soft fur. ''Xiao'' meant "little," and ''Bai'' meant "white."


    Together, ''Xiaobai'' meant "Little White," so hearing him call the cub ''Little Whitie'' was ironically funny.


    Su Xiaobai, grumbled to himself and turned his attention back to the fallen Fairy Lianhua.


    He crouched beside her and noticed something glinting on the ground near the treasure map. Quickly sending the map to his spatial ring, he picked up a small silver emblem. Inscribed on it was the mark of a phoenix.


    "Phoenix... The Vermillion Phoenix Dynasty?" Su Xiaobai muttered, his brow furrowing. "What''s someone from there doing here?"


    He knew Yue Country was part of the Tianlong Empire, but this emblem hinted at the involvement of another power entirely. The Vermillion Phoenix Dynasty was another empire¡ªwhy would one of their people be caught in Silver Wolf territory?


    His eyes flicked around the scene. There was no horse, no further supplies¡ªlikely lost or destroyed during the battle.


    ''What a shame,'' he thought bitterly. He had hoped to rob it.


    Shaking off his disappointment, Su Xiaobai''s gaze stayed over the fallen beauty. Her shattered armor revealed pale skin, and even covered in blood, her golden hair still shimmered like rays of sunlight.


    But admiration wasn''t why he was here. It was time for heavenly punishment.


    "Xiao Lu! Don''t get blinded by her beauty!" he called, a wicked grin forming. "This woman almost got us killed. What should we do for revenge?"


    Xiao Lu blinked, processing his question. "Kill her?" she offered, as if it were the most obvious answer.


    Su Xiaobai''s eye twitched. "Is that all? Just kill her?"


    These cultivators... all the same. Even with breakthroughs, they lack imagination.


    Her answer was technically correct, but dull. If the higher-ups wanted him to deliver punishment, it had to be... creative.


    He leaned in, voice dripping with wicked delight. "What else, Xiao Lu? That''s not enough."


    Xiao Lu''s eyes narrowed as she studied Feng Lianhua''s unconscious body. She gave a cold smile. "How about we skin her alive? That way she suffers before we finish her off."


    Su Xiaobai paused, raising an eyebrow. ''This woman''s got potential. Ruthless¡­ I like it.'' Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Must groom her properly.


    "Hmm, a good suggestion. But," he glanced at Feng Lianhua''s beautiful yet battle-worn face, "she''s at the Rebirth Realm. Three realms above us. If she wakes up while we''re halfway through skinning her, we''re dead."


    Xiao Lu''s brow furrowed. "Then what do we do?"


    "We steal her yin essence before killing her." Su Xiaobai smirked, brushing Feng Lianhua''s hair aside. Her lips, though stained with blood, looked soft. His thumb grazed them as a wicked idea sparked.


    Heavenly punishment, right? Might as well do it properly.


    Xiao Lu squinted at him. Was this about yin essence... or something else? Her gaze flicked between Su Xiaobai and the fallen fairy, her amusement shifting to mild suspicion.


    He doesn''t just want to harass her, does he?


    If he did, she wouldn''t complain. In fact, she''d found a perfect master¡ªone just as morally bankrupt as she was. After all, once someone tries to kill you, they deserve whatever you can squeeze out of them.


    Su Xiaobai''s mind worked fast. Refining her virgin yin essence would boost his cultivation, and her body would feed the Devouring Thorny Flower.


    Two gains from one corpse.


    But as Su Xiaobai rubbed his thumb over Feng Lianhua''s lips, a strange pang of guilt crept in.


    ''Has it really been that long since I did anything bad? What''s with this omnious feeling....''


    He''d lived an almost peaceful, law-abiding life for the last two decades, and now here he was, touching a passed-out fairy like some back-alley pervert. But then again, the higher-ups demanded this. Blame them, he reasoned. If I don''t do it, I''ll get punished.


    Kacha!¡ª


    Her broken armor fell apart under his touch, revealing smooth, moonlit skin. He couldn''t help but stare.


    Xiao Lu sighed, deadpan. "Master, if you just want her yin essence, you can skip the foreplay."


    Su Xiaobai''s eye twitched, but he didn''t stop. His fingers traced over the two soft mounds on the fairy''s chest, a mischievous smile creeping up his face. Heavenly punishment, he justified to himself.


    Xiao Lu sighed. If this is what my master enjoys¡­ I guess I''ll support it.


    Xiao Lu stepped closer and grabbed Su Xiaobai''s hand, startling him as she placed it directly on Fairy Lianhua''s chest.


    Squeeze.


    "!?"


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes widened, but Xiao Lu''s cold voice broke through his hesitation. "Master, don''t delay. The silverwolf will be back soon."


    She had the Silverwolf cub trapped between her knees, its pitiful whimper barely audible. Her gaze remained hard, watching Su Xiaobai''s flickering guilt with disappointment.


    ''Is he going soft?''


    Her mind shook. In this world, mercy was weakness. If they didn''t take their chance now, this woman would come back for blood.


    Without another word, she guided Su Xiaobai''s hand across Feng Lianhua''s body, pressing and squeezing. Her flawless skin was smooth like polished jade, her chest soft beneath his fingers. The nipples, like ripe cherries, begged to be bitten, but Su Xiaobai held back. He couldn''t let Xiao Lu see him lose control.


    For the first time, he was touching a woman of such quality, so perfect. His fingers trembled, an omnious feeling in his heart but he shook the feeling away. ''I can''t hesitate. I have to finish this.''


    "Let''s get it done."


    With newfound resolve, Su Xiaobai ripped the robe from Feng Lianhua''s body with a sharp rip!


    RIIIP!


    Xiao Lu''s eyes lit up, pleased to see her master finally back in form. As the fabric fell away, it revealed smooth, supple thighs, her most intimate region hidden beneath a small scrap of cloth¡ªa forbidden garden yet to be touched.


    Gudong...


    Su Xiaobai swallowed hard, his eyes heating up as his hand reached for the cloth¡ª


    Rumble... Rumble...


    KA-BOOM!


    The heavens abruptly cracked open, a massive thunderbolt crashing down from the sky.


    "Wh¡ª!" Xiao Lu jumped in shock, but Su Xiaobai wasn''t so lucky.

 Chapter 24 - 24: The Test of Spirit!

    Five minutes later...


    "Where... am I?"


    Su Xiaobai groaned, flat on the ground, feeling like he''d been trampled by a herd of beasts. "Did I die again?" His head spun, the world shaking around him like a drunk at a tavern.


    "Master!"


    "!!"


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes snapped open, greeted by Xiao Lu''s beautiful flushed face far too close to his. Startled, she quickly pulled back, though her breath was still hot on his face. He sat up, moving like a rusty puppet.


    "What... happened?" he muttered, glancing around as his brain tried to reboot.


    Xiao Lu''s expression was a mix of worry and concern. "Master, you fainted from shock. A thunderbolt struck you on the head!"


    "What?!"


    Su Xiaobai blinked, his hair a wild mess and his face blackened with soot. Xiao Lu leaned in, wiping his cheeks with her sleeve, barely holding back a smile.


    "Where did that thunder even come from?" she muttered, eyes wide with disbelief.


    His ears were still ringing, but his gaze drifted toward the real prize¡ªFairy Lianhua''s body, lying bare and enticing before him. Her exposed breasts weren''t just peaks¡ªthey were heavenly pillows, plump and perfect, the kind that immortals would fight wars over. Her legs, still spread from earlier, made him forget everything else.


    Just as I was about to...


    Suddenly, a bitter grin crept across his face. "Haha... it''s a test! Yeah, the heavens are testing me!" He forced out a snort, trying to sound confident. But deep down, he knew the truth.


    The higher-ups were screwing with him again!


    Still, he wasn''t about to give up. Not with power lying helpless in front of him. For returning back to my cheap family... I''ll do anything.


    "Master?" Xiao Lu''s voice came again, more puzzled than concerned, as she watched him stagger back toward Feng Lianhua''s body.


    Su Xiaobai''s face hardened with twisted determination. ''To hell with the higher-ups! I''m Su Xiaobai, the great villain! You can''t mess with me every time I try something! I''m not your puppet!''


    His expression melted into pure, unfiltered perversion. Kneeling beside Feng Lianhua, his hands began mimicking a squeezing motion, eyes gleaming with devilish intent.


    "Hehehe~... this time, no one''s gonna stop me..."


    Without shame, he spread her thighs wide, his breathing heavy like a dog in heat. His fingers hovered over the small cloth, trembling with anticipation.


    "Heavens? Pfft!" His hand crept closer, his fingers twitching, ready to uncover what he was now thinking of as the Forbidden Garden of Pleasures.


    "Master, wait¡ª!" Xiao Lu''s voice rang out, but Su Xiaobai was already too far gone. His mind filled with visions of "heavenly treasures," his wicked grin stretching from ear to ear.


    Just as his fingers brushed the edge of the forbidden cloth¡ª


    Rumble... Rumble...


    KABOOM!


    Another bolt of thunder slammed down from the heavens, lighting up the entire area.


    "Ahhhhh¡ª!" Su Xiaobai''s entire body jerked violently, his voice shaking as he cried, "W-w-w-what-t-t th-th-the-e f-f-f-uck-k?!"


    His limbs spasmed, his mouth trembling as the electricity surged through him. His whole body shook like a puppet gone mad, he managed to sputter out, "W-why-y-y m-m-meeee?!"


    Smoke rose from his charred clothes as he collapsed in a heap, twitching on the ground like a fried fish. Xiao Lu blinked, completely deadpan.


    "Master... you''re really determined to piss off the heavens, huh?" She sighed and crouched beside him, poking his crispy body with the tip of her finger.


    ____


    Third Try!


    Five minutes later...


    "Not again!" Su Xiaobai groaned, his body twitching as smoke drifted from his clothes. He struggled to sit up, brushing off the ash clinging to his robes.


    Xiao Lu raised an eyebrow. "Master, are you really going to¡ª?"


    "Of course I am!" Su Xiaobai sneered, wobbling to his feet. "They won''t stop me from becoming strong!"


    Without waiting for a reply, he staggered back to Feng Lianhua, eyes gleaming with twisted excitement. "This time... no one''s stopping me!" He reached for her thighs once again, his fingers trembling with anticipation¡ª


    KABOOM!


    Another bolt of thunder blasted him, sending him into a spasming heap on the ground.


    "Ahhhh¡ª" Su Xiaobai''s voice vibrated as he screeched, "F-f-f-u-u-u-c-c-k....!"


    ____


    Fifth Try!


    Five minutes later...


    "Argh, again?!" Su Xiaobai muttered, still smoking as he sat up. He groaned, brushing off the soot, eyes filled with crazed determination.


    "Master... please don''t." Xiao Lu stared at him, disbelief painted across her face.


    But Su Xiaobai was already up. "They can strike me as much as they want, but this time I''ll succeed!"


    Without hesitation, he knelt beside Feng Lianhua once more, hands twitching eagerly as he reached for the cloth¡ª


    KABOOM!


    "AHHHHH¡ª" Su Xiaobai''s entire body convulsed as he screamed, "F-F-FUCK YOUUUUU H-HIGHER-UPSSSS!"


    And just like that, his body fell into another twitching heap for the fifth time, electrocuted once again.


    ____


    BAM! Bam! BAM! Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Master?... You''re not going to try again?"


    After eight tries, Su Xiaobai sat under the shade of a tree, his back facing Xiao Lu, looking rather dejected. The silverwolf cub darted around him playfully, not even trying to return to its parent.


    Xiao Lu, standing nearby, was truly worried. ''Has he finally given up after such a huge setback?'' she thought. But before she could dwell on it, she heard a strange noise.


    BAM! BAM! BAM!


    Curious, Xiao Lu peeked around the tree. There, her eyes widened in shock. Su Xiaobai, hunched over a bowl, was furiously banging an iron rod into it.


    "Master?" she whispered in disbelief. ''What is he doing now?''


    Su Xiaobai sighed heavily, wiping the sweat from his forehead. "It''s done¡­"


    Xiao Lu blinked, confused. "Done?" She watched him stand up, looking like a beggar with his torn robes and singed hair. He marched back toward Feng Lianhua''s body with newfound purpose.


    Her heart skipped a beat. ''He''s going back?! After all that thunder?!''


    "Master, please! I''ll find you a better woman! More beautiful, more powerful!" Xiao Lu sighed in exasperation, watching him crouch next to Feng Lianhua again.


    But as she rushed over to stop him, she noticed something different. This time, Su Xiaobai''s eyes weren''t filled with perverted intent. They were calm, focused, and¡ªdare she say¡ªwise?


    "Huh?"


    Instead of reaching for her body like before, Su Xiaobai carefully applied the herbal paste he had ground, spreading it over the wound on Feng Lianhua''s abdomen with precision. His hands were steady, and he even covered her exposed skin with a spare cloth.


    Xiao Lu stared, mouth agape. "What¡­ is this?"


    Su Xiaobai let out a deep breath, his tone surprisingly composed. "Just healing her... I''ve come to a realization, Xiao Lu. We shouldn''t take advantage of someone else''s misfortune. She''s just a beautiful woman in need of help. What if some scoundrel with ill intentions spots her and tries to take advantage of her vulnerability?"


    Xiao Lu blinked, utterly baffled. ''Is this the same man who, minutes ago, was trying to steal her virgin essence at all costs?''


    "Master¡­ are you feeling alright?" she asked, her eyes narrowing in suspicion.


    Su Xiaobai nodded grimly, standing up with a newfound seriousness. "Yes, Xiao Lu, I''ve seen the light. This woman is innocent. It was that Young Master Li who tried to kill us, all of his own selfish design. This woman is definitely a good person¡­ We can''t judge people by their faces!"


    Xiao Lu stared, her jaw practically dropping. "Master¡­ You were literally¡ª"


    He cut her off, wagging his finger at her. "Tsk, tsk, Xiao Lu! It''s important to know right from wrong. We must not let our desires cloud our judgment!" His voice carried a righteous tone that felt incredibly out of place.


    Xiao Lu stood there, speechless, wondering if the repeated lightning strikes had fried his brain beyond repair.


    "Wasn''t she our enemy?" Xiao Lu asked, her tone filled with doubt. Could Su Xiaobai really be serious about this?


    Su Xiaobai nodded sagely. "Fate has guided us here to help her..."


    "But..." Xiao Lu trailed off, unsure whether to believe his sudden shift in character.


    Su Xiaobai snorted and pointed to his singed hair, still sticking up like a bird''s nest. "If she was really our enemy, do you think I''d look like this? Would the heavens be punishing me? Do you still think she''s a bad person?"


    Xiao Lu blinked, speechless. It made sense... and didn''t make sense at the same time.


    Since when does getting struck by lightning prove someone''s innocence?!


    Su Xiaobai shook his head, letting out a bitter chuckle.


    ''You bastards used me again...''

 Chapter 25 - 25: Phoenix Hall!

    ''You bastards used me again...''


    It all made sense now.


    The higher-ups hadn''t guided him here for some glorious power-up or opportunity to steal her essence.


    No, they''d manipulated him into healing her.


    Those bastards have used me¡­ again!


    But what could he do? He couldn''t lay a finger on her without getting zapped by the heavens.


    The thunder was growing stronger with each strike, and even his divine Sky Serpent bloodline wouldn''t protect him for long.


    His thunder veins, though powerful, were reaching their limit.


    One more hit, and he''d be fried for good.


    He couldn''t afford to push his luck anymore.


    Su Xiaobai sighed internally.


    Maybe it was time to change his strategy against the higher-ups... Play their game, pretend to follow along, and then strike when the opportunity was right!


    Mind made up, he turned his attention to his real reward¡ªthe treasure map.


    He opened it, scanning the ancient text. "Thousand Beast Forest, huh¡­"


    It didn''t sound like the opportunity for evolution they had mentioned, but this forest was over a thousand kilometers away. A month''s journey, at least.


    Glancing at the unconscious Fairy Lianhua, the heroic beauty he met by chance, Su Xiaobai couldn''t help but smirk. *


    Maybe healing her was part of the reward...


    A plan hatched in his mind. If the higher-ups wanted to play games, he''d gather all the rewards he could¡ªthen one day, shove this very treasure map up their collective asses!


    "Humph! Let''s go." Su Xiaobai grabbed Xiao Lu''s hand and pulled her along.


    But just as they were about to leave, he stopped.


    His eyes gleamed with wickedness.


    "Wait a second..."


    Gasp!


    "Huh?!" Xiao Lu covered her mouth in shock as Su Xiaobai leaned down and planted a kiss on Fairy Lianhua''s soft lips, not just once, but ''several'' times.


    Her tender, sweet mouth was shamelessly soiled by him.


    "Sweet," Su Xiaobai muttered, chuckling to himself. He glanced up at the sky and, with a sly grin, raised his middle finger. ''What? You want a taste too? Hah! Too bad...


    Fuck you!''


    If they wouldn''t let him take her virginity, at least he could still taste some tofu.


    "Master!" Xiao Lu finally voiced her protest, eyes wide with disbelief.


    Whoosh!


    Before she could say more, Su Xiaobai grabbed her and left the scene in a hurry, a smug grin on his face.


    ____


    On the horizon of the Silverwolf territory, several flying beasts tore through the sky, each mounted by powerful experts.


    Before blacking out, Feng Lianhua had crushed a ''jade amulet,'' an artifact that allowed members of the clan to send a distress signal, and the troops from the Vermillion Phoenix Dynasty and Phoenix Hall were already on their way.


    _____


    Thirty Minutes Later...


    On the ground where Su Xiaobai had left Feng Lianhua...


    "Ugh..." Feng Lianhua''s long lashes fluttered as she slowly regained consciousness. Her head throbbed, but her sharp instincts kicked in immediately.


    "Who?!" she barked, her hand shooting out, grabbing a wrist¡ªsomeone was too close.


    "Miss Feng, it''s me!" came a familiar, panicked voice.


    Her fierce gaze locked onto her maid, Xiao''er, who stood by her side, worry etched across her face. Feng Lianhua immediately released her grip, letting go of the wrist.


    "Xiao''er¡­ what happened?" she asked, pressing her hand to her forehead. Her robes, torn and disheveled, revealed glimpses of her pale skin, her beauty effortless even as she sat up.


    "We arrived ten minutes ago," Xiao''er explained, hesitating. "You were unconscious, but someone had treated your wounds..."


    Feng Lianhua''s eyes narrowed. She glanced down, noticing the damage to her clothes and, more importantly, the missing treasure map.


    That... pervert!


    She recalled the shadowy figure in her fading memory, before blacking out. Her cheeks flushed with a mix of anger and disbelief.


    "He touched me," she muttered, darkly. Her hand instinctively moved to her chest, where his hands had been.


    Thankfully, her ''Maiden Lotus Talisman'', an ancient artifact passed down in her clan, had safeguarded her chastity, forming an invisible barrier to protect her purity. She wasn''t concerned about that¡ªbut had no idea the talisman had given Su Xiaobai a literal nightmare.


    "Should we pursue him, Miss? We can call for reinforcements," Xiao''er asked, seeing the flicker of anger in Feng Lianhua''s eyes.


    Feng Lianhua took a breath, regaining her composure. ''No real harm was done,'' she thought. The stranger had healed her wounds, after all.


    "No need," she said coolly. "But... find out where he''s headed." A dangerous glint flickered in her eyes.


    He healed her, but he stole her treasure map! Without the map, she couldn''t recall the exact location¡ªit was somewhere in the Thousand Beast Forest of Yue Country. She had spent years searching for that map, and now it had been stolen from her?


    ''He won''t get away with this,'' she thought with determination. There was an eerie similarity between the silhouette she remembered before blacking out and the perverted man who had ogled her back at Red Flame Fortress.


    As Xiao''er handed her a fresh set of clothes, Feng Lianhua stood, her flawless figure barely concealed by the tattered robes. A quick shimmer of light surrounded her as she changed, leaving Xiao''er momentarily breathless at her mistress''s ethereal beauty.


    Even in the calm after battle, Feng Lianhua''s beauty could rival the greatest women of the dynasty¡ªgraceful and fierce, like a goddess walking among mortals.


    _______


    Fifteen minutes Later...


    After changing into fresh robes, Feng Lianhua''s attention shifted to an approaching figure. Her brows furrowed in distaste.


    It was none other than Patriarch Li, ruler of the Red Flame Fortress¡ªa frail, sickly-looking man. His cultivation had reached Nascent Soul, but his lifespan was nearing its end. What he lacked in physical strength, he made up for in sharp, calculating eyes and cunning. He ruled this remote region not through power, but by outmaneuvering those stronger than him.


    "Miss Feng, rest assured, we will hunt down the rat who caused this," Patriarch Li said, his voice low and respectful, head slightly bowed. He dared not meet her gaze¡ªhe knew their difference in status was vast.


    "We''ve already prepared portraits of him. He killed my son, Li Gong, and many elite guards. The city guards are on high alert, and we''ll track him down within a month! He uses demonic techniques, which makes him an even bigger threat."


    Patriach Li had already sent Xiao''er her portrait while Feng Lianhua was changing clothes, and sure enough, it was the same person.


    However, though his tone carried grief, beneath it simmered a quiet ambition. He saw this as an opportunity to leverage the backing of the Phoenix Hall, a supreme force within the Vermillion Phoenix Dynasty, to his advantage. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Li Gong''s death wasn''t just a family loss¡ªit was an insult to their pride.


    But Patriarch Li''s thoughts wandered. Li Gong... worthless in the end. His second son had only reached the Core formation realm through endless pills and resources, a disappointment in combat.


    It was his first son, however, who was the true cornerstone of the Li family''s future. He clenched his jaw, frustration building. His plan had been simple¡ªlet his talented first son grow stronger while his weaker brother managed the family. Together, they would raise the Li family to prominence.


    Now, that plan was shattered. His second son was dead, and Feng Lianhua¡ªthe woman they had hoped to align with¡ªseemed utterly unaffected.


    Feng Lianhua''s frown deepened. "When did I ever say ''he'' attacked me?" Her gaze turned icy, pinning the patriarch in place. "It was the Silver Wolf that attacked. If you want to kill something, go kill that."


    Before he could respond, she mounted her flying eagle beast.


    SWOOSH!


    Without a word, she soared into the sky, her guards from the Phoenix hall following closely behind.


    Patriarch Li stood there, fists clenched, watching her disappear into the horizon. ''This woman...'' She had shown no concern for his son''s death and dismissed any effort to build ties between their families.


    A cold bitterness spread through him. ''She will regret underestimating the Li family.''


    "Master, should we let this slide?" one of his chief guards asked, clearly unnerved by Feng Lianhua''s reaction.


    BAM!


    Patriarch Li''s hand lashed out, delivering a stinging slap to the guard''s face. "Didn''t you hear Miss Feng?!" he snarled. "Are you a fool? Suggesting we go against the Phoenix hall? In broad daylight, no less?"


    The guard dropped his head in submission, trembling under his master''s anger.


    Patriarch Li''s fury was real, but so was his survival instinct. Challenging the Phoenix hall directly would be suicide. Yet, he wasn''t the type to forget a slight. No, he would bide his time, wait for the right moment.


    At night, he would send word to his eldest son, currently training in one of Yue Country''s top sects¡ªthe Xiantian Sect.


    Li Gong''s death, he was certain, would ignite a fire in his elder brother.


    Even if he had forsaken mortal ties in favor of cultivation, blood still ran deep.


    Patriarch Li''s lips curled into a thin smile. ''Revenge could be a powerful motivator.''


    If used correctly, Li Gong''s death could be the stepping stone to elevating the Li family to power.


    "Patience," he muttered to himself, his eyes narrowing. "The Li family will rise. When it does, neither the Phoenix hall nor anyone in this insignificant country will be able to stand in our way."

 Chapter 26 - 26: Thousand Beast Forest! Nine Peaks!

    One month later¡­


    With the ancient map in hand, Su Xiaobai crossed into the feared Thousand Beast Region¡ªa place that supposedly devoured the careless.


    He felt no fear.


    For him, this so-called "death zone" was just scenery. Tales of savage beasts and endless pits? Overblown nonsense for the faint-hearted.


    On his way here, he''d heard unsettling rumors¡ªentire villages wiped out by some mysterious force. Yet, of all people, villagers had been eyeing ''him'' as if he were some roaming slaughterer.


    Him? Wasting time on pointless massacres?


    Brothers, he was already the higher-ups'' favorite punching bag; doing that would just be asking for another heavenly opportunity to beat him for no reason.


    Ofcourse ¡ª Suspicion led to¡­ "misunderstandings."


    And misunderstandings left a few poor souls behind him.


    As he ventured deeper, he noticed far more travelers than expected. "Someone leaked the news," he muttered, quickly deducing Fairy Lianhua''s scheme.


    That woman had likely spread rumors of treasure to flood the region with fools, hoping someone else would find it, leaving her to swoop in with Phoenix Hall''s resources.


    A tidy plan¡ªif you lack vision.


    Su Xiaobai had no time for scraps. Armed with the real map, he''d get there first.


    The "Thousand Beast Forest" wasn''t even a forest, just a range of nine colossal peaks clawing at the heavens. Legends claimed each peak held ''sword intent,'' powerful enough to shatter the limits of swordsmanship itself.


    Normally, only powerful cultivators ventured here, but today the peaks swarmed with treasure hunters, rogue martial artists, and even mortals, scrambling over rocks and thorns in search of a mythical treasure.


    "So many fools," Su Xiaobai muttered, pulling his hood low. "How''s a wise soul like me supposed to survive around them?"


    These clueless fools didn''t realize there were no "grand ruins" here¡ªjust a hidden cave, sealed behind a simple trick.


    He''d already cracked it: hold the map to a mirror and read the instructions backward.


    Satisfied with his head start, he maneuvered through the crowd, a sly smile tugging at his lips.


    Just as he cursed the map''s creator for such lazy "secrecy," he sneezed.


    "Achoo!"


    Rubbing his nose irritably, he grumbled, "Who dares curse me?" He brushed it off, his gaze sharpening as he eyed the mountains ahead.


    Little did Su Xiaobai know, the map''s creator had a trap waiting for those arrogant enough to think themselves clever.


    _____


    An hour later...


    "What the hell?!"


    BAM!


    "Still¡­ not¡­ opening?!"


    Crash! Thud! Thud!


    Su Xiaobai staggered back, panting, fists throbbing, sweat trickling down his face as he glared at the enemy before him: a massive, smug-looking boulder blocking the cave entrance.


    The hundred-meter slab hadn''t so much as chipped, sitting there like some lazy gatekeeper while he threw everything he had at it.


    "Is this thing enchanted, or just the most thick-headed rock in the realm?" he growled, hands on his knees as he tried to catch his breath.


    The shadows grew longer around him, night inching closer as the sky turned a dim purple. The calls of forest beasts echoed around him¡ªjust great. The real predators of the Thousand Beast Forest would soon be waking up, and here he was, defeated by a dumb rock.


    "Am I really going to have to sit here and cultivate to Core Formation¡­ just to move this thing?" he muttered, voice filled with frustration, barely able to stand.


    In the past month, Su Xiaobai had broken through twice, reaching the ''late'' stage of Qi Condensation. His "elemental seed" had evolved into an elemental tree, forming a stable nexus.


    In his dantian, the once-small seed of spiritual energy had grown into a tree. Back in the initial stage of Qi Condensation, he''d formed this seed using refined "true Qi," allowing him to channel elemental attacks¡ªthough only one at a time.


    At the intermediate stage, it sprouted branches, letting him wield multiple elements at once, but with a drawback: the elements clashed, damaging the branches and nearly crippling him.


    Now, after further breakthroughs, the seed had fully transformed. The tree''s branches were interconnected in a nexus, creating isolated spaces for each element to remain stable. Though it could still overload, it was far more resilient.


    The earlier thunderstrike''s energy had unconsciously fueled his progress. However, to reach true peak, he''d need to evolve this nexus into a "constellation"¡ªa perfect harmony of isolated elemental zones. But even that would likely not be enough to move this stubborn rock. He would need to form his core, two full realms above where he stood now.


    "Sigh¡­" Su Xiaobai couldn''t help but feel deflated. Wouldn''t that take ages?


    He''d broken through twice to keep up with Xiao Lu, worked tirelessly, and felt a sense of progress¡ªonly for this rock to remind him exactly where he stood.


    A few hours later¡­in the midnight!


    Poke. Poke.


    Su Xiaobai sat slouched on a fallen log by a crackling campfire, jabbing listlessly at a rabbit roasting on a stick.


    He''d found the overly cheerful creature hopping around and decided to "adjust its attitude."


    For a moment, he even understood the thrill those higher-ups felt, controlling others'' fates on a whim.


    Now, he sighed, glaring at the rabbit. "Why are you taking so damn long to cook?" he muttered, sounding like he''d aged decades in an instant.


    Just then¡ª


    Whoosh!


    A streak of light burst from his ring, and Xiao Lu appeared, her face flushed with excitement. "Master! I made a breakthrough~!"


    Her words echoed with excitment as she took in the scene¡ªa dark, isolated grove under a steep cliff, with her master sitting by a fire like some campfire ghost.


    "Breakthrough¡­ oh, nice¡­" Su Xiaobai replied, utterly unconcerned, giving the rabbit another defeated poke.


    Puchi!


    Xiao Lu''s eyes fell on the skinned rabbit, poked full of holes, roasting unevenly over the fire. She frowned. "Master¡­ what happened? Why do you look so... Sad?"


    Su Xiaobai let out a sigh, standing up. "I got tired of waiting for you to show up! Took you long enough... Now, let me see your true Qi."


    "Oh," Xiao Lu mumbled, embarrassed. She hadn''t realized her breakthrough into the Qi Refinement realm would take an entire day. But finally, she''d done it.


    Whoosh!


    In her hand, a small sphere of liquid true Qi ignited¡ªa flickering ball of energy, radiating heat like a miniature sun.


    "Good. Now, go and break that boulder over there," Su Xiaobai commanded, pointing to the massive rock blocking the cave entrance. "Behind it lies a treasure that could change our lives! Consider this your test!"


    "Oh¡­ okay." Nervous but determined, Xiao Lu faced the boulder. Her heart pounded. This would be her first real display of strength.


    BAM!


    She struck the boulder with all her might, her Qi flaring. Su Xiaobai watched, a wry smile creeping onto his face, fully aware of what was coming.


    Almost a hour later¡­


    "Master! You''re a sadist!" Xiao Lu huffed, hands throbbing and eyes misting with frustration. She glared at Su Xiaobai, who only grinned back with a smug pat on her head.


    "That''s your lesson. Etch it into memory," he replied with a smirk.


    "You could''ve just told me the boulder was unbreakable, you know," she muttered, crossing her arms, shooting him a pointed look. "There are other ways to work out frustration..." she mumbled just loud enough for him to catch.


    Su Xiaobai paused, interested.


    ''Other ways?'' He looked her over, noting her aura had shifted¡ª Gone was the mortal haze; she now exuded the brilliance of a fresh breakthrough, her spirit and appearance both transformed.


    Her face¡ªinnocent as a maiden''s in her early twenties¡ªcombined with that mature feminine''s blooming figure created a charm that was hard to ignore.


    With that slender waist, delicate features, and skin that glowed as if kissed by sun, she was breathtaking. Was she¡­ hinting at something?


    Heat surged, and his heartbeat quickened involuntarily.


    Catching sight of his bruised hands, Xiao Lu raised an eyebrow. "Master... you weren''t punching that rock all day, were you?"


    Su Xiaobai, "¡­"


    He was.


    "It''s the higher-ups, I tell you. Doesn''t matter what I use, they''ve got it bound to fail." He groaned ¡ª How else do you explain it? He hadn''t survived this long without becoming the heavens'' personal punching bag.


    Xiao Lu just smiled, half amused, half sympathetic


    She''d misunderstood that "higher-ups" was Su Xiaobai''s way of cursing the heavens themselves, though she''d never quite understood his ongoing grudge.


    How he was even ''alive'' after all this time cursing the heavens was a mystery. The two seemed to have some twisted divine feud.


    Sighing, Xiao Lu approached, hips swaying in a way he was sure was entirely unnecessary. His gaze on her chest; the robes framing two tempting mounds seemed to taunt him. She was like a walking Burning Lotus¡ªflaring his desires, testing his resolve at every turn. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    With a resigned sigh, he muttered under his breath, "If the heavens don''t finish me off, you will."


    "Hm?" Xiao Lu knelt before him, carefully applying medicinal paste to his battered knuckles. Her touch was soft, soothingly cool, but her neckline dipped just enough to reveal a tempting peek of soft curves¡ªher "two little rabbits" sneaking a playful wink his way. She made no move to cover it, a faint blush gracing her cheeks as her lips lingered close.


    Su Xiaobai''s patience wore thin. Trying to keep his mind clear, he groaned, "Can you just¡­ turn it off?"

 Chapter 27 - 27: **Frustrated Master Needs Consolation!** [R18]

    "Can you just... turn it off?"


    Xiao Lu glanced up with innocent eyes. "Turn what off, Master?"


    "This¡­ charm technique of yours! Quit using it on me."


    She blinked, surprised. "Master¡­ I''m not using any technique on you. I wouldn''t dare."


    Su Xiaobai squinted, doubtful. "No charm, hmm?" His gaze roamed over her flushed cheeks, parted lips, and the fierce spark in her eyes¡ªa heat that made him feel like he was standing far too close to a scorching yet frganant flame.


    "Well then¡­ show me how you would use it," he challenged.


    Xiao Lu''s eyes sparkled with a conflicted glint. "Are you sure, Master?"


    "Yes!" Su Xiaobai snapped, jaw tight, all while cursing to himself, ''This woman¡­ does she ever turn off that damned Burning Lotus Charm?'' For the past month, it felt like she''d kept it in full bloom, turning every glance and gesture into something seductive.


    He''d kept his distance to stay focused on cultivation¡ªand to avoid the raging wildfire she stirred up inside him.


    But now, here she was again, daring him with those wide, inviting eyes¡­ and those two soft mounds barely held by her robes, calling out to him with silent, treacherous whispers. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Suddenly, Xiao Lu''s gaze turned smoldering, a fierce glow flaring in her eyes.


    Swoosh!


    His blood ran like molten fire through his veins, burning hotter with every breath, an uncontainable surge just beneath his skin.


    "Ah¡ª!" Xiao Lu gasped as Su Xiaobai seized her by the waist, pulling her flush against him, his grip filled with both warning and need.


    Hiss!


    "Enough," he hissed through gritted teeth, his own gaze clouded with want and confusion.


    The glow in her eyes flickered out, but he held her tight, unable to understand why her charm was overpowering him.


    He was leagues above her in cultivation; her technique should barely register¡ªand yet here he was, trapped by the fire she''d unknowingly kindled.


    Held close, her face inches from his, Xiao Lu''s gaze mirrored his own rising heat.


    "That''s it¡­" His eyes widened with realization.


    The problem was his own constitution!


    "??" Xiao Lu blinked, clearly bewildered by his sudden intensity. She hadn''t expected him to react like this. ''What''s happening to him?''


    But before she could question further¡ª


    "!!"


    "¡­ not again¡­!" Abruptly, Su Xiaobai gasped, clutching his head as a new wave of agony lanced through him.


    "ARGH!"


    His three bloodlines¡ªeach one a monstrous power in itself¡ªsurged and clashed within his consciousness like raging storms.


    Xiao Lu''s face tightened with surprise before melting into concern. "This is the fourth time¡­" she whispered.


    Ever since they''d begun traveling together, he''d been seized by these violent outbursts, each one more intense than the last.


    It was his bloodlines¡ªsomething he rarely spoke of, a power that seemed to be tearing him apart from the inside.


    Right now, his eyes burned a vivid, dangerous red, like molten iron.


    Su Xiaobai''s grip tightened around his head, knuckles whitening as his bloodlines surged like rivers in a storm, each nerve, every inch of his body ablaze with seething energy.


    He dropped to his knees, teeth clenched, fighting to contain the furious power within him.


    "Damn it¡­" he rasped, barely a whisper. His skin glowed faintly, red veins pulsing visibly beneath as though his body itself was on the edge of eruption.


    Xiao Lu knelt beside him, eyes wide with panic and helplessness. "Master¡­ this is getting worse. Tell me what you need¡­ anything that could help?"


    But he didn''t respond, his face twisted in agony, barely holding on through the pain. She felt a flash of fear¡ªwhatever he was going through was beyond her ability to heal.


    In desperation, she leaned closer, her own eyes turning golden like a blazing sun as she whispered, "Master, can you hear me~?"


    She drew near, voice soft with worry, but unconsciously laced with a tone that carried her charm technique, hoping somehow it would reach him through the storm.


    The fragnant spell around her intensified, combined with her voice entering directly inside defenseless Su Xiaobai''s conciousness.


    "Mmmghhh¡ª!"


    Xiao Lu''s eyes flew wide open as Su Xiaobai''s hands, searing with an intense heat, pulled her close. His lips claimed hers in a deep kiss.


    This¡­ this is different.


    Unlike their encounters back at the inn, his grip was unrestrained, his touch igniting her like a sun. Their tongues intertwined, sending waves of heat through her entire being as if her very essence was being drawn out.


    Slurp ... Slurp...


    She was stunned to realize that Su Xiaobai wasn''t drawn to her charm technique¡ªbut to the energy within her.


    Her burning lotus charm used sun energy that resonated with his Stellar Essence, harmonizing in perfect rhythm, a cosmic balance of yin and yang.


    The energy tasted sweet, soothing, and potent, feeding his own cultivation even as he claimed it.


    As he drew in the warmth of her essence, his hands moved instinctively, sliding down to grip and knead her firm, shapely buttocks.


    "Master¡­~!" Xiao Lu''s soft moan escaped as a shiver of pleasure ran through her, their bodies resonating like two stars caught in each other''s orbit, burning hotter with every moment.


    RIIIIIP!


    Without thinking, Su Xiaobai''s hands tore her robe away, revealing the soft, inviting mounds of her chest. Her breath froze for a second as her bared skin met the cool night air, her flushed face betraying both excitement and shock.


    Boing! Boing!


    With a hungry gaze, Su Xiaobai''s hands moved to cup her generous curves.


    His fingers sank into her softness, squeezing and kneading while his tongue trailed over the delicate, rose-tinted peaks. He coiled his tongue around her sensitive skin, sending electric shocks rippling through her.


    "Ah¡­Master~! That''s¡ª!" Xiao Lu gasped, her voice trembling as he pinched and nibbled over the tender flesh, his lips capturing each peak as his hands explored her body.


    "Mmmmgh ~~!"


    Xiao Lu''s back arched as Su Xiaobai''s powerful length, veined and pulsing with a fierce, celestial light, broke free from his robes, radiating an almost blinding stellar energy.


    Plop!


    His manhood, enveloped in the intense glow of his qi, tore through the last of her garments, aiming directly at her core.


    His stellar energy shimmered with each movement, casting faint glimmers of starlight along her flushed skin, as if marking her as his own.


    "Ahhhh¡­! Master¡­ it''s so¡­ hot¡­!" Xiao Lu gasped, her voice quivering as his powerful stellar energy surged through her, flooding her senses and igniting her very core.


    The overwhelming heat made her mind spin, as if every cell in her body was being set aflame, caught in the radiant blaze of his essence.


    Her own sun energy flared in response, turning her skin a fiery red, as if her very blood had turned to molten fire beneath the surface.


    Thrust!


    Pakh!


    Thrust!


    Pakh!


    With each powerful movement, his stellar energy merged with her Sunfire Qi, sparking a chain reaction of heat and light that radiated from their bodies.


    Inside her, she felt the heat intensified¡ªevery inch of her felt like it was burning, each wave of heat filling her core and radiating outward.


    Her body responded instinctively, amplifying her sunfire until she felt like she was burning from the inside out.


    "Ahhh¡­ Ahhhh¡­ M-Master¡­ slow down¡­!" she moaned, her voice breaking into a breathless cry as her body glowed with the combined energies, their auras rising together and blending in a raging storm.


    Pak! Pak! Pak!


    His rhythm grew, and with every thrust, his stellar energy pulsed deeper, igniting her fiery essence further.


    Their energies, like twin stars colliding, burst in waves beneath the endless sky.


    Thrust!


    Pakh!


    In one swift move, he lifted her, her legs wrapped around his waist, hands clinging to his shoulders as their energies surged.


    Every movement felt electric, like bolts of fire and starlight meeting within her core.


    "Mmmph¡­ Master¡­!" she moaned, their rhythm fierce as her breaths came quicker, her back pressed against the rough bark of a nearby tree.


    "Nn-nghhhh~~!"


    Suddenly, a wave of heat pulsed from her core, overwhelming her. Her body shivered, and she felt her entire being respond, her energy vibrating in harmony with his.


    "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhnnn ~!" Xiao Lu''s cry filled the night as her legs trembled uncontrollably. Her body was limp, her strength drained as he pulled out, his own energy radiating off of him, his manhood throbbing fiercely, veins popping out.


    Plop!


    A warm stream of their mingled essence traced down her thighs, shimmering faintly with the energy they had unleashed together.


    Her forbidden region pulsed, the delicate petals of her flower throbbing with each heartbeat, as if releasing a precious essence, a radiant bloom in fiery sun.


    Her skin, still flushed and glowing, radiated the fiery hue of her Sunfire Qi, while his own stellar light illuminated them both.


    Yet, even as she caught her breath, a fierce gleam lingered in his eyes.


    The night was far from over.


    ___


    Swish!


    He turned, lowering her to the ground, her body aglow beneath him as his stellar energy mingled with her remaining heat, casting shimmering patterns across her flushed skin.


    His hands traced her waist, guiding her, the pounding making her body quiver.


    Pakh! Pakh! Pakh!


    "A-ah¡­ it''s¡­ so deep¡­!" Xiao Lu''s voice spilled out in gasps, her head tilting back as he claimed her, the air filled with the frganant scent of their bodies and sweat.


    ____


    RIIIIIP!


    With a final shift, Su Xiaobai pulled her close, her legs entwined around him as he pressed her against a nearby boulder, both of them aglow, bodies alight with merging energies.


    His stellar essence flared brighter, feeding the fiery Sun Qi that burned through her.


    Their saliva mingled, fiery and intense, as they reached the peak together for the third time, their bodies entwined beneath the endless sky.

 Chapter 28 - 28: Taming the dragon! Visitors?

    "Mmm... Master... Xiao Lu will help you..."


    "Use me¡­ mngh..."


    "Ahhhnnn¡­ it''s so warm¡­"


    "..."


    Su Xiaobai gazed in speechless disbelief at Xiao Lu, her form curled delicately in the dawn light, her skin faintly aglow. Even in sleep, she murmured soft, drowsy promises, a sigh escaping her parted lips as if reliving the night''s events.


    "Mmm... Master¡­ I''ll make you feel so... so strong..." she breathed, her voice dreamy, cheeks tinged with a faint blush. "Just use me¡­ all of me..."


    "Even if it¡­ ah¡­ leaves me completely empty¡­ I''ll¡­ I''ll¡­" she murmured, clutching the air tightly, as though hugging herself. "Drain me¡­ till I''m nothing but¡­ your loya¡ª"


    Su Xiaobai''s lips curled into a wry smile, his gaze both calm and introspective. He understood well what had happened.


    Her ''Sunfire Qi,'' a celestial energy rooted in her ''Burning Lotus Charm,'' had intertwined with his own Stellar Essence, resonating harmoniously with his Starslayer God Arts.


    Her energy calmed the roiling forces within him, softening the tempestuous edges of his power. Yet Xiao Lu, oblivious to the cost, had sacrificed weeks'' worth of cultivated energy for his sake.


    Even in sleep, she whispered her dedication, blissfully unaware of the toll.


    "This silly woman¡­" he murmured, a pang of bittersweet admiration tightening his chest.


    In a world dominated by power and ruthless ambition, people like Xiao Lu offered stability¡ªa grounding force that kept him afloat.


    He knew she hadn''t always been this devoted; Xiao Lu was cunning, calculating, and far from naive; he''d seen it in the way she treated Fairy Lianhua without a shred of hesitation once she knew Lianhua was his enemy.


    And yet, she became uncharacteristically soft and simple in his presence, her usual shrewdness fading into a quiet, almost foolish loyalty.


    But was her devotion genuine, or merely another role thrust upon her by those in power?


    Now wasn''t the time for such questions. If he sought true freedom, he''d have to entertain the higher-ups, keep himself alive, and his strength growing.


    Merely playing along would always make him their pawn.


    No. He needed power¡ªan immense, unshakable force to shatter his chains and overturn the heavens themselves.


    His gaze sharpened, the determination in his eyes akin to a blade drawn under moonligh.


    One day ¡ª when the time was ripe, he would devour them all.


    But first, he had to protect Xiao Lu. If he lost control of his volatile bloodlines, he could drain her entirely, leaving her an empty shell.


    Sighing, his gaze drifted. "I have to find a way to control these bloodlines¡­" he muttered. The power within him had been stable until that rebellious Azure Dragon had stirred, transforming his sea of consciousness into a battlefield.


    For now, at least, all three bloodlines lay dormant.


    "Haaa..." Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xiao Lu had given too much. With a thought, Su Xiaobai sent her back into his ring world to meditate and recover.


    His path to defying the higher powers was still unclear, but as he looked up at the moon, a faint smile crept across his face.


    Aside from saving his family, he now had another purpose¡ªto seize control of his fate, to wrest the chains from those who held them, and, if need be, to obliterate every last one of the higher-ups.


    Such thoughts could not be spoken aloud, though; in a world governed by powers unseen, even whispered ambitions could draw their gaze.


    He had to complete both, yet strangely, he felt no fear. It was as if his path had become clearer, no longer clouded by the blinding haze of revenge.


    For the first time, purpose illuminated his steps, guiding him forward with a resolve as steady as a mountain beneath the heavens.


    "You bastards can''t hear my thoughts, right?" he suddenly remembered, casting a suspicious glance at the sky.


    For a heartbeat, he waited, as though daring the heavens to respond. But soon, he shook his head, chuckling softly.


    ''If they could hear my thoughts, then I''d just fill my mind with nonsense¡ªor stop thinking entirely,'' he resolved with a sly grin.


    And with that, Su Xiaobai quieted his mind, willing his thoughts into silence. He let himself drift, slipping into the serene void of sleep, his consciousness fading like mist under the morning sun.


    ____


    Within a shadowed realm, veiled in an endless mist that stretched beyond sight and time, Su Xiaobai found himself stuck.


    "Hm?"


    "Is this... my spirit sea (sea of conciousness)? How did I get here?"


    Su Xiaobai was stunned. Moments ago, he was sleeping peacefully, yet now he stood in this strange, dark expanse. Was he truly within his own consciousness?


    Around him, the darkness seemed alive, twisting with a inky fog. But through the haze, he noticed three colossal presences slumbering in the depths.


    In one direction lay his demonic bloodline, a dark and unknown power coiled in quiet dormancy.


    To his left, he recognized the divine Sky Serpent bloodline: a massive white-scaled serpent with eyes crackling with electricity, resting atop a storm so vast it seemed to span an entire continent.


    The third, the Azure Dragon, ahead, a blue-scaled behemoth whose immense body stretched like an endless ocean. Each beast lay exhausted, their mighty forms still after what must have been a fierce struggle.


    "Could I... tame them?"


    The thought hit Su Xiaobai like a thunderbolt. Here, in his sea of consciousness, he was the sovereign.


    If he could seize control over these bloodlines while they lay dormant, he could potentially harness their power.


    In this realm, his will should be boundless.


    He grinned, eyes gleaming with ambition.


    "There was no harm in trying."


    WHOOSH!


    In an instant, the darkness around him was swallowed by a blinding blaze as infernal flames erupted from Su Xiaobai''s body, surging forth like endless tidal waves, illuminating every corner of his consciousness.


    HISSSSS!


    Suddenly, a fierce roar¡ªshook his whole conciousness¡ªfollowed by the fiery glow. The Divine Sky Serpent had awoken. With a rumble, it unleashed a howling as a whirlwind spiraled into a massive tornado, tearing toward Su Xiaobai''s flames.


    WHIRRR!


    SHHHH-CRACK!


    The winds shrieked, clashing against the inferno, yet the flames only devoured them, growing fiercer with each gust.


    GRRRRR!


    To his right, a low, dark rumble¡ªechoed as his demonic bloodline stirred.


    SWWWISH!


    A shadowed hand as massive as a mountain lunged, releasing a pulse of devouring darkness with a sinister energy.


    But the flames hungrily consumed it, blazing even higher as they fed on the dark energy.


    SNORT!


    Then¡ªa sharp, disdainful sound shattered the space.


    The Azure Dragon, its blue-scaled body shimmering like an endless sea under moonlight, rose from its place.


    BOOM!


    With a thunderous speed, it lunged forward, eyes ablaze with fury. Su Xiaobai''s flames flickered, and a chill ran down his spine.


    He had miscalculated!


    ''The Azure Dragon¡­ It doesn''t truly belong here. It''s not bound to my spirit sea, so my control over it is limited.''


    A cold realization settled in: if he did nothing, this ancient beast would consume him entirely, obliterating his will.


    "Not today," he murmured, his voice steeled with resolve, as he braced himself, summoning every ounce of his inner power.


    BZZZZT!


    The Azure Dragon surged forward, jaws gaping wide. Su Xiaobai clenched his fists, summoning the pressure of a thousand stars to weigh it down.


    But the dragon didn''t even flinch.


    "What...?" His blood ran cold as he realized how badly he''d underestimated it. He took a deep breath, ready to try something desperate¡ª


    CRACK!


    The Azure Dragon froze mid-lunge, motionless as if time itself had stopped.


    "It¡­ worked?" Su Xiaobai whispered, relief and disbelief flooding him. "Just that much weight?"


    But something was wrong.


    The dragon''s eyes were still, empty, as if it was frozen completely.


    "??"


    Curious, Su Xiaobai slowly turned, only to find himself face-to-face with something unfathomable.


    "What¡­ in the¡­!"


    Before him hovered a single, majestic eye, stretching as far as the universe itself¡ªno other comparison did it justice. It possessed an intense, vertical slit that seemed to pierce straight into Su Xiaobai''s soul, filling him with an instinctual, bone-deep fear.


    The eye was a dark violet, and what he could see of the creature''s scales shimmered in shades that defied mortal comprehension.


    The Azure Dragon was reduced to an insect in its presence.


    The sheer weight of its gaze made Su Xiaobai''s breath catch. His spirit sea felt untouched by this being, which could only mean one thing:


    It''s not here¡­ It doesn''t belong to this realm at all¡­


    A shiver raced down his spine as the realization took hold.


    This being was observing him from the void¡ªbeyond the fabric of his reality.


    "Ahh!" Abruptly ¡ª an throbbing pain exploded in his head as the being''s gaze pierced deeper, seizing his thoughts. "G-Get¡­ out¡­!"


    He dropped to his knees, clutching his head. "Stop¡­!" The words came out in a pained gasp, as the presence only pressed harder, his vision flickering with agony.


    "Aaaagh!"


    _____


    The next day¡ªThousand Beast Forest. Sunlight poured over the mountains, a golden veil upon ancient trees.


    "Hah! Look at this fool, sleeping here!" a voice sneered, its owner''s boot resting mockingly close to Su Xiaobai''s still form.


    Outside a hidden cave, Su Xiaobai lay upon the cold, jagged earth, unmoving, unfeeling, as though in a world beyond pain.


    Yet the forest was watching.


    And now, it had brought unwelcome visitors.

 Chapter 29 - 29: Intercepted by Xiantian Sect!

    "This idiot¡ªpassed out in the dirt like a mangy dog!"


    Su Xiaobai''s eye twitched. Just when he''d finally calmed his storming spirit sea, the quiet shattered under the voices of these rowdy brats. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''Six of them,'' he noted, sensing their presences with the ease of a hawk eyeing chicks from above. ''Not much of a threat¡­ but I''m in no rush to hop up, either.''


    He''d already sent Xiao Lu safely to his ring world. With her tucked away, he could relax, even if the aura around these newcomers suggested a few cultivation stages above him.


    The intruders were a mixed group of five men and a woman, divided by color: three in plain gray robes and three in dark blue, each of them had this distinct mark on their chest, just above the heart¡ªa dragon coiling around an orb.


    Sect disciples, then. Treasure-chasing troublemakers by the look of them.


    "Elder Bai, come over here!" one of the blue-robed disciples sneered, elbowing his friend. "Some fool''s lying here like he just lost a bet with fate."


    Su Xiaobai gritted his teeth, fighting the urge to spring up and scatter them like dry leaves. ''Patience,'' he reminded himself. ''Let them dig their own graves first.''


    One of the disciples¡ªWang Fei¡ªa tall, smug one with a boot begging to be stomped on¡ªstepped forward and prodded Su Xiaobai in the ribs. "Get up, coward!"


    Su Xiaobai remained still, playing the role of ''unconscious fool'', though inwardly, he was considering which one to smack first when he did get up.


    Then, a new voice echoed through the air. It was soft and sweet, like silk brushing against skin, but sharp enough to cut deep.


    "Cheng Yong. Wang Fei. Fifteen lashes each."


    "!!"


    The two disciples froze, their faces draining of color.


    SWOOSH!


    A delicate feminine figure descended from above, landing with a grace movement. She spun a jade-handled parasol in her hand, the delicate accessory twirling lazily, mocking the very idea of a weapon.


    Her green robes, decorated in silver that glinted like hidden blades, hugged her body elegantly. Crimson eyes as cold as starlight fixed on the group with a glare that would make even hardened cultivators flinch.


    Bai Yujian, elder of the Xiantian Sect, didn''t raise her voice or break her posture... She didn''t need to.


    "Have you forgotten the ways of the Xiantian Sect?" she asked, her tone as soft as it was deadly. "Mocking strangers to feel powerful? Flaunting your ranks to humiliate others? Tell me¡ªdoes that make you stronger?"


    "..."


    "..."


    Cheng Yong and Wang Fei''s sneers vanished, replaced by uncomfortable silence.


    "Elder Bai, we didn''t mean¡ª" Cheng Yong stammered, barely managing to get the words out.


    "Didn''t mean what?" Her gaze tore through his weak protest like a sharpened blade. "Didn''t mean to make fools of yourselves?"


    Pftt..


    Su Xiaobai, lying in the dirt, felt his muscles tense involuntarily.


    Her presence wasn''t just strong¡ªit was unfathomable. ''Who is this elder?'' he wondered, both amused and tense at the same time.


    If he couldn''t sense her cultivation level, that could only mean one thing: she''d surpassed the mortal stages, likely reaching Deity Transformation.


    Su Xiaobai''s mind went back through what he knew of cultivation, a ladder stretching endlessly into the heavens.


    Most people started at the first steps: Qi Awakening, where they gathered spiritual energy; then Qi Refinement, refining it; and Consolidation, where they locked it within a seed. From there, a true cultivator would step into ''Foundation Establishment''¡ªa stage that was all about hardening the body and mind, preparing to step beyond mortal limits.


    Then came ''Core Formation'': the moment a cultivator condensed all that energy into a core, like the heartbeat of their power. The core was only the beginning of true strength, though.


    After that, the cultivation path split into even greater realms¡ª''Earthly Rebirth'' to create a ''Nascent Soul'', then ''Soul Fusion'' to strengthen the spirit, and ''Spirit Severing'' to break the last ties to mortality.


    Then, if one was tenacious (or crazy) enough to survive all that, the final step was to ''integrate'' it all into a divine embryo, which grew into a ''Deity,'' where the body was reborn as an immortal vessel.


    And Bai Yujian¡­ well, she had clearly walked that entire path and then some.


    Su Xiaobai was left praying to every ancestor he''d ever heard of that she wasn''t a reincarnation of his personal nightmare, ''Long Lifen'', who''d tortured him back home on White Cloud Star as if it were a pastime.


    Just as he was cursing his rotten luck, the lone female disciple, Lan Meiyu, stepped forward. She had the kind of beauty that could convince any man to lower his guard¡ªand then promptly knock him out with a single strike.


    Almond-shaped eyes appraised him with curiosity, though her smile was barely a sliver.


    "But Elder Bai, doesn''t he seem a bit¡­ suspicious? I mean, who lies around here of all places?~"


    She stepped closer, her robe highlighting her slender waist, her fragrance drifting on the breeze.


    "Suspicious or not, that doesn''t excuse your behavior," Bai Yujian replied, casting a sidelong glance at Su Xiaobai, her crimson gaze sharp as ever.


    She arched an eyebrow. ''He''s awake,'' she noted, sensing the faint ripples in his qi.


    A gray-robed disciple with a round face and nervous manner¡ªFatty Zhou, as he was aptly named¡ªcleared his throat. "Elder Bai, should we¡­ uh, should we try to wake him? If he''s just some passerby, we''re wasting our time, aren''t we?"


    "Not just any passerby," said Xiao Yu, a fellow gray-robed disciple with sharp eyes and tied-back blue hair. "His breathing reveals traces of spiritual energy¡­ he''s a cultivator, like us."


    A faint glimmer crossed Bai Yujian''s eyes. "Leave him be for now," she commanded, cold and composed.


    She turned to Liu Zhenhai, her personal disciple, the only one in this group who actually seemed competent.


    He stood by the mouth of a cave, where a boulder blocked the way, eyes gleaming with the thrill of discovery. The faint golden light in his long blonde hair and his striking features could have made him the hero of his own tale.


    "Liu Zhenhai," Elder Bai''s voice softened slightly. "Do you see anything?"


    "Yes, Elder Bai," he replied, his voice calm. "I''m certain the treasure is behind this boulder."


    The word ''treasure'' sent a jolt of interest through Su Xiaobai. ''So that''s what they''re here for.''


    In a way, it made sense.


    The Xiantian Sect¡ªa righteous sect that prided itself on tradition and hierarchy¡ªdivided its disciples into levels.


    A sect was different from a clan; while clans were essentially family powerhouses, passing down techniques within bloodlines, sects were open institutions where anyone with talent could rise through the ranks.


    Inside Xiantian sect ¡ª The Outer Court disciples wore gray, blending in like unassuming dust, while Inner Court disciples like these blue-robed idiots strutted about, desperate to look important. But it was the crimson-robed Core Disciples, the elite, who were the true powers of the sect¡ªright below the elders like Bai Yujian herself.


    Sect disciples were always sniffing around for treasures and opportunities to prove themselves.


    Apparently, Liu Zhenhai, with his sharp instincts and privileged position as a personal disciple, had found this place first and dragged his fellow lackeys along.


    Meanwhile, Su Xiaobai''s own heart sank. He had stumbled across this place by chance, following an old map he''d scavenged from Fairy Lianhua, hoping for some ''minor'' fortune to get him by.


    Instead, he''d found himself right under the noses of Xiantian disciples¡ªand an elder who could turn him to dust with a flick of her finger.


    As he lay there, Su Xiaobai could only hope that Elder Bai had the restraint¡ªand mercy¡ªnot to crush him as easily as she had crushed her disciples'' egos.

 Chapter 30 - 30: The Tomb of Weeping Emperor (1)

    Liu Zhenhai, "I''m certain the treasure is behind this boulder."


    "Mm.." Elder Bai offered a slight nod, her expression thoughtful.


    At this moment, the only female disciple, Lan Meiyu, stepped forward, her eyes practically shining with admiration.


    "Really? You''re incredible, Senior Brother~~! Finding the treasure''s location so easily¡­" she purred, moving closer with all the elegance she could muster, her voice soft, almost reverent.


    "..."


    Fatty Zhou and Xiao Yu exchanged knowing glances, their faint smirks betraying exactly what they thought of her obvious intentions.


    Everyone knew Lan Meiyu wasn''t here just for the treasure. Liu Zhenhai was a rising star, already at the Soul Fusion realm and an inner disciple of the Xiantian Sect.


    If she could secure him as her ''Dao partner''¡ªa companion on the cultivation path¡ªher own journey would get a huge boost.


    "Pathetic," Xiao Yu muttered, his disdain barely concealed.


    Meanwhile, Su Xiaobai remained motionless, taking in the scene. It was clear that Liu Zhenhai was the real focus of this expedition, Elder Bai''s favored disciple, while the others were just tagging along, hoping to bask in his success.


    ''So, Liu Zhenhai''s the hero of this little adventure,'' Su Xiaobai thought with a smirk. ''And the others? Just followers hoping to catch a few crumbs that fall from his plate.''


    With Elder Bai watching over them, it was safe enough for Su Xiaobai to hang back and observe¡ªthe group was far too strong for him to handle head-on.


    Not that he intended to fight them. ''Let them do the work. It''s not like I could break that boulder myself anyway, he thought with a smirk.''


    _____


    BAM!


    BAM!


    BAM!


    Crack... Crack...


    After nearly an hour of grueling effort, Liu Zhenhai finally shattered the boulder blocking the cave entrance.


    CRASH!


    The thunderous crash echoed across the valley, scattering birds into the sky.


    "Finally!" he gasped, struggling to mask his exhaustion, and glanced over his shoulder, expecting some sign of praise.


    Elder Bai remained as she was, her parasol twirling lazily, her gaze distant and detached. She gave him a single nod, barely acknowledging his effort.


    ''That''s it?'' Liu Zhenhai''s pride deflated, his sense of accomplishment vanishing. ''One nod, after I practically shattered my bones on that boulder?''


    Lan Meiyu quickly moved beside him, her voice overly sweet. "Senior Brother, you were amazing~!" she chirped, her tone dripping with admiration, her robes swaying as she leaned in, hoping to draw him in closer.


    "Amazing, huh?" Liu Zhenhai thought bitterly. ''Where were you when I was the one smashing rocks?''


    Xiao Yu clapped him on the shoulder. "Good work, senior brother," he said in an even tone that somehow managed to feel patronizing.


    Liu Zhenhai finally realized what had happened as he glanced around. Lan Meiyu, Xiao Yu, Fatty Zhou, Chen Yong, and Wang Fei¡ªthey''d all been standing back, arms crossed, watching him struggle like it was some casual afternoon stroll.


    ''If I''d asked for their help, we could''ve cracked that boulder in five minutes,'' he fumed silently.


    Fatty Zhou waddled past, shaking his head. "No cure for stupidity¡­" he muttered, just loud enough for Liu Zhenhai to hear, before squeezing himself through the narrow cave entrance.


    Liu Zhenhai''s fists clenched, his eyes flashing with frustration as he stormed into the cave, his footsteps echoing off the stone walls.


    Elder Bai remained outside for a moment, her figure still as a statue, parasol resting lightly in her hand.


    Her gaze on the cave entrance as her disciples vanished into the darkness, her calm expression hiding the depths of her thoughts.


    _____


    A short distance away, Su Xiaobai sensed the stillness in the air. The disciples had finally entered the cave, and the silence gave him his signal.


    Opening his eyes, he stretched lazily, brushing dust from his robes. "Finally, the idiots are gone¡­" he muttered with a smirk. "Time for the real fun."


    He took one step forward¡ªthen froze.


    "!"


    There, calm as ever, was Elder Bai, standing with her back to him, the parasol twirling slowly in her hand.


    Cold dread washed over him ¡ª She hadn''t followed her disciples.


    She hadn''t left. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She''d been there the whole time.


    ''Oh no¡­'' His heart pounded as he cursed his luck. ''Did she¡­ hear me?''


    Without turning, Elder Bai''s voice drifted back to him, soft and calm, yet somehow chilling. "Don''t enter the cave¡­ unless you want to die."


    Her words lingered in the air for a moment, and then, without a glance, she floated effortlessly toward the cave''s entrance, disappearing into the shadows.


    Su Xiaobai exhaled, his mind caught between relief and unease. ''Don''t enter, huh?'' he thought, frowning. ''Does she think I''m the type to back down that easily?''


    The words echoed in his mind. "To reach strength, one must take risks and forge themselves in fire. Only those who dare step into the flames emerge victorious."


    Letting others seize the treasure¡ªhis only chance for survival and his ticket back home? Yeah, that wasn''t his style.


    With one last look at the dark entrance, Su Xiaobai''s lips curved into a determined smirk. ''The world rewards those who dare. Those who wait? They end up as dust.''


    Taking a breath, he stepped forward into the cave''s depths, ready to face whatever lay ahead.


    _____


    Crunch¡­ Crack¡­


    As Su Xiaobai stepped into the cave, the last trickle of daylight vanished, swallowed up by shadows thick as swamp mud.


    Whoosh!


    The air itself was cold and heavy, filled with an iron stench that hit his nose like a punch.


    "Perfect. A haunted cave that smells like a butcher''s workshop," he muttered, squinting into the gloom. "... And, of course, you bastards couldn''t resist throwing me into yet another dark hole." He let out a low chuckle.


    Srrr....!


    He pressed on, and faint blue-green wisps rose from the floor, drifting like ghostly fireflies. The glow cast just enough light to reveal the walls¡ªa series of stone faces, frozen in mid-scream, carved as if the souls of the dead were trapped within the rock itself.


    "Alright, whoever of you designed this place had way too much time on their hands," he grumbled, eyeing the eerie carvings. Su Xiaobai had seen a lot, but this was practically begging for an exorcism.


    Further in, the cave opened into a larger chamber where towering statues of warriors stood on either side, each one impaled by rusted swords.


    Their eyeless faces tilted toward him, expressions twisted in agony, as if they''d died guarding some ancient secret. His smirk faded¡ªsomething about their hollow gaze seemed to follow him as he walked, like a silent warning from beyond.


    Rustle~~!


    A cold gust swept through the chamber, chilling him to the core. Beneath that chill was a powerful stinking pulse of ''Death Qi''¡ªa twisted, potent cousin of ''Yin Qi''.


    While Yin Qi was cold energy he could cultivate safely, Death Qi was darker, drawn from places steeped in pain or loss.


    It carried suffering, leeching the life force of anyone reckless enough to absorb it.


    The mist seemed to tug at him, practically inviting him to cultivate it. For a moment, the temptation gripped him tightly as he wondered if his veins could refine it like Yin Qi.


    "Testing my damn resolve, huh?" he muttered, eyeing the mist. "You''d love it if I keeled over trying to absorb ghost-flavored Qi in a cursed hole like this." The urge to cultivate it gripped him¡ªhard.


    But Su Xiaobai wasn''t that reckless.


    Scrrrh!


    Tearing a strip from his sleeve, he tied it over his mouth, muttering under his breath. "Nice try, you cosmic sadists."


    The Qi was potent, no doubt¡ªperfect for his cultivation¡ªbut he couldn''t waste time here. Elder Bai''s group would be closing in on the treasure, and if they reached it first, he''d be left empty-handed¡ªor worse, trapped in a cave collapse.


    With his focus steeled, Su Xiaobai pressed on, moving as silently as the dead statues themselves.


    _____


    Meanwhile, deeper in the cave¡­


    After nearly a week of trekking, Elder Bai''s group finally reached the end of the tunnel, only to find a massive golden door, standing stiffly like the face of a cliff.


    Lan Meiyu gaped. "A¡­ door?"


    This wasn''t just any door. It stretched hundreds of meters high and was at least twice as wide, its surface engraved with celestial beasts locked in a fierce dance.


    Ancient runes, glowing faintly, shimmered across the gold, whispering in a language older than history itself ¡ª Each rune thrummed with the kind of power that could topple kingdoms.


    Lan Meiyu cast a hopeful glance at Elder Bai, who stood calm and expressionless, clearly expecting them to figure this out on their own.


    Lan Meiyu''s shoulders sagged¡ªanother trial she''d have to work through herself.


    Desperate, she turned to Liu Zhenhai, eyes pleading for a solution. But Liu Zhenhai was already staring at the runes, his brow furrowed, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.


    "Touching it might set off a trap," he muttered, voice tight with tension. "One wrong move, and we could all end up in pieces."

 Chapter 31 - 31: The Tomb of Weeping Emperor (2)

    The Tomb of the Weeping Emperor!


    First Chamber¡ªFalse Door.


    Sweat trickled down Liu Zhenhai''s brow as he traced a finger over the runes, his face a mask of forced confidence barely hiding a flicker of fear.


    "One wrong move, and we''re all in pieces," he muttered, as though his hands weren''t already shaking.


    Lan Meiyu leaned in close, practically hanging off him, her eyes wide in exaggerated awe. "Only you could understand these runes, Senior Brother!" she purred, her robe ''accidentally'' slipping just so, revealing a soft curve of ''jade peaks'' while her fingers brushed his arm. "Your insight¡­ it''s almost too much."


    Liu Zhenhai''s eyes dipped, and his chest puffed up. "Oh, it''s nothing, Junior Sister," he replied, feigning modesty while basking in her attention. "These runes are complex, yes, but manageable for someone like me." He traced another rune, putting on the air of a master¡ªif only he knew what any of it meant.


    "Truly?" she sighed, leaning even closer, her "hidden peaches" nudging him just enough to tempt.


    Behind them, Fatty Zhou and Xiao Yu rolled their eyes, sharing a knowing look.


    "Laying it on thick, isn''t she?" Fatty Zhou muttered.


    "Annoying," Xiao Yu replied with a snort.


    They both knew Lan Meiyu''s admiration was as fake as a street vendor''s talisman. She wasn''t here for any runes; her target was Liu Zhenhai, and her technique was as obvious as it was shameless.


    But Liu Zhenhai''s gaze kept flicking back to Elder Bai, who stood a few steps away, her silence more terrifying than any scolding.


    For all of Lan Meiyu''s syrupy praise, her Senior Brother was really after Elder Bai''s approval, hanging over him like a blade.


    Lan Meiyu, oblivious to his real aim, let her hand linger on his arm, her voice dropping to a whisper. "If only I could understand these markings as you do¡­ Perhaps you could show me¡­ up close?" Her eyes sparkled with an invitation as bold as a dragon''s roar.


    Liu Zhenhai''s face flushed, caught between the runes he barely understood and the "two soft moons" brushing against him. He coughed, struggling to focus. "It''s¡­ a skill few can master," he replied, barely holding his composure as she leaned in, warm and soft as silk.


    "Cough..."


    A sharp cough and Elder Bai''s cold gaze flicked to him, and his pride shrank instantly. Lan Meiyu pulled back, but it was too late¡ªElder Bai''s silence was far worse than a scolding.


    Moments later¡­


    Still stinging from Elder Bai''s silent rebuke, Liu Zhenhai turned back to the door, determination flaring in his eyes. "These runes¡­ they''re nothing! Let''s break through it together!"


    The others exchanged glances and shrugged, summoning their techniques and unleashing them in a fierce onslaught on the door.


    THUD!


    CRACK!


    A minute later ¡ª The golden surface flickered, runes flaring in response.


    Then, with a final¡ªBOOM¡ªthe door shattered, its massive frame collapsing in a thick cloud of dust. Beyond it, a golden glow spilled from the next chamber, calling them inside like forbidden fruit.


    "The treasure!" Lan Meiyu gasped, her greed blazing, her earlier flirtations discarded as she rushed forward with the rest.


    Liu Zhenhai tried to call them back, "Wait! Be cautious!" But his words were lost in the scramble; no one was holding back now.


    CRASH! CRASH!


    But ¡ªAs they charged into the chamber, two massive stone pillars trembled and crashed together, sealing them in with the finality of a sword stroke.


    "What¡ª!?"


    Creak... Creak...


    The ceiling groaned, stone spears shooting down from above like divine retribution. The walls shuddered, stones raining down in fury, trapping them within as if the tomb itself had come to life, hungry to punish their greed.


    And as the dust settled, the silence that followed was reminder that the treasure they''d rushed to claim would now be their tomb.


    _____


    Two Days Later¡­


    Outside the same door, now standing unscathed as if it hadn''t been blasted into oblivion, silence reigned¡ªuntil¡ª


    SWOOSH!


    "Hah!"


    A jagged crack appeared on the cave wall, tearing through space like a sharpened knife, and with all the grace of an unwanted side character, Su Xiaobai was spat out.


    "What the¡ª!"


    He staggered, barely keeping his balance as his head rang like a struck bell. The world spun as if he''d been thrown headfirst through a thunder array.


    Buzzzzzzzzzzzz!


    The sound drummed through his skull, making his bones feel like they''d been put through a spirit blender.


    "Wh¡ªJust happened?!"


    Clutching his head, he crouched, letting the buzzing fade. He''d been exploring this cursed cave, even tossing a casual "hello" to the creepy statues lining the walls, when he''d spotted a rift¡ªsmall but pulsing with a dark, familiar energy.


    Naturally, he''d stepped right in ¡ª Next thing he knew, he was here, spat out like a discarded seed.


    As the buzzing quieted, he finally caught his breath, a faint memory tugging at his mind.


    ''That rift¡­ was it the Void Thunder Dragon?'' Ever since that ancient dragon had nestled into his spirit sea, his mind felt like a simmering cauldron held at a fragile calm.


    The lesser bloodlines in him had gone silent, almost reverent before its overwhelming presence.


    The name, ''Void Thunder Dragon'', came to him instinctively, as though whispered directly into his mind. And the strangest part? He was certain this creature was consuming the rest, soon to become his only bloodline.


    This latest rift? Likely just a taste of its strange power leaking through.


    "Could it be¡­ my ticket back home?" Su Xiaobai eyed the rift, pulse racing.


    He felt its strength¡ªa power vast enough to cross worlds.


    But then again, the higher-ups couldn''t possibly be that generous¡­ right?


    With a wary shake of his head, he dismissed the thought.


    Instead, he turned to his surroundings.


    Same cursed cave, same miserable silence¡ªexcept for a towering door at the far end, standing like a challenge.


    The door seemed to breathe danger, practically vibrating with curses and calamities just waiting to be unleashed.


    "Yeah¡­ definitely not touching that." He didn''t even consider testing his luck on that monstrosity and started looking for other exits instead. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "What game are you guys playing with me now?" he muttered, eyes narrowing as he thought of all the ways this could go sideways.


    Memories flashed of a poor spirit beast he''d once seen¡ªjust a fluffy ''Wini Poppi'', happily munching a blade of grass, when a rock fell from the heavens and flattened it on the spot.


    From that day on, Su Xiaobai knew: luck didn''t exist. Fate? Just the cruel whims of whoever''s watching above.


    "Huh?" His musings were interrupted as something about the statues along the walls caught his eye. Each one of them was tilted, almost as if pointing¡­ toward what seemed like a dead end on the right side of the cave.


    "Oh, you think I wouldn''t notice that?" Su Xiaobai grinned, half pitying the higher-ups for their weak attempt at trickery. "If this is all you''ve got, you guys need to step up your game..."


    With the bold confidence of someone blissfully unaware he''d just planted a red flag straight into his own fate, he strolled over to the so-called "wall" and reached out.


    But instead of meeting cold stone, his hand slipped right through¡ªjust an illusion concealing the way forward.


    "Am I that much of a sage now?" He chuckled, wondering if he''d truly become wise beyond mortal measure after reincarnation or if the higher-ups had just lost their touch.


    With a smug smile and a mental pat on the back, he stepped through the illusory wall, disappearing into the hidden passage.


    Whoosh!

 Chapter 32 - 32: The Tomb of Weeping Emperor (3)

    Six Hours Later¡­


    Second Chamber ¡ª The Lake of Reflection!


    "ARGHHH! DAMN YOU ALL TO THE NINTH LEVEL OF THE ABYSS!"


    SPLASH! SPLASH!


    Su Xiaobai staggered out of the hidden corridor, blood and sweat soaking his shredded robes, which clung to him in a pitiful mess, as though even his clothes were too tired to go on.


    His hair, once intimidating, was plastered to his face in limp strands, making him look more like a soaked stray than the reincarnated villain feared in stories.


    With a grunt of disgust, he hurled a severed limb¡ªcourtesy of some fanged demonic beast¡ªstraight into the lake before him.


    SPLASH!


    "Hah!" He watched it sink, imagining it was one of those high-and-mighty elders who''d come up with this "shortcut."


    "Follow the statues'' direction, they said," he muttered, wiping his bloodied brow and only smearing it worse. "Oh, yes, step right in the way they''re pointing. Real clever! Led me straight into a nest of beasts! Who''s the genius who decided on that? ¡ª If I ever meet them, they''ll get to feel what it''s like when directions switch and the stick goes right where the sun doesn''t shine."


    He stretched his arms, grimacing as his bruised, sliced-up body protested.


    Every inch ached, a miserable reminder of the six hours he''d spent hacking, clawing, and cursing his way out of that nightmare of a corridor.


    A twisted part of him almost admired the higher-ups for their craftiness¡ªalmost.


    But in the end, he figured they were likely just getting a good laugh out of his misery.


    "Six hours of fighting through that endless hordes of beasts," he muttered bitterly. "For what? Just to learn the statues weren''t pointing the way forward?" He spat into the lake, glaring at his own reflection. "Either they''re trying to mess with me on purpose, or those ancient codgers up top have lost their wits."


    "Where the hell even am I right now?..."


    Taking a deep, exasperated breath, he finally looked around, noting the chamber''s eerie, open space.


    The ceiling far above, a spiked stone mouth as if the tomb itself wanted to swallow him whole. Below, an impossibly still lake stretched out, dark and silent.


    Its glassy surface reflected the chamber like a void leading straight to the underworld.


    He could feel something ancient in the air, a pulsing energy that made his skin prickle.


    "Oh, great. A lake," he muttered, voice dripping with sarcasm. "Because nothing ever goes wrong around giant, creepy lakes in ancient caves." He squinted suspiciously at the water, half-expecting some tentacled horror to lunge out the second he set foot on it.


    Floating stone platforms led across the lake toward an altar in the center.


    The altar practically hummed with an ominous aura, like it was daring him to step forward.


    "!"


    But as he was about to take a step, Su Xiaobai froze, his gaze shifting across the lake.


    On the platforms, he saw a group of disciples¡ªyoung cultivators, each one locked in battle with a shadowy clone of themselves.


    And not just any disciples. Oh, no. These were the same fools who had snickered outside this cave the last time, when he was peacefully asleep after taming his bloodlines.


    A cruel grin spread across Su Xiaobai''s face as he leaned against a rock, arms crossed. "Well, well," he murmured, amusement gleaming in his eyes. "Look who''s having a bit of trouble now."


    He watched the disciples struggle against their shadows, each yelp and grunt from them like music to his ears.


    It was the perfect end to a miserable day.


    Su Xiaobai chuckled, savoring the ''mess'' across the lake.


    Each of the so-called elites wrestled with their shadowy doubles in a miserable dance of self-inflicted agony. Liu Zhenhai, slashing wildly, looked ready to scream as his clone mirrored every strike, while Xiao Yu''s fists swung heavier with exhaustion.


    Fatty Zhou, who usually had a strategy for escaping trouble, was driven back by his doppelganger''s advance, barely holding his ground.


    And Lan Meiyu¡ªher charms, all the coquettish glances and infuriating sighs, utterly useless here¡ªwas left gritting her teeth in frustration as her clone countered every flirtatious flick of her eyes with an equally mocking look.


    "Ah, trapped in a tragic little ballet with their own reflections," Su Xiaobai snickered, shaking his head. "And these bastards called me weak? I swear, my respect for the future just died a little."


    The irony wasn''t lost on him.


    They had jeered, sneering when he''d was defenseless.


    Yet ¡ª Now here they were, helplessly battling their own shadows.


    It was almost enough to make him forget the hours he''d just clawed through in that cursed corridor.


    Almost.


    Then his gaze drifted, and he froze.


    "!!"


    Standing at the edge of the lake, observing the pathetic scene with an air of casual detachment, was Elder Bai. She watched her students like a passing curiosity, her face unreadable save for the faintest flicker of amusement.


    Midnight-dark robes hung from her frame like silk woven from shadows and starlight, flowing as though the world itself dared not touch her.


    She held a jade-handled parasol, as if this was just a pleasant stroll through a moonlit garden rather than a chamber of trials.


    "..."


    Su Xiaobai felt his smirk falter, his heart giving a hard, unwilling thump. This wasn''t the empty gaze of some overindulgent sect elder¡ªno, her presence carried the weight of centuries.


    Her beauty was fierce, as though carved from the same cold, unforgiving blade she seemed to embody.


    She was the kind of danger that didn''t need to chase you down; you simply fell into her path, and that was that.


    "!!"


    Her gaze drifted over him, and a chill settled in his bones. Those eyes¡ªdepthless, fathomless¡ªseemed to pierce straight through him, peeling back every layer of arrogance and bitterness until he felt bare before her.


    And in that moment, he knew she had seen it all: every curse he muttered, every wild-eyed glare, and him stumbling out drenched in blood, naked and battered.


    Her gaze held the faintest flicker of amusement, as though the entire scene was mildly entertaining to her, as if she had encountered some rare creature in her long, monotonous life...


    And, to his irritation, she didn''t seem even slightly bothered by the fact that, despite her warning, he''d still managed to sneak into the tomb.


    And then, just as swiftly, her gaze slid away, as if he were nothing more than a passing shadow.


    "Sigh..."


    He let out a slow breath, feeling an unexpected warmth creep up his neck. Frustration, resentment¡ªand something else he refused to name¡ªtwisted inside him. ''Damn,'' he thought, forcing himself to look away.


    Her beauty filled with contradictions. Her face, smooth as jade, held a chill that could make a man forget his purpose, yet her scarlet lips hinted at danger¡ªa thrill wrapped in elegance.


    But it was her effortless stillness, the serene confidence with which she held herself, that struck him.


    There was no strain, no struggle; only the quiet assurance of someone who''d long since left the trials of mortals behind. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A pang of nostalgia struck him, a sharp reminder of the heights he once commanded¡ªdays when the world bent beneath his will.


    But those days were long gone, buried under lifetimes of dust and disgrace.


    Now, he was little more than a pest to these so-called cultivators, an outsider scrabbling his way through every cursed trial Higher-ups threw at him.


    Yet, as he stood there, still filled with the adrenaline from six hours spent carving through beasts, a shadow of his former self seemed to flicker over his face¡ªpowerful and confident, someone who wasn''t used to being at the bottom of the food chain.

 Chapter 33 - 33: The Tomb of Weeping Emperor (4)

    ''One day,...''


    Su Xiaobai vowed silently, a flicker of past-life villainy sneaking into his grin.


    ''One day, I''ll surpass even you. And when I do¡­ well, maybe I''ll show you a few techniques myself.''


    For now, though, her indifference was his golden ticket. With Elder Bai preoccupied by her ''noble'' disciples, Su Xiaobai could fade into the background, focusing on something far more intimate¡ªa breakthrough that had been holding its way to the surface since he''d absorbed the ''thick'', potent yin qi from the demon beast corpses he''d left strewn across the dark corridor.


    Settling into a cross-legged position, Su Xiaobai closed his eyes, shutting out the noise of his surroundings. The unrefined yin qi churned within him, cold and insistent, like the whisper of old, buried secrets echoing in his veins.


    ''Not yet'' he thought, coaxing it into line.


    He forced the qi through his meridians, each pulse tearing into him like frozen shards, pain that sharpened to a blade''s edge.


    And yet, he drank it in.


    This wasn''t about comfort¡ªit was about power.


    "Not enough," he muttered to himself, his lips twisting into a hungry smirk.


    Harder. Take me to the peak or break me.


    Bit by bit, he tempered the wild yin qi, refining it until it became True Qi, the threads of energy pooling within his dantian. There, his elemental seed pulsed like a smoldering ember, a nexus of potential he''d been feeding ever since he''d reached the Late Qi Condensation stage.


    But to claim the peak, he''d need far more.


    Pouring the refined True Qi into his nexus, Su Xiaobai pushed it to the breaking point. His dantian shuddered, swelling and stretching to contain the power as it hungrily devoured the energy he fed it, until it seemed he could push no more.


    KACHA¡ª


    A hour later, a sharp crack sounded from within him, as though his very core was tearing itself apart, but in that instant, the nexus shattered and reformed, the fragments weaving into a new, pulsing constellation¡ªa radiant map of stars rooted deep within his dantian, burning with fresh power.


    With a slow, wicked grin, he opened his eyes and raised a hand, calling forth a gust of wind that spiraled around his fingers, lightning crackling alongside it.


    The strength felt electric, hot as sin and sharp enough to cut through stone.


    ''So this is the true peak of the Qi Condensation Realm,'' he whispered, the satisfaction thrumming through him like the heady afterglow of a lover''s touch.


    Across the lake, the Xiantian sect disciples floundered, each locked in combat with their own shadow, exhausted and running on fumes. His gaze sharpened on Xiao Yu, forced into desperate hand-to-hand combat, his qi reduced to the dregs.


    ''Poor rooster,'' Su Xiaobai smiling wryly, ''he''s got all the bluster of a dragon, yet flails like a fish out of water.''


    "Did he figure it out?" Across the lake, as Su Xiaobai studied the still pond with a calculating look, Elder Bai cast him a glance, her cool detachment momentarily giving way to a flicker of surprise.


    Cultivators typically took time to consolidate their foundation after a breakthrough¡ªbut this one? No, he was already up, eyes narrowed, probing his surroundings as if his breakthrough had only sharpened his instincts.


    She watched him closely. He seemed focused on her disciples, scrutinizing them with an almost suspicious intensity.


    ''Did he really uncover the flaw in the formation already?'' she wondered, ''What sort of devilish intuition does he have?''


    The cave, she knew, was no ordinary tomb but a series of trials, each chamber sealed with a unique array. Her disciples had triggered the formation in the first chamber, setting off a chain reaction.


    The door had slammed shut behind them, the ceiling collapsing as if punishing their reckless entry.


    And then the true danger had activated: the dreaded Hellgate Array. The formation had summoned wave upon wave of demonic beasts, and while her disciples had cowered, she''d stepped in, swiftly dispatching the horde.


    But some of the beasts had slipped past¡ªand it seemed Su Xiaobai had been unlucky enough to encounter those survivors, mistaking them as part of his own trial.


    In truth, Su Xiaobai had followed the correct path. However, thanks to her disciples'' carelessness, the remaining beasts from the array had flooded his corridor. And here he was, somehow surviving despite the odds, observing this chamber like he knew its secrets.


    Elder Bai''s gaze softened as she considered the pond. She knew it was no ordinary body of water; spiritual energy pulsed beneath its serene surface. This was a spiritual pond, and somewhere at its depths lay a hidden formation producing the shadow puppets that plagued her disciples.


    If I''m correct, this is following a pattern¡ªan inheritance trial, she thought, piecing together the clues. From the layered formations through each chamber, it was becoming clear: this wasn''t just a treasure cave.


    This was a tomb of a powerful cultivator of the past, one who had left behind an inheritance meant to test and refine the worthy.


    As her disciples floundered, Elder Bai''s attention remained on Su Xiaobai. This chamber was array-driven, and she knew every array had its weakness.


    She was curious, wondering if this ''rogue cultivator''¡ªwho seemed so at odds with her disciples and yet strangely adept¡ªhad already sensed it.


    "He''s moving already..."


    Elder Bai''s eyes narrowed as Su Xiaobai strode boldly to the lake''s edge, exuding a quiet arrogance that made her disciples shift uneasily. His eyes gleamed with a sharp, knowing glint, a faint smirk suggesting he already knew the outcome.


    "Watch closely," he called.


    SWOOSH!


    The moment his foot grazed the lake''s surface, the water rippled violently, and dark qi surged upward, coalescing into a twisted reflection of himself¡ªa shadow puppet with hollow eyes that gazed back mockingly.


    Su Xiaobai didn''t hesitate. In an instant, a surge of qi erupted from him, lightning sparking from his fingertips with a fierce crackle, wind swirling at his feet, flames flickering around him like a storm given flesh.


    The disciples froze, eyes widening in shock. "Is he¡­ using everything at once?" Xiao Yu muttered.


    "Madness," Fatty Zhou stammered, struggling to fend off his own shadow puppet as it lunged at him.


    Unfazed, Su Xiaobai drove a bolt of lightning into his shadow''s chest¡ªCRACK!¡ªsending it staggering back, smoke curling from the charred mark.


    BAM!


    His fist encircled in flames as he struck his shadow, sending it skidding across the lake''s surface in a searing trail of steam.


    Lan Meiyu gasped, momentarily distracted and taking a blow from her own shadow. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Su Xiaobai''s smiled, he raised his hand, summoning a vortex of fire and wind that spiraled forward, tearing across the lake.


    His shadow wavered, struggling to match his qi, but it couldn''t keep up.


    BOOM!


    The cyclone struck, shattering the puppets into trails of steam that drifted across the water.


    "..."


    "..."


    "..."


    "..."


    A stunned silence fell over the chamber as the disciples stared, disbelieving. Just moments before, they''d dismissed him as some drifter, barely worth a second glance. Now, he tore through a trial that had pushed each of them to their limits.


    "Who¡­ is this guy?" Liu Zhenhai whispered as Su Xiaobai stepped onto the altar.


    The altar, carved from ancient stone, glowed faintly with veins of light pulsing like a heartbeat. The air filled with the scent of damp stone and old qi, as though the chamber itself was alive.


    Su Xiaobai ran his fingers over the intricate carvings, his eyes narrowing with a rare focus. Among the markings, he spotted it¡ªa large, silver key nestled into the stone.


    Without a second thought, he slipped it into his spatial ring.


    Only then did he grip the altar''s lever, his smirk shifting into a look of satisfaction.


    THUD!


    The grinding of stone echoed as a massive door on the far side of the lake creaked open, revealing a dark passage stretching into the unknown.


    Whoosh!


    Without a glance back, Su Xiaobai strode through, disappearing into the shadows.


    "Wait!" Wang Fei''s voice broke the silence, panic flashing across his face as he turned to Elder Bai. "He''ll take all the treasures!"


    Elder Bai''s gaze flicked toward him, her voice cool and sharp. "If you want them, then keep up. Only strength will earn you rewards here."


    "..."


    "..."


    Her words left no room for any arguments, and the disciples fell silent, realizing they were each on their own.


    Watching the lake''s rippling surface, Elder Bai found herself recalling Su Xiaobai''s precise, brutal strikes. She had seen powerful cultivators before, but his control over the formation''s weaknesses had been exact¡ªstriking just as the puppet''s qi dipped, exploiting each brief pause with uncanny timing.


    "Did he sense the formation''s nature?" she murmured, a trace of surprise in her eyes. "Or is he simply touched by fortune?"


    The array was a basic spiritual pond by ancient standards, yet had accumulated energy over centuries to animate the puppets. Each puppet cycled through bursts of strength with a split-second rest between, nearly undetectable. Su Xiaobai had seized that opening, something most wouldn''t catch without knowing the array intimately.


    Elder Bai''s gaze stayed on the door where he had disappeared, her expression thoughtful.


    She''d dismissed him initially, thinking him too weak for these trials.


    But here he was...


    ¡ªor was it instinct?


    "Well," she murmured, a faint smile flickering across her lips. "Let''s see just how far this one''s devil''s luck carries him."


    The disciples exchanged glances, frustration rose beneath the surface as they prepared to continue.

 Chapter 34 - 34: The Tomb of Weeping Emperor (5)

    The Third Chamber: The Labyrinth of Time!


    "Finally... out!"


    Chen Yong and Wang Fei staggered out, red-faced and panting like beaten dogs. Their shame burned¡ªneither had managed to defeat their shadows, needing rescuing like helpless fish in a net. They cursed their luck, muttering how things would''ve been easier if Su Xiaobai hadn''t run off.


    But safety was short-lived.


    Tremble...


    The floor trembled, and a vortex descended above them, castin bright green light across their suprised faces.


    WHOOSH!


    "Look out!" Xiao Yu shouted, his voice cracking.


    Too late¡ªthe vortex spun faster, and with a deep whump, sucked them in, tossing them like leaves in a storm.


    CRASH!


    They landed in a sprawling, dark labyrinth.


    Tunnels stretched out, curling into shadowed paths that stank of rot.


    Each step squelched in cold mud that gripped their feet like claws.


    Elder Bai, normally ice-cool, narrowed her eyes at the passages, a flicker of worry breaking her calm mask.


    The disciples shifted uneasily.


    Then¡ª


    Tap¡­ tap¡­ tap.


    A familiar figure strolled out from one of the darkened paths, wearing a surprised smile.


    Su Xiaobai leaned against the wall, a lazy smirk tugging at his lips. "Took you all long enough."


    If he could''ve avoided this meeting, he would''ve. But, of course, the heavens seemed to have other ideas.


    Lan Meiyu bristled, crossing her arms. "Long enough? We were minutes behind you!" she shot back, her tone like a whip. She recognized him as the lazy bastard she''d caught napping outside the cave¡ªand now here he was, smug as if he''d conquered the heavens.


    What stung most was that Su Xiaobai was only at the qi condensation realm, while she had reached late earthly rebirth, three realms above. Even Xiao Yu and Fatty Zhou, the weakest, were at core formation, while the inner disciples were all Nascent Soul and beyond.


    Were Elder Bai not here, they''d have given him a lesson in respect. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Su Xiaobai, smirk widened, knew Elder Bai''s presence was his shield and milked it for all it was worth.


    But Lan Meiyu''s irritation finally got a reaction.


    His brow twitched. "Ten minutes?" he asked, brows raising. "I''ve been wandering here for days¡­"


    "Huh?"


    "Days!?"


    The disciples exchanged uneasy looks, realizing how twisted the labyrinth''s time was.


    Liu Zhenhai , turned to Elder Bai. "Elder¡­ what is this place?"


    Elder Bai flicked a raven-black strand over her shoulder, her jade-like face catching the cold torchlight. "This," she said, voice like iron, "is a Temporal Formation. It twists time, warping hours into moments and days into seconds. This labyrinth exists beyond mortal time..."


    Lan Meiyu''s eyes widened. "So, while we were fighting shadows, he has been here for days?"


    "Possibly," Elder Bai replied, though doubt glimmered in her gaze. "The longer we stay, the deeper we''re drawn into its web."


    Chen Yong, his voice wavering, glanced at her. "How do we escape, Elder?"


    Elder Bai took a breath, her jade-like calm barely holding. "The heart of the maze holds the source of the disturbance. We must find it to escape."


    Su Xiaobai rolled his eyes, muttering, "More acting tough¡­"


    Though he smiled, a trace of doubt lingered. Elder Bai was powerful, but he doubted she had all the answers.


    Stronger cultivators loved putting on airs as if they held heaven''s secrets. He could see it in her eyes¡ªshe was as lost as they were, though she''d die before admitting it.


    Lan Meiyu''s sharp gaze landed on him. "And how did you survive here for days without getting lost?" she asked, voice honeyed with sarcasm.


    Su Xiaobai shrugged, his expression infuriatingly casual. "Guess I''m just lucky," he said with a grin that only stoked her irritation. "Or maybe I''m just better at navigating than all of you."


    If he was "better at navigating," it was pure accident. Days of stumbling in the dark had left him more annoyed than proud.


    He cursed his inability to identify the formation sooner, especially as he usually prided himself on spotting such things.


    If he''d only formed his core, he''d have seen through it in a heartbeat. But stuck with True Qi, he was like a man holding a candle in a storm.


    Without Profound Qi, the formation''s pulse was invisible, its clues hidden from his senses.


    The air here filled with power he couldn''t yet touch, taunting him with the potential just out of reach.


    "Let''s move cautiously," Elder Bai commanded, voice brooking no argument. "Stay close, and if you notice anything strange, speak up immediately."


    Su Xiaobai rolled his eyes. He didn''t need to cling to the group. With a casual wave, he turned down one of the dark tunnels, his footsteps echoing¡ªtap¡­ tap¡­ tap.


    Let them stumble along together all they want.


    Behind him, the disciples sneered. "Let him wander off. The labyrinth will swallow him whole," Wang Fei muttered.


    Chen Yong snorted. "Arrogant fool."


    But Su Xiaobai barely registered them, his mind already turning over Elder Bai''s words. ''A Temporal Formation,'' he thought with a frown. If he''d known sooner, he wouldn''t have spent days wandering like a lost dog.


    The problem was that identifying formations wasn''t as simple as seeing or sensing; it required ''Profound Qi'' to sense, activate, or dismantle, the most potent form of the world''s Spiritual Qi.


    But formations were more than clever tricks; they required Profound Qi


    Spiritual Qi¡ªthe vital energy that filled the universe¡ªcame in many forms, but cultivators sought three main types on their path: Earth Qi, Heaven Qi, and Profound Qi. Earth Qi, drawn from the ground, strengthened the body in the early stages. Heaven Qi was purer and more potent, used by advanced cultivators for higher realms. But the most abundant was Profound Qi, the raw form of Spiritual Qi that saturates the world like an endless, untamed ocean of energy.


    Profound Qi was revered for its power, but it was also treacherous. Cultivators at Su Xiaobai''s stage couldn''t use it directly¡ªit would poison them. Instead, they had to purify it first, refining it down into True Qi, a weaker but safer version. Only upon reaching Core Formation would they forge the core that allowed them to safely absorb and use Profound Qi in its raw form.


    For now, Su Xiaobai was limited to True Qi. Without Profound Qi, he couldn''t sense the subtle pulse of a formation, leaving him to stumble blind through the labyrinth.


    ______


    Splash! Splash! ... Splash!


    Su Xiaobai muttered, his voice echoing down the damp tunnel. "Maybe I can''t break this formation... but I can find its flaws." His footsteps splashed in shallow puddles, breaking the silence. "There''s got to be a way out without shattering it¡­"


    He wandered deeper, his words swallowed by the darkness as he muttered to himself.


    Then, something clicked. ''I don''t have Profound Qi to feel the formation directly,'' he thought, brows furrowing. ''But I can still sense distortions.''


    If the time shifts weren''t random, then there must be a pattern¡ªa way time twisted around certain points.


    He couldn''t see the Profound Qi itself, but he could track the ripples. Taking a deep breath, he stilled himself, letting his senses stretch. Slowly, faint threads seemed to flicker into awareness, like shadows tugging at the edges of his mind.


    "There you are¡­" he murmured, smirking.


    The threads wove through the maze, some pulsing, others tangled or erratic.


    One in particular wavered, its flow unstable¡ªa flaw. ''Got you.''


    He followed the path eagerly, feeling it pull him closer.


    Behind him, he could almost hear the others fumbling through the maze. ''They can stumble around all they want while I''m off with the treasure.''


    _______


    A While Later¡­


    "???~ ¡­ ????~~"


    Su Xiaobai strolled along, humming cheerfully, looking every bit the clueless wanderer. But inside, he was enjoying every step, each turn leaving the others further behind.


    Just then, a faint groan echoed through the corridors. Cocking his head, he followed the sound, turning a corner¡ªand came face-to-face with what used to be Fatty Zhou.


    The once plump disciple looked haggard, face lined with wrinkles and hair gray, as if he''d aged decades in moments.


    "Ah, Brother! What happened to you?" Su Xiaobai asked, voice dripping with concern while he smirked inwardly. ''A few years here, a few there¡­ what a shame.''


    Fatty Zhou''s eyes widened with panic. "I¡ªI don''t know! I walked in here, and now look at me!" He tugged at his robes, his voice cracking. "Can you fix this?"


    Su Xiaobai frowned sympathetically. "Oh, no... Maybe¡­ if you retrace your steps, it''ll reverse?" His tone was kind, but he knew the poor fool would waste what little time he had left.


    With a desperate nod, Fatty Zhou hobbled back down the tunnel. Su Xiaobai watched him disappear, lips twitching with satisfaction. ''Poor fool. He''ll waste what little time he has running in circles.''


    Further down, Su Xiaobai spotted Xiao Yu¡ªor what was left of him. The once proud disciple was caught in a slow-time zone, sword half-drawn, his face frozen in frustration.


    Su Xiaobai leaned against the wall, barely hiding his laughter. "Senior Brother! You''re, uh¡­ taking your time, I see."


    Xiao Yu''s eyes moved slowly to meet him, voice stretching painfully. "H¡­e¡­l¡­p¡­ m¡­e¡­"

 Chapter 35 - 35: *The Tomb of Weeping Emperor (6)* [R18]

    Xiao Yu''s eyes moved slowly to meet him, voice stretching painfully. "H¡­e¡­l¡­p¡­ m¡­e¡­"


    Su Xiaobai gasped with mock sympathy. "Oh, Senior Brother! You must be in a slow-time zone. Try focusing your Qi¡ªmaybe that''ll speed you up!" His voice oozed with false encouragement as he watched Xiao Yu''s pathetic, sluggish attempts.


    With a clap, Su Xiaobai nodded as if impressed. "That''s it! Keep trying, Senior Brother!"


    The more you fight, the deeper the formation''s pull on you. Go ahead, struggle.


    He gave Xiao Yu a friendly pat on the shoulder¡ªa gesture that would take minutes to register in Xiao Yu''s distorted sense of time. "I''ll find help. Don''t worry, I''ll be back in no time. Or... a lot of time. Who knows?"


    Out of sight, Su Xiaobai''s grin widened. Two fools down.


    Rounding the next corner, he heard soft, deliberate footsteps. Finally.


    Lan Meiyu had been sneaking behind him, her steps soft and measured, but Su Xiaobai kept up his clueless wanderer act, pretending not to notice her creeping closer.


    Suddenly, her honeyed voice broke the silence. "Junior Brother!" she cooed, appearing out of nowhere and sliding up beside him, her fingers gliding along his arm like silk.


    Her robes flowed like a river, emphasizing her figure as she moved in closer. "You wouldn''t leave me here all by myself... would you?"


    Feigning surprise, Su Xiaobai turned around. "Senior Sister! Didn''t realize you were right there."


    Her gaze smoldered as she leaned in, her robes clinging to her in all the right places, jade mountains rising and falling with a slow, deliberate breath. "Found you by chance, Junior Brother," she murmured, fingers trailing down his arm, each brush a subtle tease.


    Her robes rustled as she shifted closer, her fingers lighting a faint shiver down his arm. "Since we''re here... why don''t you keep me company? This maze isn''t the friendliest place to be alone."


    Ah, trying to hook me, is she? Su Xiaobai thought, hiding a wry smile. He returned her gaze with a wide, innocent smile. "Good idea, Senior Sister. We should stick together."


    As they walked, he gradually led her toward a slow-time zone, waiting for just the right moment.


    When they reached the edge, he stopped and pointed ahead. "See that path up there? Shortcut."


    "What....!"


    Lan Meiyu''s smug confidence was all over her face as she strode forward¡ªonly to freeze, one foot hovering in the air as the sluggish energy hit, locking her in place mid-step.


    Her robes parted just enough to hint at the valley between her jade mountains, while her eyes widened in silent frustration.


    "What... is... this...?" she hissed, her voice thick with frustration as her eyes flared with rage.


    Su Xiaobai''s lips curled in amusement. "Oh, Senior Sister, it seems you''ve strolled right into a slow-time zone. How careless of me not to warn you."


    Her face twisted in anger, though the expression dragged like honey dripping from a spoon. "You... did... this... on... purpose!"


    He stepped closer, his gaze turning cold and mocking. "Me? Purposefully? Now, why would I do that? You were the one so sure you could use me, weren''t you?" He let his hand slide down her back, resting his fingers over the curve of her hip, then channeled his Qi to deliver a crisp slap.


    SLAP!


    "Wha¡ª!"


    Her cheeks flushed in shock, her eyes widening even as her body remained trapped in sluggish time.


    Each strike echoed sharply, crackling with a pulse of Qi-infused energy.


    Pakh! Pakh!


    Her body arched involuntarily, her chest heaving with each impact, and her lips parted in a low, unwilling groan. "B-bas...tard..." she spat, her voice dripping with venom, though a strange spark lit her gaze.


    Su Xiaobai leaned close to her ear, his breath warm as he whispered, "Oh, I''m just getting started, Senior Sister. You thought you could toy with me? Now you''ll think twice before trying this again." His gaze lingered, savoring her helplessness, her flushed cheeks, and her frozen stance. "Don''t worry¡­ someone''s bound to come along eventually."


    Turning to leave, he grinned and thought, ''No thunderstrikes from above this time? ¡­ Could I actually be on the right path?''


    Did that mean he had a free pass from the heavens to put her in her place? S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Just then¡ª


    Clink!


    Something small and bright fell from Lan Meiyu''s robe, catching his attention.


    He paused, careful to avoid stepping into the slow-time zone, and turned back.


    "What''s this?" Su Xiaobai murmured, picking up a small, glowing green pill.


    He stared at it, recognition dawning in his eyes. "Soul-Severing Poison¡­?" He glanced at Lan Meiyu, whose eyes darted away, a guilty flush coloring her cheeks.


    His voice grew sharper. "You planned to use this on me?"


    Lan Meiyu''s face twitched, but she didn''t speak, not a single word of explanation. She couldn''t.


    If he knew the truth¡­ if he knew why she''d brought that poison, her plans would fall to ruin.


    She bit down on her frustration, forcing herself to meet his gaze, even as her skin prickled with anger and shame. If she spoke now, she''d lose everything¡ªand her life would be even worse than the torment she felt now.


    For a moment, Su Xiaobai simply stared, disbelieving.


    This wasn''t just some petty trick¡ªSoul-Severing Poison could kill a "small fry" like him without leaving a trace. And she had it ready for him?


    "You... you really planned to kill me?" His tone was darker now, and anger simmered beneath the surface.


    The realization hit him: she hadn''t just wanted to use him to get through the maze. She''d planned to discard him the moment he wasn''t useful.


    Why kill him in the process? The answer was painfully clear: Because she could.


    People had taken advantage of him his entire life, used him for their own reasons, hurt him just because they held the power. She was no different.


    But right now...


    Looking at her, panting helplessly in the slow-time zone, he realized he held all the power for once.


    And he could do ''anything'' he wanted.


    With a casual flick, he dropped the deadly pill into his spatial ring, securing it as a token of her failed attempt to off him.


    "Oh, Senior Sister, you really thought you could kill me that easily?" he mused, his gaze zeroing in on Lan Meiyu, who was now helpless, trapped in the grip of the slow-time formation. "Guess it''s time you learned who''s boss."


    He stepped forward, hands grabbing onto her trembling thighs, fingers digging in as he took his position with all the confidence of a bandit claiming his prize.


    "S...T...op..." Her eyes darted, fury and fear swirling in them as the reality sank in¡ªshe was utterly at his mercy.


    With an exaggerated flourish, Su Xiaobai shrugged off his robes, revealing his "unyielding rod of righteousness," glowing like a torch in the night, pulsing with Yang Qi and practically vibrating with intent.


    Her wide-eyed horror was priceless as he settled into place, the tip of his "mighty spear" nudging against her soft, quivering thighs.


    SQUISH!

 Chapter 36 - 36: *The Tomb of Weeping Emperor (7)* [R18]

    SQUISH!


    "W¡­ha¡­ wha¡­t¡­?" she gasped, each syllable dragging out painfully in the slow-time effect as her helplessness hit her like a brick.


    Her thighs, already glistening with sweat from her earlier squirming, twitched under his hold, but her Qi reserves were about as empty as her last scheme, leaving her resistance about as effective as a wet noodle.


    Beads of sweat traced down her cheeks, pooling in the hollow of her collar as her breathing quickened. He leaned in close, letting his breath tickle her ear.


    With a mocking laugh, Su Xiaobai taunted, "Well, well, Senior Sister¡­ how does it feel to be the one brought down by your own ''shortcut''? Acting all high and mighty, and now¡ªlook at you."


    Pakh! Pakh! Pakh!


    Each rhythmic thrust of his "weapon of justice" drove into the space between her thighs, sending a scorching wave of Yang Qi up through her legs.


    Her traitorous body responded, thighs instinctively clamping around his "righteous staff," her face a whole shade of red as she tried to stifle the humiliating sensations.


    "A¡­a¡­ah¡­ahh!" Sounds slipped from her lips against her will, her expression twisting between shame and unwanted pleasure, breaths coming in ragged, uneven gasps.


    The heat and friction were unbearable, her body betraying her in ways she couldn''t control, each pulse of his Qi stoking the uncomfortable warmth building within her.


    With a smile plastered on his face, Su Xiaobai leaned in, letting the suspense hang build in the air as he savored every delicious second of her wide-eyed, horrified stare, building up to his grand finale.


    And then¡ª


    SPLURT! SPLURT! SPLURT!


    Without so much as a warning, a thick white stream of ''pure Yang essence'' shot forth like it had a personal vendetta, splattering right across her face, tangling in her perfect hair, and dripping down her bare shoulders in thick, gooey trails that left nothing to the imagination.


    "..."


    Each drop gleamed with Qi-laden energy, branding her in a way that shouted her total and embarrassing defeat¡ªno room for arguments.


    Lan Meiyu, the untouchable Senior Sister, now thoroughly baptized in his ''Yang essence.''


    She froze, her eyes going as wide as saucers, her mouth opening in silent horror as the warm, sticky stuff trickled down her face and neck, dragging her dignity through the mud one humiliating drop at a time.


    "Y-you¡­!" she finally managed, her voice shaking with rage and disbelief, eyes blazing with a fury that would''ve melted steel if she still had an ounce of energy left to use.


    The nerve! No one had ever dared lay a finger on her, and this guy just smeared his victory all over her like it was his personal art project.


    Su Xiaobai leaned back, thoroughly amused, as he drank in her mortified expression.


    He gave her one last patronizing pat on the shoulder. "Maybe now, Senior Sister, you''ll think twice before trying to pull off one of your cute little schemes¡ªand then trying to off someone for dessert."


    As he turned to leave, he threw her one final glance, enjoying every second of her tear-streaked face and the fierce blaze of indignation in her eyes. "I¡­ will¡­ make¡­ you¡­ pay¡­" she muttered, her voice trembling, her face flushing red with a mix of anger, shame, and helplessness.


    But Su Xiaobai just laughed, giving her a cheeky wave as he strutted down the maze, leaving her there to stew in her slow-time trap¡ªand the bitter sting of her own failed attempt.


    With a confident swagger, Su Xiaobai continued down the path, pretty sure he''d be the first to find the chamber''s exit, snag the treasure, and peace out long before she even managed to scrape together her dignity.


    Though the aftermath made him wonder for a split second if he''d gone too far, he just shrugged it off.


    "Eh, the higher-ups gave me a free pass¡ªthey''ll pull me out of the fire if this gets messy. I got this!"


    With a confident stride, he carried on, whistling a tune as he went.


    [E/N: Chill, folks! She''s still a virgin¡ªhe just used her thighs...]


    _____


    Fifteen minutes later, Su Xiaobai strolled casually through the tunnel, his freshly changed robes sticking to his sweat-dampened skin.


    His footsteps echoed softly in the dim passage, a steady rhythm masking the storm within his mind.


    ''The core of the formation is close¡­''


    His pace quickened, the thought sparking a surge of anticipation that pushed aside his unease.


    Yet, when the narrow tunnel opened into a vast cavern, he froze mid-step, his breath catching in his throat.


    "No¡­"


    The single word slipped from his lips, hoarse with disbelief.


    At the cavern''s heart stood Bai Yujian, a figure seemingly carved from moonlight, her presence too ethereal for the chaos surrounding her. The glow that shone above her body was both radiant and oppressive, warping the atmosphere with its quiet majesty.


    In her hand rested a parasol¡ªdelicate in design, yet suffused with a power that made Su Xiaobai''s stomach churn.


    ''How? I calculated every possible path¡­ she shouldn''t be here ahead of me!''


    He clenched his fists.


    It was always like this¡ªplans meticulously laid out, only to crumble at the last moment.


    Was it fate? Coincidence?


    Or just some twisted rule that ensured his efforts would never yield victory without blood and humiliation?


    Bai Yujian''s gaze seemed distant, as though her thoughts were elsewhere.


    That serene stillness might have fooled others, but Su Xiaobai knew better. Beneath the surface lay a storm, its fury coiled and waiting.


    ''Does she know? Did she sense¡­ what happened with Lan Meiyu?'' His paranoia clawed at the edges of his mind, spinning webs of suspicion.


    Sweat beaded on his brow despite the chill in the cavern.


    ''Is this some kind of joke? First, they throw a formation at me. Now, her?''


    ''Have you bastards abandoned me already?'' Frustrated, he couldn''t help but glance upward, half-expecting divine punishment.


    And then she moved.


    With a flick of her wrist, the parasol began to spin, and in that instant, an eruption of sword intent split the air.


    BOOM!


    The energy surged forward, brilliant and bright, shredding the seals guarding the formation''s core like paper.


    CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!


    The cavern quaked violently. Su Xiaobai staggered back, his arms rising to shield his face as the oppressive force of her mastery pressed down on him.


    The razor-sharp purity of her sword intent filled the air, its overwhelming precision leaving no room for doubt¡ªthis was perfection honed to an unimaginable degree.


    His gaze locked onto the parasol in her hand, confusion flickering across his features.


    ''A sword? That doesn''t even look like a sword! Who in their right mind uses that as a weapon?''


    As if hearing his thoughts, Bai Yujian turned her piercing gaze toward him. Her voice rang out, cold and steady.


    "This is the White Jade Sword," she said, lifting the parasol in a fluid motion. "A weapon that severs both seals and arrogance alike."


    Su Xiaobai''s chest tightened, unease sinking its claws deeper. The third chamber was already open, and the spatial treasure he sought would now fall into her hands. Negotiating with her was a death wish.


    Even worse, he couldn''t shake the feeling that she had known of his presence all along, playing her part to perfection while he stumbled through the ruins like a pawn.


    Creak¡­


    The cavern groaned under the strain of her unleashed energy, jagged cracks racing across its walls. The oppressive silence dissolved into chaos as the ground buckled beneath his feet. Massive stones crashed down, filling the air with choking dust and debris. The broken formation''s energies lashed out wild pulling at his robes with a violent frenzy.


    Crash! Crash! Crash!


    "It''s all collapsing¡­" Su Xiaobai thought grimly, his instincts screaming at him to move. He bolted toward the newly revealed exit, weaving through the falling rubble with desperate precision.


    "There!"


    "The exit!"


    "Move!"


    Panicked cries from Xiantian Sect disciples echoed around him as they scrambled to escape. Freed from the temporal formation''s clutches, they ran as though hell itself nipped at their heels.


    Among them was Lan Meiyu, her sweat-soaked hair plastered against her face as she glared at him with unmasked fury.


    "Damn you!" she shouted, her voice cutting through like a hot whip.


    Su Xiaobai didn''t dare look back.


    BAM! S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He slid beneath a collapsing beam, the shockwave hurling him forward. With a final desperate lunge, he cleared the exit and tumbled to the ground outside.


    Breathless, he sprawled on the dusty earth, his robes tattered and caked with grime. Behind him, the mountain let out one last groan before the collapsing tunnel sealed itself entirely.


    Su Xiaobai stared at the sky, his chest heaving. His fingers curled into the dirt, frustration bubbling to the surface.


    ''Why is it always like this? No matter how carefully I plan, this world tilts the board just enough to leave me one step behind.''

 Chapter 37 - 37: The Tomb of Weeping Emperor (8)

    Third Chamber ¡ª The Fake Treasure!


    BAM!


    "Just my luck..." Su Xiaobai muttered, dusting off his already ruined robes. He slapped at the dirt, but all it did was leave him looking like he''d rolled in mud for fun.


    His heartbeat pounded in his chest like an irate elder slamming their palm on the table during a sect meeting. He could barely hear over the roar of blood in his ears, but his eyes remained locked on the cavern before him.


    The massive chamber stretched out, glowing faintly with a mystical light that whispered, ''This place is important. Be amazed, you peasant.''


    At its center, a chest hovered above a jade-and-obsidian altar, its radiant glow practically screaming, ''I''m treasure. Come fight over me!''


    The thing was so smug it could have grown arms just to give everyone the middle finger.


    "That''s it! The treasure!" Liu Zhenhai''s excited yell shattered the quiet chamber.


    His perfectly styled golden hair caught the chamber''s light, making him look like a narcissistic god. His eyes gleamed, a perfect combination of greed and ambition.


    But he wasn''t alone in his ogling.


    Wang Fei licked his lips, his gaze so intense it could have melted through the altar. He looked like a hungry dog eyeing a steak.


    Beside him, Chen Yong swaggered forward, practically oozing greed.


    "Whatever''s in there is mine," Chen Yong declared, his sneer so wide it could have stretched into the next dimension. "Step aside, unless you want to regret it."


    Fatty Zhou, stunned, crossed his arms and let out a loud snort. "Yours? What did you do, oh mighty inner disciple? Sit pretty while the rest of us risked our necks? The only thing you''ve earned is a front-row seat to me opening that chest!"


    Chen Yong''s face darkened like a storm cloud, and he barked, "Shut your filthy mouth, you tub of fat. Outer disciples don''t get a say here."


    "Oh yeah? Come closer and say that to my face!" Zhou growled, his belly trembling with barely contained rage.


    The tension crackled like a lightning array about to detonate, but before anyone could swing a fist or summon a technique, Xiao Yu''s voice echoed, filled with doubt.


    "Wait... Where''s Lan Meiyu?"


    "Huh?"


    "!"


    The question hit like a thunderclap.


    "Lan Meiyu?" Wang Fei repeated, blinking.


    "Where is she?" Liu Zhenhai echoed, his brow furrowing.


    The shadows answered.


    Lan Meiyu stepped forward, her figure emerging from the darkness like a ghost bent on vengeance. Her usually pristine robes hung in tatters, revealing streaks of dirt and sweat-streaked skin beneath.


    Her every step radiated fury, her eyes blazing like twin suns ready to incinerate everything in their path.


    Su Xiaobai''s gut clenched. A chill raced down his spine, and for one absurd moment, he wondered if his Yang Qi was about to abandon him in fear. ''She looks like she''s here to kill someone. And knowing my rotten luck, that someone is definitely me.''


    "SCOUNDREL!" Her voice rang out like a divine decree, slamming into him with the force of a collapsing mountain.


    Everyone turned to stare at Su Xiaobai.


    ''Great. Perfect. Yeah, this is fine,'' he thought bitterly. ''Sure, let''s just ignore the glowing chest of potential death in the room and make me the center of attention. Love this.''


    "Senior sister," he said carefully, forcing a smile that felt about as convincing as a paper shield. "What''s¡ª"


    "SHUT UP!" Her roar shook the chamber, and her trembling finger pointed straight at him. "You¡­ You dared to violate me! You used my body for your disgusting pleasure in that cave!"


    Hiss!


    Gasps rippled through the chamber.


    "Wait, what?" Wang Fei''s jaw dropped.


    "This little rat¡­?" Liu Zhenhai murmured, his lips twitching with something between shock and anger.


    "Bastard." Xiao Yu let out a disgusted snort, shaking his head. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Su Xiaobai froze. He tilted his head slightly, his expression calm, but his brain was spinning faster than an unstable formation. ''Violated? Used her body? What kind of fever-dream accusation is this?!''


    Of course, he did do that. But seriously¡ªwhy was she announcing it like this?


    Couldn''t we settle this outside? Quietly? Like civilized cultivators¡ªor at least in a place without so many witnesses ready to stab me in the back?


    "Senior sister," he began again, bowing slightly, "I think there''s been a misunderstanding. I would never¡ª"


    "LIAR!" Her sword materialized in her hand, glowing with sharp, murderous intent. For a brief moment, Su Xiaobai saw his own pale face reflected in the blade''s edge.


    Before Lan Meiyu could take his head, Elder Bai''s voice rang out, it carried the tone of someone fed up with babysitting a pack of unruly brats.


    "Enough!"


    The room stilled.


    Even the hovering chest seemed to dim its glow in deference to the elder''s commanding presence.


    "Lan Meiyu," Elder Bai said, her tone colder than an ice cave. "You''ve accused him of a grave crime. But the Xiantian Sect does not act on baseless claims. Where is your proof?"


    Lan Meiyu''s grip on her sword tightened, her knuckles white as bone. "I know what he did! He violated me while I was defenseless!"


    Elder Bai''s eyes narrowed. "Then provide evidence. We do not punish based on outrage alone."


    "..."


    "..."


    The silence was deafening.


    Elder Bai''s piercing gaze shifted to Lan Meiyu, her eyes narrowing with suspicion. The girl had been defenseless? Helpless against this rogue cultivator? Elder Bai''s lips tightened into a thin line. She could smell the nonsense from a mile away.


    Lan Meiyu, a disciple of Xiantian sect with enough skill to slap someone like Su Xiaobai into next week, suddenly unable to fend him off? It didn''t add up.


    What''s more, Elder Bai had been observing Lan Meiyu throughout this treasure hunt. The girl wasn''t just cunning¡ªshe was calculating. Too calculating for someone who was supposedly caught off guard.


    ''No,'' Elder Bai thought, her instincts sharpening. ''This disciple isn''t simple at all.''


    Lan Meiyu''s face turned ugly as the elder seemed to not believe her at all.


    At that moment, Liu Zhenhai stepped in to assist, holding up a vial of shimmering purple liquid. "Elder Bai, I have a Truth-Seeking Elixir. Let him drink it, and we''ll know the truth."


    Elder Bai arched a brow, observing the vial filled with the shimmering blue liquid. "That''s a rare treasure. Are you truly willing to sacrifice it for this?"


    Liu Zhenhai''s gaze burned with self-righteous. "Justice demands sacrifice. If he''s guilty, the truth will reveal itself."


    Su Xiaobai''s lips twitched. ''Oh, great. This guy''s playing hero. How noble.''


    Without waiting, Su Xiaobai stepped forward and grabbed the vial out of Liu Zhenhai''s hand.


    "What are you doing?!" Elder Bai barked, stunned.


    He uncorked the vial, the fragrant aroma wafting through the chamber. "Let''s get this over with," he said flatly, tipping the elixir back and downing it in one go.


    The heat hit instantly, spreading through his body like wildfire. It felt like someone had peeled his mind open and pinned it to a dissecting table.


    Elder Bai, quickly recovering from her initial surprise, stepped forward, her sharp gaze boring into him. "Who are you?"


    She wanted to confirm his identity first¡ªhe couldn''t be just a spy from a heretic sect, could he?

 Chapter 38 - 38: Elder Bais Invitation!

    "Who are you?"


    The question echoed sharply through the chamber like a sword cleaving through stone.


    Before Su Xiaobai could process it, the Truth-Seeking Elixir surged through his veins, fiery and unrelenting. The words spilled from his mouth as if some celestial power had tied strings to his tongue.


    "My name is Su Xiaobai," he said, his voice hollow, his eyes dim. "I come from far beyond this sect, from snow-capped mountains where the wind howls like a beast at night. My family¡­ was once powerful. My father, a peerless cultivator, and my mother, a storm of destruction. But me?" He let out a self-deprecating laugh. "I was nothing. A failure. My veins locked, my body unable to cultivate."


    "..."


    "..."


    The chamber fell deathly silent.


    The gathered disciples and even Bai Yujian frozen, their hostility replaced by uneasy curiosity.


    "I was the outcast," Su Xiaobai continued, his fists tightening as memories clawed at him. "My sisters believed in me, but when my father died under mysterious circumstances, everything fell apart. My family was shunned and exiled to the wilderness. And then¡­ a demon found us. My mother and my sisters¡ªthey all abandoned me... I watched helplessly as it destroyed everything. I survived, but just barely."


    His confession settled over the room like a thundercloud.


    "Eventually, my cultivation returned," he said, his voice filled with emotion. "But it''s weak¡ªpathetic compared to what I need to kill that demon. I''ve trained every day, but the demon who took everything from me¡­ still lives."


    "..."


    "..."


    A heavy silence stretched across the chamber.


    Even Lan Meiyu, who moments ago was practically frothing with anger, faltered slightly.


    But then she stepped forward, her voice sharp as ever. "Spare us your sob story. That doesn''t explain what you did to me in the cave!"


    The room shifted, the somber atmosphere dissipating instantly. Bai Yujian, who had appeared moved, now turned cold again.


    Su Xiaobai blinked.


    Then, a slow, smug smile crept onto his face. ''Ah, so the higher-ups did save my ass,'' he thought, completely misreading the situation.


    He''d felt the elixir begin to control him earlier, but then, almost immediately, it was snuffed out¡ªburned away like dry grass in a wildfire.


    The words spilling from his mouth were all his own now, not the elixir''s doing.


    ''They''ve got my back,'' he thought. ''Those immortals must have decided I''m too valuable to lose. Good thing I guzzled the damn thing before anyone could stop me!''


    He had no idea that the truth was far less glamorous: the ''infernal flames'' coursing through his core had effortlessly consumed the elixir.


    It was simply too low-grade to affect someone like him.


    ¡ª But for now, Su Xiaobai basked in his imaginary divine protection.


    With renewed confidence, he spoke smoothly, his tone as calm as a clear lake. "Senior Sister Lan, you misunderstand. You were caught in an illusion formation. It made you tear your robes and act erratically. I stepped in to help, but you mistook my intentions. So I left."


    "Liar!" Lan Meiyu snarled, her sword vibrating with dangerous energy.


    Elder Bai raised her hand, "Enough!"


    Her presence silenced the room, she turned to Su Xiaobai, studying him with an unreadable expression. "The Truth-Seeking Elixir compels honesty," she said. "If what he says is true, then we owe him an apology."


    "But..." Lan Meiyu''s face twisted in fury, but before she could respond, Elder Bai''s palm lashed out with the speed of lightning.


    SLAP!


    The sound echoed like thunder.


    "Wh¡ª" Lan Meiyu staggered back, clutching her cheek in shock, "E-Elder you?"


    "You''ve embarrassed our sect enough," Elder Bai said coldly. "Let this be a lesson to think before you accuse."


    The disciples murmured amongst themselves, their earlier hostility toward Su Xiaobai now replaced with uncertainty.


    Elder Bai turned back to him, her expression softening. "For your integrity and restraint, I offer this." She held out an icy-blue lotus, its aura chilling the air. "The Frostwhisper Lotus. Use it to stabilize your cultivation."


    Then, from her sleeve, she drew a silver token etched with the intricate image of a sword surrounded by flowing clouds. Its craftsmanship radiated quiet elegance, but the aura it emitted was anything but subtle.


    "This is my personal token," she said. "If you ever find yourself near the Xiantian Sect and feel the call to a righteous path, use it to seek me directly. I cannot force you to stay now. But I see a rare heart in you¡ªa strength that resists walking the path of evil despite your suffering."


    Hiss!


    The disciples gasped softly.


    A personal token from Elder Bai wasn''t just a favor¡ªit was a mark of distinction.


    She continued, her voice firm yet sincere. "Our sect lacks people like you, Su Xiaobai. If you are left to wander without guidance, I fear the world''s temptations will turn you toward darkness. This token is a promise¡ªnot to demand, but to offer. Should you ever need help, or if you choose to stand with the righteous, I will stand with you."


    Su Xiaobai accepted the token with a humble bow. "Thank you, Elder. I will never forget this kindness."


    Inside, though, he laughed to himself. A sword-shaped token from a righteous sect? Oh, the irony. If she only knew what I really thought about her precious ''righteous path.''


    Blinded by the rigid black-and-white morality of the world, Su Xiaobai had no intention of conforming. He preferred to rise above it all, to be the one who decided what was black and white for himself.


    For now, the higher-ups were the ones drawing that line, but one day¡­


    Elder Bai gestured toward the treasure chest. "Now, let us claim what we came here for. The treasure will be divided¡ªhalf for Su Xiaobai, half for the sect."


    No one dared object.


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    Elder Bai floated toward the chest, her movements serene.


    Su Xiaobai watched her, his outward expression calm, but his heart pounded with excitement. ''Whatever''s inside¡­ half of it is mine. If there''s a spatial treasure in there, I could even negotiate for a better deal!''


    As Elder Bai dismantled the protective formations, his thoughts turned cold and calculating.


    The chest''s glow intensified, promising treasures beyond imagination.


    Su Xiaobai''s polite smile never wavered, but deep within, infernal flames roared. His gaze briefly flicked to Liu Zhenhai''s back, the man now glaring at the treasure with unhidden greed, while Lan Meiyu stood in the corner, seemingly uninterested yet silently seething with disbelief and anger.


    Whether I like it or not, Su Xiaobai thought darkly, I''ve gained one more enemy today. As for Liu Zhenhai? That meddlesome fool... Su Xiaobai''s eyes narrowed.


    Butting into other people''s affairs¡ªhe really needs to be taught a lesson.

 Chapter 39 - 39: The Real Treasure!

    The Treasure Revealed!


    Click!


    Elder Bai''s hand hovered over the chest. With a soft click, the lid creaked open, spilling a faint glow like a teasing promise.


    The disciples leaned forward, breaths held, as if the chest held the meaning of life itself.


    Su Xiaobai''s heart thumped wildly. ''Finally! I can go home! Come on, chest¡ªdon''t hold out on me now. Pills to turn me into a walking god? A blade sharp enough to slice through fate itself? Or... oh, a perfect jade beauty to¡ª'' He coughed internally. ''No? Okay, just send me back home already!''


    Outwardly, he maintained his wide-eyed, innocent expression. Inwardly, he was practically salivating.


    However¡ª


    Rumble¡­ Rumble¡­


    The chest began to tremble violently.


    A sudden gust of wind swept through the chamber, extinguishing torches and whipping hair and robes around like flustered chickens.


    "Wha¡ªwhat''s happening?" someone stammered.


    Whoosh!


    The lid cracked open further, and inky black miasma poured out, curling and twisting across the floor like a living thing.


    BAM!


    The air turned icy as shadows devoured the light.


    The smug grin froze on Su Xiaobai''s face. "Oh... it''s another trap, isn''t it?" He wasn''t even surprised anymore; he had just been carried away by the plot.


    "What is this?" Elder Bai muttered, her serene aura flaring protectively as she stepped back.


    "Take formations!" Liu Zhenhai barked, his sword already unsheathed and glowing faintly in the oppressive dark.


    Then it hit.


    The smell.


    BAM!


    The stench of rotting flesh slapped Su Xiaobai like a jealous ex. "Ugh!" He gagged, clutching his nose as bile threatened to rise. "What in the unholy name of plot twists is that?!"


    Rustle¡­ Rustle¡­


    From the swirling fog, countless glowing red eyes flickered to life, blinking in eerie unison like a legion of predators closing in.


    And then, they emerged.


    The ghouls.


    Twisted corpses, reanimated by dark Qi and twisted beyond recognition. Skeletal frames, patches of decaying skin, their mouths gaping to reveal jagged, dripping fangs.


    Their claws scraped the ground, filling the chamber with a grating screech that set teeth on edge.


    Su Xiaobai froze, his stomach churning. ''So¡­ these are ghouls?''


    Kacha! Kacha!


    "Prepare yourselves!" Liu Zhenhai roared. His sword flared brighter as he stepped into a defensive stance.


    Meanwhile, Su Xiaobai was busy reevaluating his life choices. ''I could''ve been a farmer. Or a merchant. Hell, even a wandering bard! But no, I just had to chase treasure and end up in a room full of ghouls. Ha. Fantastic.''


    Whoever was writing his destiny clearly had a cruel sense of humor.


    He glanced around. The disciples were scrambling into formation while Elder Bai''s aura shielded the group from the worst of the miasma.


    Yeah, no. I''m not dying for this.


    Without hesitation, Su Xiaobai turned and bolted for the far edge of the chamber. ''Screw bravery. Screw teamwork. Screw this entire chapter.''


    The idea of playing hero¡ªslashing ghouls left and right to impress the higher-ups¡ªflickered briefly in his mind before reality hit like a brick. MFS, not even a single bone of mine would remain.


    He didn''t even try to hide his retreat. Survival wasn''t shameful¡ªit was an art.


    But as he ran, a horrifying thought struck him. What if Lan Meiyu decides to stab me "accidentally" in the chaos? She probably still thinks I owe her a lifetime of suffering.


    The mental image made his pace quicken.


    Nope. Not waiting to find out.


    That''s when he saw it¡ªa faint shimmer flickering at the edge of the chamber, like a mirage.


    Void cracks.


    Ever since awakening the Void Thunder Dragon in his spirit sea, these mysterious distortions had become an annoying reality. They appeared randomly, warping space, offering transportation to... wherever.


    One had already yanked him into the first chamber, dropping him in front of a giant door like an uninvited guest.


    While he didn''t fully understand how they worked, he ''did'' know they were risky as hell.


    But right now? Risky was better than dead.


    "Please," he muttered, sprinting toward the shimmering crack. "Take me anywhere but here!"


    Whoosh!


    He dove in headfirst.


    The world twisted violently, space collapsing in on itself as colors bled and stretched like a surreal painting.


    "Ugh¡­"


    The pressure pulled at him, squeezing his body like a stress toy, until¡ª


    CRASH!


    He landed hard, groaning as he rolled over and sat up. "Argh¡­ Where now?"


    He blinked, his jaw dropping as he took in his surroundings.


    The second chamber.


    It was pristine.


    The eerie pond shimmered faintly in the dim light, its surface as smooth as glass. The glowing array in the center pulsed rhythmically, completely untouched.


    Su Xiaobai stared, his disbelief palpable. "The second chamber didn''t collapse?"


    Was this luck? Fate? Or... oh no.


    His hand instinctively reached for his spatial ring, pulling out a large key he''d sneakily pocketed from the altar earlier. It gleamed faintly, its intricate design mocking him.


    He groaned, rubbing his temples. "So this is why, huh? This stupid key is the real treasure..."


    Breaking into a bitter laugh, he looked up at the ceiling, directly addressing whatever forces seemed to govern his life. "Hey, you up there! Could you please stop screwing with me for five minutes? Maybe just once, give me some actual treasure instead of dropping hints?!"


    He shook his head, muttering. "I swear, if I die one more time, I''m quitting this and becoming a farmer¡­"


    But even as the words left his mouth, he sighed. ''I can''t die yet.''


    He stood, dusting himself off and scanning the chamber warily.


    Nothing seemed out of place, but the silence was unnerving.


    "Fine," he muttered, gripping the key. "Let''s see what kind of crap you''ve got waiting for me now."


    With curses and complaints spilling under his breath, Su Xiaobai began navigating the chamber, carefully checking every hole for a place to put his thing¡­


    ¡­The key. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He coughed to himself, trying to ignore the mental imagery. "Really? Even my thoughts are against me now? Focus, Su Xiaobai. Focus."


    Somewhere in here¡­ lies the real treasure.


    One Hour Later!


    "Ugh¡­ it''s so hard¡­" Su Xiaobai collapsed onto the muddy ground, his chest heaving as if he''d just run a marathon. He''d searched every corner of the chamber, but there was no place to put his huge thing.


    The key, ofcourse.


    "Should I ask Xiao Lu?" he muttered, glancing toward his spatial ring. But a quick check showed Xiao Lu was still meditating, her aura pulsing faintly as she neared a breakthrough.


    He sighed. "Guess it''s all on me."


    As his gaze wandered, the glimmering spiritual pond caught his attention. A reckless idea flashed through his mind. ''Can I store the pond in my ring?''


    The thought seemed absurd, but if it worked, the energy in the pond could push him straight into the Core Formation realm¡ªor beyond if luck was on his side.


    Sitting up, he frowned at the shimmering water. Minutes passed as he stared blankly, piecing together the details.


    Then it hit him. "Formation!"


    Every chamber had a formation. How had he not noticed it before? The pond wasn''t just decorative¡ªit was part of the formation, its spiritual energy fueling it.


    He glanced at the key in his hand, and the realization struck. They''d skipped solving this formation entirely, leaping ahead to the next chamber. Maybe the "temporal formation" was just a decoy, and this was the final test.


    His eyes narrowed on the altar floating in the center of the pond, supported by a thick stone pillar. If there was an answer, it had to be beneath that altar.


    But first, the water had to go.


    "Let''s test my luck," he muttered, holding up Ning Gufan''s spatial ring.


    Gurgle¡­ Gurgle¡­


    The pond rippled, and Su Xiaobai''s eyebrows shot up as the water began swirling toward the ring.


    "It works?!" he exclaimed, startled but thrilled.


    Taking a deep breath, he focused his spiritual energy into the ring.


    WHOOSH!


    The pond spiraled upward, a roaring whirlpool of spiritual water cascading into the ring. The sheer force made his robes flutter dramatically¡ªfinally, a moment that made him look cool.


    "Ha! Just as planned!" he laughed, grinning as the water drained rapidly.


    As the pond emptied, the altar floated lower, revealing the stone pillar beneath it. Near the bottom of the pillar, previously submerged, was a small, key-shaped indentation.


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes widened. "There it is!"


    GLUG GLUG GLUG!


    The last of the water vanished into the ring, leaving behind an eerie silence. Su Xiaobai stepped forward, his boots squelching in the mud.


    SQUELCH! SQUELCH!


    "Perfect. A grand cultivator reduced to walking through muck like a farmer. Truly, I am the epitome of grace," he grumbled.


    Reaching the base of the pillar, he crouched to inspect the groove. The faint glow of jade runes surrounded it, pulsing with residual energy from the drained pond.


    "So, this is where you go," Su Xiaobai murmured, holding up the key. He slid it into the slot, twisting slightly.


    CLICK!


    The runes flared to life, light racing up the pillar and spreading across the altar above.


    RUMMMMMMMBLE!


    The entire structure shuddered as the altar began to descend into the pillar. Su Xiaobai stumbled back, his eyes fixed on the now-revealed passage.


    Stairs spiraled downward into the darkness, their edges faintly illuminated by soft, glowing runes.


    He stared at the opening, "Finally," he muttered, excited, gripping his spatial ring tightly. "Let''s see what kind of treasures are waiting for me down there."


    Without hesitation, Su Xiaobai stepped forward, vanishing into the depths of an unknown dark entrance.

 Chapter 40 - 40: Rigged Trials!

    The Hidden Trial!


    Tap... Tap... Tap...


    Su Xiaobai descended the hidden staircase, the faint glow of jade runes barely piercing the suffocating darkness.


    Each step felt heavier, each echo louder, as if the walls themselves were judging his life choices.


    "Perfect," he muttered. "First, a cursed pond... Now, stairs into the abyss. What''s next, a welcoming party from the higher-ups? Like, ''Hey! Everything before was just a prank! You can go back to your good ol'' life and raise chickens!''"


    He snorted, shaking his head. "If only. Knowing my luck, the chickens would probably spit fire and demand I fight them for eggs."


    Even his sarcastic grumbling couldn''t drown out the anxious pounding in his chest, as though something bad were about to happen.


    But hey, it''s bad already¡ªit can''t get worse, right?


    Beneath the surface, frustration simmered with real stakes.


    Somewhere down here lay the treasure he needed¡ªno, ''had'' to find.


    Without it, there was no way back home.


    Rustle ~~


    The air grew colder as he descended, the qi-rich energy of the upper chambers fading into lifeless silence. Mist seeped through cracks in the walls, curling around his legs like ghostly hands.


    Su Xiaobai paused, glancing at the sinister green fog with a frown. "Seriously, who designs these places? Did some ancient cultivator look at a foggy swamp and think, ''You know what this needs? A soul-devouring dungeon!''?"


    Still, he pressed on.


    Returning home wasn''t just a dream¡ªit was his only hope of escaping this godforsaken realm.


    The staircase eventually gave way to a cavern so vast it felt like stepping into another world.


    The air suffused with an oppressive stillness that pressed against his senses.


    Violet cracks lined the jagged walls, glowing faintly with an otherworldly pulse. It wasn''t the steady hum of life¡ªit was the rhythm of something unnatural.


    Su Xiaobai''s boots crunched against loose gravel as he stepped forward, his voice a low mutter. "Oh, yeah. This definitely doesn''t scream death trap. Maybe next, I''ll stumble across a sign that says ''Sacrifice Yourself Here.''"


    He froze mid-step, his attention snapping to a faint blue glow hovering in the center of the chamber.


    Hiss!


    His heart leapt¡ªthen immediately sank.


    At first, he thought it was some sort of treasure. Then he got a better look.


    The glow emanated from a pulsating object, suspended midair like an embryo cradled in light. Threads of qi spiraled into it, converging with unsettling precision.


    A chill ran down his spine.


    This wasn''t just creepy¡ªit was downright wrong.


    "Okay," he whispered, stepping back instinctively. "Definitely not a treasure. Definitely alive. And definitely something I don''t want to get near."


    His gaze swept the chamber, the cracks in the walls, the dead qi, the eerie mist¡ªit all revolved around this thing.


    And then it hit him.


    "This isn''t a treasure vault¡­" His voice trembled as the realization sank in. "It''s a damn soul forge!"


    From the Infernal Emperor''s memories, Su Xiaobai recognized the signs: the glowing cracks formed a ''Soul Refining Array'', an ancient formation designed to extract the essence of fallen cultivators and refine it into pure qi.


    The embryo wasn''t just alive¡ªit was feeding on their souls, the same cultivators who had died in the trials above.


    Su Xiaobai''s stomach churned. He glanced back at the way he''d come, as if expecting to hear their screams echoing from above. "Wait a second¡­" he muttered, his throat dry.


    All the chambers above weren''t designed to be passed¡ªthey were never trials at all. From the very beginning, this place had been a trap, a slaughterhouse wrapped in the illusion of glory.


    His gaze snapped back to the embryo, the swirling threads of qi around it suddenly feeling much more sinister. A horrifying thought made its way into his mind.


    "Some of this qi¡­ could it be¡­" He swallowed hard. "Could it be the souls of that hot Elder Bai and the Xiantian Sect disciples?"


    He grimaced, the image of their faces flashing in his mind.


    They''d been so confident, so proud. But if they''d fallen for the traps¡­ if they''d died here¡­


    For a moment, panic clawed at him.


    But then, his mind leapt to a more comforting thought:


    "Wait¡­" He glanced around, his lips quirking into a weak smile. "Since I''m the only one who made it this far, that must mean the higher-ups set this up just for me! They wouldn''t actually let me die here, right?"


    He straightened, a nervous laugh escaping him. "Right? This is just one of their twisted ways of helping me grow stronger. They''re testing me. Yeah, that''s it."


    The smile faded as his eyes drifted back to the embryo. "They''re also trying to kill me, but, you know, details."


    As his gaze lowered, something else caught his attention.


    Beneath the embryo, half-hidden in the mist, was a coffin.


    A Fate-Deceiving Coffin.


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes froze for a second ¡ª a real treasure!


    If not for the Infernal Emperor''s memories, he wouldn''t have recognized it. This wasn''t mortal craftsmanship¡ªit was an artifact from the Four Heavens, the kind of item Immortal Emperors waged wars over.


    And here it was, just¡­ lying around.


    He stared at it for a long moment, his hands trembling. "What kind of lunatic leaves something like this sitting in a soul-devouring array?"


    Despite himself, Su Xiaobai stepped closer, his curiosity outweighing his sense of self-preservation.


    The carvings on the coffin glowed faintly, their patterns radiating an aura of ancient power.


    Surrounding the coffin were several stone tables, each piled with decayed scrolls and shattered artifacts.


    Su Xiaobai approached cautiously, brushing the dust off a brittle scroll.


    As he unrolled it, the runes etched on the parchment sent a jolt of recognition through him.


    "Runic script¡­" he murmured, his fingers tracing the faded characters.


    This wasn''t ordinary language. It was the language of the gods, the kind of thing that could rewrite reality itself.


    He swallowed, glancing at the glowing cracks on the walls and the eerie stillness of the chamber. Everything about this place¡ªthe array, the embryo, the Fate-Deceiving Coffin¡ªwas far beyond the realm of mortals. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "This isn''t just some ancient dungeon," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "This¡­ this has to be the tomb of an immortal cultivator. None of this stuff belongs in the mortal world."


    His gaze flicked to the glowing cracks along the walls, then back to the scroll.


    The words seemed to leap off the page, charged with an energy that made his hair stand on end.


    ____


    "I, Tian Yu, the Emperor of the Northern Heavens, inscribe this record with a heart burdened by grief and regret, for these may be the last words I leave in this world. My beloved... I remember the first time I met her, like it was carved into my very soul."*


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes skimmed the scroll''s opening lines.


    "Of course," he muttered, glancing up briefly at the cavern around him. "Why would I find treasure here when I can find another tragic backstory? Thanks, higher-ups. Really appreciate it."


    Despite his grumbling, he read on. The scroll carried an undeniable temptation, the kind of story that pulled at even the most jaded hearts.


    The tale began vividly, almost dreamlike.


    Tian Yu described traveling across the desolate Northern Plains, a land of endless storms and winds that howled like grieving ghosts.


    ___


    "The first time I saw her, the heavens wept, for even the skies knew that their most beautiful creation was no longer their own. I found her on the Northern Plains, lost and fragile in the cold. I had taken refuge in a small, broken-down hut as rain poured down from above. And there she was, a girl no older than fourteen, soaked to the bone, trembling in the storm. She was a vision of delicate strength, her eyes holding the wild determination of someone who had lost everything but refused to yield to fate."


    "I had seen many beauties in my time, but none like her. Yue''er. That was her name. Her presence struck me like a blade to the heart. Even as I saved her from bandits that descended upon the hut, she showed no gratitude. No, instead, she raised her dagger against me, a foolish attempt to take my life. Ha-ha-ha... But even in her weakness, even in her desperation, there was a fire in her that called to me, and I knew... I could never let her go."

 Chapter 41 - 41: Alone!

    Su Xiaobai let out a long breath. The Emperor''s words were steeped in longing and awe, the memory seared into his soul. He could almost picture the scene: the rain, the violence, the girl''s beautiful gaze.


    "Sure," Su Xiaobai muttered, rubbing his temples. "Let''s ignore the red flags in that story. What could possibly go wrong with chaining yourself to someone who greets you with a dagger?"


    Still, as he read further, even Su Xiaobai couldn''t deny the Emperor''s devotion.


    ____


    "She was no ordinary girl. Yue''er told me that she was dying, a cruel disease had already begun to devour her vitality, consuming her slowly, painfully, from within. It had left her wandering the world, seeking a cure she knew she would never find. How could someone so fierce, so young, be condemned to such a fate?"


    "I could not accept it. I bound her with chains at first to keep her by my side¡ªshe hated me for it, fought me every step of the way. But over time, we fought side by side. I vowed to find a cure for her as we conquered the North together, and then the South. Together, we united lands, defeated warlords, and brought peace to realms that had known nothing but chaos. Together, we forged the White Jade Sword, and I stole the strings from the heavens themselves to craft the Heavenly Bow as my gift to her. We were unstoppable. I believed, with all the arrogance of a young Emperor, that we could conquer even death itself."


    ____


    Su Xiaobai''s fingers tightened around the scroll. The White Jade Sword. The Heavenly Bow.


    Artifacts whispered about in the legends of the northern plains, which no longer exist in the world, could be relics potentially dating back hundreds of millions of years.


    He blinked, glancing up at the coffin and the embryo above it. A bitter laugh escaped his lips. "So, let me get this straight. While I''m stuck here trying to find a way home, I''ve stumbled onto the love story of the century¡ªcomplete with star-crossed lovers, legendary weapons, and a whole lot of unresolved trauma. Yeah, thanks for that."


    But the humor couldn''t fully mask the pang in his chest.


    He read on, compelled by the Emperor''s desperation.


    _____


    "We built the ''Lost City'', a monument to our victories, and within it, the ''Heaven''s Library'', a place where the knowledge of the world could be preserved. But all the knowledge, all the power we had amassed¡ªnone of it could save her. As the days passed, I watched helplessly as her vibrant spirit withered. The disease came back fiercer than ever, draining her vitality at a terrifying pace. I... I was powerless to stop it."


    "Yue''er, always the stronger of us, made me promise to live on after her. To ascend alone if I must. Even as her strength faded, she smiled at me, telling me to look at the stars and not mourn her. But how could I? How could I live on, knowing the only person I ever loved was taken from me? I vowed that day... I would never let her go. I wouldn''t abandon her, not to the cruel hands of fate, not to the heavens."


    _____


    Su Xiaobai let out a low whistle. "Now that''s dedication. Crazy, obsessive, self-destructive dedication, but dedication nonetheless."


    The image of Tian Yu, a mighty Emperor brought to his knees by love, flickered vividly in his mind. For all his flaws, the man had been willing to defy heaven itself to keep his promise.


    It was foolish.


    And yet, Su Xiaobai found it¡­ inspiring. In a twisted, hopeless sort of way.


    _____


    "I sealed her body in the Fate-Deceiving Coffin, a relic that even the gods themselves would covet. It preserved her, kept her beauty and essence intact, hidden from the prying eyes of the death. But it wasn''t enough. It was never enough. I needed to bring her back."


    ____


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes flicked to the coffin in the chamber before him. It pulsed faintly, as if responding to the words in the scroll.


    He felt a shiver crawl up his spine.


    "Nope," he muttered. "Not creepy at all. Definitely not about to bite me in the ass later."


    And yet, he kept reading.


    _____


    "I searched for centuries, no longer an Emperor but a grieving man chasing shadows, until I found mention of the ''Immortal Fetus'', a legendary creation said to be born in places rich with qi. To consume it was to gain the strength of a genius who appears once in a million years. I became obsessed. I believed¡ªno, I knew¡ªthat if I could create one artificially, I could use it to bring her back to life."


    "For this, I built the Soul Refining Array, a monstrous thing that feeds on the souls of those who wander into this cave, lured by rumors of treasure. I became the monster I once swore to destroy. For thousands of years, I harvested the souls of the foolish, all to fuel the creation of this Immortal Fetus. And yet, I failed. Again and again, I failed."


    _____


    Su Xiaobai exhaled sharply.


    He closed his eyes, letting Tian Yu''s words sink in.


    So he was right. It had been a trap from the very beginning¡ªeverything orchestrated to fuel this immortal fetus that was meant to heal Yue''er?


    _____


    "Now, even as I write this, I feel it¡ªthe Immortal Fetus has begun to devour me as well. The very thing I created to save Yue''er is draining my vitality. My body weakens. My life slips away, just as hers did. The irony of it... I cannot help but laugh bitterly."


    "Please. If anyone finds this, I beg you¡ªuse the Immortal Fetus to bring her back. If you delay too long, the Fetus will mature into an Immortal Embryo, and it will bring nothing but calamity. But if you act quickly, you can still save her. You must save her. I have failed her, but perhaps... perhaps someone else can succeed where I could not."


    _____


    The scroll ended abruptly, the final words trailing off as if the Emperor''s strength had finally given out.


    Su Xiaobai stared at the crumpled parchment in his hands, the silence of the chamber pressing down on him like a suffocating fog.


    The sadness of centuries, of grief and failure, seemed to seep from the walls, curling into his thoughts.


    "This isn''t a trial ground," he muttered finally, his voice hoarse. He glanced at the coffin, the embryo pulsing faintly above it. "This is a tomb. And I''m the latest idiot to stumble into it, thinking I''d get a prize."


    His laugh came out hollow, echoing through the cavern. Somewhere in this cursed mess was the treasure he needed to escape¡ªthe key to going home.


    The reason he''d pushed himself through trap after trap.


    But how could he even begin to understand the legacy of an obsession so destructive it had defied heaven itself? A love that had devoured souls, shattered dreams, and consumed a man who once ruled the stars?


    Su Xiaobai clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms. The desperation that had driven Tian Yu wasn''t unfamiliar¡ªit mirrored his own.


    "Why¡­" He exhaled shakily, glaring at the embryo, the coffin, the very aura around him. "Why can''t you just give me the treasure and stop playing with me?"


    The faint pulse of the embryo offered no answer.


    His temples throbbed as frustration and exhaustion flooded him. His entire body felt heavy, as if the universe itself was bearing down on him. He closed his eyes, trying to make sense of the chaos, but the same thought kept surfacing.


    Wasn''t this entire cave meant for him to get the Spatial Treasure?


    Wasn''t someone up there planning all this, guiding him toward the next step, like in every other trial he''d faced?


    The question burned at the back of his mind, sharp and painful.


    "..."


    His legs buckled without warning, and he sank to the ground.


    Thud.


    For a moment, he simply sat there, staring at the floor. The cold stone bit into his skin, but he didn''t care. A bitter laugh escaped his lips as a thought, unbidden, crashed into his mind.


    "Am I not¡­ the main character?" he whispered.


    The words tasted foreign, wrong, like poison on his tongue. But once spoken, they refused to fade. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    His eyes widened as the doubt took root, spreading like wildfire through his thoughts. Was he really the center of this grand, cosmic stage?


    Or had he just fooled himself into thinking so?


    Wasn''t it strange? The trials, the dangers, the supposed "help" from the higher-ups¡ªwhy had he always assumed they cared about him?


    Why had he believed, even for a second, that the plot had his survival in mind?


    "What if I was never the focus of this story?" he murmured, his voice trembling. His gaze drifted upward, to the shadows of the cavern''s ceiling. "What if¡­ no one''s even watching?"


    The silence offered no comfort, no reassurance.


    His mind shook as memories hit him like tidal waves. The Fairy Lianhua. The bizarre coincidences. The narrow escapes. Could those really have been planned?


    Or were they just¡­ accidents?


    ¡ª Flukes of a story that didn''t even include him in its pages?


    "Is no one there anymore¡­?"

 Chapter 42 - 42: Celestial Inscriber! Astral Gateway Array!

    "Is no one there anymore¡­?"


    The words echoed against the cold stone walls. For the first time in years, Su Xiaobai felt truly, utterly alone.


    This was what he''d wanted.


    To live as an insignificant character. To escape the gaze of the higher-ups. To slip through the cracks of the cosmic stage and avoid the world''s cruel whims.


    And he''d gotten it.


    But why did it hurt?


    Why did the thought of being insignificant, of being just another nameless figure swept away by someone else''s story, make his chest ache?


    He still had a family to save¡ªhis mother and sisters, if they were even alive.


    Or were they, too, like insignificant characters erased from the story without so much as a mention? Killed in the background, forgotten by everyone, even the heavens?


    Was he working for nothing?


    Did it all even make sense anymore?


    Insignificant characters weren''t people of focus. They weren''t the ones whose stories were written. Even someone like Sun Liang¡ªsomeone adored by everyone, someone whose life was the stage¡ªmight''ve trampled families like his.


    Would anyone even notice?


    His wish to be insignificant had been fulfilled.


    But did it make his life any better?


    Tears pricked at the corners of his eyes, though he refused to let them fall. The bitterness of his doubts threatened to choke him.


    It felt hollow now.


    He could still continue. But what for?


    For revenge that might never feel complete? For a family that might no longer exist?


    And when he returned to White Cloud Star¡ªif he returned¡ªwould there be anything left for him to find?


    "Maybe¡­ everyone I knew is already gone."


    The thought, cold and unshakable.


    For a long moment, Su Xiaobai sat in silence, the cavern''s chill seeping into his bones. The glow of the embryo mocked him from above, a silent reminder of his insignificance.


    And he?


    He was left alone.


    He didn''t know how long he''d been sitting there.


    The cavern''s oppressive silence swallowed time, each second dragging on like an eternity. The faint glow of the ''Immortal Fetus'' pulsed rhythmically, a cruel reminder of life feeding on death.


    At first, Su Xiaobai thought it was just his exhaustion, but soon he felt it¡ªa subtle, insidious pull.


    His spiritual energy was being drained.


    Much like Emperor Tian Yu, Su Xiaobai had become another source of fuel for the growing embryo.


    Two faint, shimmering threads, almost imperceptible in the dim light, stretched from either side of his body toward the glowing fetus. They shimmered with an ethereal beauty, their slow undulation resembling the weaving of life and death.


    The sight might have been mesmerizing¡­ if it weren''t so terrifying.


    Su Xiaobai sat motionless, feeling the vitality drain from his body. It wasn''t sudden or painful¡ªit was quiet, gentle, almost serene, as if nature itself had accepted his fate.


    The embryo''s heartbeats grew louder, echoing through the cavern with a slow, deliberate rhythm. Thump¡­ thump¡­ thump¡­


    His own heart, in contrast, felt weaker, each beat softer, slower.


    The fetus had already transformed into an embryo, and now it was reaching its final stage. The last step before it hatched.


    Su Xiaobai''s vision blurred as his strength ebbed away.


    If there''s still any hope¡­ just give me a sign.


    His lips moved silently, as if praying to a entity that had long stopped listening.


    Just one sign¡­


    But nothing came.


    His head tilted back, a hollow laugh escaping his lips. The sound cracked and echoed through the chamber. He was about to give in completely when something caught his attention.


    "What¡­?"


    He froze, his breath catching in his throat.


    The threads.


    The two shimmering strings latched to his face¡ªthey''d been so faint, so silent, that he hadn''t even noticed them before. Now, they horrified him.


    A cold dread sank into his chest as he watched the threads pulse with life, their ends rooted in the glowing embryo. They pulsed and pulled like veins, draining him with every second.


    "!!!!"


    He tried to move, tried to rip them off, but his body refused to obey.


    And then¡­


    Snap!


    The threads broke.


    Rustle~~


    The severed ends didn''t retract violently or vanish¡ªthey drifted toward him, brushing against his face like the soft caress of tiny hands.


    He flinched instinctively but stopped when he realized what he was feeling.


    Gentle. Curious. Almost¡­ tender.


    It was as though something small, fragile, and impossibly delicate had touched him, lingering briefly before pulling back.


    "!!"


    Su Xiaobai''s chest heaved as he shot to his feet, his blood pounding in his ears. He didn''t know whether to laugh, cry, or scream.


    "Did¡­ did you see that?" he whispered to no one in particular, a faint chuckle escaping his lips. His voice trembled, caught somewhere between disbelief and wonder.


    Was it a hand? He thought. So tiny¡­ so delicate¡­


    He rubbed his face, his heart starting to beat very loudly, as if it were a roaring flame.


    Was it a sign?


    The cavern around him seemed unchanged, the embryo still glowing faintly, but something in the air felt different. Lighter. Like a whisper of reassurance had passed through the void.


    Taking a shaky breath, Su Xiaobai looked around, his gaze sweeping across the chamber with renewed focus. He couldn''t afford to sit here and let himself waste away. Not now.


    It was then that his eyes landed on another stone table, partially hidden in the shadows.


    His breath stopped.


    There was something there¡ªa piece of parchment, weathered and brittle, lying amidst the dust. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Another note.


    ______


    "To the one who has found this,


    I have little left to offer but my gratitude. You''ve read my story, and for that, I thank you. Perhaps it was a selfish thing to leave behind, but even a broken man wishes to be remembered.


    I can no longer speak of pride, yet I will not deny the truth: I was one of the greatest formation masters in the mortal plane. My knowledge, my legacy, I have consolidated into a single book. It contains the foundations of formation theory, mortal and immortal alike. Whether you are a novice or an adept, this knowledge will serve you well.


    Take it. Use it as you will. And as a final gift, I leave you my Celestial Inscriber¡ªa tool that has inscribed arrays that shaped history. May it guide you in crafting your own fate.


    If nothing else, let this be a better inheritance than the tomb you now stand in.


    ¡ªTian Yu


    _____


    Su Xiaobai blinked, rereading the note. His hand brushed over the stone table, where a slim, worn book rested beside a slender, glowing brush.


    The book''s surface was plain and dark brown, with no symbols to suggest its significance¡ªjust an unassuming relic, like something you''d find in a dusty old library.


    But the moment Su Xiaobai flipped through its pages, his heart skipped a beat.


    "Astral Gateway Array¡­" he whispered, his grin widening with every word.


    This was what he needed.


    The array wasn''t just a formation¡ªit was a miracle. Theoretically, it could summon anyone from anywhere, bridging realms and distances as long as certain conditions were met.


    But Su Xiaobai''s initial excitement dimmed as he skimmed the requirements:


    First, spatial anchor token: a personal object linked to the person being summoned; second, void fracture Stones: essential for stabilizing the spatial rift, the stronger the person being summoned, the more stones required; astral alignment: the array could only be activated under specific celestial conditions, requiring careful timing; at last, spiritual energy, the user needed at least twice the spiritual energy of the person being summoned.


    Su Xiaobai frowned as he read the last part.


    "Twice the spiritual energy?" he muttered, rubbing his temple. That was the real kicker. His current cultivation wouldn''t even allow him to summon his little sister, let alone his mother, who might be in the Heavenly Tribulation Realm.


    Still, the gloom that had weighed on him earlier began to lift. The array was possible. He just needed to grow stronger, gather the materials, and summon them one by one¡ªstarting with his little sister.


    "Step by step," Su Xiaobai said, smiling despite himself.


    His attention shifted to the glowing brush beside the book. It was slender, with a golden body and a small green gem embedded near its tip. The faint hum of power radiating from it told him this was no ordinary tool.


    "Celestial Inscriber¡­"

 Chapter 43 - 43: Yueer!

    "Celestial Inscriber¡­"


    Su Xiaobai muttered, picking up the brush.


    The name alone sounded important, but it wasn''t until he read the note''s final lines that he understood its true value.


    Unlike most formation tools, which required profound Qi to create arrays, this brush used spirit stones as fuel. The quality of the spirit stones dictated the strength and precision of the formations it inscribed.


    Su Xiaobai chuckled, his grip tightening on the brush. "So I don''t have to wait until Core Formation Realm to use this? Perfect."


    His smile widened as he pocketed the pen. For once, something in this damned tomb was actually useful.


    With the book and brush secured in his spatial ring, Su Xiaobai''s mood lightened considerably. Between Tian Yu''s practical legacy and the Infernal Emperor''s overwhelming one, he now had access to the knowledge of two formation masters.


    Tian Yu''s formations were practical, mostly mortal-grade arrays with achievable requirements. On the other hand, the Infernal Emperor''s were the complete opposite¡ªoverkill, grand designs that were simply impossible for Su Xiaobai in his current state.


    "There are some things in the Infernal Emperor''s memories that might help," Su Xiaobai murmured, shaking his head. "But by the time I can use his Heavenly Bridge Summoning Array, I''ll probably be punching through stars with one hand."


    He laughed at the absurdity of it all. Yet deep down, he felt a spark of hope reignite.


    His priorities had shifted. Finding the Spatial Treasure could is no longer needed. Now, he needed to focus on gathering the materials to activate the Astral Gateway Array. His family might still be alive. He''d bring them back¡ªno matter how long it took.


    Sliding the book and pen into his ring, he grinned to himself.


    "Perfect."


    For the first time in what felt like forever, Su Xiaobai''s path forward seemed clear.


    "Let''s check the coffin!"


    Su Xiaobai took a deep breath, steadying his nerves. For now, it seemed like a few of the higher-ups were still watching. He wouldn''t dare jinx it by saying it out loud again¡ªhe''d learned his lesson the hard way.


    But his new strategy seemed to be working.


    Mutual benefit.


    He''d healed Fairy Lianhua and gotten the treasure in return. Now, he just needed to check on this Yue''er, see what the fuss was about, and¡ªif possible¡ªraise her from the coffin.


    Because that''s why he was here, right?


    Totally planned!


    ''As long as I pretend to help the higher-ups, they''ll keep throwing me things,'' he muttered under his breath. ''Fine by me. I''m a tool man, and I know it.''


    For now, he''d keep his emotions in check, at least until his family was safe.


    Afterwards? He grinned to himself. Once his mother and sisters were back, he could go right back to his daily sessions of cursing the higher-ups.


    After all, their hate was perfectly mutual: they hated him, and he hated them.


    As long as the benefits kept flowing, the system worked¡ªor so he told himself.


    He approached the coffin, his steps slow and deliberate.


    "You guys stop acting like my mute girlfriend," he muttered, the words meant as much for himself as for the supposed higher-ups watching. "Just say it directly next time if you want me to do something, okay?"


    The humor helped keep his anxiety at bay. He didn''t know what he''d see inside the coffin, and the thought made his palms sweat.


    But as he stood before it, staring at the intricately carved surface, he exhaled sharply and rolled his shoulders.


    "Alright, Yue''er," he said, placing his hands on the coffin lid. "Let''s see what all the fuss is about."


    Creaaaaak.


    The coffin lid groaned, stale cold air hissing out like a dying breath. Su Xiaobai waved a hand in front of his face, muttering, "Smells like dead regrets."


    But when he looked inside, the words caught in his throat.


    There she was.


    Yue''er.


    Hair like rivers of midnight framed a face so ethereal it felt wrong to look at. Her pale skin shimmered faintly, not like flesh, but like frost kissed by moonlight.


    The deep blue gown she wore, adorned with snowflake-like patterns that seemed alive, shifting with the faint light. A sapphire pendant rested against her chest, and tiny beads of frost glimmered on her lashes.


    She wasn''t just beautiful. She was untouchable¡ªan immortal painting trapped in death.


    "Yue''er," he whispered, her name slipping free before he could stop himself.


    She lay motionless, her chest rising and falling so faintly it was barely there. The air around her was cold¡ªbiting, distant, like winter itself had settled into her veins.


    For a moment, Su Xiaobai just stared, his usual wit deserting him.


    He couldn''t deny it¡ªif Yue''er wasn''t Tian Yu''s woman, he would have definitely thought about making her his own.


    Her beauty was unreal, the kind that made men wage wars and abandon empires. But knowing she was tied to Tian Yu''s tragic tale kept him in check.


    "Alright," he muttered finally, his voice breaking the silence. "You''re perfect, I get it. But what the hell am I supposed to do with you?"


    The words unanswered, as if the coffin itself was daring him to act.


    "..."


    Su Xiaobai stared at the coffin, then glanced up at the ''Immortal Fetus'' hovering ominously above. He rubbed his chin.


    "By the original plan, I''m supposed to merge the fetus with you," he muttered, his voice low, "so your disease is cured before I pull you out. Otherwise¡­" He glanced at Yue''er''s still, fragile form. "You''d die instantly."


    Hisss¡­


    Before he could think further, the *Immortal Fetus* thumped violently, releasing thin, tendril-like threads that slithered downward toward the coffin. Su Xiaobai''s eyes widened in panic.


    "Oh, hell no!"


    BANG!


    He slammed the coffin lid shut.


    Creeeek.


    A heavy silence followed. Su Xiaobai let out a long sigh, running a hand through his hair.


    "Really, what a pain¡­" he muttered, his frown deepening. The problem was obvious¡ªif the coffin was exposed, the fetus would try to drain Yue''er''s vitality. But keeping it shut wasn''t exactly a permanent solution either.


    "Should I just throw it into my spatial ring?"


    He gave it a shot, holding his hand over the coffin and willing it into storage. Nothing happened. The coffin remained stubbornly in place.


    "Of course it doesn''t work," Su Xiaobai grumbled. "Probably because she''s inside. Figures."


    He sighed again, glancing at the fetus. "If this was an option, Tian Yu would''ve carried her to the heavens himself. Guess I''m stuck with you."


    His gaze lingered on the ''Immortal Fetus''. The pulsing light within it had grown stronger. It wasn''t just a tool anymore¡ªit had life. A life that was nearing its final stage.


    "It''s beyond the point where I could merge it with you, anyway," he muttered, shaking his head. "And honestly, I don''t feel like pissing it off. That thing''s powerful enough to give me nightmares."


    Turning back to the coffin, Su Xiaobai''s eyes narrowed in thought.


    "Alright," he said aloud. "If I can''t use the fetus, maybe I can redirect some of the spiritual energy flow from the Soul Refining Array. If luck''s on your side, it might help your recovery¡­ or at least give you a fighting chance."


    The plan wasn''t foolproof. Hell, it wasn''t even a plan. But it was better than doing nothing.


    Tian Yu hadn''t been able to alter the Soul Refining Array. But he could.


    After all, Su Xiaobai wasn''t relying on Tian Yu''s limited knowledge¡ªhe had the Infernal Emperor''s memories to back him up.


    If the Infernal Emperor could create arrays that turned entire dynasties into ash, redirecting a sliver of energy to a coffin should be child''s play. Right?


    He cracked his knuckles and pulled out the Celestial Inscriber.


    ____


    Hours later, Su Xiaobai wiped the sweat from his brow, glaring at the dozens of depleted spirit stones scattered around him.


    "Damn this thing eats like a starving beast," he muttered, pocketing the celestial inscriber. "Didn''t think it''d drain me dry on its first round..."


    He glanced at the array''s glowing runes, now slightly altered to redirect a thin stream of refined spiritual energy toward the coffin. From the cracks, a faint glimmer of power seeped into the sealed space.


    "It''s done," Su Xiaobai announced, stepping back to admire his handiwork. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Honestly, he had no idea if it would work. He didn''t even know what Yue''er''s disease was. But maybe¡ªjust maybe¡ªthis would give her enough strength to wake up on her own.


    He shrugged.


    "Well, whatever," he said, stretching his arms above his head. "It''s out of my hands now. If the higher-ups want you alive, they''ll make it happen. If not¡­"


    He trailed off, staring at the faint light trickling into the coffin.


    "Well, it''s not my problem anymore."


    With that, Su Xiaobai turned away, though he couldn''t quite shake the uneasy feeling at the edge of his thoughts.

 Chapter 44 - 44: Peak Foundation Establishment Realm! Mastering Void Steps!

    "Hm?"


    Just as Su Xiaobai turned to leave the underground chamber, his eyes caught the faint violet glow threading across the stone walls. The cracks pulsed, jagged streaks of energy carving through reality like an artist gone mad.


    He had noticed them long ago but dismissed them in favor of more pressing priorities. Now, with his tasks momentarily complete, curiosity finally demanded his attention.


    "¡­Alright," Su Xiaobai muttered, narrowing his eyes. "That doesn''t scream safe, but who am I to judge?"


    Picking up a nearby rock, he tossed it at the nearest crack. It vanished soundlessly, as if swallowed by the void.


    "Right. Totally decorative. Nothing to worry about," he said, his tone filled with sarcasm. "Higher-ups, if this is another one of your little surprises, I¡ª"


    He cut himself off, realizing he was talking to a cosmic peanut gallery that probably ''lived'' for his reactions.


    Still, curiosity burned hotter than his caution. "Fine. You win. Let''s see where this rabbit hole goes."


    He extended a hand toward the crack, hesitating briefly before plunging his fingers into its shimmering depths. The sensation was unsettling¡ªlike plunging his hand into a pool of liquid starlight. His lips twitched into a grin.


    "Not even gonna explain this one, are you?" he muttered. Pulling out Tian Yu''s formation manual from his spatial ring, he quickly flipped through its worn pages until one particular entry caught his eye.


    "Void Cracks," he read aloud. "Fragments of space torn by a failed Soul Refining Array. They may serve as unstable portals, linking random locations¡­ or leading to realms beyond mortal comprehension. Use at your own risk."


    He whistled low, a mix of awe and nervous energy coursing through him. "So, basically... instant teleportation to anywhere within this cave. Good to know."


    ______


    For the next few hours, Su Xiaobai threw himself through the Void Cracks with reckless smile. One jump spat him out upside-down, slamming his head against the chamber ceiling. Another dumped him ankle-deep into glowing sludge that reeked of sulfur.


    "Yeah, no. Definitely not decorative," he grumbled, shaking off the slime. "Are you guys having fun yet? Because I¡ª" He stepped through another crack and promptly tripped over his own feet, landing face-first on cold stone.


    Unbeknownst to him, the Void Thunder Dragon in his spirit sea had been watching. Its colossal, serpentine body coiled lazily in the endless void of his spirit sea. Its massive golden eyes gleamed with interest, following Su Xiaobai''s antics like a bored god watching a mortal circus.


    When Su Xiaobai tripped and fell out of a crack, landing face-first on the ground, the dragon snorted.


    WHOOSH!


    A beam of multicolored light erupted from the dragon''s head, condensing into a small black manual. Threads of vibrant energy wove together, forming a book whose surface shimmered like polished obsidian.


    Whoosh!


    With a flick of its tail, the dragon hurled the manual through space, sending it hurtling toward Su Xiaobai.


    Unaware of the dragon''s interference, Su Xiaobai dusted himself off after hopping out of another crack. "Alright, one more jump, and then¡ª"


    BAM!


    "Ow!" Su Xiaobai staggered as the manual abruptly collided with his head. "What the¡ªwho just hit me?!"


    Rubbing the sore spot, he glared upward at the ceiling as if daring it to answer.


    "Alright, which one of you bastards did it?" he snapped, glaring at the stone ceiling. "We need to talk about boundaries. Come forward and face me! Can''t stand to see me happy for once, huh?"


    As he rubbed his head, his gaze fell to the ground, making his eyes surprised like a curious puppy.


    There, lying at his feet, was a small black-covered manual. Its surface gleamed like polished obsidian, smooth and unmarked except for faint silver threads along the edges, shimmering as though stitched with starlight. A strange, subtle energy pulsed from it, steady and deliberate, like the heartbeat of something alive.


    "What''s this?" Su Xiaobai crouched, picking it up. He flipped through the pages, his eyes widening as he read. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Void Steps¡­ A movement technique?" His lips curled into a delighted grin. "Now this¡ªthis is exactly what I needed."


    For a moment, he laughed in his luck before quickly coughing and schooling his expression. Glancing upward, he muttered, "Alright, what''s the catch? Or are you guys just rewarding me for not dying? Either way, thanks, I guess. But next time, maybe deliver it without a concussion?"


    He paused, then added with a wry smile, "I know one of you is watching. Probably giggling right now. Sadists." He then hook his head, as if passing judgment. "Whoever you are¡ªyou''re insane. But I''ll take it."


    He turned back to the glowing cracks, brushing dust off his robes and cracking his knuckles.


    For the next few hours, Su Xiaobai focused on learning the Void Steps technique. Well, ''focused'' might be a strong word. Between swearing at the manual, glaring at the Void Thunder Dragon for not helping, and taking breaks to complain about his existential suffering, he somehow made progress.


    Maybe it was thanks to the Void Thunder Dragon chilling in his spirit sea, or maybe he was just a genius (a conclusion he came to often).


    Either way, the process felt oddly smooth.


    The first stage? Mastering "Void Concealment."


    But before he could actually ''conceal'' himself, he had to "perceive the void." Oh, just ''perceive'' something that exists outside existence. No big deal, right?


    He muttered darkly as he skimmed the manual. "It''s always the same crap with cultivation manuals. ''Step one: do the impossible. Step two: somehow don''t die.''"


    The text described the void as cracks that occasionally touched reality, like celestial spiders weaving cosmic cobwebs. Su Xiaobai had to find these cracks using Qi Suppression¡ªan absurdly overcomplicated breathing technique.


    "Inhale. Match the flow. Hold. Exhale," he muttered, mimicking the instructions. "Why not just say ''breathe like a normal person?''"


    He tried several times, and while he managed to hide his presence, he remained visible to the human eye. Frustration mounted.


    "Great. I''m invisible to rocks. Too bad I''m not fighting rocks!"


    His mind wandered to Elder Bai''s gift¡ªthe Frostwhisper Lotus. Originally, the lotus was meant to stabilize his foundation after his reckless breakthroughs, but its calming properties could help him focus.


    Without overthinking, Su Xiaobai tossed the lotus into his mouth like candy.


    Whoosh!


    His entire body lit up with icy Qi, the chill biting into his bones. His mind sharpened, and his scattered thoughts stilled.


    For once, he felt¡­ quiet.


    He muttered, impressed. "So this is what it''s like to not be a complete mess."


    Two days passed in frozen silence as he meditated. And then, like the curtains of reality parting, he saw them¡ªthe void cracks.


    They were faint, like whispers in the air, barely visible to the naked eye. Nothing like the glaring rifts on the cave walls, but they were there.


    He grinned. "Gotcha, you sneaky bastards."


    Repeating the Qi Suppression technique, Su Xiaobai failed repeatedly, but persistence (and swearing) finally paid off. Bit by bit, his presence dissolved until he vanished completely.


    "I am ''officially'' a ghost. Suck it, mortal eyes!"


    Flipping to the next page of the Void Steps manual, Su Xiaobai''s excitement fizzled. The requirements for stage two were a joke¡ªsome ridiculous nonsense about ''merging with the void and flickering like a lantern.''


    "Tch..." He tossed the book aside. "Who writes these things? The author with no concept of pacing?"


    A faint ripple in his spiritual ring drew his attention. "Xiao Lu''s awake."


    Peering into the Ring World, he saw his little servant meditating, her cultivation aura calm but steady. The effects of the Frostwhisper Lotus still in his body, so he decided to seize the moment.


    The cave was silent, undisturbed by any threats.


    "Alright, let''s do this," he said, sitting cross-legged. It was time to break through to Foundation Establishment.


    Whoosh!


    Spiritual pond water poured from his spatial ring, coiling around him like a living stream. He absorbed it slowly, directing a smaller flow into the Ring World to aid Xiao Lu''s cultivation.


    Even as he meditated, he calculated how much water he''d need to save for the future. Breaking through Foundation Establishment was just the start¡ªforming a core would require ten times this much Qi.


    The process began with fortifying his body, a step that felt less like cultivation and more like being crushed by a mountain. He grimaced through the pain, gritting his teeth.


    "Oh yeah, this is ''exactly'' what I signed up for. Love it. Ten out of ten, would recommend."


    Next came forming the Qi nodes, reservoirs for storing excess Qi. As each node formed, he felt like his insides were being poked by celestial needles.


    "Fantastic. Nothing like stabbing yourself repeatedly to feel alive."


    Finally, he worked on creating the three Meridian Cores: one in his spirit sea, one in his dantian, and one near his essence. The cores glowed faintly as they stabilized, linking with the Qi nodes across his body.


    The last step was opening all his meridians. This was, by far, the worst part.


    It felt like molten lava coursing through his veins, burning everything in its path.


    Two months later, Su Xiaobai finally opened his eyes, his body radiating with vitality.


    "Haaa¡­" He stood and stretched, feeling like a new man.


    "Master!" Xiao Lu appeared, her cheeks flushed and glowing. "You''ve reached the peak of Foundation Establishment! Congratulations!"

 Chapter 45 - 45: Wind Serpant Mountain! Rescuing a Beauty!

    "Master!" Xiao Lu appeared, cheeks flushed and glowing with vitality. "You''ve reached the peak of the Foundation Establishment Realm! Congratulations!"


    Su Xiaobai smirked, his gaze briefly drifting to Xiao Lu''s waist. "Not bad. Seems you''ve climbed a little higher up the mountain, but you''re still a few steps behind me. Keep going¡ªmaybe one day you''ll catch up."


    She blinked, startled. "How did you know?"


    "I''m your master. I know everything," he replied, smiling before muttering under his breath, "And I''ve been spying on you, so¡­ yeah."


    "!"


    Xiao Lu froze, her face rapidly reddening as the words sank in. She had recently broken through to the intermediate stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm, thanks to Su Xiaobai''s generosity in transferring a portion of the spiritual pond water for her to absorb.


    B-but...If he could see the Ring World, that meant¡­ everything.


    All the times she adjusted her robes, practiced her poses, even that one time she¡ª


    She shook her head furiously, trying to banish the thought. But the damage was done, and her embarrassment burned like a furnace.


    Meanwhile, Su Xiaobai''s attention had already wandered. He rummaged through his spatial ring, his frown deepening.


    "Where the hell did all my spiritual water go?" he muttered, irritation mounting.


    Xiao Lu''s thoughts snapped back to reality. "Master?" she asked hesitantly, sensing his rising frustration.


    The spiritual pond¡ªthe entire thing¡ªwas gone. Su Xiaobai stared at the now-empty space, disbelief etched across his face.


    "There''s only Xiao Lu and me here," he growled. "How the hell¡­?"


    "Uhh¡­ Master?" Xiao Lu''s hesitant voice broke through his thoughts. She pointed behind him, her face pale. "Is that¡­ supposed to happen?"


    "What now?" Su Xiaobai turned, still fuming, but the moment his eyes landed on the scene behind him, he froze.


    The immortal fetus hovered in the air like a harbinger of doom. Its once-blue glow had turned blood-red, and its aura pulsed with a sinister rhythm, like the heartbeat of a wicked beast.


    The remnants of the spiritual pond swirled in a vortex, sucked into the unholy thing. The blood-red aura writhed like a living entity, exuding a hunger that made Su Xiaobai''s skin crawl.


    "¡­"


    Su Xiaobai''s brows twitched violently. ''This thing ate my core-forming chance....?''


    Rage bubbled up inside him. "I''ll kill¡ªno, no. Nope. Not worth it. This is way above my pay grade."


    WHOOSH!


    Without a second thought, he grabbed Xiao Lu by the arm and bolted toward the exit.


    "Master?! Why are we running?!" Xiao Lu''s voice trembled, her confusion evident.


    Su Xiaobai''s face twisted into a grimace. "Shut your mouth and run! That demon child''s about to hatch, and when it does, it''ll eat everything in its path¡ªincluding us!"


    Their footsteps thundered through the chamber as Su Xiaobai''s mind shook in disbelief. Damn it. Damn it. Why does this kind of crap always happen to me? Did I piss off someone again? Or is this just their idea of entertainment?!


    Breaking through to the first chamber, Su Xiaobai didn''t slow. With a burst of Qi, he shattered the exit and bolted into the open air, dragging Xiao Lu along. Only when the oppressive aura of the immortal fetus was far behind them did he finally stop, panting heavily.


    _______


    One week had passed since Su Xiaobai''s great escape from the immortal fetus¡ªa term he would never forget, no matter how grand it sounded.


    What a ridiculous, nightmarish chapter that was ¡ª filled with near-death experiences.


    Still, there was no denying the gains: once a lowly no-talent Qi Refinement scrub, Su Xiaobai now stood at the ''peak of Foundation Establishment'', his dantian brimming with refined energy so pure it probably qualified as a noble heirloom.


    Xiao Lu, his new loyal servant and occasional source of headaches, had also grown stronger¡ªnow at the ''intermediate stage of Foundation Establishment'', a vast leap from her earlier mediocrity.


    And let''s not forget the ''Devouring Thorny Flower'', an eldritch plant baby that had evolved into a terrifying predator after munching on the corpses from red flame fortress.


    It was quite the power boost. Techniques? Countless. Artifacts? Oh, just the Infernal Flames and the Celestial Inscriber, thank you very much. And knowledge? Su Xiaobai had absorbed the minds of not one but two formation masters, giving him enough intellectual firepower to choke an entire sect of nerds.


    But here''s the thing: it wasn''t enough. It would ''never'' be enough.


    The "Astral Gate Array," a colossal formation that seemed to bridge the heavens and the earth, demanded materials so rare and treasures so precious that no self-respecting sect would ever leave them unattended, let alone lying around.


    So, Su Xiaobai wandered towns, gathering scraps of intel from merchants who didn''t realize they were selling out their secrets for a few spirit stones.


    That''s how he found himself in ''Yunan City,'' a vibrant place, nestled hundreds of mountains away from the Thousand Beast Forest.


    A bustling hive where even the air smelled like desperation. But while the streets were alive with shouting vendors and bartering fools, Su Xiaobai''s attention was locked on the distant horizon.


    The ''Serpent Wind Mountains'' stood far beyond the city, jagged and ancient, their peaks pierced the sky like the fangs of some celestial wyrm, sheathed in swirling mists.


    The moment Su Xiaobai saw them, he felt it: ancient qi rolled off those mountains in waves, a dormant presence so suffocating it felt like a judge waiting to see if you were worth sentencing.


    It was in Yunan City that Su Xiaobai learned about the ''Xiantian Sect''.


    The tenth-ranked sect of Yue Country.


    A merchant''s words stuck in his mind:


    "Yunan City? It''s a dog tied to the Xiantian Sect''s leash. They control everything¡ªthe people, the trade, even the land. Their power runs through the soil itself."


    The thought brought a wry smile to his face. "Xiantian Sect, huh? Weren''t you the lot Elder Bai belonged to?" Elder Bai, who, along with his disciples, now served as fertilized compost after an unfortunate encounter with Su Xiaobai in a cave.


    "Think their vaults are worth the risk?" Su Xiaobai asked casually as he strolled the streets with Xiao Lu.


    She took a bite out of a wild apple, the juice staining her crimson lips like spilled wine. "A sect treasury could provide everything you need for the array," she said between bites, her tone so thoughtful.


    Su Xiaobai nodded, "You''re not wrong. Let''s see if their mountains bite." S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ____


    The foothills greeted him with a stiff breeze that nearly tore the hair from his scalp. Spiritual energy in this place wasn''t just dense; it was aggressive, crackling through the air like an angry spirit''s breath.


    Wind serpents appeared almost immediately, their translucent forms darting through the currents. They weren''t physical creatures but manifestations of the mountain''s ambient qi, their writhing bodies shimmering like mirages on hot sand.


    Sizzzzzz!


    One serpent lunged at Su Xiaobai. With a casual flick of his sleeve, it disintegrated, scattering like mist. "Is this it?" he muttered, unimpressed. "If this is the best they''ve got, even a blind rogue cultivator could waltz in and loot the place."


    The serpents grew larger as he climbed higher.


    Crackle... Crackle...


    Some were veined with arcs of lightning, their movements jerky and unnatural.


    "Wait ¡ª Lightning Essence?" Su Xiaobai murmured, his brows furrowing. "In a mountain dominated by Wind Qi? That doesn''t add up."


    He paused, narrowing his eyes at one of the larger serpents. Its translucent body twitched weakly, its mouth hanging open in frozen agony.


    The other serpents were no better¡ªflickering like dying flames, as if they had been¡­


    "Assaulted," Su Xiaobai muttered. "By what?"


    He didn''t have time to investigate. A shrill scream pierced the air.


    "AHHHHHH!"


    Su Xiaobai''s ears twitched at the scream ripping through the forest¡ªhigh-pitched, desperate, and getting closer.


    "Oh, for fuck''s sake," he muttered, shoving Xiao Lu into the ring world. "If this is another damsel in distress like that fraud Fairy Lian, I''m leaving them to the fate..."


    CRACK!


    A tree splintered ahead, and a figure burst into view, weaving through the undergrowth like a headless chicken.


    Behind them came the boar¡ªno, not a boar, a walking battering ram of muscle and rage. Its tusks gleamed like molten spears, arcs of lightning crawling across their surface, while red eyes burned with the promise of violence.


    "Yup," Su Xiaobai said flatly, "that''s not my problem."


    The fleeing figure didn''t seem to agree. "BROTHER, SAVE ME!"


    Su Xiaobai squinted. Long black hair? Check. Flowing blue robes? Check. Porcelain face glistening with tears? Aha.


    But something was wrong.


    Too slender. Too flat.


    His eyes dropped, confirming the truth. Flat. As. A. Jade. Plate.


    He sighed, disgusted. "That''s¡­ not a woman."


    The man stumbled toward him, grabbing at his sleeve with trembling hands. Up close, the illusion shattered further¡ªdirt-streaked robes, cracked lips, and desperation pouring off him like cheap wine. "Brother, help me!"


    Su Xiaobai raised an eyebrow. "No."


    "Please!" The man dodged left, the boar''s tusks gouging a trench into the ground behind him. "Spirit crystals, treasures¡ªwhatever you want! Just kill this thing!"


    Su Xiaobai''s gaze drifted to the boar, then back to the man. "Kill it? Nah. I''ll just take the crystals off your corpse after it''s done."


    "WHAT?!"


    CRUNCH!


    The boar slammed into a tree, splitting it clean in half. It snorted, hooves pounding the earth as it charged again.


    "Think of it this way," Su Xiaobai said. "I''m just respecting the food chain. You get skewered, I loot your stuff, the boar eats what''s left¡ªeveryone wins."

 Chapter 46 - 46: Demon Child!

    The man darted behind Su Xiaobai, clutching his arm as though holding onto the last tether to life. "My tyrant of a grandfather sealed my cultivation! I can''t even squash a Spirit Bug, let alone fend off that thing!"


    Su Xiaobai sighed, his patience fraying. He peeled the man''s hands off his robes as if removing stubborn lotus sap. "So, let me get this straight¡ªyou''re weak, useless, and currently taunting a thunder-charged Ironhide Boar. Anything else, or can I start running?"


    Wei Jun''s face froze, panic morphing into sudden clarity. "Wait! I can introduce you to my sister!"


    Su Xiaobai paused mid-step, his brow twitching. "What?"


    "She''s nearby! Exquisite beauty, refined temperament, and... completely untouched."


    "Untouched?"


    Ding.


    In the depths of Su Xiaobai''s soul, a phantom bell tolled¡ªa sign from the heavens or, more likely, the meddling higher-ups. He cracked his knuckles, a wicked grin spreading across his face. "You lead with that next time."


    The boar thundered toward them, its tusks crackling with arcs of wild lightning.


    BOOM!


    Su Xiaobai''s fist met the beast''s skull with the force of a falling meteor. A shockwave rippled outward, flattening the surrounding grass. The boar didn''t even have time to squeal as its head caved in with a bloody crunch, its colossal body crashing lifeless to the ground.


    Wei Jun stumbled backward, his legs giving out beneath him. "You killed it... with a single strike?"


    Su Xiaobai brushed flecks of blood from his sleeve, his expression aloof. "Naturally. Now, about this sister of yours..."


    Wei Jun scrambled to his feet, hastily adjusting his disheveled robes. His voice carried an almost breezy charm as he said, "Brother, allow me a moment to make myself presentable before we proceed. If my grandfather learns I was anywhere near the sect¡­" His words trailed off, the smile persistent but his eyes watchful.


    Su Xiaobai caught the faint shift in tone. He arched an eyebrow, smirking faintly. "So, you were poking around where you shouldn''t have been. Why does that not surprise me?"


    Wei Jun froze mid-motion, his fan clutched tightly. "How... how did you know?"


    "I''m not blind," Su Xiaobai replied dryly, though his thoughts whispered otherwise. ''You guys send me this? A smooth-tongued wanderer with secrets? At least give me someone with a treasure map.''


    Wei Jun chuckled lightly, his fan snapping open with a practiced flick. "Brother, you''re too clever by half. But I assure you, my intentions are as pure as a Spirit Lotus in moonlight."


    Spit!


    "Pure as mud," Su Xiaobai muttered under his breath, turning away. "Hurry up and change before the stench of the boar attracts something worse."


    As Wei Jun shrugged off his robe, Su Xiaobai pointedly looked away. "Quit wasting time. This isn''t a low-budget brothel drama."


    Wei Jun''s laughter came light and teasing. "Brother, why so shy? We''re both men, are we not?"


    Su Xiaobai rolled his eyes, tone dripping with sarcasm. "I''m merely shielding myself from the blinding radiance of your unmatched charm. Hurry it up."


    Draping himself in a fresh green robe of fine silk, Wei Jun snapped his fan closed and inclined his head with an easy smile. "Shall we proceed, Brother?"


    Su Xiaobai''s gaze sharpened. "You''d better not be lying about this sister of yours. If this is some elaborate joke, I''ll ensure you regret it for the rest of your fleeting existence."


    Wei Jun laughed softly, waving his fan dismissively. "Brother, do I look like a man who would deceive his benefactor?"


    "Yes." Su Xiaobai''s thoughts were less charitable, but he gave a curt nod. "Let''s go."


    The forest deepened around them, the trees whispering secrets to the wind. Su Xiaobai''s instincts remained taut as a drawn bowstring. "Why are we heading away from the Xiantian Sect?"


    Wei Jun glanced back, his expression shadowed with a faint melancholy. "Brother, did you plan to visit the sect?"


    Su Xiaobai frowned. Aloud, he said, "Didn''t you say your sister was connected to the sect? Or was that just bait?"


    Wei Jun tilted his head, his smile tinged with something unreadable. "Connected? No. My sister has no ties to the sect."


    Su Xiaobai halted mid-step, his voice cold. "No ties? Then what was the point of saving you?"


    Wei Jun''s fan snapped shut, and he turned fully toward Su Xiaobai, his gaze steady. "Brother, do you truly believe every encounter is preordained by the heavens?"


    "Don''t try to wax philosophical with me," Su Xiaobai shot back. "Just tell me the truth."


    Wei Jun hesitated before speaking, his voice soft. "My sister is real. But I admit, she''s not connected to the Xiantian Sect. As for why I was there... Let''s just say, admiration can take many forms."


    "Peeping," Su Xiaobai said flatly.


    Wei Jun stumbled, his fan slipping slightly. "It''s not peeping¡ªit''s reverence from afar!"


    "Right. You walked a day to spy on someone. That''s ''so'' dignified."


    Wei Jun sighed, closing his fan with a snap. "Brother, must you always view the world through such a harsh lens?"


    "Harsh? No. Practical." Su Xiaobai''s tone turned light, almost mocking. "The only person worth admiring is yourself. Everyone else? Baggage."


    Wei Jun''s eyes flickered, a subtle sharpness behind his easy smile. "Perhaps you''re right. But even baggage can surprise you."


    They resumed walking, the rustling leaves masking the noise between them.


    ''If this wild goose chase doesn''t lead to something worthwhile,'' Su Xiaobai thought grimly, ''I''ll feed him to the Devouring Thorny Flower myself.''


    Su Xiaobai had no direct path into the Xiantian Sect. If Elder Bai still lived, there might have been a thread to pull, but that lifeline had long since frayed, leaving him tethered to the whims of the ''charismatic'' Wei Jun.


    Still, Su Xiaobai wasn''t overly concerned.


    The setup was far too convenient to be coincidence. A sealed cultivation, a clumsy escape from a wild boar¡ªone even Xiao Lu, could dispatch with a flick of her hand. This had the higher-ups'' meddling written all over it.


    Fate often wrapped rewards in frustrating packaging, and Su Xiaobai''s instincts told him to play along. For now.


    Of course, nothing came without a price. But Su Xiaobai smirked.


    "You fuck the ones below, and the ones above fuck you back. Since I can''t reach the heavens, I''ll make sure to fuck over everyone else¡ªwith style!"


    The mantra echoed in his mind as he glanced at Xiao Lu, resting silently in the ring world. She was his hidden ace, a blade in waiting should the need arise.


    By nightfall, the two had camped beneath towering trees. Enchanted stones encircled their makeshift refuge, casting faint, star-like glimmers against the gloom.


    "By tomorrow afternoon, we''ll reach my grandfather''s retreat," Wei Jun said with a casual smile. His eyes, however, glinted with cunningness.


    Su Xiaobai shrugged, stretching out on the ground. "Fine. Just don''t let some prank hit me at sunrise." sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ______


    Morning ~~


    Golden rays pierced through the forest canopy, painting the world in shades of gold and jade. The air was crisp, filled with the soft murmurs of birdsong, while dew-kissed leaves shimmered like fragments of shattered crystal.


    But peace, as always, was fleeting.


    Wei Jun paced near the dying embers of the campfire, his fan tapping against his palm in a restless rhythm¡ªthap, thap, thap.


    His sharp eyes darted repeatedly toward Su Xiaobai, who lay sprawled carelessly, utterly unbothered by the unease saturating the air.


    Yet Wei Jun''s vigilance wasn''t without cause. His attention locked onto Su Xiaobai''s outstretched hand.


    Nestled in Su Xiaobai''s hand was a small doll, no larger than a clenched fist. Its porcelain face was smooth and round, framed by long black hair that cascaded like shadows. Crimson eyes, dim and half-lidded, glowed faintly as its tiny arms clung to his fingers.


    The doll''s lips latched onto his fingertip with soft nchu, nchu sounds, a rhythmic sucking that might have seemed childlike¡ªif not for the faint beads of blood welling around its mouth.


    Wei Jun swallowed hard, ''What in the name of the Heavenly Dao is that?''


    He had encountered cursed talismans, blood-forged puppets, and even soul-devouring artifacts.


    But this¡ªthis thing¡ªdefied comparison.


    His gaze flicked to the faintly glowing barrier encircling the camp.


    Designed to repel beasts, rogue cultivators, and wandering disciples, it had proven steadfast through countless nights. Yet this creature had bypassed it effortlessly, as if slipping through the threads of reality itself.


    Wei Jun''s instincts screamed at him to flee, but his curiosity rooted him in place. "Brother Su¡­" he whispered, his voice barely louder than the rustling leaves. "Brother Su, wake up. Something''s¡­ not right."


    Su Xiaobai stirred faintly, muttering under his breath, but remained in a dreamlike haze. His fingers twitched, but the doll didn''t release her grip. Instead, she nuzzled his palm softly, her crimson eyes gleaming faintly as the sucking continued¡ªschlp, nchu, schlp¡ªa steady rhythm both innocent and unnerving cute.


    Wei Jun, trembling, accidentally brushed his fan against an enchanted stone, and the barrier let out a faint hum¡ªwrrnnn.


    "Brother Su!" Wei Jun hissed, louder this time. "Wake up, damn it!"


    With a groggy groan, Su Xiaobai cracked an eye open, his vision blurred as Wei Jun''s pale, frantic face swam into view.


    "What?" Su Xiaobai grumbled, his voice thick with irritation. Without thinking, he waved his hand lazily in Wei Jun''s direction, a reflexive motion born of annoyance.


    The motion dislodged the doll entirely, sending her tumbling through the air with a soft movement.


    She landed silently, her glowing crimson eyes narrowing as she scuttled backward like a startled kitten.

 Chapter 47 - 47: Grandpa Zhong!

    "Why are you pacing like a Qi-deviated duck about to be plucked?" Su Xiaobai asked, his voice sharp with irritation. "Did your inner demon escape, or has Old Grandma finally ascended to the underworld?"


    Wei Jun''s lips curved into a faint smile, his tone unhurried but measured. "Brother, it''s¡ª"


    "It''s what?" Su Xiaobai cut in, his patience already wearing thin. "If you''re here to waste my time with half a sentence, remember: my patience is thinner than spider silk."


    Wei Jun raised a hand, his fingers moving with deliberate grace to point at Su Xiaobai''s hand. "There''s something on you. I thought you''d prefer to notice it yourself."


    Su Xiaobai frowned and followed his gaze.


    A pale, tiny figure was clinging to his finger.


    His brow twitched. "What¡­ is this?"


    The creature gave no answer, tightening its grip like a starving tick.


    Su Xiaobai flicked his hand lightly. No effect. He flicked again, Qi swirling with precision. Still, the thing clung tighter.


    It was a doll¡ªsmall, pale, and unnervingly lifelike. Porcelain skin framed by flowing black hair. Crimson eyes glimmered faintly, gazing up with an innocent pout¡ªthough its sharp, bloodstained teeth betrayed it.


    "Brother," Wei Jun said, his voice calm but watchful, "that''s what I''ve been trying to warn you about. It''s been latched on for quite some time now."


    Su Xiaobai''s gaze lifted slowly, "And you didn''t think to stop it?"


    Wei Jun''s faint smile didn''t waver. "I didn''t want to act rashly and escalate the situation. Sometimes, caution yields better results."


    "Ah, yes," Su Xiaobai said coldly. "A masterstroke of calculated wisdom."


    Without further ceremony, he grasped the doll by its hair and pulled it free. Blood beaded on his fingertip as he held the creature aloft.


    It dangled limp, its crimson eyes dim, as harmless as a discarded talisman.


    Su Xiaobai sneered. "A parasitic treasure? A cursed child''s toy? Or some second-rate demonic technique?"


    Wei Jun tilted his head thoughtfully. "It might be a rare spiritual artifact¡­ one that recognizes you as its master. Or," he added with a knowing edge, "perhaps something more troublesome."


    Su Xiaobai hummed, turning the doll over. "If that''s true, its method of introduction sucks."


    Satisfied, he flicked his wrist to discard it.


    BAM!


    Suddenly, the doll''s crimson eyes reignited, blazing like infernal rubies. Twisting midair, it executed a flawless backflip and latched back onto his finger.


    Its teeth bit deeper, Qi swirling faintly as it drank.


    For a moment, Su Xiaobai''s expression was unreadable. Calm. Cold. Calculating.


    Then he exhaled slowly, his voice like a whisper of death. "You little fucker."


    Wei Jun raised an eyebrow, his tone betraying faint amusement. "It seems quite determined to stay. Perhaps you should entertain its attachment¡­ or find a way to leash it."


    Su Xiaobai''s gaze darkened, Qi flaring as trees swayed violently around them. Golden light wreathed his hand.


    He ripped the doll free, holding it up like a captured criminal. "You''ve drunk enough blood to rebuild a small sect. Let''s see if you can handle some backlash." Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The doll tilted its head innocently, then grinned¡ªa tiny, rebellious smile.


    ______


    "Ehehe ~"


    A soft, bell-like laugh echoed through the forest, sweet yet mocking. The tiny creature Su Xiaobai had tried roasting alive not an hour ago now perched smugly on his shoulder, its fluffy hands swaying in victory. It nibbled on his sleeve as his fingers lazily flicked its gemstone-like ears.


    Wei Jun stared, slack-jawed, his fan-like lashes blinking furiously. "Brother Su, weren''t you trying to murder that thing just now? With actual murder intent?"


    Su Xiaobai''s grin sharpened. "What''s love without a little hate, Brother Jun?"


    Wei Jun froze, his brain grinding to a halt. "...?" What in the four heavens was this guy talking about? Just an hour ago, Su Xiaobai had unleashed fire, lightning, and even a blade glowing with ominous Qi at the creature. And now, it snuggled into his neck like they were long-lost companions.


    "You ''let'' it suck your blood," Wei Jun muttered, "You''re insane."


    Su Xiaobai chuckled, his gaze drifting up toward the vast blue sky.


    His voice distant, "You know, Brother Jun, men willingly offer far more precious vessels of their vitality to women. Compared to that, letting this little one drink a few drops of blood is practically harmless."


    Wei Jun pressed his palm against his face, shaking his head in despair. "By the heavens. If insanity were contagious, I think I''ve been infected."


    Su Xiaobai glanced sidelong at him, the faint smile never leaving his lips.


    For the last day, they''d been traveling together¡ªunintentionally, at first.


    Wei Jun had claimed it was fate, a sentiment Su Xiaobai scoffed at until he noticed the cracks in the man''s polished facade. Beneath his fan-waving elegance and a girl-like smile that could make flowers bloom in spring, there was a cold, calculating edge¡ªa cunning that reminded Su Xiaobai of himself.


    Of course, he wasn''t talking about being "girl-like." No, Su Xiaobai meant hiding your true nature behind a mask.


    [A/N: Let''s call it "Villains'' Mutual Recognition Syndrome." A term coined just now, by yours truly. Pretty catchy, right?]


    _____


    The sun hung high, its light piercing the forest like golden blades. Shadows pooled at the gnarled roots, coiling like hungry serpents.


    After endless trudging, Su Xiaobai and Wei Jun stumbled upon a shack¡ªor the sad remains of one.


    The walls leaned like a drunk, the roof sagged, and the air stank of mildew. The whole place whispered: ''Enter and die, fool.''


    Wei Jun rapped on the crooked frame, his delicate face twisting in confusion. "Where''s everyone?"


    Su Xiaobai shrugged, "Dead. Waiting for you."


    Before Wei Jun could retort, the ground quaked. A roar tore through the forest, shaking the leaves like thunder announcing the end of days.


    "YOU LITTLE BASTARD!"


    A towering figure stormed out, his silhouette blotting the sun. Each step cracked the earth, his beard crackling with faint sparks of spiritual energy, like thunderclouds on the verge of fury. His muscles bulged under tattered robes, veins writhing like spirit-snakes beneath his skin. His fiery eyes promised death.


    Su Xiaobai moved without haste, stepping aside as his ''Invincible Domain'' shimmered to life.


    Wei Jun, however, lacked such foresight.


    THWACK!


    The old man''s fist smashed the back of his head, planting Wei Jun face-first in the dirt.


    BAM!


    A crater swallowed him. Dust rose. He groaned. "What the hell?!"


    The old man roared, his voice like thunder. "Don''t ''what'' me, you shameless bastard! Spying on that Xiantian Sect girl again, huh?"


    Wei Jun paled. "Grandpa, I¡ª"


    THWACK!


    A casual kick sent him tumbling.


    "Didn''t I tell you to stay away from her?!"


    Though stunned by the series of events, Su Xiaobai leaned against a tree, arms crossed, a smile playing on his lips. "The heavens must truly favor you, Brother Jun. To be graced by such divine attention."


    Wei Jun spat dirt, glaring at him. "Divine attention? I''m being fucking murdered!"


    The old man cracked his knuckles, each sound like a stone splitting. "Enough excuses!"


    THWACK! THWACK! THWACK!


    Each blow sent Wei Jun bouncing like a battered doll, his once-pristine robes now ruins of regret.


    "Grandpa, wait¡ª"


    THWACK!


    "It''s not what it looks like¡ª"


    THWACK!


    "I was just passing by¡ª"


    THWACK!


    The old man''s final kick sent Wei Jun crashing into a tree, the trunk groaning as leaves rained down.


    "Next time, I''ll bury you myself!" the old man barked, his aura suffocating as he turned.


    Wei Jun lay crumpled, limbs akimbo. "...I... think I''m dead..."


    Su Xiaobai crouched, peering down with a smirk that could cut jade. His voice, calm and cutting, felt like salt in a wound. "Don''t worry, Brother Jun. Death''s just a detour."


    Wei Jun''s glare carried all the hate of a dying man. "Screw you..."


    Su Xiaobai stood, brushing off his robes with maddening care. "Didn''t he already?"


    Wei Jun: "..."

 Chapter 48 - 48: Demon Empress! River of Time!

    Su Xiaobai stood at a respectful distance, his sharp gaze fixed on the old man. Wei Zhong moved with practiced ease, unloading herbs and spirit fruits onto a flat stone.


    Yet, nothing about him was ordinary.


    The faint ripple of spiritual energy around the elder weighed on the air, pressing against Su Xiaobai''s skin like an invisible hand. His faded purple robes, brushed by the wind, carried an authority that defied time.


    His gray hair framed a face both weathered and unyielding, while his beard lent him the majesty of a storm-bound mountain.


    Danger stood in the man''s very presence¡ªsilent, suppressed, but unmistakable.


    ''Heavenly Tribulation Realm,'' Su Xiaobai thought grimly. The old man''s cultivation was so far above his own, it wasn''t even worth counting the difference.


    What kind of family is this?


    And yet, irritation itched at the back of Su Xiaobai''s mind. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''The Higher-ups,'' he thought darkly, ''are at it again.''


    He''d spent an entire day trudging through this damned forest¡ªfor what? A crooked shack and a family drama with a thundering patriarch?


    ''They could''ve just handed me a script,'' Su Xiaobai thought sourly. ''Are they allies? Informants? Or just another set of side characters to amuse the Higher-ups?''


    No instructions. No hints. Nothing but vague purpose and this absurd scenario.


    Of course, there was another possibility.


    Wei Jun''s sister.


    The thought blindsided him, and Su Xiaobai stiffened. Was this some Higher-ups'' scheme to shove him into a romance subplot? Was the old man''s granddaughter supposed to be his destined love interest?


    Impossible.


    He wasn''t some starry-eyed protagonist chasing flowers in the sect. Love was a distraction¡ªa detour he couldn''t afford.


    ''Xiao Lu was different,'' he reasoned, glancing at his hand, ''She''s useful.''


    And ¡ª she could accompany him in his journey!


    But Wei Jun''s sister? Trouble. He could already picture Wei Zhong glaring at him, spiritual energy crackling like thunder, just for daring to suggest her involvement in his plans.


    Su Xiaobai''s jaw tightened. ''No. Absolutely not. I don''t care what the Higher-ups want. I won''t be their puppet for romance.''


    And yet, the more he tried to ignore it, the more absurd the thought became.


    ''Why am I even thinking about this?''


    Shaking himself, he muttered under his breath, "Forget it. I''m here for the treasury, not a love story."


    [A/N: Look at this guy, planting his own red flags. Don''t blame me when things go downhill later! :P]


    Su Xiaobai''s thoughts were cut short by Wei Zhong''s sudden movement.


    "Why are you standing there like an idiot?" The old man''s voice cracked again like a sharp whip.


    Wei Jun froze. "I¡ª"


    "THWACK!"


    The old man''s fist struck the back of Wei Jun''s head with a resounding crack, planting him face-first into the dirt.


    Su Xiaobai blinked, surprised.


    "Brother Jun," he muttered, crouching near the cratered figure. "if this were a story, I''d say you''ve been demoted to slapstick sidekick. Thoughts?"


    Wei Jun groaned, his face half-buried in soil. "I have none."


    "Smart," Su Xiaobai said, grinning. "Wouldn''t want to overexert yourself."


    When Wei Jun finally staggered to his feet, swaying like a drunken immortal, Wei Zhong turned to Su Xiaobai.


    "You," the old man said, his tone sharp and suspicious, "What do you want?"


    Su Xiaobai clasped his hands in a gesture of respect, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Elder Wei, I merely seek guidance. As someone new to Yue Country, I find myself in need of¡­ perspective."


    "Perspective?" Wei Zhong repeated, his lips curling faintly. "Is that what they''re calling greed these days?"


    The old man''s gaze tore into Su Xiaobai, sharp and knowing, yet tinged with something else¡ªamusement, perhaps.


    "Go on," Wei Zhong said, lighting a pipe. Smoke curled around him like a dragon''s breath. "What do you want to know?"


    "The Xiantian Sect," Su Xiaobai said smoothly.


    The air seemed to chill. Wei Zhong''s expression darkened, his voice turning to iron.


    "That den of vipers."


    The hate in his tone was as clear ¡ª as the vast blue sky.


    "Forgive me," Su Xiaobai said lightly, tilting his head. "I didn''t realize the sect''s reputation was so¡­ poor."


    Wei Zhong barked a harsh laugh. "Poor? Boy, the Xiantian Sect was once a lion¡ªmighty, proud, and feared by all. But now?" He spat on the ground. "It''s a rotting carcass, picked apart by jackals and rats."


    He took a slow drag from his pipe, his eyes glinting with distant memories. "War is coming. Blood will flow. And anyone foolish enough to get caught in the middle will drown in it."


    Su Xiaobai nodded solemnly, his face a mask of respect. "Thank you for the warning, Elder. I will take it to heart."


    Inside, though, his thoughts ran even faster than his luck. ''Jackals? Rats? Blood? Sounds like my kind of party."


    Chaos meant opportunity.


    It meant treasures forgotten, vaults abandoned, and materials for his Astral Gate Array lying in wait.


    "Thanks for the advice, Elder," Su Xiaobai said aloud, his voice tinged with mischief. "I''ll be sure to ''avoid'' the Xiantian Sect¡­"


    ____


    Later that day, Su Xiaobai casually probed Wei Jun about the Xiantian Sect. He noticed the faint flicker of suspicion in Wei Jun''s eyes, despite the man''s carefree demeanor.


    Su Xiaobai didn''t care.


    When it came to the Higher-ups, there were only two outcomes.


    If they wanted to screw him over, they would¡ªno reason needed. And if they didn''t, no one else in this damned world could.


    So, he pestered Wei Jun until he got everything he wanted.


    Xiantian Sect was holding a recruitment in a week. Wei Jun, misunderstanding Su Xiaobai''s sudden interest, casually asked if he intended to join.


    "Yes," Su Xiaobai answered, surprising him.


    Wei Jun shook his head, rattling off the names of other sects and urging him to reconsider. But Su Xiaobai had already decided.


    He didn''t care about joining. It was perfect timing¡ªtoo perfect to be a coincidence. If the Higher-ups wanted him to play along, he''d oblige, at least for now. Somewhere inside that sect was the rare material he needed for the Astral Gate Array.


    Until then, he''d bide his time here, pretending to enjoy his "role." Wei Jun didn''t mind, even teasing that Su Xiaobai could meet his sister when she arrived tomorrow.


    Annoyed, Su Xiaobai waved him off and left for the nearby stream.


    ___


    "Sigh~"


    Standing beneath the roaring waterfall, Su Xiaobai let the icy torrent pound against his shoulders. Each droplet struck his skin like shards of glass, tearing away the sadness of the day.


    The cascade masked the world''s noise, leaving only the primal rhythm of water and stone.


    For a fleeting moment, it was as though time had stopped.


    Here, within the waterfall''s embrace, Su Xiaobai could almost believe that the chaos of the outside world didn''t exist¡ªthe Higher-ups, their endless schemes, and the burdens of his own inadequacies faded into an illusion.


    But peace, as Su Xiaobai knew all too well, was a lie.


    A faint vibration hummed from the ring on his finger, shattering his fragile reprieve.


    His brow furrowed. "Huh?" He lifted his hand, the ancient black band gleaming faintly against his damp skin.


    Before he could investigate further, the water around him surged unnaturally.


    Splosh!


    A sharp tug from below made him stagger. His eyes darted downward¡ªand froze.


    It was her.


    The demon child.


    She no longer resembled the tiny, harmless creature he''d first found. Now standing nearly two feet tall, her features had sharpened into an unsettling blend of innocence and beauty.


    Her round face, once merely endearing, now radiated a doll-like perfection, her porcelain skin eerily flawless, as though sculpted by a master artisan.


    But it was her eyes¡ªtwo glowing crimson orbs¡ªthat rooted him in place.


    Su Xiaobai exhaled slowly. "So, it''s happening," he muttered to himself.


    Somehow, he wasn''t surprised. If anything, this transformation confirmed what he had suspected from the moment she appeared.


    She was no ordinary creature.


    She was rare. Precious. Dangerous.


    Not only could she slip in and out of the ring world at will¡ªa feat no one else, not even Xiao Lu, could achieve¡ªbut she grew at an alarming, almost unnatural pace.


    Perhaps she was a gift, wrapped in the Higher-ups'' usual way of ruddiles..


    "A gift wrapped in a curse," he thought bitterly, imagining the smug voices.


    [Su Xiaobai, you''ve fulfilled your duties. Enjoy your prize, the Demon Empress. She''ll handle everything from here. Go on, live your salted fish dreams.]


    He snorted. "Yeah, sure."


    Before he could dream further, a violent splash yanked his attention back to the water.


    "!"


    ____


    Gasp!


    Beneath the water, the demon child''s eyes snapped open beneath the turbulent currents. Panic set in immediately as icy water forced its way into her lungs.


    ''I¡­ I can''t breathe!''


    Her tiny arms flailed desperately, slapping against the unyielding waves. Her soft cries, muffled and pitiful, were swallowed by the roaring waterfall.


    ''I''m too weak!''


    Her mind shook. Fragments of memories clawed at her mind, fractured and incomplete. She remembered once standing atop a desolate peak, her shadow stretching across the heavens. She had been invincible, her will absolute. Nothing and no one had dared to stand before her.


    But now?


    Now she was this.


    A trembling squeak escaped her lips as another realization slammed into her¡ªa memory so sharp it felt like a blade.


    ''The river of time¡­ I forgot¡­ I fell.''


    Her panic surged, her fragile body twisting uselessly in the current.


    ''I refuse to die here!'' she thought fiercely, though her strength was fading fast.


    Her hands shot out blindly, brushing against something solid¡ªlong, firm, and blisteringly hot. It was her salvation.

 Chapter 49 - 49: Xiao Hei!

    Hiss~~


    Above the roaring water, Su Xiaobai froze. A sudden, fiery pain tore through his lower half¡ªa sensation so sharp it felt as though the heavens themselves had sent a lightning tribulation directly to his ''jade rod of destiny''.


    His knees buckled, his breath hitched, and for a moment, the world stood still.


    Then came the scream.


    "AAAAAHHHHH!"


    It was a sound that shattered the forest''s peace, sending birds fleeing and shaking squirrels from their branches. Beneath the water, the demon child grabbed to him with the grip of the damned, her delicate fingers wrapped tightly around his ''heavenly pillar of justice''.


    "THAT''S NOT A HANDLE, YOU LITTLE MONSTER!" Su Xiaobai howled, his voice climbing higher than a phoenix in flight.


    His face burned crimson, shame and agony warring for dominance.


    CLENCH.


    A fresh wave of torment coursed through him, and his scream hit a register that no mortal man should reach.


    It was pain so profound it felt as if his bloodline itself was about to be severed, his entire ancestral lineage on the edge of oblivion.


    "Let go! LET GO!" he begged, thrashing in the water. "You''re going to destroy my ''Dao of Manhood!''"


    But the demon child, her crimson eyes vacant and serene, pulled it tighter, as though holding the very lifeline of her existence.


    Summoning every shred of will¡ªand an instinctual, primal need to preserve his progeny¡ªSu Xiaobai plunged his hands into the water and gripped her arms.


    With a desperate roar, he tore her free.


    SPLASH!


    The river exploded around them as he hoisted her high into the air. She dangled like a soaked kitten, her crimson eyes blinking innocently, her small hands twitching as though still searching for a grip.


    "ENOUGH!" he yelled again.


    Finally, the it ended. Collapsing onto the riverbank, Su Xiaobai lay sprawled on the grass, gasping for breath. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    His trembling hands hovered over his ''most sacred treasures'', terrified of what he might find.


    With the care of a craftsman inspecting a fragile artifact, he reached down and gingerly assessed the damage.


    Relief surged through him like a heavenly blessing.


    "Still¡­ intact¡­" he whispered, tears streaming freely down his face. "Thank the heavens, my lineage is safe."


    He lay there for a long moment, staring at the endless sky. Somewhere deep inside, he could feel his dignity packing its things and quietly walking away.


    The demon child sat a short distance away, her small hands folded neatly in her lap, her expression as serene as a monk meditating atop a mountain.


    Yet her fingers twitched faintly, as though contemplating another attempt.


    Su Xiaobai glared at her, clutching his robes tightly around him.


    "Don''t you dare!" he barked, his voice still trembling.


    The child tilted her head, a faint smile curving her lips¡ªa smile that carried a hint of mischief and far too much satisfaction for his liking.


    Groaning, Su Xiaobai covered his face with a hand.


    The demon child in return tilted her head, her faint smile vanishing like a wisp of smoke, replaced by a feeling of sadness.


    Her small hand quivered as she reached out, her fingers brushing against Su Xiaobai''s cheek. The touch was hesitant, almost reverent, as if testing whether he was real or a fading dream.


    "Hey!" Su Xiaobai jerked back, slapping her hand away with a scowl. "Don''t act all innocent now. We both know what you just did to me!"


    The demon child''s face flushed a deep crimson, her ears twitching faintly.


    "What are you¡ª" Su Xiaobai began, determined not to be swayed by her deceptively cute appearance, but the words faltered in his throat.


    A sudden jolt coursed through him. His eyes snapped to her palm.


    "Wait¡­ You''ve already formed a core?!"


    The words spilled from his mouth in disbelief. The realization struck him like a thunderclap.


    This tiny creature, barely more than a child, had surpassed him in cultivation.


    Su Xiaobai''s bitter laugh echoed through the clearing. "Even a demon baby''s more talented than me. What''s next? You ascending while I''m stuck breaking rocks?"


    The demon child''s expression remained unreadable, though her head tilted slightly as if pondering his words.


    He sighed, waving her off. "Fine. You''re my bodyguard now. I won''t kick you away, just kill anyone who comes for me."


    But before he could relax, a strange sweetness filled the air.


    A white mist crept from the demon child''s body, wrapping around him like silk. His limbs grew heavy, his eyelids drooping as his consciousness slipped away.


    "What¡­" His words slurred, his limbs going heavy. "What''s¡­ happening¡­"


    The world spun.


    Thud!


    His head drooped, and he collapsed into a defenseless slumber.


    The demon child crouched beside him as he slumped to the ground. Her glowing eyes shimmered with unreadable intent.


    For a long moment, she simply watched.


    Then, she smiled.


    Minutes passed in silence, broken only by the soft rustle of leaves and the steady murmur of the waterfall. Su Xiaobai lay sprawled on the grass, exhaustion pulling him into a sudden, unguarded sleep.


    The demon girl approached quietly, her bare feet brushing the ground with the lightness of a falling petal. Without hesitation, she climbed onto his chest, her small frame pressing against him as if she belonged there.


    Her crimson eyes locked onto his sleeping face, unblinking and intent. Her head rested over his heart, the steady rhythm of its beat echoing in her ears.


    Ba-dump. Ba-dump.


    For a fleeting moment, her expressionless mask cracked. Her lips trembled, and tears shimmered at the corners of her eyes.


    But the moment passed too quickly. Her porcelain face twisted, a storm of emotions battling for dominance¡ªsorrow, confusion, longing. Her expression shifted from a soft smile to quiet laughter, tears streaking her cheeks, only to harden again into an unsettling calm.


    She clung to his neck, her breath ragged, her tiny claws brushing his skin as though tempted by something... vicious.


    Her arms tightened. Her crimson gaze darkened.


    And then¡ª


    "Grrrrroooowl~~"


    The sound shattered the tension.


    Her stomach''s cry of hunger rang out like a declaration of betrayal, loud and clear. She froze, her predatory expression crumbling into wide-eyed panic.


    Su Xiaobai stirred beneath her, his eyes fluttering open groggily.


    "Huh¡­? What¡­ was that?" he mumbled, his voice thick with sleep. He blinked blearily at the demon girl perched on his chest.


    Her face went blank instantly, a childlike innocence washing over her features as her long black hair fell forward, obscuring her panicked expression.


    "¡­Your stomach?" he guessed, raising an eyebrow as the memory of the growl replayed in his head.


    Her heart pounded as she scrambled off him, retreating with unsteady steps. Her claws retracted as she forced a small, artificial smile onto her face.


    Su Xiaobai rubbed his temples, sitting up slowly. "Did I¡­ fall asleep here? On the shore?"


    He glanced at the sky. It was already evening, the fading light painting the forest in shades of amber and shadow.


    He sighed deeply. Guess the waterfall did me in. Months of endless strain had finally caught up to him, dragging him into an exhaustion he couldn''t fight off.


    His eyes shifted to the demon girl. She was hunched over a short distance away, her head bowed low as if hiding her face. Another loud growl rumbled from her stomach, louder this time, sealing her betrayal.


    Su Xiaobai smirked. "You''re hungry again? After drinking half my blood? Greedy little thing¡­" He chuckled, though his tone carried a bitter edge.


    Yet, as he stared at her small, trembling frame, a strange warmth stirred within him.


    He didn''t understand why, but something about her softened the edges of his heart.


    Normally, he loved crushing cute things¡ªbugs, spirits, even plush toys if they annoyed him.


    But this one¡­ this one was different. She was sharp, dangerous, and unsettlingly adorable, yet he felt no desire to break her.


    Perhaps that''s what unsettled him the most.


    The demon girl shuffled further back, trying to mask her embarrassment. Another growl from her stomach betrayed her once more.


    "Alright, alright," Su Xiaobai said, standing up and dusting himself off. "Stop glaring at me like a starving puppy. Let''s get you something to eat before you decide to literally eat me again."


    He stalked into the woods, returning shortly with a rabbit dangling from one hand. With a practiced motion, he dispatched the creature, gutting it cleanly with the efficiency of someone who''d butchered more lives than he cared to count.


    For a moment, as he stared at the lifeless rabbit, a strange thought struck him.


    ''Is this how the one above us feel? Watching us from above, able to destroy anything on a whim?''


    A faint, unsettling smirk crossed his lips. It was a dangerous feeling¡ªpower, unrestrained and unchecked.


    Shaking it off, he focused on roasting the rabbit over a fire.


    The demon girl sat cross-legged beside him, her eyes fixed on the flames. Her expression was unreadable, but her crimson gaze never wavered from the cooking meat.


    When it was done, Su Xiaobai tore off a piece and handed it to her. She nibbled at it hesitantly at first, her sharp teeth working awkwardly. Despite her earlier terror-inducing strength, she now looked absurdly harmless, like a child with no idea how to behave.


    "You''re a weird one," Su Xiaobai murmured, leaning back against a tree. His gaze on her small frame as she chewed. "If the heavens sent you, they''ve got a sick mind."


    Because if he had something like this, there was no chance he''d let it go.


    "Xiao Hei," he said suddenly.


    The demon girl paused mid-bite, tilting her head.


    "That''s your name," Su Xiaobai said confidently. "Small, dangerous, and black-haired. Simple enough."


    Her expression didn''t change, but for a moment, her eyes flickered with something¡ªannoyance? Amusement? It was hard to tell.


    ''Xiao Hei,'' she repeated silently to herself, rolling the name around in her mind. ''Stupid name. Xiao Bai calls himself "Little White," and now I''m "Little Black?" What''s next, naming me after the color of dirt?''


    She looked away, her thoughts masked by her usual blank stare.


    "Don''t like it?" Su Xiaobai asked, smirking. "Too bad. Xiao Hei it is."


    The demon girl dipped her head slightly, not bothering to argue.


    Su Xiaobai grinned, leaning back with his hands behind his head. "Guess I''ll keep you around, Xiao Hei. Just don''t grab anything you''re not supposed to again."


    Her eyes flickered briefly, unreadable as ever, but she said nothing, focusing instead on her meal.


    For now, Su Xiaobai let it slide. The forest seemed calm, the air unusually sweet. He glanced at her again, an odd feeling at the back of his mind.


    "Something''s strange about this place," he muttered, his gaze scanning the woods.


    Xiao Hei stiffened almost imperceptibly, her chewing slowing for a fraction of a second before resuming.


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes narrowed slightly. Suspicious.


    But for now, she was calm. And, truth be told, he didn''t mind the quiet.


    If she stayed this docile, maybe she''d make a decent bodyguard. Or, at the very least, a terrifyingly adorable pet.


    For now, though, he let the Higher-ups keep their secrets.

 Chapter 50 - 50: The Righteous Brother Su & The Little Demon!

    "Where''s your friend?"


    Back at the worn, moss-covered cottage, Grandpa Zhong snorted, his wizened face twisting with disdain as he glanced at Wei Jun, who crouched over the fire pit, coaxing the flames to life.


    "It''s been hours since he disappeared."


    Wei Jun shrugged, his sleeves rolled up as he fanned the fire, beads of sweat rolling down his brow. His irritation barely concealed itself beneath his calm tone. "Shouldn''t you be more worried about unsealing my cultivation instead of him?"


    Grandpa Zhong sneered, waving a hand lazily. "Figure it out yourself. Learn to master the ''Ancient Sealing Gate'' and undo it, or stay weak. Makes no difference to me."


    Wei Jun''s face darkened, the firelight glinting off his narrowing eyes. "¡­Old man."


    The [Ancient Sealing Gate]¡ªa bloodline technique unique to their clan¡ªwas a terrifying ability capable of sealing even the strongest cultivator''s strength.


    But unsealing it was another matter entirely, requiring mastery far beyond Wei Jun''s current abilities. Grandpa Zhong, of course, delighted in his grandson''s helplessness.


    Grinding his teeth, Wei Jun stood, brushing dirt from his robes. "Fine. I''ll go find him. At least he doesn''t spend all day taunting me."


    Anything was better than enduring Grandpa Zhong''s barbs.


    As Wei Jun turned to leave, the old man watched him go, his lips curling into a faint smirk. "That boy never brings anyone here," he murmured, almost to himself.


    For Wei Jun to have brought Su Xiaobai to their secluded home, there had to be a reason. Grandpa Zhong didn''t know the specifics, but he had learned long ago not to underestimate his grandson.


    Beneath Wei Jun''s lazy, carefree facade lay a sharp, calculating mind¡ªa serpent lying in wait, its fangs hidden until the perfect moment to strike.


    "Not showing your fangs until the moment to bite," Grandpa Zhong murmured approvingly. "The first rule of survival."


    His expression soured as his thoughts wandered to the past.


    "If only that cursed girl wasn''t in the picture¡­" he muttered, his voice laced with bitterness.


    The Xiantian Sect woman had plagued their family for generations. Even his son had failed to escape her grasp. A sigh escaped him, heavy and resigned.


    "That wretched woman¡­"


    ____


    "Whistle~~"


    By the lake, Wei Jun strolled toward the water''s edge, whistling a light tune. As his gaze settled on the scene before him, he froze mid-step, his sharp eyes locking onto the figure sitting by the lake.


    At first, he thought it was the doll-like girl from earlier¡ªa fragile, tiny thing. But now...


    ''What the hell...?'' His brows furrowed. The girl was taller now, her porcelain skin glowing faintly in the twilight, her long black hair swaying with the breeze.


    Wei Jun quickly hid his surprise behind a casual smirk.


    "Brother Su," he called out, his tone playful, "congratulations! Your little daughter has grown up. Should I call her Lady Su now?"


    Leaning against a tree, Su Xiaobai snorted, not even sparing Wei Jun a glance. "Call her what you want, Brother Jun. Just don''t call her ''Mother'' when she decides to devour your soul."


    Wei Jun''s steps faltered, a chill creeping up his spine, but he recovered quickly, laughing. "So elegant, Brother Su. Truly, a man of words."


    Su Xiaobai tilted his head lazily. "Words or not, she nearly ended my bloodline earlier. If you think she''s harmless, go ahead¡ªoffer her your heavenly treasures. Let''s see if you fare better."


    Wei Jun blinked. Then, realization struck. He instinctively stepped back, his voice trembling with mock fear. "That''s priceless, Brother Su. Did she really think you were hiding treasures there?"


    Su Xiaobai rolled his eyes. "Treasure? Sure. But if she clings any harder, my clan''s lineage ends here. Do you have a spare jade root of vitality? Because I''ll need one soon."


    Wei Jun burst into laughter, clutching his stomach. "Su Xiaobai, you might be the first man to nearly lose his legacy to a demon toddler. No wonder you looked half-dead earlier!"


    The demon girl tilted her head, her crimson eyes narrowing slightly at their exchange, though her expression remained calm.


    "Enough jokes," Su Xiaobai cut in, sensing her growing irritation. He didn''t trust her not to lash out, and sparing Wei Jun''s life felt like a courtesy. "Why are you here anyway? Can''t I have a moment of peace?"


    Wei Jun smiled wryly, stepping closer but keeping his distance from the girl. "I got bored babysitting Grandpa. Then I find your ''baby'' babysitting you? How could I miss this?"


    Su Xiaobai sighed, rubbing his temple. "She''s not my baby. She''s¡­" He glanced at the demon girl, his expression softening briefly before hardening again. "Something I don''t understand yet."


    Wei Jun studied her, his usual grin fading. Despite her calm demeanor, there was something wrong¡ªan unnatural aura that felt out of place.


    She was no mere girl.


    She felt like a celestial, her presence overwhelming the mortal soil beneath her feet.


    "Whatever she is," Wei Jun said quietly, "she''s not ordinary. That''s obvious."


    Su Xiaobai gave a half-shrug. "Ordinary things don''t stay around me. I''ve come to terms with it." His tone sharpened as he turned back to Wei Jun. "But if you''re done laughing, keep your distance. She bites, and she doesn''t aim for places you''d survive losing."


    Wei Jun chuckled nervously, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Understood. No sudden moves around Lady Su."


    The demon girl''s eyes flickered briefly, unreadable, before settling again.


    Wei Jun frowned slightly, his instincts uneasy. "Brother, have you thought about how to explain her existence to others? She doesn''t seem¡­ alive."


    Su Xiaobai frowned, but Wei Jun pressed on. "Call her a puppet. It''s believable, and no one would question you too much."


    Su Xiaobai studied Xiao Hei thoughtfully. It was plausible. Puppet refiners were rare, but he had enough knowledge to feign expertise if needed.


    For the first time, Su Xiaobai grinned. "You''re not completely useless, Brother Jun."


    Later, he tested the story with Grandpa Zhong, asking if he could distinguish Xiao Hei from a puppet. The old man nearly gouged out his eyes in frustration when he failed.


    Not satisfied, Grandpa Zhong summoned ''four'' massive ancient sealing gates to test her, only to be met with failure again.


    Red-faced and defeated, Grandpa Zhong muttered something about feeling unwell and retreated to his chambers.


    Wei Jun had never seen the old man so frustrated.


    Watching Grandpa Zhong retreat with stiff shoulders and muttered curses, Wei Jun leaned closer to Su Xiaobai and whispered with a smile, "I think he just realized there''s a bigger monster than him out there. Brother Su, you might want to sleep with one eye open tonight¡­"


    Su Xiaobai sighed, leading Xiao Hei into the woods to sleep far from the cottage.


    "What if the old man tries to sneak attack her?" Su Xiaobai muttered. "Safer this way."


    _____


    That night, Su Xiaobai rested high in a towering tree, Xiao Hei nestled in his arms. The forest below lay silent, broken only by the rustle of leaves and the soft call of crickets.


    Her warmth pressed against him, carrying the faint scent of dried roses¡ªa fragrance both soothing and haunting, like a memory just out of reach.


    Rustle~~


    A breeze brushed past, her black hair grazing his face. He frowned but let it be, his gaze falling on her doll-like face.


    Peaceful. Innocent.


    Why did it feel like they''d always slept this way, as though bound by threads beyond time?


    "Acting harmless," Su Xiaobai muttered, brushing a strand from her cheek. He couldn''t help but chuckle. "Cute face, deadly grip. If the world knew a one-day-old was Core Formation, shrines or chaos¡ªit''s a coin toss."


    His fingers brushed her small hand, smooth and cool like jade. "But if I left you, you''d sell yourself for a shiny bauble." His smile turned bitter. "Guess that makes me your babysitter."


    Leaning back, he sighed. "The righteous Brother Su and the little demon¡­ What a pair."


    "..."


    Her lashes flickered; the corners of her lips twitched.


    Su Xiaobai smirked. "Awake, huh? Playing innocent suits you."


    He closed his eyes, his head resting against the trunk. Above, stars gleamed faintly, scattered like shards of a shattered mirror. For years, his thoughts had been consumed by the path home.


    Tonight, for the first time, he wondered if this was where he was meant to be.


    But Xiao Hei wasn''t so idle.


    Nine times ¡ª that night, she tried to kill him.


    Each time, her claws extended, gleaming faintly under the moonlight. Each time, they hovered, trembling above his neck. Her crimson eyes glowed with intent, her hand poised for the strike¡ªyet the killing blow refused to land.


    Su Xiaobai snored softly, oblivious. His arm cradled her loosely, his breath warm against her hair.


    Her claws hovered closer, so near she could feel the faint pulse beneath his skin. One swipe, and it would end.


    Why do I hesitate?


    The starlight fell on his face, serene and unguarded. He looked nothing like the fierce fighter who had outwitted beasts and men alike. His sleeping face, softened by dreams, unsettled her more than any blade could.


    Her chest burned with an unfamiliar heat.


    Kill him! Now!


    Her claws trembled. Instead of striking, they brushed his robe.


    Shnick!


    The faintest graze of her claws drew a thin red line across his neck. A bead of blood welled up, shimmering like ruby dew.


    Her breath hitched.


    She froze, staring at the blood. Her claws retracted, trembling.


    Ugh, stop this!


    Her chest heaved as if she''d been struck, the pain inexplicable.


    "Tch¡­ mosquitos," Su Xiaobai muttered, scratching at his neck in his sleep.


    Her eye twitched.


    Without a sound, she slipped from his embrace. The branch shuddered beneath her light step as she fell silently into the void below.


    Whoosh!


    A crimson mist caught her, cradling her small jade feet like silk. She glided into the darkness, leaving only the faint scent of roses behind.


    Below, tiny droplets fell softly to the ground. Not dew.


    Tears.


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 Chapter 51 - 51: Princess Ling Er!

    At the riverbank, Xiao Hei crouched low, her claws tracing the soil.


    She carved a jagged cave. Inside, a small figure¡ªSu Xiaobai¡ªfled, arms flailing, chased by a dark wisp.


    It was the Weeping Emperor''s cave, where the immortal fetus, still unhatched, had pursued him.


    She remembered the moment: two red orbs glowed in the mist, staring into his back as he ran like a startled chicken.


    Her claws stilled. A tear fell, blurring the image.


    She swiped it away and began again.


    This time, the image was of Su Xiaobai and Xiao Hei sitting beside a roasted rabbit. But now, it was ''she'' who had hunted it, her claws gripping the lifeless prey, blood dripping from its side.


    Another tear fell. She erased the image.


    Again.


    Su Xiaobai beneath a tree, head tilted back in sleep. She curled against him, her head resting on his chest. Her fingers lingered before wiping this one away.


    Her movements grew frantic.


    Su Xiaobai laughing, carefree, his smile blinding. She sat beside him, silent and still.


    A throne, jagged and rough. He sat atop it, shadowed, as though carrying the weight of countless lives. She stood behind him, a faint silhouette in the gloom. At their feet, blood spilled in rivers, a kneeling figure awaiting judgment.


    Her claws dug deep, tearing through the soil. She wiped it away with a trembling hand.


    Her last drawing was heavier, darker. Endless bodies paved the ground, rivers of blood stretching into infinity.


    In the center stood a woman, eyes cold as a blade.


    Above her, Su Xiaobai, wounded but unyielding, glared as though their conflict had spanned lifetimes.


    Her claws stopped.


    Tears fell freely now, soaking the earth.


    Drip. Drip. Drip.


    The soil turned dark, her final drawing blurred beyond recognition. She pressed her claws deeper, carving jagged scars into the earth.


    Finally, she stood. Her crimson eyes shimmered, unshed tears reflecting the moonlight.


    She gazed into the river, her pale reflection rippling like a ghost unbound.


    Rustle ~


    The current murmured softly, uncaring, as it carried her tears into the dark.


    _____


    The next morning, Su Xiaobai was pacing back and forth in the forest, his expression dark. Wei Jun, noticing his agitation, approached with curiosity.


    "Brother Su, what''s wrong?" Wei Jun asked, folding his arms.


    Su Xiaobai stopped, instinctively ready to spit a few curses but swallowed them back. His tone was clipped. "It''s nothing. That little demon, Xiao Hei, sneaked off somewhere."


    "Huh¡­" Wei Jun frowned, surprised. "Didn''t you have her under control?"


    Su Xiaobai frowned, "So did I."


    Wei Jun''s expression shifted, a trace of unease flickering across his face. "How can something like that just¡­ disappear on its own?"


    Su Xiaobai shook his head, muttering curses under his breath. That little demon had slipped away like a wisp of smoke.


    "Tsk, that little idiot wouldn''t have gone and pissed off some bigshot and gotten herself nabbed, would she?"


    Su Xiaobai smacked his forehead, groaning. Xiao Hei had the brains of a rock and the temper of a wild boar. If she''d gone and picked a fight with some fancy princess cruising down the road in their shiny carriage...


    Damn, he could already picture the mess¡ªheads rolling, his included.


    "That girl''s gonna be the death of me," he muttered, launching himself into the sky. His qi rippled out like an old drunk spilling wine, brushing over the forest below as he squinted for any sign of trouble.


    Somewhere in the distance, Wei Jun wandered aimlessly, grumbling about being stuck with the boring search duty.


    Meanwhile, deeper in the forest, a luxurious carriage rolled forward, flanked by armored guards.


    The spirit beasts scattered around it looked more curious than afraid, their bright eyes glinting in the dappled light.


    Inside, Princess Ling Er huffed, her delicate fingers fidgeting with her silk sleeve. She peeked out the curtain, scowling at the endless trees.


    "What''s so special about this place anyway?" she muttered, kicking her heels against the cushioned seat. Her grandfather had once called this wilderness a hidden treasure, but to her, it was just dirt and bugs.


    Crunch.


    She stiffened. A sharp, unnatural sound shattered the quiet harmony of chirping birds and rustling leaves.


    "!?"


    "Commander!" Ling Er''s voice rang out, high-pitched and trembling. "What was that?! Do something¡ªnow!"


    Wu Jian, the lead commander, raised a hand, signaling his guards to stop. His silver armor gleamed, but the sweat beading on his forehead dulled its luster.


    The sound hadn''t come from animals or stray bandits. It was something else.


    "Form a perimeter," Wu Jian ordered.


    The guards drew their swords, their steel flashing under the canopy as they surrounded the carriage.


    Crunch.


    The sound came again¡ªcloser this time.


    Bones snapping.


    Flesh tearing.


    Then, she emerged.


    Xiao Hei stepped out of the shadows, blood dripping from her tiny fingers. Her crimson eyes gleamed faintly, glowing like embers in the dark. In her hands hung the half-eaten remains of a rabbit, its guts dangling like decorations.


    Her black hair clung to her face in damp strands, and she chewed leisurely, the sound of bones cracking unnervingly loud in the silence. She looked at the guards like they were no more than passing scenery.


    "W-What¡­ is that?!" Princess Ling Er screeched, her face as pale as her silk robes. "Monster! Kill it! KILL IT!"


    Wu Jian''s grip on his sword tightened, his instincts screaming. That was no child.


    The aura rolling off her was like standing before a coiled dragon¡ªcalm on the surface, but deadly underneath.


    "Princess," he began, his voice low, "perhaps we should¡ª"


    "I DON''T CARE!" Ling Er cut him off, her voice breaking with panic. "I don''t want to see that thing again! Kill it! Right now!"


    The guards hesitated.


    Xiao Hei looked small, harmless even, but every instinct they had screamed at them to run.


    Orders, however, were orders.


    Wu Jian exhaled sharply, raising his sword. "Surround her. Don''t let your guard down."


    Kacha! Kacha!


    The guards moved in, forming a tight semicircle. Xiao Hei tilted her head, watching them with the curiosity of a child watching ants.


    Her lips twitched¡ªa faint, knowing smile¡ªas she bit into the rabbit again, the crunch of bone echoing in the still forest.


    For a moment, no one moved.


    At this moment, all seventeen guards, including Commander Wu Jian, had moved to encircle Xiao Hei.


    It was almost laughable¡ªa fully trained battalion of elite warriors, surrounding a small girl who barely reached their waists.


    Two of them were at Core Formation, five at the Earthly Rebirth Realm, six at Nascent Soul, and four at the mighty Soul Fusion Realm. At their head, Wu Jian, a Spirit Severing expert, stood like an immovable mountain.


    By all logic, they had the absolute advantage.


    If only all of them hadn''t focused entirely on Xiao Hei.


    "Move one inch, and she dies!"


    A voice echoed, sharp and mocking.


    "Wh¡ª" Wu Jian''s head whipped around, his eyes narrowing as he searched for the source.


    There, near the carriage, stood a man who looked more amused than menacing. Su Xiaobai''s grin stretched wide, his teeth gleaming like a wolf who''d stumbled upon a banquet.


    One arm was wrapped snugly around Princess Ling Er''s waist, while the other held a dagger so close to her pale neck it whispered promises of blood.


    "Wh-What?!" Ling Er''s voice cracked, her eyes darting around frantically. Her legs wobbled, her hands clawing weakly at Su Xiaobai''s arm. "Unhand me, you¡ªyou degenerate! Do you have any idea who I am?"


    Su Xiaobai sighed dramatically, as if her screams were the dullest part of his day. "Oh, I know exactly who you are, Princess." He pressed the blade a touch closer, just enough to make her freeze. "You''re the one screaming loud enough to scare the spirit beasts. Now hush, unless you want me to give you a permanent smile."


    At that moment, all seventeen guards, including Commander Wu Jian, were focused entirely on Su Xiaobai.


    Taking advantage of the opportunity, Xiao Hei smirked, her lips curling into something cold and playful.


    Without warning, she sprang upward, her petite figure blurring as she sailed over their heads like a ghost on the wind.


    Thud.


    She landed gracefully atop the carriage, her balance effortless, her claws tapping lightly on the roof as if taunting them.


    Su Xiaobai''s grin widened as he glanced at her. ''Good girl,'' he thought, his chest swelling with pride for his chaotic little demon.


    "Commander!" one of the guards shouted. "She''s¡ª"


    "Focus!" Wu Jian barked, his eyes snapping back to Su Xiaobai, whose dagger remained pressed against Ling Er''s trembling neck.


    "Good advice," Su Xiaobai said, his tone light and teasing. "If you''re going to babysit a princess, at least ''try'' not to let her get snatched. Oh wait, too late."


    Ling Er whimpered, her tears streaming freely now. "Uncle Wu¡­ help me¡­ please!"


    Su Xiaobai rolled his eyes. "Uncle Wu? Seriously? You''re a ''grown woman'' calling for ''Uncle Wu''? What''s next¡ªcrying for your nanny? Oh wait." He leaned in, grinning wickedly as he whispered into her ear, "Bet you''re one of those princesses who still needs help getting dressed, huh?"


    Her face turned scarlet¡ªnot from anger, but pure mortification.


    "Release her now, and I''ll spare your life," Wu Jian yelled, his grip tightening on his sword.


    Su Xiaobai raised an eyebrow. "Spare my life?" He let out a laugh, his shoulders shaking. "Oh, Commander, you kill me. Wait¡­ no, you don''t." He tilted the dagger slightly, drawing a thin red line across Ling Er''s neck.


    She squeaked, trembling in his arms.


    "I mean it!" Wu Jian barked, his voice thunderous.


    "Yeah, yeah, and ''I'' mean this." Su Xiaobai''s voice dropped, cold and biting. "You so much as twitch, and I''ll give your little princess here a makeover. Bet she''d look real cute with her head rolling across the dirt, don''t you think?"


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 Chapter 52 - 52: Wei Juns little sister!

    "Bet she''d look real cute with her head rolling across the dirt, don''t you think?"


    The guards tensed, their weapons inching forward, but the sight of the princess''s blood stopped them cold.


    One of them¡ªa bold Earthly Rebirth cultivator¡ªsneered, his voice dripping with disdain. "Do you even know who you''re threatening?"


    Su Xiaobai turned his head slowly, his grin widening. "Do you even know how much I don''t care?" He scanned the guards like a merchant appraising cheap goods.


    "Seventeen guards, huh? And not one of you geniuses thought to guard the carriage properly. Instead, you all piled on a little girl who wasn''t even trying. Bravo." He gave them a mocking golf clap, dagger still steady against Ling Er''s neck.


    "Shut your mouth!" one of the guards snapped, his face red with fury.


    "Oh, I''d love to, but you lot are making this too easy." Su Xiaobai smirked, tilting his head. "Seriously, who trains you? Blind monks? Let me guess¡ªyour motto is ''protect the princess by letting her get snatched.''"


    "Enough!" Wu Jian barked, his voice filled with steel. "What do you want?"


    Su Xiaobai pretended to think, tapping the dagger lightly against Ling Er''s cheek. "Hmm¡­ how about this? All of you kneel. Right now. And you, Commander¡ªslap yourself three times. Loud enough to amuse me."


    The guards froze, their eyes darting to Wu Jian in disbelief.


    "You''re joking," one of them muttered.


    "Do I look like I''m joking?" Su Xiaobai''s smile turned cruel, his eyes gleaming. "Three seconds, or I start carving."


    Ling Er sobbed, her voice cracking. "Uncle Wu! Please, just do it! I-I don''t want to die!"


    Wu Jian''s jaw tightened, the veins on his neck bulging. Every instinct screamed to attack, but the blade pressing into Ling Er''s delicate skin left him no choice.


    Slowly, he lowered his sword and sank to his knees.


    "That''s a good start," Su Xiaobai said cheerfully. "Now, let''s hear those slaps, Commander."


    Wu Jian''s hand trembled before he struck himself.


    Slap!


    The sound echoed, sharp and humiliating.


    Slap!


    His face turned red, but he didn''t stop.


    Slap!


    The final strike left Wu Jian''s hands shaking, his eyes blazing with unbridled fury as he glared at Su Xiaobai.


    "See? That wasn''t so hard," Su Xiaobai teased, his grin widening. "Although I gotta say, you hit like my grandma. Maybe next time use your sword hand, huh?"


    The guards'' faces darkened with rage, but they stayed frozen, their weapons at their sides.


    "Now then," Su Xiaobai said, taking a step back. He tugged Ling Er closer, ignoring her pathetic whimpers. "It''s been fun, boys, but I think it''s time I hit the road. Don''t worry, I''ll send her back in¡­ mostly one piece."


    Ling Er sobbed louder, trembling as Su Xiaobai dragged her toward the forest.


    "Uncle Wu¡­" she choked out, her voice weak and broken. "P-please¡­"


    Su Xiaobai sighed, exasperated. "Ugh, you''re so clingy. Don''t worry, Princess, I''m not into crybabies. You''ll be back in your cozy palace in no time¡ªunless I change my mind."


    And with a final, mocking wink, he vanished into the trees, leaving only the echoes of Ling Er''s cries behind him.


    Or so was the plan¡ª


    "SURROUND HIM!"


    "Don''t let him leave!"


    Su Xiaobai''s smirk faltered as the guards moved with surprising coordination, forming a tight circle around him. Their gleaming blades caught the sunlight, and their murderous intent clear.


    "Tch¡­" He clicked his tongue, shifting his grip on Ling Er, who squirmed helplessly in his arms. At his feet, Xiao Hei crouched like a shadow.


    ''Ha! How could I forget you bastards wrote my last life?'' Su Xiaobai thought bitterly, his irritation bubbling to the surface. This trick¡ªthe classic hostage gambit¡ªhad worked perfectly in his previous life. Every. Single. Time. But today? S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Today, it seemed like the higher-ups in charge of this world had decided to collectively lose their damn minds.


    ''The same higher-ups who ignored my prayers for twenty seven years straight,'' he thought, his lip curling. ''The same assholes who threw me into a reincarnation cycle without a cheat system. And now, when I jokingly pray for Xiao Hei not to offend some noble brat, they actually listen?''


    He glanced at the terrified princess in his grip.


    ''Guess what? They heard me alright. Loud and clear. And gave me a fucking princess!''


    His gaze darted skyward, his expression darkening. "Fuck you!" he spat.


    The guards flinched, exchanging uneasy glances. Was he yelling at them? At the heavens? At himself? Even Xiao Hei tilted her head, a faintly confused expression reflected on her otherwise adorable face.


    Wu Jian, bewildered by Su Xiaobai''s erratic behavior, tightened his grip on his sword. His face still burned with humiliation from earlier, but his voice remained steady. "Let her go first. Then you can leave. Or no one is leaving today."


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes narrowed, his grip on Ling Er tightening as she let out a weak whimper. "Oh, is that how it is?" he added, his tone dripping with mockery. "You think I''m dumb enough to hand her over so you can gut me five seconds later?"


    His mind worked overtime. He had banked on breaking Wu Jian''s "spirit" to fight¡ªhumiliating him enough to make him hesitate.


    But no, the script wasn''t going according to plan. Not even close.


    ''This wasn''t supposed to happen! By now, they''re supposed to be groveling, offering me a safe passage, and maybe even some spirit stones for my trouble!''


    Instead, the guards were closing in, and Xiao Hei, his supposed backup, was just¡­ standing there.


    He glanced at her, his expression darkening. "Xiao Hei, what the hell are you doing?"


    She blinked up at him, then tilted her head slightly.


    Her large doe-like eyes flicked toward the guards, then back at Su Xiaobai, as if silently saying, Why should I bother? You''re the one who made this mess.


    Su Xiaobai groaned inwardly. For someone who couldn''t talk, she was very good at saying "this is your problem."


    "I would deal with you later," he muttered, adjusting his grip on the princess.


    Wu Jian''s patience snapped. "Enough of this nonsense!" He took a step forward, "Release her now, or I swear¡ª"


    "Swear what?" Su Xiaobai cut him off, his grin returning. "That you''ll make my death really painful? Hate to break it to you, Commander, but that''s already the script. No need to rub it in."


    Wu Jian faltered, momentarily thrown off by Su Xiaobai''s casual disregard for his threats.


    ''That''s right,'' Su Xiaobai thought, his confidence flickering back to life. ''Confuse them. Make them second-guess. I''ve survived worse odds than this!''


    But just as he was beginning to feel the tide shift in his favor, Ling Er stirred in his arms, her voice weak but annoyingly persistent. "L-let me go¡­ You''ll only make it worse¡­"


    He froze, glancing down at her pale, pitful tear-streaked face.


    ''Oh, come on,'' he thought bitterly. ''Now she grows a conscience? The damsel-in-distress act was bad enough¡ªdon''t start making sense!''


    The guards, emboldened by her words, began closing in, their formation tightening. Wu Jian''s sword rose, his intent sharp and deadly.


    Xiao Hei''s gaze flicked between Su Xiaobai and the encroaching guards. Slowly, she crouched lower, her claws curling into the dirt.


    Her movement was subtle, but it sent a ripple through the guards'' ranks.


    Hiss!~


    Several shifted uneasily, their instincts screaming that this girl was no ordinary child.


    Su Xiaobai glanced down at her and caught the faintest flicker of a smirk on her lips.


    "Finally!" Su Xiaobai thought, a wave of relief washing over him like cool rain after a scorching day. ''She must be the main protagonist! All of this chaos, all of this buildup¡ªit has to be for her grand moment to reveal her true abilities!''


    Suddenly, it all clicked into place, the cosmic puzzle aligning in perfect clarity. The guards, the tension, the dramatic standoff¡ªof course! This was the setup for her big entrance, the kind that would make everyone gasp in awe.


    ''She''s going to¡ª'' Su Xiaobai''s thoughts unfurled, his heart pounding with anticipation as he turned to Xiao Hei with shining eyes.


    This was it. Her moment of glory! Surely, she''d¡ª


    But Xiao Hei didn''t move.


    Instead, she reached down, grabbed a pebble, and flicked it lazily at one of the guards.


    PENG!~~


    The pebble hit his helmet with a faint ping.


    "..."


    The guard froze, his face turning red as his comrades stifled laughs.


    "XIAO HEI!" Su Xiaobai hissed, barely holding back his frustration. "What the hell was that?"


    She simply looked up at him, her aborable round eyes gleaming with mischief, and shrugged.


    Wu Jian took advantage of the distraction, raising his sword higher. "This is your last chance, rogue. Release her, or we''ll cut you down where you stand!"


    Su Xiaobai''s mind shook, his options dwindling faster than a spirit stone in a gambling den.


    ''Fine,'' Su Xiaobai thought.


    They''d snap soon, and when they did, this clearing would turn into a butcher''s block.


    But then¡ª


    "What''s happening here!?"


    A booming voice cracked through the forest.


    BAM!


    The pressure hit like a tidal wave. Wu Jian staggered, his Spirit Severing aura reduced to a candle flicker.


    Su Xiaobai''s lips curled.


    "I''ve never been happier to see an old geezer in the middle of a lonely forest," he thought.


    "Brother Su? Ling Er?" A second voice, smoother but no less sharp.


    Wei Jun strode into view, gold robes swaying. His confident steps faltered as he took in the scene: guards tense and surrounding three individuals: Xiao Hei, standing near the carriage with her face streaked with blood, and Su Xiaobai¡ªgrinning smugly as he held Ling Er by the waist.


    Her tear-streaked face and the thin red line on her neck completed the picture¡ªa trembling flower plucked too soon.


    Wei Jun''s brow twitched. ''Sure, I joked about introducing them,'' his gaze narrowed at Su Xiaobai''s hand on Ling Er''s waist, ''but what the hell is this?''


    Wu Jian exhaled loudly, relief and frustration colliding. "Grand Elder Wei! Prince Wei!"


    Su Xiaobai blinked. "???"


    ''They''re not here for me?''


    He looked at Ling Er in his arms. A moment passed. His grin stiffened. ''No way... this brat''s Wei Jun''s sister?''


    He almost laughed. ''Nice one, Fate Weaver. Really pulled out all the plot twists this time.''

 Chapter 53 - 53: Prince & Princess of Yue Country!

    Wei Jun approached slowly, his forced smile like a knife wrapped in silk. "Brother Su, you really didn''t give me face today, huh?" He sighed theatrically. "I thought you were righteous¡­ but cutting my sister? You''ve broken my heart."


    Su Xiaobai''s lips twitched. ''This clown¡­''


    Fine.


    "Cut her?" His grin turned razor-sharp. "Your little sister and I were just having fun. She''s clever, you know. Adorable, even. How could I even hurt her?"


    The sharp dagger vanished with a flick. His hand shifted, fingers brushing her neck. Ling Er shivered, her trembling growing worse.


    Her lips moved silently. ''Liar.''


    Wei Jun''s eyes narrowed. Too narrow.


    Wu Jian, however, had had enough. "You dare disobey orders, kidnap the princess, and injure her¡ªthen lie to the Grand Elder and Prince Wei!?" His sword glinted, his voice shaking. "You''ll pay for this, rogue!"


    The guards tensed, but no one moved. Ling Er''s tear-streaked, trembling figure held them back.


    Su Xiaobai''s gaze flicked to Wu Jian. ''Can this idiot read the room?''


    His hand lingered on Ling Er''s neck, fingers pressing just enough to make her shiver again. She looked as fragile as she felt¡ªlike a flower about to wilt.


    "So tell me," Su Xiaobai said, his tone light, "where exactly did I injure her?"


    Wu Jian snorted. "You drew a blade on her neck¡ªeveryone saw it! Even a scratch on her body is worth more than your life!"


    Wei Jun stepped closer. "Brother Su, if that''s true, even I can''t save you."


    Su Xiaobai''s gaze flicked between Wei Jun and Grandpa Wei.


    ''Alright,'' Su Xiaobai thought. ''Let''s turn this circus on its head.''


    "What if," he said, "there''s no scar on the Little Princess''s neck?"


    Wu Jian gritted his teeth. "If there''s no scar, I''ll dig out my own eye!"


    "Good," Su Xiaobai said, his grin widening. "Remember that."


    With deliberate care, he lifted his hand.


    The clearing fell silent.


    Ling Er''s neck was flawless. No blood. No scar. Nothing.


    Wu Jian''s jaw dropped. His sword trembled. The guards rubbed their eyes like children trying to wake from a nightmare.


    Wei Jun stepped closer, his voice faltering. "This¡­ this is impossible. Were you just¡­ playing?"


    Ling Er blinked, her fingers brushing her neck. "Strange," she murmured. "It hurt before, but now¡­" Her wide eyes locked onto Su Xiaobai.


    "Big Bastard!" she chirped, her voice bright with childish wonder. "Teach me that! I could scare so many people!"


    Su Xiaobai''s brow twitched. "Big Bastard?" His grin returned. "At least call me Big Brother."


    Ling Er pouted. "Big Brother Bastard?"


    "Close enough."


    Scars from enchanted weapons and spiritual energy didn''t vanish so easily. But for Su Xiaobai, a thread of true qi was enough.


    A cheap trick¡ªbut an effective one.


    ____


    "Big Bastard Brother?" Su Xiaobai repeated, smirking. "Close enough. But if you want me to teach you, you''ll have to call me Big Brother."


    Ling Er bit her lip, her face scrunching with frustration. Finally, she muttered, "Big Brother¡­"


    "Good girl," Su Xiaobai said slyly, patting her small, round butt. "I''ll teach you. But when? That''s my call."


    "You¡­!" Ling Er''s cheeks puffed, her eyes shimmering like she might cry.


    Su Xiaobai chuckled. "Careful, girl. Cry too much, and people might think you like me." With that, he pushed her gently toward the carriage.


    "Lower your weapons," Wei Jun said sharply.


    Wu Jian stepped forward, his voice cold. "Your Highness, this man dared to kidnap the princess in broad daylight! Letting him go would disgrace Yue Country!"


    "Oh, Commander," Su Xiaobai said lazily. "Didn''t you promise to dig out your eye if there wasn''t a scar on her neck? Don''t tell me you''ve forgotten?"


    Wu Jian''s face twitched. "Why honor promises made with kidnappers?"


    Su Xiaobai laughed softly. "Ah, so Yue Country''s proud commander is also Yue Country''s biggest liar. What''s next? Crying to mommy?"


    Wu Jian''s face flushed red.


    "You talk about honor," Su Xiaobai said, his voice turning cold. "But what use is it when you can''t even guard your own princess? You let her get kidnapped, humiliated, and nearly killed. Was that honor slapping itself on its knees earlier?"


    Wu Jian''s sword trembled.


    "If I were truly evil," Su Xiaobai continued, stepping closer, "you''d still be kneeling. Or worse, breaking your own bones. Maybe I''d have killed her outright. And what would you have done then?"


    Wu Jian''s knuckles whitened, but he stayed silent.


    "Enough!" Wei Jun interjected, stepping between them. "This is getting ridiculous. Why did this start in the first place?"


    Wu Jian opened his mouth. "The princess asked to¡ª"


    "Silence!" Wei Zhong''s glare cut him off.


    Dragging the princess into this would be suicide. Grinding his teeth, Wu Jian corrected himself. "I mistook her for a demon."


    "A demon?" Wei Jun frowned. "And even if she were, how could you execute her without cause?"


    Wu Jian froze. The truth was clear: we provoked them.


    Su Xiaobai smiled. Dig faster, Commander.


    "Presumptuous!" Wei Zhong''s voice thundered. "Commander! Do you think Yue Country''s treaties will survive if word spreads we execute children on a whim? Offer your hand and leg in apology, or leave Yue Country!"


    Wu Jian''s face darkened, but his guards moved to stand with him.


    Wei Zhong didn''t flinch. Their loyalty was meaningless.


    Su Xiaobai stepped forward, smiling. "Let''s end this. The commander was just protecting the princess, right?"


    Wu Jian''s eyes darted toward Su Xiaobai, unsure whether to feel relieved or insulted. "Y-Yes," he stammered.


    Wei Jun exhaled. Su Xiaobai, of course, wasn''t being merciful.


    This wasn''t about forgiveness¡ªit was about winning. And Su Xiaobai had already won. Wu Jian''s pride was in shreds, and the princess was still alive.


    As Wei Jun sighed, Su Xiaobai smiled inwardly. For now, let it go. An ally well-timed is worth more than a hundred dead enemies.


    _____


    Returning to the quiet camp, Su Xiaobai reclined against a moss-covered rock, watching the river flow as if it owed him answers. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The earlier storm of accusations, guards, and flailing incompetence had finally passed, leaving him with one persistent headache: Ling Er.


    Wei Jun had vanished like smoke on the wind. No apology, no excuses¡ªjust a flick of princely indifference before he slipped away.


    Su Xiaobai wasn''t surprised. Disappointed, maybe.


    The lack of someone from the Xiantian Sect to aid him stung his pride, but the unexpected boon of having the Yue prince in his pocket more than made up for it. Small kingdoms had their uses, after all.


    He let out a breath, the peace broken by a far more immediate disturbance.


    "Big Brother!"


    Ling Er''s voice rang out, high and clear, sticky with childish glee.


    She stood knee-deep in the river, splashing water in his direction. Her soaked robes betrayed every line and curve, clinging so tightly they seemed painted on. Droplets slid down her collarbones, vanishing into the valley below¡ªa sight any mortal man would find arresting.


    Su Xiaobai, however, sighed. This brat doesn''t know when to quit.


    "Hey, big scary villain! Why aren''t you playing with me?" she called, her voice full of mock indignation.


    "I''m busy," he replied flatly, wiping his face as another splash hit him. "Try growing up first. Then we''ll talk."


    "What?¡ª" Her gasp could''ve been torn straight from the pages of a cheap melodrama. "Are you saying I''m not a woman?"


    He raised an eyebrow, his tone drier than desert winds. "You''re a sparrow pretending to be a phoenix. Go chirp somewhere else."


    "!"


    Her cheeks flushed crimson, and she stomped her foot, sending ripples through the water. "Villains are supposed to be exciting, you boring lump! Do something villainous!"


    Exciting? She has no idea what she''s asking for.


    Su Xiaobai''s lips curled into a smirk as he leaned forward. "Exciting, huh? Fine. But don''t cry later."


    His fingers dipped into the river, and a ripple of qi shot outward, slithering through the water like a serpent answering its master''s call. The river trembled, currents swirling unnaturally before wrapping themselves around Ling Er''s legs.


    SPLASH!


    The water surged like a coiling dragon, tossing Ling Er skyward. She hit the river with an unceremonious yelp, vanishing beneath the surface before sputtering back to life moments later.


    Her glare, sharp enough to carve stone, locked onto him.


    "You¡ª!"


    "Oops." Su Xiaobai''s mock concern dripped as thick as the water running down her face. "Thought you liked playing rough."


    Ling Er''s lips trembled, caught between fury and humiliation. Her drenched robes left nothing to the imagination, her hair, a tangled mess, clung to flushed cheeks as droplets slid down her heaving chest.


    "You bastard!" she spat, her voice cracking as she tried to steady herself.


    "Finally, something you''re right about." He crouched at the river''s edge, his grin wolfish. "You wanted attention. You got it. Or did you think villains were here to splash and giggle with you?"


    Her fists clenched, her cheeks blazing red. "You''re the worst!"


    "Not the first time I''ve heard that," he said lazily, watching as she stumbled toward him, her wet robes trailing like a siren''s trap.


    She hissed in return. "Fine! Take this!"


    WHOOSH!


    A crimson silk ribbon materialized in her hand, twisting to life as if summoned from the ether. She leapt onto it, her form gleaming in the sunlight, her wild hair framing eyes that burned with vengeance.


    Oh, shit.


    Before Su Xiaobai could react, the ribbon lunged forward.


    BAM!


    Ling Er slammed into him with the force of a battering ram, sending them both tumbling into the river in a chaotic spray of water.


    "Ha! Got you!"

 Chapter 54 - 54: Immortal Daughter! Learning Offensive techniques!

    "Ha! Got you!"


    Ling Er perched triumphantly on his chest, her crimson ribbon curling possessively around her. Her smile was brighter than the noonday sun, daring him to retort.


    Su Xiaobai blinked, the world spinning as the river''s cold bite seeped into his clothes.


    Then realization struck him as her body pressed down on him. His hand?


    Boing.


    It rested somewhere warm. Somewhere soft.


    Boing. Boing.


    Ling Er froze, her breath catching as she glanced down. Her robe had shifted sinfully, baring smooth, moonlit shoulders and far too much skin.


    "You..."


    Her voice trembled, the words barely audible as heat flared across her cheeks.


    Su Xiaobai''s fingers twitched, his brain lagging behind the situation.


    Boing.


    He yanked his hand back as if burned, raising both palms in mock surrender. "Honest mistake. You know how these things happen..."


    "Mistake?!" she shrieked, clutching at her robe as if it could undo the moment.


    He tilted his head, his grin shameless and lazy. "You''re the one who jumped on me. If anyone''s to blame..."


    "You shameless bastard!"


    "Shameless? Princess, you''re the one sitting on me like it''s a throne. Should I bow?"


    Her face burned so red it could''ve boiled the river dry. She scrambled to her feet, stumbling as her robe slipped again, forcing her to clutch it tighter.


    "I hate you!" she spat, her glare murderous as she spun away, hastily fixing her clothes.


    Su Xiaobai leaned back in the river, his laughter echoing in the air. "Too easy," he muttered, shaking his head.


    But before he could savor his small victory, a blur shot past him.


    "Idiot-Idiot-Idiot," Ling Er muttered, her face glowing like an overripe peach as she vanished into the trees, riding her crimson ribbon.


    Whoosh.


    Moments later, Wei Jun emerged from the woods, his steps casual but his gaze sharp as it fell on Su Xiaobai. The villain sat by the riverbank, soaked to the bone, a smug grin plastered across his face as if he had just conquered an empire.


    "What happened here?"


    Su Xiaobai wrung his sleeve. "Nothing. Just a little... game." He smiled, sharp and lazy. "Looks like I won."


    Wei Jun stared. "..."


    After a pause, he sighed and pulled out a talisman. "Here. My grandfather thought you''d prefer the Imperial Academy over the Xianxia Sect. You kno... how he feels about that one."


    Su Xiaobai stared at the talisman. Simple. Plain. Dangerous. "Imperial Academy?"


    Wei Jun nodded. "The top sects have joined hands¡ªsomething about uniting their resources. They''ve set up a shared training ground in the capital. Supposed to prepare the next generation for... bigger things."


    Su Xiaobai raised a brow. "Sects working together?" His lips curved, ''What''s next? A pig learning alchemy?''


    Unless¡­


    The thought troubled him. Too coincidental. Too clean. What could force sects to sacrifice their pride like this? The plot was shoving him, and he didn''t like it.


    "I don''t need it." He shoved the talisman back.


    Wei Jun''s smile faltered. "Brother, don''t tell me..." He leaned closer. "You''re planning to marry my little sister, are you? Let me warn you, our family background doesn''t¡ª"


    BAM!


    Su Xiaobai''s foot shut him up.


    "Quiet." His voice was cold, his thoughts colder.


    Wei Jun staggered, groaning, before his gaze landed on the riverbank.


    Xiao Hei stepped out of the water, droplets sliding down smooth skin. Her crimson eyes gleamed under the sunlight. Her black-and-red outfit perfectly matching her petite figure.


    Wei Jun''s lips twitched. "Brother, she''s perfect. Does everything herself. Obeys everything you say. Bathes herself. I can''t even get my servants to pour tea properly."


    Su Xiaobai smirked. "Envious?"


    Wei Jun sighed. "Jealous."


    Xiao Hei suddenly turned. Her gaze landed on Wei Jun.


    The world froze.


    BOOM!


    Abruptly ¡ª a chill swept over the river. Bloodlust crashed into Wei Jun like a wave. He froze. His breath caught.


    Her eyes gleamed, sharp as blades.


    "What the¡ª" Wei Jun stumbled, his voice cracking.


    Whoosh!


    Without any explanation, Xiao Hei moved.


    A blur.


    Su Xiaobai stunned, caught her mid-air, his arms tightening. "Xiao Hei. Stop."


    BAM!


    Her aura blasting against him, sharp and wild, before vanishing.


    Wei Jun staggered back. Pale. A hand at his neck, as if checking his head was still attached. "What... was that?"


    Su Xiaobai frowned. She wasn''t like this. Never like this.


    "Hahaha..." Wei Jun forced a laugh, still pale and visibly shaken. "Brother, I think she doesn''t like me."


    "Seems like that..." Su Xiaobai muttered, glancing at Xiao Hei. His face held a complicated expression¡ªhalf curious, half resigned.


    Wei Jun straightened, brushing at his robes as though it could wipe away his embarrassment. "You know, Brother, I''ve decided¡ªI don''t envy you anymore. Having a girl like her seems... risky."


    Her crimson eyes flickered, glinting with a predatory light. Wei Jun''s throat bobbed as he swallowed, his legs retreating instinctively. "I-I''ll take my leave! Good luck, Brother Su!"


    Su Xiaobai didn''t bother to respond. His gaze stayed locked on Xiao Hei, still nestled against his chest like nothing had happened.


    Wei Jun''s retreat turned into a sprint.


    Silence.


    Xiao Hei''s breathing slowed, her body softening in his arms. She leaned into him like a spoiled kitten, completely unbothered by the mess she''d caused.


    "Xiao Hei," Su Xiaobai said, his voice low as he brushed a damp strand of hair from her face. "What are you?"


    She didn''t answer.


    Her crimson eyes stayed fixed on the treeline, unblinking, watching until Wei Jun''s figure disappeared entirely. Only then did a smile curl across her lips.


    It wasn''t sweet. It wasn''t innocent. It was the kind of smile that could spark wars.


    Su Xiaobai stiffened, his thoughts spiraling. ''That aura... What the hell is going on?''


    Wei Jun''s strength was unsealed¡ªRebirth Realm. Xiao Hei was barely at Core Formation, a whole realm below him. Logically, she shouldn''t have been able to make him flinch, let alone terrify him.


    But that wasn''t the part that left Su Xiaobai''s heart pounding. No, it was that killing intent. Even as a bystander, it clung to his bones like frostbite. Familiar. Ancient. Too much like... them.


    The memories hit him like a wave. Immortals clashing in the void. Mountains shattered. Stars collapsing. Those heavenly figures locked in battle, their killing intent shaking entire worlds.


    Xiao Hei''s aura. That same feeling. Smaller, yes, but no less suffocating.


    His breath caught. ''Is she... immortal?''


    The thought planted itself in his mind like a thorn. Her strength, her mystery, her stagnant cultivation¡ªit all pointed in one direction. A child of immortals.


    He clenched his jaw. If that were true, it explained everything. Her Immortal vessel. Heaven Qi. The whole package.


    Unlike mortals, children born to immortals weren''t shackled by ordinary profound energy. Their bodies absorbed Heaven Qi¡ªpure, untouchable, divine. For someone like Xiao Hei, Core Formation would be the limit here.


    There simply wasn''t enough Heaven Qi in the mortal plane for her to advance further.


    Su Xiaobai groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "Of course. My little demon empress just had to be high maintenance."


    His gaze flicked to Xiao Hei, still clinging to him with that faint smile, her head resting against his chest.


    She looked harmless¡ªadorable, even. But the memories of her earlier bloodlust sent a shiver down his spine.


    "Trouble magnet," he muttered. "That''s what you are."


    Because if his suspicions were right, it wouldn''t be long before immortals came sniffing around. And when they did, they wouldn''t be asking politely.


    Just the thought made his temples throb. "Great. First I get dragged into this stupid story, and now I might have to run for my life while immortals chase me to the ends of the earth."


    His temples throbbed. Just the thought gave him a headache.


    "Looks like I''ll be running underground soon," he muttered. "Great. Just great."


    Xiao Hei, oblivious, nestled closer into his chest. Her soft, faint smile remained, as if mocking his plight.


    _____


    BAM!


    BAM!


    SHATTER!


    The quiet of the night was rudely interrupted as Su Xiaobai''s punch reduced yet another boulder to dust. The echoes of his training rolled across the valley like thunder, scaring the wits out of countless beasts trying to sleep.


    "Grand Collapsing Fist: First Form¡ªCollapsing Mountain Strike!"


    He lowered his fist, his breath steady, his gaze sharper than the rubble at his feet. Around him, the once-pristine forest now looked like a disaster zone. His practice was going great. For the local wildlife? Not so much.


    He reached into his spatial ring and pulled out a sword. "Seven Moves of Judgment¡ªSky Splitting Blade!"


    The blade hummed as he slashed at the air. The arc was clean, the form perfect. But something felt... off. He swapped it for another sword. Then another. Each one felt like kissing someone through a veil¡ªunsatisfying, disconnected.


    "Tch." He tossed the sword aside, raising his bare hand instead. "Who needs a damn sword anyway? My fingers are sharper than anything forged in this backwater world."


    He grinned, channeling qi into an invisible blade. His strikes carved through the air, each swing sharper, deadlier.


    As the hours passed, his movements grew fluid, each attack flowing like water and hitting like a landslide.


    Unaware¡ªor so he thought¡ªof the world beyond his training, he began climbing toward the source of the waterfall, the rhythmic sound masking his movements.


    Above him, hidden among the trees, Ling Er watched with wide eyes, her curiosity burning brighter than the stars above. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "What''s this idiot up to now?" she muttered, crouched low to avoid being seen.


    Her eyes widened as he pulled out a celestial inscriber. With slow, deliberate movements, Su Xiaobai etched a formation into the ground.


    The lines glowed faintly at first, but when he activated it, the array burst to life.


    Starlight cascaded down like a waterfall, swirling into the formation in a vortex of light. It was breathtaking, like watching the heavens bow down to the earth.


    Ling Er''s jaw dropped. She didn''t think much of him¡ªarrogant, shameless, annoying¡ªbut this? This was something else. "He knows how to draw formations? Since when?"


    Her gaze lingered on him, the stars in his array reflected in her eyes. The scene was mesmerizing, yes, but there was something... tempting about it.


    She bit her lip. "Not bad, big scary villain. Not bad at all."

 Chapter 55 - 55: Game got wrong!

    She bit her lip. "Not bad, big scary villain. Not bad at all."


    Moonlight bathed her face, catching the soft curve of her lips and the shimmer in her eyes. She leaned forward unconsciously, the charm of the moment pulling her closer.


    She didn''t realize Su Xiaobai had already noticed her.


    In the lake''s reflection, her shadow betrayed her hiding place.


    A smirk tugged at his lips. ''Caught you, little sparrow.''


    He continued his work, acting as if he hadn''t seen her. The inscriber''s glow pulsed in rhythm with his movements, his fingers steady as they etched celestial patterns.


    Ling Er''s gaze lingered on his hands, then drifted lower.


    Her face burned. Stop it, stop it, stop it! You''re not supposed to think about that!


    But she couldn''t help herself. His stance, his focus, even the way his robe was soaked after hours of training¡ªit was maddening.


    "What''s wrong with me?!" she whispered, shaking her head furiously.


    Su Xiaobai, still pretending not to notice her, fought the urge to laugh. Her reflection in the lake was more entertaining than any technique he''d practiced tonight. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But he didn''t let her off the hook just yet.


    "Enjoying the view, princess?" he called out suddenly, his voice carrying through the night like a whip.


    "!!"


    Ling Er froze, her muscles locking up like a rabbit caught in the gaze of a tiger. "W-What view?!" she stammered, louder than intended, her voice carrying into the quiet night.


    Su Xiaobai stood lazily, his smirk as wide as the crescent moon. "I don''t know. You tell me. Been enjoying the scenery for a while now, haven''t you?"


    Her cheeks flared like cherry blossoms in spring. "I-I wasn''t watching anything!" she yelled, leaping to her feet like a startled hare.


    "Oh?" His tone dripped with mockery as he turned slightly, letting the starlight sculpt his figure like a divine statue. "Then why''s your face so red? Admiring my technique, or something else entirely?"


    Ling Er slapped her hands over her burning cheeks, only making it worse. "Y-You shameless bastard!"


    He laughed, a low, infuriating chuckle that made her want to punch him straight through the heavens. "Shameless? Says the girl sneaking around to spy on a lonely man dead in the dead of night. So, what''s the story, Ling Er? Couldn''t sleep? Or were you hoping for a... private lesson?"


    Her mouth flapped open like a fish gasping for air. "I¡ªI didn''t¡ª!"


    Before she could sputter further, Su Xiaobai took a step forward, the array behind him flickering out and leaving only the dim light of the moon. His smirk was maddening, his eyes gleaming with evil.


    "If you''re that curious," he purred, voice low and mocking, "come closer next time. I don''t bite. Much." His grin widened. "Unless that''s what you''re into."


    Ling Er''s face went volcanic. "You''re pervert!" she shrieked, stomping over with murderous intent, only to pause as she realized something painfully obvious¡ªhe was a head taller than her.


    She craned her neck, glaring up at him, a stiff smile plastered on her face as if trying to suppress her murderous rage. "Big Brother Su~" she said sweetly, her tone dripping with venomous sugar. "You wouldn''t dare hurt your precious little sister, right?"


    Her syrupy words triggered a memory from earlier that evening¡ªone he hadn''t entirely recovered from.


    Su Xiaobai raised an eyebrow, glancing down at her suspiciously. "Oh, please. What are you scheming now?"


    "Who, me?" she said innocently, her hands clasped behind her back like a naughty child caught stealing buns.


    He reached out instinctively, pinching her cheek. "Tch. You think I can''t tell when you''re up to something?"


    "..."


    Her blank stare spoke everything, but Su Xiaobai ignored it, only realizing too late he might have made a mistake.


    "You... have a bad habit, you know," she said, her voice unnervingly calm.


    Su Xiaobai hesitated. "What habit?"


    "THIS!" Her hand shot out, grabbing his face and squeezing with vengeance.


    Squish. Squish.


    "Argh¡ªLing Er!" he growled, his voice muffled as she pinched his cheeks hard, her delicate fingers digging in like a demoness exacting punishment.


    She pressed her forehead against his, her smug grin almost criminal. "What''s the matter, Big Brother Su? I thought you didn''t mind people getting close? Or was that just big talk? Want to show me a private lesson now, hmm?"


    "..."


    His eye twitched. "Let go. Or else."


    Whoosh!


    Her silk ribbon snapped to life in response, wrapping protectively around her. "Or else what?" she teased, her face glowing with triumph as she leaped back, the crimson silk twirling like a fiery dragon.


    Su Xiaobai rubbed his aching cheeks, glaring at her. "You¡ª little¡ª@#¡ê#, you''re not getting away with this."


    Whoosh!


    Ling Er''s laugh rang out like silver bells, echoing across the night sky. "Catch me if you can, Big Brother Su!"


    She darted into the air, her ribbon lifting her like the wings of a phoenix. The moonlight gleamed off its shimmering threads as it coiled around her figure, making her look untouchable, ethereal.


    "Damn brat!" Su Xiaobai spat, his Qi igniting in a flash of light. He kicked off the ground, the air trembling as his figure shot after her like a comet.


    Ling Er glanced over her shoulder, her face alight with a provocative smile. "Too slow, old man! Is that all you''ve got?"


    His eyes narrowed. "Old man?!" His veins bulged as he pushed harder.


    Her ribbon snapped in front of him like a whip, forcing him to dodge. It danced like a living thing, an extension of her will.


    "Come on, Big Brother Su! Aren''t you supposed to be stronger than me?" Her voice was sweet as honey, but the mockery was sharp enough to cut jade.


    "You''re dead meat when I catch you!" he roared.


    "Oh, if~" she sang, her ribbon flicking past his nose.


    But Su Xiaobai''s face darkened. As he pushed harder, something inside him began to churn¡ªa shadow of frustration that wasn''t entirely about Ling Er. No, this was deeper.


    The air around him grew hot, infernal flames sparking to life as his Qi surged uncontrollably.


    "Eh?" Ling Er''s smugness faltered. Her ribbon kissed the flames and hissed in protest, its edge curling into ash.


    WHOOSH!


    "!"


    Her face paled. "No!" she gasped, yanking the silk back before it could burn further. The ribbon coiled into her hand like a retreating serpent, but its absence betrayed her.


    Without its guiding grace, her body faltered. The air that once lifted her now dragged her down, gravity yanking her back to reality.


    "Wh¡ª!"


    Her gasp cut short as she plummeted, limbs flailing.


    Above, Su Xiaobai watched the spectacle with wide eyes, his brows knitting into confusion and fury. ''Did she just... retract the damn ribbon?''


    His heart twisted sharply. ''That idiot. Does she think the ground is soft or something?!''


    Whoosh!


    Instinct overrode thought. His Qi exploded in a burst of speed as he shot forward, the night air tearing around him. The stars blurred, the forest below a dark smear, but all he saw was her falling form.


    The shadows of his own frustrations, his failures, melted away. Right now, nothing mattered but catching her.


    His arms wrapped around her just before the ground could claim her.


    For a moment, they hovered midair, weightless and suspended in time. Her warmth pressed against him, her trembling body a clear contrast to the cold night.


    "Ah¡ª"


    Then gravity, pissed at being cheated, pulled them both down.


    Thud! Thud!


    The slope caught them, rolling them downhill like a pair of tumbling dice. Rocks bit at them, dirt clung to their robes, and the world became a spinning blur of chaos.


    "Ugh¡ªdamn it!" Su Xiaobai grunted as his shoulder slammed into a jagged rock. He tightened his hold on Ling Er, ''instinctively'' shielding her from the worst of it.


    Her small frame pressed against him, soft and trembling, while the ground punished him like an angry creditor collecting debts.


    Finally, they slowed, crashing to a messy stop in a heap at the bottom of the slope.


    The world stilled. The night air whispered around them, the only sounds their labored breathing and the faint rustle of leaves above.


    Ling Er, cradled in his arms, shifted first. Slowly, she raised her head. Her wide eyes, shimmering with unshed tears, searched his face as if trying to make sense of the chaos.


    "You¡­ idiot," she breathed, her voice cracking somewhere between relief and disbelief.


    Tears clung to her lashes, glinting faintly in the starlight. Her body trembled, her usual cockiness stripped away by the shock of the fall.


    Su Xiaobai met her gaze, his expression hard, though his eyes betrayed a flicker of something softer¡ªsomething he''d deny if anyone asked.


    "If you''re going to fall," he muttered, his voice tinged with frustration, "fall alone next time. What the hell were you thinking, pulling back your ribbon? Can''t even fly properly, and now you''re trying to decorate the ground with your face?"


    Her lips parted, her wide-eyed sorrow giving way to something far more familiar: rage.


    "Shut up!" she snapped, her voice cracking unconsciously as her mind on the image of her burning ribbon.

 Chapter 56 - 56: The Red Silk....

    Her lips parted, sorrow fracturing into rage.


    "Shut up!"


    Tears spilled, unbidden, as she shoved at his chest with trembling hands. Her glare burned, daring him to flinch.


    "Go away! I don''t want to talk to you!"


    She stomped her foot¡ªa useless gesture, given her half-sprawled position on top of him¡ªand jabbed a shaking finger at his face, as if her anger alone could strike him down.


    "You think you''re so great, don''t you? You¡ª"


    "¡ªsaved your reckless ass," Su Xiaobai cut in, his voice flat and heavy with irritation. He dragged a hand down his face, sighing as if dealing with a tantrum-prone child. "Let''s review, shall we? I''m sore, I''m bruised, and now I''ve got this ungrateful brat yelling at me like I''m the bad guy. What do you want? Should I leave you for the wolves? Or maybe act the part of the villain you''re so desperate for? Go on, princess¡ªkeep pushing. Let''s see where this goes."


    HISS~!


    His words struck like a whip, her anger faltering under their weight. Ling Er froze, lips trembling.


    "You¡ªyou wouldn''t!" she stammered, scrambling off him, her face reddening as unease flickered in her wide eyes.


    The forest pressed in around them, the branches above knitting into a suffocating cage. Even the moonlight struggled to reach them, casting weak, pale slivers that only deepened the shadows.


    Hiss...


    The air coiled around her like a serpent, cold and scary, brushing against her skin and drawing a shiver. Hugging herself, she turned to him, her voice small and unsteady.


    "You''re not going to¡­ do anything, are you?"


    Su Xiaobai snorted, leaning back against a rock, his smirk sharp. "Do anything? To you?" His gaze flicked over her, slow and deliberate.


    Long legs? Check.


    Phoenix brows, bright eyes, flawless porcelain skin? Sure.


    Silky dark hair and curves in all the right places? Not bad.


    She was beautiful, no question. But delicate, like a flower too fragile to survive the storm he intended to unleash on the heavens. Pretty, yes¡ªbut not his type.


    Her family, though? That was something else. Even her brother¡ªa man¡ªlooked like he''d been sculpted by a drunk deity with an obsession for perfection.


    ''Goddamn genes.'' His grin widened. If this girl was the lesser jewel, her mother had to be the masterpiece¡ªa true milf. One day, when he''d claimed the heavens themselves, he might stop by to pay his respects. Strictly academic curiosity, of course.


    Ling Er''s voice broke through his thoughts, sharp but trembling. She shut her eyes, shoulders sagging in defeat. "You''re disgusting," she whispered, too weak to fight back.


    "Relax," he drawled, his smile widening. "If I wanted to do something, you''d already know. Lucky for you, I don''t waste time on little birds who can''t even stand without shaking."


    Her lips quivered, but her glare returned, fierce, though weakened by her trembling frame. "I hate you," she spat.


    "Good." He rose with a lazy stretch, brushing dirt from his sleeves like her words were nothing more than dust. "Hate''s honest. More useful than gratitude."


    "Why¡­ Why are you coming near me?"


    Seeing him dust himself off and stride in her direction, Ling Er flinched, her legs trembling like brittle reeds in a storm.


    She wasn''t a body cultivator like Su Xiaobai, whose physique seemed forged from stars. The fall had drained her, leaving her sore and barely able to stand.


    Her face, smudged with dirt, twisted into a wary glare. "D-Don''t think you can take advantage of me! I have concealed treasures that will¡ª"


    "Yeah, sure," Su Xiaobai cut in with a snort, not slowing his approach. ''Concealed treasures? Then where were they when she was flopping around like a headless chicken?''


    Before she could react, his hand clamped down on her shoulders.


    "!!"


    She stiffened, her breath hitching. His fiery gaze bore into her, shaand far too close. Panic bloomed across her face like a sudden sunrise, and she shut her eyes tight, words tumbling out in a flurry.


    "I-I''m not a good girl! You won''t like me!"


    Su Xiaobai froze mid-motion, blinking slowly. "What the hell are you talking about?"


    "I-I mean¡­ you don''t want me as a wife or anything!" she blurted, her words tumbling over themselves. "I bite! I''m loud! I¡ªI''m difficult to handle!"


    "..."


    His brow twitched, his expression darkening.


    "And! And I''m not scared of you!" she added hurriedly, her trembling betraying her every word. "So don''t be¡ªrough or¡ª"


    "Enough." His sharp tone cut through her rambling like a blade. Pinching the bridge of his nose, Su Xiaobai muttered under his breath, "Who in the heavens raised you like this?"


    With one fluid motion, he grabbed her hand and plucked the spatial ring from her finger.


    Ling Er gasped, her free hand darting to her ring finger. "What are you doing?! That''s mine!"


    He ignored her protests, turning the ring over in his hand, his expression mildly bored.


    Ling Er cracked one eye open, cautiously peeking to see if the worst had passed. What she didn''t expect was¡ª


    SLAP!


    Her head jerked to the side, the sound of his palm connecting with her cheek ringing through the air.


    "Wh¡ª!"


    "You need to get your head checked," Su Xiaobai said flatly, flexing his fingers as if he''d just lifted a heavy burden off his chest.


    Ling Er clutched her stinging cheek, too stunned to speak.


    Meanwhile, Su Xiaobai examined the spatial ring with sharp, calculating eyes, flipping it in his hand as though inspecting a market trinket. "Seriously, you should thank me. I might actually find something useful in here¡ªunlike you."


    Buzzzzz¡­


    Ling Er''s mind buzzed, the fiery mark on her cheek burning alongside the indignation twisting in her chest.


    Her lips parted, but no words came. She could only watch, frozen, as Su Xiaobai rifled through her spatial ring with maddening casualness.


    "Hmph¡­ Is there nothing here that could help us get back to camp?" Su Xiaobai muttered, frowning as he scanned the contents. "No hidden treasures, no life-saving talismans¡­ not even a flying sword?"


    His gaze flicked to her, skeptical. "Aren''t you supposed to be a princess? Is Yue Country that poor?"


    Ling Er stared at the ground, her gaze fixed on her dirtied boots. Her lips trembled, but no excuses came. Su Xiaobai sighed heavily, rolling his eyes.


    Looking skyward, he grumbled internally. ''Who''s writing this crap? Abandoning us in the middle of a dark forest¡ªwhat''s next? A demonic beast ambush?''


    His irritation deepened as he massaged his temples. Whoever was in charge of this so-called plot, Su Xiaobai vowed they''d be first on his hit list.


    [A/N: (??? ?¨Œ? ???;?) sweating profusely ]


    He turned back to Ling Er, voice weary but firm. "Alright, listen up. We''re far from camp, it''s midnight, and this forest is crawling with trouble. I can fly back on my own, but what about you?"


    "¡­"


    "You can''t fly on you own, can you?" he guessed, narrowing his eyes.


    Ling Er shook her head faintly, her voice little more than a whimper.


    Su Xiaobai clicked his tongue.


    Whoosh!


    From her ring, he pulled out a half-charred silk ribbon. It felt unnaturally warm in his hands, its subtle vibrations betraying its true nature.


    "This thing... can it still be used¡­?" Su Xiaobai murmured, examining it. A soul-grade weapon. Rare and valuable, forged through immense skill and imbued with consciousness. Equipment like this didn''t just exist¡ªit carried history, purpose.


    Ling Er''s eyes widened as he handled the ribbon. "Don''t¡­ Don''t touch it!"


    Somehow, she found her courage, snatching the ribbon from his hands. She clutched it close, trembling slightly, as though the ribbon itself offered her protection.


    Su Xiaobai raised his hands in mock surrender. "Fine, fine. Keep your precious ribbon. I don''t care."


    Stepping away, he shrugged. "Stay here if you want. I''m leaving."


    "¡­"


    "Or¡­" He paused, glancing back at her. "Follow me. Once I''m recovered, I might have enough strength to carry us both out of here. But for now, we walk."


    Ling Er didn''t move, her stubbornness keeping her rooted to the spot.


    Rustle¡­


    A cold wind swept through the forest, biting at her exposed skin and sending chills up her spine. The dark expanse of trees casted shadow over their faces, silent and scary. Ling Er shivered, her courage faltering under the night''s emptiness.


    With a reluctant huff, she hobbled after him, each step slow and awkward, her face wincing with every movement. "¡ªWait!"


    Su Xiaobai glanced back, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Ha! Already falling in line?"


    "Humph¡­" She glared at him, ignoring his insult, though her cheeks flushed at the memory of his slap.


    "Give me my ring back!" she snapped, grabbing at his hand.


    He didn''t resist, letting her snatch it away, but even after reclaiming it, she hesitated. Without a word, she leaned against him, using his shoulder for support as they walked.


    Su Xiaobai frowned, glancing down at her. "What are you doing now?"


    "You''re warm," she muttered, her voice barely audible.


    He groaned but didn''t push her away. "Unbelievable. You''d get lost in this forest without me, wouldn''t you?"


    She didn''t respond, her gaze fixed firmly ahead, her grip awkward but determined.


    A moment passed.


    "¡­Are you used to the dark?" Ling Er asked, her voice hesitant.


    Su Xiaobai''s face darkened, his sharp gaze scanning the shadows. "Where I grew up, this would''ve been a luxury. It was darker¡­ crueler."


    His voice dropped, heavy with distant memories. "Every night, it was the same. You either fought to survive, or you didn''t see the morning."


    They had lived beyond the sacred wall, where humanity''s safety ended, and the ''hunters'' began. Outside, in the unclaimed lands of White Cloud Star, survival wasn''t guaranteed¡ªit was a gamble, a cruel game played with death.


    For Su Xiaobai, the world beyond the wall wasn''t just dangerous; it was merciless. The hunters prowled endlessly, their eyes gleaming with hunger, their blades sharper than despair. Even the nights reeked of blood, the shadows filled with threats that never slept. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    His fingers flexed, the memories creeping over him like the cold wind of the forest.


    It was darker back then¡­ crueler.

 Chapter 57 - 57: The Heavenly Spirit tree!

    Ling Er glanced at Su Xiaobai from the corner of her eye but said nothing.


    The playful spark that usually lit her face was gone. Her steps slowed, her grip on his hand loosening as she absorbed his words. She had never considered where he came from¡ªor what kind of life had shaped him.


    Crunch. Crunch.


    The sound of their footsteps on the uneven forest floor echoed softly, filling the silence.


    Su Xiaobai noticed the shift but didn''t comment, adjusting his pace to match hers.


    As they moved, his fingers brushed against the pills hidden in his robes. Rare and irreplaceable, they were his last line of defense. He wouldn''t waste them unless it was life or death¡ªand certainly not on a girl who''d caused more trouble than she was worth.


    But Wei Zhong would kill him if something happened to her. With a sigh, he stayed close, his sharp gaze sweeping the forest for any sign of danger.


    After ten minutes of walking, the steady rhythm of their steps faltered.


    Sweat began to bead on Ling Er''s forehead. Her shallow breaths, though faint, didn''t escape his notice.


    "Let''s.... stop there for a while," she murmured, her voice soft, almost embarrassed at her own weakness.


    "Mm." Su Xiaobai nodded, leaning against a towering tree.


    Thump.


    The solid trunk supported his weight easily, its girth almost unnatural¡ªnearly twenty meters wide.


    Rustle.


    The branches above swayed in the faint wind, their shadows stretching like claws.


    "Hah¡­" He let out a grunt, sliding down to rest his back against the bark.


    Ling Er hesitated before settling down a few inches away, using the tree for support.


    For a while, silence stretched between them, broken only by the faint rustle of leaves and their quiet breathing.


    "¡­?"


    Su Xiaobai stared blankly at the moon above, its pale light seeping through the gaps. His body unconsciously absorbed the stellar energy, his thoughts wandering elsewhere.


    ''Xiao Hei?''


    The realization struck him. He still had her. If anyone could carry Ling Er back, it was that little menace.


    Whoosh!


    With a flick of his wrist, Xiao Hei appeared.


    Ling Er instinctively recoiled, her body trembling as thud-thud¡ªtwo glowing red orbs glared at her from the darkness.


    "??"


    From the shadows, a figure stepped forward. A girl, no older than twelve, emerged, her curious gaze fixed on Su Xiaobai.


    "Xiao Hei, can you fly?" he asked.


    "??"


    Before she could answer, Su Xiaobai waved a hand dismissively. "Of course you can. I''m being stupid. You almost killed Wei Jun¡ªof course you can fly."


    Creak!


    The branches above swayed, their movement accompanied by the faint rustling of leaves. It was as if the forest itself mocked him.


    He sighed. "Never mind. Can you carry her with you?" He gestured toward Ling Er, who was frozen in place.


    Xiao Hei''s crimson eyes flicked to Ling Er. She blinked twice before shaking her head firmly.


    "You''re lying," Su Xiaobai said, narrowing his eyes. "You can, can''t you?"


    "Uh-huh!" Xiao Hei shook her head even more vehemently, her expression playful yet unyielding.


    Tap-tap.


    Her small foot tapped against the ground, her protest almost childish.


    "Ugh¡­" He rubbed his temples. This girl was helpful when it came to him, but for anyone else? She acted like they weren''t even worth acknowledging.


    Finally giving up, he muttered, "Fine. Just patrol the perimeter and don''t cause trouble."


    Whoosh!


    Xiao Hei''s mischievous smile widened, and with a burst of speed, she vanished into the trees, her figure darting between the branches like a shadow. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ling Er, still frozen, stared after her, heart pounding. Her mind flashed back to the image of Xiao Hei chewing on bones, blood smeared across her face. How could that savage creature and this playful child be the same?


    She gulped audibly, unable to shake the unease crawling up her spine. There was something about Xiao Hei she couldn''t understand¡ªand that made her all the more terrifying.


    But as Xiao Hei flitted farther away, something changed.


    The farther she moved from Su Xiaobai, the more radiant she became. Her aura, once subdued near him, seemed to bloom like a flower unfurling at dawn.


    Ling Er''s breath caught.


    She wasn''t a demon¡ªnot exactly. If anything, she was a lotus blooming in mud, her beauty ethereal and otherworldly, as though she didn''t belong to this mortal plane.


    When she stood near Su Xiaobai, her presence dimmed, like a flame tucked behind glass. But as she leapt further away, it was impossible to ignore her radiance.


    Rustle~~


    The wind picked up, sweeping through the forest and brushing against Ling Er''s arms. She shivered, her instincts drawing her closer to Su Xiaobai for warmth.


    Su Xiaobai noticed her subtle movements¡ªthe way her grip slackened on his hand, her steps faltering. But he said nothing. The moment felt strangely fragile, like a scene pulled from some celestial script.


    For some reason, it struck him: if he pushed this girl even slightly, she wouldn''t resist.


    His gaze instinctively flicked to her face, glowing faintly under the silver light of the moon. It wasn''t a deliberate move¡ªjust a passing glance. Definitely not because of any improper thoughts.


    It wasn''t that he was a monk, abstaining from worldly desires. No, Su Xiaobai knew when to indulge and when to walk away. And Ling Er? She was a walking catastrophe, a bundle of trouble wrapped in a delicate package. He wasn''t stupid enough to take a bite.


    After all, his main goal wasn''t to wander the world picking flowers.


    But then again, when the food delivered itself to your mouth, how could you not be tempted?


    He shook his head, shoving the thought away. ''What''s next? A secret treasure conveniently appearing to help me form my core? Is that the plan, bastards?'' His lips curled in a sadistic smile. It wouldn''t surprise him if the heavens themselves were scheming to test his resolve.


    But he wasn''t that easy to manipulate. Iron will wasn''t just a phrase¡ªit was his creed. Even if they dangled a heaven-grade treasure in front of him, he wouldn''t give in.


    "This girl," he muttered under his breath, shaking his head again. "Not my responsibility."


    As Su Xiaobai wrestled with his thoughts, Ling Er watched him from the corner of her eye. At first, she felt his scrutiny, his gaze brushing her like a faint whisper. But then, he started shaking his head and mumbling to himself.


    She bit back a laugh, her lips twitching into a faint smile. Why does he look like he''s fighting some great internal battle?


    Just as the quiet of the night began to settle over them, like lovers basking in the moonlight''s tender glow, a sudden disruption tore through the quiet, sharp as a dagger slicing silk.


    Thud!


    Xiao Hei dropped from above, landing with unsettling grace, her crimson eyes gleaming like twin embers.


    "Hm! Hm!" she huffed impatiently, her small figure vibrating with barely contained energy.


    Su Xiaobai flinched, his instincts flaring for a moment, before her tiny hand clamped onto his wrist with surprising strength. Ling Er yelped softly, startled out of her thoughts.


    "Oi, what''s this now?" Su Xiaobai muttered, frowning as Xiao Hei pulled at him with the determination of a child dragging an unwilling parent.


    "You want me to follow you?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.


    Xiao Hei nodded twice, her expression as serious as a general commanding an army. She tugged harder, leaving no room for debate.


    Ling Er stumbled to her feet, her confusion etched across her face. "Wait! What''s happening? Where are we going?"


    Her question went unanswered. Xiao Hei had already dragged Su Xiaobai into motion, her small figure weaving confidently through the thick underbrush. With no other choice, Ling Er hurried after them, her steps clumsy as she struggled to keep pace.


    As they ventured deeper into the forest, the surroundings grew more surreal. The trees they passed were larger, their trunks wide and ancient, the bark grooved with deep scars that seemed to whisper tales of a bygone era.


    Then the air shifted.


    It became heavier, filled with an indescribable vitality. It kissed their bodies in turn, each breath tasting faintly of sweetness.


    And finally, under the vast expanse of a starry sky, it came into view.


    Ling Er froze. "What¡­ is that?"


    A single tree, colossal beyond comprehension, towered over them. Its golden trunk glowed faintly, as though bathed in sunlight eternal.


    The bark shimmered with a divine warmth, exuding an aura of majesty that made the surrounding forest feel like an afterthought.


    Its sprawling branches stretched toward the heavens, their leaves glimmering like fragments of starlight. Each rustle sent ripples through the air, a sound both melodic and alien, as though the tree itself were alive and breathing.


    Beneath its grandeur, the forest floor was littered with the forms of wild beasts. They lay scattered, their bodies unnaturally still, their breaths shallow as though they were in a trance¡ªor worse.


    Ling Er instinctively clutched Su Xiaobai''s arm, her fingers trembling. "Are they¡­ fainted?" she whispered, warily.

 Chapter 58 - 58: Unexpected Treasure!

    "Are they¡­ fainted?"


    Su Xiaobai''s sharp gaze swept over the scene, lingering on the beasts before shifting to the golden trunk of the colossal tree. His tone was calm but wary as he murmured, "Drugged, maybe. Or just overwhelmed by the spiritual energy."


    Xiao Hei tugged at his wrist again, eyes gleaming like burning coals. There was something playful in her expression, but it carried a knowing edge¡ªmischievous, as if to say, ''Returning the spiritual water I took to hatch, with interest, no less. Let''s see if this helps you form your Core.''


    [A/N: Yes, this is the baby that hatched from the Immortal Fetus. You guys were paying attention, right...?]


    Su Xiaobai''s lips curled into a faint smirk as his thoughts began to spiral into a fictional story of his own. The scene before him¡ªthe glowing tree, Xiao Hei''s insistent tugging, the spiritual energy thick enough to choke a demonic beast¡ªwas just too perfect.


    "What''s this? You guys think I''m that desperate?" he muttered, his voice filled with sarcasm. "I dream about a treasure to break through, and suddenly, they drop one right in front of me? How generous."


    He glanced at Xiao Hei, who was practically dragging him closer to the tree, her expression only fueling his suspicions.


    ''This little brat¡­ is she working with them?'' he thought bitterly, his gaze narrowing. Xiao Hei''s earlier smirk had been too smug, as if she were some messenger of fate, gleefully carrying out the whims of those bastards above.


    The Higher-ups¡­ always watching, always meddling. Like some bored deity flipping through my life like it''s a cheap drama.


    He tilted his head toward the heavens, his grin twisting into something sharper. "What''s the angle this time? You toss me a golden carrot so I''ll trip over myself chasing it? Or maybe¡­" His eyes gleamed. "You''re trying to bribe me for something...?"


    The thought infuriated him. His voice rose, breaking the eerie silence of the clearing.


    "INSTANT IMMORTALITY PILL!"


    "Huh?"


    Ling Er flinched at his sudden outburst, staring at him as if he''d lost his mind. "What¡­ what are you talking about? Who are you yelling at?"


    Su Xiaobai ignored her, his smile deepening as he continued his one-man performance.


    "C''mon, don''t stop there! At least throw in an immortal wife while you''re at it! One that cooks, cleans, and sweeps away all the damn trouble in my life!"


    Ling Er''s jaw dropped, her cheeks reddening with both embarrassment and frustration. "Brother Su, have you lost your mind?! Stop spouting such shameless nonsense!"


    She glanced nervously at the tree, as if expecting it to come alive and strike him down for his blasphemy.


    As if listening to her thoughts, above them, the massive branches swayed ominously, their golden leaves shimmering in the faint light.


    CRACK!


    The sound was deafening, a sudden fracture splitting, as a colossal branch broke free.


    Su Xiaobai''s smirk vanished in an instant.


    "Fuck!"


    Without hesitation, he grabbed Ling Er by the waist and leapt back, his instincts sharper than any blade.


    "Ah!?"


    Her startled cry barely escaped her lips before the branch slammed into the ground where they''d just been standing.


    CRASH!


    The earth trembled, a plume of dust and debris erupting around the impact site. Su Xiaobai landed gracefully a few feet away, Ling Er still clutched against him, her wide eyes staring at the shattered remains of the branch.


    A long silence stretched between them, broken only by Ling Er''s trembling voice. "What¡­ just happened?"


    Su Xiaobai exhaled sharply, setting Ling Er down with a faint scowl. "Looks like the Higher-ups didn''t appreciate my request for a wife...."


    Ling Er groaned, burying her face in her hands. "Y-You''re¡­ an idiot!"


    She couldn''t fathom how he could swing from being deadly serious to utterly ridiculous in a matter of moments. Yet, despite herself, a wry smile tugged at her lips. It was absurd¡ªhe was absurd.


    Meanwhile, Su Xiaobai dusted himself off like a proud rooster after a scuffle, completely unfazed. Standing tall, he took a deep breath, his sharp gaze locking onto the endless stars above.


    "Tonight is ''The Night of Eternal Stars,''" he declared, his tone almost reverent. "The perfect time to drain the heavens and lay claim to the celestial bounty."


    He sighed, flinging an arm skyward as though mourning a lost opportunity. "If someone hadn''t interrupted me, I''d already have my ''Celestial Ripple Array'' in place, summoning meteors and bathing in their radiance."


    "Celestial Ripple¡­ what?" Ling Er tilted her head, curiosity betraying the faint furrow of her brows.


    Su Xiaobai''s lips curled into a smirk as he began pacing, his tone turning instructive. "An array that channels the energy of a meteor shower into starlight-infused water. I''d have soaked in it, let the starlight seep into my bones, and leveled up my ''Star Slayer God Arts.''" S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He paused for effect, lowering his voice. "And then¡­ I''d form my ''Stary Veins.'' Veins that repair themselves with the power of the stars. No more ruptures when I''m pushing too hard in battle¡ªor elsewhere."


    Ling Er''s mouth opened, then closed. She wasn''t sure whether to be impressed or appalled.


    "But noooo," Su Xiaobai groaned, throwing her a glare. "Someone had to interrupt. Now all I''ve got is this tree and a broken dream."


    Ling Er scowled, her cheeks tinged with a blush as she crossed her arms tightly "I-I didn''t ruin anything!"


    How was I supposed to know it was so important? she thought bitterly, biting her lip. If she''d realized, she wouldn''t have dared interrupt him¡ªprobably. But his ridiculous words didn''t make it easy to take him seriously.


    Still, a faint pang of guilt pricked at her.


    Ignoring her entirely, Su Xiaobai turned his attention to the glowing tree before them. His smirk faded, replaced by something sharper, hungrier. "But this¡­" he muttered. "This changes everything."


    The tree stood like a golden titan, its trunk shimmering faintly as its rustling leaves scattered the starlight into delicate, dancing patterns.


    "This isn''t just any tree," Su Xiaobai said, his voice lowering, "It''s a ''Heavenly Spiritual Tree.'' Its leaves act as a natural array, filtering starlight and stuffing its trunk with pure, refined spiritual energy."


    He gestured toward the wild beasts sprawled across the clearing. "That''s why those fools passed out. They took one bite too many and overdosed on spiritual sap. They''re drunk on starlight."


    Ling Er stifled a smile, biting her lip.


    "And it''s called ''Heavenly,''" Su Xiaobai continued, his voice taking on a poetic lilt, "because it''s too damn perfect. The way the starlight filters through its leaves, condenses in its trunk, and refines into spiritual energy¡ªit''s as if the heavens themselves blessed it. Coincidences like this don''t happen. Not without someone¡ªor something¡ªpulling strings."


    He paused, tilting his head toward the glowing bark. "But it won''t last. Trees like this burn too brightly. It''s been devouring the heavens'' energy... Now, it''s at its limit. Soon, it''ll collapse."


    Ling Er''s lips quirked up. "So¡­ how do we extract the energy before it''s too late?"


    Su Xiaobai gave her a crooked grin, reaching into his spatial ring. "Simple. You poke a hole in the trunk, shove this in¡ª" he held up a small metallic funnel like it was the crown jewel of his collection, "¡ªand let it gush out."


    Ling Er blinked. "Gush out?"


    "Exactly," he said, his grin widening. "The purest essence you''ll ever touch. Just don''t waste it, or I''ll have your head."


    Before he could elaborate, Ling Er snatched the funnel from his hands, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Let me try!" she exclaimed, darting toward the tree like a child chasing treasure.


    Su Xiaobai stared after her, shaking his head. "Hah... Don''t blame me if it splashes on your face."


    Pulling out a second funnel, he moved to another part of the trunk. Nearby, Xiao Hei crouched, her eyes gleaming with faint curiosity as she watched the pair.


    "You too," Su Xiaobai said, tossing her a spare spatial ring. "Fill it up. No slacking off."


    Xiao Hei caught the ring effortlessly, tilting her head like she was debating whether or not to bother. After a beat, she strolled to another section of the tree and began poking at it with calculated indifference.


    With everyone on task, Su Xiaobai jabbed his funnel into the golden bark.


    Whoosh!


    A thick stream of spiritual energy, glowing faintly with a golden hue, began to flow. The air grew warm, buzzing with vitality, and the clearing filled with a faint, heady scent¡ªlike sweet nectar mixed with the tang of starlight.


    Su Xiaobai watched the liquid flow into his container, a satisfied smile tugging at his lips. "Now this," he murmured, "this is the good stuff."


    For the first time in ages, something in his life felt right. No schemes, no backstabbing, just pure, unadulterated power dripping into his hands.


    With this, breaking into the Core Formation realm was no longer a pipe dream. He''d enter the Xiantian Sect with his head held high¡ªno debts, no favors owed, and most importantly, no need to rely on that unpredictable little menace, Xiao Hei.


    His gaze flicked toward her, crouched cutely on the other side of the tree, casually poking at the bark with a funnel like she had all the time in the world.


    Su Xiaobai snorted.


    She looked innocent now, but he knew better.


    This girl was like a ticking time bomb¡ªuseful when aimed at others, dangerous when left to her own devices.

 Chapter 59 - 59: Twisted Royal Family!

    "Here!"


    Xiao Hei and Ling Er returned, handing Su Xiaobai the sap essence dripping with spiritual power.


    Without hesitation, Su Xiaobai snatched the ring from Xiao Hei. Why leave it with her? She''d probably spill it or blow it up¡ªlittle firecracker that she was.


    Behind them, the once-radiant tree dimmed, its glow snuffed out like a drunk at dawn.


    He turned to Ling Er, brow raised as she shoved her spatial ring toward him. "What? You don''t want it?"


    "Just take it!" she huffed, arms crossed, face red. "Break through already and fly us back to camp!"


    "???"


    Su Xiaobai blinked, debating whether to tease her. Nah, she had a point. Shrugging, he grabbed the ring.


    "Don''t regret it later," he said with a smirk, heading to an open patch. Sitting cross-legged, he drew out the sap essence. Golden energy spiraled into his dantian, stirring the air like a rising storm.


    Ling Er lingered nearby, glaring at nothing in particular. Why is it so hard to just say thanks? Or sorry?


    She bit her lip and kicked at a rock. Her muttering slipped out: "Stupid. So stupid. Why''s he gotta look so smug? Bet he thinks I''m in love with him."


    "???"


    Xiao Hei tilted her head, crimson eyes gleaming. She didn''t speak, but her mischievous grin said it all.


    Ling Er flushed, kicking harder. "This is dumb. He cleans up my messes, and now I''m stuck feeling guilty? Ridiculous."


    Her gaze flicked back to Su Xiaobai, glowing like some smug golden deity mid-breakthrough.


    Her gut churned. Gratitude? Apologies? She didn''t do those. Never had.


    But this time, it felt like she had to.


    Since yesterday, Ling Er had brought Su Xiaobai nothing but trouble. Yet, watching him glow faintly in meditation, she wondered: Is he evil? Or just cursed with endless bad luck?


    Core Formation was a cultivator''s true baptism, the leap from mediocrity to greatness. With a golden core, Su Xiaobai would finally escape true qi endless grind, wielding profound Qi without it eating away his life.


    But it wasn''t without risk.


    A core wasn''t just energy¡ªit was a molten sun, forged in one''s dantian. Its heat purified, stabilized Qi, and burned away impurities. Without it, even the strongest cultivators would wither under their own power.


    Golden light rippled from Su Xiaobai, brightening with every breath. Ling Er stepped back, her voice hushed. "Is¡­ is that normal?"


    The sap essence¡ªenough for two¡ªwas vanishing, devoured by his thirsty dantian.


    The air shifted. Everything¡ªground, trees, even the sky¡ªseemed to bow.


    BOOM!


    A golden pillar erupted, piercing the heavens. The earth trembled; a shockwave tore through the forest, scattering leaves and dust like a hurricane.


    As the haze cleared, Ling Er coughed, staring at Su Xiaobai. He sat unscathed in the destruction, radiant and calm. In his dantian, a golden bead shimmered¡ªa miniature sun, pure and unyielding.


    "This¡­" she whispered. "This is a golden core?"


    Su Xiaobai stood, glowing faintly, a wide grin splitting his face. For someone who couldn''t even cultivate months ago, this felt like spitting in the heavens'' eye.


    "Hah!" His laugh rang out. "Who''s the genius now?!" He slapped his chest. "Mark it down higher-ups¡ªyour so-called villain just broke through!"


    Before Ling Er could react, he moved.


    Swoosh!


    He grabbed her by the waist, scooped up Xiao Hei with his other arm, and shot into the air.


    "Wha¡ª!" Ling Er''s face flushed as his hand gripped her soft waist. "H-Hey! Put me down!"


    "Relax," Su Xiaobai said, grinning. "You can''t fly, and I''m not leaving my entourage behind."


    "I¡ªI can manage!" she stammered, clutching his robes.


    "Sure," he teased. "Just like you''ve been managing so far."


    Ling Er glared but said nothing, the wind stealing her words.


    Xiao Hei, dangling from his other arm, glanced at Ling Er, then closed her eyes, clearly unbothered.


    Golden light flared as Su Xiaobai rose higher, his laughter ringing out. "Core Formation! I''m finally done crawling in the dirt!"


    Ling Er yelped, gripping his robes tighter as the ground vanished. "Don''t drop me!"


    "Relax, Princess," he chuckled. "You''re safer here. Besides, if I did drop you¡­ well, the crater would be impressive."


    ¡ª ZAP!


    They vanished into the night, a golden streak blazing across the sky like a comet ascending to the heavens.


    ____


    The overexcited Su Xiaobai didn''t calm down after returning. Why would he? Core Formation had him giddy, his ego roaring louder than a celestial dragon. Instead of resting, he dashed straight to the waterfall, eager to soak in the ''Celestial Ripple Array'' and forge his ''Starry Veins'' while adrenaline coursed through him.


    But excitement had its pitfalls.


    His hands, caught up in the thrill of flight, had¡­ wandered. Ling Er''s waist, her hips¡ªeach accidental graze turned her face redder than molten iron.


    Naturally, Su Xiaobai proclaimed his innocence. His hands? Pure. Blameless.


    The real culprit? Adrenaline.


    Ling Er wasn''t having it. She landed with a stomp, her curses cutting the air like flying swords. "Pervert! Scoundrel! Idiot!"


    Su Xiaobai scratched his head, pretending to ignore her. "Ah, such refined vocabulary. Truly the voice of a princess," he muttered, watching her storm off, her face burning like the setting sun.


    Back at the cottage, Ling Er''s muttering hadn''t cooled. She stomped through the moonlit night, frustration trailing her like a shadow. But just as she reached the door¡ª


    "You find anything?"


    "!"


    Ling Er froze, her spine stiffening at the familiar voice. Slowly, she turned, her glare like a sharp jade. "No," she snapped.


    Wei Zhong stepped out of the shadows, his cold, calculating eyes sweeping over her. His fingers stroked his silver beard, his silence more unsettling than words.


    Ling Er''s skin crawled under his appraisal, but she stood her ground.


    Finally, he spoke. "Good. No foolish mistakes."


    His gaze lingered a moment longer, sharp and deliberate. To his relief, the girl remained untouched. A maiden''s purity was value, a bargaining chip for Yue Country''s survival. Ling Er?


    She wasn''t a warrior¡ªshe was leverage.


    Her marriage, not her cultivation, would save their kingdom.


    "You are Yue country''s key to future," Wei Zhong said, his voice low and pointed. "Remember your place."


    Ling Er''s fists trembled at her sides. She wanted to scream. Instead, she stormed inside, slamming the door behind her.


    "Ugh! What does he take me for?!" she growled, pacing the room. First Su Xiaobai, now her grandfather. Why was she always a pawn? Why couldn''t she just exist without someone pulling her strings?


    She paced the room, her agitation barely contained.


    After a few moments, she flung on her cloak and slipped out into the night, he sneaky figure vanishing beneath the moon''s pale light.


    _____


    "Ha¡­ finally, a good night''s sleep!"


    Su Xiaobai stretched lazily, a grin plastered on his face. After a day of breakthroughs and victories, rest was his rightful reward.


    Setting up the makeshift cottage had been simple: logs stacked neatly, a patchy grass floor, and a wobbly door. Not exactly a palace, but good enough. A refreshing bath had washed away the grime, leaving him feeling more accomplished than ever.


    With a satisfied sigh, he flopped onto the grass. ''Today wasn''t half bad.'' Exhaustion tugged at him, ready to lull him into blissful sleep.


    But, of course, peace wasn''t in the cards.


    BANG! BANG!


    "Hey, Villain! Open the door!"


    Su Xiaobai twitched, glaring at the ceiling like it owed him an apology. ''Can''t a guy sleep? Do side quests have to pop up at night?''


    Grumbling, he dragged himself up, yanking on his robe to avoid giving Ling Er an accidental glimpse of his ''mighty Little Su.'' Fainting princesses were too much trouble.


    "Open up!" S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "First, say, ''Big Brother, please open~!''" Su Xiaobai''s lazy voice carried a smirk.


    "Wh¡ª" Ling Er froze mid-bang, her face turning crimson. ''Why is he always like this?!'' She glared at the door as if it were him, debating whether to kick it down.


    But the night''s chill bit harder than her pride. With a growl, she spat out sweetly, "Big Brother Su, please open the gate for your cute little sister~! Or she''ll freeze to death~~!"


    Click!


    The door creaked open, revealing Su Xiaobai''s infuriatingly smug grin.


    "Good girl," he teased. "Now, what could the little princess possibly need at this ungodly hour?"


    "Humph!"


    Once the door opened, Ling Er marched inside without so much as a thank-you. She plopped onto Su Xiaobai''s spot, staring out of the small window like she owned the place.


    Su Xiaobai scratched his head, already regretting his decision. Closing the door with a sigh, he muttered, "Princess, if you''ve got something to say, spit it out and leave. Dawn isn''t the best time for girls to hang around men, you know. We can be¡­ aggressive."


    Poof!


    Ling Er froze, suddenly realizing she''d stormed in without a plan. Worse, he wasn''t wrong¡ªit was risky. But thankfully, Xiao Hei was still in the corner, curled up on her leaf bed.


    Or she was, until the noise woke her. With a glare and a huff, the little demon dragged her makeshift bed to the farthest corner, clearly done with them both.


    Su Xiaobai shot Xiao Hei an approving glance. She''d been banned from leaving at night after last time''s chaos, but at least she was following rules now.


    Ling Er, seeing Xiao Hei retreat, lit up with sudden inspiration. She straightened, puffed out her chest, and declared, "I''m here to apologize!"


    Su Xiaobai froze mid-thought, one foot practically out the door to kick her out. "Apologize?" His tone dripped with suspicion as he eyed her squirming figure.


    Was this an actual apology or some convoluted scheme?

 Chapter 60 - 60: Sneak Granddaughter! Bastard Grandpa!

    "Apologize?"


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes narrowed, staring into Ling Er, who immediately grew anxious.


    Why was he still standing at the door, blocking her exit? And why was his gaze lingering near her legs?


    "It''s for Xiao Hei!" she blurted, shutting her eyes before calming herself.


    "Hm?" Su Xiaobai tilted his head. Xiao Hei? What could his little firecracker have done to upset Ling Er? Did she have beef with both siblings now¡ªWei Jun and his sister?


    "??"


    Xiao Hei, disturbed yet again, pointed to herself with a tiny finger, as if to say; Me? Are you talking about me?


    Ling Er forced a stiff smile. "Yes. I shouldn''t have said bad things about her yesterday. She''s¡­ very beautiful. Prettier than me, even, once she grows up!"


    "..."


    Su Xiaobai stared blankly, then sighed.


    Xiao Hei waved her hands dismissively. Seriously? You woke me up for this? Pathetic. Turning away, she curled up on her leaf bed, resolutely ignoring them.


    Su Xiaobai approached Ling Er, his shadow looming over her. Her forced smile twitched as his smirk deepened.


    "Princess, let''s be real. You came because you were too bored to sleep alone, didn''t you?"


    "..."


    Ling Er flinched, her face darkening.


    "Yeah¡­" she admitted, glancing down. A barely audible murmur escaped her lips, softer than a mosquito''s hum.


    "..."


    Seeing Su Xiaobai''s disappointed look, Ling Er''s words dried up. Before she could respond, she felt someone grab her from behind.


    "What... are you doing?" she yelped, her voice shooting up as goosebumps prickled across her skin.


    Su Xiaobai grinned slyly. "Emotional support doll. Don''t mind it¡ªyou scared my Xiao Hei away."


    "..."


    Ling Er''s face darkened. Without a word, she bit down on his hand.


    "Ow¡ª!" Su Xiaobai''s eyes shot wide. Then, to her horror, he chuckled. "Not bad..."


    "..."


    Ling Er''s face darkened as realization dawned¡ªthis guy wasn''t good at all. He''d spent every opportunity mocking her as a brat or little sister, but now he was blatantly taking advantage.


    She wriggled, trying to break free, but Su Xiaobai''s strength easily outmatched hers. Ten of her couldn''t overpower him now.


    Oddly enough, he seemed to enjoy her resistance¡ªnot maliciously, but with a teasing fondness. What started as her being an annoying little brat had turned into something else: an amusing little sister he could annoy and play with.


    She even smelled nice.


    "!!"


    Ling Er''s face turned scarlet as she noticed him sniffing the air near her. Shivering, she snapped, "Y-You! Stop acting like a hooligan!"


    Su Xiaobai grinned. "Relax. I was going to tell you about your brother."


    "??"


    Ling Er froze, confused by the sudden shift. Did he mean that bastard Wei Jun? She tilted her head. "What about him?"


    Su Xiaobai''s grin widened as he continued, "Do you know how I met him?"


    "No," she admitted, still wary.


    Taking the chance, Su Xiaobai launched into the story. He told her how he first saw Wei Jun getting chased by a boar, mistook him for a girl, and learned about the prince''s brilliant escapades.


    "And the best part?" Su Xiaobai''s chuckle turned into a full-blown laugh. "Your so-called princely brother got his cultivation sealed after peeping on a sect girl. Just imagine¡ªa prince, caught peeing in the bushes while trying to sneak a glance!"


    Ling Er blinked, stunned, her face flushing faintly.


    "What? Not funny?" Su Xiaobai''s smile flatered, noticing her flustered reaction.


    "It wouldn''t be¡­ if you knew who that woman was," Ling Er muttered, biting her lip.


    "Who?" Su Xiaobai leaned in, curiosity piqued.


    Ling Er hesitated, her voice dropping. "Promise you won''t laugh."


    "Cross my heart." Su Xiaobai''s solemn look was fake enough to make her glare.


    She sighed deeply. "She''s¡­ one of the king''s consorts."


    "Wait..." Su Xiaobai froze. "The King?... Your father?"


    Ling Er nodded reluctantly.


    "But Wei Jun''s your brother? And she''s¡ª"


    "Yes!" Ling Er groaned, covering her face. "Welcome to my family!"


    Su Xiaobai leaned back, stunned. ''Fucking hell, what kind of circus is this?''


    "She''s called White Jade Sword," Ling Er continued bitterly. "Six hundred years ago, my father fell for her first. Back then, my father was just another spoiled prince. Then he saw her. Everything changed."


    "How much?"


    "Enough to burn the capital red," Ling Er muttered. "He killed his way to the throne, declared their engagement, and sent an envoy to bring her to the palace."


    "And?"


    "She ignored him." Ling Er let out a humorless laugh. "When my father tried to collect her himself, she beat him bloody."


    "Pfft¡ª" Su Xiaobai''s restraint failed. "Beaten up? By her? Good!"


    Ling Er nodded grimly, unimpressed.


    "She''s strong," Ling Er said, her voice softening. "Stronger than the Xiantian Sect lets on. On paper, she''s just an elder. In reality, her strength rivals the kingdom''s first great official. And anyone who gets close to her¡­" Ling Er''s gaze darkened. "She drives them mad. Even my father''s still chasing her, throwing everything at her feet."


    Su Xiaobai sighed. "Masochists, all of you."


    "It''s not funny!" Ling Er snapped.


    "It''s rather hilarious," Su Xiaobai replied with a grin. "A woman who beats up kings and breaks minds? She''s either cursed or brilliant."


    Su Xiaobai finally understood why Wei Zhong beat the crap out of Wei Jun for going near the Xiantian Sect. The old man wasn''t just paranoid¡ªhe was desperate. He''d already seen one heir fall to obsession and wasn''t about to let it happen again.


    Too late. Wei Jun had already fallen for his stepmother.


    What kind of circus is this? Su Xiaobai groaned. But something about the name "White Jade Sword" itched at the back of his mind. ''Where have I heard this before?'' It felt like someone had padlocked the gate to his memories to keep him from ruining the plot.


    "If she''s the queen," Su Xiaobai asked, his tone dry, "then who''s your mother?"


    Ling Er''s lips tightened. "The second concubine."


    "Second concubine?" His brow twitched.


    Ling Er sighed. "White Jade Sword never accepted my father. He declared their engagement anyway. She ignored him. When he tried to force it, she beat him bloody. Panicked, he took a concubine to secure an heir. But that didn''t work either."


    "Why not?"


    "Their son left Yue. Abandoned the throne." Ling Er''s tone was bitter. "He became the First Great Official."


    Su Xiaobai blinked. ''Him?'' Wei Zhong had mentioned him¡ªa cultivator who rose beyond kings and courts. ''Smart guy. Ran while he could.''


    Ling Er continued, sharper now. "So my father tried again. Took a second concubine¡ªmy mother. That''s where elder brother and I come in."


    "And the first concubine?"


    "She rules the court." Ling Er''s expression darkened. "My father barely has a voice anymore. She made sure of that. As long as my Brother is next in line, she holds the reins. But if he takes the throne, she''ll lose everything. If he fails¡­" her meaning unspoken but clear.


    Su Xiaobai rubbed his chin. "Let me guess¡ªshe sent him off defenseless?"


    Ling Er nodded grimly. "It''s tradition. When princes come of age, they''re sent out to train. My father met White Jade Sword that way. Brother followed the same path. But this time, no guards. The first concubine called it a ''test of strength.'' My father agreed."


    "And let me guess¡ªyour father''s easier to control than Wei Jun would ever be?"


    Ling Er glanced away, but her silence was answer enough.


    Su Xiaobai snorted. "No wonder you''re stuck without treasures or protection. She''s bled you both dry."


    Ling Er''s voice softened. "My mother died years ago. After that, the first concubine had free rein. Brother might still have a shot at the throne, but me? Without the family''s ''Ancient Sealing Gate Technique,'' I was never even in the running."


    The silence stretched, alas, twisted family politics.


    Finally, Su Xiaobai shook his head, muttering, "People are like onions. Peel back a layer, and it just gets worse."


    Pft...


    Ling Er blinked, caught between laughing and frowning. This guy. How could he turn a depressing story into something that made her want to chuckle?


    She pressed her lips together, holding back a smile. This is why it''s easy to stay near him, she thought. No matter how bleak things got, Su Xiaobai had a knack for pulling the absurd out of the unbearable.


    Then, as if it were nothing, she dropped a bombshell. "Grandpa asked me to gather more information about her."


    Su Xiaobai froze mid-thought. "...What?"


    Ling Er''s gaze slid toward Xiao Hei, her expression casual but her eyes sparkling with mischief. He really doesn''t know anything, huh?


    She added, almost too innocently, "Grandpa said it''d be easier for me. You wouldn''t suspect me, after all."


    "¡­" S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Su Xiaobai''s face darkened. ''That old fox! He''s even got his granddaughter running errands? Playing games behind my back?''


    Ling Er grinned at his reaction, like a cat toying with its prey. "So¡­ how much should I tell him, big brother su~?" Her tone was sweet, but her eyes gleamed with wicked amusement.


    Su Xiaobai rubbed his temples, letting out a long sigh.


    Did she just sell her grandpa out, huh...

 Chapter 61 - 61: End: Parting (1)

    ''If she hadn''t said anything, I wouldn''t have suspected a thing,'' Su Xiaobai thought, irritation simmering under his skin.


    Xiao Hei was his ace, his trump card. If even the faintest whisper of her abilities leaked out, vultures would descend, claws out and ready to rip him apart. ''Good thing Xiao Lu and the Devouring Thorny Flower are still hidden. They''re safe¡­ for now.''


    His gaze shifted to Ling Er. A mischievous smile danced on her lips, but there was a sharpness in her eyes that sent a chill down his spine. ''Unpredictable. A playful kitten with the claws of a tiger.''


    Ling Er''s grin faded, her lips pulling tight as she rested her chin on her knees, eyes distant and locked on the silver glow of the moon. "I don''t care about his filthy politics," she muttered, her words tinged with bitterness, "Always scheming, always pulling strings. I hate it¡­"


    Her voice, usually light and teasing, was now filled with sadness.


    Su Xiaobai studied her in the pale moonlight. In that moment, she looked¡­ different. The cracks in her mask were showing¡ªgenuine, tired, maybe even scared. It stirred something in him.


    Women soaked in sorrow are like broken jade¡ªdamaged but irresistible. A man can''t help but want to hold them, even if it cuts him.


    His hand tightened around her waist. Instinctively possessive. Even a monk would abandon his vows for less. And I? I''ve never claimed to be holy.


    Ling Er''s sharp reminder broke through his wandering thoughts.


    "You haven''t apologized to me yet," she said suddenly, her pout deliberate and filled with false innocence.


    "Huh?" Su Xiaobai arched a brow, a wicked grin curling on his lips. "Apologize? For what, girl?"


    Ling Er folded her arms, shooting him a glare that would''ve been intimidating if her cheeks weren''t tinged pink. "You know what!"


    Su Xiaobai snorted, leaning closer, his tone mocking. "Oh, I''m sorry, Princess. My list of sins is too long to guess. The waterfall? Or was it when I held you too tightly on the way back? Help me out here¡ªI''m not a mind reader."


    Ling Er''s face burned crimson. Her lips parted, sputtering in outrage. "Y-you¡­!"


    "Oh, don''t look so shy." His grin sharpened, his eyes dragging over her with shameless intent. "While we''re at it, Princess, I''m still waiting for my apology."


    "For what?" she snapped, her voice rising.


    "For ruining my quiet night the moment you barged in," Su Xiaobai said smoothly, "Now, are we done with this drama, or are you planning to drag it out till dawn?"


    "..."


    Ling Er shot to her feet, fists clenched, fire blazing in her eyes. "Fine! Then I''ll just go and tell everyone how you ''harassed me'' this afternoon!"


    "Hm?" Su Xiaobai''s brow twitched as she stormed off, her determination sparking like kindling.


    Swoosh!


    Before she could take another step, his hand darted out, grabbing her wrist and yanking her back with ease. She stumbled into him, her glare searing.


    "Hold on, Princess," he murmured, "Let''s not throw accusations around. At least explain how I harassed you."


    "Was it¡­ like this?"


    Before Ling Er could respond, the world spun.


    Thud! ~


    Her back hit the soft grass, the cool night air licking at her flushed skin. Su Xiaobai pressed above her, his wicked grin illuminated by the pale moonlight.


    "Y-you¡­!" Ling Er stammered, her voice trembling as his heated gaze dragged down her body, shamelessly on the smooth curve of her waist.


    His hand slid across her side, deliberate and teasing. "Hmm¡­ soft," he murmured, his grin sharpening. "Plush enough to make a man lose sleep. No wonder you''ve been whining all day."


    "Bastard! Get off me!" she snapped, her hands pressing against his chest. But her strength was laughable against his, and her struggles only pressed her deeper into the ground.


    Her scent teased him¡ªpeach blossoms mixed with something hotter, headier. His gaze flicked to her trembling lips, parted just enough to invite trouble.


    Why stop now?


    His fingers tipped her chin up, commanding with the lightest touch. His lips crashed onto hers, hot and hungry, devouring her protests like a starving beast.


    "Mmmph!?"


    Ling Er froze, her eyes wide as the shock of his kiss rippled through her body. Her mind screamed to resist, but her lips betrayed her, softening under his assault.


    When he pulled back, his grin was sharp, his voice dropped to a low murmur, dripping with mockery. "Well, Princess? Was it¡­ like this?"


    "Haaa... ha..." Ling Er''s breaths came in ragged bursts, her chest heaving as her face burned hotter than embers. "¡ªI was right," she whispered hoarsely, her voice trembling. "You''re dangerous. A wolf hiding in sheep''s skin!"


    Su Xiaobai chuckled darkly, his breath hot against her ear. "Wolf? Princess, you flatter me. I''ve never pretended to be tame."


    Before she could retort, his lips descended again, trailing fire along her jaw and cheeks.


    "Stop that!" she shrieked, her hands weakly slapping at him. But her resistance lacked conviction, and Su Xiaobai could feel it.


    If she truly wanted me gone, she''d have burned me alive by now.


    She squirmed beneath him, her body trembling, her half-lidded eyes betraying the last dregs of her resolve.


    His lips claimed hers again, slower, deeper, savoring every inch of her crumbling resistance. His hand slipped beneath her robe like a thief in the night, brushing over her heated skin, palming the soft weight of her breast.


    Her breath hitched as his thumb grazed her ripped pink nipple, stiffened and aching under his touch.


    "G-get your hands off me!" she hissed, her voice trembling but lacking bite.


    "Hm?" Su Xiaobai tilted his head, his gaze mocking. "No touching? But kissing''s fine? What kind of backwards logic is that, Princess?"


    "..."


    Ling Er glared at him, lips trembling as her outrage warred with confusion.


    "Careful, Princess," Su Xiaobai murmured, his breath ghosting over her ear. "Scream too loud, and your grandfather might show up. Imagine explaining this to him¡­"


    Her struggles froze instantly. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Good," Su Xiaobai murmured, his fingers brushing Ling Er''s hair aside as if unveiling a forbidden treasure. "Now, look at the stars. Pretend I''m not here¡­ though I doubt you could even if you tried."


    His lips descended to her neck, hot and tempting, planting kisses that seared her skin. Each one was slow, deliberate, a predator savoring his prey before the feast.


    Beneath her robes, his hands moved boldly, fingers tracing every place as though he were memorizing the landscape of her body. He cupped the softness of her breasts with shameless confidence, his touch both teasing and possessive.


    Ling Er''s breath hitched, her trembling hands flying to her face as though hiding her expression could shield her from his assault.


    "This isn''t fair," she muttered hoarsely, her voice unsteady as heat bloomed beneath his every touch.


    "Life rarely is," Su Xiaobai replied, his grin sharpening like a blade. "But when you''ve got beautiful babies like these¡­" He gave her a deliberate squeeze, thumbs grazing the hardened peaks that strained against his palm. "¡­you make life fun for men like me."


    "Y-you bastard!" Ling Er gasped, her breath catching in her throat.


    "Bastard?" Su Xiaobai chuckled, his hands continuing their exploration. "Please, Princess. Call me something new. How about ''Master of the Peaks''? Or ''Conqueror of the Cherry Blossoms''?"


    "You''re idiot! Just idiot!¡­" Ling Er hissed, though her glare lacked venom. Her body betrayed her¡ªleaning into his touch, her chest rising and falling in uneven breaths.


    "And you," Su Xiaobai murmured, dipping his head to kiss the hollow of her throat, "are adorable when you''re flustered. Like a kitten hissing at a tiger."


    "I''ll chop off your¡­ your little¡­" she growled weakly, her words faltering as heat flooded her face.


    Su Xiaobai threw his head back and laughed, the sound deep and rich. "Little? Oh, Princess, that''s slander." He leaned down, his grin wicked. "Maybe it''s time I showed you just how wrong you are."


    Before she could muster a retort, he grabbed her trembling hand and guided it beneath his robe with deliberate force.


    "Still think it''s little?" he teased, his voice husky and filled with smug amusement.


    Hiss~~


    Ling Er''s eyes widened as her fingers brushed against something hot, hard, and unreasonably large. Her breath caught, her mind blanking as realization struck.


    That''s not supposed to be that big¡­!


    She tried to yank her hand away, but his grip was firm, pressing her palm firmly against the throbbing heat.


    "Careful," Su Xiaobai whispered, his lips grazing her temple. "If you squeeze it like that, you might awaken the dragon. And trust me, once it''s up, it doesn''t go down easily."


    "G-get it away from me~!" Ling Er shrieked, her voice high-pitched and frantic. Her cheeks burned brighter than a sunrise, her wide eyes darting everywhere but at him.


    "Oh, don''t act so innocent," Su Xiaobai said lazily, "You''re the one holding it now. Own it."


    The musky scent of him blasted at her face, intoxicating and impossible to ignore. Every shaky breath she took seemed to pull more of him into her senses.


    "First, help me pull this down," Su Xiaobai murmured nonchalantly, tugging at the waistband of her robe with a casual arrogance that set her teeth on edge.


    "Do it yourself!" Ling Er snapped, her voice shaky and flustered.


    Su Xiaobai let out a chuckle, "Shy now, huh? For someone who just had her hand on the dragon, you''re acting awfully cute."


    Before she could fire back, his lips descended once more, trailing lower with maddening slowness.


    Her skin prickled as his tongue traced a deliberate path along her collarbone, leaving her gasping and squirming beneath him.


    "Stop playing around!" she finally managed, her voice a mixture of indignation and desperation.


    "Playing?" Su Xiaobai smirked against her skin, his teeth grazing her lightly. "Oh, Princess, I''m dead serious. But if you want me to get serious-serious¡­" His hand slipped lower, grazing the edge of her waistband.


    "Y-you wouldn''t dare!" Ling Er sputtered, trying to wriggle away, but her movements only pressed her closer to him.


    "Wouldn''t I?" Su Xiaobai quipped, his fingers hooking beneath the fabric. "Do you really want to test me? Because I promise, Princess, once I''ve crossed this line¡­" His lips brushed her ear, his voice dropping to a sinful whisper. "¡­I''m not stopping until I''ve reached the finish."


    Ling Er gulped nervously, her heart pounding wildly.


    He''s insane!


    This wolf doesn''t just nip¡ªhe devours!

 Chapter 62 - 62: *END: Parting! (2)* [R18]

    "I''ll¡­ I''ll tell my grandfather!" she blurted, her voice trembling.


    "Oh, please do," Su Xiaobai replied with a laugh, "Tell the old man how my ''rod of chaos'' terrorized his innocent granddaughter. I''m sure he''ll love the story."


    "Y-you''re shameless!"


    "And you," Su Xiaobai countered smoothly, his lips claiming hers in a heated, possessive kiss, "are delicious."


    "Ugh¡­"


    Ling Er groaned, her slender frame trembling as she lay sprawled like a defeated warrior on the battlefield of lust. Su Xiaobai smiled down at her, victorious. A man had to defend his territory, after all, and barging into his den unprepared was the kind of offense that demanded punishment¡ªa thorough, soul-rattling punishment.


    Fifteen minutes later.


    "YOU BASTARD! NEVER COME NEAR ME AGAIN!"


    Ling Er''s scream echoed through the night as she gripped to the wall, her once-pristine robe now a pitiful mess clutched haphazardly to her chest. Her bare shoulders gleamed with sweat, her skin glowing pink with heat as though she''d been dipped in a furnace.


    Her delicate legs trembled like a newborn fawn''s, struggling to hold her up, while trails of forbidden nectar slid sinfully down her inner thighs. The sticky, glistening streams held to her skin, a humiliating reminder of how her so-called sacred cave had betrayed her.


    "What the hell did you do to me?!" she screamed, her voice filled with fury and embarrassment.


    Su Xiaobai stood nearby, leaning lazily against the doorframe like a rogue fresh from plunder, a smug grin plastered across his face. "Hey, Princess, I was just teaching you something new," he said, his voice a mix of mockery and innocence that only infuriated her more.


    "New?!" Ling Er hissed, her fists clenching at her sides as her blazing eyes shot daggers at him. New?! That wasn''t teaching! That was¡­ that was desecration! She bit her lip as flashes of the last fifteen minutes invaded her mind¡ªher own voice moaning his name, the traitorous heat pooling in her lower abdomen, and the way his damned fingers had explored every inch of her most intimate depths.


    Su Xiaobai''s grin only widened. The art of fingers was a skill he had perfected over years of practice, and judging by the trembling mess before him, Ling Er was woefully unprepared for such expertise.


    Her sacred cave had been unlocked, tested, and utterly conquered¡ªall without crossing the final threshold.


    "You''ll thank me later," he said, shrugging casually. "Once you calm down, you''ll realize this was an invaluable lesson."


    "Lesson?! That was a goddamn invasion!" Ling Er shrieked, her voice cracking as she hugged her robe tighter to her body. Her trembling fingers brushed against the thin patch of soft hair above her mound, the slight friction igniting fresh waves of humiliation.


    "Alright, alright," Su Xiaobai said, holding up his hands as though to placate her, "How about I teach you something else? Something even better?"


    Ling Er''s eyes narrowed. "Better?!"


    "Trust me, Princess," Su Xiaobai said smoothly, cracking his knuckles. "I''ve got skills you''ve never dreamed of. This is just the beginning."


    Before Ling Er could process his words, she found herself pinned once again, her back against the cool grass as his infuriatingly smug face hovered above hers.


    "What are you¡ª"


    "Relax, Princess," Su Xiaobai murmured, "You''re in good hands. Literally."


    Her protest died in her throat as his hand slipped lower, his fingers trailing across the small patch of soft hair below her abdomen before descending further.


    "Stop¡ª!"


    Her voice turned into a choked gasp as his fingers found her slick entrance, sliding along the delicate folds with unholy precision. Her hips bucked instinctively, her body betraying her once more.


    "See? That''s the art of fingers," Su Xiaobai murmured, his tone maddeningly casual. "It''s like calligraphy, but messier. And wetter."


    "You¡­ you perverted bastard!" Ling Er sputtered, her voice trembling as her legs quaked on either side of him.


    "Perverted?" Su Xiaobai chuckled, his grin sharpening. "Oh, Princess, that''s just foreplay where I come from."


    Her sacred cave clenched involuntarily around his fingers, and her thighs squeezed together, trapping his hand in place. She gasped as the sensations overwhelmed her, her breath coming in short, uneven bursts.


    "Stop it! I¡ªahhh!" Ling Er''s voice melted into a moan, her head falling back as her body betrayed her completely.


    Su Xiaobai leaned closer, his breath hot against her ear. "What''s wrong, Princess? You''re making such cute noises. Don''t tell me you''re actually enjoying this."


    "I¡ªshut up!" Ling Er snapped, though her words lacked conviction.


    "You sound like you''re about to start begging," Su Xiaobai teased, his fingers working her with a rhythm that sent sparks shooting up her spine. "Want me to stop?"


    "Yes! No! I¡ªahhh!" Ling Er''s head thrashed as her back arched, her entire body trembling as the pleasure overwhelmed her. Her vision blurred, her thighs spasming as she let out one final, shuddering cry.


    Fifteen more minutes later.


    "Bastard," Ling Er spat weakly, her voice. She was slumped against the wall again, her robe slipping off one shoulder, her raven hair a wild mess of tangles.


    Her thighs were sticky, her throat was sore, and her body felt like it had been wrung out and hung to dry. And still, that smug look on his face made her want to punch him.


    Su Xiaobai, the shameless rogue, leaned back with a satisfied smirk. "Hey, Princess," he said casually. "Since you liked the first lesson so much, how about we move on to the next one?"


    Ling Er''s glare could''ve melted mountains. "Next one?! I''ll kill you first!"


    "Kill me later," Su Xiaobai replied breezily. "Right now, I''ve got something ''really'' special to show you¡­"


    Her eyes widened as he guided her toward his lap. "Wh¡ªno way!" she shrieked, her hands flying up to block him.


    Su Xiaobai chuckled darkly. "Don''t worry, Princess. I''ll be gentle¡­ this time."


    Gwak!


    Before Ling Er could react, the world tilted, and she found herself sprawled once again beneath Su Xiaobai. His face hovered above hers, wicked and smug, like the devil himself preparing to collect a very overdue debt.


    It didn''t take long for her to realize that yes, he was introducing her to something new¡ªand no, it was absolutely not something she wanted to learn.


    "Let go of me, you filthy, perverted wolf!" she spat, her flushed face burning hotter than molten steel.


    Su Xiaobai leaned in closer, his grin so smug it could have insulted the gods. "Perverted wolf? Princess, you sell me short. I''m not just a wolf¡ªI''m the apex predator. And tonight, you''re the prey."


    Her glare could have melted mountains, but Su Xiaobai wasn''t just any man. No, he was the kind of bastard who looked danger in the eye and grinned wider.


    Having already broken her with his fingers, Su Xiaobai decided it was time for her to return the favor. He wasn''t cruel, after all¡ªhe believed in fair exchanges. Naturally, this meant introducing her to the forbidden art of his homeland: ''Let the Princess Gag on the Dragon.''


    "What are you doing now?!" Ling Er demanded, her voice trembling as she tried to push him away.


    "You''ll see," Su Xiaobai replied smoothly, his voice dripping with mockery as he grabbed her wrists with ease. His smile widened, practically oozing sin.


    He guided her head downward, her soft lips brushing against the tip of his throbbing dragon for the first time. His breath stopped in anticipation¡ªbut his pleasure was short-lived.


    "FUCK!"


    A sharp, searing pain shot through him as her teeth scraped along the sensitive skin. Su Xiaobai yelped, clutching his poor dragon like a soldier shielding a fallen comrade.


    "HEY! What the hell are you doing?!" he screamed, his voice strained with pain.


    Ling Er glared up at him, her face twisted with equal parts rage and mortification. "What am I doing?! You shoved it in my face, you villian! What did you expect?!"


    SQELCH!


    Her words were punctuated by a savage squeeze of her small hand, her fingers wrapping around him with the strength of a blacksmith testing steel.


    "Careful, careful!" Su Xiaobai yelped, his voice pitching higher as his eyes watered. "That''s not dough you''re kneading! Handle it like a priceless jade artifact, not a damn lump of clay!"


    "Oh, shut up!" Ling Er snapped, though her hands trembled as she adjusted her grip. "If you''re forcing me into this disgusting art, then I''ll do it MY way!"


    What followed could only be described as thirty minutes of chaotic warfare.


    Su Xiaobai, ever the patient teacher, endured an onslaught of disasters. Her teeth grazed him so often he was convinced she was sharpening them for battle. Her crushing grip had him questioning whether she was secretly training in ''Heavenly Palm of Iron Wrath.'' And her constant gagging sounded less like sensual learning and more like she was choking on a dumpling.


    "Not so deep!" Ling Er gasped, pulling away with watery eyes.


    "Stop choking, then!" Su Xiaobai snapped back, frustration creeping into his voice. "Relax your damn throat!"


    "I''ll relax your face...!" Ling Er whispered, her words muffled as he pushed her back down.


    Her hands clawed at his thighs as her lips wrapped clumsily around him, her cheeks burning with shame. Su Xiaobai groaned, torn between agony and ecstasy as her tongue flicked against him.


    "Easy¡ªeasy!" he coached, his voice tight. "You''re not biting into sugarcane!"


    Ling Er pulled back with a sharp glare, her lips red and swollen. "I HATE you!"


    "Yeah, yeah," Su Xiaobai replied, his grin never faltering. "Keep going. You''re doing great¡ªif we were grading on a curve." S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Spit!


    Finally, after what felt like an eternity of near-misses and painful lessons, Ling Er pulled away with a gasp, her jaw slack and her face drenched in sweat. She spat a thick stream of milky white liquid onto the ground, glaring at Su Xiaobai as though she could kill him with her eyes.


    "You¡­!" she hissed, her voice hoarse and shaky. "I swear, if I ever see that thing again, I''ll CUT IT OFF!"


    Su Xiaobai leaned back with a satisfied sigh, looking far too pleased with himself. "See? That wasn''t so bad. Congratulations, Princess¡ªyou''re officially my first disciple in the ''Heavenly Path of Oral Devotion.''"


    "Disciple?!" Ling Er screeched, grabbing the nearest object¡ªa stone¡ªand hurling it at his face with all her might. "I''LL KILL YOU, YOU PERVERTED BEAST!"


    Su Xiaobai ducked effortlessly, laughing as the stone sailed harmlessly past him. "Aw, don''t be so harsh, Princess. You''ve got talent¡ªyou just need to work on your technique. Oh, and maybe stop trying to bite me in half."


    Ling Er clutched her robe tighter, trembling with fury and shame. Her thighs were sticky, her jaw was sore, and her mind was a mess.


    This man¡­ this wolf¡­ this absolute demon!


    Su Xiaobai watched her with an amused grin, scratching the back of his head. ''Taking her virginity might be a bigger headache than It''s worth,'' he thought. But damn if it wasn''t the most fun he''d had in ages.


    "Alright, Princess," he said, waving her off. "Take your time to calm down. First times are always dramatic. You''ll feel better tomorrow."


    "Humph!"


    Ling Er stormed away, her robe swaying desperatelyas she muttered curses under her breath.


    "Never again," she vowed silently. Yet deep down, a treacherous thought took birth: "What other secret arts does this bastard know¡­?"

 Chapter 63 - 63: End: Parting (3.1)

    Five Days Later...


    The last few days had been a mess wrapped in routine. Between prepping to infiltrate the Xiantian Sect, tweaking formations, and playing reluctant mentor to Xiao Hei, Su Xiaobai had somehow settled into this madhouse of a life.


    And then there was Ling Er.


    Tormenting the little princess was his favorite pastime. A whispered tease to turn her red, a casual trip into the river to hear her shriek¡ªit was endless entertainment. She was a kitten hissing at a tiger, and he couldn''t get enough of it.


    But today was his last day. Yunan City awaited, and with it, the Xiantian Sect. He couldn''t stay. Wei Jun was leaving for the capital, and Wei Zhong''s sharp eyes lingered too long on Xiao Hei.


    Xiao Hei, his so-called "faithful" helper, was a prodigy with the attitude of a cat. Techniques that took him hours, she mastered in seconds, yawning like it was beneath her.


    "Little demon," Su Xiaobai muttered, half-admiring, half-annoyed.


    She wasn''t just talented¡ªshe was trouble. Unbeknownst to him, Xiao Hei spent her free time trying to kill him. Poisoned tea? Check. Exploding talismans? Classic. Knife to the throat? Bonus points for style.


    Her record stood at sixty-nine attempts.


    "Perfect!" Su Xiaobai had said after narrowly dodging a flying talisman that left a smoking crater behind him. "You almost killed me there, haha! Great aim¡ªyou''re ready for real battle!"


    Xiao Hei tilted her head, blank-faced. In her mind, she was being praised for failing to murder him.


    It only fueled her.


    The seventy-first attempt came minutes later¡ªa poisoned dart aimed at his back. But, as always, fate seemed determined to keep him alive, sparing him at the last second.


    Su Xiaobai, still clueless, grinned as he adjusted her training. "Raising a future warlord," he muttered, slightly proud, oblivious to the poisoned needle under his pillow. "She''s gonna be unstoppable!"


    Xiao Hei sat nearby, calmly fiddling with a vial of venom. Her face said nothing; her mind screamed, Attempt seventy-two incoming.


    Meanwhile, Ling Er had avoided him ever since their lessons. Yet, today, she came to see him.


    "Miss me already?" Su Xiaobai whispered, his breath tickling her ear.


    To his shock, she nodded, her face redder than the setting sun.


    "Mm¡­"


    "!?"


    The soft fragrance of her hit him, catching him off guard. Their relationship had been transactional¡ªa master and disciple. Nothing more.


    Grinning like the devil, he leaned closer, his lips brushing her ear.


    "Next time we meet, Princess," he murmured, his voice dripping with sin, "will you let me pop that forbidden cherry of yours?"


    His breath ghosted over her neck, sending a visible shiver rippling through her.


    Yet ¡ª For a moment, there was only silence. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Su Xiaobai waited, expecting the usual storm, curses, threats, maybe even a slap. Instead, something soft and warm brushed his lips. The fleeting touch left him momentarily frozen.


    Rustle ~ ~


    By the time he opened his mouth to tease her again, the little princess was already gone, her figure disappearing into the distance like a crimson shadow.


    "Huh?" He blinked, staring after her. "That''s it?"


    Her voice drifted back, soft and clear, carried by the evening breeze:


    "Big bad villain, take care."


    Before he could process the words, a flash of red floated into his vision, brushing against his face before landing in his hands.


    He looked down. It was her silk ribbon¡ªthe one she always kept near her.


    The fabric was smooth between his fingers, carrying a faint trace of her fragrance. Su Xiaobai''s lips curled into a wry smile, part amused, part surprised. "What a dramatic girl," he muttered.


    For all her fiery bravado, this felt¡­ different.


    He tucked the ribbon into his pocket, shaking his head with a chuckle. Five days of avoiding me, and now this?


    "Guess I''ll keep it," he said, his grin sharpening. "Wouldn''t want the big bad villain forgetting his favorite little tigress."


    The ribbon sat safely in his hands as Su Xiaobai turned toward the horizon, his thoughts lingering longer than he''d admit.


    ___


    Moments before Su Xiaobai could step out of the forest and breathe some free air, a shadow bloomed across the path like an unwelcome weed. Wei Jun appeared, striding forward in his shimmering blue robes, the kind that seemed designed to announce, ''Look at me! I''m here!'' His movements were too polished, like a jade statue trying to pass for a real prince.


    To the world, Wei Jun was nobility incarnate. To Su Xiaobai? Just another peacock.


    Still, Wei Jun wasn''t the problem. The real headache followed right behind him. Wei Zhong.


    The old man''s hawk-like eyes scanned the area with a sharpness that could flay the skin off lesser cultivators. His presence was a tidal wave of suffocating Qi, cold and vast, as if heaven itself was leaning down to judge the ants below. Even Su Xiaobai felt the weight of it, though he didn''t let it show. For a brief moment, those eyes flickered toward him¡ªdismissive, cold. Then Wei Zhong turned and strode away, his retreat as sudden as his arrival.


    Su Xiaobai exhaled, his lips curling into a mocking smile. ''What am I, a patch of moss? A pebble by the roadside? Tch, old bastard didn''t even stay to sneer properly.''


    Wei Jun sighed dramatically as he stepped closer, his smile apologetic. "Brother Su, forgive my grandfather. He has much on his mind."


    "Much?" Su Xiaobai raised an eyebrow. "What''s he doing, plotting to overthrow heaven itself?"


    Wei Jun hesitated, his gaze drifting toward where Wei Zhong had disappeared. "He''s¡­ searching."


    ''Searching?'' Su Xiaobai didn''t need a divine jade to know what¡ªor rather, who¡ªWei Zhong was sniffing out. The old hawk had come for Xiao Hei. The little brat had attracted far too much attention with her growing aura. Wei Zhong likely suspected she wasn''t some random kid but a child of immortals.


    ''Not that you''ll find her, old man,'' Su Xiaobai thought, suppressing a smirk. Xiao Hei was safely tucked away in his ring world, nibbling on spiritual fruits and drawing crude pictures of mountains ¡ª or ¡ª Probably of him getting kicked by a donkey.


    "Searching for what?" Su Xiaobai asked, keeping his tone light, though his fingers twitched, ready to summon his sword.


    Wei Jun waved it off. "Family matters, nothing you''d care for."


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes narrowed. ''Family matters, huh? Sure. And I''m a saint sent to spread enlightenment.''


    But before he could dig further, Wei Jun''s gaze shifted to the ribbon in Su Xiaobai''s hand¡ªa flash of crimson that seemed to steal the light around it. His smile stiffened.


    "That ribbon," Wei Jun said, his voice low, almost accusatory. "It''s Lingling''s, isn''t it?"

 Chapter 64 - 64: End: Parting (3.2)

    "It''s Lingling''s, isn''t it?"


    Su Xiaobai twirled the ribbon, its silk smooth against his fingers, like a lover''s teasing caress. "A gift. Her parting words? ''Keep it.'' Guess she thinks I''m sentimental."


    He smirked¡ªa fleeting curve of disdain¡ªas he clapped Wei Jun''s shoulder. The slap wasn''t friendly; it mocked. "Brother Jun, your sister''s too naive. One day, she''ll hand her ''life'' to some bastard who''d trade it for spirit wine. Someone like me, maybe."


    Hiss~


    Wei Jun struck like a snake, his grip crushing Su Xiaobai''s shoulder with mountain-like weight. His voice was low, icy. "Brother Su¡­ Lingling isn''t some clueless girl chasing butterflies. She grew up with poisoned tea and shadows of daggers. If she trusts you, don''t spit on it."


    For once, Su Xiaobai''s smirk faltered, his mask slipping. "Damn, you''re dramatic. Fine. Now, let go. My shoulder isn''t a spirit ore for refining."


    Wei Jun released him, slowly, deliberately. His fingers left faint creases in the fabric. "That ribbon isn''t just a keepsake. It''s her pride, her identity. She wouldn''t part with it¡ªnot even for me."


    The smile vanished. Su Xiaobai turned the ribbon in his hands. Its faint glow shimmered, like the last ember of a dying fire. Her scent lingered¡ªsweet, fleeting, like a dream slipping away. Scorch marks marred its edges, yet its brilliance endured.


    "A soul-grade artifact," he muttered, his tone tinged with disbelief.


    Wei Jun nodded, his expression dark with grief. "The last thing she has of her mother."


    Su Xiaobai stilled. The ribbon in his hand no longer felt like silk but chains, heavy with someone else''s pain. He forced a dry chuckle. "She doesn''t think her mom''s soul is in this thing, does she?"


    Wei Jun said nothing.


    The silence crushed down, suffocating.


    "Brilliant," Su Xiaobai muttered bitterly. Soul imprisonment wasn''t a joke¡ªit was reserved for rebels who spat in heaven''s face. Could Lingling''s mother have been one? No. Impossible.


    He flicked the thought away like a burning ember. Tucking the ribbon into his spatial ring, he muttered, "It''s just a ribbon. I''ll get it fixed, hand it back, and we''ll move on."


    But as he turned, a bitter whisper hissed at him: Aren''t you clinging to broken things too? Chasing ghosts you can''t bury?


    "Shut up," he hissed, rubbing his temples. "Later. I''ll deal with this shit later."


    Wei Jun''s gaze softened slightly, though his stance remained guarded. "Brother Su, I''ve seen more honesty from you in five minutes than most cultivators show in a lifetime."


    "And I''ve seen more paranoia from you than a sect full of failed alchemists," Su Xiaobai snapped back.


    Wei Jun snorted. "Brother Su¡­ do you even have a goal?"


    Su Xiaobai raised a brow. "Why the philosophy? Trying to marry me off to your sister?"


    Wei Jun''s tone grew serious. "You''re not wandering aimlessly. You''re running¡ªfrom something, or toward something."


    Su Xiaobai sighed, raking a hand through his hair. "My goal? Simple. Go home, kill bastards, save others. Clean and tidy." He grinned, but it didn''t reach his eyes. "Easy, right?"


    Wei Jun studied him for a moment. "How strong are these bastards of yours?"


    Su Xiaobai laughed sharply, bitterly. "Strong enough to flatten Yue Country with a sneeze."


    Wei Jun''s face darkened. "Brother Su¡­ are you trying to get my sister killed by association?!"


    "Relax," Su Xiaobai said, his grin flashing. "I''m not some runaway prince of an empire."


    Wei Jun exhaled, tension bleeding out. "Good. For a moment, I thought you were from the Eternal Ice Abyss."


    "..." Su Xiaobai blinked. "The hell is that...?"


    Wei Jun hesitated. "Your red eyes, white hair¡ªthey reminded me of a legend. Descendants of an immortal who mastered the Dao of Ice. They say emperors bow to them. But the abyss was destroyed a century ago."


    Su Xiaobai groaned, dragging a hand down his face. Removing his black dye after leaving Red Flame Fortress was a genius move¡ªto make himself a damn beacon.


    "Fantastic," he muttered. He turned, waving a hand dismissively. "Hold that thought."


    Wei Jun frowned. "What¡ª"


    Whoosh!


    Hiding behind a tree, Su Xiaobai glared at the sky, hissing under his breath. "Oi, my lovely bastards, can we not do this? I''m not some hidden prince or celestial bastard with a tragic backstory! I''m a lazy villain trying to keep my head down! Don''t throw another empire or immortal grudge at me!"


    He exhaled sharply, leaning back against the tree. "Calm. I''m calm."


    Straightening, Su Xiaobai returned with his usual smirk, as if the moment hadn''t cracked his veneer. "Now, what was that about abyss monsters? Sounds like my kind of bedtime story."


    Wei Jun stared at him, bewildered. "You alright?"


    "No," Su Xiaobai said smoothly. "I''m surrounded by lunatics, and you''re the loudest one."


    Wei Jun sighed, shaking his head. Living with Su Xiaobai was like guarding a drunk phoenix¡ªchaotic, loud, and destined to burn everything around him before soaring off, leaving only ashes behind.


    From his robes, Wei Jun pulled a cloth-wrapped package, his expression sour, like someone had replaced his tea with piss. "I need a favor. Deliver this to a woman called the White Jade Sword at Xiantian Sect."


    Su Xiaobai raised a brow, a wolfish grin spreading across his face. "A love letter? Oh, Brother Wei, who knew you had such poetic flair? Should I seal it with a kiss for luck?"


    He reached for the package, but Wei Jun''s grip didn''t falter. His eyes hardened, steel beneath the surface. "Brother Su, I''ll say this once. Don''t drag Ling''er into your chaos. She''s not one of your games."


    Su Xiaobai froze mid-grin, his fingers stilling. "Ah, I see. I''m the villain in this family now, am I? Should I call you ''Brother Protective,'' or just stick to Wei Jun?"


    Wei Jun''s grip tightened, just enough to make his point, before he let go. "Call me what you like, but understand this: Ling''er may seem soft, but she''s tougher than you think. Even so, she doesn''t belong in the kind of messes you and I swim in."


    Su Xiaobai sighed theatrically, slipping the package into his spatial ring. "Brother Wei, must we choke the air with clich¨¦s? ''Stay away from my sister''? Next, you''ll challenge me to a duel for her honor." S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Wei Jun chuckled, but the sound was sharp, without warmth. "Act the clown all you want, but you''ve already carved a hole in her heart. The only question now is whether you''ll plant something¡­ or piss on the soil and leave."


    Su Xiaobai''s grin thinned, his voice sharpening. "What do you expect? A blood-oath to the heavens? I''m no storybook hero. Ling''er isn''t part of my path."


    "Isn''t she?" Wei Jun''s tone was quiet but carried the weight of a falling mountain. "She''s already tied herself to you, Brother Su. Our ancestral technique¡ªthe one she''s kept hidden from everyone¡ªcould drag her into your bloody games."


    For the first time, Su Xiaobai faltered. Ling''er, the princess who claimed no heritage, no significance in the royal family¡­ had lied?


    Wei Jun''s gaze darkened, "Before our mother passed, she made me swear to protect Ling''er, no matter what. That oath led me into this throne struggle, and it''ll keep me here until the end. You might think you''re above it all, but your shadow is enough to pull others into the abyss."


    Su Xiaobai had no clever retort this time. Wei Jun''s words hit like a slap¡ªnot enough to hurt, but impossible to ignore.


    Wei Jun''s tone softened slightly, though the edge remained. "Enough about Ling''er. What about you, Brother Su? Do you really think you can face the monsters waiting for you as you are? Or are you just a fool playing at greatness?"


    The words landed like a hammer, cracking Su Xiaobai''s confidence. He thought of the titans on his path¡ªbeings who turned battlefields to graveyards, sect masters whose palms split mountains, immortals who played with storms.


    Could he beat them?


    The question coiled in his mind like a venomous serpent, hissing doubts he couldn''t silence.


    Wei Jun placed a hand on his shoulder, grounding him with surprising warmth. "You don''t need to answer now," he said quietly. "But if you want to protect anyone¡ªor anything¡ªyou''ll need more than a sharp tongue and bravado."


    Su Xiaobai said nothing, stepping away as the words lodged in his chest like splinters. Protect? Conquer? Rule? Once, those ambitions had burned brighter than any sun. Now, they were ashes scattered in the winds of a world he no longer recognized.


    Descending the mountain, Wei Jun''s questions filled his mind.


    What did he want?


    In his past life, he had been a tyrant¡ªa storm that crushed armies and left nations trembling. But that path had cost him everything. Now? He was a shadow of that man, wandering a road he no longer understood.


    His enemies hadn''t changed¡ªthey were still monstrous forces of power and ambition. The only thing that had shifted was him. He wasn''t ready. Not yet. But he could be.


    Su Xiaobai, are you ready to pick up the brush and rewrite your legend?


    A bitter laugh escaped his lips, echoing through the tense silence. He clenched his fists, forcing doubt and pain into the corners of his mind.


    The questions could wait. The ache could wait.


    For now, there was only one truth: move forward, or die standing still.


    .


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    [A/N: Alright, you degenerates, that''s the end of Volume 1! Clap it up, because your boy Su Xiaobai has officially leveled up from "family reunion simp" to "power-hungry badass" ¡ª thanks to your suggestions. Give yourselves a pat on the back (or a slap, whatever works).


    Now, let''s talk Volume 2. It''s gonna be longer, juicier, and packed with more evil than Xiao Hei''s murder attempts. By the end, Su Xiaobai will leave the mortal plane, reunite with his crew, and¡ªwait for it¡ªstart his own empire. Yep, Little Su is gunning for the big leagues. But hey, he can''t do it without your support. Gifts? Gold coins? You know the drill. Feed the beast if you want to see him conquer the heavens!


    Oh, and about Ling Er''s mom¡ªwill she show up? Will she not? That''s up to you. Vote or forever hold your complaints.


    Thanks for sticking around, you legends. Peace out, and remember: no gifts, no empire!]

 Chapter 65 - 65: Xiantian Sect! Landing With a Bang!

    One day later¡­


    Atop the colossal Wind Serpent Mountains, where the skies flirted shamelessly with eternity, the gates of the Xiantian Sect began to creak open. Each slab of black jade, taller than a hundred men stacked like kindling, celestial sigils that pulsed faintly, like the drunken breaths of a slumbering god.


    Crrrrrraaaak¡­


    The sound rolled through the mountain range like thunder on a bad mood, crashing into valleys that stretched for thousands of li. This wasn''t just some run-of-the-mill sect. No, this was the Xiantian Sect¡ªthe place where legends were born and lesser sects came to grovel. Once, it had stood at the very pinnacle of cultivation, not just in Yue Country but across every nearby province where men and beasts dared to tread.


    The Xiantian Sect wasn''t a quaint collection of courtyards and temples¡ªit was a sprawling empire gouged from the bones of the mountains themselves. Its domain spanned three hundred peaks, each one stabbing into the heavens like a god''s personal spear.


    The main peaks were so high their summits vanished into the mist, where, according to rumors, dragon spirits snoozed and Qi grew so thick you could choke on it. Even mortals, with their pathetic little lungs, might catch a glimpse of the Dao up there¡ªif they didn''t pass out first.


    Each peak was its own little kingdom of absurdity. Iron Mountain Peak? A place where the air constantly smelled like wet rocks and thunder, and the martial disciples were madmen who could split mountains with their punches and scare the heavens with their shouts. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Then there was Starfire Peak, where forges roared without rest, spewing out treasures that could either extend your life for centuries or blow your enemies into pieces small enough to sprinkle on rice.


    And let''s not forget Jade Moon Peak, bathed in creepy silver light and home to scholars and seers who spent their days poking into the secrets of heaven.


    They read forbidden texts and made calculations so obscure even the gods probably scratched their heads.


    And the lesser peaks? No less majestic. Rivers poured like liquid silk from unseen heights, feeding lakes that shimmered with spiritual light. Sacred beasts roamed dense forests. Hidden valleys brimmed with herbs that could heal or kill with a single leaf.


    Outside the gates, thousands gathered. Twenty thousand, to be precise, each staring at the towering doors as if hoping they might part the heavens themselves.


    Hiss~~


    The crowd buzzed¡ªnervous, eager, desperate. Nobles in embroidered robes fidgeted beside mercenaries with faces like old leather. A farmer clutched a jade token so tightly his hand bled. No one cared. No one noticed.


    When the gates opened, a man stepped forth.


    Elder Han Xuan.


    Silence fell. It wasn''t just his presence¡ªit was his aura, heavy as the mountains themselves. His purple robe, embroidered with the jagged sigil of Iron Mountain Peak, shook like a storm. His face was a mask of stone, his eyes sharp enough to carve souls.


    "LISTEN UP!" Elder Han''s voice cracked like a whip made of thunder. "Today, the Xiantian Sect will accept only nine disciples. Nine! Not ten! Not eleven! If you haven''t reached Core Formation by the age of thirty, turn around and go home. Or better yet, find the nearest cliff and jump¡ªyou''ll save yourself the humiliation."


    Gasp!


    The crowd shifted uneasily. Core Formation by thirty? For most people, that was about as realistic as seducing the moon fairy. Achieving it required the kind of talent, resources, and luck that entire clans couldn''t muster.


    Elder Han''s lip curled into something between a sneer and a smile. "Let me spell it out for you frogs in a well. At Qi Condensation, your dantian is like a leaky bucket¡ªbarely capable of holding enough Qi to light a lantern. But Core Formation? That''s when you forge a spiritual core¡ªa star burning in your chest, a furnace of power that separates cultivators from the piss-drinking mortals below. Without it, you''re dirt. With it, you''re worth my attention."


    His gaze swept the crowd, and for a moment, it felt like the heavens themselves were judging every pore on their faces. "But don''t think brute strength will get you far. This sect demands genius, vision, and guts big enough to challenge the heavens themselves. If you lack that, kindly scram before you embarrass yourself."


    The trials began, each one crueler than the last.


    First came the ''Path of Shadows'', a labyrinth of illusions that rooted through the aspirants'' minds like a nosy neighbor. Some stumbled out with blank eyes, others wept uncontrollably, and one poor fool collapsed while muttering about a broken promise to his dead sister.


    Then there was ''The Stone Heavens'', an arena where gravity increased until even breathing felt like a mortal sin. Aspirants collapsed left and right, their faces purple as rotten plums. Elder Han''s laughter echoed coldly through the arena. "Is this the best Yue Country has to offer? Even my sect''s pigs have more spine!"


    Finally, the ''Martial Ascension Arena'', a battlefield of chaos. Qi flared. Blood spilled. Alliances were forged and shattered in heartbeats. The weak fell. The strong stood. When the dust settled, fewer than twenty remained.


    _______


    As the sun dipped low, nine figures stepped forward, battered but triumphant. Elder Han''s sharp eyes swept over them, his gaze heavy as the mountains themselves.


    "These nine¡­," he began,"You have earned your place. But don''t think the trials are over."


    "You will begin as outer court disciples, the lowest rung. On the lower slopes, you will share barracks and fight for scraps like starving dogs. Grueling labor, endless training, missions that flirt with death¡ªyou''ll face it all. Prove yourselves worthy, and you may rise. Fail¡­"


    He let the silence answer for him.


    The hierarchy was clear. The inner court, where cultivation treasures flowed like rivers, was reserved for the elite. Beyond that stood the core disciples, the sect''s pride¡ªtrained by ''peak masters'', wielding power that could shake kingdoms.


    But for now, these nine stood at the bottom of a mountain they barely understood.


    His gaze turned to the rest of the crowd. "For those who failed, the gates are closing. Return in fifty years¡ªif you survive that long."


    Creakkkkk¡­


    The massive jade gates groaned shut, the sound swallowing the mountain air. A hush fell over the rejected as they turned to leave, their dreams crushed under the weight of reality. A quiet sniffle. A muttered curse. A soft, bitter laugh.


    Then¡ª


    "WAIT!"


    The shout shattered the silence. Heads swiveled as a figure staggered forward, disheveled and gasping. A man, drenched in sweat, clutched a small girl under one arm¡ªher wide eyes gleaming with cunning innocence.


    Behind him, another woman in crimson robes, stumbled into view, panting.


    "Haa¡­ haa¡­ Master¡­" Xiao Lu bent over, gripping her knees, "I-Is it gone?" Her crimson robes clung to her, streaked with dirt. She cast a frantic look over her shoulder, her flushed face framed by loose strands of hair.


    Elder Han stepped forward, his voice sharp as a blade. "Who are you fools? Explain yourselves before I throw you down the mountain."


    Before anyone could respond, the ground shuddered.


    THOOM. THOOM. THOOM.


    The distant horizon shifted. A shadow, vast and terrifying, rose higher with each step.


    "What¡­ what is that?" someone whispered, their voice trembling.


    "Is it a¡­ mountain?"


    The "mountain" actually moved.


    Glowing violet eyes flickered to life, blazing like twin suns. Its craggy face twisted as it lumbered forward, each step shaking the earth.


    CRACK! BOOM!


    Boulders split and fell, the air itself seemed to shake with its presence.


    Elder Han''s voice dropped to a whisper. "The Crimson Ore Behemoth¡­"


    Gasps rippled through the crowd like wildfire.


    "The Crimson Ore Behemoth?"


    "Impossible¡­ it''s a Deity Transformation beast!"


    "A legendary existence!"


    The behemoth, a creature of legend. Its body shimmered like molten ore, veins of spiritual energy coursing through its hulking frame. For eons, it had slumbered deep within the mountains, undisturbed and unmovable. Until now.


    Elder Han''s gaze snapped to Su Xiaobai, sharp enough to cut through steel. "You. What did you do?"


    Su Xiaobai, still catching his breath, glared down at Xiao Hei, dangling from his arm like a sack of rice. "You¡­ What did I tell you about touching things?"


    "Humph~!" Xiao Hei pouted, her glossy lips trembling as she stared at the now-awakened object.


    The plan had been simple: dispose of it quietly. Yet, a single careless touch had ruined everything. If left unchecked, that thing could have nearly killed them in the future.


    But how could she possibly explain all this to the furious Su Xiaobai standing before her?


    "Toys?!" Su Xiaobai''s voice cracked with fury. "It''s always toys! Everything is a toy to you!"


    Behind them, Xiao Lu groaned, pressing a hand to her forehead, with a deft flick of her rope, she wiped the sweat off Su Xiaobai''s brow. "Master, please. Less shouting, more running!"


    The crowd erupted in panic.


    "A Deity Transformation beast?"


    "We''re dead!"


    "We can''t fight that!"


    "Shut up!" Su Xiaobai barked, glaring at the crowd. "You think I ''wanted'' this thing chasing me?"


    "ENOUGH!"


    Elder Han''s voice split the crowd like a thunderclap. BOOM! His spiritual energy erupted, crushing the air. Stones cracked beneath his feet as his aura surged, coalescing into the jagged silhouette of a towering mountain.


    "If any of you flee now," he said, his voice low and threatening, "I''ll kill you myself..."

 Chapter 66 - 66: Defeating the most Talented Disciple?!

    "ENOUGH!"


    Elder Han''s voice boomed like thunder cracking the heavens. His glare could have flattened mountains, but the disciples quaked more at his next words:


    "Anyone who flees now, I''ll kill you myself! This is Iron Mountain Peak! A mangy beast will not disgrace it!"


    He shot into the air, the ground fracturing beneath his feet.


    WHOOSH!


    Elder Han''s right fist ballooned with spiritual energy, glowing brighter than a pissed-off sun. By the time he reached the Crimson Ore Behemoth, his punch was less "fist" and more "meteor of annihilation."


    ROOOOAR!


    The behemoth swung its colossal, ore-encrusted arm to counter.


    BOOOOM!


    The impact shook the heavens. Trees flattened. Rocks soared. Somewhere, a squirrel died of shock. The mountains groaned as if questioning their life choices.


    For a moment, the beast stood firm, its shimmering ore body like a fortress forged by the cosmos.


    But then¡ª


    KACHA!


    A crack. Then another.


    The beast''s arm shattered, fragments raining like a crimson meteor shower. With a final, earth-shattering boom, the beast collapsed into a pile of glittering rubble. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Elder Han descended like an avenging god, dusting off his sleeve with the same nonchalance one might show while swatting a fly. His cold eyes turned to Su Xiaobai and his companions.


    "You three... don''t think this is over."


    Su Xiaobai groaned, rubbing his temples as Xiao Hei dangled from his arm like a particularly annoying ornament. Her mischievous grin promised trouble, the kind that would likely end with him buried alive¡ªor worse.


    "Touch one more thing," Su Xiaobai growled, "and I swear I''ll seal you in a cave so deep, even the worms will pity you."


    Xiao Lu sighed, her robes half-covered in dust. "Master, maybe dial down the threats. Especially in front of the guy who just punched a mountain to death."


    Su Xiaobai stiffened, his gaze darting to Elder Han, who now looked like he could freeze a sun with sheer disdain. "...Noted," he muttered.


    The crowd remained deathly silent.


    The destruction of the Crimson Ore Behemoth was a tale for the ages, but nobody envied Su Xiaobai¡ªnot with Elder Han''s predatory gaze locked on him.


    The wind howled through the ruins, carrying the faint clink of falling ore fragments, as if the mountains themselves sighed in pity.


    BAM!


    With a deafening destruction, Han Xuan landed, the earth splintering beneath his weight. He stood like a mountain given human form: bald, scarred, and radiating the kind of aura that made children cry and grown men reconsider their life choices.


    Su Xiaobai looked him up and down. A walking slab of granite. Wonderful.


    Cupping his fists, Su Xiaobai plastered on his most innocent smile. "Senior, we''re here for the sect''s recruitment. As for the, uh¡­ incident? Nothing to do with us."


    Han Xuan''s eyes narrowed. His gaze swept over the nine disciples behind him before landing on Xiao Lu.


    "You''re late," he growled. His voice hit like a hammer. "And her¡ª"


    "No core. No entry," he spat, his disdain a boulder dropped into the conversation.


    Then his eyes caught Xiao Hei, still dangling from Su Xiaobai''s sleeve. Suspicion flickered in his expression, but before he could speak, Su Xiaobai flicked his wrist, and Xiao Hei vanished into the ring world. His smile didn''t waver.


    "She''s not part of the recruitment, Senior," Su Xiaobai said smoothly.


    Han Xuan grunted, but curiosity lingered in his gaze. What the hell was that?


    "And her?" he barked, pointing at Xiao Lu.


    "My maid," Su Xiaobai replied without missing a beat.


    Xiao Lu bowed stiffly.


    Han Xuan sneered. "A Foundation Establishment maid? Humph! Looks like you''re swimming in wealth, boy."


    He stepped closer, towering over Su Xiaobai like a thundercloud about to burst. His voice dropped,."This mess is your fault." He gestured to the wreckage. "Here''s the deal: pick one of the nine disciples. Beat them in a single round, and you''re in. Lose, and you''ll clean this up. For free."


    The crowd murmured. This was unexpected. The ''Iron Peak Tyrant'', offering a chance?


    His reputation painted him as merciless, yet here he was, granting an opportunity¡ªhowever harsh it seemed.


    "Could it be¡­" someone whispered, their voice trembling. "The sect truly values fairness above all?"


    "Even against outsiders?" another murmured, their tone laced with awe.


    For a moment, even the scornful disciples behind Han Xuan hesitated, glancing at their peak master with newfound respect. The righteousness of the Xiantian Sect wasn''t just a story, it seemed.


    Han Xuan''s grin turned cruel. "If you lose, don''t even bother begging. Dogs earn their scraps."


    Su Xiaobai gave a faint smile, stepping forward with a casual flick of his sleeve. "Senior''s terms are fair." His gaze swept the nine disciples. "So, who''s ready to take a beating?"


    Hiss~!


    The rest froze. The disciples narrowed their eyes, anger flickering like sparks.


    Han Xuan''s lips twitched, amusement breaking through his frost. "A maniac? Good. I like maniacs."


    The disciples lined up.Three men. Five women. All glaring daggers, their glares sharp enough to skin a dragon.


    Su Xiaobai''s gaze flitted over them:


    A thin man with a sword, glaring daggers. Too sharp.


    A burly, short fighter with crackling thunder fists. Too punchy.


    A mysterious masked man with a spear. Too edgy.


    A silver-haired ice queen, Mei Yuilin, radiating frosty disdain. Su Xiaobai''s lip curled. Too frosty.


    Mei Yuilin huffed. How dare he dismiss her so quickly?


    Another woman had spikes growing out of her¡ªnope. Two adorable twins sparkled with deceptive innocence. Also nope.


    Then there was¡­ her. Yu Feiyan, a celestial maiden with starlit eyes and a soft, teasing smile, her robes shimmering like moonlight as if the heavens themselves had tailored them.


    But her aura? Weak as a newborn kitten.


    The weakest of the nine, barely scratching the initial stage of the Core Formation Realm.


    "Perfect," Su Xiaobai muttered.


    Yu Feiyan blinked, surpised, then smirked, waving coyly. "Hi, little brother~" Her tone practically screamed trouble.


    She wasn''t worried at all. If it had been a female opponent, her odds might have faltered¡ªthere was always the risk of clashing against someone resistant to her charms. But to defeat a man? Among the three male disciples selected for admission today, she dared say none could resist the pull of her Siren Technique.


    It was her trump card, she haven''t revealed yet, a skill honed to perfection, capable of shaking even the most disciplined minds.


    Su Xiaobai ignored the red flags. He wasn''t here to flirt; he was here to survive.


    Han Xuan''s face twisted, dark as storm clouds about to spill their fury. "You''re picking her? Fine! Get on the stage!"


    His voice thundered, but his disappointment was louder. Su Xiaobai wasn''t the valiant fool Iron Peak revered¡ªhe was a rat sniffing for the path of least resistance. Not wrong, but it left a sour taste.


    Yu Feiyan''s lips curled, her voice dripping honey and mockery. "Be gentle, little brother. I bruise easily."


    Su Xiaobai raised a hand like a magistrate halting an execution. "Wait, senior! Wait!"


    Han Xuan''s patience was fraying. "What now?"


    Clearing his throat, Su Xiaobai stood tall, as if addressing the celestial courts themselves. "Senior, it''s unjust to force me to choose like this. I believe in the will of heaven! Let the divine guide me to my opponent!"


    Silence. The kind that spoke of collective confusion. Even Han Xuan blinked, clearly wondering if this brat had been dropped on his head at birth.


    "¡­Heaven?" someone whispered.


    "What''s this idiot yammering about?"


    But Su Xiaobai wasn''t speaking to them. His gaze tilted skyward, a sly grin tugging at his lips. Beneath his breath, he muttered, ''Alright, you guys up there, enough watching! You''ve been laughing at me all chapter. Time to pull your weight. Do me a favor and point out the weakest one, alright?''


    He then crouched, grabbing nine pebbles from the dirt. "Let''s see who the heavens deem¡­ uh, unlucky today."


    He tossed the pebbles skyward, their rough surfaces catching the sunlight like stars in freefall. It was a beautiful sight, utterly wasted on a fool''s errand.


    "What in the¡ª" Han Xuan''s words halted mid-sentence, confusion plain in his voice.


    "Maybe he really is heaven''s favorite idiot," someone whispered.


    Su Xiaobai watched the stones soar, his expression serene. Heaven will guide me¡­ or at least gravity will. He''d decided this was foolproof: whoever couldn''t block a falling pebble was obviously the weakest. Perfect logic.


    The stones arced high and began their descent. Su Xiaobai''s eyes darted between the disciples, muttering, "C''mon, someone mess up¡­ don''t make me look like an idiot here¡­"


    The disciples stood motionless, their expressions ranging from mild disdain to outright pity. Not a single pebble was dodged or deflected.


    Then, a sudden gust of wind roared through the arena, redirecting the stones.


    Peng!


    Peng!


    Peng!


    The pebbles ricocheted off heads, shoulders, and weapons, but the final one smacked into Li Jianfeng''s forehead with the precision of a celestial decree.


    "¡­"


    The swordsman froze, his hand twitching instinctively to deflect the offending rock a second too late.


    "Good!" Su Xiaobai''s grin widened. "Senior, I pick him! Heaven''s guidance is absolute!"


    Li Jianfeng stood motionless, his expression shifting from disbelief to murderous intent. The crowd erupted into laughter, the absurdity of the situation dawning on them: Su Xiaobai had just "chosen" the strongest disciple present.


    Han Xuan snorted, struggling to suppress his laughter. "Are you sure? That''s Li Jianfeng, he''s the strongest of the lot. The Heaven''s trying to get you killed, brat."


    Su Xiaobai''s smile froze, and a twitch tugged at his lips. "Strongest? Not¡­ weakest?"

 Chapter 67 - 67: Two against one!

    "Strongest? Not¡­ weakest?"


    His stomach dropped as Li Jianfeng''s glared at him like a vengeful spirit.


    "I''ll kill you," Li Jianfeng growled, his tone low and deadly.


    Su Xiaobai groaned, rubbing his temples. ''You traitorous bastards¡­ I asked for the weakest, not the strongest¡­''


    Xiao Lu, his ever-loyal but perpetually exhausted maid, stepped closer with a groan. "Master, you really have a gift¡­ for making everything worse."


    "Ha-ha-ha," Han Xuan clapped his hands, his smirk widening. "Good, brat! You''ve got guts, I''ll give you that. If you win, his reward is yours. If not, it''s Li Jianfeng''s by right." With a flourish, he revealed a glowing crimson orb, pulsating with intense energy.


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes widened. "Is that¡ª?"


    "The core of the Crimson Ore Behemoth," Han Xuan confirmed with a smirk.


    Excited murmurs rippled through the audience. If they''d known such a treasure was at stake, they might''ve fought harder during the third round of the Material Ascension Arena.


    Su Xiaobai''s grin slowly returned. ''If I get that, I''ll have enough spare spiritual energy to summon Xiao Mei. Haha, and here I was doubting those bastards for no reason! Su Xiaobai, you genius¡­ Alright, time to play along.''


    Han Xuan''s voice boomed. "BEGIN!"


    "Eat this!" Li Jianfeng roared, not wasting a second¡ªhis rage at Su Xiaobai already boiling over. He stormed onto the stage, unsheathing his blade in one swift motion. His aura flared, the ground trembling beneath his feet.


    "Crimson Sword¡ªFirst Form: Severing Slash!"


    Flames erupted from his blade, spiraling into a whirlwind of blazing crimson energy. The arena filled with scorching heat as the attack screamed toward Su Xiaobai, a tidal wave of fiery death.


    Su Xiaobai froze, the reflection of the flames growing larger in his wide eyes.


    And in that moment, he knew one thing with absolute certainty: he had royally fucked up.


    ___


    "Ugh¡­ not this shit again¡­" Su Xiaobai groaned, wiping soot from his face as the arena erupted in fire.


    The battle had drawn a crowd¡ªouter court disciples, a few elders, and curious onlookers drawn by the sight of the Crimson Ore Behemoth. What they got instead was Su Xiaobai, bruised but still standing, facing off against a furious opponent who looked ready to burn the world down.


    With a sharp ''Grand Collapsing Punch'', Su Xiaobai shattered the air, the shockwave silencing murmurs of disbelief. Despite his scrappy appearance, he was holding his own.


    Among the spectators, Fatty Zhou leaned against a post, chewing seeds. Beside him, Xiao Yu struggled under a swarm of outer court girls shoving love letters into his arms.


    "Zhou Fang, can you please help me?" Xiao Yu asked, his voice strained but polite as another handkerchief landed on his growing pile.


    "Not a chance," Fatty Zhou said, spitting out a seed shell. "You''re the one who beat Elder Liu''s brat last week. Don''t act surprised."


    Xiao Yu sighed, adjusting the letters. "I didn''t ask to be popular." He followed Zhou''s gaze to the stage¡ªand froze. "Wait¡­ is that...?"


    Fatty Zhou squinted, laughing. "Right¡ªWhat the hell? He''s alive!"


    "I thought he died back in the trials!" Xiao Yu whispered. Memories of the weeping emperor''s cave surfaced¡ªcrumbling chambers, deadly traps, and Elder Bai Yujian''s sword slicing through the final collapse to save them.


    They''d barely escaped. Su Xiaobai, they''d assumed, hadn''t.


    "How the hell did that bastard survive?" Fatty Zhou muttered.


    Xiao Yu''s gaze on the stage. ''Not just alive¡­ he''s fighting...''


    They turned to Su Xiaobai''s opponent, a dark-haired youth wielding a crimson sword that pulsed like a living thing. Its blade glowed, drinking Su Xiaobai''s blood from the ground, its flames roaring higher with every drop.


    "That sword''s alive," Xiao Yu said softly.


    Fatty Zhou frowned. "Alive? Like it talks?"


    "No," Xiao Yu replied, his tone measured. "It''s a soul-grade weapon. Ancient, bloodthirsty, and dangerous."


    "Great. So he''s fighting a guy and his man-eating sword," Fatty Zhou said, shaking his head. "Why doesn''t he just flash the Elder Bai token and walk into the sect?"


    Xiao Yu hesitated. ''Maybe¡­ he thinks we are dead?''


    On the stage, Su Xiaobai groaned as his opponent raised the sword high.


    "Crimson Sword¡ªSecond Form: Blazing Sun!"


    A blazing orb condensed above the sword, radiating unbearable heat. The stage cracked under it''s heat.


    "¡­Fantastic," Su Xiaobai muttered.


    The sword''s pissed, the guy''s pissed, and he''s about to get roasted.


    WHOOSH!


    The fiery orb shot forward like a falling star. Su Xiaobai clenched his teeth, his qi condensing into a blade at his fingertip.


    "Seven Moves of Judgement¡ªSky-Splitting Blade!"


    BAM!


    The two attacks collided with a thunderous roar, scattering flames and light across the arena. When the smoke cleared, Su Xiaobai was lying bloodied but grinning, his tattered robes barely scattered around him.


    From the stands, Fatty Zhou let out a whistle. "You know, I think that lunatic might actually win."


    ____


    "Surrender already!"


    Li Jianfeng''s voice roared like a beast, his grip on the crimson sword trembling with fury. He stalked toward Su Xiaobai, who lay sprawled on the scorched stage, broken, beaten, and¡ªgrinning.


    That grin. That fucking grin.


    Li Jianfeng''s jaw tightened, a vein throbbing at his temple. "Tch. Still acting tough, you useless cockroach?" He sneered, raising his sword. Blood seeped from his wounds, but the blade wasn''t done. Its sinister aura clawed at him, feasting on his blood like a parasitic leech.


    "Damn it¡­" he muttered. The sword wasn''t just hungry¡ªit was starting to take over.


    "What a nasty little weapon¡­" Elder Han Xuan observed from the stands, his voice low. The sword pulsed with an evil that sent shivers down his spine. This wasn''t just a tool¡ªit was a predator, and its prey included its wielder.


    Li Jianfeng''s patience snapped. Raising the blade high, his bloodshot eyes fixed on Su Xiaobai''s infuriating grin. "Let''s see if you can grin when your head''s rolling¡ª"


    WHOOSH!


    Han Xuan moved, his figure blurring as he shot forward. "STOP¡ª!" He reached out, aiming to snatch the blade before it devoured the boy entirely.


    But someone, or something, was faster.


    PUCHI!


    A wet, tearing sound echoed across the arena. Gasps erupted as blood sprayed the stage.


    Standing behind Li Jianfeng was a small figure, soaked in crimson. Her delicate hands held something grisly¡ªhis spine.


    She''d ripped it clean out, like pulling weeds from a garden.


    "Wh¡ª"


    CRASH!


    Li Jianfeng collapsed, his body hitting the stage.


    SPLURT! SPLURT! SPLURT!


    Blood spurted from the gaping hole in his torso, pooling around the fallen cimson sword, which trembled like a satiated predator.


    The girl¡ªa petite, blood-drenched shadow¡ªstood silent, a terrifying smile curling her lips. The air around her froze, as if death itself had stepped onto the stage.


    Su Xiaobai groaned, sitting up and dusting himself off like a man waking from a nap. "Not bad," he muttered, rolling his shoulders. "Lasted a whole ten minutes."


    The girl tossed the spine aside like trash and approached Su Xiaobai. Despite the blood smeared across her face, her steps were eerily graceful, her movements calm.


    "Perfect, Xiao Hei," Su Xiaobai replied, patting her head like she was a loyal hunting pet that had brought back a prize.


    "Did¡­ did he just win?" Fatty Zhou muttered, his round face pale as he looked at Xiao Yu, who seemed equally stunned.


    "That''s cheating!" a voice from the crowd finally broke the silence. "Two against one! That''s unfair!"


    "Yes! He cheated!"


    The protests spread like wildfire, voices rising in outrage. But Elder Han Xuan''s attention was fixed on Xiao Hei, his sharp gaze studying her every move. Her lifelike mannerisms. "Is that thing alive?"


    Her chilling smile didn''t falter as the crowd''s voices grew louder.


    Han Xuan frowned, shaking his head. "No. Impossible. A living being couldn''t survive inside a spatial ring¡­" His voice trailed off, the ''ring world'' was beyond what any mortal could comprehend at a glance.


    Han Xuan''s first thought was clear: Xiao Hei wasn''t a living being.


    He raised his voice to silence the crowd. "The winner of this round is Su Xiaobai!"


    "What?! He cheated!" the protests grew louder.


    Han Xuan''s glare swept the arena, shutting them up in an instant. "Cheated? He used a puppet. Li Jianfeng used a sword. What''s the problem? Or do you think a puppet''s claws are somehow more unfair than a bloodthirsty sword?"


    "A puppet?" someone murmured. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "He''s¡­ a puppet refiner?"


    All eyes turned to Xiao Hei. Her expression remained eerily calm, her small frame betraying none of the blood she''d unleashed moments earlier.


    Han Xuan stared at her, his brow furrowed. "A puppet? No¡­ but what else could she be?" He looked at Su Xiaobai, who crouched over the Crimson Sword, inspecting it like a shiny new toy.


    "Elder, can I keep this thing?" Su Xiaobai asked, his tone casual, as though he were asking for a leftover meat bun.


    Han Xuan gave him a long, hard look before glancing at the sword. The weapon''s blood thirsty aura still radiated, even as its flames dimmed. "¡­We''ll have Elder Liu inspect it. If it''s safe, it''s yours. If not, it''ll be destroyed."


    "Tch." Su Xiaobai clicked his tongue but shrugged. "Fine."


    The crowd remained restless, whispers swirling.


    Han Xuan silenced them with a final glare. His voice dropped low, muttering to himself as he walked away. "If she''s not a puppet¡­ then what in the heavens is she?"

 Chapter 68 - 68: Chopping Vegetables! Lost Control!

    "If she''s not a puppet¡­ then what in the heavens is she?"


    But no answer came.


    Su Xiaobai lounged on the stage, his posture lazy yet deliberate, like a king too bored to care about his throne. His fingers flicked blood off the trembling crimson sword, its sinister glow dimming, sulking as though mourning the loss of a worthier master.


    Behind him, Xiao Hei stood motionless. Her petite frame soaked in crimson. Her smile faint. Beautiful. Terrifying.


    The arena was silent, save for the scattered whispers that soon broke through.


    "Tch¡­ so it really was a puppet."


    "Cheated! Without that thing, he''d be dead meat!"


    Most of the complaints came from the failed contestants¡ªresentful voices tinged with jealousy, their bruised egos showing more than their bruised bodies.


    But the eight selected disciples stood quiet. Some watched Su Xiaobai with wariness, their earlier confidence shaken. They''d dismissed him as a weakling, yet the sight of him standing over Li Jianfeng''s corpse painted a different picture.


    Yu Feiyan, who had once been so sure of her strength, bit her lip. Pale. Silent. Her eyes darted between Su Xiaobai''s mocking grin and the crumpled body of Li Jianfeng, her pride refusing to let her join the whining masses.


    Su Xiaobai dusted his hands, his grin widening as his gaze swept over the crowd. His voice rang out, silencing the murmurs like a sharp blade.


    "Oh? What''s that noise? A flock of sparrows chirping?" His sneer deepened. "No, wait. It''s the howling of sore losers!"


    The murmurs faltered, only to surge back louder.


    "He cheated!"


    "Without that puppet, he''d be trash!"


    "Just lucky! If I''d known, I''d have crushed him!"


    Su Xiaobai''s laughter rang, "Lucky? Cheating? If you''d known?" He paused, his grin turning vicious. "Well, you know now. So what''s stopping you? Come! Let''s see if any of you noisy clowns dare step forward."


    The crowd stiffened.


    One man, his face red with fury, pushed forward. "Don''t think you''re untouchable just because of that puppet! It''s only a tool. Without it, you''re nothing!"


    Su Xiaobai''s smile froze for a moment, his eyes glinting with something darker. Tools? These fools didn''t realize they weren''t dealing with.


    "...Fertilizer," he muttered to himself, the word rolling off his tongue like a casual observation.


    Elder Han Xuan, who had been quietly observing, narrowed his eyes. "What are you scheming now, boy?"


    Su Xiaobai didn''t answer. His gaze swept over the crowd, but he didn''t see people. He saw resources. Walking sacks of Yin Qi.


    When Li Jianfeng had died, a faint wisp of Yin Qi had seeped from his body, and Su Xiaobai had remembered. How could he not? It wasn''t like he''d had the chance to rely on this ability before. Hell, he hadn''t even known it existed until recently.


    His Devourer Bloodline. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It had awakened only after he''d been slapped¡ªquite literally¡ªinto the Immortal Rain Valley, tossed into this dog-eat-dog world like a lamb among wolves. Before that, he was just a clueless brat stumbling through cultivation with no idea he was carrying Yin Qi veins, twisted and incomplete but terrifyingly dangerous.


    And oh, how his bloodline loved Yin Qi. It craved it like a drunk reaching for another cup. Now, standing in this arena of whining fools, it was hard not to see the potential.


    It seemed fate had carved his path in blood, no matter the life. But hey, he thought with a grin, it''s the higher-ups'' fault, right? Why give me powers like this if they didn''t want me to use them?


    He stepped forward, his grin stretching wider. "Elder," he said, his tone casual. "Can I challenge them all? Whoever kills me first gets my spot."


    Hiss~~


    The arena fell into stunned silence.


    Han Xuan blinked, his brows furrowing. "Challenge¡­ everyone?"


    "Everyone," Su Xiaobai confirmed, spinning the crimson sword in his hand with casual ease. "Don''t worry, Elder. No deaths, right? I''ll just beat them into the ground. Simple."


    He couldn''t kill them. Not technically. But if someone happened to die by accident¡­ well, that wasn''t really his fault, was it?


    The thought amused him, but he wisely kept it to himself.


    Han Xuan stared at him, half-amused, half-concerned. After a long pause, he nodded. "Very well. But no killing. That was an exception, and I won''t allow it again."


    Su Xiaobai''s grin faltered briefly. ''No killing? Then how the hell am I supposed to collect Yin Qi from their corpses?''


    On the sidelines, Xiao Yu pinched the bridge of her nose, a weary sigh escaping her lips. "He''s completely insane¡­" She turned to Fatty Zhou, her expression tense. "Go. Call Elder Bai. Now."


    "Huh? Why?" Fatty Zhou cracked a sunflower seed lazily.


    "Because if we don''t, this lunatic will get himself killed," Xiao Yu snapped.


    Fatty Zhou chuckled, flicking the seed shell to the ground. "Fine, fine¡­ I''ll go. But it''s gonna be a hell of a show before she gets here."


    Back in the arena, Su Xiaobai stretched, loosening his shoulders. The challengers¡ªnearly two dozen of them¡ªstepped forward, their faces hard with determination.


    Xiao Hei moved beside him. Silent. Deadly.


    "Well," Su Xiaobai said, gripping the crimson sword tightly, his grin turning feral. "Let''s get started."


    A heavy, a fleeting breath of stillness before it shattered into chaos.


    With Xiao Hei at his side, Su Xiaobai charged. The crimson sword blazed in his hands, its flames roaring to life as he met the first wave of opponents. Xiao Hei fought beside him, her movements fluid and terrifying, her small frame cutting through the them like a shadow of death.


    It wasn''t a battle. It was a frenzy.


    The crowd watched in stunned silence. Even with Han Xuan''s rule of no deaths, Su Xiaobai''s attacks carried humiliation like a poison.


    One by one, his challengers fell, beaten and broken, their confidence shattered.


    Han Xuan shook his head, a bitter smile tugging at his lips. "Reckless. Suicidal. But I like him." He crossed his arms, nodding to himself. ''Even if this idiot loses, I''ll take him into Iron Mountain Peak. This kind of madness can''t go to waste.''


    On the stage, Su Xiaobai''s laughter rang out again, sharp and mocking, as he swung the crimson sword at another opponent. Each clash brought him closer to what he wanted.


    Because to him, this wasn''t just a fight.


    It was like months of pent-up frustration pouring out in one glorious, bloody release.


    Su Xiaobai couldn''t deny it¡ªhe loved the blood, the thrill, the carnage. He never thought blood would excite him so much until today.


    For a fleeting moment, he''d been scared shitless¡ªthe sight of Li Jianfeng''s flaming tornado had made his knees wobble. But after exchanging a few blows, he realized the truth. This guy wasn''t shit.


    With his body reinforced by stellar energy, Su Xiaobai had the strength to crush even a peak Core Formation cultivator. And Xiao Hei? She was in a league of her own. Her claws sang through the air like a heavenly judgement, slicing her enemies like vegetables. If he hadn''t held her back, she might have turned the entire arena into a slaughterhouse already.


    Clink. Clink.


    Heavy footsteps interrupted the show. A woman clad in bronze armor approached Elder Han Xuan. Towering over most men, her two-meter-tall frame intimidating. Qi Ling. One of the nine selected disciples.


    She stopped a few paces from the elder, her voice sharp. "Elder Han, is it really fine to let this go on?"


    Han Xuan raised a brow, glancing at her. Qi Ling''s earlier defeat by Li Jianfeng had been a blow to her pride, and now she seemed oddly satisfied seeing him dead. But her gaze flicked toward the crimson sword in Su Xiaobai''s hand, her tone cautious.


    "That blade''s cursed, isn''t it? Should it be used like this in a competition?"


    Han Xuan waved her off, a lazy grin on his face. "As long as no one dies, what''s the harm? Let the boy vent." He crossed his arms. "Two disciples in one day¡ªone sturdy mountain and one raving lunatic. What a haul."


    "Uh¡­ you might want to look again."


    The voice came from behind. Mei Yuelin, the silver-haired woman Su Xiaobai had rejected earlier, strode forward, her expression cautious as she pointed toward the arena.


    Han Xuan turned. His grin froze.


    "!!"


    The arena was drowning in blood.


    Thud. Thud. Thud.


    Heads rolled across the stage, hollow eyes staring back at Han Xuan as if cursing him for letting Su Xiaobai loose.


    "..."


    Han Xuan''s face darkened. "Enough! Abort the match!"


    He leapt into the arena, his aura surging as his glare bore down on Su Xiaobai, who stood with a bitter smile.


    "Elder," Su Xiaobai said, raising his hands in surrender. "I¡­ lost control." He shrugged, feigning innocence.


    "Lost control?" Han Xuan''s voice was sharp, his gaze darting to Xiao Hei. She was a crimson blur, her blade decapitating another challenger with precision.


    "They were too many," Su Xiaobai said, sighing . "She got¡­ overwhelmed."


    Han Xuan''s glare turned colder. A puppet master losing control of their creation was a believable excuse, but this brat¡­ This brat was something else entirely.


    Han Xuan could see through him¡ªSu Xiaobai was about as innocent as a snake in a chicken coop.


    "Enough!" Han Xuan roared, his arm extending like a whip. His qi wrapped around Xiao Hei, pulling her from the arena.


    She went limp immediately, her eyes shutting as though someone had flipped a switch.


    Han Xuan''s eyes swept over the arena. Blood-soaked bodies littered the ground. Most of the challengers were dead or unconscious.


    He exhaled sharply, "You," he said, pointing a finger at Su Xiaobai. "Do you realize what you''ve done? I''ll have to explain this to the Grand Elder!"


    "Ah¡­" Su Xiaobai scratched the back of his head, "That sounds like a¡­ tough job."


    Han Xuan''s veins bulged. "You little¡ª"


    "I''ll help write the report?" Su Xiaobai offered, his tone tinged with fake sincerity.

 Chapter 69 - 69: Give me a Break!

    A/N: Alright, listen up, you demonic cultivators. The little skully ain''t in the country right now, so the chapters might come out feeling a bit half-assed. Yeah, I know, excuses, excuses. But cut me some slack¡ªI''m juggling this shit like a drunk acrobat.


    The updates will still roll in because consistency is king, but don''t expect them to be dripping with my usual brilliance until after the 14th of December. So bear with it, suck it up, and remember: even meh chapters are better than no chapters.


    Now, stop whining and get back to reading.


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    . sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


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    Han Xuan''s veins bulged, his face a picture of barely restrained fury. "You little¡ª"


    "I''ll help write the report?" Su Xiaobai interrupted, his voice sugary sweet with fake politeness, a smirk tugging at his lips like a mischievous fox eyeing the henhouse.


    "Shut up!" Han Xuan snapped, rubbing his temples as though trying to massage away the curse that was Su Xiaobai''s existence. "You''re worse than a plague, I swear."


    Su Xiaobai chuckled to himself, feeling the cold tendrils of Yin Qi snake through his veins. The sensation was intoxicating, like a forbidden drink that burned and soothed all at once. ''Perfect. This will nudge me into another breakthrough,'' he thought, excited, his expression betraying nothing but quiet amusement.


    Around the arena, the crowd hummed with unease, their whispers spreading like ripples in a pond. Even Bai Yujian, the sect''s aloof sword goddess, had left her peak to investigate. Draped in robes of twilight purple, she descended like a celestial maiden from a painting, her movements elegant yet smooth.


    Her serene expression betrayed nothing, but deep down, you just knew she was thinking: What kind of nonsense is going on?


    Not that Su Xiaobai needed to hear the murmurs. The scene spoke for itself¡ªscattered bodies, the metallic tang of blood, and the unmistakable stench of rotten carcasses.


    The body count alone shattered the sect''s five-thousand-year record. No one¡ªnot a single soul¡ªin the storied history of the Xiantian Sect had ever racked up so many kills in something as trivial as a Disciple Selection Tournament.


    It wasn''t even a serious tournament! Just a glorified scuffle meant to weed out the weaklings. And yet, here lay a small graveyard''s worth of contestants, sprawled lifeless as if they''d wandered into a battlefield instead of a test.


    Honestly, it was almost impressive.


    ¡ª This wasn''t a victory at all.


    It was a massacre.


    An ex-villain joining a Righteous sect, now clad in the so-called robes of virtue¡ªas if "Righteous" and "virtue" weren''t already an oxymoron.


    No matter how polished the robes, trouble still followed him, creeping into every corner like an uninvited shadow. Wherever Su Xiaobai stepped, balance crumbled, and disorder reigned supreme. It seemed some things were simply written in the stars.


    However, he wasn''t worried at all...


    The dead were mere outsiders, expendable fodder in the sect''s grand selection. And him? A newly minted disciple with terrifying talent.


    Who would the Xiantian Sect favor? The corpses, or me¡ªthe prize?


    "Hehe¡­ I''m a genius. No one could ever come up with a clever idea like this," Su Xiaobai thought, thoroughly satisfied with himself, as if he''d just invented the Dao itself.


    With casual ease, he went about planting red flags everywhere, as if it were the most natural thing in the world¡ªcompletely unfazed by the ominous storm clouds gathering over his own future.


    The crowd became buzzing as more inner disciples arrived, their curiosity drawn by the blood. At the forefront was Liu Zhenhai, his golden hair gleaming like a lion ready to claim the throne. Behind him stormed Lan Meiyu, her face flushed red with the kind of anger that only betrayal¡ªor humiliation¡ªcould cause.


    "It''s like seeing a ghost," Liu Zhenhai muttered, his sharp gaze fixed on Su Xiaobai.


    He couldn''t believe it, this guy was alive?


    Lan Meiyu, however, seemed ready to explode. Her fists trembled, her knuckles white as bone. "Good! This time¡ªthis time¡ªI''ll kill him!" she hissed, her voice shaking with fury.


    "Meiyu?" Liu Zhenhai glanced at her, startled. Her fixation on Su Xiaobai was baffling. Is she still fixated to what happened in the cave? Her anger seemed almost childish¡ªa clear contrast to the composed cultivator he knew.


    But before she could act, another voice echoed.


    "No. I''ll kill him."


    The crowd parted instinctively as a tall figure stepped forward. Huang Shao, hawk-eyed and exuding an aura of quiet menace, strode into the arena. His dark blue robes shimmered with faint golden embroidery, marking him as one of the sect''s brightest stars.


    Huang Shao wasn''t just any inner disciple¡ªhe was one of the top ten, a prodigy of the soul fusion realm, and a name that could make even the bravest cultivators think twice. However, despite his lofty position, he still ranked slightly below Liu Zhenhai¡ªa fact that no doubt hurt his pride.


    The sight of such ranked cultivators, usually buried in seclusion for years, appearing in the open was enough to throw the crowd into another frenzy. Whispers turned into shouts, curiosity teetering on the edge of panic. Yet, neither Huang Shao nor Liu Zhenhai paid any mind.


    "Huang Shao? You made a breakthrough?" Liu Zhenhai''s frown deepened, his gaze sharpening like a blade. If Huang Shao had truly stepped into the late stage of the soul fusion realm, it was no small matter.


    A breakthrough at this level was a leap, not a step. The implications were clear¡ªif this were true, Huang Shao wouldn''t just catch up to him. He''d surpass him. And in the world of cultivation, today''s rival was tomorrow''s conqueror.


    But Huang Shao wasn''t looking at him. His gaze locked onto Su Xiaobai, his expression a storm of rage and disgust.


    "That bastard is here¡­?" Huang Shao muttered, his voice cold and sharp. His hand dipped into his robe, retrieving a scroll that he unfurled with precision.


    The face staring back at him was unmistakable¡ªit was Su Xiaobai, wearing the same infuriating grin that practically begged for a slap.


    Thunder roared in his mind.


    Months ago, after Li Gong''s death, his father had sent him this scroll with a single, clear command: Find this bastard. End him.


    But Huang Shao had brushed it aside. His sole focus had always been the peak of cultivation, and he''d abandoned even his original name to bury himself within the Xiantian Sect, seeking power above all else. For months, he had been deep in seclusion, shutting out the outside world to refine his foundation.


    Only today, moments before stepping out from his retreat, had he received the long-neglected message from his father¡ªand when he finally looked, it was as if fate had laid the answer before him. That man? Here?


    And not just here. This troublemaker was responsible for causing an uproar in the disciple selection event¡ªa supposedly simple trial turned bloodbath.


    "Bastard," Huang Shao spat, his teeth grinding. ''If this man is allowed to grow, he''ll become harder and harder to kill.''


    The thought ignited his fury. While Huang Shao didn''t care much for Li Gong, a useless idiot of a brother, his death had been an insult to his family''s pride. Letting Su Xiaobai walk free wasn''t just a threat¡ªit was a stain on his reputation.


    Ironic, really. The best way to end Su Xiaobai was the same way Su Xiaobai had dispatched others¡ªwith one swift, decisive strike. Before the formal disciple initiation, the rules were¡­ flexible. Killing Su Xiaobai now wouldn''t result in too harsh a punishment. And as long as Huang Shao lived to be the sect''s next genius, who would care about a dead troublemaker?


    BOOM!


    Golden light erupted from Huang Shao, his aura surging like a sun at its zenith, blinding and overwhelming.


    The ground beneath him cracked and splintered as he launched himself forward, faster than a streaking comet. The sheer force of his killing intent flooded the arena, suffocating and absolute.


    Somewhere in the distance, someone muttered under their breath, "Yup. He''s dead."


    It was as if the universe itself had conspired to ensure Su Xiaobai''s last breath would be drawn today. Or so they thought.


    ___


    Han Xuan didn''t notice anything strange at first. Crouched beside one of the bodies, his brow furrowed as he poked and prodded like a scholar unraveling an ancient mystery.


    He was too focused. Too lost in his meticulous work.


    "No Yin Qi¡­ none at all."


    The realization hit him like a slap to the face. His chest tightened as he moved from one corpse to the next. All of them¡ªdrained, hollowed out, completely devoid of Yin energy. It wasn''t just unusual. It was downright terrifying.


    No puppet techniques could do this. No known cultivation art could leave behind such lifeless shells.


    "Could it be¡­ that brat causing this? No¡­ impossible. Not at his level."


    The absurdity of the thought froze him. Su Xiaobai? That cheeky kid who treated life and death like a game?


    Yet, as his mind whirred with questions, time betrayed him.


    Too late.


    BAM!


    An overwhelming wave of bloodlust surged toward him, thick and suffocating like the maw of a beast snapping shut.


    "Die!"


    Huang Shao''s roar split the air, his killing intent crashing through the arena like a tsunami.


    Whoosh!


    ''Who now?'' Su Xiaobai barely had a moment to blink before a golden streak of light pierced through the air and slammed into his chest.


    BOOM!


    The impact detonated like the heavens cracking open.


    "Ah¡ª" Su Xiaobai''s body was sent flying, skidding across the stone floor like a ragdoll tossed by an angry child.


    CRASH!


    He collided with the edge of the arena, the impact so brutal that the stone barrier crumbled. A massive crater, nearly ten meters wide, gaped where he landed. Instantly, dust and debris erupted in a choking cloud.


    "!!"


    Gasps swept through the crowd like wildfire, a ripple of shock silencing even the loudest voices. Eyes widened, breaths caught. The crowd was stunned¡ªevery face frozen in disbelief.


    "Dead? Good!" Lan Meiyu sneered, her anger momentarily giving way to smug satisfaction. "I don''t have to dirty my hands now!"

 Chapter 70 - 70: Fellow Brother— No Fellow Sister! Identity Exposed!

    "Dead? Good!" Lan Meiyu sneered, her lips curling in a smug grin that screamed, Finally, less work for me. "I don''t have to sully my hands now."


    Above, Bai Yujian hovered mid-air, radiant like an untouchable celestial phoenix. For once, her calm, untouchable demeanor cracked.


    Her serene expression gave way to a sharp, incredulous gaze, locked onto the dust-choked crater below. She had just shown up, fashionably late as always, only to catch the grand finale: someone getting blasted straight into next week.


    And yet¡­ she knew that someone. Knew them well enough for her chest to tighten, though she''d never admit it.


    This was supposed to be it¡ªthe end, the last time she''d ever have to deal with that ridiculous thorn in her side. Or so she''d thought.


    Because through the swirling chaos, faint signs of life stirred¡ªlike an ember refusing to die, stubborn to the point of pissing off the entire universe.


    Her lips twitched upward, a wisp of amusement breaking her cold fa?ade. "Him... again," she murmured, her tone a mix of awe and exasperation.


    How? How did this cockroach¡ªno, this suicidal lunatic¡ªkeep surviving?


    Su Xiaobai wasn''t just hard to kill; he was ''offensively'' unkillable. A walking slap to the face of mortality itself, as if death had tried to claim him one too many times and finally given up in sheer frustration.


    First, he''d popped up here alive, kicking, and obnoxiously breathing after everyone was sure he''d died in the trials. And now, after practically begging for another round of heavenly beatings, the bastard clawed his way back from the brink again, defying reason and, apparently, all divine patience.


    What was he? The heavens'' favorite chew toy? Their relationship with him was like a drunk ex¡ªmessy, toxic, and way too clingy.


    But Bai Yujian had no time to ponder the twisted romantic drama between Su Xiaobai and fate itself. Her eyes snapped to Huang Shao, whose fists crackled with golden lightning as he prepared to strike again.


    "Enough!"


    Her figure blurred, and in the blink of an eye, she stood before him, her fingers clamping around his throat with hawk-like precision.


    "You''ve got guts," she said, her voice dangerously soft. "Attacking a fellow disciple in front of the entire sect. Shall I rip them out to see how much?"


    "..."


    ".. Elder, I didn''t mean¡ª" Huang Shao stammered, sweat pouring down his face like a busted reservoir.


    "Quiet." Her tone cut like a blade. "Pray the sect spares you for this stupidity. Personally, I wouldn''t."


    Her eyes slid to Han Xuan, who stood frozen in place, his face whiter than a virgin''s wedding robe. Moments ago, he had been casually checking on some dead bodies, thinking his day couldn''t get worse. Now? The kill count was on the verge of rising right in front of him.


    "Well? Don''t just stand there¡ªfetch Xu Tianran! Or perhaps you''d prefer to explain to the sect master yourself why this fool perished under your watch?"


    "Yes!" Han Xuan jolted like a slapped child and bolted toward the Medicinal Valley, his movements so frantic he nearly tripped over his own feet.


    Of course, Han Xuan was terrified out of his wits. To most disciples, Han Xuan himself was an untouchable figure¡ªa Peak Lord, equal in rank to Bai Yujian. Yet, to her, he was nothing more than a child.


    The gap between them wasn''t merely one of rank; it was the chasm of entire generations. Bai Yujian''s presence in the sect predated its very founding¡ªshe was one of the sect''s original pillars, a legend who had watched dynasties rise and fall. Even the current sect master, revered by all, was a full generation beneath her.


    And yet, no one dared question why this immortal-like woman remained stuck at the peak of the Tribulation Realm for thousands of years. It was a mystery wrapped in silence, and few were bold enough to even speculate.


    Bai Yujian''s gaze returned to the crater, her expression a complicated mixture of irritation and curiosity. How does he keep pulling this off? she wondered, the question ringing at the edge of her mind.


    But answers could wait. Her aura turned icy, oppressive, as her attention snapped back to Huang Shao.


    "Attacking a fellow disciple with lethal intent..." Her voice dropped, each word like a tolling funeral bell. "The punishment is death."


    Huang Shao''s heart plummeted into his stomach, and then straight through the floor of his soul. If it had been anyone else, he might''ve pleaded, groveled, or found some loophole to exploit. But Bai Yujian? Her words were carved in stone. What she decreed, she executed¡ªsometimes literally.


    Even the sect''s rules, bent and twisted as they were, couldn''t shield him now. Bai Yujian wasn''t like the others. She didn''t play politics or dabble in moral gray areas. She was the Sword Peak Lord, the sect''s uncompromising executioner, and the grim enforcer of righteousness.


    Just as Huang Shao''s mind scrambled for an escape, the crater below erupted with a brilliant, otherworldly light.


    Then¡ª


    ROAR!


    A deafening sound, like the battle cry of an enraged dragon, ripped through the air, shaking the arena to its foundations.


    WHIZZZ!


    A beam of searing energy blasted from the crater, screaming skyward like the wrath of a scorned deity. It was a divine middle finger in radiant form¡ªhuge, powerful, and painfully hard to dodge.


    Huang Shao didn''t even get the chance to blink.


    BOOM!


    The beam slammed into him, its force reducing his body to ash-coated jerky.


    "AHHHHHH¡ª" His scream was mercifully drowned by the deafening explosion.


    Even Bai Yujian flinched, her eyes darting to the crater in something dangerously close to alarm.


    From the settling dust, a figure emerged, battered but somehow still standing.


    Su Xiaobai.


    He staggered forward, his movements like a drunk crab trying to walk on broken glass. His clothes were gone, his body blackened with soot, but somehow, the bastard was still alive.


    THUD!


    He managed two more steps before collapsing face-first onto the ground.


    The arena fell silent, heavy with disbelief. No one moved, no one spoke, and no one dared breathe too loudly, lest they disturb the twisted reality of what they''d just witnessed.


    Did this little Core Formation brat seriously just obliterate a Soul Fusion cultivator¡ªthree realms above him?


    It didn''t make sense. It shouldn''t have been possible. It was the kind of crap you''d expect from drunk bard songs, not real life.


    And yet, there he was.


    Finally, Xu Tianran arrived, his robes fluttering dramatically as he stepped into the chaos. His expression soured the moment he realized he wasn''t here to heal Su Xiaobai. No, he was now crouching over Huang Shao''s charred, twitching remains, desperately trying to patch together what was left of the so-called prodigy.


    The irony wasn''t lost on anyone. Xu Tianran had come expecting to save Su Xiaobai, the victim. Instead, he was left scrambling to keep Huang Shao from becoming a cautionary tale about picking on the wrong lunatic.


    And Su Xiaobai? That smug bastard was lying there like a soot-covered deity after a particularly chaotic night out. Not a scratch on him.


    It was as if the heavens themselves had decided to play favorites¡ªjust to mess with everyone else.


    ______


    Morning arrived quietly in the sect.


    Sunlight streamed through the windows, casting a soft glow over the chamber where Su Xiaobai lay unconscious. Or sleeping. Or possibly just faking it to enjoy his current circumstances¡ªwho knew with him?


    Xiao Lu sat beside him, nervously fidgeting. She glanced at his face, pale but peaceful, then at the room around them. She still couldn''t believe it. This wasn''t just any chamber¡ªit was Bai Yujian''s personal quarters.


    And Su Xiaobai? The bastard was sprawled across her bed, snoring lightly, looking more comfortable than any man had a right to.


    Why her bed, of all places? Xiao Lu thought with a mix of embarrassment and irritation. The sect had decided to formally admit him as an outer disciple, but apparently, the barracks were too risky for someone with a habit of nearly dying every other day. Or maybe Bai Yujian had her reasons.


    The door creaked open, and Bai Yujian stepped inside, her gaze sharp as always. Xiao Lu stiffened, her worry spilling out in a rush.


    "Elder, why isn''t he waking up?"


    Bai Yujian crossed the room, her steps deliberate. "He''s fine. Just burned through too much energy and slipped into a deep sleep. He''ll wake when his body''s done healing itself together." Her voice was as cold as her expression, though there was a faint flicker of something¡ªannoyance? Curiosity?¡ªin her eyes.


    Behind her, Xiao Yu shuffled in, looking as grumpy as ever, followed by Fatty Zhou, whose restless hands kept fidgeting with the ring on his finger.


    Bai Yujian''s gaze lingered on Su Xiaobai for a moment. He should''ve woken up by now. She didn''t like loose ends, and this one was starting to tie itself into knots. If he was going to be an outer disciple, she''d need to introduce him to someone who could show him around. The problem? His acquaintances.


    Su Xiaobai knew three people in the outer court. One of them wanted him dead. The remaining options weren''t much better, but she''d have to work with what she had.


    "You," Bai Yujian said, placing a hand on Xiao Lu''s shoulder. The girl jumped as though struck by lightning.


    "??"


    "Come with me," Bai Yujian abruptly ordered, her tone leaving no room for argument.


    "But I am¡ª"


    "Now."


    Xiao Lu bit her lip, reluctant but obedient, and followed Bai Yujian out of the room. She cast one last worried glance at Su Xiaobai before the door shut behind them.


    Fatty Zhou took the opportunity to slip away as well. "Uh¡­ I''ve got something to finish in the alchemy room," he muttered, shuffling toward the exit like a guilty child sneaking out of trouble.


    That left only Xiao Yu, who groaned audibly, slumping into the nearest stool.


    "Why am I the one stuck babysitting this guy...?" he muttered, glaring half-heartedly at Su Xiaobai''s unconscious form.


    Security reasons, Bai Yujian had said. Apparently, she was convinced Su Xiaobai could find a way to self-destruct even in his sleep.


    With nothing better to do, Xiao Yu leaned back, staring blankly at Su Xiaobai''s face. "You don''t even look that impressive, you know," he mumbled. His gaze above Su Xiaobai''s face, and he frowned slightly.


    Actually¡­ he''s not that bad-looking. Kind of handsome, in a punchable way.


    The thought startled him, and he shook his head. "What the hell am I thinking?" he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 71 - 71: Phoenix Ancestor!

    "What in the heavens am I thinking?" Xiao Yu muttered, running a hand over the back of her neck. A stray strand of hair slid free, curling along her shoulder like a lover''s sly whisper.


    She froze.


    Her gaze flicked to the mirror¡ªan obnoxiously polished bronze monstrosity sitting in the corner like it owned the place. The sunlight hit its surface, and the reflection staring back made her breath froze.


    That¡­ wasn''t her.


    No, the person in the mirror was someone else entirely: an ethereal beauty with features too delicate, too haunting. Midnight-dark-blue hair spilled down her back like a river in mourning, and her lips, curved in a faint, mocking smile, seemed to say, Caught you, didn''t I?


    "Damn it," she hissed, voice tight with panic. "My mask is already cracking?"


    Her fingers skimmed her face, feeling the illusion''s edges fray like threadbare silk. This couldn''t be happening¡ªnot now. She flicked a glance at the door, nerves wound tighter than a bowstring.


    The room was silent save for the steady breathing of Su Xiaobai, sprawled across the opposite bed, snoring like a particularly lazy demon king.


    Xiao Yu¡ªno, Yu Feng¡ªcollapsed into the nearest chair, dragging a hand over her face. The spiritual disguise was everything. Without it, her mission¡ªher entire existence¡ªwas dust.


    With a sharp breath, she summoned her qi, forcing the mask back into place.


    The mirror blurred. Her hair shrank into a boyish crop. Delicate features hardened into sharp edges. The illusion was back. Mostly. Those damn eyes¡ªstill dark, still endless¡ªwere impossible to hide.


    "Great," she muttered, glaring at her reflection. "Even the mask can''t tone down these cursed eyes."


    Her self-loathing was interrupted by a voice, casual and unbearably smug.


    "I preferred the first look."


    Hiss!~


    Her blood ran cold.


    Slowly, she turned toward the bed. Su Xiaobai was awake, watching her with an expression so neutral it felt insulting.


    A beat of silence passed.


    "...You''re awake."


    "Yeah. Great performance with the mirror, by the way. Very dramatic." He stretched lazily, smirking like a cat who''d just upended a shrine offering. "You''d make an excellent villainess, you know."


    Yu Feng''s face darkened. "What. Did. You. See?"


    He tilted his head, feigning thought. "Enough to know that your whole ''I''m totally a guy'' act is about as convincing as my humility."


    Her hand shot out, yanking his collar. "You dare¡ª"


    "Relax, sweetheart." He raised his hands in surrender, though that smile didn''t budge. "Your secret''s safe. Why would I bother? Too much effort."


    Her grip tightened. "And why should I trust you?"


    "Because you don''t have a choice."** He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Besides, killing me would be messy. And inconvenient. And¡­ let''s face it¡ªI''m probably stronger than you."


    Yu Feng''s eyes narrowed, dangerously close to murder. "Stronger? You? You''re a Core Formation nobody who survives on dumb luck."


    "Oh," he sighed, shaking his head like a disappointed elder. "I''m stronger where it counts."


    Her fist twitched, but instead of decking him, she shoved him back onto the bed, pinning him with one glowing hand on his wrist.


    BAM!


    "Listen closely," she growled, leaning in until their faces were mere inches apart. "If you so much as breathe a word¡ª"


    "Oho! Rough already?" Su Xiaobai interrupted, chuckling dryly. "At least buy me wine first."


    "..."


    Yu Feng froze.


    Realization hit her like a flying sword to the chest. She was straddling him, one hand pinning his wrist, while he looked up at her with the kind of smirk you wanted to slap into another realm.


    "Perverted idiot!" she snapped, slamming his wrists into the bed. But something buzzed faintly under her palm.


    Her eyes darted down.


    "What the¡ª?"


    A glowing array shimmered across her hand, and in Su Xiaobai''s other hand was a formation pen, twirling smugly between his fingers.


    "Relax," he said, waggling the pen like a conductor. "Just a little Retribution Array. If you kill me, you die too. Romantic, isn''t it?"


    Yu Feng snorted, "You think I''m stupid? That only works on people in the same realm or weaker."


    Su Xiaobai''s grin faltered. "Okay, true. But it''s not a ''normal'' Retribution Array¡ª"


    "..." Yu Feng let out a long, sharp exhale, suppressing the urge to punch him into next week. Let him think it works, she decided. If the fool wanted to play games, she''d play along. For now.


    What he didn''t know¡ªcouldn''t know¡ªwas that she wasn''t just hiding her face. She was hiding her cultivation. Two realms above him, Yu Feng could''ve crushed him like a bug if she felt like it. But Bai Yujian''s eyes were everywhere, and cleaning up his corpse would be more trouble than it was worth.


    Before she could make her next move, Su Xiaobai lunged forward.


    He kissed her.


    "!!!"


    Yu Feng froze, her brain short-circuiting. Out of all the insane, suicidal things he could''ve done, this had to be the dumbest.


    Her mind screamed: Kill him. Break his spine. Burn his soul into ash.


    But her body? Betrayed her completely.


    Worse still, a treacherous thought crept in: ...It wasn''t that bad.


    And, because the heavens loved irony, a swirl of mist coalesced into the room.


    Bai Yujian and Xiao Lu stepped in just in time to see Su Xiaobai locking lips with "Xiao Yu," the allegedly male disciple.


    A silence heavier than a mountain followed.


    "¡­"


    Xiao Lu''s face darkened immediately. Her master always had¡­ peculiar habits. This? This was a new low.


    Bai Yujian''s expression was harder to pin down. She stood there, staring blankly, as though her brain was actively trying to delete the scene from her memory. Slowly, her lips curled into a grimace, like she''d just stepped on something unspeakable.


    Without a word, she turned and walked out of the room. "I''ll come back later," she muttered stiffly, her tone robotic. She needs a minute. Maybe ten. Possibly a month. Meditation will clear this from my mind. Yes, meditate or risk a heart demon.


    Xiao Lu stayed behind, glaring at her master with undisguised embarrassment. Why do I follow this man? Why haven''t I run away yet?


    Su Xiaobai, meanwhile, blinked at the retreating mist of Bai Yujian and sighed. "Well, that could''ve gone better." He glanced back at Yu Feng, still frozen like a sculpture,"You can stop pretending you''re stunned now. Or should I kiss you again?"


    Yu Feng''s fist clenched, and this time, she didn''t hold back.


    BAM!


    "You¡ª" Su Xiaobai doubled over, clutching his stomach as pain lanced through him, hot and unforgiving. His grand plan to break the girl''s spirit had clearly blown up in his face.


    Serves me right for poking a snake without gloves, he thought, staggering upright.


    Bai Yujian, who hadn''t gone far, paused mid-step. She glanced back briefly, her expression that of a senior tired of witnessing juniors'' stupidity.


    Shaking her head, she muttered something under her, and kept walking. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Su Xiaobai straightened, brushing the sweat from his brow, only to notice Xiao Lu watching him. Her gaze was sharp and focused, like she was deciding whether to laugh or call for a healer.


    "What?" he snapped, but she just smiled.


    Xiao Lu quickly recounted the events since yesterday: his miraculous survival, the elders begrudgingly acknowledging him as an official disciple, and how Bai Yujian had dragged her away for a private chat. But something still tempted Su Xiaobai''s curiosity.


    "Fine," he said, stretching lazily, his joints cracking like an old door hinge. "But¡ªwhat did she want with you, anyway? Why''d she drag you off to some secret corner for a private little chat? Sounds scandalous, as if she was plotting to buy you off with something,"


    ''How does he knows?'' Xiao Lu stiffened, the memory flashing in her mind:


    "You have a drop of phoenix blood in your veins."


    Fifteen minutes earlier, Bai Yujian had pulled Xiao Lu aside, her expression unreadable as she dropped a bombshell: the reason Xiao Lu''s cultivation was soaring during the daytime. It wasn''t luck. It wasn''t even talent.


    "You''re absorbing the sun''s heat directly, thanks to the phoenix blood in your veins."


    The words hit Xiao Lu like a divine tribulation. She hadn''t even managed to stammer out a response before Bai Yujian continued, her tone sharp and uncompromising:


    "Remaining a maid is beneath you. Join the sect as a trainee disciple. Once your strength matures, you''ll ascend to the outer court."


    The subtext had been painfully clear: *Stop hugging to Su Xiaobai''s thighs and grow some wings, little phoenix.


    Xiao Lu snapped out of the memory to find Su Xiaobai staring at her, his arms crossed, his patience wearing thin.


    "Well? What did you choose?" he asked calmly. But inside, he wasn''t calm at all.


    Xiao Lu''s lips curled into a mischievous smile. "Won''t tell."


    "..."


    Su Xiaobai blinked. He''d been expecting some grand declaration, maybe even a heartfelt confession. Instead, he got this, "You little¡ª" His eyebrow twitched dangerously.


    "Ah!?¡ªMaster! Wait, wait! I''ll talk! I''ll tell you everything! Just stop whatever crazy idea you''re about to¡ª" Xiao Lu''s panicked words spilled out in a rush, her hands raised defensively.


    Before she could even blink, Su Xiaobai lunged, completely ignoring her desperate plea, his grin wide enough to rival a bandit chief about to loot a treasure trove.


    What followed was an undignified mess of yelps, vague threats, and Su Xiaobai doling out "discipline" that involved Xiao Lu''s backside and an open palm.


    By the time Bai Yujian returned, she found Xiao Lu sulking with an unmistakably red butt, while Su Xiaobai sat smugly nearby, the picture of innocence.


    The elder gave them one long, disapproving look. What in the heavens did she unleash by letting this bastard into the sect?


    Bai Yujian didn''t bother assigning Su Xiaobai any tasks for the day, though he had a few demands of his own. Chief among them was the stone Elder Han Xuan had bet during the competition. Bai Yujian promised to deliver it tomorrow. The negotiation went smoothly¡ªtoo smoothly, which made Su Xiaobai suspicious.


    But when Bai Yujian questioned him about Huang Shao''s injuries, he shrugged with the nonchalance of a drunk monk.


    "No idea," he lied easily.


    Of course, he knew. That overwhelming attack¡ªthe ''Heavenly Dragon Breath''¡ªwas unmistakable. It was the signature move of the Azure Dragon Clan, one of the oldest and most fearsome bloodlines in the cultivation world.


    The thing was, Su Xiaobai wasn''t part of the Azure Dragon Clan.


    The technique had erupted from him instinctively, drawn from the bloodline he''d stolen in a moment of forbidden passion with his aunt, Long Lifen.


    And this wasn''t just a normal dragon breath either¡ªit had fused with the ''Void Thunder Dragon''s Presence'' within him, amplifying its power to absurd levels.


    Naturally, he kept this little information to himself. Bai Yujian was clever, but her intentions were murkier than a brothel''s accounts ledger. No point handing her more ammunition.


    Tomorrow, he would etch the summoning array, and Xiao Mei would descend upon this realm. With her arrival, the first threads of his grand plan would finally weave into motion.

 Chapter 72 - 72: Huang Shao — Dead! Peak lord of Stormfire Peak!

    Meanwhile, in the dead of the night.


    Under the smug gaze of the crescent moon...


    Su Xiaobai sprawled across Bai Yujian''s bed like a sloth that had won the lottery, his arms and legs stretched wide across the soft, silk-covered paradise. The faint scent of jasmine sneakily tickling his nose.


    "Pfft, fancy women and their fancy smells," he muttered, rubbing his face against the pillow with a grin. "She doesn''t even use this bed. Wasteful! It''s mine now. Mine!"


    He yawned, stretching until his joints popped. "Ah¡­ so soft. So perf¡ª"


    He smiled, blissfully ignorant of the faint pulse of light deep within his storage ring. A soft thrum echoed in the void, and something stirred.


    With a gentle pop¡ªpop!¡ªXiao Hei emerged from the ring, her tiny feet landing soundlessly on the wooden floor. She stood there for a moment, tilting her head as she gazed at Su Xiaobai, her crimson eyes gleaming softly in the dim light.


    She blinked.


    Her small hand rose to her lips, as though suppressing a giggle. But no sound came from her. Silent as the night, Xiao Hei climbed onto the bed, crouching beside the sleeping Su Xiaobai.


    She poked his cheek. Boop.


    Su Xiaobai didn''t stir. A snore escaped him, loud and triumphant.


    Xiao Hei tilted her head the other way, as if pondering something. Then, with a light hop, she leapt off the bed. Her tiny feet landed with a soft *tap tap*. She turned once to glance at Su Xiaobai, her lips curling into a faint, almost protective smile.


    And then, she vanished into the shadows.


    ____


    At Stormfire Peak, in a chamber lit by a single flickering flame, lay Huang Shao.


    Once a proud disciple of the sect, Huang Shao was now reduced to a pitiful wreck. Layers of bandages cocooned his broken body, soaked in blood that smelled of desperation. His shattered dantian left his spiritual core an empty void, and his breaths came in shallow, uneven gasps.


    The door creaked open.


    Huang Shao''s eyes snapped open, wild with fear. "Wh-Who''s there?" he rasped, his voice cracking.


    From the shadows emerged Xiao Hei. Her small frame seemed almost too delicate to belong to this dark place. Her red dress flowed like ink, her crimson eyes glowing faintly in the gloom.


    Huang Shao froze. A bead of sweat slid down his temple.


    "Wait," he stammered, trying to push himself upright. "Wait¡ªdon''t¡ª"


    Xiao Hei stepped closer, her footsteps as soft as falling petals. Tap. Tap. Tap. She stopped at the edge of the bed, her head tilting as she stared at him.


    "W-Who are you?" Huang Shao whispered, trembling.


    Xiao Hei blinked. Slowly, she raised a small hand and brushed the bandages on his chest.


    Her touch was feather-light, but it sent a shiver down Huang Shao''s spine.


    Her lips curled into a sweet, innocent smile.


    Then her fingers pressed harder¡ªcrunch!


    "H-Help¡ª" Huang Shao let out a choked scream before darkness consumed him.


    _____


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    Next day, the peaceful morning exploded with noise.


    "OPEN THE DAMN GATES!"


    "Stop shielding that rat!"


    "BRING ME HIS HEAD!"


    Su Xiaobai jolted awake, his dream of swimming in a sea of roasted ducks rudely interrupted.


    "What the hell?" He rubbed his eyes and shuffled toward the door. "Can''t a guy get some sleep around here?"


    Before he could reach the handle, the door exploded inward. Splinters rained down as a towering figure stormed into the room.


    BAM!


    Standing amidst the destruction was Elder Liu, Peak Lord of Stormfire Peak. The man was tall and skeletal, his crimson robes fluttering in the morning wind. His eyes, sharp and predatory, locked onto Su Xiaobai like a hawk sighting prey. Behind him, a mob of disciples glared at Su Xiaobai like he''d personally insulted their ancestors.


    "You!" Elder Liu''s voice cracked like thunder. "You dare assassinate my disciple?!"


    Su Xiaobai stared blankly. "Assassinate? What? Me?" He pointed to himself. "Buddy, I don''t even have the energy to climb out of this bed, let alone go around murdering people. You''ve got the wrong guy!"


    "Don''t play dumb!" Elder Liu roared, his aura bursting out like a wildfire.


    Behind him, a swarm of Stormfire Peak disciples filled the courtyard, their glares sharp enough to peel paint.


    "Liar!"


    "Coward!"


    "Let''s string him up!"


    The disciples didn''t look convinced.


    Su Xiaobai threw his hands in the air. "Why," he groaned to himself, "why does every psycho with a grudge show up at my door? What next? A fairy descending from the heavens to save my ass?"


    BOOM!


    The thought made him laugh¡ªright up until it didn''t.


    The roof exploded, and in swept Bai Yujian like a goddess late to her own party. Dark hair flowed behind her like a stormcloud, and her eyes burned with the fury of a thousand unpaid debts. She landed lightly amidst the rubble, her aura clashing against Elder Liu''s like two wild beasts fighting for dominance.


    "Liu Chenfu," she said, her voice sharp as a blade. "Are you actually insane?"


    Elder Liu''s aura blasted in response, burning like molten steel. "Stay out of this, Bai Yujian! That rat murdered my disciple!"


    Bai Yujian''s expression didn''t change, "Your disciple deserved it."


    "You¡ª!"


    The two auras clashed, shaking the entire mountain. Su Xiaobai, now pinned against a wall by the sheer pressure, wheezed.


    "Master!"


    Xiao Lu burst through the crowd of disciples, ducking debris as she reached Su Xiaobai. She grabbed him by the arm, dragging him upright.


    "What''s going on?!" she demanded, her voice high with panic.


    "I don''t know!" Su Xiaobai shouted back. "But if someone doesn''t stop these lunatics!"


    His eyes darted toward Elder Liu, and his frustration boiled over.


    "If I wasn''t so weak," he muttered through gritted teeth, "I''d slice him into little pieces and use him as bait for my chickens."


    Xiao Lu snorted, "You''d need to be stronger than him to do that, Master."


    Su Xiaobai''s face darkened. Why was he the one being insulted here? Some old fossil, a hundred times his age, wanted to murder him, and he''s the weakling? What was he supposed to do¡ªwrestle the guy barehanded?


    And worse, he still didn''t even know what crime he was supposed to have committed.


    More elders began to arrive, shuffling into the courtyard with stiff expressions. Su Xiaobai eyed them warily, muttering under his breath, "Who the hell are these geezers?" He had never seen any of them before, but judging by their presence, the mess must''ve been serious.


    The newcomers quickly separated Bai Yujian and Liu Chenfu, who had been seconds away from tearing the mountain in half. Their auras faded, but the tension in the air like the aftertaste of bad wine.


    After what felt like an eternity, things finally calmed down. That''s when Su Xiaobai got the news.


    It turned out that Huang Shao, the very disciple who had tried to assassinate Su Xiaobai during the tournament, had been assassinated himself.


    In his own home.


    Last night.


    The irony hit Su Xiaobai like a slap to the face.


    For Elder Liu, though, it was worse. His prized disciple, his supposed future star, had not only broken sect rules during the tournament and been humiliated, but now someone had murdered him right under Elder Liu''s nose. It was as if the killer had marched up to Stormfire Peak, smeared mud all over their faces, and laughed while doing it.


    The humiliation ran deep, and the anger even deeper.


    It didn''t take long for the "small incident" to escalate into a full-blown war.


    Sword Peak disciples, looking for an excuse to show off their supposed superiority, joined the fray to beat down Stormfire Peak''s disciples. Accusations flew. Grudges reignited. Soon, the peaceful sect grounds were transformed into a battleground, with cultivators clashing in the courtyards, roofs, and even the training halls.


    ____


    "Hahaha!" S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Su Xiaobai leaned lazily on the balcony railing, watching the war with a grin on his face. A small pile of peanut shells grew beside him as he popped another into his mouth. "Look at them go! They''re like dogs fighting over scraps!"


    He laughed harder as two disciples from opposing peaks tripped over a stray broom and tumbled face-first into the mud.


    "I don''t know who killed Huang Shao," Su Xiaobai said between bites, "but that bastard deserves a feast. They''ve done us all a favor!"


    Behind him, Xiao Hei silently emerged, balancing a tray of sweets in her small hands. She sat down beside Su Xiaobai without a word, offering him a plate of candied lotus seeds before taking a piece for herself.


    Together, they munched on snacks like it was a festival.


    ___


    Xiao Lu stood a few steps away, her face a mix of disbelief and exasperation. "You two¡­ The sect is practically at war, and this is what you''re doing? Watching the show like it''s a play?"


    Su Xiaobai shrugged, crunching on a particularly crispy peanut. "What else am I supposed to do? Jump in and mediate? I''d rather fight a rabid tiger."


    Xiao Lu slapped her forehead. "Master, don''t you care that one of these maniacs might barge in here to kill you?"


    "Oh, I care," Su Xiaobai said, smirking. "I care so much that I''m ready to welcome them with open arms and a snack." He waved his peanut bag. "Want one? It''s salted."


    "..."

 Chapter 73 - 73: Sugarmommy +1

    "..."


    Xiao Lu had no words.


    The elders had all mysteriously vanished, likely retreating for some kind of private meeting to "resolve grievances" in a way only old men knew how¡ªby drinking tea and yelling at each other behind closed doors.


    Without supervision, the disciples of both peaks fought like crazed beasts, their spiritual auras smashing through walls and ripping up the gardens.


    At any moment, one of them could charge straight toward Su Xiaobai with murder in their eyes, and yet here he was, treating it all like a spectator sport.


    Xiao Lu didn''t understand.


    What she didn''t know was that Su Xiaobai had stopped caring about death a long time ago. He''d had close calls so often that the fear had worn thin, like a blade dulled from overuse. These days, he didn''t flinch when death came knocking.


    Hell, he even laughed when it came close enough to touch.


    "You''re still here?"


    The voice was sweet, almost melodic, but the frost in it could freeze an entire lake.


    Su Xiaobai turned around, and there she was¡ªBai Yujian, her hair shimmering in the sunlight, her expression a frosty mask of disdain. His shoulders slumped. This woman again?


    "What? Weren''t all the elders supposed to be off resolving their grudges in a personal deathmatch or whatever?" he muttered under his breath.


    Bai Yujian snorted, a sound both elegant and cutting. "Liu Chenfu, the ignorant fool? If it weren''t for the Sect Master, I''d have taken his heart out and used it to feed the spirit beasts." Her lips curled, as if the mere thought of restraint disgusted her.


    Su Xiaobai''s face darkened. He hadn''t even met this so-called Sect Master yet, but from the way Bai Yujian spoke, it seemed like he was the only leash holding her back. What baffled him more was how little she seemed to care whether or not he had killed Huang Shao.


    Instead, her gaze wandered over the fighting disciples below, a mix of amusement and disgust flickering in her eyes.


    "Uh, shouldn''t you, you know¡­ stop them?" Su Xiaobai asked, jerking his thumb toward the war in the courtyard. "They''re your disciples, aren''t they?"


    Bai Yujian''s expression didn''t change, "Why bother? They''ll stop on their own soon enough. The weaklings will collapse. The stronger ones will get bored. Balance restored."


    "..."


    Su Xiaobai stared at her in stunned silence. Balance restored? Was she really just going to let them brawl until someone either passed out or broke an arm?


    "Come," Bai Yujian said sharply, her gaze snapping back to him. "I''ll explain the basics of the sect and cultivators. Your ignorance is embarrassing at this point." Her tone brooked no argument, and the glare she shot him screamed don''t even think about saying no.


    Su Xiaobai sighed and hopped down from the balcony, landing beside her. As he followed her elegant strides, he muttered, "So, you''re really not going to stop them?"


    Bai Yujian glanced over her shoulder, her face devoid of expression. "They''ll stop when they''ve had enough."


    "..."


    Su Xiaobai had so many questions, but he wisely decided to keep them to himself.


    He didn''t feel like testing his luck.


    This woman was too beautiful, her sword too sharp, and his head¡­ well, it wouldn''t look any better rolling off her blade.


    For now, he''d follow her lead. After all, surviving the day intact was a victory in itself.


    ___


    On the way, Bai Yujian explained why the Xiantian Sect was known as the ''Righteous Sect.''


    Her voice was steady but carried the kind of authority that dared anyone to question her. "The sect operates on a credit system," she began. "Disciples, elders, even the Sect Master himself¡ªeveryone earns ''contribution points'' for performing righteous deeds. These points are the sole currency in the sect. You can exchange them for cultivation resources at the Treasure Pavilion."


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes lit up. "So¡­ basically, you''re saying the sect is one big meritocracy?"


    Bai Yujian gave him a sidelong glance. "That''s a fancy word for someone who just learned how to wield a sword, but¡­ yes."


    Su Xiaobai nodded, pretending not to hear the insult.


    She continued, her tone still as cold as the wind over a frozen lake. "Contribution points aren''t just for righteous deeds. Completing missions from the Mission Hall, discovering and selling precious herbs, or even selling alchemical pills to the sect¡ªthose are valid ways to earn them too."


    "Sounds easy," Su Xiaobai said. "I could just grab some herbs and¡ª"


    "Easy?" Bai Yujian snorted. "Do you think demonic beasts guarding those herbs will let you pluck them? Or that missions won''t involve breaking your bones? Idiot."


    "..." Su Xiaobai wisely kept quiet, already regretting his comment.


    Bai Yujian explained further: "The ''Mission Hall'' ensures all posted missions align with the sect''s founding principles¡ªsubjugating demonic beasts, eliminating heretical cultivators, protecting villages. By tying rewards to righteous deeds, even if someone with¡­ unsavory intentions joins the sect, they''re forced to do good to progress. Clever, isn''t it?"


    Su Xiaobai scratched his head. "Wait, that''s great and all, but what about punishment? What if someone screws up?"


    Her frosty gaze landed on him, sharp enough to pin him in place. "Punishment Hall. Any actions that go against the sect''s principles result in contribution point deductions. If your points drop below zero¡­" She paused, letting the weight of her words sink in. "You''ll be punished. And in severe cases, expelled. Or executed."


    Su Xiaobai looked at her dubiously, "Executed....?''


    "Yes. For instance¡­" She glanced at him meaningfully. "When Huang Shao attacked you during the tournament, his contribution points were reduced to zero. His crime was scheduled to be judged by the Punishment Hall."


    "So you didn''t care whether I killed him because¡­" Su Xiaobai trailed off.


    "Because his death was inevitable," Bai Yujian replied coldly. "But it was obvious you didn''t kill him. You can barely lift a ban, much less infiltrate Stormfire Peak."


    Su Xiaobai nodded. "That''s¡­ fair." he really didn''t do anything this time.


    She continued explaining the system:


    Unranked ''outer court disciples'' receive a fixed 1,000 points per month. ''Inner court disciples'' earn 10,000. ''Core disciples'', the true elites, are awarded 100,000 points monthly. Contribution points can also be earned by challenging ranked disciples and taking their spot on the leaderboard.


    "But¡­" Bai Yujian added, "core disciples have no rankings amongst themselves. They''re too few, and their strength speaks for itself. They''re instead ranked on the main leaderboard of the entire sect."


    Even elders weren''t exempt from the system. They, too, could earn and spend contribution points.


    "When Liu Chenfu barged into mine room this morning," she added with a smile, "his contribution points were deducted. The disciples fighting outside? Theirs will be docked too. If they fall into negatives, they''ll face punishment."


    Suddenly, it all made sense to Su Xiaobai. "That''s why you''re so chill about this mess. The system handles everything for you..."


    Bai Yujian gave a faint smile. "Precisely."


    Su Xiaobai wasn''t entirely paying attention to the rest of her explanations about the sect''s rules, hierarchy, and the founding ancestor. His ears perked up again only when they visited the ''Treasure Pavilion''.


    Inside, his jaw nearly dropped. Rare herbs, legendary weapons, soul-grade pills¡ªeverything he could dream of was on display, available for purchase with contribution points.


    He winced, remembering that his own balance was likely at zero. Or so he thought.


    One million points.


    That was the number staring back at him.


    "What...?" Su Xiaobai muttered, rubbing his eyes.


    Bai Yujian didn''t even blink at his reaction.


    It turned out that his surprising windfall came from a combination of sources:


    - 100,000 points for being first in the Disciple Selection Tournament. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    - 500,000 points for defeating Huang Shao, three realms above him, and taking all his contribution points.


    - And a staggering 400,000 points transferred directly by Bai Yujian.


    "Wait, what''s this last one for?" he asked, squinting at the record.


    Bai Yujian waved dismissively. "I''ve decided to take you as my personal disciple."


    Su Xiaobai blinked. "Just like that?!"


    She raised an eyebrow. "Do you want me to change my mind?"


    "No, no! Thank you, sugarmommy¡ª" He froze mid-sentence, realizing he''d nearly said the wrong thing.


    "Sugarmommy?" Bai Yujian''s sharp ears caught the slip. Her eyes narrowed curiously. "What''s that?"


    Su Xiaobai''s lips twitched. Crap. She has superhuman hearing.


    "It''s¡­ nothing," He instantly made up a lie, "Where I come from, when someone loses their mother, the woman closest to them¡ªwho takes care of them¡ªis called a sugar mommy."


    Bai Yujian''s frosty demeanor softened slightly, and she tilted her head as if deep in thought. "Ah. It''s natural for elders to treat their personal disciples as family. I see. So¡­ I''m your sugar mommy now."


    "..."


    Hiss~


    Su Xiaobai nearly choked. Her innocent tone and lack of irony made it ten times worse. He coughed awkwardly, avoiding her gaze.


    Bai Yujian, however, seemed unbothered. She walked on, muttering to herself, "Sugar mommy. How quaint."


    Su Xiaobai sighed heavily, rubbing his forehead. This woman needs to be educated. Someday¡­ someday I''ll explain. For now, let''s just survive this embarrassment.

 Chapter 74 - 74: Proposing Bai Yujian!

    "What do you even know about the Dao?"


    Bai Yujian''s voice carried the soft authority of a thousand years atop Sword Peak, but her curiosity was met with an unexpected twist. She had been eager to educate this new disciple, to speak of the Sword, the Righteous Dao, and the legacy of their peak. Instead, Su Xiaobai raised his hand, casually cutting her off.


    The audacity. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The absolute gall.


    He was, without a doubt, the first sect member who had ever dared to interrupt her.


    "Uh¡­ yeah, we can circle back to the ''Dao talk'' later," Su Xiaobai said, scratching his head. "I''ve got more important business to handle right now."


    Bai Yujian: "???"


    Her beautiful eyes blinked at him¡ªcrystalline pools that could drown a weaker man. But Su Xiaobai? Oh, no. He wasn''t diving in there. He had no time for that kind of trouble. His goals were crystal clear: get his hands on some rare resources and avoid unnecessary drama.


    "I need the core of a Crimson Ore Behemoth," he said plainly.


    Bai Yujian pursed her lips. The audacity was annoying, but the request? Simple enough. She had the core lying around, no big deal. In fact, she even transferred him contribution points so he could arrange for some Void Fracture Stones from the treasury¡ªa rare and priceless resource, each piece costing a hundred thousand contribution points.


    When he bought ten at once, her eyes widened.


    ''This guy¡­''


    "Finally!" Su Xiaobai grinned like a man who''d just won the lottery. Clutching the crimson ore core and the stones, he looked as smug as a cat with cream. "Now I just need an open space. Is there one around here?"


    Bai Yujian blinked again, nodding hesitantly. "???" was practically written on her face.


    To say she didn''t understand this strange new disciple of hers would be the understatement of the century. After all, she''d only ever had one other personal disciple in a thousand years, Liu Zhenhai, and even that was more out of obligation than choice.


    Yet this guy¡ªSu Xiaobai¡ªhad shown up on his first day, casually beaten a dozen Core Formation brats into submission, and revealed himself to be a puppet refiner, a craft so niche it wasn''t even its own peak anymore.


    Stormfire Peak handled puppets as a side hustle, but putting Su Xiaobai next to their lead crafter, Elder Liu? That would be a death sentence.


    No, she''d taken him in to protect him¡­ or so she thought. In her mind, Su Xiaobai was earnest and sincere, proving his worth through trials instead of abusing her token to sneak into the sect. The truth? She was delusional. He was delusional. Truly, a match made by the heavens.


    They walked together to the practice arena. A few Core Disciples in red robes crossed their path, but the moment they saw Bai Yujian, they bowed and scattered like frightened sparrows.


    ''Damn,'' Su Xiaobai thought, watching them vanish. This woman''s reputation must be terrifying. Still, to him, she seemed¡­ pretty harmless so far.


    "Hey," he said, glancing at her. "Since this is a Righteous Sect, don''t you think people could fake being righteous while secretly being scumbags? Like that Crimson Sword guy. His weapon looked demonic as hell. Why''d you even let him participate?"


    Bai Yujian paused, turning to him with a trace of surprise. On day one, this brat had already poked a hole in the sect''s ideology. His observational skills were sharper than most elders''.


    "Yes," she admitted after a moment. "It''s true that some try to hide their corruption behind a mask of virtue. But the heart of the Righteous Dao isn''t about appearances. It''s about motives. A demonic sword raised against evil is righteous at heart, and we accept that. But even a sword forged in the heavens, if used for evil, goes against our values. Those who pretend to be righteous? They don''t last long here."


    Her voice grew cold toward the end, and Su Xiaobai shivered slightly.


    "Good to know," he said, stepping onto the vast training ground and beginning to arrange the Void Fracture Stones. "I''ll help you root out ''those'' hypocrites. Someone''s gotta keep the books balanced, right?"


    Bai Yujian blinked again, genuinely stunned by his words. ''Perhaps my choice wasn''t wrong after all¡­''


    But Su Xiaobai''s thoughts were far from noble. ''If I''m the warden of justice, there''s no way I''d prosecute myself. Easy win.''


    With a grin, he pulled out a Celestial Inscriber and fed it the Crimson Ore Behemoth''s core. Bai Yujian''s eyes widened as he began working.


    "Is that¡­ a formation pen?"


    "You understand formations?" Bai Yujian asked, stepping closer. Her fragrance¡ªlight, like spring rain¡ªlingered in the air, teasing the senses.


    Su Xiaobai didn''t look up. His hands moved swiftly, tracing lines of light across the ground, stitching the heavens into the earth. The formation glowed, intricate and beautiful, pulling silent gasps from the disciples who dared to sneak closer despite their fear of Bai Yujian.


    "Summoning array?" she asked again, her tone soft, her curiosity sharper than her sword.


    Su Xiaobai glanced up, unimpressed. "What gave it away? The glowing runes or the ''giant interdimensional tear'' vibe?"


    Bai Yujian''s lips tightened, half amused. Her eyes lingered on the Void Fracture Stones¡ªtools of immense power, capable of slicing through dimensions.


    "Why aren''t you at Mystic Vein Peak?" she asked, stepping closer. "Formation masters thrive there. You''d be their star."


    He snorted, dusting his hands. "Sure. I''ll give up Sword Peak, forget stabbing people, and go meditate on celestial geometry. Great plan."


    Bai Yujian arched a brow. "Strange," she muttered. "Why someone like you even needs all this. Who are you summoning?"


    Su Xiaobai paused. For once, his hands stilled.


    "Family," he said. "The last one left."


    Bai Yujian blinked, her composure slipping. The single word struck harder than she expected.


    ''I see,'' she thought, imagining hidden pain, some tragic saga of loss.


    Su Xiaobai almost rolled his eyes. ''Here we go. She''s writing my biography in her head.''


    The truth? No epic drama.


    He was weak.


    He''d screwed up.


    He was fixing it.


    End of story.


    "What now?" Bai Yujian asked, her tone softer.


    The answer roared to life.


    Swoosh!


    The Void Fracture Stones blazed. Light shot skyward, carving a rift in the heavens. Day turned to night in an instant, and above them, stars swirled in a massive astral projection. It was breathtaking.


    Disciples from every peak turned to Sword Peak, whispers rising like wind. Bai Yujian raised her hand, her qi forming a barrier. "No one comes closer," she commanded.


    Meanwhile, Su Xiaobai moved with calm efficiency. He tossed items into the array¡ªa cursed talisman, a broken bone, and what might''ve been a mummified claw. Each vanished in the light, consumed by the array.


    Finally, he pulled out a frayed ''scrap of cloth'', belonging to his little sister ¡ª Xiao Mei, its edges worn by time.


    The cloth hovered, spinning faster and faster until it became a blinding spiral. The astral projection shifted, and a gateway began to form¡ªa shimmering tear between realms.


    Bai Yujian''s breath caught. "An Astral Gate¡­" she murmured. "He''s tearing through dimensions like it''s nothing."


    For the first time in centuries, awe flickered in her gaze. She almost summoned Mystic Vein Peak''s lord to witness the feat but held back. Disruption now would be catastrophic.


    Her gaze returned to Su Xiaobai, who stood calm amidst the mess. At first, she''d thought him an oddity, then a mystery.


    Now, she realized he was something far greater.


    What is he?


    Opening an Astral Gate so recklessly¡­ Did this brat not value his life? Her lips thinned as she watched the formation glow, its energy pulsating with dangerous intensity. One misstep, one slight miscalculation, and the entire Xiantian Sect would cease to exist. She reinforced the barrier surrounding the training grounds, her qi flowing like a steady river. If it weren''t for her, this thing would''ve exploded five steps ago, she thought grimly.


    At the center stood Su Xiaobai, unnervingly calm as the storm of spiritual energy roared around him. With the array stabilizing, all that remained was for the gate to connect to White Cloud Star¡ªor wherever his sister might be.


    The weight on his shoulders eased. He glanced around, noting the now-empty training grounds. Spotting Bai Yujian standing guard and ensuring their privacy, he raised a hand, ready to give her a casual thumbs-up.


    Then he froze.


    She was staring at him.


    Not her usual amused or curious gaze. No, this was deeper, sharper, like a blade above his neck. It was the kind of look that made Su Xiaobai feel like a frog skewered on a spit, ready to roast.


    ''What now?'' he thought.


    For a moment, an absurd thought crossed his mind. If this were his old world, maybe this could be romantic¡ªa girl gazing at him under a light drizzle. Except here, it wasn''t an umbrella but a parasol of pure killing intent. And instead of romance, it felt like she was about to turn him into research material.


    "Uh¡­" Su Xiaobai coughed to shatter the silence, suddenly remembering a critical distraction. "Do you, uh, know someone called White Jade Sword?"


    Bai Yujian blinked, her razor-sharp focus faltering. "White Jade Sword?" she repeated, her voice carefully blank.


    "Yeah," Su Xiaobai said, pulling a neatly wrapped scroll from his robes. "I''ve got this love letter for her. Big deal, super important. Figured I''d deliver it personally, y''know? Make a strong impression."


    "..."


    Her lips twitched, and for a moment, it looked like she might laugh. But instead, she snorted. "You''re delivering a love letter to someone whose real name you don''t even know?"


    Su Xiaobai shrugged, slipping the scroll back into his robes. "True love transcends names, alright? When you feel it, you just


    know. The moment I heard her name¡ªWhite Jade Sword¡ªI knew she was the one."


    £Ü?(?¡ã?o?¡ã?)?£¯ Bai Yujian''s eyebrow twitched violently.


    This idiot.


    She stared at him, stunned. He was standing right in front of her, delivering a love letter to her, and had no idea.


    Was he mocking her? No¡­ his sincerity was too genuine. That almost made it worse.


    Su Xiaobai''s tone shifted to one of heartfelt earnestness, though inwardly he cursed Wei Jun. Pretending this was his task was risky, but there was no way he could reveal the prince''s identity now. "I''ve heard all about her deeds. A righteous cultivator, a hero who''s changed the world! That''s enough to fall in love with her shadow. If I have to chase her across the realms, so be it! I''ll even kneel at her feet, live under her feet¡ªwhatever it takes! That''s the power of true love!"


    Bai Yujian blinked rapidly, completely stunned.


    "¡­You''ve never even seen her," she muttered. "What if she''s an ugly witch?"


    Su Xiaobai snorted. "If she''s an ugly witch, then I''ll marry an ugly witch. What''s appearance got to do with it?"


    Inwardly, he added, Not my problem anyway. Wei Jun can deal with whatever happens after this.


    Hiss~~


    Bai Yujian''s expression faltered. For a moment, her face turned the faintest shade of red. She quickly masked it with a sharp exhale, holding out her hand. "Give me the letter."


    "Oh, great," Su Xiaobai said, relieved, and handed it over without hesitation. "Saves me the trouble of running all over the sect."


    Her fingers brushed the scroll briefly before she slipped it into her sleeve. "I''ll deliver it personally," she said, her voice calm.


    But as she walked away, her gaze lingered on Su Xiaobai.


    ''This fool¡­ does he have any idea what he''s done?''

 Chapter 75 - 75: Black Tortoise Empire! Summoning Xiao Mei!

    As Su Xiaobai''s array neared completion, the spiritual energy around Sword Peak surged unnaturally, crackling with a power that stretched far beyond the sect''s borders. The air shook with an eerie light, and for a brief moment, the heavens seemed to hold their eyes.


    Unseen by those gathered, the ripple did not stop at the Xiantian Sect.


    Across the continent, the disturbance reached the Black Tortoise Empire¡ªa celestial ripple that would shatter more than just peace.


    ____


    Black Tortoise Empire, Imperial Castle ¨C A Night of Screaming and Shadows!


    The Imperial Castle gleamed beneath the night sky, its jade towers and golden spires an arrogant declaration of wealth and might. Yet, within the emperor''s private chambers, disorder had replaced splendor.


    The source of the disorder? A coffin.


    It sat at the center of the room, an obsidian monolith that seemed to consume the light around it. Its golden runes writhed like living things, pulsing with an ominous rhythm. The emperor, a man accustomed to bending the heavens to his will, now paced before it like a caged animal.


    "This wasn''t part of the deal!" he hissed, his voice trembling. His crown sat askew, his usually pristine robes crumpled from his restless movements. "I was promised power¡ªlimitless power! Not¡­ not this thing!"


    Two figures stood to his left, their presence suffocating despite their silence. Pale as moonlight, with crimson eyes that gleamed like smoldering embers, they radiated an aura that made even the emperor''s aura falter.


    "This is your problem now," the old man said, his tone cold and sharp. His grin was cruel, as if mocking the emperor''s panic. "You signed the blood contract. We delivered what you asked for. The rest is on you."


    The emperor''s glare could have melted steel, but the pale man didn''t so much as flinch.


    "And what am I supposed to do with this¡­ this coffin?!" The emperor gestured wildly at the ominous object.


    The old woman''s expression was inscrutable, her voice calm and chilling. "Inside that coffin lies what you sought: the power to reverse the flow of river of time itself. But that kind of power does not come without consequences."


    The coffin pulsed again, the runes flaring brighter, casting golden light across the chamber. It almost seemed to hum¡ªlike the growl of a slumbering beast.


    Suddenly, the space shifted.


    CRACK!


    A thunderous roar split the night, and the sky above the Imperial Castle shattered like glass. A vortex of energy tore through the heavens, swirling with a ferocity that sent waves of pressure cascading across the land.


    The emperor froze, "What¡­ what is that?"


    Neither elder answered. Their attention was fixed on the coffin, which had begun to levitate, its runes blazing like molten gold.


    "No! Stop it!" The emperor stumbled backward, fear flooding his features. "Seal it! Destroy it! Do something!"


    The old woman shook her head. "It''s too late."


    WHOOSH!


    With a sound like a celestial blade cutting through the fabric of reality, the coffin shot upward, swallowed whole by the vortex.


    The emperor could only watch as the vortex roared louder, ripping the roof of his chambers clean off. Shards of jade and marble rained down as the celestial disturbance consumed the heavens. And then, just as quickly as it had appeared, the vortex vanished, leaving behind an eerie silence.


    The emperor stood amidst the rubble, his breathing ragged. His once-pristine chambers now resembled a battlefield, with shattered jade and splintered beams strewn everywhere.


    "What¡­ what just happened?" he whispered, his voice hollow.


    The old man chuckled, the sound low and grating. "What happened, Your Majesty, is the beginning of a celestial disaster. If that girl grows into her full power, she''ll bring the fall of reality itself. I''d start hunting her now¡ªif I were you."


    And with that, the two elders disappeared into the shadows, leaving the emperor alone in the ruins of his ambition.


    He slumped onto a pile of shattered jade, dragging a trembling hand down his face. Somewhere out there, that coffin had landed. Somewhere, that impossible power was loose.


    "The fall of reality¡­" The words felt like poison on his tongue.


    ____


    Back at the Xiantian Sect!


    Su Xiaobai''s formation pulsed with light, the intricate lines of energy weaving together like a divine maze. The Void Fracture Stones shimmered in perfect harmony, and the vortex above Sword Peak rippled as if responding to his command.


    "It''s working," he breathed, his voice brimming with a rare, almost smug relief.


    But of course, the heavens had other plans.


    CRACK!


    A thunderous roar ripped through the night as the skies above split apart. Lightning, bright enough to blind a dragon, lashed out from the vortex.


    Su Xiaobai''s first instinct? To squint at it and hope it wasn''t his fault. Spoiler: it was.


    "Get away from it!"


    Before he could come up with a sarcastic retort, Bai Yujian''s hand closed around his arm, yanking him back with the kind of strength that brooked no argument.


    "???"


    Su Xiaobai barely had time to grunt in protest before the formation erupted. A pillar of raw energy shot skyward, colliding with the vortex in a spectacular explosion that felt more like the heavens flipping the table.


    BOOM!


    The training ground didn''t just crack¡ªit disintegrated. A crater, wide enough to make any sect elder faint, yawned beneath their feet. Dust and debris swirled through the air as Bai Yujian landed effortlessly on solid ground, still holding Su Xiaobai upright like a misbehaving toddler.


    She released him with an exhale that sounded suspiciously like disappointment.


    Her gaze swept over the carnage, her expression grim. "It failed..."


    "..."


    Her words were like a brick to the face, heavy and impossible to ignore.


    Buzzzz...


    Su Xiaobai swayed, his head ringing like he''d been hit by a celestial gong. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    His ears buzzed, his vision swam, but the sight of the smoldering crater before him was all too clear.


    "It¡­ failed?" he muttered, his voice shaky.


    Bai Yujian''s tone didn''t soften. "Whoever you were summoning¡­ they''ve been thrown somewhere random. Could be this continent. Could be the next one over. Or worse..."


    Her words hit like a hammer, but Su Xiaobai barely noticed. His mind was already in mess, replaying the collapse over and over. Failed? No. Everything had been perfect. Every rune, every calculation, every line¡ªit had been flawless.


    But as his gaze glued on the crater, a dark thought wormed its way into his mind.


    Something had interfered.


    His hands clenched into fists, frustration bubbling beneath his skin. He''d felt it¡ªa ripple of foreign energy cutting through his array just before the explosion. Whatever it was, it had ruined everything.


    Bai Yujian''s voice broke through his spiraling thoughts. "Listen." She sounded cautious now, like she was trying to soothe a particularly grumpy tiger cub. "We can track the disturbance. It''ll take time, but we''ll find them."


    For a moment, Su Xiaobai didn''t respond. His gaze stayed locked on the crater, his jaw tight.


    Bai Yujian hesitated before stepping closer. She placed a hand on his shoulder, her tone soft but firm. "Hear me¡ª"


    Slap!


    The sound echoed across the ruins.


    Su Xiaobai slapped her hand away without so much as a glance. His voice was cold, laced with a bitterness that wasn''t entirely meant for her. "Leave me alone."


    Bai Yujian froze, her hand hovering midair.


    "..."


    For a moment, the silence was louder than the earlier explosion. Her gaze flicked to her hand, and she stared at it, not in shock, but with the kind of calm that made men start writing their wills.


    Without a word, she turned and walked away, her movements sharp and precise. The snap of her robes was the only sound as she disappeared into the night.


    _____


    The Empty Night Sky!


    Above them, the vortex had long since faded, leaving the heavens eerily still. Su Xiaobai took a few unsteady steps forward, his mind filled with half-formed thoughts.


    Then reality hit him like a flying brick.


    "Fuck¡­"


    He froze mid-step, a cold sweat breaking out on his forehead. He hadn''t just slapped away anyone. That was Bai Yujian¡ªSword Peak''s cold-as-ice elder. The same woman who had just saved his ass from being vaporized by heavenly lightning.


    And now? She was probably adding him to her list of Things to Deal With, right under "polish sword" and "cultivate godlike killing intent."


    Su Xiaobai groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "Great. Just great. I''m out here cursing the higher-ups¡ªyes, you lot¡ªfor screwing with me and wrecking my array, and now I''ve gone and pissed off the scariest woman in the sect. Perfect timing, Xiaobai. Truly. Give yourselves a round of applause."


    He glanced back over his shoulder, half-expecting to see Bai Yujian standing there with her sword already half-drawn.


    But there was nothing¡ªjust the faint wind carrying the scent of scorched earth.


    "She''s going to kill me, isn''t she?" he muttered, his voice flat.


    Still, even as the weight of his mistake pressed down on him, his pride refused to budge. Apologizing? To her? That was about as likely as him giving up cultivation and taking up poetry.


    He rubbed the back of his neck, sighing. "She''ll deal with it. Probably. Maybe. Hopefully."


    But as he turned back toward the shadows, the unease stared back at him. It wasn''t just that he''d slapped her hand away¡ªit was the look in her eyes.


    That brief flicker of something before she''d walked off.


    Shaking off the thought, Su Xiaobai trudged forward, muttering under his breath. "I''ve had worse days. Haven''t I?"

 Chapter 76 - 76: The Letter!

    Shaking off the thought, Su Xiaobai trudged forward, muttering under his breath. "I''ve had worse days. Haven''t I?"


    _____


    Elsewhere in the Sect


    In her chambers, Bai Yujian stood by the window, her cold gaze fixed on the ruined training grounds. The crater left behind by Su Xiaobai''s summoning attempt still shimmered faintly under the moonlight, a quiet reminder of the mess that seemed to follow him like a shadow.


    Her lips curved into the faintest smile, though it did not reach her eyes. "What an odd man," she murmured, her voice flat, devoid of warmth or disdain.


    The silence in her chambers stretched, broken only by the faint rustle of her robes as she shifted her stance.


    ''This new disciple of mine¡­ he''s either a genius or an idiot.''


    For some reason, she couldn''t quite decide which.


    She had expected him to return to her chambers by now, perhaps to grovel or offer some half-hearted excuse for slapping her hand away earlier.


    But the night stretched on, and he had not appeared.


    Even the maid who usually followed him like a shadow was nowhere to be seen.


    Her gaze drifted to the wooden table in the corner, where the scroll he had handed her earlier rested. The memory of his bold declarations flickered in her mind: the way he had spoken with such unshakable sincerity about delivering a love letter to "White Jade Sword," completely unaware that he was speaking to her.


    With a soft sigh, she turned away from the window and crossed the room. Her parasol clattered softly as she leaned it against the wall before settling into the wooden chair.


    Her cold fingers brushed over the scroll''s edge, her curiosity betraying her usual composure. For a moment, she hesitated. Did she really need to read it? It was likely just nonsense.


    But the temptation proved too strong. She unrolled the parchment slowly, her pale fingers lingering on the edges as her eyes began to scan the opening lines.


    _____


    The Letter: Part One


    "To the Peerless White Jade Sword,"


    "You are not merely a woman¡ªyou are a celestial masterpiece. When I first heard your name, I thought it belonged to an ancient artifact, a weapon capable of cleaving stars and splitting heavens. But no, it belongs to you, a goddess whose beauty renders the heavens dull."


    Bai Yujian''s lips twitched faintly, betraying the smallest hint of amusement. She leaned back in her chair, the scroll resting lightly in her pale fingers.


    "A goddess, am I?" she murmured to the empty room, her tone laced with mockery. "This disciple thinks flattery will earn him merit points."


    Yet, as her eyes drifted back to the parchment, she felt a flicker of curiosity. How far will this fool take it?


    _____


    The Letter: Part Two


    "I know I am unworthy of you. I am but a grain of sand beneath the endless ocean of your brilliance. Yet, I swear this: I will ascend every realm, endure every tribulation, and carve my soul into a blade to protect you. My devotion is eternal, and my love boundless."


    Her fingers paused on the edge of the scroll. She exhaled sharply, her usually impassive face softening just slightly.


    A grain of sand beneath my ocean? she thought, an odd sensation stirring in her chest. His words were ridiculous, but¡­ sincere. She could almost hear his voice saying them, his usual arrogance replaced with genuine conviction.


    "No," she muttered, shaking her head. "Conviction isn''t in him. He''s playing some game."


    Yet, her fingers tightened on the parchment as she read on.


    ____


    The Letter: Part Three


    "I dream of holding your hand, walking beneath starlit skies. I dream of our first date¡ªsimple, yet perfect. Beneath a sacred willow, I would pour tea for you, trembling as your lips brushed the cup, each moment burned into my soul like heavenly scripture.*


    Her breath caught slightly, and she frowned.


    She could almost see it: the two of them seated under the swaying branches of a willow tree, moonlight cascading through the leaves. His hand brushed hers as he poured her tea, his sharp eyes uncharacteristically gentle¡ª


    She slammed the scroll onto the table, her spiritual energy rippling faintly. "Ridiculous," she muttered, but her voice lacked its usual icy edge. "He''s never shown me anything close to sincerity."


    Yet the scene in her mind, like a leaf caught on a still pond.


    ____


    The Letter: Part Four


    "Even your robes are sacred. If the dust of the mortal realm dared touch them, I would clean it with my tongue, polishing every thread until it gleamed brighter than the stars."


    Her parasol clattered to the floor as her aura spiked, sending a faint tremor through the room.


    "With his¡­ tongue?!" she hissed, her face flushing crimson. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The mental image of the scene made its way into her mind: Su Xiaobai kneeling before her, his gaze maddeningly reverent, his lips brushing the hem of her robes¡ª his face unusually sincere as he murmured, ''For you, Master.''


    She shook her head violently, banishing the thought. "What insanity is this?!"


    Her aura swirled around her, cooling the heat rising to her cheeks. She considered tossing the scroll into the nearest brazier but hesitated, her curiosity proving far too stubborn.


    ____


    The Letter: Part Five


    "But even this is not enough. I dream of worshipping at your feet, kissing them until my lips are swollen, offering my back as your eternal throne. My unworthy body exists solely to carry your divine weight."


    Her aura surged wildly, the air in her chamber growing heavy as her face burned a deep crimson.


    "Divine weight?" she exclaimed, slamming her palm against the table.


    The image of Su Xiaobai¡ªhis usual smirk replaced with sincerity¡ªkneeling at her feet, his lips brushing the curve of her ankle, burned unbidden into her thoughts.


    "This boy¡­" she muttered hoarsely, pacing furiously. "Has he gone insane?!"


    She rubbed her temples, trying to suppress the vivid mental images. ''This has to be some kind of test of fate.''


    _____


    The Letter: Part Six


    "But most of all, I dream of undressing you. My trembling hands would slip beneath your robes, tracing the perfection of your skin. Your soft cries would echo like the sweetest hymn, carving themselves into my soul for eternity."


    She exploded, shaking the chamber as her parasol flew across the room.


    "WHAT?!" she shouted, her voice reverberating through the walls.


    But the words had already sunk into her mind, refusing to leave. She could almost feel his hands, his lips grazing the curve of her neck, his voice murmuring her name like a prayer¡ª


    Her fist clenched, and she forced herself to her feet. "This is filth!" she snapped, pacing with sharp, angry strides.


    Yet despite her protests, her gaze kept drifting back to the scroll.


    ____


    The Letter: Part Seven


    "Even if I can never touch you, I would carve my devotion into the stars themselves. The heavens would be my parchment, the cosmos my ink. Every living thing would know of my love for you."


    Her breath caught, and she froze. The sheer absurdity of his words¡ªand the unshakable sincerity behind them¡ªsent an unbidden warmth curling in her chest.


    She slammed the scroll shut, breathing heavily as she sat down. "This disciple¡­ what is he thinking?"


    Her eyes flickered to the window, her thoughts spinning. She had half a mind to summon him and demand an explanation, but the very idea made her cheeks burn.


    ____


    Outside the Sect Grounds.


    Su Xiaobai lounged comfortably beneath a sprawling tree, arms crossed behind his head as he gazed at the stars. The cool night breeze carried the faint aroma of roasting meat, mingling with the soft crackle of a small fire nearby.


    "I don''t know why," he muttered, a sly smile curling his lips, "but I feel like someone''s cursing me right now."


    Abruptly, he sneezed, rubbing his nose with an exaggerated sniff. "Or maybe they''re just thinking about how handsome I am. Can''t blame them, really."


    Xiao Lu, crouched by the fire and meticulously turning a spit of meat, rolled her eyes so hard it seemed they might stick. "Master, could you try being humble just once in your life?"


    Su Xiaobai waved her off lazily, his smirk deepening. "Humble? Impossible. A man destined for greatness can''t afford to be ordinary. How could I, Su Xiaobai, be anything but extraordinary?"


    Xiao Lu muttered under her breath, tossing another log into the fire. "Fine, fine. You''re extraordinary, Master. But even the great and mighty Su Xiaobai still can''t hunt for himself."


    ______


    Far Away, in the Royal Palace.


    Deep within the grand halls of the royal palace, Wei Jun paced back and forth, his hands wringing together as anxiety etched lines across his pale face.


    "Has Brother Su delivered it yet?" he mumbled, clutching at his hair. "She must have received it by now. She has to fall for me this time!"


    Straightening his posture, he puffed out his chest, imagining Bai Yujian swooning over his carefully crafted calligraphy. "There''s no way my letter didn''t work. My passion, my sincerity¡ªthey''re unmatched!"


    Unmatched indeed¡ªunmatched in how they had stirred utter chaos.

 Chapter 77 - 77: Angry Bai Yujian!

    In Bai Yujian''s Chambers.


    Bai Yujian leaned back in her chair, the scroll discarded on the table before her. Her gaze was cold, yet beneath her icy exterior, her thoughts churned like a turbulent storm.


    "This night¡­" she murmured hoarsely, her voice trembling with suppressed rage, "¡­will haunt me for eternity."


    Her fingers twitched as she struggled to remain composed. The memory of the letter burned in her mind, each absurd line rekindling emotions she had buried long ago.


    With a sharp inhale, she rose, her expression hardening into resolve. "No," she muttered, gripping her parasol tightly. "I must speak to him. I can''t allow him to continue down this path."


    Her gaze drifted to the moonlit window. As an elder of the Xiantian Sect, she had faced countless love-struck disciples in her time. Her presence, radiant and unapproachable, had once sparked countless infatuations, some even leading disciples to abandon their cultivation.


    In the end, she retreated into solitude, drawing a boundary not out of preference but necessity¡ªfor the sect''s stability.


    But Su Xiaobai''s letter¡­


    She clenched her fists. "This is different. This isn''t love¡ªit''s obsession."


    Yet it wasn''t merely his words that troubled her. It was the memories the letter had unearthed.


    ____


    Memories of the Past.


    Five thousand years ago, the Xiantian Sect was founded on a foundation of righteousness, a bastion of virtue in an increasingly chaotic world. Bai Yujian had grown alongside the sect, mentored personally by its first sect master. Yet over time, that foundation had begun to crumble.


    The sect''s founder¡ªthe man who had raised and taught her¡ªhad strayed. What had begun as a righteous bond between master and disciple had twisted into something far darker. He had abandoned the sect''s principles, proposing to her in his madness.


    Bai Yujian had been forced to act. She had cleaved his heart in half, an act of mercy shrouded in the guise of justice. To this day, the truth was known only to her¡ªa secret buried to protect the sect''s dignity.


    And now, that same story seemed poised to repeat itself, though in reverse. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Su Xiaobai¡­" she murmured, pacing her chambers. "Was it a mistake to accept him as my disciple?"


    Her gaze darkened as she clutched her parasol. "No. I won''t let history repeat itself. Not again."


    As she brooded, a single line from the letter resurfaced in her mind.


    ____


    "After my mother passed, the most treasured person in my heart was my little sister¡­ until I met you."


    The words froze her. He had never mentioned his family before¡ªnot his sister, not his mother.


    Her frown deepened as fragments of Su Xiaobai''s behavior began to slot together. His desperation, his obsession¡ªwas it all tied to his sister? Was she the "most treasured person" he had mentioned?


    She sighed, frustration creeping into her voice. "If this was about his family, why didn''t he simply ask for help?"


    Yet the letter hinted at something deeper. His sister was important, yes¡ªbut he had placed his master above her.


    Her chest tightened. "Me?" she murmured.


    Despite herself, Bai Yujian felt a flicker of sympathy. Shaking her head, she resolved, "I must help him."


    ____


    The moonlit night stretched on as Bai Yujian stepped outside, her figure drifting weightlessly into the air. The stars shimmered faintly as she flew across the sect grounds, her senses sharpening. If Su Xiaobai truly had a surviving family member, she would find them. If his summoning array had malfunctioned, she would uncover its remnants.


    Few in the sect understood her true power. Though she lived under the guise of an elder, Bai Yujian was one of the sect''s silent protectors¡ªa cultivator at the peak of the Great Ascension Realm, standing on the cusp of the Human Immortal Realm.


    Her role was simple: to guide the sect along its principles and, when necessary, eliminate those who strayed¡ªeven the sect master.


    Su Xiaobai had no idea he was playing with fire.


    The night blurred as Bai Yujian traversed Yue Country and even ventured into the vast Tianlong Empire. Her divine senses swept through countless towns and cities, searching for traces of his family or his failed astral gate.


    Yet, no definitive clues emerged. Her frustration only deepened her resolve.


    _____


    Back at the Tree.


    Unaware of the storm brewing around him, Su Xiaobai stretched under the tree, yawning. "Tomorrow''s going to be interesting," he said, grinning at the stars.


    Xiao Lu glanced at him warily. "Why do you look so ''confident'', Master?"


    Su Xiaobai''s grin widened lazily. "Oh, just a hunch."


    He had come up with a brilliant plan: if he could take points by defeating others, why not start beating people tomorrow?


    Above him, Bai Yujian flew across the mainland, her mind heavy with questions she wasn''t certain she wanted answered.


    _______


    Outside the Sect Grounds.


    The morning sun beat down on Sword Peak like a fiery bastard with no shame, and Bai Yujian''s face looked like she was one insult away from murdering the sun itself. Twelve fucking hours.


    She''d combed through the entire continent like some crazed debt collector chasing late payments, only to land here¡ªon the stone path¡ªlooking like she''d been dragged face-first through a charcoal pit and rolled down the mountain for good measure.


    Her once pristine robes? Filthy. Her usually impeccable hair? Loose and wild like she''d gone drinking with demons. Her face, normally so untouchably serene, now wore a thin layer of dust like an insult to her dignity. Bai Yujian was the very picture of an overworked, underpaid immortal who''d been handed the sect''s collective bullshit on a platter.


    And the worst part?


    Sword Peak was empty.


    Not a disciple in sight. No shouts, no grunts, no training. Just silence¡ªdead, suspicious silence.


    "What in the nine flaming hells¡­" she muttered, voice colder than her ex''s heart.


    Then she heard it¡ªROOOOAR.


    A thunderous roar erupted across the mountains, loud enough to rattle her teeth. She whipped her head toward the Martial Ascension Arena, where tens of thousands of disciples swarmed like flies on fresh cow shit, screaming and hooting like they were at some heavenly brothel''s grand opening.


    "What now?" she hissed.


    Her answer arrived in the form of two all-too-familiar figures walking up the path: Hu Mei''er and Hu Jiao''er, the infamous Hu twins.


    Now, let''s get this straight¡ªthese two weren''t just hot. Calling them "beautiful" would be like calling a dragon "just a lizard." The kind of women whose curves could derail a meditation session, whose smiles could make seasoned cultivators renounce celibacy and beg for punishment. Hu Mei''er, with her soft, honey-dripping voice and demure elegance, was every pervert''s dream concubine. Meanwhile, Hu Jiao''er had that dangerous, brash confidence that made men want to get stepped on¡ªand thank her for it.


    The twins came strolling up, their robes tight in all the right places, their long white hair swaying like silk banners in the breeze. Perfection? Sure. But Bai Yujian wasn''t in the mood to appreciate anyone''s tits today.


    They froze when they saw her. To be fair, Bai Yujian looked less like the revered Elder of Sword Peak and more like a demoness who''d just crawled out of a warzone.


    "Uh¡­ Elder Bai?" Hu Mei''er blinked innocently, her soft voice trying to cover her shock.


    Hu Jiao''er, though? That bitch wasn''t subtle.


    She let out a long, teasing whistle that echoed through the mountain. "Holy shit, Elder Bai, did you wrestle a dragon last night? And win?"


    Bai Yujian''s left eye twitched violently, her grip on her parasol tightening like it was the twins'' necks. "What''s happening in the sect?" she snapped, her voice so sharp it could''ve cut through plate armor. "Why is everyone at the arena?"


    The twins exchanged a look¡ªa sly, knowing glance that screamed "we know something you don''t."


    Now, anyone who wasn''t a complete moron could see these two were up to no good.


    Hell, Su Xiaobai himself had taken one look at them during the disciple selection process and muttered, ''These two? They''re either spies, succubi, or both. I''m not touching that with a ten-foot spear.''


    He wasn''t wrong.


    On paper, the Hu twins were simple ''newly joined'' outer court disciples¡ªgorgeous, charming, and harmless. But in truth?


    The truth was far juicier. Hu Mei''er and Hu Jiao''er were core disciples in disguise, tasked with rooting out spies, irregularities, and all-around nonsense during the selection process. Every tournament, one peak drew the short straw. This year, Sword Peak got screwed.


    Hu Mei''er finally cleared her throat, a delicate little sound that would''ve seemed innocent if she didn''t look like a fox about to raid a henhouse. "It''s the new disciple, Elder."


    Bai Yujian''s eyes narrowed like a predator spotting prey. "Su Xiaobai¡­?"


    Hu Jiao''er grinned like the devil had just whispered a dirty joke in her ear. "That''s the one. The little bastard''s challenged the entire outer court. Every last one of them."


    Bai Yujian blinked. Just once. Then again. "¡­He did what?"


    "It''s true." Hu Mei''er''s smile widened, full of amusement. "He''s been at it since dawn. He''s already wiped the floor with the ranked disciples."


    Hu Jiao''er shrugged, stretching her arms lazily. Her robes pulled just so, and Bai Yujian swore she heard the collective groans of a thousand desperate male disciples somewhere in the distance. "It''s honestly embarrassing for them now. We left halfway through. It''s like watching a child beat up sandbags."


    Bai Yujian''s knuckles turned white as she gripped her parasol harder, her jaw clenching. This dumbass¡ªthis suicidal, arrogant, no-brain idiot¡ªhad challenged thousands of disciples? The outer court wasn''t some random group of wannabe cultivators either. Many of them were already at Core Formation or Earthly Rebirth Realm.


    "¡­Does he think he''s a god?"

 Chapter 78 - 78: Harvesting Contribution Points like a Madman!

    "¡­Does he think he''s a god?"


    Bai Yujian muttered, her voice trembling between disbelief and homicidal rage.


    Hu Mei''er tilted her head innocently, her eyes glinting with mischief. "It''s impressive, isn''t it? Not every day someone kicks the sect in the nuts like this."


    Hu Jiao''er smirked wickedly. "The kid''s got balls, Elder Bai. Giant, shiny ones. Core disciples are even peeking in now, wondering how long he can keep it up. We''re not missing a show like this."


    WHOOSH!


    Before either of them could blink, Bai Yujian vanished¡ªher figure tearing through the air in a flash of silver light, like a divine sword slicing straight toward the arena.


    The twins stared at the empty space where she''d been, the air still buzzing with her lingering aura.


    "¡­She''s pissed," Hu Jiao''er muttered, crossing her arms beneath her chest.


    Hu Mei''er chuckled softly, her voice dripping with amusement. "She''s not as calm as she looks. That new guy''s really shaking up the place. It''s been a while since the sect''s seen someone so¡­ entertaining."


    Jiao''er grinned, her eyes narrowing as she watched the arena in the distance. "I''ll give the little villain this¡ªhe knows how to make life interesting. If he keeps this up, I might even let him peek down my robes as a reward."


    Hu Mei''er rolled her eyes, though a smile tugged at her lips. "Only after he earns it."


    The distant roar of the crowd shook the air again, echoing across Sword Peak. Somewhere down there, Su Xiaobai was probably grinning like a lunatic, wondering which idiot would come up next.


    And high above, Bai Yujian was closing in, her killing intent so heavy it could''ve flattened mountains.


    If Su Xiaobai had any sense left in his skull, he''d start running now.


    Here she was, burning through her precious time and patience, scouring every corner of the continent to track down his little sister¡ªonly to find out this dumb bastard was off stirring up more trouble like a goddamned calamity given human form.


    More than that, did he not get it?!


    Half the sect already wanted his head on a platter, sharpening their swords and praying to the heavens for the tiniest excuse to gut him. And without her watching his back, that arrogant brat wouldn''t last two breaths before someone turned him into a corpse.


    "Does this fool not understand?!" Bai Yujian seethed as she shot through the sky, qi roaring behind her like a comet. I leave him alone for one night¡ªONE NIGHT¡ªand he''s already challenging half the sect to a death match?!


    She could almost see it now¡ªsome conniving bastard from another peak shoving a sword through his back the second he got tired, then claiming it was "an accident" while everyone else nodded along like it wasn''t total bullshit.


    Bai Yujian''s fingers curled tighter around her parasol as killing intent crackled through the air. "That ungrateful disciple," she hissed. "If anyone kills him, it''ll be me first!"


    ______


    Martial Ascension Arena!


    "Hahaha! Who''s next?!"


    Su Xiaobai''s voice thundered across the arena, casual as if he were calling dibs on the last dumpling at a banquet. His name blazed on the ranking board, now parked smugly in third place¡ªbasically a giant middle finger to the entire sect.


    Around him, the stage was a disaster zone: broken limbs, shattered egos, and overworked healers dragging away groaning disciples who had learned the hard way that arrogance doesn''t count as cultivation.


    At his feet, Lan Meiyu lay sprawled in the dirt, her once-pristine robes caked in mud. Her hair looked like it had been through a windstorm, and her fists clenched tight as her body trembled¡ªnot from fear, but from sheer, unfiltered rage.


    "Ugh¡­ You bastard, get off me!" she snarled, her voice dripping with venom.


    Su Xiaobai grinned down at her, his foot planted beside her head like he was claiming a mountain peak. "Didn''t you say you''d slap me to death? Go on, Senior Sister, I''m still waiting for that slap."


    Lan Meiyu''s face turned the color of a ripe tomato. She had strutted onto this stage intending to grind him into paste. She was no small fry, either¡ªa late-stage Rebirth Realm cultivator, ranked third in the outer court. People trembled at her name!


    But now? She was tasting dirt.


    The crowd was having the time of their lives.


    "Is he really just standing there? What an asshole."


    "At least help her up! What kind of barbarian is this?"


    "Help her up? The guy probably doesn''t even know what ''help'' means!"


    Su Xiaobai ignored the peanut gallery. His gaze swept the crowd, calculating his total loot. Three hundred thousand contribution points. Not bad for a morning''s work.


    "Su Xiaobai! Enough of this farce!"


    The voice that boomed across the arena could have flattened mountains. Han Xuan, the iron mountain peak lord, was not a man to mess with. Built like a boulder and just as easy to move, his aura practically screamed, Behave, or I''ll grind you into a fine powder.


    He had come here for the spectacle but ended up playing referee, keeping the mob from rushing the stage and ending Su Xiaobai in a "tragic accident."


    Afterall, left unchecked, the cocky brat was about one step away from inspiring a riot.


    "You''ve caused enough mess! Get off the stage before I throw you off myself!"


    Su Xiaobai arched an eyebrow, completely unfazed. "Mess? I''m just following the sect rules, Elder Han. They challenge me; I fight. I win, I take their points. Isn''t that how it works?"


    The crowd exchanged uneasy glances. Technically, he wasn''t wrong. But there''s "following the rules," and then there''s what Su Xiaobai was doing. The guy wasn''t just fighting; he was systematically bulldozing through the entire outer court.


    At first, it had been funny. A cocky disciple taking on a handful of challengers? Classic. But then he started taking down hundreds. When he moved on to the top ten ranked disciples, it stopped being funny and became terrifying.


    Now only the top two outer court disciples remained. Or rather, they had remained. Both had conveniently ''remembered important appointments'' and bolted before Su Xiaobai could humiliate them too.


    "This guy hasn''t even used his puppet yet," someone muttered.


    Han Xuan stiffened. He''d noticed it too. At the edge of the stage stood Su Xiaobai''s infamous trump card¡ªa puppet in the form of a girl, its combat abilities so devastating it could mop the floor with entire teams of disciples. And yet, it had remained idle the entire time.


    "This monster¡­" Han Xuan muttered under his breath. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Su Xiaobai stretched lazily, his hands on his hips as he scanned the crowd like a predator eyeing fresh prey.


    ''Three hundred thousand points isn''t enough¡­ I need more.''


    Thanks to his celestial inscriber''s skills, he had already drawn combat arrays mid-fight, conserving energy and smashing challengers like it was child''s play. Against Mystic Peak disciples, he''d had to put in some effort. But these outer court amateurs?


    They couldn''t even spell "f.o.r.m.a.t.i.o.n.s."


    Still, there was a problem.


    Even after all this, he wasn''t close to the ''million points'' he needed to ''retry'' the Astral Gate Array.


    Yesterday''s failure still stung, and if he had to crush every idiot in this sect to succeed, so be it.


    The only question was¡­ who to crush next?

 Chapter 79 - 79: Identity Exposed!! The Side Chick Turns Out to Be the Main Wife?!

    "Oi, you two!" His voice rang out, sharp and loud, as he pointed at two figures in the crowd¡ªYu Feng and Zhou Feng, his favourite odd couple. "Get your asses up here. Let''s have a chat!"


    Yu Feng''s lip twitched. This brat! Did he have any idea who he was messing with? She fought the urge to break her cover, unleash her true cultivation, and bury him six feet under.


    "Brother Xiaobai, I don''t have time for your idiocy," she said coldly, her arms crossed as though she were judging an insect. Right now, in her disguise as Xiao Yu, her voice carried a manly tone¡ªdeep and unruffled, like she was above it all. She tilted her head and added with a sweet smile, "But if you really want contribution points, try begging! Who knows? It might just work."


    The crowd burst into laughter, the sharp, mocking kind that only made things worse. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "..." Su Xiaobai''s grin twitched.


    Fatty Zhou scratched his head, looking sheepish, added. "Uh, brother¡­ I don''t have many points left. If you want a big haul, you should try Brother Zhenhai. He''s got more points than all of us combined."


    He gestured toward a tall, imposing figure at the edge of the crowd¡ªLiu Zhenhai, ranked eighth in the inner court.


    Like Su Xiaobai, he was one of Bai Yujian''s personal disciples.


    Liu Zhenhai had originally come to watch Lan Meiyu put Su Xiaobai in his place. But after seeing her get stomped into the ground, he''d lost interest. Now, his sharp gaze was fixed squarely on Su Xiaobai.


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes lit up for a moment¡ªthen dimmed when he felt the man''s aura.


    Liu Zhenhai wasn''t just strong.


    He was at the soul fusion realm.


    "Fatty, why the hell are you trying to ruin my reputation?" Su Xiaobai hissed under his breath.


    Liu Zhenhai snorted, his gaze like a blade. Did this cocky brat actually think he could take on a Soul Fusion Realm cultivator?


    Beating outer disciples was one thing.


    But this?


    This was practically begging for a beating.


    Hiss~~


    "Is he really gonna fight Liu Zhenhai?" someone whispered.


    "Does he even have a death wish that big?"


    Su Xiaobai''s fingers twitched as his brain worked overtime. This wasn''t part of the plan. He''d wanted points, not a one-way ticket to the afterlife.


    ''Fatty Zhou, you big-mouthed traitor. If I live through this, I''m feeding you to a spirit beast.''


    The arena fell silent. All eyes were on Su Xiaobai, waiting to see if he''d dare to take the bait.


    His confident smile stiffened. For once, it seemed like his carefully crafted plans had come crashing down around him.


    Liu Zhenhai didn''t wait for Su Xiaobai to respond. Instead, he stepped into the arena with an unhurried grace, each step a measured strike against the silence. His boots hit the stage like the rhythmic beat of war drums, steady and ominous.


    Su Xiaobai raised an eyebrow. Oh, great. Here comes Sword Saint.


    Liu Zhenhai''s eyes were cold, sharp, and unwavering¡ªlike a sword tempered in the void itself. His expression betrayed no emotion at first glance, but the subtle clench of his jaw and the faint flicker of disdain in his gaze spoke everything.


    He hadn''t always looked at Su Xiaobai like this. No, the disdain came later¡ªwhen Bai Yujian, the revered Sword Fairy of Bai Peak, made an announcement that shook his world.


    She had taken another disciple.


    And not just any disciple. A rat.


    That''s what Su Xiaobai was to him. Not even a proper opponent, but some scrappy, opportunistic rodden who had clawed his way up the ranks through sheer audacity and luck. To Liu Zhenhai, the idea of sharing the title of "personal disciple" with Su Xiaobai was nothing short of blasphemy.


    "I will teach my Junior Brother a few moves," Liu Zhenhai said, his voice calm but heavy with unsaid threats. His words cut through the crowd''s murmurs like the slash of a blade. There was no arrogance in his tone, only the quiet confidence of a man who knew exactly where he stood¡ªwith his sword above all.


    He didn''t smirk or sneer. No, Liu Zhenhai wasn''t the type to lower himself with cheap theatrics. Instead, he regarded Su Xiaobai with the same dispassion he might show a practice dummy.


    The crowd erupted in whispers.


    "Is he really going to fight Su Xiaobai?"


    "This isn''t a fight; it''s a funeral in the making!"


    Su Xiaobai tilted his head, lazily scratching the back of his neck. "Oh? You want to teach me? That''s sweet, Senior Brother. Are you planning to tuck me in after, too? Maybe read me a bedtime story?"


    Liu Zhenhai''s expression didn''t change, but the faintest twitch in his fingers betrayed his irritation. "Your tongue is as reckless as your actions, Junior Brother. I simply can''t have you dragging our master''s name through the dirt with your¡­ antics."


    He gestured toward the arena, where defeated disciples still groaned and healers scrambled to patch them up. "A proper disciple of the White Jade Sword should carry himself with honor. Not like some¡­ rabid dog off its leash."


    Su Xiaobai''s smirk faltered for a moment. "Wait, what did you say again?"


    "I said, stop embarrassing our master."


    "No, you idiot," Su Xiaobai snapped. "Who the hell did you call the White Jade Sword?"


    Liu Zhenhai frowned, his brow furrowing just slightly. "You don''t even know Master''s title?" His voice dropped an octave, his disdain sharpening, "And you call yourself her disciple. Tch. You''re an insult to her name."


    "..."


    Su Xiaobai''s face darkened, but not for the reasons the crowd suspected. While they whispered among themselves about how disgraceful it was that Su Xiaobai didn''t even know his own master''s title, Su Xiaobai was spiraling into an inner crisis.


    Their opinions didn''t even matter. What mattered was the nuclear-level panic detonating in his head.


    Fuck. Fuck. FUCK.


    Bai Yujian is the White Jade Sword!?


    The legendary White Jade Sword!??


    The one whom that Prince was simping for day and night after!?


    All this time she was the one¡­ Wait¡­ shit. He remembered now. She did call herself that during the trials in the cave!


    Dammit!


    And then there was the love letter.


    Oh, heavens. Yesterday, he''d handed her the damn thing with a cocky grin, practically throwing himself at her feet like a horny beast in heat. Not to mention the endless stream of bullshit he''d spat right to her face.


    ''Wei Jun, please tell me you clarified your identity in that letter. Otherwise, I''m beyond screwed.''


    "..."


    Liu Zhenhai''s cold glare softened into something unreadable. Then, to Su Xiaobai''s absolute horror, the man bowed. Deeply.


    The crowd''s whispers turned into a roar.


    Su Xiaobai blinked, his brain stalling like a rusted sword jammed in its sheath. Wait. Why is he bowing?


    A cold chill crept up his spine. Oh no. Oh no, no, no, no.


    He chuckled nervously, his laugh as shaky as his knees. Slowly, he began to turn his head, every muscle in his neck protesting as if the heavens themselves were trying to stop him.


    Behind him, the faint sound of footsteps echoed¡ªcalm, deliberate, and far too ominous for his liking.


    Don''t tell me she''s behind me.


    He chuckled again, this time louder and more forced. His head tilted back just enough to catch the edge of a white robe and a glint of steel at her hip.


    The words he''d been dreading finally came, spoken in that calm, measured tone that could chill even the bravest soul to the core.


    "Su Xiaobai," Bai Yujian said softly, her words cleaving through the air like a blade through silk. "I believe we need to have a proper¡­ conversation."


    Su Xiaobai''s vision blurred for a moment. ''Of course. The chapter just had to end on a cliffhanger.''

 Chapter 80 - 80: Meeting the Big Boss!

    "..."


    "..."


    Tap... Tap...


    The faint echo of Bai Yujian''s footsteps filled the silence, each step measured, each tap like a drumbeat announcing Su Xiaobai''s impending doom. He trailed behind her like a criminal on death row, his thoughts swirling in evil.


    Her last words, "We need to have a proper... conversation," hugged to him like a leech, sucking away any hope of this being just another casual stroll.


    ''What kind of ''conversation'' needs a scenic hike up the sect''s grandest peak?'' he wondered bitterly, his gaze drifting upward.


    The grand staircase stretched endlessly into the heavens, lined by waterfalls that shimmered like liquid jade¡ªpretentious, and entirely unnecessary, just like most things in this world.


    "Where are we going?" he asked, trying to sound casual but failing miserably.


    Bai Yujian moved with her usual unhurried grace, her parasol swaying lightly in her grip.


    She gave no answer.


    Eventually, they stopped before a narrow archway carved seamlessly into the mountainside. Its runes pulsed faintly with an otherworldly glow, practically screaming: Trespassers will be obliterated.


    "This will be your residence moving forward," Bai Yujian said, her tone as flat as her interest in his opinion.


    Su Xiaobai blinked. "Wait, my own residence?"


    Her gaze shifted to him, icy and unimpressed. "Did you expect to live in a chicken coop? You are my personal disciple, not some nameless sect drifter."


    He raised an eyebrow, muttering under his breath, "Considering how I''ve treated you so far, I wouldn''t blame you for chucking me into a chicken coop."


    She ignored him and gestured for him to enter.


    Buzz~


    Inside, the air hummed faintly with spiritual energy. The polished stone floors gleamed with embedded spirit veins, pulsing in time with the mountain''s heartbeat. A skylight above bathed the room in ethereal moonlight, which cascaded onto a pristine jade bed.


    Shelves lined the walls, still empty but clearly waiting for manuals, treasures, or whatever other nonsense the sect thought he''d earn. An adjoining meditation chamber glimmered invitingly, its aura practically whispering, Work harder, loser.


    "Personal disciples of peak lords are afforded certain privileges," Bai Yujian explained coolly. "This cave is outfitted with a spiritual gathering array. It will amplify your cultivation efforts. You are free to use it as you see fit¡ªso long as you don''t squander the opportunity."


    Su Xiaobai whistled low as he strolled through the room, "Well, this is... extravagant. Definitely better than the damp dorm I was expecting."


    However, as his gaze wandered, his eyes fell on a peculiar inscription carved into the wall in bold, elegant script:


    [Disciple Su Xiaobai''s cultivation progress: 2%.


    Love letter writing skills: 200%.]


    His smile froze.


    "...What the hell is this?"


    Bai Yujian''s stoic face betrayed a flicker of amusement. "Truth, as recorded by the mountain itself. Do you take issue with it?"


    Su Xiaobai ran a hand down his face, groaning, "Elder, are we really doing this? Are we playing ''Who Can Roast Who Better'' now?"


    Her lips curved slightly, a faint smile breaking her icy veneer. "Did I lie?"


    "..."


    ''This woman... Is she seriously messing with me?''


    The love letter wasn''t even his fault.


    Su Xiaobai forced a calm smile, though his thoughts were disdainfull, ''I, a modern villain from the twenty-first century, believe in driving sports cars and taking shortcuts¡ªnot delivering love letters like some middle school fool.''


    However, after a moment of frustration, he added, "Well, thank you for the luxurious accommodations. I''ll be sure to engrave your generosity into my heart¡ªor perhaps onto the walls next time."


    She turned without comment, her parasol swaying as she headed for the exit. Over her shoulder, she said, "Once you''re done settling in, come to the sect hall. The sect master wishes to see you. As for your little incident outside, it''s up for review..."


    ___


    In the Cave.


    Thud!


    The moment Bai Yujian left, Su Xiaobai flopped onto the jade bed like a dead fish. The cool surface kissed his bruised body, dragging a groan out of him that sounded like a dying donkey.


    "Fancy place," he muttered, eyeing sunlight pouring through the skylight. "Feels like I should be sacrificing virgins to it."


    He let out a snort, shaking his head. "The sect master, huh?" A grin tugged at his lips. "Guess my little act impressed the big boss."


    His plan had been straightforward¡ªjoin the sect, snatch some treasures, and disappear. But noooo, one little "accident" at the entrance ceremony, and suddenly everyone was calling him "heaven''s favored genius."


    Now, blending in was about as likely as sneaking past a dragon with a dinner bell tied to his ass.


    "If you can''t hide," he muttered, smirking, "then blind them with your brilliance."


    He stretched out lazily, his eyes gleaming. If they wanted a prodigy, he''d give them one. He''d drink their resources dry, hide behind their protection, and climb the ladder while they patted themselves on the back for "raising a genius."


    Challenging the outer court en masse?


    Risky, but worth it.


    He''d just raised his value like a rare auction item.


    "Resources, protection¡­ maybe even a way to deal with that blowhard Elder Liu," he thought, grin turning wicked. "All they have to do is think I''m worth more alive than dead."


    Still, things hadn''t been smooth.


    "That fat bastard," he growled, remembering the loudmouth disciple who almost blew his cover.


    Then there was Bai Yujian¡ªhis "master," the White Jade Sword. Her presence was a wild card that complicated everything.


    Likely, the higher-ups saw through his act, a reminder that while he could pretend to be heaven''s chosen, they weren''t blind.


    "No problem," he muttered, voice low. "Too late for them to stop me now. They need me. If they don''t know it yet, they will soon."


    He leaned back, eyes narrowing. Worst case? They left him to fend for himself. But with three hundred thousand contribution points in the bag and seven hundred thousand more to go, the Astral Gate Array was still in reach.


    "If they won''t help me, I''ll strip this place clean and reach my goal anyway," he said, his tone icy but determined.


    Sitting up, he dusted off his robes like a peacock preening. "Mid-stage Core Formation already," he muttered, the smallest flicker of pride slipping out.


    The recent fights had shoved his cultivation forward.


    "Life-and-death brawls¡ªnature''s cheat code," he added with a dry laugh.


    His gaze flicked to the glowing spiritual veins under the bed. "Pain is progress, suffering is strength... What kind of sadist wrote the rules of this world?" S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Standing, he adjusted his robes, every move slow and deliberate. His face was blank, but his eyes burned with sharp intent.


    Whatever the sect hall had planned, he''d twist it to his advantage.


    Let them bask in their illusion of control. By the time they realized the truth, the game would already be his to claim.


    ____


    An Hour Later ¡ª Sect Hall


    The sect hall buzzed with an unusual tension. Today, it was packed¡ªelders from every peak had gathered, their sharp gazes slicing through everything like invisible swords.


    Hiss~!


    The moment Su Xiaobai stepped inside, it felt as if the weight of a hundred eyes pinned him in place, each one scrutinizing him like a piece of meat tossed into a den of starving lions.


    If not for Bai Yujian at his side, there was no way in hell he''d willingly walk into this den of monsters. Whatever awaited him here, it wasn''t going to be pretty¡ªbut backing out now wasn''t an option.

 Chapter 81 - 81: Trial of Shadows!

    The Sect Hall.


    Whoosh!


    Su Xiaobai stepped through towering doors etched with phoenixes and dragons locked in eternal battle. The hall yawned out like a beast''s belly, lit by jade lanterns that floated around like drunken fireflies, casting long shadows.


    Rows of elders lined the sides, their robes a vivid display of sect hierarchy. Fire Peak Elders glowed in red like walking coals, Verdant Peak''s green robes oozed ''look at us, we''re so earthy,'' and Frost Peak''s icy blue screamed, ''don''t talk to me.'' But their faces? Predatory. Every single one of them. Like hawks eyeing a chicken dinner.


    Yeah, the hall was exactly what Su Xiaobai had imagined¡ªstuffy, judgmental, and packed with people he wouldn''t piss on if they were on fire.


    ''Vultures. All of them. Just waiting for me to trip so they can claw me to bits.''


    His eye twitched. Not a single "regular" elder in sight.


    Nope, every seat was occupied by a Peak Lord, the highest echelon of power, who flaunted their freedom from uniform constraints.


    Meanwhile, the regular elders were stuck with their grape-colored uniforms.


    Seriously, who thought ''purple'' was intimidating?


    Wait¡ªscratch that. There was one grape.


    Elder Xu An. Oh, great. The same guy who''d watched him "discipline" some bratty disciples earlier and didn''t lift a finger because Elder Han had been nearby. And now? There he was, standing next to the Sect Master.


    Su Xiaobai''s eyebrow twitched harder. This guy? Su Xiaobai thought he was just a mid-level watchdog, barking at juniors for fun. But now he''s playing the big dog next to the Sect Master?


    Judging by the Sect Master''s face, even he wasn''t thrilled about the reshuffling.


    Little did Su Xiaobai know, the Sect Master was having the same ''what the hell'' moment.


    ''Someone standing beside Bai Yujian? She doesn''t escort anyone¡ªnot even Liu Zhenhai, her other disciple. What game is she playing now?''


    Before Su Xiaobai could puzzle it out, his gaze snagged on Liu Chenfu, the Peak Lord of Stormfire Peak, whose fiery glare practically screamed die.


    Ah, right. He ''accidentally'' crippled some of his disciples today. Boo-hoo. Not Su Xiaobai''s fault they couldn''t handle a little sparring.


    Some elders looked like they wanted to roast him alive; others seemed torn between annoyance and reluctant respect. Su Xiaobai smiled to himself. Guess today''s big event is "How to Screw Over Su Xiaobai."


    And then, he saw her.


    A woman lounging in her chair like she owned the place, waving at him as if they were best friends from another life. Her green robe hugged her figure like it was sewn by a pervert, not exposing much but somehow making him feel like it didn''t need to.


    She looked like she belonged in a pleasure house, not a Sect Hall¡ªbreathtaking, sultry, and completely out of place.


    Su Xiaobai blinked. ''Do I know her?''


    Before he could sort through his mental catalog of mistakes and regrets, the Sect Master''s voice echoed sharply, "Qingqing, behave yourself."


    The room collectively snapped to attention as the woman¡ªQingqing, apparently¡ªdropped her hand with a lazy smile. But her gaze stayed locked on Su Xiaobai, gleaming with amusement, like she knew something he didn''t.


    Her eyes sent a chill down his spine.


    What is she? A predator? A serial heartbreaker?


    "Ahem." Bai Yujian''s cold glare shut Qingqing up faster than a slapped talisman. Straightening her posture, Qingqing gave the Bai Yujian a fake smile but couldn''t resist sneaking glances at Su Xiaobai.


    ''Who the hell is this woman?'' Su Xiaobai''s brain buzzed with questions.


    And why is she interested in him?


    His irritation bubbled up. Don''t tell me they''re about to drop a bomb like, "Hey, Su Xiaobai, congrats on your new psycho wife." No thanks. He''s not signing up for a lifetime of dodging a woman who can kill him by sneezing.


    Finally, his gaze landed on the Sect Master himself¡ªa man who looked like he balanced calm wisdom and imminent homicide on the daily. With his silver-streaked hair and calm but intimidating presence, the guy felt like a volcano pretending it wasn''t about to blow.


    But compared to Bai Yujian? He was¡ªsomehow¡ªtame.


    "Su Xiaobai," the Sect Master''s voice boomed, shaking the hall like thunderclouds rolling in. "Do you know why you''ve been summoned here?"


    Su Xiaobai fought the urge to roll his eyes. ''Why else? To slap my wrist in front of everyone, hand me a reward under the table, and act all magnanimous about it.''


    Instead, he bowed respectfully, his face a perfect mask of clueless innocence. "This humble disciple is unsure, Sect Master. I can only hope I haven''t disgraced the sect."


    A loud snort broke the silence. Of course, it was Liu Chenfu, who spat, "Disgrace? You practically set the outer court on fire!"


    Another elder chimed in, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "You crippled eight of our disciples! How do you plan to compensate for that, boy?"


    Su Xiaobai''s eye twitched. *L''Compensate? Maybe they should compensate me for wasting my time.''


    He smiled politely. "Apologies, elders. But perhaps your disciples shouldn''t walk the path of cultivation if they''re scared of minor fights."


    "!!"


    The room went dead silent.


    Yan Zhenwu, the elder who spoke, looked like someone had just slapped him with a fish. "What did you¡ª?"


    ''Yep, told him to fuck off. Politely.''


    The murmurs began, low and scornful, but Su Xiaobai didn''t care. He kept his head down and thought, ''Let them argue. Old people love to bicker. It''s like their sport.''


    Finally, Bai Yujian''s icy voice cut through the noise. "Enough."


    The room fell silent.


    "My disciple broke no rules," she declared, her gaze sweeping over the elders like a blade. "If any of you still shamelessly demand compensation, perhaps you should reconsider your qualifications as Peak Lords. This is the path of cultivation, not a playground. Disciples will clash, and they will suffer. That is their reality. Stop embarrassing yourselves."


    The silence that followed was deafening.


    Even Su Xiaobai, who always had a comeback locked and loaded, found himself momentarily speechless.


    Damn. Savage.


    Did she just, in her cold, elegant way, tell them all to fuck off?


    The Sect Master nodded, his tone measured. "For better or worse, the boy has shown potential."


    Su Xiaobai nearly snorted. Here it comes. The ''potential'' speech.


    "However," the Sect Master continued, his voice turning sharp, "potential without discipline is a disaster waiting to happen."


    Before he could finish, Bai Yujian''s gaze landed on Su Xiaobai, she added with an confident smile, "That is why he will undergo the Sect''s Trial of Shadows."


    The murmurs erupted once more, louder this time.


    Su Xiaobai''s lips twitched. ''Trial of Shadows? What next, public execution?''


    This wasn''t part of the script, okay. Could we please stick to the original plan where he didn''t end up as some sacrificial lamb for everyone''s entertainment?


    He glanced at Bai Yujian. She stood there with her parasol, smiling like the trial was a done deal. Her confidence was maddening. ''Does she think I''m some righteous hero here to prove my worth? Lady, my heart''s not a shrine¡ªit''s a den of thieves, and they''re armed.''


    Zhao Tianxuan, the Sect Master, was just as stunned, his eyes shining with a complicated light.


    He knew Bai Yujian''s true identity¡ªa figure far beyond their crumbling sect''s grasp. He had planned to let Su Xiaobai off lightly, but her suggestion? It changed everything.


    "So be it," Zhao Tianxuan declared, his voice firm. "Prepare him for the Trial of Shadows."


    The words hit like a hammer, sealing Su Xiaobai''s fate.


    He let out a slow breath, suppressing the urge to laugh. ''A trial to test my soul? What are they expecting? A spotless saint? My soul''s a bottomless pit, and I''m the one who dug it.''


    The Trial of Shadows was infamous, designed to strip a cultivator bare, forcing them to confront their deepest truths.


    Bai Yujian, of course, looked utterly unbothered, twirling her parasol like this was all part of her master plan. Her serene smile only made her look more dangerous.


    ''She''s either testing me or setting me up to fail spectacularly. Knowing her, she''s probably in her delusional phase again.'' S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The elders whispered among themselves, some gleeful, others wary. He could feel their anticipation, their hunger to see him stumble.


    ''Dream on,'' Su Xiaobai thought, his lips curling into a sharp smile. ''You want a villain? I''ll give you a villain.''


    That sharp smile, however, didn''t last long. It faded into nothingness the moment reality came crashing down.


    What the hell...


    That was Su Xiaobai''s first coherent thought as he was unceremoniously shoved into a pitch-black chamber. The air was filled with swirling mist, the kind that kissed his skin and seeped into his lungs, making him feel like he was drowning on dry land.


    Everywhere he looked, the mist stretched endlessly, a suffocating eternity where nothing existed but shadow and silence.


    Then came the voice.


    [MAKE YOUR CHOICE, WARRIOR. WHO WOULD YOU SAVE?]


    The words didn''t simply echo¡ªthey drilled into his mind, buzzing with an unnatural intensity. Su Xiaobai winced, clutching his head as the sound reverberated inside his skull.


    "!"


    When his eyes finally focused, he froze.


    In front of him, illuminated by an eerie, ghostly light, were faces he never thought he''d see again. Faces from a past he had buried deep, faces that shouldn''t be here.


    ''What kind of sick joke is this?''

 Chapter 82 - 82: Killing past to save the Future!

    [MAKE YOUR CHOICE, WARRIOR. WHO WOULD YOU SAVE?]


    The voice thundered through Su Xiaobai''s mind, cold and unforgiving. Before he could curse the heavens, the mist coiled, shaping itself into a flickering humanoid figure.


    The shadow stepped forward, its presence oppressive, its voice a quiet blade breaking through his thoughts.


    "Take this," it said, extending a dagger that shimmered like molten starlight. "Kill three, and one may leave. That is the price of passage."


    Su Xiaobai''s lips curled in a sneer. "Kill three? How original. Who dreams up this garbage?"


    But his disdain faltered as the figures ahead emerged from the mist.


    Four shapes.


    Four faces.


    The first figure? Oh, fantastic¡ªit was him.


    Or, rather, his past self: Caine Wilson. Short black hair, a grin that could make saints swear, and eyes that glowed like someone lit a bonfire in them. The sight made Su Xiaobai want to vomit and punch a wall simultaneously.


    "Sup," Past Him said, smirking like he owned the place. "Bet you didn''t think you''d see me again, huh?"


    Su Xiaobai''s face twitched, "You''re not real," he snapped, mostly to convince himself. "This is some twisted magic trick. An illusion."


    "Sure," Caine Wilson drawled, rolling his eyes. "Keep telling yourself that, buddy. But between you and me? You''re still the same bastard, just in a fancier outfit."


    Before Su Xiaobai could lunge at his annoying ghost of Christmas past, his eyes shifted to the other three figures¡ªand oh boy, the universe wasn''t pulling its punches today.


    His mother stood there, her kind eyes looking at him with this soul-crushing sadness that made his chest feel like it was in a vice. She looked¡­ smaller. Fragile, even.


    Then there was Su Yiran, his elder sister, standing tall with that "I will punch you if you mess this up" energy she always had. Her sharp gaze cut through the shadows, daring him to screw up.


    And Su Xiaomei, the youngest, clutching a tattered doll, her wide eyes brimming with fragile hope.


    "Choose," the shadow repeated, its voice calm, yet heavier than mountains. "Kill three, and one may leave. Or do nothing, and all will perish."


    Su Xiaobai''s brain was going a million miles an hour, but all he could manage was a dry chuckle, "So, the great path of cultivation just boils down to slaughter. Shocking."


    "This is the truth," the shadow said. "Sacrifice. Detachment. Strength. Or you can cling to them and die here."


    Caine laughed, low and mocking. "It''s not a hard choice, is it? Face it. You''ve always been good at survival, Xiaobai. Ruthless, practical, selfish. That''s why I''m still here¡ªbecause you can''t erase me."


    "Shut up," Su Xiaobai snapped, his grip on the dagger tightening.


    His gaze shifted between the faces. His mother, who had shielded him when his choices set the world against their family. Su Yiran, who fought for him when no one else would. And Xiaomei, the last fragment of hope tied to his name.


    And then, there was Caine Wilson.


    Not a weakness. Not a regret.


    A hatred¡ªone he wanted to tear apart and bury for good.


    ''Could I kill my past to save my future?''


    The dagger felt like lead in his hand, heavy with more than just steel.


    He had dismissed the trial as utter nonsense, confident he could break through with ease¡ªbut no, this was the real deal.


    The truth made him chuckle bitterly.


    _____


    On the far end of the chamber, three figures loomed like ominous deities judging the fate of mortals, their eyes glued to the swirling mist within a mirrored formation.


    "Think he''ll pass?" Zhu Qing''s voice was as light as the breeze that stirred mountain blossoms, though her sharp emerald eyes betrayed a piercing curiosity.


    Leaning against the stone wall, her Mystic Vein Peak robes shimmered like jade rivers, their flow as effortless as her confidence.


    Sect Master Zhao Tianxuan, his silver-streaked hair glowing faintly in the formation''s light, didn''t reply right away. The old fox''s face was locked in an expression so contemplative, you''d think he was calculating the lifespan of stars


    "It depends," he said finally, his tone measured. "The Trial of Shadows doesn''t test strength alone. It strips a cultivator bare, revealing their essence. If he falters, talent means nothing."


    Zhu Qing''s lips curved faintly. "Talent''s useless if you die before you wield it."


    Her interest in Su Xiaobai was no secret.


    As Mystic Vein Peak''s lord and the sect''s reigning queen of formations, Zhu Qing had seen more brilliance than most¡ªbut even she had nearly choked on her tea when she''d heard about Su Xiaobai. A disciple from Sword Peak, barely wet behind the ears, had whipped up a formation so flawless it could probably make the heavens blush.


    Curiosity had yanked her straight out of closed-door cultivation, and when she saw the truth with her own eyes? Oh, she''d been floored. A Sword Peak brat, of all people, had managed this feat. The sheer truth of it had nearly cracked her composed facade.


    "Does he even know how rare he is?" she mused, her gaze still on the formation. "An outer disciple mastering formations¡­ If he survives, I''ll take him. I want to see what he''s truly capable of."


    Beside her, Bai Yujian''s icy gaze flickered. "His path is the sword. He chose it himself," she said, she said, standing rigid as a frost statue, her tone sharp and curt as if she were chopping vegetables.


    Zhu Qing arched an elegant brow. "Is it? A sword cuts, but a formation bends the heavens. Perhaps his path is broader than you think."


    Hiss~


    Bai Yujian''s lips tightened, and for a moment, it seemed like she might hurl an icicle at Zhu Qing.


    Yet, deep down, even she didn''t know why she felt so defensive.


    By logic, it didn''t matter which peak Su Xiaobai ended up in, as long as it benefited the sect?¡ªonly the sect''s future did.


    Yet her gaze returned to the formation, her expression impassive, though her thoughts churned like storm clouds. Unlike her companions, Bai Yujian wasn''t merely a Peak Lord. She was the Sect Guardian, a being of ancient wisdom and power who had shaped the sect for centuries.


    It was she who had selected Zhao Tianxuan as Sect Master, and Zhu Qing as Peak Lord.


    They were her juniors, capable yet still far beneath her in experience.


    And yet, Su Xiaobai¡­


    His potential disturbed her. The Trial of Shadows was merciless; failure meant expulsion.


    Few dared attempt it. Fewer still succeeded.


    It stripped cultivators of illusions, forcing them to confront their fears and attachments.


    Zhao Tianxuan broke the silence, his voice steady. "The trial demands choice without hesitation. Linger too long, and it breaks you."


    "He''s already taking too long," Bai Yujian murmured, her tone colder than the mountain''s peak winds.


    Zhu Qing smirked, glancing at her. "Worried? That''s rare. He must be special if even you''re stirred."


    Bai Yujian turned to Zhu Qing, her gaze sharp. "If he fails, he leaves. That''s the rule. And you? ¡ª You abandoned a breakthrough to chase him. Who''s stirred now?"


    "..." Zhu Qing''s smirk faltered, a faint blush creeping into her cheeks as she looked away.


    Zhao Tianxuan took a step back, his movements slow and deliberate, like a man tiptoeing past a sleeping beast. Two beasts, in fact¡ªZhu Qing, bristling with wounded pride, and Bai Yujian, exuding a chill that could freeze hell itself. This was no place for the Sect Master to die.


    Zhu Qing turned her glare toward Zhao Tianxuan, clearly expecting him to intervene. But Zhao Tianxuan wasn''t stupid. No amount of authority as Sect Master could make him willingly dive into the mess between these two. Their shared history was¡­complicated, to say the least.


    Once, Bai Yujian, in her infinite wisdom, had arranged for him to marry Zhu Qing. ''A perfect union,'' she''d declared. Right. A match so "perfect" that the moment he became Sect Master, he''d shattered the engagement faster than a loose sword shattered in combat.


    Zhu Qing''s personality? Not for him. But that decision still haunted him like a bad debt.


    Now, centuries later, here they stood, all that tension bubbling beneath the surface. Zhao Tianxuan shot a quick glance at Han Xuan, who had wisely stationed himself on the sidelines with the others. Clever bastard.


    Han Xuan was joined by Xu An, the sect enforcer whose face had all the enthusiasm of a man chewing raw spirit grass; the Frost Peak Elder, whose far-off stare suggested he''d mentally retired already; and the Fire Peak Elder, who looked one step away from setting himself ablaze to escape this nonsense. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    All of them were from the same generation, bonded by the Trial of Shadows¡ªa trial that had shaped their lives and elevated them to their current positions.


    Most had risen from within the sect, like Zhao Tianxuan and Zhu Qing, forged in the sect''s fires.


    The Frost Peak Elder, however, was a wildcard¡ªa foreigner they''d picked up centuries ago during an intercontinental tournament in Tianlong Empire.


    He''d passed the trial too, proving himself as worthy as the rest.


    That shared history was why they now stood here, watching Su Xiaobai¡ªa brat barely out of the outer court¡ªfacing a trial usually reserved for core disciples and elders. Bai Yujian''s decision to throw him in? Controversial didn''t begin to cover it.


    "If he passes," Han Xuan said with a sly grin, "we''ve got ourselves a monster. Kid like that? Put him anywhere¡ªSword Peak, Mystic Vein Peak, even Iron Mountain Peak¡ªand he''ll conquer it."


    Zhao Tianxuan crossed his arms, his expression grave. "Pass or fail, it''s the trial''s call. No one can meddle."


    The trial wasn''t just about strength or skill; it was about heart. The easiest way to pass? Refuse the trial, admitting you weren''t ready. That showed the humility of a righteous heart.


    But to pass with true glory? To shine? That demanded sacrifice. The kind that left scars on your soul. Zhao Tianxuan had made that choice long ago, and it had earned him the Sect Master''s seat.


    Zhu Qing, sensing the tension, slyly drifted away from Bai Yujian and sidled up to the group, "Of course, we can''t intervene. But if he fails, I''ll still want to meet him. He''s too fascinating to ignore."


    Her teasing words didn''t distract Bai Yujian.


    Bai Yujian said nothing, though her sharp eyes flicked briefly toward the group. The way they all shuffled around like nervous rabbits trying to avoid her glare was almost amusing.


    Almost. She didn''t care about their petty evasions.


    Her gaze remained locked on the mirrored formation, her expression carved from ice, but a faint crease marred her brow.


    ''He has to pass,'' she thought, her ancient heart betraying a rare flicker of concern.

 Chapter 83 - 83: Money Grubber!

    Back in the Trial!


    "Tick-tock, warrior," the shadow sneered, its voice colder than a winter night on Frost Peak. "Make your choice¡ªor let them all die."


    Su Xiaobai''s grip tightened on the dagger, his lips pressing into a thin line. A whisper escaped him, soft but sharp: "This isn''t right¡­"


    Cultivation was freedom. The path of rebellion. A giant middle finger to the heavens, the earth, and anything else that thought it could control you. Rules? Restrictions? That was for mortals who didn''t know how to dream big. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    And yet here he was, caught in a formation that demanded he play executioner. It was wrong¡ªso wrong it made his skin crawl.


    The shadow let out a low, mocking laugh, its voice echoing like the bastard child of thunder and mockery. "Right? Wrong? Don''t kid yourself. The path of cultivation isn''t built on sunshine and daisy fields¡ªit''s built on blood. On sacrifice. If you don''t have the guts to make the hard choices, you''re nothing but a weakling waiting to die."


    Its tone turned sharper, more menacing. "You already know this, don''t you? How many bodies have you left behind already? How much blood stains those hands of yours? You think the future''s going to be any different?"


    The words hit like a slap, and Su Xiaobai flinched. But then it clicked¡ªthis wasn''t just a test. The shadow wasn''t some random boogeyman conjured by the formation.


    No, this thing was him.


    The mist curling tighter around him like a jealous lover. The figures in the distance grew hazy, their faces fading into the void.


    His heart raced. He felt trapped, the walls closing in.


    "Choose," the shadow demanded, its tone slashed with finality.


    But then, like a heavenly slap to the back of his head, realization struck.


    His panic stilled, his breath evened.


    The weight lifted.


    A slow smirk crept across Su Xiaobai''s face. He straightened, the trembling in his hands vanishing like smoke in the wind.


    "I won''t choose," he said, his voice low but resolute.


    The shadow''s form flickered, its head tilting in mock confusion. "Then you will all perish. Weakness has no place on this path."


    "Weakness?" Su Xiaobai scoffed, his smirk widening. "No, weakness is letting someone else pull your strings. And if you think I''m going to play your little game, you''re dumber than you look."


    Without hesitation, Su Xiaobai spun, gripping the dagger tightly.


    Puchi!


    He drove the blade straight into the shadow''s chest, the force of his strike carrying the weight of his rebellion.


    The shadow''s scream was a mix of shock and rage, its form convulsing violently. "What¡ª"


    CRASH!


    The blade shattered, a deafening shockwave tearing through the chamber. The mist evaporated in an instant, the distant figures exploding into motes of light.


    The shadow disintegrated with a final scream, its form vanishing into nothingness.


    ____


    Outside the Chamber.


    "What the¡ª?"


    Bai Yujian, Zhu Qing, and Zhao Tianxuan spoke in unison, their shock momentarily uniting them¡ªa rarity in itself.


    Inside the mirrored formation, the trial wasn''t just completed¡ªit was obliterated.


    "Did he¡­?" Han Xuan began, his brows shooting up in disbelief.


    "Oh, he did," Zhu Qing said, letting out a low, incredulous laugh. "The boy didn''t just beat the trial¡ªhe broke the whole thing."


    Zhao Tianxuan pinched the bridge of his nose, muttering something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like a curse. "This¡­ this is exactly why outer court disciples shouldn''t touch this test."


    Xu An, the awkward enforcer, cleared his throat. "Should we¡­ you know¡­ be concerned that he just destroyed an ancient sect treasure?"


    "Concerned?" The Fire Peak Elder finally broke his silence, his voice sharp and brimming with amusement. His grin was all predator, more wolf than man. "I''m not concerned¡ªI''m impressed. Breaking rules and formations? The boy''s got guts."


    Han Xuan chuckled, shaking his head. "Kid''s got more than guts. He just declared war on the trial itself. I like him already."


    Bai Yujian said nothing, her frosty gaze fixed on the remnants of the formation. Then, without a word, she turned and darted toward the collapsing chamber''s exit.


    "Hm? Where''s Elder Bai?" Zhao Tianxuan asked, glancing around as the others realized she was gone.


    But Bai Yujian wasn''t the only one quick on her feet. Unknown to her, someone else had already slipped away¡ªfaster and quieter than even the Sect Guardian herself.


    _____


    Inside the Chamber.


    Zhu Qing moved through the collapsing chamber with graceful steps, her green robes untouched by the debris swirling around her. Her snow hair glinted faintly in the dim light as she weaved through the falling debris with an unbothered elegance.


    "Where is he?" she murmured, her tone soft but edged with irritation.


    Her emerald eyes locked onto Su Xiaobai, who stood frozen at the center of the devastation. His gaze was fixed on the spot where the shadow had vanished, as if it had left something behind.


    "Still staring at that damn thing?" Her voice echoed through the ringing silence, smooth yet commanding. She closed the distance between them with a few strides, her expression calm but undeniably firm. "Are you planning to die here, or can we leave now?"


    Her sharp words jolted Su Xiaobai from his daze. Without giving him a chance to reply, Zhu Qing reached out, her touch light yet unyielding, and pulled him toward the exit.


    "What were you thinking, just standing there?" she asked once they were out, her delicate fingers brushing dust off her pristine robes.


    Su Xiaobai blinked, his mind still shaking from the shadow''s final words:


    [You think breaking me will set you free?] it had hissed, its writhing form shattering into nothingness. [Foolish boy. You''ve merely traded one cage for another. The ones above are always watching.]


    He shook the thought from his head, forcing a weak smile as he leaned against a nearby rock. "Thanks, Elder Bai. I can see now why everyone says your heart''s as vast as the heavens."


    "?!"


    Zhu Qing arched a perfect brow, her expression unreadable.


    "Elder Bai?" she repeated, her voice a touch colder now. "I wasn''t aware I had turned into her shadow. Tell me, boy¡ªwhat does that make me, a ghost?"


    Her words caught him off guard, and his gaze lifted to meet hers properly for the first time. She wasn''t Bai Yujian. The woman before him was striking in every sense¡ªsilver hair flowing like moonlight, a faint flower etched over her eye, and an aura that danced between elegance and danger.


    "You''re¡­"


    Before he could finish, Zhu Qing placed a single finger over her ruby lips, silencing him. "Shh," she whispered, her tone low and sultry. "The others will be here soon. Let''s not waste time."


    She leaned in slightly, her eyes glowing faintly as she spoke. "How about you join my Mystic Vein Peak? I could teach you things no one else could. You''d be my most treasured disciple."


    "!!"


    Su Xiaobai blinked, stunned. ''Did this woman just ask me to ditch Elder Bai?''


    He narrowed his eyes slightly, smirking faintly as he crossed his arms. "Impossible."


    Zhu Qing''s lips twitched. Could this man not even pretend?


    He was tempted¡ªobviously. How could he not be? Bai Yujian was a blade honed to perfection, sharp and unmatched. To grab her was to risk losing a hand¡ªor worse. No matter how he reached for her, she would cut him down without a moment''s hesitation.


    But Zhu Qing? She wasn''t a sword; she was a lotus. Soft, charming, and dangerous in her own way. The kind of trap that lured men with beauty, only for them to step into the mud and sink deeper than they''d ever imagined.


    Would he bite? Probably not. But appreciating beauty from afar? That didn''t seem like a crime.


    His gaze wandered. Her figure¡­ well, it demanded attention. Those curves, especially her chest¡ªBai Yujian could keep hers hidden under layers of robes and frost. Zhu Qing? She let the world know. And Su Xiaobai liked that. He liked that a lot.


    "Touch."


    "Huh?"


    His head snapped up, his thoughts shattering as Zhu Qing''s words sank in. She was smiling now, her lips curling like a devil offering forbidden fruit, her finger still pressed against them.


    "Touch it," she said again, her tone teasing, almost mocking. "Quickly."


    Su Xiaobai blinked, his brain stumbling over itself. Was this still the same tribulation realm expert? He arched a brow, leaning back slightly. "I need contribution points."


    "Five hundred thousand," Zhu Qing shot back, her gaze darting around like a guilty thief checking for witnesses.


    "Seven hundred thousand," Su Xiaobai countered without missing a beat.


    "Deal," Zhu Qing agreed instantly, inwardly cursing him for being such a money-grubbing bastard.


    She''d thought he was the lustful type, easy to manipulate, but this guy¡­


    "Good." Su Xiaobai smirked, but before anything else could happen¡ª


    "Where are those two!?"


    The voice echoed through the ruins, accompanied by the sound of hurried footsteps.


    "Ah!?" Zhu Qing yelped, straightening as more elders began pouring into the chamber.


    "There you are¡­" Zhao Tianxuan appeared first, his tone laced with relief as he spotted the pair. Behind him, the other elders filed in, their gazes sweeping over the destruction with a mix of awe and frustration.


    Su Xiaobai, ever the picture of innocence, simply turned and strolled toward Bai Yujian without so much as a glance back. His posture was calm, his expression serene¡ªas if nothing had happened.


    Zhu Qing, however, wasn''t so composed. Her gaze followed him, her mind shaking. Why did it feel like¡­ like this bastard had stolen a quick scoop of her chest in all the commotion?


    Her eyes narrowed dangerously, though her lips curved into a stiff smile as she addressed the rest of the elders.


    This man¡­


    As the others moved past her, inspecting the remnants of the chamber, she stayed for a moment longer. Watching. Thinking. Su Xiaobai wasn''t as innocent as he pretended to be. Destroying the trial formation instead of bending to its rules? That was the kind of heresy even the heretic sects would applaud.


    Her lips curved further, her gaze gleaming with interest. Interesting¡­


    Bai Yujian, oblivious to the chaos in Zhu Qing''s mind, was inspecting Su Xiaobai with clinical precision. "Are you injured?" she asked, her tone softer than usual as she checked him over.


    And Su Xiaobai? That bastard looked like he was enjoying the attention.


    Wolf in sheep''s clothing, Zhu Qing thought with a scoff. Bai Yujian still seemed to see him as an innocent rabbit, but Zhu Qing wasn''t so easily fooled.


    "Are you alright, Qingqing?" Zhao Tianxuan''s voice interrupted her thoughts, his concern thick in his tone.


    She snorted, brushing him off with a flick of her wrist. "Perfect," she said curtly before striding away, her hips swaying with deliberate elegance.


    Zhao Tianxuan''s gaze lingered on her retreating figure, a strange look flickering across his face¡ªregret? Longing?


    The other elders exchanged uneasy glances. They all knew the rumors. Zhao Tianxuan had broken off an engagement with Zhu Qing years ago.


    And now he was pretending to care?


    But no one said a word, brushing it off as a sect master''s concern for his subordinates. None of them suspected the deeper story lurking beneath.

 Chapter 84 - 84: Promotion or Plot Twist!

    "Su Xiaobai, we are promoting you to inner court disciple."


    "...Come again?"


    Su Xiaobai stared at the elder, his brain doing the mental equivalent of a cart stuck in quicksand. He had walked into the sect hall expecting the usual: yelling, maybe a slap on the wrist. A demotion at worst. After all, who could forget his masterpiece¡ªobliterating the trial formation?


    But a promotion? Seriously?


    His eyes flicked to the elders. Their expressions ranged from ''smug bastard who planned this'' to ''grudging boomer approval.'' If this were a drama, the soundtrack would be screaming, ''Something ain''t right!''


    ''Wait, wait, inner court? Don''t I need to hit Nascent Soul Realm for that?'' Su Xiaobai scratched his head. He was still happily loafing around in core formation realm, after all. Did someone mix up the paperwork? Or was this some sort of elaborate sect hazing ritual?


    Oh, the elders were whispering in their heads, he just knew it: ''Oh, Su Xiaobai, you''re so screwed. But let''s make it look like a promotion first.''


    "Uh... thanks, I guess?" Su Xiaobai ventured cautiously.


    Before he could process this disaster properly, she arrived.


    ______


    That night, Bai Yujian graced his quarters unannounced¡ªbecause why wouldn''t she? Privacy was for mortals, apparently.


    She stood in the doorway like a tender goddess, yet her eyes colder than a bank vault.


    "You start training tomorrow," she announced, voice so cold it could''ve flash-frozen his morning tea.


    "Training? For what...?" Su Xiaobai''s gut churned. Training always meant two things: pain, and more pain.


    "In one month, we head to the capital."


    "The capital? Why?"


    "Do you think you can defeat a Nascent Soul cultivator while at Earthly Rebirth Realm?"


    Su Xiaobai''s brain hit the brakes. If this were a regular protagonist moment, he''d puff up his chest and declare, ''I will rise to the challenge!'' But let''s be real¡ªif someone''s asking you this, they''ve already signed you up for a deathmatch.


    "Sure," he said finally, giving her a shit-eating grin. "One realm above? Piece of cake."


    For a moment, her icy glare softened into something suspiciously amused. "Good." And with that, she vanished like a ghost with a packed schedule.


    "Piece of cake," Su Xiaobai muttered to himself. "What could possibly go wrong?"


    Xiao Lu, still lying next to him in bed, smacked her forehead. ''STOP SAYING THAT, It only gets worse,'' her expression screamed. ''Do you want to die?''


    _____


    Meanwhile, in the Sect Hall...


    Bai Yujian had single-handedly turned the elders'' meeting into a battlefield.


    "This is ridiculous," one elder scoffed. "The boy hasn''t proven himself. Destroying a trial formation doesn''t make him inner court worthy!"


    "He chose not to sacrifice innocent lives during the trial and eradicated the true evil¡ªthe shadow that commanded it. That alone proves his worth. As it stands, he could easily rank at the top of the outer court." Bai Yujian said coolly.


    "He lacks experience!" another elder protested. "What message does this send to the others?"


    "Fine," she said, her smile sharp,"Let him earn it. Two Nascent Soul disciples will challenge him. One by one. Ten days. No breaks."


    The room erupted in gasps.


    "Two?!"


    "For every peak lord who disagrees," she added sweetly. "Two per disagreement."


    Zhao Tianxuan nodded mechanically, doing his best to appear like he was on board with the plan.


    Truth be told, he was quietly losing his mind trying to figure out how to sell this insanity to the rest of the sect. But from the look in Bai Yujian''s eyes, it was clear she already had something diabolical up her sleeve.


    Whatever scheme she had cooked up, though, one thing was certain¡ªit was Su Xiaobai who was about to get roasted.


    A heavy, sinister silence settled over the room as the elders exchanged uneasy glances. One by one, they nodded in reluctant agreement, sealing the poor boy''s fate with every bob of their heads.


    ______


    Morning Reality Check!


    Su Xiaobai woke up suspiciously alive. Which, frankly, felt wrong. Life going smoothly? Yeah, no. He called this sixth sense ''cultivator PTSD.''


    He stretched lazily, enjoying Xiao Lu''s soft, warm body nestled against his. For a brief, fleeting moment, life felt... okay.


    Then Bai Yujian kicked his door open.


    "Get up," she ordered, glaring at him like he''d stolen her life savings.


    "Morning," he muttered sarcastically, rubbing his eyes. Her gaze zeroed in on Xiao Lu, who was naked next to him.


    For the first time, her icy mask cracked. She turned away with a scowl. Was she... blushing? Su Xiaobai scratched his head. Why''s this thousand-year-old hag acting shy now?


    "Five minutes," she snapped. "Get dressed."


    After lazily trailing behind Bai Yujian, Su Xiaobai found himself standing in what seemed like a painfully familiar place¡ªthe sect''s training grounds. Or, more accurately, the scene of his crime. Yep, the same training grounds he had obliterated during his spectacular (and unintentional) destruction of the Astral Gate Formation.


    The once-pristine area was now a patchwork of broken ground and haphazard repairs, with core disciples trudging around in their signature red robes, grumbling as they patched up the damage like underpaid contractors. One particularly pissed-off disciple shot Su Xiaobai a glare that screamed, ''You did this.''


    But what really caught his attention were two unexpected figures in the crowd.


    Hu Jiao''er and Hu Mei''er.


    The twins noticed him instantly, their lips curling into identical mischievous smiles as they gave him a synchronized wink.


    Su Xiaobai shivered. That wasn''t flirtatious¡ªit was predatory.


    Weren''t these two ''newly selected'' outer disciples just two days ago? The same clueless newbies who had barely survived the trial with him? So why were they now strutting around in core disciple uniforms like they owned the place?


    "Am I hallucinating?" Su Xiaobai muttered, rubbing his eyes. "Or did these two get some kind of fast pass to the top?"


    Before he could ask, Bai Yujian hurled a wooden sword at him.


    "Strike the training dummy. Ten thousand times."


    "Ten thousand?! Are you serious?!"


    "Do I look like I''m joking?" Her tone was flatter than the sect''s annual dumpling festival.


    Spoiler alert: She wasn''t.


    And so, Su Xiaobai cursed his luck, his life, and most importantly, Zhu Qing for not rescuing him yet.


    Where was she, anyway?


    Shouldn''t she have dragged him to her mystic peak by now?


    ___


    By midday, Su Xiaobai''s arms felt like he''d been commissioned to personally lift the damn mountains the sect was named after. Sweat poured down his face as he glared daggers at the training dummy, which somehow managed to look smug despite being an inanimate object.


    "Why aren''t you broken yet, you wooden bastard?" he snarled, swiping at it half-heartedly.


    Nearby, Bai Yujian sipped tea, reclining in the shade like some kind of frosty empress on vacation.


    "Done!" Su Xiaobai gasped, letting the sword clatter to the ground.


    Bai Yujian set her cup down with an infuriatingly serene smile. "Good. Now double it."


    "Double¡­?"


    If this were some romance novel, he could practically hear the audience swooning over her ''tough love'' routine. But guess what? It''s not romantic when you''re the one getting ground into paste.


    "You''ve got two months," she said coldly, her tone more chilling than the Frost Peak winds. "Ten Nascent Soul disciples. No one will hold back."


    "Two months? Ten Nascent Soul disciples?" Su Xiaobai''s expression darkened, his lips curling into a sneer. "Why don''t you just poison my tea and save us all some time?" Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Around him, the core disciples fixing the training grounds looked at him with equal parts pity and amusement. The rumor mill had clearly been spinning¡ªeveryone but him seemed to know the full story.


    When Bai Yujian finally explained the "deal," Su Xiaobai raised an eyebrow so high it threatened to escape his forehead.


    "Ten of them?" he repeated, his tone laced with venomous mockery. "Sure. Let me just ascend to deityhood real quick. Maybe I''ll make it a fair fight while I''m at it."


    For once, Bai Yujian hesitated. Her smile cracked, revealing the faintest flicker of doubt. Even she knew this plan was insane. But the sect''s elders had forced her hand. Five peak lords had opposed his promotion, each sending two Nascent Soul disciples to crush him in "honorable" combat.


    She looked at him with steely determination. "That''s why we''re going to the Dragon Spirit Sea in a month. If you reach Earthly Rebirth Realm there, you''ll stand a chance."


    Su Xiaobai let out a sharp, humorless laugh. "Oh, so now I''m your pet project? Is this the part where I thank you for the generous opportunity to be slaughtered in style?"


    Bai Yujian didn''t flinch, but her gaze grew distant, like she was calculating how many ways this whole thing could blow up in her face.


    Defeating one Nascent Soul disciple? Sure, it was ambitious, but not impossible. Ten? Even she knew that was about as likely as an elder admitting they were wrong. The five peak lords had made sure of it¡ªeach sending their personal favorites to crush Su Xiaobai into fertilizer.


    Her gaze sharpened again. Nope, she wasn''t about to let them win.


    The capital... Yes, the Dragon Spirit Sea. That was her move.

 Chapter 85 - 85: Plot Twist (1)

    The capital... Yes, the Dragon Spirit Sea.


    That was her move.


    If Su Xiaobai could break through to Earthly Rebirth Realm there, the odds would shift. He didn''t need to win against all ten challengers¡ªfive victories would be enough to slap the doubters into silence.


    But it wasn''t just about his promotion. When Su Xiaobai had smashed the trial formation, she saw something no one else did: the guts to flip the bird to the old ways. The sect had been riding its traditions straight into the grave, choking on ancient rules while the world moved on.


    The Xiantian Sect, once a powerhouse boasting Great Ascension masters and even a Human Immortal, was now limping along with only three Great Ascension cultivators.


    The sect''s mysterious healer, Xu Tianran, was reliable as a guardian, sure¡ªbut Zhao Tianxuan?


    Still stuck at the initial stage.


    A strong breeze could knock that guy out.


    And Bai Yujian herself? She''d been standing at the peak of the Great Ascension Realm for centuries, one step from transcending. But the sect''s decline had chained her here. Leaving now to seek her breakthrough wasn''t just risky¡ªit was a death sentence for the sect.


    Yet Su Xiaobai''s defiance gave her hope. If he could rise¡ªand if Zhao Tianxuan stopped being useless¡ªshe could step away, however briefly, and finally break through. Maybe even drag the sect out of its endless spiral while she was at it.


    The boy didn''t realize it, but he could lead the sect into a new age. People followed him. Even that maid of his, Xiao Lu, had chosen him over the sect itself. And while Su Xiaobai was too busy grumbling to notice, he already had hundreds of admirers in the outer court.


    Did he see it?


    Nope. He was too busy stomping off to his quarters.


    "Where are you going?" Bai Yujian called after him, exasperation bleeding into her voice.


    Su Xiaobai didn''t even look back. "Stop making decisions for me. You''re not my wife, my mom, or my master."


    Hands tucked smugly into his robe, he sauntered off, radiating the energy of someone who thought the world should bend to his whims.


    What did she expect? That he''d happily fight ten Nascent Soul disciples just because she decided it was "character building"? Inner court status? Contribution points? Please. Zhu Qing could get him those without the whole ''almost dying'' part.


    Honestly, joining her peak sounded like the better deal at this point. He could just kick back in the outer sect, nap, and wait for her to come around.


    As for the sparring match in two months? Even if he could beat them, why bother?


    The peak lords weren''t sending challengers to spar¡ªthey were sending executioners. Sparring? Just a fancy term for "grave digging" in this world. Su Xiaobai wasn''t complaining, though; he''d mastered the same "accidental" technique himself.


    Yesterday, he''d already crippled half a mountain''s worth of disciples without even trying to kill anyone.


    And now she expected him to line up as her sacrificial lamb? Yeah, no.


    If this was about that love letter incident, she should''ve just said it to his face. Torture disguised as "opportunities"? Nice try, but he wasn''t buying it.


    "..."


    Bai Yujian watched Su Xiaobai leave, her expression as frozen as her reputation. Did he just walk away? No disciple had ever dared show such blatant disregard for her authority.


    Her hands tightened at her sides, nails pressing against her palm. She could crush him with a flick of her wrist. Yet she stood rooted, watching his retreating back.


    Why?


    She didn''t know whether to feel insulted, amused, or something far more dangerous. Sadness? Anger? For the first time in centuries, Bai Yujian felt an unfamiliar ache she couldn''t name. If it weren''t for the patience forged by thousands of years, she might have dragged him back by his collar and personally taught him how to address an elder.


    The core disciples who had witnessed the spectacle stood frozen, wide-eyed.


    "He just left¡­" one murmured, breaking the silence.


    "Elder is going to lose it," another whispered.


    But Bai Yujian didn''t. Instead, she turned and walked away, leaving the disciples dumbfounded.


    "What just happened? Did they have a lovers'' spat or something?"


    "Shouldn''t she beat him to a pulp? Why''s she letting him off?"


    ___


    As Bai Yujian walked, her mind spun in a hundred different directions.


    She hated to admit it, but perhaps she''d been too heavy-handed. Ten Nascent Soul disciples, ''properly prepared'', were a different beast compared to Huang Shao''s sloppy arrogance. Expecting him to overcome such odds was madness.


    She clenched her jaw. She had seen the spark of rebellion and potential in Su Xiaobai¡ªthe traits of a leader who could shake the sect from its stagnation. She had acted on excitement, seeing in him the heir the sect so desperately needed.


    But he wasn''t wrong to be frustrated. He wasn''t her tool, and she had treated him like one.


    I''ve gone too far.


    ____


    Back in Su Xiaobai''s Quarters!


    "Hm? You''re back, Master?" Xiao Lu''s soft voice broke through the quiet as Su Xiaobai strode into the room, drenched in sweat and irritation. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Unlike him, Xiao Lu''s day had been easy. Choosing to remain a maid rather than a disciple, she had no obligations beyond lounging in the quarters he provided.


    Su Xiaobai ripped off his soaked robe, tossing it aside. "Yeah. That insane woman nearly killed me with her nonsense today."


    "What happened?" Xiao Lu asked, sitting up as Su Xiaobai headed toward the small pond to soak.


    He launched into a frustrated retelling of Bai Yujian''s unreasonable expectations. By the end, Xiao Lu sighed softly. "It sounds like you two have fallen out."


    "Fallen out?" Su Xiaobai sneered as he stepped into the water. "That implies we were on the same side to begin with."


    Xiao Lu''s gaze softened. If he decided to leave the sect, she would follow him. The sect had nothing to offer her beyond its grandeur¡ªa grandeur she could live without.


    Still, she liked the life of a cultivator. The sprawling mountains, the endless halls of the sect, the faint taste of qi in the air¡ªit had been a dream come true. If not for Su Xiaobai, she''d never have even realized her potential.


    But if he left, so would she. No questions asked.


    Her thoughts were interrupted when she noticed Su Xiaobai''s sharp gaze land on the object beside her.


    "What''s that?" he asked, frowning.


    Xiao Lu blinked, then glanced at the wooden coffin she had nearly forgotten about.


    "Oh, this? Elder Bai left it here after you left. She said it''s yours."


    "...Mine?" Su Xiaobai''s eyes narrowed. His heart skipped a beat as he approached the coffin, his steps slow and cautious. For a moment, he thought of Yue''er''s coffin from the Emperor Tian Yu''s cave. But this one was different¡ªsimpler, cruder. It lacked the mystical apperance of Yue''er''s tomb.


    And yet¡­


    He felt something familiar radiating from within.


    His chest tightened for no reason, and without hesitation, he flung the lid open.

 Chapter 86 - 86: Plot Twist! (2)

    "Haa¡­"


    A strange scene cccurred atop Sword Peak as Su Xiaobai bolted back with a speed that dwarfed his initial departure. His robes flew like storm clouds, and his expression was twisted into one of barely-contained surprise.


    Fortunately, the inner and outer courts were nestled farther down the mountain. Otherwise, his mad dash might have caused a stir.


    "Where is that woman?"


    He appeared out of nowhere, grabbing Hu Jiao''er by the shoulder and spinning her around.


    "Ah!?" Hu Jiao''er''s startled cry turned into a glare as she instinctively raised her hand to slap whoever had dared touch her. But when her eyes landed on Su Xiaobai, the fiery anger in her gaze was replaced by a sly, calculating glint.


    "Oh, looking for Elder Bai?" she asked, her lips curling into a smile.


    "Who else...?" Su Xiaobai snapped. For a moment, his fingers twitched like he was considering wringing her neck. He thought better of it¡ªshe might be weaker than Bai Yujian, but she was still stronger than him.


    Hu Mei''er, standing to the side, blinked in astonishment. Did this guy really just call Elder Bai ''that woman''? Out loud?


    Hu Jiao''er was stunned too, though she quickly recovered. She jabbed her finger toward the villa at the peak''s summit. "She went back to her residence."


    "Finally." Su Xiaobai snorted before turning and vanishing again, his silhouette disappearing like a fleeting shadow.


    The two sisters stood in stunned silence for a moment. Then Hu Mei''er nudged her sibling, pointing to her hand.


    It was only then that Hu Jiao''er noticed the smooth weight of spirit stones in her palm.


    "That man¡­" Her lips twitched as her face flushed with both anger and begrudging amusement.


    Without a second thought, she hurled the stones to the ground. "Does he think I''m some cheap courtesan who needs payment for a favor!?"


    Hu Mei''er stared at her sister blankly, unsure whether she was more furious or impressed. After all, Hu Jiao''er was clenching her fists like she wanted to pulverize Su Xiaobai into paste¡ªwhile smiling like she had just found her favorite new plaything.


    "What a clever bastard¡­" Hu Jiao''er muttered, her voice caught somewhere between a growl and a laugh.


    _____


    Back at the Peak Lord''s Residence.


    BAM!


    The doors slammed open, creaking like they might shatter under Su Xiaobai''s sheer courage. Knocking? Politeness? That was for people not plotting revenge against Bai Yujian.


    "Hey¡ª"


    The servant barely got a word out before Su Xiaobai waved them off. His eyes were locked on the inner hall, his target in sight.


    And there she was.


    Bai Yujian.


    Seated before a mirror, her robe barely clinging to her shoulders, revealing pale skin that seemed to glow in the light. A faint trace of steam hung in the air, the scent of herbal oils betraying her intent¡ªshe''d been preparing for a bath. Her hair spilled like rivers of ink, framing a face too flawless for mortal comprehension.


    Her phoenix eyes flicked to him in the mirror, sharp and cold, glowing with the dangerous amusement of someone who might kill just for fun.


    For a moment, Su Xiaobai froze. Not out of guilt¡ªhe''d long since killed off whatever shame he might''ve had¡ªbut because seeing her like this, so unguarded, was like catching a predator mid-yawn.


    "Perfect," he thought, his grin curling. "A goddess when she''s calm, a demon when she''s angry. She''s wasted on this mountain."


    His eyes dipped. He didn''t even pretend to be subtle. The robe teased curves that could topple empires, and her bare legs¡ªsmooth, toned, and unbothered¡ªrested against the chair with careless grace. The room itself seemed blessed by her presence, except for one glaring anomaly.


    That parasol.


    It stood propped casually by her side, its handle resting within arm''s reach, as if it were just an accessory. But Su Xiaobai knew better. He''d seen enough to recognize the hum of power that pulsed faintly from its surface, the runes etched into its surface almost invisible until the light hit them just right.


    "Why the hell does she drag that thing everywhere?" he''d wondered before.


    Then it moved.


    Bai Yujian''s fingers brushed the handle, almost absentmindedly, and with a soft hiss, the parasol shifted. Its canopy folded in with a metallic click, revealing the shield hidden within¡ªsleek, elegant, and etched with ancient markings that pulsed faintly.


    But that wasn''t all.


    With a fluid motion, she pulled on the parasol''s handle, and Su Xiaobai''s eyes widened as a blade slid free, its edge gleaming like a crescent moon.


    A parasol, a shield, and a sword¡ªall in one.


    "No wonder she keeps it close," he thought, the grin slipping from his face for a split second.


    Her reflection caught his surprise, and her lips curved into the faintest smirk.


    "If you''re done gawking," Bai Yujian said, her voice cool as a mountain stream, "I''ll give you a reason to kneel. First your head, then your other head."


    She was still angry. The last incident clearly hadn''t blown over. Not that Su Xiaobai cared.


    He barked out a laugh, his usual arrogance returning. "Relax," he said, his tone light, "I''m not here to stare at your weapons."


    His eyes dipped again, bold and shameless. "Well, not just those weapons."


    Bai Yujian''s fingers twitched as she glared at him through the mirror.


    That glare of hers could break men¡ªor beds.


    Why was this insufferable disciple so casual, so bold? Her patience, already thinner than the edge of her blade, was starting to fray.


    Before she could lash out, Su Xiaobai moved first.


    From his spatial ring, he pulled a coffin.


    THUD.


    The sound echoed like a thunderclap, silencing the room. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Bai Yujian froze, her gaze snapping to the coffin. Slowly, she turned, her robe slipping just enough to reveal the soft valley between her breasts. Her phoenix eyes narrowed. She''d been changing clothes, preparing for her bath, and this bastard had barged in uninvited.


    "Speak," she said, her voice sharp as steel. "Or I''ll bury you in it."


    Su Xiaobai didn''t flinch. Instead, he hefted the coffin with exaggerated care, the grin on his face sharpening into something mocking.


    "This," he said, slapping the lid, "you left in my room. Care to explain why you thought this was a funny joke?"


    Her brows furrowed, but her expression remained unreadable.


    It was the same coffin.


    So, he''d found it.


    Without a word, Bai Yujian rose. The parasol vanished in a shimmer of light as she draped a robe over her shoulders. Her movements were deliberate, graceful, yet filled with an air of menace.


    She stepped closer, stopping just before the coffin. Its lid was already open.


    Inside lay a block of crystalline ice, shimmering faintly.


    But Su Xiaobai''s eyes weren''t on the ice. They were fixed on the figure sealed within.


    Long white hair spilled across the frozen surface, obscuring most of the face, but there was no mistaking her. That delicate face. Those fragile hands.


    Xiao Mei.


    His little sister.


    Alive.


    But untouchable.


    The silence grew heavy, almost suffocating, until Bai Yujian finally broke it.


    "It''s her, isn''t it? Your sister."


    "Yes." His tone was flat, but his eyes burned with fury.


    His mind shook, his thoughts a mix of disbelief and anger. How did she know? Xiao Mei had appeared during the trial yesterday¡ªa painful memory dredged up from his heart. Had Bai Yujian seen it?


    Of course, she did.


    The trial had laid bare everything he wanted to protect. And this woman¡ªthis arrogant, sadistic goddess¡ªhad taken that memory and twisted it into this. A replica.


    She recreated her, he thought, his fists clenching. She dragged Xiao Mei out of my nightmares and left her here like a joke.


    His chest tightened, his fury bubbling over.


    Was this some sick prank?

 Chapter 87 - 87: Delusional Pro Max!

    Su Xiaobai''s chest tightened, fury boiling over like molten lava ready to erupt.


    A sick joke? A pointed jab at his formation failure two days ago?


    Fine.


    If Bai Yujian thought she could toy with him, she''d soon learn the hard way. His fingers brushed his storage ring, where a ''last'' bottle of aphrodisiac rested¡ªa stolen trophy from the Institute of Science.


    Risky? Sure. Insane? Maybe.


    But fuck it. If this cold-hearted goddess wanted to play games, he''d flip the board. He''d shove the script down her throat, screw her brains out, and feed her to his Devouring Thorny Flower.


    A grin slid across his face, darker than night.


    "Let''s see how you like being the one who''s played," he muttered.


    Bai Yujian, unfazed as ever, met his bloodshot gaze. Her tone was maddeningly calm: "I found her the day your formation malfunctioned." Arms crossed, words flat. "Didn''t tell you earlier. Needed to confirm. After you stormed off, I tracked the Qi traces into the wilderness. And there she was. Alive."


    What she didn''t mention was how that


    godforsaken letter had sealed her decision.


    That''s what brought her here.


    Meanwhile, Su Xiaobai''s mind splintered like a poorly forged spirit sword.


    Fuck.


    Sure, he''d considered this possibility. But hearing it confirmed? Like getting sucker-punched by a celestial beast mid-breakthrough.


    For thirty minutes, he''d been planning how to ruin everything¡ªthe high-ups, Bai Yujian, his own dignity, all of it. Drugging her? Done deal. Humiliation? Practically scripted. Feeding her to his Devouring Thorny Flower? Cherry on top.


    And now?


    "This¡­ isn''t a prank?" His voice cracked as his eyes shifted to Xiao Mei, lying silent in the coffin.


    Alive.


    His breath hitched, gaze softening as it lingered on her delicate face.


    She was here. She was real. The formation hadn''t been a failure after all.


    If¡ªno, when¡ªshe woke up, she''d have answers: about their family, their shattered lives, everything. The months of guilt and rage he''d carried like a mountain on his back, whispers that every wasted second might cost another life¡­ finally, those whispers began to fade.


    Relief hit him like a collapsing dam. For the first time in months, he could breathe.


    And then his gaze fell on Bai Yujian again.


    Her frosty beauty had always seemed untouchable, like a snow-capped peak best admired from afar. But now, standing here in a simple robe, strength and elegance woven into her very being, she looked¡­ different.


    She hadn''t needed to do any of this


    But she''d gone out of her way. For him.


    No payment. No manipulation. No strings.


    Su Xiaobai wasn''t used to that. He wasn''t used to anyone doing something for him without an angle, without being pulled into his schemes.


    And yet, here she was. Calm. Indifferent on the surface. But he wasn''t blind.


    Everyone had misunderstood her.


    The calmness on her otherwise flawless face wasn''t indifference¡ªit was resolve. She had made this choice on her own, without asking, without waiting for his gratitude.


    His lips twitched into a small, uncharacteristically soft smile. His gaze locked on her shimmering eyes.


    And then it happened.


    "I think¡ªI love you."


    The words slipped out, casual as breathing¡ªsomething he used to say on Earth when someone did something awesome, like lending him money or saving his ass. No romance, no thought¡ªjust instinct.


    But here, in this world? Those words were like setting fire to a powder keg.


    Before Bai Yujian could react, he stepped forward and hugged her.


    Whoosh~!


    Warm. Soft. Fragrant.


    Her scent¡ªlotus, faint and teasing¡ªlingered in his nose. But then came the real suprise: something firm pressed against his chest.


    His eyes darted down, sharp and appraising.


    Twin jade peaks. Proud, rounded, and barely restrained by thin silk.


    Bigger than Zhu Qing''s.


    A wicked grin tugged at his lips. So, the sword fairy''s been hiding these mountains?


    "Poof."


    Bai Yujian''s phoenix eyes widened, her body stiff in his arms, her mind spiraling.


    Did he just say he loves me?


    And then the memories of that letter slammed into her.


    That stupid, ridiculous letter. Starlit strolls, eternal devotion¡ªshe''d tried to burn its absurd sincerity from her mind, but it clung like a curse. And now, this?


    Her heart pounded, her thoughts racing.


    ''Is he serious? Did he just confess again?''


    ''Does he not realize I am the White Jade Sword?''


    ''Elder and disciple relationships are forbidden!''


    But then she remembered¡ªhe didn''t care. He''d once confessed he''d marry her, even if she were an ugly witch, not even knowing she was the White Jade Sword.


    ''An ugly witch!''


    Meanwhile, Su Xiaobai stepped back, utterly oblivious to the chaos brewing in her head.


    To him, the hug was just¡­ habit. A reflex. A leftover from his old life. As he glanced at her stiff figure, he couldn''t help but feel a pang of pity.


    ''Poor girl.''


    ''She''s so damn awkward. Maybe she''s too shy to admit she cares?''


    The thought lingered as he crouched by the coffin, his focus shifting to Xiao Mei.


    Her face was serene beneath the shimmering ice. Her life signature pulsed strong and steady. She was alive. Safe.


    He sighed, running a hand through his hair. ''How the hell do I get her out of this thing? If I try anything stupid, might give Bai Yujian the wrong idea. She''ll think I''m confessing again.''


    Little did he know, his cursed tongue had already set the wheels in motion!


    Behind him, Bai Yujian stood frozen, one hand hovering over her chest, trying to calm the pounding in her heart.


    She watched him, crouched by the coffin, completely indifferent to the chaos he''d unleashed.


    Her mind screamed: Does he not realize what he just said?


    But Su Xiaobai?


    All he cared about was the coffin, Xiao Mei, and figuring out how to open it without Bai Yujian adding ''grave robber'' to his list of sins.


    And then it hit him.


    My sugarmommy.


    Yes, Bai Yujian deserved the title. If she asked again, he''d plunge into hell, slap a hundred Nascent Soul cultivators across their smug faces, and come back with their heads¡ªand wallets. Surely, this frosty empress held the key to his little problem.


    He turned to her with his best grin¡ªthe kind that made women want to throw him into a lake, only to fish him out and throw him back in again.


    But Bai Yujian was spiraling.


    "I¡ªI need to think about it," she stammered, mistaking his hopeful gaze as a plea for an answer to his confession.


    "Oh," Su Xiaobai''s grin froze, the light in his eyes dimming.


    She doesn''t know. That must be why she''d dumped the coffin in his room¡ªhoping he could figure it out.


    The two of them were working in sync¡­ in the worst way possible.


    Bai Yujian''s heart plummeted when she saw his expression drop. Damn heavens! Was he disappointed? Would he abandon cultivation and wander into depravity?


    This was exactly why she avoided disciples. Most of them were slobbering fools or shameless dogs who thought staring at her chest could help them comprehend the mysteries of the Dao.


    There was the one disciple who wrote her a poem titled "The Frosty Peaks of Heaven: A Tribute to My Sect Mistress''s Grand Dao of Cleavage."


    She''d burned it immediately¡ªbut the words haunted her like a tribulation.


    Then there were the truly ''delusional'' ones.


    And then there was the idiot who claimed her frosty glare had frozen his inner demons. Two days later, he was found carving her name into his cultivation furnace.


    But Su Xiaobai? He was different.


    He didn''t leer. Didn''t ogle. Not even now, when her robe looked one gust of wind away from revealing secrets that could rewrite the heavenly scriptures.


    Does he suppress his desires out of respect for me?


    Her lips twitched as the memories of that letter returned. Starlit hand-holding. Eternal devotion. ''Was he restraining himself to prove he''s worthy of my soul?''


    Her delusions surged. ''Does he crave my Dao, not my¡­ body?'' S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Even though he''d stared once¡ªjust once¡ªhe''d looked away. Not in shame, but as if her parasol was somehow more interesting than the "forbidden wonders" barely concealed beneath her robe.


    ''How noble.''


    Her thoughts spun faster than a tribulation storm, the gears of her imagination roaring like a divine furnace about to ignite the heavens.


    ____


    "Let''s¡­" Bai Yujian started, but her words faltered, a new thought crashing into her mind like a celestial boulder.


    "Let''s what?" Su Xiaobai snapped, his annoyance plain. He''d almost thought of a solution¡ªalmost¡ªand now she''d interrupted him, making him lose it completely.


    Bai Yujian remained silent, her eyes distant, as if contemplating the meaning of the universe itself.


    Su Xiaobai frowned, shaking his head. Weird woman. Whatever. Back to the problem at hand. He was considering using his infernal flames to burn the ice.


    However, something else was already burning.


    It was Bai Yujian''s delusions.


    The memory resurfaced: Su Xiaobai, tangled in sheets with his busty maid Xiao Lu, both of them naked under the morning light. Surely, they hadn''t been practicing the Dao like that?!


    Her beautiful eyes narrowed. ''Does he want to step on two boats at the same time?''


    Her logic twisted itself into knots. ''Then why does he act so sincere around me?''


    Another horrifying thought struck her. Oh no. What if he''s just using his maid to¡­ to vent his frustrations?!


    Her face burned brighter than an alchemist''s furnace, her thoughts spiraling out of control. Is he waiting for me to make the first move?


    The pressure was unbearable. She''d dodged this question once before, but now there was no escape. If she hesitated again, it might shatter their fragile bond forever.


    No choice.


    Her composure cracked like brittle ice. She blurted out, "Let''s start by holding hands."


    "!!"


    The room went dead silent.


    "Huh?" Su Xiaobai froze, staring at her as if she''d grown a second head.


    His eyes darted to the coffin, then back at her glowing, red face. Start by holding hands? What the actual fuck?


    "Wait," he muttered, "is this¡­ some kind of secret technique?"


    Bai Yujian blinked, caught off guard. "A¡­ secret technique?"


    "To melt the ice," he added cautiously, glancing at her hands.


    Her lips twitched. ''So, he truly respects my abilities as a senior!''

 Chapter 88 - 88: Melting the ice!

    Her lips twitched, ''So, he truly respects my abilities as a senior!''


    To melt the ice between us?


    ''Yes, this could work. I''ll let him hold hands and let him think I''ve accepted. I''ll just wait until he actually grows up. Nothing could go wrong¡­ right?''


    "Yes," she replied, nodding gravely. "A secret technique."


    He hesitated, his gaze flitting between her hand and her expression. It was too soft, too perfect¡ªalmost suspicious. Was this really a secret technique¡­ or just another trap?


    With a resigned sigh, Su Xiaobai complied, taking her hand in his.


    It was indeed soft. His fingers brushed against her delicate skin, and for a moment, he forgot himself.


    Her hand wasn''t cold like he imagined but warm, almost hot.


    But then his attention snapped back to the coffin. Why isn''t the ice melting? He stared harder, even managing a faint smile of hope. It might work any second now!


    Meanwhile, Bai Yujian''s chest swelled with pride. ''He''s so moved by my willingness to lower myself for his sake.''


    Su Xiaobai frowned as the truth hit him like a cold slap. This technique doesn''t work at all.


    "Damn it," he muttered under his breath, glancing at her. ''Can''t say that out loud, though, or I might prick her ego.''


    But Bai Yujian''s imagination had already spiraled. ''Poor thing. He can barely contain his excitement. I truly am too generous.''


    Su Xiaobai scratched his head, muttering, "Did this woman just scam me¡­?"


    "..."


    A bitter smile tugged at his lips. Of course, she had.


    Meanwhile, Bai Yujian''s mind played a different script entirely.


    ''He''s probably in awe of me,'' she thought, her chest puffing up slightly. ''After all, not every Peak Lord can be this magnanimous.''


    The sight of Bai Yujian and Su Xiaobai standing hand in hand, staring at the coffin like it held the secrets of immortality, nearly killed the two maids cleaning nearby.


    One of them clutched her chest. "By the heavens¡­ are they swearing an oath of eternal love?"


    "Shut up!" hissed the other, dragging her back. "Do you want to die?! If we''re caught, we''ll be the next ''accidents.''"


    The difference between Righteous Sects and Heretical Sects? Branding. Heretics called it murder. Righteous folks called it ''tragic mishaps.''


    The two maids didn''t want their names added to the ledger of "tragic mishaps." Cleaning buckets abandoned, they fled the scene faster than a elder dodging a child support claim.


    Unfortunately for Zhu Qing, she wasn''t as lucky.


    She stepped inside, her mission simple: find Su Xiaobai and drag him to Mystic Vein Peak. He hadn''t been in his quarters, and his maid had directed her to the Peak Lord''s residence.


    Big mistake. Worst mistake. Possibly the last mistake of my life.


    Because what awaited her was a sight she couldn''t unsee:


    Bai Yujian and Su Xiaobai, hand in hand, staring at the coffin like they were taking a sacred vow. Su Xiaobai''s reluctant face screamed, this isn''t my fault, while Bai Yujian''s chest puffed with so much pride she looked ready to nominate herself for ''Sect''s Most Generous Deity.''


    Hiss!


    Zhu Qing froze. Her mouth opened slightly, but no sound came out.


    "Qingqing?" Bai Yujian''s head snapped toward the intruder. Her pupils shrank, a rare panic flashing across her frosty face.


    No¡­ no! Her elder image¡ªshattered. Ground into dust. Swept away by the winds of fate!


    Zhu Qing''s expression said it all: disbelief, betrayal, and¡­ was that pity?


    "Elder¡­" Zhu Qing whispered, her voice trembling.


    And the heavens weren''t done yet.


    The door creaked open with an ominous EEEEEEEEEK¡­


    This time, Liu Zhenhai strode in, scrolls tucked neatly under his arm. He was here to discuss Su Xiaobai''s promotion and had been in a decent mood¡ªuntil now.


    What he saw hit him like a tribulation bolt straight to the forehead.


    There they were. Bai Yujian, the Frost Sword Fairy of his dreams, standing hand in hand with Su Xiaobai, the infamous troublemaker.


    "..."


    THUD! The scrolls slipped from his hands, scattering like leaves caught in a storm. His jaw tightened, his face darkening faster than a tribulation cloud ready to smite.


    The fairy of his dreams¡­ holding hands with this wretched boy?


    For a moment, the room was silent, save for the distant whistle of the mountain wind.


    "...What in the nine hells is going on here?" Liu Zhenhai finally asked, his voice cold enough to freeze the air itself.


    Su Xiaobai opened his mouth, then shut it. What could he even say? Sup guys, we''re¡­ unlocking the sacred ice?


    Who in their right mind would believe that? Hell, even he didn''t believe it! Little did he know, everyone else had already jumped to the exact ''right'' conclusion¡ªwith unwavering confidence.


    He glanced at Bai Yujian, desperate for her to take the lead. Her frosty smile screamed ''I''ve got this,'' but Su Xiaobai knew better. Her straightened posture and faint smile only ever meant one thing.


    His eye twitched. She''s about to do something dumb, isn''t she?


    He glared at her, as if daring her to not escalate the situation.


    "..."


    "And that''s the 3rd stage of¡­" Bai Yujian began serenely, speaking as if she were explaining the Dao to wide-eyed disciples. Then, as if possessed by some celestial beast, she straightened further, grabbed Su Xiaobai''s wrist, and yanked.


    "..." Su Xiaobai''s body flew into the air like a poorly thrown javelin.


    WHOOSH!


    The world spun, and so did Su Xiaobai, flung like a sack of trash by Bai Yujian''s idiotic antics.


    "STOP¡ª!" he growled, his voice grating with frustration rather than fear. Arms flailed, legs kicked, and somewhere deep down, he cursed the heavens. "This isn''t breaking ice, Elder¡ªthis is breaking me! If you''re going to kill me, at least do it efficiently!"


    And then¡ªbam.


    Everything froze.


    Not the satisfying kind of freeze where she''d faceplant him into the ground so he could fake unconsciousness and save some face. No, this was worse. Time itself had paused, and he was left hovering mid-air, spread out like a failed attempt at celestial calligraphy.


    "..."


    He glanced down at Bai Yujian, who had the audacity to look smug, as if twirling him like a training dummy was part of her grand plan. His lip curled. She looked elegant, sure, but that didn''t make her any less of a delusional idiot.


    "Bai Yujian," he said flatly, "If this is your idea of cultivating camaraderie, you''re an even bigger moron than I thought."


    She didn''t respond.


    "..."


    "Great," Su Xiaobai muttered, annoyed, shooting a glare at everything around him. "First, I''m her test dummy. Now, I''m the only one alive while everyone else''s frozen? I told her to stop¡ªnot to stop time itself! What''s next? Someone slaps my face on a banner and declares me the sect master?"


    He rubbed his temples, the absurdity of it all giving him a headache. Why the hell did these people only listen to him when they shouldn''t¡ªand in the dumbest ways possible?


    Dust floated lazily in the air. Zhu Qing and Liu Zhenhai stood like statues, wide-eyed and horrified, while Bai Yujian was still mid-swing, frozen in that infuriatingly confident pose of hers.


    "Can someone please unfreeze time so I can strangle this woman properly?" Su Xiaobai muttered, his voice dripping with exasperation.


    Honestly, what part of her thought throwing him like some sack of trash was the best solution? Couldn''t she just explain the situation like a normal person? What was she, some shy, tsundere heroine straight out of those shameless romance scrolls?


    And then, as if the heavens themselves heard his prayer.


    WHAM! S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Gravity returned with the enthusiasm of a drunk elder, slamming Su Xiaobai into the ground like a pile of spirit beast dung. He groaned as pain shot through his back.


    "You''re¡­ alive¡­"


    The voice was soft, unfamiliar, and unsettlingly close.


    "Ugh¡­ Yep, still alive. Thanks for asking¡ª" Su Xiaobai froze mid-grumble. That wasn''t Bai Yujian''s frosty tone, nor Zhu Qing''s sweet-but-cunning lilt, and definitely not Liu Zhenhai''s self-righteous blather.


    Slowly, he turned toward the source, his heart thudding in his chest.


    Two deep ocean-blue eyes blinked at him from within the coffin.


    The ice surrounding it hissed and cracked, splitting apart in glittering shards that scattered across the floor.


    "Brother¡­"


    The voice was soft, trembling with a fragile warmth, Su Xiaobai froze, as the word reached him like an echo from a forgotten lifetime. Memories surged forward¡ªshards of laughter, tears, and whispered promises¡ªeach one deeper than the last.


    "Xiaomei¡­" his voice barely rose, his throat tight.


    Su Xiaomei''s lips quivered, forming a quiet smile, as if in great relief at seeing him, even slightly proud. But just as she was piecing together her next words, her body began to glow.


    "No¡ªwait!" Su Xiaobai surged forward, panic flashing across his face. But it was too late.


    Poof!


    Her form dissolved like mist caught in the morning sun, leaving behind nothing but silence¡ªand questions he wasn''t sure he wanted answered.


    For a moment, Su Xiaobai stayed frozen, his hand outstretched as if he could somehow grab hold of what was already gone.


    His breath came in shallow gasps.


    Behind him, Bai Yujian let out a sharp breath, her composure cracking for the briefest second. Zhu Qing, meanwhile, was caught between horror and confusion, her usual voice nowhere to be found.


    Even Liu Zhenhai, the sect''s poster boy for righteous indignation, looked like he''d seen a ghost.


    The coffin groaned ominously, fractures spreading across its icy surface like veins.


    Zhu Qing finally found her voice. "So, uh¡­ it''s not a lover''s spat, then," she muttered, her earlier assumptions crumbling under the seriousness of the situation.


    Her tone shifted, uncharacteristically serious. "Let me take a look."


    Without waiting for permission, she shoved Su Xiaobai aside¡ªearning a grunt of protest¡ªand knelt by the coffin.


    Her hand hovered over the cracked ice, a faint glow emanating from her palm.


    Zhu Qing murmured, her voice tinged with unease. "It''s¡­ wrong..."


    The more she observed, the worse it became, her words casting a shadow over the faces of Su Xiaobai and Bai Yujian alike. What had she discovered?

 Chapter 89 - 89: Time Skip!

    The ice shattered.


    Both literally and between the uneasy group standing around Su Xiaomei. She lay sprawled on Bai Yujian''s bed, her frail frame like a ghostly shadow clinging to life.


    Her wide, glassy eyes darted between faces, silent and stiff, as though even breathing might break her.


    Su Xiaobai wasn''t faring better. He stood frozen, his eyes locked onto his sister.


    She''s just fragile...


    As if death kissed her and forgot to finish the job.


    Pale hands trembled against the bed''s edge, slick with sweat.


    Hollow cheeks, skin thin as paper, but those eyes¡ªdull, yet familiar¡ªwere unmistakably hers.


    When did she become this? His fists clenched.


    Behind him, Bai Yujian leaned against the wall, one brow arched. She had already kicked Liu Zhenhai out. Not her problem if his jealousy burned brighter than Su Xiaobai''s eyes.


    His glare when leaving had been almost funny. Almost.


    But this? This wasn''t funny. And Bai Yujian hated when things weren''t funny.


    She dragged Zhu Qing aside, "What did you mean earlier? About her being... unnatural?"


    Zhu Qing hesitated, then raised her hands. "Look."


    Bai Yujian''s eyes narrowed. The burns and frostbite on Zhu Qing''s once-flawless hands were impossible to miss. Tiny shards of ice embedded themselves in her skin, gleaming like stars caught in flesh.


    "It''s not healing," Zhu Qing said, her voice brittle. "The ice¡­ it''s stopping time around the wounds. That girl¡ªshe''s not normal."


    Bai Yujian glanced at Su Xiaomei. Pale. Shaking. Tears clinging to her lashes like dew. "Doesn''t look like much of a threat to me."


    "She froze time earlier."


    "Did she?" Bai Yujian''s tone was light, but her gaze darkened. Fragile? No. That girl''s a blade wrapped in silk.


    Meanwhile, Su Xiaobai stood over his sister, unmoving. No one noticed the faint coil of black qi creeping into Liu Zhenhai''s chest as he left. No one but the heavens. Rejection and shame always made good fertilizer for a heart demon.


    "Where did you even find these two?" Zhu Qing muttered, her voice low.


    "I didn''t," Bai Yujian replied. "The boy found me."


    Zhu Qing''s lips twitched. "Elder, keeping them here is like inviting a storm to live with us. Lightning doesn''t knock before it hits."


    "Then let it strike," Bai Yujian said coolly.


    Zhu Qing stared at her, exasperated. "If his presence draws trouble¡ª"


    Bai Yujian cut her off. "Qingqing, remember the Dark Sparrow Sect?"


    Zhu Qing''s face darkened. Memories she''d buried rose like corpses from the grave: blood, fire, and the shattering collapse of the sect she once called home.


    Heretics crushed under righteous might.


    "You think he''s like you?" Bai Yujian said.


    Zhu Qing didn''t respond.


    Bai Yujian stepped closer, her voice soft, "He''s dangerous, yes. So''s a blade in untrained hands. But if we turn him away? That''s not just a blade¡ªit''s a blade aimed back at us."


    Zhu Qing hesitated.


    Bai Yujian continued, her smile returning. "Push him out, and someone will pick him up. And then? Well¡­" She waved a hand lazily. "I hope you like explaining to the heavens why we made our own enemy."


    Zhu Qing sighed, rubbing her temples. "I wasn''t saying to throw him out, but¡ª


    "Good," Bai Yujian interrupted, leaning back against the wall. "Because ¡ª If anyone''s stupid enough to come after him here, they deserve what they get. I could use the entertainment."


    Her smile widened as she remembered Su Xiaobai mentioning some kind of demon that killed his family. Oh, how she wanted to see that "demon" crawl to her doorstep. It''d been too long since she cut something fun.


    Zhu Qing pinched the bridge of her nose, muttering something about how they were all doomed.


    She''d planned to shift Su Xiaobai to her peak, use his danger to scare Bai Yujian into handing him over. Now? Bai Yujian''s protectiveness turned that plan to ash.


    Zhu Qing glanced at Bai Yujian, whose eyes gleamed with a fire that screamed try me.


    Bai Yujian, the mighty Sword Fairy, protective over a boy? Ugh. Did he actually manage to unsheath her heart? If he did, Zhu Qing wasn''t sure whether to be impressed or horrified.


    Unknowingly, Su Xiaobai had sparked a quiet war between the two¡ªa battle of pride neither would admit to.


    Zhu Qing glanced at Su Xiaobai, who stood there smiling faintly. Trouble? She didn''t care. If pests came knocking, they''d be good practice.


    _______


    The days after Xiaomei''s arrival were anything but peaceful.


    Between Bai Yujian''s antics, sect chores, and Su Xiaomei adjusting to life outside her icy coffin, Su Xiaobai barely had time to breathe. Yet somehow, he found himself listening to his sister''s fragmented memories one evening, seated under the dim glow of moonlight.


    "So, let me get this straight," Su Xiaobai said, arms crossed, "Mom grabs you, swords start flying like angry mosquitoes, you stop time so she can escape, you get injured, and then she freezes you in ice to heal?"


    Su Xiaomei nodded, biting her lip. "I couldn''t stop the swords completely. They were¡­ strong. I just froze time long enough to block them, but one still¡­" She trailed off, pressing a hand against her chest.


    "...Hit you," Su Xiaobai finished for her, his eyes narrowing.


    Su Xiaomei nodded silently, her fingers trembling against her ribs. Her voice was small when she spoke again. "After that, I don''t remember much. Mother brought us somewhere underground, safe from the swords, but nothing worked on the wound. She tried elixirs, spells¡ªnothing could close it. That''s when she¡­"


    "Froze you," Su Xiaobai muttered, his tone sharper now. Swords that couldn''t be stopped. A wound even elixir couldn''t heal. What the hell was happening back at home?


    "Yeah." Su Xiaomei''s gaze dropped to her lap. "She said it would¡­ buy time."


    Unbeknownst to Su Xiaomei, something much stranger had occurred while she was in the ice.


    The temporal manipulation ability she''d inherited from her bloodline hadn''t just stopped time when she was attacked¡ªit had reversed it. Subconsciously, instinctively, her power had turned back the clock on her own body to heal the wound.


    Earlier, Su Xiaobai''s yelling had triggered her release from the ice, that same ability had rewound the ice itself, undoing the months it had held her captive.


    But Su Xiaomei didn''t know. And Su Xiaobai? He could only guess at the enormity of her power. For now, all he understood was what he could see: his sister could stop time. Anything beyond that was a mystery.


    _____


    Later that night, Su Xiaobai sat in his room, staring blankly at the ceiling. The pieces didn''t add up. His invincible body, Su Xiaomei''s ability to stop time, and their mother''s eternal frost¡ªnone of it was normal.


    "Three siblings, three freakish bloodlines," he muttered to himself. "What are the odds of that?"


    The so-called "blessing" they''d received from the Immortal Tianlong Spirit back on the White Cloud Star might''ve awakened their bloodlines, but his family''s powers weren''t just awakened¡ªthey were monstrous.


    His Demon Devourer bloodline was proof enough of that. The black mist in his spirit sea devoured Yin Qi and bloodlines alike. It was how he''d absorbed the Azure Dragon''s bloodline from Long Lifen, and now? That same mist allowed him to use his invincible body for five whole seconds¡ªenough to turn the tide in a fight.


    But Su Xiaomei? Her temporal manipulation was in a league of its own. Stopping time was one thing, but the full extent of her ability had never been explored.


    Even their mother''s eternal frost¡ªonce thought to be just a bloodline ability¡ªhad proven capable of saving lives in ways no one could''ve imagined.


    "Three hybrids," he muttered bitterly. "Hybrids with powers that don''t belong on White Cloud Star."


    It all led back to one conclusion: their mother wasn''t fully human. She couldn''t be. A demonic heritage would explain everything¡ªfrom their bizarre powers to their hybrid bloodlines.


    "What kind of bloodline can make something like us?" Su Xiaobai wondered aloud. "Something ancient. Primordial. Like¡­" He scoffed, shaking his head. "Eternal ice demon? Sure, why not. At this point, nothing would surprise me."


    Afterall, that''d fit the theme of ''how much trouble can we be?''


    But even with the questions circling in his mind, one thing was certain. Both Su Yiran and their mother were alive. That was enough.


    ______


    Training and Sect Life.


    Su Xiaobai''s mornings were filled with grueling training¡ªmostly because Bai Yujian thought it''d be funny to schedule a duel for him in two months.


    "You could''ve asked," Su Xiaobai complained one afternoon, panting as he finished another set of sparring drills.


    Bai Yujian smiled, twirling her sword lazily. "Where''s the fun in that? Besides, you owe me. I found your sister, didn''t I?"


    "You''re delusional," he muttered. "And not even in a charming way."


    "Oh?" Bai Yujian stepped closer, her smile widening. "Then what way am I charming?"


    Su Xiaobai blinked, caught off guard. "Uh¡­ passively¡­ dangerous?"


    "Good answer," she said with a satisfied nod, patting his shoulder hard enough to make him stumble.


    _____


    Xiao Hei and the "Xiao" Army!


    As Su Xiaomei settled into the sect, she met Su Xiaobai''s unlikely companions¡ªXiao Lu and Xiao Hei.


    "Too many Xiaos," Su Xiaobai grumbled after introductions. "I''m calling you Lulu."


    Xiao Lu rolled her eyes. "Creative."


    Xiao Hei, the youngest, was an odd one. Unable to form sentences, she alternated between eerie silence and unpredictable outbursts. One moment she was sweet, the next she''d nearly stabbed him over a bun.


    But her strangest behavior was toward Su Xiaomei. She avoided her like the plague, scurrying away whenever Su Xiaomei got too close.


    "It''s not that bad," Su Xiaomei pouted one day, holding up a bright red dress. "Just try it on!"


    "Nuh-uh!" Xiao Hei clung to the nearest pillar, glaring at the dress like it might bite her.


    "Come on, I''m not a monster," Su Xiaomei said, exasperated.


    "Debatable," Su Xiaobai muttered, watching Xiao Hei darting behind him, using his legs as a shield. "Alright, enough. If she doesn''t want to wear it, leave her alone."


    "But she''d look so cute!"


    "Not worth the trauma," Su Xiaobai deadpanned. "Also, how is this funny? Isn''t she the kid who nearly killed Lan Meiyu last week?"


    "She has her quirks," Xiaomei admitted sheepishly.


    "Quirks? You mean ''issues,'' right?" Su Xiaobai shook his head. "Whatever. Lulu, make sure she doesn''t stab anyone else."


    "Why me?" Xiao Lu asked.


    "Because I''m busy preparing for my stupid duel, and Xiaomei''s too focused on dressing her up to notice if she kills someone."


    "..."


    Su Xiaobai had long accepted that some things were beyond his understanding. Like Xiao Hei''s erratic behavior.


    Or why Bai Yujian, the sect''s resident Sword Fairy, kept calling him for no reason at all. Always about stupid, petty things. Like she was his lowkey, cheap dao wife, rather than the terrifying master everyone whispered about behind closed doors.


    But this? This was a new low.


    It started innocently enough.


    "Go to the weapon hall and pick a weapon," Bai Yujian had said casually over tea.


    That alone was suspicious. No lecture about swords being the only true path? No disdain for sabers, spears, or axes? Who was this woman, and what had she done with Bai Yujian?


    Still, Su Xiaobai wasn''t about to look a gift horse in the mouth. Or so he thought¡ªbecause this particular "gift horse" always had teeth.


    In three days, they''d leave for the capital. Time flew, fleeting as smoke. The divine author, impatient as ever, seemed intent on pushing him into disaster¡ªfor no reason other than to move the plot forward.


    He could only hope some ancient bastard with a grudge wouldn''t stab him out of nowhere. But with his luck? He was practically inviting calamity.


    The celestials above likely lounged on their jade thrones, sipping wine, tossing bets on how he would destroy his life, and laughing at his misery. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    If they truly wanted him to suffer, why not cast him as a villainous young master in a shameless harem tale? At least then, he''d know the softness of snowy peaks, the warmth of trembling thighs, and the sweetness of dew-kissed petals¡ªbefore the self-righteous hero burst in to ruin it all.


    And if he must die, let it be beneath a pomegranate skirt. Lips. Thighs. Nectar. Nails. A melody of cries. And a cuckold waiting outside, too ashamed to interrupt.

 Chapter 90 - 90: AJin! Pleasure Pavillion!

    The Weapon Hall!


    The weapon hall was quiet, save for the faint hum of spiritual energy vibrating through the racks of blades, spears, and various exotic instruments of death. Su Xiaobai expected to be greeted by an elder, maybe a bored inner disciple. Instead, he found himself face-to-face with Zhao Tianxuan¡ªthe sect master himself.


    "Sect Master...?" Su Xiaobai halted mid-step.


    Zhao Tianxuan, draped in his usual white robe, stood near a weapons rack with his hands behind his back.


    His aura was calm yet powerful.


    "Ah, Su Xiaobai," Zhao Tianxuan greeted, his fox-like eyes narrowing with a sharp smile. "You''re here."


    The words meaningful, as though Su Xiaobai had just stepped into a game he hadn''t agreed to play.


    "Why are you here...?" Su Xiaobai asked cautiously.


    "To deliver this," Zhao Tianxuan replied, unsheathing a crimson sword and holding it out. The blade gleamed ominously, its once-corrupted aura now silent. "Your requested weapon. Purged of evil by Elder Liu Chenfu."


    Su Xiaobai''s brows furrowed. "And Elder Liu couldn''t deliver it himself because¡­?"


    "Do you think someone of his status has the time to deal with disciples?" Zhao Tianxuan''s tone was sharp, like a reprimand disguised as an answer. "Consider this a privilege."


    Su Xiaobai''s instincts screamed louder. "What do you really want?"


    Zhao Tianxuan''s smile widened slightly. "Sharp as ever. There''s a small errand I need you to handle in Yunnan City. You''ll visit a place called Pleasure Pavilion and meet a woman named A''Jin. She''ll hand you¡­ goods."


    Pleasure Pavilion. Su Xiaobai stared blankly.


    "Do I even need to say it?" he muttered.


    Zhao Tianxuan''s brow arched imperiously. "Say what, exactly?"


    "That this is as suspicious as Elder Liu purging evil from this sword," Su Xiaobai replied flatly, giving the blade a wary glance.


    The sect master chuckled, his suspicious demeanor unshaken. "Suspicion is the foundation of caution, and caution keeps one alive. You''ll manage."


    "And if I refuse?"


    "Ah," Zhao Tianxuan said, his smile sharpening, "I''ve already prepared for that. Outer disciple Xiao Yu will accompany you."


    Su Xiaobai blinked. "Xiao Yu?" That blue-haired woman?


    "Yes," Zhao Tianxuan replied, waving dismissively. "A promising young disciple. His temperament complements yours."


    "His?" Su Xiaobai repeated slowly.


    Zhao Tianxuan''s eyes narrowed. "Is there a problem?"


    "..." Su Xiaobai decided not to elaborate. The man didn''t know, and it was better that way.


    _____


    The Streets of Yunnan City!


    The bustling streets of Yunnan City were as colorful as they were chaotic. Su Xiaobai walked side by side with Yu Feng¡ªalso known as Xiao Yu¡ªa woman who dressed like a man and played the role convincingly enough to fool even the sect master.


    "Pleasure Pavilion?" Yu Feng said, her tone laced with amusement. "The old foggy of Xiantian sect has truly outdone himself this time."


    "You''re awfully cheerful for someone on an errand to a brothel," Su Xiaobai muttered.


    Yu Feng smiled, tipping her hat slightly. "Why wouldn''t I be? Do you know how much leverage we''ll have against Zhao Tianxuan after this?"


    "..." Su Xiaobai was speechless.


    The more time he spent with Xiao Yu, the more he realized her personality changed with her disguise. Dressed as a man, she exuded a carefree confidence that bordered on cocky.


    "You''re not even going to complain about the errand?" Su Xiaobai asked, raising a brow.


    "Oh, I''m complaining," she replied with a laugh. "Just quietly. And to myself. You, on the other hand, should be grateful. I''m saving you from looking like a pervert wandering into a brothel alone."


    "Thanks," Su Xiaobai said dryly.


    _______


    The Pleasure Pavilion wouldn''t open until evening. With hours to kill, Su Xiaobai wandered the market, his eyes scanning jade trinkets with the focus of a miser inspecting gold.


    Yu Feng leaned against a stall, yawning. "Why so serious? Buying gifts for a lover?"


    Su Xiaobai picked up a red ribbon, its golden embroidery gleaming under the sun. "It''s none of your business," he muttered, tossing it into his bag.


    Yu Feng''s lips curled into a wicked grin. "Touchy. Don''t worry, I won''t report your secret to Elder Bai... for now."


    His glare could have cracked stone. "Do you have a death wish?"


    She laughed, throwing an arm over his shoulder. "Relax. If you''re this much fun now, I can''t wait to see you in the Pavilion. Imagine the stories!"


    Su Xiaobai sighed, brushing her arm off. "You''re getting too comfortable."


    "Comfortable? Me?" Yu Feng feigned innocence, her smile widening.


    Before she could react, his hand moved like lightning¡ªsmack!


    Her body jolted. Heat exploded in her face as she realized Su Xiaobai''s hand was firmly planted on her rear.


    "Soft," he said, squeezing as if testing a ripe peach. "Still feels like a woman to me."


    "You¡ª!" Yu Feng''s voice caught in her throat.


    "What? Can''t take a little teasing?" Su Xiaobai smirked, his tone dripping with mockery.


    Slap! Yu Feng''s hand flew to his wrist, knocking it away with enough force to send a shockwave through the crowd.


    All eyes turned to the two of them.


    "Did that young master just get groped by another man?"


    "What''s the world coming to? The city is too progressive these days!"


    Yu Feng stood frozen, her male disguise betraying her. Her flushed face only made things worse, painting her as an embarrassed "young master" caught in an indecent act.


    Su Xiaobai waved lazily. "Don''t take too long, Xiao Yu. The Pavilion won''t wait forever."


    "I''ll skin you alive for this!" she hissed through gritted teeth as he sauntered off.


    The whispers and stares bore into her like needles. She swore she''d repay this humiliation tenfold, but for now, she could only endure, her fists trembling with rage.


    "Humph!"


    Yu Feng snorted, already plotting Su Xiaobai''s demise once her mission with the Xiantian Sect was complete. Skinning him alive was too kind. He''d already pushed his luck in Bai Yujian''s bedroom, and today''s market stunt was just fuel to the fire.


    Second place. That was where he now ranked on her kill list. First belonged to the last Dark Pope of the Dark Church, a fugitive hunted continent-wide by his successor and their zealots.


    The Dark Church wasn''t just a cult¡ªit was a shadow empire. Its influence stretched across the Soaring Dragon Continent, hidden in temples, whispered in streets.


    Su Xiaobai? Blissfully ignorant of how many people wanted him dead. If he knew, he might''ve dealt with Yu Feng early, saving himself from future trouble with the Dark Church.


    But that was future Su Xiaobai''s problem.


    Present Su Xiaobai knocked on the Pleasure Pavilion''s door like it was his second home.


    Knock-knock!


    Yu Feng folded her arms, her voice low. "What a degenerate," she muttered, wondering if he made it a habit to frequent places like this.


    Whoosh!


    The door opened. A gust of peach blossom fragrance hit them like a slap. Sweet, overwhelming, almost dizzying. Su Xiaobai''s nose twitched as his gaze shot up.


    And froze.


    A woman stood there¡ªno, a goddess, if gods favored excess.


    She towered over seven feet, her figure unreal. Mountains for breasts, barely restrained by a slitted red robe. Long legs stretched endlessly, smooth as jade and just as flawless.


    Her face? Lethal. Lips plump and red as ripe cherries, eyes dewy with forbidden promises, and hair smooth enough to make emperors weep.


    For men of certain tastes, she was no less than perfection. A single glance, and most would stammer, "Mommy."


    "Guests already?" Her voice was a purr, silky and commanding. She leaned forward, making mountains shift, valleys deepen.


    "...!" Yu Feng''s face turned crimson, her fists clenching. Just standing here felt like a crime.


    "What the hell is this place?" she muttered, her words a strangled whisper.


    Su Xiaobai, to his credit, straightened. Hands behind his back, face calm¡ªexcept for his eyes, which betrayed him. They flicked to her chest. Once. Twice. Thrice.


    He cleared his throat. "We''re here for business."


    Yu Feng rolled her eyes. Business? She scoffed inwardly. She knew it¡ªhe definitely comes here often.


    The woman chuckled, her laughter soft and honeyed. "A cultivator with confidence. I like that. Come in, both of you." She turned, her robe swaying dangerously. Long legs flashed; hips swayed. Nothing was left to the imagination.


    Su Xiaobai stepped forward, pretending not to notice. Yu Feng stayed behind, trembling.


    "Gods above," she muttered. "Kill me now."


    She walked forward, reluctantly, as the doors of her fate shut behind her.


    Little did Yu Feng know, her nightmare was just beginning.


    Inside the Pleasure Pavilion, it wasn''t what she''d expected. No drunken men, no cheap perfume. The floors gleamed, lanterns cast a warm glow, and stairs lined with silk led upward like a lover''s inviting hand. Too clean to be just a brothel.


    Ahead, Su Xiaobai whispered something to A''Jin. The towering beauty leaned down, her curves shifting dangerously as her hair swept over her shoulders. Yu Feng''s lips twitched.


    A''Jin giggled, her voice dripping honey. "Oh, so you''re here for that shy boy from Xiantian Sect? You should''ve told me earlier! I thought you two were disguised enemies."


    Su Xiaobai gave a bitter shake of his head, the universal look of a man resigned to being played.


    Clap! Clap!


    A''Jin''s hands rang out like a judge''s gavel. "Girls! Take these two brave warriors upstairs!"


    And then the flood came. Women poured in like a tide¡ªrobes clinging to soft curves, hips swaying as if on command. They came in every shape and size: short, tall, slim, voluptuous. But all had one thing in common¡ªthey could make saints blush.


    Before Yu Feng could react, delicate hands latched onto hers and Su Xiaobai''s, tugging them toward the stairs.


    "What''s going on?" Yu Feng asked, her tone steady, though a vein pulsed on her forehead.


    "Just play along," Su Xiaobai said with a smile that could punch holes in her patience.


    Her chest tightened. Play along?


    "What didn''t you tell me?" she hissed, her voice colder now, though her cheeks burned faintly.


    Su Xiaobai''s grin deepened. "You''ll see soon enough."


    And then she did.


    The truth hit like a slap. This wasn''t a brothel¡ªit was a spy den. The women weren''t just escorts; they were operatives, trained to extract secrets as easily as they did moans. And Zhao Tianxuan? That crafty bastard had sent them here to retrieve information he couldn''t risk being tied to.


    Two young, vigorous male disciples indulging in the pleasures of a brothel? No one would bat an eye.


    But here''s the twist: they couldn''t just pretend. No, they had to commit. Fully.


    The women separated her and Su Xiaobai at the top of the stairs. Yu Feng''s stomach churned as she was dragged toward a private room, her composure slipping.


    "I hope you''re proud of yourself," she muttered.


    Su Xiaobai met her glare without flinching, his smile infuriatingly casual. "Think of it as broadening your horizons." S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Her eye twitched. Expanding horizons?


    The door swung open, and Yu Feng was pulled into a room draped in silks and heavy with jasmine. The hands on her were soft but firm, giving her no chance to resist.


    BAM!


    The door slammed shut behind her, cutting off her escape¡ªand sealing her fate.


    She stood there for a moment, her expression composed but her thoughts screaming.


    This bastard.


    Her fists tightened as she forced her breath to steady. She couldn''t blow her cover, not now. No matter how much she wanted to beat Su Xiaobai to death, she had a mission to complete.


    But the fact remained: Su Xiaobai had royally screwed her over.

 Chapter 91 - 91: *Climbing the tall tree* [R18]

    "Muah~~!"


    The wet kiss landed on his face, leaving a slick trace. Su Xiaobai''s robe dangerously loose, his chest exposed to wandering hands. Giggles filled the air, sticky and sweet.


    "One at a time," he said, though his chuckle faltered as fingers tugged harder at his belt, their intentions clear.


    "Young master, is this your first time~?" A sultry voice tickled his ear.


    "Would you believe me if I said yes?"


    "Liar." A woman leaned in, her breasts pressing firmly against his arm. Another slid her fingers along his thigh, brushing against his dragon vein with feigned innocence.


    Su Xiaobai flinched, his smile stiffening. Pleasure or peril, he couldn''t tell anymore. Each touch carried poison. Each giggle hid a blade.


    Zhao Tianxuan had set this trap with care, and Su Xiaobai''s body¡ªtraitorous as it was¡ªseemed hellbent on betraying him.


    _____


    On the other side!


    Yu Feng''s fists trembled. Her robe tugged this way and that, silk hands grabbing what they could. Her disguise felt tighter with every second.


    "Young master, why so stiff?" The woman smiled, her lips like cherry blossoms dipped in wine.


    "Stiff? My ass!" Yu Feng snapped, her voice cracking. She forced a grin, though it looked more like a grimace.


    "Oh? How feisty." Another slid in close. A hand¡ªquick, daring¡ªbrushed Yu Feng''s chest.


    A pause. Her fingers pressed. Softness met palm.


    Yu Feng froze, her blood boiling. Then¡ªexplosion.


    "Hands off my goddamn treasure!" she barked, slapping the woman''s hand away.


    Another woman laughed, unbothered. "Such a fiery temper, young master. Are you this passionate in bed too?" Her eyes gleamed as if peeling away Yu Feng''s disguise inch by inch.


    Shame, fury, humiliation. Yu Feng wanted to burn the whole building down. Her glare shot toward the door. Su Xiaobai, that bastard, was probably swimming in silk valleys and breasts while she had to endure this hell.


    _____


    Back to Su Xiaobai.


    "Tell me, young master." A woman''s lips grazed his ear, her voice sweet and sultry. "Do you prefer teasing? Or would you rather¡­ show us your strength?"


    Her hand slid south.


    Shffft.


    His belt fell, and without hesitation, her fingers wrapped around his proud and mighty ''heavenly pillar.''


    "Mm," she murmured, giving a slow squeeze. "So powerful. Is this what holds up the heavens?"


    Su Xiaobai caught her wrist. Slap! His grip steady, firm. "If I told you, wouldn''t that spoil the fun?"


    Her pout deepened, but her eyes glinted with mischief. She pressed closer, her twin peaks brushing his chest. Her robe slipped further, and her hardened immortal buds grazed his skin.


    Smooch~!


    Her lips brushed his neck, moist and warm.


    Bootsteps shattered the heated air.


    Thud, thud.


    A''Jin strode in, her commanding presence startling everyone present, "Enough!"


    Her voice cut cold, sharp.


    The women froze. Hands withdrew, though hesitantly.


    Su Xiaobai adjusted his robe, though his eyes wandered toward A''Jin. She was stunning¡ªlong legs, absurd proportions, and a face of pure authority. He''d known enough long-legged models in the past, but this one¡­ this one dwarfed them all.


    Why was she here?


    "First sister, what''s wrong?" The question came from Rong Xin, the blonde-haired beauty who''d first teased him. Her blue eyes sparkled, her figure flawless¡ªcommanding breasts, thick thighs, smooth skin that seemed carved by gods.


    Su Xiaobai glanced at her. Brothel workers here could conquer kingdoms. Smooth skin, thick thighs, and an aura that screamed temptation.


    His gaze dipped briefly, taking in the long, commanding legs and the fierce curves, before returning to A''Jin''s sharp, seductive face.


    ''I''d love to chop this tall tree down,'' he thought wickedly.


    A''Jin''s gaze flicked to Su Xiaobai. Her lips tightened as her eyes lowered, catching sight of his ''heavenly pillar,'' standing tall like it was ready to deliver judgment.


    She swallowed, her cheeks faintly pink.


    "Your friend is acting strange," A''Jin said, forcing her focus back to Su Xiaobai.


    Su Xiaobai rubbed his chin, feigning thoughtfulness. "He''s not my friend," he replied, nonchalant.


    A''Jin frowned. Zhao Tianxuan''s plot? Was something already going wrong?


    Rong Xin laughed softly, brushing her hair behind her ear. "First sister, why not let this little brother go? He''s harmless. Go deal with that rat instead."


    ''Rat?'' Su Xiaobai''s eyes narrowed. So, they''d already marked Yu Feng as a spy. Would they kill her? Troublesome. He didn''t know Yu Feng well, but he couldn''t let her die.


    Yet these women¡­ he couldn''t sense their cultivation.


    A headache.


    A''Jin''s glare darkened. She turned to Rong Xin. "Second sister," she said icily. "Are you so eager to defy me?"


    Rong Xin didn''t flinch. She leaned closer to Mei Lian, the pink-haired beauty with an innocent, doll-like face. Despite her shy bangs and adorable features, her heavenly peaks rivaled the others.


    "Third sister," Rong Xin said casually, "help me undress him."


    Mei Lian blinked. Then, nodding awkwardly, she stepped forward, her soft hands brushing against Su Xiaobai as she fumbled with his robe. Tap, tap. Her touch was delicate, almost shy.


    "You two¡­" A''Jin groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose. Discipline was a joke here.


    The truth was simple: A''Jin, the "First Sister," rarely allowed her elites to serve normal guests. Rong Xin, Mei Lian, and the others were used to being out of reach. Now, their bottled-up desires had erupted like a dam breaking.


    It was a mess!


    The remaining women exchanged glances. Should they follow A''Jin or Rong Xin?


    Then, boldness struck.


    The fourth sister¡ªa blue-haired vixen with a devil''s figure¡ªslid between Su Xiaobai''s legs.


    Schlick. Her hot breath hit his jade family jewels, and without hesitation, she swallowed them into her wet mouth.


    Slurp!


    "Mmmph..."


    ''Fuck.'' Su Xiaobai''s face darkened. They''re actually know this?!


    He glanced down, stunned, as Rong Xin and Mei Lian smirked. Their hands returned to his heavenly pillar, stroking in unison


    Shlick, shlick.


    Their fingers moved in perfect rhythm.


    The others joined in. Smack, smack. Kisses trailed his neck. Lick. Their tongues flicked over his skin, tasting him greedily


    One grabbed his hand, guiding it to her dripping forbidden valley.


    Su Xiaobai slapped her ass.


    Pah!


    Hiss~


    She squealed, wiggling her hips. "Ah, naughty!" she cried, but didn''t retreat. Instead, she ground against his thigh, her secret garden wet and hot.


    "You thirsty bitches," A''Jin growled, her tongue clicking in frustration. Her face turned red¡ªnot just from anger.


    She clenched her jaw. These were supposed to be elite courtesans, untouchable and disciplined. But months of pent-up thirst had turned them into untamed wolves. And Su Xiaobai? He was fresh meat.


    Her fists tightened as Rong Xin winked at her rebillious.


    Meanwhile, Mei Lian''s soft hands trembled as she worked. The blue-haired woman below polished his jewels.


    Slurp, slurp.


    Her tongue swirled, her cheeks hollowing as she sucked him clean.


    Su Xiaobai groaned, torn between resisting and giving in.


    A''Jin''s glare sharpened. Enough. Discipline would return soon. She sent a transmission through her jade slip. "Restrain the rat," she ordered coldly.


    But even as her focus shifted, her eyes flicked back to Su Xiaobai''s heavenly pillar, standing proudly amidst everything. Her lips twitched. Heat rose to her cheeks again.


    "Dammit."


    Does she have to wait here until they''re finished?!


    "You don''t wanna join...?"


    Su Xiaobai managed to lift his head, though barely, as two women shoved their cherries into his mouth, moaning for him to squeeze their ''heavenly peaks'' and slap them harder.


    A''Jin''s eyes narrowed, her gaze sharp. She said nothing, but the silent pressure radiating from her was enough.


    Normally, Su Xiaobai didn''t give a damn about women playing hard to get. But the more this tall beauty refused, the more the fire inside him burned. A tree that refuses to fall only tempts the axe further.


    "I have¡ª"


    "Shhh..." Rong Xin leaned in, cutting him off with her lips nearly brushing his ear. Her warm breath sent tingles down his spine. "She doesn''t like wealth," she whispered, her voice daring. "If you have information... offer her that."


    Her words, daring and dangerous, as her tongue flicked against his earlobe. Nearby, the fifth sister, a green-haired vixen with an annoyed expression, rolled her eyes as if to say, "Good luck with that."


    Rong Xin ignored her, biting her crimson lips, her warmth smearing across them. Without hesitation, she slid lower, her gaze locked onto the pillar of flesh towering before her. Mei Lian joined her, shy yet eager, her pink tongue flicking out like a serpent. Together, they began their work, their tongues coiling around his length.


    Slurp... Slurp..


    Their synchronized motions sent shockwaves up Su Xiaobai''s spine. Like twin serpents worshipping a divine root, he thought, his mind a haze of lust and amusement.


    Below them, the fourth sister hadn''t given up. Her mouth was still firmly wrapped around his family jewels, sucking hard enough to make his knees weak.


    Slurp, slurp.


    Occasionally, she squeezed them, her hands merciless.


    Hiss!


    Su Xiaobai groaned, his hips twitching. Yet, his thoughts weren''t on the women servicing him¡ªthey were on the tall figure in front of him.


    Information?


    A''Jin stood there, arms crossed, her expression unreadable. Her intense gaze burned into him, not with lust, but with cold calculation.


    That icy distance only fanned the flames inside Su Xiaobai.


    ¡ª A prize that doesn''t fall easily is worth conquering!


    "You want to know about the rat?" Su Xiaobai''s eyes lit up, a plan forming in his mind¡ªsave Yu Feng and climb this tall and mighty mountain at the same time.


    "Hm?" The women paused, their lips and hands still, turning their curious gazes toward him. A''Jin raised a brow, her voice cold. "Say." Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Not like this¡ªcome closer." Su Xiaobai grinned, extending his hand as if to invite her into his embrace. His shamelessness burned bright, daring and unrestrained.


    If anything, the grin made A''Jin want to punch him.


    "Ehehe~ First Sister, he''s harmless!" Rong Xin teased, a sly smirk playing on her lips. She nudged Mei Lian, whispering loudly enough for all to hear, "I bet she''s scared to get too close!"


    "Quiet," A''Jin snapped, her glare like a whip.


    "It''s just a hug, First Sister!" Rong Xin giggled, her eyes sparkling with mischief. She gestured for Mei Lian, and the two moved behind A''Jin, their hands pushing her forward.


    "!!"


    A''Jin stumbled slightly, glaring daggers at the duo before shifting her fiery gaze to Su Xiaobai. "Don''t even think about touching me with your hands."


    "Okay, okay, haha..." Su Xiaobai raised his hands in surrender, grinning like a fox that had just outwitted the hen.


    A''Jin stepped forward, climbing onto him with an aura that screamed both authority and restrained fury. Her loose red robe dapped over her tall, commanding frame, but even through the layers, she could feel his ''thing'' pressing firmly against her forbidden valley.


    Her teeth clenched as the sensation sent a jolt through her¡ªof irritation, of course.


    She placed her elbows beside his head, trapping him beneath her towering figure. Her emerald-tinted eyes locked onto his, sharp enough to slice through his grin.


    "Now talk!" Her tone was... dangerous.


    Her lips twisted into a wicked smile, her gaze daring him to waste her time. She would ensure this day would be the last Little Su¡ªthe one between his legs¡ªwould ever see the light of day.


    "Haa..." Su Xiaobai, blissfully indifferent to her warning, inhaled deeply, taking in the sweet jasmine scent clinging to her. Her long legs straddled him, her sheer presence towering even as she leaned close.


    The other women burst into giggles, covering their mouths as they watched the exchange.


    "First Sister, you''re blushing!" Mei Lian teased softly, her doll-like face lighting up with laughter.


    "Doesn''t she look like she wants to eat him up?" Rong Xin added, her eyes glinting with amusement. "Careful, little brother, you might lose more than your tongue!"


    "Enough!" A''Jin snapped, her voice sharp, but her red cheeks betrayed her rising frustration.


    Su Xiaobai''s grin widened, A tree this tall doesn''t just fall¡ªit begs to be conquered, he thought wickedly.


    "Hm?" As Su Xiaobai plotted his next move, A''Jin''s sharp gaze flicked to his discarded robe. Her slender fingers plucked the ''Sword Peak'' badge from it, her eyes narrowing.


    "You''re from Sword Peak?"

 Chapter 92 - 92: **An Unopened Lotus** [R18]

    "You''re from Sword Peak?"


    Su Xiaobai''s grin faltered. That tone didn''t sound friendly. Still, he nodded cautiously.


    "And the other one?"


    Another hesitant nod.


    Her expression darkened instantly. Sword Peak, huh? No wonder Zhao Tianxuan had sent these two. Killing them would be as suicidal as swallowing her own poison stash. If Su Xiaobai poked around, he''d find out his righteous master Bai Yujian¡ªthe fairy saint of Sword Peak¡ªwas actually infamous for hunting down enemies over spilled tea.


    The other women exchanged confused glances, blissfully unaware of the storm brewing. They didn''t care about politics¡ªthey were here to get paid and get laid.


    "What''s your relationship with Bai Yujian?" A''Jin''s lips curved into a dangerous smile.


    Su Xiaobai stiffened. Was this woman about to drop some deep, dark grudge on him? Whatever it was, he already had a backup plan: rely on his invincible body to shield ''Little Su'' between his legs and sprint away as fast as possible.


    But why not go big first?


    With a wide grin, he puffed out his chest and bragged shamelessly. "One and only¡ªher personal disciple and lover!" For extra points, he waved Bai Yujian''s token like a trophy.


    "What...?" A''Jin''s sharp gaze wavered, momentarily stunned.


    Su Xiaobai''s grin widened. Lying through his teeth? Easy. Bai Yujian would probably roll her eyes, but what she didn''t know wouldn''t kill her.


    A''Jin rolled her eyes. Lover? Unlikely. But personal disciple? She cursed inwardly. Damn, can''t kill this one.


    Su Xiaobai leaned in with his trademark shamelessness. "Now, what can you offer me for information?"


    "Depends on the information," A''Jin replied icily, her patience hanging by a thread.


    He pointed at his ''Little Su,'' grinning boldly. "How about polishing my sword of heavenly truth with your sharp tongue?"


    "..."


    Her face froze, completely blank.


    Before she could explode, Su Xiaobai reached out and grabbed her shoulders.


    The other women stiffened, ready to pounce, but relaxed when he leaned in close, whispering into her ear.


    "!!"


    "Is it true?" A''Jin''s emerald eyes gleamed with sudden interest. Her earlier annoyance was replaced by sharp curiosity.


    "One hundred percent true," Su Xiaobai said confidently, his grin even wider now.


    Of course, he''d just sold Yu Feng out, spilling her secret as a woman disguised as a man. Not like she wasn''t already exposed¡ªhe just gave A''Jin''s imagination a little nudge.


    "What''s her purpose?" A''Jin leaned in, her earlier composure gone. Her chest brushed against Su Xiaobai''s, her lips hovering close to his, teasing him with her warmth.


    Su Xiaobai didn''t hesitate, pulling her waist closer. A''Jin squirmed in his grasp, glaring at him like he''d crossed some forbidden line¡ªbut she didn''t push away.


    His face twitched. Why do women always make everything so transactional?


    "Tch." A''Jin clicked her tongue, leaning back slightly. The lead was incomplete, but useful. Her breath tickled his ear as she whispered, "Go and tell Zhao Tianxuan: ''When the dragon descends into the valley, the gathered wolves bare their fangs; the phoenix''s nest may soon face the storm.''"


    "Huh?" Su Xiaobai blinked. A riddle? A secret code?


    Smooch!


    "You didn''t have full information¡ªbe happy with this," A''Jin said, planting a quick kiss on his stunned face before moving to pull away.


    "Wait¡ª" Su Xiaobai grabbed instinctively, but his hand caught her robe instead.


    Tear! Tear!


    The red fabric ripped, revealing her twin peaks, tightly bound by a cloth. Nestled snugly between them was a small purple vial.


    Crack!


    The vial shattered against Su Xiaobai''s chest, the shimmering liquid immediately soaking into his skin.


    "You idiot!" A''Jin cursed, moving like lightning to swipe the shards away, but it was already too late.


    "Huh?" Su Xiaobai''s brain short-circuited as the poison settled into him.


    "What were you doing?!" A''Jin growled, her face red with panic. Without hesitation, she bent down and began licking his chest furiously.


    Slurp... slurp...


    Her tongue darted out like a frantic cat, trying to expel the poison.


    "Ticklish!" Su Xiaobai yelped, squirming under her assault. The mixture of her frantic licks and soft curses left him torn between bewilderment and arousal.


    "It''s too late..." A''Jin spat the last bit of liquid to the side, her face stormy with frustration.


    "What the hell was that?" Su Xiaobai asked, his voice tinged with both confusion and panic.


    The other women leaned closer, their earlier lustful gazes replaced by wide-eyed concern.


    "That vial," A''Jin muttered bitterly, fixing her torn robe, "was poison. Enough to kill you a thousand times over."


    Hiss~!


    The women gasped, glancing at Su Xiaobai with pity.


    "It reacts with Yang energy," A''Jin explained, glaring at him like he''d stolen her last shred of sanity. "It floods the body with Yin, destroying it from the inside out. I kept it there in case some beast tried to take liberties. Now, congratulations¡ªyou''re today''s unlucky fool."


    Su Xiaobai''s face paled. The more she explained, the worse his expression became.


    "Not good..." He muttered, beads of sweat rolling down his temples as he felt his body spiraling out of control. Death wasn''t just around¡ªit was sitting on his chest, waiting to collect him.


    "Of course, it''s not good." A''Jin snorted, her eyes cold. She gestured sharply to Rong Xin and Mei Lian, signaling them to prepare. Dispose of the body. Quietly.


    The two nodded, their faces serious. Meanwhile, A''Jin issued a command through her jade slip. Release him. No need to blow Yu Feng''s cover yet¡ªshe''d let her little nephew handle that mess later.


    "..."


    But Su Xiaobai wasn''t focused on any of this. His body had turned into a pressure cooker of wild Yin Qi. His veins bulged; his breath came in sharp, uneven gasps; and Little Su¡ªwell, it had become ''Big Su,'' throbbing violently.


    "Huh? First Sister, you didn''t give him an aphrodisiac, did you?" Rong Xin asked, her playful tone mixed with genuine curiosity as her gaze dipped lower.


    A''Jin blinked, stunned by the sight. "Of course not!"


    But even she faltered. What was happening to him? The poison wasn''t supposed to act this way¡ªit overwhelmed with Yin, not¡­ this. Yet Su Xiaobai''s body was devouring the Yin Qi, amplifying it until his eyes turned blood-red, and his Heavenly Pillar stood as if ready to split mountains.


    SWOOSH!


    "Ah!?" A''Jin gasped as Su Xiaobai grabbed her wrist, yanking her down.


    Thud!


    She landed hard on the bed, her loose robe slipping from her shoulders, exposing her creamy skin.


    "What the hell are you doing~!?" A''Jin snapped, her voice trembling with a mix of shock and anger.


    The other women froze, their eyes wide as they watched Su Xiaobai''s beastly transformation.


    Tear! Tear! Tear!


    With unrestrained force, Su Xiaobai shredded A''Jin''s robe completely, leaving her bare under his hungry gaze. His lips latched onto her twin peaks, sucking aggressively, while his throbbing heavenly pillar pressed against her forbidden valley, hot and demanding.


    "You¡ªugh...!" A''Jin groaned, her voice breaking as her body betrayed her.


    "Payback for the poison," Su Xiaobai growled, his hands gripping her hips tightly as he thrust forward, burying himself in her entirely.


    "Ahhh! You dare¡ªmmph!" Her words were swallowed as Su Xiaobai kissed her roughly, his tongue claiming her mouth as if it was his right.


    "Mmmghhh... idiot!" A''Jin squirmed, her fists pounding weakly against his chest before falling limp. The flood of Yin Qi transferring from him into her body overwhelmed her senses, replacing resistance with heated moans.


    Her legs curled tightly around his waist, locking him in place.


    "First Sister...?" Mei Lian whispered, her face crimson as she watched her usually fierce leader fall apart.


    "Look at her face!" Rong Xin gasped, her voice trembling with suppressed laughter. "She''s glowing... She''s actually enjoying this!"


    "Wait... First Sister is...?" Mei Lian''s eyes widened as her gaze dropped between A''Jin''s legs, where a faint redness bloomed.


    "An unopened lotus!?" Rong Xin finished, her tone a mix of disbelief and amusement.


    Slap!


    Su Xiaobai''s hand came down on A''Jin''s plump buttocks, the sharp sound echoing through the room.


    "Ahhh! Stop¡ªugh...!" Her voice cracked, but her moans betrayed her as Su Xiaobai''s relentless rhythm shook her to her core.


    Her proud composure shattered entirely. The once-dominant First Sister was now mewling beneath him, her face flushed, her nails scraping at his back in desperation.


    "Mmm... nghh... more...!" Her legs tightened around him, her body arching to meet his every thrust.


    The other women stared, their jaws nearly hitting the floor.


    "Who knew First Sister could look like this..." Rong Xin muttered, licking her lips.


    "Should we help her?" Mei Lian asked, her voice trembling as her fingers toyed nervously with her robe.


    Su Xiaobai wasn''t done. Driven purely by instinct, he flipped A''Jin over, her legs dangling over his shoulders as he pounded into her mercilessly.


    Slap! Slap! Slap!


    "Ahnnn! No¡ªdon''t...!" A''Jin''s cries were a mix of protest and pleasure as her body shook violently beneath him.


    By now, the other women couldn''t hold back any longer. Their robes slipped from their shoulders as they approached the bed. One by one, they joined, their eyes glinting with lust.


    Rong Xin was the first to climb onto Su Xiaobai''s back, her hands running over his sweat-slicked shoulders. "Be gentle with me, big guy," she purred, before yelping as he threw her down.


    Mei Lian followed, her shy demeanor replaced by unrestrained desire as she hugged him, gasping, "It''s my turn...!"


    Su Xiaobai worked through them like a man possessed. Each one fell under him, their moans filling the room as his movements left them trembling and spent.


    Essence dripped from their valleys, their legs giving out as they sprawled across the bed, tongues hanging out.


    "This... this is heaven," Su Xiaobai muttered, his grin stretching wider than it had any right to. He leaned down, once again claiming A''Jin''s lips like a conqueror marking his territory.


    "Y-You''re a monster," A''Jin moaned, her voice shaky and weak, yet her traitorous arms hugged him closer.


    "Monster?" Su Xiaobai smirked, biting her lower lip as he flipped her over like a sack of rice. "No. I''m the farmer, and you''re tonight''s plowed field."


    Slap! Slap! Slap!


    "Ahhh! Damn you¡ªstop!" A''Jin cried out, though her nails clawing his back said otherwise.


    "Not stopping until you''re as dry as a desert," Su Xiaobai growled, gripping her hips like a beast going for the kill.


    From the side, Rong Xin strolled over, her "Heavenly Peaks" bouncing as if drawn by magnetic force.


    "I''ll take his mouth," she purred, grabbing Su Xiaobai''s head like a prize she won at a festival. She shoved her chest against his face, her nipples grazing his lips. "Suck these, you savage!"


    "Mmph!" Su Xiaobai didn''t argue. His mouth latched on immediately, his tongue swirling like he was tasting fine wine, even as his hips relentlessly battered A''Jin below him.


    Meanwhile, Mei Lian, shaking like a leaf in the wind, hesitated before straddling his lap. "P-Ple-Please be gentle..."


    Su Xiaobai looked at her and grinned. "Gentle? I''ll be gentle-ish." His hands shot out, gripping her soft thighs as he yanked her down onto him like a child slamming a door shut.


    "Ahhhhhh!" Mei Lian squealed, her shy facade shattering as her voice hit notes that could make glass crack.


    "I... I can''t¡ªahhh!" Rong Xin gasped, her eyes rolling back like dice in a gambler''s hands. Her body trembled violently as Su Xiaobai switched between her "Peaks" like a connoisseur sampling delicacies.


    Mei Lian clung to him desperately, her cries growing louder with every thrust. "I-I''m gonna¡ªnghhh!"


    Splurt! Splurt! Splurt!


    By the end, the once-proud courtesans were sprawled across the bed like discarded ragdolls, their legs twitching and their tongues lolling out.


    Su Xiaobai stood at the center of the chaos, sweat glistening on his chest like he was posing for a painting. His grin was wide, wicked, and entirely too smug. He reached out, brushing a strand of sweat-soaked hair from A''Jin''s flushed face.


    "Ready for round two?"


    "Don''t even think about it," A''Jin croaked, her glare lacking its usual menace as her limp body betrayed her.


    But Su Xiaobai? He was feeling like a million spirit stones. Most of the poison was gone, though he couldn''t help but think, If I had a few more women, I''d be good as new.


    A''Jin, meanwhile, was stuck glaring at him like he''d just eaten her last dumpling. Her limbs refused to move, her body limp from absorbing most of his excess Yin Qi. Unlike him, she didn''t have specialized veins to handle the storm, leaving her like a wrung-out towel.


    But Su Xiaobai didn''t care. Consequences were for future him. Right now, panting women sprawled across the room? Chef''s kiss.


    Grinning like the shameless rogue he was, he grabbed A''Jin''s silky hair, wrapping it around his still-throbbing "Dragon."


    Her eyes widened in horror. "You wouldn''t¡ª"


    But he would. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Thwap!


    "Ngghk!"

 Chapter 93 - 93: Like a Brother!

    "You wouldn''t¡ª"


    But he would.


    Thwap!


    "Ngghk!" A''Jin gagged as the tip of his dragon smacked against her lips, a sour musk making her nose wrinkle.


    Without a moment''s hesitation, Su Xiaobai thrust into her mouth, his hands gripping her head like reins.


    "Gllrrkkk¡ª!"


    Her cheeks bulged, her throat tightening around him as the once-proud First Sister found herself choking on his "Dragon." Her emerald eyes glared daggers at him, but her muffled gags betrayed her helplessness.


    The other women began to stir awake, their groggy eyes landing on the scene before them.


    "Is... is that First Sister?" Rong Xin blinked, rubbing her eyes as though she couldn''t trust them.


    "Wow," Mei Lian muttered, still trembling. "Her throat''s doing better than mine..."


    Su Xiaobai groaned, slamming into A''Jin''s mouth one last time before releasing.


    Splurt.


    "Gwaakk!" A''Jin''s eyes shot wide as warmth flooded her mouth, some dribbling down her chin as Su Xiaobai pulled free.


    Splurt!


    Another wave splattered across her flushed face and tangled hair, leaving her drenched and utterly humiliated.


    "You¡ªcough..." A''Jin tried to speak, her voice raspy, but the words caught in her throat. Before she could recover, the creak of the door interrupted her.


    Her gaze, still hazy and furious, shifted to the figure stepping inside. A dark-haired woman stood in the doorway, exuding an air of dangerous charm, her waist wrapped in tight, devilish black robes.


    "Seventh Sister?" A''Jin muttered weakly, her voice tinged with disbelief, as though she''d just seen a fallen angel walk into a den of sin.


    Five more women peeked in, their curious expressions turning to shock. "Why''s it smell like... oh..."


    Their jaws dropped as they took in the sight: A''Jin, kneeling and drenched. The room reeked of sweat, sourness, and pure debauchery.


    "What the hell is going on?" one of them asked, wide-eyed.


    Su Xiaobai turned toward them, his grin growing even wider. "What''s going on? Your turn, of course."


    That was the last thing they heard before being thrown into the fray.


    By the time Su Xiaobai finished, the room was filled with the scent of sweat and the groans of ''twelve'' thoroughly plundered women. They lay sprawled across the floor and bed, their limbs twitching, their faces flushed, and their moans echoing faintly.


    _____


    Back in time, as soon as the women released Yu Feng, she snatched up her clothes and bolted like a rabbit fleeing a hawk.


    BAM!


    The door slammed behind her, and she darted into the living area, her chest heaving. Her sharp eyes scanned the room, ensuring none of those shameless women were around.


    "... they let me go," she muttered, wiping the sweat off her brow.


    Spotting a shadow under the table, she ducked down, tucking herself in like a thief hiding from patrol guards.


    If Su Xiaobai ever saw her "hiding technique," he''d probably keel over laughing before dying of second-hand embarrassment.


    "Tch. That man better finish whatever nonsense he''s up to." Her brows furrowed, and she hugged her knees, trying to calm her racing heart.


    But then¡ªit started.


    At first, it was faint. Barely a murmur from upstairs. But then, like a dam bursting, the moans rolled down the staircase, drowning the silence.


    "Aahhhh~!"


    "Mmmghhh~ Master, I want your monkeyyyy~!"


    Thud!


    Yu Feng''s head hit the underside of the table, her entire face heating up like she''d just walked into a furnace.


    "What... what the hell is going on up there?!" she thought, her composure slipping. Clapping her hands over her ears, she curled into herself, trying to block out the obscene sounds.


    But it was no use. The vulgar symphony continued, each moan more shameless than the last.


    "Is he taming wild beasts?" she thought, gritting her teeth.


    ___


    Time crawled by. Minutes turned to hours.


    Yu Feng''s patience burned away like incense at an altar. Her frazzled hair and bloodshot eyes made her look like someone who''d spent the night fighting demons.


    By dawn the next day, her hands were trembling from frustration.


    She peeked out from under the table, her face dark.


    "Why hasn''t he come out yet?! Is he planning to die in there?" S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Finally, unable to bear it any longer, she climbed out and marched upstairs, her steps light but purposeful.


    When she pushed open the door, her eyes widened, her body freezing mid-step.


    "...What in the heavens?"


    The room looked like the aftermath of a siege. Twelve naked women sprawled across the bed, tangled limbs and heaving chests everywhere. The scent of sweat and something else in the air like a curse.


    And in the middle of it all, buried underneath was Su Xiaobai. His face was barely visible beneath a mountain of heavenly peaks, his body limp and unmoving.


    Yu Feng stared, her eye twitching.


    "This man... actually died under a pomegranate skirt."


    A dry laugh escaped her lips as she pinched her nose to block the overwhelming stench, she cautiously stepped closer, poking his shoulder. No response. She poked again, harder. Still nothing.


    "...You unbelievable fool."


    Her expression darkened as she grabbed his limp and naked body, groaning under his weight as she hauled him onto her shoulders.


    "Why are you so heavy? Did you absorb their essence along with their shamelessness?"


    Each step made her regret her choices more. The room squelched with every movement, the sticky sounds making her gag.


    "This smells worse than a beast''s mating den. And to think I''m stuck dragging your filthy corpse," she mumbled, her tone dripping with disdain.


    As she staggered toward the exit, her eyes swept over the carnage one last time.


    And with that, Yu Feng escaped the Pleasure Pavilion, Su Xiaobai''s disgraceful body slung over her shoulders like unwanted baggage.


    She dragged Su Xiaobai out just in time.


    Barely an hour later, A''Jin stirred awake, her body stiff but her mind clear as a cloudless sky.


    Her sharp eyes swept the room, her expression darkening as she failed to spot Su Xiaobai.


    "...Gone," she muttered, her jaw tightening. That little bastard ran off!


    She gritted her teeth, slamming her hand down in frustration¡ªonly for it to land squarely on Mei Lian''s plump buttocks.


    Smack!


    "Ugh¡­ First Sister, why are you spanking me?" Mei Lian groaned, her eyes fluttering open. Her voice was half-annoyed, half-dreamy.


    "Shut up!" A''Jin barked, her glare sharp enough to make the other women stir nervously. She swept her gaze over the room, lips curling with disdain. Idiots, all of them.


    A''Jin''s frustration grew. Compared to Su Xiaobai''s limp corpse-like exit, she was far better off. Her body, though a little sore, could''ve gone for days if it weren''t for the overwhelming Yin Qi she had absorbed. She cracked her neck, sneering inwardly. Su Xiaobai was damn lucky it wasn''t an aphrodisiac. Otherwise, she''d have plowed him into the afterlife herself.


    Her legs, long and smooth, staggered briefly before she steadied herself, her thighs brushing together. Every step felt like a reminder of last night''s ridiculous events.


    Taking a deep breath, she grabbed a brush and paper, her hand moving swiftly as she wrote a letter. The message was direct and aimed at the Xiantian Sect¡ªher frustration bleeding into every stroke of ink.


    Sealing the letter, she placed it in a jade pouch and handed it to her most trusted messenger.


    Her eyes narrowed as the messenger vanished into the distance. "Let''s just hope no enemy forces intercept it," she muttered. Not that she truly cared anymore¡ªher frustration was laser-focused elsewhere.


    The soreness in her thighs? It was more than just physical pain. Her pride had taken a hit too. That memory flashed in her mind, bringing fresh waves of humiliation: when she''d tried to strangle Su Xiaobai with her thighs, fully intending to crush his neck like a melon.


    But no. That slippery bastard had to pull some ridiculous trick!


    His body had hardened¡ªliterally! The idiot somehow turned his flesh into jade mid-squeeze, leaving her thighs trembling in pain instead of his throat.


    She''d let out a scream of pure agony, clutching her legs while Su Xiaobai lay there smirking like the smug pest he was. That stupid look on his face, like he hadn''t just ruined her attempt at revenge, still haunted her.


    The memory burned like a flame. Her fists clenched. "Next time, I''ll crush him with more than just my thighs, that smug little piece of¡ª"


    Whoosh!


    A streak of light burst from the room as A''Jin rocketed outside, her anger boiling over. She tore through the air, heading straight for the woods.


    She didn''t care who it was¡ªbandits, wandering cultivators, or innocent passersby¡ªsomeone was going to feel her wrath tonight. If they were dumb enough to cross her path, they''d be lucky to leave with a single tooth still intact.


    Her thoughts raged as she sped through the forest. "Little Ant! I''ll make you regret being born! But first, let me break someone else''s face to warm up!"


    Somewhere deep in the woods, a group of bandits lounging around a campfire suddenly shivered, their instincts screaming that something terrible was coming.


    ______


    "Aw¡­"


    Somewhere in Yunnan City, a man groaned pitifully, clutching his jewels like a farmer protecting his last grains of rice. His legs quivered; his face was pale¡ªan image of a man drained dry, left with nothing but a limp rod and memories of sinful bliss.


    "You brought this upon yourself," Yu Feng said coolly, seated on a log with the dignity of a queen. Her eyes didn''t waver as she glanced at the sprawled figure beside her.


    Su Xiaobai lay like a corpse dumped in the gutter, his vitality stolen by those brothel vixens.


    The mission? Destroyed.


    Their reputation? Shattered.


    Babysitting him? Worse than death.


    Her patience was wearing thin, but she wouldn''t leave until he woke up.


    Su Xiaobai''s brows twitched. Pain stabbed through his body, and hazy memories clawed at his mind. Slowly, his eyes opened, heavy with exhaustion.


    And there she was.


    Her disguise was gone.


    Sharp eyes glittered coldly, crescent brows like blades. Her face¡ªsmooth as jade and cruelly perfect¡ªwas the kind of beauty that made men forget their own mortality. Yet, her lips curled faintly, mocking and disdainful.


    His chest tightened, but his shameless grin came naturally.


    "You''re enjoying this, aren''t you?"


    "Humph. Immensely," Yu Feng replied, her tone as sharp as her gaze.


    Su Xiaobai''s grin widened. His body moved slowly, lazily, like a beast awakening from slumber. "If you care for me so much, why not massage it for me?"


    Yu Feng''s brows arched. "Massage what?"


    "This," he said with a smirk, grabbing her hand and shoving it into his robes.


    Time froze.


    Her fingers touched something warm and firm, pulsing with heat¡ªalive, monstrous.


    For a moment, Yu Feng''s mind went blank. Then her expression turned to ice. Without hesitation, she ripped her hand free, her killing intent spilling out like a flood.


    Whoosh!


    A black spear appeared in her grip, its dark tip shinning with an ominous light. "Do that again, and I''ll cut it off."


    Su Xiaobai chuckled, utterly unrepentant. "Relax. It''s not like I planned it. Besides, you? A woman? Don''t flatter yourself."


    Her grip on the spear tightened, her knuckles whitening.


    "What did you just say?"


    "You''re like a brother to me," he said, completely unfazed. Dusting himself off, he even dared to pat her shoulder, his grin as infuriating as ever. "See? My good brother!"


    Hiss!


    The spear trembled.


    Yu Feng exhaled slowly, suppressing the urge to skewer him on the spot. This idiot was fortunate she hadn''t crushed his throat.


    "Let''s move," Su Xiaobai said, rising to his feet. He stretched leisurely, as though he hadn''t just dodged death. "You wouldn''t want your ''brother'' to leave you behind, would you?"


    Her eye twitched.


    The corner of her lips curled downward. Very soon, she thought darkly. Very soon, she''d teach this man what regret truly meant.


    Then the heavens roared.


    "Here he is!"


    The voice echoed like thunder, shaking the earth and snapping Yu Feng out of her thoughts.


    Su Xiaobai''s brows twitched. He glanced upward, his irritation barely masked. Now what?


    A figure hovered in the sky, his dark-circled eyes blazing with hatred...

 Chapter 94 - 94: Killing Three City Lords!

    Su Xiaobai''s brows twitched.


    Now what?


    Above him, a pale figure floated, his sunken eyes blazing with a hatred so raw it could peel flesh. His green robes fluttered in the wind, his aura shaking like a teacup in an earthquake.


    Su Xiaobai''s lips curled into a slow, lazy smile. "Another idiot who thinks he matters."


    Before he could utter another word, two more figures descended from the heavens.


    One was a slab of meat shaped like a man, his veins bulging with golden qi like he''d been binge-lifting celestial weights. The other was slim and sharp, a swordsman whose very presence screamed, ''My sword is longer than yours!'' His predatory eyes drifted to Yu Feng, gleaming with the kind of hunger that earned restraining orders.


    The pale man screeched, his voice as shrill as a banshee''s. "Kill him for me, Brother!"


    "Consider it done." The brute''s fist glowed with golden light, trembling with so much power it looked like he''d stuffed the sun in his hand.


    The swordsman''s cold gaze slid to Yu Feng. "Step aside, woman, or die with him. A noble swordsman doesn''t sully his blade with weaklings."


    "Humph!" Yu Feng sneered, "Big words for a man compensating with his sword. What happens when it goes limp under pressure?"


    Hiss~! S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The silence that followed wasn''t just awkward¡ªit was pure regret. The pale man shuffled his feet. Even the muscle-bound brute scratched his head, unsure whether to laugh or feel secondhand embarrassment.


    The swordsman''s face twisted like he''d bitten into sour plum, his grip on his hilt tightening. "You dare¡ª!"


    "Now, now," Su Xiaobai interjected, waving a hand lazily. "Let''s not get into sword-measuring contests. We''re already rated R as it is."


    He turned to the sky, raising his voice in mock frustration. "Seriously, is this the best you''ve got? A muscle-head, a swordsman compensating for his lack of personality, and a pale ghost with family issues?" He sighed, shaking his head theatrically. "Where''s the originality? Don''t tell me the celestial scriptwriters are on strike again."


    With a slow, deliberate shrug, he added, "I mean, I just finished last night''s missionary work, and now these weeds pop out of nowhere? Tch, Talk about bad pacing!"


    The pale man¡ªLi Xianfei¡ªroared, "QUIET! Enough of your nonsense! You killed my sons, you vile monster! I''ll annihilate your filthy bloodline and erase your name from this world!"


    Su Xiaobai tilted his head thoughtfully. "Killed your sons, huh? Refresh my memory. Did they cry? Beg? Or did they die so pathetically that even I forgot about it?"


    Li Xianfei''s face flushed, but before he could choke on his fury¡ª


    "BUDDHA''S PALM!"


    The brute roared, his golden fist swelling to monstrous proportions, blotting out the sun. The sheer force of his descending strike cracked the air itself, sending shockwaves rippling across the battlefield.


    Su Xiaobai yawned, patting imaginary dust off his sleeve. "Ah, yes. Another heaven-shaking attack doomed to fail spectacularly. I wonder what''s next¡ªdramatic dust clouds? Crater-sized ego?"


    He sighed, letting his qi surge as his body hardened like polished jade ¡ª [Invincible body]


    BOOM!


    The golden palm smashed into the earth with divine force, leaving behind a crater so vast it looked like heaven itself had thrown a tantrum.


    Dust shot into the air, blotting out the battlefield.


    From the sidelines, the brute, Tang Zhen turned to Li Xianfei, his laughter loud and obnoxious. "Brother Li, did you see that? He''s gone! We didn''t even need to try!"


    Then¡ª


    "Ah?"


    The brute froze mid-laugh, his eyes bulging as he craned his neck downward. Behind him floated Yu Feng, her spear buried deep in his back. Her gaze was as cold and merciless as winter''s breath.


    "Fools like you are all the same¡ªloud, stupid, and easily killed," she muttered, twisting the spear without ceremony.


    Puchi!


    Blood sprayed in an arc, painting the battlefield crimson. Tang Zhen''s heart exploded like an overripe melon under a hammer.


    Thud!


    The hulking brute crashed to the ground, his golden aura flickering out like a dying candle.


    "Su Xiaobai!" Yu Feng ignored the dead Tang Zhen, focusing on the dust cloud, her voice tinged with panic. "You better not be dead!"


    Cough!¡ª


    A shadow emerged from the dust cloud.


    Su Xiaobai stepped out, completely unharmed, brushing his robes as though he''d just escaped a mildly annoying rainstorm.


    "¡ªSup," he said nonchalantly, as if the crater behind him wasn''t even worth mentioning. "Did someone call for me? Oh, and good job with the big guy. Very stabby. Love the execution."


    Yu Feng''s eye twitched before she broke into soft laughter¡ªmelodic yet genuine. "You''re¡­ you''re fine? How? What are you made of, cockroaches and bad luck~?"


    "High-grade villain material," he replied with a wink. "Also, I ducked. Works every time."


    Inwardly, Su Xiaobai''s thoughts churned. ''So, she''s not Core Formation... She''s Nascent Soul, and at least mid-stage, too. No wonder she crushed that muscle-head like he was a paper doll.''


    His gaze flicked to the battlefield, masking his relief. If she hadn''t revealed her strength, he might''ve been forced to run. Three Nascent Souls, two at peak? Forget heroics¡ªhe''d have bolted faster than Tang''s Buddha Palm. But this woman?


    He suppressed a smirk. She''s been hiding an entire card deck. And to think, he faked getting struck by that palm just to see her reaction. What else is she hiding?


    "Quick! Restrain her!" shouted the pale man¡ªLi Xianfei¡ªas he gestured toward Yu Feng like a flustered old nanny.


    Li Xianfei''s aura blasted, his early Nascent Soul energy rippling wildly. His face twisted in rage, barely holding back the humiliation of seeing Tang Zhen flattened like a bug.


    Fang Yuecheng, the sword cultivator, snorted, his peak Nascent Soul aura surging as he charged forward, his sword glowing with ominous light.


    Clink!


    Yu Feng''s dark spear intercepted his strike, the clash of weapons sending sparks flying.


    "Girl," Fang Yuecheng sneered, "Give up now, and maybe I''ll let you die with your face intact. Your death will atone for killing Brother Tang!"


    Yu Feng''s spear spun in a deadly arc as she blocked his next strike, her eyes glinting with icy amusement. "Keep dreaming."


    Su Xiaobai leaned against a nearby rock, yawning theatrically. "You''ve got this, Yu Feng. Looks like you two have some unresolved beef anyway. Don''t let me get in the way."


    Yu Feng shot him a sharp glare but didn''t respond, her attention snapping back to Fang Yuecheng as his blade descended.


    "Focus, sweetheart," Fang Yuecheng growled, his voice dripping with venom.


    Before Yu Feng could retort, a dagger zipped through the air, nicking her cheek.


    Fang Yuecheng smirked, the dagger''s hilt gripped between his teeth like some deranged circus act.


    "You''re all filth," Yu Feng spat, her grip tightening on her spear.


    Meanwhile, Su Xiaobai''s lazy grin widened as he turned his gaze to Li Xianfei. "Hey, grandpa, you look like you''re about to pop a vein. Relax! I''ll send you to meet your sons soon enough. Family reunion, yay!"


    Li Xianfei''s face darkened, his early Nascent Soul aura surging as he roared, "I''ll kill you!"


    He launched himself at Su Xiaobai like a deranged rocket, his hand glowing with deadly qi.


    "Ah, great. Another fool in a hurry to die." Su Xiaobai unsheathed his new weapon¡ªa crimson blade that roared to life, fire crackling along its edge like an angry beast.


    WHOOSH!


    With one slash, a wave of flames surged forth, engulfing the entire area in a fiery inferno.


    Li Xianfei stumbled back, his robes singed, his dignity even more so. "You little¡ª"


    "Oh, don''t cry," Su Xiaobai taunted. "Did I burn your favorite pajamas, old man?"


    "Enough!" Li Xianfei charged again.


    Su Xiaobai sighed, shaking his head. "For all that screaming, I thought you''d be peak-Nascent Soul like your two dead buddies. But early stage? Really? Did you chug expired pills or what?"


    Li Xianfei''s next strike fizzled as Su Xiaobai''s sword flared again, forcing him back.


    Meanwhile, Yu Feng''s battle reached its peak. She drove Fang Yuecheng back with a brutal spear thrust, her movements fluid and lethal. Despite her focus, she couldn''t help noticing Su Xiaobai smirking at her.


    "She''s terrifying. Better not nudge her too much in the future¡ªwhat if she decides to skewer me like that golden idiot?" Su Xiaobai muttered, watching as her aura shifted. It was darker now, seething with an ominous energy.


    "Yup, definitely not aligned with the righteous path," he muttered, realization dawning. No wonder she hid her cultivation. The Xiantian Sect would never accept a heretic cultivator like her.


    His thoughts were interrupted by the city behind him erupting in flames. Screams echoed as buildings crumbled under stray attacks.


    "Fool! Don''t burn down the whole city!" Yu Feng yelled, glaring at him.


    Su Xiaobai glanced at his sword, which was spitting flames like a starving beast. "Ah, crap."


    He watched the fire spread, leveling a whole block in seconds. "Guess that''s on me."


    Behind him, Yunnan City spiraled into a glorious shitstorm. A''Jin, the long-legged vixen with a knack for "negotiating" city protection, was nowhere to be found¡ªprobably off shaking her assets somewhere else, thanks to Su Xiaobai''s hard work.


    Without her, Yunnan City was left to burn¡ªlike a drunken gambler''s last paycheck in a rigged game.

 Chapter 95 - 95: Grand Reveal!

    Meanwhile, Li Xianfei raged on, hurling insults and desperate attacks. "I came here for justice, you worm! You killed my sons!"


    "Justice?" Su Xiaobai snorted, sidestepping another attack as if avoiding a lazy fly. "I don''t even remember their names! Were they memorable? Did they have hobbies? Maybe I''ll write their eulogies. Something like: ''Here lies some random guys I squashed like mosquitoes.''"


    Li Xianfei''s face twisted in rage, his veins bulging as his aura flared weakly. "You¡­ You bastard! My Blood¡­ They were my last hope, my legacy! You''ve ruined everything!" His voice cracked, desperation bleeding through his fury.


    "Aw, how touching," Su Xiaobai said, mockingly wiping a fake tear. "Too bad I don''t care. You''re not even a proper villain, old man. Just a walking sob story looking for a finale."


    "Die!" Li Xianfei screamed, but his movements were slowing, his aura flickering like a candle in a storm. His attacks grew more erratic, each one slower than the last. His legs wobbled, his breathing labored, but his eyes burned with stubborn hatred. "I¡­ will¡­ kill you!"


    Su Xiaobai yawned, feigning boredom. "Alright, old man. Time''s up."


    He inhaled deeply, steadying his breath. Two realms above me¡­ this isn''t fun anymore. But his lazy grin didn''t falter. Instead, it widened.


    ZAAAAAAP!!!


    With an exaggerated exhale, Su Xiaobai unleashed a blinding beam of dragon breath that screamed destruction.


    "What¡ª" Li Xianfei froze mid-charge, his face twisting in horror as the beam sliced through him like a hot knife through tofu.


    For a brief moment, his mind flashed. My s... Forgive me. I wasn''t strong enough.


    The ray didn''t stop at his chest¡ªit cleaved the battlefield and kept going, splitting the city like it owed him rent.


    Su Xiaobai''s smile faltered. Oh, shit. This thing''s got a mind of its own.


    BOOM!


    The ray finally sputtered out, leaving a silence heavy with ash and smoke.


    Su Xiaobai¡ªexhausted¡ªwiped his brow, panting as if he''d just run a marathon. "Haa¡­ Haa¡­ Did he die, or is he just extra crispy?"


    He scanned the wreckage. Where Li Xianfei once stood, there was nothing but scorched earth. Half the city was gone¡ªhouses, streets, possibly a brothel or two¡ªall reduced to ash, as if heaven itself had pressed "delete."


    If the flames hadn''t cooked the stragglers, the beam had definitely finished the job.


    The battlefield fell eerily quiet.


    Yu Feng stood amidst the destruction, Fang Yuecheng''s lifeless body dangling from her grip. Her expression was a mix of irritation and reluctant awe as she stared at Su Xiaobai.


    "You''re insane," she said flatly.


    "Argh, harsh words," Su Xiaobai winced, clutching his chest like a wounded actor. "I prefer ''misunderstood genius.''"


    He wasn''t about to admit he hadn''t intended to level half the city.


    His gaze drifted until he spotted something charred and twitching in the distance. "Ah..." Li Xianfei''s body lay sizzling, looking like a kebab left on the grill too long.


    "What are you doing?" Yu Feng watched as Su Xiaobai casually strolled up to the corpse.


    "Being practical~!"


    Su Xiaobai waved his hand dismissively, crouching down with the ease of someone rifling through a bargain bin.


    Tilting his head, his gaze lingered on the charred remains of Li Xianfei. For a moment, a flicker of something¡ªhesitation? Regret?¡ªflickered in his eyes, but it vanished as quickly as it came.


    "Look at you," he murmured, his tone a strange mix of mockery and melancholy. "All that screaming, all that posturing¡­ and now you''re nothing more than a crunchy piece of toast. And the saddest part? No one''s left to give a damn. Not your sons, not your gods, and definitely not me."


    He hesitated, his fingers brushing against the corpse''s tattered robe before continuing in a quieter voice, almost as if speaking to himself. "This world''s a dog-eat-dog buffet, after all. So why bother pretending to care when all that''s left is crumbs?"


    With a sudden smile, Su Xiaobai straightened, his playful tone returning. "Now, if you''ll excuse me, this crispy fellow owes me rent."


    "I...." Li Xianfei''s lips trembled, but no sound came. A single tear rolled down his ashen cheek before Su Xiaobai stomped his head like a rotten melon underfoot.


    CRUNCH! CRUNCH!


    The sound was equal parts squelch and crunch, loud enough to make Yu Feng gag.


    Then, like a seasoned looter, Su Xiaobai crouched down and began rifling through the remains, pulling out a spatial ring and anything else shiny.


    "..."


    Yu Feng''s mouth opened slightly in disbelief. She hadn''t expected him to be so¡­ shameless.


    "What?" Su Xiaobai said, holding up the ring. "Take their treasures. They''re not using them anymore. Death is nature''s way of saying ''free loot.''" He paused, "Unless¡­ you''re into charity? Should I leave this stuff for the worms?"


    Yu Feng glared at him, her silence screaming, ''Touch my corpse pile and die.'' S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Without a word, she tossed Fang Yuecheng''s corpse at him like a sack of potatoes.


    Catching it, Su Xiaobai raised an eyebrow at the gaping hole in the man''s head. "Did you skewer this guy like a barbecue? Damn. Nice work ¡ª You could charge admission for this kind of art!"


    "Humph!" Yu Feng scoffed, turning away, her spear dripping blood like a butcher''s blade fresh from slaughter.


    Su Xiaobai''s gaze on the weapon, his lips twitching into a crooked grin, "That''s your sword, huh? Like master, like disciple, I guess. None of you sword cultivators actually use swords. What''s next¡ªa sword whip? A parasol? Oh wait, Bai Yujian already stole that idea with her shield-sword combo."


    Yu Feng ignored his rambling, but her attention snapped back when she noticed something massive crawling out of Su Xiaobai''s spatial ring.


    A massive, thorny flower emerged, its vines writhing like drunken snakes, its petals glistening with something suspiciously blood-like. It was big enough to swallow a cow¡ªor a corpse.


    "What the hell is that?" Yu Feng instinctively stepped back, her spear raised. "Are you cultivating demons?"


    Su Xiaobai gave her his most disarming smile. "Relax. It''s just a harmless little pet. Think of it as¡­ eco-friendly cleanup."


    "Cleanup?" Yu Feng looked at him as if he''d grown a second head. "It''s eating people!"


    "Well, yeah. They''re dead. Recycling is important."


    Yu Feng''s face turned red¡ªnot from embarrassment, but rage.


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    "Humph." She turned her head, relieved, "You''re just another monster in disguise."


    Su Xiaobai chuckled awkwardly. Not wrong. He gestured to the flower. "Alright, big girl. Breakfast''s served. Go feast on all those tasty bodies."


    Hiss~ Yu Feng''s eyes narrowed, the sharp glint of understanding flickering within. This man¡ªthis insufferable, smug bastard¡ªwas pretending to be righteous. A wolf in sheep''s robes. A heretic in disguise, just like her.


    "Is he from the Dark Church too?" she wondered. She sifted through her memories but came up empty¡ªhis face didn''t ring a single bell.


    Crunch! Crunch! Crunch!


    The carnivorous plant consumed one body after another, its vines coiling and snapping like snakes.


    Yu Feng glanced at it, curiosity, amazement, unease. "This thing¡­ it''s pure evil," she murmured, a mix of awe and disgust.


    "Evil?" Su Xiaobai shrugged, his tone as casual as discussing the weather. "It''s resourceful. Besides, it''s already at peak Foundation Establishment. If it hits Core Formation¡ªor higher¡ªit''ll be worth all the trouble. Better than letting the bodies go to waste."


    Yu Feng''s glare hardened. "You''re letting this thing devour their bodies just to power it up? What''s next¡ªfarming humans?"


    "Don''t give me ideas," Su Xiaobai said with a wink.


    Yu Feng clenched her fists, deciding she hated him just a little ''less''. But her gaze softened as she watched the flower work, its efficiency oddly mesmerizing.


    Su Xiaobai, however, was unfazed. His gaze turned toward the horizon, where faint streaks of light hinted at approaching cultivators.


    The Xiantian Sect elders are coming. Time''s running out.


    Flattening half the city wasn''t in his plans, but at least he could make the most of the mess.


    ________


    "YOU GUYS LEVELED HALF THE CITY!"


    Zhao Tianxuan''s voice thundered through the sect hall, shaking the rafters like an impending landslide.


    "..."


    "..."


    Su Xiaobai and Yu Feng stood silent, staring at their feet like two naughty kids caught stealing spirit fruits.


    After a grueling three-hour meeting, Zhao Tianxuan had dragged them back to the sect hall. Now, as the other elders dispersed, the sect leader slumped in his chair, clutching his head like he was one insult away from losing his mind.


    Yu Feng, now back in her "proper disciple" disguise, exchanged a subtle glance with Su Xiaobai. Their deal was simple¡ªhe wouldn''t reveal her true identity or cultivation, and she''d keep her lips sealed about his demonic flower. A mutual ''I know you''re shady, but let''s not die over it'' agreement.


    Zhao Tianxuan finally exhaled a long, defeated sigh. "Did you two at least complete the mission?"


    Yu Feng''s eyes flickered. She had no idea. Her gaze drifted toward Su Xiaobai, silently asking, Well?


    Su Xiaobai raised his head with the confidence of a man who knew exactly how far he could push his luck. "No goods, just a message."


    Zhao Tianxuan''s face twitched. "A message?"


    He leaned forward, whispering now as if the very walls had ears. "Write it down. Now."


    Su Xiaobai scribbled something onto a scroll, handing it back with an exaggerated flourish. "Here you go, Sect Master. But, uh¡­ didn''t you say we were supposed to bring back some goods? You never mentioned anything about this ''side quest.''"


    Zhao Tianxuan coughed, his face turning an interesting shade of red as he snatched the scroll. "Quiet! Do you have any idea who might be listening?!"


    Unrolling the scroll, his frown deepened.


    [When the dragon descends into the valley, the gathered wolves bare their fangs; the phoenix''s nest may soon face the storm.]


    Zhao Tianxuan scratched his head, muttering, "What the hell does this mean? Wolves, storms, dragons? Isn''t that just every day around here?" He shot them a glare. "You''re dismissed. Both of you. Go back to your peaks."


    Su Xiaobai gave a mock salute, clearly eager to escape.


    Yu Feng didn''t bother saying anything, slipping out quietly.


    _____


    Sword Peak Lord''s Residence!


    Bai Yujian wasn''t exactly the "wait patiently" type. The moment Su Xiaobai arrived, she grabbed his collar and hauled him straight to her residence.


    "You''re late," she snapped, her piercing gaze like twin swords ready to skewer him. "Now spill. Why were you attacked? Did you find out who sent them?"


    "Good to see you too, Elder," Su Xiaobai said sarcastically, carefully prying her fingers off his robe. "And no, I didn''t. But it''s not my fault! All the bodies conveniently disappeared. Mysteriously. Like magic!" He gestured dramatically, earning a suspicious flare from Bai Yujian.


    "They vanished?" she repeated, her tone sharp. "How? Who cleaned up that fast?"


    "No clue." Su Xiaobai shrugged, leaning against her desk like he owned the place. "But I''m guessing whoever sent them didn''t want us finding out. Real sneaky types, those assassins."


    Bai Yujian''s brows furrowed as she paced the room, her pristine sword hanging loosely at her side. "Three Nascent Soul cultivators ambush you, and nobody knows why? This doesn''t add up."


    "Look, I''m flattered everyone''s so concerned about me. But maybe I just offended the wrong person. Happens a lot, you know," Su Xiaobai said, his grin wide enough to spark suspicion.


    Bai Yujian''s eyes narrowed as her mind churned. Could it be Liu Chenfu? No, that arrogant fool wouldn''t dare betray the sect. Her gaze shifted back to Su Xiaobai, catching the mischievous glint in his eyes.


    "!"

 Chapter 96 - 96: Posion and Women!

    Bai Yujian''s gaze shifted back to Su Xiaobai, catching the mischievous glint in his eyes.


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    "!"


    Without warning, she marched up to him, grabbed his face with both hands, and stretched his cheeks mercilessly. "You! Stop smirking like a fox that just raided the chicken coop! Speak! What happened there!?"


    "..." Su Xiaobai, his face pulled in ways that would make a lesser man cry, narrowed his eyes. Seeing the faint twitch at the corner of Bai Yujian''s lips, he muttered under his breath, "Elder, if you weren''t the peak lord, I wouldn''t let this disrespect slide."


    He grabbed her hands and pulled them away, his grip firm.


    "Eh?" Bai Yujian froze, a flicker of embarrassment crossing her face before she quickly masked it. Was that¡­ inappropriate? Did he hate it?


    Trying to play it cool, she said, "Good, then. Act like I''m your friend and not your peak lord¡ªexcept during training." She expected this magnanimous offer to make him smile.


    Friend? Su Xiaobai raised an eyebrow, his expression screaming disbelief.


    Puchi!


    "Huh?" Bai Yujian blinked. Contrary to her expectations, Su Xiaobai showed no hesitation. The moment he got the green flag, he reached out and gently pinched her cheeks.


    Her skin, soft as untouched silk, reddened under his hands.


    "Now we''re even," Su Xiaobai said, smiling as if he''d just settled a lifelong grudge.


    "..." Bai Yujian stared at him, stunned into silence. She should have thrown him out by now, but for some reason, she didn''t.


    Sensing the awkwardness, Su Xiaobai cleared his throat and pulled out the items he''d retrieved from the corpses.


    "What are these?" Bai Yujian''s sharp gaze immediately locked onto the tokens and scrolls.


    Su Xiaobai held up the items one by one, his tone as casual as if he were auctioning off cabbage at a marketplace. "Token of Red Flame Fortress'' City Lord. Token of Fu City. Token of Golden Spring City. And these¡­" He waved a stack of papers lazily. "Came from the old man''s ring. You know, the old fossil leading the attack¡ªthe esteemed Patriarch Li of Red Flame Fortress."


    Bai Yujian''s eyes sharpened as Su Xiaobai held up the papers. "What are those?" S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Sketches of me." Su Xiaobai smirked. "Surprisingly flattering ones, actually. And¡­ a letter."


    "Let me see that."


    Bai Yujian snatched the letter from his hand, her brows furrowing as she skimmed through it. "... Huang Shao?"


    Nowhere was the name ''Huang Shao'' mentioned. Only ''Li Shao.''


    But the events... too familiar. Su Xiaobai crippling him. His "accidental" death.


    "Seems so." Su Xiaobai crossed his arms, leaning back lazily. "Before I joined the sect, I had a disagreement. Red Flame Fortress. The guy? Patriarch Li''s younger son, Li Gong. As for Huang Shao? Bet my last spirit stone he''s the elder son. Explains why he wanted my head on a silver platter."


    He shrugged. Unbothered. "Not my fault. They started it. Provoking me and Lulu like he owned the place. One thing led to another... and, well¡­ I might''ve accidentally made him permanently horizontal."


    Bai Yujian''s frown deepened. Patriarch Li came to demand answers. His elder son''s life jade broke. Found Su Xiaobai outside... and decided to skip the diplomacy and go straight for a cheap assassination attempt?


    Too convenient.


    Why did the other two follow? Emotional support killers? Or bored, flexing their overinflated egos?


    She tucked the letter into her sleeve. Her thoughts spun. If this ties to Liu Chenfu... leverage. Enough to crush him. And, knowing that slimy bastard, maybe she''d uncover a few more skeletons in the closet¡ªif not a full graveyard.


    A disciple, hiding under Liu Chenfu''s nose. Enough to ruin him.


    The irony.


    Bai Yujian herself was sheltering two shady disciples. Su Xiaobai, the troublemaker. Yu Feng, the heretic. A wolf and a viper, playing innocent under her roof.


    Perfect.


    Her eyes flicked to a dusty manual among the items Su Xiaobai had pulled out. "Buddha''s Palm Technique? Did any of them use this?"


    "Oh," Su Xiaobai pointed at the Golden Spring City token. "That guy. You know, the one who tried to crush me with a hand bigger than his brain."


    "..." Bai Yujian''s expression soured. Without hesitation, she summoned a small flame in her palm and burned every item related to Tang Zhen to ash.


    "Don''t mention this to anyone," she instructed, her tone cold.


    "Of course, Elder," Su Xiaobai replied smoothly, flashing a smile that left her feeling distinctly uneasy. "It''ll be our little secret~"


    Bai Yujian narrowed her eyes, the faintest pink dusting her cheeks. Why does this man always say things that sound¡­ indecent?


    "..."


    For her own sanity, she decided to send him away. But as she was pushing him out the door, he made a request that froze her in place


    "Actually, Elder, there''s one more thing I need."


    She raised an eyebrow, her patience fraying. "What is it?"


    "I need access to all the Yin Poison in the sect," he said bluntly, his grin widening at her stunned expression.


    Bai Yujian''s eyes narrowed dangerously. "Yin Poison? Why? Are you planning to assassinate someone?"


    "Check my cultivation," Su Xiaobai replied, spreading his arms wide.


    Her spiritual sense swept over him, and her eyes widened in shock. "Late Core Formation Realm? How? You just broke through recently!"


    Su Xiaobai grinned, crossing his arms. "I absorb Yin energy naturally. That poison? Works wonders for me. Think of it as... recycling."


    Her frown deepened. "That''s not how cultivation works."


    ?????


    Su Xiaobai''s smile was so shady it could cause an eclipse. The kind that screamed, ''I know something you don''t, and it''s hilarious.''


    Bai Yujian sighed. Her patience was thinning faster than her respect for the sect''s decision-making.


    "I''ll also need some special¡ª"


    Before he could finish, she tossed her token into his lap like an annoyed noble throwing coins at a beggar.


    "Take it. Use it. Whatever. Just don''t set the sect on fire," she said, her tone clipped.


    "Oh?" Su Xiaobai blinked, picking it up. The token was shaped like a sword, shining with VIP arrogance. Way fancier than the last one. High-tier loot.


    He smirked, already plotting.


    Little did Bai Yujian know¡­ she had just handed the equivalent of nuke codes to a teenager with a grudge against reality.


    This wouldn''t end well.


    ______


    Sect Hall!


    Bai Yujian stormed in, her boots crunching against the gravel path. Her expression colder than a eunuch''s wedding night.


    Zhao Tianxuan sat at the head of the table, fingers drumming. His face was the picture of doom. "Take a look at this," he said, sliding a scroll across the table.


    Bai Yujian frowned, unrolling it. "Dragon¡­ Phoenix¡­ Wolves¡­"


    Her face shifted. Her normally icy composure cracked, disbelief flickering in her eyes.


    WHOOSH!


    "!!"


    The scroll erupted into flames, ashes fluttering to the floor.


    "Hm?¡ª What did it say?" Xu Tianran, seated nearby, arched a brow. His green robe was immaculate, his broad shoulders and sharp features giving him the look of a man who could crack ribs for fun and then offer free medical advice.


    Bai Yujian''s cold gaze snapped to him and Zhao Tianxuan. After ensuring the seals were intact, she spoke.


    "The dragon will march to the phoenix''s nest¡­ and the wolves will join the feast."


    "..."


    Silence. Heavy.


    "It can''t be¡­" Zhao Tianxuan muttered, his voice cracking slightly.


    "Too proud," Xu Tianran snorted. "The royal family wouldn''t stoop this low. Let them try. I''ll send them back in pieces."


    Bai Yujian said nothing. Unlike them, she wasn''t convinced.


    The dragon¡ªclearly the royal family. An attack? Unthinkable. The king had trained here. The palace explicitly forbade targeting the Xiantian Sect.


    The wolves? Other sects. Circling. Hungry. A coalition to dismantle them.


    But why? Why would the royals risk it all? Their heritage. Their reputation.


    The idea reeked of madness. Or worse¡­ desperation.


    "Where did you get this?" Her voice was sharp. Cold.


    "..." Zhao Tianxuan hesitated. He''d mentioned sending two of her disciples. Not where. Not to whom.


    "First, read this." He slid another scroll forward.


    Bai Yujian grabbed it, her eyes scanning the contents.


    Xu Tianran leaned in, snatching it up as she read. His lips curled into a smirk. "Knew it."


    "Hm?" Zhao Tianxuan stiffened. "You knew disciple Xiao Yu was a woman? And a possible spy?"


    Bai Yujian''s eyes narrowed.


    Xu Tianran. The great-uncle of Xu An. The sect guardian who spent more time flexing his title than earning it.


    Her fist tightened. If the sect weren''t desperate for guardians, Xu Tianran wouldn''t even have a seat at this table.


    The ashes of the first scroll lay at her feet.


    The sect wasn''t just under threat. It was a powder keg. And someone was already striking the match.


    Something was very wrong. Bai Yujian could feel it.


    "Who sent this information?" Her glare zeroed in on Zhao Tianxuan, sharp enough to flay skin. He looked unusually suspicious today.


    "My aunt," Zhao Tianxuan replied, his smile as bitter as a spoiled wine.


    "And the other one?" Bai Yujian didn''t miss a beat, her tone colder than a monk''s night out. She gestured at the second scroll. "Did Su Xiaobai bring this? Where did he get it? Where the hell did you even send him?"


    Zhao Tianxuan''s face twitched. Why is she so overbearing today? "That¡­ also came from her."


    "..."


    Bai Yujian''s expression darkened. If her glare could talk, it would''ve been screaming, Spill. Now. Or I''ll wring the answers out of your throat.


    Cornered, Zhao Tianxuan sighed heavily and spilled everything. The mission. The targets. The brothel.


    "You sent him¡­ to a brothel?"

 Chapter 97 - 97: Tired Bai Yujian!

    "You sent him¡­ to a brothel?"


    "..."


    Zhao Tianxuan froze. He didn''t understand. Was Su Xiaobai cultivating some strange technique that required him to remain pure? Surely not. That kid had the aura of someone who could charm a widow into selling her funeral robes.


    But Bai Yujian wasn''t just angry. She was livid. Her mind conjured vivid, unwelcome images... That brat¡­ in a den full of vixens, being devoured whole? The idea made her stomach churn.


    Her fists clenched. She wanted to grab Zhao Tianxuan by the collar and shake the stupidity out of him.


    How dare he send her disciple into a den of debauchery?


    If jealousy were a bonfire, she''d already burned Zhao Tianxuan, the scrolls, and half the sect to the ground.


    Zhao Tianxuan, blissfully oblivious, glanced at Xu Tianran for support. The elder leaned back, crossing his arms, his lips twitching into a sly grin.


    "Brat, you really don''t know?"


    "Know what?" Zhao Tianxuan frowned.


    Xu Tianran chuckled. "Her new disciple, Su Xiaobai? He''s been visiting her courtyard. At night. Often. And staying for hours."


    Hiss~!


    Zhao Tianxuan''s jaw dropped. His face twisted like he''d just bitten into a bitter bug. It couldn''t be true¡­ could it? But as he thought back to Bai Yujian''s reaction, the dots started connecting.


    "Damn it," he muttered. His voice was hollow, like a man who had just realized he''d lost his life savings in a rigged gamble.


    Just weeks ago, he''d confidently bet with Zhu Qing that Bai Yujian would die single, bitter, and surrounded by her swords. Now, it looked like he owed Zhu Qing a mountain of spirit stones¡ªand his pride along with it


    Or maybe not. Maybe there was still hope.


    As Bai Yujian''s loyal disciples, it was now their solemn duty to ensure that this ship not only sailed but docked triumphantly at the promised land.


    Emergency meeting. Immediately.


    If Bai Yujian had even the faintest clue what was cooking in his brain, she wouldn''t hesitate to cook him alive.


    Meanwhile, Zhao Tianxuan¡ªoblivious as ever¡ªhad no idea about his aunt, A''Jin, the tall, mysterious woman whose very existence was a carefully guarded secret. To the world, she was long dead. A ghost. A shadow.


    But if he knew that the towering figure of his aunt had already been climbed and conquered by Su Xiaobai, would he still be so calm?


    Probably not.


    After all¡­ she wasn''t just his aunt.


    ____


    Back in Pleasure Pavilion ¡ª Yunnan City!


    BAM!


    A''Jin kicked her chamber doors open like a debtor on collection day, her robe hugging to her waist like a desperate lover.


    "Half the city''s on fire, and I''m stuck cleaning up!" she growled, slamming the door shut, the walls trembling at her fury.


    She couldn''t believe it¡ªthose brats had burned down half her city and vanished without a trace, leaving her to deal with the mess.


    Her gaze fell on the pond at the room''s center. Its cool waters rippled softly, tempting her to dive in and erase the stench of smoke and sweat.


    Without hesitation, she stepped in. The water rose along her thick thighs, licking at her skin as if jealous of the sweat. She dropped to her knees, letting the soothing chill crawl up her body, her fists clenching beneath the surface.


    The steam curled around her like a clingy ex, but her mind was anything but relaxed.


    "If I ever catch that bastard," she muttered, "I''ll hang his balls on a flagpole¡­"


    BANG!


    The door exploded open, and A''Jin shot upright like a startled cat.


    "!!!"


    Water streamed off her, her robe doing little to hide the long legs beneath. Not that it mattered; she wasn''t in the mood to entertain uninvited guests.


    "Rong Xin!" she snapped. "What''s the meaning of this?!"


    Rong Xin froze in the doorway, guilt written all over her face. "I¡­ uh¡­"


    Before she could stammer her excuses, another figure stepped into view.


    Veiled. Silent. Cold.


    The aura around this intruder was the kind that made even a street thug think twice before cracking a joke.


    "Who the hell are you?" A''Jin demanded, instinctively covering herself with one arm while the other fumbled for the blade she''d left somewhere by the pond. Damn her for trying to look sexy earlier.


    The veiled figure didn''t answer. Instead, they raised a hand and tossed something her way.


    SPLASH!


    A pouch landed in the water, spraying droplets over A''Jin''s chest. She blinked, then snatched it up, shaking off the excess water. "What''s this?"


    The figure lowered their veil.


    "Bai Yujian!?" A''Jin''s voice rose, her mouth gaping.


    Standing before her was the ice-cold goddess herself¡ªPeak Lord Bai Yujian of the Xiantian Sect. Regal. Unapproachable. And glaring at her like a mother catching her daughter with a hand in the family savings.


    "Bai Yujian¡­" A''Jin hissed, clutching the pouch. "To what do I owe this pleasure? I thought you sect types stayed up on your mountains, too busy fondling your swords to deal with us mortals."


    Her fingers worked quickly to open the pouch, but the treasures inside made her pause. Spirit stones, jade slips, treasures that practically screamed money¡ªenough wealth to tempt even a monk into buying a brothel.


    "What¡­ What is this?"


    Bai Yujian stepped forward, "Compensation," she said, her tone frosty. "And a warning. Leave Su Xiaobai alone. Some prey isn''t worth hunting."


    A''Jin leaned back against the pond''s edge, letting the water lap at her chest. Her lips curled into a grin, "Compensation, huh? Or desperation? Tell me, Peak Lord, do you always bribe with this much, or am I just special?" S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Bai Yujian''s gaze didn''t flinch, though her lips thinned. "Be careful, A''Jin. Testing my patience is a game you''re not equipped to win."


    "Testing your patience?" A''Jin snorted. "Lady, you barged into my bath, threw a sack of goodies at me, and now you''re trying to play hard to get. What''s next? You gonna climb in here and wash my back?"


    Behind her, Rong Xin made a noise somewhere between a squeak and a cough. "I''ll¡­ just be going." The servant scurried out like a rabbit running from a wolf.


    A''Jin chuckled low as she shook the pouch again, its glittering contents catching the candlelight. "So, what''s the price? My silence? My innocence? Hate to break it to you, but both are overpriced."


    Bai Yujian snorted, "Don''t flatter yourself. I know about the poison. Be thankful I''m offering you a deal and not carving your name into your grave."


    "What¡ª" A''Jin froze, her face flushed with anger and disbelief. "You think I''d waste poison on that spineless brat? If I wanted him dead, I''d just¡ª"


    Bai Yujian cut her off with a raised hand. "Save your excuses. Forget him. This is your only warning."


    BAM!


    The door slammed shut behind her, leaving A''Jin alone with the pouch and a mountain of questions.


    "Forget him?" A''Jin muttered, her smile returning. "When things are just getting fun? Not a chance."


    She tossed the pouch aside, her mind already spinning. Why would someone like Bai Yujian get involved over a nobody like Su Xiaobai? Was he some secret heir? A hidden prodigy? Or¡­ her boy toy?


    Her face burned at the thought. "Tch, lucky bastard."


    But before she could dwell on it¡ª


    BOOM!


    A sword intent exploded through the air, slicing the roof clean off.


    Whoosh!


    A''Jin''s instincts kicked in, and she rolled to the side just in time to avoid being skewered. Looking up, she saw mountains in the distance¡ªcleaved in half as if the heavens themselves were showing off their cutlery.


    "...!"


    Her stomach dropped. She heard me.


    The Xiantian Sect rarely sent their big dogs down from their heavenly perches, but Bai Yujian? She''d broken every rule just to stomp in here. Walls might have ears, but hers could probably hear someone moaning from another continent.


    A''Jin''s eyes flicked to the pouch. She scooped it up, shoving it into her robes with a low hiss.


    "Fine. I''ll behave¡­ for now."


    Her lips twisted into a defeated smile. Some battles weren''t worth the effort. But others?


    Oh, she''d fight them naked if it came to that.


    _____


    Back at the Xiantian Sect, night had fallen when Bai Yujian returned, landing on Sword Peak like a lover caught sneaking back into the marital bed after leaving bribe money on the mistress''s nightstand.


    Her arrival was quiet, but her face wasn''t. A faint heat lingered on her cheeks, the kind she hadn''t felt in centuries. Protecting my disciple, she reminded herself, though the excuse tasted hollow.


    No, this wasn''t protection. It was possession.


    Meanwhile, Su Xiaobai, blissfully unaware of his master''s existential crisis, had other issues.


    "What the hell is going on?" he muttered, peeking out his door.


    Bai Yujian''s sharp gaze landed on the scene outside his residence¡ªa winding line of disciples stretching so far down the peak it looked like a sect-wide sale on dual cultivation manuals. Most of them were women, their eyes shining with anticipation, some whispering, some blushing, and all climbing toward Su Xiaobai''s door like it held the secrets to immortality¡ªor something far dirtier.


    Her lips pressed into a thin line.


    What kind of depraved pilgrimage was this?


    Why were all these women gathered here? She''d just dealt with one foolish woman in Yunnan City, and now her disciple had summoned a harem?


    Then the memory hit her like a drunk elder falling off a flying sword¡ªher token. She''d left it with him.


    Her expression darkened. That little bastard was supposed to buy poison, not¡­


    Wait ¡ª Poison?


    Her chest seized, the realization blooming like a weed she couldn''t pluck.


    Oh, no.


    In a blur of movement, she surged forward, pushing through the crowd with the grace of a peak lord and the impatience of a scorned woman.


    "Move," she said, sending shivers through the crowd.


    The disciples barely noticed her arrival. They were too busy whispering to each other in hushed, excited tones.


    "I heard Senior Brother Su''s techniques make even the heavens cry!" one girl gushed, her cheeks pink.


    "Do you think he''ll let me try them?" another asked, biting her lip.


    One particularly bold disciple held a jade slip in hand, muttering something about learning advanced sword grips. Bai Yujian''s eye twitched.


    Sword grips? Was this what her sect had come to?


    Her fury simmered beneath the surface, her voice soft but cold as she muttered, "I leave for a single day, and already the foxes dig at the henhouse."


    She shoved past another disciple, her steps unhurried yet purposeful. The sight of these foolish girls simpering over her disciple ignited a flicker of something unfamiliar in her chest¡ªa deep, irrational urge to unsheathe her sword and carve her name into their affections.


    But no. She was Bai Yujian, a cultivator who''d weathered five millennia of storms. She wasn''t going to let the actions of one foolish disciple shake her.

 Chapter 98 - 98: Peak Core formation!

    BAM!


    The doors crashed open like a dragon''s tail tearing through a mountain.


    "Disciple Su¡ª!"


    Bai Yujian strode in, her robes snapping in the windless chamber, she''d braced for filth. Sweat, sin, and the usual sludge of human depravity.


    Instead¡ªsteam.


    It slithered through the air like a courtesan''s idle fingers, brushing against her skin as if to test her patience. At its heart, Su Xiaobai lounged in a jade bath, his body glowing faintly blue and black, as if carved by the heavens themselves.


    Her eye twitched.


    The brat was surrounded by kneeling disciples, their faces disturbingly serene. Meditation? No, this wasn''t calm¡ªit was the resignation of fish circling a net.


    "What... is this?"


    No response. Su Xiaobai''s half-lidded eyes barely flickered, his expression hovering somewhere between holy enlightenment and the afterglow of sin. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    SPLASH!


    The disciples stirred. Without a word, they shuffled out, only to be replaced by another group sliding in with the grim resolve of livestock headed to slaughter.


    Bai Yujian''s lips thinned. Her gaze fell to a pile of pouches stacked beside the bath, spilling yin qi into the air. The scent hit her¡ªcloying and sweet, with the undertone of rot, like a flower blooming from a corpse.


    ¡ª This wasn''t dual cultivation.


    No, this was something worse.


    "Su Xiaobai, is this what you turned my sect into while I was gone? A brothel disguised as a bathhouse?" Now she regretted it, handing her token over to him like a fool.


    "Don''t. It''s necessary."


    The single word froze her.


    It came from the shadows. Bai Yujian''s head snapped toward the source.


    Su Xiaomei.


    The younger woman emerged, soft and unassuming as a dewdrop. But her eyes betrayed her¡ªstormy, guilt-ridden.


    Bai Yujian''s gaze sharpened. Su Xiaomei: Peak Core Formation at twenty-one. This cursed family had a habit of treating cultivation''s sacred laws like drunken party favors.


    "Necessary?" Bai Yujian''s words were a blade wrapped in silk. "For what exactly?"


    Her gaze swept back to the line outside. Outer disciples. Inner disciples. Even core disciples¡ªall waiting their turn with the desperation of gamblers clutching losing dice.


    "Hu Mei''er? Hu Jiao''er?" Her gaze narrowed at the sight of the twins, normally aloof yet kneeling like the rest.


    Just what insanity has her disciple unleashed now?


    Bai Yujian''s eyes narrowed further, focusing on Xiaomei. "Explain."


    Xiao Mei shifted, arms crossed as if freezing despite the heat. That coffin''s mark still on her, skin pale as though she''d just risen from the grave. "He... absorbed too much yin qi. His body... couldn''t handle it."


    "..." Bai Yujian''s brow twitched, her sharp gaze falling on Su Xiaobai, who lounged in the jade bath like a deranged monk.


    "Too much yin qi?" Her tone was soft, almost languid, though her words carried the weight of command.


    The brat didn''t respond. His pale skin, tinged blue and black, glimmered faintly, as if his veins had been filled with liquid poison instead of blood. He looked both ethereal and ridiculous¡ªa fool caught in a self-inflicted disaster.


    Her eyes narrowed slightly. "Don''t tell me¡ª"


    "He consumed them all," Su Xiaomei added before she could finish, her voice firm yet heavy with frustration. Her gaze flicked toward the pile of empty containers.


    Bai Yujian''s eyes followed hers, landing on the hollowed pouches that once held the sect''s yin poisons. Her lips quirked into something resembling a wry smile.


    "All of them," she murmured. "Bold. Even for him."


    Xiaomei straightened, her expression tense. "It stabilized him. He¡­ he can refine yin qi through his veins, but there was too much. His dantian couldn''t keep up."


    Bai Yujian hummed, eyes drifting between the pouches, Su Xiaobai, and her half-naked disciples. "He bites off more than he can chew," she murmured, voice tinged with resentment. "And the rest of you scramble for the leftovers. Sounds right."


    The tone shifted¡ªjust a hint of something grudging, possessive¡­ A slip. Her brows furrowed, irritation not with him, but with herself.


    Xiaomei pursed her lips, mistaking the tone for blame toward Su Xiaobai, and gave a quick, dismissive glance. "He isn''t a burden," she added softly.


    "Hm?" Bai Yujian''s brows arched slightly, but she said nothing.


    After a moment, the Xiaomei exhaled, her tension easing as she spoke again. "The yin qi he releases isn''t harmful. It''s pure and¡­ beneficial. Sister Lulu broke through to Core Formation just by meditating near him."


    "How fortunate for her," Bai Yujian said, tone dry but not unkind. Lulu''s phoenix lineage didn''t matter anymore. Maybe it was the way she devoured Su Xiaobai with her eyes. Or the unconscious competition. Not that Bai Yujian would admit it.


    If swallowing bitterness were a cultivation technique, she''d already be a god.


    Her gaze lingered on Xiaomei, then shifted to the scene, "And yet, I see outer disciples, inner disciples, even core disciples standing in line. He needs them all?"


    Xiaomei nodded. "No matter how many of us help, it''s not enough. His body is overloaded. If he doesn''t release the qi¡­"


    "It will tear him apart," Bai Yujian finished calmly.


    Su Xiaomei ¡ª didn''t deny it.


    Bai Yujian stepped closer to the pool, the suffocating yin qi swirling around her like a restless tide.


    She looked down at Su Xiaobai, his eyes half-lidded, his expression hovering between serene enlightenment and sheer exhaustion.


    "He always take things too far..." she said softly, her words more a statement than a rebuke.


    Her gaze shifted to the line of disciples outside, their faces lit with desperation and faint reverence. A faint sigh escaped her lips. "How long has this been going on?"


    "Since evening," Xiaomei replied, her voice quieter now. "He''s been converting the yin qi into profound energy to refine his cultivation, but there''s simply too much. The poisons¡­" She trailed off, hesitating.


    "Should have killed him," Bai Yujian finished again, her tone as steady as her gaze.


    Xiaomei looked away, her lips tightening.


    For a moment, Bai Yujian said nothing, her eyes tracing the ripples in the pond, the way the excess qi dissolved into the water and was absorbed by the female disciples who rotated in and out with precise efficiency. Despite the insanity of the situation, the system seemed to work¡ªbarely.


    But her gaze returned to Su Xiaobai.


    "All of you. Outside," Bai Yujian said suddenly, her voice carrying a quiet authority that left no room for argument.


    "!?"


    The disciples hesitated, then scurried out like they were running from a ghost¡ªwary but obedient. Only Su Xiaobai had the guts to talk back to Peak Lord; the rest looked like chickens who''d seen a fox.


    Xiaomei, however, didn''t move. She stepped forward instead, lowering herself to the edge of the pond. Splash! Her feet dipped into the water, her body still tense but steady.


    "What are you doing?" Bai Yujian asked, her tone sharper now.


    Xiaomei''s face lifted, her ocean-like eyes catching the pond''s faint glow. "Helping," she said, short and simple.


    Bai Yujian''s frown deepened. "You''re already at your limit. If you push yourself any further¡ª"


    "I know my limits," Xiaomei cut in, her tone firm but not disrespectful. "And I wouldn''t stand here if I didn''t trust him. Or you."


    Even if Su Xiaobai hadn''t worked his ass off to bring her here, she''d still have done the same. And now, with a touch of respect for his progress... well, things were different.


    Bai Yujian went silent, her eyes sharp as knives. Then, a sigh... her lips curving faintly.


    "Pride must run deep in your family," she murmured, almost to herself.


    Xiaomei said nothing, eyes fixed on the pond, absorbing excess qi, her body faintly glowing as it balanced the energy.


    Bai Yujian folded her arms, watching in silence. The girl''s stubbornness... damn infuriating, but admirable too. No denying her resolve.


    Bai Yujian''s gaze shifted back to Su Xiaobai, still as stone. Her expression softened... just a hint. Her voice held a quiet reprimand, almost a whisper to herself.


    "If you insist on courting death, Su Xiaobai, at least have the courtesy to warn me next time."


    She inhaled deeply, a flicker of an idea forming. If this reckless brat wouldn''t stop himself, she''d be finding a new disciple soon.


    "You too," she said, turning to Xiaomei, ready to set her plan in motion. "Leave."


    Xiaomei didn''t budge. "But¡ª"


    Shhk. Bai Yujian placed a hand on her back, then yanked it away with a sharp hiss. A chill, colder than frost, bit into her fingers. Her eyes narrowed. "The eternal ice is still there?"


    Xiaomei blinked, then nodded, hesitant. "It''s harmless¡­ but I feel weaker."


    Bai Yujian studied her, then sighed, her tone softening. "Go. I''ll handle this."


    "But¡ª" Xiaomei''s eyes flickered to Su Xiaobai, her lips pressing into a thin line.


    "He won''t die." Bai Yujian''s voice was steady, carrying no room for argument. "Now go."


    Xiaomei hesitated, then nodded. "Take care of him."


    With that, she turned and left.


    Alone now, Bai Yujian shook her head, her lips curling faintly in a mix of resignation and amusement.


    She loosened her robe, letting it slip from her shoulders. Pale skin met the moonlight as she stepped into the pond, the cool water lapping at her ankles.


    Splash!


    "What a troublesome man," she murmured, her voice almost inaudible.


    She moved closer to him, her cultivation activating instinctively.


    WHOOSH~!


    The yin qi rushed into her, a torrent of icy energy. Her body absorbed it swiftly, smoothly¡ªlightning against the storm.

 Chapter 99 - 99: *Exploring the Forbidden Dao!* [R18]

    Splash. Splash.


    Knee-deep in the water, Bai Yujian exhaled, dragging a hand over her bare shoulder. The coolness barely registered.


    Hours. She''d been stuck here for hours. Her lips curled in a sneer. "How long does it take to reinforce a golden core? Or is he just cultivating laziness now?"


    The yin qi swirled around her like a drunken lover, pressing close, refusing to let go. Her body devoured it instinctively, an endless void that swallowed everything without a ripple. At her level, even if someone dumped a sea of poison into this pond, it wouldn''t so much as tickle her meridians.


    But patience? That was running dangerously thin.


    Her gaze flicked toward the brat. Su Xiaobai sat unmoving, bathed in faint light, looking like a half-dead monk pretending to be a god. She snorted. A''Jin had handled his mess last time. A deity transformation expert cleaning up after this reckless fool.


    Now it was her turn.


    Her lips twitched, halfway between amusement and scorn. "Talent¡­" she muttered, her voice dripping with venom. Zhao Tianxuan, a generation younger than A''Jin, hit Great Ascension like it was a casual stroll. And yet, A''Jin? Stuck.


    Bai Yujian''s lips twitched. Heaven had its favorites. And here she was, babysitting this fool.


    Puchi.


    A sound. A sensation. Something poked her back.


    "Eh?"


    Her body tensed. Slowly, her hand reached behind her, fingers brushing against something¡­ solid. Hot. Pulsing.


    "!" She froze.


    Her mind tried to catch up. Was it a treasure? A hidden array? Her brow furrowed¡ªthen her eyes widened.


    It twitched. Her grip tightened.


    Her face went blank for a moment, and then the dam broke.


    "PRESUMPTIOUS!"


    She spun around, a blade of energy flared to life in her hand, humming with suppressed fury.


    There he was. Su Xiaobai. Eyes closed, head tilted slightly, his silver hair framing his face like some celestial painting. Serene. Unbothered.


    Her teeth clenched. "Reckless little..."


    The blade hovered an inch from his chest, trembling as her grip tightened.


    "Su Xiaobai," she growled, each word deliberate and dangerous. "If you''re awake, explain yourself. If you''re asleep¡­" Her lips curled into a slow, venomous smile. "Pray I don''t wake you the hard way."


    Nothing. The brat didn''t so much as twitch.


    Her glare didn''t fade, heat pooling in her chest, threatening to boil over. Hiss! Then, with a sharp breath, the blade dissolved, and her shoulders fell.


    "You''re lucky I''m too tired to kill you."


    But her gaze didn''t leave him. The faint light glimmered over his chest, each shallow breath pulling at her attention. He looked ridiculous. He looked divine.


    Her lips quirked. "If you weren''t so young, I''d have considered that love letter of yours."


    She scoffed, the moment of weakness vanishing like mist. Her fingers flexed, brushing against warmth on her palm.


    ____


    Minutes dragged.


    Bai Yujian''s annoyance was starting to turn into unease.


    Her glare still pinned on Su Xiaobai''s face. The brat looked serene, his pale hair floating like a saint lost in enlightenment.


    "Is he¡­ alive?"


    Her lips tightened. Whatever he was to her¡ªa brat, a headache, or just bad karma¡ªhis value to the sect was undeniable. A dead Su Xiaobai would mean disaster. For the sect. For her. For cultivation itself; it''d be a headache she''d never live down.


    Her shimmering eyes hesitated. To check his state, she''d need to touch his dantian. The problem? His "sword" stood tall, proud, and obnoxiously rightous in the way. One wrong move, and she''d be wrestling it again.


    Her jaw tightened. "Yin qi side effects," she muttered, a poor excuse for the absurd.


    Finally, she steeled herself. "For the sect. For the future. For medical reasons only ¡ª Just this once."


    Splash!


    Her hand slipped into the water, skimming just beneath his abdomen. Qi flowed from her palm, brushing through his core to assess the state of his energy.


    "!"


    Heat. Hardness. Her wrist bumped against it.


    Her body stiffened. It twitched. Alive. Throbbing. She felt it through the water like a smug beast declaring its dominance. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Bai Yujian gritted her teeth. Ignoring it was impossible, but she tried anyway.


    "It''s almost done¡­" she murmured, her lips twitching, torn between relief and the urge to drown him then and there.


    His energy was stabilizing; a breakthrough was imminent.


    Her thoughts wandered. When they first met, the brat was barely at Foundation Establishment. Now? He was leaping realms like rabbits in spring. "What kind of demonic buffet has he been eating?"


    Then¡ª


    Puchi!


    Her brow twitched. Another twitch below the water. She glanced down. Her hand was still there.


    "You¡ª!" Irritation boiled over. She grabbed it without thinking.


    Snap!


    Hot. Firm. Throbbing. Her fingers wrapped around it instinctively, a warrior''s reflex¡ªthough no sword she''d ever held felt like this.


    Her body froze. Her face ignited. What am I grabbing?!


    Her thoughts scrambled for answers, latching onto the first scapegoat. "Yin qi¡ªit''s clouding my judgment!"


    But her fingers didn''t let go. If anything, they moved, tracing it experimentally. Light pressure. Tentative strokes.


    Her brow furrowed. "So¡­ this is what men have? Feels more like a weapon than an organ."


    Her other hand joined, moving cautiously like a scholar handling a forbidden artifact. It was hot, firm, but yielding in strange ways, as though forged by a celestial prankster.


    She tugged experimentally, pulling at the skin.


    Shhh...


    It shifted, unveiling something beneath... Like a concealed mechanism in a cursed treasure¡ªone revealing secrets no righteous dao should uncover.


    Her eyes widened. "It¡­ transforms?"


    A soft gasp escaped her lips, part disbelief, part fascination. How did this thing work? Why did it move like this?


    ''Was this some hidden mechanism? A spiritual treasure with layers of secrets?'' she thought, grimly.


    Her hands moved on their own, pressing, squeezing, discovering, deeper into this forbidden dao, each touch revealing secrets more baffling¡ªand blasphemous¡ªthan the last.


    "This brat¡­" she muttered, her voice caught between a scold and awe. "It''s like discovering a forbidden dao."


    For Bai Yujian, the righteous sword master, this was an entirely different realm. One less righteous. And far too distracting. And she wasn''t ready for any of it.


    No cultivation manual had prepared her for this.


    If heaven had a punishment for this, Bai Yujian was certain it was coming soon.


    And it did.


    ____


    A few minutes later, Su Xiaobai stirred. Consciousness returned in fragments, but his body refused to move. Breaking through from late stage to peak stage required complete focus¡ªhis golden core had been reforged, his qi purified, and everything was stabilizing.


    Until he felt it.


    A hand.


    Sliding lower. And lower.


    It wasn''t light or accidental. These were "deliberate" strokes. His sword twitched, a reflex he couldn''t control, and he almost cried. It was unbearable. Ticklish. Invasive.


    And then the hands moved¡ªto his abdomen, his shoulders, even his back. It wasn''t just touching. It was inspection. Like he was some divine treasure on display for mortal hands.


    "..."


    Su Xiaobai''s face darkened. Who is this presumptuous woman?! Lulu? Hu Mei''er? No, even they wouldn''t dare grope a man mid-breakthrough!


    Then, a familiar fragrance drifted toward him. Subtle. Distinct.


    His heart stopped.


    Peak Lord!?


    The realization hit him like a heavenly tribulation. Wait, if it''s her¡­ is she the one doing this?!


    His mind spun in disbelief. Peak Lord Bai Yujian? The untouchable, righteous sword master? He wanted to believe this was a hallucination brought on by qi overload, but the hands didn''t stop.


    Just as Su Xiaobai braced himself for more indignity, the hands wandered lower¡ªuntil they grabbed his family jewels.


    CRACK!


    The sound was deafening, echoing through the water like a divine gavel striking judgment.


    Su Xiaobai''s poker face shattered. His body jolted, qi surging violently as the golden core breakthrough hit like an avalanche. ''FUCK!''


    Bai Yujian froze. Her hands stiffened around the¡­ thing.


    Her eyes widened in horror. ''What did I just do?!''


    She couldn''t breathe. Her gaze darted to Su Xiaobai''s face. His clenched jaw, his twitching muscles, the way his entire body seized up¡ªeverything screamed pain.


    Her face turned ghostly pale. "D-Did I¡­ crush it?"


    Her hands jerked away as though burned. She stared at them in disbelief. These hands had slain beasts, shattered mountains, and now¡­ destroyed a disciple''s lineage?!


    Her thoughts spiraled. Years of cultivation. Thousands of battles. None of it had prepared her for accidentally crushing a disciple''s¡­ future.


    Her heart pounded. Her gaze drifted downward, and a thousand horrifying thoughts flashed through her mind.


    ''This is it. This is how I die.''


    She braced for Su Xiaobai''s wrath, but instead¡ª


    A golden light exploded from his chest. The water around them rippled violently as profound energy surged, breaking through in a display so brilliant it bordered on divine.


    Bai Yujian blinked, her mind catching up. "Wait¡­ that sound wasn''t¡­?"


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes flickered open, sharp and glowing, his aura settling around him like a blazing sun.


    "He broke through!" Bai Yujian exhaled in relief before her heart sank again. ''No, this is the worst possible timing!''


    Su Xiaobai''s lips twitched. He couldn''t hold back anymore. His eyes locked onto hers, guilt written all over her panic-ridden face.


    "Peak Lord¡­"


    Bai Yujian froze. "..."


    Her mind froze. What could she do? Apologize? No, she''d rather face a heavenly tribulation. Run? Impossible. Everyone in the sect would know.


    There was only one solution.


    She reached for a nearby stone, her hand trembling. "Forgive me, heavens..."


    BANG!


    With a loud noise, she slammed it onto his head.


    "..."


    Su Xiaobai, watching the stone descend like a meteor from the heavens, saw his life flash before his eyes ¡ª the last thing he thought, ''What did I do to deserve this?''


    And then¡ªdarkness.

 Chapter 100 - 100: Complicated Woman!

    BANG!


    Bai Yujian''s eyes shot open. Perfect, she thought, expecting Su Xiaobai to be out cold. But the bastard was gone.


    Her brows furrowed. "Did I¡­ hit too hard?"


    "No. You hit too light."


    "!!!" S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The voice behind her sent a chill down her spine. Before she could turn, she felt it¡ªhis hand wrapping snugly around her neck, like he was testing how far he could squeeze before she''d pop.


    "If not for this invincible body of mine," Su Xiaobai murmured, his tone mocking, "I should be halfway to reincarnation, not standing here, wondering why my Peak Lord is groping me like a desperate widow¡ªnice ''love tap,'' by the way."


    Bai Yujian froze. What the hell? He was supposed to be unconscious, utterly unaware of her¡­ inspection. Instead, here he was, not only conscious but standing smugly behind her, alive enough to mock her.


    "Peak Lord," Su Xiaobai''s voice turned evil, "since when did cultivation require assaulting your disciple''s dignity?"


    Hiss~!


    Bai Yujian''s cheeks flared with heat, burning hotter than phoenix fire.


    "At least be gentle next time," He added, smirking. "I''m invincible, not emotionless.


    "I¡ªI was checking your core," Bai Yujian answered, struggling to regain control. "I may have¡­ gotten carried away."


    Su Xiaobai sneered. "Carried away? Elder, you weren''t inspecting¡ªyou were exploring. If you went any further, you''d have mapped my meridians and branded your sect''s symbol on my chest!"


    "Wh¡ª" Bai Yujian''s composure wavered, but only for a moment. With a flick of her wrist, a white cloth flew into her hand.


    Swoosh! She wrapped it around her upper body, though the view of her backside¡ªround, firm, unfairly perfect¡ªwas still very much on display.


    She straightened her back and turned to meet his gaze directly, "Pretend it never happened. No discussion ¡ª Tomorrow morning, you''ll meet me at the training grounds to test your newfound strength."


    "..." Su Xiaobai leaned against the bath''s edge, his lips twitching in disbelief. Pretend it never happened? Like hell I will.


    He scoffed, running a hand through his damp hair. "Impossible. You fondled my honor. My manly pride. And you think I''ll just let you off?"


    "What do you take me for, Peak Lord? A monk who''s blind to sin!"


    His ego bristled as much as his pride. Being treated like some spiritual experiment? If he let her walk away scot-free, he''d never live it down.


    Bai Yujian''s glare turned icy. "If you dare mention this to anyone, I''ll cut out your tongue."


    Su Xiaobai only smiled. This woman could fake a saint''s dignity while standing in the middle of a brothel.


    He snickered. "Oh, Peak Lord, your threats are emptier than a drunkard''s wine jar. You could''ve at least pretended to feel bad."


    "I won''t repeat myself," she snapped, but Su Xiaobai was already shaking his head.


    "I won''t tell anyone," he said, his grin turning wolfish. "But I''ll need compensation."


    Her brow twitched. "Compensation?"


    "Yes. Something to mend my wounded dignity."


    Her silence was deafening, but Su Xiaobai imagined treasures¡ªheavenly manuals, jade artifacts, maybe a cultivation pill so rare it would make the heavens weep. What Bai Yujian did next, however, nearly shattered his soul.


    Splash.


    The cloth fell into the water.


    Su Xiaobai''s mocking grin froze, a ripple of silk disturbing the water. Eyes widening as her figure emerged like a goddess rising from an immortal spring, droplets shinning like scattered stars on her flawless skin.


    "Be quick, I haven''t got all day." she commanded, her voice like a celestial decree, though the traitorous flush on her cheeks made her look more like a novice than a Peak Lord.


    Su Xiaobai stared, utterly dumbfounded. ''Be quick? Woman, I''ve already ascended three realms just looking at you!''


    "You''re not serious," he croaked, his voice cracking like a faulty sword.


    Bai Yujian glare pierced him like a spear. "Would you prefer I carve your name on my back?"


    "No," Su Xiaobai said, his lips twitching as he struggled to keep his composure. So this is what they meant by surviving a heavenly tribulation. No lightning, no thunder¡ªjust a poor disciple, standing face-to-face with the ultimate trial: a naked Peak Lord.


    Forget cultivation. Surviving this moment without combusting would surely be the true path to immortality.


    Did Su Xiaobai survive?


    "Ah!? You¡ª"


    He ''definitely'' did, because the next thing Bai Yujian knew, Su Xiaobai''s face had crashed straight between her heavenly twin peaks. The softness engulfed him like clouds wrapping around a mountain, while Bai Yujian startled in shock, her body betraying her with the faintest bloom of red spreading across her neck.


    Her composure shattered, but Su Xiaobai? Oh, he was thriving.


    It was soft¡ªno, calling it soft was an insult. This was the texture of jade refined over millennia, impossibly smooth, impossibly rare. His hands, as if moved by the heavens themselves, instinctively took every measurement they could get. For research purposes, obviously.


    Bai Yujian''s voice finally broke through. "S-Su Xiaobai, what are you doing!?"


    He ignored her, his mind buzzing like a sect full of bees. Su Xiaobai had no idea what the hell was happening anymore, but there was one thing he did know: this woman had practically waved the green flag to smash.


    Treasures were always nice, but if she wanted to pay him back with her body, who was he to refuse such a heavenly offer? He was a disciple of practicality, after all.


    "Su Xiaobai, behave yourself!" Bai Yujian gritted her teeth as his hands drifted lower, brazenly exploring her backside like a shameless bandit pillaging a treasure vault.


    "Behave?" Su Xiaobai murmured, his lips close to her neck. "Peak Lord, your words were ''be quick.'' You didn''t specify how."


    She gasped as he began sniffing along the valley of her neck, his lips brushing her skin with kisses that sent strange, foreign shivers down her spine.


    "I¡ª! I didn''t agree to this!" Bai Yujian snapped, her voice sharp yet trembling as she pressed her hands against his chest, trying to push him away. Her mind was spinning. "This wasn''t part of the deal!"


    But no matter how hard she shoved, Su Xiaobai hugged to her like a shameless leech.


    "Not part of the deal?" he murmured, voice low and teasing. "Elder, you''re the one who started this. If anything, I''m just following your lead!"


    Her face burned hotter than phoenix flames. She started this? What nonsense was this man spouting? She didn''t remember doing anything this shameless!


    "What are you talking about!?" Bai Yujian snapped, her composure cracking as his hands roamed lower, squeezing her thighs like he was evaluating a divine artifact.


    "You know," Su Xiaobai said, his grin widening as he tightened his hold, "when you were fondling my core¡ªor was it my chest? Your hands got a little lost, didn''t they?"


    Her eyes widened, a flash of guilt crossing her face. "That was for cultivation! I didn''t do¡­ this!"


    "Oh? And sniffing me? Rubbing all over me like I''m some spirit stone to be polished? That wasn''t you?" Su Xiaobai''s tone was both accusatory and smug as he nuzzled against her neck.


    Bai Yujian''s thoughts shook. She didn''t remember doing anything like that!


    "No! That''s ridiculous!" she finally barked, though her voice lacked its usual authority. Her palms pushed harder against his chest, "I did nothing of the sort, you traitorous fool!"


    Su Xiaobai snickered, "Deny it all you want, Peak Lord, but my body doesn''t lie. These handprints? Yours. The bruised pride? Also yours."


    "Handprints?" Her eyes darted to his chest, and sure enough, faint impressions of her fingers marred his otherwise flawless skin. Her heart skipped, though whether it was from embarrassment or rage, she couldn''t tell.


    "That''s¡ª! You''re twisting the truth!" Bai Yujian sputtered, her voice rising.


    Her entire face turned crimson. She didn''t know whether to slap him, strangle him, or throw herself into the bath to drown her humiliation.


    ___


    "SU XIAOBAI!"


    Just when Su Xiaobai was going to take her for a ride on his ''world-defying dragon stallion that pierces both heavens and maidenly defenses'', Bai Yujian froze.


    Her face went redder than demon blood as her qi surged uncontrollably. The entire cave shook, dust cascading from the ceiling, cracks splitting the stone walls. Water from the bath evaporated in an instant as if the heat of her shame had triggered a volcanic eruption.


    BOOM!


    Before Su Xiaobai could even ask what the hell was happening, the Peak Lord launched herself upward with the force of a thousand suns, tearing through the roof like a rampaging spirit beast in heat. Debris flew, steam roared, and Bai Yujian shot into the sky like a phoenix fleeing its virginity.


    "¡­ What?" Su Xiaobai blinked, his ''pillar of eternal dominance'' still standing tall, trembling slightly, as if mourning the loss of its promised conquest.


    He glanced down at the water, then back at the sky, where Bai Yujian''s silhouette was rapidly disappearing into the clouds. Did she just achieve enlightenment... by running away from me?!


    A stray rock clattered to the floor. Su Xiaobai sighed, leaning back in the bath, his hands lazily trailing through the water.


    "Well," he muttered, his brow furrowing as he tried to figure out the Peak Lord''s motives.


    Sure, women were complicated creatures¡ªlike spiritual beasts that couldn''t decide if they wanted to kill you or cuddle you¡ªbut this one? She was a completely new puzzle.


    A naked puzzle with more pieces than a cursed formation.

 Chapter 101 - 101: Captial! Heavenly Frost!

    The Next Day!


    Su Xiaobai strolled toward the training grounds, his stride confident. Today, he would solve the mystery called Bai Yujian ¡ªor, more likely, bask in the fallout of her shame.


    Yet when he arrived, she didn''t so much as glance his way.


    Cold, distant, indifferent.


    Her focus was entirely on preparing for their journey, her demeanor a perfect mask of composure.


    Naturally, Su Xiaobai arrived at one conclusion: the heavens must have blessed him with a ''heavenly rod''¡ªa celestial weapon capable of stirring even the coldest of women. Clearly, Bai Yujian''s icy attitude was just a fa?ade to protect her fragile dignity.


    With this burning bright, Su Xiaobai decided to put his theory to the ultimate test.


    By walking into Yu Feng''s room. Naked.


    _____


    Inside Yu Feng''s Room!


    The door creaked open, and Su Xiaobai entered like he owned not just the room, but the whole damn sect. His body, bare as the day he was born, radiated smugness, his grin as sharp as a spirit blade.


    "Brother Yu," he announced, striking a pose that made the heavens weep, "do you feel something¡­ different about me today?"


    Yu Feng looked up from her cultivation scroll, her brow arching as she gave him one unimpressed sweep. "Different? You look like a fool who lost a bet¡ªand his pants."


    She suddenly had an flashback of the torture chamber, back at the dark church, and thousand ways to torture him flashed to her mind.


    Su Xiaobai waved off her disdain, stepping closer. "Relax, Brother. It''s an experiment."


    "Experiment?"


    "Yes." He spread his arms, his voice oozing confidence. "The heavens have blessed me with a curse most divine. My body¡ªirresistible to women! A cosmic tragedy, but I endure for the sake of existence."


    For a moment, Yu Feng stared. Then, she leaned back, crossing her arms, her lips curling into a grin that could shatter boulders. "Fine," she said, a dangerous glint in her eyes. "Let''s test this heavenly curse of yours."


    Before he could gloat, her hand shot forward, swift as a lightning strike. "?!" Su Xiaobai''s instincts roared to life, and he twisted away, barely dodging her strike.


    "WHAT THE HELL?" he barked, jumping back.


    Yu Feng''s smile widened, "What? I''m just checking if your blessing is resistant to castration."


    _____


    The Aftermath!


    Su Xiaobai exited the room with as much dignity as a man fleeing for his life could muster. "Clearly," he muttered, brushing dust off his shoulder, "the cheat doesn''t work on everyone."


    But the setback didn''t bother him. If anything, it confirmed something far more important: not all women were simple prey.


    Interesting. So even lions like Yu Feng can bite. But a lioness is still an animal¡ªand every animal has a weakness. I''ll find it when the time is right.


    Behind him, Yu Feng''s laughter echoed through the halls like a victorious war cry. "Come back anytime, Brother. I''m always happy to help with your experiments!"


    ____


    Two Days Later!


    The dawn broke over the sect''s main platform, golden light spilling across the skies like molten jade.


    There it stood¡ªthe flying ship. A majestic vessel, its hull adorned with spiritual engravings that shimmered faintly, its sails fluttering despite the still air. It hovered, grand and otherworldly, as if daring the heavens themselves to challenge its dominion.


    Su Xiaobai stood there, gazing at the ship with narrowed eyes. "It''s just like a ship on water," he muttered. "Only shinier¡ªand more pretentious."


    "Finally decided to show up?" Zhu Qing''s voice broke through his thoughts. She stood nearby, her arms crossed.


    Trailing behind her was Su Xiaomei, her steps light but her expression sulky. Officially, Su Xiaobai had chosen her to accompany him on this journey.


    Unofficially?


    Lulu was already tucked inside his ring world, Xiao Hei snoozed nearby.


    And then there was the Devouring Thorny Flower. Recently breaking through to the Earth Rebirth Realm, the sinister plant had taken on some¡­ unusual habits.


    Su Xiaobai had caught it giggling to itself, its leaves trembling as it muttered things like "feed me more" in a voice far too sultry for a plant.


    He didn''t mind.


    ____


    "Where are we heading?"


    The words spilled from Su Xiaobai the moment he stepped aboard the ship.


    Zhu Qing froze mid-step. Her head turned slowly, her eyes wide with disbelief. "You don''t know?"


    Su Xiaobai, "¡­"


    Su Xiaomei, "¡­"


    Of course, he didn''t know. Why would he? Geography lessons weren''t exactly covered in the ''Villain Starter Pack'' he received upon reincarnating. Clearly, someone needed to sue the heavenly administrators for negligence.


    Zhu Qing sighed, the kind of sigh that belonged to someone saddled with a fool. "Alright, fine. Listen up, so you don''t wander off and get eaten by a demoniy beast halfway through."


    And thus began her impromptu geography lecture, complete with all the enthusiasm of a sect elder explaining taxes.


    _______


    Geography, Simplified (Because Who Cares?):


    Yueling Plains: Where they were now. Boring. Green. Mostly irrelevant.


    Chi Xie Wasteland: Dangerous because of¡­ reasons Zhu Qing refused to explain. She just winked and said, "You''ll find out." Lovely.


    Xuetian Valley: A frozen hellscape filled with frost and despair. A natural barrier between Yue Country and Frostfall Dominion. "If you ever see a Frostlord," Zhu Qing warned with a suspiciously cheerful smile, "run."


    "Why? Do they eat humans?" Su Xiaobai asked, hopeful for a simple answer.


    "Worse," she said, her voice dead serious. "They''re heretics. Even other heretics avoid them." S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "¡­Okay then."


    _____


    Back to Reality!


    Xuetian Valley was the last real danger, Zhu Qing explained. Once they passed it, they''d reach the capital¡ªHeavenly Frost City, home to Tianshuang Palace.


    Su Xiaobai, of course, tuned out halfway through. Geography was like background lore in a game: mildly interesting but completely optional. He only asked one more question before leaving.


    "Why isn''t Peak Lord with us?"


    "She''s faster than the ship," Zhu Qing said with a shrug. "She''ll catch up."


    Su Xiaobai''s brow twitched. "Then why aren''t you flying ahead too?"


    Zhu Qing gave him a look. "Who else would babysit you?"


    Babysit? Babysit?! Su Xiaobai laughed it off and walked away, though he made a mental note to sneak poison into her tea one day.


    _____


    Night Falls!


    Two days into the journey, the ship sailed under sheet of stars, the air crisp and quiet. Su Xiaobai stood on the deck, practicing his [Iron Blood Technique] under the faint glow of moonlight.


    Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!


    The crimson sword in his hands hissed with suppressed energy, its edge sharper and cleaner than the original bloodthirsty version. Bai Yujian''s "improvements," to the [Irong Blood Technique] as she called them, had tamed its violent nature.


    But Su Xiaobai''s thoughts weren''t on the sword. As he swung it, he felt the subtle flow of spiritual energy around it''s blade¡ªa skill he''d recently learned.


    This was [Sword Aura], one of the first skills Bai Yujian had drilled into him. A fancy way of saying, "concentrate your qi on the blade."


    "Good for show, useless in real combat," he muttered to himself. His sword flicked again, splitting the air.


    Sword Aura wasn''t the only thing he''d learned. Over the past month, Bai Yujian had hammered the basics into him: [Sword Qi], the art of releasing energy from the blade to strike from afar; [Sword Aura], the foundation of weapon reinforcement; and even glimpses of higher realms like [Sword Intent], which she swore would make him "more than just a glorified stick-wielder."


    For weeks, Su Xiaobai had poured his energy into mastering these basics. Yet tonight, something felt¡­ off.


    Hiss~!


    A faint ache spread through his limbs as he practiced. When he paused to examine himself, his sharp eyes caught it¡ªa thin, almost dark line running along his forearm.


    "What the hell?" he muttered.


    The line wasn''t a scar or a bruise. It looked like a crack, as if his flesh were porcelain.


    As confusion bubbled in his chest, a soft voice interrupted him.


    "Your body''s breaking down."


    The words hit like a kick to the jewels¡ªsharp, humiliating, and utterly undeserved.


    Su Xiaobai turned, expecting some faceless death god. Instead, he got Zhu Qing.


    She leaned against the rail, moonlight sculpting her into a jade masterpiece. Her green-and-white robe danced lazily in the breeze, teasing just enough to stir thoughts no disciple should have. Her skin glowed, a shade too perfect to be anything but heavenly interference.


    For half a second, Su Xiaobai thought, Is this my sub-plot? Villain meets seductress under the stars?


    But then she smiled.


    That devil''s curve to her lips snapped him out of it. No, this wasn''t romance¡ªit was Zhu Qing, the mighty peak lord of Mystic peak, and she didn''t do love stories. She did calculated craftiness, mixed with just enough malice to ruin your week.


    She reeked of evil, the kind that didn''t just kill¡ªit humiliated. Bai Yujian might strike you down out of duty, but Zhu Qing? She''d break your legs, then make you crawl home naked just for a charming laugh.


    Don''t ask him how he knew. Instinct. A villain''s sixth sense.


    And he wasn''t wrong. He never was.


    "What do you mean, breaking down?"

 Chapter 102 - 102: Chi Xie Wasteland!

    "What do you mean, breaking down?"


    Su Xiaobai''s voice came tight, strangled, like he''d swallowed a fistful of sand.


    Zhu Qing pushed off the rail, her steps slow and deliberate, a cat stalking a crippled mouse. "Exactly what it sounds like. Your precious body? Crumbling. Slowly. Like an old whorehouse held together with hope and prayers."


    "¡­Why?"


    "Because you''re an idiot," she said, the words sharp and blunt all at once. "You''ve been using spiritual Qi raw, haven''t you? Ever since you formed your core."


    "Of course," Su Xiaobai snapped, rolling his eyes. "That''s the point of forming a core!" He glared at her. "What else am I supposed to do? Crochet a sweater with it?"


    Her smile widened, "¡ªAnd it''s killing you."


    "Explain."


    "Unrefined profound Qi is poison," she said simply, tapping a finger to her temple like it was common sense, "Didn''t Bai Yujian tell you that? It''s too strong, too raw. Sure, it gives life¡ªwhen refined. But you''re not refining it properly. You''re chugging wine straight from the barrel, sludge and all. Your core can''t clean it fully, so it leaves behind¡­ residue."


    She flicked a lazy hand toward his arm. "And that residue? It''s eating you alive."


    Su Xiaobai glanced down.


    The cracks were there¡ªfine, pale, and snaking across his skin like the first fractures in a porcelain vase on the verge of shattering.


    Rotting. Fragile. Laughably mortal.


    "How do I fix it?"


    "You don''t."


    The words hit flat, final, filled with satisfaction.


    Zhu Qing crossed her arms, leaning back with all the grace of someone delivering a punchline. "Not unless you hit Earthly Rebirth Realm. Forge your body with Earth Qi, burn the impurities away, and come out shiny and indestructible. That''s why they call it rebirth. You evolve, or you die. Simple." S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "So I''m dying unless I break through?"


    "Congratulations, genius," she said, clapping slowly, "Welcome to cultivation. The same thing that makes you strong is grinding you into dust. Poetic, isn''t it? Life, death, power¡ªthey''re all just different ways to screw you."


    Poetic?


    Su Xiaobai let out a laugh, bitter and sharp. "Yeah. Sure. Poetic. Let''s carve it into my gravestone: Here lies Su Xiaobai / Strong as a dragon, dead like a fool / What a f***ing scam."


    For a moment, Zhu Qing stared at him, stunned. Then a soft laugh slipped past her lips, low and wicked, "You know," she said, "you''re surprisingly good at this. Maybe dying will finally give you time to work on your poetry."


    "..." Su Xiaobai stared at her, his expression as flat as a plank of wood. "So¡­ that''s it? That''s the grand secret? I''m lugging around a ticking time bomb because this world''s energy system was designed by a lunatic?"


    Zhu Qing chuckled softly, tilting her head as if admiring the moon. Her voice dripped with nostalgia¡ªor something crueler. "Exactly. But look on the bright side... If you survive, you''ll outlive every idiot still crawling toward immortality."


    "''If'' being the key word."


    The words slipped out like an afterthought as Su Xiaobai glanced down at his arm.


    The cracks shimmered faintly, a cruel work of art mocking his fragile mortality


    For the first time, he felt it. Not the power. Not the strength. Just the weight. The cost.


    The moon seemed colder, the silence heavier, pressing down like a debt he''d never repay.


    He let out a laugh, sharp and bitter, more like a bark than anything sane. ''Great. Just great. I get reincarnated as¡­ whatever this is, thrown into some mystical hellhole, and what''s the reward? A slow, painful death. What a f***ing deal.''


    His hand tightened on the hilt of his sword, "No one told me the energy of the gods came with a side of ''drop dead before thirty.'' I didn''t sign up for this! I wanted power, women, and maybe an immortal peach or two¡ªnot a fucking timer counting down to my funeral!"


    Zhu Qing''s laughter rolled out soft and wicked, "Oh, really? Did you think cultivation was a charity? Power isn''t free. You pay in blood, sweat, and sometimes your very soul. The heavens don''t hand out gifts¡ªthey make bets. And if you''re going to climb to the top¡­"


    She turned to him, eyes glinting with amusement, "...you''d better be ready to bleed for it. Or die trying. But hey¡ªat least you''ll die looking good."


    Su Xiaobai glared, his frustration bubbling under his skin, but Zhu Qing only smiled wider. With a casual flick of her hair, she turned back to the railing, her movements entirely too charming.


    She walked away, each step slow, deliberate¡ªa rhythm built to shatter kingdoms and hearts


    He stayed behind, his breathing measured, his grip on his sword firm. The cracks on his arm pulsed faintly under the pale light, like they were alive¡ªreminding him how close he danced to the edge.


    Cultivation. The pursuit of immortality, glory, and power. It had always seemed grand. Infinite. Divine.


    Now? It felt like a game. A cruel, rigged game designed by the higher-ups to shatter anyone foolish enough to play.


    A death game masquerading as enlightenment. And Su Xiaobai? Just another fool playing along¡ªfor now.


    ________


    Next Day ¡ª Morning!


    "Brace yourselves! We are entering Chi Xie Wastelands!"


    The booming voice shattered Su Xiaobai''s sleep like a brick through glass. Groaning, he stumbled out of bed, muttering curses aimed squarely at Zhu Qing''s lungs. Did she have to be this loud before breakfast?


    But as he stepped outside, his complaints died on his lips.


    Whoosh!


    A ripple of energy swept through the air, brushing against his skin like icy needles. The bright sun vanished in an instant, swallowed whole. Day twisted into night.


    Above, the sky turned a deep, oppressive blue, the kind of color that whispered despair into your soul. Thick mist coiled around the ship, clinging to every surface like ghostly fingers.


    Su Xiaobai shivered. It wasn''t cold, but something about this place crawled under his skin.


    He moved to the edge of the ship and glanced down.


    Roarrr!


    A deafening roar erupted from below, shaking the air and rattling the deck beneath his feet.


    And then he saw it.


    A battlefield stretched endlessly beneath them, a swirling mess of blood and death. Rivers of crimson carved jagged paths through the land, bodies strewn like discarded leaves. Swords clashed, axes cleaved, and the air reeked of death.


    Screams filled the air¡ªloud, sharp, and haunting:


    "Help! HELP ME!"


    "NO! NOOO!"


    "PLEASE, STOP¡ªAAAAARGH!"


    Each cry seemed to stab into his chest, omnious and unfiltered.


    This wasn''t just a battlefield. This was hell made real.


    Su Xiaobai swallowed hard. "...What the unholy f** is this?"*

 Chapter 103 - 103: Pirates! Star Essence!

    Su Xiaobai swallowed hard. "...What the unholy f** is this?"*


    This wasn''t a battlefield. It was hell. And not the fun, sexy kind either¡ªthe "let''s grind your soul into paste" kind.


    Below, warriors were tearing each other apart like starving dogs over a scrap of meat. One poor bastard was sliced clean in half¡ªvertically¡ªand yet his screaming ghost buddy picked up his spear and dove right back into the slaughter. Scarlet-furred wolves prowled through the bloody battlefield, their veins bulging like rotting vines, feasting on severed limbs with the kind of crunch that made Su Xiaobai''s stomach churn.


    "Are they undead?" Su Xiaobai muttered, the first thought spilling out of his mouth.


    "No."


    Zhu Qing''s voice, calm and detached, drifted from above. A soft thud followed as she landed beside him with the grace of someone who had far too much experience with nightmares.


    "Those are wraith soldiers," she explained, her gaze fixed on the battlefield, "and the others? Scarlet dire wolves¡ªa type of blood beast."


    Su Xiaobai blinked, then glanced at her, his confusion as clear as daylight. "Am I supposed to know what that means? Or is there, like¡­ a follow-up coming?"


    "..." Zhu Qing''s expression froze, her patience evaporating like cheap liquor left in the sun.


    "You really don''t respect your elders, do you?" she muttered. Then, with a casual flick of her finger, she tapped his forehead.


    Zap!


    He didn''t even have time to scream.


    Every nerve in his body lit up like he''d been struck by divine lightning. His knees buckled, his legs gave out, and his vision went white.


    Su Xiaobai crumpled to the ground, clutching his head. "Y-O-U¡ªWHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO?!"


    "Oh, nothing," Zhu Qing said, her lips twitching into a small, satisfied smile. "Just a little heavenly Qi to wake you up."


    She''d barely passed a sliver of heavenly Qi into him, just enough to make him reconsider every life choice that had led him here.


    Su Xiaobai''s ears were still ringing, his head pounding like a war drum. He struggled to sit up, glaring at her through blurry eyes. "Wake me up?! Lady, you just fried my brain! I can''t even feel my tongue¡ªoh wait, there it is. Great. Tastes like smoke and regret."


    "Regret? And you?" Zhu Qing''s smile widened.


    So this is what Bai Yujian deals with every day? No wonder she looks like she''s constantly planning a murder.


    Buzzzz..!


    A faint, ominous hum buzzed in Su Xiaobai''s ears, ringing into his thoughts like a poorly tuned zither.


    "Did you say something?" he groaned, his voice strained as he staggered to his feet like a drunkard fresh off a losing bar fight. "I can''t hear you over the ringing in my head!"


    "No," Zhu Qing replied, her brows furrowing in mild confusion.


    "Oh, so you are a f***ing idiot," Su Xiaobai muttered, his voice tinged with mockery as he swayed unsteadily.


    "..." Zhu Qing blinked. Did this little bastard just call her an idiot? On purpose?


    Her smile twitched. He really doesn''t fear retaliation, does he?


    Fine. If he wanted to play stupid games, she''d happily provide a stupid prize.


    Whoosh!


    She tapped her foot, and instantly the ground around Su Xiaobai began to glow. Crimson light spiraled outward, forming a perfect circle around his feet.


    "..."


    Su Xiaobai stared down at the glowing circle, his brain still trying to process the last assault. ''Hazy vision. Ringing ears. Weird lights. Perfect. My death will be sponsored by gravity.''


    BAM!


    The circle lit up like a fireworks show, and the ground beneath him vanished.


    "Bye-bye~! Enjoy your ride," Zhu Qing called, her voice dripping with honeyed malice as Su Xiaobai was launched into the air.


    A heartbeat later, gravity took over, and he plummeted like a rock straight into the battlefield below.


    ____ S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Hours Later!


    Zhu Qing reclined on her stool at the ship''s edge, sipping tea like a goddess on her throne, the mess below her private spectacle.


    The battlefield''s earlier screams and roars had dulled into a dying hum¡ªlike a dying drunk mumbling his last curse.


    Above, red and black clouds covered everything, choking out the stars. Night in Chi Xie Wastelands wasn''t just dark¡ªit was hostile, like the land resented the living.


    "Where are you, little rat?" she murmured, eyes scanning the blood-soaked wasteland.


    Below, a lone figure darted between wraiths and beasts, dodging claws and blades with blind luck. A smile tugged at her lips.


    "Found you."


    She sipped her tea, savoring the sight.


    HISSSSS!


    "!!" The sharp cry shattered her peace. Zhu Qing''s eyes snapped up, her smile vanishing.


    From the mist emerged a monstrous serpent, its ruby scales glistening like freshly spilled blood. Cannons jutted from its sides, glowing faintly with Blood Qi. Atop its head stood a crooked figure, robed in black, his scarred face split by a grin.


    "Sister White! It''s really you!"


    "!" Her tea nearly spilled. Zhu Qing''s expression curdled into one of pure disgust. ''Which filthy bastard dares to call me that?''


    She turned, venom in her eyes. "Who wants to die today¡ª"


    The words died on her tongue.


    The Sanguine Serpent. A beast as large as her ship, its hiss promising death. Behind it, a fleet of smaller serpents¡ªBloodfang Leviathans¡ªfifteen feet of coiled muscle and evil. Pirates loaded to their backs, eyes gleaming with hunger.


    Most would''ve panicked. Zhu Qing just looked annoyed.


    The man atop the Sanguine Serpent took a dramatic step forward, his robe flaring as if it had a personal grudge against subtlety.


    "Captain Red Fang, do you know this woman?" one of his lackeys called out. "Are we looting the ship?"


    SLAP!


    Fang Tian''s hand shot out, stretching unnaturally. The pirate didn''t stumble¡ªhe exploded into a mist of blood.


    HISSSS!


    "Shut up, you brainless pigs!" Fang Tian barked, his face twisted in fury. "Do you want me to dig my own grave?! Don''t you idiots see who this is?! That''s Sister White!"


    The remaining pirates froze, hands gripping their weapons like lifelines.


    But Fang Tian''s temper had consequences. The Soul Lamp in the dead pirate''s hand shattered.


    SCREEEEE!


    The Bloodfang Leviathan''s eyes flared red. With a furious cry, it thrashed violently and dove, dragging three screaming pirates straight into the battlefield below.


    Zhu Qing raised a brow, unimpressed. ''So much for teamwork.''


    She glanced at the glowing ''Soul Lamps'' hanging from her ship''s rails, their faint light a protective aura. Without them, flying here was suicide. Blood beasts craved flesh, and Soul Lamps¡ªinfused with spiritual Qi and diluted Blood Qi¡ªwere the only thing keeping them at bay.


    Delicate things, though. Break one, and you''re dinner.


    "Sister White!" Fang Tian called again, his earlier fury replaced by awe. "I didn''t know you were after the ''Starlight Essence'' too!"


    Her brow arched. "Starlight Essence?"


    "Yes!" He gestured dramatically, like a preacher selling salvation. "A piece of the heavens fell last week, blazing with power! It''s surrounded by beasts and wraiths near the Warlord''s Palace. Breaking through is hell!"


    Zhu Qing''s expression was bored, "I''m not here for that. Go ahead. Knock yourselves out."


    "Of course, Sister!" Fang Tian bowed, signaling his fleet.


    The Bloodfang Leviathans hissed softly as they turned, vanishing into the mist.


    Zhu Qing exhaled, setting her teacup down. "So, the brat survived being my junior and grew up, huh..."


    She sighed, a hint of disdain curling her lips. "From scrubbing floors to riding serpents... what a glow-up for a cockroach."


    Her gaze drifted down, past the battlefield and into memory. Centuries ago, the ''Dark Sparrow Sect'' had burned. She''d crawled her way into the xiantian sect, but most of her peers hadn''t been so lucky.


    Fang Tian. A nobody, scrubbing floors and fetching tea. And now? A pirate, leading serpents in a cursed wasteland.


    She sighed. "Ambition''s such a cheap drug..."

 Chapter 104 - 104: Goddess fell from Sky!

    "Ambition''s such a cheap drug..."


    Zhu Qing''s eyes returned to the cursed battlefield.


    ''Chi Xie Wastelands'' reeked of death, regret, and bad decisions¡ªa cursed dump left by the ''Crimson Blood Sect,'' dead for millennia, even before she had the misfortune of existing.


    When the righteous sects finally cornered their ''Warlord'', his last act was a ritual so vile it cursed the land forever.


    Blood Qi soaked the earth, turning beasts into monsters and binding the souls of the damned. Wraith soldiers still roamed, locked in endless battle.


    Then there were the pirates¡ªFang Tian''s kind. Mainland rejects and glory hounds too stubborn to stay dead. They prowled the wastelands, knives in hand and brains firmly in their asses, picking off innocent travelers while scavenging for treasures left behind by the Warlord''s fallen empire.


    And at the center of this rotting cesspit? The ''Warlord''s Palace,'' a nest of horrors and promises for the stupid or desperate. Somewhere inside lay the ''Warlord''s Seal,'' a legend whispered to grant dominion over the cursed armies. If anyone lived long enough to claim it, that is.


    She doubted it existed. Too many fools had died chasing it.


    Above, the red-and-black sky shook. Below, screams rose once more. Somewhere in that mess, Su Xiaobai was still alive.


    Probably.


    For now, she poured herself another cup of tea.


    "Idiots."


    Just as Zhu Qing settled back to enjoy her show, the wooden stool beneath her wobbled¡ªhard.


    "Qingqing."


    "!!"


    Her back straightened instantly, the voice chilling her more than the wasteland''s cursed air, the overwhelming aura crashing over her left no doubt¡ªshe already knew who it was!


    "Elder? You''re here..." She stood awkwardly, her usual smile vanishing under Bai Yujian''s hawk-like stare.


    For once, there was no clever words¡ªjust the harsh reality of being at the mercy of a woman who could cut down mountains with a single stroke.


    She hesitated before muttering, "By chance, did you¡­ see anything earlier?"


    Bai Yujian''s eyes remained steady, "Everything," she replied coolly. Standing there with a parasol in her hand and clad in dark robes adorned with intricate golden lines, she looked less like a sword fairy and more like a goddess of death descending to pass judgment.


    Zhu Qing''s heart sank.


    If there was one thing Bai Yujian truly hated, it was evil. She despised anything tainted by it with an endless wrath. And Zhu Qing had just been caught mingling with a pirate gang... This was bad. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Her past was already a tangled mess of black and white; she couldn''t afford to be seen aligning with heretics again, even if it was a misunderstanding.


    But Bai Yujian''s focus wasn''t on Zhu Qing''s unsavory companions. Her gaze swept the battlefield below. "Where is my disciple?"


    Zhu Qing''s lips twisted into a sour grimace. Explaining this was going to be about as fun as getting whipped with a flaming thorn vine. Why couldn''t that little rat just survive quietly for once?


    With a sigh, she pointed downward. Bai Yujian''s brows furrowed as she stepped to the ship''s edge, her robes trailing like a celestial judge preparing to deliver punishment. Her gaze pierced through the clouds, landing on the battlefield below.


    "..."


    Her face darkened, lips pressing into a thin, dangerous line.


    Su Xiaobai, the supposed disciple under her "care," was riding a one-horned beast the size of a bull, its bloodshot eyes rolling wildly as he yanked a rope tied around its neck.


    He steered it like some unhinged warlord, plowing through a horde of its kind with reckless smile. Blood sprayed like rain, and Su Xiaobai cackled like a demon who''d just found a way to scam the heavens.


    "What... is this madness?" Bai Yujian''s voice trembled between disbelief and barely-contained fury.


    Zhu Qing, fighting back a grin, casually poured herself another cup of tea. "Oh, that? He''s playing beast herder."


    Bai Yujian shot her a glare that could''ve frozen a phoenix mid-flight.


    Reluctantly, Zhu Qing explained everything¡ªhow she''d sent him down to "reflect" and how, instead of learning humility, the little villain had apparently decided to declare war on the wasteland itself. Bai Yujian listened, her expression growing darker with every word.


    She agreed¡ªthis disciple was a walking insult to the concept of discipline. Yet, as she watched him fend for himself, a small twinge of guilt crept in.


    Ugh. The Peak Lord''s inner sigh was deafening.


    Why must she have the heart of a maiden?


    If Su Xiaobai were here, he''d smile smugly, knowing he''d just won a sliver of sympathy from his ever-so-holy master.


    "Where''s the other one?" Bai Yujian finally asked, her tone clipped. Her eyes swept the ship''s deck, searching for Su Xiaomei.


    It didn''t take long to find her. The girl stood at the ship''s edge, staring into the mist with a dull face and slumped shoulders, like a flower wilting under too much sun.


    Bai Yujian''s face shifted, concern flashing briefly.


    "She''s fine," Zhu Qing replied lazily, waving a hand. "Su Xiaobai said it''s ''homesickness.'' Apparently, it''ll pass in a couple of months."


    "Homesickness?" Bai Yujian arched a brow.


    "His words, not mine," Zhu Qing said, sipping her tea. "It seems, landing in foreign lands is hard on the spirit. He brought her along so she could ''adjust.'' Something about throwing her to the wolves being good for her."


    Bai Yujian''s lips twitched, an exasperated sigh slipping free. ''Maybe he''s not entirely useless... just mostly.''


    Her gaze shifted back to Zhu Qing, narrowing like a blade honing itself for execution.


    "Uh... Elder?" Zhu Qing stiffened, the hairs on her neck prickling. ''Why do I suddenly feel like prey?''


    Without a word, Bai Yujian grabbed her by the collar, hoisting her effortlessly like a sack of rice.


    "Wait, wait, wait¡ª!" Zhu Qing''s voice rose in alarm, but Bai Yujian ignored her entirely.


    Whoosh!~


    With a single smooth motion, she hurled Zhu Qing off the ship like she was tossing out yesterday''s garbage.


    "Go check on him," Bai Yujian called after her, her tone calm as still water.


    "WHAT IN THE SEVEN¡ª!" Zhu Qing''s scream faded as she plummeted, disappearing into the swirling mists below.


    Bai Yujian dusted off her hands with a quiet smile.


    The truth? She was salty. Su Xiaobai was her disciple, and Zhu Qing had dared to punish him first. A little petty revenge was in order.


    ______


    Chi Xie Wastelands!


    Crackle!~


    "Haa¡­ I''m so bored, I could die," Su Xiaobai muttered, poking the fire like it owed him money. Around him, the one-horned bull tribe lay in pieces, their corpses now serving as snacks. What a way to leave a legacy.


    He yanked a strip of roasted meat free, tossing a smaller piece to Xiao Hei, who nibbled on it delicately. Her glowing eyes watched him, radiating judgment that said, ''I can''t believe I''m stuck with you.''


    Then, without ceremony, Su Xiaobai hurled a dripping slab of flesh at the beast lounging at the camp''s edge.


    "Snort!"


    The massive one-horned bull snapped it up in midair, crunching down with the gusto of someone devouring their ex at a family BBQ. Blood smeared its jaws as it chewed noisily, clearly unbothered by the fact it was eating its own kind.


    Two meters tall, four meters wide, with glowing red eyes that could scare a spirit beast into therapy, it looked every bit the nightmare parents told kids about to keep them in bed.


    And yet, Su Xiaobai slapped its horn like a proud farmer.


    "Good job, Little Red. You''re learning."


    Because, of course, only a lunatic like Su Xiaobai would look at this bloodthirsty demon and think, hmm, you need a cute name. Little Red it is.


    "Oye, you know any treasures around here we can hunt?" Su Xiaobai drawled, poking the fire lazily.


    This wasteland was a special kind of hell¡ªno music, no women, no adventure. Just boring beasts and those annoying, unkillable wraith soldiers. Even their screams were monotonous now.


    Feeling his boredom, Su Xiaobai turned to Xiao Hei, who was perched on a giant bone like a queen surveying her kingdom. He jabbed her cheek with a finger. "Well? Got any secrets, you little menace?"


    Xiao Hei''s brows furrowed, her tiny face twisting with the kind of fury that made Su Xiaobai wonder if she''d finally snap and go for his throat. But then, just as he braced for the tantrum, her eyes gleamed¡ªsharp, calculating, like a predator spotting prey.


    She leapt down, claws slicing into the dirt with purpose, her movements deliberate, almost adorable.


    "What now, brat?" Su Xiaobai drawled, leaning back lazily but watching her closely. "Unless you''re digging up something worth my time, I''d rather you get back to sulking prettily."


    Xiao Hei didn''t even glance at him, focused entirely on carving into the dirt. A crude map took shape¡ªa castle, jagged and scary, surrounded by strange symbols. Su Xiaobai''s eyes narrowed, his smile sharpening into something dangerous.


    "So, you''ve been holding out on me, huh?" he murmured, his tone soft but tinged with suspicion.


    Xiao Hei snorted, her expression somewhere between smug satisfaction and ''about time, idiot.'' She tapped her claw sharply on the castle''s center, the gesture unmistakable: Here. Go.


    Su Xiaobai''s smile widened, wicked and full of promise. "Good girl. Maybe I won''t sell you to the highest bidder after all."


    He turned to Little Red, still happily crunching through its dead kin. "Oi, Little Red. You know this place? Or are you too busy proving that being a monster runs in your family?"


    "Grrrr!"


    The one-horned bull growled in response, its glowing red eyes gleaming with what might''ve been a nod.


    "Good, looks like we''ve got a destination," Su Xiaobai said, a grin spreading across his face. He patted Little Red''s horn and stood up, dusting himself off. "Finally, some action! All we''re missing now is a heavenly beauty to complete this adventure. Sigh... if only a fairy would drop out of the sky..."


    He tilted his head toward the heavens, sighing dramatically.


    Nothing happened.


    He shrugged. "Guess the higher-ups are stingy today. Let''s go!"


    BOOM!


    A deafening crash shook the air, and before Su Xiaobai could even blink, something¡ªor someone¡ªslammed into him with the force of a celestial tribulation.


    WHUMP!


    "ACK!" He staggered, nearly toppling as his arms instinctively wrapped around the unexpected payload. He looked down, wide-eyed, at the crumpled figure now dangling in his grip.


    "...Huh?"


    The dust cleared, revealing his "goddess."

 Chapter 105 - 105: Crazy Plot Twist!!

    "...Huh?"


    The dust cleared, revealing his "goddess."


    Green-robed, beautiful. Check. Lips made for kissing? Check. Eyes charming enough to guarantee good genetics? Double check. A bosom he could admire now and play with later¡ªonce their future kids were running around? Absolute perfection. The rest? A body carved by the heavens themselves.


    His heart raced for a blissful second¡ªbefore his brain caught up.


    His initial grin froze, "Wait a minute¡­"


    The "goddess" shifted, groaning in his arms. Zhu Qing. His supposed "guardian," the one who had sent him to this wasteland in the first place.


    "Oh, great," he muttered, his earlier excitement replaced by exasperation. "Not a fairy, just my personal harbinger of bad luck. Thanks a lot, heavens!"


    Zhu Qing''s eyes snapped open, narrowing into dangerous slits. "Put. Me. Down."


    Su Xiaobai''s lips twitched into a grin, his earlier frustration forgotten. "Not happening! You''re my fairy, sent by the heavens to bless my adventure! I wished for a beauty, and bam¡ªhere you are!"


    "Beauty?" Zhu Qing spat, wriggling in his grip. "I''ll show you my beauty when I carve my name into your skull!"


    "Hah!" Su Xiaobai laughed, casually adjusting his hold so she didn''t slip. "Aw, come on, Qingqing. I''ve never caught a fairy before. Can''t I at least enjoy the moment?"


    "Qingqing?! PUT. ME. DOWN!"


    She kicked, aiming for his ribs, but Su Xiaobai just dodged, grinning wider. "Not until you agree to sit prettily on the back of my noble steed!" He patted Little Red, who snorted as if it too found the situation hilarious.


    "I swear on the heavens¡ª" Zhu Qing hissed, wriggling harder.


    "Yeah, yeah, blame the heavens," Su Xiaobai quipped, finally setting her down. "They''re the ones who tossed you my way. Don''t blame me for being too charming."


    Zhu Qing brushed herself off, her face dark with fury. "You''re lucky the heavens cursed me before I could curse you."


    "Haha¡­" Su Xiaobai chuckled, savoring her misery like fine wine. But he reined himself in¡ªbarely. "Who did this to you, Elder?" he asked, his lips twitching as he struggled to keep a straight face.


    The sight was too much. Zhu Qing, the terrifying and suspiciously cunning woman, now standing here powerless, dropped like trash from the heavens? Whoever pulled this off deserved a medal¡ªor maybe an exorcism.


    He couldn''t sense a shred of power from her. Whoever sealed her Qi and tossed her down like a sack of potatoes was no ordinary foe. A ruthless demon, for sure, Su Xiaobai thought, his smile widening.


    Note to self: never meet that demon.


    If only he knew¡­


    "Humph!" Zhu Qing snorted angrily, crossing her arms. "Who else if not the Sword Peak Lord?"


    "Ah, makes sense," Su Xiaobai nodded sagely before his expression shifted to confusion. "Wait¡­ no, it doesn''t make sense at all."


    He glanced at Zhu Qing, whose gaze darted away.


    How could Bai Yujian just tie her hands, seal her Qi, and toss her like trash? Weren''t they both Peak Lords?


    "..." Zhu Qing bit her lips, her expression souring. "Keep this to yourself," she said, her glare daring him to breathe a word.


    Su Xiaobai gave her an innocent nod. ''Of course, I''ll keep it safe in my treasure vault of secrets. Right next to the pile labeled ''leverage.''''


    He smirked inwardly. Information was power, and this little gem about Zhu Qing was worth more than any treasure.


    The story began as Zhu Qing begrudgingly explained her predicament. When she joined the Xiantian Sect after escaping the destruction of her previous sect, a spell had been placed on her¡ªa binding curse meant to ensure her loyalty.


    She''d forgotten it even existed over the centuries, but Bai Yujian hadn''t. And apparently, the Sword Peak Lord had decided to exploit it today.


    Su Xiaobai stroked his chin like a professional negotiator. "Makes sense, but still doesn''t explain why you''re here¡­ helpless¡­ being carried like a sack of rice."


    "..." Zhu Qing''s lips twitched. She couldn''t exactly admit Bai Yujian had yeeted her off the ship like trash. That would shatter her carefully crafted aura of seniority.


    "Little devil, how about I tell you an even better story?" Zhu Qing''s tone turned sweet, her voice dripping honey.


    Su Xiaobai raised a brow. That sweetness didn''t fool him for a second. He gestured toward the one-horned bull. "Go ahead, Elder. Mount up. I''m listening."


    Zhu Qing climbed onto the beast with a twitching eye, only for Su Xiaobai to slide in behind her. He placed his hands on her waist with zero hesitation. "For protection," he said, grinning.


    Zhu Qing''s fingers twitched, her pride screaming in protest, but she swallowed her anger. ''Helpless chicken, helpless chicken'' she repeated to herself.


    Xiao Hei flew overhead, following them effortlessly. That girl, Su Xiaobai had learned, had stamina that could rival a blood beast.


    "You know about Zhao Tianxuan?" Zhu Qing began, her voice light, almost evil.


    "The Sect Master? Of course," Su Xiaobai replied. His brow furrowed. "Why?"


    Her lips curled into a suspicious smile. "Do you know¡­ more?"


    Su Xiaobai''s instincts screamed. This woman was up to something. "What about him?"


    Zhu Qing leaned back slightly, her cunning smile widening. "He and I were once engaged."


    "..." Su Xiaobai blinked. "Wait, that was real...?"


    He''d heard whispers¡ªLulu mentioned it once in passing¡ªbut he''d assumed it was nonsense. His eyes flicked to Zhu Qing''s profile. She did have the looks: charming face, suspicious aura, a body that could lead armies to ruin. But still¡­ Zhao Tianxuan?


    "It was real." Zhu Qing sighed dramatically. "And do you know why the marriage was called off?"


    "He didn''t want to marry a¡ª"


    Su Xiaobai''s words cut off as Zhu Qing shot him a glare that could have frozen his blood mid-flow.


    "Humph! He would die just to touch me!" she snapped, her voice filled with indignation. "That bastard''s dream was about to come true, and he ruined it!"


    "..." Su Xiaobai wisely chose silence. After all, his hands were currently on her waist, and despite the "protection" excuse, he wasn''t dying to touch her either.


    The one-horned bull beneath them galloped wildly, trampling wraith soldiers as it charged through the wasteland. The land''s unspoken rule¡ªno fighting at night¡ªleft the battlefield eerily calm, save for the sound of hooves crushing bones.


    "Right before the wedding, I snuck into Zhao Tianxuan''s room," Zhu Qing continued, her tone turning downright gleeful.


    Su Xiaobai''s face darkened. Oh no¡­


    She went on, describing how she''d "peacefully" terrorized Zhao Tianxuan. In reality, she''d given him a simple choice: marry her and lose his manhood, or break off the engagement and keep his family jewels intact.


    Like any sensible man, Zhao Tianxuan chose the latter, announcing the end of the engagement the very next day.


    The fallout? Bai Yujian had unleashed holy wrath upon him for "wasting her efforts." Zhao Tianxuan had been sidelined for years, licking his wounds.


    Su Xiaobai''s eye twitched as the story ended. ''Why did she tell me this?''


    "You understand now, Disciple Su?" Zhu Qing''s voice was low, almost whispering, as she casually placed a hand behind her back.


    Crunch~! Crunch~~!


    Her fingers curled into a twisting motion, pointing ominously toward his crotch.


    The message was clear: Don''t try anything, or you''ll lose more than your dignity.


    "Ha-ha," Su Xiaobai let out a strained laugh, quickly raising his hands. "Don''t worry, Elder Qing! I already have a lover, and she''s very strict about ''extra decorations.'' Last time I joked about it, she nearly turned my heavenly meat sword into a toothpick! Trust me, I''d rather keep it where it belongs."


    To emphasize his point, he gently placed his hands on her rear and slid her slightly forward.


    "For safety," he added with a grin.


    "You¡ª!" Zhu Qing turned, stunned by his audacity, her face flushing with a mixture of outrage and disbelief.


    Behind them, Xiao Hei snickered quietly.


    Seeing his grin, Zhu Qing shook her head. Tired. Even after her explicit threat, this rat was still grinning like he''d won the heavens'' lottery.


    She laughed softly¡ªjust once. Beautiful, almost.


    But she wasn''t joking. If this rat tried anything, he''d learn why you don''t mess with a tribulation expert¡ªeven one with sealed Qi. She could''ve landed earlier without a scratch.


    And now? She could snap his neck like a twig.


    Last time, during the sect trial, she''d let his little mischief slide. But luck? It runs out. Rats are cute when they nibble¡­ until they bite. Then? Slap. One hit. Dead.


    "Who''s this woman you''re so scared of?" Zhu Qing asked suddenly, her lips twitching. "How about I discipline her? Train her to ''serve'' you properly?"


    Her smile deepened. For once, his sour face didn''t seem so unsatisfying. Almost¡­ enjoyable.


    "Nah, you''re full of shit, Elder," Su Xiaobai said, shaking his head like he''d just heard the joke of the century. "The woman I like? No one could tame her."


    Zhu Qing''s brow arched. Dangerous. "Are you challenging me?" Her voice lowered, smooth as silk. "I''ve tamed more warriors than the hairs on your head back in the Dark Sparrow Sect."


    Su Xiaobai''s smile turned bitter. "Elder, it''s not about doubting your capabilities. It''s just¡­ this woman is a bit special. No one could match her."


    He wasn''t lying. Su Xiaobai truly believed Matriarch Su, his mother, was the strongest. In a fair fight, she might even take down Sun Liang. The only reason he''d resorted to dirty tricks was because that''s what worked on someone untouchable.


    But Bai Yujian? She changed everything.


    Despite her easygoing personality¡ªwhich only he seemed to witness¡ªSu Xiaobai knew better. Beneath that calm exterior? A storm. The kind that left blood on its path. Enough blood that she probably didn''t even blink flattening cities by mistake.


    Even now, sitting behind Zhu Qing, he didn''t feel the suffocating dread Bai Yujian radiated. Sure, both women smelled amazing. But Bai Yujian? She smelled like death disguised as jasmine.


    Lost in his thoughts, Su Xiaobai''s expression turned dreamy, and Zhu Qing''s lips twitched.


    Such. Disrespect.


    She was sitting right here, and this brat had the audacity to fantasize about another woman? Natural jealousy bubbled up¡ªnot because she liked him, of course. But because he dared to suggest someone was better than her.


    "Mind sharing her name, Disciple Su?" Zhu Qing said, her tone deceptively sweet. "If I can''t discipline her for you, I''ll be your disciple for a month."


    "¡­What?" Su Xiaobai blinked, stunned. Did he hear that right? A Peak Lord¡­ offering to become his disciple?


    What kind of crazy plot twist was this?


    "Are you sure, Elder Qing?" Su Xiaobai asked, though his heart was pounding with excitement. He could already imagine making her scrub floors or, better yet, fetching his tea. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I pledge on my honor," Zhu Qing replied without hesitation.


    Su Xiaobai''s face darkened¡ªbarely hiding the grin threatening to split his face.


    "Don''t stall. Tell me. Who is it?" Zhu Qing urged, turning toward him impatiently.


    Su Xiaobai''s lips moved. Two words slipped out, clear as a bell.


    Boom.

 Chapter 106 - 106: Stealing Star Essence!

    Boom.


    The sky, clear just moments ago, suddenly erupted with rain. Heavy, dramatic, like the heavens themselves were weeping at Zhu Qing''s despair.


    Her smile dropped faster than a falling cultivator with no Qi.


    "Bai Yujian?" she whispered. "Are you¡­ sick?"


    Su Xiaobai wasn''t joking. Not even a little. After their last encounter, he had concluded that no one¡ªno one¡ªwould let him touch them so casually unless there were thoughts. Thoughts she clearly didn''t mind showing when she inspected his body.


    Now, he was planning a little "heart-to-heart" conversation with her. See where things stood. Maybe figure out how far he could push that ice wall down.


    "You both have gone insane," Zhu Qing growled, her teeth grinding audibly.


    "Both?" Su Xiaobai tilted his head, genuinely curious. "Wait¡­ has someone else told you this before?"


    Zhu Qing''s brows twitched, her expression complicated. Just a few days ago, Zhao Tianxuan had called an urgent meeting. His brilliant idea? Push Bai Yujian closer to Su Xiaobai.


    The result? The room burst into laughter, Elder Han Xuan nearly choking on his tea while everyone treated Zhao Tianxuan like the sect''s official clown.


    But now Su Xiaobai was saying the same thing?


    What''s going on here? Is Zhao Tianxuan the fool, or are we all the idiots?


    "Believe it or not..." Su Xiaobai shrugged, clearly enjoying her expression. He''s not clarifying anything. Not until he clarifies it with Bai Yujian first.


    "..." Zhu Qing stared at him, biting her lip. Panic flickered behind her eyes. Would she actually have to keep her ridiculous promise? A month as his disciple?


    No. Absolutely not. She''d strangle him before that happened.


    And so, what Su Xiaobai imagined as a romantic journey¡ªriding through the wasteland on a saddle with his "fairy from the heavens"¡ªbecame an awkward, painfully silent trek that stretched for hours.


    The sky above shifted to a dark, suffocating blue. In this cursed wasteland, it wasn''t the arrival of night¡ªit was the signal of day.


    At last, something broke the monotony.


    A grand palace stood in the distance, its silhouette black and jagged like a scar on the horizon. Sand and rust covered its surface, and at the apex of its central dome, an ominous skull-shaped monument sneered down at the world.


    At first, it seemed small¡ªunderwhelming even. But as they approached, the desert winds howled louder, whipping red sand into a furious blur that stung their faces and blinded their sight.


    The palace grew. Bigger. More oppressive.


    By the time they reached its shadow, it towered over them¡ªvast as two mountains stacked atop each other.


    "...I liked it better when it looked small," Su Xiaobai muttered, brushing sand off his face.


    Even the air felt scarier, like the wasteland itself wanted them to turn back.


    "Stop!" Zhu Qing suddenly yelled.


    "Huh?" Su Xiaobai blinked, startled, but pulled the one-horned bull to a halt. Xiao Hei, floating in the air, froze mid-flap.


    "What is it?"


    Zhu Qing jabbed a finger at the palace. Her voice was suspicious, "Why the hell are we heading toward the Warlord''s Palace...?"


    Her teeth clenched so hard it was a miracle they didn''t shatter. This was bad. No, worse than bad. Without her Qi, even approaching that cursed tomb was like offering her neck to the guillotine.


    And this idiot? This idiot was charging straight toward it like it was a roadside inn?!


    "Uh... to search for treasures?" Su Xiaobai replied, looking genuinely confused, like she''d just asked why water was wet.


    Zhu Qing''s eye twitched. "Which fool told you that...?"


    Su Xiaobai glanced at Xiao Hei, who immediately averted her gaze, pretending to admire the sandstorm as if it were the most fascinating thing she''d ever seen.


    Not my fault, Xiao Hei thought to herself. The treasure is there. Sure, he might die in the process¡­ but that''s part of the plan.


    "...Your scheming puppet wants you dead, idiot!" Zhu Qing snapped, clutching her forehead like she was warding off a migraine.


    "My puppet¡­ wants to kill me?" Su Xiaobai repeated, stunned.


    "Yes!" Zhu Qing threw her arms in the air. "She''s baiting you! The treasures might exist, but so do the fifty thousand ways you''ll die trying to grab them!"


    Su Xiaobai squinted at Xiao Hei, suspicion dawning on his face.


    The little menace, floating as serenely as ever, turned her head away, feigning deep interest in the sandstorm.


    "You''re saying¡­ she wants me dead?"


    "That''s precisely what I said! And after spending a night with you...I understand where she''s coming from."


    Zhu Qing froze, her own words ringing in her ears. A faint flush crept up her cheeks as irritation and embarrassment wrestled for dominance. Why did it sound so¡­ ambiguous?


    But pride kept her from correcting herself. She straightened her back, forcing a casual expression.


    "..."


    Su Xiaobai, thankfully, was too preoccupied to notice Zhu Qing''s slip of the tongue. His focus was locked onto Xiao Hei, who continued to avoid his gaze with the grace of someone who had long perfected the art of selective deafness. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Did you refine... a human puppet?" Zhu Qing''s voice rang sharp. Suspicious. Curious. A touch surprised.


    Su Xiaobai shook his head lazily, a smile tugging at his lips. "Human puppet? Please. She''s¡­ something else entirely."


    "Something else?" Zhu Qing''s lips twitched, her eyes narrowing as she assessed the little floating mystery.


    Before she could start interrogating him like a peak lord at confession, the wasteland roared.


    CRACK-BOOM!


    KRA-KOOM!~


    The ground beneath them shook as a deafening explosion shattered the air. "!!" Su Xiaobai''s head jerked toward the Warlord''s Palace, the smile dropping off his face faster than a drunk''s coin purse.


    HISSSSSS-KRAAA!


    In the distance, a massive red serpent shrieked, its massive torso splitting open like a stuffed dumpling with too much filling. Blood sprayed in steaming sheets, painting the horizon in red.


    "That''s Fang Tian," Zhu Qing muttered darkly, her tone a mix of contempt and resignation.


    "Eh?" Su Xiaobai squinted, eyes narrowing as another explosion ripped through the palace. Shockwaves crashed, rattling bones¡­ kicking up sand.


    His grin returned, wicked and sharp. "Let''s take a look."


    "Wait¡ª?" Zhu Qing snapped. "That''s a death trap!"


    "Relax, Elder," Su Xiaobai shot back, "Just looking. No touching."


    "..." Zhu Qing glared at him, her lips twitching with the kind of irritation that could birth entire wars, but Little Red took that as a command.


    With a grunt and a snort, the one-horned bull charged forward like a battering ram, kicking up a storm of red sand behind it.


    ______


    As they rode, Su Xiaobai''s expression shifted, becoming something calculating and wicked.


    Above them, Xiao Hei floated silently, her expression as blank as ever.


    "Not so fast, little schemer," he muttered under his breath, his hand darting out.


    Whoosh!


    Before she could react, Su Xiaobai snatched her by the wrist. Xiao Hei''s glowing eyes widened slightly, a rare flicker of emotion slipping through her cold fa?ade.


    "You''ve schemed enough for one day,"," Su Xiaobai said, his tone far too cheerful.


    Xiao Hei''s glowing eyes flickered¡ªwas that panic? Regret?


    Swoosh!


    With a flick of his hand, she vanished into his ring world before anyone could tell.


    Zhu Qing turned, frowning at the now-empty air. "Where''s your scheming brat of a doll?"


    Su Xiaobai shrugged, smiling like a cat that had just swallowed a canary. "Probably floated off to scheme in peace. Can''t blame her¡ªit''s a full-time job plotting my demise."


    ______


    Warlord''s Palace!


    The palace erect like a drunken god''s bad decision¡ªtowering, ominous, and absolutely f***ed up. Blood-red sands howled around it in an endless cyclone, as if the earth itself was trying to spit it out.


    At its base, a faint glow pulsed: the Celestial Star.


    A shard of heaven, they said. The kind of treasure that could grant immortality, unimaginable power, or a lifetime supply of virgins (depending on who you asked). In reality? It was just a gleaming excuse for idiots to kill each other.


    A week ago, it had crashed into the wasteland, sparking a blood-soaked festival. At first, the scum of the land worked together to fight off the wraith soldiers guarding the palace¡ªremnants of the Warlord''s cursed army. But alliances here had the lifespan of a drunk sect disciple in a brothel.


    Now, the sands were soaked with betrayal, and the Celestial Star sat at the center of it all, practically laughing at the fools dying to claim it.


    "Filthy bastards!"


    Fang Tian, leader of the ''Sanguine Serpents'', stood atop his dying mount¡ªa once-mighty serpent now leaking blood like a torn wineskin. His dark robes in shredded disgrace, his face streaked with grime, but his rage burned brighter than a phoenix on steroids.


    "You think you can rob me? Betray me?! Do you know who I am?!"


    The pirates who''d betrayed him didn''t answer. Why waste time on dead men walking? His precious ''Sanguine Serpent'', once a symbol of terror, was now a twitching heap of overcooked steak.


    "Rob you?" A voice rumbled. "Betray you? Fang Tian, you''re lucky we didn''t piss on your corpse already."


    ''Boneblade Liang'' stomped forward, a hulking mountain of muscle and questionable hygiene. His sword, a jagged monstrosity that looked like it chewed through rock for fun, hung casually over his shoulder.


    "You think your crew was loyal? Please. Even your snake hated you."


    "Ha-ha-ha."


    The rest howled with laughter.


    "Men..."


    The laughter died faster than a rookie cultivator at his first tribulation.


    Perched atop a winged lion was ''Violet Crane'', her lavender robes fluttering like she was the protagonist of some trashy romance scroll. SPLASH! Her whip crackled faintly with electric Qi, coiled at her side like a smug pet.


    "You boys and your pissing contests... It''s tragic, really."

 Chapter 107 - 107: Battle for the Celestial Star!

    "You boys and your pissing contests¡­"


    Violet Crane, queen of the ''Fiery Whip'' gang, lounged on her winged lion, her lavender robe draped in ways that whispered war crimes into men''s thoughts. She wasn''t a leader¡ªshe was a goddess deciding whose skull deserved her heel first.


    Below her, Boneblade Liang had Fang Tian pinned like a dog begging for slaughter. The Sanguine Serpent¡ªonce a nightmare of coiled scales¡ªlay torn open in the sand, its guts spilling out like a drunk''s bad decisions.


    Boneblade''s jagged sword, oozing poison as thick as envy, hovered over Fang''s throat. It didn''t kill clean¡ªit killed slow. Painful. Personal.


    "Your crew?" Boneblade sneered. "Dog food. Your beast? A bloody rug. You? Worm bait."


    Fang Tian spat blood, eyes darting wildly. Left. Right. Nowhere. No allies. No miracles. Just the wheezing sound of his serpent''s death rattle.


    Above them, nine gangs stood like vultures circling a rotting corpse.


    Watching. Waiting.


    They weren''t here to fight¡ªnot yet. Let Boneblade and Fang tear each other apart. Once the last one fell, they''d swarm, butcher the survivor, and strip the bones clean.


    A filthy game. Played by filthier men.


    WHOOSH!


    The whip cracked. A blur of purple and gold.


    Before anyone blinked, the ''Celestial Star fragment''¡ªa glowing meteorite the size of a fist¡ªrested in Violet''s hand. Its light spilled over her, draping her in brilliance sharp enough to carve reputations. Blinding. Impossible to look away.


    "Mine now."


    She tucked the star into her robes, slow enough to make every man there choke on his regrets. Her gaze swept over the crowd like a hammer.


    "Rest of you! Crawl back to your caves¡­ or stay. I could use the exercise."


    "You whore¡ª!"


    Boneblade''s grip tightened around the rotting hilt of his blade.


    This bitch. This smug, thieving bitch. She''d strolled in, snatched his prize, and left him standing there with nothing but his own rage.


    The Green Frog Gang''s leader stepped forward, his grin wide and rotting, yellow teeth jutting out like tombstones in a forgotten graveyard.


    "She''s got treasure already¡­" His eyes dragged over Violet, slimy and slow, like maggots finding fresh meat. "Let''s take her down first. Together. Then¡­ we''ll strip the rest."


    Violet''s smile didn''t waver. It grew sharper.


    "Vermins." Her voice was sweet, soft¡­ venom dripping from silk.


    Her lion growled beneath her, claws tearing lines in the sand, wings flaring wide. But it wasn''t enough. Not against the tide of blades, sweat, and filthy, grabbing hands surging toward her.


    "Take her down!" someone spat.


    And the flood came.


    Blades flashed. Bloodlust spilled. Every bastard there with one thought: Violet Crane on her knees.


    She laughed. Not a giggle. Not a chuckle. A laugh that scraped like steel against bone.


    "Alright then¡­"


    The whip cracked again, louder, sharper.


    She stood tall on her lion''s back, every inch of her a challenge.


    "You dogs want a bitch?" Her voice rang, sweet and taunting. "Then come. Let me show you how this bitch bites."


    _______


    As the battlefield raged, the wasteland turned into a bloody circus. Swords clashed, Qi flared, and pirates tore each other apart like starving dogs over a scrap of meat.


    And then¡ª


    "Ah!?"


    Violet Crane''s sharp cry rang out. In a flash, a filthy green blur leapt from the fray, snatching the celestial orb right out of her hand.


    "Hahaha! It''s mine now!" howled the Green Fog leader, holding the glowing orb above his head like it was his first kiss. His laughter boomed¡ªhigh, wheezy, and ugly enough to sterilize nearby grass.


    But it didn''t last.


    "Not so fast!"


    A hawk screamed from the sky, a flash of feathers and fury as it snatched the orb from his greasy fingers.


    "Catch that bird!"


    And just like that, grown men¡ªseasoned killers, self-proclaimed legends¡ªdescended into full-blown toddler tantrums. Blades flashed, Qi soared, and techniques exploded like fireworks in the sky. Big shots lunged at each other, shouting threats that sounded more like awkward marriage proposals.


    "Mine!"


    "Over my dead body!"


    "Your dead body wouldn''t fetch a bowl of rice in the wastelands!"


    "I''ll shove that orb where your hands can''t reach!"


    Meanwhile, the hawk zigzagged through the mess, probably wondering how it got stuck in the middle of a pornographic murder circus.


    Down below, the battlefield was just as glorious.


    Lackeys butchered each other with the enthusiasm of drunkards at a brothel brawl. Someone got stabbed for looking at another man''s sword the wrong way. Another pirate tried to steal a sword mid-swing¡ªand got split like a melon for his trouble.


    "Wow¡­"


    Su Xiaobai leaned forward, eyes wide and sparkling. "I''d pay a fortune to watch this every day."


    (A/N: Please pay! Author''s starving here!)


    Zhu Qing stared at him like he''d grown a second head. "What the hell''s wrong with you?" S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    (A/N: Poor AF, T~T)


    She didn''t get it. This was just another wasteland brawl to her¡ªa tiresome, bloody mess. But to Su Xiaobai? This was art. A masterpiece of stupidity and violence. Cultivators who''d lived for centuries, acting like teenagers at their first sect dance. Absolute gold.


    Of course, Su Xiaobai''s two lifetimes combined didn''t amount to even a fraction of the madness these lunatics had survived. And it showed.


    They stood in what Su Xiaobai proudly declared was the safest spot on the battlefield: directly in front of the giant, ominous doors of the Warlord''s Palace.


    Why here? Because no one was dumb enough to get this close to the palace. Even these pirates¡ªmen who''d kill for a slice of moldy bread¡ªkept their distance.


    The Warlord''s undead generals never left the palace. That was the one unbreakable rule of the wasteland. But cross those doors? That was like asking to be turned into a human mural.


    Some pirates glanced at Su Xiaobai and Zhu Qing. Their gazes screamed pity¡ªor maybe they were just wondering if the two of them had death wishes kinkier than most brothel contracts.


    "Idiots," one muttered, shaking his head before diving back into the battle.


    Zhu Qing rolled her eyes, her contempt dripping like sweat on a pig. "Fools. They''ve been living in this wasteland for years and still don''t get it."


    She waved dismissively at the massive palace doors, like she was pointing at a roadside noodle stall. "As long as you don''t step inside, it''s perfectly safe. Bunch of cowards."


    Su Xiaobai blinked at her, a bead of sweat rolling down his face. Did she seriously have to say it like that?


    Unknowingly, Zhu Qing planted the reddest flag in wasteland history.


    Su Xiaobai silently prayed that the higher-ups had even a shred of fairness. He didn''t say a damn thing! He was innocent! (Yup, sending both of you in. Talk about fairness.)


    And so it happened.


    "You men and your bickering," Long Tian rasped, barely able to sit upright. "The star is mine. Kneel now, and save yourselves the embarrassment of dying on empty stomachs."


    Somehow, the celestial orb landed on the dying Long Tian''s hand. Bloodied, coughing, and half-dead, he still managed to clutch it and laugh like he''d just won the lottery.


    "Now that''s a plot twist¡­" Su Xiaobai whistled under his breath. ''Author''s definitely smoking something strong today.''


    Zhu Qing squinted at Long Tian. Did this idiot have a death wish? He could''ve just used the chaos to escape! Instead, here he was, practically waving a ''stab me'' flag in a sea of murderers.


    "Fang Tian, pass it to me! I''ll save your life!" Violet Crane''s smile turned radiant, her charm cranked up to eleven, like a goddess offering salvation¡ªif salvation had strings attached.


    "Save him?" Boneblade Liang sneered, staggering forward, "Idiots! I''ll kill both of you! Then I''ll take the star and his head!" Blood poured from the stump where his arm used to be, dripping like a broken faucet, but his rage kept him standing.


    "Ha-ha-ha¡­"


    Fang Tian broke into hysterical laughter, his bloodied teeth flashing as he clutched the star. "Save me? Kill me? Bastards! Every single one of you! What makes you think any of you deserve this!?"


    Violet''s eyes narrowed, her charm fading into irritation. "You want to lecture us about deserving? You''re barely alive, you moron. Just hand it over before I snap your spine like a twig."


    Boneblade staggered closer, dragging his sword as he snarled, "Spine? I''ll slice him open like a pig and dig the star out myself!"


    Fang Tian''s grin widened. Blood dripped from his chin, but his voice rang loud and clear: "Shut up. All of you. Fight, die, kill each other¡ªI don''t care!"


    And then¡ª


    GULP!


    Before anyone could react, Fang Tian tilted his head back and swallowed the fragment of the star whole.


    The battlefield froze.


    "Did¡­ Did he just eat it?"


    Boneblade blinked, his fury momentarily replaced by disbelief. "What kind of lunatic swallows something that could kill him?! Are you insane!?"


    Fang Tian grinned, wiping blood from his lips. "Insane? Maybe. But at least I''m not a¡ª"


    "Disgusting! You''re disgusting! Swallowing something that big? You deserve to burn!"


    BOOM!


    "AH¡ª!"


    Before Fang Tian could finish, a wave of flames erupted, swallowing him whole. His scream cut off as his skin bubbled and melted, his flesh cooked to a crisp, and even his bones turned to dust. He didn''t just die¡ªhe evaporated.


    Out of the swirling inferno, the celestial orb burst free from his liquefied remains, glowing brighter than ever.


    Swoosh~!


    It floated lazily toward toward the source of the voice like an obedient servant, as if mocking the poor bastard who thought swallowing it was a good idea.

 Chapter 108 - 108: Inside the Warlords Palace (Part 1)

    [A/N: I have split this chapter into two parts; it was too long.]


    .


    .


    .


    BOOM!


    The orb shot up, spinning like a drunk star before slamming into an outstretched hand. A pressure followed¡ªheavy, suffocating, like Mount Tai was squatting on their chests.


    "Who is the lord here...?"


    A figure descended slow, like a god too bored to care. His flaming white robe glowed in the dusty haze. The fiery lotus beneath him spun lazily, like it just woke up from a nap. Behind him, two dozen disciples floated in formation, faces smug enough to make saints reach for alcohol.


    The pirates'' faces dropped faster than their balls. White robes. A lotus. This wasn''t just some righteous prick¡ªthis was the righteous prick.


    And they were fucked.


    Every one of them¡ªthieves, killers, has-beens¡ªhad been chased out of the mainland to rot out here. Sins didn''t matter in the wasteland. Until now. This guy had waltzed into their turf with a grin that screamed, ''I don''t need a reason to kill you, but I''ll do it anyway.''


    Still, it was their land.


    Boneblade Liang, blood pouring from his stump of an arm, stumbled forward, "I''m the lord here! What do you want, brat?"


    His voice had balls. His legs didn''t. Sure, this guy was peak Deity Transformation, but they had eight Integration Realm fighters. Together, they could kill him. Probably.


    Zhao Feng''s eyes swept the crowd, cold and calculating, like deciding which cockroach deserved to die first.


    Finally, his lips curled into a blade of a smile.


    "You? A lord?" His voice dripped venom. "You''re not fit to lick the dirt off my boots, let alone my shit."


    "..." Boneblade''s sneer cracked. His hand gripped his sword tight. "You arrogant¡ª"


    BOOM!


    Flames snaked up Zhao Feng''s arm, coiling like a predator ready to pounce. A flick of his wrist, and the inferno roared forward.


    WHOOSH!


    Boneblade raised his sword, but the flames didn''t care. They swallowed him whole. "Ah¡ª" His screams lasted a second before his body turned to ash. When the fire cleared, only a melted lump of steel remained.


    "!!"


    The pirates froze.


    Bravado? Ash. Courage? Evaporated. Bloodlust? Now puddled at their feet.


    Zhao Feng drifted forward, lotus petals spinning faster. The air around him burned, heat close enough to peel skin.


    "This is the Warlord''s Palace," he said, voice molten and bored, "Sacred ground. Drenched in the blood of saints and sinners alike. And you? Crawling filth, thinking you can steal from the heavens."


    The orb in his hand flared brighter, painting his face in firelight. "Steal this? From me? You''d have better luck jerking off a dragon."


    Weapons shook. Sweat poured. Eyes darted for exits that didn''t exist.


    "I''m Zhao Feng of the Blazing Sun Sect," he said. "The heavens demand your death... and I''m here to deliver."


    Flames roared higher, turning sand to molten glass.


    That''s when Iron Fang, boss of the Black Gale Syndicate, stomped forward. A scarred giant with a bloodstained axe, he looked like bad decisions had come to life and put on weight.


    "You righteous bastards think you own everything!" he barked, voice like gravel being chewed. "The star doesn''t belong to your sects or heavens. It belongs to whoever''s got the balls to take it!"


    Zhao Feng tilted his head, mild amusement flashing in his eyes. "Balls, huh?"


    Iron Fang spat, hefting his axe. "I''ve faced flames hotter than yours, boy. You''re just another¡ª"


    SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH!


    The lotus spun faster, petals slicing outward like a molten buzzsaw. Heat blasted forward, flames swallowing Iron Fang whole. His scream tore through the wasteland as his flesh cooked off his bones. When he hit the ground, there wasn''t even ash left to bury.


    Zhao Feng turned to the pirates, his smile sharp as a knife.


    "Who''s next?"


    No one spoke. No one moved.


    Silence. Just silence... and the smell of burning piss.


    ____


    "He looks like Zhao Mei¡­" Su Xiaobai muttered from the sidelines, his eyebrows twitching in surprise.


    Who was Zhao Mei?


    One of the few lucky enough¡ªor unlucky enough, depending on your view¡ªto enter the Xiantian Sect alongside him. Short orange hair spiked like a warning sign, dressed in the kind of dark, tight outfit that screamed bad decisions ahead. She was trouble wrapped in sex appeal and walked like she owned the place.


    Su Xiaobai had "accidentally" bumped into her a couple of times over the last month. She thought he was harmless¡ªa clown at best. She wasn''t wrong¡­ and that was exactly how he liked it.


    But the real kicker? Zhao Mei had a fire technique that used a flaming lotus. And now, here was this ''Zhao Feng,'' descending like some divine peacock, wielding the same tricks. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "He''s her great-uncle," Zhu Qing said casually, shattering Su Xiaobai''s thoughts.


    Su Xiaobai blinked. "Great-uncle?" His eye twitched. That chick already had an elder in another sect and still joined Xiantian? He sighed, shaking his head like a disappointed parent. "Nepotism''s alive and well, huh?"


    "Blazing Sun Sect is a tier below Xiantian," Zhu Qing added, probably trying to justify the girl''s sect-hopping.


    "Not my problem," Su Xiaobai muttered, shrugging. "Not my girl, not my sect. Why care? I''m just here for the fireworks." His lips twisted into a smile. "Though, if someone snatched the orb from that pompous idiot right now, that''d make my day."


    Scree!


    "What the¡ª?!"


    The universe, apparently, had been listening. The hawk from earlier swooped back, claws shinning, and snatched the orb like it was collecting overdue rent.


    Zhao Feng lunged, flames roaring, but¡ªclang!¡ªthree figures appeared in black, their weapons flashing as they blocked his advance. All peak Integration Realm.


    "Who the hell are you?!" Zhao Feng roared, his flames flaring.


    Another party.


    Su Xiaobai''s jaw hung open. ''You''ve got to be kidding me. What''s next, the emperor himself showing up for this stupid orb?''


    As if summoned by his words, slow clapping echoed across the battlefield. A man stepped forward, his black robes immaculate, his face obscured like some low-effort spy.


    Clap. Clap. Clap.


    "Good work, everyone," the newcomer said, voice dripping with self-importance.


    "¡­"


    Su Xiaobai''s face twitched. Oh, great, he thought, deciding to put his storytelling instincts to the test. ''A late-entry boss character. Let me guess: he''s here for the orb, he''s got some connection to the royal family, and he''s about to make everything more complicated. Bet he also has a tragic backstory that no one cares about.''


    "Leave the orb," the man announced, flexing dramatically. "By order of the prince, it belongs to us. Unless, of course, you''d like to defy the royal family."


    As if to hammer the point home, his aura exploded outward¡ªpeak Deity Transformation Realm.


    Bingo.


    "Prince?!" someone squeaked, their voice cracking like a cheap plate dropped on stone.

 Chapter 109 - 109: Inside the Warlords Palace (Part 2)

    "Prince?!" someone squeaked, their voice cracking like a cheap plate dropped on stone.


    The royal family? Already? Faces turned pale, guts shriveling faster than a eunuch in winter.


    Su Xiaobai raised an eyebrow. Prince? Wei Jun wants the star fragment? That wasn''t in the damn script. What''s next, Bai Yujian herself showing up to recite poetry and demand tea?


    Not that it didn''t track. Zhu Qing had spilled all about the celestial star fragment. Star Qi¡ªrare, potent, and hyped harder than a brothel with free drinks. It could forge weapons, make pills, or give those pompous alchemists something else to jerk themselves off about. A treasure like this? It could flip cities upside down.


    Even Wei Jun, the lady boy of the royal family, couldn''t resist licking his chops for it.


    Not that Su Xiaobai blamed him. He wanted it too. The fragment could whip up a Star Essence Pill, and with that, his Star Slayer God Arts would jump two stages. His fingers twitched at the thought. ''Maybe I''ll play nice in the capital¡­ you know, after I break the prince''s face and call it a "negotiation."''


    But fate? It had other plans.


    "Humph!"


    Zhao Feng''s eyes flashed, before narrowing with a sneer. Like he''d spotted some cosmic ''scam'' no one else got. He didn''t explain. Didn''t bother with words.


    BOOM!


    Lotus flames roared from his palm, exploding skyward like a dragon''s tantrum.


    Scree¡ªBOOM!


    The hawk didn''t stand a chance. One second it was soaring; the next, it was roasted mid-flight. Feathers turned to ash. Meat? Gone. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "What are you doing?!" the prince''s lackey shrieked, his voice trembling like a boy catching his first beating. "Stop him¡ª!"


    Too late.


    The celestial star fragment tumbled from the sky, slow and heavy, like fate itself was flipping the bird to everyone watching.


    "Not good..."


    Thump!


    It landed. Squarely.


    In Su Xiaobai''s hands, like the universe itself had decided, ''Here, you deal with this mess.''


    "..."


    "..."


    And just like that, all eyes snapped to him.


    If earlier he''d been a fly on the wall, now he was the centerpiece. Hundreds¡ªno, thousands¡ªof eyes locked onto him. Wide, angry, calculating. Like a pack of starving wolves who''d just realized dinner was sitting right there.


    "..."


    Su Xiaobai blinked. "Well¡­ shit."


    "Fool! Hide behind me!" Zhu Qing snapped, her face pale as death. She could already see the future¡ªthis bastard was about to get skewered, roasted, and maybe turned into a human pincushion by half the battlefield.


    "Kill him!"


    One command, and the crowd erupted. Pirates, disciples, beasts¡ªeveryone lunged at Su Xiaobai like he owed them money. Swords screamed through the air, fiery techniques lit the battlefield, and flying beasts dove, snapping and snarling for blood.


    Zhu Qing''s chest tightened. Her eyes darted around, frantic, as she braced herself to shield him. She cursed silently, wondering which past life''s sins had chained her to this disaster.


    But before she could act¡ª


    "Hold this."


    Su Xiaobai''s voice was calm. Too calm. Like a man about to ruin her day. His hand grabbed her waist.


    "What the hell are you¡ª?!"


    She barely finished the sentence before Su Xiaobai ''spun her around,'' pulling her close as a wall of attacks bore down on them.


    BOOM!


    The impact slammed into Su Xiaobai''s back like an angry god''s hammer, sending both of them rocketing through the air. Zhu Qing screamed, her vision spinning as they hurtled straight toward the Warlord''s Palace gates.


    And then¡ª


    CRASH!


    The massive gates of the palace buckled with a thunderous groan, swinging wide open to swallow them whole. Inside, dust and echoes filled the palace halls as the duo skidded to a stop.


    Outside, silence fell.


    Pirates, disciples, and beasts froze mid-step, staring slack-jawed at the now-open gates.


    "..."


    One pirate pointed a trembling finger at the palace. "Did... Did they just walk in?"


    Another disciple, trembling, whispered, "The attacks didn''t crush them? How is that possible¡­?"


    A voice, low and hoarse, sent shivers through the crowd. "The undead generals¡­"


    At that, the color drained from every face.


    The undead generals of the Warlord''s Palace¡ªTribulation Realm monsters who could crush armies with a flick of their fingers. Nobody here could survive them. Hell, no one was dumb enough to step into their domain.


    Until now.


    _____


    Inside the palace, Su Xiaobai groaned, sitting up with Zhu Qing sprawled over him. Dusting off his robes, he smilled lazily, unfazed. "You alright? Or should I carry you too?"


    "Carry me?! You¡­!" Zhu Qing smacked his chest, face red with both rage and embarrassment. "Do you have any idea how close we were to dying?!"


    "Close?" Su Xiaobai chuckled, "Relax. We''re alive, aren''t we? It''s all about the script."


    Zhu Qing glared at him, her hand twitching like she was debating between strangling him and slapping him. Before she could decide, the rumbling from the gates caught her attention.


    ______


    Outside the Palace!


    The black-clothed man gritted his teeth, rage boiling over. "This¡­ This is your fault!" he glared at Zhao Feng. "How will I explain this to the prince now?!"


    Zhao Feng''s face twisted into a sneer, his flames crackling. "My fault? That was my orb, you dog! And since when do the bastard spawn of the First Battalion Commander bark orders at me?"


    "You dare insult me¡ª!"


    "I dare?" Zhao Feng''s eyes burned with fury. "You think I care about your no name prince? He''s just a pampered peacock hiding behind his daddy''s name. And you? You''re not even a dog¡ªyou''re the flea riding on the dog''s ass.


    Without waiting for a response, Zhao Feng unleashed a torrent of flames, aiming directly at the black-clothed man.


    "First Battalion Commander''s lackey?"


    The murmurs in the crowd grew louder, the realization spreading like wildfire.


    "That wasn''t the prince?" someone muttered, stunned.


    "No," another replied, spitting on the ground. "That''s one of the commander''s dogs."


    The First Battalion Commander¡ªan illegitimate son of the king. A bastard, born from a maid''s womb, his bloodline tainted. Strong enough to lead soldiers, but too low to ever sit on the throne.


    Realizing the truth, the crowd''s restraint shattered.


    "Fuck it!" a pirate shouted, raising his blade.


    With that, the battlefield descended into mess. Blades clashed, beasts roared, and the ground itself seemed to quake as techniques exploded across the wasteland.


    The black-clothed man''s face twisted with regret. His trembling hand brushed against the hilt of his sword¡ªthe unmistakable emblem of the First Battalion Commander etched into the pommel.


    ''Damn it¡­ I forgot to switch swords!''


    His head snapped toward the palace gates. If I don''t recover the fragment¡­


    But it was too late. The battlefield roared around him, swallowing him whole in its frenzy.

 Chapter 110 - 110: Trapped in Well of Blood!

    Inside the Warlord''s Palace!


    "Rustle ~~"


    A cold wind slipped through the suffocating dark, caressing skin like a lover with icy hands.


    A man was on top of a woman. His weight pinning her down. Her hands braced against his chest. Their stained clothes hugging tightly, damp with sweat, blood, and who-knows-what else.


    Blood pooled between her legs.


    Or rather¡­ beneath them, seeping from the floor itself¡ªmuddy, sticky, and thick with the stench of iron and rot. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Zhu Qing''s face was a storm cloud. Wet. Filthy. Pinned by a smirking fool whose breath was far too close to hers. And this fool? He was still grinning like they''d just rolled out of bed after a night of passion instead of crashing into this gods-forsaken death pit.


    They didn''t even know when¡ªor if¡ªthey''d die here.


    And he thought this was the time to joke?


    "Mind letting go?" Su Xiaobai asked, his voice tinged with dry amusement, as if he weren''t the one sprawled on top of her.


    Her glare sharpened, colder than the biting air around them. "You''re the one on top of me."


    Her hands were braced firmly against his chest, pushing him back with enough force to suggest that if it wouldn''t kill them both, she''d shove him straight through the floor.


    "Hey, hey, I have a delicate heart, okay?" Su Xiaobai said, flashing a smile as though the situation amused him. "If you press like that, it might stop beating. Not that I blame you¡ªI know the effect I have on women."


    "..." Zhu Qing glared at Su Xiaobai, her hand twitching like she was deciding whether to scold him or shove his head into the blood-soaked floor until he stopped talking.


    "Grrrr ~~"


    Before she could decide, a low rumble rolled through the floor, interrupting her murderous contemplation.


    "!" Her head snapped up.


    The sound didn''t come from behind¡ªbut above.


    Darkness stretched above them, vast and endless, like the gaping maw of some celestial beast. The torchlight flickering pitifully against the walls cast jagged shadows, but the room remained mostly hidden.


    Circular. Tight. Damp.


    Less ''palace'' and more ''death pit built by a sadist with too much free time.''


    "What is this cursed place¡­" Zhu Qing muttered as she stood, shoving Su Xiaobai off her without so much as a glance. The words were sharp, filled with disdain, her gaze sweeping the blood-slick floor and scary surroundings.


    Su Xiaobai landed on his feet, unfazed, already looking around like a bored tourist in a cursed death trap.


    A couple of skeletons were sprawled across the floor, their brittle bones half-buried in the mud and blood. He gave one an idle nudge with his boot, his lips twitching as if already plotting something evil.


    Zhu Qing, however, wasn''t paying him any attention. Her gaze shifted to the walls, narrowing like a hawk spotting prey. Something clicked in her mind, sharp and sudden.


    "This is a trap..." She muttered, stepping forward. "This formation... It''s suppressing both spiritual and physical strength. We''re meant to rot here. Slowly."


    "Or," Su Xiaobai said, crouching by a lonely skeleton, "we could make new friends. Look at Skully here, still hanging around after death. Loyal. That''s rare." He yanked up the skeleton''s arm, waving it at Zhu Qing with all the enthusiasm of a street vendor hawking fake talismans.


    "He says hi. Go on, don''t be rude."


    "..." Zhu Qing''s expression? Ice. The kind that could freeze fire.


    "What?" Su Xiaobai shrugged, the skeleton''s hand still in his grasp. "I just saved your life. A little gratitude wouldn''t hurt. Maybe a kiss on the cheek? Or a ''thank you, Su Xiaobai, for being the most amazing shield I''ve ever had''?"


    Zhu Qing said nothing. Her glare screamed ''you''re one brain cell away from a public execution''. She turned toward the walls, studying the strange symbols etched into the stone. The greenish runes pulsed faintly, their glow like the dying embers of a fire¡ªfragile, yet seething with hostility.


    "Suppressive seals," she murmured, brushing her fingers over one of the symbols. "But they''re¡­ crude. The energy flow is fractured, as if the formation''s decaying. This place is collapsing under its own weight."


    "Comforting," Su Xiaobai said, tossing the skeleton''s hand aside. "At least we''re not trapped in a perfectly functioning death pit. Now, how about finding a way out before the walls start dripping demon piss or something?"


    Zhu Qing didn''t dignify that with a response. Her fingers on the seal. It resisted her touch, humming faintly, like a stubborn door refusing to open.


    "No doors. No windows," she muttered, stepping back. "If this is meant to trap intruders, the only way out will likely require¡ª"


    "Death," Su Xiaobai interjected, grinning as he kicked the skeleton. Clank! ¡ª It clattered apart, scattering bones across the blood-slick floor. "These guys didn''t figure it out either, obviously. So what''s the plan? Stand here and die dramatically? I''m good at that, by the way."


    Zhu Qing''s brow twitched, but her gaze on him, sharp and calculating. "How did you survive that attack?"


    Su Xiaobai raised an eyebrow, his smile widening. "Why? Finally falling for me?"


    "Curious," she replied, her arms crossing over her chest. Her voice was calm, but her eyes bored into him, "You shielded the entire blast. I could have done it, but I wouldn''t be standing right now, let alone joking about skeletons."


    For a moment, Su Xiaobai said nothing. Then he smiled¡ªthe kind of grin that made people want to punch it off his face. "Let''s just say I''m built different. And tougher than I look."


    Zhu Qing''s eyes narrowed, cool but piercing, her scrutiny like a blade hovering over his neck.


    Su Xiaobai stretched casually, rolling his shoulders as if completely oblivious¡ªor maybe just immune¡ªto the pressure. "Relax, Peak Lord Zhu. If I can survive that, I can survive this. Worst case? We die together. Very romantic."


    Zhu Qing stared at him blankly, her expression exhausted.


    Not that Su Xiaobai cared. No way was he spilling the truth about his so-called "invincible body." Let them keep guessing. Let them overestimate him. The more they feared what he might be capable of, the less they''d dare to challenge him.


    As for surviving? He''d have done that anyway. He always did. Somehow. He''d died before¡ªor at least, he thought he had¡ªand come back to life in a different world, a different time. Not unscathed, of course, but alive.


    Weakness wasn''t Su Xiaobai''s style. It wasn''t part of the brand. So he plastered the grin back on, the sharp edge returning. "Anyway, if I die first, I''m coming back to haunt you. Naked. Every night. You''ll love it."


    Zhu Qing sighed, her fingers twitching as if debating whether strangling him would solve their current predicament¡ªor just make it more satisfying. "We''ll decide this later," she said coldly, her gaze flicking toward the dark void above. "For now, focus on staying alive


    "Fine, fine," Su Xiaobai said, rolling his eyes. "But let''s agree now: if either of us gets eaten by a skeleton army, the other one has to write something nice on the gravestone. Maybe ''Died Pretty'' for me. And for you¡­" He trailed off, smiling. "Let''s just say I''ll carve something fitting when the time comes."


    "Carve that a disciple choked an elder to death with his words," Zhu Qing muttered, smiling faintly.


    Her eyes darted around, scanning for the undead generals of the Blood Warlord. Those monstrosities could appear at any moment. And if they did? She already knew how that would end. Even at her full strength, a fight against them wasn''t survival¡ªit was stalling death.


    They continued their search for an escape.


    Well, Zhu Qing did.


    Su Xiaobai? He''d already figured out the secret to this little death trap.


    There was no exit.


    Yup, it was tailor-made to kill intruders. Physical strength? Sealed. Spiritual strength? Also sealed. Zhu Qing had tried using her immortal vessel''s natural power to leap out, only for the trap to slam her down with gravitational force so overwhelming it might as well have laughed at her effort.


    Now, he was just passing time. Maybe a solution would pop into his head. Or maybe he''d stumble across a tear in the void he could slip through. Nope. Not even a whisper of dimensional instability.


    Just the faint sound of dripping water.


    Slow. Rhythmic. Obnoxiously loud.


    For the first time, Su Xiaobai genuinely felt he might die here. Alone. With Zhu Qing. It had only been a few hours, but the suffocating silence made it feel like eternity.


    "Ugh! This filthy, disgusting palace!"


    Zhu Qing collapsed onto her back for the eleventh time, wincing as she cradled her bruised hand. Her attempts to jump out were taking their toll, and her patience had long since snapped.


    "Didn''t know you had it in you," Su Xiaobai said, chuckling as he leaned against his lonely skeleton companion. "I thought righteous sect types didn''t curse at all."


    "Ha-ha~ Not funny at all," Zhu Qing snapped, glaring at him as she wiped blood off her face and robes. "Mind doing something useful? Or should I ask Elder Bai to increase your punishment by a hundredfold when we get back?"


    "Bold of you to assume we''re making it back," Su Xiaobai quipped.


    Zhu Qing ignored him, her lips pressed into a thin line as she tried to clean herself. The cold air stuck to her like a second skin, carrying the metallic tang of blood that seemed to forever pool around them in patches¡ªnever drying, always splashing no matter where they stepped.


    She hated it. Every bit of it.

 Chapter 111 - 111: Escaping!

    Zhu Qing hated it. Every bit of it.


    Centuries of studying formations and she was still trapped here, helpless against a crude design like this.


    "Hey, hey," Su Xiaobai said, squinting at her. "Don''t wipe so hard. Your skin''s going to come off at this rate."


    "I hate blood!" Zhu Qing gritted her teeth, her movements becoming even harsher.


    Su Xiaobai raised an eyebrow, leaning casually against the wall. "Yeah, well, so does everyone. But you should be used to it by now, right? Pretty sure you''ve got a decent kill streak."


    "I do," Zhu Qing snapped, her glare shifting to the blood splattered across the floor as though it were her mortal enemy. "But I hate it splashing on me."


    Su Xiaobai tilted his head, curiosity glinting in his eyes. "That''s cute, but the splashing? Really? That''s¡­ oddly specific."


    She didn''t answer immediately. Her gaze darkened, the irritation in her expression curling into something deeper. Something bitter. "It''s when the bad things start."


    "Bad things?" Su Xiaobai asked, arching an eyebrow.


    Zhu Qing''s voice softened, barely above a mutter. "The formations let me fight from a distance. No mess. No blood. Not like that freak Bai Yujian." She paused, her hands tightening around the hem of her sleeve. "She carves people apart with her sword, drowning in the blood herself. I don''t¡­" She shook her head. "I don''t like it."


    "Ah," Su Xiaobai said, his tone half amused, half thoughtful. "So that''s why you didn''t take up the sword. Too much splatter."


    Zhu Qing glared at him.


    "What?" he said, hands raised defensively. "I''m not judging. Just didn''t expect Peak Lord Zhu to have a phobia of messy kills. Guess that explains why you''re not a walking tornado of limbs and blood."


    Zhu Qing, "..."


    Su Xiaobai chuckled softly, his eyes glinting with mock sympathy. "Well, good thing I''m here to brighten the mood. Otherwise, you''d be stuck with nothing but this lovely ambiance and your homicidal thoughts. Cheer up. At least the skeletons aren''t judging you."


    Zhu Qing sighed sharply, dragging her hand across her blood-smeared face. The sticky mess stuck to her fingers, smearing more than it cleaned. "I don''t know how you''re still joking in this disgusting pit," she muttered, glaring at the filth splattered across her robes.


    "Disgusting? Nah," Su Xiaobai said, grinning as he leaned back against the wall. "I think it''s cozy. Got blood, skeletons, and free ambiance. What''s not to love?"


    Zhu Qing''s patience snapped. Her sharp glare turned deadly, but before she could say anything, she pulled the celestial star fragment from her robes¡ªthe same one he''d shoved into her hands earlier.


    Fwoosh!


    The fragment burst to life, its blinding brilliance flooding the chamber and casting jagged shadows across the blood-slicked walls.


    "Hey¡ªcareful!" Su Xiaobai squinted, shielding his eyes. "You''re going to blind me!"


    Zhu Qing ignored him. Tap! Tap! Her footsteps clicked against the blood-splattered floor as she marched toward him, the fragment''s light illuminating her icy expression.


    She grabbed his collar, yanking him close until they were nearly nose-to-nose. The fragment''s heat pressed against his forehead, and her glare burned hotter than the light. "You want to brighten my mood?" she hissed. "Go ahead. Do it¡ªbefore I smash this thing over your head."


    Su Xiaobai froze, the usual smile slipping off his face for a fraction of a second. Then he coughed, feigning composure. "Careful. I''m fragile."


    "Humph!" Zhu Qing snorted, shoving him backward with enough force to send him stumbling. Thud!


    "Staring at my back isn''t going to get us out of here," she snapped, turning her back on him with a sharp flick of her sleeves.


    Su Xiaobai blinked, "Well, to be fair, you do have a distracting backside. Hard not to stare when it''s right there, covered in all that blood¡­" His eyes wandered lower, noting how each step sent those perfectly separated mounds bouncing, almost taunting him. Truly, a masterpiece.


    "You little¡ª" Zhu Qing whirled around, her eyes flashing with fury.


    Su Xiaobai raised his hands in mock surrender. "What? It''s a compliment!"


    "Quiet!" Zhu Qing snapped, hurling the glowing fragment at him.


    Whoosh¡ªThunk!


    He caught it mid-air, his eyes widening in disbelief. Quickly, he slipped the fragment into his spatial ring, cradling it protectively. How could she treat something so valuable like trash?


    For a brief moment, guilt flickered across his face. He had been staring¡ªnot entirely on purpose. Totally instinctual. Not his fault at all. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Clearing his throat, Su Xiaobai straightened and declared, "I have a plan."


    "!?" Zhu Qing spun around, stunned. Had she misheard? "What did you just say?"


    "I can get us out of here," Su Xiaobai repeated, his tone casual, almost smug. "But you''re not going to like it."


    "I don''t care! Just get us out already!" Zhu Qing''s irritation flared. "If you had a plan this whole time, why haven''t you used it yet?"


    "Well¡­" Su Xiaobai rubbed the back of his neck, his grin widening mischievously. "It involves blowing ourselves up."


    "Blowing ourselves up?" Zhu Qing froze, her thoughts stumbling. A soft chuckle slipped out, sharp with disbelief. "Have you¡­ cultivated the Dao of Idiocy?"


    "Yup." He nodded, completely unfazed. "It''s simple. I plant a big enough explosive under us, and we ride the blast straight up. Same way we came in, right? Down got us here, so up should get us out. Simple."


    Zhu Qing''s face dropped. For a moment, she didn''t know whether to laugh or cry. "You want us to detonate ourselves? Insane..!"


    "Only a little," Su Xiaobai replied with a shrug. "But it''ll work. Trust me."


    "Trust you?! That''s suicide!" Zhu Qing snapped, fists clenched as she glared at him. Trust this lunatic who thinks blowing himself up is a strategy? ''The heavens must be laughing at me!''


    "Not necessarily." Su Xiaobai''s grin widened, his voice lowering into a conspiratorial whisper. "I''ve got a few tricks up my sleeve. You''ve noticed, haven''t you? I always survive."


    Her eyes narrowed as realization dawned. This brat¡­ he''s hiding something. Some secret trick that keeps him alive, no matter what happens.


    Zhu Qing exhaled sharply, her gaze narrowing with skepticism. "...But we''d need a massive explosive for something like that to even work. And I don''t have one lying around."


    Everything in her spatial ring required spiritual energy to activate¡ªuseless in this suffocating trap.


    ?????


    Su Xiaobai''s lips curled into a slow, devilish grin. It was the kind of smile that promised chaos, and Zhu Qing, an experienced cultivator who''d seen too much already, felt a flicker of unease.


    "You have something, don''t you?" she said, her voice calm but edged with suspicion.


    _____


    Minutes later, Zhu Qing''s suspicions were confirmed as she stared at the massive barrel Su Xiaobai had pulled from his spatial ring. Her eyes flicked to the glowing red skull painted on its surface, its ominous hue practically screaming ''run.''


    "Is that what I think it is?"


    "Relax," Su Xiaobai said, sprawled across the barrel like it was the most comfortable chair in the world. "No spiritual energy required. Just a little spark, and this baby does the rest."


    Zhu Qing folded her arms, her tone dry. "That barrel is practically announcing danger, and you want to use it to blow us sky-high?"


    "Exactly." He patted the barrel fondly. "It''s genius, isn''t it?"


    Her gaze sharpened. "And where, exactly, did you get something like that?"


    Su Xiaobai grinned wider. "Ah, that''s a story. Back before I could cultivate, I had to get creative. The place I came from? Let''s just say they really know how to blow stuff up. I replicated it, improved it, and boom!" He gestured grandly at the barrel. "Smoke bombs, flashbangs, and these beauties. Enough firepower to turn a city into a memory."


    Zhu Qing snorted faintly, her lips twisting into a mocking grin. "A heretic before you could even cultivate. How in the nine heavens did you end up in the Xiantian Sect?"


    This man was a contradiction wrapped in chaos. A heretic in a righteous sect¡ªlike her, but somehow worse. And before he could cultivate? What kind of star-forsaken backwater had produced him?


    "Cough, cough," Su Xiaobai cleared his throat, his grin faltering for the briefest moment. "I''m righteous at heart, okay? Don''t slander me."


    "Righteous?" Zhu Qing raised an eyebrow, her tone dripping with disbelief. "And yet here you are, hugging a barrel of doom, ready to blow us sky-high. Should I start calling you Saint Su? Or Demolition Daoist?"


    "Well, technically¡­" Su Xiaobai scratched the back of his neck, laughing awkwardly. "Explosions are neutral. It''s how you use them that matters. Pure righteousness, if you think about it."


    She shook her head with an exasperated sigh. "I don''t care what you call it. Just don''t let Bai Yujian see these things."


    Her voice dipped slightly, carrying an edge of caution.


    "Bai Yujian?" Su Xiaobai tilted his head. "What''s the big deal? Sure, she''s got that intense sword-aura thing, but she can''t be that bad."


    Zhu Qing''s gaze darkened as her thoughts drifted. If only he knew.


    The Bai Yujian of today was restrained, focused on sect survival, her infamous reputation dulled over the last couple of centuries. But before that? Zhu Qing could still hear the blood-soaked whispers of the Dark Sparrow Sect''s purge, when Bai Yujian''s blade danced through their ranks like a vengeful storm.


    For centuries, she had been the nightmare of heretics and dissidents alike, her sword carving stories that parents used to frighten their children. Now, she mostly stayed in the sect, her worries tied to greater threats. But Su Xiaobai¡­ He didn''t know. He''d arrived centuries too late to see the full extent of her madness.


    And he was lucky for it. If he''d stumbled into the Xiantian Sect a few centuries earlier? He wouldn''t be standing here, grinning like a fool.


    "Sigh..." She muttered, shaking off the thought. "You''ll find out one day. If you live long enough."


    Without further words, she climbed onto Su Xiaobai''s back, pressing herself firmly against him. The position was¡­ intimate, but practicality overrode modesty in a place like this.


    Her hands brushed his shoulders as she adjusted, her body fitting snugly against his. ''Too much skin contact,'' she thought fleetingly, but it couldn''t be helped. The Blood Warlord''s minions were likely waiting above. Whatever madness waited, Su Xiaobai''s strange invincibility would be her best shield.


    "Once we''re out of here," she began, her voice steady and commanding, "stay close to me. If the undead generals show up¡ª"


    Shk!


    The sharp scrape of stones shattered the silence.


    Her eyes widened. "Wait¡ª!"


    BOOOOM!


    The explosion tore through the chamber like a wrathful beast, swallowing her words in a deafening roar.


    "Woo~! I''ve always wanted to do this! Hahaha!"


    Su Xiaobai''s gleeful cry rang out, his laugh echoing through the rising inferno like a blade.


    "Explosion Dao Sect, here I come!"


    Flames erupted in all directions, the air turning into a blistering furnace.


    Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!


    The heat licked at Zhu Qing''s exposed skin, searing even from behind him. She gritted her teeth, the sheer force of the blast throwing them upward with brutal momentum.


    This villain, Su Xiaobai¡­ was actually enjoying this!


    Ugh. What karmic debt did she owe to end up with him?


    BOOM!


    The explosion roared below, a final shockwave hurling them into the suffocating darkness. Rustle~~ Flames licked at her feet before an icy gust of air swept down her back.


    The chill wasn''t comforting¡ªit was the breath of death itself, vast and open, like they were being swallowed whole by its slobbering jaws.


    Zhu Qing''s instincts flared, her body tensing. The oppressive sensation wrapped around her like the spectral claws of something ancient and hungry.


    The undead generals¡­


    Her grip on Su Xiaobai tightened. Whatever awaited them above wasn''t welcoming them into freedom.

 Chapter 112 - 112: Two Great Rivers!

    The Hall of the Blood Warlord¡­


    Vast. Gloomy. Unholy.


    Pillars, thick as a dragon''s thigh, clawed toward a roof hidden in shadows. Their surfaces wept with carvings of¡ªheaps of bodies, rivers of blood, and twisted creatures kneeling before an unseen horror.


    The air was suffocating with the copper tang of spilled blood and something fouler... as if the Hall itself had been steeped in death for millennia.


    At the far end stood two colossal doors. Black. Silent. Shut.


    Massive and unyielding, they devoured the faint light around them. Bone and sinew coiled across their surface, forming omnious shapes¡ªwarriors kneeling, blades dripping crimson, and a faceless figure at the center... its void-like gaze promising death.


    Beneath the doors sat a fountain.


    Not of water.


    A thick, viscous red spilled from the mouths of screaming faces carved into the fountain''s edges. It pooled in a basin, bubbling faintly as if alive. Blood? Qi? Or maybe the remains of fools who had dared to knock on those doors.


    And to the right¡­


    A hole.


    A jagged, gaping wound in reality. It stretched endlessly, its edges rough and raw, as if the Hall itself had been ripped apart by a vengeful hand. From its depths, red mist coiled like restless vipers, hissing and writhing as if daring anyone to come closer.


    RUMBLE.


    The Hall quaked as the hole spat fire¡ªwild, hungry flames that surged forward like a predator let loose.


    Whoosh¡ªBOOM!


    A deafening roar split the Hall as the fire vomited out two figures, flinging them across the air like discarded trash.


    Su Xiaobai and Zhu Qing.


    WHOOSH!


    They shot through the flames, limbs flailing like drunks on their first flying sword ride.


    "Hold on!" Zhu Qing''s voice rang, sharp and commanding.


    She spotted the jagged edge of the stone floor and didn''t hesitate. Grabbing Su Xiaobai''s arm mid-air, she twisted their momentum sharply, redirecting their trajectory.


    CRASH!


    With a hard thud, they crashed near a towering pillar, rolling across the blood-slicked floor.


    Su Xiaobai groaned, sprawled out like a corpse, "Ugh¡­ Next time, can we not ride the mouth of hell? Or at least get a better landing strategy?"


    After rolling three and a half times¡ªyes, he counted¡ªhe finally sat up, shaking soot from his hair. His eyes scanned the Hall, and his expression soured.


    Scary walls? Check. Giant demon pillars? Check. Massive murder doors with a side of creepy fountain? Double check.


    "This," he muttered, wiping soot off his face, "is exactly where we should''ve landed. Not that shitty pit."


    Zhu Qing clutched her arm, wincing as she sat upright. Her robes were torn, streaked with ash, blood, and something that smelled suspiciously like regret. "From now on, you''re banned from making plans!"


    Su Xiaobai glanced at her, raising an eyebrow. Sure, she looked pissed, but her passive healing was already at work, and her reinforced robes had done their job.


    Still, her tone screamed murder.


    "Hey," he said, shrugging lazily. "Not my fault my creative plans always work... eventually."


    She shot him a glare that could''ve peeled paint off a sword. "Eventually, I''m going to stab you."


    Su Xiaobai grinned, lying back against the pillar. "Make sure you aim for the good parts. Wouldn''t want you ruining the goods."


    Zhu Qing straightened, her expression darkening as she started walking toward him with deliberate steps.


    "Fuck¡­" Su Xiaobai''s grin faltered. Why was this woman so vengeful? A heart of a demon, no doubt.


    For a moment, a fleeting thought crossed his mind. Should I off her? Permanently? Now would be the perfect time¡­


    But before his imagination got too creative, Zhu Qing walked right past him without so much as a glance, heading toward the massive doors at the far end of the Hall.


    "Uh¡­ I think we should be looking for an exit," Su Xiaobai called after her, confused.


    Zhu Qing didn''t even bother to respond, her focus entirely on the doors. The faster they got out, the better. "There are no exits in the palace," she said flatly. "Anyone who enters can only leave with the Blood Warlord''s permission. But since he''s dead¡­"


    Su Xiaobai''s stomach sank. "We''re stuck," he muttered. That explained why those pirates hadn''t dared to touch this place, no matter how many treasures it promised. What good was treasure if you couldn''t leave with it?


    Zhu Qing, "We need to find the Blood Warlord''s throne. If there''s anything that can release us, it''ll be there."


    She planted her feet and pressed her hands against the massive doors, putting all her strength into pushing them open. The stone groaned but didn''t budge. "Argh..." Zhu Qing grit her teeth, her arms trembling slightly, but it was no use.


    "How strong was this Warlord, exactly?" Su Xiaobai asked, his eyes darting around the Hall. The sheer size of the place was enough to make his skin crawl.


    Zhu Qing stepped back, her expression grim. "During his final battle, his strength reached the Human Immortal Realm."


    "..."


    Su Xiaobai''s face darkened. "The Human Immortal Realm? And you didn''t even think twice before dropping me into this godforsaken wasteland...?"


    For a moment, he genuinely wondered if this woman was secretly trying to murder him.


    Why does everyone want to kill him? Xiao Hei, that brat, had tried it. Twice. Now her? Was it his face? His charm? His undeniable talent?


    Zhu Qing turned to him, a faint, knowing smile tugging at her lips. "What''s wrong, Little Villain? Feeling scared now?"


    Scared? She didn''t think this man could even comprehend the meaning of fear.


    "Humph." Su Xiaobai restrained a chuckle, brushing off her words like dust on his robes. "What''s there to fear? Strong or weak, everyone dies in the end. Even the heavens can''t protect you from that."


    (?????????), Zhu Qing frowned, confused by his sudden confidence, but turned her attention back to the door. The veins running across its surface pulsed faintly, feeding into patterns she couldn''t decipher.


    Nearby, the fountain''s crimson flow shimmered ominously.


    "The Blood Warlord didn''t design this place for fools," she muttered, running her hand along the cold stone walls. "Even warriors bearing his token had to pass through here. To open this door, they would''ve needed¡­ something. A ritual. A mastery of blood qi."


    She glanced at the fountain, then at the veins on the door, her mind working for a solution.


    ____


    Su Xiaobai crossed his arms, leaning lazily against the blood-soaked door. He watched Zhu Qing fumble with the mechanisms like a blindfolded fool searching for a needle in a swamp.


    Sharp? Sure. Experienced? Maybe. But she didn''t truly understand this place. Not its veins. Not its pulse.


    She didn''t know the Dao.


    Not like he did.


    The Dao... It wasn''t something you learned, or something you held. It was everything. Vast. Infinite. So immense it pressed against the world like an iron weight, shaping life, death, and the chaotic mess in between. It wasn''t kind. It wasn''t cruel. It didn''t care.


    The Dao was the shadow every warrior chased¡ªand the trap every fool fell into. It was said to split into ''two great rivers'': the Dao of Righteousness and the Dao of Evil.


    The righteous believed in the heavens, in karma and justice. They thought the Dao was a holy flame, meant to burn away chaos and forge the world anew. Their path was sharp and clean, like a sword cutting through lies. They liked words like ''honor'' and ''balance''. But in the end? Their swords broke, just like everyone else''s.


    The heretics saw things differently.


    They called the Dao a mirror, reflecting heaven''s true nature: cold, indifferent, uncaring. They believed heaven didn''t mourn the dead or praise the righteous. The only truth was power¡ªtaking it, keeping it, drowning the weak in it. They weren''t wrong. But they weren''t right either.


    These weren''t philosophies. They were roads. Roads carved from broken bodies, paved with rivers of blood.


    Zhu Qing''s former path, the Devil''s Path, was one of those roads.


    It was tied to the law of slaughter, the most famous law in the lower realms. Killing to survive, surviving to kill. Simple. Brutal. And disgustingly popular among heretics too foolish or desperate to grasp the bigger picture. It worked because it was easy. Slaughter didn''t need enlightenment¡ªit just needed a sword.


    And the righteous hated it for that simplicity.


    But the Blood Warlord? His road wasn''t simple. It wasn''t clean.


    The Path of Life. At first glance, it sounded noble¡ªhealing, restoring, preserving life. But no one talked about the screams that came with it. His mastery of blood law wasn''t a gift; it was domination. Control. His will could heal an army with a whisper¡ªor reduce it to crimson mist with a single thought.


    The Blood Warlord didn''t walk the Path of Life. He made others crawl along it while he stood above, holding their veins hostage.


    And yet, there were darker paths still.


    The Abyssal Path, tied to destruction, where annihilation wasn''t just a method¡ªit was an obsession.


    The Path of Corruption, where souls and bodies were twisted into puppets, toys for the strong.


    And the Path of Sin¡­ S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ah, the Path of Sin. The forgotten road. The erased road.


    It wasn''t just feared¡ªit was gone. Removed from memory, as if the heavens had reached down and said, "this is where we draw the line". No one practiced it anymore, and those who dared¡­ They didn''t just fail.


    They didn''t just die. They fell apart, body and soul, as though heaven itself had decided their existence was an insult.


    But all of these paths, no matter how vile or virtuous, were drops in the same ocean. Each law¡ªwhether slaughter, blood, or destruction¡ªwas a sliver of the Dao''s vastness. To master one was to inch closer to understanding the ultimate truth: the heavenly Dao.


    And the heavenly Dao?


    It didn''t give a damn about righteousness or evil. It didn''t care about saints or sinners, heroes or monsters.


    In the lower realms, the divide between righteousness and heresy ruled everything¡ªsects bled for it, clans died for it.


    But that was the ignorance of mortals clawing at shadows.


    To ascend beyond the Great Ascension Realm, to step into the realm of true Human Immortals, meant breaking through that divide.


    The Blood Warlord had done it¡ªhe hadn''t just grasped power; he''d begun touching the strings of the bigger picture.


    The heavenly Dao.


    It didn''t care if you walked, crawled, or dragged yourself through the muck. It didn''t care how much blood you spilled or how much virtue you clung to.


    All that mattered was how far you were willing to go¡ªand whether your legs would break before you reached the end.


    ____


    Zhu Qing stood before the door, her gaze conflicted as she inspected the veins. "This place is steeped in the Blood Warlord''s path. The law of blood and life..."


    Su Xiaobai leaned against the door, his fingers tracing the veins. He could feel it. Faint but undeniable. The flow of blood qi, pulsing faintly beneath his touch.


    "Blood," he murmured.


    Zhu Qing turned to him, frowning. "What?"


    "This door¡­ It''s alive," Su Xiaobai said, motioning toward the fountain. "If we want it open, we need to feed it. Blood is the key."


    Zhu Qing crossed her arms, her gaze skeptical. "And how, exactly, do you know that?"


    Su Xiaobai shrugged lazily, a grin tugging at his lips. "Lucky guess."


    "..."

 Chapter 113 - 113: Predatory Elder Zhu!

    "Lucky guess."


    "¡­"


    Zhu Qing rolled her eyes. A slow curl of her lips. Sharp. Mocking.


    This brat¡­ Su Xiaobai didn''t even know how to properly refine Qi, yet here he stood, acting like the heavens owed him a favor. Amusing? Sure. Useful? Rarely. To think he might one day surpass her? Bitter. Laughable. Infuriating.


    "Let''s hope your guess doesn''t get us both killed," she muttered, dipping her hand into the fountain.


    Splash~! The blood was thick. Warm. Sticky. It stuck to her fingers, refusing to let go... Sliding between them like a drunken lover, insistent and messy.


    Her lips twisted in disgust.


    She smeared the blood onto the door''s veins¡ªcarved ridges that snaked across black stone, coiled and intricate like something alive.


    "Come on¡­" she breathed, voice dropping. Her palm moved, slow and deliberate. A tease. A coax. "Open up for me."


    Nothing.


    The veins stayed cold. Dark.


    Her brow twitched. Her smile thinned. She pressed harder, dragging her hand with all the care of a courtesan working a stubborn patron. Still, the veins refused her.


    "Not even a twitch?" she muttered. Irritation flared. She dragged her hand across again¡­ harder this time. Nothing.


    Again.


    And again.


    The veins pulsed faintly¡ªonly to spit the blood back. A quiet rejection.


    Behind her, Su Xiaobai leaned against the wall. Silent. Watching. His eyes darted between her, the door, and the fountain. The quiet stretched... unbearable.


    Zhu Qing clenched her jaw.


    "Problem?" Su Xiaobai''s voice broke the silence, smooth and low. His smile curled, sharp as a knife.


    She flicked her hand, blood splattering the ground. "Problem is this thing has no taste," she snapped. "I''ve tried everything short of selling my soul, and it still won''t open."


    Su Xiaobai straightened, stepping closer. His gaze lingered on the door¡­ the veins¡­ the endless fountain spewing crimson.


    Then he grinned.


    Slash.


    The sound of blade slicing flesh was soft¡­ clean. Blood welled on his fingertip, dripping onto the metallic veins.


    Zhu Qing crossed her arms. Smiling. "You do realize I already tried this, right? The door doesn''t like handouts."


    WHOOSH!


    The veins shuddered.


    A deep, pulsing red spread through the ridges, glowing like molten fire. The grooves came alive, twisting and writhing like snakes tasting fresh meat.


    The air trembled.


    The door groaned. Ancient gears shifted, grinding against time itself.


    Zhu Qing blinked. The faintest flicker of surprise cracked through her mask.


    Su Xiaobai turned. That smug grin. He didn''t need words¡ªhis face said it all: See that? Who''s lucky now?


    "¡­Huh." Zhu Qing stepped forward, studying the glowing veins. Her eyes narrowed. "Curious. It seems the door prefers... unpolished offerings." Her smile returned. Slow. Wicked. Sharp.


    "Unpolished?" Su Xiaobai leaned lazily against the door, "If you''re calling that ''standards,'' then we''ve got a bigger problem than I thought."


    The smile on Zhu Qing''s face slipped. "It''s still not fully open, though."


    Su Xiaobai shrugged, his bloodied finger tracing a glowing ridge. "These doors don''t open for just anyone. Blood''s just the handshake¡­ the door won''t embrace you unless you''re worth it."


    He nodded at the fountain. Its endless cascade of blood shinning in the dark, "That thing? A cheap distraction. If its blood worked, this place would already be crawling with idiots. Doors like this? They want something real. Something... alive."


    Zhu Qing''s gaze sharpened, glinting with danger. "Alive, huh?"


    "¡­"


    She studied him in silence, her brow arching slightly. This man¡­ His ability to treat death like a punchline should have annoyed her. And yet... it didn''t. It intrigued her.


    The sigh escaped before she could stop it. Tossing him off the ship should have humbled him, driven some sense into that smug skull of his.


    Clearly, it hadn''t.


    Now, thanks to his antics, they were staring down a door that fed on blood as greedily as a demon feeds on fear.


    She glanced at the veins, throbbing greedily. Even if they both bled themselves dry, she doubted it would be enough. The door didn''t just take. It demanded.


    Tip¡­ Tip¡­


    The sound dragged her attention back.


    Her eyes narrowed.


    This idiot... Su Xiaobai, had pulled out a folding chair (why in the hells did he even own one?) and sat himself down. His wrist hung lazily over the veins, slit open, blood dripping freely onto the glowing ridges.


    "Su Xiaobai," Zhu Qing said coolly, stepping closer. "Have you lost what little sense you had?"


    "No," he replied flatly, his eyes fixed on the door.


    "Fool." Her fingers closed around his arm, her grip like steel. Snap. She yanked it aside, her voice low and sharp. "Do you think you''re immortal, or are you just tired of living?"


    "??" Su Xiaobai blinked at her, startled. Then his lips curled into a smile. "Peak Lord Zhu, I didn''t know you cared. Or are you just feeling guilty for tossing me off that ship?"


    Zhu Qing''s eyes narrowed, her grip tightening briefly before letting him go. Her voice was soft, but every word carried weight. "If I wanted you dead, I wouldn''t have wasted time teaching you a lesson."


    "Lesson not learned, then." Su Xiaobai rubbed his arm, "Now, if you don''t mind, I do have a plan. And yes, I can grow back limbs¡ªand blood."


    Zhu Qing''s gaze flicked to his wrist. The wound was already closing, the skin knitting itself back together as if mocking her. Then, without hesitation, he slashed it open again.


    Splash!


    Blood flowed, pooling in the grooves like wine poured for a thirsty guest.


    Her expression didn''t waver, but her eyes... There was something oddly satisfying about watching his body defy logic.


    Crude. Slow. But effective.


    She tilted her head, her lips curving faintly. "Your body really is like an unkillable pest."


    Su Xiaobai snorted, leaning back in his chair with lazy arrogance. "Pest? You wound me. Cockroach, maybe. But pests don''t survive this long."


    Her smile sharpened. "Survival isn''t proof of worth, Little Villain. Even weeds thrive in ruins."


    His laugh was soft, almost genuine. "And yet, I''m the one doing the work. You''re welcome."


    "Work?" Zhu Qing''s gaze flicked to the glowing veins, now brighter than before, then back to him. "Bleeding yourself out like livestock isn''t work. It''s desperation." Her tone was calm, detached. "But by all means, carry on. I''ll intervene when you start looking pale."


    Su Xiaobai gave her a flat look. "Appreciate the concern."


    "Concern?" Zhu Qing chuckled, low and smooth. "Hardly. If you keel over, I''ll just toss your body at the door and see if it takes the rest of you."


    Su Xiaobai, "..."


    He stared at her, deadpan. Zhu Qing met his gaze, her face perfectly composed... until it cracked.


    Laughter spilled from her lips¡ªrich, soft, and entirely unguarded.


    "Enough."


    Her laughter faded, sharpening like a blade. Her eyes rested on him. Calm. Searching. A flicker of curiosity burned beneath her iron mask.


    "These little abilities of yours¡­ Who else knows?"


    "¡­"


    Su Xiaobai stared at her blankly, then sighed. "Do I look like an idiot who''d go around flaunting my abilities?"


    "Mm..." Zhu Qing almost nodded. She wanted to.


    This man¡­ Beneath the cocky smirk and casual charm, there was something else. Something sharper. Something dangerous.


    The way he sat there, so at ease, so unbothered, only made her more uneasy. He didn''t just hide his cards¡­ He buried them deep, under layers of wit and arrogance.


    And now, there was this.


    First, that strange skill. The one where nothing¡ªnothing¡ªcould harm him. Invincible Body, he called it. A joke of a name¡­ but it wasn''t funny.


    Now, his healing.


    The wound on his wrist was already gone. Clean. Smooth. Perfect. She''d seen lesser cultivators crawl to their graves with injuries half as severe. Yet here he was. Cutting himself open again, blood spilling like wine, and smiling through it all.


    Her eyes narrowed.


    Tip¡­ Tip¡­


    The blood fell, feeding the veins. The grooves glowed brighter, throbbing with life.


    Zhu Qing''s fingers twitched. She almost warned him. Almost told him to stop showing off, to stop flashing these abilities like a brothel sign on a stormy night. But no¡­ That wasn''t necessary.


    This bastard¡­ He was hiding his hand better than a thief.


    Su Xiaobai''s smile didn''t waver. But inside, he felt anything but confident.


    These abilities¡­ He''d always had them. Gifts from his Demonic bloodline. Gifts no one respected. Invincible Body? Trash. It barely lasted a breath. Immortal Vitality Dormant.


    But now¡­


    His Qi had changed everything. The Invincible Body shielded him longer. The Immortal Vitality burned brighter. And the third¡­ The one he hadn''t revealed yet.


    Infernal Flames.


    Hotter than hell. Deadlier than poison. Even Zhu Qing and Bai Yujian didn''t know about it. And he planned to keep it that way.


    Zhu Qing''s eyes on him. For a moment, she considered speaking. A warning? A lesson?


    No.


    There was no need. This cockroach was careful. Too careful. He wasn''t about to show off for free.


    Her lips curled into a faint smile. Sharp. Cruel. "Hide it well, Little Villain¡­ The wolves will come when they catch the scent of blood."


    Su Xiaobai''s face darkened. "And what about the wolf in front of me¡­?" sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Her shadow drew closer. Closer. Her face leaned in, smiling. Disarming. Yet there was no romance in her gaze. No warmth.


    "This wolf just needs a little of your¡­"


    Su Xiaobai, "¡­"


    Every nerve in his body screamed at him to run. Flee. Escape.


    Something was wrong. Very wrong.


    ____


    A few minutes later, Su Xiaobai found out exactly how wrong.


    ''Thirsty bitch!''


    The first sensation was a tingling.


    Strange. Wrong.


    Her lips pressed against his skin, soft and warm, but the way her tongue moved...


    Slurp... Slurp...


    Slithering. Twisting. Wet. Like a snake curling around its prey.


    Molested. That was the word. It was as if she was violating him.


    Hot. Wet. Slurping sounds filled the air. Each one a sharp, sticky sound against his discomfort.


    "Don''t complain," Zhu Qing murmured, her voice a sultry hum against his skin. "Once I regain my strength, I could break these doors like matchsticks."


    Su Xiaobai chuckled dryly, though it felt more like a gasp. "And what technique for regaining strength involves sucking me dry?"

 Chapter 114 - 114: Blood Transfusion!

    "And what technique for regaining strength involves sucking me dry?"


    Zhu Qing didn''t answer.


    She simply grabbed his chair, yanked it closer, and dropped herself onto his lap like she owned him.


    "Hiss~!"


    Su Xiaobai stiffened. Something stirred within him, sharp and primal. Definitely not comfortable.


    Zhu Qing, utterly shameless, seized his arm with the grip of a predator. Cold. Firm.


    Then her lips pressed against his skin.


    Warm. Wet. Wrong.


    Slurp...


    Her tongue slithered, curling and flicking, tracing circles that were far too deliberate. The obscene, wet sounds of sucking¡ªsticky, slurpy, loud enough to haunt his dreams.


    The sensation shot up his spine, molten, like he was being violated.


    "¡­"


    Su Xiaobai stared at her, his mind caught between horror and¡­ something else he''d rather not name.


    ____


    The truth, of course, wasn''t what it seemed.


    Zhu Qing was cursed. A Blood Curse, coiled in her veins like a venomous snake, suffocating her Qi, blocking her dantian. Bai Yujian''s handiwork.


    The solution? Drain her cursed blood and replace it with something pure. Something alive.


    Unfortunately for Su Xiaobai, his potent blood was the perfect antidote.


    Her wrist flicked. Splash! Black blood, thick and clotted, spilled onto the floor like sludge. Without hesitation, she latched onto his arm again, her mouth moving with an unsettling hunger.


    His blood flooded her veins, warm and electric. Her body didn''t just accept it¡ªit devoured it.


    When she pulled back, her lips were stained crimson, her tongue flicking out to savor the taste. Her smile was slow. Sharp. Shameless.


    "Don''t mind me," she murmured sweetly. "Your blood''s surprisingly¡­ delicious."


    Su Xiaobai blinked. "So, you''re just draining me dry because it''s convenient?"


    "Convenient?" Zhu Qing tilted her head, smiling like the devil. "Hardly. If I wanted to be efficient, I''d drink straight from the source."


    He froze.


    "¡­"


    Then deadpan: "Source? You mean¡­"


    Her gaze flicked downward, playful and pointed.


    Su Xiaobai''s face darkened¡ªnot at her words, but her gaze. It wasn''t on his face. Sitting on him, her weight felt like a mountain pressing him down. Her strength wasn''t just physical; it dwarfed his. Even without Qi, if they fought¡­ he wasn''t sure he''d win.


    She laughed, rich and indulgent, like she was enjoying a private joke. "Relax, Little Villain. I don''t bite¡­ hard."


    He glared at her, deadpan.


    She ignored him completely, slicing her wrist again. SPLASH! More blackened blood oozed out, pooling at her feet in thick, clotted streams as his life essence replaced it.


    The ritual was slow. Precise. Far too intimate.


    "You know," Su Xiaobai muttered, trying to reclaim some dignity, "for someone so proud, you''re surprisingly shameless."


    Zhu Qing chuckled, her tone dripping with amusement. "Pride doesn''t save lives."


    ____


    Su Xiaobai wanted to shove her off. Wanted to demand answers.


    But his eyes flicked to her aura, steadily rising like a phoenix clawing its way from the ashes. Her cursed blood drained away, replaced by his vitality.


    It wasn''t concern. Definitely not.


    It was strategy.


    She owed him now.


    "Fine," he said grudgingly. "But I''m keeping track. You''ll owe me interest."


    Her lips curled into a wicked grin. "Oh? Careful. I might charge you for the privilege."


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes narrowed. This woman was enjoying this far too much.


    Fine. Two could play this game.


    "Humph¡­" He leaned back, smirking. "Then raise the charge and suck it directly from my mouth."


    Zhu Qing''s laughter spilled out, bright and unbothered. "From your mouth? Bold. But you''d need to cut your tongue first."


    Splash!


    Her words barely landed before Su Xiaobai moved. Quick as a snake, he leaned forward, brow arched, his grin smug and triumphant.


    Got you.


    "¡­"


    Zhu Qing''s face twitched. Her little act crumbled like a broken kite. Arrogant? Not anymore. If she was shameless, this bastard was the goddamn emperor of it.


    "Huh!?"


    Or so Su Xiaobai thought.


    Have you heard of a wolf above a wolf? Well, there was always an elder above a disciple.


    Her slender hands slammed onto his shoulders.


    Thud!


    The little ''innocent'' chair beneath him gave up on life, collapsing to the ground. Before Su Xiaobai could react, her weight bore down on him, pressing him into the cold, unfeeling stone like a bitch in heat.


    Her flawless face above his, wild and dangerous. Too close. He could see the subtle green hue in her eyes.


    Then her lips met his.


    He didn''t have time to process.


    She didn''t just kiss him¡ªshe fucked him with her tongue.


    Her lips crushed his, hot and hungry. Her tongue invaded his mouth, curling and stroking his like it had every right to be there. Wet. Insistent. She sucked blood straight from his tongue, each pull deep and deliberate, as if milking him dry.


    Their tongues clashed like swords in an ancient duel, wet noises echoing obscenely in the shadows. Her taste hit him¡ªdark lilies and danger, laced with the metallic tang of his own blood.


    His body reacted before his brain could stop it. A heat coiled low in his stomach, traitorous and lustful.


    ''Damn this bastard...''


    Zhu Qing felt his lower body stiffen beneath her, the faint hitch in his breath, the dilated pupils. That look.


    Her lips twitched. She wanted to bite him, to smash that smug expression into the ground. But no.


    The work wasn''t done yet.


    Her cheeks burned faintly, but she ignored it. This wasn''t about him¡ªit was about survival.


    "Haah...!" She broke the kiss, her tongue flicking over her lips to savor the blood she''d stolen. Then, with zero hesitation, she dove back in.


    Slurp!


    This time, it was rougher. Her teeth grazed his lips, her tongue plunged deeper, claiming every corner of his mouth as if she wanted to scrape the essence right out of him.


    Her hips pressed hard against him, pinning him further as her body greedily drank in his vitality.


    ____


    For Su Xiaobai, it was chaos.


    The heat coursing through him was unbearable, his blood boiling as her lips claimed him. Her weight, her scent, the way her tongue invaded him¡ªit was too much.


    Worse, his body betrayed him. Heat coiled low in his stomach, pooling like molten iron. A traitorous, primal response that only fanned the flames of his frustration.


    And yet¡­ he couldn''t stop.


    "Fucking hell¡­" he muttered against her lips, his voice hoarse.


    "Mmmghhh!?"


    Zhu Qing blinked, confused for a moment¡ªuntil his hand gripped the back of her head, fingers tangled in her hair. He yanked her closer, pressing her hard against him. Before she could react, his burning tongue dove into her mouth, sweeping deep and forceful.


    ''This bastard¡ª!''


    Her eyes widened, her face flushing crimson. Did this bastard think he could dominate her?


    His other hand slid down her body, shamelessly gripping her thigh. Soft. Warm. Spongy under his fingers, like nothing he''d ever held before.


    Snap! S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Zhu Qing slapped his hand away, her eyes blazing. Her lips parted, glistening red from their clash, but her glare burned like fire.


    This man¡­ Did he think she was his to claim?


    Her lips, sweet as forbidden fruit, her mouth even sweeter¡ªthose were privileges no man had dared take. Yet here he was, greedy enough to push further.


    What an audacious rat.


    She wanted to deal with him. Smash him into the ground, humiliate him until he crawled.


    But not yet.


    For now, she just needed to finish what she''d started.


    Her lips crashed back onto his with renewed intensity, her tongue sweeping to reclaim dominance. Blood flowed between them, her cursed veins greedily absorbing his vitality.


    They didn''t even notice when the glow began.


    Zhu Qing''s body surged with power, her strength returning like a tide. And yet, it wasn''t just her. A faint light enveloped them both, threads of energy binding them together like strings on a puppeteer''s stage.


    Something was changing. Something neither of them could control.


    But Zhu Qing didn''t stop. She couldn''t.


    For now, she would take what she needed. Later, she''d crush this bastard for daring to want more.


    _____


    Above the Grand Hall of the Warlord''s Palace, high in the sky¡ª


    "What¡ª?"

 Chapter 115 - 115: Fairy in a Wasteland!

    Above the Grand Hall of the Warlord''s Palace, high in the sky¡ª


    "What¡ª?"


    Bai Yujian''s serene facade cracked, her lips twitching. She had been seated on the jade deck, all grace and control, as she picked at Su Xiaomei like a vulture circling a carcass.


    "How long has your brother been here?"


    "Does he talk about¡­ what he''s left behind?"


    A pause. Then, softer:


    "¡­Or who?"


    Su Xiaomei''s lips tightened. Her answers were clipped, polite. Just sharp enough to warn.


    "I don''t know." S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "No."


    "Should he?"


    Her tone was polite. Polished. But the edge cut deep. She wasn''t about to hand her brother over on a silver platter. Especially not to this¡­ whatever Bai Yujian was pretending to be.


    Bai Yujian''s smile lingered, soft and syrupy. Like poison honey. Or a cat deciding if it wanted to bat at its prey or swallow it whole.


    Su Xiaomei didn''t blink. She wasn''t prey. Not today.


    BOOM!


    Abruptly ¡ª the airship jolted, the sky cracking like thunder in the heavens.


    Bai Yujian''s tea rippled. Stilled. Her expression soured like she''d just bitten into a rotten peach.


    The connection to Zhu Qing. Snapped.


    What... just happened?


    "¡­"


    She rose, smooth and deliberate. The air chilled. Her robes settled like falling snow¡ªsoft, silent, but heavy enough to crush bones.


    "Stay here," she said, her voice cold and lazy. Like she wasn''t giving an order but stating a fact of nature. "Don''t leave the ship."


    No glance back. No room for argument.


    Su Xiaomei arched an eyebrow as Bai Yujian stepped off the deck.


    She didn''t fall. She floated. Drifted down like a feather¡­ or like a goddess descending to smite a mortal or two.


    Su Xiaomei exhaled. Long. Slow.


    "¡­Stay here?" she muttered. "Where does she think I''m going? The nearest exit is death-by-falling, and I''m not interested."


    Her gaze wandered. Half out of habit. Half out of curiosity.


    The teacup wobbled. Tipped.


    The tea spilled¡ªexcept it didn''t.


    The liquid froze mid-air. Droplets hung, glimmering like the ship was scattering golden pearls into the sunlight.


    Her breath hitched.


    The droplets¡­ reversed. Slowly. Lazily. They curled back into the cup, sliding as though time itself had decided it was her servant for the day.


    Her chest tightened.


    It happened too fast, but she saw it. Her reflection. Her eyes gleaming¡ªsilver. Like cold fire, there and gone.


    "¡­Did I just¡ª?"


    The teacup wobbled again.


    This time, it fell.


    Crash!


    Shards scattered across the deck, tea splattering into a pathetic, lifeless puddle.


    Su Xiaomei stared at the mess, her hands curling into fists. Her lips stayed neutral. Her mind didn''t.


    What the actual hell was that?


    Something was changing inside her. Slipping loose. Twisting. She didn''t know what it was¡ªor how to stop it.


    Was that¡­ time? Did I freeze it? Reverse it? Both?


    Her pulse thundered in her ears. The jade beneath her feet felt colder now.


    She straightened, dragging air into her lungs. The truth was unavoidable.


    Whatever just happened¡­ wasn''t an accident.


    And it was only getting worse.


    _____


    On the ground, near the Warlord''s Palace¡ª!


    The battlefield was a bloodbath.


    Steel clashed. Bones snapped. Blood soaked the red sands, painting the earth like it was bleeding. Pirates from the Chi Xie Wasteland tore into desperate cultivators, while wraith soldiers hovered at the edges like spectators to a barbaric show.


    It wasn''t just pirates.


    Treasure hunters flooded in, drawn by rumors of fortune. One by one, cultivators arrived¡ªsome from the wasteland itself, others from far-off lands. They came seeking riches and left as corpses, dragged into the battlefield like moths into a flame.


    The dam holding the wasteland''s fragile peace had shattered. What spilled out wasn''t just violence¡ªit was madness.


    Even the wraith soldiers seemed hesitant to join.


    As though they were thinking: Animals. Worse than us. And they call us monsters?


    The slaughter dragged on, raw and animalistic.


    Until¡ª


    FWOOOOOSH!


    The sky lit up.


    Blinding light swallowed the wasteland, so brilliant it made the blood-streaked dawn look dull. Shadows vanished, the crimson sands glowing gold. Warriors froze mid-swing, shielding their eyes as confusion rippled through the battlefield.


    "What¡­ is that?"


    For the first time, silence blanketed the carnage. Even the dying stopped screaming, their gazes snapping to the heavens.


    The wasteland sky was always black and red. Dark and cruel.


    From when did it start birthing suns?


    Zhao Feng, elder of the Blazing Sun Sect, froze. Blood dripped from his shoulders, but he didn''t notice. His heart thundered as he squinted at the heavens.


    Beside him, Lei Shoushan, a black-clad warrior with a royal sneer, spat into the dirt.


    "Did¡­ did the Ancestor arrive?" Zhao Feng whispered, trembling. Awe filled his expression. "Have my deeds¡­ truly moved the heavens?"


    Heaven itself must have noticed him! Surely the Ancestor of the Blazing Sun Sect had descended, touched by his righteousness!


    Lei Shoushan barked a laugh. "You?" He sneered. "Heaven doesn''t even know you exist."


    "..." Zhao Feng shot him a glare but held back. No need to sully his divine image before a deity.


    The light didn''t fade, but confusion replaced awe.


    From the heavens, a lone figure descended.


    A woman.


    White robes fluttered as she drifted down, her feet touching the air with the grace of a falling petal. Her sharp eyes swept over the battlefield, drinking in the blood and red sand. Her expression remained cold. Detached.


    A predator sizing up its prey.


    Her gaze shifted to the Warlord''s Palace, distant but clear. Zhu Qing''s energy, faint, flickering like a dying flame. Her Blood Curse¡ªgone.


    And Su Xiaobai? Vanished.


    Bai Yujian''s lips pressed into a thin line.


    Ants.


    Her eyes flicked back to the battlefield. The cultivators. The pirates. The endless carnage.


    What are they fighting for?


    "Explain yourselves¡­ Pirates of the Chi Xie Wasteland."


    It wasn''t loud.


    It didn''t need to be.


    The words rolled through the silence like thunder, soft but heavy, rippling like a blade slicing through water.


    Zhao Feng''s face froze. He blinked, smoothing his robes with stiff hands, feigning nonchalance.


    "Not my problem¡­" he muttered. His voice was tight. Too tight. He wasn''t a pirate. Whatever punishment was coming? Not his problem.


    He wasn''t stupid, though. If this had been his ancestor, maybe things would be different. Unfortunately, it wasn''t.


    Some other cultivators, outsiders from beyond the wasteland, edged closer to him, their smug expressions a shield of false confidence. They were content to watch, certain it wasn''t their mess to clean up.


    But the pirates?


    The pirates laughed.


    "Explain myself?" one of them sneered, dragging a blade across his toungue to clean off the blood. "This is Chi Xie, fairy. We fight. We drink. We fuck. We kill. You want a problem with that?"


    Another pirate barked a laugh, his teeth yellow and sharp. "Go home, princess! This ain''t some dainty tea party!"


    Bai Yujian''s eyes narrowed. Her lips curved slightly, her smile sharp enough to draw blood.


    "Is that so¡­?"

 Chapter 116 - 116: Complete Obliteration!

    Bai Yujian''s eyes narrowed to slits sharper than her blade. Her lips curved into a smile so wicked it could peel the skin off a demon''s face.


    "Oh? Is that so¡­?"


    ZIIIIIIINGGGG!


    The heavens didn''t wait for anyone''s opinion.


    The sky tore apart like cheap paper under a cleaver, light exploding from the gash like the universe had a grudge. And then it appeared.


    Not a sword.


    A goddamn monstrosity.


    The blade stretched so far it might as well have been a second horizon, its edge gleaming with enough malice to split reality in half. Mountains? Meh. They''d be kindling. Warlord''s palace? Just a crumb in its shadow.


    The battlefield reflected faintly in its surface, like it didn''t even care about the ants beneath it.


    Zhao Feng''s knees buckled, rattling like an old man''s dentures in a hurricane.


    "Holy¡­ sun¡­" His voice cracked like a chicken finding out it was dinner.


    Above that colossal slab of death, tens of thousands of swords popped into existence, shining like celestial fireflies with a bad attitude. Zing~ Zing~ They buzzed like angry hornets, each blade singing its intent to ruin someone''s day.


    Each one was six feet tall. The perfect size for digging six-foot-deep graves.


    The pirates froze faster than dumplings in the freezer.


    One scrawny bastard with a face paler than tofu coughed, trying to laugh. "Wha¡ªwhat the fuck¡­ is this?"


    A soft, ethereal voice echoed through the wasteland, calm as a lake before a tsunami.


    "Eternal Sword Rain."


    The first sword fell.


    BOOM! Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The ground didn''t just shake¡ªit threw a tantrum. Sand, blood, and god-knows-what else erupted in a blinding plume as the blade hit, reducing a whole pirate squad to red mist.


    And then it began.


    FWOOOSH! FWOOOSH!


    The sky unloaded, swords raining down like the heavens had decided: "Screw it, let''s delete them."


    Each blade slammed into the ground with the force of a pissed-off comet, skewering pirates like kebabs at a bad barbecue. Screams ripped through the battlefield as bodies were split, squashed, or pinned like sad little bugs on display.


    The tofu-faced pirate''s voice cracked like a chicken getting stuffed in a stew. "That''s not a blade! That''s a¡ªa celestial punishment with delusions of grandeur!" He stumbled backward, clutching his chest. "Who even brings a weapon big enough to slice reality to a pirate raid?! I just wanted to loot some grain! ¡ª ACK!"


    A sword silenced him, splitting him clean in two.


    "NO! Nope, nope, nope!" Barked a burly pirate who looked like he bench-pressed cows. He threw his sword to the ground and raised his hands. "I surrender! I''ll become a farmer! I''ll¡ª" FWOOOSH. A sword bigger than his dreams crashed down and turned him into ground beef.


    Another pirate, barely able to hold his sword, dropped it and screamed, "I''M TOO GOOD-LOOKING TO DIE!" His face hit the dirt right before a blade slammed into him with a sickening splurch.


    Another one flung himself face-first into the sand. "If I bury myself, they can''t hit me! Genius! Absolute¡ª" Smash! A blade bigger than his life expectancy turned his brilliant plan into a smoking crater.


    "Mercy!" shouted a skinny fellow with wild eyes, chucking his blade away like it was cursed. "I''ll be a monk! I swear on my great-grandma''s ashes¡ªACK!" A blade sliced clean through him, leaving a faint scorch mark where he stood, shaped like a thumbs-down.


    But the pi¨¨ce de r¨¦sistance?


    One particularly dramatic pirate climbed onto a rock and shouted at the heavens: "I AM IMMORTAL!" He spread his arms wide, a crazed grin plastered on his face. For a split second, it seemed like he believed it too. That was, until three swords slammed into him at once, pinning him like an ugly coat rack.


    Lei Shoushan''s face twisted like someone had shoved a lemon down his throat. He spun toward Zhao Feng, eyes blazing with fury.


    "This is your fault, you brainless turd! I told you not to antagonize her!


    "I DIDN''T SAY ANYTHING!" Zhao Feng yelped, trying to shield himself with his sleeve like that would help. "Blame these filthy pirates!"


    Lei Shoushan sneered, stabbing a finger at Zhao Feng. "Shut up, you spineless worm. You''re the kind of fool who farts in the wind and blames the weather. If we live, I''m going to¡ª"


    CRUNCH.


    The swords weren''t here to talk poetry.


    A blade the size of a small house speared Lei Shoushan straight through the chest, cutting him off mid-threat. As he staggered, blood pouring from his mouth, he croaked, "I die¡­ a hero¡­"


    "WHAT HERO?!" Zhao Feng cackled, his laugh high-pitched and nervous as his flying Lotus shot away at full speed. "YOU DIED SCREAMING AT ME!"


    He tried to escape, but his luck was as bad as his speed¡ªwhich is to say, nonexistent. Tripping over a corpse, he barely managed to dodge one blade before another came down, lopping his leg off cleanly.


    "ARGHH!"


    ____


    Above the wasteland, Bai Yujian floated like a goddess who''d had enough of mortals and their bullshit. Her expression? Not even a twitch.


    The pirates?


    Oh, they died. Messily. Screaming, begging, and crying like toddlers who''d lost their candy. Their bodies piled up in heaps, staining the black sand red.


    As for the cultivators who''d smugly stepped back earlier? Yeah, they ran.


    They ran like their asses were on fire, learning firsthand what it felt like to have the heavens decide your life was a mistake.


    "Fucking hell¡­" one of them muttered, his voice shaking as he bolted like a scared rabbit. "This is worse than facing a Warlord''s undead general!"


    Bai Yujian didn''t bother chasing. She didn''t need to.


    Her cold gaze swept over the bloody battlefield, calculating and calm.


    "Break their spirits first," she murmured, voice soft enough to send shivers down anyone''s spine. "Leave a few alive to talk. Then take what you need."


    Mercy?


    For pirates?


    Not in this lifetime. Not in any.


    But as the blood kept pooling¡ªseriously, it was starting to look like someone overturned a barrel of red paint¡ªBai Yujian realized she had a problem. She had skewered every last screaming bastard, and yet thousands of swords still hovered above, all shiny and ready to strike.


    She sighed, one hand lazily brushing a stray hair from her face. "Maybe I should''ve just thrown one sword," she muttered. "Oh well."


    "..."


    "..."


    "..."


    The battlefield seemed to roll its eyes at her words, now eerily quiet save for the crackle of burning corpses and the occasional squelch of someone stepping in guts.


    But elsewhere? Oh, shit was brewing. No swords, no screaming, just an array was lighting up¡ªbuzzing, crackling, and ready to throw hands in the loudest, flashiest way possible.


    ____


    Back in the Warlord''s Palace!


    [Starfall Obliteration Array]


    SWOOSH!


    The array lit up like the gods had just dumped a cauldron of molten gold onto the ground. Star-shaped patterns spiraled out, blazing and endless, carving into the stone floor like the claws of a lover dragging across bare skin.


    CRACK!


    The power surged, splitting a massive stone pillar like a toothpick caught in a tantrum.


    BOOM!


    The explosion sent shards flying in all directions, a deadly storm of debris. The air sizzled with heat, the taste of destruction sharp on the tongue.


    Zhu Qing stood in the middle of it all, untouchable. Not a speck of dust dared stain her pristine white robe. She was a storm in human form, calm yet blazing with strength. Her lips curved in that damned sharp smile that could probably kill someone at twenty paces.


    Her eyes darted to Su Xiaobai, mischief glinting in their depths.


    See that, Little Villain? her gaze seemed to taunt. This is power. Watch closely and take notes, because you''ll never reach this level.


    Su Xiaobai nodded. He wasn''t dumb enough to argue. After all, the earlier kiss? Yeah, no. That didn''t happen. It had been wiped from history, scrubbed from the records of heaven and earth.


    ¡­Mostly.


    His gaze flicked to the floor, refusing to meet hers. Because despite his best efforts, the memory clawed at the edges of his mind like a feral beast. He could still feel her, every soft, perfect¡ª


    FOCUS.


    He shook his head, banishing the thought. Now wasn''t the time to mentally throw himself into a pit of regrets (or revisit the image of her lips for the thousandth time).

 Chapter 117 - 117: Tiny Fang! Adorable!

    "Sigh¡­"


    Su Xiaobai exhaled, slow and heavy, like a condemned man savoring his last moments of peace. The calm didn''t feel earned¡ªit was the calm of a fool too tired to fight fate anymore.


    Beside him, Zhu Qing stood, violet lightning flickering at her fingertips, her lips curled in that infuriating almost-smile that screamed trouble.


    The same woman who once crushed him with her presence now felt¡­ manageable.


    Not soft¡ªhell no¡ªbut maybe a little less murdery.


    "What the hell changed?" he muttered under his breath, half hoping, someone would answer.


    A nasty thought whispered back: "Is it because your thing is throbbing inside her now?"


    He shoved it down. Didn''t matter. None of it mattered. Right now, there was only the damn door¡ªtowering, ancient, and smug, as though it enjoyed blocking their way.


    "How do we open it?" he asked, rubbing his temples.


    "Open it?" Zhu Qing''s voice was low, mocking. She flexed her fingers, sparks snapping like restless serpents.


    "Why open it¡­" Lightning erupted from her palms, dark and hungry.


    "¡­when I can make it kneel?"


    "..." Su Xiaobai groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "Right. Let''s skip the reasonable solutions and go straight to pissing off whatever ancient bastard built this thing. Makes so much sense."


    "Don''t be boring," Zhu Qing chuckled, raising her hands as if she were about to punch a hole in the heavens.


    BOOM!


    The dark jade ground trembled, cracks racing outward, glowing with a violent purple light ¡ª sharp, like breathing in broken glass.


    Su Xiaobai froze. His instincts screamed run, but his feet stayed rooted, heavy as lead. The formation carved into the ground¡ªit wasn''t just ominous. It was a neon sign screaming: Welcome to Hell. Enjoy your stay.


    "Hellgate Array!"


    The name hissed through his mind, dredging up every cautionary tale he''d ever heard.


    A cursed formation.


    A lock forged to keep the worst monsters of the underworld chained.


    And now, a summoning circle in the hands of a woman who clearly didn''t give a shit.


    Zhu Qing tilted her head back, hair spilling across her face like silk shadows. Just enough to tease. "What''s wrong, Little Villain? Shaking already?"


    "Shaking?" Su Xiaobai snorted. "No... just thrilled to stand on an exploding death trap with you, Miss ''Expert.'' Nothing like it. Really."


    She rolled her eyes. Almost. Her lips twitched instead. His knowledge of the array? A surprise. But grilling him could wait. Not dying came first.


    Swoosh.


    Zhu Qing crouched, her fingers gliding over the array. Slow. Precise. Every stroke shimmered like molten silver, weaving a trap delicate enough to be art... or disaster.


    "These seals..." Her tone? Too casual. Like she wasn''t summoning something hell wouldn''t miss. "They''ll keep the beast''s strength at my level. Wouldn''t want to become wall art, right?"


    Su Xiaobai raised a brow. "Oh, sure. So when it kills us, it''ll feel... dignified. At your power level. Comforting."


    She froze. Just a flicker. The glare she gave him could''ve boiled water. "Relax. It''s controlled."


    "Controlled?" He laughed. "Like your temper?"


    Her fingers twitched, but she stayed silent. Focused. As if this was normal. But summoning hellspawn? Overkill. She could just blow the damn door.


    No. She had to do it the hard way. And him? He wasn''t scared of claws or teeth. No. Worse. These things... broke rules. Laws of reality? Nothing to them. What if his Invincible Body¡ªhis trump card¡ªdidn''t work?


    Too late.


    Whoosh.


    The chamber shuddered. Air howled. Bitter. Sharp. Burnt bones and regret.


    The array lit up. Blinding. Runes twisted... coiled... wrong.


    And then...


    The air tore.


    Something stepped through. Big. Hungry.


    Reality bent to greet it.


    BOOM.


    THUD.


    The ground shook. Dust rained from the ceiling. Massive claws struck the stone, each impact like a hammer pounding reality itself. The beast rose. Slow. Deliberate. A storm of molten shadow, twisting and writhing as though the darkness itself had come alive to kill.


    Whoosh! Black and violet flames licked along its body, devouring light with every flicker.


    Then came the heads. Three of them.


    Necks arched high, crowned with blazing ruby eyes. Six orbs, burning and furious, glowing with hatred so pure it didn''t just see you¡ªit judged you.


    All six locked on Su Xiaobai.


    It didn''t move. Didn''t blink. Just stared at him. Like he wasn''t a man but an itch it was about to scratch... and tear open.


    "YOU."


    A beat. Its molten breath rolled over him, hot and rank.


    "Who dares... summon me?"


    The left head tilted, molten eyes narrowing, lips curling in disgust. "A human? This whelp calls upon the Keeper of Hells?"


    The right head laughed, low and grinding, like boulders splitting. "Pathetic... and brave. Brave enough to die."


    Su Xiaobai didn''t flinch. Barely. The thing was ten meters long, four meters tall, and radiated more bad ideas than Zhu Qing''s entire existence. What now? Let it eat him feet-first to savor the crunch?


    And Zhu Qing? Oh, she grinned. Broad and confident. Like she''d just summoned a housepet instead of the underworld''s worst nightmare.


    She clapped. CRACK! The sound echoed, like a whip across the beast''s pride. "Tiny Fang! Stop gawking at him like he''s dessert. You''re not eating that today!"


    "!?¡ª" Su Xiaobai choked on his words. His eyes darted to her, then to the beast, and back again. Tiny? She couldn''t be serious. That thing was ten meters of claws, hate, and bad intentions.


    The beast snorted, all six ruby eyes narrowing. "Humph!" Smoke curled from its nostrils in sharp, angry bursts. Tiny? Who did this woman think she was?


    But then it saw her.


    A hazy figure of defiance, white hair cascading like silver fire, staring it down with an expression that screamed: touch me and die.


    The center head blinked. Once. Twice.


    "¡­grrrr~¡­"


    The growl rumbled low, reluctant, almost embarrassed. And then, impossibly, the beast sat back, tails curling tight as though trying to contain its fury. Flames simmered along its jaws, but it didn''t move.


    Zhu Qing smiled, full of smug satisfaction. She pointed a finger at the towering door.


    "Break it." S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Growl~!" The beast''s eyes flashed. Aggressive. Hungry.


    BOOM! It leapt, claws tearing into the air as it soared over their heads.


    THUD!


    All three heads lowered. Jaws parted wide. Flames surged from its mouths¡ªblack and white streams, twisting and spiraling like unholy serpents.


    WHOOSH!


    The flames roared, devouring, heat bending the stone like molten clay.


    Zhu Qing watched as Tiny Fang''s fire ate away at the door''s reinforced seal. She clapped, sharp and deliberate. "Good boy."


    Meanwhile, someone else wasn''t having fun. Someone was spiraling into an existential crisis.


    "Ahem, Elder," Su Xiaobai said, glaring at her like she''d upended the universe. "Care to explain?"


    Why did this woman have a three-headed apocalypse mutt as a pet? Was she the real villain of the story? Who rewrote the goddamn plot?


    Zhu Qing tilted her head, her eyes glittering mischievously. "Explain what?"


    Su Xiaobai''s face darkened. Was this woman playing dumb? How did she know this beast? Don''t tell him she was about to spin some tragic tale of rescuing it when it was small, fluffy, and injured.


    Of course, she didn''t. Zhu Qing had a hundred secrets, and she wasn''t sharing a single one. Not that Su Xiaobai could complain¡ªhe wasn''t exactly forthcoming with his own truths.


    Cultivators lived and died on secrets. Monsters like her? They thrived on them.


    The fire slammed into the door again, a endless torrent of black and white flame. The heat hit like dragon breath, forcing Su Xiaobai and Zhu Qing back several paces.


    Zhu Qing crossed her arms, her gaze fixed on the three-headed hound. "Obedient, isn''t he? Unlike someone I know."


    Su Xiaobai didn''t flinch. He shot her a sharp look. "Obedient? This mutt just stared me down like I''m its next chew toy. What do you even feed it? Cultivators?"


    "Sometimes."


    "Sometimes?"


    "A few lesser demons. A wandering soul or two. And¡­" Her voice turned sweet, the kind of sweet that dripped poison. "A sect elder who thought I''d make a good wife."


    Su Xiaobai blinked. Then narrowed his eyes, lips twitching like he might laugh. "Good to know. Note to self¡ªnever argue with you. Or marry you."


    Grrr-whoosh!


    Tiny Fang wagged its tails, sending a gust so strong it almost knocked Su Xiaobai over. He staggered, his glare locking on the beast. His jaw tightened. If it weren''t for the suffocating aura, he''d turn it into stew.


    "Pfft..." Zhu Qing stifled a laugh, her tone dripping with mockery. "Don''t look at me like that, Little Villain. Even if you begged, I wouldn''t marry you. I''m not in the market for weak men. "


    "¡­."


    Su Xiaobai chuckled, low and dark, his gaze dripping with mockery. Weak? Maybe. But marry her? Not a chance. This was the same woman who once threatened to crush her ex-fianc¨¦''s balls just to end an engagement.


    Ridiculous.


    Poor Zhao Tianxuan. That fool. Su Xiaobai had pitied him before. Now? He almost wanted to light incense for the man''s spirit.


    Yes, Zhu Qing was beautiful¡ªtoo beautiful. No sane man would deny it. She even had moments of kindness, fleeting glimpses of sweetness that could disarm anyone.


    But no beauty was worth the walking hurricane.


    He brushed off his sleeve, smirking. "Don''t worry, Elder. If I were blind, drunk, half-dead, and desperate for company in hell, you''d still be my last choice. Even the devil has standards."


    (A/N: Ahem, ?????)


    Zhu Qing sneered, her lips curling. This ''Devil'' was the same man who practically begged her to take blood from his tongue? Hypocrite.


    Men were all the same. Sigh. Get what they wanted, then act high and mighty.


    "Let''s go."


    The door was gone, reduced to molten sludge. Without waiting for a reply, she grabbed his hand and yanked him forward, her grip like iron.


    "Wait¡ª"


    BOOM!


    His protest disappeared as she launched them forward, faster than thought, faster than light.


    "Woof~!"


    Tiny Fang wagged its tails, the massive gust nearly knocking Su Xiaobai off balance again. It bounded after them, its fiery paws leaving scorch marks as they entered the core of the Warlord''s palace.


    Blood, old and blackened, was smeared across the ancient walls, flaking with age yet like a curse. Each step brought more¡ªfresh splatter atop the dry. The deeper they went, the worse it became, the metallic stench clawing at their senses.


    Zhu Qing''s expression turned sharp, her usual smile replaced by something colder. She knew what this place meant.


    There would be challenges.


    And that was why she''d summoned Tiny Fang. The three-headed hound was no ordinary beast¡ªit was a monster she had crossed paths with by sheer accident long ago. Their meeting had been¡­ eventful. A clash of claws and lightning, blood and fury. Somehow, against all odds, it had ended in an uneasy bond.


    But even she hadn''t expected what happened next.


    No one could have.


    Not in their wildest dreams.

 Chapter 118 - 118: Blood Wordlord and Its Seven Generals!

    Throne Room ¡ª Warlord''s Palace!


    As Su Xiaobai, Zhu Qing, and Tiny Fang crossed the threshold, the air hit them... like a slap from a spiked whip.


    This wasn''t a throne room.


    It was a battlefield. A slaughterhouse. A place so cursed even death packed its bags and moved out.


    The black jade walls pulsed. Crimson veins. Living blood. They throbbed like a predator''s heartbeat... slow, deliberate, hungry.


    Murals twisted under the dim light. Faces. Screams. Hands clawing at invisible throats. Ready to jump out. Ready to choke the nearest idiot.


    Probably Su Xiaobai.


    Above, relics dangled on chains. Rusted swords. Cracked helms. Shattered banners. They whispered... softly. Threats.


    One spear hissed as he passed. The blade glinted like a thief''s grin.


    Su Xiaobai smirked. "Friendly place. Bet the Blood Warlord himself comes out next with tea and a stabbing."


    Zhu Qing glared. She didn''t speak. She didn''t have to.


    Her eyes screamed: You''ve doomed us all.


    And, because fate loves a good punchline¡ª


    [Visitors...]


    The voice hit like a mountain collapsing.


    Heavy. Unstoppable. It didn''t echo. It crushed.


    They froze.


    Tiny Fang''s tails stiffened like spears. Zhu Qing hesitated. Even the air seemed to shiver.


    At the far end of the room... a dais (platform) rose. Black stone. Jagged edges. Blood pooled beneath it.


    On it sat a suit of crimson armor.


    Dark. Hollow. No flesh. No face. Just a frame carved with glowing runes... dripping blood.


    It didn''t move.


    But it radiated power. The kind that made your knees knock and your guts churn. The kind that whispered... Die quietly. It''s faster that way.


    [You tread where the living should not.]


    The words sliced through them like a blade to the throat.


    Su Xiaobai''s instincts screamed: Run.


    Zhu Qing frowned. "The Blood Warlord..." Her voice dropped. "This isn''t possible. He was destroyed centuries ago."


    Her glare shifted to Su Xiaobai, who was already cursing himself. Why does my mouth keep writing checks my ass can''t cash?


    Before he could reply, shadows stirred.


    Seven figures rose from the blood-soaked floor. Twisted. Wrong. Broken marionettes brought to life.


    The Blood Warlord spoke again¡ª[Rise.]¡ªand they obeyed.


    The Seven Generals of Blood began to rise¡­ one by one.


    First came Ku Rong, the Crimson Butcher.


    Thud! Thud! Thud!


    A monster in a man''s shape¡ªor close enough. Hulking, red-skinned, muscles bulging like they''d been packed in by a butcher drunk on his own work. His head? Pure bull. Horns black and jagged, dripping with the ghosts of every fool who tried to test them.


    Screech....


    Behind him, a cleaver dragged on the stone floor, screeching as it spat sparks¡ªless a weapon, more a feral child born of steel and slaughter.


    Ku Rong belonged to the barbarian bull race, said to carry the blood of a forgotten beast god. Holy blood, they claimed. Holy or not, it tore men apart just the same.


    He sniffed, his black tongue slid over teeth cracked and yellow, as if they''d chewed stone and bone alike. "Kekeke¡­"


    His eyes, dark pits, fixed on Su Xiaobai, Zhu Qing, and Tiny Fang.


    "You stink of fear, boy..." He leaned closer, inhaling deeply, "Good¡­ Fear makes the meat tender." He grinned, his breath hot and foul, "When I carve you, I''ll start with the belly. It screams the best. Heh. Screams make the meat sweeter." Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Back off, bull."


    The words echoed... Feminine, soft, dangerous, and far too intoxicating.


    Yi Muqing, the Plumshade Immortal, rose.


    Rustle~


    She moved like sin given shape¡ªevery step a trap wrapped in beauty. Her emerald hair cascaded like silk, her eyes jewels that shone too bright to be trusted. Her body was the kind sculptors would die to touch, but the vines writhing at her feet said touching her was the last thing you''d ever do.


    Flowers bloomed with every movement, feeding on her aura like parasites drunk on a god.


    Even the arrogant Ku Rong, soaked in bloodlust, took a step back.


    Her smile unfurled, slow and sweet, poison wrapped in sugar. Her gaze on Su Xiaobai, tracing him like a predator deciding where to bite first. "So soft..." Her voice dripped honey and rot. "So fertile..."


    Ssshhhhk!


    Vines twisted tighter, hungry. "You''ll bear my children," she purred, "My roots are thirsty. My blossoms hunger." Her lips curved into something too sweet to be human.


    She stepped closer, her every movement a trap.


    "Don''t fight it..." she said, her voice soft, almost loving. "You''ll bloom for me¡­ beautifully¡­ for centuries."


    ____


    "..."


    Su Xiaobai didn''t know whether to laugh or puke. A bull on steroids. A horny plant. And the freak parade wasn''t done yet.


    More nightmares slithered out.


    A bird-man strutted forward, wings metallic and razor-sharp. Every feather shinning like a blade, ready to pluck flesh. Behind him, a panther brute growled, fangs bared, an aura so feral it practically drooled violence.


    "Ehehe~" Then came the spider-woman. Beauty up top¡ªobsidian eyes, flowing hair, curves that belonged in some scandalous jade painting. Below the waist? Eight twitching legs. A fat, glistening abdomen that looked like it could lay eggs in a man''s chest and call it romance.


    And then¡­ the dragon skeleton. Its hollow eyes burned blue, flames flickering with hunger. Bones creaked as it moved, like it still remembered what flesh felt like between its jaws.


    Last came the hooded figure. Thin. Fragile. Pale hands poking out of black robes like a corpse halfway to the grave. Mist coiled at its feet, cold and alive. Its presence felt like a whisper promising, You''ll die screaming.


    Su Xiaobai scratched his chin, his lip curling. "This is either the Blood Warlord''s personal zoo¡­ or he''s got some really kinky tastes."


    The ground rumbled. Pillars cracked. The bloodlust pressed down like it wanted to grind his lungs into paste.


    Beside him, Zhu Qing looked like she''d swallowed something worse than spirit bees. Her expression soured... with a side of homicide.


    "You''ve got a plan, right?" Su Xiaobai nudged her, arrogant grin barely hiding the tremor in his voice.


    "..." Zhu Qing turned her head so slowly it could''ve been measured in centuries. Then forced a smile¡ªbrittle, counterfeit, and very much homicidal.


    "Nope."


    Su Xiaobai blinked. "What do you mean nope? You''re the Peak Lord! You''re supposed to have a plan!"


    "I had a plan," Zhu Qing hissed, low and resentful, "But that plan didn''t involve the actual Blood Warlord sitting on his damn throne!"


    As if on cue, the crimson armor on the dais shimmered faintly, like it was alive. Watching. Mocking.


    Zhu Qing''s teeth clenched, her words ground out like boulders. "If it were just the Seven Generals, maybe¡ªmaybe¡ªwe could stall long enough to escape. But him?" She glanced at the throne, "There''s no plan for him."


    Su Xiaobai sighed, cracking his neck. "Well, great. Guess we fight it." He glanced at the generals, smirking. "How hard can it be?"


    "..." Zhu Qing practically laughed in his face.


    "Fight? You''re an idiot." She shook her head like she couldn''t believe what she was hearing. "You couldn''t sneeze near them without dying, let alone fight."


    Her patience frayed. What was the point of this fool? Every enemy in front of them was peak Tribulation Realm. And even if by some miracle they took out the Seven Generals, the Blood Warlord sat there on his throne, as untouchable as heaven itself.


    "Yup. Can''t fight." Su Xiaobai didn''t even blink, his voice drenched in casual indifference. But his lips moved silently. His gaze flicked to Zhu Qing, speaking louder than words: But you can.


    Her brow furrowed. What the hell was he playing at now?


    He didn''t answer. His focus shifted, locking onto the advancing Seven Generals. Behind them, the Blood Warlord sat grinning on his throne, armor gleaming like a devil''s promise. He didn''t move. He didn''t need to. His grin said it all: Dance, puppets. Make it entertaining.


    "Hey, cowhead!" Su Xiaobai''s voice tore through, "Tell your boss to get his ass down here and fight his own damn battles!"


    The Seven Generals froze, their combined auras flaring like a volcano about to erupt.


    Ku Rong sneered, his grin twisted, teeth like yellowed tombstones. "Careful, boy¡­ Your screams will decorate my cleaver."


    Su Xiaobai shrugged. "Sure. But you''ll have to catch me first¡­ cow."


    Beside him, Zhu Qing''s face twitched. She looked like she was deciding whether to strangle him now or wait until they were dead.


    Grabbing his shoulders, she leaned in with a smile that wasn''t a smile, her voice a venomous whisper. "Little Villain, must you antagonize everyone?"


    "Keeps things fun," Su Xiaobai shot back, grinning. "Just wait and see."


    But inside, his mind was elsewhere. His thoughts reached for Xiao Hei, the little murderous girl sulking in his ring world. Her anger was simmering like a boiling cauldron.


    [Now is not the time for tantrums!] Su Xiaobai''s mental voice snapped, hoping to pierce through her stubborn silence.


    No response. Just her cold resentment.


    Su Xiaobai sighed, exasperation creeping into his thoughts, but his attention shifted back to his real target: the flower freak.


    "Hey, tree lady," he called, his grin curling wickedly. "I''ll pass on the root babies. I''m not into being planted. I prefer planting elsewhere, you know?"


    Yi Muqing''s smile widened, her head tilting in mock curiosity. Then she giggled¡ªa sound too sweet, too sharp.


    "Oh, you''ll change your mind¡­" Her voice dripped honeyed malice as her vines thickened, twisting around her like predators waiting to pounce.


    The ground beneath her shook. The vines slithered, wet and glistening, curling like obscene tentacles in a forbidden scroll.


    They reached out, coiling, stroking the air as if tasting it.


    "Once my vines bury themselves in you¡­" Her voice dropped to a whisper, sickly sweet. "You''ll beg me to plant you deeper."


    "..."

 Chapter 119 - 119: Lost Control!

    Yi Muqing''s smile turned cruel. "Once my vines bury themselves in you¡­ you''ll beg me to plant you deeper."


    "..."


    Su Xiaobai shuddered, letting out a sharp hiss. "Fuck. Why do I always get the shameless ones?"


    Her vines lashed out, snapping toward him. Thick. Pulsing. Greedy.


    "Holy shit, it''s one of those days," he muttered, dodging back. His expression darkened as he glanced at Zhu Qing. "Remind me¡ªare we the villains, or is this just a really bad porn plot?"


    "??"


    "Porn? What''s that?" Zhu Qing asked, her face blank with confusion. Was it a mantra? Some forbidden technique?


    Su Xiaobai nearly choked. He grinned, the kind of grin that could get a man slapped. "Don''t worry. I''ll show you later."


    Zhu Qing''s eye twitched. Why do I even ask this fool questions? Before she could respond, Su Xiaobai''s eyes lit up, and he burst into laughter, wild and sudden.


    "What happened!?" Zhu Qing snapped, gripping her sword. Had he lost his mind completely?


    Even the Seven Generals stopped mid-motion to stare at him, their collective aura still crackling like a storm ready to break.


    Su Xiaobai ignored them all. "That armor''s fake!" He jabbed a finger at the crimson figure on the throne. "The Blood Warlord''s dead! It''s just a puppet¡ªa leftover spirit wearing dead man''s clothes!"


    The crimson armor trembled, as if the words had slapped it across the face.


    [KILL THEM!]


    BOOM!


    The puppet slammed its fists into the throne. At the same time, Yi Muqing''s vines shot forward, thick and glistening like something plucked out of a filthy novel. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Shua! Shua! Shua!


    Zhu Qing didn''t hesitate. Her hand swept out... an emerald array ignited. Vines shot forward¡ªthicker, sharper, hungrier.


    They met Yi Muqing''s mid-air, slicing through her tendrils like blades through overstuffed sausage.


    "ARRRGGHH! My babies!" Yi Muqing screeched, her eyes burning red as her severed vines hit the ground, flopping like headless worms.


    Her body jerked in rage, her mind clearly incapable of handling loss.


    "Tree lady''s losing it," Su Xiaobai muttered, shaking his head. "Guess undead brains don''t handle rejection well."


    Zhu Qing turned to him, her glare sharp, "Are you sure about this?"


    "One hundred percent," he said, grinning. "That armor''s as harmless as a neutered dog."


    He''d just confirmed it with Xiao Hei! Even he couldn''t believe it at first. An Immortal Realm master? Alive? Sealed in this palace without so much as a ripple of power? Impossible. Something was definitely wrong.


    "Good." Zhu Qing smiled. Calm. Serene. Too calm. Too serene. The kind of smile that told you pain was coming.


    CRACK!


    Her boot collided with Su Xiaobai''s chest, sending him flying like a broken kite.


    "WHAT¡ª"


    CRASH!


    He slammed into the wall, groaning. "Argh¡­ What the fuck!?" His head spun as pain jolted through his back.


    BOOM!


    The battlefield erupted before him. Tiny Fang, the three-headed hellhound, roared as all three mouths unleashed streams of fire. Ku Rong roared back, his massive cleaver held high, flames splashing against its blade as sparks and embers filled the air.


    Above it all, Zhu Qing floated like a goddess of war. Her dress fluttered, then transformed, ribbons sharpening into blades that lashed out with terrifying speed. Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Each ribbon speared through the air, leaving streaks of emerald light.


    Su Xiaobai''s jaw dropped. He''d never seen her fight before. She was¡­ ridiculous. Terrifying. And maybe a little hot.


    "Stop drooling and move!" Zhu Qing snapped, dodging a swarm of spiders unleashed by the spider-woman. "Find the Warlord''s seal! Now!"


    Tiny Fang pounced, its massive form smashing through the spider horde, incinerating them with a single blast of flame.


    Su Xiaobai''s face darkened. Every shockwave hit like a hammer, each wave of power rattling his bones. If I go near that¡­ I''ll turn into meat paste.


    Zhu Qing, however, was unshaken. Confidence blazed in her eyes. With the Blood Warlord out of the picture, she and Tiny Fang could stall the Seven Generals. All Su Xiaobai had to do was find the Warlord''s seal. That cursed object controlled everything¡ªhis army, his generals, even the remnants of his soul.


    Su Xiaobai understood. He scrambled to his feet, tearing through walls, smashing paintings, and flipping over statues. "Where the hell is it!?"


    The crimson armor on the throne stilled, its earlier trembling replaced with an eerie calm. Let them struggle. It thought coldly. As long as they don''t find my seal, they''ll die. Their souls will be mine. And with enough power¡­ I''ll rise again.


    ____


    Minutes dragged by as Su Xiaobai ran like a madman, hunting for a Warlord''s seal that might as well have been a bedtime story.


    Shockwaves rolled through the battlefield, slamming into his back like a thousand fiery lashes. Each hit tore at his robes, slicing his skin raw until blood dripped down his spine. Pain hit him, but he grit his teeth and kept moving.


    "Come on, you sneaky bastard¡­" he hissed, his voice trembling. "Where are you hiding?"


    Behind him, hell had broken loose.


    Zhu Qing was barely holding her own against four generals¡ªCrimson Butcher, Flower Freak, Spider Queen, and Birdman. Her ribbon-like blades lashed out like furious serpents, slicing vines and claws with precision. But it wasn''t enough. Blood streaked her pale skin, and her breaths came ragged, sharp.


    "AGH!" Her scream tore through the air as Spider Queen''s leg speared her shoulder, pinning her in place. Crimson Butcher seized the moment, his massive cleaver whistling toward her neck.


    BAM!


    Zhu Qing caught the blade. Barehanded.


    Her feet cracked the stone beneath her as she absorbed the impact, arms trembling.


    Blood ran down her fingers.


    "Zhu Qing!" Su Xiaobai''s heart tightened, but he forced himself to keep searching. Find the seal. Find the damn seal.


    Not far away, Tiny Fang was a blur of fire and rage, the three-headed hellhound wrestling the skeletal dragon. Flames roared from its mouths, but the beast was bleeding badly. One of the panther brute''s fangs sank into its flank, tearing muscle. Puchi! Blood sprayed like a fountain.


    Then the hooded figure stepped forward.


    Its pale hands gripped a scythe that practically dripped death. It swung the blade down, aiming for Tiny Fang''s middle head.


    "MOVE!" Su Xiaobai''s voice echoed.


    Tiny Fang barely leapt back in time, the scythe cleaving through empty air. Its three heads snapped in unison, growling, but the beast''s steps were slower, its movements heavy.


    Blood pooled beneath its paws, soaking the stone.


    "How does the seal look?!" Su Xiaobai roared, smashing through another statue


    His knuckles were bleeding, his breaths ragged.


    "No one knows!" Zhu Qing spat through clenched teeth. She caught the cleaver again, but her knees buckled under the strain. "We just know it exists!"


    Spider Queen''s leg drove deeper into her shoulder with a sickening crack.


    "Agh!" Zhu Qing screamed, her voice painful.


    Su Xiaobai slammed his fist into a mural, shattering it. Nothing. He kicked over a chest¡ªempty. His voice cracked as he yelled, "How hard is it to find one stupid cursed seal?! It''s like trying to find a virgin in a brothel!"


    BOOM!


    A beam of blue fire roared past him, singeing his face. He stumbled back, glaring at the skeletal dragon.


    "Oi, watch it, mutt!" he snapped at Tiny Fang, who lunged at the dragon''s throat, knocking its aim off.


    CRASH!


    The fire beam hit the ceiling instead, sending boulders crashing down. Su Xiaobai barely rolled away in time. His laugh came dry, bitter. "This dragon wants me dead more than my exes."


    Then he saw it.


    A faint crimson glow, pulsing from the floor like a heartbeat. His breath caught. "This has to be it!"


    He bolted, weaving through. His fingers brushed the stone¡ª


    WHAM!


    A vine slammed into the ground, inches from his hand.


    "Stay away!" Yi Muqing shrieked, her voice cracking. Her eyes were wild, bloodshot. "It''s mine!"


    Su Xiaobai froze. "Wait¡­ This isn''t the seal?"


    "It''s my heirloom!" she screamed, her vines coiling around the gemstone like obscene tentacles, twitching with possessiveness.


    "For f*ck''s sake," Su Xiaobai groaned. Then he grabbed the gemstone anyway and hurled it toward Tiny Fang. "Doggo! catch!"


    "NOOOO!" Yi Muqing''s scream rattled the battlefield as Tiny Fang''s middle head snatched the stone mid-air and crunched it into shards.


    "Hah!" Su Xiaobai barked a laugh, blood dripping down his chin. "Good boy!"


    But Zhu Qing''s voice echoed sharp, snapping him out of his imaginary victory. "Careful!"


    Too late¡ª


    CRACK!


    The ground exploded beneath him. A massive stone pillar shot upward, slamming into his chest and pinning him to the ceiling like a skewered chicken.


    "ARGH!" Blood dripped from his lips as his ribs groaned under the pressure. "What the hell?! Is this¡ª"


    "I WILL KILL YOU!" Yi Muqing''s voice shattered the air as her vines surged forward, writhing like something out of a depraved dream.


    CRASH!


    Before the vines could reach him, Zhu Qing blasted through the pillar. Su Xiaobai hit the ground with a dull thud, gasping for breath, his ribs screaming in protest.


    THUD!


    "Hahaha¡­" He coughed, the bitter taste of dust filling his mouth. Pain tore through his body, but the adrenaline drowned it out. The whole scene felt absurd. Too absurd not to laugh.


    Zhu Qing resumed her fight, her ribbons slashing through like living blades. Occasionally, she glanced back, catching him sprawled there, grinning like a madman.


    Time felt strange. For Su Xiaobai, the world slowed, his senses hyper-focused. But around him, everything raced forward¡ªa blur of fire, echo, and blood.


    "Elder!" he suddenly shouted.


    "??"


    Zhu Qing turned, her bloodied face twisting into an impatient glare.


    "If we survive this¡­ would you let me hit?" His voice echoed, laced with laughter.


    "Huh?" Zhu Qing froze mid-motion, startled. Her bloodied face contorted in confusion. What the hell was he talking about now? His strange modern words eluded her until she locked eyes with him.


    Then she understood.


    Her lips curled into a sneer, her voice sharp. "I''d rather die!"


    Su Xiaobai erupted into laughter, clutching his stomach. "Then there''s still a chance of survival!"


    Zhu Qing ignored him, focusing on the battle ahead. Blood streamed from a deep gash in her shoulder, her hands and face covered in smaller cuts.


    Without hesitation, she tore at the wound on her shoulder, ripping it open further. Blood sprayed from the gash like a fountain, pooling at her feet.


    Su Xiaobai''s laughter froze, his breath catching. Something was wrong.


    The blood slithered across the ground, crawling together unnaturally. It writhed and pulsed, forming the shape of a demonic skull.


    The lines around it glowed crimson, jagged and sinister, an array carved in blood.


    [Soul Reaping Array.]

 Chapter 120 - 120: Another Celestial is Born!

    [Soul Reaping Array.]


    The name alone carried weight.


    Forbidden. Terrifying. Dangerous beyond comprehension.


    It was said to summon an army from the darkest pits of the underworld, binding them to the user''s will. But the cost? A fragment of the soul. Zhu Qing wasn''t just pouring her blood into this spell¡ªshe was burning her very existence.


    Su Xiaobai''s voice cracked as he staggered to his feet. "Woman, are you crazy?! That thing''s eating your soul!"


    His heart sank.


    If she didn''t want to warm his bed, she could''ve just said so! Trading her soul to avoid him? That was overkill¡ªeven by her standards! He was joking!


    Zhu Qing didn''t answer.


    Her hands moved on their own, forming seals faster than he could process. Her teeth clenched as she struggled against the array''s demands. It wanted more¡ªher blood, her soul¡ªtearing her apart in its hunger. But she couldn''t stop.


    If I don''t¡­ we''ll all die.


    Blood hissed and bubbled beneath her feet, the crimson glow intensifying. The jagged lines of the array pulsed like a demonic heartbeat, each thrum shaking the ground.


    Then¡ª


    CRACK! Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The ground split open.


    "Kekkeekee~!"


    Bony claws tore through the cracks, followed by an army of skeletons dragging themselves free. They were "Underworld Scuttlers"¡ªsmall, twitchy, and swarming like rats.


    Their glowing runes pulsed red, their hollow eyes blazing with hellish light. "Kekeke!" They clicked and clattered, snapping their jaws like they were chomping on invisible prey.


    They swarmed the generals like rats drunk on bloodlust, their claws scratching, jaws clamping onto anything that moved¡ªeven each other. One leapt onto Birdman''s back, chomping his feathers like it was snacking on roasted meat.


    [STOP HER!] The Blood Warlord''s voice boomed, his hollow shell trembling on the throne.


    Even the cursed puppet could feel the shift¡ªthe array was doing more than summoning creatures. It was feeding on Zhu Qing, pulling her deeper into its grasp.


    Zhu Qing''s body floated into the air, her eyes glowing crimson. The ribbons around her twisted and lashed out uncontrollably, their movements erratic and violent.


    "Gr¡ª!"


    One lashed Tiny Fang''s neck, coiling tight. The hellhound yelped, struggling as flames sputtered from its mouths.


    Su Xiaobai shouted again, panic rising in his chest. But she couldn''t hear him.


    The array pulsed again, brighter this time. The blood painting the ground boiled furiously, releasing plumes of red steam.


    Su Xiaobai staggered, his own blood burning. It rebelled inside him, rushing toward Zhu Qing as though being sucked out of his veins.


    "Damn it! Do you know how much effort it takes to stay this handsome while bleeding?!" Su Xiaobai hissed, clutching his chest.


    Crack! Crimson cracks spread across his skin, blood pouring from the fissures. It felt like thousands of snakes were crawling beneath his flesh, tearing him apart from the inside out.


    "!!"


    Zhu Qing''s aura surged violently, a crimson wave tearing through the air. The Scuttlers froze mid-crawl, their jagged bones shattering as the array collapsed in an instant¡ªher control snapping like a frayed thread.


    The jagged lines beneath her feet splintered, glowing too brightly to look at.


    Then¡ª


    BOOM!


    A flash of crimson light erupted, brighter than the sun. Su Xiaobai threw his arms up, but it didn''t matter. The pain inside him was unbearable, like his blood had been tossed into a boiling cauldron. His skin flushed, blood bubbling out of the cracks spreading across his body.


    "AGHHHH!" His scream ripped through the air, but no one could hear it over the roar of Zhu Qing''s collapsing power.


    WHOOSH!


    Suddenly, Xiao Hei burst out of the ring, her face frantic. Without a word, she grabbed Su Xiaobai by the collar and hurled him like a sack of trash.


    Su Xiaobai roared, flailing mid-flight. "You little psycho! Are you trying to kill me?!"


    Crash! His words turned into a grunt as he crashed into the crimson armor sitting on the throne. The hollow shell split open, sucking him in like a hungry beast.


    Darkness swallowed him whole.


    Zhu Qing''s scream echoed through the battlefield, her power tearing through the palace.


    The tendrils of her aura lashed out at everything¡ªpillars, statues, even the collapsing walls. The palace groaned as its roof caved in. Her aura spiraled out of control, feeding on itself and consuming everything around her.


    Had Xiao Hei not acted, Su Xiaobai would have been reduced to dust.


    Rumble.... Rumble...


    Outside, the wasteland skies darkened.


    KA¡ªboom!


    Heavenly lightning split the heavens, crashing down with deafening force as the warlord''s palace crumbled into ruin, swallowed by it.


    ______


    Chi Xie Wasteland, outside the Warlord''s Palace.


    The battlefield was a mess of blood-soaked sand and shattered dreams. Thousands had fallen, yet to Bai Yujian, their deaths were like fallen leaves in autumn¡ªexpected, unremarkable, irrelevant.


    She stood with her parsol shinning in the crimson haze, her gaze piercing through everyone alive.


    In front of her knelt Zhao Feng, trembling like a chicken plucked of its feathers. Around him, a dozen pirates leaders slouched, barely alive, their bodies broken by her rain of swords.


    Anyone below Integration Realm had directly perished with no chances to resist.


    As for the alive ones, they got the scars for life with missing limbs¡ªlegs severed, hands gone¡ªand one poor bastard still had a blade lodged in his spine.


    The truly unlucky? Lei Shoushan, the so-called envoy of the prince. He hadn''t even lived long enough to beg for his life.


    "Yama herself¡­" one pirate muttered under his breath, his voice shaky.


    "Shut up!" hissed Violent Crane. "She''ll hear you!"


    They weren''t wrong. Bai Yujian was their Yama today, and her smile promised nothing but hell. She pointed her sword at Zhao Feng, the last man standing in her way¡ªfiguratively speaking. The guy was missing a leg and kneeling in a puddle of his own blood.


    "Speak." Her voice was soft, almost sweet, but Zhao Feng shivered like a plucked chicken. His life hung by a thread, and he knew it.


    He babbled something about a grand-niece in the Xiantian Sect, clinging to that slim connection like it was a lifeline. Dumb luck, really. But for some reason, she let him live.


    "¡­So it''s like that," she murmured, piecing together his fragmented words.


    It was all Su Xiaobai''s fault. That reckless idiot, running off with some star fragment and dragging Zhu Qing into the mess. Now they were trapped inside the palace, probably knee-deep in shit.


    Her eyes drifted to the palace, its jagged silhouette in the distance. Should she intervene? Or let them stew? Testing her disciple''s luck and Zhu Qing''s nerve was tempting. If they lived, great. If not¡­ well, ashes weren''t hard to sweep up.


    Her thoughts were cut short.


    BOOM!


    The Warlord''s palace convulsed like a dying beast. Its roof exploded, lightning ripping through the heavens with a roar that shook the wasteland.


    Rumble... Rumble...


    In seconds, the sky darkened. Clouds churned like ink spilled across the heavens. Then came the lightning¡ªbolts as thick as mountains, crashing down with enough force to make the earth bleed.


    Bai Yujian''s parasol tilted slightly. Her pupils shrank. "Tribulation lightning¡­"


    And then it came.


    WHOOSH!


    A pillar of light pierced the palace ruins, stabbing into the ground like the heavens themselves had drawn their sword. The lightning hissed, the red sand glowing gold under its radiance. But this was no divine blessing. The light burned. It cracked the earth and charred everything it touched.


    "Get back!" Bai Yujian''s voice echoed. She vanished in a blur, reappearing miles away. The pirates scrambled after her, dragging their broken bodies through the sand. Those too slow to move screamed as the light kissed them, their flesh bubbling like overcooked meat.


    Hovering in the air, Bai Yujian stared at the apocalyptic display. The pillar of light shook with arcs of wild lightning, tearing the heavens apart. Her lips twitched.


    "Is¡­ is someone breaking through?"


    Her voice was filled with disbelief. This wasn''t just a breakthrough. This was the "Judgement of the Heavens."


    The "Judgement of the Heavens" was a trial reserved for warriors at the ''Peak Tribulation Realm'', attempting to ascend into the fabled ''Great Ascension Realm''. Unlike other breakthroughs, it wasn''t just about enduring pain or hardship¡ªit was a direct judgment of worth.


    The light would first tear apart the cultivator''s "Immortal Vessel'', the pinnacle of their mortal body, before rebuilding it into something truly divine. Only those deemed worthy by the heavens could step into the realm of celestials. It was rare, cruel, and utterly magnificent.


    For the unworthy, there would be no second chance. Only obliteration.


    Bai Yujian''s gaze narrowed with worry. "Who''s it?" she muttered.


    There were only two people inside: Su Xiaobai, a Core Formation warrior, and Zhu Qing, a Tribulation Realm veteran who had failed her breakthroughs so many times, she''d practically turned it into a hobby.


    "Qingqing¡­" she murmured. Was it really her? Could she have finally succeeded after all those humiliating failures?


    Her grip on her parasol tightened. If it was true, then the Xiantian Sect had just gained another Great Ascension powerhouse. A celestial being. The kind that made warriors bow and lesser sects grovel.


    The pirates behind her muttered in awe, their usual curses silenced by the sheer spectacle. One scratched his head. "Heavens, I didn''t sign up for this shit¡­"


    Another slapped him. "Shut up and watch! How often do you see something like this?"


    The scene was no less surreal... The heavens had opened their doors, their light burning away the sins of the earth.


    But deep down, Bai Yujian''s chest tightened with worry.

 Chapter 121 - 121: Apes Together Strong!

    Deep down, Bai Yujian''s chest tightened with worry.


    What if it wasn''t Zhu Qing?


    Her gaze on the ruins of the Warlord''s palace. If it was Su Xiaobai¡­ well, there was no way he was ready for something like this. His body would pop like an overripe fruit, splattering the sand with whatever guts he had left.


    She sighed, her expression a mix of awe and exasperation. "That reckless disciple¡­ what the hell are you up to now?"


    For now, all she could do was watch. And wait.


    _______


    "Hmph! Who dares to challenge the will of the heavens now?"


    The majestic voice thundered through the storm, sharp and commanding. Across the wasteland, lightning tore the sky¡ªviolet, gold, crimson¡ªpainting wrath across the clouds. Figures descended one by one, their auras smashing into the battlefield like celestial fists.


    The big shots finally showed their faces. Half because their lackeys were getting slaughtered... half because the tribulation above could be seen from a thousand miles away.


    The first to land was a man in gaudy purple robes, streaked with silver that flickered like stormlight. His angular face radiated arrogance¡ªthe kind that came from stomping on enough heads to climb his way to the top. His hair was slicked back like he was heading to a banquet, but his eyes burned with petty envy.


    Wei Houtian. First commander of the royal family... and a man who clawed into the ''Great Ascension Realm'' like a dog with too much bite. His tribulation had flattened mountains, turned rivers to steam, and left peasants pissing themselves for days. Now, he strutted across the kingdom like a rooster who thought the sky existed just to hear him crow.


    But his smile faded as he stared at the storm brewing in the distance. His lips curled.


    "Tch... just when I got used to walking sideways in this country, another fish jumps into the pond."


    Another figure touched down beside him. Quiet. Simple. Dangerous. His plain violet robes somehow made Wei Houtian''s flashy garb look like a cheap circus act. His long white beard shimmered faintly in the stormlight, and his weathered hands carried centuries of experience.


    Master Qingxuan. The royal alchemist... and the kingdom''s grumpiest elder. At the ''Peak Great Ascension Realm'', he''d seen kings rise, dynasties crumble, and fools like Wei Houtian come and go.


    To him, another celestial ascension wasn''t awe-inspiring. It was a headache.


    His piercing gaze ignored the tribulation and the mess in the Warlord''s palace. Instead, it fell on a lone figure in the distance¡ªa woman with sharp eyes and a parasol spinning lazily over her shoulder.


    "The Sword Fairy..." His voice was cold. Bitter. "So... she''s the one who turned Lei Shoushan into fertilizer."


    Lei Shoushan. The royal envoy sent to grab the star fragment quietly. Instead, Bai Yujian turned him into worm food. Because of her, Qingxuan had to dirty his hands and drag his ancient bones out here.


    Wei Houtian''s eyes twitched. His envoy, sent as a "proxy," had been swatted like a fly. Embarrassing. He lowered his head, unable to meet Master Qingxuan''s gaze.


    "Elder Xuan, I didn''t expect her to arrive¡ª"


    "Quiet."


    The old alchemist''s tone was sharp. He hadn''t let Wei Houtian finish. Initially, this was supposed to be a simple task. Snatch the star fragment. Walk out. Easy. That''s why he''d delegated it. Now? A royal envoy was dead, and the Sword Fairy was here.


    Qingxuan''s lips pressed into a tight line. If it were anyone else, he''d have crushed them without a second thought. But Bai Yujian? She wasn''t some nobody.


    For now, he exhaled slowly, turning his sharp gaze to the pirates scrambling in the sand like worms after rain. Desperate. Pathetic.


    Maybe crushing a few of these rats would take the edge off... but the bitter stench of failure refused to fade, heavy and suffocating. Master Qingxuan''s gaze darkened. He could only hope¡ªpray¡ªthat Bai Yujian wasn''t here for the star fragment.


    If she was... a fight would be unavoidable. And worse, he wasn''t sure he''d walk away from it unscathed.


    ____


    "..."


    Far away, Bai Yujian felt Master Qingxuan''s glare, sharp and probing. Her parasol tilted slightly, hiding the amused curve of her lips.


    She recognized them immediately¡ªMaster Qingxuan, the palace''s ancient schemer, and Wei Houtian, his loyal mutt.


    But something didn''t add up. Why are they here?


    Her focus returned to the tribulation. Zhu Qing''s breakthrough was paramount. Floating closer to the storm, her message was clear: Anyone who interferes will meet a blade sharp enough to cut the heavens.


    "She''s not after the star fragment?" Qingxuan''s lips tightened, relief flickering across his face. Good. The fragment was his prize, the final piece for an ancient pill he''d been crafting for decades.


    Bai Yujian''s disinterest meant she wouldn''t complicate things.


    With a flick of his wrist, a silver cauldron materialized in the air, its metallic sheen shinning like molten moonlight.


    WHOOSH! BOOM!


    The cauldron slammed into the earth, cracking the ground like a divine hammer.


    "Speak." Qingxuan''s tone was soft but deadly. "Who has the star fragment? Tell me, or I''ll scatter what''s left of your miserable lives into the wind."


    The pirate leaders who had somehow survived the storm froze in place, their bodies trembling as though the heavens might smite them next. Their eyes darted nervously between one another, searching for answers they didn''t have.


    Zhao Feng stood stiffly among them, his fists clenched and sweat dripping down his face.


    One pirate, clearly lacking self-preservation instincts, let out a strained laugh. "Star fragment? If we had it, do you think we''d still be here?"


    SLAM!


    The cauldron shifted and smashed into the sand beside him. Poof! The pirate screamed, legs buckling, the ground beneath him splitting like glass.


    "Wrong answer."


    The alchemist''s aura pressed down like a mountain. The pirate''s spirit snapped. He fell limp, his body twitching before falling still.


    The others scrambled, bowing so low their foreheads bled against the cracked ground. "We don''t have it! Please! We swear!"


    Qingxuan''s cold gaze swept over them. Then, his sharp eyes shifted to Bai Yujian. Her back remained turned, her parasol spinning lazily toward the heavens. Her silence spoke louder than words: Their lives mean nothing to me.


    "Does she have it?" Qingxuan muttered under his breath, suspicion flickering in his eyes. If Bai Yujian had already secured the fragment, then this entire trip was a waste.


    Before he could act, the air trembled.


    Whoosh!


    A figure in golden robes descended from the storm, his presence radiating authority like a blazing sun.


    "I have it."


    The voice was calm, yet it hit like a divine proclamation. Golden Saint Wuji.


    Zhao Feng''s face turned ashen. His heart sank like a stone as the golden-robed man touched down with deliberate ease.


    "Zhao Feng." Saint Wuji''s voice was soft, but each word carried weight. "What happened to the task I gave you?"


    Zhao Feng''s legs buckled. He staggered forward, collapsing to his knees. "Saint Wuji¡­ forgive me. This junior has failed you."


    "Failed me?"


    BAM! A suffocating pressure descended, crushing Zhao Feng into the sand. "Agh!" He gritted his teeth, veins bulging as he fought against it. Just as his body was about to give out, the pressure lifted, leaving him trembling and drenched in cold sweat.


    "Explain."


    Zhao Feng gulped. "I¡­ I tried. I fought for it. But¡­ I couldn''t. Please, I only wanted to complete the mission. I¡­ I wanted to earn a place in the sect."


    That was the truth. Zhao Feng''s desperation had led him here. Saint Wuji had promised him a place as a ''core disciple'' in the ''Golden Buddha Sect'', one of the most powerful sect in the ''Tianlong Empire''. For someone from Yue country, where the strongest sects were no more than frogs at the bottom of a well, this was a chance to leave mediocrity behind and step onto the empire''s grand stage.


    Wei Houtian sneered. "So, you''re just some errand boy, begging for scraps from your master?"


    "Enough." Qingxuan raised a hand, silencing him. His sharp gaze fixed on Wuji. "The star fragment belongs to the palace. Hand it over."


    Wuji''s lips curved into a faint, mocking smile. "The palace? Yue country? To the ''Golden Buddha Sect,'' your king is but an insect crawling beneath our boots. If you want it... come take it."


    Qingxuan''s face darkened, but before he could reply, Wuji raised a hand.


    A colossal golden palm appeared mid-air, swelling to monstrous proportions before crashing down.


    BOOM!


    Wei Houtian was sent flying, his body smashing into the ground like a broken puppet. He staggered back up, unharmed yet trembling. Though he forced a glare at Wuji, fear flickered in his eyes. His gaze darted to Qingxuan: What now?


    Qingxuan ignored him, his mind racing. The ''Golden Buddha Sect'' wasn''t just a sect. It was a behemoth¡ªa colossus that towered over the ''Tianlong Empire,'' its saints numbering in the hundreds. Their arrival in Yue country had already shaken the kingdom to its core. The palace thought it was merely a token branch, perhaps for resources. But with Wuji here... something was wrong.


    Why would a juggernaut like Wuji come to a backwater kingdom? For a trivial treasure? Impossible.


    The star fragment was no longer the problem. The sect''s motives were.


    Master Qingxuan''s fists tightened. Killing Wuji here would bring swift annihilation. The sect would grind Yue country into dust without hesitation.


    One misstep, and this fragile calm would ignite into war.


    Wuji''s gaze shifted, and a sly grin spread across his face. "Who is this exquisite creature?"


    His eyes locked onto Bai Yujian, who stood with serene authority, ensuring no one disrupted Zhu Qing''s breakthrough.


    She wasn''t just beautiful. To Wuji, she was divine¡ªa celestial figure misplaced in the mortal realm. Her aura, her indifference, the slight turn of her face... it ignited something primal within him.


    In the Tianlong Empire, he''d seen women like this before¡ªstriking, ethereal¡ªbut they were always far beyond his reach, surrounded by power, status, and sects stronger than even the Golden Buddha.


    Here, in a backwater like Yue country? He was certain. Whatever¡ªor whoever¡ªhe desired was his to claim


    The others caught his leering gaze and exchanged knowing glances.


    "Humph!" Wei Houtian and Qingxuan snorted in unison. Even Zhao Feng grimaced, his face screaming: This idiot is about to court death.


    The fate of Yue''s king¡ªand countless others¡ªwho lusted after Bai Yujian was no secret. None had survived. Unless turning to ash or fertilizer counted as success.


    Yet Wuji either didn''t know or didn''t care. His grin deepened.


    Unbeknownst to him, the ''Golden Buddha Sect''s'' presence in Yue country wasn''t just to establish a branch. The Emperor had grown displeased with Yue''s decay. Wuji''s orders were clear: evaluate, dominate, and destroy if necessary.


    Meanwhile, amidst the gathered rogues, Violet Crane and Iron Mountain¡ªmortal enemies hours ago¡ªnow shared a knowing glance. Survival trumped grudges. Betrayal was cheap, and both were more than willing to pay the price.


    Violet Crane, her severed arm bandaged, was first to move. She stepped forward, her voice quivering just enough to sound convincing. "Senior! The star fragment... it''s with her people!" She pointed at Bai Yujian, as though divulging a sacred secret.


    "Hm?"


    Saint Wuji''s eyes lit up, his grin turning predatory. He had already been wondering how to entangle Bai Yujian in this. Now, the answer was handed to him on a silver platter.


    "Good. You may leave."


    Violet Crane froze, momentarily stunned by her own luck. Without hesitation, she summoned her spirit beast¡ªa massive eagle¡ªand shot into the sky.


    "Thank you, Senior!" she called, her voice fading into the clouds.


    The remaining rogues looked on, their envy growing. Why didn''t I think of that?!


    Zhao Feng clenched his teeth, the thought of betrayal flitting through his mind before vanishing. Crossing Bai Yujian? That was courting death. He had already failed Saint Wuji¡ªoffending both sides would seal his fate. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But Iron Mountain wasn''t as wise. Seeing Violet Crane escape, his envy boiled into resolve. He stomped the ground and Thatdashed off, yelling, "Don''t mind me!"


    SLASH!


    Wuji didn''t even blink. A casual flick of his hand turned Iron Mountain into four perfect pieces. Blood sprayed across the sand as the crowd sucked in sharp breaths.


    Hiss!


    The death of an ant didn''t warrant attention. The world moved on as if nothing had happened.


    Wuji and Qingxuan''s gazes met, a sharp, unspoken understanding passing between them. The star fragment was with Bai Yujian.


    Qingxuan''s lips curled into a calculating smile. "Saint Wuji... let''s stop wasting time. I only need half the star essence to finish my pill. The rest is yours. Let''s take her down together."


    "..."


    Bai Yujian, who had remained silent until now, finally turned. Her parasol tilted slightly, casting a shadow over her sharp gaze. A faint smirk curled her lips, cold and disdainful.


    "Two monkeys scheming to ambush me? How amusing," she whispered, as though addressing insects daring to bite a dragon.

 Chapter 122 - 122: Immortal Sword Spirit!

    "... Two monkeys scheming to ambush me? How amusing."


    "..."


    "..."


    "Monkey!?" Master Qingxuan''s face twisted like he''d just bitten into week-old tofu... black and blue, veins writhing under his skin like worms trapped in parchment. An insult? That was one thing. But in front of juniors? From a woman? Blasphemy.


    His fists clenched, knuckles cracking. Rage boiled over, his voice trembling as he hissed, "You dare..."


    Saint Wuji, the opportunist buddha, was no better. Bai Yujian''s casual disdain hit him too, though he masked it with a grin sharp enough to gut a fish.


    "Good." His teeth gleamed like a merchant spotting free gold. "Let''s deal with her... together."


    He turned to Qingxuan, voice dripping with fake brotherhood. But beneath the grin? Schemes. Once she''s down, the old dog''s next. And her? That sword wouldn''t be the only thing she''d polish for him.


    Wuji''s fantasies shattered when Bai Yujian turned, her parasol dipping low, shadowing her eyes. She stared. First at him. Then at his golden robes. Then... at that smug grin stretched across his face.


    Her lips curled faintly. Was it pity? Disgust? Maybe both.


    The parasol spun once, snapping into place. Its jade handle... gone. In its place? A thin, unassuming wooden stick. The White Jade Sword? Gone too¡ªalong with its handle!


    It wasn''t just a weapon; it was the legend. The kind of blade that made men weep and legends stutter. Even sheathed, its radiance could scorch the eyes of the heavens themselves. That''s why she disguised it¡ªbecause blinding fools wasn''t as satisfying as cutting them down.


    But now, it had vanished.


    Wuji, of course, didn''t notice. His eyes weren''t on her parasol, nor her hands.


    No, his eyes wandered to places they shouldn''t. Bai Yujian noticed. Her smile? It sharpened.


    "Do you wish to die blind?" She said softly, "Keep staring, and I''ll oblige."


    Wuji didn''t hear. Or maybe he didn''t care. He raised his hands high, roaring, "Golden Wheel of Samsara!"


    Crack! Crack! Crack!


    Above him, the reality cracked. A colossal golden wheel tore through the void, ten meters wide, its edges shimming with the promise of decapitation. Vrrrmm! it spun, slowly at first, like a drunk monk murmuring curses at a funeral pyre. The spokes at its center¡ªshinning, razor-straight¡ªwhistled with every turn.


    "Surrender," Wuji growled, catching the wheel mid-spin¡ªclang! Sparks spat. His veins bulged, arms trembling, "And I''ll spare you. Resist, and this wheel will carve your soul so cleanly even reincarnation won''t have scraps to work with."


    Bai Yujian... waved. Not at him. Just... waved. Like she was dismissing a drunk uncle at a family feast.


    Wuji blinked. Then laughed. "What''s that? Surrender already? Good gir¡ª"


    "Who¡ª!?" His instincts screamed. Slowly, like a man realizing he''d stepped on a snake''s tail, he turned.


    Behind him, the White Jade Sword floated unsheathed, its edge shinning across the dark sky. And behind it? A figure.


    Tall. Radiant. Terrifying. Her emerald hair cascaded like a waterfall of jade. Her eyes, twin stars of anger, burned with the promise of pain. And her lips... that smile could''ve killed lesser men outright.


    The Sword Spirit.


    Worst of all? She towered like a mountain, her form immense, and the blade in her hand stretched a hundred meters long. Its radiance ignited the heavens, momentarily blinding all beneath it. Yet her blazing eyes never wavered, locked squarely on Wuji, burning with unholy wrath.


    "Oh... shit," Wuji whispered.


    Now, if you''re new here, you''re probably wondering: what''s a Sword Spirit? Think of it like this: most swords are dumb chunks of metal. Fancy, sure, but dead. But when a blade drinks enough blood, enough will, enough ''everything,'' it grows a soul. A Sword Spirit.


    Out of millions of swords, maybe one grows one. It''s like a pair of balls so colossal they make heaven itself flinch.


    And one stood here, glaring at Wuji.


    "[Azure Sky Slash]," she intoned.


    The sword rose like a second sun, blinding in its radiance. Then it fell.


    Clang!


    Wuji threw his wheel up in desperation. Sparks sprayed as steel met sword¡ªclang!¡ªand crashed to the ground. The earth split beneath him, knees shaking, blood spraying from his mouth.


    The sword pressed down, grinding mercilessly, shrieking as if to cleave him and the wheel in two.


    "How...?" he gasped, trembling. "How does she have this here?!"


    If the fool had bothered to do even a shred of research on Bai Yujian, he''d have known. A Sword Spirit. Rare enough to be whispered about in empires, let alone faced on the battlefield. But ignorance had its cost¡ªand he was paying in blood.


    Watching from the side, Qingxuan''s lips curled into a faint smile. ''Good. Bleed, you idiot. Let her break you, so I can break her.''


    The memory festered. Bai Yujian. That woman. Last time, she nearly skewered the king. If Qingxuan hadn''t intervened, the royal legacy would''ve become a joke¡ªa king, gutted by a woman. Unthinkable. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The thought burned. He didn''t want to face her again¡ªsharp edges, sharper words. But today was different. With Wuji as the sacrificial lamb, he''d teach her a lesson. Break her pride. Her blade. Maybe a few other things.


    With the anger burning through him.


    His trembling hand rose, his fury sharpening into resolve. "[Heavenly Devouring Cauldron.]"


    WHOOSH!


    Behind Bai Yujian, the air twisted, birthing a massive silver cauldron. It spun, sucking in spiritual energy like a beggar at an all-you-can-drink wine stall.


    "!" Bai Yujian slowed, panic flickering in her eyes.


    The Sword Spirit didn''t. It turned from Saint Wuji, who let out a shaky sigh, relief washing over him like a coward spared from the fight he started.


    Then the spirit screamed.


    "EEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAARRRRRGGGHHHH!"


    The furious wail ripped through the air, sharp, like a banshee on a killing spree.


    The White Jade Sword fell, unleashing a slash of intent so vicious it warped space, tearing toward the cauldron like it had a debt to settle.


    Now, here''s the thing about sword intent: it''s not about swinging harder. It''s soul. It''s essence. A manifestation of pure, unrelenting dominance. Sword intent doesn''t cut. It erases.


    The Lunarforge Cauldron, for all its "immortal" name, learned that the hard way.


    Crack!


    The cauldron split cleanly in two. Its remnants crashed, useless. Even the storm above paused, as if muttering, "Damn."


    Qingxuan froze, his hand twitching. His treasure. Gone. Years of forging, wasted.


    "You... bitch," he hissed, composure shattering.


    "Now!" he roared.


    Wuji, still coughing blood, nodded weakly. He chanted:


    "[Celestial Buddha Descent!]"


    BOOM!


    The sky ripped open. A massive golden hand emerged, fingers curled, ready to crush Bai Yujian like a gnat.


    She reached for her sword. But it never returned.


    Before she could move, the massive Buddha''s palm descended, pinning her in place like an ant beneath a boulder.


    Her eyes narrowed.


    Between her and the Sword Spirit stood... Wei Houtian.


    His aura flared like a torch caught in the wind, flickering but powerful. He grinned, unsteady but bold. Raising his huge hammer, he pointed it at the Sword Spirit.


    "Don''t worry, Senior," he muttered, grinning. "I''ll handle the slut spirit. You take the woman."


    The Sword Spirit tilted her head. Slowly.


    Her smile deepened, cold and cruel.


    "Argh!"


    Then ¡ª The Sword Spirit moved like a thunderclap, raising her leg high and slamming it down on him. BOOM! Her heel crushed his chest like a boulder flattening an ant.


    Puchi! Puchi! Puchi!


    Blood erupted from his mouth in a crimson arc, splattering the ground. With a flick of her wrist, she swung the sword toward Bai Yujian, its sharp edge splitting the very air.


    The spirit could act independently, but there was one inconvenient truth: there was only one sword.


    Bai Yujian''s pupils shrank. The Sword Spirit was ''sending the blade back to her''. But her shield was already trembling under the crushing weight of the massive golden palm descending from above.


    If she reached for the sword, she''d lose her shield¡ªand be flattened into paste.


    [Buddha''s Thousand Radiant Palms]


    Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!


    Thousands of smaller, golden palms shot out, rippling like a divine tidal wave. Saint Wuji''s grin stretched wide, a snake savoring the moment before the bite.


    And then...


    BOOM!


    The Wheel of Samsara roared, a spinning golden nightmare that tore through space itself. It shot forward, screaming toward her at impossible speed, its edges gleaming with enough sharpness to slice through heaven.


    Even Bai Yujian''s composure faltered. A weapon capable of matching the White Jade Sword? She hadn''t expected that.


    Moments earlier, the Lunar Cauldron of Master Qingxuan had been obliterated in a single strike. But Wuji''s wheel? It absorbed the full brunt of the sword''s power, its radiance unwavering.


    In front of her, doom approached: the Wheel of Samsara. Behind it, the storm of a thousand palms. Above, the massive Buddha''s hand that promised annihilation.


    Every angle. Every move. It was calculated.


    Saint Wuji licked his lips and sneered. "Checkmate."


    "EEEEEEKKKKKKKKK!"


    The scream tore through the battlefield like a banshee''s wail. The Sword Spirit... she abandoned Wei Houtian, who crumpled to the ground, half-dead and utterly forgotten. With blinding speed, she hurled herself desperately into the barrage of palms, her glowing figure acting as a shield.


    Each palm struck her, tearing through her luminous form, ripping pieces from her body. Blood-like essence sprayed from her spirit, dissipating into the wind. But she didn''t falter.


    "!!"

 Chapter 123 - 123: Playing Hero!

    "EEEEEEKKKKKKKKK!"


    Each palm struck the spirit, tearing through her luminous form, ripping pieces from her body. Blood-like essence sprayed from her spirit, dissipating into the wind. But she didn''t falter.


    "!!"


    Bai Yujian gasped, agony tearing through her soul as the Sword Spirit was cut down in front of her eyes. Her bond with the spirit burned like fire in her chest. Blood seeped from her tear ducts, but she didn''t hesitate.


    The sword. She had to grab the sword.


    With trembling fingers, she reached for the hilt of the White Jade Sword. At that moment, the shield protecting her shattered into a thousand fragments, leaving her exposed to the crushing Buddha''s Palm above.


    Her hand closed around the hilt.


    BOOM!


    A deafening explosion swallowed the battlefield. Dust and golden light erupted, swallowing everything. The heavens themselves seemed to pause in reverence¡ªor fear.


    "Impossible!"


    Saint Wuji''s smug grin faltered, his eyes wide with disbelief. Master Qingxuan''s face twitched, unable to comprehend what had just happened.


    No one... not even these seasoned cultivators, had foreseen this.


    The loyalty of a Sword Spirit was the stuff of legends. Stories told by old men in teahouses. But seeing it? Witnessing the lengths a spirit would go for its master? It was a different kind of awe.


    The Sword Spirit... though battered and torn, floated weakly. Her back faced them. She turned, glancing at the explosion... worry in her eyes. Dim, yet unyielding, her light flickered. Even near death, she radiated an unshakable aura.


    Saint Wuji''s voice broke, trembling as he muttered, "It''s still alive...? What... what kind of monster is she?"


    Master Qingxuan''s gaze snapped to the mangled heap that was Wei Houtian, lying in a pool of his own blood, his face smashed beyond recognition. His breath came shallow, labored. A pathetic whimper escaped his lips.


    Qingxuan''s heart sank further. If Bai Yujian and that damn Sword Spirit survived this mess... they were all as good as dead.


    "The Sword Spirit is the heart of the sword..." he muttered, dread seeping his voice as his hairs rose, a chill gripping his spine.


    For any swordsman, the blade was more than steel¡ªit was blood, bond, and bone. This spirit hadn''t just emerged overnight. No... it was forged over centuries, thousands of years of unyielding loyalty and growth.


    "Damnit!" he spat, cursing his stars, his ancestors, and the heavens above. This woman¡­ this cursed spirit!


    His hands trembled as he strode over to Wei Houtian, grabbing the broken fool by his shoulder. His grip was tight, almost crushing, as though holding onto him could anchor what little chance of escape they had.


    "We''re leaving!" Qingxuan hissed, dragging Wei Houtian like a sack of rotten potatoes. His voice cracked with desperation. He didn''t even bother to glance back at Wuji. If the bastard didn''t have the sense to retreat, then let him die.


    Survival mattered more than pride. And right now, pride was a luxury he couldn''t afford.


    _______


    "Master!"


    The battlefield was chaotic, but behind it? A whole other world of wreckage.


    The Warlord''s palace was no longer a palace. The roof? Gone. The pillars? Rubble. The throne? Split like a cheap melon. Yet, in the center of the destruction, Zhu Qing floated.


    Suspended in heavenly light.


    Her eyes were closed, her clothes in tatters, barely stuck to her body. What remained left her exposed, bathing in divine radiance. She hung there like some forbidden painting¡ªholy, untouchable, and a little too much for Su Xiaobai''s spinning head.


    He groaned. "What the hell is this? A strip show!?"


    The generals knelt below her. All seven, battered and bruised, had somehow survived. Yet now they were reduced to kneeling grunts, their heads pressed to the ground like guilty schoolboys caught red-handed.


    At the corner of the hall, Su Xiaobai noticed movement. The crimson glint of his armor caught his eye, and in the shattered remains of a mirror, the truth slapped him across the face.


    The Warlord''s Seal.


    It wasn''t just equipment... It was the armor itself.


    Now it made sense. Why the Crimson Armor hugged the throne like a stubborn drunk at last call.


    It was alive. A cursed relic, bound to the palace¡ªand now, apparently, bound to him.


    "Shit¡­" Su Xiaobai muttered, running a hand through his hair.


    "Woof!"


    He turned. The Bloodhound, once a monstrous terror with three heads, now lay curled up in a corner. One head. One tiny, adorable, puppy-sized head. The former hellish beast now looked like it belonged on a silk cushion.


    "You¡­" Su Xiaobai pointed, dumbfounded. "You''re kidding me. You were trying to eat me an hour ago, and now you''re this?"


    The Bloodhound gave another pathetic bark, wagging its tail like a kicked mutt.


    "Unbelievable."


    At the edge of the room, Su Xiaobai spotted Xiao Hei. Sprawled on the ground, glaring at him like a cat who''d just been stepped on.


    "You knew, didn''t you!?" Su Xiaobai whispered, pointing a trembling finger. "You threw me into this damn armor on purpose!"


    Xiao Hei didn''t answer. She just smirked, propping her chin on her palm like a smug little devil.


    "Of course you knew¡­" Su Xiaobai groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "You''re always scheming something. You think I won''t discipline you? Just wait till¡ª"


    His words caught in his throat as a deafening boom shook the heavens.


    The fight outside.


    Three figures tore the sky apart with blinding flashes of white and streaks of golden destruction. Su Xiaobai''s heart sank. He didn''t have time for this.


    "Stay here!" he snapped.


    With a thought, the armor vanished. Gone in an instant, yet its presence remained, pulsing within him like an extra heartbeat. He could feel it¡ªlurking, waiting. An ''immortal'' grade equipment. A real one.


    No time to celebrate. Su Xiaobai swept the generals into his ring world with a wave, even grabbing the whimpering flower lady. He shot one last glance at Zhu Qing, suspended in her holy light, and froze.


    Too much had happened¡ªthings he still didn''t have answers to. Her losing control. Sucking the life out of him. What the hell was even going on?


    Complicated. That''s all he could feel.


    He gritted his teeth, muttering, "I''ll deal with you later," before launching himself toward the sky.


    "Humph!" Xiao Hei snorted as his figure disappeared, leaving her alone with Zhu Qing.


    Her lips curled into a smile. "Stupid..." she whispered, her voice low and rare, as her eyes flicked toward Zhu Qing.


    The light around Zhu Qing intensified, the divine glow burning brighter, hotter. Her body trembled. Xiao Hei''s smile vanished as she watched the impossible.


    Zhu Qing''s body¡­ began to shed.


    Piece by piece, her exisiting Immortal Vessel fell. Skin. Flesh. Even bones dissolved into golden wisps, scattering like petals in the wind. What remained was her soul¡ªa tiny orb of light, floating in the divine glow.


    The remnants of her vessel fell to the ground. Xiao Hei''s eyes lit up.


    Treasure¡­! she whispered, her smile returning.


    WHOOSH!


    She darted forward, snatching the fragments before the divine light could destroy them. Normally, anyone who dared step into such radiance would be reduced to ash. But Xiao Hei? She soaked it up like it was a warm summer sun.


    Her body glowed. Her silhouette expanded, growing taller, fuller. Her childlike figure morphed as heavenly qi poured into her, and her eyes¡ªnow crimson orbs¡ªshone with a wicked light.


    The Bloodhound whimpered, curling into a ball, its single head refusing to look her way.


    This was the brat who didn''t die. The monster who bathed in heaven''s wrath like it was bathwater.


    ______


    Back in the sky above the wasteland...


    "Did she die¡­? Haha¡­"


    Golden Saint Wuji chuckled. Nervously. The excitement in his voice didn''t hide the fact that, just moments ago, he''d nearly shit himself.


    The smoke began to clear.


    His words froze Master Qingxuan, who had been dragging Wei Houtian away like a sack of potatoes.


    "Sword Fairy¡­ dead?"


    No. It couldn''t be.


    That woman wasn''t easy to kill. If she had died, though¡­ what about the Star Fragment?


    Greed whispered in his ear. If she was really gone, there was still a chance. His chance. A slimy grin crept across his face, but then¡ª


    RUMBLE! ¡ª BOOM!


    The first heavenly lightning struck, shattering his dreams like brittle glass. It slammed down onto the Warlord''s palace with the wrath of an angry god.


    "She succeeded!?"


    The words slipped from his lips, trembling.


    Everyone paused. The battle, the greed, the schemes¡ªall momentarily forgotten. All eyes turned toward the blinding flash of light that followed the strike.


    It wasn''t just lightning. It was judgment.


    Heaven''s nod.


    When the heavens assented, they reforged your vessel through tribulation lightning¡ªa brutal trial that pushed body, spirit, and mind to their limits. Only nine bolts separated a cultivator from divinity, and Zhu Qing had just begun her ascent.


    Her survival meant one thing: today, Zhu Qing would become something else. Something greater.


    "Idiots! Eyes here!"


    A voice snapped through the air, cold and sharp as a blade.


    Everyone froze.


    Their eyes widened. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It was Bai Yujian.


    She stood tall in the air, her hand gripping the hilt of the White Jade Sword, its radiance shining like a beacon. Her clothes were in tatters, her body bruised, but she was alive.


    But even she looked stunned.

 Chapter 124 - 124: Mantis Stalks Cicada!

    "Idiots! Eyes here!"


    In front of Bai Yujian, gripping the gigantic Wheel of Samsara with his bare hands¡­ stood a white-haired man. His presence was a mystery, his aura unfamiliar.


    Everyone, except a select few, stared at him for the first time¡ªconfused, bewildered, and utterly speechless.


    He looked calm. Smiling, even.


    But Bai Yujian knew better. That smile? That was a man hiding a mountain''s worth of sweat.


    Saint Wuji''s jaw dropped. "You¡ªwho are you!?"


    This¡­ this man! Who the hell grabs the Wheel of Samsara barehanded!? Even he couldn''t do it without the proper techniques.


    It was impossible.


    Bai Yujian was no less shaken. Her mind shook as she recalled the last few seconds. She had shattered the Buddha''s Palm pressing down on her, but the Wheel? That was unavoidable. Yet somehow, this fool had popped out of nowhere and stopped it?


    Su Xiaobai sighed inwardly. Fuck my fate!


    He hadn''t come here to save anyone. He just wanted to look cool for once. Be the hero. Maybe even get some applause. But no. Zhu Qing had to go and hog the spotlight with her heavenly lightning.


    "Now no one''s even looking at me¡­" he muttered under his breath.


    Outwardly, though, he maintained his grin, sweat sliding down his back like a waterfall.


    Fuck.


    He didn''t even want to be here. These were the kinds of people who blew up mountains just to make a point. And now he was standing in the middle of them, holding a unshakeable weapon like it was his morning workout.


    But who made Bai Yujian his master!? What choice did he have!?


    His invincible body saved him¡ªfor now. But it wouldn''t last. The timer was ticking.


    Think, Su Xiaobai. Think fast!


    And then¡­


    Whoosh!


    He waved his hand.


    The Wheel of Samsara vanished, sucked into his spatial ring world like it was nothing more than a fancy trinket.


    Silence.


    Dead silence.


    Everyone''s jaw hit the ground.


    Saint Wuji nearly fainted. The Wheel of Samsara¡ªa weapon so powerful it could erase souls from reincarnation¡ªwas gone. Just¡­ gone.


    "How¡­? How did he¡­?" Wuji stammered, his voice barely a whisper.


    Even Bai Yujian blinked, her grip tightening on her sword. The Wheel was at least soul grade, maybe even an immortal weapon. For its will to be discarded so easily¡­ it didn''t make sense.


    Who was this man?


    Su Xiaobai smiled wider, playing the role of a mysterious master perfectly. Inside, though, he was screaming.


    ''Fuck, fuck, fuck!''


    He prayed the Wheel wouldn''t rebel inside the ring. If it did? He was screwed. But for now, it seemed calm. Maybe the Infernal Emperor''s ring was truly as monstrous as him!


    Either way, he wasn''t sticking around to find out.


    "Call me Master!" Su Xiaobai turned, grinning like a scoundrel, his voice low enough to sound sly but loud enough for Bai Yujian to hear.


    She froze, staring at him like he''d just slapped the heavens. "What?"


    "Call me Master," he repeated, the grin widening.


    Bai Yujian''s eyes twitched. For a moment, it looked like she''d cut him in half. Then she caught the gleam in his eyes¡­ and understood.


    "You¡­ shameless disciple," she muttered.


    "It''s called survival, Jianjian. Play along," he whispered, his grin turning wolfish.


    "Despicable." Her voice dripped venom. She''d rather bite her tongue and choke to death than bow her head like this.


    "¡­"


    Su Xiaobai''s face darkened. Does this crazy woman want us both to die?


    Bonk! Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The slap on her head echoed across the battlefield.


    Dead silence.


    Every eye turned toward them, wide with disbelief. Saint Wuji froze mid-step. Master Qingxuan, dragging Wei Houtian, stopped in his tracks. Even the pirates and Zhao Feng on the sidelines gawked.


    Did this lunatic just hit the Sword Fairy on the head?


    Bai Yujian''s expression turned murderous. Her hand twitched toward her sword.


    Su Xiaobai didn''t care. He raised his voice loud enough for the heavens to hear.


    "Jianjian! Is this how you greet your Master? Have you forgotten your manners!?"


    Bonk!


    He slapped her head again.


    Master Qingxuan blinked, sweat sliding down his brow. "He¡­ he really hit her again?"


    Bai Yujian''s teeth clenched audibly. Her icy gaze locked onto Su Xiaobai''s hand, as if measuring how many ways she could break it. Slowly, she leaned in close, her voice low enough to chill his soul.


    "Master," she hissed, smiling sweetly, "do you want to die?"


    Her fingers wrapped around his wrist.


    "!"


    Su Xiaobai flinched. His grin faltered as he quickly yanked his hand back like he''d just touched a live wire. "Good girl!"


    Bai Yujian''s fingers tightened around her sword. "If we survive this, you''re dead."


    Su Xiaobai chuckled nervously. "Of course, of course. But first¡­"


    He turned to the crowd, his voice booming with false authority:


    "WHO ELSE WANTS TO BULLY MY DISCIPLE TODAY!?"


    "!!"


    The silence hit like a slap to the face.


    Ka¡ªBOOM!


    At that exact moment, the second tribulation lightning struck behind them, splitting the heavens like a divine exclamation point. It was as if the heavens themselves were backing Su Xiaobai''s audacity.


    Saint Wuji staggered back, his face pale. "Senior¡­ this is a misunderstanding," he stammered, forcing a stiff smile that made him look more like a cornered rat than a Golden Buddha Saint.


    What they didn''t know was that Su Xiaobai had pushed spiritual energy into his voice when he spoke¡ªa cheap trick by heavenly standards, but here? It was enough to make these idiots wet themselves.


    Master Qingxuan gritted his teeth. He was already inching toward an escape when¡ª


    "Don''t even dream about leaving!"


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes locked onto him, Qingxuan froze mid-step, sweat dripping down his temples.


    "Venerable Senior!" The old man smiled so wide it looked painful. "We were only here for the Star Fragment! For the King! Everything else is just¡­ a misunderstanding!"


    He thought invoking the name of the king would either frighten Su Xiaobai or pacify him. After all, who wouldn''t hesitate at the mention of royal authority?


    Whoosh!


    Su Xiaobai waved his hand, a golden token flying into the air. Its radiant phoenix insignia shimmered in the light.


    "Your King?" Su Xiaobai sneered, his expression full of mockery. "What does he have to do with me? Only I get to bully my disciple! Who the hell said anyone else gets a turn!?"


    "!!"


    The crowd froze, their hearts sinking.


    "Vermillion Phoenix Dynasty!?" Saint Wuji''s face turned ashen. His lips quivered, his earlier bravado long gone.


    The Vermillion Phoenix Dynasty. The name alone was enough to crush his plans. He''d thought about dropping the name of his Golden Buddha Sect earlier, hoping to intimidate Su Xiaobai, but now?


    No way in hell. If Su Xiaobai was connected to the Vermillion Phoenix Dynasty, he was playing with fire. The Vermillion Phoenix Dynasty and the Tianlong Empire were notorious rivals.


    Meanwhile, Su Xiaobai smirked inwardly. This token? Stolen off some poor girl back in the Silver Wolf territory. He hadn''t even looked at it until now and definitely hadn''t expected it to save his skin today.


    "Ha, who knew a random robbery would pay off this well¡­" he muttered under his breath, just as¡ª


    BOOM!


    The third bolt of tribulation lightning struck, illuminating the sky in blinding light.


    Su Xiaobai used the moment to pull another wild stunt. With a dramatic flourish, he whipped out a radiant, gleaming orb¡ªthe Star Fragment itself.


    "Which one of you wants it?!" he shouted, holding the fragment high in the air. "Step forward! Let''s see who''s stupid enough!"

 Chapter 125 - 125: Masscare!

    "Which one of you wants it?!" Su Xiaobai shouted, holding the fragment high in the air. "Step forward! Let''s see who''s stupid enough!"


    The crowd''s eyes locked onto the fragment, their faces a mix of greed and fear.


    So it''s with him! The realization hit like a hammer.


    Their imaginations filled in the blanks instantly. It wasn''t hard to forge a story. Clearly, Bai Yujian hadn''t come here alone. She was escorting her master, who must''ve traveled all this way for the Star Fragment! That''s why she was here! That''s why he was here!


    Su Xiaobai didn''t even need to speak.


    The idiots were doing all the work for him, their brains running wild with delusions. In their minds, he wasn''t just strong¡ªhe was an unstoppable force of nature, a legend in the flesh.


    "Senior¡­ my Samsara Wheel¡­" Saint Wuji finally muttered, his voice weak, his face pale.


    The Star Fragment? He didn''t care about it anymore. Not one bit.


    The Wheel of Samsara was everything.


    That weapon had been entrusted to him by the sect master of the Golden Buddha Sect, with clear instructions: Don''t lose it. Don''t fail. If he went back empty-handed? He wouldn''t just lose his rank. He''d lose his head.


    But to fight this monster in front of him? He clenched his teeth so hard his jaw ached.


    "Humph!" Su Xiaobai''s frown deepened, his eyes scanning Wuji like he was scolding a dog. "Still thinking about your cheap toys? Come here and get it, then!"


    BAM!


    With a flick of his hand, he released the Wheel of Samsara from his ring. It dropped onto the red sand below, landing with a heavy, resounding thud.


    Saint Wuji froze.


    Was it¡­ that easy?


    "Sigh¡­" He exhaled in relief, his shoulders relaxing as tension melted away. Without wasting another second, he flew toward the wheel, his heart soaring with hope.


    At the same moment, Su Xiaobai gave Bai Yujian a subtle signal with his hand.


    She smiled. Got it!


    "Master, wait¡ª!"


    The two disciples who had followed Saint Wuji cried out, panic flashing in their eyes. But it was already too late.


    "What¡ªargh!"


    Wuji turned mid-flight, sensing something behind him, but his reaction wasn''t fast enough.


    Bai Yujian moved like a shadow.


    Puchi!


    A single leap brought her into striking range. Her sword gleamed in the light, flashing like a shooting star.


    He barely had time to register the pain.


    Her blade pierced through his body with deadly precision, cleaving him clean in half.


    Splurt! Splurt! Splurt! Blood sprayed across the red sands below, painting the ground in a arc.


    Wuji''s upper half trembled as his life drained away, his eyes wide with disbelief. "Y-you¡­!"


    Bai Yujian''s expression was cold, indifferent, as she flicked the blood from her sword. "Didn''t your golden budda teach you? Never turn your back on an enemy."


    Thud!


    She Yujian kicked Saint Wuji''s severed torso aside like a bag of trash, her lips curling into a sneer.


    "Good disciple," Su Xiaobai muttered under his breath, smirking.


    But just to be sure, he extended his hand.


    Whoosh!


    A wave of reddish infernal flames burst forth, oozing like molten lava and engulfing Wuji''s remains in an instant.


    "Agh¡ª!!"


    Wuji''s scream was short-lived, snuffed out by the roaring flames as they consumed him entirely.


    For a moment, Su Xiaobai felt proud. His flames were badass, no doubt about it. But then his grin faltered. Something felt¡­ off.


    "Those flames¡­"


    Master Qingxuan''s eyes narrowed, his expression darkening. He''d seen many things in his long life, but those flames? They were too strong, yet too wild, even for a cultivator of Su Xiaobai''s supposed level.


    Before anyone could dwell on it further¡ª


    Swoosh! Swoosh!


    Bai Yujian was already on the move, her sword flashing as she appeared behind Wuji''s two disciples.


    "W-wait!" they cried, their voices trembling.


    "Too late."


    Puh! Puh! Puh!


    Her blade swept through the air. Blood splattered the sands as their bodies crumpled to the ground in pieces.


    The pirates tried to flee next.


    BOOM!


    One strike. That''s all it took. Bai Yujian cleaved through them like she was chopping vegetables.


    "Sword Fairy! Wait!" Zhao Feng raised his trembling hands, desperation etched across his face. "I''m an elder of the Righteous Cloud Sect! My niece is¡ª"


    Swish!


    He didn''t get to finish. Bai Yujian''s sword split him down the middle with precision.


    Puh!


    Blood sprayed like a fountain, painting the already crimson sands an even deeper red.


    Though Bai Yujian was clearly injured, she showed no weakness. She stood tall, radiating cold authority, her sword dripping blood.


    Su Xiaobai stared, speechless.


    This woman¡­ she was terrifying. He finally understood why Zhu Qing looked so uneasy around her sometimes. His gaze drifted behind him, and he shivered. The thousands of impaled corpses from earlier still stood like a forest of death.


    When Bai Yujian wasn''t looking, Su Xiaobai stealthily stashed a few of the fresher bodies into his ring. His ''Devouring Thorny Flower'' could use a meal, and who knew? It might even evolve.


    "Those flames¡­ they tricked us," Master Qingxuan muttered under his breath, realization slapped on his face.


    His eyes darted to Su Xiaobai. Those flames were far too powerful for someone who didn''t seem to be able to fully control them. It could only mean one thing: he was pretending to be stronger than he actually was.


    It''s all an act!


    But the realization came too late.


    BOOM!


    The final tribulation lightning struck the Warlord''s palace, signaling the end of Zhu Qing''s breakthrough. The skies began to clear, the oppressive heavenly energy fading as calm returned to the battlefield.


    Master Qingxuan turned to leave, but the cold press of a blade against his throat froze him in place.


    "Leaving so soon?~"


    A melodious, seductive voice echoed beside him. He turned his head, and his breath froze.


    A breathtaking woman stood there, her green eyes deep and unfathomable, like endless abysses.


    She hovered barefoot in the air, as if silk itself cradled her steps. Her beauty, now elevated to an unearthly level after her breakthrough, radiated a deadly charm. The fragrance of death hugged her like a lover''s perfume¡ªsweet, intoxicating, and suffocating all at once.


    Her smile was dazzling, but her eyes burned with cold, endless wraith.


    Su Xiaobai let out a low whistle. Damn, Zhu Qing was looking better than ever. Surprisingly, she didn''t scold him this time. Instead, she winked at him, as if inviting him to enjoy the show.


    The last two standing were Master Qingxuan and the unconscious Wei Houtian. The latter had fainted long ago, missing everything.


    But Master Qingxuan? He''d seen far too much.


    Neither Bai Yujian nor Zhu Qing would let him leave alive¡ªnot after Su Xiaobai''s flames had been revealed.


    Even Bai Yujian and Zhu Qing, despite their cold facades, couldn''t hide their shock. How many secrets does this so-called disciple of ours have?


    Those flames weren''t ordinary. Not by a long shot.


    "Spiritual flames" were common among alchemists¡ªuseful for refining pills, but not much else. ''Earth-grade'' flames were rarer, treasured by powerful alchemists and considered priceless artifacts. But Su Xiaobai''s flames?


    They were ''half-step Sky Grade''.


    ''Sky Grade'' flames were the stuff of legends, flames so powerful they were considered sentient. No one could control them¡ªanyone who tried would be consumed, their body taken over by the flames themselves. Even a half-step Sky Grade flame like Su Xiaobai''s was a treasure that could incite wars.


    The problem?


    Su Xiaobai shouldn''t even be alive, let alone using those flames. By all logic, they should''ve devoured him long ago.


    If word of his flames leaked, alchemists from Immortal Rain Valley¡ªand beyond¡ªwould descend upon him like vultures. Not just from the mortal realm, but even from the heavens above.


    He knew this.


    That''s why he never used them unless it was an emergency.


    But now? It was too late. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Master Qingxuan had seen them. And while everyone else who witnessed the flames was already dead, Qingxuan wasn''t. Yet.

 Chapter 126 - 126: Aftermath!

    "Why not just kill him?"


    Su Xiaobai muttered from the side, his tone filled with annoyance, as he watched Bai Yujian at work.


    She had stripped Master Qingxuan of every treasure he owned¡ªcalling it "compensation" for today''s trouble¡ªbut instead of finishing the job and spilling his blood, she was making him swear a heavenly oath.


    An oath.


    Su Xiaobai scoffed, crossing his arms like a lord. His eyes glinted with frustration, and a faint sneer tugged at his lips. "What''s the point of an oath? Just slit his throat and be done with it."


    Zhu Qing, standing nearby, caught his sulking. She sighed softly, the sound almost pitying, and shook her head. "Do you remember where we''re going?"


    Su Xiaobai frowned, his irritation briefly giving way to confusion. "The capital?" S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Yes," Zhu Qing said, her voice tinged with calm authority. "To the royal palace."


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes narrowed. "And?"


    "Think," Zhu Qing murmured, her tone almost teasing. "How do you think we''re going to get inside?"


    Realization slapped him, his face twisting in disbelief as he glanced at Bai Yujian''s back.


    "The dragon pond¡­" he muttered. That ancient treasure was the pride of the royal family. Entry was reserved for those with imperial blood or high favor.


    Zhu Qing smiled faintly, her voice soft, "Don''t think too much. It''s just borrowing a name. Your Elder Bai doesn''t bow to anyone¡ªshe''s merely using her identity."


    Su Xiaobai''s brows furrowed. He could feel his irritation building again. Was she really doing all of this¡­ for him?


    Zhu Qing''s expression flickered, sensing his anger. "She''s not bending to the king. That man''s hopes are nothing more than a dog barking at the moon. He still grips to the title of ''husband,'' hoping to trap her, but she''s no one''s to claim."


    "Then why let this bastard live?" Su Xiaobai snapped, gesturing toward Master Qingxuan.


    "If we kill him, there will be chaos," Zhu Qing explained patiently. "The royal family will cause trouble, and the path to the dragon pond will close to us."


    Her words struck a chord, but they only fanned the flames of Su Xiaobai''s anger. He didn''t care about politics or royal entanglements. To him, it was all an excuse.


    "She''s doing this for me, isn''t she?" he muttered darkly, clenching his fists. That woman thinks I need her protection.


    It infuriated him. He wasn''t weak. He wasn''t some damsel in distress needing to be coddled. His cultivation was growing steadily, and it wouldn''t be long before he stepped into the nascant soul realm. The dragon pond? It wasn''t necessary.


    "She should''ve just killed him," he grumbled under his breath, his tone colder now.


    Zhu Qing stepped closer, gently placing her hand on his. Her touch was warm, calming, but it only deepened his brooding.


    "Don''t worry," she murmured. "He''ll die¡­ just not today."


    Su Xiaobai''s lips curled into a faint sneer. *Not today? What''s the point? Killing is like weeding¡ªleave the roots, and they''ll grow back stronger.*


    He glanced at Bai Yujian, who was still coldly speaking to Master Qingxuan. This so-called master of his¡­ ruthless and efficient, but still holding back.


    It made his blood boil.


    ______


    "Blazing Sun Sect," Bai Yujian said, her voice sharp and commanding, as her cold gaze locked onto Master Qingxuan. "I don''t want to hear its name again."


    Master Qingxuan stiffened, his teeth grinding audibly. ''What am I? Her dog?''


    But he didn''t dare speak the thought aloud. Not after today''s crushing defeat. He had no choice but to bow his head, swallow his humiliation, and retreat.


    Flying toward the Blazing Sun Sect, he cursed his luck. Not only had he failed to obtain the Star Fragment, but he''d also been stripped of every treasure he owned. Worse, he had to carry out this woman''s orders and destroy the sect.


    Even the chickens wouldn''t be spared.


    But his anger burned brightest toward Su Xiaobai.


    Master Qingxuan''s eyes gleamed with greed as he glanced back toward the young man. The flames Su Xiaobai had unleashed¡­ those weren''t ordinary flames.


    ''If those flames were mine¡­'' The thought sent a shiver of excitement down his spine. If he could claim them, his alchemy would ascend to unparalleled heights.


    The entire Immortal Rain Valley would bow to him.


    Su Xiaobai felt the old bastard''s gaze even as he left.


    ''This old foggy still dares to covet what''s mine?'' His fingers twitched, the urge to kill bubbling beneath his calm fa?ade.


    "He can''t speak about your flames," Zhu Qing reassured him.


    "Not after swearing a heavenly oath," Bai Yujian added curtly.


    Su Xiaobai didn''t respond. Heavenly oaths? Rules? He didn''t trust them. He''d seen too many "righteous" cultivators bend the heavens to their will.


    But his anger waned as the spoils of the day were divided. Rare treasures, gleaming tools, and precious pills sat before him like an offering.


    "This¡­" Su Xiaobai muttered, his scowl melting into a grin. "This feels right."


    _____


    Back on the Flying Ship!


    The group returned to the flying ship in silence, the tension from the earlier events hanging heavy like a storm cloud.


    "Qingqing, come with me," Bai Yujian said suddenly, her tone brisk. Without waiting for a response, she grabbed Zhu Qing''s wrist and disappeared into the ship.


    Su Xiaobai blinked, watching them leave. "An interrogation, huh?" he muttered. "Women''s stuff."


    He shrugged and returned to his room. Collapsing onto his bed, he let out a long sigh, the events of the day playing through his mind.


    His gaze darkened. That old bastard Qingxuan¡­ he would return. Greedy cockroaches always do.


    But for now, Su Xiaobai turned his attention to the treasures he''d looted. Among them were a severed arm, several rare pills, and some spiritual tools.


    "Oh, right¡­" he whispered, smirking as he glanced at the stolen corpses in his ring. "Time to feed you, Thorny Flower. Eat up and grow big for me."


    The sinister plant stirred within his ring, its presence pressing against his mind like a hungry beast.


    Su Xiaobai chuckled softly. "Good. Keep eating. One day, you''ll be even scarier than Bai Yujian."


    He leaned back, his grin sharp and cruel. The storm wasn''t over¡ªnot with Master Qingxuan''s greed left unchecked. But if that fool came back?


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes gleamed.


    I''ll burn him to ash.


    Thud!


    His thoughts shattered as the door to his room burst open.


    "Meimei?"


    Su Xiaobai sat up quickly, his body tense, but he relaxed when he saw his little sister''s worried face.


    Her chest rose and fell as if she''d run all the way here. "Gege¡­ are you alright?"


    "I''m fine. What''s with you?" Su Xiaobai waved her off lazily, already annoyed.


    But Su Xiaomei didn''t move. Her gaze darted around the room before locking onto something in the corner.


    Her face paled.


    "What''s¡­ that?" Her voice trembled, and her feet took an unconscious step back.


    Su Xiaobai raised an eyebrow. "What? Did you see a ghost?"


    He turned toward the corner, expecting nothing.


    But what he saw made even his breath froze.


    Rustle ~


    A faint, cold wind blew past the window, near which a woman sat sprawled, her body half-hidden in shadows. Her crimson wedding dress shimmered faintly, its fabric tight against a figure that seemed sculpted to tempt men into ruin. Her skin, pale and flawless, glowed faintly in the faint light, and her long, dark hair spilled like silk over her shoulders.


    But it was her eyes that froze him.


    Blood-red. Piercing. They stared at him with a strange, haunting charm, equal parts sorrow and hunger.


    Su Xiaobai''s grip tightened on the bed frame.


    "Who are you?!" he demanded, jumping off the bed and summoning his crimson sword in a single motion.

 Chapter 127 - 127: Changes in Bloodline! First Descendent!

    "Who are you?!"


    Su Xiaobai demanded, jumping off the bed and summoning his crimson sword in a single motion.


    "..." The woman didn''t reply. She simply sat there, unblinking. Those sorrowful eyes seemed to pierce through him, cutting deep into his soul.


    For a fleeting moment, Su Xiaobai felt an ache in his chest. What the hell is this? Some kind of charm technique?


    His thoughts twisted. No matter how beautiful she is, if she''s here to eat me alive, she''ll choke on my bones.


    Thud.


    The woman''s lips curled into a small smile. Her blood-red eyes gleamed with mischief, and without warning, she moved.


    On all fours.


    She crawled toward them slowly, her movements predatory and deliberate.


    Su Xiaomei let out a small scream, stumbling backward until her back hit the doorframe.


    "What is she?!"


    Su Xiaobai''s body tensed, his sword ready to strike, but then he saw it.


    The way the woman tilted her head, her teasing grin¡ªthere was something annoyingly familiar about it.


    "¡­ Xiao Hei?" he muttered.


    The woman stopped crawling and sat upright, her grin widening.


    Su Xiaomei stared, horrified. "This¡­ this thing is Xiao Hei?"


    Su Xiaobai didn''t respond immediately. The figure before him was nothing like the little brat he remembered. Her frame was no longer petite but tall and full, with curves that seemed designed to test his self-control. Her red charming dress, its low cut revealing just enough to make his throat dry.


    "Meimei, move out," he said suddenly, his voice sharp.


    "B-but¡ª"


    "Now."


    Su Xiaomei hesitated, but she couldn''t stop her body from obeying. Every instinct screamed at her to leave. Even standing near Xiao Hei made her chest feel tight, as if her very soul rejected the woman''s presence.


    Without another word, she bolted from the room, slamming the door behind her.


    Now alone, Su Xiaobai sighed heavily, tossing his sword onto the bed as he collapsed beside it.


    "How the hell did you grow up so fast?" he muttered, glaring at Xiao Hei.


    The once small and troublesome brat had turned into a full-grown woman¡ªno, a dangerous woman. Her charm wasn''t normal. It was a blade wrapped in silk, and it was aimed directly at him.


    Her eyes sparkled as she crawled closer, now sitting at the edge of his bed. She didn''t speak, but her teasing smile spoke everything.


    Su Xiaobai''s gaze flicked down, tracing her thin crimson lips for just a second too long before snapping his eyes back up. Stop. No way. This is Xiao Hei.


    He shook his head sharply, forcing himself to focus on her cultivation. Her strength had skyrocketed¡ªpeak Nascent Soul Realm. A monstrous leap for someone like her.


    "You can talk," Su Xiaobai said, narrowing his eyes at her. "Stop pretending to be some ghostly mute."


    "I liked it better when you were small and annoying," he grumbled, his voice rough.


    Xiao Hei tilted her head, her gaze challenging.


    For a moment, Su Xiaobai couldn''t look away.


    The woman before him was a paradox¡ªhauntingly beautiful yet unsettling, fragile yet brimming with dangerous strength.


    His gaze drifted downward, taking in the crimson wedding dress. Its fabric shimmered faintly, as though soaked in moonlight and blood.


    "Where did you even find a dress like this?" he muttered, his voice unusually soft. "It''s¡­ beautiful."


    He couldn''t remember the last time he''d complimented a woman. And yet, here he was, his words slipping out before he could stop them.


    His hand moved cautiously, reaching out to touch the fabric. He wasn''t sure why¡ªcuriosity, instinct, or something deeper. Though calm on the surface, his heart wasn''t steady.


    This woman¡­ she didn''t make sense.


    She wants to kill me, but she saved me. She should''ve left, but she''s here.


    His thoughts churned. What does she want?


    "Funeral."


    The word was barely a whisper, but it struck him like a thunderclap. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Su Xiaobai froze. Her lips had moved, and her voice¡ªsoft, lilting, yet filled with an aching sorrow¡ªreached deep into him, stirring something he didn''t recognize.


    His heart twisted painfully.


    "Funeral?" he repeated, his voice quieter now. He looked into her eyes, only to find them glassy, filled with an inexplicable sadness.


    "Whose funeral?" he asked, frowning.


    A funeral dress? In a wasteland like this? What kind of lunatic would wear something like that?


    His thoughts darkened. Did this brat kill someone and destroy their wedding? The idea almost made him laugh, but the heaviness in her gaze silenced the humor.


    But then, just as quickly as it appeared, the sadness in her eyes vanished.


    It was like it had never existed.


    Xiao Hei tilted her head, her lips curving into a faint, unreadable smile.


    Her pale, delicate finger slowly rose, pointing directly at him. Despite its fragile appearance, the weight of her gesture was suffocating, as if the heavens themselves were leaning against his chest.


    Thud!


    Her finger pressed against his chest, firm and unwavering.


    "Your funeral."


    Her lips curled further into a sly smile, her red eyes gleaming with wicked intent.


    "!!!"


    Su Xiaobai''s face paled.


    ____


    "Rustle~~"


    The flying ship sailed through the blood-red clouds of the Chi Xie Wasteland... silent as a thief, but bold as a drunk in a brothel.


    On the top deck¡­


    "Do you think Wei Houtian will just swallow this mess and move on?" Zhu Qing muttered, taking a deep breath. She wasn''t worried about a sly old bastard like Master Qiangxuan; foxes like him knew when to bow and when to bite.


    But Wei Houtian? That hot-headed lunatic? Oh, he''d wake up, all right. And when he did? He''d be spitting flames and looking to burn everyone involved.


    Bai Yujian''s eyes barely flickered. Not her circus, not her monkeys. "What happened in the palace?" she asked flatly, as though she already knew Zhu Qing was neck-deep in some divine dung heap.


    Zhu Qing''s lips twitched... She knew the question was coming, but damn, too much had happened in there.


    The cold wind whipped around them as she spilled most of the story... but not all of it. She didn''t breathe a word about Su Xiaobai''s bizarre powers, her demonic arrays, or that cursed Warlord''s Seal now snug in his sticky fingers. Why? Simple. If Bai Yujian found out, that armor Su Xiaobai had? Gone faster than a drunk''s wallet in a gambling den.


    And truth be told, Zhu Qing felt... complicated. Guilty? Not really. Protective? Maybe. She didn''t know why she cared, but there it was, itching under her skin like a rash she couldn''t scratch.


    "Your breakthrough¡­ what about your heart demon?" Bai Yujian asked suddenly, her words cold enough to freeze the marrow in Zhu Qing''s bones.


    "My¡­ heart demon?"


    Ah, the heart demon. Cultivators'' worst nightmare. The nasty little shadow of their deepest fears, regrets, and desires... one wrong step, and it chews through you like rot through wood. Cultivation? Gone. Soul? Corrupted. Dreams of immortality? Kiss ''em goodbye.


    For those with weak bloodlines or mediocre talent, the heart demon''s grip is tighter than a virgin''s first-night nerves.


    Zhu Qing''s gaze darkened as memories flooded in. Back at the Dark Sparrow Sect, the Trial of Shadows had been her crucible¡ªa game of death where the opponents were real. Kill, or be killed.


    She survived. Barely. But survival came with a price. Blood on her hands, her clothes... even her soul.


    Her worst crime? She had killed her last blood relatives.


    The guilt? Eternal. The hate? Oh, she hated blood for this very reason. And yet, the Warlord''s palace had made her confront it all over again.


    Still, something didn''t add up. She shouldn''t have been able to pass the Trial of Heaven, let alone break through. Heaven never forgives a reject. Once you''re marked, you''re stuck forever at peak Tribulation Realm, no matter how much you beg, cheat, or bleed.


    So how? How did she break through?


    "Qingqing, what are you hiding?" Bai Yujian''s tone sharpened, her eyes narrowing.


    Zhu Qing swallowed hard. She exhaled slowly, then raised her hand.


    "Look at this..."


    From her palm, a serpent materialized¡ªa colossal thing with dark, misty scales, crimson eyes, and a crown on its head. Regal. Deadly. Otherworldly.


    "Your bloodline?"


    "Not anymore¡­" Zhu Qing whispered, shaking her head. Her Shadow Serpent Bloodline? Gone. This... this was something else entirely.


    [Primordial Serpent Emperor Bloodline.]

 Chapter 128 - 128: Primordial Serpent Emperor Bloodline!

    [Primordial Serpent Emperor Bloodline.]


    It all started when she exchanged blood with Su Xiaobai. His blood had wormed its way into her body and refused to leave, dominating her own and mutating it into¡­ this.


    Now? She couldn''t even sense her old bloodline. All that remained was the serpent¡­ slithering within her Sea of Consciousness.


    And during that battle at the Warlord''s Palace? Her bloodline had gone berserk, sucking in Death Qi like a starving beast. Hell, even the tiny Hellhound pup at her feet was drained dry, left as nothing but a sleepy, harmless fluffball.


    It didn''t stop there. When Death Qi ran out, her bloodline latched onto Su Xiaobai, greedily drinking his blood until Xiao Hei¡ªhad to step in and save him.


    The result? Her bloodline had evolved, skyrocketing her talent and smashing her limits.


    "So, I was right¡­" Bai Yujian muttered, half-smiling, half-scowling. That brat, Su Xiaobai, was a freak. If his blood alone could shove Zhu Qing past her heart demon and talent cap, then his potential was monstrous. Immortal-level monstrous.


    "Can you feel him?" Bai Yujian asked hesitantly.


    "Feel him? What¡ª" Zhu Qing closed her eyes to try¡­ and immediately regretted it. Her face darkened, her lips trembling in frustration.


    "Elder¡­ I think I''m tied to that brat now¡­"


    Bai Yujian smiled, her amusement poorly hidden. "Well, you''ve become his descendant, after all. What did you expect?"


    Descendant...? Excuse me! S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Zhu Qing nearly choked. Descendant! Wasn''t that just a fancy way of saying she was now Su Xiaobai''s junior?!


    She clenched her fists. No way! Impossible! If that smug bastard found out, he''d tease her forever. Her dignity would never recover!


    Bai Yujian, on the other hand, was thoroughly enjoying this rare moment of Zhu Qing''s panic. "Why are you acting like you''re losing out? If it weren''t for him, you''d be stuck at peak Tribulation Realm forever. You should be thanking him!"


    "Elder, you and your man¡­ you''re both scheming against me!" Zhu Qing blurted, flustered, only to realize she had said too much.


    "Oh?" Bai Yujian''s eyes narrowed dangerously. "What did you just say?"


    Forced to spill the beans, Zhu Qing recounted some of Su Xiaobai''s less-than-flattering remarks about Bai Yujian.


    The elder''s face twitched. A deadly calm settled over her.


    "...Where is he now?"


    Without waiting for an answer, Bai Yujian stormed off to find the brat. Zhu Qing, left alone on the deck, prayed for his survival.


    ___


    "Sigh..."


    Zhu Qing leaned against the ship''s railing, her fingers brushing its edge as if grounding herself to reality. The crimson clouds stretched endlessly, painting the horizon in hues of blood and flame.


    The wind whispered cold secrets against her skin, but her thoughts were louder.


    Su Xiaobai''s survival? She didn''t care. Not really. If he wanted to drag Bai Yujian''s name through the mud by calling her his lover, then he deserved whatever hell came his way. If anything, she''d enjoy watching him crawl out of it.


    But¡­ her grip on the railing tightened. A bitter laugh escaped her lips, soft and slow, like the last notes of a dying song.


    "Strange, isn''t it?" she muttered to herself. "I hated him. Still do, sometimes. And yet, here I am, carrying pieces of him I can never give back."


    Her eyes flickered with a melancholy light, reflecting the sky''s bloodied glow. Death Qi. That dark, suffocating force now coiled within her veins like an unwanted lover. She hadn''t asked for this. She hadn''t asked for any of this. But Su Xiaobai¡­ that brat¡­ had a way of forcing things on her. His bloodline, his secrets, his mess¡ªit was all hers now, whether she wanted it or not.


    Her lips quirked upward, but the smile didn''t reach her eyes. "He gave me a new life I didn''t ask for. And now, I''ll spend the rest of it carrying the weight of his mess. Some gift."


    The ship shuddered slightly as it cut through the crimson clouds, but Zhu Qing didn''t flinch. Her fingers eased on the railing, and a different kind of calm settled over her¡ªone born not of peace, but of surrender.


    "Maybe that''s what broke my heart demon," she murmured, her voice low and distant. "Not the guilt, not the killings, but this¡­ this strange, twisted bond. The one person I trusted enough to show my shadows, and he handed me his in return. How stupid of me."


    She laughed again, this time sharper, louder, tinged with bitterness. It wasn''t a laugh of joy¡ªit was the sound of someone making peace with a wound that would never heal.


    "Whatever," she said finally, her voice taking on a steely edge. "I''ll repay him. I''m not ungrateful. But if he thinks I''ll bow and scrape, he''s more wishful than I am."


    She straightened her back, letting the cold wind whip her hair into a wild tangle. Her pristine white robes fluttered behind her, a splash of religion against the darkening sky.


    For the first time in a long while, she felt alive. Broken? Sure. Shattered like a wine jar dropped from heaven? Definitely. But alive... and that was its own kind of twisted salvation.


    Finally free, maybe she didn''t need to keep hiding her demonic arrays or those filthy shadows she''d kept locked away¡ªat least not from him.


    And the way of righteousness? Ha! That was always a tight-assed fantasy, wasn''t it? No point lying to herself anymore.


    She was meant for darker roads, ones paved with blood and sin¡­ and she was starting to like how they felt under her feet.


    ____


    Click!


    Down below, Bai Yujian stood before Su Xiaobai''s door, her hand resting on the handle. She took a slow, measured breath, though her eyes gleamed with cold fire.


    That brat had dared to drag her name through the mud, claiming her as his lover. She should''ve crushed his boldness the moment he joined the sect, but no¡­ she''d indulged him. And now? Now he thought he could get away with this?


    Her lips curled into a smile, cruel and sharp.


    Without another thought, she pushed the door open, stepping inside with the storm of her anger trailing behind her.


    But the scene that greeted her was not what she expected.


    Her breath froze, her eyes widening slightly as she went still.


    For the first time in years, Bai Yujian found herself at a loss for words.


    "AGH¡ª! You little hellspawn! Not my ears!"


    Inside the room, Su Xiaobai and Xiao Hei were locked in what could only be described as a brawl of pure savagery. No martial arts, no spiritual techniques¡ªjust pure, unfiltered street brawling. Hair was pulled. Faces were bitten. Dignity? Left outside the door.


    Xiao Hei latched onto his ear with a vicious chomp. Su Xiaobai howled in pain. But if she thought he''d let it slide, she had another thing coming¡ªhe bit her right back.


    It was a battle of the most primal kind.


    Until¡ª


    "..."


    "..."


    Both combatants froze mid-scrap, teeth still bared, limbs tangled, as they turned their heads ever so slowly toward the doorway.


    There stood Bai Yujian, frozen in place.


    Her expression? A mask of eerie, almost too sweet amusement. The kind that sent shivers up a man''s spine and made him reconsider all his life choices.


    Su Xiaobai immediately stuffed Xiao Hei into his ring world. The little demon tried clawing her way back out, but he shoved her down again.


    Whoosh! Gone.


    Now, with a forced smile plastered across his face, he straightened up like a proper disciple. "Uh¡­ Peak Lord, you need something?"


    Bai Yujian took slow, deliberate steps into the room, her eyes lazily sweeping over the space, like she expected someone to pop out from under the bed.


    "Who was that woman?" she asked, voice smooth, calm¡­ and deeply suspicious.


    Su Xiaobai''s face darkened. Why is she acting like a jealous wife catching her man in the act?!


    He cleared his throat. "She''s my puppet,* Xiao Hei. After bathing in the divine light of the heavens, she evolved. I, uh¡­ forgot to take her back with me when Peak Lord Zhu was breaking through. Didn''t expect results like this..."


    For once, Su Xiaobai wasn''t lying.


    Completely, utterly honest.


    But life was unfair.


    Because the moment he finished speaking, Bai Yujian''s lips curled.


    "Lies."


    A single word. Flat. Cold. Absolute.


    Heavenly lightning blessing a puppet? Normally, that shit vaporized things! Did he think she was an idiot?!


    Before Su Xiaobai could protest, Bai Yujian stepped forward and¡ª


    SNATCH!


    Her fingers clamped onto his chin, tilting his face up. Their eyes locked.


    Su Xiaobai blinked. ¡­What?


    Bai Yujian narrowed her gaze, searching his expression like a scholar analyzing ancient texts. What is this man hiding?


    Meanwhile, Su Xiaobai''s brain stalled. Not because of fear¡ªoh no. But because at this distance¡­


    Fragrant body¡­ soft breath¡­ is this woman trying to steal a kiss?


    The scent of cold orchids and faint sword qi, stirring something between them. If she leaned in just a little more¡ª


    "Su Xiaobai¡­" Bai Yujian''s voice was low, warning. "What exactly did you say to Qingqing back in the Warlord''s Palace?"


    Su Xiaobai''s scalp tingled. Shit.


    Bai Yujian''s cheeks¡ªjust the slightest hint of pink. But her face? A mask of absolute discipline.


    "From when did I, Bai Yujian, become your lover?"


    Su Xiaobai felt the heavens crashing down on him.


    Zhu Qing, you traitorous wench! You actually snitched!


    Damn.


    "Peak Lord¡­ I can explain."

 Chapter 129 - 129: Xuetian Valley!

    Rustle~~


    The wind shrieked through Xuetian Valley¡­ like a widow wailing for her husband''s impotent Dao.


    On either side of the narrow pathway, walls of ice stood, jagged and endless, as if the heavens had split open and frozen over mid-scream. Each gust of wind carried a faint echo¡­ whispers of the countless souls who had perished here.


    This was no ordinary canyon.


    It was Yue Country''s first line of defense against the Frost Dominion.


    Generations of war had turned this place into a mass grave. The frost had devoured thousands of cultivators, their blood crystallizing into the very ice that now sealed the valley''s fate. The walls weren''t just cold¡ªthey remembered.


    And yet, amidst all this death and solemnity¡­


    A lone bastard stood there, kicking at imaginary pebbles.


    Su Xiaobai sighed, his breath turning to mist, his boot casually nudging a half-buried sword.


    If any soldier from Yue saw him, they''d spit blood, drag his soul back from reincarnation, and make him apologize to every single corpse.


    "Tsk¡­ Tak¡­ What did I even say wrong¡­"


    A rustling sounded behind him.


    Zhu Qing followed lazily, wrapped in her cloak, her smile barely hidden. If anyone else saw them, they''d think they were two top assassins on a covert mission.


    The truth?


    Su Xiaobai was mourning the death of his rizz.


    And Zhu Qing? She was just here to inspect his ''goods''.


    Two days ago, Su Xiaobai had left Chi Xie Wasteland¡­ only to be struck by a realization as devastating as a Qi deviation.


    His old-world rizz was useless.


    He had thought¡ªno, believed¡ªthat Bai Yujian had fallen into his verbal formation. That his silver tongue had slipped past her defenses like a rogue cultivator sneaking into a sect''s forbidden grounds.


    He had spoken. She had listened. And then¡­


    "Never mention it again in front of anyone."


    And left.


    No sword drawn. No cold sneer. Not even a casual threat to cut off his limbs and hang him outside her sect.


    Just that single, soul-crushing sentence.


    No.


    No, no, no.


    Had he just been¡ªfriend-zoned? Disciple-zoned? Or had Bai Yujian invented a new, even crueler zone just for him?


    A great loss.


    With ordinary women, he wouldn''t care. But Bai Yujian? That woman was a celestial fortress with a single entrance¡­ guarded by a divine beast that slaughtered all who dared approach.


    One wrong move¡­ and he''d be crossing reincarnation itself.


    Zhu Qing finally spoke, barely holding back her laughter.


    "Little villain¡­ don''t tell me you''re planning to dig a tunnel instead of climbing the mountain¡­"


    Su Xiaobai turned.


    Shock.


    "How did you know?"


    Zhu Qing''s eye twitched.


    "It''s written all over your face¡­"


    If any other man had dared to utter such thoughts, she''d have castrated them on the spot. But this one?


    This one wasn''t content with admiring the peak from afar.


    No¡­


    He wanted to scale the sacred summit¡­ bare-handed.


    Understanding slammed into Zhu Qing like a rogue demonic beast in heat.


    Su Xiaobai had the ability to absorb Yin Qi. And now, after running into a legendary Sword Fairy, this bastard was seriously considering using her Dao foundation as a dual cultivation shortcut.


    Hah. A cheat code.


    Did he think the heavens would allow this kind of blasphemy so easily?


    Zhu Qing broke. She couldn''t hold it anymore.


    Laughter burst from her lips, the kind of laugh that only a woman who has seen the abyss of shamelessness could make.


    Still¡­ she had her own matters to consider.


    Two days ago, something had changed in her. She could now absorb Death Qi¡ªa power different from his, but undeniably connected.


    It didn''t take long for Su Xiaobai to piece it together.


    It was his blood.


    That discovery had led to some¡­experimental research. And now, finally away from Bai Yujian''s piercing gaze, they had snuck off to a secluded place.


    Zhu Qing wanted to see his spoils¡ªthe Seven Warlords'' treasures, the Crimson Armor, and whatever other depraved trinkets this bastard collected. There was no way they could do such transactions under Bai Yujian''s nose.


    So Zhu Qing led them here¡­


    And yet¡­


    A thought chewed at her mind.


    Would Su Xiaobai really be daring enough¡­ to try and climb the Sword Fairy''s sacred peak with nothing but reckless ambition and a thirst for Yin Qi?


    Would he truly dare to plant his flag where no man had before?


    Hah.


    She almost wanted to see him try.


    "Okay, stop whining. What else did you loot from the Blood Warlord''s palace?" Zhu Qing nudged Su Xiaobai, impatient. She had zero interest in the accidental romance saga between him and Bai Yujian.


    But ancient war treasures? Forbidden artifacts? Undead relics that could shake the heavens? Now that was worth her time.


    Su Xiaobai stroked his chin. "Well¡­ not much¡­"


    Then he shook his hand.


    Thud!


    A crimson glow burst from thin air, and with a heavy crash, a bloodstained armor landed before them, its crimson plates pulsing like living flesh.


    Zhu Qing narrowed her eyes. She had expected this.


    "That''s the Warlord''s seal," Su Xiaobai explained. "But it doesn''t work the way the rumors said¡­"


    Zhu Qing frowned. "Then how does it work?"


    If it couldn''t control the undead army of Chi Xie Wasteland, what was its purpose?


    Su Xiaobai snorted.


    He already expected that the failed creatures from the Blood Warlord''s ritual wouldn''t recognize him.


    But something else did.


    His generals.


    Whoosh!


    A sudden gust of cold killing intent** swept through the air.


    "MASTER!"


    One by one, figures emerged. Clad in broken battle gear, their eyes flickered with eerie crimson light as they knelt in unison.


    Zhu Qing stiffened.


    Her PTSD hit like a heavenly tribulation. These bastards.


    These undead warlords.


    Her fingers twitched, ready to eviscerate them, but¡ª


    "Not needed."


    Su Xiaobai held her wrist. Calm. Unfazed.


    "The Crimson Armor has recognized me as its new master," he said. "They answer only to me now."


    Zhu Qing''s jaw nearly dislocated.


    "What¡ª!?"


    Such a fortune. If she had known¡­ she would''ve taken the damn armor herself!


    That should have been her first thought. But for some reason, she didn''t feel that way. Instead¡­ she felt pleased.


    Why?


    She wasn''t used to this feeling. Not at all.


    Then¡ª


    BONK!


    A loud thud echoed through the valley.


    Zhu Qing snapped her head up.


    Su Xiaobai had just casually smashed his fist onto the head of the first kneeling warlord general.


    Or rather¡ª


    A woman.


    A beautiful woman.


    Emerald-green hair flowed like living vines, cascading over her shoulders. Her eyes shimmered like jade pools, deep and unfathomable.


    And yet, she knelt obediently, her delicate face downcast.


    Su Xiaobai towered over her, cracking his knuckles.


    "You little flower slut."


    Zhu Qing''s eyebrow twitched.


    "You were so eager to plant your seeds in me before¡ªwhat happened now?"


    The kneeling woman lifted her head slightly. Her lips curved.


    "Lord¡­" Her voice was soft. Breathy. "I have no offspring¡­"


    Hiss~! A chill rushed down Su Xiaobai''s spine.


    This woman.


    Even after death¡ªshe hadn''t given up.


    Zhu Qing''s brows rose with amusement. This crazy plant demon still wanted to root herself inside Su Xiaobai?!


    Little did she know¡ª


    This wasn''t just any undead warlord.


    This was Yi Muqing.


    The Plumshade Immortal.


    ____


    [The Tragic Bloom of Yi Muqing]


    Yi Muqing was the last-born of the "Plum Spirit race".


    She cultivated the ''Everblooming Plum Dao'', a path that drew vitality from the world itself.


    But when her clan was slaughtered by a mysterious man, she chose revenge over the Dao of Life.


    She abandoned her sacred art.


    She turned to forbidden techniques.


    Betrayed by her own master¡­ she perished in agony.


    The Blood Warlord found her broken soul and dragged her back from the underworld.


    Now¡ª


    She was no longer a being of life.


    She was a ghost immortal.


    A cursed entity whose presence sapped vitality instead of nurturing it.


    Her pale beautiful skin had a faint otherworldly green hue, like a spirit caught between the realms of the living and the dead. Wherever she walked, ''ghostly plum blossoms'' bloomed¡ªonly to wither away instantly.


    The last of her kind.


    And her final wish?


    To repopulate her extinct race.


    To bear offspring and bring her clan back.


    She had tried thousands of times.


    With thousands of men.


    (Through entirely asexual methods. Cough. Cough.)


    She had attempted everything.


    Pill concoctions. Spirit formation rituals. Dao harmonization arrays. Ancient self-fertilization techniques long thought lost to time.


    Yet, she had failed.


    Every. Single. Time.


    Because she was no longer of the Plum Spirit race.


    But a Ghost Immortal.


    And now¡ª


    Her last hope¡­


    Had been passed to her new lord.


    Before dying, the Blood Warlord had given one last decree.


    "The next master¡­ shall fulfill your wish."


    Her ghostly green eyes locked onto Su Xiaobai.


    And her lips parted¡ª


    "Master¡­ shall we try?"


    Su Xiaobai instinctively stepped back.


    One step.


    Two steps.


    Three steps.


    He almost tripped on a half-buried corpse.


    His eyes darted to Yi Muqing''s eerie jade gaze¡ªexpectant, unwavering, far too eager.


    Hell no.


    He had seen bottomless abysses before.


    But this one?


    This was the kind of abyss that swallowed men whole.


    And never spit them back out.


    He needed a distraction. Fast. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Wait¡ª" Zhu Qing suddenly interjected, her voice breaking through the awkward tension. "You said the Blood Warlord knew he was dying?"


    Su Xiaobai''s brow furrowed.


    Right.


    That part didn''t add up.


    Yi Muqing nodded, unbothered by his obvious attempt to change the subject.


    "Yes. The old lord used his immortal blood for divination."


    "..."


    "..."


    Zhu Qing and Su Xiaobai exchanged glances.


    Something wasn''t right.

 Chapter 130 - 130: Seven Undead Generals (1)

    "Yes. The old lord used his immortal blood for divination."


    "..."


    "..."


    Zhu Qing and Su Xiaobai exchanged glances.


    Something wasn''t right.


    If the Blood Warlord had already foreseen his death¡­ Then why hadn''t he prevented it Why did it feel like his death wasn''t a mistake¡­ but an inevitability?


    Why did it feel like¡­ The story of the Blood Warlord wasn''t as simple as it seemed?


    Before Su Xiaobai could voice his thoughts¡ª


    Yi Muqing tilted her head, then lazily pointed to a kneeling figure beside them.


    "Lord, that''s his son. You could just ask him."


    Ku Rong, Crimson Butcher. The towering warlord general remained kneeling, his massive frame as still as the frozen valley around him.


    Yet¡ª


    The moment his name was mentioned¡­ His fists clenched. His body shook. His eyes turned bloodshot. The ground beneath him cracked.


    And then¡ª


    Without looking up, he let out a low, ragged breath.


    "...You wish to know the truth?"


    "Truth?"


    Su Xiaobai frowned, scanning the kneeling generals. He already knew¡ªexcept for Yi Muqing, none of them were truly loyal.


    They weren''t following him out of respect.


    They were following him because they were chained to his balls by the Crimson Armor.


    If the spell failed for even a second¡­ They''d rip his spine out and use it as a walking stick.


    Even Yi Muqing wasn''t much better¡ªshe was just here because the Blood Warlord told her to listen to the ''new lord.''


    For now. Su Xiaobai rubbed his temples. How the hell was he supposed to control these bastards?


    Zhu Qing, sensing his hesitation, smiled.


    "You wanna keep them? Why not just kill them?"


    Su Xiaobai shook his head.


    "It''s good to have¡­ extra strength when the time comes."


    Zhu Qing rolled her eyes.


    Extra strength? Or was this bastard secretly laying the foundation for his own heretic sect, built on depravity and nonsense?


    Still, she didn''t argue. Su Xiaobai didn''t trust the Blood Warlord''s control over these warlords, so Zhu Qing layered another soul-binding array on top.


    Now, these undead couldn''t ''accidentally'' butcher him while he slept.


    Once the array was complete¡ª


    Su Xiaobai cracked his knuckles and turned to the generals. Time to break them in.


    "Hey, Black Horn."


    His gaze landed on Crimson Butcher, Ku Rong.


    "What''s your story?"


    For a brief moment, Ku Rong''s bloodshot eyes flickered with rebellion. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The thought of resistance barely had time to form¡ª


    CRACK!


    A bolt of soul-searing lightning erupted from his body.


    "ARGHHHHHHHH¡ª!"


    Su Xiaobai grinned as the warlord howled like a virgin cultivator experiencing dual cultivation for the first time.


    The rest of the generals? Sweat trickled down their undead foreheads. If Ku Rong, the strongest of them all, couldn''t endure it¡ª


    Wouldn''t they die instantly?


    "ENOUGH!"


    Ku Rong slammed his fist into the ground, panting.


    His veins bulged. His body trembled.


    But he didn''t dare show further rebellion. He took a shuddering breath and spat out the truth.


    ____


    Once¡­


    He was human.


    A child, born to one of the many lovers of the Blood Warlord.


    Until the Blood Warlord threw him into an experiment.


    It burned him from within.


    His tongue blackened.


    His blood curdled into poison.


    His skin turned red, swollen, unnatural.


    He grew monstrous, towering, overflowing with bloodlust.


    His eyes?


    They burned.


    Not with rage.


    But with the thirst for endless souls.


    The Blood Warlord, pleased, gave him a cleaver.


    A cleaver that devoured the souls of everyone it cut.


    A weapon so drenched in agony that its wielder would hear pain of thousand souls every time they touched it.


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes gleamed. An interesting blade. Naturally, he wanted to take a look. He reached for it¡ª


    SCREAMS.


    Endless.


    Thousands. Millions.


    The moment his fingers brushed the cleaver''s handle, an avalanche of tormented souls slammed into his mind.


    Agony. Rage. Madness.


    A tsunami of spiritual filth trying to drown him in depravity.


    He saw things. Men ripped apart from the inside. Women forced into eternal nightmares, their bodies absorbed into the blade itself. A beast with a thousand mouths whispering filth into his ear.


    A black pit.


    Deep. Wet. Bottomless.


    And it wanted him inside.


    "You¡ª!"


    Su Xiaobai yanked his hand back.For a split second, his vision blurred. For a split second, he saw himself sinking into a pit of writhing corpses, his body torn apart, his soul devoured.


    Hiss~!


    His fingers tingled with the aftershock.


    Across from him¡ª


    Ku Rong snorted. His bloodshot eyes flickered with amusement.


    "You think you can wield my weapon?"


    Impossible. Su Xiaobai shrugged.


    "No big deal."


    The other warlords stared at him, unconvinced.


    But inside¡ª


    Su Xiaobai was sweating buckets. What the hell was that just now?!


    For a moment¡ªjust a moment¡ªhe thought he had already died. And Ku Rong? This bastard carried that feeling every time he picked up his blade.


    Su Xiaobai looked at him again. Not as a Blood Demon. But as something else entirely. A man who had already gone insane¡­ but simply hadn''t admitted it yet.


    A man who should have slaughtered the Blood Warlord himself¡­


    And yet, for some reason¡ªhadn''t.


    ____


    Su Xiaobai narrowed his eyes.


    He was sure this bastard wasn''t telling him everything. What happened to his mother?


    Why was he chosen for an experiment?


    Su Xiaobai considered pressing him.


    But after looking at his so-called ''Slaughter Dao'' and ''Blood Refining Demon Sutra,'' he lost interest.


    A good butcher, sure.


    But still just a butcher.


    ¡­Or so he thought.


    Little did Su Xiaobai know¡ª


    This was the moment history recorded as the birth of the Bloodfiend Asura.


    The only one of his race.


    A being who would massacre entire worlds. A butcher who would one day leave for ''just a few days''¡­ and return to find an entire star system erased.


    Mere mention of his name would make the Heavenly Court tremble.


    But that was the future''s problem.


    For now¡ª


    Su Xiaobai was more concerned with the next guy.


    ____


    Golden Winged Reaper ¨C Jin Yuhuang!


    Su Xiaobai cocked his head. At first glance, Jin Yuhuang looked normal.


    Handsome. Golden-haired. Flawless skin that could make jealous fairies spit blood.


    If you took a random celestial young master from the Four Heavens, sprinkled in divine arrogance, and let him age like fine wine in the Qi of superiority, you''d get this guy.


    Except for the metallic golden wings snapped to his back.


    Sharp. Razor-like. Each feather shimmered like a celestial blade.


    Su Xiaobai''s curiosity sparked.


    He reached out¡ª


    Pluck.A golden feather snapped free.


    "..." Jin Yuhuang''s eye twitched.


    Su Xiaobai flipped the feather between his fingers, examining it.


    "Huh¡­ so it''s real."


    He shoved it back in place. Hiss! Jin Yuhuang winced.


    Zhu Qing shook her head, smiling.


    This guy was really testing each one of them. Contrary to what it seemed, Su Xiaobai wasn''t just messing around.


    He was mapping his army. His goals were no longer small. At first, he just wanted to rescue his sister and mother from White Cloud Star.


    But now?


    Now, he wanted to burn that place to the ground. And that demanded power. Serious power. His seemingly useless actions were actually testing their patience, their personalities, and their hidden desires.


    By poking at their backgrounds, he was digging for leverage. If they fought for him willingly¡­ they''d slaughter nations without question.


    Su Xiaobai silently thanked the old man from his past life. That geezer may have been a bitter, scheming bastard, but he had taught him one invaluable lesson¡ª


    How to spot a person''s weakness¡­ and use it.


    And if he conquered Bai Yujian¡­


    Oh, then things would be even easier.


    Once she broke through to Human Immortal Realm, she could traverse space and void freely. With her righteous heart¡­


    He could definitely trick her into a ''justified war'' on his behalf.


    Of course¡ª


    That meant turning her current misunderstanding into reality. One punch from her could obliterate him.


    One wrong move, and he''d be struck down faster than a sect master caught in a brothel raid. But Su Xiaobai was a man who never retreated from a challenge.


    "Bai Yujian¡­ just you wait."


    For now¡ª


    He focused back on Jin Yuhuang.


    Jin Yuhuang''s background was strange. He was a Divine Garuda¡ªa race from the Four Heavens.

 Chapter 131 - 131: Seven Undead Generals! Panther Girl! (2)

    Jin Yuhuang''s background was strange. He was a Divine Garuda¡ªa race from the Four Heavens.


    But he had been cast out from his clan. Why? Too ambitious. His punishment? His wings plucked out. The source of his strength, torn away. The Blood Warlord had given him these metal feathers¡ªa new body, a new chance.


    And so, Jin Yuhuang had created his own path¡ª


    A Dao of Severance.


    And the Sky Tyrant Feather Scripture.


    But here''s where things got interesting.


    None of them were truly alive.


    Yi Muqing had been dragged back from the underworld.


    Crimson Butcher had become a Blood Demon.


    And Jin Yuhuang? His Divine Garuda bloodline was long gone. Now, he was an Undead Garuda.


    Divine Garudas were known for their selflessness. Their noble pride. Yet this one had none of it. Maybe that''s why he was kicked out.


    Su Xiaobai''s voice rang out¡ª


    "You want to go back and kill the people who killed you?"


    Jin Yuhuang''s body shivered.


    His deep blue eyes widened.


    "How¡­ do you know?"


    Su Xiaobai smirked. "You agreed to serve the Blood Warlord¡­in exchange for new wings and a chance to return, right?"


    Jin Yuhuang''s eyes shook. He had never told anyone this. They were cursed for lying¡­ But staying silent? That wasn''t forbidden.


    Yet this bastard had seen straight through his heart. What the hell is this guy¡­?


    Su Xiaobai just smiled.


    Then¡ª


    He turned away. Not waiting for an answer. Because he already knew. Jin Yuhuang sat there, stunned. Watching as his new master moved to the next target.


    And for the first time since his resurrection¡­ He felt a trace of something unsettling. Something he hadn''t felt since he was alive.


    Fear.


    "You are¡­?"


    Su Xiaobai stopped near the panther lying at his feet. Its sleek black fur shimmered, a darkness too deep to be just a mortal beast. Golden slit-pupils flickered with intelligence¡ªfar too aware, far too resentful.


    Su Xiaobai nudged it with his boot.


    "Can this thing even speak?"


    No response.


    He chuckled, already moving on.


    But then¡ª


    "Wait, I know this one!"


    Zhu Qing''s voice broke through the air like a villainess making a dramatic entrance.


    Ye Cuilian, who had almost relaxed, suddenly tensed again.


    "This one is a Phantomkin from the Mingyao Clan." Zhu Qing''s voice dripped with recognition¡­ and amusement. "They''re a nearly extinct race of half-spirit, half-demon hunters from the underworld."


    Su Xiaobai paused. "Half-spirit, half-demon hunter¡­"


    So not just any panther. A seductress of shadows. A huntress bred to kill creatures like her.


    A beast that devoured monsters. And right now? She was the one being hunted.


    His lips curled. "Interesting."


    BAM!


    A sharp crack echoed through the valley.


    Su Xiaobai blinked.


    Zhu Qing had just kicked the panther straight in the face. Aka, Zhu Qing''s ''Welcome Gift'' ¨C A Boot!


    Even Su Xiaobai was startled. But then again¡­ Who was he kidding? He liked this side of her.


    Zhu Qing snorted, arms crossed. "Humph! Stop pretending¡ªwhere''s your demonic form?!"


    Su Xiaobai raised an eyebrow. "Damn. What did this little kitty do to piss you off?"


    Zhu Qing''s eyes darkened. "Bite me."


    Su Xiaobai smirked. "Can''t say I blame it."


    Zhu Qing ignored him.


    "The Nethermoon poison from its bite almost corrupted my entire bloodstream during the battle."


    That had been the moment her blood lost control¡ª


    A venomous infection merging with the cursed blood Su Xiaobai had given her.


    It had almost remade her into something else entirely. And this little panther was the cause. See if it dares now.


    "Grrr...."


    A low growl rumbled from the panther''s throat. Its golden slit-pupils locked onto them¡ªtwo figures above her, one smirking, the other radiating murderous intent.


    Swish!


    It understood. It had no choice. Fate was already sealed. A faint mist rose from its body. Its form flickered. Like a spirit shedding its shell.


    Then¡ª


    It changed. Fur receded. Curves sharpened.


    A feminine figure emerged, clad in black mist that barely concealed anything.


    The sleek black panther melted into something dangerously human. Long midnight hair cascaded past her shoulders, strands shifting like liquid shadow.


    Her eyes¡ªgolden slits that gleamed with residual rebellion. Her skin? Smooth. Unnaturally perfect. She was primal beauty wrapped in danger.


    A woman built for both the hunt¡­ and the kill. And right now? She was kneeling before him.


    Su Xiaobai''s smile widened. "Much better."


    The transformation was complete. No longer a panther¡ªbut a woman.Her body was wrapped in skimpy battle armor, plates covering her chest and lower half, but doing an absolute shit job of actually concealing anything.


    Su Xiaobai almost thought she was human¡ª


    If not for the tails, ears¡­And those two enormous, gravity-defying divine melons that jiggled with every tiny breath she took.


    Big. Round. Soft. Plump rabbits threatening to break out.


    Su Xiaobai momentarily questioned fate. He had always prided himself as a pure human supremacist. Beastkin? Disgusting.


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    As those heavenly twin peaks pressed against her barely-there armor, rising and falling like divine treasures waiting to be plundered¡­


    A dangerous thought surfaced.


    Was this Heaven''s way of telling him to reconsider? Had fate itself decided to forcibly correct his ''preferences''?


    His hand twitched. His Dao heart wavered. His Rod of Justice stood at half-mast. His principles were under attack. He swallowed.


    "Hmph. I''m a man of culture, not a beastkin lover."


    Probably.


    _____


    Su Xiaobai was still fighting his existential crisis when¡ª


    "If you torture this one¡­ I''ll reward you."


    Su Xiaobai blinked.


    "What?"


    He turned to Zhu Qing, who was watching Ye Cuilian with a hungry, sadistic gleam. She wasn''t joking.


    Su Xiaobai''s brows lifted.


    "¡­What reward?"


    Zhu Qing looked just as confused as him. But there was a hint of excitement in her eyes. Ye Cuilian, still on all fours, had just barely adjusted to her humanoid form.


    And the first thing these two psychos wanted to do?


    TORTURE HER?! Her ears flattened. Her golden slit-eyes darted between them in panic. What kind of sick perverts were these two?!


    "Let''s see...." Su Xiaobai cracked his knuckles.


    Then¡ªhe crouched behind her. His fingers wrapped around her tail.


    A gentle grip.


    Testing. Feeling.


    The soft, velvety fur ran between his fingers, warm, slightly twitching under his touch.


    "Hmm¡­ So it''s real."


    Ye Cuilian was already sweating rivers. She cast a pleading look at Zhu Qing¡ªOnly for Zhu Qing''s face to twist in delight.


    This was too good. Su Xiaobai''s grin widened.


    "This one gave you trouble in battle, huh?"


    Zhu Qing snorted. "She didn''t just fight me. She mocked me."


    "Mocked you?"


    "Purposely."


    "I see..." Su Xiaobai nodded in understanding. "That explains it."


    Then¡ª


    His grip tightened.


    Ye Cuilian flinched.


    "Hiyaaah¡ª?!?"


    Her breath froze as he pulled her tail upward. Zhu Qing crossed her arms, nodding approvingly.


    Su Xiaobai was just getting started.


    His hands slid lower. Armor plates unbuckled. Metal slid off.


    A gasp.


    Then¡ª


    A perfectly shaped, plump, delicate¡ª


    PAUSE.


    Su Xiaobai stopped. His expression turned scientific. His fingers drifted lower¡­ and lower¡­


    He was checking. Confirming. Making sure. And then¡ª His thumb gently pressed against a certain spot.


    A tiny, pink, wrinkled¡ª


    "!!?"


    Ye Cuilian''s entire body tensed. Her face turned red. Tears formed in her golden slit-eyes.


    "Y-you¡­ YOU PERVERTED LUNATICS!!" Ye Cuilian''s breath hitched. Her thighs trembled.


    Her tails twitched violently, the soft fur bristling under invisible shame. Zhu Qing threw her head back, laughing.


    Su Xiaobai sighed, shaking his head. With the dignity of a sage reciting heavenly scripture, he placed a hand over his chest.


    "Peak Lord Zhu, how could you suggest such vile acts? I, the Righteous Su, could never bully the weak!"


    Zhu Qing stumbled.


    "PFFT¡ª!"


    She clutched her stomach.


    "Good lord¡­ save me¡­"


    She ran a hand across her face, gasping for air.


    Su Xiaobai, as if contemplating profound cosmic truths, nodded sagely.


    "With pleasure."


    His voice was calm. Absolute. A Daoist master speaking the Heavenly Law.


    Zhu Qing''s eyebrow twitched. Her instincts screamed suspicion¡ª But before she could react¡ª


    Su Xiaobai turned back to his ''subject of study.''


    Ye Cuilian lay collapsed on the cold ground, her once-proud golden slit-eyes glazed in disbelief. Her spirit had left her body. Her breath came shaky, uneven, as if her soul itself had been touched.


    Her delicate white thighs pressed together, an unconscious act of defiance against further humiliation.


    Her tail curled, no longer majestic, but limp¡ª


    A once-proud huntress, now reduced to a shivering, tattered flower swaying in a storm. And Su Xiaobai?


    He paid no attention.


    Instead, he turned to Zhu Qing with a scholarly air.


    "Come, take a look."


    Zhu Qing raised a brow.


    "I''m not into this."


    Her voice was dry.


    This bastard didn''t hold back at all.


    He was still crouching behind the naked back of this beast-woman, his hands resting somewhere Heaven itself refused to acknowledge.

 Chapter 132 - 132: Seven Undead Generals! Half-Ghoul Yin Mistress! (3)

    "C''mon." Su Xiaobai tilted his head, smirking. "A rare sight such as this¡­ it would be a crime against the Dao not to witness it."


    His tone was serious. Almost disappointed.


    Zhu Qing hesitated. Her curiosity, against her better judgment, itched.


    Su Xiaobai gestured at his findings. "Observe." His fingers traced along the soft, exposed skin. "Exactly like a human."


    His voice was filled with genuine marvel, as if he had uncovered an ancient divine artifact. His fingers hovered¡ªthen pointed, like a master explaining a profound array formation.


    "Behold. A tiny celestial gate, round and delicate¡­" His touch drifted lower. "And just beneath it, a hidden valley, warm with Yin Qi¡­"


    Zhu Qing froze. "QUIET!"


    Her face exploded crimson. Her hands clenched. Her Dao heart shook. This shameless, degenerate bastard¡­Did she spoil him too much recently?!


    Zhu Qing had been enjoying Ye Cuilian''s suffering. But now¡ªWatching Su Xiaobai continue without the slightest concern for her presence¡­


    Something felt off. Her arms crossed. Her lips curled slightly. Then¡ª


    "Leave her alone. Don''t violate her in front of me!"


    THUD!


    A heavy silence.


    Su Xiaobai paused. His lips curved, "Oh? So the Elder is suggesting I do it¡­ just not in front of you?" He stood up, smiling.


    Slowly, he wiped his fingers against his robe. Ye Cuilian, still collapsed on the ground, let out a long, shuddering sigh of relief.


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    Her entire brain stopped functioning. Did she really just¡­ Did she really just advise this bastard to violate a woman?! Or did he hear her wrong?!


    Her face soured.


    "The longer I stay near you, the worse my judgment becomes¡­"


    It was true. Her buried, evil heart¡ªwhenever she was near him, it surfaced.


    Like a serpent waking from hibernation.


    "¡­Have I¡­ have I been gaslit into enabling this bastard?" she thought bitterly.


    Su Xiaobai, smiling, spoke casually¡ª"Then don''t stay near me." He stepped forward. Unexpectedly, he helped Ye Cuilian stand up.


    Zhu Qing''s brows furrowed. Then, his gaze locked onto hers.


    "Or¡­ might as well stop suppressing yourself." His voice was smooth. Calm.


    But the words¡ª


    They stabbed into her heart. Zhu Qing''s glare sharpened. What does he even know? If she stops suppressing herself¡­


    A thought surfaced.


    "!!"


    Her pupils contracted. Her heart pounded. Su Xiaobai, meanwhile, was too busy to notice.


    Ye Cuilian stared at him, confused. "Why¡­ are you helping me?"


    Su Xiaobai shrugged. "Don''t look at me like that. If you work honestly for me, I''d never bully you."


    Ye Cuilian''s ears twitched. Her golden eyes burned with resentment.


    "Lies!"


    She spat. Her tails bristled, her fists clenched.


    Su Xiaobai chuckled. "The Lord never lies."


    This panther girl¡­ was the perfect target. A creature summoned from the Underworld, bound by contract. She hadn''t followed the Blood Warlord out of loyalty.


    She had followed him because she had no choice. Which meant¡ªIf Su Xiaobai played his cards right, she would do the same for him. And unlike the others, she wouldn''t need to be beaten into submission.


    No, no.


    She just needed to understand one simple truth. Serving Su Xiaobai was the easiest way to avoid suffering.


    Hiss~ Ye Cuilian lowered her gaze, and took a deep breath.


    Her expression became complicated.


    She slowly stepped behind him. The other generals stared in shock.


    But Ye Cuilian had already made her choice. Old master, new master¡­ it was all the same to her.


    She would simply choose the one who let her suffer the least. And Su Xiaobai¡­? She could already tell. He was far more dangerous than the last one.


    The last master? The Blood Warlord? He was cruel. Brutal. But he never played with her body. Never made indecent actions. He had been harsh, but distant. A man of power, but not of corruption. But this one? Su Xiaobai? His cruelty was different.


    It wasn''t just about control. It was about amusement. The Blood Warlord ruled with fear.


    Su Xiaobai? He ruled with pleasure. A twisted, playful dominance. A master who would laugh as he crushed you. A man who wouldn''t just take your will¡­ He would make you give it to him willingly.


    That. That was far more terrifying.


    She sighed. Then, she spoke.


    "Lord, there are three more."


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes flickered with interest.


    Ye Cuilian continued¡ª


    "The Widow of the Abyss. Mo Jingzhu."


    Su Xiaobai''s brows raised.


    Ye Cuilian, "The Blood Warlord made her himself ¡ª By mating a human and an Abyss Spider."


    Silence. Then, Su Xiaobai laughed heartedly. "That old man was wild."


    Zhu Qing massaged her temples.


    ___


    Mo Jingzhu stepped forward.


    Her obsidian-black eyes glowed, pulsating with hypnotic energy. Dark violet hair cascaded down her smooth, pale shoulders. From the waist up, she was a beautiful woman. From the waist down¡ª A nightmare.


    A massive black spider''s body, its long, sleek legs moving fluidly, eerily silent, exuding cold predatory aura.


    Her lips curved. Her voice dripped with silk and venom.


    "Lord, I can warm your bed~~"


    She licked her lips. Her thick lashes lowered seductively. Her spider legs shifted.She was tempting. Deadly. A woman whose every touch was laced with poison.


    Su Xiaobai almost considered. But then, he glanced at her cultivation technique. "Thousand Venoms Scripture."


    A woman who cultivated a venomous body¡­ and wanted to ''mate'' with him?


    "Humph."


    He could already imagine the tragic fate of any man stupid enough to try.


    Su Xiaobai smirked. "Nice try."


    Ye Cuilian''s ears twitched. She was stunned. How did he already know? She hadn''t even told him yet¡ª


    SLAP!


    A sharp crack.echoed through the air. "Lord¡ªYou!" Mo Jingzhu''s head snapped to the side. Her obsidian eyes widened. Her lips parted slightly.


    In front of her¡ª Su Xiaobai stood tall, his palm still raised. His voice was cold. Commanding.


    "Try some trick again¡­ and I''ll break your legs."


    "..." Mo Jingzhu''s expression twisted.


    She licked the blood from her lips. Then, slowly, her smile deepened. Her eyes burned with hunger.


    "Humph."


    She stepped closer. Her voice lowered, husky.


    "Lord¡­ do that again."


    Her breath brushed against his neck.


    Su Xiaobai blinked. "Huh?"


    Her obsidian-black eyes never left him. Her excitement only grew.


    "I mean¡ªhow dare you! That was cruel! ¡­But if you must punish me, at least do it¡­ properly."


    Su Xiaobai sighed, groaning, ''This woman is a fucking liability.''


    She no¡ª These were not easy to control.


    He glanced around¡ªa Phantomkin assassin who had given up on resistance, an Abyss Spider seductress who enjoyed being put in her place¡­


    And a growing list of women who weren''t just subordinates¡­


    They were walking calamities.


    One wrong step¡ª


    And he''d be the one on his knees.


    Su Xiaobai rubbed his temples.


    He''d have to break them in¡­ one by one.


    _____


    The next one¡ª


    A massive skeletal beast, its towering figure wreathed in ghostly ''nether fire'', its hollow eyes pulsing with eerie blue flames.


    The Boneclaw Dragon.


    Su Xiaobai had already seen its nether fire during the battle. A majestic, terrifying creature. Its origins?


    From the River of Spirits in the Underworld. A guardian of passing souls, meant to escort the dead safely to the afterlife.


    And yet¡ª It was now stuck here, serving a perverted lunatic.


    Su Xiaobai''s lips curled. ''The Blood Warlord really had some deep ties to the Underworld¡­''


    If it were anyone else, the Underworld Lord himself would have intervened by now.


    And yet! The Blood Warlord? He had these creatures as pets. Su Xiaobai nodded to himself. That old bastard wasn''t just playing around.


    _____


    The last one.


    Yinyin.


    Half-Ghoul Yin Mistress.

 Chapter 133 - 133: Yinyin: Probably Ugly, Definitely Trouble!

    The last one.


    Yinyin.


    Half-Ghoul Yin Mistress.


    Unlike Ku Rong, the Crimson Butcher, who was a raging battle maniac¡ª Unlike Mo Jingzhu, the Abyss Spider, who was a venomous seductress¡ªThis one¡­ was the hardest to crack.


    Harder than any of them.


    Her origins? A tragedy.


    Her father¡ªa Ghoul Lord.


    Her mother¡ªa human prisoner.


    Born in captivity. Kept imprisoned for hundreds of years. Until one day...


    The Blood Warlord freed her.


    "Hah. That bastard at least did one good thing."


    But if Su Xiaobai wanted this one on his side...It wasn''t going to be easy.


    She was neither alive nor dead. Her cultivation? A bizarre Eclipsed Yin Dao. Even Su Xiaobai couldn''t comprehend it.


    And her appearance? Completely concealed. Not even her feet were visible beneath that flowing black robe. Her face? Hidden.


    Her hands? Gloved. Her entire existence? Wrapped in mystery.


    Su Xiaobai squinted. ''She must be ugly.'' It was the only logical reason. Even Ye Cuilian told him the same thing.


    No one had ever seen her without her robes.


    So naturally¡ªeveryone just assumed.


    Su Xiaobai squinted at Yinyin for a long moment, his villainous brain running through the only two logical possibilities.


    Either she was so ugly she could cripple a Nascent Soul cultivator on sight¡­


    Or so beautiful she''d spark a sect-wide civil war.


    Either way, too much fucking trouble!


    On the surface, Yinyin didn''t seem unwilling to serve him. But she didn''t seem willing either.


    "Tch," Su Xiaobai clicked his tongue.


    This one¡ª He couldn''t force or manipulate.


    So for now, he let her be.


    And with that, all the generals were sealed into his ring ¡ª almost!


    _____


    After Zhu Qing drained them of their Death Qi, their strength had dropped to Nascent Soul Realm.


    A crippling drop¡ªbut not permanent.


    With the right source of Death Qi, they''d recover quickly.


    ''They''re a bit weak now¡­ but give me time.''


    Once fully restored, these seven warlords alone could flatten an entire sect overnight.


    Su Xiaobai grinned. Things were coming together.


    _____


    Just as they were about to leave¡ª


    A small voice whined.


    "Woof!"


    Su Xiaobai rubbed his temples.


    The Hellhound.


    A once-monstrous beast¡ªNow shrunk to the size of a puppy.


    And it had¡­ a request.


    Su Xiaobai sighed.


    "Is this really important?"


    The Hellhound''s red tongue flopped out.


    Then¡ª


    It lifted its leg.


    And began pissing on the carcass of the Boneclaw Dragon.


    A full stream.


    Steaming.


    Hot.


    A golden baptism of victory.


    The Boneclaw Dragon stared blankly at the ground.


    Its massive skeletal body radiated deep, existential regret.


    "Hah¡­!"


    Su Xiaobai exhaled.


    Then¡ªhe laughed.


    "Someone send this depraved puppy back to the Underworld!"


    ____


    As Su Xiaobai left Xuetian Valley, a smirk stretched across his face. Zhu Qing actually believed him.


    She had no idea that, on the side, he had swiped very special cultivation manual from the Crimson Armor''s remains.


    A true treasure!


    Some things were best cultivated in the dead of night, behind locked doors, preferably with a sinister laugh echoing in the background.


    At this moment, his evil heart had unknowingly crept deeper into the abyss. The desire for power, pleasure, and plundering¡ªit was all getting stronger.


    And yet¡­ something had changed.


    He hadn''t noticed it before, but ever since he entered Xiantian Sect, something about roaming in the valley of flowers had suppressed his nature. Tamed him, even.


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    The filth of the world was bound to splash onto the valley one day.


    And when it did, Su Xiaobai would receive a very rude awakening.


    ____


    After arriving at the flying ship, Zhu Qing was ready to take off again, but¡ª


    A firm grip.


    "Peak Lord Zhu, are you forgetting something?"


    "!!" Zhu Qing turned¡ªand immediately froze.


    This fucking bastard. Grabbed. Her. Ass. The shamelessness. The gall. The absolute villainy.


    A tingling sensation crawled up her spine, and for half a second, her Dao heart shook.


    Then, her fist clenched.


    "Little Villain, do you want a beating?"


    Su Xiaobai, completely unfazed, withdrew his hand like nothing happened. "What about my reward?"


    She narrowed her eyes. If she didn''t know this degenerate, she might have actually taken it seriously.


    Instead, she sighed, massaging her temples. "Hah¡­ you''ve already robbed so much, and you''re still trying to squeeze your Elder dry?"


    Su Xiaobai''s face darkened. "Elder, are you going back on your word?"


    Zhu Qing sighed dramatically. "Alright, fine. Hand over the Star Fragrant. Once we return to the sect, I''ll get it refined into a Star Essence Pill. You need that, right?"


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes lit up like a degenerate spotting free brothel coupons.


    "Here!"


    No hesitation.


    With this, his Godslayer Star Arts would advance two steps! Combined with his other gains, he''d hit Rebirth Realm in no time!


    A small army, a massive power boost¡ªthis trip had been filthy with profit.


    Just as Zhu Qing turned to leave, she felt it.


    That bastard''s gaze.


    Expectant. Shameless. A practiced look of false innocence.


    She shot him a glare. "What now? Didn''t I already promise you?"


    Su Xiaobai smirked. "What if I also throw in a very heartfelt ''Thank you, Elder Zhu Qing''?"


    Zhu Qing scoffed. "I''d rather take back the fragment and make you beg."


    Su Xiaobai paused, then grinned like a devil whispering blasphemy. "...I see. You like hearing me beg."


    Zhu Qing''s fingers twitched. "Scram."


    She shook her head, chuckling as she took off. This guy. If he knew how to haggle properly, she might''ve thrown in an extra gift.


    But she had no time to waste.


    With a flick of her sleeve, she vanished into the sky.


    _____


    From the top deck of the flying ship, a figure watched with clear irritation.


    Bai Yujian.


    She leaned against the railing, arms crossed, lips pursed in a suspicious frown.


    Lately, those two had been spending a lot of time together. Too much time.


    She squinted. "¡­Is it the blood connection?"


    She was right. And also so, so wrong.


    Yes, the blood connection had changed Zhu Qing. Once upon a time, she saw Su Xiaobai as a bug to be crushed under her boot.


    Now? She no longer wanted to crush him.


    No, no. She wanted to keep him close.


    Not because of sentiment. Because they were the same type of bastard. They had the same twisted, conniving, villainous brains.


    That''s why Zhu Qing always noticed him first. That''s why she was always suspicious of him.


    And she wasn''t wrong.


    This bastard was cultivating evil techniques in secret. Although, like her, he didn''t seem to have entered the sect with ulterior motives. He just wanted a place to exist.


    ¡­Or so she thought.


    And that misunderstanding? Only pulled her closer. Right now, however, Zhu Qing had no time for games. She was already tearing through the sky at the speed of a debt collector chasing a runaway debtor.


    She hadn''t forgotten.


    Unlike Bai Yujian, she knew there was still one last loose end.


    ____


    Chi Xie Wasteland!


    Deep in a burrow, nestled beneath ancient rock and mist, a lone Violet Crane rested peacefully.


    She had survived.


    She had escaped the battlefield.


    She had evaded death.


    She had outlived the massacre.


    And now, she believed she was safe.


    ¡­She was so, so wrong.


    A shadow streaked across the sky.


    It moved with the speed of heavenly tribulation, with the force of a wife discovering her husband''s secret savings.


    Calamity was not over.


    It was coming.


    And it was coming for her.


    "W-What do you want to do?"


    Violet Crane''s voice trembled.


    She had fled, hidden, convinced herself that she had escaped the calamity.


    And yet¡ªit found her.


    Zhu Qing''s shadow stood over her, a dark, inescapable force.


    Then¡ª


    A haunting scream pierced the air.


    It echoed through the burrow, reverberating against the stone walls. It lasted minutes¡ªhigh, desperate, shuddering.


    Thud!


    Violet Crane collapsed, drenched in sweat.


    Her breath froze. Her body trembled from the shock.


    "It''s done." Zhu Qing smiled.


    Her silhouette, bathed in the dim glow of the burrow, was the most terrifying thing Violet Crane had ever seen.


    No one would ever know what happened here.


    Zhu Qing had originally planned to kill her.


    Or better yet¡ªgift her to Su Xiaobai.


    That Villain loved beautiful women anyway. She could already imagine his smug face:


    "Oh? A gift from Peak Lord Zhu? How thoughtful!"


    Just imagining it pissed her off.


    Lately, she''d been thinking about him too much.


    Way too much.


    That wasn''t good.


    So instead, she made a different choice.


    Killing was too boring.


    Handing her over to the Little Villain for torture and amusement? Also too boring.


    So why not keep her?


    A hidden piece on the board. A card to play later.


    Fate was bullshit, but if things ever went south, having spies scattered around might be useful.


    At that moment¡ª


    A sickening squelch filled the burrow.


    Violet Crane''s eyes bulged.


    A Gu insect had just torn into her chest.


    "Wh¡ªcough! cough!" She spasmed, choking, before hacking up a mouthful of black sludge.


    She stared at Zhu Qing, horror stretching across her sweat-slicked face. Zhu Qing''s lips curled. "Go back to your life."


    Her voice was calm. Cold. Absolute.


    "You already know how Gu works. At my single command, it will eat your heart from the inside out."


    Violet Crane shuddered.


    "Wait for my signal. Until then, forget everything that happened two days ago in the wasteland."


    And then¡ª


    Whoosh! She was gone.


    Like she had never existed.


    Violet Crane lay there, panting, her chest still heaving, staring at the empty space where Zhu Qing once stood.


    She didn''t know it yet¡ª


    But Zhu Qing''s decision to spare her life today


    ¡­would save her own just a few months later.

 Chapter 134 - 134: Tianshuang Palace! Dragon Spirit Sea!

    Heavenly Frost Citadel!


    The capital of Yue Country¡ªfrozen in an eternal winter of arrogance and political backstabbing¡ªstood tall within a massive dome-like barrier. Outside, the scorching sun blazed like an angry alchemist''s furnace. Inside? A cool, refreshing chill, as if the heavens themselves had decided to give the nobility free air conditioning.


    This was where all the influential families resided, scheming over tea and deciding the fate of lesser mortals.


    Su Xiaobai, a man who had long since made peace with the fact that the universe had a personal vendetta against him, had expected to be ambushed, poisoned, or at the very least, humiliated in some obscure and creative way.


    He had not, however, expected to be shoved into a goddamn dragon-infused sea.


    Splash!


    The water was crystalline, shimmering with an unnatural green glow¡ªthe kind of glow that made a man wonder: Is this spiritual energy¡­ or just really toxic?


    He didn''t get to ponder long.


    Standing at the edge of the pond, Zhu Qing, his dear ''companion,'' wiped away fake tears of sympathy. She grinned, her delicate fingers covered her lips as she let out a sweet, completely unrepentant laugh.


    "Oh no! Little Villain, you actually fell!"


    Su Xiaobai surfaced, spluttering. "Oh, I''m sorry, was I supposed to fly instead? Let me just flap my arms and ascend to the heavens real quick¡ª"


    He cut himself off as he realized where they were.


    The Hall of Tianshuang Palace.


    Towering crimson pillars stood over them, holding up the grand hall like the spines of an ancient beast. The walls bore the solemn gazes of long-dead rulers, their portraits judging every fool who dared enter.


    The pond he had just been unceremoniously dunked into?


    Yeah, just a tiny entrance to the sea beneath¡ªthe legendary Dragon Spirit Sea, a place where spiritual energy was denser than a sect elder''s ego.


    The legends weren''t just for show.


    The sea had been formed when ancient glacial ice melted, condensing into a lake so rich in spiritual energy that even standing near it could boost cultivation. Then, some mystical heavenly dragon blessed it, probably because it had nothing better to do. Supposedly, cultivating here was like sitting inside an overpowered, cheat-tier alchemical furnace.


    Normally, this place was locked down tighter than an old virgin''s belt buckle. But today?


    It was completely empty.


    No guards. No imperial watchdogs. Just silence.


    Su Xiaobai wiped the water off his face, suspicion rising. "Wait¡­ where the hell are the guards?"


    Zhu Qing''s grin widened. "Busy."


    BOOM!


    A faint tremor rumbled beneath their feet. The sound of something enormous slamming into the earth echoed through the palace halls.


    Even from inside, they could hear the distant uproar¡ªshouts, panicked voices, the hurried stomping of officials scrambling like rats.


    Zhu Qing stretched her arms lazily. "It seems our little diversion is working splendidly."


    Su Xiaobai narrowed his eyes. "Diversion?"


    Zhu Qing flicked a water droplet off her sleeve and chuckled.


    "Oh, you''ll see soon enough."


    _______


    Meanwhile, in the Royal Courtyard...


    The capital was losing its collective shit.


    "What''s going on!?"


    "Who the hell put this sword here!?"


    "Alert the king! Call the commander! Someone fetch the minister of ''We Have No Idea How To Deal With This Shit''!"


    BOOM!


    The ground trembled as something colossal had been slammed into the heart of the royal courtyard. Dust and shattered tiles scattered into the air. People backed away in horror, staring up at the ridiculously oversized sword that had just impaled itself into the earth like a divine punishment from the heavens.


    Atop it, perched like a lazy goddess enjoying the morning breeze, was a lone figure.


    Bai Yujian.


    Her long dark hair fluttered against the wind. She tucked a strand behind her ear, her gaze sweeping over the stunned officials below.


    Her lips twitched. Amusement crinkled her eyes.


    "Oh? Did I cause a little commotion?"


    A little? A little!?


    The capital was one panic attack away from declaring a national emergency!


    She had done it again. She had come here, dropped her gigantic sword like an unruly houseguest kicking in the front door, and dared the king to come out and face her.


    Knowing full well that he wouldn''t.


    Her aura flared¡ªan invisible mountain of pressure that crushed everything within a hundred meters. Palace guards collapsed like puppets with their strings cut. Ministers struggled to stay upright. Even the birds in the sky reconsidered their life choices and veered off.


    And so, she waited.


    And waited.


    And waited.


    After an hour, she sighed. "Tch. Still no response? Ugh. At least send a eunuch out to cry at me."


    _______


    Meanwhile, at the Imperial Academy...


    Across the city, at the newly established ''Royal Academy'', a man dressed in elegant robes held a zither in his lap and sighed.


    "It''s happening again," he muttered, shaking his head.


    One of the capital''s top experts, a hidden ace responsible for its security¡­ and a man who absolutely did not get paid enough to interfere in royal marriage drama.


    Officially, Bai Yujian was the king''s wife. Unofficially, she was the walking embodiment of a political disaster.


    If the king broke off the marriage, he would be seen as unworthy to rule. If he didn''t¡­ well, this was what he had to deal with every few decades.


    ______


    Meanwhile, in the Royal Palace...


    At the royal palace, Master Qiagxuan clenched his fists upon witnessing the scene. Then, with a quiet "fuck this," he retreated back to his alchemy chambers, locking himself inside.


    The same couldn''t be said for Wei Houtian, the army commander¡ªwho, unlike Qiagxuan, lacked the wisdom to know when to stay out of things.


    He stormed toward the king''s chambers, dragging an entire council of terrified ministers behind him.


    "Royal father!" he barked, slamming the doors open. "She is here...again!"


    The king did not respond.


    Because the king was currently pretending to be asleep.


    Wei Houtian''s eye twitched.


    "Your majesty! This is a crisis!"


    Still no response.


    A minister nudged Wei Houtian and whispered, "Maybe if we pretend it''s not happening, it''ll go away?"


    Another one sighed. "If that worked, we wouldn''t be in this situation in the first place."


    _____


    Back in the Hall of Tianshuang Palace...


    Su Xiaobai shivered. Not just from the cold¡ªno, this spiritual energy was touching places it had no business touching.


    It wrapped around him, caressed him, seeped into his pores like an overly affectionate mistress desperate for attention.


    His entire body felt like it was being tickled by a thousand tiny, invisible hands.


    And to make things worse?


    The distant screams did absolutely nothing to help.


    "Okay, explain." He rubbed his arms, glaring at Zhu Qing. "What the hell is going on out there?"


    Zhu Qing smiled, the kind of smile that made men check if their wallets were still there.


    "Let''s just say¡­" She casually dusted off her sleeves and strolled toward the grand exit. "While you were taking a bath, someone was taking over the city."


    Su Xiaobai groaned. "What is that supposed to¡­ mean?"


    "Nothing," Zhu Qing waved him off. "Just go dive deeper. The surface only has ten times the normal spiritual energy. At the peak of its depth, it''s a hundred times denser."


    She clapped his shoulder, voice turning too sweet.


    "Little Villain, go sink or swim. We''ll handle the storm outside. But if you crawl back up without a breakthrough¡­ I''ll personally hold you down and make sure you learn how to breathe underwater."


    Su Xiaobai narrowed his eyes.


    There was something very wrong with this situation.


    And yet, before he could process it¡ª


    Splash!


    He was already in the water.


    He sank.


    A massive pillar stretched down into the abyss, disappearing into the depths. He followed it, swimming lower and lower.


    And that''s when it hit him¡ª


    This wasn''t just a pond.


    It was a whole fucking ocean. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Schools of glowing spirit fish swam lazily around him. A massive spiritual sea cucumber lurked near some rocks, pulsating ominously.


    And on the sidelines, a pair of spiritual starfish were aggressively mating.


    Su Xiaobai looked away, disgusted.


    "Even the damn sea creatures are getting more action than me¡­"


    He kept diving, watching as the usual profound Qi around him slowly vanished¡ª


    And was replaced by something else.


    Earth Qi.


    Heavy. Dense. A full-body workout just by existing.


    Su Xiaobai''s eye twitched.


    He had been scammed.


    Earth Qi wasn''t like normal profound Qi. There was a limit to how much the body could absorb. It was mostly used by body cultivators¡ªthe kind of lunatics who punched mountains for fun.


    It was not something delicate little Qi refiners liked to mess with.


    For normal cultivators, this place was basically a death trap wrapped in a treasure chest.


    But for him?


    It was a golden opportunity.


    He grinned.


    To break through into the Earthly Rebirth Realm, he needed to reinforce his body. And this place? It was one big tempering cauldron.


    Without hesitation, he dove even deeper, vanishing into the dark abyss.


    _____


    Above the dragon spirit sea, Zhu Qing watched as Su Xiaobai disappeared into the depths.


    Her smile faded.


    She knew why Bai Yujian had arrived with such a loud, dramatic entrance. As long as she was still officially the queen, no one could touch her.


    The king could not break off the marriage.


    If he did, without ever even consummating the union, it would destroy his reputation. He would become a national joke.


    A ruler who couldn''t even conquer his own woman had no business sitting on the throne.


    And the king knew it.


    That''s why he was pretending this wasn''t happening.


    But Bai Yujian''s actions were still humiliating him.


    And a man like the king? He wasn''t the type to tolerate humiliation for long.


    "How long will that eunuch keep playing magnanimous?" Zhu Qing wondered. Because when he finally retaliated¡­ it wouldn''t be pretty.


    _____


    Inside the Royal Chambers!


    A middle-aged man reclined behind an elegant silk curtain, his golden robes half-open, revealing a muscular chest sculpted by divine physique techniques.


    A cup of fine spiritual wine rested in his hand, swirling lightly.


    "Is she gone yet?" he asked tired.


    The shadowy eunuch beside him, his personal shadow guard, bowed.


    "Your Majesty, she has brought a man to the Dragon Spirit Sea."


    The king''s peaceful expression froze.


    "¡­A man?"


    A cold, vicious glint flickered in his eyes. His grip on the jade cup tightened slightly.


    The eunuch, sensing immediate danger, quickly clarified:


    "It is a young boy. Our sources say¡­ he is her disciple."


    The tension melted.


    "Oh."


    The king leaned back again, some of his anger dissipating. So Bai Yujian hadn''t come to provoke him¡ªjust to train her disciple.


    For now, he''d let it slide.


    It wasn''t that the king had lost interest in her. Far from it. But the last time he had tried to assert his "authority" over Bai Yujian¡­


    It was less of a battle and more of a one-sided thrashing. And getting his royal ass handed to him by his own wife was, frankly, humiliating.


    If he wanted her, he needed to restrain her first.


    A slow, vicious smile crept onto his lips.


    "I will have you, Sword Fairy"


    He swirled his wine.


    "You just won''t know it until it''s too late."


    His gaze sharpened.


    "Let Houtian in."


    The time had come. The final stage of his plan was in motion¡ªthere was no room for failure.


    Wei Houtian stormed into the chamber, his fury barely contained. His last defeat had only stoked the fire within him, turning his hatred for the Xiantian Sect into an unquenchable blaze.


    He dropped to one knee, fists clenched.


    "Your Majesty!"

 Chapter 135 - 135: Breakthrough! Late Earthly rebirth realm! (1)

    Dragon Spirit Sea ¨C Abyssal Depths!


    SPLASH!~


    The world above shimmered with soft green light, a gentle, ethereal glow that whispered promises of enlightenment.


    The world below?


    A black void of ''fuck around and find out'' energy.


    The further Su Xiaobai descended, the more the water thickened¡ªno longer the light, refreshing spiritual mist of the surface but something dense, ancient, and unnervingly intimate. Like an overenthusiastic masseuse that didn''t understand personal boundaries, it hugged to him, wrapping around his limbs, kneading into his bones like it had already paid for the full-body service.


    And the abyss? It yawned open below him, vast and patient, like the mouth of a sleeping behemoth waiting to see if he tasted good enough to bother waking up for.


    Whoosh!


    Then, the ruins emerged.


    An ancient palace, its grand halls long swallowed by time, lay sprawled across the seabed like the discarded corpse of an empire.


    Towering jade pillars jutted from the ground¡ªsome cracked, some half-buried, and all radiating the silent dignity of someone who had been absolutely fucked over by history.


    Then came the chains.


    Massive, each link the size of a small mansion, shattered and scattered across the ruins.


    Whatever had once been bound here? It got out.


    And if the sheer absence of it wasn''t terrifying enough¡ª


    Then the dragon skeleton coiled around the ruins certainly was.


    Colossal. Monstrous. The bones gleamed with an eerie light, their sheer size enough to shove entire mountain ranges into existential crises. Even in death, its aura pressed down on the seabed, as if reminding the world:


    "I was here. I mattered. You will fear me still."


    Su Xiaobai took it all in.


    Then, he exhaled slowly, shaking his head.


    ''A massive, ancient dragon skeleton in a hidden abyss? Right, let me guess¡ªa wise old ancestor spirit is about to pop out and drop cryptic life advice on me?''


    He snorted to himself.


    "Tch. Lazy writing..."


    Then¡ª


    "FUCK!"


    Pain exploded through his meridians.


    His Golden Core was failing.


    ____


    At Peak Core Formation, his Golden Core had condensed to near-perfection¡ªgleaming, flawless, a jewel of cultivated power.


    But therein lay the big, fatal flaw.


    Like an overstuffed stomach after an all-you-can-eat banquet, it had reached its absolute limit.


    Golden Cores could only refine so much before they backfired. And right now, Su Xiaobai was experiencing the spiritual equivalent of food poisoning¡ªexcept instead of a bad stomach, it was his entire goddamn existence on the line.


    His meridians burned.


    His bones creaked, overfilled with traces of unrefined, chaotic Spiritual Qi.


    His blood poisoned¡ªsluggish, corroded from the inside out by his own cultivation. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Su Xiaobai realized, with soul-crushing certainty, that Zhu Qing hadn''t been lying.


    "That crazy bitch really threw me in here to either die or evolve¡­"


    And knowing her? She was probably smiling like a satisfied courtesan who just scammed a prince out of his fortune¡ªchaming, confident, and completely unrepentant.


    Her face flashed in his mind¡ªsoft cherry-pink lips curving into a honeyed smile, teasing eyes sharper than a blade dipped in perfume.


    Silver hair, that kind of face¡­? Shouldn''t she be a virtuous saint, with a heart so righteous it could put Bai Yujian to shame?


    How could someone look so divine, yet be so damn ruthless?


    Thinking about it¡­ was she even the worst offender?


    That demonic little hellspawn, Xiao Hei¡ªwasn''t she the same? All beauty, all curves, and a heart blacker than the bottom of a cauldron?


    Was he cursed?


    Su Xiaobai suddenly had a terrifying realization¡ªhe was surrounded by lunatic women.


    What if Bai Yujian changed too?


    No. No, no, no. He refused to believe it. She was a battle maniac, sure, but she had principles. She wouldn''t one day just wake up and decide to kill him too¡­ right?


    For the first time in his life, he prayed.


    Please, Bai Yujian, don''t switch up on me.


    Su Xiaobai almost smiled bitterly. Almost.


    Why was he planting red flags at a time like this?


    Then¡ªhis heart pounded, his body broke down.


    And suddenly, the only thing he could think about was survival.


    If he didn''t transition to the ''Earthly Rebirth Realm'', his own cultivation would quite literally murder him in cold blood.


    He had no choice.


    So, he let go.


    He dropped his restraints, allowed the Earth Qi to surge into him unfiltered, unrestrained.


    And immediately¡ª


    The first tribulation of Earthly Rebirth hit him like a divine bitch slap from the heavens.


    CRACK!


    His bones exploded.


    Not metaphorically. Literally.


    Pain ripped through him, his entire skeleton shattering as if the heavens had decided, "Eh, let''s rebuild this one from scratch."


    This was Bone Forging¡ªthe first stage of Earthly Rebirth, where the mortal body was ripped apart and reforged with ''Earth Qi'', purging every lingering impurity left by his Golden Core.


    Whoosh!


    The ''Earth Qi'' flooded in, breaking down his brittle human skeleton into pure bone essence, reforging it into something denser, stronger, no longer bound by mortal limits.


    His flesh tore open¡ªbut no blood spilled.


    Instead, flickers of violet lightning crackled from his wounds, dancing along his exposed muscles. His sinew, once soft, reformed, layered with the unyielding toughness of draconic lineage.


    Then¡ª


    His hands twisted.


    Fingers lengthened into razor-sharp claws.


    Blackened scales surfaced, wrapping around his forearms, pulsating with a faint golden glow, veins glowing like molten metal. His body was no longer fully human.


    The Void Thunder Dragon bloodline had stirred.


    A transformation had begun.


    But before he could process the primordial strength surging through him¡ª


    Something in the depths stirred.


    Rumble~!


    A deep, ancient voice echoed through the abyss, sending shockwaves through the water.


    "Void Thunder Dragon Bloodline¡­ Inheritor¡­? How unexpected."


    Su Xiaobai''s vision blurred, his breath caught in his throat.


    From the colossal skeleton, something rose¡ªa serpentine figure, translucent like moonlight on water.


    An ''Azure Dragon Spirit''.


    Even in death, its presence crushed the surroundings with divine majesty. Its gaze, glowing with boundless wisdom, locked onto him.


    And in that instant¡ªSu Xiaobai understood.


    This wasn''t just any Azure Dragon.


    It knew about his bloodline.


    FUCK.


    If he could move, he would have bolted back to shore so fast he''d leave afterimages.


    Because if his guess was right, then this place¡ªthese ruins, the shattered chains, and the massive skeleton¡ªmeant something far worse than he wanted to admit.


    The Wei family ancestors.


    They had controlled this place for generations. The ancestors of the royal clan wielded draconic power.


    And if he combined the evidence in front of him¡­?


    Su Xiaobai''s stomach sank.


    Either:


    The Wei family sealed this dragon here, and it died imprisoned.


    Or worse¡ªthey found it dying and sucked it dry, infusing its blood into themselves to strengthen their own lineage.


    Both options were bad.


    And now, he was standing here with Void Thunder Dragon blood in his veins, in front of a dragon who might think he''s one of the bastards responsible.


    How wonderful.


    Maybe if he played dead¡ª


    Too late.


    The serpent-like dragon spirit lowered its head, peering deep into him.


    Even though it was just a remnant, the sheer weight of its gaze buried him beneath an invisible mountain.


    The water shook.


    This was Long Shao¡ªthe Azure Dragon Spirit that had created the Dragon Spirit Sea.

 Chapter 136 - 136: Breakthrough! Late Earthly rebirth realm! (2)

    Long Shao''s voice was weary, distant¡ªthe sound of a man who had lived too long and given too much.


    "Had you come earlier, I could have given you everything¡­ but I am no longer whole. My remnant is fading."


    His glowing eyes dimmed, like the last embers of a once-roaring fire.


    Eons of battle and imprisonment weighed on his soul.


    Once, he had soared freely, unchallenged. A beast of legend, a divine force that ruled the skies with an iron wing and a fuck-you attitude.


    And then?


    Chains. Sealed, trapped, drained like a divine keg at a mortal drinking contest.


    For eons, he had lingered, waiting.


    Then came the humans.


    Greedy hands. Filthy, mortal fingers siphoning his essence, sucking him dry one piece at a time.


    Su Xiaobai swallowed hard. That phrasing did not sit right.


    And yet, Long Shao had let it happen.


    Not out of weakness.


    Out of indifference.


    What was power, when there was nothing left to protect?


    But now, as he gazed at Su Xiaobai, something in his faded soul stirred.


    "The Void Thunder Dragon¡­ the god revered by the Ancient Might Dragons, the one even the Dragon Clan refused to bow to¡­ It was through its sacrifice that the Dragon Clan still exists today."


    His voice grew faint, his final words heavy with meaning.


    "And now¡­ its legacy rests in you."


    CRACK!


    The spirit shattered.


    Not an explosion.


    A dissolution¡ªlike a thousand tiny stars into the abyss.


    Whoosh!


    The remnants of Long Shao rushed into Su Xiaobai''s body. His dantian twisted violently, expanding like an overloaded cauldron about to burst.


    His body drank in the energy, devouring it like a starving beast at an all-you-can-eat buffet of divine power.


    BOOM!


    A tidal wave of pure, ancient power flooded through him¡ª


    And it did not stop.


    Su Xiaobai''s meridians stretched, Earth Qi and Azure Dragon Essence reinforcing them, widening them to handle the monstrous influx of power.


    His bone marrow liquefied¡ªnot in a "you''re dying" way, but in a "let''s rebuild this bastard into something unkillable" kind of way.


    Golden marrow reformed, infused with lightning, pulsating with the might of draconic lineage.


    His body adapted.


    His strength skyrocketed.


    And yet¡ª


    It wasn''t over.


    Ba¡ªDump!


    His heart throbbed, pulsing like a war drum.


    Then¡ª S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It fucking exploded.


    Not in the "oh no, I''m dead" way.


    In the "let''s yeet this weak mortal organ out and replace it with something made for legends" way.


    A new heart reformed, its every beat rippling with thunderous vitality.


    His lungs burned, restructuring.


    They no longer simply breathed air¡ªthey refined the very environment, extracting energy from everything around him.


    His ''Qi Sea'' expanded, vast as an endless ocean, stretching to house the kind of power that shattered mountains and humbled sect elders.


    Then¡ª


    BOOM!


    A final eruption of energy surged outward, his very existence shifting.


    He had stepped fully into Late Earthly Rebirth realm.


    Not just Bone Forging.


    Not just Flesh Remolding.


    He had burned through the next stages¡ªMarrow Cleansing, Organ Rebirth, and Internal Refinement.


    His body was only one step away from reaching Peak Earthly Rebirth Realm.


    The only things missing?


    Qi Embodiment¡ªwhere his very skin would become immune to mundane weapons, making him capable of fighting lower-realm cultivators with just his bare hands.


    And the best part¡ª"Soul Resonance".


    Spirit and body merging seamlessly.


    A powerful ''Qi Aura'' that would passively suppress weaker beings, making them tremble before his mere presence.


    But¡ª


    The Azure Dragon''s essence hadn''t been enough.


    Long Shao''s final gift had carried him to ''Late Earthly Rebirth Realm'', but Soul Resonance and Qi Embodiment required something more.


    Su Xiaobai exhaled, his breath crackling with residual power.


    His eyes opened.


    His hands trembled.


    Whoosh!


    With a mere thought, his fingernails sharpened, morphing into draconic claws.


    His eyes widened.


    "Holy shit¡­ I can transform!?"


    ____


    Above the Water¡ªDisaster Strikes!


    Zhu Qing stood at the edge, staring into the churning waters below.


    A deep, rolling thunder echoed from the abyss.


    Then¡ª


    A ripple of pure draconic aura surged outward, shaking the entire Dragon Spirit Sea.


    Her pupils shrunk.


    "...That little villain¡­ what the hell did he do?"


    She had a really bad premonition.


    Then¡ªit fucking happened.


    The green, dense spiritual waters of the ''Dragon Spirit Sea'' suddenly turned ordinary blue.


    The Earth Qi¡ªvanished.


    "¡­"


    Zhu Qing''s face fell.


    It was one thing to steal from the Royal Family.


    It was another thing entirely to fucking destroy their holy land.


    Su Xiaobai hadn''t just drained the Dragon Spirit Sea''s power.


    He had wiped it out of existence.


    ____


    An hour later...


    SPLASH!


    Su Xiaobai erupted from the Dragon Spirit Sea like a divine beast ascending to the heavens¡ªunstoppable, unshackled, dripping with newfound power.


    Also dripping with water.


    Also dripping with indecency.


    Because in his grand moment of transcendence, in this glorious display of evolution¡ªHis robes were completely gone.


    Gone. Reduced to atoms.


    His little brother stood proudly between his legs, waving in the wind like a battle banner, greeting the world, the heavens, and whatever unfortunate souls were looking his way.


    And he did not notice.


    Rather, grinned ear to ear, high on power, enlightenment, and absolutely zero shame. His body hummed with uncontainable energy, his very Qi vibrating with the power of an ancient dragon''s inheritance.


    And he did what any self-respecting protagonist would do at that moment¡ª


    He marched toward the nearest witness.


    Which happened to be horrified Peak Lord Zhu Qing.


    ___


    "Elder, you won''t believe it¡ª!"


    Zhu Qing, standing coolly by the shore, arms crossed, eyes sharp, took one look at him.


    Her expression went from curious ¡ú mildly shocked ¡ú horrified ¡ú pure, undiluted disgust.


    Su Xiaobai, still in full naked celebration mode, did not notice.


    "I broke through into¡ª"


    And before she could react¡ª


    He wrapped his arms around her, dragging her into a full-body, wet-ass embrace.


    Her entire body stiffened.


    Her pristine robes soaked through in an instant. Something warm pressed against her stomach.


    Her smile collapsed like a fucking dynasty. Su Xiaobai, for the first time in history, made a woman regret ever meeting him.


    Zhu Qing did not hesitate. Her expression went from ''mildly pissed'' to ''I am about to kill a man''.


    "Little Villain, it''s time to run."


    She didn''t wait for him to process anything¡ªher hand latched onto his shoulder, and together, they BLASTED into the sky.


    "Wait, what¡ª?!"


    Su Xiaobai barely had time to process that his feet had left the ground before his entire world turned into a blur of wind and speed.


    He was so goddamn excited about Late Earthly Rebirth Realm, so caught up in his power-up high, that he completely ignored the fact that his dick was still flopping around mid-air.


    Even as the wind whipped against his very exposed lower half, even as Zhu Qing gritted her teeth in frustration, even as the palace below started entering full-scale crisis mode¡ª


    He was still arguing about cultivation realms.


    "Elder Zhu! Do you even get it?! Do you understand how close I am to Nascent Soul Realm?! I can already feel¡ª"


    "I can already SEE too much!!" she snapped, eyes glued straight ahead as she refused to look down.


    "For God''s sake, Little Villain, cover yourself or I will personally throw you into the sun!"


    The only reason Zhu Qing had even bothered grabbing him instead of kicking him into the sea again¡­


    Was because they needed to leave. Immediately.


    The Royal Family was about to find out that their most sacred, treasured, irreplaceable Dragon Spirit Sea had just been permanently fucking deleted.


    ______


    Meanwhile...


    Bai Yujian, standing coolly on her oversized sword, glanced up. She saw Zhu Qing''s panicked evacuation.


    Her eyebrows raised. Then she got the signal...Her sword shrunk.


    And then¡ª


    BOOM!


    She vanished from the palace grounds, following them at lightning speed.


    The flying ship was already waiting.


    The moment Zhu Qing crash-landed onto the deck, she shoved Su Xiaobai inside like a fucking package delivery.


    The ship took off.


    They were gone.


    The ministers, nobles, and guards on the ground all collectively sighed in relief.


    "Thank the heavens, the Sword Fairy didn''t start a war this time¡ª"


    Then.


    An hour later.


    A single trembling eunuch burst into the royal court, face pale, knees shaking.


    "Y-Your Majesty¡­ T-The¡­ T-The Dragon Spirit Sea¡­ i-it''s¡­"


    Everyone stared.


    "WHAT?! SPIT IT OUT!"


    "IT''S FUCKING GONE!"


    Silence.


    Then¡ª


    BAM!


    The entire court erupted into full-scale circus.


    "WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU MEAN GONE?!"


    "IT''S A FUCKING OCEAN! HOW DOES IT JUST DISAPPEAR?!"


    "WHERE IS THAT BASTARD DISCIPLE OF THE SWORD FAIRY?! HUNT HIM DOWN! BRING HIM BACK!"

 Chapter 137 - 137: What Else Could Go Wrong?

    Meanwhile, on the Flying Ship¡­


    Su Xiaobai, now thankfully clothed, lay sprawled on the deck like a man fresh out of a heavenly brothel, letting the cool night breeze wash over him.


    He stretched, groaning in satisfaction, body still buzzing from his monstrous breakthrough.


    His Qi flowed smoother than a well-oiled courtesan, his muscles felt harder than a sect leader''s moral dilemmas, and his mind?


    Blissfully unaware.


    Because this dumb bastard had absolutely no fucking clue what he had just done.


    Across from him, Zhu Qing sat stiffly, arms folded, expression dark as a widow at a gambling den.


    Bai Yujian stood by the railing, sharpening her sword with slow, deliberate strokes, occasionally throwing him glances that carried far too many possible meanings.


    Su Xiaobai blinked, scratching his chest lazily.


    "...Why do I feel like something bad happened?"


    The night was cool. Too cool.


    The air carried a strange, unnatural peace, like the universe was holding its breath before unleashing hell.


    And the ship?


    Why the actual fuck was it moving so fast?


    Zhu Qing rubbed her temples, **muttering curses under her breath.


    Bai Yujian, already preparing for the inevitable royal ambush, let out a dry, bitter chuckle.


    Something bad?


    Oh, Su Xiaobai¡­


    You just committed an act of divine robbery and planetary-scale vandalism.


    You just erased a royal heritage site off the fucking map.


    How much worse could it get?


    BOOM!


    Below them¡ª


    The entire fucking kingdom had just declared a national manhunt for his ass.


    ___


    A week later...


    They had barely fucking escaped a kingdom-wide manhunt, barely made it back to the sect in one piece, and just when Zhu Qing and Bai Yujian thought it couldn''t possibly get worse¡ª


    BOOM!


    A thunderous roar split the air as a violent shockwave tore through the sect courtyard.


    "GRAND COLLAPSING FIST: FOURTH FORM¡ªSHATTERED HEAVEN PUNCH!"


    "Su Xiaobai, don''t go too far¡ª!"


    BOOM!


    Su Xiaobai turned his head just in time to see a blue-robed bastard charging at him with the enthusiasm of a debt collector who had just found his biggest defaulter.


    Behind him?


    A small fucking army of inner court disciples¡ªall wearing the insignias of Verdant Peak, Stormfire Peak, Fire Peak, and Frost Peak.


    Their eyes burned with righteous fury.


    Their postures screamed ''we''re about to teach you a lesson.''


    Su Xiaobai blinked. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Then swung his fist.


    They Wanted Drama? He Gave Them War!


    BOOM!


    His fist expanded, morphing mid-air, scales ripping through his skin, claws forming at his knuckles.


    Space compressed.


    A single punch shook the entire fucking courtyard, sending dozens of them flying like ragdolls in a hurricane, their bodies tumbling across the ground like discarded vegetables at a market stall.


    The very earth beneath them cracked.


    Su Xiaobai lowered his arm, eyes cold.


    "I don''t go too far?"


    His voice was calm, but it carried the aura of an executioner sharpening his blade.


    "You bastards came out here to test the waters for your master? Who the fuck feeds you dogs?"


    Chen Yong, Wang Fei, and Cai Lei''s faces collectively fell.


    Originally, they had a very simple plan.


    1. Find Su Xiaobai.


    2. Verbally humiliate him a little.


    3. Provoke him into fighting.


    4. Beat the shit out of him under a reasonable excuse.


    5. Look good in front of their masters.


    But the bastard didn''t even wait for step two.


    He had skipped straight to breaking bones.


    And now, they were all rethinking their life choices.


    From the sidelines, a young man in red robes watched silently¡ªCai Lei, the disciple of Xu An, the sect''s enforcement elder.


    He had come to observe, to make sure things didn''t escalate too much. But seeing how quickly things had gone to absolute shit, his lips twitched.


    Su Xiaobai wasn''t just strong.


    He had seen through their plan instantly and responded with the subtlety of a meteor crashing into a chicken farm.


    Chen Yong and Wang Fei¡ª


    These two were originally underlings of Liu Zhenhai, one of Bai Yujian''s personal disciples.


    They had been sent here to ''test'' Su Xiaobai, but now? They were the ones being tested.


    From a distance, Liu Zhenhai clenched his fists, his eyes narrowing.


    He hadn''t expected this.


    And Cai Lei?


    He was here on orders from Liu Chenfu, the Peak Lord of Stormfire Peak, a man who had personal beef with Su Xiaobai.


    He, too, had wanted to test the waters. And together, these factions had formed a plan.


    A simple plan.


    A brilliant, flawless plan.


    At least, until they realized¡ª


    The waters they were testing belonged to a fucking dragon.


    And they were drowning.


    "Su Xiaobai! You are causing unnecessary trouble in the sect¡ªcome with me to the disciplinary hall!"


    A stern voice rang out as Cai Lei stepped forward, shoulders squared, expression righteous.


    The moment the core disciple revealed himself, the other inner disciples exhaled in relief.


    Finally.


    A lifeline.


    Because let''s be honest¡ª


    They had only come here for ten thousand spirit stones to ''teach Su Xiaobai a lesson.''


    Ten thousand.


    To get their bones potentially broken.


    To risk their dignity.


    To challenge a man whose fists now bent space itself. And now? Now, they weren''t even sure that bribe money was enough to cover their fucking medical bills.


    This wasn''t worth it.


    Su Xiaobai glanced at Cai Lei, his face stiff, brows straight.


    If he didn''t know what was happening by now, he would be a fucking idiot. "Good, good." He nodded, slow and deliberate. "I beat some guys up, and now Senior Brother is suddenly interested? It was a ''friendly spar'' within the inner court. Since when did that become a crime?"


    Then, his eyes narrowed.


    "Or is Senior Brother overstepping his bounds?"


    "You¡ª!"


    Cai Lei''s expression twitched. This bastard wasn''t even giving him face?!


    Rustle~ Then, the Wind Changed¡ªAnd So Did the Atmosphere. A delicate fragrance drifted into the air.


    Soft. Sweet. It wasn''t spiritual herbs, nor was it incense.


    It was something far deadlier.


    Womanly scent.


    Su Xiaobai''s instincts flared. His skin prickled.


    The inner disciples felt it too¡ªa strange, subconscious pressure pressing down on them, making their spines straighten, their throats dry, and their thoughts suddenly unclean.


    Then¡ª


    click. click. click.


    Two sets of delicate, yet elegant footsteps rang through the courtyard.


    And then, they emerged.


    Two identical figures, wrapped in skin-tight robes that made sinful promises with every step.


    Their snow-white hair, long and silky, swayed with a teasing rhythm, framing fox-like cunning eyes that gleamed with undisguised amusement.


    Hu Jiao''er.


    Hu Mei''er.


    "Cai Lei, I advise you to stay out of it." Hu Jiao''er, interrupted.


    And stepping forward with her? Her identical twin sister, Hu Mei''er.


    Cai Lei froze, his face instantly paling.


    "Snow sisters?! What the hell are you doing here?!"


    Why were these two here?!


    This wasn''t part of the fucking script!


    Hu Jiao''er smiled, crossing her arms.


    "Did you forget where you are? This is Sword Peak. Or did you hit your head too hard on your master''s lap?"


    Su Xiaobai blinked. Damn. That was unnecessarily personal.


    "Junior Brother," Hu Jiao''er winked at Su Xiaobai''s stunned expression, her fox-like eyes shimmering with mischief. "Give us a good show, beat them up nicely¡­ and we''ll let you experience a golden sandwich."


    Su Xiaobai''s pupils shrank...His very soul trembled.


    A golden sandwich?! Was she for real?!


    Two silver-haired, fox-eyed, sinfully curvaceous twins, standing before him, dangling a perverted dream like a poisoned fruit¡ªand he was supposed to just ignore it?!


    His mind screamed caution, but his heart? His heart was already cupping its hands in gratitude to the heavens.


    But then¡ªHis eyes narrowed.


    A trace of divinity.


    Heaven Qi?!


    Deity Transformation Realm?! What the fuck?!


    Weren''t they just core disciples a few weeks ago? When the hell did they climb to Elder-tier?!


    Even Cai Lei, an Integration Realm expert, was completely suppressed in their presence.


    Seems like a lot of shit happened while he was gone.


    "Jiaojiao! What the hell are you saying?!" Hu Mei''er''s face turned crimson, eyes wide in horror.


    Their original plan had been simple¡ªStep in, support Su Xiaobai, block Cai Lei, keep things from escalating.


    WHEN THE FUCK DID IT TURN INTO A DEGENERATE TRANSACTION?!


    Hu Jiao''er winked at Su Xiaobai, ignoring her twin''s silent meltdown. "I''ll keep this idiot in check," she gestured lazily at Cai Lei, not even sparing him a glance.


    Then¡ªher gaze sharpened


    She turned to Chen Yong and Wang Fei.


    And just like that¡ªThe temperature in the courtyard dropped.


    "As for these two traitors¡­"


    Chen Yong and Wang Fei''s souls left their bodies.


    They hadn''t accounted for core disciples interfering.


    They hadn''t accounted for Su Xiaobai being this terrifying.


    They hadn''t accounted for the fact that they were now completely and utterly fucked.


    Su Xiaobai''s lips curled into a slow, wicked grin.


    He didn''t need to be told twice.


    With a snap of his fingers, Xiao Hei manifested, her crimson eyes glowing with bloodthirsty amusement.


    Su Xiaobai rolled his shoulders, cracking his neck. If a golden sandwich was on the line, then these bastards¡­


    Were about to be ground into paste.


    And whether Hu Jiao''er was serious, bluffing, or outright lying didn''t matter.


    Because Su Xiaobai knew one thing. He knew how to make people keep their promises.


    And if anyone dared deny him his reward...Well.


    His dear Elder Zhu Qing would surely ensure justice was served.


    BOOM!


    He vanished.


    Then¡ª


    CRACK.


    A scream.


    BANG.


    A body flew through the air like discarded garbage.


    CRASH.


    Another inner disciple crashed headfirst into a training dummy, snapping it in half.

 Chapter 138 - 138: Casually Terorrising the Sect! — Su Xiaobais Edition!

    CRACK.


    BANG.


    A body flew through the air like discarded garbage.


    CRASH.


    Another inner disciple crashed headfirst into a training dummy, snapping it in half.


    "W-Wait! We can talk¡ªARGHHH!"


    "PLEASE! WE WERE JUST FOLLOWING ORDERS!"


    "MY LEGS! WHERE ARE MY LEGS¡ªoh, wait, they''re still here."


    "SPARE ME! I HAVE A WIFE¡ªNO, WAIT, I''M STILL SINGLE¡ªBUT I WANT ONE EVENTUALLY!"


    The entire courtyard shook with the whisper of regret. The highest among them was peak Nascent Soul Realm.


    And yet¡ª


    Su Xiaobai dismantled them like a butcher prepping meat for the market.


    The ground cracked, bodies tumbled, teeth scattered, and dignity was permanently erased


    The place was filled with dust, despair, and the sound of future cripples lamenting their poor life choices.


    Hu Jiao''er''s eyebrow twitched. Then, her face turned pale. She had already promised him a golden sandwich.


    And this?


    This was not a man who forgot rewards.


    Her gaze snapped to Hu Mei''er.


    Her twin was already staring daggers at her, eyes full of silent, merciless murder.


    Hu Jiao''er swallowed.


    She may have just fucked up.


    Her delicate fingers twitched, resisting the urge to wipe away the cold sweat forming at the back of her neck. She stole a sideways glance at her twin, her eyes flickering with panic.


    "Sister, don''t worry! We''ll negotiate with him!"


    "Humph!"


    Hu Mei''er snorted, folding her arms under her absurdly divine peaks, refusing to entertain such nonsense.


    Negotiate?


    That was her damn problem!


    She wasn''t about to sacrifice her body for some reckless bet! Hu Jiao''er wanted to wager her thighs? Fine. But why involve her in this shitstorm?!


    Hu Jiao''er''s expression worsened. This was not good¡­


    ____


    Su Xiaobai had been back in the sect for less than a few hours.


    And he had already caused an uproar.


    First, it was the outer disciples.


    Now?


    Now, he had returned from his "trip", walked in like he owned the fucking place, and obliterated a whole squad of inner disciples.


    What the hell was wrong with this man?!


    At this rate, by next week, he''d be punching Elders.


    By next month?


    He''d be demanding the Sect Master''s wife.


    Hu Jiao''er felt a headache forming.


    This bastard wasn''t just fighting¡ªhe was conquering.


    ____


    "Tch." From afar, a pale man draped in dark robes watched the scene his expression a storm of irritation and disbelief.


    Liu Chenfu.


    The Peak Lord of Stormfire Peak.


    His narrowed gaze locked onto Su Xiaobai, his fingers digging into his sleeves.


    "His puppet reached Nascent Soul Realm¡­"


    His fists tightened. It wasn''t Su Xiaobai himself that made his blood boil. It was that damned puppet.


    That freakish thing standing behind him, radiating killing intent like a war goddess fresh out of an ancient battlefield.


    This was a problem.


    The inner Court Challenge was in two weeks. Su Xiaobai was eligible to enter.


    If things had gone as planned, the brat should have been crushed like a bug beneath his heel.


    But now?


    Now, this Nascent Soul Realm puppet had flipped the fucking board.


    Had Liu Chenfu not sent Cai Lei and others to ''test the waters,'' he might have walked into a slaughter.


    The realization made his skin crawl.


    But now? Now, he had time to prepare. His lips curled into a sinister gri. "You think you''re untouchable, Su Xiaobai? That just means you haven''t met the right blade yet."


    And with that venomous thought, he turned and disappeared into the shadows.


    Oblivious to one fatal mistake¡ª


    Su Xiaobai had already anticipated this. He had never once assumed his enemies would play fair.


    Because in his world¡ª


    Fair play was for the weak.


    ______


    The uproar spread through the sect like an unchecked wildfire.


    A Core Formation disciple reaching Rebirth Realm within two months?!


    The halls buzzed. The disciples whispered.


    Even the Elders, who had ignored Su Xiaobai until now, suddenly turned their gazes toward him.


    For the first time, the old masters stirred.


    And deep within the sect master''s chamber¡­


    Zhao Tianxuan, the Sect Master himself, sat in silence, the news freshly delivered.


    He rubbed his temples, his expression a complicated blend of resignation and distress.


    "This guy¡­"


    At this rate¡ª


    If Su Xiaobai kept up this momentum¡­


    He might just snatch my sect master seat one day¡­!


    Little did he know¡­


    He was planting exactly what Su Xiaobai called ''red flags.''


    ____


    Crack!


    "Argh¡­ Su Xiaobai! You will regret this¡ªahhh!"


    Chen Yong''s scream was something out of a brothel¡ªhigh, pathetic, and completely fucking useless. His once-proud face was twisted in agony, drenched in cold sweat, his wrist bent the wrong fucking way under Su Xiaobai''s boot.


    "Break both your hands¡­ and I''ll let you crawl away."


    Su Xiaobai grinned.


    Not the kind of grin you''d see on some righteous sect genius. No. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This was the grin of a man who would fuck your wife, kill your son, and then sleep like a baby.


    "Each of you¡­ did you hear me?"


    "!!!"


    The fallen bodies twitched.


    "Brother! Don''t think you own the sect just because¡ª"


    Own the sect?


    Su Xiaobai laughed.


    Fuck your grandma, I don''t just own it¡­ I am the fucking sect.


    "Xiao Hei¡­ break it."


    The command was casual. The way a drunk scholar might ask for another cup of wine.


    "Aghhh!"


    A fresh scream echoed.


    The fool who had spoken was dragged forward. Xiao Hei sighed, walked over, and without hesitation¡ªcrack!


    Spine shattered. Arms twisted. Flesh ripped. Blood sprayed like a fucking geyser.


    Thud!


    The guy didn''t just fall. He crumpled. Like a used whore tossed out of a brothel at dawn.


    "!!!"


    The rest turned white as ghost cunts.


    Why the fuck was no elder stopping this?!


    Ah.


    Because the elders were already here.


    Watching.


    Enjoying.


    Their expressions were calm, but their eyes? Their eyes were shining like they were looking at a rare treasure!


    Let the brat play. Let him break the rules.


    Because once a man''s talent reached a certain level¡­ rules stopped applying.


    In his last life, it was the rich who trampled the weak. In this world, it was the strong and talented.


    And Su Xiaobai?


    He was fucking both.


    "Aghhh¡­!"


    "Ah¡ª!"


    One by one, the disciples broke their own fucking hands. One by one, they crawled away, eyes hollow, souls crushed.


    _____


    Hiss~!


    "!!" Hu Jiao''er''s seductive smile froze. This¡­ this wasn''t some naive little brother she could wrap around her little finger.


    This was a fucking nightmare in human skin.


    Her legs squeezed together¡ªout of fear, of course. Definitely fear.


    "Sister¡­ let''s go¡­" she whispered, dragging Hu Mei''er away.


    But Su Xiaobai?


    He was too busy terrorizing people to even notice.


    Only Chen Yong and Wang Fei remained.


    And they looked like they''d rather deepthroat a spear than stay another second.


    "Your master won''t save you¡­" Su Xiaobai murmured. "He already threw you away like cum-stained rags. Haven''t you realized it yet?"


    "It¡­ it can''t be¡­" Wang Fei''s voice cracked.


    Chen Yong''s face darkened.


    They turned toward the crowd.


    Liu Zhenhai.


    Their master.


    *Where the fuck was he?!*


    Didn''t he promise to save them?!


    "Bastard¡­!"


    Liu Zhenhai, watching from afar, clenched his fists. He understood exactly what Su Xiaobai was doing¡ªturning his own men against him.


    But ¡ª The sect had already allowed this.


    By doing nothing, they had acknowledged this as punishment for their ambush. If Liu Zhenhai interfered now, he would be challenging the sect''s will.


    But this villain wasn''t just punishing them¡ªhe was destroying their loyalty.


    His dark circles deepened as rage bubbled within.

 Chapter 139 - 139: Joining Mystic Peak? Demonic Su Xiaobai!

    Crack!


    Crack!


    Wang Fei and Chen Yong screamed as their final hands snapped like cheap firewood.


    "Where do you think you''re going?"


    They tried to crawl away, but Su Xiaobai grabbed them again.


    "You two¡­ started this. Shouldn''t the punishment be¡­ even better?"


    "Wha¡ªwhat the fuck else do you want?!"


    Chen Yong''s voice was hoarse. His mouth was bloody, his teeth barely hanging on. His eyes begged for mercy.


    Wang Fei snot-cried like a bitch. "Brother Xiaobai! Please! We were wrong! We¡ªwe were fucking blind! Stupid! Retarded! Please!"


    "You''re right." Su Xiaobai nodded. "You really are fucking retarded."


    Wang Fei sobbed, "I''ll never go against you again! I''ll be your dog! I''ll lick your fucking boots! Your feet! Your balls if you want! Just¡ªjust don''t¡ª"


    "Shut up," Su Xiaobai sighed.


    Then¡ªhe stabbed.


    Shnk!


    The blade slammed into Wang Fei''s back, pinning him to the ground like a worthless insect.


    "!!!"


    Wang Fei gurgled, choking on his own blood. His body twitched like a fish out of water.


    Chen Yong?


    His soul left his body.


    "Brother¡­ Brother Xiaobai¡­ please¡­"


    His voice cracked.


    His knees shook.


    "I¡ªI''ll do anything¡­!"


    Su Xiaobai tilted his head.


    "Anything?"


    Chen Yong nodded frantically, like a dying virgin begging for one last fuck.


    Su Xiaobai grinned.


    "Then beg properly."


    Chen Yong collapsed.


    He kowtowed.


    Then again.


    Then again.


    Thud.


    Thud.


    Thud.


    Blood smeared the dirt. His forehead split open.


    He didn''t dare stop.


    Su Xiaobai leaned in, voice soft.


    "Sing for me, dog."


    Chen Yong sobbed. "I¡ªI don''t know what to¡ª"


    Su Xiaobai grabbed his hair and slammed his face into the ground.


    "Then learn."


    ____


    Hiss~!


    Even the elders watching from the distance frowned slightly.


    "¡­"


    Bai Yujian, watching with a faint smile, blinked.


    She extended a hand, stopping Zhu Qing, who was about to interfere.


    "Don''t. He''s luring the real wolf out."


    "Oh¡­" Zhu Qing nodded in understanding.


    Su Xiaobai couldn''t deal with Liu Chenfu, but Liu Zhenhai? An inner disciple? Much easier prey.


    Why was she even worried? This was fun.


    _____


    Su Xiaobai wiped his sword against Wang Fei''s spasming, pathetic body and let out a long sigh.


    "Now¡­ what should I do with you, Chen Yong?"


    Piss.


    A warm, yellow, cowardly puddle formed beneath Chen Yong''s trembling legs.


    Was this the same arrogant little shit who once acted high and mighty in that cave months ago? Back then, he could have crushed Su Xiaobai with a single sneeze. But today?


    The bastard looked into his eyes¡ªthose red, demon-like eyes. His hair, once black, now pale like a ghost that had crawled out of the abyss.


    Chen Yong''s lips quivered.


    "M-Monster¡­"


    Then.


    Thud!


    The bitch fainted.


    "Tch¡­" Su Xiaobai clicked his tongue. How fucking inconvenient. If these two just passed out, how the hell was he supposed to figure out who was pulling their strings?


    And he couldn''t kill them in front of everyone either. Not yet.


    His jaw clenched. His fingers curled tighter around his sword.


    Fine. Fuck it.


    A low, bitter chuckle escaped his lips before he raised his blade.


    "Die already¡ª"


    Clank!


    Like a thunderclap, Su Xiaobai''s fingers numbed.


    BAM!


    A fist slammed against his sword¡ªLiu Zhenhai.


    He had appeared out of nowhere, face dark, aura oppressive.


    "Su Xiaobai¡­ don''t cross all limits." His voice was calm, but the words pressed like a mountain. "Your actions would disappoint the master."


    Su Xiaobai winced. His hands were fucking numb.


    Soul Fusion Realm¡­


    Yeah, he wasn''t quite there yet.


    But he didn''t need to be.


    He had already won.


    A grin stretched across his lips as he sheathed his sword.


    "Didn''t know these two martial brother dogs were so¡­ valued," he muttered, barely restraining a mocking laugh. "Don''t worry, I''ll spare their pathetic lives."


    As he spoke, his eyes flicked toward Xiao Hei, who had been standing behind Liu Zhenhai, ready to strike.


    Not yet.


    With a mere glance, Xiao Hei understood. He stepped back.


    Liu Zhenhai''s face twisted in frustration. He looked down at the twitching, bloodied mess that was Chen Yong and Wang Fei.


    Fucking hell.


    Dragging their worthless bodies, he turned, his face dark as the abyss.


    But as he walked away, he could feel it.


    The gazes.


    Sharp.


    Judging. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A ranked inner disciple plotting against a newcomer?


    It wasn''t a good look.


    His reputation had just taken a hit.


    But what could he do? Chen Yong and Wang Fei¡­ those two worthless bastards¡­


    They weren''t just subordinates.


    They were brothers.


    The kind that had shared meals and drinks with him even when he was still a weakling.


    He couldn''t let them die.


    Even if¡­


    Su Xiaobai was a maniac who dared to kill people in broad daylight.


    "Humph!" Liu Zhenhai disappeared, his eyes flashing with a vicious light.


    Never in his life had he suffered such disgrace.


    A mere newcomer, a brat he had once ignored as insignificant, had toyed with him before the entire sect.


    But worse than humiliation¡­


    It was Su Xiaobai''s ways.


    And in the eyes of Liu Zhenhai¡­


    It was demonic.


    ____


    By dawn, Su Xiaobai''s name was carried by every mouth in the sect.


    A devil in human skin.


    A maniac who dared to spill blood in broad daylight.


    And Su Xiaobai?


    He lay beneath the morning sun, fingers idly tapping his sword, a lazy smirk on his lips.


    The result was achieved.


    Fear. Chaos. A new order being carved into the bones of the sect.


    Yet, a small thought nagged at the back of his mind.


    If the ranked disciples of the inner court banded together to deal with him two weeks later¡­


    He would be royally fucked.


    Dual cultivating with Bai Yujian might help him push forward¡­ but two weeks?


    Too damn short.


    No.


    He needed those twins.


    Originally, he had planned to be a good boy in this life. But when the choice was between surviving and dying¡­The answer was clear.


    His gaze flickered. Tonight¡­ he would find Zhu Qing. She could make those two women break before sunrise.


    Little did he know¡­Tonight, something completely unexpected awaited him.


    "Master¡­ is the pressure enough?"


    He lay upon a slab of cold ice, his body still, his breath slow.


    Behind him, Lulu''s delicate hands worked against his shoulders, pressing with an almost absentminded gentleness.


    A perfect picture of tranquility.


    Yet, not a single soul could have guessed what was running through his mind.


    ____


    Sword Peak Lord''s Residence!


    The halls of Sword Peak Lord''s residence were bathed in the soft light of the afternoon.


    Bai Yujian sat upon a chair, her gaze placid, her presence calm.


    Across from her, upon a silk-draped bed, lay Zhu Qing¡ª


    One leg crossed over the other. A cup of wine idly swirling between her fingers.


    "¡­You''re leaving?"


    The words were soft, but her eyes gleamed dangerously. Bai Yujian did not turn.


    "Yes. After Su Xiaobai''s battle, I will be gone for some time."


    Zhu Qing''s fingers tapped against the porcelain cup, her smile faint. How¡­ unfortunate. Right when things were getting interesting. Still, as Bai Yujian continued, she understood.


    With Zhao Tianxuan, Zhu Qing, and Xu Tianran at Great Ascension Realm, she could leave without concern.


    Her path was solitary.


    The pursuit of empires, the watchful eyes of those beyond the sect¡ªthis was a journey she could take alone.


    Even so¡­


    "Take care of Su Xiaobai while I''m gone," Bai Yujian said.


    Zhu Qing paused.


    Then¡­


    Her soft lips twitched. "¡­Take care of him?"


    Him? She nearly laughed aloud. Not a single fucking day had been peaceful since he arrived.


    Not. One. Day.


    "Before I leave, I will teach him Sword Intent," Bai Yujian continued. "I hope he will reach good progress before I return. Also¡­"


    She glanced at Zhu Qing, voice calm.


    "I will pass him to Mystic Peak. As your disciple."


    Zhu Qing''s hand froze mid-air.


    "¡­Eh?"

 Chapter 140 - 140: Mystic Peak!

    "¡­Eh?"


    Bai Yujian did not repeat herself.


    Zhu Qing blinked.


    Then¡­ she chuckled. "Oh, Elder¡­ I don''t think you understand," she muttered, "That brat''s knowledge of formations is better than mine."


    She leaned back, "Why are you handing him to me? What could I possibly teach him?" She sighed, shaking her head.


    She had seen it¡ªback in Chi Xie wasteland. He knew ancient arrays. Arrays that he should not have known.


    A small frown formed on her lips. And beyond all else¡­


    She didn''t want to get too close to him.


    That damn blood of his.


    That damn presence of his.


    She didn''t want to wake up in his bed one day, unsure of whether it was seduction or fate.


    But Bai Yujian''s eyes held a calm amusement.


    "If you cannot teach him¡­" she said softly. "Then learn from him."


    Zhu Qing''s fingers paused. She blinked.


    Then¡ª


    A low, elegant laugh escaped her lips, a sound both mischievous and deadly. "That little villain¡­" she whispered. "I was planning to let him go¡­But now?"


    "Now, I suppose¡­ I should teach him a lesson."


    Bai Yujian paid no heed to their rivalry, her gaze drifted. Her expression darkened. "Be careful of Zhao Tianxuan."


    Zhu Qing tilted her head, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "Does his opinion¡­ truly matter?"


    Bai Yujian shook her head.


    It had always been these two.


    Once, they climbed together.


    Then¡ªShe stagnated.


    And Zhao Tianxuan rose.


    Then his ambitions changed.


    He wanted her.


    And then, mysteriously, he called off the wedding. What Bai Yujian did not know¡ª Was that Zhu Qing had ended it first. Now that she had broken through¡­


    Would he see her as a threat?


    Would he try to bury her before she surpassed him?


    Bai Yujian was not sure. But ambitious men never liked competition.


    Zhu Qing sipped her wine, her voice light as a whisper, "Elder¡­ if there is one person I would be truly wary of¡­It is that old medic."


    Bai Yujian''s eyes narrowed. "Xu Tianran?"


    "Mm."


    Zhu Qing''s smile was sweet¡­ but her gaze was cold.


    "That man gives off a scent I do not like." She traced the rim of her cup, voice gentle as silk. "Like something¡­ watching. Waiting. Biding its time."


    Bai Yujian did not speak.


    But deep in her heart¡­


    A shadow of a doubt had already begun to form.


    For years, Bai Yujian had put off breaking into the Human Immortal Realm. Always a war to fight, always a fire to put out. But after that royal palace visit, hesitation wasn''t just a chain¡ªit was a noose. If she didn''t break through, the empire would grind them into dust beneath its heel. And with the Golden Buddha Sect worming its way deeper into the land, the scent of slaughter was already on the wind.


    Her thoughts knotted, pulled in a dozen directions, tangled beyond reason¡ª


    Knock. Knock.


    Her gaze snapped to the door.


    A man stepped inside. Broad shoulders, long blond hair spilling past them. Dark eyes shadowed, jaw set like a blade too long left in its sheath.


    "Liu Zhenhai." Bai Yujian''s stare was cool, voice even. "What do you need?"


    Hiss!


    His jaw tightened. Why the hell was she always so distant?


    Why was it that when she spoke to him, it was duty, cold and precise¡ªbut with Su Xiaobai, her words were loose and careless.


    Liu Zhenhai''s expression stayed calm, but his fists curled as he cupped his hands and bowed. "Elder, I request permission to challenge Su Xiaobai in the duel two weeks from now, on behalf of... Sword Peak."


    Bai Yujian''s fingers, resting on the table, paused.


    Across the room, Zhu Qing exhaled a slow laugh, her lips curling at the edges.


    "What¡­?" Bai Yujian''s voice was flat, but beneath it, disbelief twisted.


    The bet was set in stone¡ªDissenting Peak Lord''s brats would fight Su Xiaobai, and if he won, he''d jump ranks straight into the inner court. That was all. Simple. But now, one of her own was stepping in?


    Liu Zhenhai had already set up an ambush against Su Xiaobai. And now this?


    Bai Yujian''s irritation crackled, but before she could cut him down with words, a soft chuckle echoed.


    Zhu Qing, fingers idly tracing the rim of her wine cup, tilted her head. "Elder, Su Xiaobai has already qualified for the inner court. His puppet has reached the Nascent Soul Realm¡­ why not let him join the fun?"


    Bai Yujian''s gaze flicked to her. Zhu Qing only smiled, eyes lazy, but confident beneath the haze of wine.


    Silence stretched. Then, a sigh. A slow nod.


    Liu Zhenhai''s lips curled¡ªjust a fraction¡ªbefore he bowed three times and left without another word.


    He would repay today''s humiliation a hundredfold... carved into flesh, branded into bone.


    Bai Yujian exhaled, watching his figure disappear. Something unreadable flickered behind her gaze.


    "¡­What''s going on?" she muttered, half to herself.


    These two were going to kill each other at this rate. Liu Zhenhai was ranked eighth in the inner court. Against Su Xiaobai, it wasn''t a duel¡ªit was a goddamn execution.


    Was this because of today''s humiliation?


    Or something worse?


    "Elder, stop pretending," Zhu Qing murmured, her voice smooth.


    Bai Yujian''s eyes slid to her. "Pretending what?"


    Zhu Qing chuckled, her voice amused, but colder than before. "His jealousy."


    Bai Yujian stilled, her brows drawing together for a fraction of a second before she exhaled and shook her head.


    "¡­Short-sighted fool."


    If Liu Zhenhai thought challenging Su Xiaobai would impress her, then he was a lost cause. If he truly wanted to stand out, he should rise above, shatter his limits, carve his name into the heavens.


    Instead, he was throwing a tantrum like some lovesick fool, trying to solve his grievances with a sword rather than his own damned cultivation.


    As for Su Xiaobai¡­


    Bai Yujian''s fingers tapped against the table again, slow, thoughtful. She wasn''t sure about him either. And now that the thought had been planted, her frown only deepened.


    What the hell was she supposed to do about it?


    _______


    Xiantian Sect, Mystic Peak ¨C Midnight!


    Crack¡­


    A branch snapped beneath his step. Su Xiaobai froze. The silence that followed was too deep, too unnatural¡ªas if the mountain itself had turned its gaze upon him.


    What kind of sick bastard lived here?


    Mystic Peak. A domain of grand formations, where the very air thrummed with ancient enchantments. A place where one wrong step wouldn''t just kill you¡ªit''d erase the last ten generations of your bloodline out of sheer spite.


    And yet, this was the road to Peak Lord Zhu Qing''s residence.


    A shortcut to greatness? Or a one-way trip to the underworld? Hard to tell.


    Su Xiaobai crept forward, placing each step with the reverence of a man defusing a spirit bomb. If not for the senior sister down below warning him, he would''ve already died a hundred times over.


    "Don''t leave the path," she had said. "Not unless you want to meet the things that never left it."


    Vines slithered through the undergrowth, their movements just a little too deliberate. The scent of crushed spirit herbs filled the air¡ªearthy and bitter. In the faint glow of the moon, a cluster of Phantom Orchids shook in ghostly hues, their petals gently swaying.


    Beneath them, half-buried in the roots, lay a row of skulls. Above him, something buzzed. A shadow flitted past.


    A hell-bee.


    The size of his goddamn head.


    He forced himself to keep moving, swallowing the string of curses clawing up his throat. This was fine. Totally fine. A perfectly reasonable path for a perfectly reasonable Peak Lord.


    ¡­Who the fuck was he kidding?


    Zhu Qing was insane. Had to be. What kind of person looked at this place and thought, "Yes, this is exactly where I want to live."


    What next, a haunted¡ª


    Oh.


    The fortress stood ahead, black iron walls stretching toward the heavens like the ribs of some long-dead titan. It didn''t just stand against the night¡ªit swallowed it whole.


    A fortress? No. A prison.


    Engraved along its surface were concealment sigils, their glow barely visible beneath layers of illusionary formations.


    It wasn''t a home. It wasn''t even a stronghold.


    It was a tomb that had forgotten it was supposed to stay buried.


    And somewhere inside, Zhu Qing lived.


    Su Xiaobai exhaled slowly.


    If he had to wade through a fucking eldritch horror exhibit just to have a conversation, he really didn''t want to know what she considered "training."


    ___


    Creak¡­


    Su Xiaobai pushed open the massive doors of the fortress.


    No locks. No guards. No servants.


    Suspicious as fuck.


    Not that he knew this, but anyone who came uninvited to Peak Lord Zhu Qing''s domain didn''t just die¡ªthey fucking vanished. Formation-digested. Reality-deleted. Probably ground up into spiritual fertilizer for her garden.


    Yet here he was.


    Thanks to his finely honed villain instincts (and a complete lack of moral restraint), Su Xiaobai had walked past more than a few ''step here and get turned into cosmic diarrhea'' traps along the way. Straightening his robes, he called out¡ª


    "Peak Lord Zhu?"


    Silence.


    Then, a voice from above.


    "Here."


    Low. Cool. Dripping with that natural condescension that only powerful cultivators and rich bastards had.


    He followed the sound up the staircase, the fortress surprisingly¡­ pleasant? The air was warm, the scent of sandalwood and aged scrolls in the halls. Candlelight flickered along the stone walls, giving it that cozy ''I have way too much money for my own good'' aesthetic.


    Not haunted. Not filled with the anguished wails of tortured souls.


    ¡­Which was a little disappointing, honestly.


    He reached a door at the top, hesitation flickering through his mind for just a second.


    This was a woman''s room.


    A Peak Lord''s room.


    The lone brain cell of reason in his head whispered, "Villain or not, maybe don''t just barge in?"


    The other 699 brain cells kicked that thought in the spine and spat on it.


    What if this was one of those stupid clich¨¦ moments?


    What if he opened the door and saw something he shouldn''t?


    ¡­The author wouldn''t be that much of a dumbass, right?


    Smirking to himself, he pushed the door open.


    Splash!


    ''FUCK.''


    A wall of steam punched him straight in the face. The air smelled of lotus and spirit herbs, the kind of scent rich women used when they wanted to smell like wealth and make poor men feel inadequate.


    He had not just walked into a room.


    He had walked straight into a goddamn celestial bathhouse.


    A massive hot spring stretched out before him, steam curling through the air like ghostly fingers. The water shimmered, reflecting the candlelight with an almost ethereal glow.


    And then¡ª


    Splash. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A woman knelt at the water''s edge, her bare back facing him.


    She scooped up a handful of steaming water, letting it cascade down her milky-white skin, droplets tracing slow, sinful paths over curves sculpted by the heavens themselves. Strands of obnoxiously divine hair hugged to her body, the rest flowing down her back like a waterfall stolen from a goddamn heavenly realm.


    No¡ªwait.


    There was an actual fucking waterfall here.


    Right in the middle of the bath. A miniature hot spring gushing from the stone, spitting scalding water like a damn heavenly beast nutting endlessly into the pool.


    Su Xiaobai''s brain short-circuited. His legs refused to move. His villainous instincts screamed¡ª


    [TURN AROUND, MOTHERFUCKER. IT''S A TRAP!]


    His body, the traitorous sack of flesh that it was, remained rooted in place.


    What the hell was this situation?

 Chapter 141 - 141: Negotiations!

    "¡­Oh? Still looking?"


    A feigned surprised voice echoed through the mist, followed by a playful splash of water.


    Zhu Qing''s back remained turned, but her shoulders quivered ever so slightly¡ªshe was holding back laughter.


    "Disciple Su Xiaobai," she drawled, her tone tinged with mock authority, "you barged into a Peak Lord''s bathhouse, with ''bad intentions'', and ''assaulted'' her¡­ Tell me, what do you think your punishment should be?"


    "¡­"


    Su Xiaobai''s face darkened. A trap. A fucking trap.


    His fingers twitched. He knew this woman was going to mess with him, but this? This was next-level bullshit.


    He took a slow breath, pushing back the urge to roll his eyes. "Elder, do I need to remind you that there''s nothing I haven''t already seen?"


    Hiss¡ª!


    Zhu Qing stiffened.


    Her head snapped up, brows rising in disbelief. "¡­What did you just say?"


    For a brief moment, her mind blanked. When the hell did this little bastard see her body?!


    Splash!


    Before she could interrogate him, another disturbance in the water. She turned¡ªonly to see Su Xiaobai stepping into the hot spring.


    Her breath froze.


    The ripples spread out, lapping against her bare skin. The sound of his slow, deliberate movements. The heat in the air.


    For some reason¡ªone she absolutely refused to acknowledge¡ªher heartbeat quickened.


    The closer he got, the more suffocating his presence felt.


    Then¡ª


    A low, smug voice right behind her.


    "Elder Zhu, the great Peak Lord of Divine Mystic Valley, kidnapped an innocent disciple and assaulted him in the dead of night¡­" His lips curled. "What do you think would happen if this news got out?"


    Zhu Qing froze.


    Then¡ª


    "Pfft¡ª!"


    She couldn''t hold it in anymore.


    Soft, breathy laughter spilled past her lips as she shook her head, turning to meet his gaze.


    "You¡ª!" She gave him a look of pure amusement. "Do you seriously think anyone would believe that?"


    Su Xiaobai frowned. "Why not?"


    "What would I even get from ''assaulting'' you~?" She leaned in slightly, voice teasing. "Little villain, don''t overestimate yourself."


    Her playful, lazy smile made something tighten in his chest.


    Su Xiaobai had no intention of backing down.


    Unfortunately, the moment she turned fully around, his vision snapped downward.


    White. Flawless. Skin.


    Two jade melons sat proud and unrestrained, bigger than he had initially anticipated. And when she laughed¡ªthey shook.


    His soul left his body.


    For the first time in his life, Su Xiaobai lost all capacity for thought.


    The air felt heavier. His tongue was dry.


    Zhu Qing caught the shift in his gaze.


    Her smile froze.


    A slow realization dawned¡ª


    Splash!


    She turned away with a scoff, gracefully gliding toward the edge of the bath.


    Su Xiaobai blinked, his mind struggling to reboot.


    ¡­Wait. Was she not mad?


    She wasn''t. In fact, as she pulled herself up, wrapping a white silk robe around her damp body, he could swear he saw the faintest hint of red on her ears.


    She sat at the bath''s edge, dipping her long, smooth legs back into the water, and turned to glare at him.


    "¡­Not my fault," Su Xiaobai muttered. "You were the one proudly displaying your body."


    "You¡ª!"


    Zhu Qing whipped around, furious.


    She had just walked out, barely covered, and this bastard had the gall to act like it was her fault?!


    ¡­But after a moment, she hesitated.


    Technically¡­ she had called him here.


    Technically¡­ she had set him up.


    Technically¡­ she had turned around first.


    Zhu Qing''s expression twitched.


    "¡­Hmph. Leave it," she muttered, brushing the thought aside. "What do you even need?"


    She crossed her legs, resting her chin in her palm, watching him. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    For a moment, Su Xiaobai was distracted.


    Her robe was covering her, sure¡ªbut not enough. Her bare shoulders, her damp hair, the way her skin glowed under the candlelight¡ª


    "Uh¡­" He quickly forced himself to focus. "I need¡­ a little help."


    Zhu Qing''s eyebrow twitched.


    "Help?" She blinked, as if she had just heard Yama himself talk about peace and mercy. "¡­From me?"


    Su Xiaobai grimaced. He already knew this conversation was about to go sideways.


    Zhu Qing''s smile turned dangerous.


    "Little villain¡­" she purred, voice dripping with mockery, "Did you become a herbivore? What happened to your warrior pride?"


    Su Xiaobai bit back a curse.


    Of course. Of fucking course.


    The moment he showed even the slightest weakness, this woman latched onto it like a hungry beast.


    Zhu Qing''s eyes gleamed with renewed interest.


    At first, she had invited him here just to mess with him.


    To be precise ¡ª bait him.


    To see if he would crack.


    If Su Xiaobai was the villain she assumed¡­ then he should''ve done what villains do.


    Darkened eyes. Heavy breathing. The moment he saw her bare back, he should''ve snapped¡ªpinned her against the bath''s edge, teeth at her throat, hands roaming.


    Reckless. Desperate. The kind of hunger that separates men from boys.


    And that? That was when she would have fucked him up.


    The moment his fingers so much as twitched¡­ she would''ve slammed his ass through seven layers of formations. Sent him crawling back to Bai Yujian¡ªthoroughly reformed, half a man lighter.


    All with the serene patience of a Peak Lord bestowing enlightenment upon an ignorant disciple.


    She had set a trap. Steam, skin, temptation. A perfectly laid-out "ruin your life" scenario.


    And what had this little bastard done?


    He jumped into the water like a panicked dog hiding his damn boner.


    Zhu Qing''s brow twitched. To her mild disappointment¡ª


    He hadn''t lost control.


    For a split second¡ªjust a split second¡ªshe almost respected him. Almost. Because the only thing worse than a man who couldn''t control himself¡­ was a man who could, and still chose to be a little bitch about it.


    And now?


    Now he was asking for her help?


    Oh, this was fun.


    ____


    "Go on," she purred, resting her elbow on her knee, her chin in her palm. "I''m listening."


    Su Xiaobai exhaled. Fine. He quickly explained what had happened in the courtyard, detailing the bet with Hu Jiao''er and how those twins were now trying to wriggle out of it.


    Zhu Qing''s eyebrows lifted.


    "¡­So let me get this straight."


    She tapped a single delicate finger against her knee.


    "You want me¡ªa Peak Lord¡ªto help you force two twins into your bed?"


    Su Xiaobai nodded. "Basically."


    The silence stretched.


    Then¡ª


    Zhu Qing''s entire face darkened.


    "¡­Su Xiaobai," she said, voice slow, deliberate.


    Her gaze was murderous.


    "What do you take me for? A brothel madam?!"


    Su Xiaobai sighed. "Elder Zhu, you''re overreacting. I never asked you to warm my bed¡ªjust help me get my rightful winnings."


    Zhu Qing''s brows twitched.


    "Rightful¡­ winnings?"


    A pause.


    "¡­I mean, technically," he muttered.


    Her knuckles cracked.


    Su Xiaobai suddenly had a very bad feeling.


    Zhu Qing''s face darkened like a storm gathering on the horizon.


    Moments ago, she had been enjoying herself, basking in the sweet suffering of her little villain. But now? This bastard had flipped the game on her.


    Her lips pressed into a thin line. She sighed, dragging a hand down her face.


    "Okay¡­" she muttered. "Tell me you have a good reason for this. If you''re just looking for an excuse to drown in debauchery, I''m kicking you out."


    Su Xiaobai''s lips curled.


    The smirk of a man who had already won.


    Calmly, he explained his abilities¡ªhis gifted physique, his unparalleled talent for absorbing Yin Qi, and how, without it, his breakthrough would be delayed.


    Zhu Qing''s fingers drummed against her knee.


    She remembered now.


    Her own ''Death Qi absorption'' had originated from him. If his abilities extended to ''Yin Qi'', then this wasn''t just some cheap excuse to collect women¡ª


    It was a really well-justified excuse to collect women.


    Two weeks from now, if he didn''t break into the ''Nascent Soul Realm'', he''d get his ass obliterated.


    Not her problem.


    ¡­But still.


    A tiny flicker of guilt wormed its way into her heart.


    After all, she had made things harder for him by letting Liu Zhenhai enter the duel. Naturally, she wasn''t going to tell him that¡ªhe''d explode from rage¡ªbut¡­


    She waved a hand lazily.


    "So you just need women, right?" she said, already bored. "Go take all the single disciples from my Mystic Peak. Tell them it''s my order."


    Su Xiaobai squinted.


    Something wasn''t right.


    This woman, who loved to mess with him, was suddenly being cooperative?


    He narrowed his eyes. "Not just any women. I need maidens. Their ''Primordial Yin Qi'' works best."


    Zhu Qing''s brows arched.


    "Oh~?"


    So, he needed maidens?


    She leaned back, tapping her chin. Most female disciples weren''t exactly innocent little fairies, but¡­ Hu Jiao''er and Hu Mei''er?


    She didn''t recall those two ever getting involved with anyone.


    Could that be why he targeted them?


    Her gaze flicked back to him.


    "How much does your cultivation increase from absorbing primordial yin?" she asked, voice slow. "Have you¡­ tested it before?"


    Something about this felt off.


    She wasn''t about to be tricked into playing sect-wide brothel keeper for him, was she?


    Su Xiaobai''s lips curled.


    He had anticipated her doubts. Of course, he had proof.


    He told her about how he exhausted the sect''s yin poison reserves. Then¡ª


    "A''Jin?" Zhu Qing suddenly interrupted, frowning.


    Su Xiaobai paused. "Ah¡­ Yes?"


    For a moment, silence.


    Then¡ª


    Zhu Qing burst out laughing.


    Not a quiet chuckle. Not a smug snicker.


    She threw her head back, her entire body trembling.


    Her resentment? Gone. Her bad mood? Obliterated.


    She looked at Su Xiaobai with an expression so warm, so dangerously amused, it made him want to leave immediately.


    "Little villain," she purred, eyes gleaming, "did you really break that cold-blooded queen?"


    Su Xiaobai hesitated.


    Why was she asking that?


    He nodded cautiously.


    Did he fuck up? Was she A''Jin''s relative?!


    Shit. He hadn''t checked her background completely!


    Zhu Qing''s smile deepened.


    Her voice dropped into something slow, seductive, and deeply concerning.


    "Did you fuck her senseless?" she muttered, eyes narrowing. "Did she scream your name? Did she beg?"


    Su Xiaobai''s entire brain crashed.


    "¡ªWHAT?!"


    Zhu Qing just tilted her head.


    "What?" she asked innocently.


    Su Xiaobai stared.


    Oh, Elder. Did you forget your status?!


    Zhu Qing blinked. Then, as if she had just processed what she said¡ª


    Her face flushed.


    She coughed into her hand, looking away.


    "Ahem. Forget that!" she snapped. "I''ll ask her myself later!"


    Su Xiaobai, meanwhile, was having a crisis.


    Ask her yourself?!


    Was she going to conduct a post-battle interview?!


    Before he could question his entire existence, Zhu Qing waved a hand.


    "You¡ª" she said, moving past her own embarrassment, "I''ll help you."


    Su Xiaobai blinked.


    "Huh?"


    What just happened?


    Why did she go from mocking him to suddenly being on his side?!


    Did she and A''Jin have some kind of blood feud?!


    Zhu Qing, meanwhile, was grinning ear to ear.


    She was very, very happy.


    Suspiciously happy.


    Su Xiaobai''s villain instincts screamed.


    Something was wrong.


    Something was very, very wrong.

 Chapter 142 - 142: *Elder—Why are Trembling?* [R18]

    "What Are You Waiting For...?"


    ___


    "Huh?"


    Zhu Qing stretched, raising her arms above her head, exposing her smooth, snow-white armpits.


    Su Xiaobai paused.


    Too dazzling.


    It was like a celestial fairy had descended from the heavens, her beauty beyond mortal comprehension. If the poets of his old world had seen this¡ª


    They''d eat fart.


    Zhu Qing sighed lazily, closing her eyes as if she had all the time in the world. But then¡ªher lashes flickered. One eye cracked open, her hazy gaze landing squarely on him.


    "What are you waiting for~?"


    Su Xiaobai''s breath froze.


    His instincts screamed.


    "¡­Elder," he asked warily, "what exactly do you mean?"


    Zhu Qing''s lips curved.


    "What do I mean?" she echoed playfully. "You want to reach Nascent Soul Realm, don''t you? I said I''d help you¡­"


    She patted her lap.


    Invitation.


    Confirmed. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Su Xiaobai felt like he was standing on lava.


    The water beneath him wasn''t hot enough to explain the fire burning through his body.


    Was this a signal?


    Did she mean he could just¡ªgo for it?


    The plan was twins.


    Hu Jiao''er and Hu Mei''er¡ªthey were the goal.


    Of course, Zhu Qing herself was always on the list, but she was too damn unpredictable.


    If this was a trap, he''d rather eat Bai Yujian''s sword than fall for it.


    ¡­But.


    Puchi!


    Zhu Qing noticed his hesitation.


    Her cheeks flushed slightly, an embarrassed pout forming.


    "Little villain," she muttered, crossing her arms. "I''ll say it one last time¡ªif you don''t want it, then forget it¡ª"


    Splash!


    Before she could finish, Su Xiaobai''s hesitation vanished.


    He crossed the spring in an instant.


    Before Zhu Qing could even react, he was already holding her.


    Her soft waist.


    His face, pressed between those impossibly plush peaks.


    He inhaled deeply.


    ¡­Heaven.


    A delicate fragrance of spirit herbs and lotus filled his nose, but all he could think about was softness, warmth, and the years of suffering he had endured without this.


    Hiss~


    Zhu Qing shuddered.


    A light bite landed on the tip of her ear.


    Su Xiaobai grinned against her skin.


    "Elder," he murmured, "who said I didn''t want this? I just¡­ didn''t realize my great Elder was still a... little maiden."


    Boom.


    Zhu Qing''s face turned crimson.


    "You¡ª!"


    Her mind short-circuited.


    She was about to shove him away, but instead¡ªher hands landed on his chest.


    Her fingers trembled.


    For some inexplicable reason, her spiritual strength was¡­ nonexistent.


    Su Xiaobai felt the weakestpush of his life.


    He snickered.


    "Going back on your words, Elder?" His grin turned devilish. "That''s impossible!"


    Zhu Qing bit her lip.


    Why was she not pushing him properly?


    Why was her heart pounding so fast?


    Even after so many centuries¡­


    Did she still have a playful heart?


    ¡­Huh?


    Things had happened between them before.


    But when Su Xiaobai grabbed her waist, yanked her into the water, and felt the soft flesh of her body mold against his own¡ª


    It felt like he was touching her for the first time.


    A subtle thrill coiled in his gut.


    Whatever this woman had plotted¡ªirrelevant.


    He could deal with it.


    After he finished her.


    His lips crashed against hers.


    Warm. Soft. The faintest taste of spirit wine... Sweet.


    Her lashes fluttered, her body instinctively melting, but before she could fully give in¡ª


    He pulled back.


    A tease.


    A provocation.


    "....?" Zhu Qing''s eyes snapped open, dazed and confused.


    Su Xiaobai was staring.


    Not at her body. Not at her lips.


    At her face.


    Unmoving. Intense.


    Her throat went dry. She blinked, a flicker of nervousness creeping in. "What?"


    Su Xiaobai clicked his tongue. "Tsk. Elder, one should always pray before eating. It''s an old tradition."


    "???"


    Her brows twitched.


    She had never heard of this bullshit before.


    As for what ''eating'' meant?


    Of course she knew.


    Su Xiaobai, however, wasn''t rushing.


    His fingers lifted, pressing against her cool cheeks, sandwiching her delicate, flawless face between his burning palms.


    His touch seared her skin.


    His breath, hot and slow, ghosted over her lips.


    Zhu Qing exhaled sharply.


    For a brief, foolish moment, she thought¡ªmaybe¡ªhe was actually about to pray.


    And then she felt it.


    The way he held her.


    The way his thumbs traced the edges of her rosy lips.


    The way his grip tightened¡ªfirm, possessive, hungry.


    This bastard.


    He had no intention of forgetting his old habits just because he ascended to the throne.


    Messing with her?


    At this moment?


    Before she could curse him¡ª


    Before she could say anything¡ª


    Before she could even breathe¡ª


    His lips were on hers again.


    And this time¡ª


    He didn''t stop.


    "Nnn¡ª!" Zhu Qing''s muffled moan vibrated against his lips.


    Su Xiaobai devoured her whole.


    His tongue plunged in, twisting, curling, tasting her like a starved beast that had just been given the finest heavenly fruit.


    A wet, obscene noise echoed in the chamber, the sounds of their saliva mixing, of tongues battling, of teeth clashing as he sucked, licked, bit.


    "Mm¡ª! Hhngh¡­!" Zhu Qing''s hands fisted against his chest¡ªa pitiful attempt at resistance, but her fingers only ended up clawing into him, pulling him closer.


    Her lips trembled, but he didn''t let up.


    His teeth grazed against her lower lip.


    A sting¡ªthen heat.


    A muffled, breathless whimper left her throat.


    Su Xiaobai grinned against her lips, then¡ª


    He bit down harder.


    Zhu Qing''s eyes snapped open wide.


    "Ahn¡ª! Hah¡­ y-you bastard¡­!"


    She tried to pull away¡ªonly for his hands to tighten around her jaw, forcing her right back into his feral kiss.


    "Hhng¡ªmmph! F-Fuck¡ª!"


    Her breath ragged, short and desperate.


    Her mind, a foggy mess.


    She had kissed him before.


    But this¡ªthis was no kiss.


    It was a goddamn massacre.


    "Ah¡ªmm¡­ ngh! Hah¡ª!"


    Her legs clenched.


    Her body arched.


    Su Xiaobai groaned into her mouth, one hand sliding down, tracing her waist, pulling her flush against him.


    "Still playing hard to get, Elder?" he murmured, his breath scorching against her wet, swollen lips.


    "Y-You¡­! Hah¡ªahh¡­! Y-You''re¡­ still the same bastard¡­ ngh¡­!" Zhu Qing panted between messy, sloppy kisses.


    Su Xiaobai chuckled, his tongue swiping across her bottom lip, savoring the taste of her spit, heat, and surrender.


    "You sound out of breath, Elder," he teased, voice dark and amused. "Want me to help you breathe?"


    Zhu Qing trembled.


    She was drenched¡ªand not just from the water.


    Her fingers dug into his hair, his back, his shoulders¡ª


    Su Xiaobai groaned into her mouth, his hands sliding lower¡ªgrabbing her ass, fingers digging into plush flesh, squeezing like he owned her.


    Zhu Qing twitched, shuddering, her arms locking around his neck, yanking him deeper.


    And still, he didn''t stop.


    Didn''t give her a moment to think.


    By the time he finally pulled away, leaving her panting, trembling, dazed beyond recognition¡ª


    His lips were shiny with her spit.


    His breath was ragged.


    And Zhu Qing¡­


    Zhu Qing looked like she had just been fucking ruined.


    Her lips¡ªswollen, red, kiss-bitten.


    Her eyes¡ªglazed, confused, still drowning in the aftershock.


    Her chest¡ªrising, falling, rising, falling, struggling for air.


    Su Xiaobai licked his lips.


    Then¡ª He chuckled.


    Low. Deep. Smug as fuck.


    "So," he murmured, tilting his head.


    "Was that prayer good enough for you, Elder?"


    Zhu Qing¡­


    Had no words.


    Just a single thought.


    Fuck.


    She might have just dug her own grave.


    Her thighs instinctively pressed together, her body trembling as if she were prey cornered by a predator.


    What the hell was going on?


    Why was her heart pounding in fear, as if she were on the verge of being devoured?


    Su Xiaobai, watching her awkwardly flushed expression, knew¡ª


    It would take her time to recover.


    His hand, still hidden beneath the water, cupped her ass.


    Soft. Juicy.


    His fingers sank into the plush flesh, squeezing¡ªa handful of perfection.


    Gods.


    It was even better than he imagined.


    His palm slid lower, caressing the back of her thighs, tracing the delicate skin, feeling the slight tremors in her muscles.


    He chuckled.


    "Elder, there''s still time¡­"


    His voice was low, taunting, dangerous.


    "Don''t worry, I won''t belittle you if you back off. After all, it''s normal for people to be cowards in certain matters¡ª"


    Before he could even finish, Zhu Qing''s mind snapped.


    She gritted her teeth.


    "Stop blabbering. Who the hell is backing off?"


    The second the words left her mouth, her eyes widened.


    Shit.


    She fucking played herself.


    She had been thinking about it¡ªjust throw some core disciples at him, cite some bullshit excuse, get away for now¡­


    But now?


    That wasn''t fucking possible anymore.


    Su Xiaobai''s grin widened.


    "Good," he murmured, his hot breath tickling her ear.


    "I knew it. My Qingqing is anything but a coward."


    Zhu Qing froze.


    Her face flushed deeper.


    This guy¡ª!


    Twisting words. Playing tricks. Very cunning.


    She clicked her tongue.


    Fine.


    Good.


    She would teach this little bastard what it meant to get sucked dry.


    Su Xiaobai barely had time to react before¡ª


    Her hands rose to her shoulders.


    And then¡ª


    The robe slid off.


    "!!"


    His breath caught.


    The white fabric fell, pooling around her waist, revealing¡ª


    Everything.


    His hands, unconsciously reaching out, traced from her shoulders down¡ª


    Sliding down the curve of her collarbones¡­


    Further down¡ª


    Soft. Warm. Heavy.


    His palms pressed into the two massive jade peaks, fingers sinking deep into pillowy, flawless flesh.


    His throat went dry.


    So fucking soft.


    A low groan rumbled from his chest as he leaned forward.


    His lips crashed against her skin.


    A sharp, wet sound echoed as he bit down.


    "Ah¡ª!"


    Zhu Qing jerked, her back arching.


    The moment her helpless moan slipped, Su Xiaobai pushed her further back, trapping her against the edge of the spring.


    His tongue dragged lower, tasting her, kissing, sucking, marking¡ª


    From her collarbone to the base of her throat, then down toward the valley between her peaks.


    Zhu Qing''s hands flew up, grabbing his hair helplessly.


    His breath scorched her skin, his lips burning trails of heat down her exposed, trembling body.


    "Little Villain¡­"


    Her voice was shaky, breathless.


    "Haven''t you felt a woman before?~"


    She laughed awkwardly, trying to regain composure.


    "Why do you¡ªhnngh¡ªwhy do you wanna take out all your anger on me?"


    She gasped as he bit down on the side of her neck.


    Hard.


    Sucking.


    Licking.


    She felt it¡ªthe wet, sloppy pressure, the pull of his lips dragging against her skin.


    Gods.


    He was sucking her so hard¡ª


    "Ahh¡ª! Hah¡ª! Nnnh¡­! You...!"


    A delicious shiver coursed through her.


    Su Xiaobai didn''t answer.


    He growled against her throat, his grip tightening, his fingers sinking deeper into her flesh.


    His hands moved lower¡ªgrabbing her thighs, pulling them apart, forcing her legs to spread around his waist.


    Zhu Qing''s heart pounded.


    Damn.


    If he was already like this now¡­


    What the hell was it going to be like later?


    She let out a low, bitter chuckle, exhaling shakily.


    Then, she shut off her brain.


    Screw it.


    You started this fire, Zhu Qing. Now burn with it.

 Chapter 143 - 143: **Ruining Peak Lord** [R18]

    "Nnnhh¡ª! T-Tch¡­ y-you¡ªahh¡­!"


    Splash!


    Water rippled violently, waves crashing against the edges of the steaming spring.


    At the very edge, a woman''s flushed, quivering body was trapped. Her smooth, pale legs wrapped tightly around a man''s waist, locked like iron chains.


    Thick, powerful thighs¡ªbut soft as sin.


    Su Xiaobai grinned darkly.


    Fuck.


    This was paradise.


    Soft, warm flesh molding against him, her strong yet sinful legs locked around his waist¡ªbut his head?


    His head was somewhere else.


    "Hahh¡­ ahh¡ª!"


    His hands¡ªlarge, greedy, demanding¡ª


    Scooped up the two massive, god-tier breasts before him.


    Fuck.


    Fucking amazing.


    Each heavenly mound was so massive, so perfectly shaped, he needed both hands just to grab one properly.


    Smooth. White. Tender.


    "Hahaha¡­" He couldn''t help but laugh inwardly.


    Indeed. Fucking amazing.


    His thumb pressed against her trembling red cherry, flicking, teasing, rolling it between his fingers, testing its sensitivity.


    Zhu Qing shuddered violently.


    "Hnnngh¡ª! Hhaah¡ªw-wait¡­!"


    He ignored her.


    His lips descended.


    He kissed. He sucked. He devoured.


    His tongue darted out, swirling around the hardened cherry, tracing slow circles before sinking down, sucking ruthlessly.


    "Mnngh¡ªhhhaahh!~"


    Zhu Qing''s head snapped back, her moans spilling uncontrollably, her fingers tangling into his hair.


    Fuck, she tasted divine.


    Her skin was sweet¡ªbut not just any sweetness.


    A dark, seductive flavor, like a black lotus blooming in the abyss. A taste that invited destruction, yet whispered of purity.


    It fucking stunned him.


    And made him even more aggressive.


    His teeth grazed against her swollen peak, biting down just enough to make her hips jerk upward violently.


    "Ahh¡ª! D-damn, you¡­ nghh¡ª!


    Her breath hitched, her legs twitching¡ªbut she couldn''t even curse him properly.


    His other hand was already claiming her other jade peak, fingers digging into the soft mound, pressing, molding, shaping it in his palm.


    She was helpless.


    Completely fucking helpless.


    Every time he dragged his teeth, her hips jerked upward involuntarily.


    "Nnngh¡ª! L-Little Villain, I''ll¡­ hhaah¡ª! Tch¡­! T-this¡­"


    A warning? A plea?


    Even she didn''t know.


    Su Xiaobai''s other hand didn''t stay idle.


    His fingers slid lower.


    Deep. Beneath the water.


    He let her hug him desperately, while his left hand traced between her ass cheeks, down to the forbidden valley between her legs.


    "¡­!!"


    The second his fingers pressed against the wet slit, Zhu Qing''s entire body snapped taut.


    Her legs twitched, her breathing shattered.


    Su Xiaobai chuckled darkly.


    His fingers slid lower, brushing against her entrance, circling, teasing¡ªnever fully giving her what she wanted.


    "Nnnh¡ª!¡ª!" Zhu Qing''s voice broke, her hips betraying her, pressing forward into his fingers.


    And then¡ª


    He slid a finger inside.


    Hot. Tight. Moist.


    His erect pillar twitched violently, just from the feeling of her walls sucking in his finger.


    "Haaah¡ª! Nghh¡ªy-you¡­! D-don''t just¡­ nghhh¡­! M-move it¡­"


    Her words failed as her nails raked down his back, her body shuddering, trying to close her legs¡ªbut she was locked around him.


    Trapped.


    Completely fucking trapped.


    "Fuck," Su Xiaobai grunted, his tone rough, almost pained.


    His finger curled, dragging out slowly, testing her reactions.


    Zhu Qing whimpered.


    "Nhh¡ª! I-I¡­ t-this isn''t¡­ nghh¡­ I''ll¡ªhhaaah¡­!"


    She was losing herself.


    She hated it.


    She loved it.


    Her fingers shook, struggling to grab onto anything solid as his thumb pressed against the tiny bundle of nerves above her slit.


    The second he rubbed in slow, deliberate circles¡ª


    Her entire body jerked violently.


    "¡ª!! L-Little V-Villain, w-wait¡ª! Hnnnngh!"


    Her voice broke.


    A mixture of moan and curse, pleasure and shame blending into one.


    Su Xiaobai''s grin widened.


    Her walls clenched around his fingers, her legs trembling against his hips, her lips parted, gasping, desperate.


    This Peak Lord¡ªthis proud, untouchable, arrogant Zhu Qing¡ª


    Was falling apart in his hands.


    And then¡ª


    He stopped.


    Her eyes shot open.


    "W-wait, w-why¡ª"


    Su Xiaobai pulled his fingers out completely, leaving her aching, empty, twitching.


    Zhu Qing bit her lip hard.


    Her face flushed, her chest heaving, her hands gripping his shoulders, her thighs twitching around his waist.


    "W-what are you¡­ ngh¡­!"


    She trailed off¡ªembarrassed.


    Because she knew.


    Su Xiaobai''s cock was already pressed against her entrance.


    His shaft was burning hot, twitching, aching to take what belonged to him.


    She knew.


    She fucking knew.


    If he pushed in now¡ª


    If he gave her no chance to resist¡ª


    There would be no going back.


    And yet¡ª


    Her legs didn''t unlock from his waist.


    Her hands didn''t push him away.


    Her breathing didn''t steady.


    Because deep down, her body already knew the answer.


    Even if her mind refused to accept it.


    Su Xiaobai chuckled, his manhood throbbing, teasing her entrance.


    "Scared?"


    Zhu Qing snapped.


    "You wish¡ª!"


    Su Xiaobai''s grin widened.


    His throbbing cock pressed against her sopping wet entrance, the thick tip teasing, rubbing, sliding.


    Fuck.


    So warm. So hot. So tight.


    But¡ª


    It wouldn''t go in.


    Each time he tried to push forward, it slid off, unable to find its way inside.


    Too tight. Too small. Too fucking impossible to fit underwater.


    "Damn¡­" he grunted, grinding against her folds, feeling her walls quivering, already trying to suck him in.


    Zhu Qing bit her lip hard, her eyes glazed, her body twitching beneath him.


    She felt everything.


    Every time his tip dragged over her slit.


    Every time he nudged against the entrance.


    Every time he almost slipped inside.


    Her heart pounded like a drum.


    "T-Take me to my bedroom!"


    Her voice cracked as the tip finally pushed just barely inside.


    Su Xiaobai halted.


    His lust-clouded mind barely registered her words.


    He stared at her flushed, helpless face.


    Her chest rose and fell, her lips quivering, her thighs trembling around his waist.


    "Where?" His voice was rough, his breath ragged.


    Zhu Qing''s moist eyes flickered behind him.


    She didn''t speak¡ªshe couldn''t.


    Instead, she clung to him, and he took the cue.


    With one swift motion, Su Xiaobai lifted her up, her legs wrapping tighter around his waist, her body pressed against his, and¡ª


    Splash!


    He leaped out of the hot spring.


    Dripping. Naked. Skin against skin.


    Fucking hell.


    His cock, still hard as stone, rubbed against her ass with every step.


    Each time he moved, it slid between her soft cheeks, brushing against her sensitive entrance, making her shudder violently.


    Zhu Qing''s face burned.


    This¡­


    This was a disaster.


    She was naked.


    He was naked.


    His monster of a cock was rubbing against her with every goddamn step.


    And¡ª


    She was letting him carry her like this.


    Fuck.


    Fucking hell.


    Her arms wrapped around his neck, fingers digging into his skin, her nails twitching with every step.


    The cold air brushed against her damp skin, but she barely even felt it¡ª


    All she could focus on was him.


    His breath against her ear.


    His muscles flexing beneath her grip.


    His cock dragging between her ass cheeks.


    She wanted to die.


    She wanted to kill him.


    She wanted him to hurry the fuck up before she lost her mind.


    By the time they reached her bedroom, she was half-crazed.


    Su Xiaobai didn''t even pause.


    He kicked the door open, stepping inside as the dim, golden glow of candlelight filled his vision.


    Damn.


    This woman definitely loved aesthetics.


    Silken curtains.


    A large, lavishly soft bed covered in thin, translucent veils.


    But Su Xiaobai?


    He had no interest in the decor.


    With one motion, he threw her onto the bed.


    Zhu Qing bounced lightly, the silken sheets cold against her burning skin.


    Before she could even process it¡ª


    Su Xiaobai climbed over her.


    Towering. Dominating. Mounting her like a beast claiming its prize.


    Her breath ragged.


    His gaze burned into her.


    Lust. Hunger. Possession.


    Zhu Qing shivered.


    There was no turning back now.


    Su Xiaobai spread her legs apart, his hands gripping the soft flesh of her trembling thighs.


    Damn.


    He wanted to play with them.


    He wanted to grab, bite, touch every inch of these thighs, to feel them wrapped around his head, suffocating him in heat.


    He would.


    But not yet.


    Not before he fucking destroyed her.


    His eyes zeroed in on the glistening, trembling valley between her legs.


    Wet. Swollen.


    A delicate slit, barely spread¡­ flushed deep red. Silken petals quivered, wet with arousal. Beneath, her entrance throbbed¡ªglistening, tight, aching... a small, clenching hole.


    Soft, plump flesh, tinged with pink¡­ a forbidden fruit, swollen with desire, begging to be devoured.


    Fuck.


    If she wasn''t already burning with heat, he would''ve buried his tongue inside her first.


    Would''ve tasted every inch, licked up every drop, sucked her raw until she forgot her own fucking name.


    But¡ª


    No. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    His cock was aching too much.


    Right now, he needed to be inside her.


    He pressed his throbbing shaft against her slit.


    The wet petals parted instantly.


    Hot. Dripping.


    And then¡ª


    The head pushed in.


    "Ahh¡ª!"


    Zhu Qing''s breath caught, her body stiffening, her walls instinctively clamping down.


    Su Xiaobai grunted.


    Tight.


    Her walls sucked him in, stretching as he sank deeper, inch by inch, the wet, obscene sound of her flesh swallowing him echoing in the candlelit room.


    Zhu Qing lay beneath him, her brows furrowed, her breath shaky.


    She felt it.


    Every inch sinking inside her, her insides stretching around him, gripping him too tightly, resisting, yet pulling him in deeper.


    And then¡ª


    He hit it.


    The final barrier.


    Her virginity.


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes snapped to hers.


    Zhu Qing''s gaze met his.


    Wide. Uncertain. Burning.


    But before she could say a single word¡ª


    Before she could even register what was happening¡ª


    Su Xiaobai grabbed her shoulders¡ª


    And thrust forward.


    Hard. Deep. Violent.


    "Ugh¡ª!"


    Zhu Qing arched off the bed, her entire body trembling, her fingers clawing into his back.


    Tight. Unbelievably tight.


    Her walls spasmed violently, clenching down hard, trying to reject him, yet sucking him in deeper at the same time.


    Su Xiaobai gritted his teeth, feeling her entire body convulse beneath him.


    "Shit¡­" he groaned.


    So fucking hot.


    Like she was made for this.


    Like she was meant to be ruined by him.


    Zhu Qing shuddered, her breath ragged. She felt full. Overwhelmed. Stretched beyond belief.


    Her legs tensed, her nails dragging down his back, struggling to process the sensation.


    "S-slow down¡­ y-you¡­ hhaaah¡­! L-Little Villain, you¡­ nghh¡­!"


    Her voice was broken, breathless.


    Her body betrayed her.


    The pain was there¡ªbut so was something else.


    Something...


    Something dangerous.


    Something that made her stomach tighten, made her legs shake, made her insides burn.


    Su Xiaobai felt it.


    Felt her walls fluttering around him.


    Felt the way her body clenched down hard, the way she twitched beneath him.


    And then¡ª


    He grinned.


    "Too late now..."


    His hips drew back¡ª


    And he thrust in again.


    Hard. Deep. Unforgiving.


    "Ahn~!"


    Zhu Qing cried out, her head snapping back, her hands tightening around his shoulders.


    There was no stopping now.


    No turning back.


    She was his.


    And he was going to fucking ruin her.

 Chapter 144 - 144: Mystic Peak in Uproar!

    One Hour Later¡­


    Su Xiaobai''s breath turned ragged, his grip on her thighs waist as he drove into her one last time.


    Deep. Burying himself to the hilt.


    His body tensed, heat coiling in his core before he finally¡ª


    "Nnghh¡ªHhaaah¡ª!"


    A final, violent thrust¡ªand he spilled deep inside her.


    Zhu Qing jerked, her nails dragging down his back, her walls clamping down in an involuntary, merciless grip.


    A warm flood filled her, her thighs tightening around his waist, her legs locking him in place as her body shuddered violently beneath him.


    But as soon as she registered what just happened¡ª


    Her eyes snapped open.


    "You¡ª! Hhhaaah¡ª! D-Did you just¡ªinside¡ª?!"


    Su Xiaobai exhaled sharply, his forehead resting against her shoulder.


    "Yeah."


    Zhu Qing''s brows twitched violently.


    "T-Take it out! Now!"


    Su Xiaobai snickered.


    "Too late."


    "You¡ª!"


    She tried to shove him off¡ª


    But before she could even lift her arms¡ª


    Su Xiaobai''s hands gripped her waist, his fingers digging into soft flesh as he flipped her onto her stomach and pinned her down.


    "Nnh¡­" Zhu Qing groaned, shivering.


    Her face burned, a violent mix of shame and anger twisting in her chest.


    But then¡ª


    Schlp...schlp...


    A sticky, obscene noise echoed in the room.


    Her entire body tensed.


    She felt it.


    His hands sliding lower, cupping her swollen, abused entrance, fingers scooping up the mess dripping between her trembling thighs.


    The sticky blend of her virgin blood and his thick, white essence was still leaking from her, trickling down the insides of her legs.


    Zhu Qing''s entire body stiffened.


    Disgusting. Filthy.


    Her stomach twisted, her breath froze as the unbearable heat of humiliation crawled up her spine.


    She could feel it.


    Every sticky, obscene drop.


    Every wet, shameful smear against her inner thighs.


    Her walls clenched involuntarily, still pulsing, sore, sensitive.


    "W-Wait¡ª! S-Stop¡ª!"


    Her heart pounded violently.


    Su Xiaobai leaned down, his breath hot against her flushed ear.


    His voice, low, dark, utterly merciless.


    "You think I''m stopping after that?"


    Her eyes widened.


    "N-No, wait¡ª!"


    _____


    Two Hours Later¡­


    Creak¡ªCreak¡ªCreak¡ªBANG!


    The walls trembled.


    The bedframe groaned.


    Silk ripped apart.


    The candlelight flickered violently as the room was thrashed beyond recognition.


    Outside, under the full moon, stars trembled as the music of destruction continued.


    Creak¡ªCreak¡ªCreak¡ªCRACK!


    The bedframe split apart.


    The wood shattered.


    But the movements didn''t stop.


    If anything¡ª


    They only became harder.


    Faster.


    More ruthless.


    _____


    Three Hours Later¡­


    Zhu Qing was on all fours, her fingers gripping the torn sheets, her hips slamming back to meet him.


    "Nnngh¡ª! T-Too deep¡ª! Ahnn¡ª! S-Su Xiaobai, y-you¡ª!"


    Su Xiaobai gritted his teeth, his grip digging into her waist.


    "Too deep? Heh. You''re sucking me in like you don''t want me to stop."


    Zhu Qing''s arms trembled, her moans turning breathless and wild, her body convulsing beneath him.


    "Hhaaah¡ª! Y-You¡ª! Nnghh¡ª! B-Bastard¡ª!"


    Su Xiaobai grabbed a fistful of her silver hair, yanking her back.


    Her sweat-drenched skin glowed under the moonlight, her face a mess of desire and beauty.


    "Say my name."


    Zhu Qing bit her lip, refusing.


    His hips snapped forward.


    Hard.


    "Nnnnh¡ª! Hhhaaah¡ª! S-Su Xiaobai¡ª!"


    His grin widened.


    "Louder."


    "S-Su Xiaobai¡ª! Hhhaaah¡ª! I-I''ll k-kill you¡ª! Ahnn¡ª!"


    He flipped her over, pressing her legs against her chest, bending her completely in half.


    The new position forced him even deeper, making her voice crack into a broken, desperate moan.


    "Nnhh¡ª! Hhaaah¡ª! I-I¡ªahh¡ª!"


    "You wanted this."


    Zhu Qing''s thighs quivered, her breath lost in helpless gasps.


    "Hhaaah¡ª! I-I¡ªnghh¡ª!"


    "So take it."


    Creak¡ªCreak¡ªCreak¡ªCRASH!


    The bed collapsed entirely. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The entire frame shattered beneath them, silk and wood crumbling to the floor.


    Zhu Qing gasped, momentarily stunned¡ª


    Then¡ª


    She laughed.


    A low, bitter, breathless chuckle, her eyes burning with something dangerous.


    Not exhaustion.


    Not submission.


    Rage.


    "You better not think this is over."


    Su Xiaobai froze.


    "Huh?"


    She shoved him down, straddling him, her thighs locking him in place.


    Su Xiaobai felt immediate regret.


    This woman¡ª


    This fucking woman¡ª


    Her hips crashed down mercilessly, forcing a low, strangled groan out of him.


    Zhu Qing leaned forward, panting against his ear.


    "You broke my bed, Little Villain."


    Her hips moved again.


    "You''re paying for it."


    Su Xiaobai gritted his teeth, gripping her waist.


    "Then I''ll make you forget about it."


    He flipped her over again, ignoring her protests.


    The bed was gone.


    But the night was far from over.


    ______


    Meanwhile, Outside¡­


    A group of passersby stood in the middle of the night, their faces pale, their eyes wide with horror.


    From the direction of Peak Lord Zhu Qing''s residence¡ª


    Moans.


    Loud. Obscene. Endless.


    And still going.


    "W-Who the hell is going at it for this long¡­?!"


    "S-Someone check! I-It might be an attack!"


    "You check! That''s the Peak Lord''s residence!"


    "Fuck that! I''m not dying today!"


    More people started sneaking into their dao partners'' chambers, their faces red from secondhand embarrassment.


    Eventually¡ª


    A few core disciples gathered, whispering amongst themselves.


    "We should report this¡­ right?"


    "Who the hell do we even report this to?!"


    "Another Peak Lord, obviously!"


    And so, unknowingly¡ª


    Overnight, Su Xiaobai and Zhu Qing created a mess far bigger than they ever expected.


    _______


    Rustle~


    A faint morning breeze drifted in, sunlight slipping through the torn curtains, illuminating the wreckage of the room.


    Silk shredded.


    Wood splintered.


    The scent of sweat, heat, and indulgence still filled the air.


    Zhu Qing''s eyelashes fluttered.


    "Haaah¡­"


    She inhaled deeply, her chest rising, an odd weight pressing down on her.


    Her instincts kicked in.


    Her spiritual energy stirred, her body ready to react¡ª


    Until she realized.


    It wasn''t pressure.


    It was a naked body.


    A warm, solid, snoring naked body.


    "..."


    Her eyes twitched.


    Memories flooded back.


    The bed-shattering chaos. The debauched moans that lasted for hours. The sensation of being filled again and again until she lost her mind.


    Zhu Qing''s gaze lowered. Su Xiaobai was still asleep.


    His arms were wrapped around her waist.


    His leg thrown over hers.


    His face¡­


    Buried between her breasts.


    Using them as a fucking pillow.


    "¡­"


    Her expression darkened.


    Even after everything, even after she nearly fucked him into oblivion by the end of the night¡ª


    This bastard still had the audacity to sleep like a king.


    She wanted to strangle him.


    Or herself.


    Zhu Qing''s cheeks burned faintly.


    She was still a cultivation realm above him, yet somehow, this man had gone all night and almost¡ªalmost¡ªpushed her to the edge of exhaustion.


    It was infuriating. It was unbelievable. And worst of all¡­


    It was addicting.


    "Haaah¡ª"


    She exhaled sharply, pressing a hand to her forehead.


    Her body still tingled, and she could feel the lingering trace of Yin Qi flowing into him.


    At least that explained how he kept going.


    Otherwise, she would have woken him up right now and demanded to know what kind of demonic arts he used on her.


    But just as she was about to move him off her¡ª


    A voice, cold and stern, shattered the silence.


    "You two created a mess."


    Zhu Qing''s entire body stiffened.


    Her head snapped up so fast her neck nearly cracked.


    There¡ª


    Standing near the window, a woman in a white robe, her parasol reclining against the wall.


    Expression calm.


    But her eyes? Her eyes burned with disappointment. With displeasure. With the kind of deep-seated irritation only an Elder could have when dealing with reckless juniors.


    Zhu Qing''s mind blanked.


    "Bai Yujian¡­?!"


    Panic surged through her as she gripped the sheets, suddenly very aware of her nakedness.


    "Elder, why are you here?!"


    Her voice cracked.


    What the hell was happening?! How long had she been standing there?! How much did she see?!


    Bai Yujian''s gaze flickered over the scene.


    The utter wreckage of the room. The sweaty, tangled limbs.


    The Peak Lord of Mystic Peak, stark naked, pinned beneath a snoring Junior.


    Her lips curved slightly. Not into a smile. But into the kind of expression that said: You absolute fucking idiot.


    "Oh? Would you prefer if I let everyone outside in, then?"


    Zhu Qing''s heart sank.


    "¡­What?"


    Her spiritual sense exploded outward.


    And then¡ª


    Her face lost all color. Outside. Below the residence.


    A dozen disciples¡ªall her own Mystic Peak juniors¡ª


    Gathered.


    Whispering.


    Fidgeting.


    Clearly debating whether or not they should knock.


    Or run.


    Or alert the Sect Master.


    Zhu Qing''s entire soul left her body.


    "..."


    Bai Yujian''s expression didn''t change.


    But there was amusement hidden in her eyes.


    "Yes. A mess indeed."


    Zhu Qing sighed, shifting uncomfortably under Bai Yujian''s gaze.


    She was a strong, confident woman. But right now? Right now, she felt like a guilty concubine who had just been caught by the main wife.


    She had no idea how deep the relationship between Su Xiaobai and Bai Yujian actually was¡ª


    But she was certain of one thing. It was not the normal relationship of master and disciple.


    Zhu Qing''s fingers twitched, the reality pressing down on her.


    The fact that her moans were so loud, disciples had actually gathered and called another Peak Lord for help¡ª


    She wanted to crawl into a puddle and drown. She had completely forgotten to set up a sound-restricting barrier.


    A basic precaution.


    Something that even lust-drunk idiots wouldn''t forget.


    And now¡ª


    Now she could only stare at Bai Yujian with a fragile hope in her eyes.


    Tell me.


    Tell me the whole sect doesn''t know.

 Chapter 145 - 145: Bai Yujians Preparations!

    Zhu Qing may be a Peak Lord, but in terms of seniority, sleeping with Su Xiaobai was moral suicide.


    Bai Yujian''s finger twitched slightly, before she pointed¡ªawkwardly¡ªat Su Xiaobai, who was still snoring soundly between Zhu Qing''s breasts.


    "It''s only your disciples."


    Zhu Qing''s breath caught.


    Bai Yujian continued, voice calm but firm.


    "Some of them heard and called me for help. I gathered them below. You can deal with them as you wish."


    "As long as you tell them not to speak, they wouldn''t dare."


    Then¡ª


    She glanced at Su Xiaobai again.


    "Besides¡­ they don''t even know about him."


    Zhu Qing stiffened.


    For a moment¡ª


    For a single, glorious, life-saving moment¡ª


    She felt like her soul had been pulled back from the gates of hell.


    "Oh¡­" She exhaled deeply, her tensed shoulders loosening slightly. If it was just her own disciples¡­ She could handle that. Her reputation wouldn''t be completely shattered.


    Bai Yujian, however¡ªDidn''t move to leave.


    Instead¡ª


    She stepped closer. Zhu Qing''s spine tensed. But Bai Yujian only sat on the edge of the bed.


    Then¡ª


    She reached out, touching Zhu Qing''s face.


    Zhu Qing startled, her first instinct to pull back¡ª


    But Bai Yujian''s grip was gentle.


    Her voice¡ªeven softer.


    "Qingqing¡­"


    Zhu Qing froze.


    Bai Yujian''s gaze searched hers, expression complicated.


    "What happened to you?"


    Zhu Qing''s throat tightened.


    Bai Yujian''s fingers brushed against her cheek, her voice dipping lower.


    "Just yesterday, before leaving my residence, you told me you wanted to keep your distance from him."


    A pause.


    Her eyes darkened, flickering between Zhu Qing and Su Xiaobai.


    "You said you didn''t want to accidentally wake up in his bed."


    The words slapped.


    Sharp. Heavy. Undeniable.


    Zhu Qing''s fingertips dug into the ruined sheets. Because Bai Yujian was right. She did say that. And now? Now, she was naked, trapped beneath a snoring Su Xiaobai, with her own moans having echoed through the night for half the sect to hear.


    What¡­What the hell happened?


    Zhu Qing pressed her lips together, unable to meet Bai Yujian''s gaze. Bai Yujian''s expression didn''t shift. But her voice did. It was no longer strict.


    No longer cold. It was¡­


    Concerned.


    "I was angry at first, Qingqing."


    Her eyes softened.


    "Angry at him. But more than that¡­ I was worried about you."


    She hesitated.


    Then¡ª


    "This isn''t like you."


    And she meant it.


    This wasn''t the fearsome, cunning, untouchable Zhu Qing she had known for years.


    This was something else.


    Something even Zhu Qing herself didn''t understand.


    "..."


    Facing Bai Yujian''s honest words, Zhu Qing felt cornered.


    She had no way out.


    Bai Yujian, however¡ª


    For her, this was a strange situation.


    Zhu Qing wasn''t just a Peak Lord.


    She was someone Bai Yujian had brought into the sect, someone she had watched grow.


    If not for Zhu Qing''s deep-seated distaste for blood, she would have been her personal disciple.


    Bai Yujian''s gaze softened slightly, recalling the past.


    The Trial of Shadows.


    The one in their sect was merely a toned-down version¡ªa test of survival, filled with illusions and constructs.


    But in the Dark Sparrow Sect, where Zhu Qing came from¡ª


    The people were real.


    Completing the trial meant killing the only close people to her.


    And she did.


    It left a scar¡ªone that never truly faded.


    A deep-rooted, unshakable distaste for blood.


    Instead of walking the bloody path of swords, Zhu Qing had chosen formations.


    And she mastered them.


    Before her, the sect had no proper formation master. She was the first. With no teacher. No guidance. Only her own determination.


    Bai Yujian had watched her struggles firsthand.


    And she admired her for it.


    If things had played out differently, if Zhu Qing had broken through before Zhao Tianxuan¡ª


    It would be her, not him, standing at the threshold of Sect Master.


    And now¡ª


    Zhu Qing, the unyielding, untouchable Peak Lord¡ª


    Had ended up in Su Xiaobai''s bed.


    Bai Yujian''s eyes flickered to the sleeping man.


    Su Xiaobai.


    She hadn''t spent much time with him¡ª


    But she knew.


    By all standards, this man was unnatural.


    Mysterious. Monstrous.


    If nothing went wrong, he would reach Great Ascension Realm within the next two centuries.


    And this time¡ª


    He was her personal disciple.


    Her disciple.


    Zhu Qing''s former junior.


    Both had ended up with each other.


    Generations apart.


    A thousand years ago, if someone had brought this to Bai Yujian''s attention¡ª


    She would have immediately rejected it.


    Would have said it was against the rules.


    Would have said it was dangerous.


    Because the rules were created for a reason.


    Senior masters getting into relationships with disciples or juniors never ended well.


    Because one day, the master would ascend.


    And the junior¡ª


    The junior would be left behind.


    A difference in lifespan.


    A difference in realm.


    A difference in destiny.


    A master''s heart would become shackled.


    And in time¡ª


    That heart demon would destroy them both.


    But this time¡ª


    This time, Bai Yujian wasn''t so sure.


    Because Su Xiaobai¡­


    Su Xiaobai wouldn''t be left behind.


    If anything¡ª


    He would be the one to surpass them all.


    The real question was¡ª


    What was wrong with Zhu Qing?


    _____


    Zhu Qing bit her lip, lowering her gaze.


    She didn''t hesitate.


    Didn''t try to hide it. She explained everything. Meanwhile¡ª Su Xiaobai, blissfully snoring, had no idea that his actions were being exposed in full detail.


    He had assumed Zhu Qing would keep quiet. Would hide what happened. Would never share it with Bai Yujian.


    He was wrong.


    Zhu Qing''s voice softened.


    "Elder¡­ He came to me with so much hope." She hesitated, "I wasn''t able to deny him¡­"


    Bai Yujian''s eyes narrowed.


    Zhu Qing bit her lower lip harder.


    It was true. When she heard that he needed a woman to break through, her first thought had been¡ªIsn''t she a woman?


    A maiden on top of it.


    If it could help him ascend, then what was the issue? He had helped her break through to Great Ascension Realm. For a long time, she had felt indebted to him.


    She had wanted to return the favor.


    Bai Yujian watched her silently.


    Her lips curved faintly, but her eyes remained sharp.


    She smiled.


    But behind that smile¡ª


    Suspicion flickered.


    "I wasn''t able to deny him¡­"


    That was not a phrase she expected from Zhu Qing.


    Not from the woman who had once slaughtered her past to move forward. Not from the woman who had pushed aside every weakness. Not from the woman who had never needed anyone.


    Bai Yujian said nothing.


    But in her heart¡ª


    A small seed of doubt had already been planted.


    But Zhu Qing misunderstood Bai Yujian''s expression, thinking she was unconvinced.


    So she continued.


    "Think about it, Elder."


    Her voice carried a rare excitement.


    "His ability is unnatural. If he had been born into an emperor''s bloodline, raised in an imperial household, he would''ve shattered every record." Zhu Qing''s eyes gleamed. "He would be the youngest Immortal in the history of Rain Immortal Valley."


    Bai Yujian''s gaze flickered.


    She couldn''t deny it. Being able to absorb Yin Qi? It was a broken ability, even with its many limitations.


    Yes, he needed time to stabilize after breakthroughs. Yes, he couldn''t rush his ascension too quickly.


    But¡ª


    If he had been born as the prince of an imperial dynasty¡­ He would have a supply of women at his feet.


    Cultivation, at that point, would become a matter of resources, not effort. A strange realization struck Bai Yujian.


    Her eyes gleamed.


    If he can cross realms this quickly¡­ Then what happens if he absorbs the Primordial Essence of a Human Immortal?


    Her fingers clenched slightly. If he obtained that¡ª He could skip past Spirit Severing Realm entirely.


    He could forge his ''True Spirit'' before anyone else.


    He could ascend faster than any prodigy in history.


    A quiet determination settled in her heart.


    She needed to break through soon. She needed to reach Human Immortal Realm first.


    Because if her disciple''s growth outpaced her own¡­She wouldn''t be his master anymore. She would be left behind.


    Her cheeks warmed¡ªa rare thing. Her thoughts were gradually veering into dangerous territory.


    It was¡­ a matter of benefits.


    After breaking through, her Yin Essence would transform, reaching an unimaginable purity. The kind that would grant far greater benefits than anything he could obtain from her now.


    Bai Yujian''s lips parted slightly, then pressed into a thin line. She banished the thought immediately. It was far too early for such considerations.


    But¡ª


    Her fingers tensed slightly at her side.


    The idea had already taken root.


    ____


    Zhu Qing, however, didn''t notice Bai Yujian''s thoughts at all. She only sighed, glancing at Su Xiaobai''s sleeping form.


    "Let him stabilize first." Bai Yujian''s voice was firm. "And don''t force him to break through again." Her eyes narrowed. "He''s not an experimental rat for you. Let him earn it."


    Zhu Qing blinked.


    "Huh? I didn''t even¡ª"


    Before she could even explain, Bai Yujian had already turned away.


    And she wasn''t wrong.


    Su Xiaobai had just stepped into Earthly Rebirth Realm.


    Barely had time to stabilize. Now, he had already pushed into Nascent Soul Realm.


    For any normal cultivator, this would''ve been suicide. If not for his Infernal Emperor''s Legacy, his foundation would have collapsed entirely.


    But Zhu Qing''s words had awakened a dangerous idea inside Bai Yujian.


    So what if Su Xiaobai wasn''t born in an emperor''s household?


    She was still here.


    If he needed women from each peak to accelerate his growth? Then he could take them.


    All the female Elders of Sword Peak? Each of them at Deity Transformation Realm?


    He could have them. Bai Yujian, previously, would have never even considered this thought.


    But now¡ª


    Now she wasn''t so sure.


    Because Su Xiaobai was different.


    The youngest Nascent Soul cultivator in the sect''s history.


    Probably the youngest in the entire country.


    From being a late-starting Qi Condensation nobody¡ª To a once-in-a-lifetime monster.


    Even Bai Yujian was struggling to process how fast this was happening.


    Let alone the rest of the sect.


    And once the news spread¡­


    The other sects would come.


    They would try to recruit him.


    And if they offered better benefits than she could¡­


    There would be no reason for him to stay.


    It wasn''t just about sect rules anymore.


    It wasn''t just about personal attachments.


    Su Xiaobai was outgrowing the sect itself.


    And Bai Yujian wasn''t going to let that happen.


    Without waiting for Zhu Qing''s response, she left.


    She stepped out, overlooking the nervous disciples gathered below.


    Their eyes widened in fear as she descended.


    And her voice, cold and ethereal, echoed through the morning air.


    "No one speaks of what happened today."


    She paused.


    "Not to the other peaks."


    "Not to the elders."


    "Not to anyone."


    A quiet depression settled over the crowd.


    The disciples bowed, terrified.


    And Bai Yujian knew they wouldn''t dare disobey.


    But this? This was only a temporary fix.


    Because the truth was¡ª


    The sect was already changing.


    Rules that had stood unshaken for centuries¡­


    Were being broken.


    And the falling sect, once teetering on decline¡­


    Had seen a spark of hope.


    But little did they know¡ª


    This was only the calm before the storm. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 146 - 146: Conspiracy!

    "Sigh..."


    Once Bai Yujian was gone, Zhu Qing did nothing all day.


    She simply gathered those scared little souls, her expression cold, sharp, unforgiving.


    She didn''t bother with flowery words.


    She didn''t pretend to be gentle.


    "If I hear so much as a whisper¡­"


    Her smile was not kind.


    "Then Yama will be the least of your worries."


    A few disciples visibly flinched.


    Some lowered their heads, breaking into cold sweat.


    And a couple¡ª


    A couple were nervous.


    Too nervous.


    Zhu Qing''s eyes narrowed.


    ''They already snitched.''


    Even without using her spiritual sense, she could feel the guilt in their bones.


    They must have told a close friend.


    A harmless secret whispered behind closed doors.


    But that was how rumors started.


    Zhu Qing clicked her tongue. If it had been her handling this from the start¡­She would have made them swear a Sword Blood Oath.


    But Bai Yujian had already given the warning, and Zhu Qing wasn''t about to overcomplicate things.


    Besides¡ªIn the end, both she and Bai Yujian had been careless.


    Why? Because the sect never forbade relationships. As long as Su Xiaobai''s name didn''t come out, this wouldn''t be a scandal.


    It was just Peak Lord Zhu being a freak in the sheets.


    Nothing shocking.


    Nothing new.


    No one in the sect had a brain cunning enough to connect the dots¡ª


    To realize the "mystery man" was actually Su Xiaobai.


    So, neither she nor Bai Yujian wasted much thought on it.


    Zhu Qing had thicker skin than most.


    She sneered inwardly.


    ''Let someone try to call me out.''


    She had just broken through.


    Even other Peak Lords had to be careful of her now.


    Let alone some nosy juniors.


    With the matter settled, Zhu Qing returned to her residence, intending to check on Su Xiaobai''s breakthrough.


    But when she stepped inside¡ª


    It was already noon.


    Su Xiaobai sat on the wrecked bed, eyes closed, his skin glowing with a faint golden hue of Earth Qi. It pulsed around him, shifting like an invisible armor¡ªthick, heavy, and suffocating, as if the very world was kneeling at his feet.


    A quiet oppression filled the air.


    Zhu Qing paused.


    This wasn''t just cultivation energy, this was Soul Resonance. He had already reached the peak of Earthly Rebirth Realm ¡ª Standing at the threshold of Nascent Soul.


    Zhu Qing walked closer, unaffected.


    But if a Core Formation disciple had entered this room¡­They would have collapsed on the spot.


    Shaking. Trembling. Terrified.


    Zhu Qing sighed, resting her chin on her palm.


    "Little Villain, you''re such a headache¡­"


    She pursed her lips, then sat down near him, watching curiously.


    There was a weird urge to tap his face.


    His features were sharp, focused, almost mesmerizing.


    Why can''t he always be like this?


    Serious. Charming.


    Silent.


    Not running his poisonous mouth every two seconds.


    Zhu Qing exhaled deeply.


    "Tch."


    She shook her head, disgusted with herself.


    "What the hell is wrong with me?"


    Secondhand embarrassment burned her skin.


    Her own thoughts were making her cringe.


    Since when did she think of Su Xiaobai as "charming"?


    She should be keeping her distance.


    She should be calculating her next move.


    Not sitting here, admiring his face.


    And yet¡ª


    For the first time since she inherited his bloodline¡­


    Her heart felt calm.


    The uneasy pull toward him, the instinctive wariness she had carried for days¡ª


    It was gone.


    Zhu Qing exhaled slowly.


    It was a small change.


    But she didn''t know what it meant.


    And Su Xiaobai¡ª


    Completely unaware of the shifts happening inside her¡ª


    Remained focused on his ascent into Nascent Soul Realm.


    ____


    Deep Within His Dantian¡­


    Su Xiaobai''s consciousness retreated inward.


    Everything ceased to exist.


    No body.


    No thoughts.


    No distractions.


    Only cultivation.


    This was it.


    The birthplace of his Nascent Soul.


    Instantly¡ª


    The world around him disappeared.


    ___


    Step One ¨C Soul Nourishment


    A blinding light shone within his Dantian.


    His core.


    Around it¡ª


    Two forces clashed.


    Profound Qi slammed into the core like a horny bull in mating season, forcing its way inside.


    The Refined Earth Qi fought back, resisting the invasion like a stubborn virgin.


    Two titanic forces, surging violently.


    But Su Xiaobai?


    He didn''t play nice.


    Instead¡ª


    He fucked the rules and forced them together.


    The process was supposed to be slow. Gentle. A tender union. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But Su Xiaobai?


    Raw dogged it.


    Tch¡ª!


    His meridians screamed.


    His bones howled in protest.


    His forehead was slick with sweat, and for a second, his soul whispered:


    "Congratulations, you''ve chosen PAIN."


    But his star physique roared to life, slapping the pain in the face, as Stellar Qi surged out like a self-repairing cheat code.


    The pain vanished.


    Back in his Dantian¡ª


    The energies twisted together, forming a small, trembling sphere.


    The Soul Cocoon.


    It hovered within his core¡ª


    A fragile, swirling mass of condensed energy.


    Inside it¡ª


    His spiritual consciousness detached.


    For the first time¡ª


    His soul was no longer bound to his body.


    Which meant¡ª


    He was about to experience Illusory Death.


    ___


    Step Two.


    The Soul Abyss


    Darkness.


    His heartbeat slowed.


    Then¡ª


    It stopped.


    His entire body went cold.


    The sensation of limbs, breath, thought¡ª


    Gone.


    His soul drifted, weightless, floating in the endless void.


    This was the Soul Abyss.


    A cultivator''s final test before forming their Nascent Soul.


    Where one''s inner demons, karma, and fears manifested.


    And then¡ª


    They came.


    Whispers.


    "...Useless..."


    "...Cursed child..."


    "...You will never cultivate..."


    Shadows stirred in the abyss.


    Figures emerged.


    The mocking faces of his past.


    The people who had shit on him.


    The people who had abandoned him.


    And then¡ª


    A voice, deeper, colder.


    "You are not worthy of my inheritance."


    A pair of eyes opened in the void.


    Towering. Unfathomable.


    The Infernal Emperor''s shadow stood, vast like an ancient deity.


    Su Xiaobai''s soul trembled under its gaze.


    This was it.


    His final trial.


    If his will shattered here, his soul would fragment forever.


    But¡ª


    "Heh."


    Su Xiaobai grinned.


    This was supposed to scare him?


    A year ago¡ª


    Maybe.


    Maybe he would have curled up and cried like a bitch.


    Maybe he would have questioned everything.


    But now?


    Now, he simply laughed.


    "Shut the fuck up."


    He stepped forward.


    The abyss shattered.


    The Soul Cocoon trembled violently, cracks spreading across its surface.


    ____


    Step Three ¨C The Breaking of the Cocoon.


    Deep within his Dantian¡ª


    Something shifted.


    The condensed Soul Cocoon¡ª


    Cracked open.


    BOOM!


    A shockwave burst outward.


    And inside¡ª


    A miniature version of himself floated in midair.


    Eyes closed.


    Breath steady.


    Hands sealed in cultivation posture.


    His Nascent Soul.


    A perfect, refined entity, no longer bound by flesh and mortality.


    BOOM!


    An invisible pressure erupted outward.


    For a moment¡ª


    All of Mystic Peak felt it.


    A wave of pure consciousness slapped them across the face.


    The weaker disciples collapsed.


    The stronger ones shuddered, questioning their life choices.


    "A new Nascent Soul cultivator?"


    Before they could even move to investigate¡ª


    The pressure vanished.


    Zhu Qing, yawning, lazily set up a formation.


    "Tch. Too noisy."


    She blocked Su Xiaobai''s aura, cockblocking the entire sect from sensing his breakthrough.


    She leaned back, exhausted.


    "He''s too fast¡­"


    It normally took a week.


    This villain did it in three days.


    She sighed bitterly.


    And the last three days?


    They had been hell.


    _____


    Zhu Qing''s Three Days of Rampage...


    She was angry.


    Not just at Su Xiaobai.


    But at the absolute dipshit who spread the rumors.


    Because somehow¡ª


    Some loose-lipped motherfucker figured out it was Su Xiaobai who entered her chambers that night.


    And now¡ª


    The sect was buzzing.


    So what had she been doing for the last three days?


    Committing war crimes.


    Every disciple she found whispering about it¡ª


    She dragged them by the collar and baptized them in fists.


    Every elder she suspected¡ª


    She challenged them to a spar and caved in their ribcage.


    Even the other Peak Lords weren''t safe.


    She had stormed into Zhao Tianxuan''s residence, ready to beat the smug off his face.


    By now¡ª


    Half the sect was in therapy.


    But it didn''t matter.


    Because the damage was done.


    If Su Xiaobai had been ''officially'' a disciple from her mystic peak¡ª


    She would have been stripped of her title and thrown out.


    If Bai Yujian hadn''t covered for her¡ª


    She would be fighting for her life in a sect tribunal.


    Now¡ª


    Her reputation was officially in the gutter.


    She could barely step outside without someone pretending to meditate to avoid eye contact.


    "Haaah¡­"


    She exhaled slowly.


    Her fingers twitched.


    If she found out who started this¡­


    They would be unrecognizable when she was done.


    Meanwhile¡ª


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes flickered, preparing to open.


    And he had no idea how much bullshit had exploded into existence while he was busy ascending.


    ____


    Crack!


    Su Xiaobai''s body twitched violently one last time before his eyes snapped open. A deep breath rushed into his lungs as his senses kicked back in, the familiar sensation of spiritual power coursing through his veins.


    "Haaah¡­ it feels good to be alive."


    He stretched, joints popping like fireworks, his entire body basking in the high of his recent breakthrough.


    Then¡ªhe noticed he wasn''t alone.


    Zhu Qing sat across from him, watching.


    Not just watching¡ªstaring.


    A slow, eerie smile on her lips. Not a good smile. A smile that said ''I have suffered, and now, so will you.''

 Chapter 147 - 147: Raiding a Little Thief!

    Su Xiaobai''s brows furrowed, eyes instinctively sweeping over Zhu Qing.


    Her arms rested on her knees, her chin propped up, giving off the distinct energy of a depressed maiden after a bad breakup. It was such a bizarre contrast to her usual sharp, domineering presence that Su Xiaobai actually felt concerned.


    "Elder, what happened? Who hurt you?!" His gaze instinctively dropped to her chest.


    Damn.


    The posture made certain assets look even better.


    She snorted. Didn''t answer.


    And that''s when Su Xiaobai realized¡ªhe must''ve fucked up somewhere.


    "Uh¡­ I broke through, I guess?"


    Wrong.


    Wrong move.


    Wrong answer.


    The moment those words left his mouth, her melancholic expression twisted into something demonic.


    A slow, vindictive smile spread across her face.


    "Oh, Little Villain¡­ since you''ve broken through¡­ let this Elder reward you properly."


    BAM!


    A thick-ass book slammed onto the floor in front of him.


    "Soul Shatter Palm."


    BAM!


    Another one.


    "Ethereal Chains of Binding."


    BAM!


    A third.


    "Soul Devouring Gaze."


    BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM!


    One by one, cultivation manuals rained down like divine judgment.


    By the time she was done, the entire floor was buried under books. Su Xiaobai swallowed dryly. His forehead was already sweating.


    Zhu Qing leaned forward, eyes gleaming with dark amusement.


    "Little Villain, you''ve already harmed the Elder¡­ now, for my sake, please learn all of these within a week."


    That last smile was not a smile.


    That was the expression of a woman who had reached rock bottom and decided to drag someone else down with her.


    Su Xiaobai wanted to cry, but no tears came. He forced out a dry chuckle, "Elder, I can''t possibly learn all of this, can I? At least pick out the best one for your man."


    For a moment¡ªjust a moment¡ªZhu Qing softened.


    Her man?


    Her brows twitched.


    She had been pissed off for three days straight, barely keeping herself from massacring the sect. But somehow, that phrase chipped at her rage.


    Then she looked at the pile of books.


    Okay. Maybe she did go a little overboard. Some of these techniques were far beyond him. Like "True Spirit Manifestation," which wasn''t even practicable until Spirit Severing Realm.


    "Tch¡­ Fine." She started sorting through them, placing the unnecessary ones aside. "Soul Shatter Palm, Ethereal Chains of Binding, Soul Devouring Gaze for your attacks¡­"


    Then she picked another, "Heavenly Soul Barrier. A defensive technique. Take it too."


    Su Xiaobai blinked.


    He had no idea how much effort Zhu Qing had put into gathering these techniques.


    Once the scandal broke, she could have hidden away, locked herself inside her residence, and waited for the storm to pass¡ªJust like he did.


    But no.


    She didn''t hide.


    She didn''t avoid the rumors.


    Instead¡ª


    She spent the last three days tearing through the entire sect like a debt collector from hell.


    She raided the elder archives.


    She ransacked other peaks.


    She dragged people out of their homes, beat the shit out of them, and looted their techniques as ''compensation.''


    Every single person she pummeled into the dirt¡ª


    She did it under the noble excuse of "slandering her image using rumours."


    It was a blatant lie.


    But did that stop her?


    No.


    She used it as a free pass to beat up anyone she didn''t like and take their stuff.


    At one point, a junior disciple had cried, swearing he knew nothing.


    She robbed him anyway.


    All for this bastard.


    And he had no fucking clue.


    Su Xiaobai reached out, catching her wrist.


    "Elder, it''s enough."


    Zhu Qing paused. His touch was warm, firm. For some reason, her heart did a weird little flutter. Before she could react¡ª


    "Ah?!"


    She was suddenly pulled into a hug.


    "Little Villain¡ª? What the hell are you doing?! Let me go!"


    Her face burned. She tried pushing him off, but Su Xiaobai tightened his grip.


    This woman.


    She was acting tough, pretending like this was all just a transaction.


    But he knew better.


    She was soft inside... Very soft.


    "Elder, how about I call you Qingqing from now on? Elder sounds too distant."


    His voice was low, teasing.


    Zhu Qing''s entire body shivered.


    "D-Do whatever you want¡ª! Just let me go! Or I''ll break your face! Humph! I still haven''t punished you for¡ª"


    She stopped mid-sentence.


    Her face turned scarlet.


    Su Xiaobai grinned knowingly. She was about to say something embarrassing.


    He released her, stepping back.


    Zhu Qing frowned. She could see through all his bullshit.


    But what could she do? The whole sect already knew. Even if she denied it, they wouldn''t believe her.


    She sighed and tossed him one last book.


    A white, patchy manual.


    Su Xiaobai caught it, frowning. "What''s this?"


    Zhu Qing hesitated. "Soul Rebirth Art. If your body is destroyed, your soul can escape and reconstruct itself over time."


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes lit up.


    "There''s an advanced version," she continued. "True Soul Regeneration. It instantly reforms a body. But¡­"


    She hesitated.


    "Even I haven''t mastered it."


    His grin widened. Something even Zhu Qing couldn''t master? That meant¡ªit was fucking amazing.


    Before he could start something dangerous, Zhu Qing pushed him away. "Go meet Peak Lord Xu Tianran. He should have your Star Essence Pill."


    Su Xiaobai frowned. "Can''t you bring it for me?"


    Zhu Qing gritted her teeth. "I CAN''T."


    Su Xiaobai blinked. Her face looked ugly.


    Then¡ªshe told him everything.


    The rumors. The house arrest. The sect talking shit.


    Su Xiaobai''s mood plummeted.


    His woman was locked up?!


    Fuck that!


    "Elder, come with me."


    "Where?"


    "To get you justice."


    His righteous words echoed. Zhu Qing nearly vomited blood.


    Since when did this man become righteous?!


    But she was also curious. And if they found the bastards responsible for this¡ª


    She was going to skin them alive.


    And Su Xiaobai?


    He was about to start a fucking war.


    ________


    Bottom of Sword Peak¡ªA Certain Dormitory!


    BAM!


    A wooden crate toppled over, scrolls spilling across the dimly lit dormitory. The candle on the desk flickered dangerously, casting trembling shadows along the walls as a woman tore through every corner of the room, her breaths ragged and uneven.


    Her fingers trembled as she flipped over bedding, yanked open drawers, and shoved aside wooden boxes, her entire body burning with frustration.


    Dark blue strands of hair stuck to her sweat-kissed skin, her usually sharp gaze clouded with panic.


    "Where is it¡­? Heaven damn it, where did I put it!?" she muttered, teeth digging into her lower lip.


    Her heartbeat hammered in her ears.


    Tonight was the night. The night she had planned for months¡ªher final day in this cursed sect.


    She had pulled off the heist of a lifetime.


    Sneaking into Xiantian Sect''s treasury was impossible for most, but she had done it. With careful precision, she had evaded the formation surveillance and stolen the one thing she had come here for¡ªan ancient map, the key to everything.


    But now?


    She had fucking lost it.


    "Curse the darkness!" Yu Feng growled, nearly tearing her hair out.


    Her eyes flickered toward the side of the room, where Ji Hong''s unconscious body lay slumped against the wooden wall.


    Her fellow martial brother. Her roommate.


    Her spy.


    She had discovered a while ago that Ji Hong had been planted here by Xu Tianran to monitor her. And tonight? Yu Feng made sure he wouldn''t wake up again.


    But none of that mattered if she didn''t find the damn map.


    Crouching down, she frantically searched beneath the wooden bed, her bare legs brushing against the cold floor. Then, her fingers brushed against something smooth and wooden.


    Her breath caught.


    "Found it!"


    She grabbed the oak scroll, relief flooding her veins like divine nectar.


    Then¡ª


    A voice, smooth as flowing jade yet carrying a hint of amused wickedness, echoed through the room.


    "Found what, I wonder?"


    Yu Feng''s entire body went rigid.


    The air in her lungs turned ice-cold.


    Her grip on the scroll tightened involuntarily.


    A long shadow stretched over her, covering her delicate form entirely.


    Slowly¡ªso painfully slowly¡ªshe turned her head.


    And there¡ªstanding behind her, arms crossed, grin sharp enough to cut the moon¡ª


    Was Su Xiaobai.


    His broad frame blocked the candlelight, casting him in an ominous silhouette. But what sent a shiver down her spine wasn''t his presence.


    It was his eyes. They weren''t looking at her face. They were locked lower ¡ª Directly at her ass.


    Fixed upon her raised hips, her supple body barely hidden beneath the thin silk of her night robe.


    Yu Feng''s stomach tightened.


    She had been too absorbed in her search, too careless. Her robe, already light and breathable, was hugging to her skin, exposing the soft swell of her thighs, the perfect curve of her hips.


    And Su Xiaobai?


    He was staring. Not subtly. Not discreetly. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Blatantly.


    Like a starving man admiring a fresh meal.


    His fingers twitched, and Yu Feng could see the exact moment the thought crossed his mind¡ª


    "What if I just grabbed her hips and ruined her life?"


    Yu Feng''s brows twitched violently.


    She had encountered shameless men before.


    But this one¡ªthis wicked creature of depravity and unchecked arrogance¡ª


    Was on a different level.


    Taking a deep breath, she forced down her rage, her voice dropping dangerously low.


    "What the hell are you doing here?"


    Su Xiaobai didn''t answer. Instead, his smirk widened. "Just enjoying the view."


    Yu Feng saw red.


    This fucking degenerate.


    Before she could even think, Nascent Soul energy erupted from her body. In a single swift motion, she spun, claws glowing with spiritual energy, and aimed straight for his crotch.


    No hesitation. No mercy.


    She went straight for the bloodline.


    "!"

 Chapter 148 - 148: Map to Dark Tab!

    Yu Feng went straight for the bloodline.


    Su Xiaobai''s face drained of color.


    "WHAT THE FUCK, WOMAN¡ª!? I JUST CAME TO GET YOU TO CONFESS, WHY ARE YOU TRYING TO MURDER MY BLOODLINE!?"


    He barely dodged back, but her claws scraped through his robes, slicing dangerously close.


    Holy fuck. This wasn''t some casual kick to the balls. This was a full-powered ''I never want you to reproduce'' strike.


    He stumbled back, heart pounding.


    "Crazy bitch! What kind of woman goes straight for a man''s dick without hesitation!?"


    Yu Feng''s eyes burned with fury. "The kind who does not suffer beasts who let their eyes wander where they do not belong!"


    Before she could launch another attack¡ª


    SMACK!


    A sharp, resounding slap echoed through the room.


    "Huh¡ª!?" Yu Feng''s head jerked violently to the side.


    For a second, her vision blurred.


    Then¡ªshe felt it.


    Her wrist twisted behind her back, her entire body lifted mid-air like a fucking ragdoll.


    Pain shot through her shoulder.


    "What sorcery¡ª!?¡ª?! Let me go!"


    A calm, smooth voice followed.


    "Not so soon, girl."


    Yu Feng''s breath froze.


    That wasn''t Su Xiaobai.


    Her heart pounded as she realized she wasn''t the only one in the room.


    Su Xiaobai, still clutching his almost-murdered bloodline, let out a long sigh, looking genuinely aggrieved.


    "Why does everyone wish to cripple my future sons?"


    In front of him, still holding Yu Feng effortlessly mid-air, one hand raised from the slap, the other twirling the oak scroll that had once been hers¡ª


    Was Zhu Qing.


    And she was smiling.


    Not the kind that brought comfort.


    The kind that promised misery.


    Her fingers ran idly over the scroll''s surface as she whispered aloud, "Now, what is this, I wonder~?"


    Yu Feng''s stomach dropped.


    She had been caught.


    This was it.


    This was the end.


    Zhu Qing''s grip tightened slightly, just enough to make Yu Feng grimace. The silent pressure was suffocating.


    Su Xiaobai, now fully recovered from his near-castration, let out a slow exhale, cracking his knuckles as he stepped forward, his eyes gleaming with interest.


    "Well, well, well¡­ if it isn''t our little thief." His lips curled, voice carrying an easy confidence, he crouched slightly, tilting his head, his tone turning mockingly gentle. "Now¡­ why don''t we have a little chat?"


    Yu Feng swallowed hard, struggling against Zhu Qing''s grip.


    "W-What do you two want?"


    For the first time in a very, very long time¡­


    She felt fear.


    ____


    Bang!


    Before Yu Feng could react, her wrists were bound, and she was thrown to the side like discarded prey. Her breath came in sharp gasps, dark blue hair falling over her face, obscuring the storm raging in her eyes. Where had it all gone wrong? Everything had been perfect.


    Her teeth clenched as she glared at the two before her.


    Zhu Qing, standing with arms crossed, smiled in satisfaction.


    "Disicple Su, this time you''ve caught a big fish. This one''s from the Dark Church of Tianlong Dynasty. To think such vermin had wormed their way into our sect¡­"


    Yu Feng''s nails dug into her palms.


    Zhu Qing wasn''t even looking at her. She was merely studying her like an afterthought, already deciding her fate.


    Although Zhu Qing didn''t think this woman held much true value, her capture was still useful. With this, she could expose the sect''s intelligence failures and gain merit. Another step toward solidifying her position.


    Su Xiaobai, arms lazily folded behind his head, raised a brow.


    "Is this scroll valuable?" His voice carried a feigned curiosity.


    Zhu Qing didn''t even hand it to him.


    "It''s very valuable," she replied smoothly. "It''s the map to the ''Dark Tab''. I don''t know who leaked its existence, but someone clearly wants it found."


    "Dark Tab?" Su Xiaobai''s interest piqued, but he quickly refocused.


    He shook his head. "Elder, I didn''t catch her to hand her over to the sect. She can help us find out who spread the rumors."


    Zhu Qing paused.


    Her smile faded slightly as she turned, looking at him in surprise. "So that wasn''t the plan?"


    Even Yu Feng hesitated.


    Su Xiaobai exhaled, rubbing his temples. "Just a coincidence."


    Indeed, if this were before, things would have been different. Zhu Qing was powerful, but that alone wouldn''t have been enough for him to take such a risk.


    Yet now¡ªeven though he lacked the strength to truly possess her¡ªhe regarded her as his.


    Not just as a woman, but as a pillar in the sect. A shield when needed, a blade when required.


    More importantly, she wasn''t the kind of person he hated most.


    Su Xiaobai feared true, ungrateful evil¡ªthe kind that took without giving, that betrayed without hesitation.


    Zhu Qing wasn''t like that.


    She knew how to repay favors.


    After all, they had already shared the bond of life and death.


    And then¡ªthe journey to bed.


    To say he was willing to let her go now would be a lie.


    So when he heard she was bullied, when he saw how the sect forced her into isolation, when he realized they dared to push his woman into such a position¡ª


    It was no longer just about reputation.


    It was revenge.


    Zhu Qing studied him for a moment, then¡­ laughed softly.


    Not mocking. Not teasing.


    Just knowing.


    Su Xiaobai wasn''t obligated to step in for her.


    Yet he had.


    And for some reason¡ªthat pleased her more than she expected.


    Yu Feng, meanwhile, was staring between them.


    What was this unspoken understanding?


    The realization settled in her stomach like cold iron. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Hah. So the rumors were true.


    She had thought the sect''s gossip was exaggerated. That the idea of Xiantian Sect''s most mean Elder sharing her bed with a disciple was absurd.


    But now?


    Now, she understood.


    She was doomed.


    Yu Feng exhaled sharply, regaining her composure.


    "Hah!" She snorted coldly, her bound arms tensing. "What are you pretending to be innocent for, Su Xiaobai? Breeding demonic flowers, massacring cities¡ª and yet you still wear the mask of righteousness and honor?"


    Zhu Qing''s gaze shifted to Su Xiaobai, intrigued.


    Su Xiaobai didn''t react.


    No anger. No denial.


    Zhu Qing chuckled. "So that''s how it is¡­"


    Su Xiaobai merely shrugged. "Nothing can be done about it."


    Sometimes, blackmail was a two-way street.


    Yu Feng had her secrets. He had his.


    Until now, both had abided by an unspoken agreement, neither daring to expose the other.


    But the moment Su Xiaobai forced her into the open¡ªshe didn''t even hesitate to strike back.


    Zhu Qing watched the exchange, her expression unreadable, then simply nodded. Unconcerned.


    She had already accepted long ago¡ªSu Xiaobai was no righteous.


    Neither was she.


    Yu Feng''s heart hammered in her ears.


    She had expected this Peak Lord Zhu to punish him, distance herself, reject him.


    But instead¡ªshe accepted it.


    Not with hesitation. Not with reluctance.


    With understanding.


    Her loyalty had already leaned toward him.


    And that¡­


    That was far more terrifying than any punishment.


    It meant they were the same kind.


    Which meant¡ª


    Rules no longer mattered.


    They could do whatever they wanted


    And she was at their mercy.


    Damn it!


    These wretched dog-man and dog-woman!


    She wanted to kill them both¡ªwipe those knowing smiles from their faces.


    But one was like a cunning fox, always a step ahead, weaving traps in the dark


    The other stood like a towering mountain, unshaken, unyielding, impossible to climb.


    And she?


    She was a trapped rabbit.


    No matter how hard she struggled, no matter how much hatred burned in her chest¡­


    The hunter''s hand was already on her throat.

 Chapter 149 - 149: Enslaving Yu Feng!

    "You broke through again? When¡ª?!"


    Yu Feng''s face paled.


    Her mind had been too tangled in failure to register it before¡ªbut now, reality hit like a guillotine.


    Su Xiaobai''s aura had changed.


    Core Formation? Gone.


    Nascent Soul.


    This bastard¡ªwhen the hell did he cross realms like a peasant scarfing down potatoes!?


    Su Xiaobai sneered, exuding the kind of lazy confidence that begged for a knife to the throat. She couldn''t kill him now. Not alone. And not with Zhu Qing standing beside him like a personal executioner.


    Zhu Qing didn''t share Su Xiaobai''s smugness.


    She brushed Yu Feng''s wrist¡ªjust a touch.


    A pulse of energy surged.


    Her expression shifted.


    "Such a talent¡­" she murmured. "A waste to kill."


    She wasn''t talking about Su Xiaobai.


    Yu Feng''s bone age was younger than his.


    And yet¡ªIntermediate Nascent Soul Realm.


    No tricks. No special bloodline. No bullshit cultivation hacks like Su Xiaobai''s absurd Yin-absorbing powers.


    Pure, unfiltered talent.


    Zhu Qing''s brows furrowed. She had always known the Dark Church had powerful forces, but this? This was something else.


    This was proof that the empire''s hidden powers were raising monsters.


    Meanwhile, Su Xiaobai grinned, his mind was already sharpening its blade.


    If a mere foot soldier in the Dark Church could hit Nascent Soul this young¡­ then what kind of titans were lurking in the shadows?


    Tsk. Now that was worth looking into.


    Before Zhu Qing could entertain snapping Yu Feng''s neck on the spot, Su Xiaobai grabbed her wrist and pulled her aside.


    "Elder, leave her alive. I still have use for her."


    Zhu Qing frowned, her instincts screaming that this was a bad idea.


    Yu Feng''s glare could''ve skinned a tiger alive. If hatred had a blade, Su Xiaobai''s dick would be first on the chopping block.


    But then¡ªhe spoke.


    And for the first time since this nightmare began¡­ a flicker of hope clawed its way through the blood in her throat.


    "Do you know who started spreading the rumors about Peak Lord Zhu and me first?"


    The moment the words left his lips¡ªYu Feng''s face cracked.


    Her stomach plummeted.


    This¡­ this was why she got caught?


    This?!


    She felt like vomiting blood. For this insignificant thing, her years of careful planning collapsed overnight!?


    She wanted to kill something.


    Preferably Su Xiaobai.


    Su Xiaobai saw her face twist into something between agony and contempt and sighed dramatically, shaking his head like a disappointed father.


    "Well, if you''re useless to me, then we might as well kill you¡ª"


    "Wait!" Yu Feng bit her lip hard. "I can find out¡­"


    Su Xiaobai smirked. "Oh? And how exactly?"


    Yu Feng hesitated for a moment before muttering, "There are¡­ a lot of female disciples who admire me."


    Su Xiaobai''s brow arched. "Admire?"


    Yu Feng''s fingers twitched. "They¡­ think I''m a man. If I ask around, I can find out who spread the rumors."


    There was a beat of silence.


    Then¡ª


    Su Xiaobai''s grin widened.


    "Wait, wait, wait¡ªyou''re telling me you''ve been seducing women while pretending to be a man?"


    Yu Feng''s face darkened instantly.


    "Seducing!?" she spat. "Those girls latched onto me on their own! I did nothing!"


    Su Xiaobai gave a long, exaggerated sigh.


    "Ahh¡­ how tragic. The elegant, aloof ''Xiao Yu,'' hiding the truth of her forbidden flower, unknowingly gathering a harem of lovesick maidens¡­ only for her secret to be discovered under such humiliating circumstances¡­"


    Yu Feng wanted to rip out his tongue and shove it up his ass.


    Before she could spit curses, she felt Zhu Qing''s gaze. Zhu Qing was silent, unreadable, and most terrifying of all¡ªconsidering something.


    Yu Feng swallowed.


    She had seen that look before.


    It was the look of someone deciding whether to kill her or keep her.


    And Yu Feng wasn''t sure which one was worse.


    "What do you plan to do with me?" she asked slowly, voice cautious. If they wanted to kill her anyway, she would rather die now than be toyed with.


    Zhu Qing was already leaning toward slitting her throat, but Su Xiaobai?


    He had other ideas. Before Zhu Qing could make up her mind, Su Xiaobai grabbed her wrist and pulled her further aside.


    She clicked her tongue but allowed it. The moment they were out of Yu Feng''s earshot, Zhu Qing crossed her arms.


    "Little Villain, I know you love women, but there''s a difference between liking something and letting it control you."


    Her tone was firm, but her expression was complicated.


    Su Xiaobai sighed. "Qingqing, do you really think I''d risk my own neck for a pretty face?"


    Zhu Qing arched a brow. "Aren''t you?"


    Su Xiaobai nearly choked on air.


    "If all I wanted was to have fun with her, I could do that right now. Take my time, use her thoroughly, then dispose of her."


    Zhu Qing''s expression didn''t change, but she felt something twist in her chest.


    A second later, she smiled.


    "You certainly know how to make a woman feel safe, Little Villain."


    Su Xiaobai grinned. "Only the ones worth keeping."


    Her smirk faltered for half a second.


    Then¡ªshe looked at him, realization flickering in her gaze.


    "You''re thinking of enslaving her?"


    Su Xiaobai''s smile widened.


    Zhu Qing''s brows knit together.


    If Su Xiaobai could control her, this was a double agent situation.


    This was planting a hidden seed inside the Dark Church. A chess piece. To let her grow on her own, unrestrained.


    Zhu Qing exhaled sharply, eyeing him.


    "Your ambitions are getting out of hand."


    Su Xiaobai chuckled. "Elder, this is just a little hobby."


    Zhu Qing massaged her temples.


    If he called plotting to infiltrate the Dark Church a ''hobby,'' then she didn''t want to know what he called an actual ambition.


    Even Zhu Qing felt a shiver of temptation¡ªand she wasn''t easily moved.


    This brat wasn''t just ambitious. He was a walking declaration of war.First, he picked apart the Blood Warlord''s corpse. Now, he was sinking his claws into the Dark Church. At this rate, she wouldn''t be surprised if he started eyeing a princess, an empire, or the fucking heavens themselves.


    She didn''t even want to interrogate him further¡ªbecause knowing this man, the next thing out of his mouth would be something like:


    "Why stop at one agent when I could control the entire Dark Church?"


    And at that point, Zhu Qing might faint.


    The Dark Church wasn''t some back-alley sect. Even the mighty Golden Buddha Sect wouldn''t dare fart in its direction.


    And this Yu Feng? At best, she was a small clergy member.


    Yet Su Xiaobai wanted to leash her like a stray dog and let her loose in the forest?


    Madness.


    She glanced over her shoulder, catching Yu Feng''s murderous glare.


    Of course, this woman wasn''t thinking about politics. She was glaring at Zhu Qing''s body, burning with venom and resentment.


    What a shame.


    She had all this talent, yet still acted like a jealous bitch.


    "Su Xiaobai, you aren''t really sparing her just because of her body, are you?"


    Zhu Qing''s tone was light, but her gaze was dead serious.


    "These women are poisonous. You can''t expect loyalty from them."


    Su Xiaobai didn''t even blink.


    His voice turned cold.


    "I won''t even touch her¡ªlet alone think about her."


    Zhu Qing raised a brow.


    Oh?


    That was a first.


    Su Xiaobai, seeing her doubt, sighed and explained.


    It wasn''t about pleasure or indulgence. It was about use.


    Yu Feng wasn''t worth playing with.


    She was worth exploiting.


    Talented. Young. Cunning. Beautiful.


    The kind of woman who could tear through a sect''s defenses alone¡ªthat alone was enough to make Su Xiaobai reconsider everything.


    This wasn''t just some disposable pawn. This was a knife. A sharp, ambitious, blood-soaked knife¡ªand all he had to do was point it in the right direction.


    He would release her from the sect, let her crawl back to the Dark Church, and live her life freely. If one day, she climbed high enough¡ªhe''d reap the benefits.


    If not? Forget her.


    Zhu Qing didn''t argue. She understood now.


    This wasn''t about lust. This was about planting a time bomb. If one day, the Xiantian Sect turned against him, he wouldn''t be left scrambling for survival. He''d already have a retreat prepared.


    A hidden piece in the Dark Church, waiting to be played.


    Zhu Qing''s fingers twitched slightly. Didn''t she do the same thing in the Chi Xie Wasteland?


    Even she had a path of escape if things went south. Realizing this, she found herself surprised by this man''s thinking.


    So, without another word, she set up the Blood Oath.


    Yu Feng resisted.


    She fought.


    She cursed them both to hell.


    But in the end¡ªshe failed.


    The oath was sealed.


    From this moment on, her life and death were in Su Xiaobai''s hands.


    "If you speak of anything that happened today, you will die."


    Su Xiaobai''s voice was velvet-wrapped steel¡ªcalm, almost playful.


    "Be a good dog for a few days. Sniff out the bastard who spread the rumors. Then piss off wherever you like¡ªcrawl back to the hole, run, build an empire, go find a sugar daddy¡ªI don''t give a fuck.


    But if you even think about crossing me¡­"


    His grin widened, the kind of smile that made people lose sleep at night.


    "Well¡ªhaha."


    Yu Feng froze. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She had expected threats.


    But this? He was letting her go?


    Suspicious. But the moment Su Xiaobai turned and walked away without hesitation¡ªshe felt something loosen in her chest.


    ¡­Was he really that much of a pervert?


    Did he just spare her because he wanted to sleep with her later? She scoffed, hugging her arms.


    "Tch. Men."


    She sneered. What an idiot. This man was so easily moved by a beautiful woman, he let his guard down.


    Disgusting. She could use this. For now, she would pretend to obey. When the time came, she''d sink a blade into his throat.


    With that thought, Yu Feng curled up in bed and fell asleep like a woman with zero survival instincts.


    But little did she know¡ª


    As she slept soundly, thinking she had fooled a lustful idiot¡­


    A shadow crept into her room.


    Soft footsteps.


    A faint chuckle in the darkness.


    "Such an innocent little thing¡­" Zhu Qing''s voice was silk and poison as she knelt beside the sleeping woman, her fingers forming a seal.


    A soft, invisible pulse of energy seeped into Yu Feng''s body.


    An enslavement seal. One connected to Su Xiaobai.


    Zhu Qing''s smile turned sharper. This foolish girl thought she had gotten away. She had no idea she had just been leashed like a hunting dog.


    Su Xiaobai didn''t want her to know she was enslaved.


    That was the most beautiful part.


    Let her claw her way up the heavens, believing she was untouchable.


    Let her build her little kingdom, wear her little crown, and taste the sweetness of power. Because when the moment came¡ªwhen she stood at the peak, thinking she had conquered it all¡ª


    Su Xiaobai would tighten the leash.


    And rip it all from her throat.


    Compared to using her body, making her work like a dog for centuries¡ªcompletely unaware she was only working for him¡ª


    Now that was truly satisfying.


    Zhu Qing almost laughed.


    Su Xiaobai, standing outside, let out a low chuckle.


    Even if she never amounted to anything¡ªit wasn''t his loss.


    She would either become his sword¡­ or be forgotten.


    And this was just the beginning.


    His mentality had changed.


    He was no longer scrambling for survival.


    Now¡ªhe was building his foundation.


    Planting seeds.


    Cultivating pawns.


    Leaving a path for his future self to walk upon.


    The weight of rescuing his family had lifted.


    And with it¡ªhis hesitation.


    The destruction of White Cloud Star.


    The rise of his own empire.


    One step at a time.


    Compared to that¡ª


    This?


    This was just another night in Xiantian Sect.

 Chapter 150 - 150: Dao of Feline Enlightenment!

    "Hm? Qingqing, I think we''re going the wrong way..."


    Su Xiaobai had assumed Zhu Qing was taking him back to her residence, probably for another night of questionable moral decisions. Instead, she was leading him out of the sect.


    A mysterious smile played on Zhu Qing''s lips. Alarm bells rang in Su Xiaobai''s mind¡ªthis woman was up to some serious shit.


    Before he could question further, they arrived at ruined Yunnan City, a once-thriving place now reduced to rubble.


    This was where Su Xiaobai had once been given an important life-saving mission¡ªto uphold the Dao! (Translation: Do something righteous enough that others wouldn''t kill him.)


    Now, standing in the infamous Pleasure Pavilion, he found himself facing a terrified, half-dressed beauty¡ªA''Jin.


    The woman clutched at her robes, staring at Su Xiaobai and Zhu Qing in horror.


    Next to him, Zhu Qing grinned and delivered her decree:


    "Little Villain, screw her up!"


    "..."


    Su Xiaobai felt both his soul and lower half ascend at the same time.


    Heaven? Hell? He wasn''t sure. All he knew was¡ªa long-legged beauty stood before him, and he had been given a free pass to pounce.


    What kind of cosmic merit had he unknowingly accumulated to deserve such a fate!?


    A''Jin''s eyes burned with rage. "Xiao Qing, what did this old lady ever do to you!?"


    "Humph! Do you really want me to list it all?" Zhu Qing sneered. "Acting innocent now? You were the one who started everything!"


    A''Jin''s face twisted. "Didn''t you already have me kicked out of the sect for that?"


    "You think that was enough?" Zhu Qing''s voice was as cold as the abyss.


    At that moment, A''Jin knew.


    Retribution had come.


    The little girl she once dismissed had grown up¡ªvengeful, ruthless, and holding a grudge that could last multiple reincarnations.


    ____


    The Schemes of Aunt A''Jin...


    To understand this night''s events, one had to look back a full generation.


    When Zhao Tianxuan first entered the sect, he arrived with his caretaker and personal bodyguard¡ªA''Jin.


    A''Jin wasn''t just some random servant. She was a high-ranking member of the Zhao Family, sent personally by the old Zhao Lords of Tianlong Empire to guard their heir.


    But the moment Zhao Tianxuan set foot in the sect, the Zhao Family was erased.


    Gone. Wiped from the empire like a stain on a brothel bed.


    No one knew which mysterious power had done it, but the entire Zhao bloodline was silently crushed.


    Zhao Tianxuan became an orphan overnight.


    A''Jin? She became his sole surviving family, his guide, his protector¡­ his shadow.


    And, most importantly¡ªhis chess master.


    Through years of observing their interactions, A''Jin quickly discovered a crucial fact¡ªZhao Tianxuan was interested in his martial sister, Zhu Qing.


    And just like that, a grand scheme was born.


    A''Jin played the long game.


    She counseled patience. "Wait," she told Zhao Tianxuan. Bide your time. Climb the ranks. Earn power. When you become Sect Master, she will have no choice but to accept you." Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    And when the time was right?


    She struck.


    A''Jin orchestrated everything flawlessly.


    Through manipulation and careful scheming, she used Bai Yujian to push an arranged marriage between Zhao Tianxuan and Zhu Qing.


    The result?


    A volcanic eruption of sect-wide drama.


    Zhu Qing felt betrayed beyond words.


    Her response?


    She declared all-out war.


    First, she confronted Zhao Tianxuan directly. "Get lost, or I''ll personally dismember you." That was Step One.


    Step Two?


    She plotted against A''Jin for an entire decade¡ªsystematically tearing apart everything the woman built.


    And in the end?


    A''Jin was kicked out of the sect, exiled like a diseased dog.


    But even after all that, was the grudge gone?


    Absolutely not.


    Zhu Qing wanted this woman erased from her existence.


    And yet, Zhao Tianxuan saved her.


    Not only that, he rewarded her¡ªsecuring her a cushy job as a shadow informant for Xiantian Sect.


    And now?


    Now, Zhu Qing had finally found the perfect revenge tool.


    A shameless, degenerate bastard named Su Xiaobai.


    ____


    Zhu Qing grinned as she saw A''Jin''s expression crumble.


    Retribution had arrived.


    Moments later, the Pleasure Pavilion rang with the sounds of tortured moans and desperate cries.


    That bastard Su Xiaobai had been thoroughly bought out.


    After all, Zhu Qing had made him an offer he couldn''t refuse¡ªif he performed well, she would help him get the Snow Sisters to fulfill their "promises."


    And so, in the end¡ª


    A''Jin was the one who got screwed.


    The grudge of an era finally faded that night.


    Zhu Qing leaned back, watching the aftermath with a smile. A smile that was both intoxicating and terrifying.


    The sisters hiding in the shadows?


    They shuddered.


    This woman¡­ had completely lost her mind.


    ______


    Meanwhile, at Iron Mountain Peak, Elder Han Xuan sighed.


    "This woman has no restraint..."


    Zhu Qing had only just escaped punishment from last scandal, and now she''d gone and pulled this shit!?


    Did she want to fall out completely with Zhao Tianxuan!?


    The next morning, Sect Master Zhao Tianxuan sat in the hall meeting, looking like a man who had witnessed his entire bloodline die a second time.


    His face was ashen, his eyes bloodshot.


    He had high expectations for Su Xiaobai.


    But NOT to the extent that he would offer up his own mother-figure to be screwed over!


    Zhao Tianxuan trembled in rage.


    That woman wasn''t his biological mother, but she had raised him!


    And now, a junior disciple had ruined her completely!?


    WHERE WAS HIS DIGNITY!?


    WHERE WAS HIS FACE!?


    ______


    The night passed.


    By morning, Su Xiaobai sauntered into a meeting with Xu Tianran, who tossed the Star Essence Pill at him like he was handing over a used pair of chopsticks.


    The whole exchange was so cold and lifeless that even a jade slip had more personality.


    For some reason, Xu Tianran''s gaze stayed on him, expression sourer than a monk watching a dual cultivation manual being distributed for free.


    Did Xu Tianran not like him?


    Maybe.


    Did it matter?


    Absolutely not.


    ___


    "Woah¡­"


    He popped the pill into his mouth, and instantly¡ª


    BOOM!


    His Star Slayer God Arts surged.


    His veins filled with astral energy, his muscles ignited in divine light, and his entire body felt like it was being bathed in the essence of the cosmos.


    If this were a serious story, the heavens would be roaring, elders would be vomiting blood in shock, and some arrogant young master would be screaming, "Impossible! He broke through in an instant!?"


    But instead, all that happened was¡ª


    SHOOOM!


    His arm stretched out a full ten meters.


    Su Xiaobai froze.


    His brain short-circuited.


    A ridiculous, forbidden thought slithered into his mind like a demonic voice whispering dark secrets.


    Like any true martial scholar, he had to test the limits of this newfound ability.


    If his arm could stretch ten meters¡ª


    What about his ten-inch little brother?


    Could it, perhaps¡­ climb Mount Tai?


    He focused his Qi, held his breath, and willed it to grow.


    The result¡­?


    HAHA.


    IT WASN''T A FUCKING MUSCLE!


    The heavens had given him the power of divine elasticity, but cruelly denied him the one application that truly mattered.


    Life was suffering.


    _____


    Next came his Astral Bones.


    With this power, he could store explosive Qi inside his skeleton and unleash it like a spiritual orgasm¡ªblasting his body forward, enhancing attacks, or even¡­


    If he was feeling particularly deranged¡ª


    He could rip out his own bones and hurl them at enemies.


    A true peak martial art¡ªwhere one could literally beat people with their own femur.


    Honestly, if some secret sect saw him using this technique, they might immediately start calling him "Bone Saint Xiaobai", founder of the "Path of Self-Cannibalistic Weaponry".


    (Not that he would. He had some standards.)


    With these two broken abilities, Su Xiaobai now felt unstoppable.


    _____


    That night, he steeled himself and went to check on Bai Yujian¡­


    Only to find her residence empty.


    Well, no matter. He had more important things to do¡ªlike testing his new abilities.


    Tonight, he would attempt the legendary Flicker Steps¡ªa technique that required a Netherroot Elixir to master.


    Now, at this point, any normal protagonist would either:


    1. Go on a thirty-chapter side quest to find the rare elixir, or


    2. Have some old grandpa in his soul suddenly remember a lost technique that worked even better.


    But Su Xiaobai?


    He was built different.


    Instead of wasting time, he brute-forced his way through the technique by doing what he did best¡ªbullshitting the system.


    If he channeled explosive Qi into his bones while simultaneously hiding in the void, he might be able to¡ª


    BOOM!


    His body vanished into the shadows¡ªonly to reappear five meters away in the blink of an eye.


    A perfect Flicker Step imitation!


    Unfortunately, his test subject happened to be an innocent stray cat.


    The poor creature had been licking its own ass in peace, only to witness a shadowy figure materialize before its very eyes.


    "NYAAA¡ª!"


    The cat''s soul nearly left its body.


    It exploded into the air like a firework on New Year''s Eve, its fur standing on end, eyes filled with the horrors of the abyss.


    At this moment, the Dao of Feline Enlightenment recorded a new chapter¡ª


    "On This Night, a Cat Witnessed the Dao and Nearly Ascended From Fear..."


    Meanwhile, Su Xiaobai¡ª


    "Hahahaha¡ª!"


    His laughter echoed through the night.


    He was supposed to need a Netherroot Elixir for Flicker Steps, but he had brute-forced his way through the laws of martial arts with nothing but raw creativity and shameless Qi abuse!


    He flexed his glowing, star-infused muscles and grinned.


    "Tsk, tsk."


    If he had any doubts before, now they were gone.


    With these new abilities, he could effortlessly beat down anyone who dared to challenge him in the Inner Court.


    Those unsuspecting bastards had no idea what was coming.

 Chapter 151 - 151: Sword Intent!

    Rustle~!


    Bang! Bang!


    The cold wind howled through the midnight air.


    A towering tree trunk shuddered, its bark groaning like an unwilling maiden before¡ª


    CRACK!


    It split apart, collapsing like a sect disciple who had just heard his fianc¨¦e call another man ''Senior Brother.''


    And the culprit?


    Su Xiaobai.


    He was practicing Flicker Steps in front of Bai Yujian''s residence, and by practicing, what he really meant was absolutely obliterating everything in sight.


    He had completely forgotten why he came here.


    Originally, it was to check on Bai Yujian, maybe have a polite conversation.


    Or¡ªmore realistically¡ªhe had planned to flirt, stare at her smooth legs, and see if today was the day fate would let him "accidentally" fall into her arms.


    But all that vanished the moment he discovered new ways to abuse Flicker Steps.


    It was as if a new world had opened before him.


    Now, he was vanishing, reappearing, stretching, twisting¡ªlike some immortal illusionist on aphrodisiacs.


    His body flickered, his limbs extended, and his every move carried the madness of a man who had discovered forbidden knowledge.


    If other disciples saw him destroying the sacred, beautiful gardens of the Peak Lord, they would have foamed at the mouth and hanged themselves.


    But they didn''t know Sword Fairy Bai Yujian.


    ____


    Bai Yujian sat on the roof of her mansion, legs crossed gracefully, her figure bathed in the moonlight.


    She had been here long before Su Xiaobai arrived.


    At first, she had idly watched him hop around like a crazed grasshopper.


    Then, she had seen his arm stretch out ten meters.


    Her elegant fingers paused mid-air.


    Then, he vanished and reappeared, his foot landing on a pavilion beam¡ªonly for the entire structure to collapse behind him.


    Her icy gaze narrowed.


    Bai Yujian had seen countless talents, countless prodigies, but never before had she seen someone so talented in absolute nonsense.


    There was no order, no discipline, no refined mastery.


    And yet, this man was somehow making it work.


    Her long lashes fluttered, a rare trace of surpise appearing in her cold, celestial eyes.


    Even while destroying everything in his path, Su Xiaobai''s body had a certain untamed beauty, like a feral beast that refused to be tamed.


    His muscles flexed under the starlight, his robes loose, exposing a chiseled chest that glowed faintly with astral energy.


    Bai Yujian was silent, but she couldn''t deny the truth¡ª


    This bastard looked good.


    Too good.


    If he weren''t such a menace, some might even consider him a dangerous temptation.


    ¡­Not that she cared.


    Absolutely not.


    Right?


    ____


    "You are right."


    Bai Yujian suddenly nodded, as if responding to an unseen voice.


    And she was.


    A small glowing orb floated beside her, the size of a fist, shimmering softly.


    Not an orb¡ªa feminine figure.


    With long green hair, sharp phoenix eyes, and a figure small enough to sit in Bai Yujian''s palm, she floated effortlessly, circling her master like a celestial wisp.


    This was Yingying¡ªher Sword Spirit.


    A proud, noble entity¡ªnow in a weakened state, slowly recovering from a brutal injury.


    She had been watching Su Xiaobai''s antics in complete silence¡ªuntil finally, she spoke.


    [What did I just witness?]


    "A man who doesn''t know fear." Bai Yujian replied.


    [Or consequences.] Yingying added.


    "Or restraint."


    The tiny sword spirit sighed, then narrowed her sharp phoenix eyes.


    Her gaze swept over Su Xiaobai''s half-exposed chest, his smirking, devilish face, and the sheer arrogance in his posture.


    Then, with absolute certainty, Yingying declared¡ª


    [This little sexy man¡­ does he even know how to use those techniques normally!?]


    Bai Yujian didn''t answer.


    She watched as Su Xiaobai flickered through the air, limbs stretching unnaturally, demolishing the garden like a divine calamity.


    It was a bizarre mix of brilliance and madness.


    She had seen countless prodigies¡ªelegant, refined, deadly.


    But this?


    This was a man who had turned absolute nonsense into an art form.


    For a moment, she almost respected it.


    Then¡ª


    [Pfft¡ª!]


    A suppressed giggle snapped her focus.


    Bai Yujian''s gaze snapped to Yingying, who was covering her mouth, shoulders trembling.


    Her emerald eyes flashed with pure mischief.


    "Yingying."


    Her voice carried a warning.


    "You''re being vulgar."


    Yingying snorted.


    [Me? Vulgar? Master, you were staring pretty hard for someone who doesn''t care.]


    Bai Yujian''s fingers twitched.


    "I was analyzing his technique."


    [Oh? Analyzing what, exactly? His footwork? His hand movements? Or that tight, Qi-tempered chest he''s been flashing all night?]


    Bai Yujian''s cheeks twitched.


    This little¡ª


    "Yingying, shut up."


    She reached out and grabbed the tiny spirit, squeezing just a little harder than necessary.


    Yingying squealed.


    [Ahhh! Master! If you want that man, take him! Why the hell are you fucking me instead!?]


    Bai Yujian froze.


    A faint, treacherous warmth crept up her neck.


    "You¡ª!"


    She was speechless.


    Her grip tightened.


    Yingying giggled wildly.


    [What? Did I say something wrong?]


    "Quiet."


    Bai Yujian spat.


    Yingying huffed but didn''t say another word.


    For now.


    Bai Yujian exhaled, rubbing her temples.


    This fairy¡­ was too vulgar!


    She was definitely locking Yingying in a sword sheath for a month.


    Maybe two.


    In fact, Bai Yujian herself had never even uttered a curse in over a century¡ªnot once. And yet this little thing spat them out like an old drunkard outside a brothel.


    What kind of mystical imbalance was this?


    Then¡ª


    [Master, aren''t you jealous that Zhu Qing stole your man?]


    Bai Yujian froze.


    Her expression darkened.


    Slowly, she turned her gaze back to Yingying.


    The sword spirit hovered there innocently, her green hair swaying, eyes gleaming with amusement.


    "Don''t say nonsense... Qingqing is my friend."


    [Humph.]


    Yingying snorted, spun around, and vanished¡ªretreating back into the parasol handle resting on the side.


    Leaving Bai Yujian speechless.


    This damn spirit!


    For months, Yingying had done nothing but warn her about Su Xiaobai.


    Constantly nagging¡ª"Don''t get close to him, Master!"


    Scolding¡ª"This man is nothing but trouble!"


    Exploding¡ªespecially after that poison bath incident¡ª"The gap between you two is too big! Don''t let his sweet words fool you!"


    And now?


    Now, the little traitor had switched sides!?


    Ever since that day¡ª


    The day Su Xiaobai caught the Wheel of Samsara out of nowhere during the battle between Saint Wuji and Bai Yujian¡­


    Yingying''s opinion had shifted.


    Now, she was vehemently supporting Su Xiaobai.


    Why?


    Bai Yujian didn''t know.


    But it bothered her.


    ____


    Meanwhile, completely unaware that Bai Yujian had a little spy watching his every move¡ª


    Su Xiaobai was engaged in some serious martial research.


    Right now, he stood before a rock.


    A single, innocent, sturdy, absolutely unoffending rock.


    A thought struck him.


    Could he break it just by breathing?


    Wouldn''t that be cool as hell!?


    And so he did.


    Su Xiaobai inhaled.


    Then¡ª


    "HAAAH¡ª!"


    He exhaled loudly, his breath rolling forth like a divine decree.


    CRACK!


    The rock instantly cracked¡ªthen exploded into dust.


    Su Xiaobai''s smile vanished.


    His entire body stiffened.


    Just now¡ª


    A small ray of light had whizzed past him at terrifying speed, striking the rock before it exploded.


    From start to finish¡ª


    He had no control over it.


    He didn''t even feel it.


    If that attack had hit him instead of the rock¡­


    He would''ve been cleaved in half.


    His eyes sharpened.


    "Who is it?"


    He turned around, muscles tense¡ªready for a fight.


    Su Xiaobai blinked.


    "Oh... It''s Peak Lord..." His expression eased as he saw the approaching figure¡ªa beautiful woman bathed in moonlight, her long hair swaying like the river of stars.


    The one that he could recognize.


    Oh, right. He came here to meet her?


    For what again?


    His brows furrowed. Honestly, he forgot. It happened a lot in his past life¡ªwalking into a room and immediately losing track of why he was there. He didn''t expect bad habits to follow him even after reincarnation.


    Meanwhile, Bai Yujian had no idea Su Xiaobai was currently engaged in mortal combat with his own memory.


    "Take this."


    A scroll appeared in her hand, wrapped in thin silver threads, exuding a quiet but sharp presence. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Su Xiaobai instinctively took a step back.


    His eyes flickered between Bai Yujian''s cold, perfect face and the scroll.


    "¡­Why do women keep handing me weird things?" he muttered under his breath, recalling his traumatic session with Zhu Qing.


    Did this one also come with an unreasonable demand? A test? Maybe an ancient contract binding him into an eternity of servitude?


    He hesitated.


    "I''m getting PTSD from the last one. What is it this time?"


    Bai Yujian''s brow twitched.


    "This is a Sword Dao scroll," she said, tone frosty. "It contains the fundamentals of Sword Intent."


    Su Xiaobai stared blankly.


    "¡­Why are you giving it to me?"


    "You want to learn, don''t you?"


    "...Do I?"


    Bai Yujian''s lips pressed into a thin line.


    Did this man not just pull off impossible feats with Flicker Steps? Did he not just obliterate a rock by accident?


    Was he not the same man who caught the Wheel of Samsara?


    And yet¡ªhe stood here, staring at her like a confused duck, questioning why she would bother explaining Sword Dao to him?


    While standing at the very peak of Sword Summit.


    Face to face with the Peak Lord of Sword Peak herself.


    Bai Yujian''s patience, tempered by a century of cold discipline, wavered¡ªjust for a moment.


    Then she exhaled, steadying herself.


    "Take it. I won''t repeat myself."


    Her tone was absolute. Unyielding. The kind that left no room for nonsense.


    Su Xiaobai hesitated. He eyed the scroll warily, as if it might explode in his hands at any moment.


    But after confirming there were no immediate life-threatening consequences, he reluctantly accepted it.


    "¡­Alright," he muttered. "But if this gives me PTSD, I''m blaming you."


    Bai Yujian ignored him.


    She had no other thoughts¡ª


    But in the moonlight, she really did look like an annoyed lover.

 Chapter 152 - 152: The Way of Sword!

    "Wait¡ªdon''t open it right now¡­"


    Bai Yujian''s voice was sharp, but toward the end, it softened into resignation.


    Because Su Xiaobai had already unrolled the scroll, eyes scanning over the contents with casual curiosity.


    Bai Yujian stood there like a celestial statue, unmoving as the cold wind swept past her stiff face.


    This scroll¡­ this entire scroll could take centuries to fully comprehend.


    Did he seriously intend to stand here, right now, flipping through it like a street vendor''s menu, expecting her to wait until he was done before she continued speaking?


    She needed help.


    Serious help.


    But she could not cry for help.


    She was a senior, the Peak Lord of Sword Peak!


    Meanwhile, Su Xiaobai¡ªcompletely oblivious to Bai Yujian''s quiet existential crisis¡ªwas simply checking out what Sword Dao was all about.


    His eyes skimmed over the words:


    [Way of the Sword]


    Sword Qi ¨C The Foundation of the Path


    Sword Aura ¨C The Refinement of Presence


    Sword Intent ¨C The Manifestation of Will (1 to 9 levels)


    Sword Spirit ¨C The Birth of the Sword''s Soul


    Sword Will ¨C The Unshakable Edge


    Sword Heart ¨C Becoming One With the Sword


    Su Xiaobai squinted.


    "¡­Seems simple enough."


    Bai Yujian''s fingers twitched.


    Simple? SIMPLE?!


    Sword cultivation was the sacred, arduous path walked by countless generations of righteous cultivators! The foundation of all swordsmanship, the bridge between mortals and the true way of the sword, the manifestation of one''s Dao!


    And this man¡ª


    This absolute demon¡ª


    Was acting like he had just read the instruction manual for a kitchen knife.


    She inhaled deeply, suppressing the urge to stab him.


    "¡­You fool. Do you even understand what you just read?"


    Su Xiaobai looked up. "Yeah, I got it. You start with Sword Qi, level up to Sword Aura, then grind your Sword Intent up to level 9 before unlocking Sword Spirit, which lets you form Sword Will, and then finally¡ªif you don''t get murdered along the way¡ªyou achieve Sword Heart and become a sword god. Right?"


    Bai Yujian closed her eyes.


    "¡­I am going to pretend you didn''t just phrase it like that."


    She took a step forward, her presence subtly shifting.


    "Listen carefully, Su Xiaobai. The sword is not just a path of strength¡ªit is a path of righteousness, a reflection of the heart. Without discipline, without clarity, a sword is nothing more than a weapon of destruction."


    She extended a single finger.


    A sharp pulse of energy flickered into existence.


    "This is Sword Qi¡ªthe most basic form of sword energy. It is the first step, channeling one''s cultivation through the sword."


    With a small movement, she flicked her finger outward¡ª


    A distant rock exploded into dust.


    Su Xiaobai raised a brow. "Pretty cool."


    Bai Yujian ignored him and continued.


    "When Sword Qi is refined and solidified, it becomes Sword Aura¡ªthe presence of the sword. It is what allows a swordsman to exert pressure without lifting their blade."


    She took another step forward.


    Instantly, Su Xiaobai felt it.


    The air turned razor-sharp. He instinctively tensed, feeling as though countless invisible blades were hovering at his throat.


    "Damn¡­ so it''s like a passive intimidation buff," he muttered.


    Bai Yujian exhaled through her nose.


    "¡­Moving on."


    Her gaze grew sharper.


    "The true essence of swordsmanship begins with Sword Intent."


    She gestured toward another rock.


    A single line of formless energy sliced through it¡ªwithout her even touching a blade.


    "Sword Intent is the manifestation of one''s will. It can cut without a sword. It is not just power¡ªit is conviction. Without a firm heart, your intent will never grow."


    Su Xiaobai stroked his chin. "So you''re saying¡­ I need to believe in the cut?"


    "¡­You are making this extremely difficult for me."


    Bai Yujian moved forward again.


    "When one has fully comprehended their Sword Intent, they may give birth to a Sword Spirit¡ªa living embodiment of their sword''s soul."


    A faint shimmer of ethereal light flickered around her, as if an unseen entity coiled within her presence.


    "With a Sword Spirit, one can begin forging their Sword Will¡ªa will so unbreakable that not even death can sever their blade."


    She looked directly into Su Xiaobai''s eyes.


    "Only those who have reached this step can truly be called swordsmen."


    Su Xiaobai was silent for a moment.


    Then he pointed at her. "So what level are you at?"


    Bai Yujian didn''t answer.


    Instead, she let everything fall silent.


    No Sword Qi.


    No Sword Aura.


    No Sword Intent.


    Nothing.


    Yet¡ªSu Xiaobai felt a terrifying truth settle in his bones.


    She no longer needed to show it.


    Because she was the sword.


    Bai Yujian''s voice was quiet, but absolute.


    "The final step¡ªSword Heart¡ªis when one becomes the sword. There is no longer separation between blade and self."


    She let her words sink in before she continued.


    "And Su Xiaobai¡­"


    Her cold gaze locked onto him.


    "If you truly wish to step onto this path, then you must learn one thing¡ª"


    "The righteous sword does not waver. It does not doubt. It does not fear."


    For once, Su Xiaobai actually understood.


    This wasn''t just about sword techniques.


    It was about the heart.


    Seeing him nod like a well-behaved disciple, standing there as if he had already comprehended the Dao, Bai Yujian suddenly doubted everything.


    Did this fool really get it?


    Her cold eyes narrowed.


    "Sword Qi. Show me."


    It was the simplest of basics, something any sword cultivator should have mastered in their first year.


    Su Xiaobai blinked.


    "¡­Oh? Just that?"


    Wasn''t this too elementary? Shouldn''t they already be testing his Sword Intent?


    Still, he humored her. With a casual flick, he summoned his crimson sword, its red blade glowing faintly with Qi.


    Bai Yujian''s expression instantly darkened.


    "Useless."


    Her voice carried undisguised contempt.


    Not for him¡ª


    But for the sheer audacity of what he had just done.


    Her disgust ran so deep that she felt physically ill.


    Su Xiaobai froze.


    "Huh?"


    Before he could even process her reaction, she moved.


    With an elegant flick, she lifted the top of her parasol¡ªa shield she had wielded for centuries.


    Then, with her other hand, she snatched his sword from him.


    Clang!


    The next moment¡ª


    She struck.


    CRACK!


    In one clean, decisive movement, the crimson sword snapped in two.


    Su Xiaobai''s soul nearly left his body.


    His soul weapon¡ªwas shattered like a brittle twig.


    "¡­"


    His brain went blank.


    Then¡ª


    A barrage of rage-filled corrections rained down on him.


    "Is that how you plan to fight?! By relying on a weapon''s sharpness like some common mortal?!"


    Bai Yujian''s eyes blazed with fury.


    "You think a sword exists to do the work for you?! That you can just infuse a blade with Qi and suddenly it''s a divine weapon?! Where is your control?! Where is your precision?! Do you even understand the difference between externalized Sword Qi and condensed internal refinement?!"


    She took a step forward, her presence pressing down on him.


    "What happens when your blade dulls? Will you drop it and grab another mid-battle?! Is that your grand strategy?!"


    Her voice grew sharper, faster, as her frustration spilled over.


    "Sword Qi is not Sword Aura! Sword Aura is not Sword Intent! Sword Intent is not Sword Will! And none of them¡ªNONE of them¡ªrely on the weapon in your hand! They come from you!"


    She lifted the two broken halves of his sword, her delicate fingers brushing against them.


    Then, with Sword Intent alone, she fused them back together.


    A blade reborn.


    Then¡ªshe swung.


    This time, she didn''t even touch her parasol-shield.


    Yet¡ª


    Crack!


    Her centuries-old shield split in half.


    Su Xiaobai barely had time to swallow his shock before she continued.


    As if to further drive the lesson into his thick skull, she grabbed the broken halves again and slammed them against each other¡ª


    Clang!


    Then, with an almost casual gesture, she discarded the sword entirely.


    Instead, she bent down, picked up a small, brittle branch from the ground.


    A dying twig, barely worth notice.


    She infused it with Sword Qi.


    Clang!


    And with that twig¡ªshe shattered the remains of her own shield.


    It was gone.


    Completely and utterly reduced to dust.


    She turned to him, her breath steady, but her eyes filled with seething disappointment.


    "Sword Qi. Is. Not. The. Sword."


    Her voice was slow, deliberate, as if she were explaining something to a particularly slow-witted child.


    "It is a technique. It is a force. A sword is only a vessel. A swordsman who needs a blade to cut is a ¡ª disgrace."


    She inhaled sharply.


    "Su Xiaobai, do you even know why your Sword Qi is weak?!"


    She didn''t wait for an answer.


    "You use it like a mere extension of your strength¡ªlike some cheap martial technique! That is why your edge is dull, why your pressure is nonexistent! You pour Qi into the blade without tempering, without refinement, without will! That is why it breaks!"


    A cold sneer tugged at her lips. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Su Xiaobai flinched violently.


    That was unnecessary.


    But Bai Yujian wasn''t finished.


    "And here I thought you might actually be ready for Sword Intent. I almost¡ªalmost¡ªbelieved you had real talent."


    She turned with a flick of her sleeve.


    "Forget Sword Intent. Forget everything beyond the basics. Fix your foundation first."


    And with that¡ª


    She left.


    Su Xiaobai stood there, silent, watching her figure disappear into the night.


    His entire soul ached.


    Not just from the loss of his sword.


    Not just from being insulted into oblivion.


    But because¡ª


    For the first time¡ª


    He realized he had completely misunderstood the Way of the Sword.


    His mind was chaos.


    ''Fucking bitch¡­''


    His expression darkened.


    Never¡ªnever in his life¡ªhad he been insulted this thoroughly.


    And the worst part?


    She was right.


    His entire cultivation had been half-assed, relying on external power rather than internal refinement.


    With a deep breath, he crouched down to pick up his sword.


    Then¡ª


    Ssss¡ª!!


    The moment his fingers brushed against the blade, a searing burn spread through his skin.


    His own sword¡ªhis own damn sword¡ªwas rejecting him.


    Because of her Sword Intent.


    Because of what she had done.


    It was as if her will had left a scar upon it.


    A wound that would not heal until he truly understood.


    A bitter laugh escaped his lips.


    "Tch."


    Expectations.


    That was the problem.


    They both had too many expectations of each other.


    He had thought she would be kind, would treat him gently.


    She had thought he was a genius, someone who could understand everything at a glance.


    And now¡ª


    Now, they were both thoroughly disappointed.


    A/N: You know who else were more disappointed? Readers. :)

 Chapter 153 - 153: Master Su Xiaomei!

    "Tch¡­Didn''t think I''d see the day where I''d have to study scriptures."


    Su Xiaobai muttered to himself as he returned to his quarters, the private cave dwelling assigned to him.


    Not that he had actually used it.


    His little sister lived here, and his maid, Xiao Lu, either stayed with her or inside his ring world.


    And since the cultivation speed inside the ring world was the same as outside, Su Xiaobai didn''t bother micromanaging them.


    He stepped inside, glaring at the scroll in his hand, still thinking about Bai Yujian''s scathing insults.


    Without paying attention, he walked straight to the stiff jade bed and sat down.


    Then¡ª


    A soft splash.


    A small intake of breath.


    And a very distinct feeling that he was not alone.


    Su Xiaobai froze.


    Slowly, he turned his head.


    And there¡ª


    A girl, submerged in a steaming spiritual bath, her bare shoulders snow-white under the mist, her delicate collarbones faintly visible above the rippling water.


    The faint glow of the spiritual spring highlighted the natural flush on her skin, her damp hair stuck to her swan-like neck.


    Her cherry lips parted slightly, but no words came out¡ªonly a stunned, breathless silence.


    Their eyes met.


    "¡­Gege?"


    Mei Mei''s voice was soft, startled, her long lashes fluttering.


    Su Xiaobai blinked for a second.


    Then, as if the sword scriptures had suddenly become the most fascinating text in existence, he snapped his gaze back down at the scroll in his hands.


    "¡­Truly, the Dao of the Sword is deep and boundless."


    His face was the picture of solemnity, like a monk meditating on the meaning of life.


    (A/N: Using Mei Mei for Su Xiaomei¡ªtoo many ''Xiao''s were causing issues.)


    Mei Mei: "¡­"


    A faint rosy hue crept onto her cheeks, but it wasn''t clear whether it was from the heat of the bath or something else.


    The moment passed.


    Then¡ª


    Without another word, she stood up, the water cascading off her skin in shimmering streams, the steam swirling around her like an ethereal veil.


    Su Xiaobai did not look.


    He was a respectable man.


    A gentleman.


    A dedicated scholar of the sword.


    But he definitely felt her leave.


    Minutes later, she returned.


    Her short, measured steps barely made a sound as she approached, now dressed in a light blue robe, her long wet hair falling down her back.


    Her gaze flickered toward him¡ªsoft, unreadable.


    Then¡ª


    "¡­You didn''t even knock, Gege."


    Her tone carried a hint of complaint.


    Su Xiaobai kept his eyes firmly on the scroll.


    "¡­Didn''t think I needed to."


    Mei Mei''s lips curled slightly, as if suppressing a smile.


    She sat beside him on the bed, close enough that the faint scent of spiritual herbs and lotus blossom between them.


    She tilted her head.


    "¡­Are you actually reading that?"


    Su Xiaobai nodded sagely.


    "Of course. My thirst for knowledge is endless."


    Mei Mei leaned closer, her warm breath brushing against his shoulder.


    "¡­It''s upside down."


    Su Xiaobai: "¡­ ¡­ ¡­"


    "Ahem."


    With extreme dignity, he flipped the scroll around.


    Mei Mei didn''t say anything. But the slight curve at the corner of her lips clearly meant she had seen through him.


    Su Xiaobai coughed.


    "Mei Mei, how do you find it here?"


    His eyes should have stayed on the scroll.


    But they didn''t.


    Against his better judgment, they wandered.


    A moment of silence passed.


    His gaze peeked sideways¡ªjust a quick glance.


    A glimpse of faintly bulged tender white skin beneath the robe''s loose collar.


    ¡­Soft.


    Su Xiaobai blinked.


    He had not expected this girl to grow up this well.


    His last accidental glimpse years ago? Flat.


    Now? Very much not.


    "¡­Hmm." Mei Mei leaned slightly against the bed, her fingers running absently over the fabric. "It''s not bad. Better than our home."


    Her voice was soft, touched with nostalgia.


    The sect was safer. More eventful.


    But¡ª


    "¡­Something still feels lacking."


    Su Xiaobai nodded sagely.


    "Oh."


    He had no idea what she meant.


    But he pretended to understand.


    It was probably the lack of family, right?


    Mei Mei had always had that delicate aura¡ªthe kind that naturally made others feel protective.


    In fact, if he had to describe her¡­


    She was exactly what that Princess Lingling should have been at her age¡ªdelicate, well-mannered, and innocent.


    Unlike a certain other woman who threw him into pits for fun.


    His eyes flickered again.


    ¡­Damn.


    If he didn''t feel an unshakable sense of guilt, he probably would''ve stared longer.


    But he wasn''t an idiot.


    His mother wasn''t here, but one day she would be.


    And if she ever found out he did something criminal against his own sister¡ª


    Not even the Dao of Immortality could save him.


    Su Xiaobai exhaled.


    He was very good at recognizing impulses.


    More importantly¡ªhe was good at knowing which ones to act on and which ones to avoid.


    Right now, she was sitting close, comfortably, with absolute trust.


    No hidden intent. No ulterior motives.


    He would not ruin that.


    Su Xiaobai suddenly remembered something.


    "Mei Mei, could you show me your temporal ability for a moment?"


    She had mentioned something about a change in her powers before, but at the time, he hadn''t paid much attention.


    Now, though, after getting his pride shredded by Bai Yujian, he suddenly felt very interested in anything not related to swords.


    Mei Mei tilted her head slightly.


    "Okay."


    She reached out, her slender fingers picking up a small pebble from the ground.


    Then¡ª


    Everything stopped.


    The flickering candles. The faint ripples in the bath''s water. Even the drifting specks of dust in the air froze in place.


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes widened.


    No matter how many times he saw it, he was fascinated.


    This¡ªthis was a truly broken ability!


    Not just powerful. Absurd.


    Mei Mei, however, looked completely unfazed.


    For her, this was nothing special.


    Then¡ª


    She hesitated.


    A slight pause. A flicker of uncertainty in her calm, clear eyes.


    And then¡ª


    The pebble rolled back into her palm.


    The dust in the air retreated back to where it was.


    The ripples in the bath reversed.


    Everything returned to a moment before.


    Su Xiaobai''s breath caught in his throat.


    "¡­What?"


    His gaze snapped to Mei Mei.


    She hesitated for another second, then spoke softly.


    "I¡­ I can reverse it as well."


    "Only for a small duration¡­ but I can do it now."


    Su Xiaobai''s face darkened.


    What the hell is going on?!


    On the one hand, he was completely lost in the Dao of the Sword, getting insulted into enlightenment.


    On the other hand¡ª


    His sister was casually bending the laws of time.


    "Ah!?"


    Mei Mei let out a startled yelp as Su Xiaobai hugged her thin waist and pinched her side.


    "Little girl, why don''t you cultivate faster? If you get strong enough, you can just go deal with all our enemies by yourself."


    Mei Mei let out a small ''humph'', puffing out her cheeks in an exaggerated pout. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "If I do everything, what would you do then?"


    Her lips pressed together in a soft, playful scowl, though there was a distinct hint of happiness in her voice.


    Even if she didn''t admit it, she liked it when her brother acknowledged her strength.


    She had been trying to cultivate.


    But no matter what¡ª


    Su Xiaobai''s speed was monstrous.


    There was simply no way to catch up.


    She wasn''t like their elder sister, who enjoyed battle and sought out challenges.


    Mei Mei wasn''t a fighter. She didn''t enjoy reckless combat.


    Yet¡ª


    Even though she spent most of her time simply existing, her cultivation still soared past most people.


    It was unfair.


    Talent was truly cruel.


    Even now, as she sat beside him, her body was naturally absorbing Spiritual Qi without any effort.


    She didn''t even need to meditate.


    It just happened.


    Su Xiaobai sighed internally.


    A monster. His sister was a natural-born monster.


    Then¡ª


    "Gege, are you learning about swords?"


    Mei Mei''s soft voice broke his thoughts.


    She had leaned forward, peering at the scroll in his lap.


    Her eyes flickered as she scanned the characters.


    A moment later, a small look of realization appeared on her face.


    "¡­Oh. It''s about swordsmanship."


    Su Xiaobai''s eye twitched.


    The disdain in her tone was subtle.


    But he felt it.


    Very clearly.


    Even this girl thinks it''s beneath her?!


    ¡­Fuck.


    "Huh, it''s more detailed than what Mother taught us¡­"


    The more Mei Mei read, the more fascinated she became.


    Su Xiaobai shook his head.


    "Taught you and Yiran, not us."


    He wasn''t included. Learning swordsmanship without cultivation was pointless¡ªa waste of time for someone who, back then, couldn''t even refine Qi.


    But now¡ª


    His eyes lit up.


    Since Bai Yujian was throwing the modern equivalent of a sword-cultivator temper tantrum, this girl¡ªcouldn''t she just explain it to him?


    It would save so much time.


    Mei Mei suddenly felt there was something wrong with the way Su Xiaobai glanced at her.


    His gaze was sharp, calculating¡ªlike she was a big, juicy piece of free labor.


    Her cheeks turned slightly red.


    Then¡ª


    Before she could protest, she was dragged into unpaid tutoring.


    ____


    "It''s Sword Qi."


    Mei Mei pulled up a small wooden table between them, slipping into full tutor mode.


    Her delicate hands moved as she spoke, reinforcing her words with visual examples.


    "Think of it as projecting energy in the shape of a blade¡ª"


    Su Xiaobai frowned.


    "Isn''t that what I did?"


    Mei Mei shook her head, lifting a finger.


    "Look here, Gege."


    A soft glow of blue Spiritual Qi flickered to life at her fingertip, like a dancing flame.


    "Sword Qi doesn''t always have to be a sword. It is just Qi shaped into a cutting force, allowing slashes from a distance or enhancing a strike."


    The energy at her fingertip suddenly elongated, turning razor-sharp.


    Then¡ª


    Shing!


    The energy shot forward¡ªswift, precise¡ªcleanly slicing a chair in half.


    Su Xiaobai blinked.


    "¡­So that''s it."

 Chapter 154 - 154: Intelligent Sister — Mei Mei! Sword Qi, Aura & Intent!

    Shing!


    The energy shot forward¡ªswift, precise¡ªcleanly slicing a chair in half.


    Su Xiaobai blinked.


    "¡­So that''s it."


    Suddenly, Bai Yujian''s violent outburst earlier made sense.


    She could have just said that!


    Without breaking his sword.


    Without roasting his entire existence.


    Without turning his soul into minced meat.


    He exhaled.


    Whatever. No point in dwelling on it.


    Instead, he raised his own hand.


    He had already used a technique like this before¡ª


    "Sky Splitting Blade."


    A technique from the "Seven Moves of Judgment".


    It was literally just colossal Sword Qi¡ªan overwhelming force that could cut through anything.


    By moving his hand in an arc, he could unleash a massive edge of energy, severing everything in its path.


    But now¡ª


    After a few minor adjustments, he could control it.


    He didn''t need a full-powered arc anymore.


    He could alter its shape, change its trajectory, refine its size¡ª


    Sword Qi became an extension of his spiritual energy.


    Mei Mei''s eye twitched.


    She had only just explained the concept.


    And this guy was already playing around with variations?!


    If she had known he already had ''Sky Splitting Blade'', she wouldn''t have bothered explaining.


    The night continued.


    Mei Mei moved to the next step.


    "Next¡ªSword Aura."


    She leaned forward slightly, her finger tapping the scroll.


    "Sword Aura is when Sword Qi is refined into a stable, consistent force."


    Su Xiaobai listened carefully.


    "Instead of throwing out energy waves, the air around you carries sword-like sharpness at all times. The moment you draw your sword¡ª"


    She gestured with her hands, as if shaping something invisible.


    "¡ªthe battlefield bends to it."


    Su Xiaobai nodded.


    So it was like Soul Resonance¡ªan ability that exerted dominance over weaker minds.


    But unlike Soul Resonance, which was oppressive pressure, this was pure lethality.


    It didn''t just make people feel weak.


    If unfocused, it could actually cut them.


    Mei Mei gave a small nod.


    "Think of it like this."


    She lifted a single slender finger.


    "Right now, your Sword Qi is focused in your hand, in your attacks. But Sword Aura¡ª"


    She gestured outward.


    "¡ªis when your entire presence becomes a blade."


    Su Xiaobai narrowed his eyes.


    "You mean¡­ spreading it out?"


    "Yes."


    She pointed to a vase in the corner of the room.


    "Try focusing your Sword Qi¡ªnot on a weapon, not in your hand, but all around you. Imagine thousands of tiny blades forming in the air."


    Su Xiaobai exhaled.


    He closed his eyes.


    The concept was simple enough.


    He let his energy spread outward, coating the air, turning his presence into a field of silent, unseen blades.


    Then¡ª


    CRASH!


    The vase shattered.


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes snapped open.


    Mei Mei nodded approvingly.


    "If anyone walks into it, they''ll feel the oppression of a thousand cutting blades."


    Su Xiaobai exhaled slowly.


    This¡ªthis was actually good!


    If perfected, he wouldn''t even need to attack.


    Simply standing there would be enough to turn enemies into mincemeat.


    [A passive death field]


    Mei Mei gave a small smile.


    She had read about these techniques for years but had never practiced them seriously.


    Meanwhile¡ª


    Her brother was casually mastering them in minutes.


    She wasn''t sure if she should feel proud or concerned.


    Slash!


    Just when Mei Mei thought nothing could go wrong ¡ª he attempted to refine his Sword Aura, his fingers, previously perfectly intact, were suddenly bleeding.


    Su Xiaobai''s eye twitched.


    "You¡ª"


    Mei Mei barely had time to react.


    But before she could scold him for being careless¡ª


    "Huh?"


    Su Xiaobai blinked ''innocently'', feigning complete surprise.


    Mei Mei''s sharp gaze narrowed.


    Then¡ª


    With the tiniest sigh of resignation, she grabbed his injured hand, brought it closer, and leaned down.


    Her soft cherry lips pressed lightly against his finger¡ªher warm breath brushing against his skin.


    Then¡ª


    She sucked.


    A slow, natural movement. Instinctive. Thoughtless.


    As if she had done this a thousand times before.


    Su Xiaobai blinked.


    For a second, he had almost forgotten why he did this in the first place.


    "You don''t really need to¡­" His voice came out lower than expected. "It''ll heal on its own."


    Mei Mei didn''t stop.


    She simply responded with a casual, "Hmm."


    Completely unbothered.


    Completely unaware.


    She had always done this for him as children¡ªinstinctively nursing his wounds whenever he got hurt.


    But now¡ª


    Now, Su Xiaobai wasn''t a child.


    His lips twitched slightly.


    This had been a small test¡ªa dumb little impulse to see if she still had this habit.


    And clearly, she did.


    His plan succeeded.


    But then¡ª


    A second later¡ª


    His eyes widened slightly.


    ''Wait¡­ what the hell am I doing?''


    A sudden wave of realization crashed into him.


    Why¡ª


    Why did he trick her into this?


    Why did he feel so satisfied seeing her do it?


    Why did his gaze stay too long at the sight of her soft lips pressed against his finger?


    Mei Mei, still unaware, lifted her head slightly.


    "What''s with that look?"


    Su Xiaobai smiled, "¡­Nothing."


    Nothing at all.


    Absolutely nothing.


    This was just a dumb habit. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It didn''t mean anything.


    ¡­Right?


    There is a devil in every man''s heart, lurking beneath reason, waiting for the right moment to rise.


    No matter how much it is suppressed, given the right conditions, it will always awaken.


    And right now, Su Xiaobai was feeling it.


    Some hours ago, he had glimpsed Mei Mei''s bare skin, the bath''s mist curling around her delicate frame, water glistening over soft, pale shoulders. He had dismissed it then, shoved it to the back of his mind as nothing¡ª


    But now, sitting alone with her in the quiet of the cave dwelling, her presence too close, too warm, that suppressed thought came creeping back.


    His gaze flickered sideways.


    She was sitting with casual ease, dressed lightly after her bath, completely unguarded.


    And suddenly, his mind whispered a thought he shouldn''t have.


    Just take her.


    Pull her into his lap.


    Press her down.


    Ravage her beneath him until she shivered and whimpered his name.


    His fingers tensed.


    The worst part? She wouldn''t even resist.


    She trusted him.


    That was the problem.


    Su Xiaobai''s jaw clenched.


    Thei animalistic impulse?


    When had he ever thought of her this way?


    This was Mei Mei¡ªhis sister, his little Mei Mei who had always trusted him. He had never once felt this kind of urge toward her before.


    But now?


    The more he fought it, the more he felt something clawing at his restraint.


    Something foreign. Something wrong.


    Like an impulse that didn''t fully belong to him.


    His anger flared.


    It had been festering ever since Bai Yujian had humiliated him, but now it felt like it was twisting into something uglier.


    It wasn''t directed at Mei Mei.


    It wasn''t even directed at himself.


    It was just there¡ªboiling, suffocating, drowning his usual self-control.


    Then¡ª


    His vision warped.


    For a split second, Mei Mei''s soft, delicate features changed.


    Long black hair. Crimson-red eyes.


    Xiao Hei?


    Su Xiaobai frowned.


    It wasn''t Mei Mei he had just tricked.


    It was Xiao Hei.


    A phantom sensation rushed through him¡ªfingers gripping delicate wrists, soft lips trembling beneath his, a body pinned helplessly beneath him.


    His heartbeat slammed against his ribs.


    Memories surged¡ªmemories that weren''t his.


    ____


    "Sword Intent."


    Mei Mei''s voice snapped Su Xiaobai back to reality.


    The images vanished. The pressure in his chest eased.


    She was still beside him, completely unaware of the storm in his head.


    Her fingers moved in the air, forming a thin wisp of glowing energy as she continued.


    "It''s when the sword becomes an extension of your will. You don''t even need to swing your sword. If your will is strong enough, the world itself responds¡­"


    Mei Mei paused, finally noticing Su Xiaobai''s dazed expression.


    "¡­Gege, are you listening?"


    Su Xiaobai let out a slow breath.


    The shadow was gone.


    The red eyes had vanished.


    His gaze settled on Mei Mei''s familiar face, her soft white hair, her clear blue eyes¡ª


    Not Xiao Hei.


    Not anyone else.


    He forced a smirk. "Yes¡­ it was about Sword Intent, right?"


    Mei Mei narrowed her eyes slightly but didn''t push further. Instead, she sighed, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.


    "Pay attention..."


    Su Xiaobai rubbed his temples.


    What the hell was that just now?


    Su Xiaobai barely had time to dwell on it.


    Before he knew it, the moment had already slipped away¡ªburied beneath the steady rhythm of Mei Mei''s voice as she continued.


    "The Sword Intent is divided into nine levels¡­"


    Her tone was calm, unhurried, as if discussing something ordinary, but the sheer words settled in the air like an unsheathed blade.


    She lifted a slender finger, writing the characters in the air with glowing blue Qi, each stroke carrying a faint, cutting pressure.


    "Level 1¡ªCutting Stone."


    The most basic level. A single thought, a single swing, and ordinary rock splits like soft clay.


    "Level 2¡ªSplitting Trees."


    Sword Intent refines further, extending its force. A cultivator at this stage could clear an entire forest with a single strike.


    "Level 3¡ªSlicing Metal."


    Weapons, armor¡ªmere obstacles. A proper swordsman at this level could slice through spirit-forged steel as if it were brittle wood.


    "Level 4¡ªSevering Rivers."


    The sword''s will extends beyond physical matter. A swing at full power can cleave through the very flow of water, cutting rivers apart as if striking solid ground.


    "Level 5¡ªCleaving Sky."


    A realm where Sword Intent surpasses simple destruction. A cultivator''s blade can leave scars in the heavens, cutting through clouds, storms, and even the natural Qi of the world.


    "Level 6¡ªCrushing Mountain."


    A strike no longer cuts through something¡ªit destroys it outright. Mountains that stood for thousands of years crumble beneath the sheer pressure of word Intent.


    "Level 7¡ªLaw-Breaking Blade."


    At this level, the very laws of nature no longer bind the swordsman. A master of this stage can slice through formations, illusions, and spatial restrictions¡ªa cut that ignores reality itself.


    "Level 8¡ªHeaven Severing Strike."


    A strike so powerful it can split the sky itself, parting storms, warping space, and cutting down divine beings. Those who reach this stage are feared as ''sword saints''¡ªbeings who could challenge heaven itself.


    "Level 9¡ªDao-Slaying Blade."


    Mei Mei paused.

 Chapter 155 - 155: Revenge! (1)

    "Level 9¡ªDao-Slaying Blade."


    Mei Mei paused, her voice softening.


    "¡­A cut that severs Dao itself."


    This was a realm few in history had ever touched.


    A single slash that could erase Karma, sever Fate, and even defile the heavens themselves.


    A blade that could kill the unkillable.


    Su Xiaobai let out a slow, lazy exhale, as if he hadn''t just been told about a sword technique that could castrate the very Will of Heaven.


    Then, his lips curled slightly.


    "And you, little sister? What level have you reached?"


    Mei Mei blinked, before averting her gaze, a faint trace of embarrassment flashing in her eyes.


    "Me? Level two¡­ only. I did not put much effort into it."


    Su Xiaobai chuckled, tapping his fingers against his knee. "For someone who barely practices, you''re already enough to put most so-called geniuses to shame."


    Mei Mei huffed, puffing her cheeks slightly. "I wouldn''t be far behind you if I actually trained, you know."


    Su Xiaobai laughed, but didn''t deny it.


    "And what about the Peak Lord?"


    Mei Mei''s expression turned contemplative.


    "Her?" She tilted her head. "It should be around Level 7¡ªLaw-Breaking Blade. She has already formed a Sword Spirit, but has yet to be recognized as a ''Sword Saint,'' so it should be around that level."


    Su Xiaobai''s fingers drummed against the wooden table.


    Level Seven¡ªLaw-Breaking Blade.


    That meant Bai Yujian could slice through formations, ignore spatial restrictions, and cleave apart illusions like they were made of paper.


    His gaze flickered toward Mei Mei. "And the difference between Sword Qi and Sword Intent? They sound like the same thing to me."


    Mei Mei extended her hand. "Give me your sword, and I will show you."


    Su Xiaobai hesitated.


    After watching Bai Yujian break his sword like snapping a courtesan''s silk belt, he had trust issues.


    Still, he handed it over. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Mei Mei took the crimson blade, fingers trailing along its length¡ªuntil they reached the place where it had been rejoined.


    She didn''t touch it immediately.


    Instead, her eyes narrowed.


    The thin blue aura pulsed along the fracture line, faint but stubborn, like an unwanted hickey that refused to fade.


    "You broke it?"


    Su Xiaobai sighed. "Not my fault."


    Mei Mei snorted lightly, but as soon as she reached out to touch the fracture¡ª


    Ssss¡ª!


    A sharp burn seared through her skin, and she jerked her hand back, eyes widening.


    "What?" Her voice sharpened. "What did you use to fix this?"


    Her shocked gaze locked onto Su Xiaobai, but before he could answer, her expression shifted¡ªrealization settling in, followed by something colder.


    She listened silently as he explained what happened with Bai Yujian.


    By the time he finished, her face had darkened.


    Then, in a low, firm voice¡ª"Stay away from her."


    Su Xiaobai raised an eyebrow. "Now, now. Since when did my little sister start dictating who I can and cannot play with?"


    Mei Mei''s lips pressed into a thin line.


    "If needed, we can leave this place," she said, tone unwavering. "She is not someone you should entangle yourself with."


    Her voice was steady, but there was a trace of something else.


    A quiet fury.


    She still remembered the Long Family women.


    Arrogant. Unreasonable. Rotten to their very core.


    Su Xiaobai had suffered beneath their schemes, but she had suffered too.


    If given the chance, she wouldn''t mind returning the favor.


    Su Xiaobai, however, merely smirked. "Leave it. If she thinks I''m her dog, she''ll be the one coming back licking, not me."


    Mei Mei exhaled sharply.


    "Do not let a woman lead you to ruin, Gege."


    Su Xiaobai chuckled. "Oh, little sister. Do I look like the type of man to be ruined by a woman?"


    Mei Mei did not answer.


    She did not believe her brother was weak¡ªfar from it.


    But Bai Yujian¡­


    Still, if Su Xiaobai wished to play with fire, she would not stop him.


    She only hoped he did not lose himself in the flames.


    "What is this? Any idea?"


    Su Xiaobai''s gaze returned to the blue energy along the fracture of his sword.


    Even after all this time, it had not faded.


    A stain. A mark of possession.


    Mei Mei''s expression hardened. "¡­That''s not normal."


    This time, she coated her fingers with her own Sword Qi before touching the fracture.


    But the moment her energy made contact¡ª


    CRACK¡ª!


    A thin ripple spread through the sword, like an invisible battle between two opposing wills.


    Mei Mei immediately withdrew her hand.


    Her brows furrowed.


    "That''s... troublesome."


    Su Xiaobai''s gaze sharpened. "You mean?"


    Mei Mei exhaled.


    "Sword Intent normally fades with time. But hers hasn''t. That means she left it there deliberately."


    Su Xiaobai''s gaze darkened.


    So that woman didn''t just break his sword¡ªshe branded it.


    Mark of a Sword Fairy, huh?


    For someone so cold self-righteous, Bai Yujian sure had a bad habit of leaving things dripping with her presence.


    If she wanted to mark me, there were better ways to do it.


    He chuckled, running his thumb along the faint blue glow pulsing along the fracture.


    Before he could think further, Mei Mei''s expression turned grim.


    "I saw something similar¡­ The Immortal Execution Order."


    Su Xiaobai''s fingers paused.


    Mei Mei''s brows furrowed as memories rose from the past.


    When the Immortal Execution Order had been placed on them, those cursed swords had followed them endlessly. Their edges were as sharp as Sword Intent, but what made them terrifying was that they never faded¡ªnot until they fulfilled their purpose.


    Now, looking at the mark Bai Yujian left behind¡­


    It felt eerily similar.


    Mei Mei stared at the sword, muttering to herself.


    "It should be Sword Will¡­"


    Sword Will.


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes narrowed slightly.


    Sword Intent was an extension of a swordsman''s power, but Sword Will?


    That was something far beyond.


    It was the mark of a swordsman whose will refused to die. Even if their body turned to dust, their ''will'' remained in the world.


    A power that belonged to legends, not living people.


    Even in the Sun Dynasty, those "Immortal Swords" weren''t actual Sword Will. They were just expensive imitations, weapons blessed with formations to mimic the effect.


    But Bai Yujian¡­


    She had done it naturally.


    A Sword Fairy who leaves her will behind?


    That''s interesting.


    Su Xiaobai leaned back, tapping his fingers against the sword.


    So this was how it felt, huh?


    To be hunted.


    To be branded.


    To have someone refuse to let you go, no matter what.


    It reminded him of Sun Liang.


    That bastard had tried to hunt him down, acting all righteous, declaring his name before sending people to kill him.


    Now that Su Xiaobai had survived?


    Oh, he would be returning the favor.


    Step one¡ªtrap Sun Liang.


    Make that arrogant bastard fall into a web he couldn''t escape.


    Step two¡ªbrand him a traitor.


    Let his Dynasty turn against him, force him to run like a rat.


    Step three¡ªlet the Sword Will hunt him.


    Let him run. Let him hide. Let him crawl through the mud, fearing for his life.


    Then, at the very end¡ª


    Watch him die.


    Slowly.


    Maybe even while sipping wine with his woman in his lap.


    A deep, satisfied chuckle left Su Xiaobai''s lips.


    That plan was far off, but oh, it would be beautiful.


    For now, though¡ªlearning Sword Intent came first.


    ____


    Sword Intent was¡­ bullshit.


    Unlike Sword Qi and Sword Aura, which at least followed some logic, Sword Intent was the kind of concept that sounded elegant in poetry but made no goddamn sense in reality.


    Mei Mei had tried to explain it.


    "When you slash against a stone, your intent cuts it even before your blade makes contact."


    "It is not the sword, nor the strike¡ªit is the will of the swordsman. Raw, polished, and lethal."


    Su Xiaobai scowled.


    "So you''re telling me that I can cut something just by wanting it to be cut?"


    Mei Mei nodded. "Yes."


    "¡­That''s stupid."


    Mei Mei''s lips twitched. "Then don''t learn it."


    Su Xiaobai sighed. He couldn''t argue.


    He tried. Again. And again.


    He slashed with his sword, but the rock remained unscathed.


    He focused, willed the cut into existence¡ªbut nothing happened.


    He even tried staring at the rock with the sheer hatred of a man who had once stubbed his toe in the middle of the night¡ª


    Nothing.


    Now, he finally understood why most Outer Disciples struggled for years to grasp Sword Intent.


    This wasn''t talent¡ªit was masochism.


    "Sigh..."


    After hours of failure, Su Xiaobai turned to Mei Mei, only to find her slumped over the table, snoring softly.


    His eyebrow twitched.


    "...Did she just fall asleep?"

 Chapter 156 - 156: Revenge (2)

    "...Did she just fall asleep?"


    For someone who lectured him like a damn instructor, she sure had no stamina.


    With a sigh, he lifted her into his arms.


    She wasn''t heavy¡ªhell, she felt lighter than a decently built sword.


    Despite all her sharp words and stubbornness, she was fragile in ways others were not.


    Her temporal ability was immensely taxing, draining her energy faster than a sect master''s treasury after one night at a brothel.


    That was why she never practiced other arts.


    Simply demonstrating Sword Intent earlier had worn her out completely.


    As he laid her gently on the bed, he smirked.


    If only all women were this obedient.


    Then again, that would be boring.


    With a final glance, he turned back to his sword.


    ______


    For the next two days, Su Xiaobai fought against the biggest enemy of all¡ªhis own incompetence.


    No matter how much he willed it, no matter how fiercely he focused, the rock refused to fucking die.


    At best, he left a shallow scratch.


    At worst, he just stood there like an idiot, glaring at the stone while imagining it crumbling under his will.


    Nothing.


    His patience? Gone.


    His dignity? Shattered.


    At one point, his fingers twitched, and a thought entered his mind.


    If Sword Intent didn''t work, he had another way.


    The easy way.


    The cheating way.


    Infernal Flames.


    The moment that thought formed, the air crackled, and black-red hellfire roared to life, coiling around the stone like a hungry beast.


    FWOOOSH!


    A second later¡ªthe rock was gone.


    Burned to ashes.


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes gleamed.


    "Now that''s more like it."


    If only he could use this all the time.


    If only Infernal Flames weren''t a heretical power that would get him hunted down by every dog in the Immortal Rain Valley.


    If only his plot armor wasn''t defective.


    Most protagonists had some divine protection, some heaven-defying ability that let them break the rules.


    His?


    His fucked him back in the ass.


    A talent so overwhelming that the heavens themselves conspired to keep him down.


    Sometimes, he wondered¡ª


    Were the higher-ups just afraid of letting him loose?


    Su Xiaobai sighed, rubbing his temples.


    That night, as he was sitting in frustration, he heard a light flutter of movement.


    A small paper bird landed on his shoulder, unfolding into a thin slip.


    Yu Feng''s handwriting.


    [I found them.]


    Su Xiaobai''s lips curled.


    Finally.


    He slid his sword back into its sheath, turned, and descended the mountain, his figure flickering under the moonlight.


    Elsewhere¡ª


    A certain someone was still waiting for news.


    Xu Tianran, the man who had planted a spy on Yu Feng, sat in his private chambers, tapping his fingers against the table.


    Why hadn''t he received any reports yet?


    He had planned to use Yu Feng as bait, let her lead him to the true mastermind behind the Dark Church.


    He thought he was hunting a bird.


    Little did he know¡ª


    That bird had already been caged.


    And Su Xiaobai held the key.


    ______


    The Bottom of Sword Peak...


    Where the unworthy lingered, and the ambitious clawed their way up.


    The air was filled with moisture, the scent of earth and dampened grass mixing with the faint metallic tang of sword energy from countless practice sessions.


    The moon, casting long, ghostly shadows over the stone pathways, where discarded training swords and half-broken wooden dummies lay abandoned¡ªforgotten by disciples who had either given up or moved on.


    And in the middle of this forgotten corner of the sect, three women lounged on the grass, their robes slightly undone, flushed from wine and the pleasure of their own success.


    Tonight, they were celebrating.


    Lan Meiyu lay on her back, staring dreamily at the sky, the fabric of her light green robe slightly loosened, revealing the soft bossom of a woman who knew how to use her body as a weapon.


    She smirked, listening lazily as her "good sisters" chattered beside her.


    "Sister Lan, you did a great job! Senior Brother will definitely not ignore you anymore~!"


    Jia Ying, the plumper one, giggled as she leaned forward, pressing her soft chest against Lan Meiyu''s arm, eyes glistening with excitement.


    "Lanlan, you wouldn''t forget your sisters after ascending the dragon, would you?"


    Xiong Xue, the cunning fox, chuckled softly, twirling a lock of her long brown hair, her lips curling as she sipped wine.


    She had already stripped off the outer layer of her robe, her delicate cleavage glistening under the moonlight, her pose relaxed¡ªa woman who took pleasure in others'' downfall.


    Lan Meiyu simply smiled.


    She had done her part.


    And tonight, she would reap the rewards.


    ____


    Five Days Ago...


    It started with resentment.


    A woman''s resentment.


    And there was nothing more poisonous in the world.


    It was a cool evening, the sky dyed in deep shades of twilight, soft mist coiling around the stone pathways of Mystic Peak. The Pavilion stood elegant and untouched, a place where the Outer Disciples gathered to sip tea, gossip, and dream about rising above their station.


    Xiong Xue was no different.


    She sat with a porcelain cup in her hands, the faint fragrance of spirit flowers drifting in the air. A woman with long brown hair tied loosely, her sharp, fox-like eyes gleaming with their usual cunning amusement.


    That amusement disappeared the moment she saw him.


    Su Xiaobai.


    He was climbing Mystic Peak, his stride smooth, unhurried, as if he owned the land beneath his feet.


    Even the other disciples who saw him paused, their eyes flickering with interest.


    It wasn''t his looks¡ªthough those were enough to make senior sisters bite their lips in secret.


    It was his fame.


    Xiong Xue, like many others, stood up and stepped forward, her lips curling into a charming invitation.


    But before a word could leave her mouth¡ª


    He walked past her.


    No greeting. No rejection.


    Not even a glance.


    Like she was invisible.


    Her fingers tightened around her cup.


    This was an Outer Disciple like her just a while ago.


    A nobody.


    And yet, now?


    Now, he didn''t even glance at her.


    Did he think himself too good?


    Did he think just because he gainedstrength , he could treat women like air?


    This wasn''t just about her.


    Su Xiaobai had been teased by nearly every female disciple he passed that day¡ªlaughs, whispers, bold invitations¡ª


    And he ignored all of them.


    To him, they were not even worth rejecting.


    Some women laughed it off.


    Some rolled their eyes and moved on.


    But some?


    Some carried resentment in their hearts.


    And a woman''s resentment?


    It was the deadliest poison.


    Xiong Xue''s lips curled slightly.


    A man like that?


    She thought he needed to learn a lesson in humility!


    That night, while bathing, Xiong Xue overheard a conversation¡ªa whisper passed from her roommate.


    A Core Disciple of Mystic Peak had spoken of something¡­ scandalous.


    Peak Lord Zhu Qing.


    A man had been seen entering her villa.


    A mysterious visitor.


    Someone powerful. Someone important.


    Xiong Xue''s breath froze.


    Then, as the moonlight hit the water''s surface, her lips curled.


    It didn''t matter who it actually was.


    She would make it him.


    ______


    That night, she ran to Sword Peak, robes still damp from her bath.


    Lan Meiyu, who had just finished her evening cultivation, raised an eyebrow as she saw Xiong Xue''s flustered state.


    "Why the rush?"


    Xiong Xue gasped, catching her breath, before she leaned close, pressing her lips near Lan Meiyu''s ear.


    "I found something interesting¡­"


    Lan Meiyu''s eyes sharpened.


    Su Xiaobai.


    The name alone made her blood boil.


    That bastard had humiliated her inside the inheritance cave¡ªtreating her like a dog in front of Bai Yujian.


    And now?


    Now she had a way to ruin him. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She didn''t hesitate.


    Lan Meiyu ran straight to Liu Zhenhai.


    Behind her, Xiong Xue smirked.


    Truth be told, even she wasn''t certain if the rumor was real.


    But certainty didn''t matter.


    What mattered was revenge.


    A woman like her¡ªcunning yet cowardly¡ªwould never dirty her own hands.


    So she found someone eager to do it for her.


    Lan Meiyu.


    A woman as shameless as she was spiteful.


    Su Xiaobai had humiliated her once, and a woman scorned never forgets.


    Xiong Xue didn''t even like Lan Meiyu.


    In fact, she found her disgusting.


    A woman like Lan Meiyu was willing to ruin her own dignity just to crawl into the good graces of some Inner Court senior.


    She would do anything for a bit of favor.


    She was a whore, but without the decency of admitting it.


    And that''s exactly why Xiong Xue picked her.


    She wanted revenge.


    Lan Meiyu wanted opportunity.


    And when the two desires collided, what followed was chaos.


    That night, Lan Meiyu took the bait.


    And she ran straight to the dog that would eat it.

 Chapter 157 - 157: Revenge (3)

    "Senior brother!"


    Lan Meiyu approached Liu Zhenhai''s chamber, her heart pounding in excitement.


    Inside, the room was tinged with incense, the faint scent of burning sandalwood masking the rot beneath.


    Liu Zhenhai sat cross-legged, eyes closed, body still.


    But he wasn''t truly meditating.


    No.


    He was simply waiting.


    Waiting for someone to offer him a chance.


    And Lan Meiyu?


    She had arrived right on time.


    As Lan Meiyu finished speaking, he merely chuckled.


    "Are you certain?"


    Lan Meiyu bowed her head. "Not entirely, senior brother."


    Liu Zhenhai didn''t even blink.


    "Doesn''t matter."


    Truth? Lies?


    None of it mattered.


    What mattered was how people reacted to it.


    "Spread it. Make sure my name isn''t attached."


    Lan Meiyu smiled.


    She already knew who to use.


    Jin Ying.


    A Sword Peak gossip queen.


    She could make a rumor fly across the sect faster than an Inner Disciple climaxing for the first time.


    And she did.


    Within hours, all of Sword Peak was buzzing.


    By the next day, the whispers had crawled their way through all thirteen peaks¡ªLike a filthy stain spreading across silk.


    Once a rumor left Jin Ying''s lips, it became truth.


    It didn''t matter if it was a lie.


    Because in the end, people only believed the loudest voice.


    And she made sure hers was the loudest.


    "Did you hear? Senior brother Su Xiaobai was seen sneaking into Mystic Peak!"


    "I heard he and Peak Lord Zhu have a secret affair!"


    "Impossible! That''s a Peak Lord!"


    "If he''s so innocent, why hasn''t she denied it?"


    It didn''t matter if the rumor was weak.


    It didn''t matter if there was no proof.


    Liu Zhenhai knew this game well.


    If it was false, Zhu Qing would silence Su Xiaobai to protect her reputation.


    If it was true, she would still kill him to make the problem disappear.


    Either way¡ªSu Xiaobai would die.


    And if he didn''t?


    Then Bai Yujian would see his true face, cast him aside like a soiled handkerchief, and strip him of his status as her personal disciple.


    Liu Zhenhai smirked.


    Whether Su Xiaobai was buried or abandoned, the result was the same.


    He would fall.


    And that was all that mattered.


    Liu Zhenhai was so pleased with himself, he handed out a million contribution points like it was dirty money after a cheap night at a brothel.


    Lan Meiyu pocketed six hundred thousand, her fellow whores¡ªJin Ying and Xiong Xue¡ªeach received two hundred thousand for their fine work in spreading their legs minds.


    To them?


    It was just a transaction.


    They sold a man''s reputation the way others sold their bodies.


    And in their eyes?


    There was no difference.


    They never considered the consequences.


    But consequences¡­


    They were coming.


    ____


    Back to the present.


    Lan Meiyu giggled, twirling a letter in her delicate fingers.


    Liu Zhenhai had personally invited her to his chambers tonight.


    Alone.


    Her heart raced with excitement. What could it mean?


    A personal reward for her efforts? Would he finally take her into his embrace? Would he give her a higher position?


    She bit her lip, her legs clenched toghether as if anticipation running through her. Tonight, she wore a special dress¡ªa gift from her mother, a piece of fabric designed to be easily undone.


    Her two "good sisters" laughed, raising their cups.


    "To Sister Lan''s success! You deserve it!"


    Lan Meiyu softly laughed.


    As for Su Xiaobai''s life or death? She didn''t care anymore.


    "Okay, you two, I''m going to meet Senior Brother¡ªhiccup!"


    She stumbled as she tried to stand, the wine making her legs weak.


    Jin Ying and Xiong Xue exchanged glances, both rolling their eyes.


    "Sigh¡­ let us escort you." Xiong Xue stretched lazily, eyeing Lan Meiyu with a smile.


    Lan Meiyu''s face flickered with hesitation.


    Liu Zhenhai had told her to come alone.


    The two women giggled knowingly, leaning in to whisper.


    "Don''t worry. We''ll just leave you at the door~"


    Lan Meiyu''s cheeks flushed, but she still nodded.


    A woman''s friendship was complicated.


    One moment, they were cheering you on.


    The next, they were praying you''d fail.


    Jin Ying had gotten her gossip.


    Xiong Xue had gotten her revenge. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But now that Lan Meiyu was about to climb even higher, even they felt a twinge of jealousy. If she succeeded, she would advance to the Earthly Rebirth Realm just by riding the right man''s waist.


    And the three of them?


    They were still stuck in Core Formation.


    Not everyone was a monster like Su Xiaobai.


    As they escorted Lan Meiyu to the top of the peak, they hesitated at the closed doors of Liu Zhenhai''s chamber.


    Lan Meiyu bit her lip, adjusting her dress, her eyes gleaming with anticipation.


    Jin Ying grinned, knocking on the door.


    Silence.


    No response.


    They hesitated, then pushed it open.


    Creak¡ª


    The moment they stepped inside¡ª


    "Ahhhh¡ª!"


    Then ¡ª A piercing scream split the night.


    Then another.


    And another.


    The cries of three women, echoing through the peak.


    And they didn''t stop.


    _____


    [The Devil''s Punishment ¨C A Night of Ruin]


    Inside the room¡ª


    "W-Who¡ª?!"


    Lan Meiyu shrieked, her voice breaking as cold hands gripped her shoulders.


    She flinched, instinctively trying to turn, but her vision blurred¡ªthe room was filled with thick pink mist, distorting everything.


    The room felt suffocating, intoxicating.


    Her body refused to move.


    She couldn''t even hear the screams of Jin Ying and Xiong Xue, who were struggling against unseen forces.


    Finally, Lan Meiyu blinked rapidly, trying to clear her vision, but all she saw were shadows¡ªand a figure stood above her.


    A man in a mask.


    And behind him¡ª


    Two more figures.


    _____


    Bound Like Dogs.


    Jin Ying and Xiong Xue couldn''t move.


    Something wrapped around their throats, their arms, their legs¡ªan invisible force pinning them to the cold floor.


    Their bodies were weak, trembling, their limbs refusing to listen.


    It was the mist.


    It crawled through their veins, sinking into their nerves, rendering them helpless.


    A pair of gloved hands gripped Xiong Xue''s hair, yanking her roughly to her knees.


    Thud!


    "Ah¡ª"


    She gasped, her breath shuddering.


    Jin Ying tried to fight, but a sharp slap sent her screaming, her lips parting in a choked moan of pain.


    Two women stood over them.


    One had long, dark blue hair, her expression calm, indifferent¡ªlike she was merely observing livestock being disciplined.


    Yu Feng.


    The other¡­


    She was smaller, her short orange hair messy, her body wrapped in tight black silk, pressed against Jin Ying''s trembling form.


    Her identity was unknown.


    But it didn''t matter.


    Because both were working for Su Xiaobai.


    And they were holding them down.


    Watching them squirm.


    Like worthless bitches about to be put in their place.


    ___


    A Whore''s First Lesson...


    Lan Meiyu felt the floor against her back before she even realized what had happened.


    RIP!


    Her robe was ripped apart, the sound echoing in the deathly silence.


    A cold hand gripped her chin, forcing her head back.


    She whimpered.


    Then¡ª


    Slap!


    Her cheek burned as her head snapped to the side.


    But instead of resisting¡ª


    "Aahh~"


    A moan spilled from her lips.


    The room fell silent.


    Even Su Xiaobai paused, his grip on her loosening for a moment.


    Jin Ying and Xiong Xue''s wide, horrified eyes flickered to Lan Meiyu.


    No way¡­


    She was enjoying this?!


    "A whore''s instincts run deep, huh?"


    Su Xiaobai''s voice was soft, mocking.


    Lan Meiyu flushed, her eyes darting to the side, her body squirming beneath him.


    She wanted to deny it.


    She wanted to say something.


    But before she could¡ª


    Her legs trembled violently, pried apart with no room for resistance, her delicate petals quivering as something thick, long, throbbing, and burning hot pressed mercilessly against her shameful entrance.


    A slow, taunting grind, teasing her slick folds apart, letting her feel every inch of the impending invasion¡ªbefore, without warning¡ª


    Splurt!


    A filthy, obscene sound, flesh stretching, yielding, as something ruthless forced its way inside.


    "S-Slow down! S-Slow down!"


    Her voice broke into frantic pleas, but her body betrayed her, her thighs twitching, her breath catching in her throat.


    Jin Ying and Xiong Xue shivered, their ears burning as they heard every horrifying screams for mercy.


    Why¡­


    Why couldn''t they move?!

 Chapter 158 - 158: *Revenge* (4) [R18]

    Jin Ying tried to crawl away, her nails digging into the cold stone floor.


    But the moment she moved¡ª


    A hand grabbed her ankle.


    Then¡ªa sharp pull.


    She screamed, her body dragged across the ground.


    Xiong Xue whimpered, trying to twist away, but the orange-haired woman pressed a bare foot against her back, pinning her down like a hunted animal.


    "Struggling?" The woman''s voice was amused, condescending. "Didn''t you want to teach someone a lesson? Consider this¡­ a lesson of your own."


    Jin Ying gasped, trembling, her body shaking violently.


    The mist wrapped around her like chains, pressing into her skin, her bones, making her numb, helpless.


    Su Xiaobai''s laughter echoed.


    "I wonder¡­" His voice was low, lazy, as he leaned over Lan Meiyu.


    His fingers traced her trembling lips, his other hand gripping her soft waist.


    "Does my bitch moans like a whore when she''s slapped?"


    Lan Meiyu gasped sharply, her face burning.


    "N-No¡­ stop¡­"


    Her eyes widened.


    She wanted to deny it.


    She wanted to run, hide, disappear.


    But she couldn''t.


    Jin Ying and Xiong Xue watched in pure horror, their stomachs twisting, their own helplessness sinking in.


    The door was sealed.


    The outside world wouldn''t hear them.


    And one by one¡ª


    They were ruined.


    _____


    After an Hour...


    Su Xiaobai pulled up his robe, fastened his belt, and laughed.


    Three bodies lay sprawled across the cold floor, collapsed in exhaustion, disgrace, and the remnants of their shattered pride.


    Their tattered robes barely covered them, their trembling limbs refused to move, and their expressions were beyond repair¡ªonly hollow emptiness remained.


    Yu Feng stood beside him, arms folded, her expression blank.


    This had nothing to do with her.


    The screams had long faded.


    What remained was only silence.


    A fitting punishment.


    Su Xiaobai removed his mask and smirked. His gaze fell upon Lan Meiyu''s ruined body, her skin tainted with bruises and red streaks.


    But he still wasn''t satisfied.


    With no hesitation, he grabbed his belt once more and lashed it across her bare flesh. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Crack!


    A sharp snap echoed in the chamber.


    Lan Meiyu, who had drifted into unconsciousness, suddenly jerked awake.


    Her eyes widened in sheer terror.


    "A-Ahhh¡ª!"


    Her cry was cut short as Su Xiaobai slammed his boot against her face.


    "Ugh!"


    Her head snapped back, a muffled whimper escaping before her body went limp once more.


    A pathetic sight.


    Su Xiaobai clicked his tongue in amusement before turning toward Jin Ying. Her exhausted body twitched, her plump chest heaving, the once-proud gossip queen now reduced to a shaking mess.


    Her nipples were red and bruised, the evidence of her own suffering painted across her skin.


    Su Xiaobai kneaded her soft mounds one last time, his fingers digging into the tender flesh.


    Jin Ying let out a weak, shuddering moan, her body still responding despite her disgrace.


    Satisfied, he stepped back, surveying his work.


    The room was still filled with the pink mist, the Confusion Spell ensuring none of them would recognize his face.


    A soft scoff broke the silence.


    "What a pair of bitches..."


    The voice was cold.


    Zhao Mei stood there, her fiery-orange hair slightly disheveled, her tight black clothing hugging every dangerous curve.


    Her gaze burned with loathing as she spat onto Jin Ying''s battered face.


    But even that wasn''t enough.


    No¡ªZhao Mei wasn''t like Su Xiaobai.


    She was crueler.


    Her eyes flickered toward Xiong Xue, who was still trembling, still breathing.


    Too intact.


    That wouldn''t do.


    BAM!


    Xiong Xue''s scream barely left her lips before her skull met the cold stone floor.


    "A-Ahhh¡ª!"


    Then¡ª


    BAM! BAM! BAM!


    Again.


    And again.


    And again.


    The sound was horrifying, each impact shaking the chamber, each slam sending dark red splatters across the ground.


    By the time Zhao Mei finally let go, Xiong Xue''s face was an unrecognizable mess of blood and swollen flesh, her body limp, twitching like a dying insect.


    Zhao Mei exhaled, rolling her shoulders, as if she had simply been working out a cramp.


    Su Xiaobai smiled wryly.


    Zhao Mei.


    One of the few people who had entered the sect with him.


    Once, she had been famous for her Burning Lotus Technique and her dangerously seductive body.


    But her reputation had been ruined by Jin Ying.


    The same gossiping slut who spread rumors about him, had also branded Zhao Mei a whore.


    Why?


    Because Zhao Mei''s beauty, her tight clothing, and her body got more attention than Jin Ying ever could.


    A jealous woman is the most venomous snake.


    And Jin Ying had struck deep.


    The rumors spread like wildfire.


    It didn''t matter that Zhao Mei had never touched a man.


    It didn''t matter that her body was still untouched, still pure.


    Because now?


    Every time she walked through the sect, she felt the eyes


    The mocking stares.


    The lustful leers.


    The whispers.


    "How much for a night?"


    "That body''s too good to waste on cultivation."


    "She''s just another bitch playing innocent."


    It had ruined her.


    And now?


    Now, Zhao Mei was utterly satisfied.


    Because the bitch who made her suffer¡­


    Had finally been put where she belonged.


    On the floor. Broken. Used. Forgotten.


    She wiped the blood from her fingers, smiling.


    But she wasn''t done.


    Xiong Xue? That was just a face worth smashing.


    Jin Ying?


    Jin Ying was something else.


    As she moved toward the trembling, ruined woman, her gaze flickered over Jin Ying''s bare, milk-white body.


    Her lips curled.


    She had only disfigured Xiong Xue because she wasn''t fully certain of her role.


    But Jin Ying?


    Jin Ying was the real culprit.


    The one who spread the filth.


    The one who branded her a whore.


    The one who stole her dignity without ever laying a hand on her.


    And now?


    Now Zhao Mei stood over her, legs apart, looking down at the disgraceful sight beneath her.


    Jin Ying''s legs were still weakly spread, her swollen, ruined hole on full display.


    Her most disgusting place, red, twitching¡ªher final piece of womanly dignity, stolen.


    Zhao Mei''s expression twisted in pure disdain.


    "I thought so. A slut."


    Her voice was dripping with cruely, yet her fingers did not hesitate.


    She spread Jin Ying''s legs further apart, the movement mechanical, deliberate.


    Then, her gaze flickered to curious Su Xiaobai and Yu Feng.


    "Close your eyes."


    There was hesitation in her tone.


    Su Xiaobai raised an eyebrow. "Hm?"


    Yu Feng frowned. "Why?"


    But the next moment¡ª


    They understood.


    Yu Feng flinched, a shiver running down her spine as she instinctively took a few steps back.


    Because¡ª


    Between Jin Ying''s trembling, ruined thighs¡­


    Zhao Mei''s fingers glowed.


    A small flicker of flame, barely visible at first¡ª


    Then¡ª


    A roaring inferno.


    "AAAHHHHHHHHH¡ª!"


    Jin Ying''s screams echoed, her body convulsing violently as fire seared into her most sacred place.


    Su Xiaobai''s face darkened.


    He had seen ruthlessness, cruelty, revenge.


    But this?


    This was something else.


    A punishment that no man would have ever even considered.


    Zhao Mei was destroying her.


    Ensuring that Jin Ying would never again have a future as a woman.


    Yu Feng clutched her own robes tightly, swallowing hard.


    Only a woman could understand the sheer, unbearable agony of this punishment.


    Jin Ying''s screams didn''t stop.


    Not even after the flames faded.


    Not even after Zhao Mei stepped back, wiping her fingers.


    She didn''t even look at the writhing mess on the floor.


    Her work was done.


    Su Xiaobai exhaled slowly, his expression complicated.


    ''What a cruel woman¡­''


    Fortunately, she was his now.


    His slave.


    His weapon.


    He had captured her by accident, but now?


    Now, he was glad he did.


    ______


    Two days ago, Su Xiaobai had enslaved Zhao Mei.


    Her uncle, once an Elder of the Blazing Sun Sect, had died fighting Bai Yujian in Chi Xie wasteland.


    The sect had been wiped, crushed under the might of Royal Family Master Qiangxuan.


    With no backing, no allies, and no escape, Zhao Mei had become his possession.


    And since she had nowhere to go, Su Xiaobai had sealed her away in his ring world.


    No one in the sect would notice her disappearance.


    No one would care.


    And now?


    She had gotten her final revenge.


    Jin Ying¡ªthe snake who destroyed her name¡ªhad finally been put in her place.


    Yu Feng let out a slow breath.


    She had spent two days tracking Jin Ying, uncovering every detail.


    Jin Ying spread the rumors.


    Xiong Xue fed the lies to Lan Meiyu.


    Lan Meiyu crawled to Liu Zhenhai like a dog.


    Each of them had played their role in trying to destroy Su Xiaobai.


    And now?


    They were the ones destroyed.


    Su Xiaobai brushed his fingers against Lan Meiyu''s swollen face, feeling the marks left from repeated slaps.


    His eyes flickered with amusement.


    This bitch wanted to be fucked by her ''Senior Brother''?


    Hah!


    Between her legs, faint blood stained the sheets.


    A virgin.


    Probably saving herself for Liu Zhenhai.


    How tragic.


    He chuckled, stepping away. "Let''s leave."


    Yu Feng frowned. "Just like that?"


    She had meticulously forged a letter in Liu Zhenhai''s handwriting to lure them here.


    And now, after all that planning¡ªSu Xiaobai was just walking away?


    Su Xiaobai smiled.


    "Don''t worry. Someone will take the blame."


    Yu Feng shivered.


    Her gaze flickered to the mist, realization sinking in.


    She turned toward the closed-door cultivation chamber nearby.


    Liu Zhenhai was inside...

 Chapter 159 - 159: The Fall of Liu Zhenhai – A Public Execution Without a Blade...

    "Don''t worry. Someone will take the blame."


    Yu Feng shivered.


    Her gaze flickered to the mist, realization sinking in.


    She turned toward the closed-door cultivation chamber nearby.


    Liu Zhenhai was inside.


    Completely unaware.


    Yu Feng''s throat went dry.


    "You did all of this¡­ right under his nose? What if he finds out?"


    Su Xiaobai laughed.


    "Then he can die."


    Then, like a phantom thief, he vanished into the night.


    The pink mist slowly faded.


    And as their consciousness returned, the three women stirred.


    Then¡ª


    The real screams began.


    Zhao Mei smiled, her lips curling as she turned toward the main chamber door.


    With a casual flick of her wrist, she left it wide open.


    Ensuring that the entire peak heard everything.


    _____


    The Fall of Liu Zhenhai ¨C A Public Execution Without a Blade...


    "Ahhhhhh¡ª!"


    A scream pierced the night, sharp enough to send chills down the spine of anyone who heard it.


    Inside his sealed chamber, Liu Zhenhai''s eyes snapped open.


    His body hummed with spiritual energy, the remnants of his secluded meditation still circulating through his meridians.


    For hours, he had been in deep focus, unaware of what was happening outside.


    Because he couldn''t hear anything.


    Su Xiaobai made sure of that.


    The bastard had sealed his door, ensuring he wouldn''t come out until everything was already set in stone.


    And now, with the seal gone, the first thing he heard was¡ª


    "AAAAAAHHHHH¡ª!"


    Liu Zhenhai''s brows furrowed. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Something felt wrong.


    He stepped toward the door¡ª


    Then he froze.


    Three naked, trembling women.


    Jin Ying¡ªhunched over, wailing like a widow at a funeral.


    Her throat swollen, her hands clutching between her thighs, her entire body convulsing.


    Xiong Xue¡ªstaring at her own reflection in a shattered bronze mirror, her fingers ghosting over the bloody pulp that was once her face.


    Her lips quivered.


    Her chest heaved.


    She didn''t even scream.


    She just stared.


    As if she was watching herself die.


    And in the middle¡ª


    Lan Meiyu.


    She wasn''t crying.


    She wasn''t screaming.


    She just sat there, legs slightly pressed together, her breath shallow, her eyes lost in a daze.


    Liu Zhenhai''s heartbeat pounded in his ears.


    His eyes darted around, frantic, confused.


    His mouth opened¡ª


    "What the¡ª?"


    Before he could even process the living nightmare in front of him, the sound of rushing footsteps echoed in the distance.


    And then¡ª


    The peak was swarmed.


    "Liu Zhenhai, you fucking BEAST!"


    A voice roared from the entrance.


    Hu Jiao''er, one of the leading female Core Disciples, stormed forward, her sword half-drawn, her eyes blazing with fury.


    Behind her, dozens of disciples poured in.


    Men. Women.


    Outer disciples. Inner disciples.


    Some still rubbing sleep from their eyes, others holding weapons, all of them drawn by the screams.


    And the first thing they saw¡ª


    A half-dressed Senior Brother standing in front of three ruined women.


    Naked.


    Sweat-covered.


    Crying.


    "Holy fuck¡ª"


    A male disciple stumbled back, nearly tripping over himself.


    "H-He actually did it?! In the middle of the peak?!"


    "What kind of monster rapes three women at the same time?!"


    "Senior Brother¡­ you¡­ you''re a demon!"


    The whispers spread like wildfire, growing louder by the second.


    Liu Zhenhai''s entire body stiffened.


    His vision blurred at the edges.


    This wasn''t happening.


    This wasn''t fucking happening.


    "WAIT¡ª!"


    Hu Mei''er, Jiao''er''s twin sister, stepped forward, her eyes flashing.


    "What''s going on?"


    Her voice was sharp, accusing.


    "What''s going on?" She repeated, louder.


    Then she gestured to Xiong Xue, sobbing into her hands.


    "You RAPED your fellow martial sisters, THAT''S what''s going on!"


    Liu Zhenhai''s stomach dropped.


    "I DIDN''T! STOP SLANDERING ME! I WAS IN CLOSED-DOOR CULTIVATION!"


    He turned to Lan Meiyu.


    His loyal dog.


    His obedient, brainless follower.


    The one who always protected him.


    "Tell them! Tell them I didn''t do this!"


    But¡ª


    Lan Meiyu lowered her head.


    Her cheeks flushed.


    Her lips trembled.


    She didn''t say a word.


    Liu Zhenhai''s breath froze.


    No. No, no, no.


    Bitch!


    Not now! Not at a time like this!


    Lan Meiyu wasn''t harmed like Jin Ying and Xiong Xue.


    She wasn''t broken.


    But her mind?


    Her mind was still trapped in that hazy, twisted pleasure.


    She still didn''t know who the man was.


    The one who handled her so roughly.


    The one who made her lose control, lose herself.


    Was it¡­ Senior Brother?


    She pressed her thighs together, her body betraying her.


    Her face burned even hotter.


    And in that moment¡ªher mind broke further.


    Liu Zhenhai felt like vomiting.


    Jin Ying and Xiong Xue?


    They weren''t stupid like Lan Meiyu.


    They knew something was wrong.


    They knew there were more people that night.


    But right now?


    They were ruined.


    Their futures were gone.


    And in their eyes, someone had to take the fall.


    Xiong Xue''s shoulders trembled as she suddenly pointed at him, her voice filled with grievance.


    "S-Senior Brother¡­ how could you do this to me?!"


    She sobbed, clutching at her bloody, swollen face.


    Jin Ying?


    She couldn''t even speak properly.


    Her throat was hoarse, her body weak, but she still glared at him, her tear-filled eyes brimming with hatred.


    Liu Zhenhai''s knees buckled.


    Fuck.


    He turned to Lan Meiyu again.


    But she only bit her lip, trembling, as if remembering something¡­ sweet.


    She was actually enjoying it?!


    Liu Zhenhai''s vision swayed.


    The number of disciples outside kept growing.


    The sect had been on edge lately.


    Everyone was restless, paranoid.


    And now?


    They had caught a Senior Brother standing in front of three ruined women.


    Naked.


    Sweat-covered.


    Crying.


    And his only excuse?


    That he had been in closed-door cultivation?


    Who the fuck would believe that?


    A disciple spat on the ground.


    "Fucking bastard."


    Another cracked his knuckles.


    "What should we do with him?"


    A Core Disciple stepped forward.


    "Bind him."


    "Take him before the Sect Elders."


    "Let them deal with this filth."


    Liu Zhenhai''s breath shook.


    He couldn''t run.


    He couldn''t escape.


    And the worst part?


    The real mastermind was already gone.


    Somewhere in the distance, Su Xiaobai was laughing in the shadows.


    Watching his prey fall, piece by piece.


    And this?


    This was just the beginning.


    For too long, Su Xiaobai had been passive, focusing on cultivation, handling only what came his way.


    But now that he thought about it¡ª


    He had made a lot of enemies.


    And it was time to clean them all up.


    In one single sweep.


    Let them come.¡­ whoever else thought they could challenge him.


    It didn''t matter.


    Su Xiaobai didn''t need ''anyone'' to deal with a few rats.


    Bai Yujian had, ironically, taught him a valuable lesson.


    No one could be trusted.


    A man had to build his own forces, his own power.


    He had Zhao Mei, his personal slave, willing to burn down any bitch who crossed him.


    He had Yu Feng, a woman who might bring him unexpected benefits in the future.


    And this was only the beginning.


    _____


    Meanwhile, On the Roof of the Peak Lord''s Residence...


    Two women stood under the moonlight, their robes fluttering in the cold wind.


    From afar, it might have looked like a quiet conversation.


    But in reality¡ª


    It was a one-sided argument.


    "Let him do what he wants," Bai Yujian said calmly, gazing into the distance.


    "Didn''t you say it yourself, Qingqing? He''s at the Nascent Soul Realm now. He''s already qualified to be an inner court disciple. Even if he loses a week later, no one can object to his position."


    "Let it be a lesson for him. His journey has been too smooth."


    Zhu Qing stared at her, frustrated.


    "Elder, you can''t just throw him into the deep sea and say ''sink or swim.''"


    Her voice held traces of bitterness.


    She didn''t understand what had happened between these two.


    A few days ago, after their fallout, Bai Yujian had expected Su Xiaobai to return, to apologize or at least try to mend the situation.


    She had even prepared some compensation, thinking she had been too harsh.


    But he never came back.


    And now?


    Now, she had made up her mind.


    If he wanted to handle things on his own¡ªso be it.


    Zhu Qing, however, wasn''t convinced.


    After digging into the situation, she had gone to visit Su Xiaobai, even offering to help him.


    He had refused.


    That man, who had once sweet-talked every woman he met, had turned completely cold-hearted.


    Through some spying here and there, she had found out what happened.


    And now she was here, trying to convince Bai Yujian.


    If Su Xiaobai really got defeated, wouldn''t this woman''s heart be moved?


    Wouldn''t she finally intervene?


    But¡ª


    She didn''t.


    Bai Yujian remained silent.


    Zhu Qing sighed.


    She was starting to regret ever letting Liu Zhenhai join the competition.


    A man lost in love was the most dangerous kind.


    And Liu Zhenhai?


    He was taking this personally.


    He had gone into closed-door cultivation, desperately trying to break into the Late Soul Fusion Realm.


    And now?


    Zhu Qing wasn''t sure if she had made a mistake.


    A few days ago, she had received troubling news.


    Liu Chenfu.


    The Peak Lord of Stormfire Peak.


    He was planning something sneaky against Su Xiaobai.


    And it wasn''t just him.


    Su Xiaobai had offended too many Peak Lords.


    Broken too many disciples.


    Humiliated too many so-called geniuses.


    If they all came together this time¡ªIt wouldn''t be a simple fight.


    It would be a slaughter.


    And Zhu Qing wasn''t sure if Su Xiaobai even realized it yet.


    Or worse¡ª


    If he did.


    And he simply didn''t care.


    "Qingqing, don''t let your personal feelings cloud your judgment."


    Bai Yujian''s voice was calm but firm.


    Zhu Qing''s brows twitched.


    Personal relationship?


    Was she¡ª


    BOOM!


    A sudden eruption of noise shook the peak.


    A fire.


    A crowd.


    A ruckus.


    Both women snapped their heads toward the commotion.


    "What''s that?"


    Bai Yujian''s gaze hardened.


    "Let''s go check."


    And then¡ª


    They saw it.


    The angry disciples of Sword Peak had set fire to Liu Zhenhai''s residence.


    That night, the entire peak was in an uproar.


    Liu Zhenhai was dragged out, beaten like a dog.


    Against the Core Disciples, he was helpless.


    Fists.


    Kicks.


    Bones snapping.


    By the time Bai Yujian arrived, she was greeted with the sight of her ''personal disciple'' beaten to a pulp.


    And she?


    She said nothing.


    Only one thing echoed across the night¡ª


    "Liu Zhenhai is hereby expelled from Sword Peak."


    "Do not call me Master again. Your status as my personal disciple is revoked."


    "His contribution points will be transferred to the three girls as compensation."


    The moment those words left her lips¡ª


    Liu Zhenhai''s fate was sealed.


    The night spread faster than wildfire.


    By morning, he was on trial.


    And by noon, he was dragged into the sect dungeon.


    Waiting for his punishment to be decided.


    Overnight¡ª


    Liu Zhenhai became the most infamous figure in the sect.


    The "Beast of Xiantian Sect."


    His loyal friends, Wang Fei and Chen Yong?


    The men he once endured humiliation for?


    They didn''t even show up to defend him.


    Why?


    Because they had disappeared overnight.


    Devoured.


    By Su Xiaobai''s little pet.


    His thorny devouring flower.


    A creature that left no corpses behind.


    Liu Zhenhai was officially ruined.


    But Su Xiaobai?


    He wasn''t done yet.


    Everything had fallen into place perfectly.


    The forged letter to Lan Meiyu.


    The rumors about Jin Ying and Xiong Xue.


    Even the fact that the sect couldn''t let such a crime slide.


    Some whispered doubts.


    Some wondered.


    Why had Jin Ying and Xiong Xue been ruined too?


    Why had the Beast been so excessive, so brutal?


    But even if there were questions¡ª


    Who cared?


    The sect couldn''t ignore the crime.


    A real investigation would take months, maybe years.


    And in the meantime?


    Who would compensate the ''victims''?


    If Liu Zhenhai wasn''t the culprit, then who was?


    Would the sect admit they had no clue?


    Would they let the matter remain unresolved?


    Of course not.


    And so¡ª


    The truth was buried.


    The real culprit walked free.


    And Liu Zhenhai?


    Was left to rot.


    Jin Ying and Xiong Xue?


    They were more than happy with the results.


    They purposefully kept Lan Meiyu quiet.


    She was still too dazed, too lost in her own twisted thoughts to resist them.


    They took turns whispering into her ear¡ª


    "Senior Brother tricked you."


    "You were confused by his sweet words."


    "You didn''t know what was happening."


    Because if an official investigation started¡ª


    Wouldn''t they lose everything?


    Wouldn''t people ask too many questions?


    And so, Liu Zhenhai became the convenient scapegoat.


    It was easier that way.


    Cleaner.


    More efficient.


    In the end¡ª


    This was how the world worked.


    People don''t care about truth.


    People just want order.


    They want peace, silence¡ª


    They want the ruckus to die down.


    How many innocent men over the centuries had been thrown away like this?


    How many righteous fools had been devoured just to maintain the illusion of stability?


    And then¡ª


    People turn around and blame society for being unfair.


    But fairness? Unfairness?


    Those were human inventions.


    Nothing was ever fair.


    Nothing was ever unfair.


    There were only predators and prey.


    Only the calculating and the clueless.


    Only the devourers and the devoured.


    And Liu Zhenhai?


    He learned that lesson the hard way.

 Chapter 160 - 160: Killing the Chicken!

    One Day After Liu Zhenhai''s Imprisonment¡­


    "Here''s what you asked for."


    "Oh? That''s great!"


    "Hmm¡­"


    Beneath the twisting branches of a dark tree, two figures stood in the shadows, the way they whispered and exchanged items making them look like black market dealers conspiring over contraband. In reality? It was just Su Xiaobai and Hu Jiao''er engaging in what could only be called a very suspicious transaction in the middle of a very illegal meeting deep in the wild forests outside the sect.


    Su Xiaobai lazily flipped through the contents of the scroll before him, grinni at the grandiose title. "Astral Tyrant Codex¡­ what a fancy name. Should I expect lightning to strike when I open it?"


    Across from him, Hu Jiao''er let out a long, suffering sigh, pushing a few stray strands of hair behind her ear. "You''ll need to strengthen your spiritual energy first. Intent isn''t something you just ''use''¡ªit''s channeled through your unique spiritual signature. That''s why no two people have the same sword intent."


    Su Xiaobai grinned, his smile charming but completely insincere. "Senior Sister, you''re such a good person. How about I give you a reward?"


    Hu Jiao''er snorted immediately, eyes narrowing. "What reward? Just forget the bet we made. Don''t think I''ll sacrifice myself and my sister for you."


    Then, as if she just remembered something distasteful, her tone cooled. "Also¡­ Liu Zhenhai."


    Su Xiaobai blinked innocently. "What about him? I merely acted as any righteous disciple should." He even sighed dramatically, placing a hand over his heart like a devoted monk. "I heard Martial Brother was planning something vile, and as a loyal disciple of the sect, how could I ignore such villainy? Naturally, I had to inform you."


    His smile was pure, almost saintly.


    Yet it sent chills down Hu Jiao''er''s spine.


    When the fuck did this seemingly harmless little rabbit turn into such a walking nightmare?


    She scowled, arms crossed. "If you were truly acting in righteousness, why did you wait until after he was done before calling for us?"


    Su Xiaobai''s lips curled, but he didn''t answer immediately, simply watching her with that knowing smile.


    A moment later, he shrugged. "I wanted Senior Brother to suffer."


    Simple. Honest. Chillingly straightforward.


    Hu Jiao''er stared at him, unable to decide if she wanted to punch him or just leave. Finally, she shook her head and turned away. "Tsk. You''re dangerous."


    And then she disappeared into the night, far too tired to keep dealing with whatever mess this man was cooking up.


    But as she left, Su Xiaobai''s smile faded, replaced by something cold and calculating.


    Su Xiaobai hadn''t expected Bai Yujian to be so ruthless. Not only had she refused to plead for Liu Zhenhai, but she personally expelled him from Sword Peak, stripping him of everything. That woman hadn''t even flinched.


    For God''s sake, Liu Zhenhai had been her disciple for decades!


    And she threw him away like a used rag.


    If she could do that to someone who had served her loyally for years, then what about him?


    If she ever decided he was a threat, would she hesitate? Would she spare him out of sentimentality?


    No.


    She was the kind of woman who would cut off her own hand if it became corrupted.


    That made her far too dangerous.


    People like Hu Jiao''er and Zhu Qing? They were manageable.


    They understood that sometimes, the world wasn''t black and white, but a comfortable shade of self-serving gray.


    But Bai Yujian? She was a sword that cut only in absolutes.


    And Su Xiaobai had no intention of being on the wrong side of that blade.


    Not unless he could hold it in his own hands.


    Meanwhile, Liu Zhenhai was scheduled for execution.


    That was too easy. Too¡­ neat.


    If Su Xiaobai wanted to truly erase suspicion and secure his position, he needed to make an example of this situation.


    He needed to kill the chicken to scare the monkeys.


    With that in mind, he strode toward the Sect Hall, unhurried and calm.


    By the time he arrived, the hall was already filled with hostility.


    "Su Xiaobai¡­?"


    A voice that sounded like someone chewing on glass.


    Zhao Tianxuan''s face immediately darkened.


    This villain.


    Not only had he screwed Zhao Tianxuan''s childhood sweetheart and aunt, but now the son of a bitch had the audacity to waltz in here like he owned the place?


    "What the hell do you want?"


    He waved his hand, motioning for everyone in the hall to clear the room¡ªexcept for one man.


    Xu Tianran.


    Unlike Zhao Tianxuan, Xu Tianran''s expression remained easy going. His gaze flickered across Su Xiaobai with something like amusement.


    He wasn''t going to let Zhao Tianxuan act recklessly.


    This man was too valuable.


    Then, Su Xiaobai spoke, his voice steady, calm.


    "Sect Master, I wish to plead for Liu Zhenhai and request a delay in his trial."


    For a moment, the hall was deathly silent.


    Then¡ª


    "What?!"


    Zhao Tianxuan looked like he had just swallowed a bucket of horse piss.


    What did this little demon just say?


    Then, Su Xiaobai tilted his head slightly, eyes flashing with something dangerous.


    "You want to plead for him?" Xu Tianran''s lips quirked upward, his interest growing. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Then, Su Xiaobai nodded.


    "Do you think someone is framing him?"


    Zhao Tianxuan''s entire face twisted.


    He looked at Su Xiaobai, then at Xu Tianran, then back at Su Xiaobai.


    What was going on?!


    "No, regardless of whether someone framed him or not, his actions can''t be forgiven. But I know Martial Brother¡ªthere must be more people behind him. If you let him die just like this, he will merely be a sacrificial pawn, and the true cause of filth will never be addressed."


    Su Xiaobai''s voice was calm, composed¡ªyet every word was like a poisoned needle slipping under the skin.


    And then he waited.


    And waited.


    And watched as Zhao Tianxuan sat there like a stunned idiot.


    Of course, the sect wasn''t as clean as it looked.


    Even Zhao Tianxuan, a man who barely had two brain cells to rub together when it came to women, knew that much.


    If there were other forces, then using Liu Zhenhai to draw them out was the best course of action.


    After a long pause, Zhao Tianxuan finally sighed. "What do you propose?"


    Su Xiaobai''s head remained slightly lowered, his expression stoic.


    But his lips?


    They curled into a devil''s grin.


    The plan was simple.


    Whoever was truly behind Liu Zhenhai, once they heard the sect was letting him go, they would move to silence him.


    The best time to strike?


    During the upcoming competition.


    It was the perfect stage.


    In front of countless disciples, under the eyes of elders and sect leaders, Liu Zhenhai would compete against Su Xiaobai.


    And then, at the right moment, someone from the shadows would try to "accidentally" kill him.


    Perhaps an elder stepping in to ''stop'' the fight¡­ and conveniently cutting Liu Zhenhai down.


    Or maybe they''d even plan a scenario where Su Xiaobai ''accidentally'' kills him.


    After all, people who play dirty rarely trust their own pawns.


    They would stack the odds.


    If he was right, then the real masterminds would expose themselves trying to manipulate the match.


    And once traces were found, once the first root was pulled¡­


    Everything would come crumbling down.


    Zhao Tianxuan frowned, slowly piecing things together. "If we follow your plan, your life will be at risk."


    Su Xiaobai let out a small laugh. "Sect Master, I can''t let my personal feelings cloud my judgment when it comes to the greater good."


    Zhao Tianxuan stared at him.


    Then stared some more.


    Then, his face twitched.


    Was this little fucker making fun of him?


    That was the most bullshit-filled, holy-sounding excuse he''d ever heard.


    But then, Zhao Tianxuan hesitated.


    Was he the one being petty?


    Hadn''t he just wanted to ruin Su Xiaobai out of personal grudges?


    For the first time in years, Zhao Tianxuan felt like he had been slapped awake.


    His expression softened.


    His anger cooled.


    He looked at Su Xiaobai with a far more pleasant expression.


    Su Xiaobai, seeing the change, internally sneered.


    Hook, line, and sinker.


    Of course, his real plan was slightly different.


    Whoever wanted to kill him, whoever wanted to use Liu Zhenhai as a pawn, would try to boost Liu Zhenhai''s power before the match.


    Most likely, they would "help" Liu Zhenhai by giving him some mysterious substance, making sure that even if Su Xiaobai was strong, he could still be ''overpowered.''


    And once those traces were found¡­


    Once those strings were pulled¡­


    More filth would be dragged into the light.


    Then?


    Then he would make an example of them.


    Kill one chicken to scare the monkeys.


    Hah. Su Xiaobai never thought he would have to start using these old tricks again.


    But reality forced his hand.

 Chapter 161 - 161: A Small Gain!

    Su Xiaobai did not visit Liu Zhenhai to mock him.


    He left the idiot to rot in his cell.


    But Liu Zhenhai?


    The moment he heard that Su Xiaobai had "pleaded" for him, his entire being erupted in pure rage.


    "IT''S HIM! HE DID EVERYTHING!"


    His roar shook the prison walls, his eyes bloodshot.


    "IT''S DEFINITELY HIM!"


    But the guards?


    The disciples?


    The elders?


    They only shook their heads in disappointment.


    From their perspective, Su Xiaobai was just a good-hearted martial brother pleading for his fallen senior.


    Meanwhile, Liu Zhenhai was screaming like a madman.


    How ungrateful.


    How shameful.


    And the ones who actually suspected Su Xiaobai?


    Hah.


    Su Xiaobai wanted them to suspect him.


    If people didn''t realize who was truly pulling the strings, how would they learn to fear him?


    How would they feel the deterrence once this was all over?


    He was playing a risky battle.


    If his plan failed?


    He would lose everything.


    But if he succeeded?


    Then people would think twice before plotting against him ever again.


    Because there would already be an example of what happened to those who dared.


    ______


    Far away, beneath the moon''s quiet glow, a woman sat in silence, watching Su Xiaobai from a distance.


    Zhao Mei.


    She didn''t know what kind of devil''s game this man was playing.


    But she knew one thing.


    She would not survive it.


    She had no delusions.


    Her family was dead.


    Her sect was gone.


    She couldn''t stay in the sect.


    She couldn''t run anywhere else.


    So what was left?


    Death.


    She had already accepted it.


    She expected Su Xiaobai to kill her the moment he was done using her.


    But then¡ª


    She felt his eyes land on her.


    His gaze roamed over her body, over her tight black outfit, the kind of clothes that strippers back in his world would wear.


    The outfit was practically painted onto her skin.


    And yet¡ª


    Despite her appearance, her seductive frame, her full curves¡­


    Her mind wasn''t dirty at all.


    She was a woman waiting for execution.


    And yet, as Su Xiaobai watched her, his smirk deepened.


    A plaything waiting for death?


    Or perhaps¡­


    Something far more entertaining?


    "What... will happen to me in the future?"


    Zhao Mei''s voice was uncertain, her breath shallow as she watched Su Xiaobai''s silent gaze crawl over her body.


    Was he going to kill her?


    No¡ªhis expression was different.


    Something cruel.


    Something possessive.


    Was he going to defile her first?


    A shiver ran down her spine. That, she might struggle against.


    But Su Xiaobai ignored her completely, his lips curling into a smile.


    "Do you want to know what really happened to Blazing Sun Sect?"


    Zhao Mei''s breath caught.


    "Huh?"


    She only knew that everyone was erased overnight¡ªthat her family had vanished like dust on the wind.


    But he was implying¡ª


    Did he know more?


    "Zhao Feng. Do you know him?"


    Zhao Mei blinked. "H-He was my great-uncle!"


    Su Xiaobai nodded slowly, letting the weight of the name settle.


    "Well, he offended someone called Master Qingxuan." He let out a sigh, shaking his head. "I won''t tell you the details, but he died. And Master Qingxuan was the one who eradicated Blazing Sun Sect."


    Zhao Mei staggered back. "Y-You''re lying!"


    "Why would I?"


    Su Xiaobai''s smile never faltered, but his eyes were sharp.


    "I was there when it happened. The only reason I survived was because Peak Lord Bai arrived in time to pull me out. You think you understand power? Let me tell you¡ªMaster Qingxuan is someone from the Royal Family. You can''t offend him, you can''t escape him, and if you hadn''t left with me that night, you would have been erased just like the rest."


    Zhao Mei''s hands clenched into fists.


    She didn''t need to ask.


    She could tell¡ªhis words weren''t empty.


    Even if there were lies woven between truths, the core of it was real. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Su Xiaobai watched her face carefully. Mixing truth with lies always worked.


    It made people question their own doubts.


    "He wanted to kill me as well," Su Xiaobai continued, his voice light, almost casual. "But Peak Lord Bai''s presence stopped him."


    He let that fact sink in, watching as Zhao Mei''s mind raced through the implications.


    "Now, do you want to leave?" His tone remained gentle, almost coaxing. "I can remove the slave seal right now. But if you do, you can''t stay in the sect. You''ll be hunted. You''ll have to live the rest of your life as a fugitive, running from the shadows, waiting for the blade to fall."


    Then, he shrugged.


    "Or..."


    Zhao Mei''s lips parted slightly.


    She hesitated, but her eyes were searching his.


    "Would you really remove the seal?"


    Su Xiaobai simply motioned for her to turn around. "Come. I''ll do it now."


    Without waiting, he grabbed her by the shoulders, turning her smooth, tight back toward him.


    Zhao Mei visibly shivered under his touch, her breath hitching as she felt his spiritual energy flicker along her skin.


    He was really going to do it?


    Was she free?


    Her lips parted, about to say something¡ª


    Then her mind froze.


    Wait...


    Even if she was free... then what?


    Wouldn''t she just end up dead like the rest?


    "Wait!"


    Zhao Mei suddenly pulled away, separating herself from him.


    Su Xiaobai tilted his head, pretending to be confused. "What?"


    She swallowed hard.


    "You said ''or''¡­ What other option is there?"


    Su Xiaobai''s smile widened.


    Hooked.


    If he had told her himself, she would have been suspicious.


    But when people think it''s their own idea¡­


    They believe it.


    "Or you follow me," Su Xiaobai said smoothly, "and when I get the opportunity to kill Master Qingxuan, I''ll let you do it."


    "I won''t be in this sect forever. If you choose to stay, you have to say goodbye to your old self. We can''t take revenge the righteous way. You should already know that."


    His voice lowered, tempting.


    "And if I don''t deal with that bastard first, I''ll always have to watch my back."


    Zhao Mei''s fingers dug into her palms.


    Her lips parted slightly.


    She hesitated on the surface¡ª


    But in her heart, she had already made the decision.


    Su Xiaobai sealed her back into the ring world.


    If she chose to leave later, he would remove the slave seal and let her go.


    And once she was outside the sect?


    He would silence her.


    For now, there were more pressing matters.


    Liu Zhenhai''s death had to be planned properly.


    And after that¡ª


    Xiong Xue and Jin Ying.


    Those two couldn''t be allowed to live.


    They were worthless to him.


    Some women could be tamed.


    Some women could be trained.


    But those two?


    They were better off dead.


    As for Lan Meiyu¡­


    Hah.


    Her true suffering hadn''t even begun yet.


    She had no idea what was waiting for her once he took her away as his slave.


    Once all of them disappeared at once, the conclusion would be obvious to everyone.


    A desperate attempt by Liu Zhenhai to silence witnesses before his escape.


    The sect would investigate, naturally.


    But by the time they realized all three were gone, Liu Zhenhai himself would already be dead.


    No one would be left to take the blame.


    And with his execution closing the case, the matter would fade into obscurity.


    The sect would move on.


    No one would bother digging too deep.


    Everything was set in place.


    If people knew what was going on in Su Xiaobai''s mind, they would shiver.


    To him, people weren''t people.


    They were chess pieces.


    Some to be sacrificed.


    Some to be played.


    But in the end, they all existed for his game.


    ______


    Su Xiaobai looked up at the silver moon, his eyes narrowing.


    "Forcing me, huh? Don''t regret it."


    There had been a time when he had forgotten himself, when he had indulged in this new life too comfortably.


    But when Bai Yujian slapped him in the face, he was reminded.


    He wasn''t a favored son of fate.


    He wasn''t a hero.


    He was still a puppet in someone else''s grand play.


    And if that was the case¡ª


    Then he might as well let them taste the consequences of their entertainment.


    Of course, he knew they would retaliate.


    But Su Xiaobai wanted that.


    He needed to test their boundaries.


    How much could he take?


    How much could he push?


    Where did his position truly lie in this world?


    But he had no idea¡ª


    That his first test against the higher-ups would not end well for him.


    That his losses would be far greater than he ever imagined.


    He might win this round, might even snatch a small gain¡ª


    But the next game?


    A crushing loss.

 Chapter 162 - 162: *Zhu Qings Plea* [R18]

    A Week Later¡­


    Time flew by like a fleeting shadow.


    Su Xiaobai took no direct actions, not because he lacked the opportunity¡ªbut because he knew.


    He was being watched.


    Monitored.


    And not just by some random sect lackeys¡ªeven Zhao Tianxuan himself didn''t trust him completely.


    So, Su Xiaobai fed them a show.


    He trained.


    Very, very hard.


    The kind of training that required stamina, precision, and an opponent that could handle his "form" for extended periods.


    And that opponent?


    Zhu Qing.


    _____


    Creak¡­ creak¡­ creak¡­


    The wooden bed groaned, a rhythmic song of exhaustion and relentless practice.


    Through the open window, the moonlight poured in, illuminating the sweaty battlefield.


    A pair of trembling legs rested on broad shoulders.


    A pair of fingers clawed at the sheets, tangled in desperation.


    And in the center of it all¡ª


    Su Xiaobai.


    Perfecting his form.


    "Ahhhnn¡­ slower!"


    "Ahn~! Bastard, that''s deep¡ªahh!"


    "S-Su Xiaobai, you reckless little¡ªmmmph!"


    Zhu Qing''s moans twisted between pleasure and anger, her head tossing back, silver hair fanned out against the ruined sheets.


    Her words stumbled, interrupted by every endless stroke, every violent thrust that sent waves through her core.


    And Su Xiaobai?


    He wasn''t listening.


    His focus was absolute.


    He was "training."


    And his "sparring partner" was reaching her limits.


    Her breath desperate.


    Her body arched.


    Her core clenched, as if refusing to let go.


    Su Xiaobai felt it happening¡ª


    And he did exactly what she told him not to do.


    "Ohhh¡ª! L-Little Villain¡ªoutside! Outside, damn you!"


    "Nnghh¡ª! Don''t¡ª!"


    "Ahhhhh¡ª!"


    Zhu Qing screamed, her voice breaking into a helpless moan as her entire body trembled violently.


    And just like that¡ª


    The training session ended.


    Thud.


    Su Xiaobai collapsed onto her, chest heaving, heart pounding, his body still entangled with hers.


    Zhu Qing lay beneath him, her breath shuddering, eyes fluttering, fingers still clenched into the sheets as if her body hadn''t realized it was over.


    She was wrecked.


    Su Xiaobai knew.


    Unlike men, women could be hit with multiple climaxes in rapid succession. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    And Zhu Qing?


    She had just been hit by all of them like a slap to the soul.


    Her core still twitched around him, unwilling to let go, like a spoiled brat refusing to part with her favorite toy.


    Su Xiaobai let out a satisfied sigh.


    Reaching up, he brushed her damp hair aside, watching as her cheeks glowed with redness.


    She groaned softly, eyes still hazy, body still trembling from aftershocks.


    And as he caressed her face, tracing his fingers down her flushed skin¡ª


    His lips curled into a slow, wicked grin.


    Because this wasn''t the end.


    After all¡ª


    A villain''s training never stops.


    "Mmmghhh¡­"


    Su Xiaobai leaned down, capturing Zhu Qing''s cherry-red lips, swallowing her soft moans as his tongue invaded her mouth.


    She gasped, but her body reacted instinctively.


    Her arms wrapped around his neck, her legs coiling around his waist like a desperate little koala, clinging, refusing to let go.


    Their tongues tangled, breath mingling, the kiss deepening¡ª


    Until they forgot how to breathe.


    By the time he pulled back, her lips were swollen, her breath ragged, and her eyes dazed.


    Su Xiaobai smirked, looking down at the ruined woman beneath him.


    Zhu Qing stared up at him, her body still trembling, her breath uneven, chest rising and falling as she tried to recover.


    "Haa¡­ ha¡­ ha¡­"


    Only the sound of her breathing echoed through the room.


    Her body still ached.


    Her mind still swam.


    Each night, Su Xiaobai was growing stronger, more powerful, more demanding.


    It wouldn''t be long before she couldn''t handle him alone.


    Just as he leaned in again, tilting her chin for another kiss¡ª


    She stopped him.


    Her hand pressed against his chest, her eyes flashing with frustration, with lingering hatred.


    "Little Villain, what did I tell you?"


    Her voice was breathy, accusing.


    "I told you¡ªdon''t finish inside me!"


    Her gaze darkened, her head throbbing as she groaned, fingers clutching at her temples.


    "Ugh¡­ you never listen! Why are you like this?!"


    No matter how much she begged, no matter how many times she pleaded¡ª


    But he?


    He always finished inside.


    He never listened.


    And from the wicked grin tugging at the corners of his lips¡ª


    He never intended to.


    "Qingqing, what''s the issue? Don''t you want us to have a little baby of our own?"


    Su Xiaobai''s voice was unbothered, lazy¡ªyet filled with arrogant indulgence.


    "Think about it¡ªthe child of the Great Su Xiaobai and the Peak Lord Zhu! Wouldn''t it dominate the world?"


    And just like that¡ªhis head sank between her soft, heaving breasts.


    His cheek pressed against her plush, sweat-slicked mounds, pillowing himself in comfort.


    His lips brushed her skin, tongue teasing lazily as if savoring the taste of victory.


    Meanwhile, Zhu Qing, still panting from exhaustion, barely had time to process his bullshit before her eye twitched violently.


    "Little Villain, do I need to remind you? We''re relatives now!"


    Su Xiaobai grinned, lips still teasingly pressed against her supple skin.


    "Oh? You mean you being my daughter?"


    Before she could even react, his fingers found their way to her already swollen cherry, pinching, rolling, twisting¡ª


    Zhu Qing jerked violently, her lips parting in a sharp gasp as her toes curled.


    "Damn you!"


    Her voice wavered, but not entirely from anger.


    "Who the hell said I was your daughter?! Just because of that little blood transfusion, everything is messed up!"


    She gritted her teeth, but her body betrayed her, trembling under his continued touch.


    This absurd situation!


    For years, she had been an orphan, no family, no ties¡ªand now because this bastard pumped his blood into her during the Warlord''s Palace trial, she suddenly had a ''relative''?!


    What the actual fuck?!


    Meanwhile, Su Xiaobai, completely indifferent to her turmoil, let his lips trail even lower.


    "Elder, if you don''t like it, we can switch places."


    Her eyebrow twitched. "Switch places? What do you mean?"


    Su Xiaobai licked his lips.


    "Well¡­ since you don''t like being my daughter, how about you be my mother, and I¡ª"


    "Shut up."


    Before he could finish, Zhu Qing slammed her hand over his mouth, her entire face burning red.


    This bastard!


    This absolute fucking bastard!


    "You¡ªSuck on these, then talk nonsense."


    Before he could even react, she grabbed his head and shoved him into her bountiful, sweat-slicked chest.


    Su Xiaobai grinned against her flushed skin, his teeth grazing over her hardened bud before latching on.


    Zhu Qing''s breath hitched, her thighs pressing together instinctively.


    A deep, satisfied moan slipped from her lips before she could stop it.


    Her fingers curled into his hair, pressing him deeper.


    And just like that¡ª


    Everything else disappeared.


    The blood connection.


    The technicalities.


    Because the way her body burned, the way her core throbbed and clenched¡ª


    None of it felt like family.


    It felt like something much, much worse.


    And it was so fucking exciting.


    ___


    Zhu Qing had always felt something strange about Su Xiaobai.


    A peculiar connection.


    The closer she got, the more she wanted him closer.


    It was like an itch she couldn''t scratch, a hunger she couldn''t name.


    There was a sense of trust, a sense of belonging¡ªwhich made it even more twisted.


    She truly felt like he was a part of her.


    Like he was her blood.


    And yet¡ª


    As she glanced down, watching him suck greedily at her swollen cherry, a deep, wicked thought crawled into her mind.


    If they actually had a child¡­


    Wouldn''t that be a mess?


    She had originally planned for this to be a one-time thing.


    Just one night of indulgence¡ªhelping him breakthrough.


    But somehow¡­


    Even when he forced her the second time, she didn''t stop him.


    The third time?


    The fourth?


    At some point, it didn''t even matter anymore.


    As long as there was a second time¡­


    It was too easy to keep going.


    Now, she had fallen so deep into the abyss of pleasure she couldn''t even see the surface anymore.


    Her fingers tangled in his hair, pulling him closer.


    Her mind drifted into a strange, perverse fantasy.


    If she actually got pregnant¡­


    Wouldn''t she be feeding their baby like this?


    The warmth, the intimacy, the way her body craved his touch¡ªit felt... so right.


    So right.


    Yet ¡ª So fucking wrong.


    She bit her lip, her thighs squeezed together, her hips shifting slightly as she angled herself just right.


    Mimicking the exact image in her mind.


    Her eyes softened, maternal instincts igniting, but mixed with something much darker.


    Something shameless.


    Something wrong.


    Su Xiaobai, noticing her sudden tenderness, lifted an eyebrow¡ªbut didn''t say anything.


    She looked so foolish, so lost in her own delusions.


    And yet¡­


    It was adorable in a fucked-up way.


    Then¡ª


    "Little Villain¡­"


    Her voice was softer than before.


    "Hm?"


    Su Xiaobai barely lifted his head, his lips still warm against her swollen peak.


    "Don''t go to the battle tomorrow."


    His eyes flickered with mild surprise.


    Zhu Qing was never this gentle with him.


    She hesitated for a moment, then sighed.


    "I got word¡­ Liu Chenfu met with Liu Zhenhai last night. They''re planning something."


    Her fingers unconsciously tightened around his back.


    "That old fox is using the cornered hyena to hunt you down. It''s not safe."


    Su Xiaobai''s gaze darkened slightly.


    "Other Peak Lords are also taking action. They want to teach you a lesson. They''re sending their best disciples."


    She bit her lip, her eyes filled with rare, genuine worry.


    "It''s not safe¡­"

 Chapter 163 - 163: The Day of Battle!

    "It''s not safe¡­"


    Zhu Qing''s chest rose and fell, her heartbeat unsteady.


    She had never imagined she would grow attached to him.


    But now?


    Now, the thought of losing him made her stomach twist.


    Zhu Qing was a woman who dared to love and hate.


    If she hated someone, she hated them to death.


    If she loved someone, she loved them to death.


    And right now¡­


    She didn''t know if this was love yet.


    But there was a bond between them.


    Something deep, something real.


    And she wasn''t sure¡ª


    If she would be able to control herself tomorrow.


    Because if they actually tried to hurt him¡ª


    She might just kill every last one of those...


    "Okay."


    Su Xiaobai''s response was calm, almost too casual.


    Zhu Qing blinked, stunned.


    She had expected resistance, expected arrogance¡ª


    But he actually agreed?


    Her lips parted slightly, a rare moment of disbelief flashing across her face.


    "You¡­ you''re actually going to listen?"


    Su Xiaobai smirked, resting his chin between her soft, heaving mounds.


    "What are you thinking? A dog-pair like us? Your reputation is already ruined. Now mine will be too. Isn''t it perfect?"


    Zhu Qing gritted her teeth, her eye twitching at his blatant shamelessness.


    "But¡ª" he dragged a lazy finger down her side, making her shiver slightly "¡ªI need you to do something for me."


    Zhu Qing sighed, rubbing her temple. "Mm¡­"


    She already knew she would say yes.


    But when he actually told her the request?


    Jin Ying and Xiong Xue¡ªdead.


    Lan Meiyu¡ªkidnapped.


    ¡­That''s it?


    Zhu Qing narrowed her eyes.


    She wasn''t stupid.


    Liu Zhenhai had clearly been put in prison because of Su Xiaobai''s scheming.


    And this request?


    This was basically a confession.


    If she snitched on him, he was fucked.


    But instead of fear or calculation¡ª


    She felt something else.


    A strange, warmth blooming in her chest.


    He trusted her.


    Her body softened slightly, fingers gently stroking through his hair.


    Tomorrow, while everyone was waiting for Su Xiaobai to appear in battle¡­


    She would carry out his task.


    Su Xiaobai, still comfortably nestled against her chest, suddenly frowned.


    "Uh¡­ Qingqing, we have a problem."


    Zhu Qing, who had been completely lost in the maternal bliss of stroking his head like a treasured little pet, barely registered his words.


    Her fingers absently combed through his hair, her body warm and content.


    It wasn''t until she finally lifted her head¡ª


    That she felt it.


    A soft, warm splurt.


    Against her chest.


    Against her face.


    A sticky, white liquid.


    Her eyelashes fluttered.


    Her brain stalled.


    Her nipple quivered as Su Xiaobai pressed his fingers against it¡ª


    And another drop spurted out.


    ¡­Oh shit.


    Both their minds blanked.


    Silence.


    Zhu Qing slowly¡ªvery slowly¡ªlooked down at herself.


    At the thin, milky-white trail running down her skin.


    At Su Xiaobai''s slightly stunned expression.


    At the way his fingers pressed against her still-trembling bud, as if testing it¡ª


    And another drop leaked out.


    Her entire body stiffened.


    Her face darkened.


    Su Xiaobai blinked once.


    Then twice.


    His fingers twitched.


    His lips parted slightly.


    Then¡ª"¡­Qingqing, is this normal?"


    Zhu Qing''s entire body went stiff.


    A rare panic flickered in her eyes, her breath shallow as she stammered¡ª


    "I¡ªI don''t know¡­"


    Her voice quivered, her hands clutching at her chest, fingers pressing against her aching, swollen peaks.


    This¡­ this never happened before!


    Why now?! S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Su Xiaobai''s gaze lowered.


    She followed his line of sight.


    Both of their eyes landed on her stomach.


    And at the same time¡ª


    Both of their expressions darkened.


    Su Xiaobai definitely didn''t want any little bastards running around.


    He wasn''t ready to be a father.


    "Are you pregnant?"


    He didn''t need to ask.


    Zhu Qing was already checking herself, her spiritual sense sweeping through her body, searching for any abnormality.


    Nothing.


    No changes.


    No signs of pregnancy.


    And yet¡ª


    For some reason¡­


    The thought wasn''t as horrifying as it should''ve been.


    Somewhere, deep inside, she had always secretly dreamed of a child, of a family.


    But it was too soon.


    Way too soon.


    Her eyes met his.


    "I can''t find anything¡­"


    Her voice was quiet, uncertain.


    She felt uneasy.


    Su Xiaobai sighed.


    "Whatever it is, once you confirm it, you must tell me."


    He didn''t want to argue anymore.


    He simply pressed a kiss against her forehead, then pulled her into his arms, rolling her over, covering them both with the quilt.


    "Sleep."


    Zhu Qing nodded slowly, her body pressing closer, but her mind was still spinning.


    She wanted to believe this was just a bad dream.


    ______


    The Next Morning...


    When Zhu Qing woke up, she was still in a daze.


    Her thighs ached, her chest was sore, her mind foggy.


    She turned over¡ª


    Su Xiaobai was still asleep, his face peaceful, innocent even.


    She let out a small sigh of relief.


    At least he wasn''t running off to do anything stupid.


    Quietly, she slipped out of bed, dressing quickly.


    She had a task to complete before he woke up.


    By the time the morning sun rose over the sect, two lives had already vanished.


    Jin Ying and Xiong Xue.


    Their lifeless bodies collapsed, their faces pale, their last breath already stolen.


    "Why¡­?"


    Only one word slipped from their lips before their souls faded into nothingness.


    Zhu Qing stood above them, unmoving.


    No clues.


    No evidence.


    Just two corpses and a bloodstained past erased from existence.


    The truth was now buried forever.


    She turned to Lan Meiyu.


    The woman screamed, struggling, but Zhu Qing simply sealed her within a coffin, carrying her away.


    By the time she returned¡ª


    The bed was empty.


    And Su Xiaobai?


    Gone.


    Her heart skipped a beat.


    Her eyes flickered with realization¡ª


    And then darkened.


    "That lying little bastard¡­"


    A cold, dangerous light flickered in her eyes.


    Whoosh!


    She stormed out.


    Her speed was frightening, her robes fluttering behind her like a storm closing in.


    As she moved closer to the stage,


    The roars and cheers of the sect grew louder and louder.


    Her teeth clenched.


    She finally found an elder from her peak, Ji Yutong¡ª


    And grabbed her by the shoulders.


    "Did you see Su Xiaobai?"


    Zhu Qing''s voice was sharp, her tone tinged with cold fury as she grabbed Ji Yutong''s shoulder.


    Ji Yutong, a sect elder from her peak with short brown hair and green eyes, turned in shock.


    "Peak Lord Zhu?"


    She quickly cupped her fists, bowing slightly.


    Zhu Qing didn''t care for formalities.


    She repeated herself, her grip tightening.


    "Where. Is. He?"


    Ji Yutong hesitated, then awkwardly glanced toward the arena.


    "Uh¡­ Junior Brother Su¡­ He¡­"


    She didn''t finish.


    She didn''t need to.


    Because at that moment¡ª


    A core disciple rushed past, grabbing Ji Yutong''s wrist.


    "Elder Tong! What are you waiting for?! If we''re late, we''ll miss the show!"


    It was Hong Yin, another core disciple, her face flushed with excitement.


    She barely even noticed Zhu Qing standing there.


    "No way, it''s too exciting! Junior Brother Su is CRUSHING EVERYONE!"


    Zhu Qing froze.


    Her entire face darkened.


    That bastard.


    That. Lying. Shameless. Disobedient. BASTARD.


    He told her he wouldn''t fight.


    He told her he would listen.


    He told her he''d stay put!


    And yet¡ª


    There he was.


    In front of thousands of disciples.


    Crushing them.


    Showing off.


    TEMPTING FATE.


    Her teeth clenched.


    Her spiritual pressure surged violently, distorting the air.


    A storm brewed inside her chest.


    "Su Xiaobai¡­"


    Her voice trembled, barely containing her fury.


    "Either you die by yourself¡­"


    Her eyes flashed dangerously.


    "Or I''ll kill you myself."


    And with that¡ª


    She stomped her foot down and vanished in a flash, soaring toward the arena.


    As she got closer¡ª


    The roars and cheers only grew louder.


    Her fists tightened.


    Her anger boiled.


    And she swore¡ª


    If he wasn''t dead by the time she got there¡­


    She was going to kill him herself.

 Chapter 164 - 164: The Grand Martial Arena!

    The Grand Martial Arena,


    Where villains rise & dogs fall...


    Today, the Xiantian Sect had outdone itself.


    The martial arena had been decorated so extravagantly, even the Sect''s Annual Competition looked like a farmer''s cockfight in comparison.


    The colossal white jade battle platform stretched across the heart of the sect, so polished and smooth, it could probably reflect a woman''s insecurities.


    The engravings along its edges weren''t just decorations¡ªthey were golden dragon motifs infused with sealing formations, ensuring no one accidentally blew up half the sect.


    The sun burned brightly above, its golden rays bathing the entire coliseum, making the air sizzle with heat.


    But nobody cared.


    Because today?


    It wasn''t about comfort.


    It was about violence.


    It was about watching some dumb bastard''s ambitions get shattered.


    It was about seeing who would rise to power and who would leave in a body bag.


    At the heart of it all¡ªfourteen grand thrones stood over the battlefield, positioned atop a towering balcony.


    Each was carved from spirit stone, exuding a presence that could make even an arrogant genius feel like an insect.


    And in the very center, one seat stood above all others¡ª S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Sect Master''s Throne.


    Seated upon the highest throne, Zhao Tianxuan, the Sect Master, looked down at the arena like a npc watching peasants fight over scraps.


    His silver hair, streaked with white strands, reflected the sunlight, making him look like an old, wise sage¡ª


    ¡ªexcept everyone knew this "wise sage" was a cunning bloodthirsty bastard when provoked.


    To his right, the legendary Bai Yujian, the Sword Fairy, sat as still as a celestial blade resting in its sheath.


    Her flawless white robes embroidered with silver sword patterns made her look holy, but every man in the sect knew¡ª


    Trying to touch her was about as safe as shoving your dick into an array of flying swords.


    Her expression was icy, her gaze sharp enough to castrate a man at fifty paces.


    Yet, despite her stillness¡ª


    Her cold eyes flickered subtly toward the battlefield, scanning for one specific bastard.


    On the Sect Master''s left, however, a throne sat empty.


    Zhu Qing, the Mystic Peak Lord, hadn''t arrived.


    Yet even in her absence, a dark, misty aura curled around her seat, the trace of her presence.


    But right now?


    Nobody cared about that.


    Because the other Peak Lords were already seated.


    And what a divine lineup of bastards it was.


    ____


    The Sword Peak Lord ¨C Bai Yujian, the Sword Fairy.


    The Mystic Peak Lord ¨C Zhu Qing (Absent)


    The queen of formations, illusions, and all things mysterious.


    Currently not present, but definitely going to make an entrance by kicking someone''s ass later.


    The Fire Peak Lord ¡ª Huo Rong


    A man so hot-headed, his disciples probably carried buckets of water just in case.


    The Frost Peak Lord ¡ª Leng Tianhai


    A walking ice age. He and the Fire Peak Lord were sitting next to each other, and the temperature war between them had already begun.


    The Verdant Peak Lord ¡ª Lin Qingfeng


    A man who cultivated nature, peace, and way too many female disciples.


    The kind of bastard who definitely had at least three secret wives and a hundred illegitimate children.


    The Iron Mountain Peak Lord ¨C Elder Han Xuan


    Looked like he was sculpted from the very mountain he ruled. His broad shoulders, steel-gray hair, and war-hardened aura made even inner disciples shut up when he walked past.


    The Stormfire Peak Lord ¨C Liu Chenfu


    His entire existence crackled with lightning and flame. Every time he blinked, some poor bastard in the audience probably got mild burns.


    The Alchemy Peak Lord ¨C Xu Tianran


    An old fossil whose face looked like he had already died once but decided to keep breathing out of spite. Still, his status as an alchemy grandmaster made even the Sect Master respect him.


    The Beast Taming Peak Lord ¡ª Feng Ruhu


    A man surrounded by spiritual beasts, with a golden eagle perched beside him, staring hungrily at the weaker disciples below.


    The Profound Peak Lord ¡ª Mo Xuanyu


    A gaunt, scholarly figure who looked like he hadn''t eaten in days¡ªbut could probably erase someone from existence with a single flick of his finger.


    The War Peak Lord ¡ª Hong Tianbao


    A walking war crime with the strategic mind of a drunken general and the battle instincts of a rabid bull. His disciples? Meatheads with just enough brainpower to swing a weapon and call it "strategy."


    They lived by one rule: If you weren''t bleeding by noon, you weren''t training hard enough. Some even whispered that Hong Tianbao got hard just thinking about war.


    The Celestial Peak Lord ¡ª Yue Xiuying


    The kind of woman who could either bless you with fortune or curse your bloodline into extinction¡ªall while sipping tea.


    And she actually showed up.


    For a thousand years, no one had seen her outside Celestial Peak, where they read fate, fuck with karma, and pretend they''re above mortal struggles. Yet here she was, watching Su Xiaobai. Just that alone was enough to make people wet themselves in excitement¡ªor fear.


    The Radiant Peak Lord ¡ª Hei Wuying


    "Radiant" Peak, my ass. Hei Wuying stood there, draped in black, exuding the exact opposite of anything "radiant." The peak used to be called Shadow Peak, and let''s be real¡ªit still was.


    He was the Sect''s official spymaster, unofficial boogeyman, and the reason some disciples slept with one eye open. Even now, his face was covered, as if revealing it might give someone a heart attack.


    In short, all thirteen Peak Lords were present.


    Which meant shit was about to get serious.


    _____


    Below, the sect disciples sat in their respective seating areas.


    The Outer Court Disciples?


    Stuffed into the lowest seating, sweating under the sun like peasants watching a royal execution.


    Probably placing illegal bets on which bastard would die first.


    The Inner Court Disciples?


    Positioned higher, seated beneath elegant canopies, looking far too smug for their own good.


    Their expressions fluctuated between curiosity and jealousy.


    The Core Disciples?


    Sitting on floating jade pavilions, sipping spiritual wine like they were at a damn banquet.


    Most of them watched with disdain, already believing themselves superior.


    And then there were the elders.


    Positioned on a separate grand balcony, observing everything like wise sages¡ª


    ¡ªexcept let''s be real, some of them were probably just waiting to see a disciple get his spine broken for entertainment.


    The heat was sweltering, but the bloodlust in the arena was hotter.


    Because today?


    They weren''t just watching a fight.


    They were watching a goddamn bloodbath waiting to happen.


    And at the center of it all¡ª


    The one name on everyone''s lips?


    Su Xiaobai.


    The man who came from nowhere¡ª


    ¡ªand was now crushing his way through the ranks like a villain protagonist on a power trip.


    ____


    Bang!


    "Did I ask you to surrender?"


    Bang!


    "Did I ask you to surrender?"


    BANG! BANG!


    "DID I FUCKING ASK YOU TO SURRENDER?!"


    By now, Wen Aiguo¡ªa short, red-haired disciple who once had hopes and dreams¡ªhad neither. His head bounced against the jade like a damn drum, his nose vomiting blood, his legs twitching like a crushed bug that hadn''t figured out it was dead yet.


    At this point, the only thing keeping him conscious was sheer cruelty.


    And Su Xiaobai?


    Su Xiaobai was thriving.


    Today wasn''t about winning.


    Today was about sending a message.


    If the strong were too much trouble to bully¡ª


    Then the weak would do just fine.


    Behind him, another broken sack of disappointment groaned¡ªLuo Chang, another disciple of Stormfire Peak, currently reconsidering every choice that had led him here.


    Stormfire Peak had sent two disciples into the ring.


    And Su Xiaobai had sent them both straight to hell.


    Up in the stands, Liu Chenfu, the Stormfire Peak Lord, watched his disciples get used as pavement decorations.


    His jaw twitched.


    His eye twitched.


    His soul? Twitched.


    This wasn''t just a loss¡ªthis was a public castration.


    His disciples weren''t even fucking weak!


    Luo Chang, an initial-stage Soul Fusion cultivator, was supposed to outlast the first few rounds.


    And Wen Aiguo?


    Peak Nascent Soul Realm. A talented flame cultivator with a half-earth-grade spiritual flame.


    A flame that should''ve roasted Su Xiaobai like a damn roast duck.


    But instead¡ª


    Instead, Su Xiaobai was beating this man like he owed him three months'' rent.


    And the flame?


    Might as well have been a warm candle in a brothel.


    Because Su Xiaobai had Infernal Flames.


    A secret flame that made Wen Aiguo''s look like a fucking scented candle.


    Liu Chenfu''s face looked like he''d just swallowed a raw spirit beast testicle.


    And the crowd?


    Sucked in a sharp breath, many disciples suddenly wondering if maybe, just maybe, they should start calling Su Xiaobai Senior Brother.


    Because holy fuck.


    How did the honorable Sword Fairy produce this unscrupulous bastard?!


    Eyes flicked to Bai Yujian, the cold, untouchable Sword Fairy.


    Surely, surely, she would say something.


    Tell her disciple to stop.


    Discipline him.


    But she just sat there.


    Expression calm.


    Eyes distant.


    Like a wife watching her husband burn dinner and knowing it''s not her problem.


    She had long since given up on controlling him.


    At this point, Su Xiaobai was more like a natural disaster.


    You don''t stop him.


    You just hope he doesn''t hit your house next.


    And then¡ª


    From above, a voice boomed like divine law.


    "Su Xiaobai, that''s enough!"


    A gong echoed.


    A command from the heavens.


    Zhao Tianxuan, the Sect Master, had finally spoken.


    Su Xiaobai paused.


    Looked down at Wen Aiguo''s blood-smeared, twitching face.


    Then looked up at the Sect Master.


    Then smiled¡ªgently.


    And in that moment, everyone knew¡ª


    He was about to be a petty little shit.


    "As you wish, Sect Master. I was just testing Senior Brother Wen''s resolve."


    BANG.


    He dropped Wen Aiguo like a dead fish.


    ¡­And then¡ª


    Crunch.


    Oh no.


    "Oops."


    ''Accidentally'' ¡ª He stepped on him.


    Not just a step.


    A full, weight-on-the-heel, spiked-boot-to-the-back, life-ending stomp.


    "AAAAUGHHH!"


    Wen Aiguo screeched like a dying pig.


    The kind of sound that could haunt a man''s soul. The kind of sound that said "I have made the worst fucking decision of my life."


    Zhao Tianxuan''s face darkened.


    Liu Chenfu twitched harder.


    And Su Xiaobai?


    Didn''t even blink.


    Meanwhile, Wen Aiguo coughed up more blood, his last scrap of consciousness dangling by a thread. His spiritual flame, his pride, his only fucking advantage in life¡ª


    Useless.


    Against Infernal Flames, his little half-earth-grade fire was worthless.


    Like pissing on a volcano and expecting it to go out.


    And now?


    The Tournament Had Just Begun, and It Was Already a Shitshow


    Su Xiaobai had only been in the sect for a few months, and yet he operated on two modes:


    1. Disappear like a deadbeat father for weeks on end, doing god knows what.


    2. Come back, break a couple of senior brothers, and traumatize half the sect.


    Honestly?


    Everyone wanted to be like Senior Brother Su.


    The sect had sent six peaks to test him.


    Stormfire Peak was already fucked beyond repair, and the remaining four were looking nervous as hell.


    Only one figure stood tall, unbothered.


    A dark-robed woman, standing right next to Yue Xiuying, the Celestial Peak Lord.


    Yue Xi ¨C The Mysterious #1 Inner Court Disciple


    Under that black robe, her eyes remained unimpressed, like she had seen better violence before breakfast.


    Her name was Yue Xi.


    No one knew where she came from.


    Not directly recruited into the sect.


    No trials. No selection. No backstory.


    Yue Xiuying simply "bought" her into the sect one day.


    A blatant case of nepotism.


    And yet, the woman dominated the rankings like it was her birthright.


    Never lost.


    Never even struggled.


    The sect''s greatest mystery in the form of a beautiful, cold-blooded fighter.


    If Yue Xiuying was personally bringing her out to fight Su Xiaobai, it meant only one thing:


    She took him seriously.

 Chapter 165 - 165: Facing a Crafty Fox!

    Yue Xiuying''s voice rippled through the air like a celestial melody.


    "Did you see anything~?"


    Yue Xi''s eyes narrowed beneath the hood.


    "He isn''t using his full strength."


    Yue Xiuying''s lips curled slightly.


    "Oh? Can you defeat him?"


    A pause.


    Then a single word.


    "Yes."


    No arrogance. No hesitation. Just cold, hard fact.


    Yue Xiuying smiled.


    That was all she needed to hear.


    ___


    Meanwhile, Elsewhere in the Shitshow¡­


    Su Xiaobai was still too busy stomping out the last remains of Stormfire Peak''s pride to notice any of this.


    That was, until¡ª


    "LITTLE VILLAIN! WHAT DID I TELL YOU? STOP RUNNING OFF ON YOUR OWN!"


    A woman in light green robes appeared out of nowhere, storming straight toward him with murder in her eyes.


    Zhu Qing had arrived.


    Su Xiaobai''s ears twitched.


    And like a guilty husband caught sneaking into the house at 3 a.m., he pretended not to hear her.


    The entire sect went silent.


    Zhu Qing¡ªMystic Peak Lord, Master of Formations, Queen of Illusions¡ªwas here.


    And she wasn''t even hiding it anymore.


    Her rage, her concern, her completely improper behavior for a Peak Lord.


    The rumors weren''t rumors anymore.


    Everyone knew it now¡ªSomething was going on between these two.


    And the one who took it the hardest?


    Zhao Tianxuan.


    The Sect Master.


    A man who had already lost faith in life multiple times today. His heart shattered like a jade slip dropped by a clumsy disciple.


    "Peak Lord Zhu, don''t interrupt the match," he forced out, voice heavy with pain. "Su Xiaobai chose to participate on his own. It has nothing to do with you."


    That''s when Zhu Qing, already pissed beyond reason, turned to look at Zhao Tianxuan.


    And with just a single glare¡ªThe Sect Master shut the fuck up.


    But instead of beating him, she found another target.


    ______


    At the back of the balcony, a man dressed in black was snickering.


    Hei Wuying¡ªspymaster, certified bastard, and the reason disciples checked under their beds before sleeping.


    His personal disciple, Yan Xue, wearing his signature fox mask, was already moving away.


    Because he knew.


    He fucking knew.


    But his master?


    His master was too damn stupid.


    Hei Wuying smirked, whispering like an old auntie gossiping at a funeral.


    "See? I told you. My sources confirmed it. Those two are totally fucking."


    Yan Xue was dying inside.


    "Master¡­ Peak Lord Zhu can hear us."


    Hei Wuying snorted.


    "Relax. She wouldn''t dare¡ª"


    WHOOSH!


    In a flash of light, Zhu Qing crossed the entire balcony in an instant. And before Hei Wuying could even process what the fuck just happened¡ª


    BANG!


    His skull kissed the balcony railing.


    "Did I ask you to speak?"


    BANG!


    "Did I ask you to speak?"


    BANG!


    "DID I ASK YOU TO SPEAK, YOU OLD GOSSIPING RAT?!"


    BANG! BANG!


    The sect watched in stunned silence.


    Yan Xue casually walked five steps away, pretending he had no idea who this man was.


    Even the other Peak Lords were frozen.


    Because this?


    This was the first time in history that a Peak Lord was getting his skull caved in by another Peak Lord.


    Publicly.


    And the worst part?


    It looked awfully familiar.


    All eyes snapped to Su Xiaobai.


    "Oh no. She''s learning from him."


    Su Xiaobai, who was watching helplessly as Zhu Qing recreated his signature move.


    Zhao Tianxuan covered his face.


    Hei Wuying, despite getting his skull caved in, somehow managed to survive.


    His mask cracked, but his dignity was already in shambles.


    He coughed, adjusted his half-broken mask, and returned to his seat like nothing happened.


    Zhu Qing, meanwhile, dusted off her robes, sat down, and pretended like she didn''t just publicly execute a fellow Peak Lord.


    _____


    The Tournament Was Definitely Off to a Glorious Start....


    Su Xiaobai was breaking bones.


    Zhu Qing was breaking faces.


    The sect disciples, who hadn''t gotten any action in their entire lives, were on the verge of a spiritual orgasm just watching.


    And as for Stormfire Peak?


    Their existence was already forgotten.


    Liu Chenfu''s loss didn''t matter.


    No one gave a fuck anymore.


    Zhao Tianxuan, defeated by life itself, merely sighed and gave out the next order:


    "Clean up the arena. Resume the match."


    At this point?


    He didn''t even care anymore.


    His disciples were getting massacred.


    His Peak Lords were beating each other like street thugs.


    His Sect was starting to resemble a low-budget martial arts drama.


    And Hei Wuying?


    That old cockroach?


    Despite having his skull used as a drum, he was just fine.


    Now sitting there sulking like a drunk uncle at a wedding.


    He had no injuries, no broken bones¡ªjust a damaged ego and a cracked mask.


    Zhao Tianxuan didn''t even waste a thought on him.


    Because he knew¡ª


    Zhu Qing, despite being an absolute menace, wouldn''t go too far.


    She knew her limits.


    But Su Xiaobai?


    Su Xiaobai had no fucking limits. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    And now?


    Now the match couldn''t be stopped.


    Because if earlier?


    If earlier it was just to test Su Xiaobai¡ª


    Now?


    The tournament had gone full circus mode.


    Sword Peak''s guy? Still MIA.


    Celestial Peak? Sitting pretty, sipping tea, watching the chaos like VIPs at a high-end brothel.


    The remaining three Peaks¡ªFire, Beast Taming, and Radiant¡ªhad contenders waiting in line like prostitutes picking clients.


    Liu Chenfu? Gone.


    His pride? Gone.


    His Peak''s dignity? Buried six feet under.


    No one even spared him a look as he slunk away like a cucked husband leaving a tavern.


    Except Su Xiaobai.


    Su Xiaobai watched.


    And he didn''t like what he saw.


    Fire Peak was supposed to be on their side, so why the fuck was Huo Rong sending people?


    And Celestial Peak? That cold-ass lady had been too quiet. Too still. That meant only one thing¡ªshe was planning something.


    But before he could think on it¡ª


    Hei Wuying, that masked cockroach, stood up.


    And then?


    The real tragedy began.


    Hei Wuying flicked his sleeve like some mysterious grandmaster¡ªexcept his mask was still half-broken from Zhu Qing''s beatdown, so he just looked like a cranky uncle at a wedding. He motioned to the poor bastard behind him.


    "Yan Xue, go show them the strength of our Radiant Peak."


    Silence.


    The entire sect turned to Yan Xue¡ªa slim, black-clothed figure wearing a fox spirit mask.


    Not human.


    Not strong enough for this shit.


    And definitely not fucking willing.


    Yan Xue looked like he''d just been told to fight naked in front of the Sect Master.


    "Master¡­ didn''t you say Senior Brother Feng and Huo were going to fight him first?" His voice was calm, but his soul had already left his body.


    Hei Wuying waved him off like a whore dismissing a cheap client. "Plans change."


    Translation: I don''t wanna get my ass beat again, so you go die instead.


    The crowd caught on fast¡ªthis wasn''t a strategy move.


    This was survival.


    Zhu Qing had pounded Hei Wuying''s head into the balcony earlier, and the bastard wasn''t about to risk another public execution. So instead?


    He threw his own fucking disciple into the meat grinder.


    Yan Xue sighed, accepting his fate like a man who just realized the brothel he paid for only had old women left.


    He jumped into the arena.


    Landing smoothly, he bowed slightly. "Senior Brother Su, please guide me."


    Then he hesitated.


    Looked Su Xiaobai up and down.


    And then?


    The quiet bitterness in his voice cut through the air.


    "We entered the sect at the same time¡­ and yet I still don''t know how you climbed so fast."


    And there it was.


    Not just his resentment¡ªeveryone''s.


    Every so-called genius, every talented recruit from the last twenty fucking years, all watching Su Xiaobai like he was the rich bastard who inherited a fortune while they were still out here sucking dicks for spirit stones.


    When someone rises too fast, everyone wants to see them fall.


    But Su Xiaobai?


    Su Xiaobai just blinked.


    Then frowned.


    Then tilted his head.


    Then, with genuine fucking confusion, said¡ª


    "¡­Who are you?"


    Hiss~!


    Silence.


    Dead silence.


    The entire sect collectively cringed.


    Yan Xue froze. His eye twitched. A vein popped on his forehead.


    Was he¡­ was he so fucking irrelevant that Su Xiaobai didn''t even know he existed?!


    Su Xiaobai, still genuinely trying to remember, muttered, "Same batch? Huh? Were you one of those outer court losers? No, no¡­ maybe an inner court nobody? Wait, wait¡ªwere you that guy who got his pants ripped off during the first combat test?"


    Yan Xue''s entire face darkened.


    "THAT WASN''T ME, YOU FUCKING PSYCHO!"


    The poor bastard snapped.


    He ripped his spear from his storage ring, spiritual energy crackling around him.


    "Enough talk." His grip on the spear was so tight it looked like he wanted to shove it up Su Xiaobai''s ass. His aura surged, and then¡ªhe vanished.


    Or at least, it looked like he vanished.


    A second later¡ªa storm of spears filled the air.


    "Phantom Spear Technique!"


    Whoosh!


    The first spear split into two.


    Whoosh!


    Whoosh!


    Whoosh!


    Then four.


    Then eight.


    Then¡ªfuck it, too many to count.


    Within a heartbeat, dozens of spears filled the arena, moving faster than a desperate virgin''s hands on his first night with a prostitute.


    They flickered, twisted, and blocked every escape route.


    Even if Su Xiaobai wanted to dodge¡ª


    It was already too fucking late.


    Yan Xue''s Phantom Spear Technique should have been unstoppable¡ªa storm of spears, fast as lightning, unpredictable as a whore''s loyalty.


    And yet¡ª


    Su Xiaobai fucking vanished.


    "What?!" Yan Xue''s spear arm stiffened, his pupils shaking like a gambling addict on his last bet.


    Not just him¡ªeven the Peak Lords were looking around like someone just snatched their wallets.


    Swoosh!


    "There!" someone pointed.


    No¡ªgone again.


    A flicker. There¡ªthen gone¡ªthen there.


    "Phantom steps?" The Fire Peak Lord Huo Rong''s thick brows furrowed as he rubbed his bald head. "No¡­ that ain''t just speed."


    Feng Ruhu, the Beast Taming Peak Lord, narrowed his eyes. His golden eagle, perched beside him, let out a shrill cry.


    "Even my bird cannot track him¡­"


    Beside him, Hei Wuying chuckled, voice tinged with amusement.


    "Perhaps your bird is just as blind as its master."


    BANG!


    A loud slap rang out.


    Feng Ruhu''s palm landed clean across Hei Wuying''s masked face, sending his already cracked mask splintering further.


    "Did I ask for a opinion?" Feng Ruhu withdrew his hand as if swatting a fly.


    Hei Wuying tilted his head back up slowly, adjusting what was left of his mask. He didn''t respond. Not because he was merciful¡ª


    ¡ªbut because he wanted to keep his fucking head attached to his shoulders.


    Meanwhile, in the Arena¡­


    Yan Xue''s face darkened, "Coward! You think this is a game? Fight me like a man!"


    Su Xiaobai''s voice came from behind him.


    "Alright. I''ll be gentle."


    Yan Xue whipped around¡ªtoo late.


    A whisper¡ªa fist cutting through the air like a collapsing star.


    "Grand Collapsing Fist ¡ª First Form: Collapsing Mountain Strike."


    BOOM!


    The entire arena trembled as Su Xiaobai''s punch landed.


    Yan Xue''s body lifted from the ground¡ªlaunched like a meteor¡ªbefore slamming into the edge of the platform with a deafening crash.


    He didn''t just fall.


    He cratered into the jade platform.


    A deep, body-shaped imprint remained where he hit, smoke rising from the impact like the aftermath of a divine punishment.


    "AAAAAGH¡ª"


    The crowd flinched.


    "That''s mercy?! If he used full strength, that man would be dust!"


    "His bones must be shattered!"


    "Senior Brother Su, your kindness is terrifying!"


    Su Xiaobai cracked his knuckles. "He''s still breathing, isn''t he?"


    A low groan came from the rubble. Yan Xue twitched¡ªbarely hugging to consciousness.


    "Someone scrape him off the arena. We still have more to go."


    It was Hei Wuying who spoke, his tone as indifferent as if Yan Xue wasn''t his own fucking disciple.


    The crowd side-eyed him.


    "Damn, not even a word of concern?"


    "Tsk, Radiant Peak truly has no humanity."


    "What humanity? They''re all fucking spies!"


    But Hei Wuying didn''t care. He already knew.


    Yan Xue was never going to win.


    Su Xiaobai''s speed? That wasn''t Phantom Steps, the widely known movement technique among spies and assassins.


    No¡ªit was something far more terrifying.


    Something that tore space itself.


    The moment Su Xiaobai moved, Hei Wuying recognized it instantly.


    Spatial Steps.


    A technique so rare and mysterious that most cultivators never even heard of it.


    And yet, Su Xiaobai used it so casually, as if it was just another trick in his arsenal.


    Hei Wuying was impressed.


    But more importantly¡ª


    Hei Wuying wanted it.


    As Yan Xue was being dragged off the arena like a discarded corpse, Hei Wuying slowly stood up, brushing the dust off his black robes. His cracked mask glinted under the sunlight, his eyes hidden but his intent clear.


    "Su Xiaobai," his voice carried across the arena, smooth and unhurried, "I don''t want you to join our Radiant Peak."


    "Huh?"


    "Then what the hell does he want?"


    Hei Wuying''s lips curled behind his mask.


    "But that movement technique of yours¡­ that''s a different story."


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes narrowed.


    Hei Wuying continued, "Give it to us. It would greatly benefit the sect. Of course, it won''t be for free¡ª"


    His fingers tapped against the armrest of his chair.


    Then he named his price.


    "One million contribution points."

 Chapter 166 - 166: Bribes?

    "One million contribution points."


    The arena went silent.


    Then¡ª


    "WHAT?!"


    The crowd exploded.


    "ONE MILLION?! That''s not even enough to buy a mid-grade mystic-ranked treasure!"


    "Hei Wuying, you old fox! You''re trying to snatch a divine technique with just points?!"


    "Who the fuck has a million contribution points just lying around?!"


    Even the Peak Lords shifted in their seats, eyes flickering with interest.


    "What a crafty fox¡­"


    Zhao Tianxuan''s voice was barely above a whisper, but the weight behind it carried.


    Everyone had seen through Hei Wuying''s game.


    First, throw a weak disciple in the arena, creating the illusion of goodwill.


    Then, while Su Xiaobai stood at the peak of his momentum, slide in an offer that looked generous but was nothing short of a daylight robbery.


    One million contribution points¡ªfor a technique that could shake the world.


    A thief dressed as a benefactor.


    And Hei Wuying?


    That bastard had no shame.


    But Su Xiaobai?


    Su Xiaobai was worse.


    His eyes locked onto Hei Wuying with a slow, measured look¡ªlike a predator studying prey that thought itself untouchable.


    Then, he smiled.


    A slow, wicked smile, the kind that made people reconsider their life choices.


    "Peak Lord Hei, I am touched." His voice was light, almost lazy, like a merchant discussing the price of common goods. "For a respected senior to offer such generosity¡­ Truly, it moves me."


    Hei Wuying''s hidden eyes sharpened.


    The crowd shivered.


    That tone¡ªthat wasn''t gratitude.


    That was the tone of a man who already had his prey by the throat.


    Su Xiaobai sighed, shaking his head.


    "Unfortunately, this humble junior was born with a weakness¡ªI am sentimental."


    He placed a hand over his chest, looking mournful.


    "You see, this movement technique is not mine to give. It is a family heirloom, bound by blood and tradition. To part with it would be akin to carving out a piece of my own soul."


    A heavy sigh. A tragic expression.


    Then¡ªhis smile returned.


    "However."


    He tilted his head.


    "Since Peak Lord Hei is so kind-hearted, willing to offer one million contribution points for the mere scraps of a technique, perhaps I should be generous as well."


    He paused. Let that sink in.


    Then¡ªhe unsheathed the blade.


    "I possess ten superior movement techniques."


    The arena went still.


    "Ten?"


    "Superior? Better than what he just used?"


    "What kind of monster is this guy?!"


    Hei Wuying said nothing.


    Su Xiaobai continued.


    "Each of them, naturally, far beyond the likes of this..."


    A low hum ran through the audience.


    Even the Peak Lords stiffened.


    Spatial techniques¡ªone of the rarest and most mysterious techniques in existence. And yet, this little bastard was calling it inferior?


    Hei Wuying''s fingers tapped once against his chair.


    "A bold claim."


    Su Xiaobai laughed softly.


    "Oh, I would never dare deceive a Peak Lord. In fact, I am so confident, I would be willing to part with them¡ªif Peak Lord Hei truly desires them."


    Then came the execution.


    "Of course, I am still paying off the debt for them."


    A pause.


    A perfectly measured silence.


    Then¡ª


    "Ten million spirit stones each."


    BOOM.


    It wasn''t a real explosion. But it might as well have been.


    Because the entire sect fucking detonated.


    "TEN MILLION PER TECHNIQUE?!"


    "Has he lost his mind?!"


    "Who the hell buys techniques at that price?!"


    "Hei Wuying tried to con him, and this bastard is conning him right back!"


    The Peak Lords exchanged glances.


    Huo Rong''s jaw dropped. "The hell does he think he is, a divine auction house?"


    Feng Ruhu''s golden eagle let out a shrill, mocking cry.


    Hei Wuying''s fingers stopped tapping.


    And Su Xiaobai?


    Still smiling.


    Then, smoothly¡ªhe tightened the noose.


    "Of course, I understand that ten million may be a difficult price¡ªeven for a Peak Lord." His tone was sincere, considerate. "It would be unfair to ask for full payment immediately."


    A pause.


    Then¡ªthe kill.


    "So, I am willing to offer a generous installment plan."


    He spread his arms, like a merchant revealing a golden deal.


    "A mere one million spirit stones a year¡ªfor the next hundred years. Surely, Peak Lord Hei, for the sake of the sect, this is a small price to pay?"


    Silence. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A cold, bone-chilling silence.


    Zhao Tianxuan almost choked on his own spit.


    The audience fucking lost it.


    "H-he''s extorting him!"


    "He just turned it into a fucking lifetime debt!"


    "I¡ªI don''t know whether to admire or fear him!"


    Hei Wuying sat still. Completely still.


    He had spent his life deceiving, manipulating, weaving webs of lies.


    And yet.


    And yet.


    This little bastard had just outplayed him.


    For the first time in decades¡ª


    Hei Wuying had nothing to say.


    Bai Yujian, who had watched in silence until now, smiled bitterly. This little devil.


    She flicked a glance at Zhao Tianxuan, a subtle signal only he could catch. If this farce dragged on, Hei Wuying might cough blood from sheer humiliation.


    One hundred million points. A number so absurd it could shatter even a seasoned merchant''s heart. Did Su Xiaobai possess such wealth?


    Of course not.


    But did he weave the lie so beautifully that none dared to question him?


    Absolutely.


    Zhao Tianxuan nodded, stepping forward with the grace of a man exhausted by life. His voice rang across the arena¡ª


    "The match is concluded. Let us proceed."


    Hei Wuying sighed in relief, wisely swallowing whatever words still lingered on his tongue. He had lost today¡ªnot in battle, but in a far crueler game.


    Next to step forward was Feng Ruhu, the Beast Taming Peak Lord.


    Originally, he was meant to send two of his strongest disciples.


    But after witnessing everything?


    Fuck that.


    Instead, he sent two inner court weaklings, knowing full well they would be crushed.


    And crushed they were.


    BANG! BANG!


    Two bodies soared through the air before slamming into the jade platform, leaving behind only groans and regret.


    The crowd didn''t even blink.


    At this point, one-shots were the standard.


    Feng Ruhu let out a long sigh, shoulders relaxing.


    He had sacrificed two nobodies, and in return, he had avoided enmity.


    A small price to pay.


    He cleared his throat. "Su Xiaobai¡ª"


    But before he could make his offer¡ª


    A deep chuckle interrupted him.


    "Disciple Su"


    The voice belonged to Lin Qingfeng, the Verdant Peak Lord.


    A man with a round belly, a long white beard, and eyes that gleamed like polished jade.


    To the ignorant, he appeared kind, wise, approachable.


    To those who knew better¡ª


    He was a merchant. A loan shark. A man who never made a deal that didn''t end in his favor.


    "Join our Verdant Peak, and we shall offer you ten million contribution points as a welcoming gift."


    The crowd stirred.


    A bold move.


    But Lin Qingfeng wasn''t finished.


    He smiled, stroking his beard.


    "And, of course, I have heard of your¡­ unique preferences. Fear not. I have just the thing."


    He clapped his hands.


    And then¡ª


    Five long-legged beauties stepped forward, moving in perfect synchronization, heads bowed at the exact same angle.


    They were like jade sculptures carved by a celestial artist, each possessing an otherworldly grace.


    Round, charming faces that invited sinful thoughts, emerald eyes that held the depth of ancient forests, and silken brown hair, each styled differently.


    One had a short, sharp cut, elegant yet seductive, the kind that whispered of danger.


    Even Su Xiaobai''s gaze flickered.


    The others carried an ethereal charm, a delicate beauty that concealed deadly cultivation.


    For these were no mere flowers.


    Each one was already a Core Disciple.


    A harem prepared for convenience.


    The crowd exploded.


    "Shameless! Verdant Peak is throwing women at him now?!"


    Leng Tianhai, the Frost Peak Lord, snorted coldly. "Despicable."


    But none were truly surprised.


    Lin Qingfeng had one hundred and twenty concubines and over four hundred and fifty children.


    These quintuplets? They were his treasures.


    And now, he was offering them up.


    The sect''s standards had truly fallen.


    Sigh...


    A sigh drifted through the air.


    Soft, yet heavy.


    Bai Yujian.


    Her crystal-clear eyes, usually distant, now held a rare trace of emotion.


    But it was not contempt.


    It was inevitability.


    For this was not about standards.


    It was about Su Xiaobai.


    Today, it was confirmed¡ªhe had reached Nascent Soul Realm.


    And he was only twenty-seven.


    A dragon that had only just begun to ascend.


    To have him, even for a short time, would bring honor to any Peak.


    And so, Bai Yujian, who had once stood as an unshakable pillar of virtue, now stepped forward.


    And spoke.


    "Su Xiaobai."


    Su Xiaobai, who had been purposefully ignoring her presence, finally turned to meet her gaze.


    And those cold, clear eyes locked onto his.


    Behind her, two figures stepped forward.


    Wrapped in white fox-fur robes, their faces flushed, their movements timid yet deliberate.


    Hu Jiao''er and Hu Mei''er.


    One glared at Su Xiaobai, as if this was all his fault.


    The other kept her head down, hands curling against her sleeves.

 Chapter 167 - 167: Sword Fairys offer!

    Bai Yujian exhaled slowly.


    Then, forcing the words past her lips, she spoke.


    "The Snow Sisters of Sword Peak have already reached Deity Transformation Realm, and they will be promoted to elders after the battle ends."


    And then¡ªthe blade fell.


    "You may accompany them. And from the Sword Peak, you may choose any woman you desire."


    The arena stilled.


    "???"


    Su Xiaobai''s brows lifted slightly.


    Even Zhu Qing turned, looking at Bai Yujian in disbelief.


    Leng Tianhai, the Frost Peak Lord, frowned. "Sword Fairy, is that truly you? When did your morals waver?"


    Bai Yujian snorted. She offered no explanation.


    For she knew¡ª


    This was only the beginning.


    The sect was not the only power watching.


    Beyond the arena, in the distant horizon, shadows had gathered.


    Not disciples.


    Not elders.


    Foreign forces.


    People from the Empire.


    Representatives from other sects.


    Eyes from beyond Yue Country.


    They had yet to descend.


    But once this battle ended¡ª


    They would.


    Bai Yujian knew.


    She knew Su Xiaobai had a unique ability.


    She knew what kind of sect he would seek.


    One that could provide him with Yin Qi sources.


    But the Xiantian Sect''s Yin Qi reserves were empty.


    So¡ªshe had no other choice.


    Even if it left a bitter taste in her mouth.


    For Su Xiaobai, it was simply fate.


    Born with a body that demanded Yin to rise, he had managed to maintain restraint.


    He had not fallen into depravity.


    Yet.


    What Bai Yujian didn''t know¡ª


    Was that Su Xiaobai had wanted to fall into depravity many, many times.


    But cultivation was a harsh mistress.


    Even a man like him needed rest.


    Today, he had come not just to fight¡ª


    ¡ªbut to consolidate his Nascent Soul Realm cultivation.


    Xu Tianran, the Peak Lord of Alchemy Peak, frowned, his aged face as still as the surface of a hidden lake.


    No one noticed.


    But Su Xiaobai did.


    This old man¡­ something about him was always off.


    For a mere alchemist, he was too silent, too observant, too deeply woven into the sect''s affairs.


    And now?


    Now, his eyes held displeasure.


    Not because Su Xiaobai was gaining attention¡ªno, it was something deeper.


    And that only made Su Xiaobai more suspicious.


    Then, in a voice loud enough to shake the air, Xu Tianran sighed, "Sect Master, we can have these discussions after the battle in the sect hall. Why are we making a mockery of ourselves in front of our disciples?"


    On the surface, a simple suggestion.


    But in reality?


    A warning.


    Bai Yujian and Xu Tianran''s roles as sect guardians were known only to a select few.


    Even most Peak Lords were unaware.


    Zhao Tianxuan''s expression eased. He had been trying to keep order, but now, even he saw the truth.


    This wasn''t about testing Su Xiaobai anymore.


    It was about claiming him.


    Like wolves circling fresh prey, the Peak Lords had abandoned all pretense.


    He let out a long sigh. "Then let''s take the discussions after the battle."


    As if waiting for that very moment, the battle horn rang out.


    A deep, reverberating sound that shook the hearts of all present.


    The remaining three Peaks would send their contenders after the break.


    Su Xiaobai retreated to the edge of the arena, his movements unhurried.


    A wooden stool awaited him.


    He sat.


    And as the Peak Lords vanished into the grand balcony, likely discussing new ways to scheme, only one stayed behind.


    Zhu Qing.


    She approached with a sly smile, her voice teasing yet laced with a hidden sharpness.


    "Little Villain, how does it feel? You''re the star of the sect now."


    But Su Xiaobai''s expression remained cold. Because nothing was going according to plan.


    This was supposed to be a slaughter.


    A warning.


    A bloody message carved into the bones of anyone who dared to cross him.


    And when Liu Zhenhai finally entered the arena, the plan was to push him to the edge.


    Make him lose control.


    Make him die.


    But now?


    Now, the game had changed.


    Liu Chenfu¡ªthe bastard Peak Lord of Stormfire Peak¡ªwas gone.


    Liu Zhenhai¡ªthe man who was supposed to be his opponent¡ªhadn''t arrived.


    That could only mean one thing.


    They were plotting.


    A deal had been made.


    And if things played out as expected, Liu Chenfu¡ªthe old dog who had been scheming against Su Xiaobai for months¡ª


    Would die tonight.


    One way or another.


    Zhu Qing, watching Su Xiaobai''s face grow darker, a rare trace of admiration flashed in her gaze.


    At least he wasn''t being lazy for once.


    "Why are they doing this?" Su Xiaobai exhaled, eyes locked on the distant balcony.


    Zhu Qing stood beside him, arms folded. "Why wouldn''t they? I told you not to come. You think this is the end of it? Right now, they''re just offering deals. But do you really think none of them will take coercive measures later?"


    Silence.


    Su Xiaobai''s face darkened further.


    Then, Zhu Qing''s hand rested lightly on his back.


    Her voice was quieter now, laced with something almost¡­ protective.


    "I''ve already sent your sister and your maid to a safe location. Even if they search the entire sect, they won''t find them."


    Su Xiaobai''s gaze snapped to her.


    He hadn''t even thought about them.


    Zhu Qing¡­ had already handled it.


    It was the first time he realized something.


    For everyone else, she was ruthless. Manipulative. Poisonous.


    But for him?


    That poisonous heart still pumped his blood.


    His lips parted slightly as he stared at her face.


    Zhu Qing''s cheeks turned faintly pink.


    "What?"


    She recovered quickly, clearing her throat.


    "Don''t take them lightly. They sent weaker opponents on purpose. If you were exhausted when you finally lost, it wouldn''t have been justified."


    Su Xiaobai''s brow furrowed. "Lost?"


    Zhu Qing chuckled. "The Fire Peak Lord is on our side. He''ll send weaklings, too. Liu Zhenhai? A mere dog. Win or lose, his fate is already sealed."


    Then, she pointed to the balcony.


    Her voice dropped lower.


    "But her."


    Su Xiaobai followed her gaze.


    There¡ªseated above all, untouched by the chaos¡ª


    Was Yue Xiuying, the Celestial Peak Lord.


    She was unmoved. Uninterested. Uninvolved.


    It was as if this entire tournament was beneath her.


    But behind her? sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A shadow stood.


    Wrapped in dark robes, head lowered, expression unreadable.


    Zhu Qing''s eyes sharpened. "See her?"


    Su Xiaobai nodded.


    Zhu Qing''s next words sent a chill down his spine.


    "That''s the Invincible Ghost of the Sect."


    His brows furrowed. "Invincible?"


    "She can predict your movements." Zhu Qing''s tone was grim. "Fighting her is nearly impossible¡ªunless you completely overpower her."


    Su Xiaobai tapped his fingers on the wooden stool.


    Predict movements?


    That wasn''t just talent.


    His eyes narrowed.


    "If she''s that strong, why is she still here?"


    Zhu Qing exhaled.


    "Because she''s a slave."


    Su Xiaobai''s fingers stilled.


    A slave?


    He glanced at the Celestial Peak Lord.


    And for the first time, he felt genuine discomfort.


    The woman was too perfect.


    A fox-like smile. Eyes that held the depth of galaxies, yet revealed nothing.


    A woman who could swallow men whole without even leaving bones behind.


    A woman whose gaze alone could make even the strongest men kneel.


    Su Xiaobai had seen many types of women.


    But he knew this type best.


    The kind that could make you sell your soul and thank her for it.


    His own strength was still limited.


    And too many enemies would only slow his ascent.


    Now, it was clear¡ª


    Liu Zhenhai?


    That was personal. A grudge.


    But his true opponent?


    The girl standing behind Yue Xiuying.


    That was the final test.


    And the Peak Lords?


    They knew.


    They had already decided the outcome.


    They weren''t trying to obstruct him.


    They didn''t care if he won or lost.


    Because they had already predicted it¡ª


    He would be defeated in the final match.


    Su Xiaobai''s fingers tightened on the stool.


    His jaw clenched.


    Then¡ªa slow exhale.


    He leaned back, shoulders relaxing.


    Then, he smiled.


    A dark, slow, merciless smile.


    "Crafty bastards."


    Did they really think it would be that easy?


    Did they think he would fall so easily?

 Chapter 168 - 168: Betrayal! Su Xiaobais Sword Intent!

    One hour later...


    ROAR!


    The battle horn howled, shaking the very heavens.


    Fire Peak Lord Huo Rong rose to his feet, his black beard gleaming like polished obsidian, his long hair flowing like a noble scholar in a painting¡ª


    ¡ªif not for the sheer murderous intent twisting his features.


    Su Xiaobai''s brows lifted.


    He had assumed Huo Rong was on their side.


    So why was this bastard looking at him like he fucked his wife?


    And then¡ª


    With a lazy shove, Huo Rong sent his two disciples into the stage.


    At first glance, they were just two figures clad in flame-patterned robes.


    But the moment their auras ignited, the entire sect balcony stiffened.


    Because these weren''t just any disciples.


    One was Inner Court Rank #7¡ªBlazing Tyrant Yan Wushang.


    His Ninefold Inferno Body made his very bones burn with fire, every strike capable of melting steel into lava.


    The other?


    Inner Court Rank #4¡ªHuo Lingxue, the Ember-Frost Phoenix.


    A woman who wielded both fire and ice, suppressing flames while enhancing her own.


    Even Liu Zhenhai, the so-called "main event" of this tournament, wasn''t as strong as these two.


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes flickered.


    First thought?


    "Damn, this old man wants to burn me to death."


    His gaze flicked up.


    And there was Huo Rong, lounging on the balcony like a warlord watching his executioners work.


    Su Xiaobai''s expression darkened, and his eyes snapped to Zhu Qing.


    She immediately looked away.


    She had no fucking idea what happened either.


    Wasn''t Huo Rong supposed to be an ally?


    Before he could dwell on it, a sneering voice interrupted his thoughts.


    "What''s wrong, Brother Su? Looking for an escape route?"


    Yan Wushang chuckled, stepping forward, his aura twisting the air into waves of heat.


    Meanwhile¡ª


    Huo Lingxue didn''t move.


    She simply walked to the edge of the stage, leaned against the railing, and flicked open an ice-blue fan.


    The arrogance was staggering.


    She wasn''t even leaving the battlefield.


    Because she wasn''t worried.


    They had already decided¡ªYan Wushang would go first.


    And to her, neither of them were a threat.


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes swept over them both.


    Then, a wicked smile curled his lips.


    "Escape route? No."


    His voice was leisurely, amused¡ªbut sharp as a knife hidden beneath silk.


    "I was just recalling the path your mother took when she wandered into my chambers one fateful night."


    Yan Wushang''s smile faltered.


    Su Xiaobai continued, his tone filled with gentle reminiscence.


    "Such a tragic mistake¡­ for her to lose her way so thoroughly. And then to birth a grandson so utterly ignorant he can''t even recognize his elders?"


    BOOM.


    The entire sect balcony exploded in chaos.


    "HOLY FUCK¡ª"


    "HE... HE ... JUST INSULTED THREE GENERATIONS IN ONE BREATH!"


    "THIS ISN''T A FIGHT, THIS IS BLOODLINE ANNIHILATION....!"


    Even the Peak Lords twitched.


    Huo Rong''s fists clenched, his beard trembling like a storm-tossed tree. Although Yan Wushang wasn''t his biological son, the truth was¡­


    He was having an affair with Yan Wushang''s mother.


    And Su Xiaobai?


    Su Xiaobai had just implied, in front of the entire sect, that he fucked that woman first.


    And turned Huo Rong''s head green.


    The Peak Lords caught on instantly.


    The frost Peak Lord Leng Tianhai''s ice-cold face twitched. "Huo Rong, I see your temper flaring. Are you¡­ perhaps feeling personally attacked?"


    Beast Peak Lord Feng Ruhu let out a mocking chuckle. "Old Huo, I didn''t realize you had such a complicated family tree."


    Hei Wuying, the bastard of shadow peak, whispered to his disciple.


    "Remember this, Yan Xue. True villains never waste a fight¡ªthey attack the opponent''s bloodline before the battle even starts."


    Yan Xue, still battered from Su Xiaobai''s earlier beating, could only nod numbly.


    Yan Wushang, however¡ªwas about to explode.


    His veins bulged, his entire aura flaring like an erupting volcano.


    "Su Xiaobai, you dog¡ª"


    But before he could even finish, a soft clap rang through the arena.


    Huo Lingxue had lowered her fan, revealing her cool, amused gaze.


    The crowd expected her to be furious¡ªafter all, she was standing on the same side as Yan Wushang.


    But instead?


    She looked at Su Xiaobai with genuine intrigue.


    Because, unlike Yan Wushang, she wasn''t some blindly loyal disciple.


    She was just an orphan.


    A pawn picked up and molded by Huo Rong, trained for a future only he knew.


    So she didn''t feel offended.


    If anything¡ªshe was curious.


    This man¡­


    Had just publicly humiliated a Peak Lord and his strongest disciple, in front of the entire sect¡ª


    And he was still standing there, smiling.


    Like a villain who had set fire to the battlefield¡ª


    ¡ªand was watching it burn.


    "Su Xiaobai, You Fool! Why Are You Courting Death?!"


    This was the emotion in everyone''s eyes.


    Why?


    Why was he fanning the flames?


    Did he not fear getting burned?


    They didn''t understand.


    They thought Su Xiaobai was courting death.


    But Su Xiaobai?


    He knew the truth.


    Some flames can be extinguished.


    But others?


    They only burn hotter.


    "Good! Good! Brother Su, don''t blame me for not going easy¡­!"


    Yan Wushang had long heard that Su Xiaobai gave no one face¡ª


    But today?


    Today, he saw it firsthand.


    His eyes burned with fury as he lifted his hands, revealing a pair of golden gauntlets, glowing like molten suns.


    "These are my Tyrant Sun Gauntlets! Forged in the volcanic depths of the Hellfire Abyss! Become the first fool to die beneath them!"


    The crowd gasped.


    A treasure forged in the abyssal core of a volcano?!


    Even some elders couldn''t keep their greed hidden.


    And Su Xiaobai?


    He just gave them a curious glance.


    Then, without shame¡ª


    "Can I have them if I defeat you?"


    "...What?"


    Yan Wushang''s aura stumbled mid-surge.


    Then¡ªhe laughed.


    A deep, wild, tyrannical laugh.


    "HAHAHAHA! Sure! But first¡ªeat this!"


    His body exploded into flames, his figure wrapped in a raging inferno.


    heatwaves rippled across the stage.


    The ground beneath him melted, the very jade platform darkening from the sheer intensity.


    And then¡ª


    "Heaven-Burning Tyrant Fist!"


    Two fireballs¡ªeach as large as a miniature sun¡ª


    BOOM!


    The world roared as they shot toward Su Xiaobai.


    The very sky burned, waves of flame consuming the battlefield.


    The sect felt as if they were sitting atop an erupting volcano.


    Disciples in the stands felt their robes ignite, some backing away instinctively.


    And Su Xiaobai?


    He stood still.


    As if he didn''t see the approaching twin suns.


    As if he didn''t feel the scorching heat threatening to consume him.


    Then¡ª


    A shift in the air.


    A weight so heavy it was like the heavens themselves had descended.


    Yan Wushang''s breath fastened.


    His body froze.


    Something pressed down on him.


    Like the gravity of a falling star, the pull of a collapsing celestial body.


    For just a single second, his eyes met Su Xiaobai''s.


    And in that moment¡ª


    It felt like thousands of celestial bodies were pressing down on his soul.


    Then¡ª


    The two miniature suns that were charging toward Su Xiaobai¡ª


    They contracted.


    And contracted.


    And contracted.


    Until¡ª


    CRASH!


    Like the shattering of a dying planet¡ª


    The twin suns imploded.


    And then¡ª


    BOOM!!!


    The sky split apart, a volcanic eruption of power sending shockwaves outward.


    Flames devoured the battlefield, scorching the ground, surging into the heavens.


    Elders leaped from their seats.


    "Cover yourselves!"


    A commanding roar rang through the arena, an elder''s voice sharp with urgency.


    The explosion''s shockwave expanded outward, drowning everything within a thousand meters in fire.


    "WHAT JUST HAPPENED?!"


    Gasps, disbelief, chaos.


    And then¡ª


    As the flames finally dissipated¡ª


    As the smoke began to clear¡ª


    All eyes locked onto Su Xiaobai.


    There he stood¡ªcompletely untouched.


    In his hand¡ª


    A sword.


    A long, red blade, still pulsing with a deep, eerie glow.


    And that''s when it hit them. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Someone whispered.


    A single word¡ª


    "Sword Intent¡­?"


    But the moment they said it¡ªthey hesitated.


    No.


    Something was wrong.


    This wasn''t Sword Intent.

 Chapter 169 - 169: Su Xiaobai: The Art of Robbing Your Opponent Mid-Ass-Whooping!

    This wasn''t Sword Intent.


    Hong Tianbao, the War Peak Lord, a man draped in the mane of a silver lion, felt a rare chill crawl down his spine.


    He wiped the sweat off his forehead, his battle-hardened instincts screaming at him.


    "Sword Fairy, what exactly did you teach your disciple?"


    His voice was casual, but his gaze was sharp, wary.


    Sword Intent was meant to cut.


    But this?


    This was destruction.


    If Su Xiaobai was allowed to grow, no war strategy would be able to contain him.


    Bai Yujian sat still, her beautiful face unreadable.


    But inside?


    Inside, she was suffering from a storm of emotions.


    Confusion.


    Surprise. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    And something she hadn''t felt in years¡ªdoubt.


    The other Peak Lords pressed her for answers.


    "What kind of training did you use?"


    "Is this some hidden Sword Dao technique?"


    Bai Yujian sighed softly and shook her head.


    Then, she finally spoke her mind.


    "I didn''t train him at all." Her voice was calm, but beneath it lay a storm of emotions. "It''s a normal level-two Sword Intent¡­ I didn''t expect him to learn it by himself. Maybe¡ªmaybe he can go even higher and is still holding back."


    Silence.


    And then¡ª


    "Fart!"


    An elder directly cursed.


    "If you didn''t train him, then where the hell did this demonic existence crawl out from?!"


    The other Peak Lords weren''t any better.


    "Bullshit! A mere level-two Sword Intent shattering a Heaven-Burning Tyrant Fist?! Do you take us for fools?!"


    Bai Yujian said nothing.


    Because, truth be told¡ª


    Even she did not understand.


    Her disciple?


    Had become something beyond her comprehension.


    ____


    [Flame Devours Heaven]


    BOOM!


    The entire arena burned.


    Flames rose like a tidal wave, swallowing everything in their path, twisting into fiery hands that stretched toward the heavens.


    Yan Wushang had gone insane.


    His aura raged uncontrollably, the sheer heat of his Ninefold Inferno Body turning the battlefield into a furnace.


    For the audience, the battle was no longer visible¡ªonly an endless sea of flames.


    And within it¡ª


    A chase.


    Yan Wushang charged like a crazed beast, fists coated in molten fire, his every punch leaving scorching craters behind.


    And Su Xiaobai?


    He was dodging.


    Leaping, flickering, vanishing and reappearing like a phantom dancing between the flames.


    "Come here! Where the hell are you running?!"


    Yan Wushang''s voice roared through the inferno, his frustration fueling his madness.


    But the more Su Xiaobai ran, the more he lost control.


    The Peak Lords observed calmly.


    "Hmph. He can''t dodge forever. If even one of those punches lands, Su Xiaobai will be shattered."


    They were already losing interest.


    After all, cultivation wasn''t just about strength¡ª


    It was about control.


    Only Bai Yujian''s gaze remained sharp, her focus locked onto Su Xiaobai.


    She wasn''t watching the flames.


    She was watching him.


    Waiting.


    Observing.


    She wanted to see it again.


    That strange sword intent.


    And then¡ª


    Su Xiaobai stopped.


    "Wh¡ª" Yan Wushang''s eyes widened mid-charge.


    From a fleeing shadow, Su Xiaobai had suddenly become a mountain.


    Unmoving.


    Unshakable.


    Then¡ª


    A whisper.


    "Celestial Decree."


    SHIIING!


    A single arc of sword light flashed¡ª


    Bright. Blinding. Absolute.


    And then¡ª


    SPLURT!


    Yan Wushang''s arms flew into the air.


    Blood sprayed like a crimson waterfall, his hands¡ªsevered cleanly at the wrist¡ªfalling to the ground.


    Everyone froze.


    Even the elders stood up.


    "Third-level Sword Intent?!"


    Yan Wushang stumbled back, breathing heavy.


    Then, he sneered.


    "Hah! Is that all?!" His voice boomed with arrogance.


    "I wield the Crimson Sun Baptism! I can drain the energy of the sun itself and regrow my limbs!"


    The crowd nodded.


    Yes. This wasn''t over.


    He simply had to channel his bloodline, absorb the flames, and¡ª


    Su Xiaobai''s laughter rang out.


    Like a villain about to unveil his final act.


    Yan Wushang frowned.


    Then¡ª


    He saw it.


    Su Xiaobai was holding something.


    His severed hands.


    And in one smooth motion¡ª


    He took the gauntlets off them.


    Then¡ª


    He wore them.


    Yan Wushang''s face drained of color.


    "YO-YOU! THAT''S AGAINST THE RULES!"


    The crowd barely had time to react¡ª


    BANG!


    A flaming fist collided with Yan Wushang''s face, sending him soaring out of the arena.


    The crowd exploded in shock.


    "DAMN! DID HE JUST ROB HIM MID-FIGHT?!"


    "SU XIAOBAI, YOU HAVE NO SHAME!"


    "A TRUE VILLAIN, THROUGH AND THROUGH!"


    And in the center of it all¡ª


    Yan Wushang lay motionless, buried in the aftermath of his own arrogance.


    The once blazing-red hair, ignited by the essence of the sun itself, dimmed back to black¡ªlike a dying ember in the ashes of defeat.


    His flaming gaze, once filled with untamed fury, had now dulled into blank emptiness.


    The fight was over.


    Or so it seemed.


    CRACK¡ª


    A deep, primordial rumble echoed through the air.


    And then¡ª


    BOOM!


    Su Xiaobai''s sword aura, bore down upon Yan Wushang like the weight of a collapsing firmament.


    The ground beneath him groaned in protest, his body sinking a foot into the earth.


    A sickening crunch followed¡ªhis bones grinding against themselves, blood splurting from his joints.


    A crater formed around him.


    The crowd collectively winced.


    "T-the fight was already over¡­!"


    "Then why the hell is Senior Brother Su still hammering him into the dirt like an unwanted bastard child?!"


    At that moment¡ª


    A furious bellow erupted from the balcony.


    "SU XIAOBAI, STOP BREAKING THE RULES!"


    It was the Fire Peak Lord.


    His balcony edge cracked beneath his grip, his aura flaring like an inferno about to devour the sky.


    Su Xiaobai blinked, tilting his head.


    Then¡ªhe smiled.


    "Oh? I accidentally forgot to retract my sword aura."


    His voice was light, almost polite.


    Like a scholar apologizing for spilling ink on a priceless scroll.


    Huo Rong''s temples throbbed.


    "ACCIDENT?! YOU CALL THAT AN ACCIDENT?!"


    The other Peak Lords chuckled into their sleeves.


    None of them moved to support him.


    Because this?


    This was nothing more than a betrayal returned in kind.


    Huo Rong had already thrown Su Xiaobai to the wolves¡ª


    Now he was watching, powerless, as the wolves feasted.


    Yet while the sect buzzed with chaos, some had already seen through the truth hidden within the flames.


    This wasn''t simply Sword Intent.


    No.


    This was something far more terrifying.


    A sword should sever.


    A blade should cleave.


    The Dao of the Sword was meant to slice apart all obstacles before it.


    But Su Xiaobai''s sword¡ª


    Did not cut.


    It bore down.


    It crushed.


    It carried the will of celestial bodies, the weight of the boundless firmament, the pressure of stars drifting too close, ready to devour lesser moons into oblivion.


    His sword didn''t aim to pierce the flesh¡ª


    It sought to fold space itself, to reduce its victims into cosmic dust.


    A technique that did not slash through its enemies¡ª


    But instead collapsed upon them, devouring them like the event horizon of a dying star.


    One of the elders exhaled sharply, eyes trembling.


    "He¡­ He completely shattered the core principle of Sword Intent¡­ and reforged it into something else entirely."


    The Peak Lords were silent.


    But their eyes drifted toward Bai Yujian.


    And then¡ª


    A voice whispered, filled with reverence.


    "Only the Sword Fairy could have taught him something like that¡­"


    Bai Yujian''s face instantly flushed red in shame.


    Because she knew the truth.


    She didn''t teach him a thing!


    Her fingers twitched.


    She suddenly had the urge to grab Su Xiaobai by his collar and shake the secrets out of him.


    Where¡­ where the hell did this brat even learn that?!


    That was the thought burning through Bai Yujian''s mind.


    And it wasn''t just her.


    The entire sect had been thrown into mess.


    Su Xiaobai had not only cut down Yan Wushang¡ªhe had humiliated him, stolen his weapons, and left him buried like a forgotten corpse.


    And now?


    Now Huo Rong and Zhao Tianxuan were at each other''s throats.


    "This brat! Sect Master, we need to discuss proper punishment¡ª"


    "Punishment for what? For winning?" Zhao Tianxuan''s voice was calm, but his tone carried a hint of warning.


    Before Huo Rong could retort, a playful chuckle echoed.


    "Hey, Firecracker, stop whining."


    It was Zhu Qing, her arms crossed, amusement flickering in her fox-like eyes.


    "If your disciple is too weak, that''s not Su Xiaobai''s problem. Taking care of your weapon during battle is a warrior''s most basic instinct. If Yan Wushang couldn''t keep his gauntlets, then that''s his own fault."


    The crowd collectively inhaled.


    She just fucking said it.


    Huo Rong''s face darkened instantly, veins bulging at his temples.


    "You¡ª" His fists trembled, "Fine! Laugh while you can! Let''s see if you''re still laughing when he is lying broken at someone''s feet!"


    Zhao Tianxuan frowned, his expression cooling.


    "Huo Rong, do I need to remind you that this is a friendly spar at best?"


    "Friendly?" Huo Rong let out a cold laugh. "Is that what we''re calling it now? When the boy himself is fighting like a devil?!"


    "And yet, he hasn''t killed anyone." Zhao Tianxuan''s voice remained firm. "Unlike your disciple, who nearly turned the arena into a funeral pyre."


    Huo Rong didn''t respond.


    Because he wasn''t looking at them anymore.


    His gaze locked onto the battlefield below.


    His voice, though quiet, carried through the flames.


    "Lingxue. If you can''t defeat him, don''t bother coming back to Fire Peak."


    The crowd tensed.


    And then¡ªwithout another word¡ª


    Huo Rong turned and left.


    The sect was bewildered.


    "What the hell is wrong with the Fire Peak Lord today?!"


    "First Liu Chenfu, now Huo Rong¡­ Why are all these Peak Lords suddenly losing their shit over Su Xiaobai?!"

 Chapter 170 - 170: Lady Ember Frost!

    "First Liu Chenfu, now Huo Rong¡­ Why are all these Peak Lords suddenly losing their shit over Su Xiaobai?!"


    A lone voice spoke the words everyone was thinking.


    And then¡ª


    Silence. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Disciples exchanged glances, their eyes flickering with realization.


    Until¡ª


    A deep, lovestruck sigh shattered the moment.


    "Charming¡­!"


    Heads snapped toward the source.


    A junior sister, her face flushed, clasped her hands like a maiden in a romance novel, her eyes practically forming heart-shaped talismans.


    "It''s because Brother Su is just too heroic!"


    The men in the crowd visibly choked.


    "What¡ª?! From which angle does he look like a hero?! That bastard''s a villa¡ª"


    "Heroic Brother Su!"


    "HEROIC BROTHER SU!"


    "HEROIC BROTHER SU!"


    Before he could even finish, he was swarmed.


    A horde of crazed junior sisters descended upon him like demonic beasts, their robes fluttering violently, fists pummeling down like divine tribulation lightning.


    "How dare you slander Brother Su''s noble image?!"


    "Are you blind?! His elegance, his ruthlessness, his devilish charm¡ªtruly the heart of a righteous hero!"


    "A true dragon amidst worms!"


    "If being a villain is what it takes to be this handsome, then what use is righteousness?!"


    The poor bastard tried to crawl away, teeth missing, blood dribbling from his nose.


    "You people are insane! I''m telling you, that man just crippled someone and robbed him mid-fight!"


    The girls ignored him completely, their chants shaking the heavens.


    Su Xiaobai¡ªstanding in the arena, fresh off his latest crime¡ª


    Smiled handsomely.


    But inside?


    Inside, he was utterly disgusted.


    "So this is what Liu Zhenhai feels when Lan Meiyu is around¡­"


    The same suffocating, brain-dead loyalty. The same fanaticism that defied reason itself.


    He finally understood the look of sheer misery that had always been on Liu Zhenhai''s face.


    Su Xiaobai exhaled deeply, his newly acquired gauntlets gleaming in the sunlight.


    The men in the crowd looked on in horror.


    The sect elders exchanged glances, shaking their heads.


    And the Peak Lords?


    They just watched, their faces filled with resignation.


    Because overnight, Su Xiaobai had somehow gone from a ruthless villain¡ª


    To the sect''s most ''heroic'' figure.


    And the worst part?


    Not even Su Xiaobai himself believed it.


    The fame came too fast. Too suffocating. Too fucking nauseating. Su Xiaobai had always imagined himself as a shadow leader, lurking behind the scenes, pulling strings in the dark¡ª


    Not this.


    Not standing in broad daylight, being worshiped like some divine war god, with a horde of brain-poisoned junior sisters screaming his name like they just hit enlightenment through sheer thirst.


    He sighed.


    A long, deep sigh, filled with the exhaustion of a man who had seen too much, suffered too much, and just wanted to be left the fuck alone.


    And then¡ª


    "HIS SIGH¡­!"


    The voice that echoed through the silence was breathy, desperate¡ªunhinged.


    Heads snapped toward the source of this degeneracy.


    A senior sister, her robes slightly disheveled, her thighs clenching so hard she was about to crack the earth itself.


    "His sigh¡­ is like the whisper of celestial winds caressing my soul¡­"


    Her breath ragged, and her eyes rolled back slightly.


    And then¡ª


    "If I could just¡­ just drink his sigh directly from his lips¡­"


    A pause.


    A deep, trembling exhale.


    "I could bathe in it for ten thousand years and never need to cultivate again¡­!"


    "..."


    The entire sect froze.


    The elders, hardened by centuries of battle, looked like they had just been struck by divine tribulation.


    The Peak Lords, masters of their respective Daos, suddenly felt their cultivation stagnate from sheer secondhand embarrassment.


    The men?


    They stared at the girl like she had transcended into a new level of depravity unknown to mankind.


    And then¡ª


    It began.


    "Hmph! What do you know?! He is not just Su Xiaobai anymore!"


    "That''s right! Call him by his true name¡ª"


    "The Devilishly Handsome Blade!"


    "The Celestial Tyrant of Love and War!"


    "The Midnight Phantom of the Sword!"


    "The Heart-Stealing Demon Lord!"


    "The Cunning Fox of the Martial Dao!"


    "The Peerless Dragon of Passion!"


    "The Saintly Tyrant of Dual Cultivation!"


    "THE UNTOUCHABLE SEX GOD OF THE XIANTIAN SECT!"


    "...What the actual fuck."


    A male disciple vomited blood on the spot.


    Another just sat down and stared at the sky, his will to live gone.


    One of the elders broke into a violent coughing fit.


    Even Zhao Tianxuan, the Sect Master himself, twitched violently, as if considering whether being struck by heavenly lightning would be preferable to witnessing this bullshit.


    The junior sisters, however, were unfazed.


    In fact¡ªthey were fucking inspired.


    A second girl stepped forward, her breathing erratic, pupils dilated.


    "B-Brother Su¡­ do you perhaps need a cauldron to help regulate your yang energy?"


    "No! Pick me! I have a dual-cultivation physique that can refine impurities!"


    "IMPURITIES MY ASS! YOU JUST WANT TO GET FUCKED!"


    "Hmph. Junior sisters, stop being so impatient. True love must be cultivated over time."


    "SAYS THE BITCH WHO HAS HIS SHRINE IN HER ROOM!"


    The sect stands exploded into civil war.


    Fists flew. Robes were torn. Hairpins became deadly hidden weapons.


    The men?


    They had given up.


    One inner disciple turned to his friend, his eyes blank.


    "Do you think if I start training in body refinement, I can turn myself into an actual rock?"


    "What? Why?"


    "Because rocks don''t have to hear this bullshit."


    Even the elders, men who had lived for centuries, were staring dead-eyed into the distance, their souls shattered beyond repair.


    And Su Xiaobai?


    Su Xiaobai just stood there.


    Motionless.


    Expressionless.


    Emotionally dead inside.


    "Do you like them? Aren''t they quite charming?"


    A voice, smooth as spring water yet tinged with teasing amusement, drifted through the battlefield. A graceful figure strode forward, each step slow, deliberate¡ªthe gait of someone who already knew how this match would end.


    Huo Lingxue.


    Dark red hair cascaded like molten jade, crystalline eyes framed by lashes that trembled as she studied him. A woman who had seen too many battles, grown too weary of arrogant men who thought they stood above the heavens. Her charming face, aristocratic nose, and soft peach-blossom lips carried an expression between amusement and condescension.


    Yet beneath that elegance, beneath the carefully crafted veneer of indifference¡ª


    Something dangerous lurked.


    The aura around her wavered with frost and embers. In her delicate hand rested the Frozen Ember Fan, its ethereal glow betraying the chaos within her physique¡ªthe war of winter and inferno that no ordinary weapon could endure.


    So she made one that could.


    And Su Xiaobai?


    His sixth sense¡ªhoned through countless schemes and brushes with death¡ªscreamed.


    This woman was trouble.


    Big.


    Fucking.


    Trouble.


    Still, his smirk remained roguish, though inwardly, he was already weeping blood.


    "Charming, very charming." His chuckle was dry, the kind only a man walking to his own execution could muster.


    Huo Lingxue''s lips curved slightly. "Summon your puppet." She spoke as if ordering tea. "Aren''t you a puppet master? You''ll need her¡ªunless, of course, you plan to spend the rest of your days lying in bed, unable to move, relying on kind-hearted sisters to feed and bathe you."


    Su Xiaobai''s brow twitched.


    Oh.


    Oh, this bitch.


    She was playing dirty.


    But he wasn''t stupid.


    Xiao Hei was off-limits. Summoning her now would invite questions¡ªquestions that could destroy everything.


    His smirk widened, lazy yet sharp. "I don''t need a puppet to defeat you. I alone am enough."


    Then¡ª


    BOOM.


    An immense aura crashed down, shaking the battlefield.


    Huo Lingxue''s smile froze.


    Su Xiaobai''s sword aura surged, pressing upon her like a celestial mountain, the air vibrating with suppressed violence.


    It wasn''t an attack.


    It was a proclamation.


    A whisper to the world¡ª


    Before this blade, all must kneel.


    Her eyes widened, the composure cracking just enough for a flicker of surprise.


    "So that''s how you overpowered Yan Wushang¡­"


    A chuckle¡ªsoft, bitter.


    She had wondered¡ªhow did he knock out Yan Wushang in a single blow, even with stolen gauntlets?


    Now she knew.


    It wasn''t power.


    It was suppression.


    An invisible chain, growing heavier with each breath, robbing strength, speed, will¡ªuntil collapse was inevitable.


    Then¡ª


    "Yin-Yang Flame Suppression..."


    BOOM!


    Twin forces erupted, colliding like warring gods.


    A pillar of fire roared skyward, twisting into a blazing dragon, the heat distorting reality itself.


    A pillar of ice surged forth, coiling like a divine serpent, freezing space into an abyss of absolute zero.


    The battlefield screamed, caught in a storm of elements that should not coexist¡ªyet did.


    And then¡ª


    It spread.


    A shockwave rippled outward, devouring the battlefield. Even those watching from above felt their breath cold.


    And at the center¡ªHuo Lingxue stood, untouched, her fan flicking open as if she had stirred a gentle breeze¡ªnot birthed a frozen inferno.


    What made it terrifying?


    It had neutralized Su Xiaobai''s sword aura.


    Not by overpowering it.


    By devouring it. Matching it. Making it useless within her range.


    Then, the whispers started.


    "Brother Su, be careful! That woman isn''t as easy as she looks!"


    "Even Senior Brother Chi Fanglin and Brother Yun are weaker than her! She was supposed to be #2 in the rankings, but she stopped fighting after losing to the Celestial Peak Lord''s disciple! Her ego must still be bruised!"


    "..."


    "..."


    Huo Lingxue''s brows twitched.


    Her grip on her fan tightened.


    Then¡ªshe smiled.


    The kind of smile that preceded genocides.


    "Whose ego is bruised?"


    Her voice was too calm.


    With a flick, she snapped her fan shut¡ª


    CRACK.


    "If you''re so powerful, go fight her yourself. Let''s see how long before you piss yourself."


    The disciples who had so helpfully dug up her past?


    Silent.


    Su Xiaobai?


    Too busy staring at the Celestial Peak Lord''s balcony.


    Behind her¡ªa shadow stood.


    Unmoving.


    Uninterested.


    But watching.


    Chi Fanglin¡ª#3 in the rankings¡ªsaid nothing.


    Brother Yun¡ª#2¡ªalso stayed silent.


    Because they knew.


    If Huo Lingxue fought them¡ª


    Their chances were slim.


    And this fight?


    Wouldn''t be simple.

 Chapter 171 - 171: Dragon Transformation!

    CLANG!


    Su Xiaobai''s golden gauntlet crashed against Huo Lingxue''s Ember Frost Fan¡ªonly for his fireball to explode into crystalline embers, freezing and burning at the same time, like a shattered nebula raining from the heavens.


    "Not bad¡­" she murmured, lips curving.


    And just like that, Su Xiaobai knew he was fucked.


    CLICK!


    Her fan split apart, twin daggers forming in her hands¡ªone wreathed in an eerie, soul-chilling frost, the other a molten river of hellfire.


    Then her boots tapped once¡ª


    And she was gone.


    SHING¡ª!


    A streak of fire flashed before his eyes¡ªhis instincts screamed¡ªhe barely twisted away¡ª


    CLANG!


    Her dagger scraped against his gauntlet, sending a shockwave that split the ground beneath them.


    SHING!


    Before he could counter, she was already above him¡ª


    CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!


    A blur of steel and fury.


    Each strike was faster than the last, a storm of dagger slashes that turned the air into a web of deadly arcs. Su Xiaobai''s arms went numb, his defenses crumbling as he staggered backward.


    "Shit¡ª!"


    Flicker Step!


    He vanished¡ªonly to reappear directly in her strike zone.


    Her smile widened.


    "Too slow."


    SHIIING!


    Twin blades ripped forward¡ª


    BOOM!


    Su Xiaobai kicked off the air itself, twisting his body mid-flight to dodge by a hair''s breadth. The twin daggers sliced past his ribs, missing his vitals but cutting clean through his outer robe.


    Cold sweat.


    She''s too fucking fast.


    His gauntlets were too slow. They couldn''t keep up.


    "Tch¡ªfuck this!"


    With a flick of his wrist, his gauntlets vanished into his storage ring. In the same instant, his sword flashed into existence.


    A heavy pressure exploded from his stance.


    "Sword Intent¡ªShattering Earth!"


    BOOOOOM!


    The ground split apart beneath them as a crushing sword aura locked onto Huo Lingxue, the sheer weight of his intent slowing her movements for just a fraction of a second.


    That was all he needed.


    SHHHING!


    Sword Qi surged along his blade as he lunged¡ªthe air howled as his sword descended in a perfect arc, sharp enough to cut the heavens themselves¡ª


    Before impact¡ª


    WHOOSH!


    Twin tornadoes of fire and ice exploded from Huo Lingxue''s body, the sheer force swallowing Su Xiaobai whole!


    The battlefield vanished.


    All that remained was a hurricane of blazing hellfire and absolute zero.


    No one could see them anymore.


    Only the relentless CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! of steel colliding within the storm.


    Inside that world of destruction, two monsters still fought.


    ____


    Inside the raging maelstrom of fire and ice, Su Xiaobai couldn''t see shit.


    Flames howled like a celestial inferno, devouring the air itself. Frost chewed at reality, freezing space into an abyss of absolute zero. Neither should exist together¡ªyet here they were, trying to kill him at the same time.


    And in the heart of it¡ª


    She was there.


    SHING!


    A dagger ripped toward his throat.


    CLANG!


    Su Xiaobai twisted his sword, deflecting it by a hair''s breadth. The moment steel met steel, his instincts screamed¡ª


    She was behind him.


    SHING!


    He barely ducked in time, her frost dagger missing his spine by a whisper.


    "Tch¡ªwhere the hell are you even moving from?!"


    Huo Lingxue laughed¡ªa soft, silken sound, despite the storm tearing reality apart around them.


    "Everywhere."


    SHING! SHING! SHING!


    Three slashes, three directions.


    Su Xiaobai barely blocked the first two¡ªthe third slid past his defenses.


    SLASH!


    Cold fire bit into his side, searing and freezing his flesh at the same time.


    His face twitched.


    "...Shit."


    "Don''t look so pained, Brother Su," she teased, circling him. "You should be honored. Not many men can say I''ve left a mark on them."


    CLANG!


    He parried another strike, flickering backward to create space¡ªbut there was no space.


    The storm was her domain.


    She was already at his side.


    Her breath ghosted his ear.


    "Or do you prefer leaving marks on women instead?"


    CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!


    A whirlwind of dagger strikes hammered against his blade, forcing him on the defensive. His arms burned from the endless impact¡ªhalf-step Immortal-rank weapons weren''t a joke.


    He gritted his teeth.


    If he stayed on defense, he was dead.


    "Tch¡ªsince you wanna play dirty¡ª"


    BOOM!


    A shockwave of Sword Qi blasted outward.


    She flickered back just in time, her daggers dragging two perfect lines through the air.


    Su Xiaobai grinned, raising his sword.


    "I''ll give you a taste too."


    "Sword Intent¡ªCelestial''s decree!"


    The moment the words left his mouth¡ª


    He was gone.


    A single lightning-fast sword arc sliced through the storm¡ª


    Straight for her neck.


    For the first time, her playful smile vanished.


    SHIIING!


    Twin daggers crossed.


    The storms tore apart as sword and daggers clashed, the sheer force of the impact blasting apart the tornadoes and revealing the battlefield once more.


    For a breathless moment¡ª


    They stood in the center of a ruined arena.


    Her blades trembled against his sword, the ground beneath them cracking under their feets.


    Huo Lingxue''s lips curved.


    "¡­You have something stronger?"


    Su Xiaobai''s smile stiffened.


    Shit.


    His body flipped back, landing smoothly fifty yards away. His grip tightened around his crimson sword, eyes flicking to his swollen, burning-red hands.


    Her Frost Ember Fan was too strong. His sword couldn''t cut through it.


    And she knew it.


    Yet, Huo Lingxue didn''t chase.


    She stood there, waiting. Watching.


    A slow, cruel smile stretched across her lips.


    "What happened to your Dragon Breath, Brother Su?" she chuckled. "I heard you had a draconic bloodline."


    The aura twisted, and behind her¡ª


    A mirage took shape.


    Not a tiger.


    A Lynx.


    A beast of flame and frost, its golden pupils locked onto him like prey.


    She was waiting for it.


    She had come prepared.


    Su Xiaobai''s eye twitched.


    Fuck.


    He could use Dragon Breath¡ªbut if he missed, he was done. And against her Phantom Flame Steps, he couldn''t escape.


    Her Frostfire Lynx Bloodline was insane.


    Her steps could rival his Flicker Steps.


    Her Molten Frost Domain could summon hellfire or absolute zero at will.


    And worst of all¡ª


    She was a realm above him.


    This wasn''t a fair fight.


    And she was still holding back.


    Earlier, Su Xiaobai didn''t believe the rumors.


    Now, he was sure.


    She could stand at the top of the Inner Court, maybe even challenge Yue Xi, the one who defeated her.


    But¡­


    He grinned.


    "I have something better."


    His sword vanished. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    His arms expanded.


    Dark violet scales rippled across his skin, gleaming with ethereal violet nectar that pulsed beneath the surface. His fingernails sharpened, morphing into obsidian spikes.


    A deep rumble echoed.


    BANG!


    The ground beneath him exploded.


    His legs transformed, claws tearing into the earth. His eyes¡ª


    No longer red.


    They burned golden.


    Huo Lingxue''s breath froze.


    "A transformation?"


    A moment of hesitation.


    Anyone at the Earthly Rebirth Realm and beyond could partially transform, drawing from their bloodline. But it was a double-edged sword.


    A weak bloodline? It''ll slow you down instead of helping.


    Even her own gave more agility, but at the cost of a limited field of view. If someone struck from behind¡ªshe was finished.


    She never used it.


    Which meant¡ª


    Why the fuck was he using it?!


    It didn''t make sense.


    Until it did.


    BANG!


    Before she could blink¡ª


    He was already in front of her.


    Faster.


    Far faster than her.


    "Wh¡ª!?"


    SHING!


    She barely raised her daggers¡ªbut sparks flew as claws scraped against steel.


    CRACK!


    Her blades shattered.


    Her eyes widened.


    "H-How¡ª?!"


    She leapt back, eyes flicking from Su Xiaobai¡ªto his claws.


    Half-step Immortal-grade weapons¡ªbroken?!


    Her gaze darkened.


    That bastard''s claws¡­


    Were stronger.


    Than.


    Her weapons.


    And she hated it.


    Su Xiaobai stood there, smiling, his dragon-scaled hands lowering.


    No more attacks.


    No more tension.


    He had no intention of fighting anymore.


    Across from him, Huo Lingxue glared¡ªher grip tight on the broken hilts of her daggers. Her chest rose and fell, her blood boiling with unreleased killing intent.


    And yet¡ª


    She raised her hand.


    "I surrender."

 Chapter 172 - 172: When a Woman Says ‘Meet Me Later’—It’s Either Bed or Death!

    "Surrender."


    The arena fell silent.


    Then¡ª


    "WHAT!?"


    "She can still fight!"


    "Right! Just use another weapon!"


    The disciples roared in disbelief, their faces twisted in confusion.


    It made no sense.


    Huo Lingxue wasn''t injured. She had more weapons. She was still stronger.


    Yet, she had chosen to forfeit.


    Above them, Zhao Tianxuan let out a deep sigh, as if he had just escaped death himself.


    He had been clenching his fists so tightly that his palms bled.


    This match had been a nightmare to watch.


    But he understood.


    Huo Lingxue was already over a hundred years old. Late Fusion Realm or not, her talent was nothing compared to Su Xiaobai''s.


    Stronger now? Yes.


    But ten years from now?


    Who knew?


    And so, Zhao Tianxuan accepted the result.


    Still¡ª


    His eyes narrowed.


    "What did he say to her?"


    Right before her daggers shattered, Su Xiaobai had whispered something.


    And in that moment¡ªHuo Lingxue changed her mind.


    Every expert above the Deity Transformation Realm had noticed it.


    And yet¡ªno one knew what it was.


    As she walked past Su Xiaobai, her shoulder slammed into his, a flash of cold fury in her eyes.


    Her voice was sharp, edged with something unreadable.


    "Who told you?"


    Su Xiaobai shrugged, the corner of his lips lifting.


    "Does it matter?"


    Huo Lingxue sneered.


    Then, without another word¡ªshe left.


    The crowd erupted.


    But Su Xiaobai wasn''t listening.


    He was still laughing.


    Many thought he had gone mad from victory, but in truth¡ª


    He was ecstatic. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Because his transformation''s effects weren''t limited to speed alone.


    As his dragon scales receded, his hands and feet returned to normal, his eyes shifted back to crimson¡ª


    His vision returned to normal.


    But during his transformed state¡ª


    He saw everything.


    Not just the battlefield¡ªbut the flow of spiritual energy itself.


    Every meridian.


    Every dantian.


    Every trace of Qi.


    It was like thermal vision¡ªbut for spiritual energy.


    He could see the void.


    The Void Thunder Dragon¡ªa beast that lived in the abyss of emptiness itself¡ªhad evolved to see what could not be seen.


    Now, so could he.


    His Flicker Steps?


    He no longer had to rely on just nearby void cracks to teleport¡ª


    He could see distant ones.


    Which meant¡ª


    He could move even faster.


    The Void Thunder Dragon''s transformation had given him more than just speed. A gift beyond comprehension¡ªyet it made perfect sense.


    Deep in his Spirit Sea, an enormous entity slumbered.


    No¡ªnot slumbered. Watched.


    Those eyes alone were larger than the entire Immortal Rain Valley.


    And its full form?


    A being so vast it could dwarf the heavens themselves.


    [Meet me at my chambers after your battle...]


    A cold, indifferent voice transmission echoed in his mind.


    Huo Lingxue.


    Su Xiaobai''s face twitched.


    ''Oh, fuck me.''


    A woman whose deepest secret had just been exposed¡­


    And she was inviting him alone?


    What could this mean?


    A romantic confession?


    A passionate night of dual cultivation?


    ...No.


    She probably wanted to silence him permanently.


    Killing him in front of everyone was impossible.


    But behind closed doors?


    Easy.


    Su Xiaobai let out a long, tired sigh.


    "Life is just one problem after another."


    Should he ask Zhu Qing to kill her first?


    ¡­No, that''s too obvious.


    Instead¡ªhe''d bring Zhu Qing with him.


    And when Huo Lingxue tried to kill him¡ª


    She''d be the one dying instead.


    Zhu Qing wouldn''t just sit back and watch him die, right?


    "Heh. Two steps ahead as always."


    And with that, Su Xiaobai turned to leave.


    The next battle wouldn''t start¡ªnot until they brought Liu Zhenhai.


    The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the battlefield.


    Late afternoon.


    ________


    While the sect prepared to retrieve Liu Zhenhai from prison¡ª


    A lone shadow had already slipped inside.


    Just as Su Xiaobai predicted, those desperate to see him dead would use Liu Zhenhai as a scapegoat.


    A thin, pale man in ashen robes, bearing the insignia of Stormfire Peak, moved through the sect''s underground dungeon. His usual task was forging weapons, but today, his duty had shifted¡ª


    To delivering a prisoner.


    Bai Yujian had refused to meet Liu Zhenhai, so by tradition, a Peak Lord had to retrieve him.


    Liu Chenfu volunteered.


    And oddly¡ªno one questioned it.


    Any sane person would realize this was a trap.


    Anyone else would have backed off.


    But Liu Chenfu walked forward without hesitation.


    The dungeon was a maze of darkness and silence, the air heavy with dampness and the faint scent of rusted iron. At the end of the corridor, locked within a cold prison cell, sat a golden-haired man.


    Liu Zhenhai.


    His eyes were hollow, dark shadows beneath them. Yet, he did not struggle, did not rage¡ª


    He meditated.


    The energy around him fluctuated, spiritual power gently circulating as if awaiting judgment.


    "Master?"


    Hearing footsteps approach, Liu Zhenhai''s eyes lit up with hope.


    For a moment, he thought¡ªperhaps the Sword Fairy herself had come.


    But then¡ª


    A dark chuckle.


    "Haha¡­ It''s not your master, boy."


    Liu Chenfu.


    Liu Zhenhai''s face darkened.


    He already knew what was coming.


    And just as expected¡ª


    In mere moments, Liu Zhenhai had already rejected Liu Chenfu''s offer.


    "I have no way to prove my innocence if I take that!"


    In Liu Chenfu''s hand, a black pill shimmered ominously, its surface swirling with dark miasma.


    Liu Zhenhai''s fingers twitched, his clenched fists revealing his inner conflict.


    Liu Chenfu smirked, watching the hesitation spread like poison.


    "What''s the use of proving innocence if you''re dead?"


    Liu Zhenhai frowned.


    "Die?"


    Then, realization struck.


    "Impossible. Su Xiaobai can''t kill me. He''s too weak for that."


    Liu Chenfu merely smiled.


    And then¡ªhe told him everything.


    The previous battles. The terrifying way Su Xiaobai dismantled his opponents.


    The match with Huo Lingxue.


    Liu Zhenhai may have reached Late Soul Fusion Realm, but even he knew¡ªhe wasn''t confident against her.


    And Su Xiaobai?


    That bastard had fought her as an equal.


    "You think he''ll fight fair?" Liu Chenfu''s voice was silk laced with poison.


    "Disciple Liu, we share the same surname. I''m giving you a way out."


    "Don''t use this pill unless your life is truly in danger."


    "Would you rather die, unable to fight for your innocence?"


    "Or take revenge first¡ªbefore death becomes inevitable?"


    Liu Chenfu''s words hit deep.


    Liu Zhenhai stared at the pill, dark energy oozing from its surface.


    If he took it¡ªhis guilt would be undeniable.


    But¡­


    If Su Xiaobai tried to kill him first, then using it wouldn''t be wrong.


    He just had to survive long enough for his innocence to be proven.


    Right?


    He exhaled.


    And then¡ªhe took it.


    Little did he know¡ªthis was a game rigged from the start.


    Because at this very moment¡ªthe entire conversation was being listened to.


    ____


    Inside the sect''s grand chamber, several figures sat grim-faced.


    Zhao Tianxuan''s expression darkened.


    "Liu Chenfu has crossed his limits¡­"


    The other Peak Lords nodded.


    "Hmph! Let''s see how he dares betray the sect!" Xu Tianran stood up, fire burning in his gaze.


    But before they could move¡ª


    A voice cut through the silence.


    "No need."


    Su Xiaobai, lounging like a spectator, smirked.


    "Let them try what they want. Arrest him afterward."


    "Huh?" Zhao Tianxuan frowned. "But it''s dangerous¡ª"


    Su Xiaobai shrugged.


    "Dangerous? With so many experts watching the match?"


    His words silenced them.


    Of course.


    The fight was being observed by countless elders and peak lords.


    Killing someone in plain sight? Not easy.


    But Su Xiaobai didn''t care about catching them now.


    No¡ª


    He wanted to push Liu Zhenhai to the edge.


    He wanted him to use that pill.


    He had no clue what it was, but one thing was certain¡ªit would give him an excuse to kill Liu Zhenhai.


    And Su Xiaobai would not rest until Liu Zhenhai was dead.


    If he let him live, he''d never have peace.


    If he was exposed and investigated, he''d have no choice but to leave Yue Country.


    And as for Liu Chenfu?


    Once the truth was exposed, he would try to flee.


    And when he did¡ªhis list of crimes would only grow.


    Would the sect execute him?


    Su Xiaobai wasn''t sure.


    But he hoped they would.

 Chapter 173 - 173: Killing the final thorn!

    As the Peak Lords left, Su Xiaobai''s gaze drifted, landing on one figure¡ª


    Huo Rong.


    The Fire Peak Lord.


    His open hostility toward Su Xiaobai had been obvious for a while now, but the more Su Xiaobai thought about it, the less sense it made.


    Zhu Qing had told him not to overthink it, saying Fire Peak was simply avenging their crippled disciples.


    But bullshit.


    Those were just Outer Core disciples. Nobodies.


    And that was months ago.


    How could a Peak Lord¡ªa man who had lived for over a hundred years¡ªbear such a personal grudge over something so minor?


    No¡ªthis hatred was deeper.


    And as Huo Rong returned to Fire Peak, his actions only confirmed it.


    ________


    Inside the silent halls of Fire Peak, a small shadow flickered into existence.


    A voice, low and cautious, whispered through the darkness.


    "Brother¡­"


    Huo Rong''s face lit up with rare relief, his sharp eyes gleaming with expectation.


    "Is it done?"


    The shadow shifted.


    A man stood there, his fiery eyes cold, his sharp brows unwavering. Crimson hair cascaded down his back, and a golden robe, embroidered with the mark of a blazing sun, draped over his form.


    A sun-shaped brand burned against his forehead.


    Not a scar.


    A mark of vengeance.


    If Su Xiaobai or Bai Yujian were here, they would have recognized him instantly.


    Because this man should not exist.


    This man was from the Blazing Sun Sect.


    And that sect¡ª


    Was supposed to be dead.


    Huo Rong''s face darkened.


    "I failed, but we have another pawn to use." His voice was low, resolute. "If things go south, I''ll execute him myself¡ªthen escape."


    The shadowed man nodded, his voice dripping with suppressed rage.


    "Good."


    Then, he vanished.


    Far away, outside Xiantian Sect, in the dark forests where no disciples dared to tread, a figure stood alone.


    His golden robe fluttered, his crimson hair burned under the dim light.


    And then¡ª


    He laughed.


    A hollow, broken sound.


    A sound filled with insanity.


    "Hehehe¡­ hahahahaha¡­ HAAAAAA!"


    His voice ripped through, carrying the madness of a man with nothing left to lose.


    His name¡ª


    Ji Yan.


    Blazing Sun Sect Ancestor.


    A man who should have died.


    A man who should not exist.


    And yet¡ªhe lived.


    Master Qiangxuan had promised the world that the Blazing Sun Sect was annihilated.


    And he had delivered.


    Or so they thought.


    Because in truth¡ªhe left one survivor.


    Ji Yan.


    But he had not been spared out of mercy.


    He had been enslaved.


    Branded, shackled, forced to bow before Master Qiangxuan, who had whispered coldly¡ª


    "Live. Serve me. And destroy them."


    Ji Yan''s entire sect¡ªgone in a single day.


    His disciples¡ªmassacred.


    His family¡ªslaughtered.


    His wife¡ªburned alive.


    His sons, daughters¡ªripped apart.


    Everything he had built for a thousand years was erased in mere hours.


    And now¡ª


    Only hatred remained.


    Ji Yan''s hands trembled, his fingernails digging into his palms until blood dripped down his fingers.


    "Su Xiaobai¡­ Zhu Qing¡­ Bai Yujian¡­"


    His voice was a whisper of hellfire.


    He didn''t care that Bai Yujian was the one who forced Master Qiangxuan''s hand.


    He didn''t care that Zhu Qing had planned his sect''s downfall.


    He didn''t care that Master Qiangxuan was the true mastermind behind his ruin.


    Because Zhu Qing and Bai Yujian were too strong.


    And Master Qiangxuan was untouchable.


    But Su Xiaobai?


    That bastard was weak.


    He was the easiest to crush.


    Ji Yan clenched his fists.


    Right now, his grudge against stronger enemies had to be swallowed.


    He could only bully the weak.


    If not for Master Qiangxuan''s orders, he would have stormed into Su Xiaobai''s chambers and ripped him apart in his sleep. But Master Qiangxuan had his own plans, and Ji Yan didn''t dare disobey.


    Even thinking about that old alchemist''s allies sent a shiver down his spine.


    And Su Xiaobai?


    That brat had no idea what was happening behind the scenes.


    He had only joined the sect a few months ago. How could he possibly know that before the year was over¡ª


    Xiantian Sect would be erased from the Yue Kingdom?


    _____


    Back in Arena....


    Clash!


    "Sword Intent¡ªSlicing Rivers!"


    WHOOSH!


    Liu Zhenhai''s sword howled, an arc of razor-sharp Qi surging forward, splitting the entire arena in two.


    Su Xiaobai''s form flickered away at the last second¡ª


    BOOM!


    The ground ruptured, a massive gash carved through the stone stage, its edges smooth as a mirror.


    Su Xiaobai landed lightly on the far end, wiping the cold sweat off his forehead.


    "Tsk. A Level Four Sword Intent really is monstrous¡­ When the hell can I learn that?"


    Liu Zhenhai''s burning gaze locked onto him.


    "Su Xiaobai! If I defeat you¡ªacknowledge my innocence in front of everyone!"


    Hatred burned in Liu Zhenhai''s bloodshot eyes, dark circles hollowing his face. This wasn''t the same Liu Zhenhai that once stood proudly as a noble swordsman.


    This was a man pushed into a corner.


    Su Xiaobai sighed theatrically, shaking his head like a disappointed elder.


    "Brother Liu, what innocence? Just because the Peak Lord kicked you out, doesn''t mean you get to twist black and white."


    His hands spread wide in a gesture of ignorance.


    Liu Zhenhai''s killing intent surged.


    "Twisting black and white? Good. Then I''ll carve the truth into you."


    CLANG!


    Their swords met, sparks flying as the air trembled from the collision of their Sword Qi.


    Liu Zhenhai smirked¡ªbut before he could press forward, Su Xiaobai had already vanished.


    He wasn''t retreating.


    He was grinning.


    He wasn''t stupid.


    If this was a contest of pure swordsmanship, Su Xiaobai would be crushed.


    Liu Zhenhai had been wielding a sword since he was eight, reaching Late Soul Fusion Realm before even hitting eighty. His talent rivaled royalty, his lineage deeply tied to ancient martial traditions.


    But Su Xiaobai never fought fair.


    With a flick of his wrist, his sword disappeared.


    His body twisted¡ªscales bursting forth as his hands and feet transformed.


    Dark violet dragon scales gleamed under the evening sunlight, claws extending like razor-sharp obsidian spikes.


    Liu Zhenhai''s brows furrowed.


    "...??"


    Swish!


    Su Xiaobai moved.


    CLANG!


    Liu Zhenhai barely parried with his sword, his arms shaking from the sheer force.


    His confusion deepened.


    "What are you doing?! Fight like a real swordsman!"


    But Su Xiaobai just grinned wider.


    "A real swordsman? Brother Liu, you''re mistaken."


    "I''m a warrior not swordsman."


    A low hum¡ª


    Then, in an instant, Su Xiaobai''s claws tore through in a flurry of unpredictable strikes.


    SHING! SHING! SHING!


    Liu Zhenhai deflected most of them¡ªbut not all.


    A small cut appeared on his cheek.


    A thin scratch across his shoulder.


    A tiny gash on his arm.


    Nothing serious.


    At first.


    But Su Xiaobai didn''t stop.


    He wasn''t aiming to kill.


    He was shaving away at Liu Zhenhai''s pride.


    Liu Zhenhai''s expression twisted.


    He wasn''t injured.


    But his clothes were torn.


    His face had small cuts.


    His aura surged violently, but Su Xiaobai was untouched.


    And the worst part?


    The bastard was smiling.


    The disciples watching stared in disbelief.


    "What the hell is Brother Su doing?!"


    "He''s not even fighting properly¡ªhe''s just¡­ annoying him?!"


    Liu Zhenhai''s blood boiled.


    "Enough!"


    BOOM!


    A powerful wave of red bloodthirsty Sword Qi erupted from his blade, shattering the ground beneath them.


    Su Xiaobai flickered backward, still grinning like a fox.


    "Angry already? Brother Liu, you really are impatient."


    His claws flexed.


    "Don''t worry. I''ll make sure you feel much, much worse before this fight ends."


    Liu Zhenhai''s hands tightened around his sword.


    For the first time¡ª


    He had the feeling that this wasn''t a battle.


    This was a game.


    And Su Xiaobai was playing him like a fool.


    It was .... humiliating.


    Liu Zhenhai''s robes were in tatters, his body covered in thin, stinging cuts. None of them serious¡ªyet together, they painted the image of a man being slowly picked apart.


    But as his rage burned hotter¡ª


    A chill crept into the hearts of those watching.


    ______


    From the VIP seats, a Deity Transformation Elder narrowed his eyes.


    "Something''s wrong."


    "What do you mean?" another Peak Lord asked.


    The elder stroked his beard, voice grave.


    "The wounds."


    Everyone turned their gaze back to the battlefield.


    At first, it had seemed random¡ªSu Xiaobai''s playful harassment, leaving shallow cuts here and there.


    But now¡ª


    A pattern was forming.


    Each drop of blood landed too precisely.


    Too deliberately.


    One Elder suddenly shot to his feet, his voice filled with disbelief.


    "He''s not just fighting¡ª"


    "He''s drawing a formation!"


    ____


    The Truth Behind the Bloodshed....


    Su Xiaobai''s grin widened.


    By now, the arena floor beneath them was stained red.


    Every drip of blood that fell from Liu Zhenhai''s wounds was placed with precision.


    It wasn''t random.


    It was by design.


    The moment Liu Zhenhai moved one step back¡ª


    BOOM!


    A violent pulse of spiritual energy erupted beneath his feet.


    The ground shuddered.


    A web of crimson runes ignited across the arena, forming an intricate pattern woven from Liu Zhenhai''s own blood.


    The elders gasped in horror.


    A formation?!


    A Blood-Linked Array?!


    Su Xiaobai tilted his head, stretching lazily as if this wasn''t even worth his full effort.


    "Brother Liu, you look confused."


    His fingers casually traced, and the formation''s runes flared brighter.


    "Don''t tell me you thought I was just playing around this whole time?"


    SHINGGG!


    The array activated.


    A deep, oppressive force slammed onto Liu Zhenhai''s body.


    His knees buckled, his spiritual energy flickered. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "W-What¡­?!"


    His Qi was being drained.


    No¡ªredirected.


    He could feel it.


    This wasn''t a simple formation¡ª


    It was a blood-based suppression array.


    One that used the opponent''s own essence to restrain them.


    A Peak Lord stood up in shock.


    "That''s the Crimson Tyrant Array!"


    "Impossible! That formation takes days to set up! And it requires blood as the catalyst!"


    Another Elder muttered in awe.


    "Which means¡­ he''s been setting it up from the first scratch."


    A shiver ran through the entire sect.


    "Terrifying."


    ______


    Liu Zhenhai tried to step forward¡ªbut his movements were sluggish.


    His qi refused to listen.


    Every ounce of sword energy he released¡ª


    Was absorbed by the array.


    The realization hit him like a lightning bolt.


    "You¡­ you planned this from the start?!"


    Su Xiaobai shrugged, stepping forward leisurely, like a predator that had already won.


    "Of course."


    His dragon claws flexed.


    "I knew from the beginning I couldn''t match you in pure swordsmanship."


    "So I simply made sure that swordsman couldn''t use his sword."


    Liu Zhenhai''s eyes widened in sheer disbelief.


    His strongest weapon¡ªneutralized.


    His own blood¡ªused against him.


    His greatest advantage¡ªrendered meaningless.


    And the worst part?


    He had never even noticed.


    A cold silence fell over the crowd.


    Even the elders¡ªbattle-hardened veterans¡ªfelt an unsettling chill in their bones.


    A disciple gulped.


    "He made a formation¡­ out of his opponent''s own blood?"


    "Without him even realizing?"


    Another whispered, his voice shaking.


    "Is he a swordsman¡­ or a demon?"


    Huo Rong clenched his fists.


    _____


    But Liu Zhenhai wasn''t done.


    His golden hair whipped in the wind, his aura burning with desperation.


    "I refuse to lose like this!"


    With a roar, he forcefully pushed his Qi to the limit, fighting against the formation''s hold.


    Su Xiaobai clicked his tongue.


    "Oh? Still struggling?"


    He shook his head, almost disappointed.


    "Then let''s see how long you last."


    He raised his clawed hand¡ªand with a flick of his fingers, the formation surged with power.


    The Crimson Tyrant Array wasn''t just a suppression formation¡ª


    It had another function.


    "Kneel."


    The runes flashed violently.


    The weight on Liu Zhenhai''s body doubled.


    His bones creaked.


    His legs shook.


    And in front of the entire sect¡ª


    Liu Zhenhai collapsed to his knees.

 Chapter 174 - 174: Descent into Madness!

    THUD!


    In front of thousands, under the gaze of elders, disciples, and peak lords¡ª


    Liu Zhenhai fell to his knees.


    Silence.


    Pure, absolute silence.


    Compared to the battles before this, this wasn''t even a fight.


    This was a public execution.


    Even Bai Yujian, Liu Zhenhai''s own previous master, refused to look at him.


    She was never the type to blindly protect her disciples, but this?


    This was humiliating beyond words.


    She had trained Liu Zhenhai for decades.


    And yet¡ªin just a few months, Su Xiaobai had turned him into this?


    Was her teaching that useless?


    Or was this brat simply too monstrous?


    ____


    Su Xiaobai''s grin widened as he watched Liu Zhenhai''s trembling body, soaked in sweat and disgrace.


    A few months ago, this man could have crushed him effortlessly.


    Now?


    He was nothing.


    And the best part?


    He did this to himself.


    A swordsman''s worst enemy isn''t another cultivator¡ªit''s his own emotions.


    Rage?


    A death sentence.


    A sword doesn''t move from anger.


    It moves from clarity.


    And Liu Zhenhai?


    He had none.


    He was so blinded by revenge, so desperate to defeat Su Xiaobai, that he had never even noticed the trap forming beneath his feet.


    And now¡ªit was too late.


    BANG!


    Liu Zhenhai''s fist slammed into the ground, his voice trembling.


    "Curse you..."


    His eyes burned red, his body shaking.


    Why?!


    WHY?!


    Just months ago, he could have crushed Su Xiaobai like an insect.


    But now?


    Now, he was the insect.


    His chest tightened, his thoughts spiraling.


    Tears of blood slid down his cheeks.


    And yet¡ªSu Xiaobai didn''t care.


    He strolled forward, his expression lighthearted, almost lazy.


    Then¡ª


    BAM!


    A impact.


    Su Xiaobai''s foot connected cleanly with Liu Zhenhai''s face, kicking him sideways like a discarded rag.


    "hiss!!"


    Liu Zhenhai''s head jerked violently, but he refused to scream.


    He bit his lip, his blood dripping onto the shattered ground.


    Some disciples flinched.


    They had seen Su Xiaobai be ruthless before.


    But this?


    Even when his opponent was already on his knees¡ª


    He still kicked him down.


    For a brief moment, the sect''s sympathy wavered.


    Was this¡­ too cruel?


    But just as the whispers began to rise¡ª


    Su Xiaobai laughed.


    Not a soft chuckle.


    A sharp, mocking sneer.


    Then, his voice thundered across the arena.


    "You fools."


    His eyes swept the crowd, his tone filled with mockery.


    "Are you really feeling sorry¡­ for a dog?"


    Silence.


    Then, confusion.


    "A beast that dared to harm his own martial sisters¡ª"


    His gaze narrowed, his voice filled with ridicule.


    "Do you think this kind of bastard deserves sympathy?"


    The disciples froze.


    Their sympathy evaporated.


    Then¡ªthey turned.


    One by one¡ª


    Their expressions twisted.


    From hesitation.


    To disgust.


    Then, the curses began.


    "Right! A filthy traitor like him deserves worse!"


    "Senior Brother Su is too kind! If it were me, I''d have cut off his thing!"


    "What''s the matter, Liu Zhenhai?! You were barking so loudly before! Why so quiet now?!"


    Laughter erupted.


    Mockery piled on top of him.


    They spat.


    They jeered.


    Even a core formation disciple smirked.


    "Tsk. All that training for what? To get beaten like a dog in public? What a fucking joke!"


    An inner sect disciple sneered.


    "Where''s your sword, Brother Liu?"


    He mockingly held out his own sword.


    "Come on, pick it up. Fight me! Or are you only good at bullying defenseless girls?!"


    More laughter.


    More taunts.


    They were enjoying it.


    They were feeding on it.


    And Liu Zhenhai?


    His body shook violently.


    "Shut up..."


    They didn''t.


    "Shut up...!!"


    The black miasma started coiling around his body.


    His breath turned ragged.


    His chest tightened, his body shook uncontrollably.


    He hadn''t done anything.


    He wasn''t the villain.


    It was Su Xiaobai.


    That bastard had framed him. Turned everyone against him.


    So why¡ª


    Why couldn''t anyone see it?!


    "IT WASN''T ME!"


    His voice cracked.


    But no one listened.


    They kept laughing.


    Kept mocking.


    Kept cursing him.


    And then¡ª


    His heart stopped beating.


    A deep, visceral silence filled his mind.


    And in that silence¡ª


    Something laughed.


    Heart demon....


    A Heart Demon is not a creature. It is not an external enemy.


    It is the darkest, most twisted reflection of oneself.


    The deeper a cultivator''s emotions, the stronger their Dao Heart¡ªthe core of their beliefs, the foundation of their cultivation.


    But when those emotions become too overwhelming¡ª


    When hatred, grief, humiliation, and despair fester unchecked¡ª


    A cultivator''s own mind becomes their worst enemy.


    And from that torment¡ª


    The Heart Demon is born.


    ___


    Liu Zhenhai''s vision blurred.


    A dark mist began coiling around his body¡ªthin tendrils of black miasma, slithering into his veins like living shadows.


    This was not ordinary Qi.


    This was corruption.


    The impurity formed when one''s Dao Heart collapses, when their spiritual foundation cracks.


    The moment the black miasma took root¡ª


    His aura twisted.


    It was no longer the sword aura of a noble cultivator.


    It became sinister, writhing, feeding on his rage.


    His body convulsed.


    His thoughts screeched in agony.


    And in the next moment¡ª


    The Heart Demon whispered.


    > "They hate you."


    > "They mock you."


    > "You are nothing to them."


    > "But I can make them suffer."


    Liu Zhenhai''s eyes trembled.


    A cold chill clawed at his very soul.


    "W-What is this...?"


    But it wasn''t a question.


    It was a realization.


    Because deep down¡ª


    He already knew.


    This was himself.


    The rage. The shame. The hatred.


    Everything he had tried to suppress¡ª


    Now had a voice.


    And it was laughing.


    > "Let go."


    > "You have nothing left."


    > "Destroy them."


    Liu Zhenhai''s fingernails dug into the dirt, his entire body trembling.


    But the miasma thickened.


    His cultivation base shook violently¡ªhis sword intent becoming unstable, distorted.


    His soul foundation¡ªhis very path of cultivation¡ª


    Was crumbling.


    > "Give in, Liu Zhenhai."


    > "Let me take control."


    And for the first time¡ª


    Liu Zhenhai felt fear.


    Real, bone-deep terror.


    Because he knew¡ª


    Once he fully succumbed¡ª


    He would never be Liu Zhenhai again.


    And then¡ª


    A shadow stood over him.


    Bang!


    Su Xiaobai''s foot pressed against his back, forcing him even lower into the dirt.


    "Crawling already, Brother Liu?"


    His voice was light, playful¡ªmocking.


    "At least act like a man."


    The crowd erupted in laughter.


    The curses poured like rain.


    "Look at him! He can''t even stand anymore!"


    "Senior Brother Su, just put a collar on him and take him home as a pet!"


    "No, no, no! You don''t keep a dog like this! You put it down! Hahaha!"


    "Liu Zhenhai? More like Liu ZhenGOU! (Liu Dog!)"


    The mockery dug deep.


    Every word was a blade.


    Every laugh was a cut to his soul.


    And beneath the pressure of the humiliation, the betrayal, and the dark whispers¡ª


    His Dao Heart collapsed.


    His vision turned black.


    His soul foundation cracked.


    And then¡ª


    The Heart Demon devoured him whole.


    Whoosh! S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Liu Zhenhai''s pupils vanished, swallowed by an abyss of eternal darkness.


    The black miasma was no longer hidden.


    It slithered around his body like ghostly serpents, visible to the naked eye, twisting and writhing like a living curse.


    And then¡ª


    "Su Xiaobai, be careful!"


    The first to shout wasn''t Bai Yujian, nor the sect elders¡ª


    It was Xu Tianran.


    His face twisted into a rare expression of genuine concern, his voice booming across the arena¡ªit felt like he actually cared whether Su Xiaobai lived or died.


    But the warning came too late.


    _____


    Liu Zhenhai¡ªstill kneeling in the dirt, humiliated, broken¡ª


    His fingers trembled.


    Then¡ª


    GULP.


    He threw the black obsidian pill into his mouth, swallowing it in one motion.


    A low hum vibrated through his body, the pill dissolving instantly, its contents surging through his dantian like molten lead.


    As the power spread, so did his madness.


    His face twisted, his lips curling back¡ªa sneer? A sob? Even he didn''t know anymore.


    And then he spoke.


    A low whisper at first, barely heard.


    "That bitch¡­ Lan Meiyu¡­"


    The arena fell silent.


    But Liu Zhenhai''s voice rose, trembling with venom and agony.


    "Why?! Why was it always you?! I never cared about you! I never wanted you!"


    His eyes¡ªblack pits of hate and sorrow¡ªsnapped to the heavens.


    "I¡ª I only ever wanted to stand beside Bai Yujian¡­!"


    A shocked murmur rippled through the crowd.


    Bai Yujian''s beautiful face twisted in a frown.


    But Liu Zhenhai wasn''t finished.

 Chapter 175 - 175: Dying a Dogs Death!

    "Why did you never leave me alone?! Why did you keep chasing me, whispering my name, pestering me with your pity?!"


    His voice broke, rage mixing with something¡­ else.


    "Every time I tried to advance¡­ to prove myself¡­ you were there. Smiling. Watching. Wavering my Dao Heart!"


    A growl, then a scream¡ªdesperate.


    "I HATED YOU!!"


    The words rang out like a curse, heavy, final.


    And the crowd¡ªmisunderstood.


    A realization swept through them like wildfire.


    Hate. He hated her.


    And what had he done?


    Lan Meiyu and her friends had been raped. Brutalized. Left broken.


    The whispers turned to gasps.


    "It was him¡­" someone muttered in horror.


    "He did it¡ªbecause he hated her!"


    "Then¡­ where is she?!"


    A dreadful silence.


    Lan Meiyu was nowhere to be seen.


    Could he have¡­ killed her before coming here?!


    The idea sank into their bones¡ªa chilling, horrifying possibility.


    And as the fear settled, Liu Zhenhai''s blackened eyes snapped onto Su Xiaobai.


    "AND YOU¡ª!!"


    He roared, voice shaking the arena.


    "It''s because of you¡­!!"


    His nails dug into his palms, blood spilling freely.


    "If you weren''t here¡ªif you had just died like a dog in the Outer Sect¡ªnone of this would have happened!"


    The hatred in his voice was growing.


    "You think you''re untouchable?! You think your filthy bloodline makes you better than me?!"


    A crazed laugh.


    "I''LL TEAR YOU APART!"


    And then¡ª


    BOOM!


    A tornado of black miasma erupted from Liu Zhenhai''s body, swallowing the entire arena in an instant.


    "ARGHHHHHH!!"


    His agonized scream tore through, his veins bulging, pulsing like blackened roots spreading across his skin.


    His body swelled to twice its size, his robes exploding into shreds of fabric.


    His once sharp and noble features¡ª


    Gone.


    His golden hair darkened, streaked with ashen gray.


    His eyes¡ªno longer human. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Two crimson orbs burned in their sockets, filled with nothing but insanity and slaughter.


    His mouth twisted into a permanent sneel, his lips curling over sharp, jagged fangs.


    A monster.


    A beast of pure, mindless destruction.


    A fallen swordsman, consumed by the abyss.


    KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL!"


    The arena trembled.


    The walls cracked.


    The disciples shivered.


    Just hearing his voice sent cold fear down their spines.


    This wasn''t Liu Zhenhai anymore.


    This was a demon wearing his skin.


    And before anyone could react¡ª


    SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!


    A thousand sword threads erupted from his body!


    Each thread whipped out violently, cutting through the air like invisible silk sharp with sword intent.


    Everywhere¡ªcutting, slashing, destroying.


    A simple flicker of his aura had turned into a torrent of blades.


    The terrified screams of people caught in the mutual destruction merged with the symphony of shattering steel¡ª


    And Su Xiaobai was caught in the storm.


    Puchi!


    In one second¡ª


    A hundred cuts.


    In three seconds¡ª


    A thousand.


    Blood poured from Su Xiaobai''s arms, chest, and legs.


    His clothes were shredded, his flesh sliced open by the endless bombardment of razor-thin sword intent.


    And yet¡ª


    Liu Zhenhai wasn''t done.


    He rose to his feet, his demonic eyes locking onto Su Xiaobai, his entire body dripping with black mist and slaughter intent.


    "KILL!!!"


    BAM!


    His foot slammed forward, sending a shockwave through the battlefield.


    His sword¡ªor rather, the phantom of his shattered will¡ªburned with a mad, unstable reddish glow.


    A killing move.


    A technique fueled by nothing but destruction.


    And at its center¡ªSu Xiaobai, bloodied and smiling.


    ____


    "Su Xiaobai! Dodge!"


    "That''s not Liu Zhenhai anymore! That''s a monster!"


    "Is he even human at this point?!"


    Even the elders and peak lords¡ªmen who had lived for over a hundred years¡ª


    Felt unease.


    The Nine Hells Berserker Pill wasn''t just forbidden¡ª


    It was a death sentence.


    A temporary ascension into absolute madness, where the user''s strength multiplied endlessly, but their life burned away with every second.


    A man-made demon.


    And Liu Zhenhai had given in completely.


    Liu Zhenhai''s sword threads rippled, cutting apart the ground itself, forming a storm of death that threatened to consume everything in its path.


    And standing in the eye of the storm¡ª


    Was Su Xiaobai.


    His red eyes flickered, his smile widening.


    "Finally."


    He cracked his knuckles, letting the blood drip freely from his wounds.


    "I was wondering if you had any fight left in you."


    The rest gasped.


    Did he not understand the danger?!


    But Su Xiaobai only grinned wider.


    His dragon scales pulsed, his aura shifted, and¡ª


    He moved.


    The next strike¡ª


    Would decide everything.


    The sect elders, who had been ready to intervene, suddenly halted. A subtle yet absolute will descended from above, invisible yet commanding.


    The Sect Master had spoken¡ª


    The battle was not to be stopped.


    But how?


    Liu Zhenhai''s power had skyrocketed beyond reason. Every strike carried a bloodthirsty crimson aura, suffused with the essence of slaughter itself. Could they not see it?


    And yet¡ª


    "Hmph!"


    A cold snort echoed from above.


    Liu Chenfu, seated in the Peak Lords'' postion, leaned forward, his eyes flashing with cruel delight.


    Before him, Liu Zhenhai¡ªa monster in human skin¡ªlunged forward.


    His sword arm blurred, and with each step¡ª


    BOOM!


    The earth shattered beneath his feet, deep cracks splintering out like a spiderweb.


    "KILL! KILL! KILL!"


    His howls of slaughter echoed through the air, his presence a beacon of unstoppable destruction.


    Liu Chenfu''s lips curled into a grin of victory.


    And that was the moment¡ª


    Su Xiaobai moved.


    A deep breath¡ª


    Then¡ª


    BOOOOOOOM!!!


    A shattered ray of pure spiritual energy burst forth, a roaring tidal wave of destruction straight from his core!


    Dragon''s Breath!


    It tore through space itself, a beam of absolute annihilation aimed at the berserk Liu Zhenhai, who was mere inches away.


    Time seemed to freeze.


    Liu Zhenhai''s eyes twitched.


    He glanced down.


    And saw it.


    Splurt! Splurt! Splurt!


    A gaping hole had been blasted clean through his stomach.


    The blackened blood of the berserker spilled onto the cracked ground, its cursed essence hissing as it ate away at the stone like corrosive poison.


    "AGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"


    A wail of agony and madness.


    A sound that did not belong to a human anymore.


    And yet¡ª


    He did not fall.


    He did not collapse.


    Instead¡ª


    He laughed.


    A ghastly, ear-splitting cackle.


    "HAHAHAHAHA!"


    Su Xiaobai''s pupils narrowed.


    Something was wrong.


    Instead of dying, Liu Zhenhai''s oozing blood began to twist, to rise.


    The dark gooey liquid coiled into the air, forming a tornado of cursed essence, thobbed with an insatiable hunger.


    The ground trembled.


    The very heavens seemed to recoil from the sheer abomination forming before them.


    And then¡ª


    "Enough. End the match."


    A voice.


    Ancient. Unshakable. Divine.


    Swiish!


    A single figure moved.


    Before anyone could react¡ª


    Zhao Tianxuan, had already appeared.


    Above Liu Zhenhai.


    His hands clasped lightly behind his back.


    His eyes indifferent, as if gazing at an ant.


    And then¡ª


    THUD.


    The blood tornado halted.


    It did not disperse¡ª


    It was pressed down.


    A force beyond comprehension descended, as if the sky itself had chosen to crush Liu Zhenhai.


    The entire arena shook, the winds howling, the ground caving in under the sheer magnitude of the suppression.


    Liu Zhenhai¡ª


    The monster, the berserker, the raging demon¡ª


    Was squeezed into the ground.


    Crushed like a mortal beneath an immortal''s decree.


    His body¡ª


    Exploded.


    Splash!


    A sickening splat¡ª


    And Liu Zhenhai was no more.


    The battlefield fell into absolute silence.


    Not even the wind dared to move.


    And above it all¡ª


    Zhao Tianxuan merely sighed.


    "How meaningless."


    And with that¡ªhe vanished.


    The next moment¡ª


    He was already back in his seat.


    The elders, peak lords, and disciples who had barely followed his movement felt a shiver of awe.


    For a brief, fleeting second, they simply stared.


    Then¡ª


    "SECT MASTER!!!"


    A deafening cheer erupted.


    The arena shook with the voices of thousands, roaring in unrestrained admiration.


    The Sect Master had taken action.


    After years¡ªdecades¡ªof ruling like a shadow in the heavens, he had finally moved.


    And it was effortless.


    No grand techniques, no flashing divine arts¡ªjust a simple suppression.


    That was true power.


    And Su Xiaobai?


    Standing there, staring at the puddle of blood that had once been Liu Zhenhai, he felt something strange¡ª


    His glory had been stolen.


    But¡ª


    He did not complain.


    He understood.


    Zhao Tianxuan had done this on purpose.


    It wasn''t just about stopping Liu Zhenhai¡ª


    It was about solidifying his own authority.


    And indeed, as Zhao Tianxuan sat, his gaze swept over the crowd, watching their unwavering devotion bloom.


    A slight curve touched his lips.


    Yes.


    This was how a sect master should be worshipped.


    But Su Xiaobai?


    He simply chuckled.


    He didn''t care.


    His own plans had went far smoother than expected.


    And there were more pressing matters.


    Zhao Tianxuan''s gaze turned sharp.


    "Where is Liu Chenfu?"


    His voice was calm, but within it was an undeniable authority.


    "Find him. Do not let him escape."


    At that moment¡ª


    His fingers moved slightly, an almost imperceptible signal.


    Xu Tianran, seated near, gave a slight nod¡ª And vanished. Somewhere beyond the arena, a fleeing figure tore through the sky.


    Liu Chenfu had already abandoned all dignity.


    The moment he saw Liu Zhenhai crushed like an insect, he knew¡ª


    He had lost.


    And now, he had to run.


    The sect acted as if nothing had happened, resuming the final match of the day¡ª


    But every peak lord present?


    Their eyes were elsewhere.


    They waited.


    Would Liu Chenfu be caught?


    Would he escape?


    The true storm had yet to begin.

 Chapter 176 - 176: Defeated!

    On the highest seat, above the sea of disciples, a figure slowly rose.


    A white robe fluttered lightly, untouched by the winds of the arena.


    The Celestial Peak Lord.


    She turned her head slightly, her voice calm, emotionless. "Yue Xi. Do not disappoint the master."


    A disciple, standing behind her in silent reverence, bowed deeply.


    "Yes, Master."


    But the Celestial Peak Lord¡ª


    Did not stay.


    She took a step forward, her delicate yet unshakable presence fading into the distance. As if the entire match¡ªno, the entire sect gathering¡ªwas beneath her interest.


    And then¡ªShe yawned.


    A soft, careless sound, carrying absolute confidence.


    "I''ll take a rest. Call me when the match is over."


    Then, she was gone.


    The peak lords froze.


    The disciples stared, dumbfounded.


    "What?!"


    "The Celestial Peak Lord¡­ she just¡­ left?!"


    "After a thousand years of seclusion, she only showed herself for a few hours?!"


    Disappointment and awe mixed.


    Even Su Xiaobai''s eyes stayed on her fading figure. Beneath her robes, her movements were fluid, effortless.


    Smooth, pale legs carried her away¡ª


    And though her body was covered, Su Xiaobai could tell.


    Her waist, her presence¡ª


    She was different.


    Not in the same way as Zhu Qing, whose beauty was sharp, deadly, drenched in killing intent. No¡ªthis woman carried an untouchable mystery.


    Something about her felt familiar.


    But¡ª


    He did not know why. Yue Xi, her chosen disciple, descended towards the arena.


    And though the Celestial Peak Lord had already vanished, her presence still marked over the battlefield.


    The match resumed.


    The sect pretended that everything was normal.


    But deep down¡ª


    They all knew.


    This was merely the calm before the storm.


    And now, with the Sect Master himself openly ordering Liu Chenfu''s capture before the entire sect¡ª


    Something monumental was about to happen.


    ___


    The arena, once rubble and ruin, stood pristine again.


    Array masters worked like ghosts, weaving formations in the air, their light flickering, vanishing. The battlefield shone anew, its surface whispering with freshly sealed defensive formations.


    But no one left.


    If anything¡ªthe crowd had swollen.


    Disciples climbed walls, rooftops, even trees. Elders, usually withdrawn, leaned forward. The arena buzzed¡ªa storm of murmurs, ragged breaths, roars barely held back.


    All eyes on Su Xiaobai.


    The man who butchered his way to rank #4 in a day.


    If he won this?


    Fastest rise in sect history.


    The sunset poured gold over the battlefield. Shadows stretched long, swallowing the two figures still standing.


    Su Xiaobai. Yue Xi.


    The final clash was here.


    "Take it. I won''t fight a cripple."


    Yue Xi''s voice landed light as moonlight¡ªcold, soft, but carrying firmness.


    In her hand, a top-grade Qi Replenishment Pill.


    Su Xiaobai''s lip curled. He plucked it from her fingers, gaze flicking to her hand¡ªpale, boneless, delicate.


    A woman''s hand. Beautiful.


    A thought crept in.


    If just her fingers looked like this, then beneath those robes¡­


    He swallowed the pill and the thought in one go.


    But something itched.


    A wrongness, too faint to name.


    His smirk deepened. Arms folding, he tilted his head, voice lazy¡ª


    "Won''t you take off your robe?"


    A simple question. Casual.


    But, the wind stilled. The crowd hushed.


    Yue Xi didn''t move.


    "We do not show our faces to N¨¢ny¨¬."


    Her voice stayed steady.


    Su Xiaobai''s brow lifted.


    "N¨¢ny¨¬?"


    A flicker passed beneath her veil¡ªtoo fast to catch. But her words came smooth, even.


    "Male servitors." She let it settle. "In my nation, men exist ''only'' as laborers, scribes, or temple attendants."


    A wind swept through, drawing an invisible line.


    Su Xiaobai''s sneer sharpened. "I look like a N¨¢ny¨¬ to you?"


    Amusement filled his voice, but his gaze gleamed¡ªsharp.


    Then, slow, deliberate¡ªhis eyes slid toward the balcony.


    "What about your Celestial Peak Lord?"


    Silence.


    "Rules for thee, but not for me?"


    And then¡ª


    A shift.


    Yue Xi, hidden behind silk, smiled.


    "Master isn''t showing her face¡­"


    Soft. Almost a whisper.


    But the words...Master isn''t showing her face.


    Something sank in his mind.


    Then¡ª


    BOOOOOOOOM!


    The war horn split the heavens.


    A battle signal.


    And in that instant¡ª


    It clicked.


    A chill raced down Su Xiaobai''s spine.


    That bitch.


    That cunning, two-faced, silk-wrapped fox.


    Celestial Peak Lord had never revealed her real face.


    Not once.


    Not to him. Not to anyone.


    A perfect illusion. A lie so deep the entire sect swallowed it.


    His pupils shrank.


    But too late.


    Because Yue Xi was already moving.


    And the final battle began.


    Swoosh!


    In front of everyone, Yue Xi raised her hands behind her back¡ª


    And then¡ªClang! Clang!


    Two swords materialized, dark as a phantom''s whisper, their edges shimmering with a cold, lunar glow.


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes narrowed.


    "Another swordsman?"


    His lips twitched.


    "Great. As if I haven''t beaten enough of you sword-waving virgins today."


    But Yue Xi¡ª


    Did not respond.


    Instead¡ª


    "Moonlight Severance."


    A voice as soft as midnight mist.


    Then¡ª


    She vanished.


    Not disappeared¡ªbut multiplied.


    Dozens of afterimages¡ªillusions woven from pure speed¡ªspread like an endless lunar mirage, encircling him from every direction.


    Her aura¡ªPeak Soul Fusion Realm.


    Her footwork¡ª[Lunar Mirage Steps].


    To the untrained eye, she had become an army of ghosts.


    But Su Xiaobai?


    He scoffed.


    BOOM!


    The ground cracked beneath him as his body transformed.


    Muscles coiled, bones strengthened, dragon scales pulsed with omnious violet light.


    His pupils pierced through the mirage.


    And then¡ª


    His palm expanded outward.


    [Soul Shatter Palm]!


    A technique he had never used before.


    A six-foot ethereal palm, brimming with pure soul force, descended like the heavens'' judgment¡ª


    And slammed toward her.


    Su Xiaobai felt his chest tighten in excitement.


    This was his first true soul attack!


    Let''s see if she could handle¡ª


    SWOOSH!


    She dodged.


    Too easily.


    As if she had seen it coming before he even moved.


    And then¡ª


    She looked at him.


    [Dreamshatter Gaze.]


    Su Xiaobai''s world lurched.


    His vision blurred, his body froze.


    "What?!"


    "Why isn''t he moving?!"


    "Brother Su, you wanna die?!"


    The crowd roared in panic, but to Su Xiaobai¡ª


    He was still moving.


    No¡ªhe was still fighting.


    But¡ª


    It wasn''t real.


    His claws ripped forward, aiming for Yue Xi''s throat¡ª


    But her twin swords met him first. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    SLASH! SLASH!


    A thousand cuts, like moonlight slicing through the night.


    Pain.


    Burning. Ripping. Tearing.


    "AGH¡ª!!"


    He flew.


    His body crashed against the edge of the arena, his back cratering the stone.


    Blood dripped from his arms, his chest¡ªhis very bones felt like they had been sawed through by a thousand raging bulls.


    But¡ª


    His body was fine.


    Not a single real wound.


    Because none of it had happened.


    Because he was still trapped.


    [Dreamshatter Gaze.]


    A technique that imprisoned its victims in the illusion of their own defeat.


    And right now¡ª


    Su Xiaobai was living his own downfall.


    And Yue Xi?


    She watched with her cold gaze.


    Waiting.


    To see if he could break free.


    She sighed softly.


    Her veiled face carried no emotion, only the cold indifference of one standing above lesser beings.


    She had already seen the outcome.


    "His soul is too weak¡­"


    A fresh Nascent Soul cultivator?


    Not even worth finishing off.


    She turned away, glancing up at the towering balcony.


    "It''s over."


    Two words. No hesitation.


    Behind her, Su Xiaobai''s body twitched.


    Frozen.


    Trapped in a world of false defeat.


    The peak lords exchanged glances.


    Zhao Tianxuan sighed.


    "It seems he must stop here today¡­"


    His fingers rose slightly, ready to declare the match¡ª


    But then¡ª


    "Roar¡ª!!"


    A bone-chilling howl ripped through the heavens.


    The air vibrated. The sky cracked.


    A sound not of a man, but of a beast clawing its way out of an abyss.


    The pavilion shook.


    Many disciples clutched their chests, an invisible pressure squeezing their souls.


    "That¡­ that sound!"


    Zhu Qing''s pupils shrank.


    "Soul Piercing Howl?!"


    She had given him the technique, but she had never recommended it


    Too wild. Too unstable.


    Too useless.


    But now¡ª


    It worked.


    The illusion shattered like glass.


    And in that instant¡ª


    Yue Xi''s eyes snapped wide.


    Something burned into her back.


    A sensation she had never¡ª


    BOOOOOOOOM!


    A dragon''s breath erupted.


    An all-consuming ray of void energy, blasting straight into her spine!


    The force hurled her forward like a meteor, her body twisting violently in the air before¡ª


    CRASH!


    She slammed into the far end of the arena, her white robes splattered with dust and blood.


    The once untouchable moon¡ª


    Sent crashing into the dirt.

 Chapter 177 - 177: Crimson Armor & Celestial Inscriber!

    "huff...huff...huff..."


    Steam rose from Su Xiaobai''s battered body.


    His chest heaved, his scales throbbing with an unholy radiance.


    Not only had he shattered the illusion¡ªHe had ripped her from the sky and sent her plummeting into hell.


    And now¡ª


    He stood above her.


    His lips curled into a slow, deliberate grin.


    Dark. Mocking.


    "Tch. You turned your back on me?"


    "You must''ve thought I was some proper gentleman¡­"


    He laughed.


    "But let me tell you something, Yue Xi."


    "I don''t fight fair."


    His golden pupils gleamed under the fading sun.


    "I fight to win."


    And then¡ª


    He looked down at her.


    Ruthless. Merciless.


    Like a true villain standing atop his fallen prey.


    And Yue Xi?


    She gritted her teeth, forcing herself to rise.


    "Y-You¡­"


    A trembling voice, breath uneven.


    Su Xiaobai felt something was off.


    And then¡ª


    The dust cleared.


    His eyes widened.


    Then, his lips curled.


    "Well, well, well¡­"


    Her black robes, once pristine and elegant, shattered like snowflakes caught in a spring breeze, their remnants dissolving into the evening air.


    What was left¡ª


    Was a sight that could shake nations, topple dynasties, and make monks break their vows.


    A red and black inner garment, its fabric so light and loose that it covered only the essentials¡ªand even then, just barely.


    A crimson sash wrapped tightly around her waist, emphasizing a curve so lethal it could sever a man''s Dao Heart in half.


    Her shoulders were bare, revealing silken pale skin that seemed to glow in the evening light.


    Her chest bindings, dark red and laced with silver embroidery, hugged firm, perky peaks, barely constrained by the thin cloth. Her legs¡ªlong, smooth, sinful¡ª were wrapped in black thigh bands, the contrast against her fair skin enough to make weaker men cough blood.


    The slits on her robes were dangerously high, teasing glimpses of her soft, toned thighs, almost as if the outfit was designed to break a man''s concentration in battle.


    But what truly stood out¡ª


    Was the mark on her forehead.


    A dark red trident, carved into her smooth skin, glowing with a deep, eerie radiance. A seal of power. A brand of mystery. A mark that whispered of a forbidden legacy.


    And yet, despite all this¡ª


    Her swords were still raised.


    She had blocked his dragon breath.


    Her back bore the bruises of the impact, but she hadn''t burned.


    Her arms trembled with rage.


    But she stood tall.


    And her phoenix eyes burned with the promise of retribution.


    Su Xiaobai let out a slow whistle.


    His eyes casually roamed, appreciating the artwork before him.


    "And here I thought you were hiding some divine beauty under there."


    His lips curled into a wicked smirk.


    "Turns out, you were just cosplaying as a high-class temptress."


    Yue Xi''s beautiful gray eyes flickered with killing intent. Her knuckles whitened around her swords. But before she could slice him in half¡ª


    The crowd erupted.


    "HOLY SHIT!"


    "THE FAIRY HAS DESCENDED!!"


    "GODDAMN! EVEN HER FEET LOOK PERFECT!"


    "I¡ª I CAN''T BREATHE!"


    Puchi!


    Somewhere in the stands, a disciple fainted on the spot.


    Another, clutching his robes, began reciting scriptures to calm his shaking Dao Heart.


    Even some elders coughed, their aged, weathered gazes suddenly filled with renewed life.


    Meanwhile, Su Xiaobai simply sighed.


    "Tsk. No matter which world you go to, men''s priorities never change."


    His amusement, however, was short-lived.


    Because the arena suddenly dropped in temperature.


    And Yue Xi''s lips¡ªalready beautiful¡ª


    Began chanting a curse.


    "Eclipsing Veil Domain."


    BOOOOOOOM!


    Instantly¡ª


    Day turned into night. The sun vanished, swallowed by an endless abyss of darkness.


    And above¡ªA phantom moon, silver and cruel, hung in the sky.


    Su Xiaobai''s grin stiffened.


    "That''s cool."


    But deep inside¡ª


    He knew.


    "Yup. This time, I really pissed her off."


    CLANG!


    The next moment¡ª


    Silver sword light rained down.


    Yue Xi vanished, her body becoming one with the moonlight, her movements fluid as a celestial dancer.


    Her twin swords slicedthrough the darkness like a painter''s brush¡ª


    And their strokes etched death itself.


    "Lunar Phantom Step!"


    Her body flickered, appearing at his side¡ª


    "Moonlit Execution!"


    A downward arc, slicing straight toward his neck¡ª


    "Severing Shadow Strike!"


    A feint¡ªher body twisting mid-motion, blade reversing toward his waist¡ª


    Each attack landed a second before it actually arrived, making dodging near-impossible. The only time the crowd could see them was when¡ª


    Sparks erupted in the darkness.


    CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!


    And in that moment¡ª


    The audience froze.


    Because what they saw wasn''t Su Xiaobai.


    No.


    What stood there¡ª


    Was something terrifying.


    A towering crimson blood armor, its surface gleaming like molten blood, stood firm.


    Inside it¡ªSu Xiaobai was grinning wryly.


    This woman was hitting him from all angles, swinging at him like a starving widow beating a husband who drank away her dowry.


    A thousand slashes per second.


    And he was just standing there.


    Not dodging.


    Not countering.


    Not reacting.


    Just taking it all.


    "Yup. Not blocking this shit."


    He smirked, arms lazily crossed inside the armor.


    "She''ll tire herself out."


    The sparks flared violently, revealing the contrast¡ª


    A fairy, draped in silver moonlight, slashing wildly.


    And a demon, clad in crimson, unshaken, laughing.


    "Damn, woman."


    "Are you fighting me, or polishing my armor?"


    Yue Xi''s gaze burned hotter.


    And this time¡ª


    Her swords shone brighter.


    BANG!


    Yue Xi''s slender hands swung again, her twin swords carrying the force of a collapsing mountain, but¡ª


    CLANG!


    The impact barely made a scratch.


    Her blades, which had severed spirit beasts and shattered artifacts, failed to leave a dent on the Crimson Warlord Armor wrapped around Su Xiaobai''s body.


    "Tsk."


    Su Xiaobai clicked his tongue, feeling the immense weight restricting his movements.


    This thing was heavy as hell.


    He had wanted to slap Yue Xi into next week, but lifting his arms felt like trying to move a mountain with chopsticks.


    "Seems like I need to train with gravity bands if I wanna throw hands properly in this thing."


    Meanwhile¡ª


    The arena was beyond recognition.


    Deep cracks, shattered tiles, lingering moonlight sword intent raging through the ground. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Yet Su Xiaobai?


    He stood completely untouched.


    And above¡ª


    Bai Yujian''s eyes flickered in shock.


    "That¡­ That''s the armor of the Blood Warlord¡­"


    Her gaze narrowed.


    She had led the crusade against the Blood Warlord in the past¡ªshe knew his legend better than anyone.


    But why¡ªwhy did Su Xiaobai possess it?!


    Her head snapped to Zhu Qing.


    But the white-haired beauty?


    She whistled innocently, looking at the sky.


    Bai Yujian''s fists clenched.


    These two¡­ hid it from her!


    ____


    "Ugh¡­ Just die for me!"


    Yue Xi''s eyes burned with fury, each swing of her swords fueled by hatred.


    No man had ever seen her face. Not even once.


    By the sacred traditions of her lineage, this "N¨¢ny¨¬" had to die. No¡ªnot just him. Every man who laid eyes upon her today was supposed to perish.


    But that was impossible.


    Too many witnesses. Too many eyes.


    Yet Su Xiaobai?


    The one who humiliated her?


    The one who exposed her?


    Him¡ªshe could definitely kill.


    Her swords screamed through, crescents of silver light carving deep scars into the battlefield.


    CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!


    A barrage of slashes¡ªfaster, sharper, infused with crescent blade intent, yet¡ª


    Su Xiaobai?


    He just stood there, smiling.


    Not dodging. Not blocking.


    Simply watching.


    Like a tiger letting a cub claw at its paw.


    "Tch. Ask nicely, and I might consider it."


    His smile was infuriating.


    Yue Xi''s anger boiled over.


    Her swords glowed, her strikes becoming faster, heavier.


    BANG!


    The armor rang again, but this time¡ª


    Her eyes began glowing.


    Su Xiaobai let out a bitter laugh. Even inside the armor, he could feel her attacks¡ªfaint, but present. A tiny part of him was genuinely worried. Could this thing maybe .... crack?


    His gaze flickered toward Yue Xi, her swords flashing with endless fury.


    Wasn''t it just a wardrobe malfunction?


    Why the hell is she this pissed?


    He sighed, shaking his head.


    "Alright, alright. If I don''t fight back, you really think I''m a pushover, huh?"


    He didn''t want to reveal too many trump cards today, but¡ª


    This woman forced his hand.


    WHOOSH!


    A golden pen appeared in the sky.


    Not just any pen¡ª


    But a treasure engraved with celestial runes, exuding an aura ancient and boundless.


    The Celestial Inscriber.

 Chapter 178 - 178: Mysterious Peak Lord?

    The Celestial Inscriber.


    Su Xiaobai''s reward from Emperor Tian Yu''s cave.


    The moment it appeared¡ªThe entire arena trembled.


    "That''s¡ª"


    Before anyone could react¡ª


    A green light flickered.


    A tiny ethereal figure¡ª


    The sword spirit of Bai Yujian''s White Jade Sword¡ªsuddenly appeared on its own, staring at the golden pen in absolute disbelief.


    "How¡­?!"


    Even a mere artifact spirit should have recognized the terrifying power of the Celestial Inscriber¡ªor so they thought. But Yingying''s expression wasn''t one of shock at witnessing a divine artifact.


    No.


    It was the look of someone who had just seen her dead husband rise from the coffin. Or a child whose long-lost father returned after twenty years carrying milk.


    And then¡ª


    Before the stunned eyes of thousands¡ª


    It grew.


    WHOOSH!


    The pen expanded.


    Ten meters.


    Twenty meters.


    Fifty meters¡ª


    Until it was as wide as ten towering pillars, its tip gleaming like the edge of a divine spear.


    "BOOOOOOOOM!"


    It slammed down.


    A force of heavens'' judgment, its sheer impact cracking the entire battlefield.


    Yue Xi''s eyes widened.


    Her instincts screamed.


    She leaped back¡ª


    But Su Xiaobai didn''t let her escape.


    "Where do you think you''re going?"


    The Celestial Inscriber shrunk in an instant, returning to the size of a small pillar, then¡ª


    SLAM!


    It smashed directly into her!


    Yue Xi''s arms crossed, her swords flaring with defensive light¡ª


    CRACK!


    She blocked it¡ªbarely.


    Her feet dug into the ground, her entire body trembling under the force.


    "AGH¡­!"


    Blood dripped from the corner of her lips.


    Su Xiaobai let out a low whistle. "Damn." He had honestly expected her to collapse on impact.


    But no¡ª


    She held her ground.


    Her knees bent, her arms shaking, her breath ragged¡ªbut she didn''t fall.


    "This woman¡­" Su Xiaobai''s grin widened. "You''re making me want to go all out."


    The Celestial Inscriber¡ª


    A weapon unlike any other. Unlike normal artifacts, soul weapons could be controlled like an extension of one''s own body.


    And this one¡­ had more secrets to reveal.


    Size manipulation was only the beginning. The longer the fight dragged, the more Su Xiaobai understood its potential.


    A weapon that could grow as large as a mountain¡­Or shrink into a dagger sharp enough to carve through fate itself.


    _____


    "Haaa.. haaa.."


    Far beyond the blood-soaked arena, deep within the wilderness, a pale figure flickered through the mountains like a dying candle in the wind.


    Liu Chenfu was running.


    Through the forests, over the valleys, past abandoned spirit beast dens¡ªhis body moved on instinct, through the landscape like a phantom. His only thought was survival.


    First, Liu Zhenhai had been exposed and slaughtered like a stray dog.


    Second, Su Xiaobai had risen to untouchable heights, and with this momentum, it was only a matter of time before he sought revenge.


    Liu Chenfu had no doubts¡ªif he stayed, he would be next.


    "Disappear... Vanish¡­ Lay low for a few years, then return," he muttered under his breath, his voice hoarse from suppressed panic.


    He moved faster.


    But no matter how far he ran¡ª


    A cold, suffocating presence followed.


    And then¡ª


    A voice, soft as drifting snow, yet carrying the weight of mountains.


    "Old man, you''re going the wrong way."


    Liu Chenfu froze. His heart nearly seized, he twisted mid-air, his body tensing¡ªAnd found himself face to face with a woman who should not be here.


    Floating effortlessly above the treetops, her white robes fluttering like clouds in a midnight sky, stood Yue Xiuying.


    The Celestial Peak Lord.


    Her expression was calm, indifferent¡ªbut in her gaze was amusement, as if watching a trapped animal struggle in vain.


    Liu Chenfu forced a stiff smile, though his fingers inched toward his spatial ring.


    "Peak Lord Yue Xiuying," he said carefully, "I don''t believe there''s any grievance between us. Why are you here?"


    Had she been watching him this whole time?


    Was she here to stop him? Kill him?


    She merely tilted her head slightly, the moonlight casting an eerie glow over her delicate features.


    "I said," she repeated slowly, as if speaking to a dull-witted child¡ª"You''re going the wrong way."


    Liu Chenfu''s muscles tensed, his heartbeat pounding against his ribs.


    And then¡ª


    She raised a single, delicate finger and pointed eastward.


    "Beast Peak."


    Liu Chenfu''s eyes flickered with confusion.


    "What about it?"


    Yue Xiuying''s lips curled slightly, though it was impossible to tell if it was amusement or mockery.


    "Go there," she said softly.


    "Release the untamed beasts inside. Let them tear through the arena. In that chaos, you''ll have enough time to escape."


    Liu Chenfu''s pupils shrank.


    Was she serious?


    This had to be a trap.


    His mind shook, calculating every possible scenario.


    "Escape? Who''s running away?" he scoffed, trying to maintain his composure.


    But Yue Xiuying simply laughed softly.A light chuckle, yet it sent a crawling dread down his spine.


    "Then stay and get caught," she said lightly.


    And then¡ªShe moved.


    For the first time since she appeared, she descended slowly, her figure drifting like a falling petal, yet her presence pressing down like an avalanche.


    Liu Chenfu''s breath stilled.


    Her movements were not towards him.


    She was blocking someone else.


    SWOOSH!


    A golden net of divine light shot through the darkness, spiraling toward Liu Chenfu like an unbreakable cage¡ª


    But before it could reach him¡ª


    BOOM!


    Yue Xiuying flicked her sleeve.


    An invisible wave of celestial force crashed into the golden net, sending it off-course, colliding into the trees below and reducing them to dust.


    Liu Chenfu''s mind went blank.


    What¡­?


    Before he could even comprehend the situation¡ª


    A deep chuckle echoed through the night. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Well, well, well¡­"


    From the shadows emerged a towering figure, his robe adorned with royal purple embroidery, his aura like an unshaken mountain, heavy and suffocating.


    Xu Tianran.


    Sect Alchemist. Supreme Hunter. A walking death sentence.


    His dark eyes glinted with amusement as he gazed at Yue Xiuying, his posture relaxed, yet filled with restrained violence.


    "Buying time for a traitor?" he mused, cracking his knuckles. "Now, that''s unexpected."


    He lifted a hand, his fingers twitching with suppressed force.


    "One blow should be enough," he said casually, and without hesitation¡ª


    He struck.


    BOOOOOOM!


    The space shattered from the sheer force, golden light bursting forth like a descending divine hammer¡ª


    But then¡ª


    CLASH!


    Yue Xiuying''s palm met his fist.


    And for the first time, Xu Tianran''s expression changed.


    His feet skidded back in midair, his breath caught between surprise and amusement.


    "¡­Oh?"


    A single word, his wrist rolled lazily, fingers flexing as if testing, "So you weren''t all bark after all."


    His gaze sharpened, battle intent surging like a tide beneath a crimson moon.


    "What''s your game, Yue Xiuying? I never thought anyone could slip past my eyes¡­ but it seems this old man was blind. A thousand years, and not once did I see through your true self. Your strength, your motives¡ªyou fooled everyone."


    Yue Xiuying smiled, slow and knowing. "Oh? And tell me, Xu Tianran¡­ am I the only one who wears a mask?"

 Chapter 179 - 179: Arena Turned into a War field?

    "Oh? And tell me, Xu Tianran¡­ am I the only one who wears a mask?"


    Her words slithered through the air, wrapping around his mind like an unseen coil.


    Xu Tianran shivered.


    That smile¡ªgentle yet wrapped with daggers¡ªsent a chill up his spine. She could see through him, past his masks, into the secrets he knew¡­ and worse, the ones he didn''t.


    Their auras unfurled like storm clouds before a downpour. The peak of the Great Ascension Realm¡ªtwo monsters standing beneath the same sky.


    The pressure alone made Liu Chenfu''s face drain of color.


    And then¡ª


    They moved.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    Golden radiance clashed against celestial might, explosions tearing through the night. Their figures blurred, vanishing and reappearing in flashes of devastation. Each strike sent shockwaves rippling through the forest, reducing trees to splinters, the heavens above trembling from their fury.


    Liu Chenfu remained frozen, barely able to breathe.


    Then¡ª


    "Two minutes."


    The words didn''t come from her lips, but they rang through his skull, clear as the toll of a death knell.


    "That''s all I can buy before reinforcements come. Once they arrive, not even the heavens will save you."


    His throat ran dry.


    The sect was hunting him.


    And this woman¡ªwhether demon or savior¡ªwanted to use him as a chess piece.


    Was it a trap? Perhaps.


    Did it matter? Not anymore.


    If he stayed, he was dead.


    If he fought, he was dead.


    But if he took her hand, if he gambled everything on this mad whisper of a chance¡ª


    He might just live.


    His fingers clenched.


    His body flickered.


    And like a desperate beast scenting survival, he shot toward Beast Peak, vanishing into the night as a streak of rainbow light.


    _______


    Liu Chenfu''s figure streaked across the night, landing atop Beast Peak in a blur of desperation. His heart pounded, lungs burning.


    The "Abyssal Mangroves"¡ªwhere only the sect''s most unruly, unbroken spirit beasts were caged. Not tamed, not trained¡ªjust locked away, seething in the dark.


    "BREAK!"


    His palm struck the sealing formation. CRACK! Sigils shattered, iron bars twisted like dying serpents. The ground quaked.


    And then¡ª


    A tide of howls, roars, and piercing shrieks split the night.


    Shadow-winged vultures burst into the sky, blotting out the moon. A hundred-eyed centipede slithered free, each limb hungry for flesh. Bone-crushing apes pounded their chests, their roars sending shockwaves through the mountain.


    Liu Chenfu didn''t wait.


    He kicked off the ground, leaping atop a berserk storm-wolf as it lunged forward. With a flick of his sleeve, he sent a surge of spiritual pressure outward, directing the beast herd.


    "Run wild."


    The beasts answered with fury.


    _____


    Martial Arena!


    In the distance, Su Xiaobai clashed with Yue Xi, his focus slipping.


    "Where are your eyes?"


    Yue Xi''s voice was filled with irritation as the Celestial Inscriber, the grand formation pen Su Xiaobai had been controlling, veered off course.


    BOOM!


    It smashed into the sect''s barrier with an ear-splitting crash, divine inscriptions scattering like startled birds.


    A few disciples exchanged glances.


    "Did he just¡­ crash his own formation?" one murmured.


    "Is Brother Su fighting her or the damn wall?" another snickered.


    "Heh, guess controlling a celestial formation isn''t as easy as acting cool."


    Yue Xi let out a breath, rubbing her temple. She had been trying to kill this man for five minutes, and somehow, he was still alive¡ªmostly by accident.


    But Su Xiaobai wasn''t even looking at her anymore. His brow furrowed.


    "Something''s wrong¡­ Where is everyone?"


    At first, Yue Xi ignored him. Then she noticed it too.


    The Peak Lords'' seats.


    Empty.


    One by one, the elders were vanishing.


    The outer disciples were still busy gossiping, but the core disciples watching from higher up had gone stiff. Someone swallowed audibly.


    "¡­Wait. Why do the Peak Lords'' seats look¡­ wrong?"


    "The elders. They''re¡­ disappearing."


    One by one. Not leaving. Disappearing.


    RUMBLE¡­


    The earth quivered beneath their feet, deep and slow, as if something ancient had stirred in its sleep.


    A disciple, who had been munching on a steamed bun, stopped mid-bite. "The hell was that?"


    Another shift. This time, stronger.


    RUMBLE¡­


    A few outer disciples laughed nervously, but no one responded. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    And then the sky darkened¡ªnot from clouds, but from something vast, stretching above the sect, swallowing the moonlight.


    No one was laughing anymore.


    Whooooosh!


    Then the sky lit up as the heavens blazed.


    Brilliant streaks of sword light, talisman fire, and divine techniques tore across the sky, their violent brilliance illuminating the night like a festival of destruction.


    For a moment, Su Xiaobai was struck by the absurdity of it all.


    "Fireworks?"


    The thought barely formed before reality set in.


    These weren''t celebrations.


    This was a siege.


    Jing¡­ Jing¡­


    A sound, soft and ethereal, rippled through the chaos like a ghost''s whisper.


    Through the storm of battle, it appeared¡ªa crimson chariot suspended in midair, adorned with golden filigree and lined with delicate bells that sang with each shift of the wind.


    It did not float by itself.


    Four veiled women, clad in flowing, moon-white robes, held it aloft, their sleeves extending like ethereal ribbons. They neither walked nor flew¡ªthey simply existed, weightless as spirits, their movements hypnotic in their precision.


    Seated within, like a goddess descending from the heavens, was Yue Xiuying.


    Su Xiaobai had seen her before.


    But never like this.


    She moved as if reality itself yielded to her presence, descending gracefully into the chariot''s embrace. From every direction, thousands of attacks rained toward her like a heavenly judgment.


    They never landed.


    In a blink, the four women became sixteen, each one shifting as if stepping through reflections of themselves. Their ribbons wove through, catching and dissolving every lethal strike before it could touch the chariot.


    Beyond them, the battlefield seethed with chaos.


    The elders of the Xiantian Sect¡ªonce pillars of unshakable authority¡ªnow stood in fractured lines. Some lay bloodied and broken, while others glared at the floating chariot with vengeful fury.


    At the forefront stood Zhao Tianxuan and Xu Tianran, their killing intent like a raging sea.


    "Yue Xiuying!" Zhao Tianxuan''s voice thundered through the night. "You have nowhere left to run! Return what you stole, or fate will be cruel to you and your conspirators!"


    His face was like stone, but Su Xiaobai caught the tightness in his expression, the way his fingers flexed at his sides.


    He hadn''t expected this.


    He hadn''t expected so many elders to turn traitor in a single night.


    And he definitely hadn''t expected that Yue Xiuying, the woman they all believed to be in seclusion for a thousand year, had been corrupting the sect from within the entire time.


    Somewhere, in the depths of their treasury, she had taken something. Something precious. Something forbidden.


    Something they couldn''t allow to escape.


    She was outnumbered.


    Sixteen warriors at her side¡ªbut an army against her.


    And yet¡ª


    "Hehe~"


    A laugh. Soft, teasing.


    A shiver ran through the air.


    Yue Xiuying, seated calmly in her chariot, tilted her head, amusement dancing in her eyes.


    "Dealt with everyone?"


    Zhao Tianxuan''s heart dropped.


    For the first time that night¡ªhe felt something he hadn''t felt in decades.


    Dread.


    Then¡ª


    RUMBLE¡­


    It wasn''t the earth shaking.


    It was the world itself.


    RUMBLE¡­


    The first to notice it were the disciples in the back¡ªfaces pale, staring toward the eastern sky where the moon should have been rising.


    Instead, a black wave surged forward.


    No¡­ not a wave.


    A swarm.


    Blood Bats. Thousands.


    Their crimson eyes flickered in the dark, a storm of hunger and violence descending upon the sect.


    And they weren''t alone.


    Abyssal Tigers¡ªtheir pelts woven from living shadows¡ªemerged from the mountain depths, their growls rolling through the sky like distant thunder.


    Golden-Tailed Lions, each one large enough to flatten a pavilion, prowled behind them, golden eyes burning with aggression.


    Four-Beast Cubs, still young but powerful enough to pulverize stone, sprinted among the herd.


    A python army slithered forward, the sheer mass of their bodies grinding stone into dust.


    The Xiantian Sect''s disciples froze.


    Zhao Tianxuan whipped around, his eyes locking onto Peak Lord Feng.


    His voice was razor-sharp.


    "What. Is. This?"


    Peak Lord Feng looked like he''d swallowed broken glass. "S-Sect Master¡­ these beasts¡­ They weren''t trained yet. I had them sealed away, but¡­"


    A pause.


    "Someone tampered with the formations!"


    Zhao Tianxuan''s veins bulged.


    "Tampered?"


    Then, across the battlefield, a figure emerged¡ªriding atop a storm-wind wolf the size of a temple.


    A frail old man, his robes tattered, his body thin, but his eyes glowed with mad triumph.


    Liu Chenfu.


    Zhao Tianxuan''s rage detonated.


    "LIU CHENFU, YOU FUCKING CORPSE! I''LL KILL YOU MYSELF!"


    His gravitational field crushed hundreds of beasts instantly¡ªbut it didn''t matter.


    For every one that fell, a thousand more surged forward.


    Xu Tianran sighed, his fingers tightening around his blade.


    "I''ll stop her. You handle the horde."


    Zhao Tianxuan didn''t hesitate. "Don''t kill her. She still has the artifact."


    An elder hesitated. Then another.


    Finally, someone spoke.


    "Sect Master¡­ what did she steal?"


    Zhao Tianxuan''s expression didn''t change.


    He didn''t answer.


    Instead, he turned and stepped into the storm of beasts, each footstep sending shockwaves through the ground, flattening everything in his path.


    Xu Tianran moved for the chariot¡ªonly for the sixteen veiled warriors to intercept him, their ribbons spiraling outward, weaving through the air like binding chains.


    Yue Xiuying, unbothered, let her attendants carry her away.


    As if she already knew how this night would end.


    Below, the sect disciples, who had been watching a simple tournament only moments ago, stood frozen in disbelief.


    Not a single one spoke.


    Because there was only one thought running through their minds.


    What the hell just happened?

 Chapter 180 - 180: Crashing Yue Xiuying!

    A Few Minutes Ago¡­


    "This aura¡­?"


    Zhao Tianxuan''s brow furrowed. He had been sitting in quiet observation, watching Su Xiaobai and Yue Xi''s battle, when a strange disturbance rippled through the air.


    An ominous sensation crept up his spine.


    Then¡ªa distress signal.


    It was from Xu Tianran, who had left earlier to capture Liu Chenfu.


    Zhao Tianxuan''s expression darkened. Without hesitation, he waved his hand, sending three Peak Lords, including Zhu Qing, to investigate.


    One minute later¡ªanother distress signal.


    Frustration flickered across Zhao Tianxuan''s face.


    "Again?"


    Something wasn''t right.


    Without another word, Zhao Tianxuan left himself.


    What he found sent a chill through him.


    A dozen sect elders, including the Peak Lords he had sent, were locked in combat¡ªagainst a group of foreign women draped in flowing ribbons, their movements like shifting phantasms, unpredictable and swift.


    Zhu Qing''s pupils shrank.


    "Who the hell are they?!"


    And beyond them¡ª


    Xu Tianran chased after Yue Xiuying, their battle raging like a celestial clash.


    But what made Zhu Qing''s blood run cold¡ªwas the fact that Yue Xiuying wasn''t running.


    She was fighting him evenly.


    Xu Tianran¡ªa sect guardian, a great-powerhouse¡ªwas unable to subdue her.


    At that moment, Xu Tianran''s roar shook the night.


    "Tianxuan! She''s stolen the Light Spiritual Tablet!"


    Zhao Tianxuan''s heart plummeted.


    His gaze snapped forward¡ªtoward Yue Xiuying, whose forehead now gleamed with a radiant rectangular jade stone.


    The Light Spiritual Tablet.


    A relic that pulsed with divine brilliance, its glow almost blinding. Even from this distance, Zhao Tianxuan could feel it¡ªan artifact that granted power equivalent to an army.


    Xu Tianran''s face twisted as he struck at her, trying to tear the tablet away, but even he struggled.


    "Damn it!" Xu Tianran cursed inwardly. The sect had something this valuable¡­ and I never even knew?


    The entire Tianlong Empire had been searching for this artifact for millennia¡ªyet it had been hidden here, beneath their very noses.


    Zhao Tianxuan''s face turned ashen.


    "We can''t let her escape."


    There were secrets even the sect guardian wasn''t aware of.


    Xu Tianran was a newer guardian, a powerful force, but he hadn''t been part of the sect''s founding.


    The existence of the Light Spiritual Tablet was one such hidden truth.


    Zhao Tianxuan, as the sect master, knew its importance.


    If it left the sect¡ªtoday would be their last day. His voice roared across the battlefield, filled with the weight of impending destruction.


    "DO NOT LET HER LEAVE!"


    With that order, every stationed elder and peak lord rushed from the arena, the grand tournament forgotten in an instant.


    What began as a hunt had transformed into a full-scale war.


    And now¡ª


    Now, the battle had split into two fronts.


    One group chased the Celestial Peak Lord, desperate to retrieve the tablet before it was too late.


    The other?


    They stood against the beast horde¡ªa nightmare of claws, fangs, and wings, rapidly devouring everything in its path.


    And the disciples at the arena?


    They had no idea what was happening.


    They only knew one thing¡ª


    A storm of beasts was coming.


    At that moment, their gazes froze.


    Thousands of Blood Bats, their fanged maws wide and their wings spread like dark canopies, stilled mid-flight.


    Their shrieks choked off, their hunger drowned by a force far beyond them.


    Something greater had arrived.


    SHIIING!


    A single sword trembled, its edge humming¡ªa celestial beast waking from its slumber.


    A thin line of golden radiance flickered along the sky, a wound in reality itself.


    Then¡ª


    SLASH!


    Like the final judgment of a deity, the sword sang, tearing through the heavens.


    Puchi! Puchi! Puchi!


    The Blood Bats¡ªa terrifying tide that had darkened the sky¡ªwere cut clean in half.


    Their bodies collapsed like rain, a storm of severed wings and torn flesh crashing toward the sect below.


    And then came the blood.


    Crimson downpour. Steaming. Endless. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "W-WHAT?!"


    "One sword! It took only one sword¡ª!"


    "That was an entire swarm of Integration Realm beasts! She wiped them out like flies!"


    Above them, standing like a goddess sculpted from steel and moonlight, was Bai Yujian.


    The Sword Fairy.


    Her blade still sang, as if yearning for another kill.


    She could strike again.


    But she didn''t.


    Yue Xiuying, seated within her chariot, tilted her head, amusement flickering in her golden eyes.


    Then¡ªshe laughed.


    "Not so soon."


    She knew Bai Yujian''s weakness.


    It wasn''t her power. It wasn''t even her will.


    It was her morality.


    Bai Yujian could have wiped out everything¡ªbut she didn''t.


    Because she couldn''t.


    Not here. Not on the ground.


    If she truly unleashed her sword on the ground, it wouldn''t just cut the beasts¡ªit would cut the sect itself in half.


    Yue Xiuying''s lips curled. She had no fear.


    Then¡ª


    BANG!


    Her entire chariot lurched, nearly tipping from the sky.


    Her gaze snapped down.


    And there, gripping one of its golden legs like a vengeful ghost refusing to let go, was Xu Tianran.


    His fingers dug into the celestial frame, veins bulging, a snarl twisting his face.


    "You think you can just walk away?"


    His voice was a sneer filled with bloodlust.


    Before Yue Xiuying could react, her sixteen attendants moved.


    "Get your filthy hands off our lady!"


    Their ribbons, shimmering like divine silk, lashed out, wrapping around Xu Tianran''s arms, legs, throat¡ªsealing his movements, binding his qi.


    But he didn''t let go.


    A muscle in Yue Xiuying''s jaw ticked.


    Before she could give another order¡ª


    Two more figures shot toward her.


    The Verdant Peak Lord and the Frost Peak Lord.


    A storm of ice and emerald radiance engulfed her chariot, both peak lords aiming to capture, not kill.


    "Surrender, Yue Xiuying!" the Frost Peak Lord''s voice rang.


    The Verdant Peak Lord followed, his aura twisting the air into vines of energy, trying to bind the chariot mid-flight.


    Yue Xiuying''s expression turned cold.


    Her fingers snapped forward, releasing a ray of golden fire, searing as the sun''s breath, aimed directly at their faces.


    It should have incinerated them.


    But¡ª


    A slender hand reached forward and tore through the divine fire like tissue paper.


    Zhu Qing had arrived.


    A mocking smirk played on her lips.


    "Where do you think you''re going lady?"


    Yue Xiuying''s pupils shrunk.


    This¡­ this wasn''t right.


    She had accounted for three Great Ascension realm cultivators in her escape plan.


    Now there were four.


    Her chariot¡ªbound.


    Her servants¡ªsplit.


    Her power¡ªdelayed.


    The longer this dragged on, the worse her chances.


    Then¡ª


    A voice, cold and absolute.


    "Leave her. Handle the beast horde."


    The Sword Fairy had spoken.


    Even the Peak Lords hesitated.


    Their gazes turned¡ªtoward Bai Yujian.


    Her blade hovered, still trembling, still dangerous.


    The Verdant Peak Lord and the Frost Peak Lord hesitated.


    Even Yue Xiuying was surprised.


    But she wouldn''t waste this opportunity.


    "Didn''t you hear her?" she mocked. "Your own sect doesn''t even think I''m worth the trouble."


    Zhu Qing snorted.


    "With pleasure!"


    Just as Yue Xiuying poked her head out, smirking¡ª


    PAH!


    A red-hot slap rocked her skull, sending her vision spinning.


    "AHH!"


    Her mask shattered, crumbling into pieces.


    Her golden eyes blazed in fury, but she immediately ducked back inside, her hands covering her face.


    Zhu Qing flexed her fingers, satisfaction gleaming in her eyes.

 Chapter 181 - 181: Elemental Tablet? Heavenly Dragon Emperors treasure!

    Zhu Qing flexed her fingers, satisfaction gleaming in her eyes.


    "That felt good."


    One of the attendants gasped, clutching her own face in second-hand humiliation.


    "H-HOW DARE YOU SLAP HER BEAUTIFUL FACE?!"


    Another attendant turned toward Yue Xiuying, frantic. "Mistress! Are you alright?! Your beauty¡ªyour perfect face¡ª"


    "SHUT UP AND FOCUS!" Yue Xiuying snapped.


    The moment of distraction was dangerous.


    Even as the others let Yue Xiuying go, one man still refused.


    Xu Tianran.


    "IMPOSSIBLE!"


    He roared, his laughter twisted and wild, his grip refusing to falter.


    A dozen of Yue Xiuying''s attendants surrounded him, a storm of legs and kicks smashing against him, their strikes capable of shattering mountains¡ª


    But he did not let go.


    "Why won''t he go down?!" one of them hissed, her ribbon-wrapped leg driving into his ribs.


    "Is his skin made of divine iron?!" another cursed, her heel slamming against his shoulder with a dull thud, only for him to tank it like a wall.


    "Let go, you brute! This is a lady''s chariot, not your mother''s ox cart!" one shrieked, slapping him across the face with the back of her silk-covered hand.


    "Keep kicking, girls! Feels like a damn massage to this old man! Hahaha!" His fingers tore through their ribbons, he mocked, his laughter infuriatingly unfazed.


    He was dragging the chariot down with his bare hands.


    Enough.


    Yue Xiuying''s patience snapped.


    "TAKE ME OUT!"


    The four remaining attendants obeyed instantly.


    They ignored Xu Tianran.


    They grabbed the chariot.


    And in a single blazing streak, they shot into the sky.


    Your journey continues on My Virtual Library Empire


    Like a celestial comet, Yue Xiuying vanished beyond the dark clouds.


    And with her¡ªXu Tianran.


    "Hahaha! The Light Spiritual Tablet! She has it!"


    His roar faded into the night, swallowed by the storm of battle, yet his voice boomed unnaturally, as if carried by an unseen force¡ªa final taunt, a warning, a war cry all in one.


    Below, the disciples stood frozen.


    A moment ago, they had been watching a tournament.


    Now?


    They were standing in the middle of a fucking war.


    Some wondered why Xu Tianran had just screamed like his ass was on fire before leaving¡ªbut then, like descending divine tribulations, the chariot was pursued by even more terrifying figures.


    Auras vast and suffocating, so powerful that the dark sky burned red and white, twisting like a celestial battlefield.


    And that was when everyone felt it¡ªa chill, deep and primal, creeping up their spines like a ghost''s whisper.


    Then came the voice.


    "It''s useless now. Since it''s been exposed, there''s no keeping it¡­"


    "This is a calamity...She dares take it? She''ll be lucky if she isn''t turned into celestial dog food!"


    Bai Yujian descended beside Zhao Tianxuan, who was still butchering beasts left and right, his expression dark.


    He was pissed. Of course he was. That damned tablet¡ªthe thing they had hidden for so long¡ªwas now out in the open, and every hungry wolf in the world was here to fight over it.


    But what pissed him off more?


    He couldn''t even disagree with Bai Yujian''s words.


    That damned thing was never meant to be theirs.


    The monsters chasing Yue Xiuying hadn''t come for the sect.


    Originally, they had come for Su Xiaobai, intending to drag him into their ranks once the tournament ended.


    But now¡ªwith divine powers clashing above, the entire night sky turning into a slaughterhouse of gods and devils¡ª


    Su Xiaobai?


    That little bastard was completely forgotten.


    Even a Human Immortal had stepped in, joining the chase.


    Zhao Tianxuan''s gaze flickered to Su Xiaobai, still standing in the distance, looking half-lost, half-smug.


    That little shit.


    He probably thought he was the protagonist of the night.


    "Hah¡­ looks like this is a blessing in disguise."


    Zhao Tianxuan sighed.


    With the Light Spiritual Tablet exposed, the big players had lost their minds chasing after it.


    And compared to that legendary artifact, trying to recruit a single brat suddenly seemed like the pettiest thing in the world.


    It was all or nothing now.


    Either Yue Xiuying somehow escaped, and the sect would be spared.


    Or she failed¡ªand every power in existence would tear this sect apart stone by stone looking for the tablet.


    "Forget her! Focus on stopping the beasts!"


    "That cursed thing was never ours to begin with!"


    Bai Yujian didn''t wait for a response.


    She flicked her sword once, shaking off blood and flesh like it was nothing more than dirt on her sleeve, then vanished into the battle.


    For the first time in millennium, her steps felt light.


    That damned tablet¡ªthat ticking bomb that had hung over them for generations¡ª


    It was finally gone.


    Its existence had only ever been known to her, the sect''s founding ancestor, and the sect master.


    And now?


    It was someone else''s problem.


    Some on the ground had finally begun piecing things together.


    "Light Spiritual Tablet?" A disciple''s breath hitched. "Do they mean... the Light Tab of the Heavenly Dragon Emperor?"


    His words sent a ripple through those nearby.


    Eyes widened. Faces paled.


    The founding ancestor of the Tianlong Dynasty¡ªa being shrouded in myth and mystery¡ªwas said to possess an unending wellspring of power.


    The secret?


    The Elemental Tablets.


    Each a small, rectangular artifact, yet each capable of endlessly generating Qi of its respective element.


    A man with the Fire Spirit Tab would never run out of flames.


    A woman with the Wind Spirit Tab could ride the storms without end.


    And the Light Spirit Tab?


    It was why Yue Xiuying had suddenly become a walking calamity.


    No longer bound by her own reserves, she could channel an infinite sea of Light Qi, allowing her to fight an entire sect alone.


    Yet a burning question remained.


    "How the hell did the Tianlong Emperor''s legacy end up in the Xiantian Sect?!"


    Even Yu Feng, one of the disguised disciples lurking within the arena, couldn''t hide her shock.


    She was an agent of the Dark Church, and even they had only known that the Xiantian Sect secretly possessed a map leading to the Dark Tab.


    The reason?


    The information had leaked centuries ago, when Sword Fairy herself had seized that very map. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Back then, she had led a purge against a few cultivators dabbling in forbidden arts, slaughtering them to the last man¡ªand in the process, securing the only known lead to the Dark Tab.


    The sect had buried the incident, keeping the map hidden under layers of secrecy.


    And yet, despite all their precautions¡­


    The Dark Church had still found out.


    And that map was almost in Yu Feng''s hands.


    She wasn''t even sure if it was real¡ªbut the chance that it might be was worth the risk.


    But this?


    "They weren''t just hiding a map¡­ they were hiding a whole Spiritual Tab?!"


    Her hands clenched into fists.


    Unlike the Dark Tab, which was little more than a rumor, the Light Tab was here. It was real. It was whole.


    And if the world found out?


    Forget the Tianlong Dynasty.


    Even the Black Tortoise Empire, the Vermillion Phoenix Dynasty, and every other major power would come marching with armies.


    Whether by word or war, the Light Tab would be claimed.


    If Yue Xiuying hadn''t stolen it first.

 Chapter 182 - 182: Jade Nation?

    Rumble...


    The ground was still shaking.


    The disciples had just started putting things together¡ªthe truth about the Light Spiritual Tablet, the mess in the sky, the monsters rushing toward them like a flood of nightmares.


    But before they could even fully panic, a new wave of dread crashed over them.


    Because now, the beast tide had arrived.


    Tens of thousands of monstrous creatures¡ªAbyssal Tigers, Golden-Tailed Lions, Thunder Serpents, Blood-Horned Elephants¡ªdescended upon them like a natural disaster given flesh.


    Their roars shook the heavens, their bloodlust thick enough to taste on the tongue.


    And the disciples?


    The disciples lost their damn minds.


    Some froze in place, their weapons half-drawn, legs too weak to move.


    Some outright turned to flee, ignoring their sect robes, ignoring their dignity¡ªsprinting for their lives like bandits chased by debt collectors.


    Some just stood there, wide-eyed, whispering regrets to the heavens.


    "What the hell did I do in my past life to deserve this?!"


    "This morning I was betting spirit stones on a fight. Now I''m about to become beast chow?!"


    "If we survive this, I swear I''ll quit and open a dumpling stall!"


    Even among the core disciples, hesitation flickered.


    After all, what was the point of fighting?


    The elders and peak lords were already here, their vast auras pressing down like celestial mountains. Wouldn''t it be smarter to just¡­ let them handle it?


    But before that thought could fully take root¡ª


    SHIIING!


    A soundless pressure swept over them.


    It wasn''t the crushing force of an elder''s battle aura.


    It wasn''t the bloodlust of the beasts.


    It was something sharper.


    Something cold.


    Something that cut into the very marrow of their bones.


    A sword''s intent.


    Bai Yujian descended.


    She hovered above the battlefield, her white robes unstained, her presence serene yet dangerous.


    Her sword was not drawn, but the blade was already upon them.


    Then¡ªshe spoke.


    "Enough."


    Her gaze swept across them, and for the first time, they felt smaller than ants.


    "The sect has raised you. Trained you. Fed you. Sheltered you."


    "And now, in its hour of need, you would turn your backs and flee?"


    Her words weren''t loud, but they sank deep, cutting into their pride like an unsheathed blade.


    Some disciples lowered their heads, shame flickering in their eyes.


    Others gritted their teeth, fists clenching around their weapons.


    "You call yourselves disciples of the Xiantian Sect."


    She gestured toward the elders and peak lords, who stood like generals, already clashing with the horde.


    "Do you think they can stop this alone? Do you think they will die to protect you while you stand here pissing yourselves?"


    Her blade tilted downward, pointing at the raging beast tide that surged ever closer.


    "If you have even a shred of loyalty left in your souls¡ªthen draw your weapons, form your lines, and fight."


    For a moment¡ªno one moved.


    The disciples had heard Bai Yujian''s command. They had heard every single cutting word.


    And yet, doubt still clouded thier hearts. Some glanced at their fellow disciples, as if waiting for someone else to move first. Some gritted their teeth, their Qi fluctuating with hesitation. A few even began stepping backward¡ªslowly, as if trying not to draw attention.


    "¡­Do we really have to fight?" one outer disciple whispered.


    "Maybe if we run now, the elders won''t notice¡­" another muttered.


    "That''s right! It''s not like they''ll be counting heads in this mess¡­"


    Some of the inner disciples hesitated too. They had trained, they had fought in sparring matches¡ªbut this wasn''t a tournament.


    This was war.


    And war meant dying. But before that hesitation could fully take root¡ª


    CRACK!


    A sharp sound rang out as Su Xiaobai moved.


    He had been silent all this time.


    Watching. Listening.


    But now¡ª Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire


    He stepped forward, his aura expanding, and in one swift motion¡ªhe grabbed an outer disciple by the collar.


    "Where do you think you''re going?"


    "Argh!" The disciple choked, feet kicking the air as Su Xiaobai lifted him effortlessly.


    Then, in full view of tens of thousands, he threw the man back into the ranks, slamming him onto the ground.


    "If anyone dares to run¡ª"


    His eyes swept across the disciples, his gaze sharp as a sword freshly unsheathed.


    "You''ll answer to me."


    His words weren''t loud, but they carried a dangerous intent.


    Su Xiaobai wasn''t a peak lord.


    He wasn''t an elder.


    But he didn''t need to be.


    He was a top disciple, a monster in his own right, someone whose talent was already feared across the sect.


    And now, every disciple who had considered fleeing suddenly found their legs paralyzed.


    The core disciples understood first.


    They were the pillars of the younger generation, the ones closest to stepping into elder status.


    And yet, they had hesitated.


    They clenched their fists.


    Then, one by one, they stepped forward.


    "Whoever runs¡ª" One of the core disciples spoke next, his voice echoing after Su Xiaobai''s. "¡ªwon''t just have to face him. You''ll have to face me too."


    Then another.


    "And me."


    And another.


    "And me!"


    The top disciples of the inner court followed next.


    One by one, their killing intent flared, their gazes locking onto the hesitant cowards among them.


    At that moment¡ªit clicked.


    This was no longer about sect loyalty.


    This was about personal survival.


    If they ran, it wouldn''t just be the beasts hunting them down.


    It would be their own peers.


    And at that moment¡ªescape was no longer an option.


    Su Xiaobai let the weight of his words settle¡ªThen, his lips curled into a grin.


    "Oh, and one more thing¡­"


    He lifted his hand, casually tossing a spirit stone into the air before catching it.


    "For every beast you kill, you''ll get 1,000 spirit stones."


    Silence.


    "What?!"


    "A THOUSAND SPIRIT STONES?!"


    "PER BEAST?!"


    The hesitation shattered.


    This wasn''t just sect duty anymore¡ª


    This was a fucking payday. Some disciples looked ready to cry just moments ago.


    Now?


    Their eyes shone with greed. One of the core disciples couldn''t help himself.


    "WHO''S PAYING FOR THIS?!"


    Su Xiaobai''s grin widened.


    He turned toward Zhao Tianxuan, the sect master, who was still battling beasts in the distance.


    The old man didn''t even turn around. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But his brows twitched.


    His lips tightened.


    Still¡ªhe didn''t deny it.


    If a thousand spirit stones per kill meant the disciples fought harder and reduced the damage to the sect¡ª


    Then so be it.


    Su Xiaobai laughed.


    "You heard the sect master! He''s not saying no!"


    The disciples roared.


    "FUCK IT, I''M IN!"


    "FOR THE SECT¡ªAND FOR MY WALLET!"


    "KILL THOSE BEASTS!"


    Weapons were drawn.


    Qi exploded into the air.


    And this time¡ª


    They charged.


    Not out of duty.


    Not out of loyalty.


    But because the fear of punishment and the promise of fortune had finally lit their fire.


    From above, Bai Yujian watched.


    And for the first time that night¡ª


    She felt relief.


    Because no matter how noble words could be¡ª


    Loyalty was never built on gratitude alone.


    Sometimes, fear worked better.


    And greed?


    That worked best of all.


    Su Xiaobai barely glanced at Bai Yujian''s gaze, filled with unspoken gratitude¡ªAnd promptly shrugged it off like yesterday''s trash.


    She blinked.


    And for some reason, a strange coldness crept into her feet, like stepping into an empty house where warmth used to be.


    But she crushed the feeling, locking it deep inside. There was a battle to fight.


    Right now, the priority wasn''t winning. It was keeping the sect standing. Stopping the horde was easy. The real challenge? Not letting the sect look like a pile of beast dung by morning.


    Su Xiaobai, however, couldn''t give two shits about that.


    His eyes were scanning the battlefield, but his mind was somewhere else.


    "Where is she?"


    The whole show he put on? The threats, the rewards, the grandstanding?


    It was all just for fun.


    A little clown act to stack up some favors.


    Because what he really cared about¡ªwasn''t here. Did she slip away while I wasn''t looking?


    His expression darkened.


    Yue Xi.


    That mysterious, slippery woman who left a strange itch in his mind. Something about her felt off. And now she was gone, soaring through the skies like a queen making her grand exit.


    Tsk. Disappointing.


    Then¡ªhis gaze flickered.


    That insignia¡­


    It had taken him a while to recognize, but when that gaudy, oversized chariot rolled in, he had finally placed it.


    That trident-shaped mark on Yue Xi''s forehead. Etched into the chariot''s golden walls.


    "Jade Nation."

 Chapter 183 - 183: Hero Tianjian Xun?

    "Jade Nation."


    His lips curled.


    Jade Nation belonged to White Cloud Star¡ªa place that had no fucking business meddling in Immortal Rain Valley.


    A foreign power. A star-walking empire?


    "Now why would they be sniffing around here?"


    A mystery worth digging into. But¡ªhe sighed, rolling his shoulders. "Tsk. Bad luck."


    "MOVE! OUT OF THE WAY!"


    "What¡ª?"


    BAM!


    Before he could process anything further, a stampede of disciples barreled into him, shoving him aside like he was a loose cabbage in a market brawl.


    He staggered, barely catching his balance as hundreds of them charged forward, howling like lunatics on payday.


    Their target?


    A pack of Golden-Tailed Lions¡ªbeasts the size of pavilions, each one strong enough to tear apart warships.


    And yet¡ª


    The disciples swarmed them like a pack of starving dogs chasing a fat goose.


    Su Xiaobai blinked.


    Then sighed.


    "Did I hype them up too much?"


    He chuckled, shaking his head, brushing off his sleeves¡ª


    And then¡ªhe saw it.


    A shadow.


    Moving against the flow.


    Not toward the horde.


    Not toward the battle.


    But away.


    A figure slipping through the cracks, weaving through, making a beeline for the sect''s main entrance. Su Xiaobai''s smile stretched, Heh.


    Gotcha.


    "Found you."


    His body vanished, grinning in the dark.


    The sect''s main entrance blurred past him as he slipped beyond its walls, the roar of battle fading behind him.


    Ahead, the shadow¡ªYue Xi.


    She was fast.


    Too fast for an ordinary disciple. Too graceful, her movements too refined to be mere panic.


    They passed through the half destroyed outskirts of Yunnan city, Su Xiaobai smiled remembering his handiwork, before his feet skimming across the surface of the Silent Mist Lake in the front, its black waters rippling beneath him.


    Beyond the lake, the terrain shifted¡ªtwisting cliffs, jagged rock formations, and a stretch of barren earth known as the Ashen Wastes.


    And still, she ran.


    Through the ruins of an ancient pagoda, across the skeletal remains of a collapsed bridge, her figure flickering between the broken stone pillars like a ghost in flight.


    But in the end¡ª


    She couldn''t outrun fate.


    SWOOSH!


    A palm print smashed into the ground before her, cracking stone, blocking her path.


    BAM!


    "!!" Yue Xi skidded to a halt, her breath sharp, her body coiled like a cornered fox.


    And from the darkness, Su Xiaobai stepped forward, his breath heavy, exhaustion settling into his bones.


    But still¡ªhis lips curled into a smile.


    "What''s the rush?"


    Ahead of him, Yue Xi stiffened, her figure wrapped tightly in a flowing black robe. She turned, her round gray eyes flashing with disbelief.


    "You¡­?" Her voice was laced with shock and suspicion. For the first time, Su Xiaobai saw her without the veil of arrogance¡ªjust pure surprise.


    Her grip tightened around the hilt of her blade. "Why did you follow me? Speak quickly before I kill you!" Her Qi erupted, the air shaking as her battle stance shifted¡ªready to strike at any moment.


    They were now hundreds of miles away from the sect, deep in the Ashen Wastes, where jagged cliffs stretched like the ribs of a fallen beast, and eerie mists coiled around their feet like grasping fingers.


    Here, there were no sect rules. No eyes watching. No one to stop her.


    If she wanted to kill him, she could.


    Su Xiaobai sighed.


    "You think you can kill me?"


    His voice was light, teasing¡ªbut his eyes held nothing but confidence.


    Yue Xi''s expression darkened. She had nearly forgotten about that damned armor of his, the thing that had blocked her every attack before.


    She clenched her teeth, then glanced around, and Su Xiaobai immediately knew¡ªShe was thinking of running.


    Shit. He had chased her all the way here, and she was about to disappear again. His words came fast, sharp¡ªdesperate enough to catch her attention.


    "Are you from Jade Nation?"


    Yue Xi''s body froze.


    Her head snapped toward him, her eyes widening in genuine shock.


    "What¡ª? How did you know?"


    Su Xiaobai knew immediately¡ªhe had hit the mark.His smile deepened.


    "How did you even come here from White Cloud Star?" His voice was steady, measured. "Is there a spatial rift connecting our worlds?"


    But then, he remembered¡ªthis woman didn''t trust him.


    Not even for a damn second.


    His mind spun, and then¡ªhe took a gamble.


    "I was thrown into space by accident." His voice turned casual, as if it wasn''t a big deal. "I got stuck here. I need your help to return."


    Silence.


    Yue Xi''s face went black.


    Her expression flickered¡ªdoubt, calculation, confusion.


    She didn''t trust him. That much was clear. Explore more at My Virtual Library Empire


    But if he wasn''t from White Cloud Star, then how did he know about Jade Nation? About White Cloud Star itself?


    Her voice was cold.


    "Where are you from?"


    Su Xiaobai met her gaze, his expression reminiscing.


    "Wuxia Province."


    Yue Xi''s posture loosened slightly.


    Wuxia Province.


    A place behind the Celestial Wall, shielded from the horrors of White Cloud Star.


    Unlike the small kingdoms outside, which struggled against the Hunters, Wuxia Province had the backing of great powers.


    Jade Nation was one of those small kingdoms.


    A mere vassal, surviving off scraps of support from Wuxia Province.


    Knowing this, her guard lowered¡ªjust a little.


    After a long pause, she finally spoke.


    "We were here to retrieve an artifact. One that once belonged to us."


    Her voice was calm, but her eyes burned with resentment. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Our Holy Mother has been planning this for thousands of years. It doesn''t matter if you tell your people. They won''t be able to chase us."


    Su Xiaobai shrugged.


    "Who wants to chase who?" He shrugged, then his tone sharpened. "But tell me¡ªhow did your artifact end up here?"


    Yue Xi''s eyes turned icy.


    "Hero Tianjian Xun."


    The name reverberated through the cold night, carrying a weight far heavier than Su Xiaobai expected.


    "Our Holy Mother once lent him the Spirit of the Light God, what you people call the Light Spiritual Tablet. It was our nation''s greatest defense against the Hunters."


    She took a deep breath, her voice trembling with old fury.


    "But after establishing the Celestial Wall, he ascended¡ªand he never returned it."


    Su Xiaobai stiffened.


    Tianjian Xun.


    He had heard that name before.


    "Isn''t that just the legacy of the Tianlong Emperor?" he muttered, confused.


    But then¡ªhis thoughts clicked into place.


    His eyes sharpened.


    "Oh¡­"


    A slow grin spread across his lips.


    "So he didn''t ascend."


    "He crash-landed here."


    His voice was filled with realization.


    "He either created the Tianlong Dynasty himself, or¡ª"


    His eyes flickered.


    "¡ªsomeone took credit for his fall."


    Yue Xi''s lips pressed into a thin line.


    "I don''t care."


    Her words were firm, but her voice wavered with pain.


    "Without the Light Spirit, our Jade Nation has weakened. We''ve shrunk. We''ve become dependent on others to survive."


    Her fingers clenched into fists.


    "You people live safely behind your walls. Behind your empire''s power." Her eyes burned with bitter resentment. "We? We have to fight for every goddamn breath we take."


    Su Xiaobai exhaled slowly.


    He understood.


    Unlike Immortal Rain Valley, White Cloud Star was not a peaceful place.


    Every day was a battle for survival.


    For those living outside the Guardian Walls, life was worse than hell.


    And he¡ª


    He had lived on both sides.


    Inside the walls, as one of the elite.


    And outside, as prey.


    "I get it."


    His voice was quiet, but it carried.


    Yue Xi looked at him, searching for mockery, disbelief¡ªsomething.


    But she found none.


    For a moment, she hesitated.


    Then¡ª


    She scoffed.


    "You don''t get anything."


    But her fists loosened.


    Her hostility dimmed.


    Su Xiaobai smiled bitterly.


    Even if he wanted to return, a part of him didn''t want to go back. Other than retrieving his people and getting revenge, there was nothing for him there.


    Even his hatred was starting to feel distant.


    His thoughts drifted¡ª


    To the history buried in time.


    The History of the Tianjian Xun & White Cloud Star!

 Chapter 184 - 184: The Great Epoch — Era of Tianjian!! Assassination Attempt?

    The History of the Tianjian Xun & White Cloud Star!


    White Cloud Star didn''t follow a normal calendar.


    It followed a system of Eras.


    Each Era lasted ten thousand years.


    When Su Xiaobai left, it was Year 5024 of the era of "Dawn Age"¡ªfive thousand years since the end of the last era ¡ª "The Great Epoch".


    And in that Great Epoch, things were different.


    There were no Guardian Walls.


    Wuxia Province was not the strongest power.


    The world was ruled by Hunters.


    And it was then¡ªthat a single man changed everything.


    Tianjian Xun.


    A legend.


    Born in the small "Linshui Clan" in Wuxia Province¡ªhe rose like no one before him.


    With his companions, he built the Guardian Walls, the very thing that shielded Wuxia Province from destruction.


    And alongside him?


    ¡ª	The Dragon Lord, current patriarch of the Azure Dragon Clan, and father of Long Lifen.


    ¡ª	The Immortal Emperor, ruler of the Sun Dynasty.


    ¡ª	And Immortal Emperor''s son¡ªSun Liang, Immortal Sun. The man Su Xiaobai wanted dead.


    They were all still alive.


    Except for Tianjian Xun.


    He disappeared at the end of the Great Epoch.


    And so¡ªthe last Era was named after him.


    "The Era of Tianjian."


    To have an Era named after you, It was the greatest honor, reserved only for those who had shaped the world itself.


    With Yue Xi''s words, Su Xiaobai could finally see the picture more clearly.


    The Spiritual Tablets weren''t just some lost relics.


    They were the foundation of Tianjian Xun''s power.


    If he had truly collected them all, then his rise to Human Immortal Realm and beyond made perfect sense.


    And yet¡ª


    Somewhere along the way, he had failed.


    Or rather¡ªhe had fallen.


    His ascent wasn''t glorious.


    It was a crash landing into Immortal Rain Valley, the last remnants of his legend buried in a foreign world.


    A hero who built everything¡ªonly to lose it all.


    And with his disappearance, the Great Epoch ended.


    But his legacy didn''t die.


    His name was still whispered across White Cloud Star, his deeds passed down like scripture.


    Even Su Xiaobai had grown up hearing his tales.


    The Linshui Clan that birthed him?


    It had long since fractured.


    One faction rose as the Azure Dragon Clan.


    Another became the Sun Dynasty.


    Both were led by his former comrades¡ªand were now the undisputed rulers of White Cloud Star.


    That was why rooting them out wasn''t as simple as killing them.


    Even if Su Xiaobai slaughtered them all, Wuxia Province wouldn''t accept it. If he wanted vengeance, it wasn''t enough to spill their blood.


    He had to crush the entire Province beneath his feet.


    Su Xiaobai exhaled, his mind spinning.


    "So, the Holy Mother of Jade Nation... she was one of Tianjian Xun''s old allies too."


    It was the only explanation.


    She must have aided him during his journey, lending him the Light Tab, which they worshiped as the Light God Spirit.


    To them, the Light Tab was not just a tool¡ªIt was their Light God''s Spirit.


    A divine protection against the Hunters that plagued their land.


    But Tianjian Xun never returned it.


    Wuxia Province rose.


    Jade Nation fell.


    Without its treasure, it had been left to rot, shrinking, surviving only by begging for scraps.


    Tens of thousands of years later¡ª


    Their anger had never faded.


    Their vengeance never wavered.


    They had been robbed of their survival.


    They had hidden. They had planned. They had waited.


    And now, Yue Xiuying had stolen back their lost relic. It made perfect sense why the she would spend thousands of years plotting to take it back.


    She would chase this debt across the stars if she had to.


    And now¡ª


    If she safely returned, she would become one of the most powerful forces in White Cloud Star.


    Su Xiaobai could already imagine it.


    The moment she crossed back into her homeland, the entire white cloud star power dynamics would be flipped upside down.


    Su Xiaobai chuckled.


    "Hahaha..."


    Even after leaving White Cloud Star, its shadows still followed him.


    It was as if fate had wrapped its fingers around his throat, refusing to let go.


    "Are you done?"


    Yue Xi''s voice echoed , wary and tense.


    She wasn''t the confident #1 Inner Court disciple anymore. She wasn''t standing above him, looking down.


    Right now¡ªshe was anxious.This mission wasn''t just hers. It was the life and death of an entire nation.


    Compared to that, a fight with Su Xiaobai?


    She didn''t even take it seriously.


    "Hey, you arrived here far after the Celestial Peak Lord, Yue Xiuying, right?" Su Xiaobai''s gaze turned sharper, drilling into Yue Xi like a blade.


    "How did you do it? Do you people have a way to send someone between the two worlds without reaching Immortality?"


    Yue Xi flinched. Because she knew exactly what he was asking. Her mind drifted¡ªback to the crossing. Back to the method they had used to slip between realms.


    She had left a hundred years ago.


    Her fellow sisters¡ªthose who followed Yue Xiuying¡ªleft even earlier.


    And Yue Xiuying herself? She had been here for millennium.


    Living in isolation, buried in a foreign world, plotting for a way home. And now¡ªthat way home was finally open again.


    Her eyes turned momentarily hazy, lost in thought.


    "There is¡­" she admitted.


    Then, her gaze flicked back to Su Xiaobai, serious and heavy.


    "But you won''t like it." Enjoy new adventures from My Virtual Library Empire


    Su Xiaobai shrugged. "Doesn''t matter. Just tell me what it is."


    Yue Xi''s plump red lips smashed together.


    "I haven''t agreed yet." Her tone turned colder. "You''d have to ask¡ª"


    Then¡ª


    Her expression snapped into alarm.


    "Wait!"


    She was yanked backwards by an unseen force, her body shooting into the sky like a ragdoll caught in a hurricane.


    BOOM!


    Su Xiaobai moved on instinct, reaching out¡ªOnly for a thick white smoke to explode in his face, clogging his lungs like a poisonous cloud.


    "Ghhk¡ª! Hah¡­ Fuck!"


    He staggered, coughing violently. His throat burned as he choked, his body reacting instinctively, his [Invincible Domain] activating on reflex.


    His grin twisted into a grimace, but even as he gasped for air, he still cursed through the wheezing.


    "Damn¡­ what did you eat to fart out this much smoke¡ª"


    And then¡ªhis instinctive activation of [Invincible Domain] saved his life.


    Because the very next moment¡ª


    CRASH!


    A roar of flames descended from the heavens, a scorching white inferno, so hot that the space itself ignited.


    The smoke left behind combusted instantly, turning into a sea of fire. The heat ripped through the ground, melting stone, dirt, and everything in its path.


    Everything within a kilometer radius¡ªgone.


    Reduced to ash in an instant.


    If Su Xiaobai had hesitated even a breath longer¡ªIf his domain hadn''t activated¡ªHe would have been vaporized before he even knew what hit him.


    He stared at the destruction.


    Then let out a sharp, breathless laugh.


    "Pfft¡­! HAHAHA!"


    He bent over, hands on his knees, still coughing up that damn smoke.


    "Holy fuck¡­! I almost got sent straight to the afterlife¡­"


    He wiped his mouth, his grin curling with amusement. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Just like Liu Zhenhai."


    His laughter echoed.


    "A dog''s death!"


    Just as Su Xiaobai was still laughing, coughing up smoke and grinning like a lunatic¡ªA pair of cold, piercing eyes stared down at him from above.


    Hidden in the vast, dark sky, watching with a gaze that carried surprise¡­ and then killing intent.


    "He survived?"


    Then, as if the initial shock was insignificant, the tone hardened.


    "Hmph. It doesn''t matter. You won''t live for long."


    The words weren''t spoken loudly, yet they echoed like an execution order.


    Su Xiaobai''s grin froze.


    His body stiffened.


    His head slowly lifted, eyes scanning the sky¡ªAnd for the first time tonight, a genuine chill crawled down his spine.


    "Who?"


    His instincts screamed.


    That white smoke¡ªThat wasn''t Yue Xi''s doing. Then¡­ who the hell set him up?


    And more importantly¡ªWhy were they hunting him?


    On the sky, two sharp eyes glared at Su Xiaobai, the sage like appearance, with the fiery red robe, even if the face was blurry due to vast distance between them, Su Xiaobai could understand who it was.


    "Fire Peak Lord Huo?"


    Su Xiaobai''s frown deepened, his body tensing as he took a slow step forward.


    His voice was calm¡ªbut his mind wasn''t.


    "Why did you attack me?"


    Even though Su Xiaobai always felt this old bastard had ulterior motives, he never thought he''d be so blatant about it.


    No sneaky schemes. No behind-the-scenes plotting.


    Just a straight-up execution attempt.

 Chapter 185 - 185: Farming Chickens? — Accepted!

    Just a straight-up execution attempt...


    "Hahaha!"


    Huo Rong''s laughter rang, his flaming robes fluttering as he descended slowly, like a predator savoring the moment before the kill.


    "Attack you?" His voice was mocking, filled with amusement. "Brat, do you really need to ask? You should''ve been dead already. If not for that damned luck of yours¡­ well, let''s just say there wouldn''t even be ashes left of you."


    Su Xiaobai''s lips twitched.


    "Tsk. If you wanted me dead, you could''ve at least sent someone prettier." He rolled his shoulders, shaking off the remaining tension. "Getting assassinated by an old man? That''s just embarrassing."


    Huo Rong''s smile vanished.


    "Arrogant till the end, huh?" His eyes darkened, flames swirling at his fingertips. "I''d expect nothing less from you, Su Xiaobai. You always had a sharp tongue¡ªlet''s see if you can still run your mouth when I burn it out of your skull."


    "Oh?" Su Xiaobai chuckled, tilting his head. "Big words for someone who couldn''t even kill me with a sneak attack. What''s next? Gonna ask your ancestors for help?"


    "You¡ª!"


    The flames around Huo Rong exploded, heatwaves rolling through the night, scorching the earth beneath them.


    But Su Xiaobai wasn''t done.


    "Wait, wait." He raised a hand, pretending to be thoughtful. "Let me guess your reason first, alright? Did I steal your old lover? No, no¡­ maybe I stepped on your dog?"


    Huo Rong''s face twitched violently.


    "You ignorant brat! You don''t even realize why you have to die?!"


    Su Xiaobai grinned, but inside, his mind was working at full speed.


    He was too far from the sect.


    A Peak Tribulation Master had chased him all the way out here.


    He would have to be a fucking idiot to think this man would leave him a way out.


    There was no backup.


    No escape routes.


    No last-minute reinforcements.


    The only thing he had left¡ª


    Was his mouth.


    For now¡ªall he could do was stall.


    Time for his brain to find a way out of this mess.


    Su Xiaobai had been too hopeful.


    Or rather¡ªtoo damn unlucky.


    Because instead of one of those chatty villains who monologue until sunrise, he ran into a real bastard.


    "Die!"


    BOOM!


    Su Xiaobai barely had time to curse before Huo Rong struck like a lightning-wrapped panther, his fist driving into Su Xiaobai''s gut like a meteor breaking the heavens.


    The impact should have shattered him.


    But in that last instant¡ª


    BZZT!


    His [Invincible Domain] triggered¡ªbut even so, it only dulled the pain as his body was launched through the air.


    WHOOSH!


    He flew like a ragdoll in a hurricane, crashing through one hill¡ª


    SMASH!


    Then another¡ª


    BOOM!


    Then another¡ª


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    By the time his broken body slammed into the ninth, the dust settled, and silence fell.


    Yet through the wreckage¡ª


    Su Xiaobai crawled out, bloodied, battered, but still gripping his crimson sword. He used it to steady himself, his gaze lifting toward Huo Rong¡ªAnd what burned in his eyes wasn''t just anger.


    It was absolute hatred.


    Su Xiaobai always avoided unfair fights.


    But today¡ª


    He was the victim of one.


    His lips curled into a bloody smile, voice hoarse but dripping with venom.


    "Old fart¡­ you better pray you kill me today." His breath was ragged, yet his smile only widened. "Because if you don''t¡ª"


    His tone sharpened, dark and venomous.


    "I won''t leave a single drop of your bloodline alive."


    "Every last one will suffer a fate worse than death."


    The temperature plummeted.


    Huo Rong''s face twitched violently. His fingers clenched, his entire body trembling with rage.


    Because Su Xiaobai had just stabbed into the one chapter of his life that should have stayed buried.


    Huo Rong had no wife. No official heirs.


    But there was one man he owed everything to¡ª


    Ji Yan.


    The Ancestor of the Blazing Sun Sect. The man who had saved his life.


    Ji Yan had taken Huo Rong in, treated him like a brother, let him live in his home¡­ alongside his kind-hearted wife and children.


    And yet¡ª


    That one fateful week Huo Rong spent in Ji Yan''s home¡­


    He had fucked his wife.


    The children Ji Yan proudly called his own?


    They were Huo Rong''s.


    And the irony?


    Ji Yan had trusted him. Never suspected a thing.


    So when he came to ask for help¡ªhe never even considered betrayal.


    But he should have.


    Because now?


    The wife and the illegitimate children?


    Dead.


    The secret? Buried.


    And now, with just a few words, this little shit dug it all back up.


    Huo Rong''s entire body shook. His killing intent spiked so high that the air itself distorted, flames raging around him like a volcano on the verge of eruption.


    Su Xiaobai wiped the blood from his lips, grinning despite himself.


    "Oh? Hit a nerve?"


    The mountains trembled, the entire battlefield moments away from turning into a flaming apocalypse¡ª


    Then¡ª


    A shadow appeared in the distance.


    Massive.


    Fast.


    For a second, hope flickered in Su Xiaobai''s chest.


    Then he got a good look.


    And that hope died faster than a virgin in a brothel.


    "FUCK YOU, AUTHOR!"


    Charging at full speed was a mountain-sized wolf, its paws crushing craters into the earth with every step.


    And riding atop it?


    Liu Chenfu.


    Missing a hand. Injured. Clearly running for his goddamn life.


    And yet¡ª


    The moment his eyes locked onto Su Xiaobai and Huo Rong¡ª


    His expression twisted with fury.


    "Damn you!"


    He yanked the reins, forcing the massive wolf to veer off course, charging straight at Su Xiaobai.


    Even if he died today¡ª


    He was taking this bastard with him.


    Su Xiaobai''s eyelid twitched.


    Huo Rong felt it too. His eyes flickered¡ªthen narrowed.


    Instead of hesitating, he gritted his teeth and lunged forward, unwilling to waste another second.


    Now, instead of one Peak Tribulation Realm monster coming for his throat¡ª


    Two were charging at him.


    At full speed.


    At the same time.


    Su Xiaobai''s face darkened completely.


    No miracles today.


    No deus ex machina.


    Hell, even Zhao Tianxuan and Bai Yujian? He could sense them approaching¡ª


    But they were too fucking far away.


    No cavalry.


    No tricks. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Just him¡ªagainst two monsters.


    Su Xiaobai let out a slow breath.


    Then chuckled.


    "If a miracle happens today, I''ll start farming chickens tomorrow."


    His Qi was gone. Your journey continues with My Virtual Library Empire


    His Invincible Domain was exhausted.


    Nothing left.


    And yet¡ª


    He raised his sword.


    His eyes burned.


    So what if he had no Qi?


    So what if there were no allies?


    "Sons of bitches, I ain''t dying like a bitch just to fit your plot."


    And with that¡ª


    He charged.


    Straight at them.


    Blade flashing.

 Chapter 186 - 186: Aftermath!

    Shua! Shua!


    From the distance, Bai Yujian finally caught sight of Su Xiaobai, her heart skipping a beat. What the hell is he doing here?! Her figure blurred as she shot through the air like a white streak, but she was too late.


    And then¡ª


    SLASH! SLASH!


    Two monstrous arcs of sword light¡ªone veering left, the other right¡ªripped through the battlefield, forming an X-shaped calamity that cleaved through space itself. Bai Yujian''s body froze mid-air, her instincts screaming at her to not move, to not even breathe, as the two slashes rushed past her eyes.


    It wasn''t just her.


    Liu Chenfu, his hand barely a centimeter from Su Xiaobai''s throat, found himself unable to move. His pupils shrank, his lips trembled, trying to form words that never came.


    "H-How¡­"


    But before his mind could fully register what happened, his entire body split from the middle.


    Thud! Thud!


    His two halves hit the ground, a waterfall of blood gushing from the clean cut, his lifeless eyes still frozen in disbelief.


    Huo Rong wasn''t any better. His face twisted in pure horror, his eyes bloodshot, as if trying to deny reality itself. What the hell kind of sword technique was this?! He had fought hundreds of battles, seen legendary slashes that could part seas and split mountains, but never¡ªnever¡ªhad he seen death arrive this suddenly, this absurdly, this unfairly!


    Puchi!


    The last thing he saw was his own body splitting apart, a vertical fountain of blood bursting from the clean wound, his insides spilling out like a broken dam.


    But the horror didn''t end there.


    The sword light didn''t just stop after cutting through them. It kept going, streaking across the night sky like the blade of an executioner wiping out sins in a single stroke.


    CRASH! CRASH!


    The distant mountains behind them were severed instantly, entire peaks collapsing like stacks of tofu, their ridges melting apart like butter under a divine blade.


    The deep valleys that had stood for thousands of years were ripped open, their earth splitting apart, revealing unseen layers of stone that had never touched light before.


    Bai Yujian''s gaze frosted, watching as the land itself stood witness to the insanity of the moment.


    And at the center of it all¡ª


    Su Xiaobai.


    "Huh?"


    His eyes fluttered open. His fingers tensed, his body bracing for pain that never arrived.


    Instead¡ªblood splattered across his face. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    For a brief moment, his mind thought, Oh, so this is how I die.


    But then¡ªhe saw the two fallen, twitching, lifeless bodies at his feet.


    And his gaze lowered¡ªto the sword in his grip.


    His fingers tightened around the hilt, his mind a complete blank.


    "¡­I did that?"


    Clang.


    His sword trembled violently before collapsing entirely, the sword will that had been holding it together fading like a weak candle flame, the broken blade scattering across the ground in useless fragments.


    "???"


    His brain short-circuited.


    Did he¡ªactually¡ªjust cut two Peak Tribulation Masters in half?


    With no Qi?


    With a broken sword?


    With nothing left in him but spite and bad luck?!


    The sword will extinguished with a puff, leaving behind total silence.


    Su Xiaobai, who had stood under the crushing pressure of two Peak Tribulation monsters, who had forced himself to fight despite having no way out, finally collapsed to his knees.


    His entire body trembled, not from pain, not from fear, but from pure, absolute speechlessness.


    A bitter laugh crawled onto his lips.


    "I have no fucking clue what just happened¡­"


    His blood-stained fingers twitching.


    His mind was scrambling for answers, but one thing was absolutely clear.


    "I guess I have to farm chickens."


    Yup.


    It''s a must.


    _____


    Rustle~


    "How did you do that?"


    The moment Bai Yujian landed, her feet hovering just above the ground, she stared at Su Xiaobai with an expression of pure, undiluted disbelief.


    Su Xiaobai, still riding the high of not dying, threw his head back with a loud, relieved laugh¡ª


    Only to pause mid-chuckle, staring at Bai Yujian like she just asked him to explain quantum physics.


    "Haha!¡ªhuh?" He blinked. "Do what?"


    The second the words left his mouth, he wanted to smash his own head into the ground.


    Of course, she meant the impossible, heaven-defying slash that diced two Peak Tribulation bastards like freshly butchered pork!


    Before he could spout some bullshit, Bai Yujian''s voice came through like a blade.


    "My sword will." Her eyes narrowed. "How did you control it?"


    Su Xiaobai''s smirk froze.


    His gaze snapped to her, as if she had suddenly grown lotus petals out of her forehead.


    What sword will? What divine inheritance? What celestial enlightenment?


    He was barely holding his shit together!


    Shouldn''t there be some praise first, then interrogation?!


    And just as he was about to bullshit his way through¡ª


    Boom!


    Another figure descended.


    Zhao Tianxuan, the Sect Master himself, landed beside Bai Yujian, his gaze filled with the same complex emotions.


    And then Su Xiaobai felt it.


    Something wrong.


    They weren''t looking at his face.


    They weren''t looking at his wounds.


    They were looking down.


    Lower.


    Suspiciously lower.


    Su Xiaobai''s face darkened immediately.


    ''Oi, oi, oi! What the hell are you two staring at?! My Ping Pong? My bloodline?!''


    Their gazes didn''t shift.


    His heart sank.


    Finally, he followed their line of sight¡ª


    And saw the broken sword lying in front of him.


    "Oh¡­"


    Just one word.


    A painful, dawning realization.


    No shit, for a brief second, Su Xiaobai thought he had gained protagonist-tier plot armor, awakened some mystical inheritance, and ascended to the ranks of legendary sword gods overnight.


    But nope.


    Turns out, when he swung the sword, he had somehow accidentally triggered Bai Yujian''s lingering sword will, which fused with his own broken sword, resulting in that divine execution of two Peak Lords in one slash.


    Your next chapter is on My Virtual Library Empire


    As for how he did that?


    Don''t ask him. He''s too fucking tired.


    If he knew he could pull off shit like that, would he have been sweating his balls off moments ago?!


    Before another word could be said¡ª


    Su Xiaobai''s vision blurred.


    And in front of their eyes¡ª


    He collapsed.


    "¡­"


    Bai Yujian stared, her expression blank as a sheet of paper.


    Zhao Tianxuan sighed, rubbing his temples.


    Today¡­


    Today was going down in history.


    They would later call it¡ª


    The Birth of the Sage Emperor.


    The tournament where a single man led an army against a beast tide¡ª(exaggerated beyond reason by god-knows-who).


    Where he then single-handedly slayed two Peak Lords, purging heretics from the sect¡ª(completely dramatized).


    Where he exposed traitors, purged corruption, and changed the sect''s fate forever¡ª(pure fiction, but people love a good tale).


    And what was Su Xiaobai doing at that moment?


    Lying unconscious, completely unaware of the bullshit happening in his name.


    _____


    Meanwhile, Back at the Sect¡­


    While disciples cheered, elders scrambled to reorganize, and the remaining traitors got their heads lopped off in the biggest sect-wide execution in history¡ª


    A series of announcements were made.


    First: Hu Jiao''er and Hu Mei''er were promoted to Elders.


    Second: Su Xiaobai was declared the next Sect Master successor.


    Without his fucking consent.


    If he was awake, he would have flipped every table in the sect¡ªbut too bad, he was still snoring.


    Overnight, he became a hero.


    Some even believed that everything was part of a grand sect-cleansing plan, with Su Xiaobai as the main orchestrator.


    After all, the next day, more than a dozen elders were executed publicly for colluding with the Celestial Peak Lord.


    And then¡ª


    The third announcement.


    Peak Lord Zhu Qing¡ªgetting married.


    That night, many hearts shattered.


    But The Most Shattered Heart of All?


    Su Xiaobai''s.


    Two days later, he woke up feeling refreshed, only for Lulu¡ªhis lovely maid¡ªto deliver the most soul-crushing news of his life.


    And when she got to the part about him getting married¡ª


    "Who¡­ decided that?"


    Lulu smiled wryly, her tone half-apologetic, half-gleeful.


    "It''s to protect both of your reputations. Now, even if someone wants to talk, they can''t, right?"


    Su Xiaobai massaged his temples.


    Of course, it was to clear up the only scandal surrounding him and Zhu Qing. But marrying that violent woman?!


    Whatever. He could just stall the dates.


    Sure, she was amazing in bed, but as a wife?


    Su Xiaobai could only shake his head.


    What if one day he pissed her off too much and she chopped off his little brother?!


    Nope. Too dangerous.


    Just as he was accepting his fate, Lulu suddenly remembered something.


    "Ah, right. Peak Lord Bai left these for you. She said they''re yours now."


    She casually shoved a few objects toward him.


    Su Xiaobai lazily took them¡ªtwo shining golden rings, sending a sliver of his consciousness inside.


    A moment later¡ª


    His eyes gleamed like a spirit stone jackpot.


    The spatial rings were filled to the brim with treasures.


    Liu Chenfu and Huo Rong''s entire fortune, artifacts, weapons, resources¡ª


    All of it¡­


    Now belonged to him.


    His lips curled into a slow, wicked grin.


    "Lulu, prepare for the wedding! Hahaha!"


    "¡­"


    Lulu stared at him, completely speechless.


    But how could Su Xiaobai not laugh?


    The heavens took his peace of mind¡ª


    But at least they paid him in riches.

 Chapter 187 - 187: Saintess of Jade Nation!

    While Su Xiaobai was celebrating like a filthy rich landlord inside the sect, outside, the skies were set ablaze with pursuit.


    Rays of light slashed through time and space, as powerful masters ripped through the heavens in search of a single woman¡ª


    Yue Xiuying.


    The mysterious Celestial Peak Lord, now the most wanted woman in Immortal Rain Valley, the one who stole the Light Spiritual Tablet.


    Across the shattered peaks, the endless rivers, the mist-drenched valleys, teams of hunters gathered¡ªall eager to seize her, strip her of her prize, and bask in the glory of bringing her down.


    "Find her!"


    "She couldn''t have gotten far!"


    "Whoever captures her will earn the gratitude of the Tianlong Dynasty!"


    Yet¡ª


    Little did they know, their chase was already meaningless.


    Because Yue Xiuying had long left this world.


    ____


    Jade Nation, a sanctuary of light...


    In a land far beyond the reach of Immortal Rain Valley, where the sky shimmered with a golden glow and mountain-sized trees towered toward the heavens, space shuddered.


    SHRIP!


    A thin cut appeared in the void, and through it, a silhouette staggered forward.


    Exhausted. Weary. Yet victorious.


    Before she could fall, a hand caught her.


    Behind her, another woman, dressed in similar white robes, supported her gently.


    "Master¡­ We made it."


    One by one, more figures emerged¡ªsixteen women, all clad in crimson robes, all bearing wounds from their escape.


    And alongside them¡ª


    Yue Xi.


    The "apostle" chosen by the Jade Nation, the woman Yue Xiuying had personally raised, her very existence a symbol of their people''s struggle.


    Her reputation had been a vital part of the plan¡ªafter all, the #1 disciple of the inner court was granted a single privilege.


    Access to the sect treasury.


    And while the sect obsessed over tournaments and pride, Yue Xi had been carefully mapping out every artifact, every hidden mechanism, every security flaw.


    Because of her, this day was possible.


    Because of her, Yue Xiuying had succeeded.


    And now¡ª


    As Yue Xiuying stood amidst her loyal disciples, a faint, divine glow surrounded her.


    SHING!


    The Light Spiritual Tablet embedded in her forehead flared to life, releasing a brilliant radiance that enveloped them all.


    The light flowed through their bodies, sinking into their wounds, their exhaustion, their very bones.


    Muscles that had been torn became whole.


    Drowsy, fatigued minds snapped awake.


    And within seconds¡ªthey stood refreshed, as if reborn.


    Because they were light cultivators.


    And with the Light Spiritual Tablet, the very origin of their techniques¡ª


    It was as if heaven itself had carved out a blessing meant solely for them.


    The women, once weary and wounded, now stood tall. Their crimson robes fluttered gently, no longer stained with the dirt of battle, but glowing with newfound strength.


    Yue Xiuying watched them, her cold, calculating eyes softened just a fraction.


    She had gambled everything on this plan.


    And it had worked.


    She exhaled slowly, before lifting her gaze toward them all.


    "We did it."


    Her voice was calm, yet it carried like the whisper of a storm before it devours the land.


    "The Xiantian Sect thought themselves untouchable. They thought they could hoard what was never theirs. They thought they could use the Light Spirit as a mere artifact, ignorant of its true origin."


    Her lips curled into a faint, knowing smile.


    "And yet, here we are. With it in our hands."


    She raised a delicate hand, tapping a finger against the shining tablet embedded in her forehead, letting its divine glow shimmer against their faces.


    "Every effort you put forth, every wound you suffered¡ªit was not in vain."


    Her eyes scanned the gathered women, lingering particularly on Yue Xi.


    Then¡ª


    "Yue Xi."


    The young woman stiffened, eyes widening as her master''s gaze locked onto her.


    Yue Xiuying took a slow step forward, standing before her, then lifted a single hand.


    A ray of light descended from the sky, swirling around Yue Xi like a holy baptism.


    "From this day forward," Yue Xiuying''s voice rang clear, "You are no longer merely my apostle. You are now the Saintess of Jade Nation."


    A tremor ran through the sixteen gathered women, their expressions flashing between shock and elation.


    Yue Xi, trembling, lowered her head immediately, her voice barely above a whisper.


    "Master, I am unworthy¡­"


    "You are." Yue Xiuying''s voice was final. Absolute. "You played your role to perfection. The success of this mission would not have been possible without you. And now, it is time for you to bear a greater responsibility."


    Her cold fingers tilted Yue Xi''s chin upward, forcing her to meet her gaze.


    "Do not shrink from what is already yours."


    Yue Xi took a shaky breath, then lowered her head once more¡ªthis time, in acceptance.


    "I will not fail."


    Yue Xiuying gave a small, approving nod, before turning her gaze back to the rest.


    Her hand lifted again, and several beams of golden light shot forth, each one landing upon one of the sixteen women.


    "Each of you will be rewarded for your loyalty and sacrifice."


    The light condensed, solidifying into artifacts, rare pills, and treasures of immense value¡ªfar greater than what any sect could offer.


    Gasps filled the air as the women clutched their prizes, eyes gleaming with reverence.


    "This is only the beginning."


    Yue Xiuying''s voice grew colder, sharper, more commanding.


    She lifted her hand one last time, clenching it into a fist.


    "The Jade Nation has waited in the shadows long enough."


    "We will no longer scrape by, relying on the mercy of Wuxia Province."


    "The strength we once had¡ªthe power that was stolen from us¡ªit is time we take it back."


    Her voice rang across the massive forest, trembling the space itself.


    "It is time for Jade Nation to return to glory."


    _____


    A month had passed.


    When Yue Xiuying and her followers finally returned to their homeland, they had expected a hero''s welcome¡ªparades, praises, banners waving in the wind.


    Instead, they returned to a nation on its last breath.


    The situation was far more dire than they had imagined.


    The Wuxia Province had tightened its grip over the region, now controlled by a new emperor, throwing the entire structure into chaos.


    For over a year, no reinforcements had come from the province.


    The once-strong walls of Jade Nation had cracked, its warriors diminished, its lands ravaged by Hunters.


    Thousands had died.


    And if Yue Xiuying had been even a month late, there might not have been a Jade Nation left to return to. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The moment she stepped foot inside her homeland, she wasted no time.


    She butchered every Hunter she found within the borders, cleansing the land in blood.


    She reinforced the nation''s defenses, raising the walls higher, stronger, layered with arrays that would burn invaders to ashes.


    Her return was not just the return of a warrior¡ªit was the return of order.


    And with her return¡ªa new star began to rise.


    Yue Xi, the newly appointed Saintess of Jade Nation, soared in power.


    Within weeks, she broke through to the Spirit Severing Realm, her strength outpacing expectations, her reputation spreading like wildfire.


    She led the nation''s forces, strengthening alliances, stabilizing resources, and in return¡ªshe gained unwavering loyalty from the people.


    For the first time in years, Jade Nation wasn''t on its knees.


    It was standing tall.


    But peace never lasted for long.


    One morning, under the glare of the blazing twin suns, a sudden edict arrived.


    The Emperor of the Sun Dynasty, the new ruler of Wuxia Province, was coming.


    Without warning. Without invitation.


    The nation''s leaders, the disciples, the greatest warriors, all gathered at the tallest building in the city¡ªwaiting, preparing for what this unexpected visit meant.


    Far above, an imperial vessel hovered in the sky, its golden sails gleaming, banners fluttering with the emblem of the Sun Dynasty.


    Descending from the heavens, two figures stepped forth.


    One, a man clad in royal black and gold robes, his long midnight hair flowing behind him, his presence alone making the very air tremble.


    Sun Liang.


    The Emperor of Wuxia Province.

 Chapter 188 - 188: The Emperor of Wuxia Province?

    Sun Liang.


    The Emperor of Wuxia Province.


    Beside him, a woman with icy eyes and ethereal beauty, her white robes embroidered with golden clouds, her aura refined yet dangerously sharp.


    Jiang Chuchu.


    She stepped forward, her brows furrowed in confusion, her eyes scanning the city below.


    "What''s going on?" Her voice was filled with genuine surprise.


    "Didn''t the reports say Jade Nation was on the verge of collapse? That we could absorb it into Wuxia Province effortlessly?"


    The streets below were full of life.


    Markets bustled, warriors patrolled with confidence, walls stood taller than before.


    Jade Nation wasn''t crumbling.


    It was thriving.


    Sun Liang''s sharp gaze darkened, his brows furrowing into a frown.


    "Chuchu, don''t lose yourself over every small thing." His voice was stern. This was not the Jade Nation he had prepared to erase.


    Something¡ªor someone¡ªhad changed its fate.


    And soon, he was about to find out who.


    "Envoy Sun, welcome to our nation. We have long heard of your meticulous deeds across the lands."


    Yue Xiuying''s voice was calm, carrying the grace of diplomacy, yet distant enough to make it clear¡ªthis was not a meeting of equals.


    Today, Sun Liang had arrived as an envoy, not as the emperor.


    And as such, Yue Xiuying acknowledged him accordingly.


    Sun Liang''s eyes narrowed.


    His gaze swept over her¡ªa woman buried under layers of white robes, silk veils concealing every inch of her face.


    "Oh?" His lips curled slightly, his tone shifting¡ªhalf amused, half probing. "Is this how Jade Nation welcomes its guests? Hiding your faces even in a formal negotiation?"


    His voice carried a hidden edge, subtle but pressing, as though demanding an answer to a question he hadn''t yet spoken aloud.


    Who was she?


    And why, no matter how much he dug through his thousands of years of memory, could he not recall a figure bearing her name?


    Yue Xiuying did not falter.


    "Envoy Sun should be well aware of our traditions."


    A soft, polite rejection¡ªyet firm, leaving no room for further questioning.


    Sun Liang''s eyes flickered, and he glanced at Jiang Chuchu beside him.


    The woman beside him nodded slightly, signaling him to let it go, for now.


    Today''s purpose was not to uncover secrets.


    It was to reinforce the relationship between Wuxia Province and Jade Nation¡ªto resume reinforcements.


    A small, calculated investment before Jade Nation inevitably collapsed, and Wuxia Province could swallow it whole.


    At least, that''s what he believed.


    But now¡ªthings weren''t adding up.


    "Miss Yue, I have been in the Dynasty for thousands of years, and yet, your name is unfamiliar to me."


    His fingers tapped lightly on the table, his gaze probing.


    "Are you the reason behind Jade Nation''s sudden rise?"


    As he spoke, his eyes swept across the room, observing the figures around her.


    Most of them were clad in red robes, veils hiding their faces, maintaining an air of mystery.


    Except for one.


    Sitting beside Yue Xiuying, her face fully revealed, her expression cold and indifferent¡ª


    Yue Xi.


    The Saintess of Jade Nation.


    Sun Liang''s gaze drifted across her beautiful face, but quickly dismissed her. According to their nation''s traditions, this woman was already claimed.


    His interest lay elsewhere.


    What had caused such a drastic change in Jade Nation?


    It wasn''t this Saintess.


    She was strong, but not strong enough to pull an entire nation back from the grave.


    That meant¡ª


    It had to be the woman in front of him.


    Yue Xiuying tilted her head slightly, her voice carrying a hint of mockery.


    "Oh? I am honored by Envoy Sun''s curiosity."


    Then, suddenly¡ªher tone sharpened.


    "But tell me¡­ did no one teach Envoy Sun that when you leave someone to sink or swim, you are no longer worthy to ask how they survived?"


    BOOM.


    Her words landed like a thunderclap in the hall.


    Sun Liang''s expression darkened instantly.


    The moment hearing pleasantries turned to veiled accusations, he knew¡ª


    The negotiations had already failed.


    The meeting continued for a short while, exchanging empty words, superficial diplomacy, but the outcome was already decided.


    And in the end¡ª


    Sun Liang stood up, his tone cold and clipped.


    "Since Jade Nation does not appreciate our kindness¡­ so be it." He turned away, his robes fluttering majestically behind him.


    As he reached the exit, he cast one last glance at Yue Xiuying.


    "Miss Yue, I hope you won''t regret your decision in the future."


    And with that¡ªhe was gone.


    ___


    Outside, down in the streets, Sun Liang''s gaze flickered.


    Women walked freely, their robes flowing, their faces radiating strength and discipline.


    A nation ruled by women. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Of course, there were men, but they were few and far between.


    Laborers, servants, shadows in the background.


    Here, men didn''t hold power.


    And that¡ª


    That was something Sun Liang intended to change.


    Jade Nation had always been an outlier, its women untamed, its rulers rebellious.


    But a cage was still a cage, even if it had pearls and silk draped over it.


    "Master, what do we do now? Should we send the army?"


    Jiang Chuchu''s voice was low, sharp, carrying a trace of irritation.


    She had expected to walk into a crumbling nation, one that could be absorbed with ease.


    Instead, they had walked into a Jade Nation that stood stronger than ever.


    Sun Liang let out a slow breath.


    "No need." His lips curled.


    "If she wants to lead the opposition, let her."


    "In the end, she will only be doing our work for us."


    Jiang Chuchu''s eyes glowed with realization.


    "Indeed! We can let her do all the free labor for us! Then, once everything is settled¡ª" Her voice turned dangerously sweet, her fingers brushing against Sun Liang''s arm. "Master can simply rape that woman and enslave her."


    Sun Liang smiled.


    It was a good plan.


    The thought of that defiant woman, dressed in white, bound beneath him, her will shattered, her body owned¡ª


    It pleased him.


    But¡ª


    He wasn''t a fool.


    He could feel it.


    That woman was strong.


    Right now, he was still limited to the mortal world, but once he broke through to the Human Immortal Realm¡­


    Then¡ª


    She would belong to him.


    "Patience, Chuchu. Let her dance."


    His voice was smooth, dark, lined with pure, calculative ambition.


    "In the end, she will realize there is no escape."


    And as the Sun Dynasty''s imperial vessel ascended into the sky, his eyes shone with ruthless hunger.


    ___


    Back in the Tower¡­


    The moment Sun Liang left, the tension in the hall simmered down, but not by much.


    Yue Xi exhaled softly, her expression complex.


    "Master, why did you refuse him outright? Wouldn''t it have been better to play along for now?" Yue Xi asked cautiously.


    "Sun Dynasty is the strongest force in the Immortal Cloud Continent¡­ Wouldn''t making them our enemy put us at greater risk?"


    Yue Xiuying slowly lifted a hand and removed her veil, revealing her cold yet strangely amused smile.


    "Why do you think we haven''t received any reinforcements from Wuxia Province for the past year?"


    The room fell silent.


    Yue Xi''s expression tightened.


    The other women glanced at one another, confusion setting in.


    "Master¡­ do you mean¡ª"


    Yue Xiuying''s voice dropped to an eerie calm.


    "Sun Jianhong, your son''s ambition is too high. I hope you are prepared for the consequences..."


    She tapped her fingernail against the wooden table, a slow, rhythmic sound.


    "All the small kingdoms had their aid cut."


    "Do you think that''s a coincidence?"


    Her lips curled slightly.


    "He never wanted to help any of us."


    Her voice was sharp, deliberate.


    "He only wanted to swallow us whole."


    A chill ran through the room.


    The women exchanged uneasy glances, the meaning of Yue Xiuying''s words sinking in.


    "But¡­ he didn''t look like that at all," Mei Lian muttered, clutching the hilt of her sword.


    Her pretty face scrunched in confusion¡ªhalf battle-hardened warrior, half naive maiden still susceptible to a charming smile.


    "Yes¡­ He was smiling the whole time¡­" Qiao Yanyu hesitated, her usual sharp tongue dulled by doubt.


    This was a woman who could skin a man alive for looking at her wrong, yet here she was, rattled by a bit of princely elegance.


    "He even looked so kind¡­" Ruolan, the soft-spoken healer, whispered as if embarrassed by her own gullibility.


    She had stitched up too many corpses left behind by so-called "kind men" to be this stupid, yet here she was.


    "He personally came to meet the envoy of a mere small nation like ours..." Jin Xue added, rubbing her temples.


    She wasn''t dumb, just selectively intelligent¡ªa master of strategy on the battlefield, but a complete idiot when it came to men who bathed regularly.


    A loud, disdainful snort echoed through the room.


    "Idiots."


    Zhu Fenfang, the eldest among them, crossed her arms and rolled her eyes. She had bedded, bled, and buried enough men to know better.


    "A man who looks too good to be true is either a scammer, a predator, or worse¡ªboth."


    She let out a huff, her sharp eyes scanning the room.


    "You lot are lucky that the Holy Mother is leading us. If it were up to you," her lips curled in disdain, "we''d probably be sitting on Sun Liang''s lap, feeding him grapes right now."


    Hiss~


    The room froze.


    Silence choked the air, heavy with unspoken horror.


    Zhu Fenfang was the oldest among Yue Xiuying''s sixteen apostles, her wisdom as sharp as her tongue.


    Each of these red-robed women was an extension of Yue Xiuying herself, warriors and shadows who moved at her command.


    And among them, Yue Xi stood apart.


    The youngest.


    The most talented.


    The Saintess, chosen by the Holy Mother to be her successor.


    But titles meant nothing if what Zhu Fenfang just said became reality.


    The very thought made their stomachs twist in discomfort.


    From revered apostles of Jade Nation¡ªto mere dolls in Sun Liang''s arm?


    The proud women of Jade Nation couldn''t even digest the idea.


    Then¡ª


    Crack.


    A cup shattered against the floor.


    Yue Xiuying''s icy glare swept over them.


    "Looks can be deceiving."


    Her voice was cold and carried an absolute warning.


    The women straightened up immediately, shame creeping up their spines. For a second, they had almost fallen for his charm.


    Almost.


    Yue Xiuying''s gaze stayed on them for a moment longer, then ¡ª she waved her hand.


    "Leave. All of you. Now."


    The room emptied immediately.


    And in the silence that followed¡ª


    Yue Xiuying''s gaze darkened.


    "Sun Liang, huh¡­ we shall see who devours whom first."

 Chapter 189 - 189: Poisonous Women! Ouyang Xue!

    "Sun Liang, huh¡­ we shall see who devours whom first."


    Yue Xiuying''s voice was light, almost amused, yet beneath it lay a truth cold as a winter''s blade.


    Compared to Sun Liang, she was a generation older, her roots deeper, her web of connections stretching beyond his reach.


    She had even contacted Azure Dragon Clan''s Patriarch, the Dragon Lord, in secret.


    And when it came to scheming¡ªSun Liang would not have been so thoroughly crushed in negotiations if the rats he left behind were still alive to feed him information.


    He wouldn''t have been forced to come himself, lowering his status under the excuse of diplomacy.


    This wasn''t kindness.


    This wasn''t respect.


    This was spying.


    And he had failed.


    The moment Yue Xiuying had returned, she had cleansed Jade Nation of the rats he left behind.


    Some were killed without hesitation.


    Some were stripped of their positions and cast into irrelevance.


    Either way, they no longer mattered.


    That was why Sun Liang had no choice but to personally check on the situation.


    Because his ears and eyes had been gouged out.


    But¡ª


    Her train of thought was cut off by a sudden distraction.


    "Saintess Xi!"


    Yue Xiuying''s gaze snapped to the side, sharp as a blade.


    Yue Xi¡ªwho had been lost in thought, straightened immediately, her back stiffening.


    "Uh, yes?"


    Her voice was hesitant, unsure if she had missed something important.


    Yue Xiuying''s eyes narrowed.


    "Why are you not wearing your veil?"


    Her tone was cool, edged with quiet authority.


    "Have you forgotten our traditions?"


    Yue Xi''s lips pressed together.


    She hadn''t forgotten.


    How could she?


    The laws of Jade Nation had always been clear and absolute.


    Only women could be citizens.


    And their loyalty to the nation was to be placed above family, above love, above everything.


    It was why their numbers were small.


    It was why they were called the "Jade Nation."


    Because their beauty, their bloodlines, their talents¡ªall were as valuable as jade.


    And yet, their hearts were like venom.


    Many called them cold-blooded, ruthless, unnatural.


    Because unlike the women of other lands, they did not belong to men.


    Instead, men belonged to them.


    A Jade Nation woman only revealed her face to her chosen man.


    Once she mated, if the child was a girl, she would bring her back to Jade Nation. If it was a boy, she would continue until she birthed a girl¡ªthen return, leaving the man and son behind.


    And the father?


    The boy?


    Forgotten.


    This was their way.


    And this was why men lusted after them.


    Because a Jade Nation child, whether male or female, was ''three times'' more talented than an average cultivator.


    For some, this was a dream.


    To plant their seed, to pass on their legacy, knowing their bloodline would carry strength unrivaled.


    For others, this was a nightmare.


    Because Jade Nation''s women were never theirs to keep.


    They were ghosts of the night, beautiful but heartless, taking what they needed before disappearing forever.


    Yue Xiuying herself had only ever shown her face to one man.


    Tianjian Xun.


    The hero of an era, the one who had once held her trust.


    But he had betrayed her.


    And then¡ªhe had died.


    Before anything could happen between them, before she could decide whether she truly loved or hated him¡ªhe was gone.


    She had remained a widow ever since.


    So now¡ª


    Seeing Yue Xi exposing her face to a man who wasn''t her mate¡ª


    It was unnatural.


    "Are you still thinking about what happened in the Immortal Rain Valley?"


    Yue Xiuying''s voice sharpened, pulling Yue Xi from her thoughts. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Saintess Xi, let me remind you¡ªwhatever happened there stays there. You owe no man your face, your time, or your loyalty."


    Her voice turned colder.


    "Your sisters, Fangfang and the others, had their faces exposed too. Do you see them walking around without a veil?"


    Her words were like a whip.


    Yue Xi flinched.


    Yue Xiuying was right.


    All of them had revealed their faces at some point.


    But it was for the mission.


    It was not personal.


    She had been foolish to dwell on it.


    A soft sigh escaped her lips, then¡ªa quiet, teasing remark.


    "Master, isn''t it a good thing? No one troubles me for my hand in marriage anymore."


    Yue Xiuying''s stern glare cracked for a brief second.


    Then¡ª


    A wry smile tugged at her lips.


    "You¡­"


    Yue Xi smiled as well.


    For the first time in years, she felt like she was home.


    Here, she was no longer the cold, battle-hardened woman she had been in Immortal Rain Valley.


    She was still strict, still a warrior¡ªbut slightly more relaxed, slightly more herself.


    Yet, her mind wandered.


    Back to that place.


    Back to her time in Immortal Rain Valley.


    She had spent most of her life there.


    It was normal to feel a faint nostalgia.


    A shadow of a thought.


    A memory of a fight left unfinished.


    "Yue Xi."


    Her master''s voice turned serious again.


    Yue Xiuying placed a hand over her shoulder, her grip firm.


    "I don''t care about your personal life."


    "But never forget who we are."


    "We are the pillars of Jade Nation first."


    Yue Xi hummed softly, lowering her head.


    "Mm. I haven''t forgotten."


    Her eyes flickered¡ªjust for a moment.


    She wondered¡ª


    Was Su Xiaobai still searching for a way back to White Cloud Star?


    ¡­If he even survived.


    Not that it mattered.


    Even if he did, he would never find a way back.


    Because the only way back¡ª


    Was through Yue Xiuying''s slave seal. She had personally brought all of them to Immortal Rain Valley using that very seal. And unless Su Xiaobai submitted to her will¡ªHe would never return.


    Her fingers curled slightly.


    Would they ever meet again?


    Would they ever finish the match they left incomplete?


    She didn''t know.


    But a small part of her hoped they would.


    Even if it was just to settle the score.


    Even if it was just one last battle.


    After all, Yue Xi herself was a genius¡ªand she had never found her true match.


    Su Xiaobai was weaker than her in cultivation, yet somehow, he had almost pushed her to defeat. For someone like her, it was not about victory or loss¡ªit was about the thrill of surpassing challenges.


    And he had been one of the greatest challenges she had ever faced.


    She exhaled, pushing the thought away.


    That was a question for fate to decide.


    _____


    Chains in the Dark!


    Tap... Tap...


    Deep inside a dark, isolated basement, the soft echo of footsteps broke the silence.


    A voice, alert and cautious, spoke.


    "Goddess Xue, why are you here?"


    Su Yiran turned sharply, her eyes narrowing in suspicion as she stared at the uninvited visitor.


    Beside her, Matriarch Su remained still, her expression tense.


    Su Yiran, still trapped in the depths of the underground prison, had been waiting. Her mother had warned her that someone unexpected would come.


    But she never imagined it would be Ouyang Xue.


    In the battle against the Hunters, the Guardians were ranked according to cultivation and merit.


    Those who reached Great Ascension Realm qualified for S-Rank, the title given only to the ten strongest warriors.


    But even among them¡ªthere was a hierarchy.


    At the very top¡ª


    Sun Liang, #1 in the Star Guardian Leaderboard.


    Right below him¡ª


    Ouyang Xue, #2, also known as "Goddess Xue."


    A woman whose strength alone could shake empires.


    A woman who had once been neutral, standing above politics, war, and sect conflicts.


    Until everything changed.


    Until the night Su Xiaobai was imprisoned.


    Until the scandal with Long Lifen erupted, exposing her supposed involvement with Su Xiaobai.


    Sun Liang had personally broken off his engagement with Long Lifen, humiliating the Azure Dragon Clan in front of the entire world.


    And to ensure that no stain tainted his name, he made a calculated move.


    He turned to Ouyang Xue.


    The most powerful female guardian, the peerless beauty, the untouchable legend. And with her, he announced a new engagement.


    The world had been shocked.


    The once unshakable Goddess Xue had chosen to stand beside the Sun Dynasty.


    For many, it was a political victory.


    For others¡ªa betrayal.


    For Su Yiran, it was a warning.


    Because the woman standing before her now was no longer neutral.


    She was part of the enemy camp.


    So why was she here?


    Why was she standing in front of them in this dark, wretched place?


    Ouyang Xue ignored Su Yiran''s sharp, guarded gaze.


    Her voice was soft, yet unshaken.


    "In a few months, the Star Guardian Tournament will resume."


    She paused, letting the words sink in.


    Then¡ª


    "I can cloak you from the Immortal Swords for a while. Use that opportunity to sneak inside."


    Su Yiran frowned.


    "And then?"


    Ouyang Xue''s gaze sharpened.


    "The tournament will take place in the Dimensional Cracks. The moment the swords are unleashed, they might clash and shatter the space."


    Her eyes met Su Yiran''s, holding an unspoken meaning.


    "That''s your chance. Use it to escape."


    "What?"


    Su Yiran froze.


    Sneak away? Escape?


    Where? And what about her mother?


    She turned toward Matriarch Su in confusion, only to see the older woman sigh bitterly.


    "Trust her. Look at her forehead."


    Su Yiran''s brows furrowed¡ªthen suddenly, she froze.


    Ouyang Xue slowly lifted her veil, revealing her forehead.


    And there¡ª


    A dark lotus-shaped mark, bound by silver chains.


    A slave seal.


    Su Yiran''s throat dried.


    "You¡­ You''ve been enslaved?"


    Ouyang Xue simply nodded.


    "Mm."


    She didn''t explain when.


    She didn''t explain how.


    She didn''t explain why.


    She only added, her voice quiet but firm¡ª


    "He trusts me a lot because of it."


    "I can''t act against him."


    "But it doesn''t mean I can''t help others."


    Su Yiran clenched her fists.


    She didn''t need to ask who ''he'' was.


    She already knew.


    Sun Liang.


    The man who destroyed her family.


    The man who ruined Su Xiaobai''s life.


    The man who wanted to erase her bloodline from existence.


    Her jaw tightened.


    "What about my mother?"


    For the first time, Ouyang Xue hesitated.


    She glanced at Matriarch Su, her gaze flickering with something¡­ something almost like pain.


    Then¡ªshe turned back to Su Yiran.


    "Unless you are safe, your mother will never be able to act freely."


    Su Yiran stiffened.


    She understood.


    She had to escape.


    Or else, Matriarch Su would forever be trapped in this place, unable to make a move without endangering herself.


    Ouyang Xue said nothing more.


    Her gaze drifted, searching for something¡ªsomeone.


    Then, realizing Su Xiaomei was not here, she didn''t ask.


    Eternal Su had made her own preparations.


    Ouyang Xue let out a small, knowing smile.


    If things had gone differently, if she hadn''t been bound, she would never have been forced into this situation.


    But now¡ª


    Now, fate had pushed her onto a different path.


    One where she would collide with the enemy of her enemy.


    Because if she wanted to be free again¡ª


    She had no choice but to do this.


    No choice but to betray the side she once stood beside.


    No choice but to aid those she once ignored.


    No choice but to defy the man who held her chains.


    Ouyang Xue''s fingers tightened at her sides, her nails nearly digging into her palms.


    The mark on her forehead burned faintly, a reminder that she was no longer free.That she could never act directly against him. But that didn''t mean she couldn''t push others onto the path that would lead to his downfall.


    This was her only rebellion.


    Her only way to fight back.


    And Su Yiran was a crucial part of it.


    She had to escape.


    Because if she didn''t¡ªMatriarch Su would never be able to move. If she didn''t¡ªthen Sun Liang''s grip on this world would only tighten.


    "You must survive."


    Her voice was firm, leaving no room for argument.


    Su Yiran''s fists clenched.


    She didn''t like it.


    She didn''t like running away.


    But¡­ she wasn''t stupid.


    Ouyang Xue wasn''t asking her to flee forever.


    She was asking her to wait.


    To buy time.


    To strike when the moment was right.


    And for that¡­


    She had no choice but to do this.

 Chapter 190 - 190: Ambush!

    Immortal Rain Valley¡ªXiantian Sect.


    After two days of deep slumber, Su Xiaobai finally left the infirmary, stretching lazily as he made his way back to his little residence.


    The sect was buzzing with activity, but he was blissfully unaware of the chaos brewing in White Cloud Star.


    Right now, his greatest concern¡­


    Was the weird egg in his hands.


    He stroked it absentmindedly, his fingers running across its smooth, strangely warm surface.


    It was the size of a fist, black with faint silver veins, and it hummed faintly under his touch.


    "What a weird egg¡­"


    Su Xiaobai muttered to himself, completely absorbed.


    This little thing had been found in Liu Chenfu''s treasure stash¡ªwhich, judging by its origins, meant that the bastard had likely stolen it from the Beast Peak Lord''s treasury.


    Should Su Xiaobai return it?


    Absolutely not.


    Finders keepers, losers weepers.


    As he walked along the path, still idly rubbing the egg like a villain petting his future disaster, a familiar figure intercepted him.


    Zhu Qing.


    Her sharp eyes flickered toward his hands¡ªthen her lips twitched violently.


    "What''s so special about it?"


    She pursed her lips, then let out a small, annoyed pout.


    Su Xiaobai raised a brow.


    "Jealous of an egg now? Damn, Peak Lord Zhu."


    Zhu Qing rolled her eyes, but deep inside, she was mentally strangling him.


    She wasn''t here to compete with poultry. She was here for¡­ something far more awkward.


    Zhu Qing took a deep breath, internally preparing herself. This was¡­ not a conversation she wanted to have, but it was necessary.


    First¡ªthat marriage.


    It wasn''t her idea.


    It was Bai Yujian''s.


    She needed to clear that up before Su Xiaobai thought she was desperate to chain him down.


    Second¡ªwhat the hell was their relationship now?


    At first, she had only wanted to use him.


    She had planned to push him into a position of power, using him to overthrow Zhao Tianxuan.


    But now¡ªthe bastard had done it all on his own.


    He was already the natural successor.


    Her original plan was now useless.


    But then¡­


    Did she still want the marriage?


    On one hand, she wanted to tell Su Xiaobai that he could sleep on this engagement forever, only marrying her when he felt like it¡ªor never at all.


    On the other hand¡­


    If he did marry her, wouldn''t that still be her victory?


    Zhao Tianxuan, that old bastard, would be forced to step down. And Su Xiaobai, her husband, would become the Sect Master. Which meant¡ªshe would become the true second-in-command.


    It wouldn''t happen immediately¡ªprobably a century from now¡ªbut in the end, she would win.


    And honestly?


    Zhu Qing just wanted that emotional satisfaction of finally triumphing over Zhao Tianxuan.


    Because that seat was supposed to be hers.


    And if her own man sat on it¡ª


    She wouldn''t feel so damn salty about it anymore.


    But now¡­


    Now she just had to figure out how the hell to say all of this without making it sound desperate.


    And worse¡ª


    Without making Su Xiaobai mock her for the rest of her life.


    While Zhu Qing was drowning in overanalysis, Su Xiaobai wasn''t even thinking about her. His mind was busy sorting through his own mess, too many problems still left unsolved.


    And at the top of his list?


    That hot-and-cold lunatic, Huo Lingxue. His expression twitched.


    "What a pain¡­"


    If there was one thing he hated more than dying, it was dealing with spoiled princesses who thought the world revolved around them.


    He sighed inwardly as he reached his little cave residence, pushing open the sturdy wooden door.


    A fleeting thought hit him¡ªdamn, he really was living like a caveman.


    If not for the polished jade bed, the small spirit pool, and the neatly arranged furniture, he would have forgotten he was in another world entirely.


    "After you."


    He gestured toward the open door, signaling Zhu Qing to enter first. She paused, eyes flickering between him and the room before landing back on him, her face reddening slightly.


    "¡­Pervert."


    Su Xiaobai blinked. Huh? What the hell was she thinking? He was just being polite¡ªso why did she suddenly look like he was about to drag her into some villainous plot?


    He wanted to cry.


    Why was it that when he was actually evil, no one believed it?


    And when he was innocent, people misunderstood him anyway?!


    Such a tough life.


    Whoosh!


    A shadow burst into the room.


    Sharp razor-like claws extended, slicing through with deadly speed.


    "Grrrrhh!"


    A feral growl echoed through the cave.


    Su Xiaobai''s first instinct?


    Oh. Finally, someone wants to kill me again.


    His second instinct? Wait...The creature wasn''t lunging at him ¡ª It was going straight for Zhu Qing!


    "What¡ª?!"


    She barely had time to react, but she didn''t need to.


    BOOM!


    With a casual slap, she sent the creature flying, its massive body crashing against the stone wall, leaving deep cracks.


    Zhu Qing blinked before muttering under her breath, "Huh...So weak?" She turned toward Su Xiaobai, frowning slightly. "It seems you were the real target."


    Su Xiaobai shrugged. "Who isn''t trying to kill me these days?"


    He walked over to the twitching creature, stepping closer for a better look. And when he finally saw it up close, his brows lifted slightly.


    Well, well.


    Now this was interesting.


    Su Xiaobai squatted down, lips twitching as he studied the creature sprawled on the floor like a drunken disciple who had one too many spiritual brews.


    Snowy white fur, elegant yet wild. A little over a meter in length, paws broad and sturdy like a tiger''s, but a face¡­ soft, delicate, downright kitty-like. If not for the fact that Zhu Qing had bitch-slapped it into unconsciousness, it might have looked downright majestic.


    Most notably¡ªtwo fluffy tails twitched behind it.


    One burned faintly with an orange glow, flickering like a candle in a brothel room. The other exuded a chilling mist, cold enough to make a man''s balls shrivel.


    Zhu Qing, standing behind him, raised a brow. "A cat? Since when did you start petting cats?"


    Su Xiaobai gave her a side glance. "It''s not just a cat¡ªit''s a wild cat. A lynx, to be precise."


    She snorted. "Still a cat."


    Ignoring her, Su Xiaobai leaned in closer, his fingers reaching for its fur. The lynx''s eyes cracked open slightly, revealing shimmering aqua irises before rolling back. Fainted again.


    He sighed. Then, without hesitation, he reached around and lifted its tails.


    "¡­What are you doing?" Zhu Qing took a full step back, face twisted in pure horror.


    Su Xiaobai''s lips twitched. "Qingqing, I''m checking if it''s male or female. Can you not look at me like I''m about to commit a war crime?"


    Zhu Qing did not look convinced.


    He gave the tails a little wiggle, confirming what he already suspected. "Yup. It''s a she."


    Then, without a second thought, he scooped up the unconscious lynx and carried it to his bed.


    Soft. Fluffy. Heavy.


    As he pressed his fingers into the plush fur, a satisfied sigh escaped him. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This. This was nice.


    Damn, he''d wanted something this soft for so long. Maybe he should have stolen something from the Beast Peak earlier.


    Behind him, Zhu Qing watched, face complex.


    "¡­Why does this feel so wrong to watch?"


    Su Xiaobai ignored her, gently patting the lynx''s belly.


    "Wake it up."


    Zhu Qing clicked her tongue.


    Reluctantly, she reached out, pressing two fingers to the lynx''s forehead. A spark of spiritual energy surged through its body.


    A second later, the lynx stirred.


    "Grrrr¡­"

 Chapter 191 - 191: Huo Lingxue a demonic Beast?

    "Grrrr¡­" S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The lynx twitched, its body tensing as its eyes fluttered open.


    Two figures stood before her.


    Su Xiaobai, smirking like a bastard who''d just won a free meal.


    Zhu Qing, arms folded, watching like she was judging a bad life decision.


    All the fur on the lynx''s body bristled.


    "Hisssss!"


    With a sharp intake of breath, she flipped onto all fours, her sleek form arching as claws dug into the stone floor.


    Su Xiaobai grinned, tilting his head. "Well, well¡­ Miss Huo Lingxue. To what do I owe the pleasure? Did you really just barge into my quarters to assassinate me?"


    His voice filled with amusement.


    His eyes, however, gleamed with something else.


    This was too good.


    So good he forgot about the weird egg he had placed to the side.


    Zhu Qing, still catching up, blinked. "¡­ this thing is Huo Lingxue?"


    But the lynx had no time to answer.


    Her body tensed, muscles coiling, and in a flash¡ªshe lunged.


    A blur of snowy white fur streaked toward Su Xiaobai, the runes along her body flaring in a dazzling light.


    If he were alone, that might have been a problem.


    Unfortunately for her¡ª


    Zhu Qing existed.


    Kacha¡ª!


    A crack echoed through the cave.


    Before the lynx could so much as get close, a slender hand shot out, catching her throat mid-air.


    The lynx froze.


    Zhu Qing''s eyes narrowed, fingers tightening just enough to make her dominance very clear.


    "¡­ is it really you?" she murmured, tilting her head.


    A sudden force pressed down upon the lynx¡ªa powerful soul consciousness invading without mercy.


    Huo Lingxue''s body stiffened.


    For the first time in her life¡ª


    She felt powerless.


    Zhu Qing''s lips curled in amusement. "So, the woman who fought Su Xiaobai was actually a demonic beast?"


    A chuckle escaped her.


    "What a disgrace."


    BAM!


    With the grace of a queen disposing of trash, Zhu Qing flung the lynx straight into Su Xiaobai''s jade bed.


    "Ghg!" A muffled groan. A ripple of spiritual energy.


    And suddenly¡ª


    Huo Lingxue was no longer a lynx.


    She was back in her human form.


    Naked.


    Dripping wet from the mist of her transformation.


    Her flawless, creamy skin glowed under the evening light, smooth and soft like the finest immortal jade. Her long legs were clenched tightly together, her slender hands barely managing to cover the twin peaks of heaven, their snowy perfection jiggling slightly with every sharp breath she took.


    It was the kind of sight that could make emperors renounce their thrones and monks break their vows.


    Zhu Qing''s face twitched instantly.


    Su Xiaobai?


    He did what any self-respecting man in his position would do.


    He leaned back, crossed his arms, and took it all in with the calm appreciation of a scholar analyzing great works of art.


    "¡­Well," he drawled lazily. "This took an unexpectedly delightful turn."


    Huo Lingxue, shaking with barely contained rage and humiliation, ignored Zhu Qing completely and turned her sharp, murderous gaze on him.


    "Su Xiaobai," she hissed, her voice trembling between anger and desperation. "I need to talk to you. Alone."


    Su Xiaobai arched a brow. "Alone? You''re lying there butt-naked, and your priority is a private conversation?"


    Huo Lingxue flinched, her cheeks burning red. She bit her lip¡ªtoo hard¡ªdrawing a thin drop of blood that slid down her chin like a sinful temptation.


    Su Xiaobai''s smirk deepened. "If I didn''t know any better, I''d think you were offering something."


    Huo Lingxue''s entire body tensed. "SHUT UP!"


    She frantically glanced around for something¡ªanything¡ªto cover herself. There was nothing. Not even a scrap of cloth. Her eyes darted to Su Xiaobai''s robes.


    He smirked knowingly. "Need help?"


    Zhu Qing suddenly stepped forward. "Don''t you¡ª"


    Su Xiaobai chuckled, holding up his hands. "Hey, hey, I was just about to be a gentleman and offer my robe."


    Zhu Qing snorted. "You? A gentleman? You were two seconds away from demanding she pay for rent."


    "¡­And what if I was?"


    Huo Lingxue trembled with fury, but she knew she had no leverage here. She was completely vulnerable. She gritted her teeth and forced the words out.


    "I won''t kill you. I just¡­ need to talk."


    Su Xiaobai stroked his chin, pretending to think. "Hmm. A naked beauty, drenched in sweat, asking to be alone with me. Sounds an awful lot like a setup, don''t you think?"


    Huo Lingxue''s hands twitched as if she wanted to strangle him, but doing so in her current state would just make things worse.


    Su Xiaobai sighed dramatically. "Fine, fine. Qingqing, go wait outside."


    Zhu Qing scoffed. "Oh? And let her ride you into an early grave? No thanks."


    Su Xiaobai''s smirk grew. "You jealous?"


    Zhu Qing''s eye twitched. "Jealous? Of this?" She gestured at Huo Lingxue''s curvaceous body, looking utterly unimpressed. "I''ve better."


    Su Xiaobai chuckled. "Ah, so you have been looking."


    Zhu Qing turned away before he could see her ears turning pink. "You''re both shameless."


    Su Xiaobai''s grin stretched wider, filled with nothing but shameless amusement.


    "Please seal her strength before leaving," he said, voice filled with ease.


    He wasn''t stupid.


    Huo Lingxue? This walking disaster of a woman? Of course she was going to attack him the moment Zhu Qing left. And truthfully, he had planned to drag Zhu Qing with him back to Huo Lingxue''s quarters, but¡ª


    Who could have guessed?


    This woman was already hunting him like a predator in heat.


    Both of them, ah¡­


    Always lusting for a man''s body.


    Zhu Qing gave him a dry look but didn''t argue. She stepped forward and tapped Huo Lingxue''s forehead with two fingers.


    Buzz!


    A wave of suppression rolled through the air, and instantly, Huo Lingxue''s aura collapsed like a deflated balloon.


    Her delicate face paled.


    Zhu Qing, satisfied, straightened up¡ªthen, without hesitation, turned to Su Xiaobai and tossed out a casual line.


    "I''ll be at Mystic Peak tonight," she said, voice smooth, eyes flickering with intent. "If you''re free, come find me. I have something to discuss with you."


    She didn''t even try to be subtle.


    And then¡ª


    She threw him a look.


    Not just any look.


    A slow, meaningful gaze¡­ and just before she walked out, a deliberate sway in her step.


    Was she perking her buttocks on purpose?


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes narrowed slightly.


    Zhu Qing¡ªhis cold, ruthless, ever-composed Peak Lord¡ªwas jealous?


    Ha!


    A low chuckle escaped him.


    So, she really couldn''t stand him being alone with Huo Lingxue, huh?


    In the past, she never would''ve pulled something so petty. But now? Now she was making damn sure Huo Lingxue heard her invitation.


    Announcing it out loud.


    In front of her.


    What a petty woman.


    Su Xiaobai shook his head, amusement twinkling in his eyes.


    As for that so-called discussion?


    It was a side quest.


    One he would get to later.


    His attention drifted back to Huo Lingxue, who sat there¡ªstiff, silent, looking like she was deeply regretting every life choice that led her to this moment.


    After Zhu Qing disappeared, Su Xiaobai didn''t hold back anymore.


    With the ease of a man who had long abandoned shame, he made sure the door was locked¡ªthen, in one fluid motion, stripped off his clothes.


    Huo Lingxue''s once-cold face exploded into a deep crimson.


    Her chest heaved, soft peaks bouncing with every breath as her trembling voice barely squeezed out¡ª


    "Y-Y-YOU¡­ WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?"


    Her horror-filled gaze locked onto the real calamity in the room.


    Not Su Xiaobai.


    But the ten-inch beast between his legs, standing tall and proud, twitching like it was about to cultivate its own path to immortality.


    A scary hi.


    "W-what the hell¡­" Huo Lingxue damn near fainted.


    Su Xiaobai, meanwhile, just cocked his head, amused by her reaction.


    What? A grand young mistress, scared of a little flesh weapon?


    His eyes lazily traced her form.


    That fiery red hair, cascading down her back like a waterfall of seduction. It reminded him of those wild redheads from his previous world¡ªbut let''s be real, comparing them to this woman was like comparing a bowl of plain rice to a feast fit for immortals.


    Simply not in the same league.


    Huo Lingxue was too damn sexy.


    An innocent, delicate face¡ªyet sinful proportions.


    Big, round, heaven-defying peaks, looking soft enough to smother a man to death.


    A thin waist, curvy hips, long, thick legs that could squeeze the soul out of someone.


    And those eyes¡­ those damn soul-devouring eyes.


    Su Xiaobai felt his own beast stirring restlessly.


    He had no patience for foreplay.


    "Whatever you want to say," he muttered, his voice husky, full of dangerous intent. "I''ll give you two minutes."

 Chapter 192 - 192: *Pet Unlocked:Taming a Wild Kitty!* [R18]

    "Whatever you want to say,"


    "I''ll give you two minutes."


    "After that¡­ don''t blame me."


    And before she could even process those words¡ª


    HE POUNCED.


    Huo Lingxue screamed in shock.


    But it was too late.


    His hot, muscular body pressed down, trapping her beneath him.


    His face dipped straight into the crook of her pale neck as he inhaled deeply¡ªA mix of ice, fire¡­ and the unmistakable scent of a woman who knew she was in trouble.


    "Mn¡­ not bad."


    His lips curled into a wicked, shameless grin.


    __


    Su Xiaobai''s grip tightened around Huo Lingxue''s slender shoulders, locking her in place. She tensed beneath him, her breath shallow, muscles coiled as if preparing to break free.


    Then, without hesitation, he tilted her chin up and kissed her.


    Not on the lips.


    Just the cheek.


    Soft. Warm. Wet.


    And then¡ª


    A slow, deliberate lick.


    A sharp tremor ran through her body.


    "Mmm¡­" Su Xiaobai clicked his tongue, smirking. "Sweet."


    Huo Lingxue''s pupils shrank. Her chest heaved violently¡ªnot from arousal, but from sheer, unfiltered rage.


    "Y-YOU¡ª"


    Her voice cracked, strangled by disbelief. A single tear slipped down her cheek¡ªnot from sadness, but from witnessing peak-level shamelessness.


    This man¡­


    He was licking her.


    Like some depraved beast.


    Her hands clenched, trembling. She wanted to kill him.


    But before she could retaliate, Su Xiaobai''s grip tightened. His lips ghosted over her ear, his breath teasing the sensitive skin of her neck.


    "Huo Lingxue¡­" His voice was a low, husky whisper. "I want you to become my spirit beast."


    His words were calm. Casual. As if he were offering her tea.


    Yet they carried the weight of a lifelong contract.


    Huo Lingxue''s eyes widened. Her breath caught in her throat.


    Spirit beast?


    For a moment, she thought she had misheard him.


    But then¡ª


    She saw it.


    The wicked amusement flickering in his eyes.


    He was playing with her.


    Mocking her.


    Toying with her like she was already his.


    Her chest rose and fell, her skin flushed from the heat of his proximity.


    "Impossible!" she snapped, her voice sharp, defiant.


    Su Xiaobai chuckled.


    Not the kind of chuckle that reassured people.


    His fingers brushed along her bare collarbone, making her shudder despite herself. "Don''t be so quick to refuse," he drawled, his touch feather-light¡ªmocking, testing.


    "You''ve been hiding for so long, haven''t you? A demonic beast living among humans¡­"


    Huo Lingxue stiffened.


    Then¡ªa sharp intake of breath.


    His fingers trailed slowly down her nape, his voice lowering to a whisper.


    "What do you think would happen¡­ if someone with evil intentions found out?"


    A chill slithered down her spine.


    She already knew the answer.


    Demonic beasts weren''t given mercy.


    Especially ones with powerful bloodlines.


    Her kind¡ªthe Frostfire Lynx¡ªwasn''t just hunted. It was prized.


    A rare, dual-element beast¡ªone with both fire and ice spiritual cores. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    There were three types of beasts in the world:


    1. Wild Beasts ¨C common creatures that roamed free.


    2. Cultivating Beasts ¨C those who developed intelligence and power.


    - Among them, the aggressive ones hunted by cultivators were called Demonic Beasts.


    - The passive, subservient ones were called Spirit Beasts.


    And a Lynx?


    A ferocious demonic beast.


    A species meant to be hunted.


    A species that cultivators would never show mercy to.


    Her fingers curled tightly into the bedding beneath her.


    "¡­How did you know I wasn''t human?" she whispered, ignoring how his breath brushed against her skin, ignoring how his presence was smothering, intoxicating.


    Ignoring how he was now sniffing her hair like a damn pervert.


    Su Xiaobai chuckled. "Oh, that?" His fingers idly traced the edge of her jaw, making her stiffen.


    "I saw your beast cores."


    Huo Lingxue froze.


    "Two of them, to be precise." Su Xiaobai smiled, completely unfazed by her growing panic.


    "One for frost. One for fire. A rare dual-core existence." His eyes darkened, gleaming with something evil. "Still¡­"


    He leaned in, his fingers brushing against her lower lip.


    "I''m curious¡­"


    His voice dropped to a seductive whisper.


    "How the hell did you end up among humans?"


    Huo Lingxue''s heartbeat pounded in her ears.


    For a moment, she hesitated.


    But staring into his burning gaze¡­ she knew she had already lost.


    She bit her lip, lowering her eyes.


    "¡­I don''t remember." Her voice was soft.


    "In my last memory¡­ I was running away in my humanoid form. I was scared. I didn''t know why."


    Her fingers clenched the sheets beneath her.


    "And then¡ªFire Peak Lord Huo Rong found me. He contracted with me."


    Su Xiaobai raised a brow.


    "Oh? So you weren''t adopted? An orphan, then?"


    Huo Lingxue hesitated.


    Then, she shook her head.


    "I¡­ don''t know."


    For the first time, her voice sounded lost.


    If she had a family, she had no memory of them.


    She had only ever known the sect.


    She had only ever known Huo Rong.


    A man who had trained her. Raised her. Shaped her into his perfect weapon.


    And now¡­ he was dead.


    A foreign, unfamiliar feeling stirred in her chest.


    Loss? Relief? Fear?


    She didn''t know.


    Her lips parted, hesitant.


    "¡­Did you kill him?"


    Su Xiaobai grinned. "Nope. That was Elder Bai."


    Then¡ªwith the timing of a true bastard, he added¡ª


    "Oh, by the way¡­"


    "Now that your master is gone¡­ you''re just a stray little beast, aren''t you?" His fingers curled under her chin, tilting her face toward him. "And strays don''t last long in this world."


    A slow smile... A whisper against her lips.


    "Be mine, Lingxue."


    Huo Lingxue snapped her head away.


    She was really, really unwilling.


    A spiritual contract between beast and master wasn''t some casual agreement. It was binding.


    It couldn''t be undone.


    And if she formed a contract with Su Xiaobai now¡ª


    She would be his.


    For life.


    But if she didn''t¡­


    Then what?


    Su Xiaobai leaned in.


    His lips ghosted over her ear. "So what''s it going to be, Lingxue?" His fingers traced her trembling wrist, playing with her resistance.


    "Do you want to be my beast¡­ or someone else''s prey?"


    Her breath fastened.


    His words crashed down on her.


    And for the first time¡ª


    She had no answer.


    A suffocating silence settled between them.


    Huo Lingxue''s breath came in shallow bursts, her chest rising and falling in erratic defiance. Her instincts screamed at her to fight, to claw, to flee¡ªbut her body refused to move.


    Because deep down¡­


    She knew.


    If she refused Su Xiaobai''s offer, someone else would claim her.


    Someone crueler.


    Someone who wouldn''t play with her¡ªjust break her.


    But that didn''t mean she would roll over and submit.


    Her fingers dug into the sheets beneath her, her nails carving into the fabric as she forced out a ragged breath.


    "You think you can just do whatever you want?" she spat.


    Su Xiaobai chuckled. Low. Amused. Dangerous.


    "Oh?" His fingers ghosted along the inside of her thigh, slow and deliberate, tracing invisible patterns onto her bare skin.


    "I don''t remember saying anything about force," he murmured, "But let''s not pretend, Lingxue¡­"


    His grip tightened. His body pressed down on her.


    "You don''t really have a choice."


    Something inside her snapped.


    "Su Xiaobai, w-what the hell is wrong with you!?"


    Huo Lingxue''s neck jerked abruptly, her scream sharp enough to wake the dead.


    But instead of concern, Su Xiaobai was busy spreading her thighs like a starving beggar opening a steamed bun, his massive, throbbing pillar of righteousness aggressively knocking at the pearly gates of heaven¡ª


    Except the gates were tightly shut and clearly not ready for visitors.

 Chapter 193 - 193: **Pet Unlocked:Taming a Wild Kitty!** [R18] [2]

    Huo Lingxue felt it prodding, nudging, smearing, grinding¡ªthis barbarian was practically trying to shove an entire spirit sword into a storage ring meant for a coin!


    "Holy Heavens! W-What do you think you''re doing!?" she shrieked, feeling the beast constantly bumping and sliding around like a blind man looking for a door handle in the dark.


    "Oh, I thought you were having trouble making a decision, so I figured we could have a closer, soul-to-soul conversation."


    Huo Lingxue''s soul almost left her body right then and there.


    What the fuck?!


    She thought this man was noble! A warrior! A righteous cultivator standing above worldly desires!


    Yet here he was¡ªglaring at her delicate flower like a starving wolf eyeing a piece of premium-grade spirit meat, his expression screaming, "I''m about to devour this delicacy whole!"


    Su Xiaobai caught a glimpse of that faint red flesh beyond the sacred barrier and¡ªwith the precision of a seasoned veteran¡ªaimed his heaven-slaying dragon¡­ and fucking rammed it in.


    Huo Lingxue seized up like a talisman hit by a thunderbolt.


    "U-UGH! YOU¡ª! TAKE IT OUT! TAKE IT OUT! IT HURTS¡ª!"


    "Oops. Too late."


    Su Xiaobai was already halfway in, and holy shit¡ªshe was squeezing him like crazy!


    Damn! Hot and cold at the same time?! What kind of yin-yang cauldron sorcery is this?!


    He licked his lips, his eyes flashing like a degenerate alchemist who just discovered the elixir of immortality, before mercilessly piercing through the final barrier.


    Huo Lingxue felt her fortress crumble, her delicate purity collapsing like a sect under siege, her body turning soft as she passed the fuck out.


    Everything happened too damn fast.


    One moment, Su Xiaobai was discussing a beast contract, and the next, he had thrown all negotiations out the fucking window and rammed his thing in¡ªzero hesitation, no second thoughts, not even a "may I?" Pure barbarian instincts at work.


    And just to make it worse? He leaned in and captured her plump red lips.


    It was¡­ sweet. Unforgivably sweet.


    "Mmmgh¡­!"


    Huo Lingxue stirred, her brain still loading from the shock, only to realize¡ªthis bastard''s tongue was already raiding her mouth like a bandit pillaging a village.


    She instinctively tried to push him away, but the moment she moved her hands, Su Xiaobai''s waist shifted slightly, and his thing plunged even deeper into her wet tight hole.


    Her body jerked, her eyes went blank, and an uncontrollable groan escaped her lips.


    In the end, Su Xiaobai toyed with her little sweet tongue, only letting her go when she was left panting like a deer after a chase.


    "Huff¡­ Huff¡­ You¡­ I have¡­ never¡­ seen¡­ a bastard¡­ as shameless¡­ as you¡­!"


    Huo Lingxue''s face was as red as a ripe cherry, half from rage, half from humiliation.


    Su Xiaobai? Completely unfazed.


    Instead, he licked her face and neck, planting another deep kiss as she groaned and shifted under him.


    She had accepted her fate.


    "What do I get?" she muttered, her voice trembling.


    "Can we discuss after I''m done?"


    Su Xiaobai had no intention of pausing negotiations, especially not when his palm was currently mapping out her soft, jiggling breasts like an explorer charting unclaimed territory.


    Huo Lingxue felt his scorching-hot palm cup her sensitive peaks, her body shivering at the heat.


    Just treat it like getting bitten by a dog¡­ she told herself.


    But that excuse barely worked. Demonic beasts weren''t like humans.


    In their world, strength dictated everything. The strong dominated the weak, and as long as your mate was stronger than you, all you could do was spread your legs, take him in, and bear his child.


    Huo Lingxue didn''t live among the beasts, but she was still one.


    And her natural instincts made it fucking impossible to resist like a normal woman should.


    Instead, every time he moved, her body betrayed her¡ªgroaning, arching, shuddering in ways that made her want to dig a hole and die.


    And when Su Xiaobai lowered his head and bit the cherry atop her jade-white mounds¡ª


    "Hhnngh!"


    She glared at him, panting, her fury mixing with shame.


    But the bastard? Grinning like a villain in a bedtime story.


    He ran his hands over her flawless white skin, mapping every inch of her curves, before wrapping his lips around her perky red peaks and sucking them shamelessly.


    Huo Lingxue''s face burned even hotter, her thighs subconsciously trembling.


    She bit her lip hard.


    Fuck. She regretted everything.


    If she had just run away the moment she got exposed, would she have avoided getting pinned down and forced to contract this man as his personal pet?!


    "Su Xiaobai, can you not be like a beast!?"


    Huo Lingxue''s voice trembled as she gritted her teeth, her body jerking uncontrollably.


    But this goddamn bastard didn''t give a single fuck. He simply hoisted her legs over his shoulders, adjusted his battering ram, and plowed through her gates like a barbarian pillaging a virgin sect.


    "Hnngh!¡ªAhh!¡ªY-you¡ªscoundral!"


    Her eyes welled up with tears as a shockwave of both pain and pleasure shot up her spine.


    Meanwhile, Su Xiaobai was laughing like a lunatic.


    "Hahaha! If I''m not like a beast, how the hell would I be qualified to mate with you?!"


    "Who wants to mate with you!? ¡ªmmghhn!"


    Huo Lingxue''s mentality collapsed on the spot.


    When did she ever say she wanted to mate with this walking disaster of a man?!


    And yet, here she was, her fingers clawing at the bed, her nails digging into the sheets like a cultivator clinging to their last sliver of qi.


    The bed?


    Shaking like a divine artifact under a tribulation. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Pak! Pak! Pak!


    The flesh-clapping symphony echoed like a slapstick comedy skit gone horribly wrong.


    "Uhh¡ªahhh!¡ªhhnnnghh!¡ªT-too¡ªfast¡ª!"


    Huo Lingxue''s face burned like a furnace, her entire body twitching uncontrollably as her hoarse, uncontrolled moans escaped.


    It wasn''t the seductive, sweet kind¡ªoh no.


    It was the desperate, broken, ''I''m being wrecked by a madman'' kind.


    And Su Xiaobai loved every second of it.


    "Oh? So now you''re moaning like a little beast? Didn''t you just tell me not to be one?" he teased, grinning like a villain watching their master plan unfold.


    Huo Lingxue could barely process his words.


    Fuck! He was still talking?!


    Slowly, it got wetter inside her, her body betraying her like a sect elder selling out disciples to save their own skin.


    "D-Damn you¡­ Nngh!¡ªAhh!"


    At first, he had been too hasty, forcing his grand entrance into an unwilling territory, but now?


    Now, she was dripping like a waterfall, her body submitting to its natural instincts like a demonic beast in heat.


    The discomfort faded into a haze, her thoughts scattered like a young master realizing he picked a fight with the MC.


    And then¡ª


    Splurt!


    With one final thrust, Su Xiaobai unleashed his white, sticky essence like a broken spirit spring, flooding her trembling, violated gates.


    Huo Lingxue''s chest heaved, her body still quivering, but she never once asked him to take it out.


    Instead, she simply lay there, panting like a runner after a 10,000-step lightness technique sprint, feeling the warmth spreading inside her like molten lava.


    "Are you satisfied?!" she snapped, her voice shaking between breathless exhaustion and barely-contained rage.


    Su Xiaobai?


    Still grinning like an unrepentant bastard.


    "Not yet."


    Su Xiaobai collapsed right on top of her, his hands shamelessly groping her soft mounds, occasionally kissing and licking them like a man savoring premium-grade spiritual peaches.


    The room was heavy with the scent of sweat and sourness, but Su Xiaobai didn''t care. No¡ªwhat consumed his senses was something far more intoxicating.


    A scent that was both icy and searing.


    Winter plums, kissed by frost, cool and delicate¡ªyet beneath it, the dark, forbidden fragrance of blood roses in full bloom, rich and sinful, laced with the heat of something beastly hot.


    It shouldn''t have made sense. Cold and hot. Fresh aloof yet sultry.


    But it was her.


    And fuck, he was addicted to it.


    Meanwhile, Huo Lingxue lay beneath him, eyes unfocused, her mind floating between regret, shame, and absolute exhaustion.


    Su Xiaobai had settled his sect''s internal affairs, stomped his enemies into the dirt, and now, nobody dared to challenge him anymore. Naturally, he was in a great mood¡ªexcept for one thing.


    Why the fuck did Huo Rong want him dead so badly?


    Even Huo Lingxue didn''t know.


    Seemed like a mystery he''d never solve.


    "Since you''re not done, just finish and kill me afterward!"


    Huo Lingxue gritted her teeth, her voice filled with resentment and despair.


    "Oh?"


    Su Xiaobai raised a brow, his gaze flickering with amusement.


    "And what about our contract?"


    "You absolute, disgusting scoundrel! Why the hell would I follow you?! I''d rather die!"


    Huo Lingxue sneered, her eyes burning with anger.


    She had no strength to resist, so she simply didn''t care anymore.


    It was said, a woman who lost her sense of shame was the most vicious.


    Right now, Huo Lingxue was one such woman.


    She was completely naked, pinned under this bastard, and he had taken everything¡ªher first time, her pride, and even her dignity.


    What else could he possibly do to her at this point?!


    If he had offered her benefits and asked nicely, she might have considered becoming his contracted beast.


    But after all this?


    No. Fucking. Chance.


    Yet, Su Xiaobai simply stared at her fiery, rebellious face, clearly unbothered.


    Honestly? This woman was rare.


    A high-grade demonic beast, good talent, already in the late Soul Fusion realm. With some effort, she could reach Spirit Severing realm soon.


    Plus, unlike human women, she could travel with him freely.


    A convenient, fluffy battle pet with benefits.


    There was no way he was killing her.


    "I can help you recover your past memories. Are you willing now?"


    Su Xiaobai''s voice was calm, yet firm.


    If she still refused, then¡­


    He''d just force the beast contract on her.


    Huo Lingxue''s eyes widened in surprise.


    "You can¡­?"


    "Have you ever seen a normal man climb three realms within a single year?"


    Su Xiaobai smiled, reminding her of the absurdity of his cultivation speed.


    The benefit he had gained from taking her virgin yin essence wasn''t much, but it had still increased his cultivation slightly.


    And suddenly, Huo Lingxue remembered.


    This man was a fucking freak.


    He was breaking records like a young master breaking family rules.


    Her face twitched, filled with complicated emotions.


    "¡­ Would you torture me like this every day?"

 Chapter 194 - 194: **Pet Unlocked:Taming a Wild Kitty!** [R18] [3]

    "¡­ Would you torture me like this every day?"


    She looked at him with dread, her sore, abused body sending a sharp reminder of her suffering.


    This bastard wasn''t even human!


    Su Xiaobai raised a brow.


    "You came to kill me, remember? Did you forget?"


    Huo Lingxue froze.


    She actually... forgot. Her face darkened, her lips pressing together in frustration. Compared to her initial killing intent, Su Xiaobai really wasn''t that bad.


    If someone had tried to kill her, she would have made their life worse than death.


    Su Xiaobai, on the other hand, was just a shameless, perverted bastard.


    Noticing her expression, Su Xiaobai hid his true intentions well.


    Of course, he didn''t mention that he wanted to hug her large, soft lynx body to sleep.


    That would definitely make her explode.


    With her mind full of complicated thoughts, Huo Lingxue eventually signed the beast contract.


    To be more precise¡ªit was a master-slave contract.


    Once it was done, she hesitated for a moment.


    Then, she bit her lip and muttered:


    "Treat me well¡­ please."


    Her voice was soft, filled with uncertainty.


    She had given her life into his hands.


    She didn''t know if this was the right choice or the worst mistake of her life.


    Su Xiaobai grinned like a demon.


    "Then move your hands and part your legs."


    Huo Lingxue''s face turned red instantly.


    "Pooof¡ª!"


    Steam almost came out of her ears, but in the end, she complied.


    And this time¡ªSu Xiaobai had a much better view.


    With a hungry smirk, he pounced on her again.


    For the next six hours, Huo Lingxue was brutally tortured in bed.


    At one point, Su Xiaobai even asked:


    "Hey, can you keep your tails out while in humanoid form?"


    Huo Lingxue stared at him, absolutely horrified.


    "You¡­ you degenerate! You filthy pervert!"


    Yet, in the end, she still complied.


    And Su Xiaobai shamelessly played with her fluffy twin tails.


    One was cold as ice.


    The other? Blazing hot.


    Just like her insides¡ªscorching and freezing at the same time.


    Su Xiaobai, during his six-hour ''study session'', discovered more and more things about this woman.


    She wasn''t actually that tough.


    In fact¡ªshe was a total tsundere.


    As long as he said a few sweet words¡­ or forced her a little¡­


    She would let him do whatever he wanted.


    Including transforming into a full lynx, letting him hug her soft, fluffy body to sleep.


    Right now, Huo Lingxue was crouching between his legs, her entire face burning red as she stared at him like he just asked her to eat raw demonic beast meat.


    Her gaze trembled, shifting between his smirking face and the throbbing monstrosity in her delicate hands.


    "Y-you¡­! How the hell do you expect me to put that thing in my mouth?! It''s disgusting! It was just inside me before¡­!"


    She pointed at his towering, arrogant manhood, her fingers visibly shaking.


    And yet, her slender hands still held onto it, both wrapped around the thick, veiny beast, feeling its searing heat pulse against her palms like a dangerous spiritual artifact ready to explode.


    And now¡­ now he wanted her to put it in her mouth?!


    Huo Lingxue felt her entire soul leaving her body.


    Meanwhile, Su Xiaobai simply glanced at her with mild amusement.


    "Can you regulate your mouth temperature?"


    "¡­"


    Huo Lingxue rolled her eyes so hard she nearly saw her past life.


    Her neck turned bright red from sheer shame and disbelief.


    She knew exactly what this bastard wanted from her.


    "W-would you let me rest after this?" she asked, her voice grim.


    She had always heard rumors that men couldn''t last longer than women in bed.


    But this Su Xiaobai bastard¡­?!


    This man was a literal demon.


    It wasn''t even his fault¡ªhe was used to bedding women leagues above his realm, women who could go for days without breaking a sweat.


    So now, when he was actually with someone near his realm¡­?


    He completely dominated them.


    "If you satisfy me, yes."


    Su Xiaobai grinned, his fingers casually stroking her soft, flushed cheeks.


    "I''ll also make sure Peak Lord Zhu Qing doesn''t tell anyone about you. And I''ll personally let Elder Bai know that you''re contracted to me now and perfectly safe. Even if you get exposed, no one would dare touch you anymore."


    Huo Lingxue blinked.


    Wait. That''s it? Just a few words and her entire life-threatening problem was solved?!


    This bastard''s social network was too ridiculous!


    A problem that had been a fucking nightmare for her¡­ was just a casual afterthought for Su Xiaobai.


    After the fight two days ago, everyone in the sect knew who was really in charge.


    And as long as Bai Yujian spoke, the rest could only shut the fuck up and obey.


    Frankly, nobody even questioned it.


    His strength had proven itself time and time again.


    Huo Lingxue sighed in defeat, her shoulders slumping.


    She was already this deep in the abyss.


    Might as well commit.


    She didn''t delay any further.


    Taking a deep breath, she slowly stuck out her pink, delicate tongue, her heart beating like a war drum.


    The moment her tongue made contact with the tip, a faint fishy smell hit her nose.


    "Nngh¡ª!"


    Her entire body jolted, her stomach twisting as if she had just sniffed beast meat.


    She nearly gagged on instinct.


    And then¡­ she saw it.


    A faint trace of his earlier essence still on the tip.


    Her face darkened immediately.


    This bastard¡­!


    She wanted to die.


    "Ah¡­!"


    Su Xiaobai groaned, lost in pleasure, as Huo Lingxue''s soft, wet lips wrapped around his tip, her tongue teasing it like she was savoring a rare spiritual delicacy.


    This woman was a natural.


    Just as he was about to praise her, she suddenly¡­


    Turned her mouth ice-cold.


    "Hhhnnghh¡ª!"


    A sharp chill ran through his spine, making him hiss like a spirit beast caught in a frost array.


    And before he could recover¡ª


    BOOM!


    A fiery wave of heat suddenly enveloped him.


    "FUCK¡ª!"


    Su Xiaobai lost control immediately.


    "Wh¡ª?!"


    Splurt! Splurt! Splurt!


    Huo Lingxue, who was just about to go deeper, froze mid-motion.


    Her eyes widened in horror as the throbbing monstrosity twitched violently and suddenly¡ª


    A torrential downpour of thick, white essence shot straight onto her delicate face, splattering across her forehead, cheeks, and even her hair.


    She sat there completely stunned, her entire soul leaving her body, as warm sticky strands dripped from her face onto her collarbone.


    Silence.


    Her lips trembled, her fingers twitching, but no sound came out.


    And then¡ª


    Her eyes welled up.


    Tears streamed down her cheeks, mixing with the milky mess, before¡ª


    She fucking started crying.


    "Lingxue¡­ what''s wrong?"


    Su Xiaobai smiled bitterly, leaning closer.


    Huo Lingxue sniffled, her voice choked with emotion.


    "You¡­ you are bullying me¡­"


    Her entire body trembled, her shoulders shaking as she sobbed uncontrollably.


    This woman¡ªwho had never suffered so many losses in a single day¡ªhad finally reached her breaking point.


    She couldn''t take it anymore.


    She just sat there, naked, humiliated beyond belief, dripping both tears and¡­ other things.


    Su Xiaobai looked at her, exhaling deeply.


    ¡­Maybe he went a little overboard.


    Originally, he just wanted to remind her who tried to kill whom first.


    But¡­ maybe she wasn''t as mentally strong as he thought.


    In front of Su Xiaobai''s eyes, this woman choked, her teary eyes trembling, her lips quivering like a bullied sect disciple.


    "Su Xiaobai¡­ I have never seen¡­ madman¡­ like you¡­ sob¡­ You¡­ you¡­!"


    Her voice cracked, her shoulders shaking.


    Tears rolled down her flushed cheeks, her expression a mix of devastation, exhaustion, and absolute mental collapse.


    And Su Xiaobai?


    His eyes darkened.


    Because you know what''s sexier than a sexy woman?


    A sexy woman crying.


    Su Xiaobai felt his heartstrings pulled. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    What a beauty.


    Her small, delicate face, her teary eyes, her cherry-red lips, and those two massive twin peaks that could easily crush a man''s will to live¡ªshe was a fallen angel, a devil disguised as a goddess.


    And now?


    Now, she was crying.


    Crying because of him.


    Su Xiaobai felt guilt creeping into his heart.


    Was he really that bad?


    ...He wasn''t sad about it, though.


    He was excited.


    His lips curled into a smirk.


    "Lingxue¡­ You can''t blame me."


    And just like that¡ªhe suddenly flipped her over, pinning her delicate wrists above her head.


    Huo Lingxue gasped, her body tensing up.


    "W-Wait! Su Xiaobai¡ª!"


    But before she could even process what was happening, he grabbed her waist, positioned himself¡ª


    And thrusted hard.


    "Waaahhh¡ª!"


    A sharp, loud cry pierced the night, her voice hoarse and broken, carrying the weight of betrayal, disbelief, and sheer mental destruction.


    The cries continued.


    "Aaahhh¡ª! Hnngh¡ª!"


    Louder.


    "Nngh¡ª! Aaahh¡ª!"


    Then harsher.


    And then¡­


    They started to die down.


    Her screams softened into faint, exhausted groans.


    Her body trembled, twitched¡ªthen finally collapsed like a sect that lost all its elders in a war.


    And eventually¡ª


    Silence

 Chapter 196 - 196: This Master-Disciple Relationship Is Getting Out of Hand!

    "You are no longer my disciple."


    Su Xiaobai''s feet suddenly felt cold. For some reason, an uneasy chill crept up his spine. But he quickly recovered, his usual smirk returning.


    "Oh. Anything else? Like¡­ you''re no longer the man I''m seeing, and you''ll look for a better replacement?"


    Bai Yujian arched a brow, her lips curving slightly in amusement. "Why are you acting sour about it? Even if I was seeing a man, what can you do about it?"


    Su Xiaobai clicked his tongue. "Who''s sour? I just like to be informed if I''ve been replaced."


    Bai Yujian shook her head, deciding to ignore his nonsense. Her voice returned to its usual calm, measured tone.


    "In a week, I will be leaving for Baihua Plains. After that, you can either stay in Sword Peak or move to Mystic Peak. It''s your choice.


    Formally, you will be transferred under Qingqing.


    As for sect resources, they are yours to use¡ªyou don''t need to ask anyone. Just¡­ be mindful of it."


    "???"


    Su Xiaobai stared at her in pure question mark.


    What the hell?


    She was sitting calmly, knees pulled up, while he was standing¡ªyet for some reason, the distance between them felt like it had suddenly expanded.


    Like she had subtly drawn a boundary between them.


    But¡­


    Who cares?


    Su Xiaobai was not the kind of man to sulk just because a woman distanced herself from him.


    Instead, he casually sat down next to her¡ª


    Ensuring their bodies were barely a centimeter apart.


    The moment he did, her fragrance drifted into his nose.


    Fresh. Cool.


    Pleasing.


    The distance suddenly felt much better.


    "You.." Bai Yujian''s lips twitched slightly, but she adjusted her words before they fully left her mouth. "... Verdant Peak Lord has sent some gifts for you¡­"


    "Don''t want."


    Su Xiaobai denied it instantly, not even sparing it a second thought.


    That fat old man never had good motives.


    Bai Yujian raised an eyebrow. Most men would kill for a favor from a Peak Lord. But this man? He rejected it so ruthlessly it was almost offensive.


    Then again¡­


    She expected nothing less from him.


    "Okay, then I will ask them to return¡ª"


    "Wait."


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes narrowed slightly.


    "Then¡­ is it a person?"


    Bai Yujian''s crystal-clear gaze met his, her face calm. "It''s the quintuplets he showed you¡ª" And suddenly, she smiled. A smile that instantly set off alarm bells in Su Xiaobai''s head.


    Something was off.


    Bai Yujian''s tone became silkier, more playful.


    "They are waiting downstairs."


    "¡­"


    "He decided to give them to you as gifts. But since you refuse, I will go ahead and convey your rejection¡ª"


    Swoosh!


    "You¡­! What are you doing?!"


    Her fair cheeks flushed abruptly, her amused smirk vanishing into sheer panic.


    Like a gust of wind, Su Xiaobai moved¡ª


    Too fast.


    Before she could react, he had already pushed her down, his body pressing into hers, their chests nearly flush against each other.


    Through the thin layers of their robes, he could feel the softness of her breasts, the faint warmth of her skin against his.


    Her face turned rosy.


    His grip tightened.


    Their faces were dangerously close.


    This bastard¡­!


    Does he not fear death?!


    Bai Yujian''s heart skipped a beat.


    Her lips parted slightly, not in fear¡ªbut in surprise, in something else she didn''t want to name.


    Su Xiaobai''s smile widened. "Peak Lord, you took me by surprise once, and I let it slide."


    His voice dropped slightly, his breath fanning against her fair cheeks. "But twice? If you are so intent on bullying your disciple today, shouldn''t I return the favor?"


    Bai Yujian''s gaze flickered.


    A small huff left her lips as she tried to mask her amusement with suspicion.


    "What do you mean?"


    Her tone was too smooth.


    Too innocent.


    This woman¡­!


    She was playing dumb.


    Pretending like she didn''t know exactly what she was doing.


    Su Xiaobai chuckled, his chest pressing just a little more firmly into hers. Her body tensed slightly, but she didn''t move away.


    Bai Yujian sighed dramatically, tilting her head slightly. "I just rearranged some words. Is that deceit?" She batted her eyelashes, as if truly pondering the question.


    Then¡ªSu Xiaobai''s lips curled slightly in a sneer.


    "Hmph. If you consider that to be just rearranging words, then by that logic... killing people should only be considered chopping vegetables?"


    Su Xiaobai laughed softly, his grip tightening slightly, feeling Bai Yujian''s fingers clench beneath his palms.


    Her deep, crystal eyes narrowed.


    "Su Xiaobai, don''t anger me."


    She tilted her head to the side, her voice carrying an unmistakable warning. But instead of backing down, Su Xiaobai''s grin widened.


    "Oh? Or what? You''ll use your strength to punish me?"


    His voice dripped with mockery.


    "The strong bullying the weak? I expected nothing less from you, Peak Lord."


    And with that¡ª


    He grabbed both of her wrists, pinning them beside her head.


    Her skin was unbelievably soft, so delicate that it almost didn''t feel like she had bones beneath it. Su Xiaobai''s fingers curled around them, testing their shape.


    Damn.


    Seems like women in this world age like fine wine¡ªThe older they get, the more refined, the more devastatingly beautiful they become.


    Bai Yujian''s eyes darkened slightly.


    Indeed, she had planned to use some strength¡ªBut now that he had called her out on it, her dao heart was momentarily shaken.


    She could only grit her teeth, suppressing the instinct.


    And then¡ª


    "Peak Lord, didn''t you say I could choose any woman from Sword Peak?"


    Bai Yujian''s heart skipped a beat.


    Su Xiaobai''s smirk vanished, his eyes burning with desire.


    "Then I, Su Xiaobai, choose you. Do you dare accept?"


    The temperature between them plummeted instantly.


    His voice was steady, for some reason, even though he never really trained seriously under her, her sudden declaration of cutting him off as a disciple irritated him.


    It was a formal title, nothing more.


    But it still pissed him off.


    And with the adrenaline of taming Huo Lingxue still coursing through his veins, his blood boiled hotter¡ªhis impulses sharp and untamed.


    Bai Yujian''s body tensed beneath him. Her eyes flickered with shock¡­ and something else.


    "Su Xiaobai¡­ You¡­!"


    Even Bai Yujian looked at him in disbelief, her usually icy mask breaking for a split second.


    Horror.


    Not at him.


    At herself.


    Su Xiaobai''s instincts screamed at him. If he backed down now, he''d be weak.


    So he pressed forward.


    "What? Nothing to say?"


    "Do you only dare to give your words, but not follow through? What''s wrong with it, Peak Lor¡ª"


    "Don''t speak more! I don''t want to hear it!"


    Startling Su Xiaobai, Bai Yujian freed her hands and slapped them over his mouth, cutting him off before he could talk his way into her heart.


    She already felt her resolve cracking¡ªthis bastard was too good at flipping her own words against her. If she let him keep going, he might actually make her fall for his bullshit.


    Su Xiaobai raised a brow, his hot breath spilling between her fingers, lips brushing against her palm, wet and teasing.


    Tch.


    Her ears turned red instantly.


    He chuckled against her skin, the vibration tickling her fingers, sending an unwanted shiver up her arm. The bastard knew what he was doing. His lips pressed into her palm, lips dangerously soft, before he finally let go.


    The scent of her still covered his hands. Cool, fresh¡ªlike the mist at the peak of a mountain, but also sharp, like the kind of cold that made men crave warmth.


    Maybe she wasn''t lonely¡ªmaybe she just didn''t know how to be held.


    Bai Yujian exhaled, her chest rising and falling in slow, deliberate control. If he had pushed any further¡­ she really didn''t know what she would''ve done.


    She glanced at her wrists¡ªfaint red marks from his grip. It didn''t hurt, but the fact that he was still breathing after doing it? That was the real miracle.


    She muttered, "I didn''t know you were such a bandit¡­"


    Su Xiaobai scoffed, waving her words off like an old woman nagging about ruined vegetables. "Oh? And what about you deciding my entire future like you''re picking dishes off a menu? Choosing me as the next Sect Master? Marrying me off to Qingqing? Do I look like a appetizer to you?"


    Bai Yujian''s eyes flickered, but her expression remained calm. "If you don''t want it, then don''t do it. I''ll let everyone know tomorrow."


    Su Xiaobai stilled. He expected her to fight back, argue, give him some righteous bullshit. But no¡ªshe was serious.


    And that pissed him off even more.


    He stepped closer, closing the distance between them. Bai Yujian''s scent wrapped around him¡ªsoft, cold, inviting in a way that made men want to corrupt it.


    She didn''t move away.


    Su Xiaobai''s fingers itched to grab her again.


    "What do you mean, don''t do it? Do I look like some ungrateful villain to you?"


    His eyes darkened.


    "Peak Lord, let me make something clear."


    "You saved my sister."


    "You brought her back."


    "You did a lot of things for me."


    "But that ends today."


    His grip tightened on her wrist again, not pinning¡ªbut holding.


    "If this sect is going to be mine in the future, then the decisions will be mine, not yours. I won''t be another Zhao Tianxuan, a puppet Sect Master."


    Silence.


    Then a twitch.


    Bai Yujian''s lips curled¡ªnot in mockery, not in amusement, but in something real.


    Satisfaction.


    This was what she wanted. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Someone who could take what he wanted, stand on his own¡ªWith or without her.

 Chapter 197 - 197: Empire-Building 101: Grabbing a Sect by the Waist—And the Power by the Balls!

    "Mmm¡­ then what would you do first?"


    Bai Yujian had a bad feeling. If she didn''t redirect this conversation fast, this so-called master-disciple relationship was about to go completely off the rails.


    So, she asked.


    Su Xiaobai, of course, did not take the bait¡ªor rather, he took it and ran straight into a completely different battlefield.


    "What else? Stop hiding in this tiny-ass country." His tone was absurdly casual, "Either turn it into a vassal state and conquer it properly, or move to the empires and start taking control there. Without political power, what the can we even do?"


    He leaned back slightly, as if he were just discussing which restaurant to eat at, rather than planning a hostile takeover.


    "Those Peak Lords sitting around all day, rotting in their own comfort? Send them out to gather resources for the sect. If they don''t meet their quotas, demote them. Put in someone hungrier. A sect needs two things¡ªtalent and resources. If you control the resources, talent will come to you. If you control the kingdom, you don''t have to worry about getting crushed under someone else''s boot."


    These were the lessons Su Xiaobai had learned over two lifespans.


    Just having resources wasn''t enough.


    You could never avoid politics.


    If you refused to play the game, then you were just an easy scapegoat.


    Someone like Sun Liang would eventually appear, pin all the shit onto him, and laugh while taking everything.


    So why not just take it all first?


    If he could expand this sect''s influence, take over Tianlong Empire, then White Cloud Star itself would be within his grasp.


    At the end of the day¡ªeverything led back to his own personal gain.


    Bai Yujian''s eyes flickered continuously as she absorbed his words.


    Politics?


    She had never considered it before.


    But¡­ using those lazy-ass Peak Lords to generate wealth instead of just sitting on their asses?


    Wouldn''t that piss them off?


    But then again¡ªwho cares?


    If they didn''t like it? Replace them.


    There were plenty of people in line.


    She didn''t realize it yet¡­


    But Su Xiaobai was planning to run this sect like a goddamn corporation.


    Her eyes suddenly lit up.


    "That''s¡­ a great idea."


    Su Xiaobai glanced at her, unimpressed. "Hah?"


    He had just spit out some random bullshit, not expecting her to actually think it was brilliant.


    But while he was mentally shrugging it off, his hands were itching¡ª


    The wrist he had been gripping all this time?


    His fingers slipped lower before he even realized it, trailing down her arm.


    And then¡ª


    They found her waist.


    His palm landed firmly on her soft, thin, willow-like curves, fingers sinking slightly into the delicate fabric of her robe.


    The grip was unapologetic, instinctive.


    Like he had always meant to put his hands there.


    Bai Yujian flinched, but didn''t pull away.


    That confused the hell out of Su Xiaobai. This woman was the queen of vague answers¡ªif she lived in his old world, she''d probably top the list of women accused of "friend-zoning" men into the afterlife.


    But she wasn''t denying him either.


    His grip tightened.


    He pushed closer, their shoulders brushing, the faint warmth of her soft curves pressing into his side.


    This woman.


    She never clarified anything.


    So why not see how far this game could go?


    "Show me your sword."


    Bai Yujian, who had been absorbed in the sudden closeness, blinked as if waking up from a trance. She hesitated, then lifted her hand.


    Whoosh!


    A flash of white slashed through the night.


    A sword flew into her palm, its sheath black as night, but the moment she drew it, the blade gleamed like a single carved piece of white jade.


    Su Xiaobai narrowed his eyes.


    This sword¡­


    Something about it felt familiar.


    Bai Yujian watched him carefully. "You won''t be able to hold it."


    It wasn''t arrogance¡ªit was a fact. She had tested it before. No one except her had ever been able to grip this sword without it rejecting them.


    Su Xiaobai didn''t give a shit. "Yeah, yeah."


    He ignored her warning, grabbed the hilt, and yanked it from her hands.


    The sword shook violently, like a spirit beast trying to escape a bad contract.


    That was the nature of Soul Weapons. They had minds of their own¡ªif they didn''t like you, they would flat-out refuse to be wielded.


    But after shaking furiously for a few seconds, the sword¡­


    Settled.


    Bai Yujian''s eyes widened.


    That wasn''t supposed to happen.


    Su Xiaobai''s grin stretched wide.


    Something clicked in his head¡ªsomething he had forgotten for far too long.


    "White Jade Sword¡­ huh."


    Bai Yujian''s heartbeat picked up.


    Su Xiaobai muttered to himself, voice thoughtful. "Do you know how I was able to control the sword intent you left behind?"


    Bai Yujian frowned. That had bothered her for a while. Sword intent wasn''t something that could just be taken or broken¡ªit was unshakable.


    Su Xiaobai let out a breath, his hold on her waist loosening, as he pulled out something from his spatial ring.


    A golden pen.


    The Celestial Weaver.


    The golden formation pen, currently only the size of his palm.


    He stared at it, eyes flashing.


    It all made sense now.


    Emperor Tian Yu had been far beyond anything they could comprehend¡ªmaybe even a True Immortal.


    An array designed by him?


    Of course, it would contain tricks beyond normal comprehension.


    Even Bai Yujian, compared to Tian Yu, was probably nothing more than a child.


    But she had escaped that array. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    And now that he looked at this sword¡­


    It was connected.


    "What''s going on?" Bai Yujian''s brows knitted together as she saw the two weapons tremble the closer they got to each other.


    Su Xiaobai shook his head.


    He told her everything.


    The story of Emperor Tian Yu.


    His wife, Yue''er.


    The one who had forged this sword for the Emperor.


    Then, he turned to her with a new question¡ªone that made her breath still.


    "Have you ever heard of the Golden Bow? Or the Forbidden City?"


    Bai Yujian''s eyes narrowed. "No."


    She had never even heard of Emperor Tian Yu before today. If such a figure had existed, it must have been so far back in history that even the sects had forgotten.


    But Su Xiaobai was staring at her like she was the key to everything.


    And in some way¡­


    She was.


    "Does your family tree show any connection to someone named Yue''er or Tian Yu?"


    Bai Yujian''s gaze sharpened.


    Su Xiaobai smirked. "If this sword recognizes you, that means you must have their blood."


    He had already inherited after Emperor Tian Yu.


    Yue''er was still trapped.


    That left only one possibility.


    Bai Yujian was connected to them.


    His thoughts spiraled.


    If she was a direct descendant¡­


    Then that meant¡ª


    She could legitimately take the throne.


    And as for military and political power?


    That was his job.


    With the right moves, they wouldn''t just take over the White Cloud Star¡ªthey could dominate entire Immortal Rain Valley as well!


    Tianlong Empire.


    Vermilion Phoenix Dynasty.


    Black Tortoise Empire.


    And then¡­


    Baihua Plains.


    A chaotic land of scattered islands, a hub of war and ancient relics¡ªwhere long-lost treasures still lay buried.


    It was the site of constant battles between smaller kingdoms and warring tribes.


    And yet¡­


    Geographically, it lined up too well with the site where he had met Yue''er.


    It had been covered in hills, drowning in endless rainfall.


    Which meant¡ª


    That entire region had once been part of the Three Empires.


    Together, they formed the Four Divine Beasts.


    Dragon. Phoenix. Black Tortoise. White Tiger.


    Su Xiaobai''s blood burned.


    If Baihua Plains was once part of the Northern Plains¡­


    Then how had it shattered into so many islands?


    The answer clicked into place.


    It was the Golden Bow.


    The first time Yue''er had fired it, she hadn''t understood its true power.


    And in that single moment of miscalculation¡­


    She had blown an entire continent to pieces.


    Su Xiaobai''s heart pounded.


    This wasn''t just about his revenge anymore.


    This was about reshaping the entire fucking world.


    _____


    "What about your¡­ Sword Intent?"


    Bai Yujian''s gaze flickered toward the Celestial Inscriber in his hand.


    She wasn''t as shocked or excited as Su Xiaobai¡ªher expression remained calm, almost indifferent.


    Even if she really did have the blood of some forgotten emperor, what did it matter?


    First¡ªshe wasn''t strong enough to capture an empire alone.


    Second¡ªno one even fucking remembers this Emperor.


    If she had been a direct descendant of the Tianlong Empire''s First Emperor, then sure, it would have been a whole different story.


    But now, her attention shifted.


    What really interested her¡ªwas his Sword Intent.


    It wasn''t just unique¡ªit was twisted, rewritten, as if he had completely flipped the entire concept of Sword Intent upside down.


    Su Xiaobai grinned, rubbing his chin. "Oh, that? Yeah, I did some tweaks."


    "Tweaks?"

 Chapter 198 - 198: Rewrite the Dao, Grope the Master, Conquer the World!

    "Oh, that? Yeah, I did some tweaks."


    Bai Yujian raised an eyebrow. "Tweaks?"


    Su Xiaobai''s grin widened.


    ___


    How Su Xiaobai Created His Insane Sword Intent...


    After getting pissed that he couldn''t use normal Sword Intent due to a lack of specialized energy signatures, Su Xiaobai figured out the problem¡ªQi Cultivation Techniques.


    Sword Intent usually relied on a cultivator''s Qi, which was fine for sword freaks who followed proper paths, but Su Xiaobai?


    He only had a Body Cultivation Technique.


    Big problem.


    So he asked Hu Jiao''er to get him a solid Qi Cultivation Technique, something that would work well with his monstrous body.


    She delivered.


    The Astral Tyrant Codex.


    A stellar energy-based technique¡ªjust like his Starslayer Body Arts.


    And that''s when a thought hit him.


    Instead of using Sword Intent from the world like every other dumbass¡­


    What if he channeled it directly from celestial bodies?


    How Su Xiaobai "Tweaked" His Sword Intent...


    Step 1: Normal Sword Qi? Fuck that. Instead, he infused Astral Energy into it.


    ¡ª Astral Sword Qi. Sharper, stronger, specialized.


    Step 2: Normal Sword Aura? Lame. Instead of a regular sword aura that slashes, he used the gravity of stars to crush his enemies.


    ¡ª Astral Sword Aura. It doesn''t cut¡ªyou just fucking die from the pressure.


    Step 3: Sword Intent? Yeah, let''s break that too.


    Three Levels of Su Xiaobai''s Insane Sword Intent (So Far)


    First Level: Normal sword freaks have "Cutting the Stone."


    ¡ª Su Xiaobai? "Tearing the Firmament."


    >He tears the air itself, creating an unstable vacuum burst after the tear, dealing delayed explosive damage.


    Second Level: Others have "Splitting Trees."


    ¡ªSu Xiaobai? "Shattering the Earth."


    >He uses destructive force to collapse everything beneath him.


    >Instead of "splitting," he obliterates terrain itself.


    Third Level: Other sword dummies have "Slicing Metal."


    ¡ª Su Xiaobai? "Celestial''s Decree."


    >He borrows the radiance of the Sun, the cold brilliance of the Moon, and the vast power of the stars.


    >His Sword Intent transforms into an unavoidable, absolute judgment.


    >No defense. No escape.


    [What He''s Working on Now: Fourth Level]


    Normal sword cultivators have¡­ "Splitting the River."


    Su Xiaobai?


    He''s trying to extend the gravitational pull of celestial bodies to the point where he could split the world itself.


    The name?


    "World-Splitting Monarch."


    Once mastered¡ªrivers, valleys, and even entire landmasses could be split apart.


    Because why stop at cutting a river, when you could slice a fucking continent?


    ______


    Bai Yujian''s fingers tightened ever so slightly.


    She had thought her Sword Intent was at the peak of mastery.


    But this?


    This wasn''t mastery.


    This was madness.


    "You created your own technique?"


    The realization slammed into her like a meteorite.


    This beast, this insufferable bastard, who wasn''t even thirty fucking years old, had just written his own technique.


    Just like that.


    If he put it into a scroll, it would sell like hotcakes. No, scratch that¡ªit would turn into a holy scripture for the entire sword cultivation world.


    Su Xiaobai blinked. "Uh... Maybe?"


    Only now did he realize it himself.


    Oh.


    Wait.


    He accidentally created his own technique.


    Bai Yujian''s eye twitched.


    Her lips parted, then closed, then parted again.


    What the hell was this man?


    "Su Xiaobai, this is dangerous¡­ How could you¡­!"


    Her voice cracked with sheer disbelief.


    She had never heard of a Nascent Soul cultivator creating techniques.


    Even Immortals took thousands of years before they dared to write a technique of their own.


    And even then, it was fucking dangerous.


    Miss one step?


    Boom. Your cultivation? Gone.


    Fuck up the foundation?


    Boom. Your soul shattered.


    Create a technique wrong?


    Boom. You die like a dumbass who tried eating a forbidden pill for fun.


    Bai Yujian wasn''t just shocked¡ªshe was horrified.


    This bastard didn''t even think about the consequences.


    He could have destroyed his entire cultivation or killed himself outright.


    She had to remind him of the dangers before this reckless lunatic ended up exploding in a tragic yet hilarious accident.


    Su Xiaobai?


    He just listened.


    To be frank, he didn''t give a shit.


    It was no big deal.


    He had already inherited after an Immortal King-level being, the Internal Emperor¡ªcreating techniques wasn''t even shocking to him anymore.


    Once Bai Yujian finished her lecture, she still stared at him.


    Like she was looking at a lunatic handling radioactive material with his bare hands, grinning like a dumbass, completely unaware he was about to die a painful death in a few years.


    She was fucking worried.


    Her eyes turned watery, her teeth sinking into her lower lip.


    And then¡ª


    "Are you angry at me for scolding you?"


    Her voice trembled slightly.


    She wasn''t sure why she cared so much¡ªbut she did. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Su Xiaobai¡­ I apologize.


    I shouldn''t have done that.


    I just¡­ lost myself.


    I am not a good master¡­


    You don''t need to do this."


    Her words cracked.


    Her prideful demeanor slipped.


    She was truly apologizing.


    Su Xiaobai blinked.


    Was he angry about it? Yeah, at the time. But now? He had already fucking forgotten about it. If she hadn''t reminded him, he wouldn''t have remembered at all.


    But since she was offering an apology¡ª


    Well...Might as well milk it for what it''s worth. Su Xiaobai''s arms moved before he even thought about it.


    He hugged her.


    Tightly.


    Her entire soft body pressed into his chest, his fingers curling around her waist.


    Bai Yujian froze....Completely.


    Su Xiaobai leaned in slightly, his breath tickling her ear, his voice low and shameless.


    "Master, there''s no need for fuss.


    Who says you can''t teach me? Maybe I''m just a bad learner.


    Forget about this master-disciple nonsense.


    Didn''t you see the Celestial Weaver and the White Jade Sword?


    We''re destined to be Dao partners¡ªcan''t you see it?"


    Bai Yujian''s breath caught for a split second before she pulled back, her lips curling into a bitter smile.


    "You scoundrel disciple, now you''re calling me ''Master''? After all this time? And only now¡ªwhen I''m leaving?"


    Her tone was light, teasing even, but her eyes told a different story.


    She wasn''t a sentimental person.


    But today¡ªwhen Su Xiaobai asked if she had family connected to Emperor Tian Yu¡ªshe had been forced to revisit certain memories.


    Because she was the one who executed them.


    If Su Xiaobai knew this woman didn''t just kill her own master because he pursued her, but also eliminated her own bloodline for reasons unknown, he would probably think twice about keeping her close.


    But well¡ªtoo late.


    Now that Bai Yujian mentioned it, Su Xiaobai realized something.


    Shit.


    He really never called her ''Master'' before.


    And yeah¡­ now that he thought about it¡ªit did seem like he was just taking advantage of the moment to undress her and pull her into his arms.


    Rather than being genuine.


    Su Xiaobai blinked. "Huh¡­ Seems like I should be the #1 scoundrel of Sword Peak then¡­"


    "Pftt¡ª!"


    Bai Yujian couldn''t hold back her smile.


    She shook her head, even as his hands started to wander down, sliding over her back¡­ toward her waist¡­ then lower.


    Then¡ª


    Squeeze.


    Her entire body shivered.


    Her face flushed a beautiful shade of pink¡ªbefore it darkened like a thunderstorm.


    Su Xiaobai, completely oblivious, tilted his head.


    "What''s wrong?"


    Bai Yujian stepped back.


    Her dark hair fell over her face, her expression unreadable.


    Then¡ªshe met his gaze.


    "We can''t do it."


    Straightforward. No hesitation.


    Su Xiaobai''s brows furrowed. "Huh¡ª?"


    Her hand shot up, covering his mouth. "You don''t need to say anything¡ªI am not rejecting you, Su Xiaobai, but I can never be your wife."


    "There are taboos that can''t be broken, and even if I agreed, others wouldn''t."


    "Let Zhu Qing be your official wife; that doesn''t mean you can''t be with me. It''s just for your own... good."


    Her voice was calm, but Su Xiaobai could hear the slight tremor beneath it.


    She wasn''t running away.


    She was laying down reality.


    Su Xiaobai''s expression didn''t change, but internally?


    What the fuck?


    Did this woman just tell him to make someone else his official wife¡­ while still keeping her as his secret ''lover''?


    Huh.


    That was¡­ unexpectedly reasonable.

 Chapter 199 - 199: Error 404: Dao Heart Not Found!

    What the hell?


    Did this woman just tell him to make someone else his official wife¡­ while still keeping her as his secret ''lover''?


    Huh.


    That was¡­ unexpectedly reasonable.


    And just when he thought that was enough¡ª


    She dropped another bomb.


    Bai Yujian told him everything.


    The ones who had chased Yue Xiuying that day.


    Why she had let them leave on purpose.


    The sect''s precarious situation now that the truth about the Light Tab was on the verge of exposure.


    And worst of all¡ª


    Most of those so-called "experts" were actually there to recruit him. Among them? A Human Immortal-level expert.


    Su Xiaobai''s expression hardened. He had vaguely expected something like this.


    But now? Now it was confirmed.


    If Yue Xiuying didn''t show herself, they would come for him. And if he refused? The sect would take the fall.


    Su Xiaobai had no loyalty to this sect. But he was also not the type to trade a throne for a wooden stool.


    He''d rather be king in a well than a peasant in an empire. Here, he was a king. If he left now, would he still have this many privileges? S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Bai Yujian was already stimulated by the threat¡ªshe had decided to leave for Baihua Plains to break through into the Human Immortal Realm.


    Once she returned¡ªshe would follow Su Xiaobai''s suggestions.


    And as for¡­ giving herself to him? She was not the type to hesitate once she made a choice.


    Even more than Su Xiaobai, she was decisive to the point of madness.


    She had already realized why the taboos existed. It wasn''t just some ancient, baseless restriction¡ªit was to prevent tragedy.


    Master and disciple.


    Different lifespans.


    Different talents.


    One inevitably surpasses the other...The gap widens until love turns into tragedy.


    She had seen it before...She had executed people for it before.


    But¡ª


    She also knew Su Xiaobai''s talent.


    Their relationship wouldn''t end badly. But would the world see it that way?


    No. The world was merciless. If Su Xiaobai had been born a thousand years earlier, he''d be facing her sword instead.


    If he had pressured her, like her previous master did¡ªShe would have cut him down where he stood.


    But Su Xiaobai was lucky.


    He hadn''t done either of those things.


    Instead, he had been honest.


    And now¡ªher walls were crumbling.


    Coupled with his insane talent¡­


    She had already lost all restraint on her heart. She wanted to give herself to him. Not just out of emotion¡ªbut to aid his cultivation.


    If she did it now, the benefits wouldn''t be great.


    But if she did it after she reached the Human Immortal Realm¡ªhen Su Xiaobai would skyrocket to the Spirit Severing Realm.


    In one night.


    He would instantly become a Core Disciple.


    Su Xiaobai processed her words.


    His mind was spinning in two directions.


    1. So she wasn''t denying sleeping with him.


    2. She was planning to fuck him later for a cultivation boost.


    Huh.


    Well, that was¡ª


    Fucking awesome.


    Su Xiaobai''s mouth twitched.


    Then, he glanced at Bai Yujian''s somewhat worried gaze.


    She actually meant it.


    She was truly sincere.


    This woman was so goddamn simple.


    The most deceitful thing she had done so far was play a word game with him today.


    And now that he thought about it¡ª


    Su Xiaobai couldn''t help but chuckle.


    Right now, he was completely unaware of how the Righteous Dao actually worked¡ªOtherwise, he would''ve known that Bai Yujian couldn''t deceive him even if she wanted to.


    It wasn''t about choice¡ªher Dao Heart wouldn''t allow it. Even if she tried to trick him, her cultivation would kick her ass in retaliation.


    If Su Xiaobai knew this, he''d probably stop being so wary of her.


    But right now?


    He was too busy staring at her. His gaze was fixed on her lips, her flustered face, her slightly parted robes¡­


    And Bai Yujian?


    She misread his entire thought process.


    Her mind panicked.


    "I... can call Jiao''er and Mei''er..."


    A second later¡ª


    Her own brain short-circuited.


    Wait.


    Did she just offer up her own fucking Elders like tributes?!


    "Why call them?" Su Xiaobai blinked.


    Bai Yujian froze.


    "Do you¡­ want someone else?"


    Oh no.


    Her brain had officially entered damage control mode.


    Her voice turned hesitant, then serious.


    "Then... who?"


    "As long as it''s not outright forcing them, you can ask anyone.


    With your new identity, they won''t refuse to be your concubine¡­"


    "..."


    Bitch.


    Did she just become a husband-worried wife overnight?


    This woman was literally acting like a newlywed bride who couldn''t satisfy her man in bed, so she was offering him side dishes.


    For fuck''s sake.


    Su Xiaobai''s lips twitched.


    For some reason, the more she talked, the less he wanted to let this woman leave. His hand moved on its own, reaching up to cup her soft, delicate face.


    Her long lashes trembled, eyes widening in surprise.


    Then¡ª


    He leaned in, his head tilting slightly as he gazed into her quivering, breathtaking eyes.


    And then¡ª


    He kissed her.


    "!!"


    Bai Yujian''s brain blue-screened.


    Error 404: Dao Heart Not Found.


    His lips brushed against hers, warm and teasing, pressing into her soft, crimson lips. His scent surrounded her¡ªmasculine, intoxicatingly comforting.


    She had never felt it this close before.


    And it was... dangerous.


    She didn''t move.


    Didn''t push him away.


    Her dark hair slipped over her shoulders, framing her gorgeous, stunned face.


    "Mm..."


    Su Xiaobai''s hand slid behind her pale neck, deepening the kiss. His tongue parted the way, pressing against her pearly white teeth¡ªthen slipping inside.


    "Ngh¡ª!"


    Bai Yujian''s hands weakly gripped his robes.


    Her breath stuttered, her entire body trembling as her heart slammed against her chest.


    This was¡ª


    This was so wrong.


    They were on the rooftop!


    Anyone could see them!


    And yet¡ª


    That just made it more thrilling.


    Her mind collapsed under the weight of contradictions.


    She was a Peak Lord, an untouchable Sword Fairy, the Ice Queen of the Sect.


    She had cut down thousands in her lifetime, severed emotions like brittle threads, executed her own kin.


    And now¡ª


    Her first kiss was being stolen like some village girl cornered by a street thug.


    No, no, no.


    This isn''t real.


    This isn''t happening.


    Her Dao Heart¡ªher sword Dao, the foundation of her will, her years of cultivation¡ª


    Collapsing...


    Su Xiaobai''s tongue explored her mouth, savoring her sweetness, while her own tried to escape in panic¡ªonly to be caught, tangled, and played with.


    At some point¡ªshe stopped resisting. She was drowning in this feeling... Her eyes closed, her body softened, and she let him do whatever he wanted.


    Su Xiaobai''s heart pounded like war drums.


    This was a dangerous woman.


    A woman who could cut him down in an instant. Yet here he was¡ªkneading her breasts through her robe, kissing her senseless, and hearing her moan softly into his hands.


    What is achievement?


    This is achievement.


    His hand slid lower.


    And lower.


    And lower¡ªUntil he was groping her supple ass.


    Firm, round, and perfectly squeezable.


    His fingers dug in.


    And Bai Yujian¡ª


    Shivered violently.


    Her knees turned weak, her thighs pressing together instinctively.


    "Mmmgh... Su Xiaobai, don''t¡ª"


    Her voice was weak, pleading, breathless. But his hands had already slipped beneath her robes, touching bare skin.


    Then¡ª


    In one swift move¡ª


    He grabbed her and pulled her onto his lap.


    Just like that¡ª


    She was straddling him.


    Face-to-face.


    Their bodies pressed together, her legs wrapped around his waist.


    "Elder, what do you take me for?"


    "Am I so desperate that I''d use you just for power?"


    "Just as a stepping stone for my cultivation?"


    He looked at her with mock disappointment.


    Bai Yujian''s lips parted¡ªbut no words came out. She was still trying to process how the fuck she ended up in this position.


    Her mind had melted. Her ass was literally in his hands. Her chest was pressed against his. And his breath was brushing against her lips, still wet from his kiss.


    She opened her mouth¡ªthen closed it.


    Then opened it again.


    Then closed it.


    Fuck.


    She had completely lost control of the situation.


    "I..."


    Su Xiaobai tilted his head, amused.


    "What?"


    She pressed her lips together tightly.


    "I... I didn''t mean it like that¡­"

 Chapter 200 - 200: *Lesson #1: The Path of Submission—Bowing Before the Great Dao!* [R18]

    "I... I didn''t mean it like that¡­"


    Her voice was soft, uncertain. Wasn''t it better if he got the most benefits out of it? If he gained the most from it, wouldn''t that be a good thing?


    Su Xiaobai shook his head.


    This was starting to feel like some bullshit novel plot where the author was trying to delay progress by dropping unnecessary drama.


    This woman¡ªIf he let her leave just like this, she would 100% fall into some damsel-in-distress scenario and drag him into another disaster.


    After all¡ª


    Unclaimed territory is an open invitation for war. So even if he had to sacrifice some of his benefits¡ªHe couldn''t let her suffer.


    His hands tightened on her waist, making sure she could feel his warmth, his presence.


    Then, his voice dropped lower.


    "I don''t care about benefits.


    I care about you.


    What are you waiting for?" sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    His gaze burned into hers.


    For the first time¡ªBai Yujian was forced to think about this without logic, without calculations.


    If she removed the benefits out of the equation¡­


    Then what?


    Bai Yujian''s mind went blank.


    And at that exact moment¡ª


    Su Xiaobai leaned in closer, his breath teasing her ear, his voice smooth and sinful like a devil''s whisper.


    "Have you ever even thought about yourself?"


    "How long will you keep thinking just for others?"


    His voice was slow, dripping with poisonous temptation, wrapping around her like an inescapable vine.


    Bai Yujian shuddered.


    Her body reacted before her mind could process it. Her fingers clenched around his shoulders, her thighs subtly tightening around his waist.


    Have she?


    Had she ever truly thought about herself?


    Everything she did¡ªwasn''t it always for others?


    For the sect.


    For the Dao.


    For the balance of power.


    Even now¡ªshe was making a decision not based on her own desires, but on some stupid, ancient logic.


    She sucked in a shaky breath.


    But Su Xiaobai''s warm hands moved slightly, his fingers brushing against her waist, caressing her skin with slow, absent-minded strokes.


    Like he was teasing her into breaking.


    His touch wasn''t forceful.


    It wasn''t insistent.


    It was casual.


    Like he already knew she was going to fall.


    Like a hunter watching his prey hesitate at the edge of the trap, knowing there was only one way forward.


    Bai Yujian''s breath quickened.


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes gleamed.


    "Well?"


    He gently brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, his fingers on her flushed cheek.


    "Just once.... For once in your life¡ªchoose for yourself."


    Bai Yujian swallowed.


    She tried to pull her thoughts together.


    Tried to resist.


    Tried to deny it.


    But when she looked into his eyes... She knew.


    She was already falling.


    And worst of all¡ª


    She wanted to.


    "Where do you want it? Here or in your room?"


    Su Xiaobai didn''t bother with useless formalities.


    The longer you delayed, the worse it got. At this point, it wasn''t about "yes" or "no" anymore.


    ... It was about where.


    Bai Yujian''s brain short-circuited. Her entire body stiffened, her breath shuddered, her thighs tensed.


    Wait.


    Wait.


    Wait.


    What did he just say?!


    Before she could even process the question, she felt a tug on her robe. Her shoulder slipped free, smooth, flawless white skin revealed to the night air.


    Her heartbeat exploded.


    Her eyes widened in absolute panic.


    "Not here!"


    She blurted out instinctively, eyes darting around like a guilty criminal.


    Su Xiaobai''s smile stretched.


    "Then here it is."


    "???"


    Bai Yujian''s brain stopped working.


    Wait.


    Wait.


    Didn''t she just say no?!


    The cold wind blew past, making her exposed skin tingle, goosebumps trailing down her naked shoulder.


    Something was about to be lost today.


    Something she had treasured for so long.


    The dry lands were about to meet the rain.


    And worst of all¡ªThis blasphemous disciple wasn''t even giving her time to think.


    "Su Xiaobai¡ª!"


    "Quiet, Elder. Disobedient disciples get punished."


    "Huh?"


    Wait.


    Wait.


    Wasn''t she the master?


    What in the heavens was going on?!


    Su Xiaobai ignored her shocked face and continued smoothly. "Since we''re master and disciple, let''s make this a proper training session, shall we?"


    His lips curled into a devilish smirk.


    "Let''s begin today''s lesson."


    Bai Yujian''s brain crashed instantly.


    "L-Lesson...?"


    "That''s right, Elder. Don''t tell me a Peak Lord of the Righteous Dao is unwilling to cultivate? Are you going to let your disciple surpass you?"


    Her face exploded in heat.


    Her Dao Heart: [Critical Failure].


    Her Cultivation: [Spontaneous Qi Deviation].


    Her Mental Fortitude: [Fuck you, I''m out].


    "Lesson #1: The Path of Submission¡ªBowing Before the Great Dao!"


    Su Xiaobai stood above her, arms folded like a true instructor. "Disciple, go lay down over there."


    Bai Yujian''s head snapped up in disbelief.


    Right now, they were on top of the villa, perched on a sloping rooftop, overlooking the entire peak.


    He was telling her to lie down.


    On the fucking rooftop.


    Su Xiaobai''s expression didn''t waver. He was the master today. This was his subject expertise.


    "Su Xiaobai, just take me to my room," Bai Yujian frowned, finally forced to plead.


    "Elder, I''m the master today. Are you challenging me?" Su Xiaobai arched a brow, voice laced with dominance.


    "Now, either follow my instructions obediently or prepare for punishment."


    Bai Yujian''s lips twitched. "Punishment?"


    Su Xiaobai''s grin widened. "Yes. [The Eight Extremes of the Jade Gate¡ªExploring the Forbidden Path]. If you''re disobedient, we''ll start with that."


    His finger curled in a lewd gesture, pointing directly between her legs.


    Bai Yujian''s eyes widened in pure horror.


    What was wrong with his brain?!


    Her face burned in both shame and fury. "Su Xiaobai, you¡ª"


    BAM!


    Her vision went white.


    Her own sword''s hilt smashed lightly against her forehead.


    "!!"


    Bai Yujian froze in shock.


    Did.


    Did this man just hit her?!


    A junior hitting an elder?!


    A disciple punishing his own master?!


    This was absolutely against every code of conduct!


    Her entire worldview trembled.


    Su Xiaobai sighed theatrically, shaking his head. "The Path of Submission, disciple. It seems you still don''t understand your master''s authority."


    And before she could react¡ª


    His hand landed on her chest.


    Firmly.


    Kneading.


    Squeezing.


    "Mmm!¡ª Stop!"


    Bai Yujian''s body arched, head tilting upward in shock.


    "Stop?" Su Xiaobai chuckled. "Then go follow my instructions obediently. Didn''t I follow your training before? Now it''s my turn to teach."


    Bai Yujian''s lips pressed into a tight line.


    Was this revenge for her strict training?!


    Her face burned hotter, but she gritted her teeth and moved. With deep reluctance, she lay down, her back pressing against the cold tiles of the rooftop.


    Su Xiaobai smiled triumphantly.


    He moved over slowly, then leaned down above her, his body pressing her down ever so slightly.


    Bai Yujian''s face twisted in stiff resistance, her expression flustered and livid.


    "The first step of enlightenment is surrendering your mortal resistance."


    Su Xiaobai spoke like a divine instructor, his tone utterly serious.


    His fingers slid down, grabbing her robe and pulling it apart from her shoulders.


    "Only by connecting your vessel to nature, without restraint, can enlightenment be attained."


    Connecting to nature?!


    This wasn''t proper training!


    She had spent centuries mastering her sword, perfecting her techniques, seeking the Dao¡ª


    Not this!


    Not being manhandled on a rooftop by her own fucking disciple!


    "A disciple must always be eager to learn. Don''t make faces!" Su Xiaobai reprimanded. "Without submitting yourself to your master, how can you even be ready for the next lesson?"


    Bai Yujian''s teeth clenched, her entire existence screaming in rebellion.


    And yet¡ªSu Xiaobai''s fingers suddenly lifted her chin, forcing her to look straight into his eyes.


    "Disciple Bai. Don''t look away. This is an important part of the lesson."


    Bai Yujian''s gaze burned with murder.


    If looks could kill, this bastard would have been a corpse already.


    But Su Xiaobai ignored her silent fury.


    His hand slid lower, pulling the robe further apart, revealing smooth, flawless skin¡ª


    And then¡ª


    His fingers tugged the fabric further.


    Her chest¡ªher perfectly round, pale white mounds¡ªfinally spilled free.


    The red cherries atop them perked slightly in the night air.


    Like plump, forbidden fruit begging to be devoured.


    Su Xiaobai felt his breath froze.


    The Path of Submission was working.


    Bai Yujian hadn''t stopped him.


    She hadn''t even moved.


    And then¡ªAs the final layer of fabric slipped away, her jade-like breasts bounced lightly, freed from their bindings.


    Firm.


    Round.


    Perfect.


    Bai Yujian''s breath quickened.


    Her chest rose and fell, her skin tingling from the cold, her nipples tightening slightly.


    Su Xiaobai grinned.


    She was breathing hard.


    Her body was reacting.


    Her mind might have been screaming, but her body?


    It was waiting for the next lesson!


    "Lesson #2: Understanding the Dao of Hardship."

 Chapter 201 - 201: *Lesson #2: Understanding the Dao of Hardship* [R18]

    "Lesson #2: Understanding the Dao of Hardship."


    Su Xiaobai''s breath fell on her face, fresh and teasing, as he claimed tempting her lips once more.


    This time¡ª


    Bai Yujian wasn''t a clueless novice.


    She responded.


    Her face tilted slightly, pressing into the kiss, her lips parting just enough to let his tongue in before she even realized what she was doing.


    Su Xiaobai pressed against her lips. His mouth traveled down, leaving slow, teasing kisses along her cheek, her jaw, then lower¡ª


    Trailing down her neck.


    "Su Xiaobai, don''t... or someone will¡ª"


    Panic flashed in Bai Yujian''s eyes. Someone might come and see them! But before she could say another word, Su Xiaobai admonished her like a strict instructor.


    "A true cultivator must be willing to endure hardship! The greater the challenge, the greater the enlightenment!"


    Bai Yujian rolled her eyes.


    What challenge?!


    Was this what counted as hardship?!


    Before she could argue¡ª


    His fingers pinched her nipple.


    "Also, it''s ''Master''¡ªnot Su Xiaobai!"


    Hiss~!


    Bai Yujian winced, her lips parting slightly in shock.


    Call him Master?


    Her mind rebelled.


    It was a psychological challenge, even if this was just some filthy, twisted roleplay.


    But then¡ª


    "Disciple. It''s time for you to overcome your hardship."


    Su Xiaobai''s smile stretched wider.


    "Don''t worry, Bai''er. I''m very patient with slow learners."


    Hiss~


    Bai Yujian shuddered.


    Her face burned a deep red.


    Hearing her name from his mouth¡ª


    It struck something deep inside her.


    An unwilling memory surfaced.


    A small girl, bright-eyed, running across a sunlit courtyard.


    A woman''s hazy figure standing in the distance, calling out to her.


    Calling her the same way Su Xiaobai just did.


    "Bai''er..."


    It had been thousands of years since someone had spoken to her like that.


    The last person¡ª


    Was her own mother.


    Bai Yujian''s eyes widened in shock.


    Her gaze lifted toward Su Xiaobai, a flicker of something strange flashing in her expression.


    Su Xiaobai waited.


    He was giving her the choice.


    Unless she submitted and called him Master, how could she overcome her hardship?


    His voice rang out again, smooth and tempting.


    "Control your breathing. If you lose control this early, how will you reach the apex?"


    Bai Yujian sucked in a sharp breath.


    And then¡ª


    She realized it.


    Her chest was rising and falling too fast. Her breathing was erratic...Just remembering her past had made her lose her composure.


    Su Xiaobai''s grin deepened.


    "Good, Bai''er¡­ you understand so quickly. Maybe you really are a genius?"


    "¡­?"


    Bai Yujian had a giant fucking question mark over her head.


    But before she could figure it out¡ª


    She understood.


    What enduring hardship meant today.


    Su Xiaobai gripped her shoulders tightly, pinning her down, ensuring she couldn''t move.


    Then¡ª


    He lowered his head.


    Right above her exposed chest.


    His eyes locked onto the two trembling mounds before him.


    Su Xiaobai swallowed.


    Then¡ª


    He dove in.


    His lips latched onto the soft, perky cherry on the left¡ªbiting down.


    "Ah!"


    Bai Yujian jerked violently, eyes widening in pure pain.


    But¡ª


    She couldn''t move.


    His mouth wrapped around it fully, his tongue flicking against the sensitive bud.


    The warmth of his mouth, the contrast of his tongue against her cold skin¡ª


    Her back arched instinctively.


    Su Xiaobai sucked deeply, his tongue swirling around the tip, savoring the slightly sweet taste.


    Aged like thousand-year wine.


    It was intoxicating.


    Her yin qi was so refined it was almost overwhelming.


    His hands moved, cupping both mounds, his fingers pressing in, kneading firmly.


    A warm and cold sensation rushed through his hands as her soft, jade-like skin deformed under his grip.


    Bai Yujian''s lips parted slightly, a small moan escaping before she could stop it.


    She had never touched her own body like this.


    And now¡ª


    Another man was.


    Her brain was barely functioning.


    Su Xiaobai''s touch turned rougher, his hands kneading her breasts harder, molding them into different shapes, playing with their softness.


    Her eyes darkened, her breathing turned ragged, her entire body losing strength.


    She forgot she was in the open.


    Forgot she was a Peak Lord.


    Forgot that anyone could see them right now.


    Her fingers tangled into his hair, gripping tightly, moaning...Each flick of his tongue, each squeeze of his palm¡ª


    The sensations crashed into her like tribulation lightning.


    She groaned helplessly.


    Her toes curled.


    She covered her mouth, desperate not to moan any louder.


    She was enduring.


    She had to endure.


    This was a test.


    A Tribulation.


    Su Xiaobai''s teeth scraped lightly against her pale skin, before biting down again.


    A tiny mark remained on her porcelain skin.


    She almost cried.


    She must not fail this Tribulation!


    If she moaned too loudly¡ª


    If she broke completely¡ª


    She would lose.


    She would fail.


    And he... would win.


    ___


    "Disciple Bai? Ready for the next lesson?"


    Su Xiaobai''s voice echoed with amusement, but this time, he left her tender, trembling chest alone and slid his face down to her waist.


    It was tight, smooth, yet impossibly soft.


    His lips pressed into her skin, kissing, inhaling, relishing in the warmth.


    And then¡ª


    He rubbed his cheek against her bare stomach, sighing like a man who just found the meaning of life.


    Damn.


    He could sleep here.


    If this woman existed in his last life, she would''ve broken all records for the most perfect, loveable figure.


    Breasts? More than enough.


    Waist? So fucking thin.


    Her entire body smelled fresh, slightly sweet.


    At first, he thought it was his illusion.


    Then, he tasted her skin.


    No. It was real.


    "Next?"


    Bai Yujian''s neck arched gracefully, glancing down at him with visible alarm. Her chest trembled as she felt the heat of his hands searing into her waist.


    For the first time, she questioned all of her life choices.


    Did she¡­


    Did she make a fucking mistake giving this man free reign?!


    Su Xiaobai smiled. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Yes."


    "Lesson #3: The Principles of Insertion¡ªThe Dao of Depth."


    Then he added, like a respectable instructor of filth¡ª


    "But this lesson requires hands-on practice and full cooperation."


    "Dao of Depth?"


    Her eyes flickered with slight curiosity.


    Then¡ª


    She realized.


    Her brain shut down.


    Her soul ejected.


    Her consciousness left for another world.


    She had two options.


    Option 1: Scold him for being vulgar.


    Option 2: Pretend she was deaf for the next 24 hours.


    She closed her eyes.


    Took a deep breath.


    And then¡ª


    She sighed.


    Her expression turned distant, solemn¡ªlike a woman staring at the ruins of her life.


    Su Xiaobai froze.


    Wait.


    Wait.


    What''s this reaction?!


    He was expecting anger, resistance, maybe even some struggling¡ª


    But this?!


    Why did she look like an old general reminiscing about lost wars?!


    Then, she tilted her head upward, gazing at the vast, endless sky.


    Su Xiaobai swallowed.


    Something felt¡­


    Wrong.


    Did he go too far?


    ¡­Nah.


    But what Su Xiaobai didn''t realize¡ª


    At her level, nothing could happen unless she allowed it.


    Everything before?


    She allowed it.


    She wasn''t losing her mind.


    She was letting herself lose it.


    But now¡ª


    His words, "Act for yourself rather than others," had shaken her.


    And then she remembered. The Righteous Dao does not allow such beliefs. She could care about Su Xiaobai more than herself¡ªBut the moment she prioritized herself over others¡­


    Her cultivation would stagnate.


    And so¡ª


    Whoooosh!


    Su Xiaobai''s thoughts shattered.


    The White Jade Sword¡ªleft on the side¡ªshivered violently.


    As if something was trying to break free.


    "Who?!"


    A mist-like figure emerged, drifting elegantly in the dark.


    A stunning woman, green hair cascading down her back, emerald eyes shimmering like polished gems.


    Her hands gripped the jade sword¡ª


    And then she swung.


    A perfect arc of sword qi sliced through the sky.


    BANNG!


    The clouds split apart....Lightning crashed.


    And then¡ª


    The sky turned violet.


    Crackling, furious lightning illuminated the heavens.


    Tap¡­ tap¡­


    One raindrop.


    Two.


    And then¡ª


    Thousands.


    The heavens split open.

 Chapter 202 - 202: *Dao of Depth: Attained Enlightenment!* [R18]

    The heavens split open.


    A endless downpour flooded the land.


    The rain crashed down, soaking the entire sect, drenching everything in sight.


    The dense downpour blurred visibility past ten meters...Even the rooftop tiles became slick with water. Su Xiaobai felt the cool droplets running down his face, dripping from his hair.


    A few drops slid down Bai Yujian''s parted lips.


    Her throat moved slightly.


    She swallowed.


    "Yingying, you¡ª"


    Bai Yujian''s voice trembled.


    The floating woman¡ªher sword spirit¡ª


    Had just betrayed her.


    The spirit flickered, then shrank¡ªUntil she stood at a perfect, 1.7-meter-tall height.


    Su Xiaobai''s gaze snapped down.


    His eyes widened.


    Armor covered her curvaceous figure, barely restraining the massive, perfect breasts beneath.


    Even as rain drenched his face¡ª


    He couldn''t stop staring.


    A sword spirit with tits.


    He had fucking won.


    Then¡ª


    His eyes lowered further.


    Her long, pale legs stretched into the rain.


    At her ankles¡ª


    A pair of small bells, strapped with thin silver chains.


    When she moved¡ª


    "Jing~Jing~"


    Soft. Hypnotic. Seductive.


    A gentle chime rang out.


    Su Xiaobai''s brain short-circuited.


    Wait. Wait.


    Did he just develop a foot fetish?!


    What the fuck?!


    For a brief, unhinged moment¡ª Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He imagined this woman doing a slow, sexy strip dance¡ªHer hips swaying, her bells chiming with every deliberate step.


    His throat went dry.


    Then¡ª


    The illusion shattered.


    Yingying moved.


    She grabbed Bai Yujian''s shoulders firmly.


    She pinned her down.


    "..."


    Bai Yujian''s face darkened.


    Her eyes shook.


    Then¡ª


    She spoke.


    "You two¡­ Traitors."


    Her voice was hollow.


    Completely, utterly drained of emotion.


    Yingying smiled sweetly.


    "Little brother, you continue. I''ll hold her down."


    Su Xiaobai almost fell off the rooftop.


    EXCUSE ME?!


    Even as the rain poured around them, Bai Yujian''s face burned bright red...Her entire world was collapsing. Her own sword spirit just tied her to the bed (metaphorically) and handed her to the wolf.


    Yingying tilted her head innocently, smiling. Her long, wet hair stuck to her pale skin, her eyes sparkling.


    "You won''t disappoint this sister, will you?"


    She winked.


    Bai Yujian''s fists clenched.


    Her lips trembled.


    She had fought countless enemies.


    Severed ties, friendships, emotions.


    But now¡ª


    For the first time in her entire goddamn life¡ª


    She was completely powerless.


    A helpless rabbit pinned under two wolves.


    Her Dao Heart cracked violently.


    And in that moment¡ª


    Even she knew.


    The Sword Fairy was about to completely fucking collapse....From anger.


    Fortunately¡ª


    Her eyes darted around, scanning the surroundings. The rain fell so heavily, so thick, tt blurred everything past ten meters. They were completely cloaked by the storm.


    Maybe...Maybe...


    No one would hear. No one would see. Her reputation as the master could still remain intact.


    For now.


    "Sister, what''s your name?"


    Su Xiaobai turned to Yingying, staring at her flawless, mischievous face. His mind was still struggling to comprehend¡ªHow did Bai Yujian, a woman practically worshipped as a saint, end up with a sword spirit that acted like a devil?


    Yingying''s eyes traced his face, down toward his legs. She misunderstood. She thought he was staring at her thighs.


    And so¡ª


    She smiled, her voice honeyed and sinful.


    "Why? Does Little Brother also want to open my Eight Extremes of the Jade Gate?"


    Su Xiaobai''s face twitched.


    Hiss~


    What a filthy sword spirit.


    Meanwhile, Bai Yujian looked stoically angry, as if she and Yingying were total strangers.


    No way. She doesn''t take Yingying out often, because she knows exactly what kind of character she has.


    This woman is absolutely filthy.


    That''s why¡ª


    Su Xiaobai''s jokes didn''t have the extreme effect on Bai Yujian that he expected. She was already used to hearing the most unhinged degeneracy every single day.


    Su Xiaobai, who had originally been thrilled at the idea of sleeping with two fairies tonight, suddenly remembered something. What if she''s not actually a sword spirit?


    His golden dragon eyes flared to life, scanning through Yingying''s body.


    Then¡ª


    He froze.


    And immediately looked away, shaking his head violently.In that moment, he truly comprehended the vastness of Heaven and Earth.


    He turned back to Bai Yujian, deciding to ignore whatever nightmare discovery he just had. His hands reached for the edge of her robe, which had already pooled around her waist, soaked and stuck to her skin.


    With one smooth motion¡ª


    He pulled it down.


    The fabric slid over her hips¡ª


    Then stopped.


    Her wide hips, perfectly made for sowing his children, obstructed him for a second.


    But then¡ª


    The robe slipped past effortlessly, revealing a trembling, helpless, utterly humiliated maiden beneath.


    Her thighs were pressed tightly together, sealing off the last hidden secret of her body.


    But even then¡ª


    Su Xiaobai could see the faint abyss between them.


    The only abyss he was willing to get lost in.


    He smiled.


    "Disciple, if you don''t open your legs, how could we learn the Dao of Depth?"


    "!!"


    Bai Yujian''s eyes clenched shut.She bit her lip hard, her breath shaky. She knew. She knew this wouldn''t end until she obeyed.


    But¡ª


    Before she could make a decision¡ª


    Su Xiaobai grabbed her feet.


    And then¡ª


    "PFTTT¡ª!! S-Stop¡ª Su-Su¡ªXIAOBAI!!"


    Bai Yujian nearly choked on the rain as she spluttered in shock. Her eyes flew open, face twisted in absolute disbelief. What kind of attack was this?!


    She was expecting something filthy¡ª


    Not¡ª


    TICKLING?!


    Su Xiaobai grinned.


    "What stop? Call me Master, and I''ll consider."


    "YOU¡ª!"


    Bai Yujian''s face burned bright red like a ripe peach. She shot him a glare so sharp it could have severed a mountain.


    But unfortunately¡ª


    She was already lying naked beneath him. At this point, her death stares had zero fucking effect. Su Xiaobai wiggled his fingers threateningly, ready to strike again.


    Her legs tensed.


    And then¡ª


    "...M-Master!!"


    Su Xiaobai blinked.


    "...Huh? I didn''t hear it. Say it louder."


    Bai Yujian''s entire soul left her body. Her hands clenched into fists, nails digging into her palms. She glared at Yingying, silently begging her to let her go.


    Yingying smiled like a fox. She tilted her head, voice filled with fake innocence. "Little Brother, why just Master? I think she wants to call you Daddy Husband~"


    "..."


    Bai Yujian realized she was trapped between two absolute filthy monsters. There was no escape. She sucked in a deep breath, forcing down every last ounce of her pride.


    Then¡ª


    "Master... can you stop messing around?"


    Her voice trembled slightly, her face half-hidden beneath the shadows of her soaked hair.


    But Su Xiaobai¡ª


    Didn''t give a fuck.


    Instead¡ª


    He grabbed her smooth, trembling thighs¡ª


    And bit them.


    "Nnngh¡ª!"


    Her toes curled, her legs tensed.


    She had to swallow this insult.


    She had to bear this humiliation.


    Su Xiaobai licked his lips.


    "Then spread your legs obediently."


    Bai Yujian shuddered, unable to meet his eyes.


    But¡ª


    Her knees, which were held tightly together¡ª


    Began to tremble.


    Then¡ª


    They slowly, hesitantly parted.


    And in that moment¡ª


    Su Xiaobai saw it.


    His mind erupted. His soul ascended.


    His understanding of the Dao of Depth reached enlightenment.

 Chapter 203 - 203: **The Eight Extremes of the Jade Gate** [R18]

    Even in the heavy rainfall, on the roof of the villa, no one could have imagined...the legendary Sword Fairy¡ªthe pride of the Righteous Dao...was lying naked.


    Her forbidden flower spread open.


    Her body trembling under the hands of her own disciple.


    Su Xiaobai was very meticulous.


    His sharp eyes roamed over the sacred flower between her trembling legs, taking in every detail.


    Two beautiful pink flaps, made of baby-like skin¡ªsoft, delicate, and trembling slightly under the cold rain.


    His fingers traced over them slowly, teasing the edges, before finally reaching the slit in the middle...the quivering, wet red flesh hidden between them.


    Then¡ª


    With both hands¡ª


    He gently pulled the petals apart.


    And the hidden valley was revealed.


    A small, clenching red entrance, glistening with Yin Qi.


    Above it¡ª


    A tiny, delicate pee hole¡ª


    Completely useless for cultivators above the Qi Refining Realm, since they could fully digest food and water.


    But still¡ª


    Beautiful.


    Su Xiaobai''s finger flicked it playfully.


    "Ah..." Bai Yujian''s entire body jerked violently, and her voice trembled. "D-Don''t touch there..."


    Her face turned scarlet.


    The Sword Fairy had never been more willing to accept death than today.


    Then¡ª


    His fingers pulled her supple buttocks further apart, sinking into her soft flesh and leaving red marks.


    Revealing the clenching pink butthole below.


    A second sacred entrance.


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes gleamed with enlightenment.


    "The Eight Extremes of the Jade Gate¡­"


    He whispered, as if he had just unlocked the secrets of the universe.


    Bai Yujian froze.


    "The¡­ what?!"


    Su Xiaobai licked his lips.


    "The Eight Paths of Cultivation. The Eight Sacred Trials. The Eight Forbidden Extremes¡­"


    "Only by mastering all eight can a man truly comprehend the Dao of Depth."


    Bai Yujian felt her soul leave her body.


    This was not a technique.


    This was NOT a Dao.


    This was bullshit.


    But¡ª


    Before she could refute it¡ª


    Su Xiaobai smirked.


    "Let''s begin."


    ____


    The First Extreme¡ªTracing the Petals!


    His fingers slowly glided along the soft outer lips of her sacred cave, teasing, brushing, stroking.


    Each time¡ªher thighs twitched slightly, reacting to the ghostly touch.


    "Hnn¡­!" Bai Yujian bit her lip hard. She was already losing control....But this was just the beginning.


    Each touch sent an involuntary shiver through her thighs. Her eyebrow twitched violently. "Su Xiaobai, don''t play¡ª!!" She clenched her teeth, her hands gripping the rooftop tiles, trying to focus.


    She was a master.


    She would not be defeated by some petty, childish finger tricks!


    Then¡ª


    His fingers stroked a little deeper...Her breath fastened slightly. She immediately held it in.


    Su Xiaobai smirked.


    "Disicple¡­ your legs are shaking."


    Bai Yujian''s face burned...She wanted to deny it. But she couldn''t. Because her legs were, in fact, trembling like a mortal in front of a Celestial Emperor.


    _____


    The Second Extreme¡ªOpening the Hidden Gate!


    Su Xiaobai''s thumb and forefinger gently pinched the trembling lips of her sacred flower¡ª


    And spread them apart completely.


    The glossy sweet red flesh inside twitched violently.


    Bai Yujian''s eyes squeezed shut, her fingers curled.


    "Hnnnngh¡­!"


    Su Xiaobai tilted his head.


    "Why are you squeezing your thighs together? You should be helping your master, not resisting."


    Bai Yujian wanted to slap him.


    "Go help yourself¡ª!"


    Then¡ª


    He flicked his tongue against the exposed flesh.


    Her entire body JOLTED.


    "¡ªAh!"


    She immediately covered her mouth.


    Su Xiaobai laughed.


    "Bai''er, you can''t silence yourself. A true disciple must be honest with their reactions."


    Bai Yujian''s breath came out ragged.


    She looked away, furious.


    "This isn''t training..."


    Su Xiaobai grinned.


    "Training or not, you''re still learning something new, aren''t you?"


    The next minute, Bai Yujian''s moans grew harder and louder, her voice filled with intoxicating sweetness.


    Even Yingying''s face flushed, her breath quickened as the seductive sounds echoed through the endless rain.


    She couldn''t believe it¡ªSu Xiaobai had actually done it.


    "Nnngh¡­!"


    At that moment, Bai Yujian no longer cared about anyone''s opinions. Shame, restraint¡ªnone of it mattered anymore.


    Because¡­ she was soaked.


    And the rain had nothing to do with it.


    ____


    The Third Extreme¡ªLicking the Lotus!


    Before she could recover¡ª


    Su Xiaobai leaned in¡ª


    And buried his tongue inside.


    "Hh¡ªAHH!!"


    Bai Yujian jerked violently, nearly choking on her breath.


    Her back arched.


    Her entire body tensed as a wet, sloppy sound echoed through the storm.


    Slurp... Slurp..


    His tongue swirled inside, drinking the Yin Qi straight from the source.


    Bai Yujian''s breath shattered.


    She had never felt something this obscene.


    ______


    The Fourth Extreme¡ªSucking the Sacred Spring!


    Su Xiaobai sealed his lips around the entrance¡ª


    And sucked.


    Hard.


    "Nn¡ªAHH! S-Stop!!"


    Bai Yujian''s legs jerked involuntarily, body trembling uncontrollably. It felt like he was trying to drink her soul straight from her body.


    Her legs KICKED OUT on reflex.


    If Su Xiaobai hadn''t locked them down, she would''ve sent him flying off the rooftop.


    Her mouth opened¡ªThen closed. Then opened again. Then closed.


    She glared at him.


    "You... Filthy...man..."


    Su Xiaobai licked his lips.


    "Mmn¡­ delicious."


    Bai Yujian wanted to pass away.


    ___


    The Fifth Extreme¡ªPlaying with the Forbidden Bell!


    He pressed his tongue against the tiny, swollen pearl hidden above.


    And flicked.


    Fast.


    Her entire body locked up.


    Eyes squeezed shut. Thighs squeezed around his head.


    "H-Haaaah¡ª!!"


    She couldn''t even think anymore. Her face turned a deeper shade of red. Her mind went blank.


    "Aah~!!"


    Then immediately slapped her hand over her mouth.


    She wanted to teleport to another dimension.


    Su Xiaobai laughed into her skin.


    "Bai''er, your voice is really cute."


    Bai Yujian wanted to murder him. Sweet? Sweet like her fist? Want to take a bite. Haa¡­ Someone, please save her before she loses all restraint.


    ____


    The Sixth Extreme¡ªThe Forbidden Path of No Return!


    His fingers slipped lower.


    Towards the second sacred entrance.


    The tiny, trembling pink hole hidden beneath.


    Bai Yujian''s eyes widened in absolute horror.


    "Wait¡ªthat''s-UGH! YOU¡ª!!"


    It was too late.


    His finger pressed in slightly¡ª


    And rubbed.


    A shocking jolt of electricity ran up her spine.


    Her fingers clawed at the ground, her breath completely stolen.


    "Nnnghh¡­!"


    Her toes curled.


    She was completely losing her mind.


    _____


    The Seventh Extreme¡ªEntering the Forbidden Palace!


    Su Xiaobai grabbed both of her trembling thighs.


    And then¡ª


    His tongue pressed inside again.


    Deeper.


    Bai Yujian couldn''t even resist anymore.


    Her head fell back.


    Her breath escaped in a trembling, broken moan.


    She was gone.


    Completely gone.


    Slurp... Slurp...


    **Slurp... Slurp...**


    Bai Yujian kept moaning, lost in the pleasure, unaware of how much time had passed.


    Su Xiaobai continued licking her, savoring the taste¡ªwho would have thought immortal women could be this delicious?


    But as her loud, seductive moans sent shivers down his spine, he finally understood why she had been so adamant about not doing it in the open and insisted on hiding inside the room¡ªshe was really loud.


    Even Yingying, just from listening to her moans, felt heat creeping up her body.


    Her face flushed red as she bit her lip unconsciously, trying to suppress the strange sensations stirring within her core.


    _____


    The Eighth Extreme¡ªThe True Dao of Depth!


    Finally¡ª


    Su Xiaobai lifted his head.


    His lips glistened, his eyes darkened with raw hunger.


    His fingers spread her apart completely¡ª


    Revealing the clenching, soaked entrance, her inner hole already slick with his saliva, throbbing in anticipation, as if it wanted to suck him in.


    It was the most inviting sight.


    And Su Xiaobai got rock fucking hard just looking at it.


    His breath froze slightly, his blood roaring.


    But he suppressed his excitement.


    Slowly¡ªhe began undressing.


    Bai Yujian lay there, just breathing heavily.


    "Huff... Huff..."


    Her chest rose and fell, her body still tingling from the earlier extremes.


    She was exhausted.


    And now¡ª


    She watched him undress. What could she even do? She wanted to stop him. Wanted to save herself for later, when she could give him greater benefits.


    But¡ªWith these two lunatics holding her down, it wasn''t her fault.


    Su Xiaobai laughed softly.


    Then¡ª S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He teased her.


    "Master, any last wishes?"


    Finally¡ª


    He called her ''Master'' again, just to mock her.


    Bai Yujian rolled her eyes.


    As he completely undressed¡ª


    Her eyes flickered downward. Her gaze drifted to his chest...then lower... lower... to the ten-inch beast throbbing between his legs.


    Her breath stopped.


    Her entire body flushed.


    A flood of memories hit her¡ª


    That day at the hot springs.


    That moment when she accidentally inspected his thing.


    Back then, she was just... curious. Now, It was right in front of her again. And this time...It was pointing straight at her.


    Su Xiaobai noticed her stare.


    And he smirked.


    "You want to touch it?"


    Bai Yujian sucked in a sharp breath. Her head shook instinctively. But, her red face and guilty eyes completely betrayed her.


    Su Xiaobai laughed.


    "Tsk. Liar."


    Then¡ª


    He moved forward, settling onto her waist, grabbing her slender hand, and placing it directly on his chest. Her fingertips brushed over his firm, sculpted muscles.


    Then¡ª


    He grabbed her other hand, and placed it on his length. Bai Yujian suddenly forgot how to breathe. Her fingers twitched slightly.


    The searing heat pulsed under her palm. Her fingers, delicate and soft, unconsciously wrapped around it.


    Slowly¡ª


    Her hand moved.


    Up¡ª


    Down¡ª


    Feeling the veins, the ridges, the sheer hardness of it.


    A man''s body...


    She had never touched one before.


    And now¡ª


    She was stroking one.


    A very large one.


    Her throat went dry.


    Then¡ª


    Her eyebrows furrowed.


    Wait.


    Wasn''t there¡ª


    Another function for this thing?

 Chapter 204 - 204: **Dao of Depth!** [R18]

    Wasn''t there....another function for this thing?


    She squinted slightly.


    Then, with a completely pure, scholarly curiosity...She gently pulled the foreskin back...And revealed the sensitive tip.


    Her eyes widened. Her throat bobbed. She gulped instinctively.


    Su Xiaobai saw her face. And he almost came right then and there, fuck...this woman was too dangerous.


    Her wide, fascinated eyes, the slightly parted lips, the soft breathing...He was going to explode.


    "Tsk."


    He snatched himself away from her grasp.


    Bai Yujian blinked, then glared at him.


    "You-I-I was still inspecting it!"


    Her lips were almost pressed into a pout, despite her shame.


    Su Xiaobai almost choked....This wasn''t a goddamn weapon! It wasn''t something to be ''inspected'' like a fucking sword technique!


    "Tch. Enough inspection. Time for hands-on learning." Then, he shifted, positioning himself over her, their bodies aligning.


    Her legs were still parted slightly.


    It was all too easy to slide between them. His shaft pressed against her entrance, teasing her swollen, soaked petals.


    Bai Yujian''s breath fastened.


    Their eyes met.


    Then¡ª


    Su Xiaobai leaned in.


    And kissed her lips.


    Soft. Teasing.


    She blinked.


    A rain droplet slid down, tracing along her cheek... between her parted lips. A single drop of cold rain... before his warm tongue entered her mouth.


    And Bai Yujian¡ª


    Completely surrendered.


    "Ah..."


    Bai Yujian''s face twisted in a rare expression of pain.


    His tip, as thick as four of her delicate fingers put together, stretched her open.


    Inside¡ª


    She was already searing hot.


    And now¡ª


    With his entrance¡ª


    The heat only grew, her walls trembling violently, clenching, desperate, as if trying to reject him and suck him in at the same time.


    Her neck arched back, but Su Xiaobai didn''t let go¡ª


    His lips captured hers again, his tongue plunging into her sweet mouth, swallowing her soft moans.


    His hands kneaded her supple, perfect chest, fingers rolling and twisting her stiff, sensitive nipples.


    And finally¡ª


    The tip was in.


    Wrapped in a suffocating, wet heat.


    Tighter than anything he had ever felt before.


    But¡ª


    There was still one last barrier.


    A thin wall blocking his path. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A wall made of pure, untouched Primordial Qi.


    The final seal.


    The last line between a virgin and a woman.


    Then¡ª


    Bai Yujian''s fingers clenched tightly.


    And in one smooth, merciless thrust¡ª


    Su Xiaobai broke through.


    "Ugh¡ª!"


    Her eyes widened.


    A sharp pain surged through her body.


    Two silent, involuntary tears slipped from her closed eyes.


    For a woman in this world¡ª


    She had to willingly lower her defenses for her first time.


    She had to feel the pain, like a mortal.


    Otherwise¡ª


    A man''s body would never be able to enter.


    This was the most vulnerable state she had ever been in.


    If Su Xiaobai wanted to¡ª


    He could slit her throat right now¡ª


    And she wouldn''t even be able to resist.


    But instead¡ª


    His beast was already inside her.


    Her walls convulsed, squeezing and twitching around him, as if unsure whether to pull him deeper or push him out.


    And Su Xiaobai¡ª


    Moved.


    Slowly.


    Carefully.


    Her arms wrapped around his shoulders, her legs locked around his waist.


    The rain poured down harder.


    And then¡ª


    Her expression changed.


    The sadness in her eyes deepened.


    She stared blankly at the dark, endless sky above.


    Then¡ª


    In an emotionless voice¡ª


    She spoke.


    "Go¡­ harder."


    Su Xiaobai froze.


    "...Huh?"


    He looked down at her, startled. Her face was completely blank. Her eyes, empty. She wasn''t even looking at him. She wasn''t even present.


    She was staring at the sky.


    Silent. Unmoving... Like a fallen immortal who had abandoned all worldly attachments.


    A woman who had finally accepted her fate.


    And yet, her face remained cold.


    Distant... Like a ghost lost in time.


    And something about that¡ª


    Made his blood boil. His hands tightened on her hips, his fingers digging into her soft flesh. He gritted his teeth.


    His body moved, and he slammed in deeper.


    "Ugh¡ª!"


    Her body shuddered. But her expression didn''t change. She blinked slowly, the rain dripping from her lashes.


    Then¡ª


    She breathed out.


    "More."


    Su Xiaobai''s jaw clenched.


    "Tch."


    More? She was serious.


    He could feel it. Something was slipping.


    Something inside her was tearing apart.


    And he was the one tearing it apart. The Yin Qi surged into him, flooding his body, threatening to break him down and rebuild him entirely.


    He gritted his teeth, resisting the rush of power, his muscles tightening¡ª


    And then he lost control. His hips slammed against hers, the wet slaps of flesh-on-flesh drowned out by the storm. Her legs locked him in tighter, her thighs pressing against his sides, her hands gripping his back.


    Her nails dug into his skin.


    And then¡ª


    For the first time¡ª


    She made a sound.


    A sharp, strangled gasp. Her breath fastened violently, her fingers tightening around him, as if grounding herself in reality.


    Su Xiaobai opened his eyes.


    He looked down¡ª


    And froze.


    She was crying.


    Not from pain. Not from pleasure. Not from him. She was just¡­ crying.


    And he had no idea why. His thrusts faltered for a moment.


    "Bai''er¡­?"


    Her eyes snapped open.


    She looked at him, and for the first time...She was present.


    The blankness faded. The emptiness cracked.


    And in its place¡ª


    A storm. Something wild. Something frantic. Something desperate.


    "Mghhhhh..."


    Her arms pulled him down, her lips crashing against his, her tongue invading his mouth, her body pressing against him like she wanted to be consumed entirely.


    Su Xiaobai''s mind spun. She was taking control. She was hugging him¡ªLike she was grasping to something slipping through her fingers.


    And he had no choice but to give her what she wanted.


    His hips slammed forward, his grip tightening on her waist, his lips devouring hers, the rain cascading around them, sealing them in their own world.


    She moaned into his mouth, her legs trembling, her body convulsing against his¡ª


    And then...She tore her mouth away.


    Her head fell back, exposing her throat, her chest rising and falling in sharp, desperate gasps.


    She was drowning. Drowning in the rain. Drowning in him.


    And she never wanted to come up for air.


    Her actions stimulated Su Xiaobai as well.


    He didn''t have time to think.


    Didn''t have time to process what just happened. Didn''t have time to question why she was suddenly so desperate, so wild, so lost.


    He could only move.


    Could only continue.


    Pak!


    Pak! Pak! Pak!


    The slap of wet flesh echoed through the storm, lost beneath the roar of the falling rain.


    Bai Yujian''s head snapped back, her soaked black hair stuck to her flushed skin, her swollen lips parting¡ª


    "Ahh¡ª! Ahh¡ª! Hahh¡ª! Su Xiaobai¡ª!"


    Her voice cracked, breathless, hoarse, broken into gasping moans. She was losing herself completely. His hips slammed forward, harder, faster, every thrust deep, punishing, intense¡ª


    And she welcomed it.


    Her nails raked across his back, her thighs trembling violently around his waist, her body seizing up, locking him in tighter.


    "More¡ª! Ahhh! More¡ª!"


    Su Xiaobai''s breath came in harsh pants, his fingers digging into her hips, keeping her in place as he drove into her over and over, stretching her completely, filling her to the deepest point.


    The heat between them was unbearable, their bodies drenched, their skin slick, her insides squeezing, sucking him in, refusing to let him leave.


    She was milking him.


    Every time he pulled back, she clenched tighter¡ª


    As if she was begging him to stay inside.


    And Su Xiaobai snapped.


    His arms wrapped around her, his body pressing against hers completely, pinning her down as he pounded into her ruthlessly.


    Pak! Pak! Pak! Pak!


    "Haaahh¡ª! Ahhh¡ª!"


    Her moans were uncontrollable now, completely shameless, her voice carrying over the rooftop, over the storm, over everything.


    Her eyes turned hazy, her mouth open, her breath stuttering with every thrust.


    And then¡ª


    She screamed.


    Her entire body convulsed, her back arching violently, her legs trembling uncontrollably, her insides clamping down on him.


    She came¡ª


    Hard.


    Violent.


    Her walls spasming, pulsing, tightening around him, milking every inch of his length.


    And Su Xiaobai¡ª


    Couldn''t hold back any longer.


    With one final, brutal thrust¡ª


    He buried himself completely, pushing as deep as he could go¡ª


    And released everything inside her.


    "Nnngh¡ª!"


    Thick. Hot. Sticky.


    His seed filled her up completely, shooting deep inside, overflowing, dripping down between her trembling thighs.


    Bai Yujian shuddered violently, her breath coming in broken gasps, her nails clawing at his back, her chest heaving.


    They stayed like that, connected, panting, the rain washing away the sweat, but not the heat between them.


    She could feel it inside her.


    Warm. Heavy. Claiming her completely.


    Su Xiaobai rested his forehead against hers, his breath mingling with hers, his hands still gripping her tightly.


    Neither of them moved. Neither of them spoke. Only the sound of the rain remained. Pouring. Cleansing. Washing away everything.


    And for the first time in five thousand years¡ª


    Sword Fairy felt alive.

 Chapter 205 - 205: White Jade Sword & Golden Bow!

    Su Xiaobai stared at her.


    His mind blank.


    Their bodies remained tangled, skin pressed against skin, but something shifted.


    He slightly pulled back, his still-throbbing hot beast slipping from her moist lubricated cave, and below him¡ª


    A mixture of red and white pooled between her soft, trembling thighs.


    Blood. Essence.


    Their bodies intertwined completely.


    And yet, the rain had stopped.


    All of it...As if the storm itself had frozen in time.


    "Huh?"


    He blinked.


    The droplets¡ª


    They stuck in the air.


    Suspended. Defying gravity. Unmoving. Perfectly still.


    Like a teardrops frozen in time.


    His own reflection flickered in one of the droplets, perfectly still before his eyes. Su Xiaobai''s gaze flickered, staring at the droplet, then at the thousands surrounding them.


    No.


    Not thousands.


    All of them.


    The entire storm had halted mid-fall.


    His chest tightened...It felt like time itself had stopped¡ª


    But no...The wind was still moving.


    This wasn''t time manipulation.


    It could only mean one thing.


    "Rain Intent?"


    Whoooosh!


    A soft breeze swept past, stirring the frozen droplets. And when he glanced down at Bai Yujian, she wasn''t looking at him.


    Her lips pressed into a thin line.


    Her fingers curled slightly, her wet hair sticking to her flushed, tear-stained face.


    Then, with one flick of her hand¡ª


    The raindrops moved.


    But not down.


    Up.


    Su Xiaobai''s mind went blank.


    Whoooosh!


    The wind howled as the sky above them trembled.


    The rain¡ª


    She was controlling it.


    Su Xiaobai was speechless.


    He had seen countless martial arts, countless Dao paths, countless techniques of sword and Qi....But never in his life had he heard of someone comprehending the Dao of Rain.


    Not once. Not ever.


    And yet¡ª


    The woman beneath him, who just spent an entire night moaning under him, crying in his arms, screaming his name...was capable of this?


    Su Xiaobai''s lips parted.


    He realized something.He didn''t know her at all. He had always assumed she was nothing more than a Sword Cultivator¡ª


    That she lived and breathed nothing but the blade.


    But now, she was literally bending the heavens to her will.


    The realization was like a slap to the face.


    A reminder.


    She was not a simple woman.


    She had a past.


    She had a story.


    A woman with depths even he couldn''t begin to understand. And it was one that he had never asked about.


    Yingying had long disappeared, slinking back into the sword like a lurking spirit, her presence fading into the shadows.


    "...Should I release it?"


    Her voice was soft.


    Su Xiaobai blinked, snapping out of his thoughts.


    "...Huh?"


    Then, it hit him.


    She wasn''t talking about the rain.


    She was talking about the Yin Essence inside her. The essence that should have already flooded into him, drowning him in power¡ª


    But instead, it hadn''t moved.


    She was holding it back.


    Suppressing it.


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes squinted.


    This¡­This was beyond anything he had expected. Even Zhu Qing wasn''t able to do this...Or was she? Wasn''t it supposed to be automatic? Was Bai Yujian''s control over her own body this terrifying?


    His eyes narrowed.


    The trick of drugging women, stealing their Primordial Yin, absorbing their life force to become immortal...It would never work on someone like her.


    Bai Yujian was suppressing it. Holding it back. Controlling it with terrifying precision.


    It was at that moment¡ªwhen faced with such impossible mastery¡ªthat Su Xiaobai had an epiphany.


    Could he¡­ refine this process?


    A new technique formed in his mind.


    An absurd, grand, heaven-defying technique that no man had ever conceived before. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Nine Cycles of Heavenly Duality Absorption Art.


    [Note: Su Xiaobai just made this up on the spot.]


    This naked Sword Fairy in front of him¡ªwasn''t she just a goddamn genius?!


    And for some reason...that made him want to dominate her even more.


    "Turn around," he said, his voice hoarse.


    Bai Yujian blinked.


    "Hm?"


    "Turn around and lie on your front."


    Her expression flickered.


    More calm now, though her eyes were still faintly red.


    Su Xiaobai gritted his teeth, glaring down at her.


    "Woman, you tortured me, and now you want to avoid responsibility?"


    His lips parted slightly.


    "Now be a good wife¡ª


    And turn around."


    Bai Yujian opened her mouth, but before she could speak¡ª


    Slap!


    "Ahhh..!"


    She let out a rare, startled gasp as his hand struck her round, perky ass.


    The flesh jiggled, rippling, the sound echoing through the silent villa.


    Su Xiaobai smirked.


    "What Sword Fairy?" he muttered. "This is a hungry ghost who could suck a lesser man dry."


    "Vulgur..." Bai Yujian gritted her teeth. Her cheeks flushed faintly, subtle guilt flickering in her expression...But she moved.


    "Mmmm~~!"


    Obediently turned over, lowering herself onto her hands and knees, her round, perfect ass lifted in the air.


    Whether intentional or not¡ª


    Her hips gave the slightest little wiggle.


    As if teasing him.


    Su Xiaobai''s eye twitched.


    His very soul trembled.


    That little motion¡ªsubtle, barely even noticeable¡ªhad sent a ripple through his soul itself.


    A slight wiggle. A mere shift of her hips.


    And yet, the moment it happened, Su Xiaobai felt something dangerous stir within him.


    No. Impossible.


    His eyes widened. His throat went dry. His heart pounded like a war drum in the middle of a heavenly tribulation.


    Could it be¡­?


    The Heavenly Temptress Nine-Tailed Fox Art?!


    A lost technique said to have been sealed away in the forbidden archives of the Immortal Temptress Pavilion, its existence only whispered in ancient texts. A technique so powerful that entire sects had perished after mere glimpses of it¡ªmonks abandoning their lifelong vows, saints forsaking their enlightenment, emperors kneeling in submission before the mere sway of a woman''s hips.


    [Note: He literally just made this up, again!]


    No! That was just a myth! A legend!


    And yet¡ª


    Why¡­ why did his soul feel like it was being sucked into those hips?!


    His Dao Heart wavered. His mental fortress, reinforced by countless battles, cracked.


    This woman¡­ was too dangerous!


    Then¡ª


    His hands grabbed her waist.


    And all thoughts of philosophy were pounded out of her mind.


    Slap!


    "Ahh!?"


    Another spank.


    Another tremble.


    She turned her head slightly, shooting him a half-hearted shy glare.


    But he didn''t care.


    The Sword Fairy''s image had already collapsed.


    Now¡ª


    She was his.


    And he was about to remind her exactly who was in charge. And as he grabbed her hips, his length sliding back inside her tight, dripping heat¡ª


    Without hesitation¡ª


    He plunged back inside.


    "Mmm..." Bai Yujian let out a startled gasp as his palm met her perfect, round flesh.


    The ripple spread...Like the aftershock of a celestial explosion, the shockwave of softness traveled up his arm, sending an electric shiver down his spine.


    Too terrifying¡­


    Su Xiaobai clenched his fists. He had to act fast! If he allowed her to regain control, if she executed another technique from the Heavenly Temptress Dao, he might truly lose himself!


    He tightened his grip on her waist.


    "This is your punishment," he growled, as if disciplining an unruly disciple.


    Bai Yujian blinked.


    Then¡ª


    Her hips wiggled again.


    Su Xiaobai''s mind went blank.


    "¡ªFuck."


    He was doomed.


    _____


    Outside the Villa¡ª


    The sky above the sect flickered.


    Clouds churned. Sunlight wavered. Yin and Yang energy fluctuated chaotically.


    Deep within the core of the sect, the Peak Lord Han''s eyes snapped open from meditation.


    "Strange¡­" he muttered. "Why do I feel as though the heavens are¡­ changing?"


    On another peak, the Sect Master Zhao Tianxuan frowned, gazing at the horizon.


    "This¡­ this is the fluctuation of a Dao breakthrough!"


    The disciples stared at the sky in awe as storm clouds gathered and then dissipated in an endless cycle, as if the heavens themselves were hesitating.


    "What''s happening?!"


    "Is this¡­ the birth of a new Divine Physique?"


    "Or¡­ or is it a new Forbidden Dao?!"


    One particularly terrified inner disciple trembled.


    "C-Could it be¡­ that a Heavenly Tribulation is descending upon our sect!?"


    From within the villa, a muffled moan echoed.


    The entire sect shuddered.


    The sky darkened.


    Then lightened.


    Then darkened again.


    Then lightened.


    For seven days straight....


    The sect saw no sign of their revered Peak Lord, Bai Yujian.


    Nor did they see their walking calamity, Su Xiaobai.


    The sect assumed they were in secluded training.


    The official excuse? Closed-door cultivation.


    The reality? A closed-door massacre.


    None of them could have imagined the true battle that was waged behind those locked doors


    The sheets were soaked.


    The furniture was ruined.


    The floor was a warzone.


    The walls had suspiciously deep handprints.


    Bai Yujian, the respected Peak Lord of Sword Peak, was on all fours, on her back, on her side, bent over the bed, pressed against the window, sprawled over the floor¡ª


    She was everywhere.


    And Su Xiaobai?


    The madman didn''t stop.


    Only one person knew the truth.


    ____


    Outside, beneath the moonlit sky¡ª


    A certain little troublemaker was sitting leisurely, watching the stars.


    Yingying.


    The Immortal Sword Spirit.


    She could still hear faint, muffled sounds coming from inside.


    She smirked.


    "Looks like they''re still at it."


    She stretched lazily, her long, pale legs glistening under the night sky, the small bells tied around her ankles chiming softly.


    As Bai Yujian''s sword spirit, she shouldn''t have interfered.


    She shouldn''t have pushed her master into Su Xiaobai''s arms.


    But¡ª


    She wasn''t just any sword spirit.


    She was an Immortal Sword Spirit.


    A being that couldn''t die.


    Not by blade. Not by time. Not even by the Samsara Wheel itself. Even if someone shattered her into a thousand pieces¡ªShe would simply reform.


    This power came with privileges.


    Unlike other sword spirits, she wasn''t bound to her blade.


    She wasn''t even bound to her master.


    She could defy both.


    That was why, after Yue''er and Tian Yu fell, no one had been able to wield the White Jade Sword for all eternity.


    Because of her.


    And yet¡ª


    When she saw Su Xiaobai that day, holding the Celestial Inscriber in his hands¡ª


    She knew.


    She knew Bai Yujian''s fate had already been sealed.


    "Little girl, don''t blame me..." she whispered, her voice carrying into the night.


    "You two were destined."


    With a soft sigh, she closed her eyes, her figure shrinking down to the size of a small wisp of light.


    She floated through the open window¡ª


    And vanished back into the sword.


    ___


    But before she disappeared completely¡ª


    She left behind a single thought.


    If Su Xiaobai truly inherited the Celestial Inscriber...


    Then what about the Golden Bow?


    The legendary weapon of Emperor Tian Yu.


    The one weapon that could decide the fate of the world itself.

 Chapter 206 - 206: My Nascent Soul is a Useless Baby and My Girlfriend is a Walking Nuclear Bomb!

    The White Jade Sword.


    A blade carved by Yue''er herself, a gift from wife to husband...a weapon so pure, so refined, that it defied time itself.


    And yet...the true power of the sword never lay within its craftsmanship.


    It lay within the one who resided inside it.


    Yingying.


    The Immortal Sword Spirit.


    She had been dormant for thousands of years, weakened, her strength lost.


    And yet...Even in her weakened state.


    She didn''t allow anyone to wield the sword.


    For generations, cultivators tried to claim it.


    For centuries, masters tried to subdue it.


    But none succeeded.


    Until Bai Yujian.


    A child drenched in blood, lost in tragedy, grasping onto the sword in desperation.


    A girl who should''ve been too weak.


    And yet¡ª


    The moment she held the blade, the dormant soul within it reawakened.


    She nurtured it.


    She fed it her Qi.


    And the White Jade Sword once again became a force to be reckoned with.


    If Bai Yujian became a Sword Saint¡ª


    Then even the strongest of empires would tremble beneath her blade.


    But¡ª


    The White Jade Sword was never meant to exist alone.


    The Golden Bow.


    Forged from the strings of the heavens itself.


    A weapon so terrifying that even the most powerful beings feared it. Unlike the White Jade Sword, which could cut through fate itself...the Golden Bow could rewrite it.


    A single pull of its string, a single strike, and an entire continent would cease to exist.


    And she knew the Emperor''s last words.


    Two weapons¡ªMeant to be wielded together.


    Even Yingying had never seen it with her own eyes.


    But she knew of its legend.


    The White Jade Sword and the Golden Bow.


    Alone, each could topple nations.


    But combined¡ª


    They could erase the entire Immortal Rain Valley in a single strike.


    ___


    That was why Yingying couldn''t let it fall into the wrong hands.


    She didn''t care who tried to claim it.


    She didn''t care how many empires sought its power.


    As long as Su Xiaobai had one, and Bai Yujian had the other¡ª


    The balance would remain.


    ___


    Inside Su Xiaobai''s Spirit Sea...!


    A vast, boundless ocean of misty clouds churned endlessly, stretching beyond sight. Ethereal stars floated through the air like lazy fireflies on a divine vacation.


    At the center, Su Xiaobai''s consciousness hovered¡ªlike a flaming marshmallow of destiny¡ªdrifting aimlessly over the sea.


    "...This again?" he muttered.


    He glanced downward¡ªand there it was.


    The Nascent Soul.


    Curled up like a spiritual dumpling, snoring softly, was what could only be described as a chibi Su Xiaobai. Complete with oversized eyes, a smug expression, and a teeny-tiny peachwood sword clutched in its arms.


    "This little gremlin is supposed to regulate my soul energy?" Su Xiaobai blinked. "Looks more like a useless mascot¡­"


    And yet, this adorable abomination was the core of his soul cultivation. As per ancient cultivation law:


    - Dantian = Spiritual Qi


    - Essence = Life force (i.e., the sacred coom)


    - Spirit Sea = Soul & Conciousness


    This mini-Su controlled spiritual attacks like Soul-Piercing Howl, and defensive techniques like Heavenly Soul Barrier. When he reached mid-stage, it even unlocked terrifying techniques like:


    - Soul Domain: Extend spirit sense like a gossiping auntie across ten thousand li.


    - Heart Demon Manifestation: Show your opponent their ex-girlfriend''s wedding invitation.


    - Soul Reflection Mirror: Show your enemy their worst self¡­ e.g., Liu Zhenhai crying in the shower.


    In fact, the last time Su Xiaobai used that combo on Liu Zhenhai, the guy went full breakdown mode, screaming, "I peaked at 23!! ¡ª Sword Fairy is mine!!" before yeeting himself into a graveyard.


    That was thanks to Zhu Qing, who graciously donated some of her soul energy (in bed, of course), helping him reach mid-stage Nascent Soul.


    But now¡ªdisaster!


    His Dantian was overflowing with Bai Yujian''s heavenly juice¡ªuh, essence¡ªso full it was spiritually throbbing. But his Spirit Sea was slacking off!


    He couldn''t break through to Soul Fusion Realm because this lazy chibi version of himself refused to wake up!


    "¡­"


    He hovered closer, glaring down at the little soul.


    "¡­You freeloading celestial fetus. Get your tiny ass up and cultivate!"


    He poked the Nascent Soul.


    It snored.


    He poked harder.


    It farted.


    Su Xiaobai screamed internally.


    "Little guy! Don''t make me send in another Sword Fairy to motivate you!"


    Outside, his physical body was trembling. Cracks were forming on his skin from the excessive buildup of spiritual Qi. He was going to explode. Not metaphorically. Literally. Exploding from over-cultivation via dual cultivation.


    Was he seriously about to die from too much sex?!


    "¡­No."


    He clenched his spirit-fists.


    "Su Xiaobai does not die from pussy."


    That would be too humiliating!


    "I''m not going out like some low-level harem protagonist!"


    The Nascent Soul hiccupped. Opened one sleepy eye. Looked up.


    "¡­Mommy?"


    "¡­I''M YOUR DADDY!!"


    Su Xiaobai roared, spiritual flames erupting like a pissed-off incense burner. His consciousness trembled violently in the spirit sea, and somewhere, a celestial being definitely choked on their tea.


    At that exact moment¡ª


    A soft hum echoed in the distance.


    Elegant. Ethereal. Bone-chilling.


    Bai Yujian''s voice.


    "¡­Su Xiaobai? You okay in there?"


    Salvation. Deliverance. Mommy 2.0 had arrived.


    "Ahhh¡­ Finally!" Su Xiaobai gasped, weeping spiritual tears. "Little guy, our mommy''s here! Do something cool before we both die!"


    He had boldly declared a breakthrough to Soul Fusion Realm, and five seconds later, completely forgot that his Spirit Sea needed more than just a throbbing Dantian full of overcharged coom-energy.


    And now?


    He was spiritually trapped inside his own sea of consciousness.


    Like a cultivator version of forgetting to save your game before a boss fight.


    ____


    Inside the Villa¡­


    Bai Yujian, now fully dressed in a dark, flowing robe embroidered with subtle sword motifs, stood quietly behind Su Xiaobai''s body. He sat on the edge of the bed, cross-legged, face frozen in what looked like serene meditation.


    But Bai Yujian was no fool.


    She had seen it.


    That twitch.


    That tiny, twitchy corner of his mouth.


    That wasn''t the face of a man achieving enlightenment.


    That was the face of a man spiritually stuck between "Oh no" and "I fucked up."


    After considerable hesitation¡ªand a few polite pokes (one of which made his nostril flare)¡ªshe decided something was off.


    Way off.


    Finally, she bit the bullet.


    With a deep breath, she activated a technique most cultivators wouldn''t use casually:


    True Spirit Projection.


    A shimmering wisp of divine light emerged from her body, taking on her form¡ªa tiny, spritual Bai Yujian, naked, glowing, and floating gracefully through the air like a smug koi fish with jade feet.


    Note: The True Spirit can only be formed after the Soul Fusion stage, in the "Spirit Severing Realm." It''s entirely separate from the Nascent Soul or Consciousness¡ªeach serves a different purpose. Normally, the True Spirit is used to ascend, sever mortal ties, or battle ancient beasts.


    Bai Yujian? She was using hers to check if her man had bricked himself during dual cultivation. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    _____


    Inside Su Xiaobai''s Spirit Sea¡­


    She arrived.


    Floating through the misty heavens of his spirit sea like a sensual soap bubble with murder potential.


    And then she saw it.


    "¡­What."


    What she saw was not enlightenment.


    Not ascension.


    Not some ancient immortal inheritance.


    But a tiny white flame, twitching furiously next to a sleeping chibi baby version of Su Xiaobai, whose ass was literally sticking up in the air.


    And the flame?


    Screaming.


    Silently.


    Pointing at the baby. Pointing at the sky. Pointing at her.


    It flared up. It dimmed. It spun in circles.


    Absolutely livid.


    But to Bai Yujian''s True Spirit, it was just static.


    Like watching a cat trapped in a jar trying to explain quantum physics in Morse code.


    "¡­"


    Bai Yujian blinked.


    Then narrowed her eyes.


    "¡­Is he throwing a temper tantrum in his own Spirit Sea?"


    Yes.


    Yes, he was.


    The flame began ramming itself against the baby Nascent Soul, shouting inaudible curses.


    It was like a ghost on fire trying to slap a newborn.


    She squinted.


    "¡­This man is unfit to hold my Yin Essence."


    "¡­"


    As if Su Xiaobai heard her judgment across the barrier of spiritual comprehension, the little flame that was his consciousness started violently flaring¡ªthrowing sparks like a toddler having a cosmic meltdown.


    "HUSBAND-SLAUGHTER!!"


    It raged soundlessly, vibrating with righteous indignation.


    Unfortunately, Bai Yujian couldn''t hear a single word. Consciousness was the lowest form of spiritual expression¡ªlike trying to whisper across realms with a kazoo.


    "¡­You¡­"


    Bai Yujian''s expression twitched as the little white flame zoomed up to her, wrapped its fiery arms around her perfect jade legs, and clung like a soul-level barnacle.


    She almost kicked him out of reflex¡ªalmost¡ªbut paused when he urgently pointed toward the vast, unstable spirit sea around them. Cracks shimmered in the sky like a soul realm under heavenly siege.


    "¡­Oh. So that''s what this is."


    Bai Yujian''s face turned complicated.


    Right. Before reaching Soul Fusion Realm, he needed to push his Nascent Soul to peak... but he''d completely forgotten.


    Now, thanks to her endless Yin Essence and his overstuffed Dantian, he was basically a spiritual nuke on a hair trigger.


    Whoosh!


    Her True Spirit faded instantly¡ªshe returned to the physical world.


    And then¡ª


    Tap.


    She casually touched Su Xiaobai''s forehead.


    _____


    Back inside his Spirit Sea¡ª


    FUWWWUAH!


    It began.


    Like a mortal standing on a beach and watching a soul-tsunami approach at Mach speed.


    His tiny, chubby Nascent Soul¡ªthe lazy, snoring baby¡ªsnapped its eyes open.


    Big. Round. Greedy.


    "FOOD?!"


    It lunged like a starving raccoon.


    It started slurping energy like a cultivator at a noodle stall.


    Soul Energy. Pure. Divine. Overwhelming.

 Chapter 207 - 207: How to Cultivate Your Soul Baby by Punching It to Death: A Su Xiaobai Story!

    "FOOD?!"


    The baby nascent soul lunged like a starving raccoon.


    It started slurping energy like a cultivator at a noodle stall.


    Soul Energy. Pure. Divine. Overwhelming.


    Golden light burst into the spirit sea like a divine floodgate exploding. It with delight, then greed, then horror.


    It started eating.


    It ate and ate.


    Its belly swelled like a Qi-bloated beach ball.


    But the flood didn''t stop.


    The sea expanded. Stars burst into being. Mountains of spiritual matter formed and shattered.


    And the Nascent Soul began to panic.


    "TOO MUCH!! TOO FAST!! I''M JUST A BABY!!"


    Boom!


    A second explosion rocked the sea as the energy surged again.


    Outside, Su Xiaobai''s physical body began to tremble¡ªwhispers of soul energy manifesting around him like ghostly arms.


    He''d entered Late-stage Nascent Soul.


    He could now project soul energy, form tools, summon spiritual weapons. He could face slap people with literal soul force.


    And yet¡ª


    The Nascent Soul was still being force-fed. Its ballooned belly stretched, trembling.


    Then¡ª


    "BLEEHHH!!"


    It vomited soul energy.


    Everywhere.


    And then¡ªpanic.


    The baby flailed its arms, kicked its chubby feet, and with a loud, miserable "POOF!", it fled out of Su Xiaobai''s mouth like a ghost trying to escape a tax audit.


    And just like that¡ª


    BOOM!


    Su Xiaobai broke through.


    Peak Nascent Soul Realm.


    He had reached the minimum threshold to cultivate the Rebirth Art given by Zhu Qing. A soul-body dual cultivation art that required the Nascent Soul to leave the body and still survive independently.


    The baby floated in front of Bai Yujian, gasping, sweat dripping down its chibi face.


    Then¡ª


    Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!


    It circled her head like an angry spiritual mosquito, wagging its baby finger with the wrath of someone who had just been spiritually waterboarded.


    Bai Yujian blinked.


    "Oh, it''s done." She sighed in relief.


    The baby Nascent Soul froze.


    What do you mean ''done''? Lady, you just kicked me out of my own home and nearly vaporized my soul!


    But Bai Yujian wasn''t done.


    She gave a gentle smile.


    She meant well, truly. She had never shared her soul energy like this before¡ªnormally, cultivating to peak Nascent Soul took decades of focused training. Doing it via forced Soul essence injection was not only risky¡­ it was borderline heretical.


    If something had gone wrong?


    If she''d oversupplied?


    If the baby had exploded?


    Su Xiaobai''s entire cultivation base would''ve shattered.


    The baby¡ªstill trembling¡ªlet out a tiny spiritual screech, kicked its feet furiously one more time, then slowly extended a tiny middle finger at Bai Yujian before floating back into his body like a traumatized toddler.


    A gesture that clearly meant:


    "Don''t. You. Ever. Do. That. Again."


    Bai Yujian blinked.


    Then¡ª


    "Pfft¡­"


    She chuckled softly, covering her mouth.


    "This man''s Nascent Soul¡­ is just as dramatic as the real thing."


    She sat back on the bed, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear.


    Outside, thunder rumbled faintly.


    Inside?


    Su Xiaobai''s body glowed.


    His cultivation had risen again.


    But his ego?


    Still recovering from spiritual baby puke.


    "You little piece of shit¡­"


    The second the chubby Nascent Soul waddled back into view, Su Xiaobai''s consciousness flared like a flame with vengeance.


    He flew across the spirit sea, grabbed the baby by its squishy spiritual neck, and lifted it like a parent catching their kid with chocolate smeared all over the sacred scriptures.


    "CHI! CHI! CHI!!"


    The baby wailed.


    It had just survived soul-level food poisoning, vomited out an entire breakthrough, and now it was getting strangled by its own dad?!


    BAM!


    BAM!


    BAM!


    Su Xiaobai beat the soul-shit out of the baby until it started foaming at the mouth, saw ancestral spirits, and collapsed¡ªdramatically¡ªas if auditioning for a sad opera.


    "Tch."


    He snorted in satisfaction, wiping his spiritual hands.


    "That''s for trying to die inside my body, you traitorous fetus."


    And then¡ª


    WHOOSH!


    A flood of refined spiritual Qi gushed into the spirit sea like a divine plumbing burst. Cracks across the realm began mending. His consciousness, no longer a flickering wisp, began glowing with godlike intensity.


    As the Qi surged, Su Xiaobai''s consciousness absorbed the unconscious baby Nascent Soul like a pissed-off USB download.


    And so began the process...


    Soul Fusion.


    A moment sacred to all cultivators.


    A fusion of Spirit and Soul.


    The union of thought and form.


    A mystical process passed down by sages...


    ...and Su Xiaobai just beat his into submission.


    This, dear reader, is called Cultivation via Domestic Violence.


    _____


    Soul Fusion (early stage): Su Xiaobai Edition


    Perks Unlocked:


    -	Spirit-Soul Resonance:


    His Spirit Sea evolves into a boundless astral ocean, granting him the status of a Half-Spirit Entity. Half-man, half-myth, all menace.


    -	Niwan Palace (a.k.a. Soul Garage):


    A little divine forehead storage space. Hide secrets, forbidden techniques, or your shame. Now includes 100% free spiritual cloud backup.


    -	360¡ã Passive Spirit Sense:


    Detects danger, killing intent, arrogant young masters, and moaning Sword Fairies behind closed doors.


    -	Soul Avatars:


    Create ''temporary'' soul clones! Can''t cultivate, can''t think for themselves, can''t pay taxes¡ªbut great for spiritual multitasking.


    -	Soul Seals:


    Stamp enemies, objects, or your ex with a spiritual tracker. Now available in four flavors: revenge, confusion, petty, and ultra-petty.


    ______


    BOOM!!


    His spirit sea exploded with light.


    Su Xiaobai''s consciousness, once a flickering flame, now reformed into a fully adult mini-version of himself¡ªcross-legged, smug, and glowing in the center of a swirling vortex.


    Qi rushed from his Dantian like a divine floodgate unhinged.


    Outside...


    His strength kept rising.


    Once...


    Twice...


    Three times...


    The man was spiritually juicing harder than a celestial bodybuilder.


    ______


    Meanwhile¡­


    Bai Yujian stood outside the villa, arms folded, sword spirit aura calm.


    "...He''s going to have a terrible cultivation foundation."


    Her tone was drier than the Void Abyss.


    Yes, Su Xiaobai had brute-forced his way into higher realms.


    Yes, his power had skyrocketed.


    But.


    He hadn''t consolidated a damn thing.


    He was like a kid who just learned to pedal a tricycle and got thrown into a Heaven-grade flying immortal jet.


    Crashes were inevitable.


    Time Passed¡­


    Week One¡­


    Still no sign of waking.


    Week Two¡­


    Bai Yujian packed a lunch and left.


    Before she did, she passed a message to Zhu Qing, who moved into the villa next to Su Xiaobai''s to "keep an eye" on his condition.


    A normal breakthrough? A couple days, max.


    Su Xiaobai''s breakthrough? A whole damn era.


    Because not only had he jumped from Mid to Peak Nascent Soul, but he also brute-fused into Soul Fusion Realm¡ªand now had to fix all the cracks he left behind.


    ______


    Meanwhile¡­


    Zhu Qing, elegant and composed, sat on balcony chewing on a plump, red apple. The kind that said, ''I''m only pretending to be patient.''


    She yawned.


    Tears welled in the corners of her eyes¡ªnot from emotion, but from pure, unfiltered boredom.


    "Little villain¡­ why are you so slow?"


    She bit the apple with unnecessary aggression.


    The shock of him actually bedding the Sword Fairy had worn off a month ago.


    At first, she was stunned. Jealous. Maybe a little hot and bothered.


    But now?


    Now she was more annoyed than a celestial phoenix forced to do laundry.


    Somebody give her a break.


    In the end, Zhu Qing let out one more heaven-shaking yawn, slumped back on her soft cloudlike couch, and drifted off to sleep¡ªdreaming of better days, faster breakthroughs, and men who knew how to finish cultivating without getting stuck like spiritual constipation.


    She woke up the next morning, stretched her limbs, and muttered:


    "¡­What''s going on?"


    Enough was enough.


    She frowned.


    Then stood.


    "Time to check on this man~!"


    With a flick of her sleeve, Zhu Qing activated her divine sense and pierced through the layers of wards, barriers, and leftover Yin Essence fog surrounding Su Xiaobai''s villa.


    And what she saw¡ª


    Made her face twist like she''d just walked in on someone grinding a Heaven-Rank peach against a manual transmission.


    "¡­What?"


    Her spiritual projection blinked. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Then again.


    And then her brows twitched so violently it could''ve formed its own spirit technique.


    "¡­He''s devouring it?"


    Zhu Qing''s lips tightened. Her gaze turned complicated¡ªas if she''d just caught her husband furiously licking his own soul baby with chopsticks.


    _____


    The Natural Progression of Cultivation:


    1.	Nascent Soul Realm:


    Form the cute baby soul. Name it. Raise it. Give it a tiny sword.


    2.	Soul Fusion Realm:


    Merge your consciousness with the baby soul. Become one. Bond. Hug. Maybe hold hands.


    3.	Spirit Severing Realm:


    Let that merged form (aka true spirit embryo) gestate into a True Spirit. Cute lil'' guy, again. Start building a family tree.


    4.	Integration Realm:


    True Spirit + Consciousness + Nascent Soul = Divine Embryo. You are now a mobile, semi-divine, immortal-ready egg.


    5.	Deity Transformation Realm:


    Divine Embryo hatches into the Immortal Vessel. Cultivate Heaven Qi, ascend, and laugh at mortals from your floating cloud palace.


    _____


    BUT SU XIAOBAI?!


    This lunatic¡ª


    This absolute walking violation of Daoist Ethics¡ª


    Wasn''t bonding.


    Wasn''t merging.


    HE FUCKING ATE HIS NASCENT SOUL.


    Not metaphorically.


    Literally.


    He beat it unconscious, absorbed it by force, and now he was digesting it like it was some late-night spirit snack.


    Zhu Qing''s hands trembled.


    "WHAT THE HELL IS HE DOING?!"


    This wasn''t Soul Fusion.


    This was Soul Murder & Digest Technique.


    Even if he somehow broke through, how in all the heavenly realms was he supposed to form a Divine Embryo in the Integration Realm¡ª


    WHEN HE JUST TURNED HIS SOUL INTO A SPIRITUAL MEATBALL?!


    She started pacing.


    Fast.


    So fast her afterimages were leaving afterimages.


    "This¡ªthis shouldn''t even be possible!! The Nascent Soul is a core! A sacred construct! It must exist to be cultivated through the higher realms!"


    She whirled, muttering furiously.


    "No Nascent Soul, no Divine Embryo. No Divine Embryo, no Immortal Vessel. No Immortal Vessel¡­ you''re just a glorified spiritual time bomb with nice body!!"


    And the worst part?


    She couldn''t stop it.


    The process was already past the point of intervention. The fusion¡ªno, the spiritual cannibalism¡ªwas nearing completion.


    He wasn''t cultivating.


    He was digesting cultivation itself.


    No wonder it was taking so long!


    This wasn''t a breakthrough.


    It was a spiritual crime scene.

 Chapter 208 - 208: Soul Fusion Realm! Unstable Foundation!

    "Poof~!"


    Another week crawled by in spiritual silence. Zhu Qing had long given up on monitoring Su Xiaobai''s "divine breakthrough" and had instead taken to sulking in Bai Yujian''s immaculate bedroom like a depressed exorcist.


    In her hand?


    A long, elegant smoking pipe packed with demon-repelling incense.


    The demon in question?


    Su Xiaobai.


    She exhaled a cloud of smoke. The scent of herbs, spirit-repelling lotus, and sheer frustration filled the room.


    And then¡ª


    "Ha¡­ Finally!"


    The demon awoke.


    Su Xiaobai''s eyelids fluttered. His white brows twitched. His lashes trembled like a woman in a bad romance novel.


    Zhu Qing sighed with the weight of ten thousand disappointed cultivators.


    The man sat up.


    His crimson eyes gleamed like he''d just climbed a heavenly summit¡ªor eaten an entire Dao.


    Crack! Crack!


    He stretched with all the smugness of a man who just broke reality, mumbling something incoherent.


    Zhu Qing had zero interest.


    Then¡ªhe looked up.


    "Qingqing?"


    "Yeah..." She stared at him with the same energy as a tiger staring at a malfunctioning washing machine.


    He stood.


    Thud. Thud.


    The floor trembled.


    Su Xiaobai paused, feeling the entire world shift under him¡ªbut casually shrugged.


    "Must be because I meditated for two months," he muttered like a dumbass.


    Whoosh!


    He spotted the pipe in her hands, snatched it casually¡ª


    CRACK!


    It shattered like it was made of dried tofu.


    "¡­"


    Su Xiaobai stared in betrayal. "Qingqing, why is this thing so weak? Give me another one."


    Zhu Qing looked like she was contemplating mass murder.


    "It''s not weak. Look there."


    "Huh?"


    He followed her finger¡ª


    And saw it. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The wooden floor beneath him was cracked to hell, the bedframe was half-missing, and even the doorframe was split.


    His anger rose. "Who the hell broke my¡ª"


    Then he saw the trail.


    Every single crack traced back to him.


    "¡­Sigh."


    Zhu Qing stood. Calm. Composed.


    Then she gently tapped his chest.


    "Wha¡ª"


    BANG!


    Su Xiaobai exploded backwards, smashing through the wall like a Soul Fusion Kool-Aid Man.


    "¡­The fuck?"


    He lay in the rubble, dazed, confused, and slightly aroused.


    Zhu Qing lit another incense stick and muttered, "Little villain, you''re looking real silly right now. Have you seen yourself in a mirror lately?"


    "??"


    Su Xiaobai sat up.


    Then he noticed.


    Every time he moved, the floor splintered.


    When he reached for the door¡ª


    RIP.


    It tore off like a wet paper scroll.


    His footsteps made mini craters.


    His hands bent metal like tofu.


    And his aura? It was like hugging a lightning rod during a thunderstorm.


    Zhu Qing clapped her hands.


    "Congrats! That''s what happens when you breakthrough by devouring your Nascent Soul and plundering your master''s Yin Essence!"


    "....What do you mean?!"


    She grinned. The kind of grin cultivators give before pushing you off a cliff for ''training.''


    "You''ve completely lost control of your strength. Don''t go outside. One breeze too strong and you''ll trip and accidentally punch a mountain in half."


    "Even though you''re in Soul Fusion Realm¡­"


    She leaned in.


    "¡­a fly could beat you up right now."


    Zhu Qing wanted to give a full evil villainess laugh¡ªlike Muahahaha¡ªbut she ended up sighing instead.


    "I hate that I have to explain this seriously¡­ but yes. You''ve got big boy cultivation now, but you''re like a toddler wielding a divine tribulation sword¡ªone wrong swing and you''ll slice yourself in half."


    Su Xiaobai''s expression darkened.


    He started connecting the dots.


    Indeed¡­


    He hadn''t suffered much from earlier breakthroughs because they were relatively close in level. His foundation could handle it.


    But now?


    Now he was a Soul Fusion Realm cultivator before the age of 30.


    Even among legendary talents, that was borderline cheating. Most genius cultivators reached this stage at 80. Some at 60. A rare few at 50.


    Su Xiaobai?


    Twenty-fucking-eight.


    If those so-called sects'' new-generation heavenly geniuses found out, they''d vomit blood, slap themselves silly, and willingly offer him their wives for dual cultivation lessons.


    But the problem?


    He didn''t consolidate a damn thing.


    And now, his body was supercharged¡ªhe could smell herbs a mile away, hear the cicada complaining from across the courtyard, see 360-degrees like a Spirit Chicken of Heaven...


    But he couldn''t even judge his own slap strength.


    If he faced Huo Lingxue now?


    He''d definitely win.


    The only issue?


    He might accidentally slap her into next reincarnation.


    Su Xiaobai laughed.


    A bitter chuckle.


    "¡­Haha. I can''t even tell how hard I hit anymore."


    "That''s not the most important problem at the moment..."


    Zhu Qing stood up slowly, walking toward the bed with a heaviness that came not from spiritual pressure¡ªbut from emotional exhaustion.


    She sat on the edge, gazing at Su Xiaobai with that look women reserve for men who''ve both amazed and horrified them in the same breath. His appearance? Saintly. White hair. Serene aura.


    His heart?


    Pure demon.


    She could say the same for herself, sure...


    But let''s be honest¡ªZhu Qing doesn''t roast herself.


    Only others.


    ____


    She leaned forward, elbows resting on her thighs, thinking deeply¡ªand accidentally presenting two perfect, alabaster peaks through her slightly loosened robe. Her soft, snow-like breasts rose and fell with her breath, practically humming with the Dao of Distraction.


    Su Xiaobai absolutely noticed.


    If not for the severity of the topic, she might''ve teased, "Want to suck on these babies while we strategize?"


    But alas.


    It was not the time.


    ____


    "Why did you consume your Nascent Soul?"


    Her voice was quiet. Dangerous. The tone of someone who was about to either cry, kill, or kiss.


    "You were supposed to fuse with it¡ªnot treat it like a midnight snack."


    Su Xiaobai blinked. Shrugged.


    "What''s wrong with that?"


    "..."


    Zhu Qing stared at him the way alchemists stare at pills that explode on contact.


    "How are you going to form your True Spirit embryo now? You''ve destroyed your original root. You literally can''t form a True Spirit from within anymore!"


    Su Xiaobai waved her off.


    "Oh, that? I''ll just steal one."


    "¡­What."


    "Yeah, I''ll rob some peak Soul Fusion cultivators mid-breakthrough, extract their embryo, and fuse ''em together. Saves time. Instead of one True Spirit, I''ll build a Poly-Daonic Megaspirit. A fragmented, adaptive, multi-Dao beast with multiple insights stacked like spirit pancakes."


    Zhu Qing''s jaw hung.


    "¡­You''re going to build a synthetic True Spirit?"


    "Yes..."


    "That leaks Daos like a drunk sword cultivator leaks poems at midnight?"


    "Yup."


    She closed her eyes.


    She could already imagine it:


    A stitched-together monster spirit that oozes five conflicting philosophies, randomly chanting Sword Sutras and Fire Sutras at the same time while shaking uncontrollably like a Qi-deprived goose.


    A walking heart demon x10.


    "Are you¡­ a demonic cultivator now?"


    Su Xiaobai smiled bitterly.


    Maybe?


    A little?


    But hey¡ªas long as he didn''t show the True Spirit to anyone, no one would know!


    Fake it till you ascend.


    Zhu Qing sighed deeply. She had to give him some validation. A little encouragement before she tore his worldview apart.


    "Fine. Then tell me." She leaned in. Eyes sharp. Voice low. "How are you going to reach Integration Realm without a proper Divine Embryo?"


    Su Xiaobai raised a finger.


    "Easy. I''ll eat that too."


    Zhu Qing choked on her own spiritual Qi.


    "WHAT."


    "Instead of merging consciousness, Nascent Soul, and True Spirit the normal way... I''ll sever the Dao of others. I''ll absorb their insights. Their spiritual roots. Their understanding of heaven. I''ll hijack their ''Dao destinies'' and build mine from the wreckage."


    He grinned.


    "I won''t form a Divine Embryo. I''ll become one."


    Zhu Qing stared at him like he just invented the Heavenly Devouring Cultivator''s Guide to Dao Theft.


    "So no embryo. No root. A consciousness that''s already fused with a digested baby soul. A True Spirit that''s a stitched-up lootbox. And a cultivation method that bites other people''s destinies?"


    Su Xiaobai nodded.


    Proudly.


    "I am the Dao now."


    He continued, dead serious:


    "Most cultivators have three forces forming a triangle¡ªConsciousness, Nascent Soul, and True Spirit¡ªall cooperating like an ancient polyamorous marriage."


    "But me?"


    "I''m the king."


    "My True Spirit? My slave. Custom-built. Frankenstein''d with stolen parts."


    "My Consciousness? Already fused and evolved."


    "My Nascent Soul? Dead, digested, and added to my calories."


    "I don''t have a triangle. I''m the center of a collapsing Dao star."


    Zhu Qing blinked.


    "¡­You know if you say this in public, Heavenly Tribulation will personally come down and bitch-slap you."


    Su Xiaobai nodded.


    "I''ll slap back."

 Chapter 209 - 209: The Devourer’s Womb & The Divergent Path!

    "I''ll slap back."


    Su Xiaobai said it like it was a reasonable statement. Like slapping Heaven was just a minor inconvenience in his grand spiritual to-do list.


    And honestly?


    He wasn''t lying.


    Sure, he could no longer grow his own Divine Embryo (thanks, cannibalized Nascent Soul & Demonic True Spirit), but Su Xiaobai was not a man bound by silly things like natural progression or rules made by gods.


    Instead, he had a plan.


    "The Devourer''s Womb."


    Why make your own Divine Embryo when you can just rob someone else''s, shove your soul inside it, and become the embryo yourself?


    It''s like trying to grow a fruit tree, getting bored, ripping out someone else''s 300-year-old peach tree, and duct-taping yourself inside it like a peach-flavored mech suit.


    His Divine Embryo?


    Not self-born.


    Not natural.


    Stolen. Rented. Spiritually hijacked.


    "It might rebel," Zhu Qing muttered, eyes twitching.


    "Yes," Su Xiaobai said, "but I''ll just keep it suppressed. Constantly. Forever."


    Zhu Qing imagined it now: his spirit sea, filled with chained-up Divine Embryo howling foreign Daos like some kind of kidnapped heavenly choir, screaming in seventeen dialects of Enlightenment.


    "It will leak Daos. Everyone will sense it. Everyone will know."


    "I''ll hide it in my sealed Spirit Sea. As long as I stay in Integration Realm, no one will notice."


    "And how will you ascend to Deity Realm without a real embryo to hatch into immortal vessel?"


    Su Xiaobai shrugged. "Then...I''ll reforge immortality. I''ll build a new path."


    "...From what?"


    "Corruption. Force. Stolen insight. And grit."


    Instead of forming a spiritual Divine Embryo?


    He''d go full "Corporeal Dao Embodiment".


    Make his body the vessel.


    Use the corrupted divine embryo as fuel.


    Build a new vessel. Immortal vessel. From scratch. With stolen parts.


    This man wasn''t building a path.


    He was duct-taping a FrankenDao together using stolen manuals, enemy corpses, and vibes.


    ____


    "Great! So Master Su Xiaobai has everything figured out!" Zhu Qing clapped sarcastically.


    "This is perfect! The Heavens will absolutely reject you, slap you, smite you, delete your existence the moment you try to ascend to Tribulation realm!"


    Su Xiaobai raised an eyebrow. He paused. Then perked up.


    "I''ll just forge a false Divine Mark. A fake signature in the Dao to make it look like I walked the proper path."


    Zhu Qing inhaled deeply.


    "¡­I see."


    "¡­So you plan to lie to the Heavens themselves?"


    Su Xiaobai grinned.


    "Heaven sees the surface. I''ll make the surface pretty."


    Zhu Qing closed her eyes. "... This man is going to be slapped to death by lightning wearing a fake smile."


    Su Xiaobai lit up.


    "That''s a great idea! I''ll add that to the plan!"


    "¡­"


    Zhu Qing''s eye twitched.


    "Nice idea, my ass."


    "Your ass is nice."


    "¡­I want to die."


    _____


    Su Xiaobai, full of smug enlightenment, stood tall.


    "It''s a Divergent Path. I created it myself."


    He said it like he was Steve Jobs inventing iCultivation.


    Zhu Qing watched him with the dead stare of someone who realized they were stuck babysitting the first spiritual outlaw to ever commit existential tax fraud.


    He came from another world, after all.


    For him, the cultivation system was just data. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Rules were suggestions.


    Realms were mods.


    And logic?


    Uninstalled.


    But Zhu Qing took a long breath, staring into the spiritual distance.


    "¡­Do you even know what happened to the last person who walked the Divergent Path?"


    Su Xiaobai blinked.


    "Wait¡ªthere was someone before me?"


    He was genuinely surprised.


    He thought he''d just bullshitted "Divergent Path" on the spot.


    He had no idea it was real.


    "¡­Must be lazy writing by the author," he muttered.


    Zhu Qing nearly coughed up her lung core.


    This man¡ªthis absolute plague upon reason¡ªwas not taking her seriously at all.


    Even if, somehow, Su Xiaobai cheated his way to Great Ascension Realm, even if he fooled every divine sense along the way...


    He would still be caught.


    "The Heavenly Court isn''t full of idiots."


    Her voice was cold.


    "You might slip past karma''s net¡ªbut once you ascend to the heavens¡­ you''ll walk into a palace full of gods who''ve lived longer than your entire bloodline."


    ___


    "There was one," she said softly.


    She turned toward the window.


    The curtains stirred. Wind whispered through the villa.


    Distant thunder rolled¡ªsoft, slow, ominous.


    "And he was erased."


    "Not killed. Not exiled. Erased."


    "The Heavens do not tolerate thieves of fate."


    Su Xiaobai blinked again.


    "¡­Damn. Guess I''m not special after all."


    "You''re special," she muttered darkly, "Special enough to make me a widow."


    Before she could step away, she felt arms slide gently around her waist.


    His chin rested on her shoulder.


    "What widow?"


    His voice was low. Calm. Arrogant.


    "Is it so easy to die?"


    Zhu Qing snorted.


    "Not for you. But for everyone around you? Yes."


    Then¡ªafter a long pause¡ªshe finally began to speak.


    ____


    There was a time, long ago, before the books were burned, before the heavens became so cautious.


    There was a group¡ªa secret society of cultivators who walked paths the Heavenly Law did not authorize.


    Paths outside the cosmic script.


    They studied the seams of the Dao.


    They whispered of something ancient.


    "The Divergent Path."


    Su Xiaobai had never heard of it.


    Of course he hadn''t.


    He was born in White Cloud Star, a sealed world, isolated from the thirteen major realms and the Four Heavens.


    But out there¡ªbeyond his understanding¡ªwas a tale whispered by sages too old to be sane.


    A cautionary myth in the realms that still dared to remember.


    The Tale of the Last Star.


    The "Divergent Path" isn''t a technique.


    It isn''t a dao.


    It isn''t even evil.


    It is simply: any path not laid out by the Heavenly Law.


    Even heretics follow Heaven''s structure¡ªthey just use wicked fuel. Slaughter. Cursecraft. Bone refinement.


    But their foundations? Still within the system.


    What Su Xiaobai proposed¡ªwhat he was doing¡ªwasn''t just walking a crooked road.


    He was building a new one.


    Out of loopholes.


    And expecting Heaven to not notice.


    ____


    But if there is a system, there is an Administrator.


    And in this world?


    That administrator is not the Heavenly Court.


    It is something higher.


    Something that does not speak.


    Something that does not judge.


    Something that only enforces.


    The Great Heavenly Dao.


    ____


    It governs karma. Fate. Life. Death.


    Reincarnation.


    Everything.


    It is neither righteous nor evil.


    It simply is.


    And when the Last Star walked the Divergent Path¡ª


    He twisted the rules.


    He exploited truths not meant to be touched.


    He declared:


    "I will rewrite the heavens."


    ____


    And Heaven responded.


    Not with anger.


    Not with war.


    But with erasure.


    ___


    His name was removed from the Books of Heaven.


    His karma unspooled.


    His past, present, and future¡ªdeleted.


    He was no longer a sinner.


    He was a nonexistence.


    The Dao erased every thread of him¡ªfrom time, memory, and even cause.


    _____


    But it didn''t stop there.


    He came from a race of stars¡ªcelestial bodies who had cultivated thought, soul, and will over eons.


    And for his rebellion?


    Heaven destroyed his entire realm.


    That''s why the tale is called:


    The Last Star.


    And he?


    He was not allowed to die.


    They say he was chained at the edge of reality itself¡ªa place beyond time, beyond void, beyond existence.


    All that remained was the myth.


    He, the "Last Star," was said to be chained at the Edge of Reality.


    ___


    "What''s that?" Su Xiaobai asked quietly.


    Zhu Qing shook her head.


    "No one knows. It lies beyond void, beyond time, beyond space itself. It exists only in the will of Heaven. Only those who challenge it are cast there."


    And there, the Last Star remains.


    Eternally punished.


    Eternally restrained.


    A warning etched into the unseen sky.


    Heaven''s message was clear.


    "You may climb my walls. But you will never escape them."


    ___


    Su Xiaobai''s arms slackened. Sweat dripped from his brow.


    Zhu Qing''s voice dropped.


    "And right now... you are walking that same path."


    She turned to him.


    Her eyes¡ªnot angry.


    Not afraid.


    Just... tired.


    "And you might get your name etched in history, Su Xiaobai."


    "But I promise you¡ª


    It won''t be in praise."


    ___


    Su Xiaobai was no longer a sinner.


    He had stepped beyond the bounds of karma and law.


    He had become a paradox.


    A man who should not exist.


    Once his existence was truly noticed¡ª


    There would be no judgment.


    No outcry.


    No resistance.


    Only divine erasure.


    ____


    Far beyond mortal perception, deep within the primordial fabric of Su Xiaobai''s spirit sea, two vast, golden eyes slowly opened.


    Eyes that had slumbered for eras.


    Eyes that had witnessed the birth of Realms.


    The Void Thunder Dragon, slumbering sovereign of time-torn space, stirred for the first time in countless cycles.


    Its immense breath roiled the world around it, nostrils flaring with ancient disdain.


    A presence had invaded.


    Not a soul.


    Not a will.


    But a calamity.


    [A god empress?]

 Chapter 210 - 210: War God Empress Hei!

    [A god empress?]


    The dragon''s voice echoed, ancient and unfathomable. [How dare you intrude upon my consciousness and disturb my sacred sleep?]


    Its serpentine head lifted through a sky of stars, coiling through infinite space.


    Among all things, even Immortal Kings were dust to it. From its gaze, only Immortal Emperors and Saints were worth noting¡ªand even then, barely.


    But now¡­ this presence¡ª


    It was different.


    Descending through the heavens of the spirit realm came a woman.


    Clad in a robe of divine crimson, woven with immortal threads of Phoenix Silk and Celestial Gold, her attire shimmered with runes of war, each one echoing the cry of ten thousand slain generals. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Across her brow rested a crown of Blacksteel Flame, shaped like twin wings of a primordial phoenix, adorned with seven blood-red spirit pearls¡ªeach once belonging to a slain Demon King.


    Upon her wrists: God-Dragon bangles, black as void, humming with sealed thunder.


    Her hair¡ªjet black, flowing like a waterfall of night.


    Her eyes¡ªblood-red, the shade of ancient battlefields soaked for centuries.


    She walked without stepping, floating upon lotus petals of warlight, each footfall shaking the surrounding void with the echo of conquest.


    This was not Xiao Hei, the brat in the ring-world.


    This was the War God Empress of Ten Thousand Worlds.


    _____


    The dragon narrowed its eyes.


    [You... You have reversed time''s flow and returned to your own beginning.]


    His tone was no longer derisive.


    It was wary.


    Xiao Hei''s lips curved faintly.


    Her voice was low and serene, like a melody spoken over the bones of ancient kings.


    "So the Void still retains clarity, even in slumber. Not bad."


    Her aura gently pressed forward.


    The very spirit sea shivered.


    [Hmph. I was once an Eternal Sovereign.] The dragon''s voice rumbled, prideful. [My eyes pierce illusion and time alike. You cannot deceive me.]


    She chuckled.


    "Yes. You were a Sovereign. Now look at you. A broken beast hiding inside the spirit sea of a half-baked brat."


    Before he could respond, she raised her hand¡ª


    And her Empress Aura descended.


    An invisible palm struck the dragon''s forehead.


    Thunder roared. The void trembled.


    It was not damage¡ªit was dominion.


    Even here, powerless as she was outside, her spirit could still command awe.


    ___


    The Void Thunder Dragon did not retaliate.


    Because she was right.


    He had not descended here of his own will.


    He had fled¡ªthrough timelines, across diverging destinies¡ªto escape the blades of another Sovereign.


    He had chosen Su Xiaobai''s body as a hiding place.


    But now¡­


    Now he was being asked for a favor?


    ____


    [What do you seek, Empress?]


    His tone had shifted¡ªno longer angered, but cautious.


    Xiao Hei gestured lightly.


    A single flick of her red-sleeved arm, and she pointed below.


    "I require your assistance. Hide this boy from Heaven''s gaze."


    Silence stretched.


    [...He is already doomed.]


    [Why waste effort shielding one whom the Heavens have marked?]


    Her eyes narrowed.


    "Who said I wish to save him?"


    There was fury behind her words.


    Her hands trembled¡ªbriefly.


    Then calmed.


    From within her robes, she pulled out a scroll.


    Bound in black underworld silk, its seal burned with golden infernal script that no living mortal could inscribe.


    She let it drift into the dragon''s sight.


    As it unfurled, it let out a pulse of netherlight, and the temperature of the spirit sea dropped.


    The dragon''s eyes widened.


    [This¡­ This reeks of the Underworld¡­]


    Then his pupils shrank.


    He saw the name written within.


    "AZRAKAI¡ª!!"


    The name alone shattered a thousand forbidden seals in the air.


    Immediately, he shut his eyes, withdrew his aura, and pressed his claws into the void to seal the space again.


    To speak that name openly was to court death.


    [How¡­ how did you acquire this?]


    Xiao Hei''s voice was calm.


    "I did not. The Lord of the Underworld traced me. Across the timelines, beyond the will of Heaven."


    "He planted a minion¡ªhidden, buried deep in the folds of fate¡ªto deliver it to me..."


    Her voice softened for a breath.


    A memory. A sorrow.


    Then, it hardened again.


    "What is written within¡­ may free your friend from the shackles of Heaven."


    "Or at the very least¡­ protect his legacy."


    The dragon was silent.


    Contemplating.


    Watching.


    ____


    [...I shall consider your request.]


    Then he frowned again.


    [But why? If you detest him¡­ why protect him?]


    Xiao Hei looked away.


    The blood-red glow of her eyes shimmered with ancient storms.


    "¡­That is not your concern."


    And with that, she vanished¡ªher warlotus petals dispersing into red motes, her presence retreating back into slumber.


    [A/N: The Void Thunder Dragon would later describe the experience as "being insulted, bitch-slapped, blackmailed, and ordered around by a barefoot empress in half a breath."


    He would never admit that it was the most exciting thing to happen to him in several thousand eons.]


    ______


    Once Xiao Hei returned to the ring-world, her divine aura faded into silence.


    Her fluttering red robe dissolved into motes of divine flame...


    The war crown faded. Her terrifying aura¡ªenough to silence holy beasts¡ªvanished as if it had never existed.


    The celestial battle regalia that adorned her vanished like mist before morning sun, leaving behind the slender figure of a girl draped in a simple red dress¡ªbarefoot, pouting slightly, and looking extremely annoyed at existence itself.


    She yawned. Loudly.


    Then flopped face-first onto the soft jade grass of the endless green fields.


    This inner ring world was vast, but monotonous¡ªan open sky that never changed, plain rolling hills, and mountains that looked like they had given up trying to be interesting.


    "Boring."


    She mumbled into the ground.


    ___


    But her thoughts would not rest.


    She was still surprised¡ªdeeply¡ªthat Su Xiaobai possessed the Void Thunder Dragon in his sea of conciousness.


    In her previous life, she had searched his secrets to the bone. Torn through every relic, every world he stepped in. Not once had this being ever appeared.


    So why now? Why this life?


    And then it clicked.


    Void Thunder Dragon existed outside of time and space. It didn''t simply move through timelines¡ªit was in all timelines at once.


    Its presence in one meant its presence in all.


    But only once awakened did its will choose which version to acknowledge.


    And in this life¡­ it had acknowledged her.


    That also meant¡ªit had witnessed the original.


    It knew the past life.


    It had seen Xiao Hei, not as a child, but as the fully realized God Empress, standing atop armies of gods, challenging the Four Heavens, her banner planted in the skies of annihilated realms.


    And now?


    It saw her as this¡ªa girl, in a ring, munching snacks, arguing with herself, sleeping half the day like a lazy spirit cat.


    Truly pitiful.


    ____


    Elsewhere, in the space between moments, the Void Thunder Dragon coiled through silence.


    A creature of paradox¡ªexisting beyond time, tethered to every timeline simultaneously. His awareness flickered through the river of fate, tracing this Xiao Hei''s path.


    And the truth revealed itself clearly:


    In the original flow of time, she should be nothing more than a young girl, barely awakened, following Su Xiaobai with childish stubbornness.


    But now?


    She was far more than she should be.


    A sovereign force wearing the shell of a girl.


    The dragon had already deduced what had happened.


    With its vision unbound by chronology, it recognized:


    She had chased herself backward¡ªusing the Dao of Time¡ªto return to her own origin, forced back along the River of Time by an unfulfilled will so potent, it bent causality itself.


    And yet, the Heavenly Laws did not permit such things lightly.


    She was not an Eternal Sovereign.


    That rank¡ªunshackled from time and existence¡ªbelonged to the dragon.


    She was a God Empress. Glorious, yes. Supreme, yes.


    Yet... A few levels beneath the highest tier of true existence. Even with her unfathomable might, she was still subject to the laws of the reality she once ruled.


    He, on the other hand, existed beyond those bindings.


    If he had not been injured¡ªcrippled during a battle that tore through a hundred timelines¡ªthen perhaps that confrontation moments ago would have ended very differently.

 Chapter 211 - 211: Cuck Hall & Jade Feathers!

    In her past life, she had stood atop creation.


    She ruled over tens of thousands of worlds, her name feared in every realm and recited like scripture. Even the Heavenly Court tread lightly in her shadow.


    But there was one wish left unfulfilled¡ª


    To kill Su Xiaobai.


    Her master. Her father. Her tormentor. Her creator.


    The man who raised her.


    Who trained her.


    Who¡ªby all rights¡ªshould have died by her hand.


    Yet in the end, he had not.


    He had been slain by the Heavenly Law itself, before she could carry out the final strike.


    The heavens robbed her of that vengeance.


    And now?


    Now she had returned to this era¡ªwhere no one else could kill him.


    Not even the heavens.


    Only her.


    This life was hers to decide.


    ____


    Then, her eyes fluttered open.


    Her gaze drifted to the far end of the internal space, where a floating spatial ring sat¡ªglimmering with layered seals.


    There it was.


    The scroll.


    The scroll she used to negotiate with the dragon¡ªthe one bearing the name Azrakai¡ªhad a strange origin.


    In truth, it existed nowhere in the flow of time. It should not be present here.


    Not in this life.


    Not in this ring.


    And yet¡ª


    It lay quietly inside the spatial ring of Su Xiaobai.


    He had found it during the raid on the Blood Warlord''s palace, buried beneath corpses and cursed treasures. It gave off a strange aura, and in typical Su Xiaobai fashion, he had tossed it aside with the vague intention of "reading it later when it feels plot-important."


    He never showed it to Zhu Qing.


    He never sensed its full weight.


    But someone else did.


    ____


    When Xiao Hei forced her soul back in time, she was not the only one watching the river of fate.


    Some tried to trace her path.


    Some succeeded.


    Some followed.


    And one reached out.


    The Lord of the Underworld.


    The "Celestial deity" who governed the Reincarnation Cycle.


    A being who stood beyond creation and destruction.


    The keeper of the Samsara Wheel.


    Some called him a tyrant. Others, a savior.


    But to Xiao Hei¡ª


    He was a messenger.


    ____


    That scroll had not been looted.


    It had been delivered.


    By a being who remembered the truth.


    By one who whispered through dreams and shadows, through incense smoke and soul mirrors.


    By one who had a reason to interfere.


    And now¡­ she had opened it.


    And everything had changed.


    _____


    If Su Xiaobai knew the scroll he stuffed in his ring for "later reading" was a divine treasure hand-delivered by the Lord of the Underworld himself, he would have probably coughed up blood and eaten it in regret.


    But he didn''t.


    Because Su Xiaobai is a man of supreme fate¡ª


    And zero caution.


    ______


    Author''s Note ¨C Realm Hierarchy (Post-Human Immortal):


    To clarify the upper tiers of cultivation in this world:


    Quasi Immortal


    True Immortal


    Immortal King (e.g., Infernal Emperor)


    Immortal Emperor


    Quasi Saint


    Saint


    Nirvana Saint


    Desolate Saint (Peak-level mythical beasts¡ªe.g., Lightning Qilin, Moon Fox)


    Holy King (e.g., Vermilion Phoenix at its peak)


    Holy Emperor (e.g., Rulers of the Four Heavens)


    God Emperor (e.g., War God Empress Hei, Elders of the Heavenly Court)


    Celestial Deity (e.g., Lord of the Underworld, being who govern the Samsara cycle)


    Universal Deity (e.g., The Last Sinner Star, Azrakai before his banishment by the Great Heavenly Law)


    Eternal Sovereign (e.g., Void Thunder Dragon ¨C supreme existences beyond reality)


    ?? (Unrevealed Realm ¨C whispered only in prophecy, spoken of in forbidden scrolls¡­)


    _____


    Back in Xiantian Sect¡ª


    After receiving a very polite but reality-ending warning from Zhu Qing (also known as "Please Stop Before Heaven Deletes You"), Su Xiaobai fell into deep contemplation.


    Then depression.


    Then chicken farming.


    ___


    Yes.


    He opened a chicken farm.


    Quite literally.


    ____


    The location?


    At the foot of Sword Peak, just beneath the long stone staircase that all disciples had to descend every day.


    The layout?


    A modest wooden hut, a fenced field, and a large handcrafted board perched proudly atop two uneven poles.


    Etched upon it in elegant calligraphy:


    [Heavenly Plume Spirit Beast Rearing Pavilion]


    And below that¡ªscratched in barely legible handwriting, like someone had used a dull rock as a carving tool:


    "Also known by locals as¡­ Cuck Hall."


    _____


    Yes.


    Cuck Hall.


    The only place in the sect where chickens walked the Dao, and Su Xiaobai swore vengeance upon any man who dared pluck his hens.


    ____


    In the beginning, it was just a peaceful hobby.


    But one day, two of his prized spiritual chickens disappeared overnight.


    Likely eaten. Roasted. Stir-fried.


    Su Xiaobai''s reaction?


    Unhinged.


    He declared loudly, before the entire sect:


    "I am the Master of Cuckoldery! If you eat my chickens, I shall cuck you so thoroughly, even your Dao companion will forget your name!"


    From that day forward, not a single chicken went missing.


    ____


    In fact, the fear of Su Xiaobai''s Heavenly Cuck Path became so widespread, that even the Sect Elders discreetly sent spirit stones to help fund the chicken feed, just in case.


    But things didn''t end there.


    One day, tragedy struck again.


    One of his prized hens¡ªJade Feathers¡ªfell in love.


    With none other than the golden chick of the newly founded Beast Hall.


    She ran away.


    A sect-wide emergency was declared.


    Every man on Sword Peak¡ªinner disciple, outer disciple, even the janitor uncle¡ªspent three days and three nights combing every bush, every blade of grass, all by their own will and absolutely not because Su Xiaobai said,:


    "If she isn''t found, I will cultivate my Cuck Dao to the Ninth Heaven and give every one of you a spirit child with your wife."


    ____


    Eventually, she was found. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Surrounded.


    By five large black cocks from the Beast Hall coop.


    _____


    Su Xiaobai stood silently for a long time.


    Then nodded.


    Then proclaimed:


    "Those who helped retrieve her shall be rewarded... with chicken soup."


    A generous feast was held that night.


    Full of broth. Spirit herbs. And only mild psychological trauma.


    _____


    As for Jade Feathers?


    No one knows.


    Some say she ascended.


    Others whisper she was reincarnated as a dragon.


    But most agree¡­


    She was never quite the same again.


    ____


    Some say the chicken farm still operates to this day.


    Others say it''s a front for Su Xiaobai''s Secret Dual Cultivation sect.


    But all agree on one truth:


    You never. Touch. His chickens.


    ______


    Naturally, Su Xiaobai''s chicken-farming madness did not go unnoticed.


    The other peaks had many questions.


    The Sect Master himself once gazed down from his Jade Throne, sipped his tea, and sighed:


    "Again?"


    But what could they say?


    He was the Sword Fairy''s favorite, her rumored dual cultivation partner, Dao companion, and possibly even husband. And no one¡ªnot even Sect Master Zhao Tianxuan¡ªwanted to provoke the wrath of a sword that could cut through cause and effect just for interrupting someone''s poultry hobby.


    So everyone shut up and endured it.


    ____


    But speaking of Sword Fairy...


    She hadn''t come back.


    It had been four months since Su Xiaobai''s ascension. Her expected return was half a year at most.


    That time had long passed.


    And still¡ª


    no sign.


    ____


    "Hm? Where is Junior Brother Su?"

 Chapter 212 - 212: The Myth! The Legend! KFC!

    "Hm? Where is Junior Brother Su?"


    A sweet, gentle voice broke the silence.


    Another followed.


    "Eh? He isn''t here today?"


    Standing before the infamous chicken farm were two figures draped in loose, snow-white robes. Their clothing was modest¡ªmortal style¡ªbut their beauty betrayed nothing mortal about them.


    Hu Jiao''er and Hu Mei''er.


    The Twin Fairies of Sword Peak, unofficial co-managers of the peak in the absence of Bai Yujian. Even when the Peak Lord was present, they often handled internal affairs with grace.


    Hu Jiao''er, with curly white hair and blinking starry eyes, glanced around with practiced vigilance.


    Hu Mei''er, her twin in all but temperament, had straight white hair, long lashes, and a gaze as pure as untouched snow. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    They looked identical from behind.


    Except¡ª


    The wooden fencing around the coop visibly distorted, curving unnaturally outward.


    It wasn''t a spiritual formation.


    It was their hips.


    No joke.


    Su Xiaobai once described the sight as:


    "Perfect vessels for sowing a hundred sons across a hundred lifetimes. Nay, a spiritual rice field of wife material."


    ____


    Since Bai Yujian''s departure, the two sisters had lived in constant fear.


    Without the Sword Fairy present to suppress Su Xiaobai''s libido and lawlessness, the sisters had begun weekly donations¡ªbribes, let''s be honest¡ªof 10,000 spirit stones apiece, under the name of "chicken farm support."


    Their official reasoning?


    "For the cultivation of poultry!"


    Their real fear?


    "If we don''t pay tribute, this madman might drug us, dual cultivate us, and we won''t even have time to call our ancestors for help!"


    ____


    Today, they had come once again.


    But Su Xiaobai was nowhere to be seen.


    The stump where he usually sat like a chicken-feeding monarch was vacant. Three hens pecked idly beside it, as if even they missed the usual chaos.


    Hu Mei''er tilted her head.


    An imaginary question mark seemed to float in the air.


    "Ah! There she is!"


    She pointed excitedly.


    Across the yard stood a majestic black rooster, chest puffed, beak lifted high like a monarch inspecting his domain.


    _____


    Colonel K.F.C.


    Nickname: "Miss KFC."


    Though gender was debated, the title was fixed.


    The chicken in question had hatched from a mysterious beast egg Su Xiaobai obtained from Liu Chenfu''s treasure vault.


    Its full title, according to Su Xiaobai''s notes:


    [Colonel K.F.C. ¨C Destroyer of the Neo-Nazien Sect, Inheritor of the Niggalaxy, Poultry Saint of Thunderfry Dao, First of Her Name, Slayer of the Deep-Fried Heavens]


    Most disciples had no idea what that meant.


    Hu Jiao''er and Hu Mei''er believed it stood for "Killer Feathered Chicken."


    In truth, Su Xiaobai had whispered to his pillow once¡ª


    "It means Karmic Fried Chicken. Because it devoured my karmic destiny and shat out a life of absurdity."


    _____


    "Miss KFC, where is your master today?"


    Hu Mei''er asked sweetly, clasping her hands behind her back.


    The black cock stopped mid-strut.


    Turned its crimson gaze toward her.


    "Cu!?"


    It tilted its head.


    Looked at the twins.


    Then shook its head disdainfully¡ª


    And strutted away in silence.


    As if to say: "Fools. Mortals. Peasants. Begone from my divine poultry grounds."


    _____


    Hu Mei''er blinked.


    "¡­Did she just ignore me?"


    Hu Jiao''er sighed.


    "Even his chicken walks the Dao like him. Let''s go. We''ll check the outer sectors."


    As they turned, a faint breeze passed through Sword Peak.


    The kind of breeze that made you wonder¡ª


    Was it just wind?


    Or the subtle breath of a cultivator preparing for another ridiculous incident?


    In the coming days, rumors would spread that Colonel KFC once fought off a Core Formation weasel with nothing but her tail feathers.


    Whether true or not, none dared to eat eggs from that coop ever again.


    _____


    [Silent Mist Lake]


    While sects whispered, peaks panicked, and disciples trembled in fear of Cuck Hall''s wrath, the man at the center of the madness¡ª


    Su Xiaobai¡ª


    Was currently doing what he did best:


    Snoring.


    Nestled comfortably beside the once-feared Silent Mist Lake, Su Xiaobai lay sprawled beneath the shadow of a massive spiritual tree, surrounded by what could only be described as a scene that would cause any passing monk to immediately question their vows.


    The lake, formerly known for its black, acidic water that corroded even high-grade spiritual artifacts, now shimmered a tranquil crystal blue, like the tears of a righteous cultivator watching his enemy rise faster than him in cultivation... again.


    How had it changed?


    No one knew.


    Well¡ªSu Xiaobai didn''t.


    But the truth?


    There had once been a Stone Demon hiding deep in the mountain beneath the lake, its miasma corrupting the waters.


    And one day, when Su Xiaobai casually borrowed Bai Yujian''s sword will and tested a flying slash for dramatic flair¡ª


    He cleaved it in half.


    Accidentally.


    ____


    Now the waters were pure.


    Fish returned.


    Spiritual herbs regrew.


    And the once-barren Ashen Plains behind the lake?


    Now lush with jade-green grass, blooming spiritual flora, and even towering Spirit Trees reaching for the heavens.


    The locals, long used to misery, pestilence, and third-stage qi disorders, woke up one day to a fertile paradise.


    Confused and overjoyed, they assumed it was the work of a deity.


    They called him:


    "The Sleeping God of Silent Mist."


    Small shrines began appearing.


    Offerings were made.


    A song was composed.


    Su Xiaobai, meanwhile?


    Had no idea.


    Currently, he was using two fluffy white tails as a pillow, breathing evenly, half-drooling into the fur.


    Behind him, curled protectively like a regal mountain lion, lay a majestic silver lynx¡ªonce known as Huo Lingxue, once arrogant, prideful, and full of thunderous disdain.


    Now?


    Tamed.


    She even purred in her sleep.


    But that wasn''t all.


    ____


    Su Xiaobai wasn''t merely enjoying beast-guarded nap time.


    He was, in fact, cradling five women.


    Yes.


    Five.


    All of them lay scattered around him like the aftermath of a spiritual storm, their clothes in varying degrees of dishevelment, their breathing soft, their skin glowing with post-dual-cultivation spiritual radiance.


    ____


    To an outsider?


    It looked like paradise.


    A sacred realm.


    A snapshot of Heaven itself.


    A beautiful day. Blue skies. A soft breeze. A dozen birds chirping in harmony.


    A smug-faced man buried beneath five sensual beauties and one giant lynx with resting empress face.


    To the uninformed, it looked divine.


    To the experienced cultivator?


    It looked like a reality-defying harem flag built from audacity, luck, and pure karmic robbery.


    And to the readers?


    It was definitely not a thirst trap written by the author.


    Nope.


    Not at all.


    Absolutely not the result of an author projecting his fantasies through a sleep-deprived, karma-breaking protagonist.


    Definitely Heaven.


    ___


    Legends would later speak of the day five sect heiresses, a Saint Beast, and a swordless lunatic turned a cursed land into a paradise¡ª


    All while sleeping through it.

 Chapter 213 - 213: Destiny Stars: The Star Quintriplets!

    [Silent Mist Lake ¨C Evening]


    "??"


    Su Xiaobai, once more rudely awakened by the concept of time, opened his eyes groggily as the sun began to dip behind the distant hills, bathing the lake in a soft golden hue.


    "Brother Su! Wake up!"


    "Brother~ It''s evening already!" S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You asked us to wake you at sunset¡­"


    Four ethereal faces hovered in his vision, each beautiful, framed by soft chestnut hair and delicate green robes fluttering gently in the breeze. Their green eyes gleamed like polished emeralds, reflecting concern¡ª


    And confusion.


    Su Xiaobai stared for half a second, then huffed.


    "And I also told you not to disturb me ever again..."


    He turned.


    Back to sleep.


    "!?"


    The four girls were left stunned. Again.


    One of them finally muttered with a pout:


    "If we don''t wake him, we''re scolded. If we do wake him, we''re still scolded¡­"


    Splash!


    A light ripple echoed from the far side of the lake.


    The serene surface trembled, reflecting moonlight. A clear voice, firm yet melodious, followed.


    "Yan''er, how many times have I told you not to run your mouth more than needed? Or shall I return you to Father at Verdant Peak¡ªand to Aunt Wen?"


    Hiss~


    All four women inhaled sharply.


    The name Aunt Wen was enough to still a thunderstorm.


    She was Peak Lord Lin''s most feared concubine, the iron-fisted matron of the Lin Clan''s massive harem, whose mere glance could suppress rebellion and crush dreams with a smirk.


    The five young women wore matching robes of jade-green silk, loose-sleeved, with white crane embroidery. Their chestnut hair cascaded in gentle waves, and their eyes shimmered like verdant lakes¡ªeach step graceful, their presence unmistakably noble.


    They were known as the Lin Quintriplets of Verdant Peak.


    Gifted to Su Xiaobai.


    A bribe, of course.


    But in sect-speak, it was "a gesture of goodwill."


    Peak Lord Lin, long stuck at the Peak of Tribulation Realm, had watched helplessly as Zhu Qing soared beyond.


    Many suspected Su Xiaobai''s involvement.


    Peak Lord Liu certainly did.


    He had nearly hit his goal of five hundred children, yet still had to part with his most precious stars¡ªhis personal treasures¡ªfor the sake of potential favor.


    A necessary sacrifice.


    The woman who had spoken, now seated on a radiant lotus above the lake, was Lin Qianyao, also known as Sister Yao or Yao''er¡ªthe eldest of the triplets.


    Her cultivation art was unique¡ªdrawn from the Dao of Tranquil Radiance.


    She absorbed the serenity of the lake and the brilliance of the moonlight, merging the two into her cultivation.


    The result:


    An aura that calmed storms.


    A technique that healed wounds, soothed Qi, and awakened dormant potential.


    Moon-Lotus Serenity ¨C A phantom lotus bloomed beneath her, its petals aglow with gentle radiance, sending ripples of peace across the lake.


    By her side floated a small, golden bell¡ª


    The Jade Spirit Bell ¨C A spiritual artifact that emitted soundless light, calming minds and sealing away malevolent energies.


    To the eye, she was a lotus fairy descended from a celestial painting.


    To Su Xiaobai?


    "Soft skin like polished milk and eyes like spring water... The ideal wife for recovery-based dual cultivation."


    Naturally, he inslaved her¡ªand her sisters¡ªwith Qingqing''s help. Not out of mistrust for Peak Lord Liu (though he didn''t trust him), but because¡ª


    Su Xiaobai didn''t do "unsecured Dao assets."


    Despite their age¡ªeach nearly 250¡ªthey were Spirit Severing Realm experts and currently Su Xiaobai''s most reliable personal guard force.


    And now?


    They had become known throughout the sect as¡ª


    "The Five Jade Blossoms of the Verdant Peak."


    They followed him loyally.


    Perhaps too loyally.


    And the world?


    Was changing fast.


    Just a month ago, the Royal Academy¡ªa powerful, newly established imperial institute¡ªsent envoys to recruit talents from Xiantian Sect.


    Su Xiaobai had been their primary target.


    But the envoy sent was none other than¡ª


    Wei Houtian.


    A name Su Xiaobai heard and immediately declined.


    "Why the hell would I enroll into an academy run by a guy who''s been trying to kill me since Foundation Realm?"


    And just like that, he continued napping by the lake.


    Other sect disciples declined the offer too.


    Why?


    Because with Zhu Qing''s breakthrough and the Sword Fairy''s return imminent, the future of Xiantian Sect was brighter than ever.


    But little did they know¡ª


    The future wouldn''t just be bright.


    It would be blinding.


    ____


    "Sister Yao, you always scold us for disturbing him, but have you even looked at how lazy he''s become?"


    The speaker was soft-voiced, but sharp.


    Lin Qingsu, or Su''er, as Su Xiaobai dubbed her¡ªhalf affectionately, half because he couldn''t remember her full name in the heat of battle...


    Shoulder-length hair, sleek and scholarly.


    Eyes like dew-washed bamboo leaves.


    Legs tucked beneath her with academic precision as she sat properly like a little saint.


    And yet¡ª


    Those round, pinchable cheeks, slightly flushed from the evening chill, held a secret aggression.


    The kind that made men willingly kneel on spirit stones and ask what they did wrong¡ªwithout even knowing what they did.


    Despite being the same height as her sisters, Su Xiaobai swore this one was shorter... Maybe it was the compact, chibi-like aura... Or maybe¡ª


    "She''s the only one who can guilt-trip me with a ten-second stare."


    Su Xiaobai had once described her lips as:


    "Soft enough to write runes on with my tongue."


    She sat cross-legged, her green robes falling around her like unfurling bamboo leaves¡ªcalm, elegant, and deceptively dangerous.


    Beneath her bookish air, Su''er was no mere wallflower.


    She cultivated the Dao of Verdant Insight, her talent with runes and formations unparalleled even among Mystic Peak disciples. It was Su Xiaobai himself who had arranged for her to be transferred under Zhu Qing''s tutelage, much to the shock of Peak Lord Lin.


    ____


    "You all..." Yao''er sighed.


    Cornered.


    All four were looking at her like she was the villain for preserving Su Xiaobai''s right to nap until the sun exploded.


    A faint blush colored her cheeks. Her back remained straight, the soft shimmer of moonlight reflecting off the lotus petals beneath her thighs.


    Truly¡ª


    "If I ever attain Nirvana, I want it to look like that."


    ¡ªSu Xiaobai, 4th nap of the day, quoted in his soul journal.


    ____


    They were sisters, yes.


    But the truth was¡ª


    These five weren''t ordinary sect beauties.


    No.


    They were born on the night of the Celestial Jade Alignment, an astrological phenomenon so rare it only appears once every forty-nine eras.


    According to some very nervous astrologers, they were the incarnations of the Five Jade Stars¡ªheaven-blessed destinies destined to illuminate entire worlds.


    The catch?


    They must remain unbound by fate... and not die.


    So naturally, Peak Lord Lin sent them to Su Xiaobai.


    Because nothing says "protect my celestial daughters" like handing them to a man known for breaking prophecies and pelvic bones in equal measure.


    ____


    Lin Qianyao ¨C Eldest


    Destiny Title: Jade Star of Benevolent Light


    Her aura was the most nurturing.


    Her thighs, the most divine.


    Her Dao¡ªTranquil Radiance¡ªsoothed meridians, restored Qi, and comforted the heart.


    Her technique, Moon-Lotus Serenity, created phantom petals of light under her feet, restoring allies and cleansing inner demons.


    Also, her legs?


    > "Heaven-grade thigh pillars," as Su Xiaobai once noted.


    > "Long enough to walk the path of immortality on."


    She carried a Golden Jade Spirit Bell, a calming artifact that sealed chaos with harmonic resonance. Su Xiaobai once tried to use it to put himself to sleep, but accidentally sealed a chicken for three days.


    ____


    Lin Qingsu ¨C Su''er


    Destiny Title: Jade Star of Flowing Wisdom


    Quiet, deadly, scholarly.


    Cultivator of the Dao of Verdant Insight, she excelled in formations, ancient runes, and spiritual traps.


    She wielded the Emerald Rune Spiral, a pocket-dimension array that could trap even Core Formation beasts¡ªand Su Xiaobai''s pride.


    Once¡ªon a rare day when Su Xiaobai''s libido surpassed his usual laziness¡ªhe attempted to "playfully steal a kiss" from Su''er.


    A simple lean.


    A gentle smirk.


    A whispered, "Scholar girls are the easiest to bully, right?"


    Big mistake.


    He awoke four hours later.


    Inside a rune-locked spatial pocket, accompanied only by:


    One spiritually deranged chicken


    Two frogs that kept croaking in unison


    And a transmission jade that shattered the moment he yelled "Help!"


    He sat cross-legged in defeat.


    The chicken pecked him for sport.

 Chapter 214 - 214: Destiny Stars: When Fate Hands You Five Reincarnated Problems!

    When Su''er finally released him, she didn''t scold.


    She didn''t yell.


    She just looked at him.


    Expression unreadable.


    Those soft green eyes calmly assessing her master like he was an underperforming formation core.


    Then, she kissed him.


    Soft. Gentle. Too perfect.


    Su Xiaobai blinked.


    She cleared her throat and mumbled shyly:


    "I was just¡­ too stunned earlier. You surprised me, so my body reacted on its own. It was a safety reflex. The pocket dimension¡­ just... activated. Accidentally."


    She stood straight. Adjusted her robe.


    Looked every bit the elegant scholar-fairy she always was.


    Su Xiaobai stared for a long time.


    Then folded his arms.


    "¡­That''s your story?"


    "Mm."


    A faint nod. "I''m very honest."


    He didn''t believe a single word.


    Until she stripped completely naked on the spot and laid flat across his lap.


    [Here. Inspect me for demonic possession. Surely only a mind-addled woman would act so erratically.]


    As for her spiritual weapon¡ªInkleaf Brush¡ªit was no toy.


    A treasure attuned to her Dao of Verdant Insight, it could:


    Etch runes in midair


    Paint formations across terrain, and, most dangerously of all, write spiritual rebukes at projectile speed.


    Su Xiaobai knew its power too well. He enhanced it himself¡ªnot out of generosity or affection.


    But because of one particularly traumatic nap, he had dozed off under a peach blossom tree.


    When he awoke, three things happened:


    His Qi wouldn''t circulate.


    A group of passing disciples giggled and fled.


    His forehead read¡ª


    "LAZY MASTER"


    In glowing, heaven-grade calligraphy.


    It remained for three full days, resisting soap, spirit water, and shame.


    ____


    The third sister remained mostly silent.


    Seated near Su Xiaobai''s head, her lap barely brushing against his hair, one hand gently stroked the sleeping lynx''s fur.


    Lin Xuanrui.


    Known simply as Rui''er.


    Her hair was tied in an elegant loop, the rest falling like silk down her back. Her eyes?


    Forest green, flecked with gold, like autumn leaves about to stir.


    Ethereal.


    Slender.


    The sort of woman who looked like she might evaporate if you touched her, but would actually curse your entire bloodline if you insulted her spirit beasts.


    Her destined star: Jade Star of Mystic Bloom.


    She cultivated the Dao of Spirit-Beast Harmony and Mystic Flora.


    Her voice was sweet and melodic, like dew on morning grass, but her Profound Blooming Mirage could mentally seduce weaker beasts into fighting for her cause.


    She once attempted it on Huo Lingxue.


    It failed miserably.


    But then, a week later, she accidentally incited a full-scale Chicken War at the coop back home.


    Su Xiaobai, after watching three Golden Plume Roosters duel over her hairpin, declared: "You''ve passed the beast test. Welcome to my inner circle."


    He promoted her to [Head of Beast Recruitment]


    ___


    "None of you truly understand a man''s heart..."


    A sigh slashed through the air like a silk whip.


    The speaker: Lin Meihan, or Han''er, the fox among stars.


    She sat with one leg bent, arms draped lazily over her thighs, her rich brown curls cascading like a waterfall down her shoulder, accented by delicate jade hairpins that glinted like stars under moonlight.


    Her robes?


    A sin against modesty.


    Side-slitted, silken, cinched with ornate golden sashes, cut specifically to expose more skin than it covered.


    And her waist?


    A phantom.


    A myth.


    Su Xiaobai had never successfully grabbed it.


    Whenever he tried, she slipped like smoke, chuckling sweetly as if to say:


    "Next time, maybe."


    A seductress of the Dao of Illusion and Charm, Han''er cultivated a dual path of Frost Qi and Bewitching Mist, making her impossible to pin down, in bed or in battle.


    Her technique, Frigid Mirage, summoned frost-born illusionary selves, each as lethal as they were sensual.


    And her signature weapon, the Veil of Snowglide, was a silk sash that turned into ribbons of ice, binding and freezing anything it brushed... or teasingly wrapped around.


    Su Xiaobai, weakened by recent breakthroughs, was forbidden "meat."


    Zhu Qing and Bai Yujian had warned him¡ªany excessive indulgence would make him a one-legged cultivator. Strong in theory. Useless in application.


    So naturally...


    Han''er spent her free time taunting him into sin.


    She''d whisper lines like:


    "You''re not touching me... not because you can''t... but because you fear you''ll lose control."


    It wasn''t spiritual warfare.


    It was emotional terrorism.


    From nearby, a scoff.


    "Oh? And you do understand a man''s heart?"


    The fiery voice belonged to Lin Zhuoyan, the fifth sister, known as Yan''er, the Tiger in Silk.


    Her braided crown glowed red under starlight, her athletic form coiled like a predator ready to strike. Her eyes, vivid green, yet edged with righteous flame, never stopped glaring at Su Xiaobai like he''d just robbed a temple.


    She cultivated the Dao of Blazing Valor, channeling Celestial Phoenix Flame, a path where her righteous fury could literally summon divine phoenix fire, albeit temporarily


    Her blade, the Scarlet Plume, forged from crimson gold and Qilin bone, could cleave through corruption, lies, and occasionally Su Xiaobai''s shirts.


    They fought. Constantly.


    Until one day...


    Su Xiaobai snapped.


    He opened seven out of her eight jade gates in a single night.


    Since then?


    She barked loudly, but bit no more.


    The sisters were rivals in spirit.


    But recently, they found common ground.


    Together, Han''er and Yan''er had been training Lulu, Su Xiaobai''s phoenix-blooded maid.


    Han''er taught charm.


    Yan''er taught fire.


    The result?


    Lulu broke through to Earthly Rebirth Realm and perfected her Burning Lotus Charm Technique.


    They competed through her like two jealous martial aunts.


    ____


    Back to the present.


    Han''er stood.


    And with a wicked smile, slid her sleeve back, revealing porcelain skin.


    Then, she let her robes fall just enough to bare a single smooth white shoulder, her cleavage rising delicately with every breath.


    She crawled forward, like a huntress made of snow and sin, toward the sleeping Su Xiaobai.


    Her scent, sweet, subtle, spiritually disarming, tickled his nose.


    "Brother Su~ Big Sister has brought you water¡­ open your lips."


    He blinked.


    Too tired to resist.


    Too conditioned to care.


    He opened his mouth¡ª


    And she kissed him.


    Full. Soft.


    A serpent''s dance of sweet tongue and icy charm.


    He groaned and immediately grabbed her waist, yanking her down onto his chest.


    She yelped. "Ahn¡ª! Do you want to kill this sister~?"


    Then¡ª


    She vanished.


    An illusion.


    He was holding air.


    Eyes narrowed, he sat up.


    Han''er was back in her seat, grinning like a cat who just murdered a canary mid-sermon.


    Su Xiaobai said nothing.


    He pounced.


    Grabbed her for real.


    Pressed her down. "You really don''t understand until I smack you down, huh?"


    He kissed her, rough and deep, silencing her smug grin.


    One hand tangled in her hair.


    The other slid into her robe, pinching her soft red cherries, kneading them until she gasped.


    Slurp¡­ slurp¡­


    It was wet.


    It was loud.


    It was spiritual warfare. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The other sisters?


    Turned red instantly.


    "Shameless!" Yan''er hissed, turning her face away with flaming cheeks.


    But no one interrupted.


    Because... for the first time in a while... they understood.


    Han''er had won this round.


    Near the back, Huo Lingxue, still in lynx form, yawned and shook her head.


    Then curled back into a ball.


    Her life was bliss these days.


    No more pressure. No more pride.


    Just naps, daily walks, and nighttime "Dual cultivation sessions."


    Everyone in the sect believed Su Xiaobai had tamed a wild Lynx Spirit Beast.


    No one remembered she used to be a proud Inner Court Disciple with peak-stage fire Qi and a murder complex.


    Now?


    She was the fluffy pillow Su Xiaobai used for spiritual naps.


    Life came at you fast.


    ____


    "Brother~! They''re laughing at us!"


    Han''er''s voice rang out, half-whimper, half-accusation. Her face flushed, her lips shining with a slick misty sheen, evidence of just how far the "playful teasing" had escalated.


    She pointed toward her sisters.


    The other girls immediately froze like guilty criminals caught mid-robbery.


    Yao''er tried to sneak away, but was caught mid-lotus float.


    Yan''er pretended to check her blade, only to stumble into a strategically-placed trap seal.


    (Installed by Su''er. Who else?)


    Rui''er stuck out her tongue.


    Muttered something about fate.


    Then crawled back to Su Xiaobai''s side and wrapped her arms around his waist like a sleepy kitten resigning herself to "beast duty."


    And Su''er?


    She simply sighed.


    Then sat down.


    Then spread her thighs open just a little more and looked at Su Xiaobai without a word.


    Su Xiaobai once said: "She could kill a man''s soul by blinking at the wrong time."


    But truthfully, none of it made sense, until he realized something.


    These five girls weren''t just special.


    They were dangerously important.


    When all five of them gathered¡ª


    Under the right stars¡ª


    They could summon the "Star Lotus".


    A mystical phenomenon that was, apparently, the key to an unknown Secret Realm.


    What kind of key?


    No one knew.


    Su Xiaobai, despite being a master of over a dozen fake cultivation techniques and a few real ones, still couldn''t understand what it was unlocking.


    But the heavens seemed very, very nervous about it.


    Each sister walked a different cultivation path, not by coincidence, but by fate design.


    Their "Star Destinies" were whispered in old scrolls and dying dreams. Each one a reincarnation of a figure so legendary, even modern cultivators dared not speak their names for fear of divine backlash.


    _____


    The Five Star Destinies:


    Yao''er ¨C Jade Star of Benevolent Light


    Said to be the reincarnation of the Saintess of the Jade Heart Pavilion, one of the Four Heavenly Hall''s most reclusive powers.


    Destined to ascend, then probably get hunted down by the current Saintess, who would not take kindly to being spiritually replaced by a soft-spoken dual-cultivation support pillow.


    ___


    Su''er ¨C Star of Flowing Wisdom


    Her fate linked to the Grand Rune Mistress of the Heaven-Seeking Library¡ª


    A place so mysterious, even Yue Xiuying, former Celestial Peak Lord and prophecy dropper extraordinaire, had no idea where the hell it was.


    > "Heaven-Seeking Library...?"


    > "That sounds like a scam."


    > ¨CSu Xiaobai, five seconds before falling into a rune trap she made to test him.


    ____


    Rui''er ¨C Jade Star of Mystic Bloom


    Reincarnation of the Orchid Empress of the Mystic Wilds¡ªwhich, again, didn''t exist on any known map.


    Was it a forest?


    A divine beast realm?


    A very sexy metaphor?


    Even Rui''er didn''t know.


    ____


    Han''er ¨C Jade Star of Enchanting Frost


    Destined to reclaim the title of the Frost Mistress of the Winter Palace¡ªwhich, judging by how often it was mentioned and how little was known, probably existed only to kill its heir before she got there.


    ___


    Yan''er ¨C Jade Star of Crimson Glory


    Supposedly the reincarnation of the Crimson Warden of the Nine Heavens.


    Su Xiaobai only knew of Four Heavens.


    > "What do you mean nine heavens? Where the hell are the other five hiding?!"


    > ¨CSu Xiaobai, aggressively questioning reality.


    ____


    And with this knowledge...


    Su Xiaobai finally understood why Peak Lord Lin had given up his five most treasured daughters with a forced smile and heavy spiritual sigh.


    It wasn''t goodwill.


    It wasn''t faith.


    It was survival.


    Because each of these destinies, while powerful, came with one universal truth:


    "If an Immortal finds out you''re the next heir to their seat... they kill you."


    Quietly.


    Efficiently.


    With cosmic paperwork that never leaves evidence.


    Their fate threads would be cut.


    Their names erased from spiritual records.


    And sometimes?


    They wouldn''t just kill the reincarnation.


    They''d kill everyone near them too, just to be sure.

 Chapter 215 - 215: World-Splitting Monarch! Treasure Hunt?

    Midnight...


    From the shade of a spirit-barked tree, a white fur beast curled on her side. The long, graceful tail flicked lazily, ears perked¡ªbut she didn''t move.


    Her gaze was fixed ahead.


    On him.


    ____


    Su Xiaobai.


    The man who, six months ago, was little more than a cocky brat with decent looks and unreasonable confidence.


    Now?


    She narrowed her feline eyes, pupils like slivers of winter light.


    He stood by the riverbank, chest bare beneath his open outer robe, the loose fabric fluttering in the night breeze. His lean body was carved not with bulk, but that dangerous sharpness¡ªlike a blade honed by too many battles, too many women, and far too much plot armor.


    His long white hair shimmered like moonlight, tied loosely at the back. Stray strands danced over his sharp jaw and unbothered expression. His eyes¡ªnormally half-lidded in smug drowsiness¡ªwere now narrow, glowing faintly with sword intent, as if reflecting every star above.


    He looked like a wandering immortal... who had lost his sword and picked up a twig instead.


    Because that''s exactly what he was holding.


    ¡ª A twig.


    Just a normal twig. From a tree. No engravings. No inscriptions. Not a divine branch blessed by a dragon.


    Just. A. Twig.


    "Okay, let''s try it again..."


    He muttered under his breath, spinning the twig once between his fingers like a conductor''s baton.


    He wasn''t kidding.


    The spiritual pressure around him intensified.


    Sword intent.


    Not just ordinary sword intent ¡ª Fourth level: Severing Rivers.


    She watched, ears twitching.


    SPLASH!


    The river in front of him shuddered, then¡ªwithout any visible strike¡ªparted down the center.


    As if an invisible blade had cleaved it open, the waters screamed silently as they split apart. For a brief moment, there was a path through liquid.


    Then¡ª


    CRASH!


    The water collapsed inward, crashing with a thunderous roar.


    Spray erupted into the air.


    A wave surged up¡ª


    BAM!


    Su Xiaobai soared above it, his brow twitching, expression locked somewhere between enlightened master and annoyed villager.


    He floated, suspended mid-air, his robes whipping around him in the moonlight, droplets sparkling like stars around his body.


    But his eyes...


    Still burning.


    With frustration.


    Huo Lingxue blinked.


    Then¡ªwithout a word¡ªher snowy lynx form shimmered, melted, and reformed.


    Now there stood a woman.


    Barefoot on the dewy grass.


    Legs long, pale as spirit milk, toned from years of battle and beastly grace.


    Her ruby-red hair tied up into a celestial bun, loose strands cascading down her back like silk fire. Her bossom¡ªample and generous¡ªbarely concealed beneath a mist-colored robe that covered suspiciously in the right places, and definitely not by accident.


    She tilted her head, lips curled in slight confusion.


    "What''s wrong? Didn''t it work this time~?"


    Su Xiaobai turned, twig still in hand.


    His hair, now damp with sweat and river mist, he clicked his tongue. "It should''ve lasted longer. The split should ripple, then crash back with a secondary shockwave. A layered intent. Like a spiritual cluster bomb."


    He swung the twig again in frustration, carving ripples into the air.


    Huo Lingxue blinked again. Her expression was halfway between cute confusion and sincere concern.


    "Oh..."


    She nodded.


    As if she understood.


    She absolutely did not.


    She knew fire. She knew claw and fang. But sword intent?


    "That''s a boy''s obsession," she thought.


    Still, she stood by.


    The Lin Quintriplets had already returned to Su Xiaobai''s ring world, drifting into spiritual slumber (and probably still fighting over who gets to warm which half of his chest).


    That left just her and him.


    Alone.


    Midnight.


    River winds.


    Moon overhead.


    Two half-naked cultivators.


    Zero supervision.


    And yet¡ªSu Xiaobai didn''t even look back.


    He grunted, turned¡ª


    And flew off.


    "Eh? Wait!" Huo Lingxue jolted, panic flickering in her eyes.


    She darted after him, floating beside him in a streak of frostlight.


    ''Where are you going?! We just got to the tension!'' ¡ª That''s not what she said. But it''s what she meant!


    As they neared the outer edge of Xiantian Sect, they saw it.


    Floating silently.


    Suspended in the air like a celestial ghost: S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A massive flying ship, more than a hundred meters long, covered in etched talismans and glowing sigils. It glimmered with faint protection seals and bore no sect emblem.


    It just floated.


    Idle. Ominous. Midnight.


    "Is that¡­ a flying treasure vessel?" Huo Lingxue frowned.


    Who leaves at midnight? Are they fleeing?


    Or smuggling?


    Or running from someone they accidentally dual cultivated to death?


    All valid questions.


    Su Xiaobai descended wordlessly.


    Thud.


    He landed on the deck with practiced ease, Huo Lingxue a breath behind him.


    There¡ªamid scattered crates and luminous supply orbs¡ªstood three women.


    One, clearly in charge, was pointing toward the hull and giving orders. The other two scrambled to arrange spirit herbs and loading bags of¡­ what looked like roasted chicken legs?


    Su Xiaobai''s brows furrowed.


    "...What''s going on?"


    His hand tightened on the twig.


    Not because he intended to fight.


    But because if this ship was secretly robbing his chicken farm, someone was going to lose their soul tonight.


    "Qingqing! What the hell are you doing?!"


    Su Xiaobai''s voice cracked like a heavenly whip across the silent deck.


    His eyes widened¡ªnot from awe, but rage.


    Because before him stood his own future wife, Zhu Qing, overseeing Hu Jiao''er and Hu Mei''er as they carefully¡ªand suspiciously¡ªloaded Colonel KFC into a giant crate.


    Yes.


    His chicken.


    His spirit beast.


    His beloved poultry saint.


    Kicking and squawking inside a reinforced spirit-sealed transport cage.


    "Oh! You''re finally back?" Zhu Qing turned with a radiant smile, hair flowing like spiritual silk, expression soft like a gentle spring breeze.


    Su Xiaobai did not feel the warmth of spring.


    He felt the urge to burn down the ship.


    Then she dropped the bomb.


    "Little Husband~ Ready for your trip?"


    She winked.


    Whoosh! He moved.


    Before she could react, Su Xiaobai blurred forward, his hand grabbing her wrists in one fluid motion and locking them behind her back.


    "Agh¡ª! You... VILLAIN!" Zhu Qing yelped, wincing. "It was a joke! Let go! That actually hurts!"


    "Two minutes," he frowned, eyes narrowed. "Explain. Or Peak Lord Zhu is going to be seen tomorrow morning... scrubbing blood off bedsheets."


    Hu Jiao''er and Hu Mei''er looked away so hard they nearly rotated their necks into new realms.


    Neither dared breathe.


    This was a legendary scene ¡ª senior getting bullied by junior!


    But... it was also Su Xiaobai''s wife.


    And he was terrifying when he was interrupted during a personal sword-twig training arc.


    Zhu Qing sighed deeply, rolling her eyes.


    "Tch. So dramatic. You act like I''m selling you to a brothel."


    "With a shipping crate, yes," he snapped.


    "It''s not even locked!"


    "You sealed my chicken."


    "I was bribing him with herbs!"


    "That was a bribe?!"


    She pulled him to the side¡ªstill massaging her wrists¡ªand whispered, "Do you know about the Southern Ridge?"


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes narrowed. "...What about it?"


    "You''re going there."


    He blinked. Paused. Released her.


    Then just stared at her.


    Like she''d grown three heads and each one tried to sell him insurance.


    "Why."


    Zhu Qing folded her arms beneath her chest.


    Which, Su Xiaobai noted bitterly, bounced a little too smugly for someone about to send him to a region known for poisonous fog, half-dead trees, and angry ghost monkeys.


    "At dawn, you''ll depart with Jiao''er, Mei''er¡­ and... Yu Feng."


    She said that last part like she was chewing sand.


    Su Xiaobai''s voice dropped.


    "...Are you sick?"


    Zhu Qing''s brow twitched.


    Hu Jiao''er looked away.


    Hu Mei''er audibly swallowed.


    "Must you always disrespect me in front of juniors?!"


    "Must you always send me to dangerous locations in front of the moon?!"


    She pulled him farther aside, whispering harshly. "Listen, Little Villain. Remember the Dark Tab Map that Yu Feng stole from the Blackwind ruins?"


    "The one you told me not to chase because it was ''a problem for future us?''"


    "Yes, that one."


    "I hate past you."


    She smacked his arm lightly. "Now''s the chance. Elder Bai''s not back yet, so we can move freely. The Southern Ridge borders the Hidden Shade Wildlands. The tablet''s aura flared three days ago¡ªsomeone activated it."


    "You want me to sneak in, grab it, and use it for myself¡ªwithout reporting it?"


    "Exactly!"


    "You''re supposed to be righteous!"


    "I''m married to you. The sect''s moral compass is already broken."


    Su Xiaobai massaged his temples. "So let me get this straight. You want me to go on a suicide trip to retrieve a stolen forbidden relic from one of the most cursed places on the continent¡ªwith a chicken, two bunny twins, and my nemesis turned dark church clergy."


    Zhu Qing smiled sweetly. "Yes."


    ____


    The Southern Ridge, she said.


    But not just any ridge.


    The Southern Ridge of the entire Soaring Dragon Continent¡ªthe land''s very edge, where the earth itself gave way to the Baihua Plains and the fragmented Endless Isles beyond.


    Yet before that¡ªnestled in the farthest south of Yue Country, where the terrain faded into bleak mist and eternal drizzle¡ª


    Lies the Hidden Shade Wildlands.


    A cursed land, wrapped in silver rains and ancient regret.


    "That place used to be the home of the Yunmu Clan," Zhu Qing explained, her tone serious as she tapped a hovering spirit map open in front of them. "A race of wood spirits known for their alchemy..."

 Chapter 216 - 216: Hunting Dark Tab!

    "A race of wood spirits known for their alchemy...."


    "Let me guess¡­" Su Xiaobai folded his arms. "...They exploded."


    "Corrupted," Zhu Qing corrected. "A spiritual blight. Ninety percent of their land turned to poison. Clan wiped out. Now the remnants barely survive in the Misty Vale Basin¡ªsheltered behind the barriers of the Cloudwood Forest."


    Su Xiaobai squinted at the map. "Sounds charming. Definitely a vacation spot."


    Zhu Qing ignored the sarcasm. "Right now, the Weeping Moon Festival is underway. The silver rains fall continuously for forty-nine days¡ªthe only time when the Cloudwood Forest opens its gates."


    She leaned closer. "That''s where the Dark Tab was last seen¡ªwith a surviving Yunmu clan member. And during the festival, the forest barriers shift. You can cross into the corrupted wildlands through the Vale''s Mist Gate."


    Su Xiaobai sighed. "So it''s not a death mission. It''s a romantic fog walk into a cursed swamp."


    Zhu Qing nodded sagely, ignoring the venom in his voice. "This is the only window we''ll get. The wildlands are filled with lost relics, ancient beasts, and rare death Qi. Which reminds me..."


    She gestured behind her. "You''ll go disguised as a mercenary. There''ll be others. Treasure hunters, sectless vagabonds, cursed cultivators. No one will look at you twice."


    "Except all of them will, because I''m me."


    "Exactly. So be careful."


    The snow fox twin sisters, Hu Jiao''er and Hu Mei''er, were still innocently loading crates nearby.


    Su Xiaobai narrowed his eyes.


    "...Why them?"


    Zhu Qing didn''t answer immediately, she lowered her voice.


    "They''ll guard you until the edge of the Vale Basin. After that, you''ll go alone with Yu Feng."


    "...I hate that you added her name last."


    "She''s useful... And already knows far too much. So do the fox twins."


    Her eyes turned sharp. "This is your chance, Suppress them...One way or another. If they return from this trip without being firmly under your control... we''re taking a risk."


    Su Xiaobai glanced back at the snow fox twins.


    White hair, fox ears hidden under elegant robes, curves in all the right places.


    They were human in all features, but their instincts? Still fox...They''ve seen too much. Heard too much. And definitely peeked too much.


    He turned back to Zhu Qing.


    "...Qingqing."


    She raised a brow.


    "How long have you been planning to throw me into the wildlands to die?"


    Her expression didn''t change.


    But her silence?


    Said everything.


    "You¡ª" he muttered. "You''ve been planning this for weeks."


    Zhu Qing sighed dramatically. "You''ve been bored. You''ve been moody. You keep trying to cultivate by spanking me. And the Sword Fairy STILL hasn''t returned to help shoulder the burden."


    She rubbed her back.


    Knowingly.


    "So yes. I planned. I schemed. I borrowed a flying ship. I sealed your chicken. I bribed the fox girls. I prepped your route. I prepared a cover identity. I even packed you clean underpants. You''re welcome."


    Su Xiaobai was speechless.


    "Besides," she added. "You were planning to sneak off to Baihua Plains anyway. Don''t think I didn''t catch you looking at travel scrolls."


    "...So you were spying on me now?"


    "Please. I sleep next to you. Your sword gets twitchy when you''re hiding something."


    As for Yu Feng, they didn''t need to say more.


    Bound by a slave seal, born of the Dark Church. Sharp, cunning, and halfway between ally and future betrayal.


    Zhu Qing had prepared her for this very purpose.


    "You''re sending me into a corrupted dead zone," Su Xiaobai muttered, finally grabbing his cloak.


    "Yup."


    "With women who may kill me if I don''t tame them."


    "Uh-huh."


    "To steal a cursed tablet and grow my army of dead generals."


    "Now you''re getting it."


    "...I hate how turned on I am by this plan."


    Zhu Qing smiled, kissed his cheek, and whispered:


    "Make me proud, my future Warlord."


    Zhu Qing''s voice carried that same dangerous sweetness she used before slipping a formation seal under your pillow.


    Su Xiaobai groaned.


    Because unfortunately, it was working. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    That line?


    Too effective.


    Truthfully, he was already tempted.


    Even if the Dark Tab turned out to be a myth, the Hidden Shade Wildlands were still overflowing with Death Qi¡ªperfect nourishment for his dormant Warlord Generals.


    If he could revive them...


    "With those monsters at my back, would I even need to fear anyone?"


    Sword Fairy or not.


    Zhu Qing, seeing him mentally buckle, celebrated inwardly.


    Outwardly?


    She maintained a cool, composed facade.


    Too much glee would make him suspicious¡ªand this villain was prone to changing his mind out of sheer spite.


    He once cancelled a cultivation plan because someone said "good luck."


    ''No way I''m letting him stay here another month,'' she thought.


    Ever since his soul fusion breakthrough, Su Xiaobai had become a spiritual furnace without an off switch. And since he didn''t need more Yin Essence right now¡ªhaving refined more than most sects could store in a decade¡ª


    He had to release that energy somehow.


    Mostly on her.


    And on Huo Lingxue.


    On alternating nights.


    Sometimes the same night.


    The truth was...


    Zhu Qing had become like one of those overly enthusiastic wives in old plays. The ones who cheerfully packed her man off to war just because she couldn''t afford another broken bedframe.


    This trip?


    It wasn''t just a mission.


    It was a cooldown period.


    ''He''s strong, he''s smart, and he''s a walking disaster,'' she thought. ''Better he causes one out there than in my bedroom.''


    She also did it to keep him away from Baihua Plains.


    Su Xiaobai had been acting restless lately. Bai Yujian had gone missing for four months. No news. No signal.


    He''d begun researching travel routes. Rerouting flying beasts. Plotting paths to the plains.


    It was cute.


    But suicidal.


    "If there''s something Bai Yujian can''t handle, what makes him think he can?"


    Sure, he had talent.


    Sure, he had charm.


    Sure, he had warlord ghosts, fox girls, chicken gods, and sword intent that could part rivers.


    But he also had the survivability instincts of a suicidal squirrel.


    No. The Southern Ridge was safer.


    Relatively.


    Zhu Qing would''ve loved to go with him herself, but¡ª"The sect needs three Great Ascension Realm experts present," she said aloud. "We can''t weaken our defense."


    What she meant was: "If I leave, this sect becomes a brothel or a crater. Possibly both."


    Su Xiaobai finally sighed, rubbing his forehead.


    "Fine. I''ll go."


    Zhu Qing beamed.


    Internally. ''Good. Now I can finally sleep without reinforcing the mattress with spirit iron.''


    ____


    While Su Xiaobai and Zhu Qing were off discussing his little romantic treasure hunt into one of the most cursed locations in the continent¡­


    Somewhere far... In the shadow of night.


    A girl sighed with elegance, melancholy, and absolutely zero awareness of the spiritual projectile hurtling her way.


    Yu Feng.


    A former genius of the Dark Church.


    An adopted daughter of the Pope himself.


    Bearer of cursed Yin, ice-cold pride, and thighs that made inner sect disciples doubt their path.


    She stood on the rooftop of a small inn inside Yunnan city, cloak fluttering, watching the silver mist drift across the horizon of the Southern Ridge.


    "Sigh¡­ I should just leave."


    Her fingers plucked off her black feathered mask.


    She stared down at it with eyes as blue as midnight sins.


    "Two years. And still nothing. The Dark Tab is gone, my mission is meaningless, and I''m definitely cursed by that demon man and his silver-haired bitch."


    She glanced toward her inn room bed.


    Groaned again.


    "There''s probably a seal on me. Maybe a mark. Maybe spiritual handcuffs. Whatever."


    She paused.


    Then, smiled faintly.


    "Not like it matters. Once I return to the Church, they''ll strip it off. I''ll explain everything. All is forgiven. Maybe they''ll let me murder him."


    She yawned, utterly unaware of her fate. Then turned toward the bed¡ª


    And got exactly 0.5 seconds of peace.


    BANG!


    Her head kissed the floor.


    Not metaphorically.


    Literally.


    Her elegant ice-princess face slammed into the floorboards with projectile precision.


    Definitely not because someone had thrown a spirit-sealing sleep talisman at the back of her head.


    Nope.


    Must''ve been an inner ghost.


    Yes. Yes, definitely spiritual fatigue. Nothing suspicious here.


    And certainly no mysterious shadow dragging her unconscious body across rooftops like a sack of turnips, muttering things like:


    "Tsk. She''s heavier than I remembered."

 Chapter 217 - 217: Trapping two clever fox — Cliche Way!

    Later...


    As the first sunrays bled across the sky, the massive flying ship soared silently above the forest.


    Its jade-inscribed hull gleaming in the early dawn light. Runes shimmered across its surface, throbbing like a heartbeat¡ªfeeding power to the flight arrays inscribed by ancient cultivators long since turned to dust.


    Beneath the ship, a sea of clouds parted, revealing glimpses of sharp, dagger-like peaks shrouded in ethereal mist.


    Su Xiaobai leaned against the railing, squinting into the light.


    Beside him¡­


    Yu Feng was tied to a pole like a hostage from a cheap opera.


    _____


    An hour later...


    A groan escaped her lips as Yu Feng stirred.


    "...Mmm¡­"


    Her eyelids fluttered open.


    A headache pulsed behind her temples. Her vision was blurry, for a moment, all she saw was blinding sky and glowing clouds.


    Endless, open sky.


    Then she realized she was¡­ not on the floor.


    Not on a bed.


    Not even on the ground.


    She was in the air.


    Bound, with ropes, to a pole.


    Like a sacrificial prisoner being offered to the heavens.


    "...What?"


    She twisted.


    The ropes were tight, her cloak was gone, and legs were bound neatly like a spirit sect bundle delivery. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    There was even a tag hanging off her waist that said:


    "Yu Feng ¨C Handle With Care (May Bite)."


    Her head whipped around.


    There was Su Xiaobai, leaning smugly against the rail, sipping tea like this was a vacation cruise.


    He turned casually.


    "Morning, Yu Feng. Sleep well?"


    Her mouth opened.... Closed... Opened again.


    "You¡ª!!"


    "You were walking funny. Thought you needed a rest. So I gave you one."


    "You KIDNAPPED ME!"


    "I recruited you."


    "YOU TIED ME TO A POLE!!"


    "You''re feisty when you''re sleepy. I didn''t want you jumping overboard."


    "I AM GOING TO MURDER YOU¡ª"


    "After the mission, sure."


    Su Xiaobai''s voice was breezy¡ªcasual, as if he were discussing weekend plans instead of the midair abduction of an elite dark priestess tied to a pole.


    Yu Feng''s eye twitched.


    Her killing intent¡ªsuppressed and dormant for two years¡ªbegan to stir like a long-slumbering specter. The weary ropes bound her still, but the dark aura seeping from her body was anything but still.


    It leaked like black mist from a cracked furnace, heavy with ancient curses and emotional trauma.


    "Mission?" she hissed. "What mission?


    Don''t talk nonsense with me, Su Xiaobai!"


    The temperature dropped.


    Dark mist spiraled across the deck.


    The sky roared.


    Then¡ª


    BANG!


    Her fingers twitched, and a violent pulse of dark Qi exploded outward. The spirit-forged thunder ropes snapped like mortal thread¡ªtwisting in the air before evaporating with a hiss of white smoke.


    Su Xiaobai didn''t even flinch, he took another sip of tea. "Hm. Four seconds slower than expected."


    A blinding blue light flashed¡ªYu Feng''s figure reappeared instantly, landing on the polished spiritwood deck in front of him.


    Robes fluttering...Hair flowing like ink in water. Eyes glowing like twin frost moons during a blood eclipse. She looked like a vengeful goddess plucked straight from a forbidden cultivation epic.


    "SU. XIAOBAI."


    Each syllable fell like a heavenly tribulation bolt.


    Birds scattered from the mast.


    The ship groaned slightly.


    Somewhere below, a passing Sky Roc heard the name and immediately turned course.


    Su Xiaobai glanced at her.


    Then slowly raised one brow.


    "You''re awake. Good. We''re on schedule."


    "You¡ª!"


    "Southern Ridge. Hidden Shade Wildlands. Corrupted spiritual terrain. Rich in death Qi. A wonderful vacation. You''ll love it."


    "I''M GOING TO BURY YOU IN IT."


    "Qingqing said you needed a field trip," Su Xiaobai added helpfully.


    "She what¡ª?!"


    "And the fox twins are already preparing the battle attire."


    At that exact moment, a door at the end of the deck slid open with a faint chime, and Hu Mei''er leaned out.


    She was wearing¡ª


    Let''s call it a "battle-ready spiritual bodysuit" that looked 90% made of string, 5% jade ornament, and 5% wishful thinking: Young Master~ Your travel robes have been steamed. Also, we''ve fluffed the bed.


    Yu Feng turned slowly, a vein pulsing on her temple.


    "...What the hell is going on?"


    The once proud saintess of the Dark Church, now reduced to background harem ornament, was watching her captor sip tea while a fox girl in thigh-slit robes called him like a flirtatious innkeeper calling her favorite debt collector.


    Hu Mei''er smiled sheepishly, her soft round cheeks slightly red, lips slightly parted, as if she''d just read from a very inappropriate scroll on ''Cultivation through Touch.''


    "Junior Brother~ Can you come here for a second? My sister needs your help¡­"


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes narrowed like a man who knew a trap when he smelled one¡ªbut still walked into it like a moth diving into a spirit fire.


    "Definitely," he said with a grin, already forgetting Yu Feng existed.


    Yu Feng watched him disappear toward the cabin.


    She clutched her forehead.


    "This is not a mission¡­ this is a madhouse¡­"


    She checked her clothes¡ªstill intact.


    Sighed in relief.


    "At least the beast hasn''t ravaged me."


    _____


    Meanwhile, Su Xiaobai was already standing before Hu Mei''er, who¡ªup close¡ªlooked even more like a snow fox in human skin. Round cheeks, red from embarrassment or the cold wind. Cute, yes.


    But also dangerous.


    Because these sisters were not ordinary cultivators.


    Su Xiaobai had found out months ago: they weren''t even fully human.


    They were half-blooded snow foxes from a merchant clan of the Black Tortoise Empire, gifted to the sect as goodwill tokens. Sword Fairy was supposed to serve them to him roasted, but then generously allowed him to "select from the market."


    And by ''select,'' she meant every woman with a heartbeat.


    Su Xiaobai leaned casually. "You look nervous."


    "N-No, just¡­ my sister''s having some trouble inside the cabin¡­"


    Hu Mei''er pointed behind her, toward the luxurious main cabin, which had defensive formations strong enough to repel an immortal chicken during tribulation.


    From within: muffled shouting.


    "How the hell do you steer this thing!?" came Hu Jiao''er''s voice, rich with frustration and elegance.


    Su Xiaobai raised an eyebrow.


    "Why can''t she ask herself?"


    "She''s¡­ um¡­ too proud."


    "Got it. Fox arrogance. So she sent you."


    "I¡­ volunteered¡­"


    Su Xiaobai squinted. "Suspicious."


    Then, like a true bastard protagonist¡ªhe flickered.


    [Void Step]


    Vanished in a streak of golden-blue, and reappeared behind Hu Mei''er before she could blink.


    "Huh?" she blinked.


    Until¡ª


    PUSH!


    "Wha¡ªKyaaaa!"


    BANG!


    Hu Mei''er was shoved straight through the door like a delivery parcel. The moment she crossed the threshold¡ª


    BOOM!


    A massive golden hammer enchanted with muscle-numbing Qi dropped from the ceiling like a punishment from the heavens and slammed directly into her soft abdomen.


    "AGH¡ª!"


    She screamed¡ªlegs giving out as she folded, clutching her belly, tears forming instantly at the corners of her wide, betrayed eyes.


    "M-Mei''er! Why did you enter first!?" Hu Jiao''er cried in panic.


    But the real demon had already made his move.


    Su Xiaobai, with the poise of a Daoist war criminal, slipped something from his sleeve¡ªa glowing pink vial of mist.


    "Sorry ladies, but this ship needs to run on double-cultivation fuel today."


    CRASH!


    He tossed it into the cabin.


    The vial shattered.


    The pink liquid instantly vaporized, filling the air with sweet, exotic fragrance.


    [Fragrant Mist of the Twin Petal Furnace] ¨C A ''mild'' aphrodisiac fog cultivated from the blooming petals of the Nine-Spring Orchid!


    Designed to soften Qi resistance¡­


    And other things.


    "SU XIAOBAI!!!"


    Hu Jiao''er''s voice was fire and fury as she spun, banging on the inside of the cabin like a trapped immortal lioness.


    "Open this door right now!! THIS ISN''T FUNNY!!"


    But Su Xiaobai?


    He simply smiled, locking the formation plate with a graceful twist of his fingers.


    [Seal of the Thousand Pillar Lotus] ¨C Cabin Isolation Mode Activated.


    "Ladies, please cultivate calmly. I believe in you."


    The cabin shook as Hu Jiao''er slammed her palm again and again, but it was no use.


    The Captain''s Cabin on a top-grade spirit vessel was a mobile fortress. Reinforced by formations so strong that even a Tribulation Realm cultivator couldn''t break in¡ªor out.

 Chapter 218 - 218: All’s fair in Dao and war!

    The cabin shook as Hu Jiao''er slammed her palm again and again, but it was no use.


    "Cough¡­ Sister¡­" Hu Mei''er mumbled inside, her voice hazy.


    She was already slumped in the corner, the pink mist curling around her like silken vines.


    "My¡­ my head¡­ it''s spinning¡­"


    "This smell¡ªwhat¡­ is¡­?"


    Hu Jiao''er''s nose twitched. Her eyes widened.


    "No! It''s a fragrance mist! This¡ªthis¡ªYOU USED A FILTHY TRAP!?"


    "SU XIAOBAI!! OPEN THE DAMN DOOR!!"


    Outside, Su Xiaobai stood there like a lone swordsman¡­A tragic silhouette gazing out into the rising mist. If someone were watching from afar, they''d think he was a peerless cultivator contemplating the Dao under starlight.


    But in truth?


    He was just admiring his own shamelessness.


    "And people say I''m not resourceful," he muttered with pride.


    Then, louder¡ªdramatically:


    "This is punishment for setting a trap! You thought I''d walk into a hammer? Please!"


    "Don''t worry, the mist will wear off in¡­ six hours. Maybe seven. Depends how strong your hearts are."


    "...And your kidneys."


    From the deck, Yu Feng stared blankly. She looked at him, then at the glowing door behind him, then back at him.


    Her face said one thing: I''m not sure whether I should report him to the Elders or start taking notes.


    She turned slowly to the railing again. "We are¡­ so doomed." Then, she sighed and walked over, each step more awkward than the last.


    "Why¡­ did you lock two elders in a cabin filled with aphrodisiac mist?"


    Su Xiaobai clicked his tongue. "Tch, they were planning to knock me out with a hammer and throw me into the brig for the whole journey."


    "W-What?" Yu Feng blinked.


    Right then¡ª


    BANG!


    "SU XIAOBAI! IF ANYTHING HAPPENS TO US I SWEAR I''LL BURN YOU DOWN!!"


    That was Hu Jiao''er.


    The door behind Su Xiaobai trembled as she kicked it.


    Yu Feng frowned... Something was fishy.


    But the sudden shift in voices inside the cabin told her everything she needed.


    "S-Su Xiaobai! We were wrong! Please open the door!"


    Hu Jiao''er''s voice changed so fast, it could''ve gotten whiplash.


    Su Xiaobai? Still sipping tea like the villainous bastard he was.


    "Too late."


    The truth?


    Both sides were scheming.


    Hu Jiao''er and Hu Mei''er, peak geniuses of Snow Fox lineage, had decided the best defense was to neutralize the threat. Lock Su Xiaobai up, complete the escort mission, dump him and Yu Feng in the corrupted wildlands, and leave without so much as a single violated thigh.


    Simple. Elegant. Clean.


    Meanwhile, Su Xiaobai was pondering how to stuff both sisters into his bedroll without getting his head removed.


    He hadn''t planned to use the nine-spring orchid mist¡ªZhu Qing gave it to him in jest.


    But after sensing the trap¡­


    He decided to return the favor.


    "It was self-defense," he said to no one in particular.


    Yu Feng stared at him with narrowed eyes. "...How did you know it was a trap?"


    Su Xiaobai glanced at her like she was the slow student in a lecture. "They were kind."


    Yu Feng blinked. "¡­What?"


    "Too kind."


    He pointed toward the sealed door. "Normally Hu Mei''er is too shy to talk to me. She always hides behind her sister. But this time, she walked right up to me, asking for help?"


    "Suspicious."


    "So I pushed her first. And look¡ªhammer."


    He folded his arms. "I used to be the villain. Now everyone wants to be one."


    Inside the cabin...


    Hu Mei''er was coughing softly, back pressed against the wall, cheeks flushed, mist spiraling around her like a romantic painting gone terribly wrong.


    Hu Jiao''er was banging on the door, red-faced and spiritually humiliated.


    "SU XIAOBAI!! OPEN THIS DOOR RIGHT NOW!"


    "I TOLD YOU HE WAS A BASTARD!"


    "WHY DID YOU TRUST HIM?!"


    "HE WAS SMILING!"


    "EVIL MEN ALWAYS SMILE!"


    She turned to her sister, who was visibly dizzy and hugging her own thighs.


    "Don''t sniff it¡ªstop sniffing the mist!"


    "I-I can''t help it¡­ it smells like peaches¡­"


    "IT''S A LIE! PEACHES ARE EVIL!"


    Outside, Su Xiaobai looked genuinely wounded. "Tsk. So ungrateful."


    He tapped the seal with his finger. "You know, I was going to bring peaches."


    From within came muffled sobs and cursing.


    Yu Feng stood beside him, utterly speechless, contemplating whether she should report him to the Sect Master¡­


    Or just sit down and watch how this tragedy.


    "This ship is going to crash."


    "This mission is going to fail."


    "We''re all going to die."


    Su Xiaobai smiled. "Probably."


    "..." Yu Feng stood still for a heartbeat.Then she exhaled softly. A tired, world-weary sigh that said: I have no idea why I''m still here.


    "I''m leaving," she huffed, turning on her heel.


    "Leaving?" Su Xiaobai raised a brow.


    She was already walking toward the edge of the spirit ship, sleeves fluttering behind her like a sorrowful crane preparing to take flight.


    He took one step forward.


    CLANG!


    A sudden whistle split the air.


    A streak of black mist whistled through the wind like a cursed viper¡ªits tail wreathed in shrieking soul fragments.


    Whoosh! Su Xiaobai''s body moved on instinct.


    His sword flashed once, cutting a perfect arc through the air, deflecting the dark arrow mid-flight.


    It struck the golden hull behind them¡ªhissing, melting part of the spirit ship''s railing like it was made of cheap tofu.


    Yu Feng didn''t flinch.


    "Your mission has nothing to do with me," she said calmly, eyes still on the horizon. "Tell everyone... I died during the journey."


    Her voice was eerily detached¡ªlike she was reading the last line of her own obituary.


    She had made her decision.


    The sect.


    The journey.


    Su Xiaobai.


    All of it¡ªdiscarded like a broken transmission jade.


    But Su Xiaobai just chuckled. "Hah¡­ knew it."


    His smile shifted, slow, knowing, the kind of smile sect leaders feared and righteous maidens found themselves inexplicably drawn to.


    He reached into his sleeve. "Well, if you''re not interested¡­I guess I''ll go look for the Dark Tab myself."


    Yu Feng stopped mid-step.


    Rustle~!


    The cold wind blew softly... Somewhere far below, a hawk screeched. She turned, eyes wide, voice trembling with a single word, "...Dark Tab?"


    Su Xiaobai gave her a look that said: Gotcha.


    "Oh yes. That thing you''ve been looking for like a lovesick widow chasing her ex-husband''s inheritance?" He crossed his arms. "The map''s with me. The Wildlands are opening. Death Qi''s ripe... And word has it the last time it surfaced, it was with remnants of the Yunmu clan¡­"


    Yu Feng glared at him.


    Stared into his shameless, smug, "I know you can''t resist" face.


    Then she slowly walked away from the ship''s edge.


    Back toward the deck.


    Each step screamed: I hate you.


    But each breath whispered: ¡­I want that tab.


    She passed him without saying a word and made her way to the top of the deck, long dark hair trailing like a sorrowful comet, every inch of her body filled with reluctant purpose.


    "Not leaving anymore?" Su Xiaobai called after her, his tone drenched in sweet sarcasm. "Want me to fluff your pillow too, since you''re staying?"


    Yu Feng gritted her teeth.


    She didn''t look back.


    "I''m just staying until the next landmass."


    Just long enough to steal everything you''re after and ruin your life.


    Su Xiaobai smiled like a man watching a fox walk into his trap while thinking it was hers. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She took her place near the helm of the ship, eyes scanning the horizon. The Misty Vale Basin was still distant, blanketed in eternal rain and drifting silver fog.


    Her expression was calm.


    "Let him lead me to it, then I''ll call in the Church... The Dark Tab belongs to Father¡­"


    She didn''t speak again.


    But behind her calm eyes, the war had already begun. As long as she''s walking toward the treasure and not away from it, all''s fair in Dao and war.

 Chapter 219 - 219: The Great Yin Reservoir! Weird Xu Tianran!

    After Yu Feng stormed off to go sulk in the corner like a rejected concubine with murder issues, Su Xiaobai¡­


    Did what all great cultivators do in times of emotional chaos:


    He sat cross-legged to meditate.


    The skies above shifted hues¡ªfrom crisp blue to golden orange, then finally to a stormy dusk-gray, as if nature itself was trying to reflect the mood inside the ship.


    But peace?


    Peace was a luxury.


    Because the groaning hadn''t stopped. From the sealed cabin behind him¡ª


    "Mmm¡­"


    "Ah¡ªah¡­ stop¡­ not there¡­"


    "Agh¡ªwhy does it feel good!?"


    The cabin door was constructed with spirit-echo formations¡ªintended to allow voice transmission during hostage crises.


    But right now?


    It was transmitting uncensored moaning directly into Su Xiaobai''s ears at peak clarity.


    He twitched, his spiritual sea trembled, and his Dao heart cracked.


    "Tch¡­"


    He tilted his head up to the sky, raised a hand¡ªAnd flipped the heavens the spiritual bird.


    "Fuck you, Author."


    "What kind of sick bastard writes this kind of nerf!?"


    "I''ve got two top-tier deity-level fox sisters melting like peaches in heat, and I can''t even poke them because my foundation isn''t stable?!"


    "You better reincarnate into your own story and experience blue balls through twelve lifetimes!"


    He inhaled deeply, then spat. "Let me breathe, damn it!"


    Then his lips curled into a grin. "Of course¡­ I don''t expect a ''miracle twist solution'' to fall from the sky¡­"


    "¡­Because I''m already making one."


    His eyes gleamed. Because Su Xiaobai? He wasn''t some regular horny harem protagonist.


    He was horny with a plan.


    "The problem," he muttered, "is their primordial yin¡­"


    "If I take it, my unstable soul fusion will spike again¡ªQi overflow, foundation collapse, tragic end."


    "But if I don''t take it, I''ll be wasting enough Yin energy to power a small sect''s entire winter heating array."


    He clenched his fists.


    This was unacceptable.


    So¡ª


    "The solution¡­ is storage!"


    His eyes lit up like a Daoist alchemist on forbidden stimulants.


    "If I can absorb the Yin Essence but not refine it¡ªif I can seal it into something¡ªthen I can stockpile it like a pervert''s secret stash!"


    "Then¡ªwhen I need it¡ªI can inject it directly into my Dragon Breath."


    "Yin-powered death beam. Pew pew."


    He leapt to his feet, excitement radiating like heat waves off a fire Qi cultivator''s bathwater.


    "This¡­ this is genius"


    "No¡ªI am genius!"


    "I''ll create a technique!"


    "A concept!"


    "A path of Yin Absorption without cultivation¡ªwhere pleasure isn''t a danger, it''s a damn investment portfolio!"


    He began pacing the deck like a mad cultivator on the verge of discovering the Dao of Thirst Management.


    "Let''s call it¡­ The Yin Vessel Art."


    "No¡­ too ordinary."


    "Dragon Flask of Ecstasy? Primordial Vault Sutra?"


    "No¡­"


    He narrowed his eyes.


    Then snapped his fingers.


    "Heavenly Jade Reservoir¡ªA soul-sealed meridian construct that acts like a second Dantian, storing primordial Yin Qi in its purest state."


    "No refining. No absorption. Just containment."


    "Refillable. Reusable. Environmentally sustainable."


    The wind blew.


    His clothes fluttered.


    The twin moons glimmered above the ship.


    And Su Xiaobai stood in the center of the deck¡­


    Looking like a righteous scholar.


    But really plotting how to stuff two half-fox deity-tier beauties into an invisible storage jar made of spiritual loopholes.


    Other than being aggressively turned on by muffled fox groans and wall-thumping thots from the next room, Su Xiaobai had a bigger concern on hand¡ª


    Boredom.


    This damn journey was a week long.


    He needed something to do before he died from spiritual blue balls and psychological decay.


    So naturally, he tried the first thing that came to mind: sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Let''s build a second meridian system."


    Yup.


    Just casually reconstruct his body''s divine circulatory architecture like it was a DIY Ikea shelf.


    Spoiler alert: It failed.


    Miserably.


    He coughed up blood.


    Twice.


    One of the meridians actually looped into itself and exploded.


    "Tch. As expected, the heavens are being petty again."


    He rolled his eyes.


    "No administrator access. No system permissions. These goddamn meridians are password-protected."


    But was Su Xiaobai discouraged?


    Absolutely not.


    If the body refused¡ª


    "Then I''ll build it in the Spirit Sea!"


    He dove in.


    Woosh.


    Su Xiaobai''s consciousness entered his vast inner world like a caffeine-fueled construction cultivator on deadline.


    Tools? None.


    Plans? Vague.


    But the confidence?


    Unbreakable!


    Inside the Spirit Sea, he drew up blueprints mid-air using his soul essence, and began crafting¡ª


    Pipelines.


    "We''re talkin'' massive divine-grade soul-tubes here, boys. Refined Qi-core alloyed drainage channels. Custom Yin Flow regulators."


    He even carved labels like "YIN IN" and "YIN OUT."


    At some point, the Spirit Sea resembled the internal plumbing of a small immortal city-state.


    Then, the core piece: The Great Yin Reservoir.


    A giant, glimmering, spiritual water tank in the depths of his [Niwan Palace]¡ªdedicated solely to storing Primordial Yin Essence like it was exotic wine.


    Was it inefficient?


    Absolutely.


    Would it limit his actual spirit sea functions and niwan palace storage?


    Yes.


    Did he care?


    Not even slightly.


    "The Great Yin Reservoir," he declared, stepping back to admire his spiritual plumbing like a proud cultivator-dad watching his first spirit-chicken take flight.


    "Might as well call it that."


    Just as he returned to his body, triumphant¡ª


    FLASH!


    A blazing streak of spiritual light tore across the sky, so close it nearly sliced the spirit ship''s sails in half.


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes snapped open, and he nearly shit his Dao robes.


    "What the hell¡ª!"


    The light vanished past the ship.


    "Oh good¡­ false alarm¡­"


    Then¡ª


    The streak of light made a U-turn.


    "Wait. No¡ªFUCK!"


    It was coming back.


    Fast.


    His spiritual sense flared, sensing the terrifying aura behind it.


    "That''s¡­ Peak Great Ascension Realm aura¡ª???"


    Before long, the figure because clearer¡ª


    A broad-shouldered man in majestic green robes, short black hair, eyes like a falcon scanning prey from ten thousand li away. Black beard flowing like a heavenly waterfall.


    "Xu Tianran?" Su Xiaobai muttered in disbelief. "Why is Peak Lord Xu here!?"


    His face twisted in horror. ''Don''t tell me he''s been chasing this ship since the sect?!''


    ''What happened?! Did someone snitch?!''


    ___


    BAM!


    The moment the sky tore open like the heavens owed someone rent, Su Xiaobai stood still on the deck, watching the incoming streak of light with a face like he''d just seen his ex step into his arranged wedding.


    The ship shook...Wind howled. Spiritual pressure slammed down like a divine slap from an angry ancestor.


    And there he was.


    Xu Tianran.


    Peak Lord of the Alchemy Division.


    A man who hadn''t left his pavilion in years, unless someone stole his cauldron or spiked his tea.


    "Su Xiaobai," the man said in a calm, dignified tone, standing with his hands behind his back as if this entire midair chase scene was a casual stroll through the sect''s herbal garden. "I heard your sword broke."


    Su Xiaobai blinked. "... Yes?"


    Xu Tianran stepped forward, casually ignoring Yu Feng, the rattling ship, and the mist leaking from the now very quiet fox cabin behind him.


    He raised one hand.


    A black case appeared mid-air, spinning slowly, wrapped in ten layers of formation seals.


    "Take it," he said.


    Su Xiaobai instinctively caught it.


    The moment his fingers touched the case, it shivered. As if sensing its new master.


    The seals opened on their own, like a virgin parting her legs.


    The case opened¡ªpoof!


    And what lay within was no ordinary sword.


    It wasn''t forged of just metal. No.


    Liquid?


    Because there was no blade, no hilt¡ªjust a puddle of dark, metallic, gooey liquid. Like molten shards of shed metal, sand-like in texture. Su Xiaobai extended his hand toward it, suspicion in his eyes.


    The thing moved.


    Like it owed him money.


    Whoosh!


    It shifted... Literally.


    It shimmered¡ªits form dark and liquid-like, adapting to Su Xiaobai''s very thoughts. One second, it was a sleek longsword, sharp enough to slice through heartbreak. The next? A brutal saber. Then a whipblade. Then¡ª


    A folding fan. A freaking folding fan.


    It was so damn cool.


    "It¡­ adapts?" Su Xiaobai muttered grimly, eyes glowing.


    Xu Tianran nodded. "It is a Quasi-Immortal Weapon... It reflects your intent. The weapon grows with you. Thought-forged. Formless. Limitless. It has no name. Give it one¡ªif you can tame it."


    Su Xiaobai nearly shed a tear.


    This is¡­ this is a protagonist''s tier weapon!!


    Finally! I''m not a poverty cultivator anymore!


    But then¡ª


    A terrible thought struck him.


    ''Wait¡­''


    ''Why is this old alchemist bastard giving me this???''


    ''He''s never looked me in the eye.''


    ''He only calls me ''you'' or ''brat.''''


    ''Why would a man of his standing fly across the continent just to hand me a treasure!?''


    His eyes widened in horror.


    A flashback from his previous life assaulted him¡ª


    A rainbow-colored flag waving on a certain beach festival.

 Chapter 220 - 220: Myriad Goo Blade!

    A flashback from his previous life assaulted him¡ª


    A rainbow-colored flag waving on a certain beach festival.


    Su Xiaobai''s face paled.


    No¡­


    ''Don''t tell me¡­''


    ''This old man¡­''


    He clutched his chest.


    ''HE''S INTO ME?!!''


    Puchi!


    Xu Tianran furrowed his brow. "Why are you vomiting blood?"


    Su Xiaobai staggered back, dramatically clutching the sword. "N-nothing! Just the wind¡­ it''s emotional!"


    Inside his head:


    ''No wonder he always stares from afar! No wonder he offered to give me pills personally! No wonder he said ''Don''t die.'' I''m being target-marked by a closeted Peak Lord!!''


    Meanwhile, Xu Tianran stood silently, noble and expressionless, unaware that the young man before him was currently plotting to fake his own death if the old man ever winked at him.


    "Use it well," Xu Tianran said simply. "This weapon once belonged to an ancient nation. Consider it¡­ a life."


    Then he vanished.


    Boom.


    One flash of light¡ªGone!


    _____


    Left alone, Su Xiaobai held the sword with trembling hands.


    And not because he was touched.


    But because he was suspicious. Deeply, disturbingly suspicious.


    This wasn''t the first time.


    Xu Tianran¡ªthe cold, reclusive Peak Lord of Alchemy¡ªhad been lurking in the background of his life for almost a year now.


    When Su Xiaobai went into secluded cultivation? Xu Tianran "just happened" to patrol nearby.


    When Su Xiaobai broke through? Pills "mysteriously" appeared at his door.


    When Su Xiaobai "accidentally" blew up a valley trying to test a sword formation using tears and lightning essence? Xu Tianran "coincidentally" cleaned up the crater.


    And now¡­ he gave him a sword?


    An empire-destroying, quasi-immortal, shape-shifting, soul-drinking sword?!


    Su Xiaobai''s mouth twitched.


    "Something''s wrong."


    "This isn''t good fortune. This is the opening act of a BL novel."


    He glanced to the sky, eyes bleak.


    "What kind of protagonist plotline is this? I just wanted to be a sexy villain with a harem and questionable morals."


    "Please¡­ Heavenly Dao¡­ I''ll light incense daily, okay?"


    "Don''t make me the protagonist of some tragic romance between Master and Disciple! I WILL JUMP."


    But then¡­ he looked at the sword again.


    The blade shimmered.


    Shifted.


    Its form danced with his thoughts.


    One moment, a curved saber.


    The next, a wicked black greatsword. Then a narrow stiletto. Then a double-edged immortal glaive.


    It was¡­


    Perfect.


    "You dare follow me?" Su Xiaobai laughed to the heavens, face wild. "Good! I''ll slice your damn fate strings in half with this thing!"


    He raised the weapon, the tip pointing skyward, his hair rustling in the wind, his grin unrepentant.


    "Go cry to your sect!"


    "Go pray to your father!"


    "This villain is going to soar the skies!"


    And then he named it.


    Because all great Xianxia weapons need a name.


    Not just any name.


    A name that makes people cough blood when they hear it.


    "You¡­ shall be called¡­"


    "Myriad Goo Blade."


    Even the heavens paused.


    A nearby cloud burst into flame from sheer confusion.


    "Because you''ll slip into every style, every Dao, and every enemy''s weak spot like goo."


    "Sweet, clingy, murdery goo."


    But of course, no one could say all that every time.


    So he gave it a nickname.


    A sweet, elegant, sinister little moniker.


    "Guren."


    (¹îÈÐ) ¨C Deceptive Blade.


    Trick Blade.


    The blade that shifts with thought and deceives with form


    ___


    In another realm, a certain scheming Gu Master dropped all his worms in horror. His hairline retreated.


    "Goo blade?! No¡­"


    ____


    Slash!


    After fondling Guren like a cursed ex with shape-shifting potential, Su Xiaobai finally stuffed it back into his Niwan Palace¡ªnot because he was done, but because there''s only so much weapon foreplay one man can do without combusting.


    But the moment it slipped in?


    He grimaced... That felt... illegal.


    He pulled it out immediately, eye twitching.


    "Nope. Nope. Not falling in love with my own sword today."


    Instead, he twisted it into something sleek and sexy¡ªobsidian jade beads, coiled around his wrist like a high-grade spiritual BDSM accessory.


    Elegant.


    Deadly.


    "Now I look like a wandering war god with commitment issues."


    But he wasn''t done.


    Because now?


    It was time to test his Great Yin Reservoir.


    His newest invention. The spiritual equivalent of a premium-grade Yin tank, built to store virgin essence like a wine cellar for horny cultivators.


    Only problem?


    He needed to fill it.


    And not with just anything.


    He needed light Yin essence¡ªuntapped, clean, a little dumb. Enough to activate the reservoir''s intake valve, but not enough to destabilize his soul and trigger another cultivation orgasm that made the heavens weep.


    In the past, this would be easy.


    He''d just stroll into a village, smile at the first clueless spirit maiden tending radishes, and boom¡ª"field harvest."


    But right now?


    He was in the sky.


    Middle of the damn clouds.


    Floating on a ship full of locked fox girls, grumpy dark church saintess, and no fuckable commoners.


    "Tch. Who designed this mission? No brothels, no bathhouses, no bait."


    Then it hit him.


    "Wait¡­ don''t I have a spare virgin onboard?"


    He turned, eyes narrowing.


    "Zhao Mei."


    That angry little tomato.


    Orange-haired, fire cultivator, eyebrows like she wanted to stab someone with them. Walked around the ship like she had a vendetta against pants.


    She''d been quiet, brooding training somewhere in the background with her spiritual flame fists and loser-tier talent.


    He hadn''t touched her once.


    Not out of mercy.


    Just... priorities.


    But now?


    She was the only viable source of starter... Yin juice.


    Not enough to push him forward.


    But perfect to lube the gears of his reservoir without causing soul reflux.


    "Mm." He cracked his neck.


    "Let''s uncork the bottle."


    He started walking toward the lower deck, each step echoing with that calm, casual bastard energy only a man like Su Xiaobai could carry.


    "She''s gonna throw a fit. Maybe try to punch me. Maybe cry."


    "That''s fine."


    He adjusted his robe.


    "I''ve milked cows with worse temperaments."


    A pause, then a grin. "Plus, it''s not like I''m asking. I''m testing a divine reservoir. She should be honored."


    The moment he reached the stairs, he stopped, rolled his shoulders, and muttered under his breath:


    "Fire pussy. Let''s go."


    Bang!


    ___


    He stepped into what the crew dared to call a "bedroom," but let''s be honest¡ªit was a glorified broom closet with a bed stiff enough to count as a training dummy.


    Perfect for a disposable test subject.


    With a flick of his wrist, Su Xiaobai opened his ring world.


    Whoosh.


    Zhao Mei dropped out like someone getting evicted from a boring afterlife.


    "Ah?" she blinked, disoriented. The space shifted.


    And then¡ªhe saw her.


    The girl who''d gone in as a moody, fire-throwing gremlin had clearly evolved.


    Gone was the spiky tomato haircut. Now, her hair flowed like molten copper, smoothed down in a low ponytail that spilled over her shoulder blades and past her back¡ªa straight curtain of orange flame. She looked like a rebellious phoenix who''d accidentally discovered the benefits of conditioner.


    And the outfit?


    Cultivator slut-core.


    Black and crimson gauntlets covered her arms, red gloves covering her hands like she punched volcanoes for breakfast. Her legs were wrapped in similar armor¡ªtight, high, combat-ready¡ªbut left those dangerous milky-white smooth thighs exposed just enough to make an Elder choke on tea. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Her upper body?


    Encased in red and black armor that did nothing to hide the generous white softness pressing against it. Those breasts were being bullied by her outfit¡ªclearly screaming to break free.


    She''d thrown a fluffy white cloth over them, maybe out of guilt, or shame, or just to keep warm.


    It didn''t help.


    "Skirt?" Su Xiaobai blinked, hallucinating for half a second. That deep blue cloth wrapped around her hips looked like a high-school uniform, like someone had raided his past life for fashion tips.


    "Nope," he muttered. "Still in fantasy land. Got it."


    She blinked back at him, no fear... Just quiet confusion.


    Those eyes¡ªdark, steady, still fire underneath¡ªbut flickering now with¡­ what?


    Surprise?


    Awkwardness?


    Annoyance?


    Probably all three.


    She didn''t speak, just stood there.


    It had been six months. Six whole damn months sealed in his ring world, with nothing but mountains, spirit beasts, and boredom to keep her company.


    No contact, no missions, no affection, and no use.


    Just storage.


    And now, out of nowhere, here he was¡ªsummoning her back like a forgotten app he needed for one quick transaction.


    Su Xiaobai smiled.


    "Zhao Mei," he said, voice smooth as devil wine. "You''ve grown."


    She frowned slightly. Not because he was wrong¡ªbut because of the way he said it. Like someone inspecting a sword he left in a ditch and found it shinier than expected.


    "Why¡­ did you summon me?" she finally asked.


    Her tone wasn''t cold. Just tired. Like she was bracing herself for the worst.


    Smart girl.


    Because the worst was exactly what was coming.


    Su Xiaobai stepped forward, one hand lifting her chin¡ªnot forcefully, but firmly enough to remind her who the master was here.


    "You''ve hit a bottleneck," he said softly, thumb grazing her lower plump lip like he was thinking about tasting her, "Peak Core Formation... Stalled and No progress."


    She didn''t deny it.


    He leaned closer, "Good news is¡­ I''m feeling generous."


    She didn''t trust that tone, no one sane would.


    "I''ve invented something new," he murmured. "A little project. A technique. Something your body can¡­ contribute to."


    She blinked. "...A technique?"


    "Mm." His fingers slipped away from her chin. His other hand casually undid the seal on the Great Yin Reservoir inside his Spirit Sea, letting it hum to life in the background like a beast sniffing fresh prey.


    "A technique involving Yin exchange."


    "..."

 Chapter 221 - 221: *Post-Coital Fire Disaster Log #37* [R18]

    ....A technique involving Yin exchange.


    "..."


    Zhao Mei''s brows twitched. "You want to dual cultivate?"


    Su Xiaobai let out a low, amused chuckle.


    Then pointed casually toward the stiff little bed behind him.


    "No. Just lie down and spread your legs."


    Direct, blunt, and no room for negotiations.


    Her face morphed instantly¡ªanger, disbelief, embarrassment¡ªall crashing together like clashing spirit beasts.


    "Has no one ever told you to hesitate before speaking!?" she snapped.


    Su Xiaobai smiled thinly.


    "I tried hesitation once."


    "Got betrayed, stabbed, and killed."


    "Didn''t like it."


    Zhao Mei gritted her teeth.


    But she moved.


    Not because she liked him. Not because she wanted it.


    Because she knew how this world worked.


    And Su Xiaobai? He wasn''t the kind of man you refused when he was in a mood.


    She walked to the bed, the tight clack of armored heels on spiritwood planks the only sound in the room.


    Then she started stripping.


    Piece by piece.


    The red gauntlets first¡ªclinking softly as they hit the floor. Then the thigh guards, smooth and slow. Finally, the chest armor¡ªlifted off with one sharp breath, revealing skin so pale and perfect it made Su Xiaobai pause.


    She was fire-aspect.


    But under all that heat?


    She was snow.


    ''You''re doing a fucking strip tease,'' he muttered, rubbing his temple.


    "Not performing in a sect brothel. Move faster."


    Her eye twitched hard.


    If she had her fire gloves on, she''d have punched a sun through his chest.


    But she didn''t.


    So she just pressed her lips tight, cheeks flushed with a mix of rage and humiliation, and pulled the last of it off.


    Bare.


    She sat on the edge of the bed, legs tight together, back straight.


    Like a soldier awaiting execution.


    But Su Xiaobai wasn''t looking for consent.


    He was looking for compatibility.


    And what he saw?


    Pale skin, flushed in all the right places. Smooth lines, toned muscle, curves restrained by years of battle and spiritual frustration. Her legs stayed closed¡ªprotective, unsure¡ªbut her breasts...


    They were free.


    Round... Soft... Natural.


    And the tiny, trembling pink peaks on them twitched under his gaze like they''d been waiting for him.


    "...Grateful little bastards," Su Xiaobai muttered under his breath.


    Then he moved forward, casually discarding his own upper robe, letting spiritual mist curl across his bare chest as he approached her like a tiger nearing a deer that thought it had a choice.


    The deer''s face turned crimson¡ªnot from desire, but from pure, undiluted spiritual shame.


    A woman''s pride?


    A woman''s cool composure?


    Gone... Vaporized.


    Because right now?


    A beast of a man¡ªshirtless, smug, holding both her well-toned thighs like handles to the gates of heaven¡ªwas about to spiritually repossess her V-card with the same energy he used to loot ancient tombs.


    Even Zhao Mei, known for her stoic personality and cold-blooded combat aura, felt her heartbeat spike like a sword cultivator about to commit technique theft.


    "It''ll hurt," Su Xiaobai said, tone casual, full of fake sympathy. "...Just a little."


    Liar.


    The man was practically fanning the flames of anxiety on purpose.


    With every breath, every casual press of skin against skin, he was cultivating her panic, watching her body twitch under his touch like she was moments away from a Qi deviation.


    She gritted her teeth.


    He smiled like a villain lighting incense at his victim''s wedding.


    And then¡ª


    The holy rod descended.


    Breached the sacred gate.


    Entered the forbidden flower garden like a demonic cultivator sneaking past the veil into a forbidden sect realm.


    And it wasn''t gentle.


    "UGHHH¡ª!! Y-YOU LIED!*" Zhao Mei hissed, back arching.


    What "little pain"!?


    This wasn''t some gentle Yin exchange¡ªthis was a full-on Heaven-Piercing Rod Technique, and her poor, neglected spiritual pathways were screaming for divine intervention.


    Her legs spread wide, involuntarily, her body betraying her like an inner sect disciple under interrogation.


    Her eyes misted with fresh tears...


    Heat rose through her core like a fire tribulation gone sideways.


    And Su Xiaobai?


    He simply tilted his head.


    Frowned... Glanced down.


    "¡­Huh."


    "That''s wrong."


    "It shouldn''t be like this."


    Like he was critiquing a formation array.


    Because of course he was.


    There were only two little droplets of blood. Just a trace¡ªbarely there.


    Her inner walls were tight, yes. Wrapped around him like silk spun from rebellion.


    It was hot, but nothing he couldn''t handle. Standard virgin seal breaking. Nothing exotic.


    Until it wasn''t.


    Because then¡­


    The temperature spiked.


    Not gradually... Not subtly.


    No, no.


    Instant sauna-to-fucking-volcano.


    If, a moment ago, his dick felt like it was soaking in a warm bath, now it felt like some celestial dumbass had cranked the heat to Hellfire Tribulation.


    "Tch¡ª!"


    He hissed, sharp, pained and betrayed.


    "What the actual hell!?"


    It felt like someone dipped his sacred rod in boiling lava, sealed it inside a fire lotus, then dared the flames to get hornier.


    His veins pulsed. His shaft throbbed. Every inch of him screamed "RETREAT, RETREAT!"


    He looked at Zhao Mei¡ªand what he saw wasn''t a blushing, post-deflowered cultivator.


    No.


    She was crying.


    Tears ran down her cheeks like she''d just triggered the wrong hidden formation.


    Then¡ª


    WHOOSH!


    "FUCK!


    Su Xiaobai yanked his dick out of her flower palace like he was disarming a spirit bomb, backstepping with the precision of a man dodging divine retribution.


    And good thing he did¡ª


    Because her whole body erupted into flames


    Literal flames. Orange, bright and hungry.


    "SHE''S IGNITING!?"


    Yes.


    Zhao Mei¡ªsweet, quiet, neglected slave girl¡ªwas now a walking fireball of spiritual combustion, cloaked in Phoenix-tier flames like she was cosplaying a mini sun.


    Su Xiaobai could barely see through the blaze.


    The bed caught fire.


    The floor cracked.


    The damn ship creaked under the pressure.


    "Damn it¡ª"


    He cursed.


    "I haven''t even paid Qingqing back for this ship yet!"


    He activated his Invincible Body¡ªQi flaring around him like a barrier of war crimes¡ªand dove into the inferno like a man saving a fragile jade vase from a battlefield.


    BANG!


    He grabbed Zhao Mei¡ªstill burning, still weeping, still naked¡ªand without another word, yeeted her back into his **ring world like she was a cursed artifact that belonged anywhere but here.


    Gone.


    Silence.


    He stood in the ruins¡ªstill fucking naked, dick twitching like a pissed-off dragon that got fed ghost pepper soup and wasn''t allowed to finish.


    It hung low.


    Confused, angry and unfulfilled.


    Sob...


    Twitched again.


    "Tch."


    Su Xiaobai ignored its protest.


    Wiped the cold sweat off his brow, put out the remaining flames with a lazy wave, then dropped onto the scorched bedframe like a man who just survived an ambush involving vagina-induced spontaneous combustion.


    He stared at the dark wodden ceiling.


    Blank.


    Exhausted.


    "...The hell just happened?"


    Su Xiaobai sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose as he slumped against the still-smoldering wreckage of what used to be a bed.


    He closed his eyes.


    Consciousness¡ªenter.


    His spirit sea shimmered, and in the next instant, he was inside the swirling void of his inner world.


    Good news:


    The Heavenly Yin Reservoir was working.


    There it was¡ªa single, tiny shimmering drop of virgin Yin, floating inside the vast reservoir like a lonely pearl in a spiritual bowl.


    "Wow." He muttered.


    "Nearly got my dick incinerated for that?"


    No joy, no celebration.


    Just post-traumatic dick stress.


    Still naked, still annoyed, he decided to check in on the walking campfire herself. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Consciousness¡ªredirect.


    He dove into his ring world¡ªhis personal dimension the size of a small country, teeming with spiritual Qi, scenic mountains, cultivation caves, and a population of women who mostly wanted him dead or inside them.


    Mostly both.


    The moment his awareness entered¡ª


    Flames.


    Still burning.


    Zhao Mei was curled up like a pissed-off phoenix egg, surrounded by glowing orange flames that were slowly stabilizing.


    But she wasn''t alone.


    Su Xiaobai''s brows twitched.


    Standing there, arms extended like a flame-whispering priestess, was a woman he had tried very hard to forget.


    Or rather¡ªtried very hard to suppress like a traumatic side quest.


    Xiao Hei.


    The murder loli.


    Once a pint-sized assassin with a penchant for poison and a bloodlust bigger than her ego. Now?


    A murder MILF, apparently.


    All grown up. Curves where there used to be daggers. Dressed in loose red and black robe, her bossom defying sect regulations, her face cold and focused¡ªbut her Qi?


    Hungry.


    She was absorbing Zhao Mei''s flame like it was foreplay, not helping, just feeding.


    Su Xiaobai clicked his tongue. "Tch. Women''s business."


    He backed out. He''d seen enough.


    Because right now?


    He was still shaking.


    Not spiritually.


    Emotionally.


    You know the two scariest moments in a man''s life?


    One: when he signs a marriage scroll.


    Two: when he puts his dick somewhere and something fights back.


    And while he hadn''t gone oral, the sheer terror of almost losing his meat stick to spontaneous combustion was close enough.


    He glanced down.


    Still intact, still twitching.


    Angry, like a beast denied a feast.


    "Sorry, little brother," he whispered. "She tried to cook you alive."


    Time for a change of pace.


    _____


    Rustle~


    With a cold night breeze swirling his robe and a fresh aura of ''don''t fuck with me'' covering his thick skin, Su Xiaobai marched up to the locked cabin with the fox twins inside.


    Bang!


    The door creaked open.


    And inside?


    Spiritual carnage.


    Hu Jiao''er and Hu Mei''er were slumped against each other like two half-dead flushed peaches, clothes wrinkled, armor unbuckled, hair tousled like they just lost a duel with a sex formation.


    The cabin was stained with fragrance mist and soft moans. A full ten hours had passed, and they were fried.


    Exhausted.


    Dazed.


    And then¡ª


    Sniff.


    The moment his masculine scent drifted into the room, both girls stirred like hungry foxes sniffing a winter rabbit.


    Their blank eyes blinked. Glazed. Desperate.


    And then they lunged.


    "MMNGH¡ª!"


    Hu Jiao''er¡ªusually the proud one, the cold one, the ''don''t-touch-me-or-I''ll-slap-you'' one¡ªcrashed into him with swollen red lips, smashing her mouth against his like a starving beast.


    Her tongue dove into his mouth like it was trying to steal his soul.


    Then Hu Mei''er joined in¡ªpushing her sister aside and kissing him too, soft hands trailing up his bare chest, their twin tongues twining around his like snakes in heat.


    "Calm down, ladies¡­" Su Xiaobai groaned.


    "I''m not running. I''m just recovering from almost being set on fire by a pussy."


    But they didn''t care.


    They were gone.


    Delirious.


    And honestly?


    So was he.


    His expression was deadpan, his Qi tired, his soul disappointed.


    But his dick?


    Oh, his dick was furious.


    It twitched so hard it almost bent sideways. Like a toddler throwing a tantrum.


    "No action¡­ then boiling¡­ then nothing again?!"


    It throbbed! Demanded vengeance!


    Justice!!


    A mouth, a hole, something.


    So Su Xiaobai sighed, spread his arms, and let the fox girls drape over him like expensive furniture.


    "Fine."


    "Let''s feed the beast."


    He looked down at the two exotic snow foxes¡ªflushed, desperate, dripping from spiritual overexertion.


    "You''re lucky I''m still breathing."


    "Let''s make it worth the burn."

 Chapter 222 - 222: **Snow Foxes** [R18]

    The door slammed open.


    Su Xiaobai stood in the smoky wreckage of the cabin, hair tousled, chest bare, and the scent of scorched fire Qi still seering to his skin.


    And what did he find?


    Two elite sect elders.


    One proud... One quiet.


    Both broken.


    Hu Jiao''er and Hu Mei''er¡ªelders of the sword peak, esteemed guides for young disciples, known for their grace and strength¡ªnow slumped together in the corner of a mist-soaked cabin, looking like they''d just lost a purity contest.


    Clothes disheveled... Breasts half-exposed. Robes barely covered their sweaty skin.


    Hu Jiao''er''s glare was glassy, her red lips swollen, helplessness flickering behind heavy-lidded eyes.


    Hu Mei''er?


    Blank-eyed.


    Flushed.


    A hidden tail twitching beneath her skirt.


    _____


    [1] ¨C Mouth First Cultivation Style


    The moment Su Xiaobai stepped in, they jumped him.


    "Mmmghn¡ª!"


    Hu Jiao''er slammed her lips to his, tongue darting out like a sword tip going for his soul.


    "Tch. And here I thought you didn''t like me, Elder Jiao."


    He didn''t kiss back, he let her work for it


    She moaned in frustration.


    Then Hu Mei''er, soft and trembling, kissed his neck, her lips feathering down his collarbone like she was begging silently for attention.


    "Did you two get addicted to peach mist, or are you just in heat from watching me fight my life against fiery pussy?"


    No answer.


    Just more tongue.


    ____


    [2] ¨C Sect Honor? What''s That?


    Hu Jiao''er gritted her teeth as he ripped her robe clean down the middle, exposing her perky snow-white mounds, the pink tips already hard from stimulation.


    "You arrogant little shit¡ª!" she hissed.


    "Hush..." He tugged her top down completely. "You''re not in position to lecture me while your nipples are saluting my cultivation rod."


    Hu Mei''er squeaked as her own robe fell away, revealing a trembling body soft as silk, thighs pressing together instinctively.


    "You two were supposed to guide disciples."


    "Now you''re stripping for one."


    "Congratulations. You''ve cultivated into bitch-tier."


    ____


    [3] ¨C Mounting the Furnace


    He grabbed Hu Jiao''er''s white hairs and bent her forward over the edge of the broken bed, her fluffy white tail slipping free and springing into view like it had been hiding from shame itself.


    "T-That''s private!" she gasped.


    "Not anymore," he whispered, smirking.


    "This tail''s mine now. I''ll even braid it after I''m done."


    With no warning, he slammed his heaven-piercing staff into her forbidden fox furnace.


    SCHLK!


    "GHNNHH¡ª!"


    Her inner walls gripped him instantly, as if her body hadn''t gotten the memo that her pride was supposed to resist.


    "Is this how your sect trains its elders?"


    "Tight enough to make a dragon cry, but no discipline at all."


    ____


    [4] ¨C Twin Tail Technique


    Hu Mei''er whimpered as she watched her sister moan with every thrust, her own body trembling like a flower in a storm.


    Su Xiaobai pulled out, twisted, and yanked Hu Mei''er over his face, seating her directly on his mouth like a sacrificial offering.


    "Don''t scream too loud," he said, "or your sister might get jealous."


    "H-H-Hnnnnh¡ª!"


    He devoured her.


    Her soft fox cave pulsed under his tongue, her fluffy white tail flicking wildly behind her, brushing his face with every shiver.


    Hu Jiao''er looked back over her shoulder, panting, angry, ruined.


    "You... bastard..."


    "Say it louder."


    "Say it while I rearrange your pathways."


    ____


    [5] ¨C Formation Rotation


    He flipped them.


    Hu Mei''er face-down now, legs spread in a helpless V.


    Hu Jiao''er beside her, breasts pressed against the bed.


    He slapped Hu Jiao''er''s ass¡ªCRACK! S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "What''s the sect motto again?" he asked mockingly.


    "Discipline, purity, restraint? You broke all three."


    "F-Fuck you¡ª!"


    "Exactly."


    He shoved into her again, harder this time, making her yelp and crawl at the floor.


    Hu Mei''er moaned beside them, watching her sister''s face break with every thrust.


    ___


    [6] ¨C Fox Rodeo Chaos


    Now he had both their tails in hand, each thrust slamming them forward in rhythm like he was steering two divine beasts into madness.


    "Tails up."


    "Asses tight."


    "Mouths open."


    Both of them panted, moaned, begged.


    The proud elder?


    Broken.


    The shy one?


    Addicted.


    Their twin white tails flicked around him like banners of surrender.


    ____


    [7] ¨C Essence Spiral


    Their Qi started to drain.


    He could feel it¡ªpure snow fox Yin, flooding into his reservoir, his cultivation rod pulsing like it had its own heartbeat.


    "Good girls."


    "Give it up. All of it."


    Hu Jiao''er was sobbing now, not from pain¡ªfrom pleasure. Hu Mei''er hugged his arm, whispering his name like a prayer.


    _____


    [8] ¨C The Ending Stroke


    With a final thrust that cracked the already ruined floor, Su Xiaobai threw his head back, roaring, releasing a torrent of spiritual Yang that sent shockwaves through the cabin.


    "AAHHHHH¡ª!"


    "S-Su Xiaobaaiii¡ª!"


    "Mmmghhh¡ª! Aahhh¡ª!"


    They collapsed.


    Both sisters twitching, sweaty, flushed.


    He sat between them, arms behind his head, smirking like a man who just got promoted by fucking two of his bosses.


    "So..."


    "Any complaints you want to file with the sect?"


    Neither answered.


    Only the sound of panting, broken pride, and the soft thump of twitching white tails filled the room.


    The once proud elders of the sect, once feared mentors, once symbols of aloof icy grace¡ªwere now collapsed like spent cauldrons, bodies tangled together in a pool of sticky exhaustion.


    Their once-glowing bodies?


    Smeared across the floor in two modest blood patches and a dozen leaking regrets.


    Yes.


    Both fox sisters had been pure¡ªuntouched since birth, unopened since their tribulation, as clean as their snow-white hair.


    And now?


    They looked like they''d just graduated from the Sect of Slutty Realizations, personally instructed by Su Xiaobai''s Heaven-Slaying Dragon Pillar.


    ____


    Fox Furnace Aftermath... Visual Report!


    They leaned into each other, barely upright, sweat dripping down their flawless collarbones like condensed regret.


    Their proud shoulders slumped. Their once-fluffy, meticulously styled hair now stuck to their faces in sticky wet strands, like shameful memories.


    Two massive, heaving breasts hung loose and swayed with every tremble of their bodies¡ªnipples raw, swollen, pink like bullied lotus buds, each one twitching with every breath.


    "Huff¡­ huff¡­ ah¡­"


    Their perfect S-shaped waists and hips made for dual-cultivation disasters no longer carried elegance. Just used-up desire.


    Their red forbidden gardens¡ªonce pure, tight, sacred¡ªwere now floodgates of villainous semen, leaking white trails of defeated resistance onto the ruined cabin floor.


    Puchi!


    The white liquid twitched out with little spurts, almost squirting, as if their insides were still shivering from spiritual rod trauma.


    Their blue eyes, once cold and sharp?


    Fogged. Blank. Half-rolled.


    Their lips¡ªonce capable of insults, mantras, sect laws¡ªwere now swollen, pouty, bite-marked wrecks, only good for moaning.


    And beneath them?


    Their fluffy white tails, which they used to hide with such grace, were exposed, low, twitching¡­ like beasts who''d been caught, tamed, and marked.


    Su Xiaobai stood tall.


    Bare-chested, grinning, his Heaven-Piercing Staff still half-hard, dripping faint remnants of conquest.


    He looked down at the two fox sisters with all the empathy of a demon lord deciding who to breed next.


    "Hahh¡­" he cracked his neck.


    "You two got off lucky. I''ve been sucked dry by Qingqing, edged by the Sword Fairy, milked by women who could flip mountains mid-orgasm."


    He smirked.


    "Handling two foxes barely counts as a warm-up."


    Both sisters twitched.


    They were already ruined, already mentally curled up in the fetal position¡ª


    But Su Xiaobai?


    Wasn''t done.


    "Let''s begin Step Nine." His tone casual.


    "E-Eh¡ª?"


    Both sisters blinked.


    Didn''t process it.


    Didn''t understand.


    Until¡ª


    He knelt.


    Grabbed Hu Mei''er by the ankle.


    Spread her legs again.


    "W-Wait¡ª!"


    Hu Jiao''er''s eyes widened.


    Too late.


    Su Xiaobai dove in like a starving beast returning to unfinished prey.


    "You passed the trial."


    "Now let''s see if you can survive the second round."


    The words hit like thunder.


    Hu Jiao''er, still breathless and ruined, braced herself.


    She spread her legs, ready and resigned.


    But the dragon didn''t land in her cave.


    Instead¡ª


    "GWAAAK¡ª?!"


    Her sapphire like cute wide eyes widened in confusion, then panic.


    Because something enormous¡ªhot, heavy, and very much not going where expected¡ªplunged straight into her mouth cave instead.


    "Mmmmfff¡ª!"


    Her cheeks bulged instantly.


    The back of her throat flexed in instinctive horror as Su Xiaobai''s Heaven-Slaying Rod of Judgment drove itself past her lips like it was claiming territory.


    And he didn''t stop.


    "Tch. You''re an elder."


    "Act like it¡ªopen wider."


    ___


    Hu Mei''er gasped.


    She watched in horror as her cool, proud older sister¡ªthe same one who lectured disciples on poise and control¡ªnow had tears streaking down her cheeks, throat bulging with each merciless thrust, nose running, face red as her tail twitched in humiliation.


    Su Xiaobai''s hand was gripped tight in Jiao''er''s white hair, guiding her like a beast being force-fed divine punishment.


    "Huuuhh... nghk... mmph¡ª!"


    The slick, wet noises echoed through the ruined cabin like a musical performance performed entirely on sinful instruments.


    Hu Mei''er trembled.


    And then¡ª


    That voice.


    Velvet, cruel and commanding.


    "Come here and suck."


    "Or you''re next¡­ after your sister''s broken."


    Her legs wobbled.


    She obeyed.


    Because that''s what prey did.


    She knelt between his legs, already dizzy from heat, scent, and the sheer sinful aura radiating from his body.


    Then she leaned in, gently kissing his essence-filled sacks, and wrapped her lips around them with reverence and terror, suckling like a girl trying to extract immortality.


    "Nnnghh¡ª!" Su Xiaobai groaned, smirking.


    "Good foxes. So eager. So warm."


    "Your mouths might be better than your furnaces."

 Chapter 223 - 223: **Spiritual Blackmail System v1.0** [R18]

    Mouth Discipline... Fox Edition


    "NNGH!"


    Hu Jiao''er''s throat stretched, stuffed past mortal limits.


    Her eyes rolled back, face streaked with tears and saliva. Every thrust into her mouth felt like a spiritual trial in humiliation.


    Her voice¡ªonce firm, authoritative¡ªwas reduced to gurgling around Su Xiaobai''s Heaven-Penetrating Rod of Ruthless Enlightenment, choking and gagging like her pride was being pounded out of her one syllable at a time.


    "Nnnnnghhh¡ª! Gkh¡ª! Nkh¡ª!"


    "You lectured disciples with this mouth?" Su Xiaobai growled, hand fisting tighter in her snow-white hair.


    "Now it''s drooling all over my spear like a street whore on heat day."


    Slap!


    He smacked her flushed cheek with the weight of his rod, pulling out for a second to let her gasp.


    A string of saliva snapped between her lips and the glistening tip.


    "G-Gh¡­ aah¡­!" Jiao''er coughed, tongue hanging out, chest heaving.


    Hu Mei''er whimpered below, still nuzzling and sucking on his sack like it was a sweet fruit she didn''t want to bite, only lick. Her soft lips caressed every inch with delicate reverence.


    "Mmnhh¡­ so heavy¡­"


    "That''s all the essence you two couldn''t handle last round," Su Xiaobai said with a chuckle.


    "You emptied my rod and now you''re begging for the refill?"


    He shifted his stance, pushing Mei''er''s face deeper between his thighs, her flushed ears twitching as she moaned against him.


    Then he forced Jiao''er back onto his length again¡ªdeeper this time, past her gag reflex, down until he felt her nose press against his abs.


    "Guuuuh¡ªGHKKK!"


    Her throat bulged.


    Visible, smooth and Slick.


    "Good. Just hold it. Stay right there."


    He let go of her head.


    She didn''t move.


    She couldn''t.


    Her mouth was molded perfectly around him, lips sealed tight, her body trembling from the sheer effort of being used as a fleshlight.


    Hu Mei''er looked up, drool on her chin, eyes wide as she watched her sister get skull-fucked like a fox plushie in heat.


    "S-Sister¡­"


    "Don''t worry." Su Xiaobai grabbed her chin, wiped the drool off with the tip of his staff, and tapped her lips.


    "Your turn to prove your mouth deserves my Yang."


    Plop!


    He yanked his cock from Jiao''er''s throat with a wet pop.


    "Cough...ah... cough..."


    She collapsed backward, coughing, eyes crossed, dignity leaking from every orifice.


    Hu Mei''er opened her mouth.


    Wider than he expected.


    And took him.


    "Mmmph¡ªmmghn¡ªmmmnnn!"


    So soft, and so warm.


    Her technique was different¡ªgentler, slower, more obedient.


    But no less depraved.


    She cupped his sack, stroked his base, tongue swirling like she was taught to worship rod-shaped artifacts in secret scrolls.


    "Fuck." Su Xiaobai groaned.


    He grabbed her ponytail, and started thrusting.


    Her head bobbed.


    Slap! Slap! Slap!


    White hair flying. Eyes wide, tears forming, but she didn''t resist.


    "You''re... better than I thought."


    He grinned.


    "Guess you''re the favorite now."


    Behind him, Jiao''er twitched¡ªjealousy burning behind half-lidded eyes.


    She crawled back on all fours, mouth open, tongue hanging out like a bitch in heat.


    "Mmm... I''m not... letting her win¡­"


    And then?


    Both mouths.


    One on the tip.


    One on the base.


    Tongues meeting. Kissing. Sucking him together like his rod was the Dao Source of All Pleasure.


    "HAAH¡ªfuuuuck¡­!"


    He grabbed both their tails.


    Held them like reins.


    Fucked their faces in sync.


    Left. Right. In. Out.


    The floor groaned again.


    The walls throbbed in lust.


    The cabin was filled with slurping, gagging, and betrayal.


    Su Xiaobai''s body trembled.


    The Heavenly Yang Core ignited at the base of his spine.


    "Get ready¡ªopen up¡ª"


    They tried.


    Tried to brace.


    But the eruption?


    Legendary.


    A torrent of Yang shot down their throats and across their faces like a spiritual waterfall in rut. Hu Mei''er gagged and swallowed. Hu Jiao''er moaned and took the rest across her lips and cheeks.


    They collapsed.


    Drenched.


    Swollen.


    Ruined.


    And Su Xiaobai?


    Still hard.


    Still standing.


    Still smiling.


    "Step Nine¡­ cleared."


    He wiped the sweat from his brow, looked at their twitching bodies, semen painting their breasts, tails limp behind them like defeated flags.


    "Guess I should make a new technique."


    "Twin Mouth Yin Exchange Sutra."


    He kicked back, finally letting his rod rest against Hu Mei''er''s flushed cheek.


    "Rest up, girls."


    "We still haven''t done Step Ten."


    _____


    The Morning After...


    Hu Jiao''er glared at him with fury still smoldering in her red-rimmed eyes. Her chest rose and fell, drenched in dried "blessings," but the aphrodisiac had long since worn off. Her mind was clear now.


    Clear¡ªand full of murderous intent.


    Hu Mei''er sat beside her, flushed and quiet, unable to meet anyone''s gaze¡ªlet alone Su Xiaobai''s. Her lips were still swollen from the night-long Yang sutra face sessions, her white tail curled around her waist like it was hiding in shame.


    Su Xiaobai, of course, looked refreshed. Radiant. Glowing with the confidence of a man who invented oral porn in a spiritual society and got away with it.


    He stretched lazily, pulled on a loose robe, and turned to them like a concerned elder.


    "Now, now," he said sweetly. "Let''s not get any funny ideas."


    His tone dropped.


    "If anything happens to me¡­ if I slip, vanish, or¡ªheaven forbid¡ªdie¡­"


    He reached into his sleeve.


    Pulled out something that shimmered ominously.


    An Imaging Stone.


    Then pointed to a white clean cloth hung across the room¡ªwhere two ruined fox sisters were being projected in high definition, their mouths full, their asses red, moaning like spirit-drunk vixens.


    "This..." he smiled, "is just one copy."


    "Qingqing has the other."


    "And I''ve already set the array¡ªif anything happens to me, it auto-broadcasts across all sect town plazas from here to the royal capital."


    "In full replay. On loop. With subtitles."


    "..."


    "..."


    Hu Jiao''er and Hu Mei''er looked like they''d just had their soul lamps extinguished.


    Their eyes twitched. Their fluffy tails deflated. Their thighs instinctively pressed together as if trying to hold back a spiritual breakdown.


    "Y-You wouldn''t¡­" Hu Jiao''er whispered.


    Su Xiaobai''s grin widened. "Try me."


    "You think you''re the first women to try and trap me?"


    "You think I''d let two ice queens slap a collar on my neck without consequences?"


    He strolled over, tapped the stone again.


    The display shifted¡ªHu Jiao''er on all fours, tail up, begging to be milked, while Hu Mei''er hugged his thigh, mouth open, drooling like a brain-washed beast girl.


    He tilted his head.


    "Shame," he said. "This angle really flatters your hips."


    _____


    [Spiritual Blackmail System v1.0]


    Truth was, the Imaging Stone was never meant for this.


    It was a humble artifact, used by alchemists to record technique demonstrations or display formations during sermons.


    But in Su Xiaobai''s degenerate genius hands?


    It became the world''s first spiritual projector, connected to a long-range broadcasting cloth and sealed with a safety trigger.


    Qingqing, of course, had the second half.


    And right now?


    She was in her private chamber, gripping the edge of her seat, face flushed, legs clenched together as white fog coiled between her thighs.


    "This bastard¡ª"


    "Why the hell would he show this to me!?"


    But she didn''t look away.


    Her eyes were glued to the projection, watching two sect elders get reduced to sobbing, tail-wagging cum buckets, while Su Xiaobai narrated with casual confidence.


    ___


    [Back to the Cabin]


    "So¡­" Su Xiaobai turned to the fox sisters, arms crossed.


    "You two wanna try running?"


    "Or would you rather be my horses again?"


    Hu Jiao''er gritted her teeth.


    Hu Mei''er buried her face in her sister''s arm, ears twitching uncontrollably. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    They both understood.


    For the next week?


    They weren''t elders.


    They were livestock.


    Horse. Cow. Mount. Mouth.


    And if they stepped out of line?


    The whole cultivation world would be watching.


    ____


    Post-Blackmail Depravity ¨C The Fox Training Schedule...


    After the Imaging Stone threat was made¡ªand taken very seriously¡ªHu Jiao''er and Hu Mei''er accepted their fate like defeated generals turned royal concubines.


    But Su Xiaobai?


    He didn''t stop at "horse and cow."


    Oh no.


    That was just Monday.


    ____


    Day 1 ¨C "Twin Mount Spiritual Rodeo"


    Su Xiaobai rode them through the ship''s upper deck naked, switching positions mid-stride.


    Hu Jiao''er was the default mount¡ªstronger thighs, more stable hips.


    Hu Mei''er got to wear the saddle.


    They neigh on command now.


    "Mmmnnggh~" was their new cry.


    Passersby saw nothing¡ªhe used an invisibility array.


    But the moans still echoed.


    ____


    Day 2 ¨C "Dual Cauldron Stirring"


    He tied them up on their knees, placed two alchemy cauldrons in front of them... and fed them his Yang Pills.


    They stirred it with their mouths.


    Constant. Sloppy. Face-fucking.


    "This is a mouth technique refinement session," he declared.


    "Perfect it, or I show Qingqing the high-speed version."


    Hu Jiao''er gagged.


    Hu Mei''er cried.


    Neither stopped.


    _____


    Day 3 ¨C "Pill Refinement via Pussy Pressure"


    He inserted small Yang-infused pearls into their fox furnaces, then fucked them until the pearls were spiritually ''refined'' by clenching.


    Whoever kept the pearl inside longer, won.


    The loser?


    Got licked clean by the winner.


    Hu Mei''er lost. On purpose.


    ___


    Day 4 ¨C "Battlefield Bedding"


    Su Xiaobai activated ship-wide alarms, then dragged both sisters onto the command deck during a fake emergency drill.


    He bent them over the control arrays and plowed them in front of spirit screens.


    Fox tails flying.


    Red faces.


    Unaware that Qingqing had activated "Theater Mode."


    ____


    Day 5 ¨C "Spiritual Meat Testing"


    He blindfolded them.


    Summoned a replica rod using Qi illusion.


    Had them taste test which one was real.


    They failed.


    They begged for the real one.


    He made them apologize to it before sucking.


    ____


    Day 6 ¨C "Public Performance Threat Day"


    He walked them to the balcony.


    Spread their legs.


    Brought out the Imaging Stone.


    Didn''t press it.


    Just let them think he might.


    They came harder from fear than from pleasure.


    _____


    Day 7 ¨C "Tail Temple Worship"


    Final day.


    He sat on a throne made of fox fur.


    Forced them to kneel, kiss, worship, and chant his name while stroking his rod in unison.


    "This is your new sect technique."


    "The Man-Milking Twin Tail Sutra."


    They memorized it.

 Chapter 224 - 224: Su Xiaobai! — “I Cultivated So Hard My Furniture Moaned?�

    Day 7 ¨C "Tail Temple Worship"


    Final day.


    He sat on a throne made of fox fur.


    Forced them to kneel, kiss, worship, and chant his name while stroking his rod in unison.


    "This is your new sect technique."


    "The Man-Milking Twin Tail Sutra."


    They memorized it.


    ____


    End of the week?


    Su Xiaobai snapped his fingers.


    "So now, you''re not just my horses anymore," he muttered aloud, pacing around them.


    "That''s too basic."


    "Today, you''re furniture."


    "Huh¡ª!?" Hu Jiao''er blinked.


    "You''ll serve as my chairs. My footstools. If I''m tired? One of you becomes my pillow. Hungry? You hand-feed me fruits¡­ naked."


    He turned to Hu Mei''er, who squeaked.


    "You, Mei''er¡ªcongrats. You''re my new tea table. And if your tail twitches, I''m putting a scroll rack on it."


    "I''ll use you two like props until even Qi refinining disciples can''t recognize your spiritual signatures anymore."


    [Spiritual Petplay Formation Activated]


    And Su Xiaobai meant it.


    That day?


    Hu Jiao''er became his personal mount, but not just in bed. He literally rode her across the ship deck during sunrise, tossing spirit beans to passing cultivators like he was in a parade.


    He tied silk reins to her ears.


    Her tail was braided into a saddle strap.


    Hu Mei''er became his meditation cushion. He sat cross-legged on her back while she whimpered softly, holding a tray of tea on her tail as it trembled beneath his weight.


    He invented the Spiritual Yin Milkshake technique¡ªmilking both sisters into a jade cup, blending it with a drop of wine, and sipping it while giving them grades on flavor, texture, and thickness.


    They had to chant "Cultivation is service, pleasure is merit" before each session.


    He painted spiritual runes on their bodies like tattoos. Each one glowed when they moaned.


    "You two are treasures," he''d whisper as he pressed into them.


    "But not because you''re foxes."


    "Because you''re obedient."


    Hu Jiao''er no longer glared.


    She drooled.


    Hu Mei''er no longer looked away.


    She looked up¡ªmouth open.


    And Su Xiaobai?


    He sat on the deck like a true villain emperor, Imaging Stone in hand, the projector still humming.


    "Well done, foxes."


    "You''ve graduated from Elder to Entertainment.


    ____


    By the end, Hu Jiao''er and Hu Mei''er had new titles:


    Sect Mount-Class Furniture


    Fox Formation No. 69


    Dual-Tail Yin Reserve


    Spiritual Comfort Units ¨C Bound Class


    And Su Xiaobai?


    Still undefeated.


    Still hard.


    Still evil.


    And inventing new things to do with Imaging Stones.


    ____


    Southern Ridge, Misty Vale Basin...


    At the edge of corruption, between silver rain and death-soaked mist, lies the border town of:


    Qingxie Port!


    "Green-Evil Port" ¡ª known by travelers as Wet Market (affectionately... or mockingly).


    Built on damp spiritual soil, nestled within the Vale''s outer boundary, Qingxie Port is a trade town that never dries.


    Literally.


    It rains.... Always.


    And during the Weeping Moon Festival, the heavens cry for 49 days straight, weeping fine silver droplets, soft as spirit silk, cold as ghost kisses.


    Locals say it''s the moon mourning the Yunmu clan... Outsiders say it''s just good business.


    The City Itself:


    Qingxie Port is a maze of cobbled alleys, slick jade-tiled roofs, and curving stairways lined with paper lanterns. Spirit-light glows softly beneath the rain like veins of moonlight running through the city.


    -	Roads: Narrow, wet, alive. Stone tiles shimmer under the rain, covered in lotus petals and muddy bootprints. Most are arched, terraced, or built atop stilts to avoid flooding.


    -	Inns: Built like crooked pagodas, with steam rising from every floor. Spiritual bathhouses, teahouses, brothels¡ªsometimes all three in one¡ªdot the street like mushrooms in a forest of sin. The largest one?


    "Silver Rain Pavilion", a four-story beast of pleasure and overpriced spirit food, with rooms that come with built-in mood arrays.


    -	Markets: Flooded stalls with waterproof canopies. Rainproof talismans sold next to soul-hooking incense. You can buy anything here¡ªbeast meat, formation scrolls, cursed rings, even a virgin contract (if you''re lucky or rich).


    -	Guards? Ha. They don''t interfere. This is neutral ground¡ªwhere sect disciples, demonic wanderers, and black market cultivators drink together, trade, and sometimes double cultivate in public if you''re into that.


    And in the distance?


    The Cloudwood Forest, visible only as a shifting wall of mist and trees behind the basin''s end¡ªominous, breathing, alive.


    Weeping Moon Festival...


    For 49 days, the rain becomes sacred.


    The moon itself goes silver, casting no shadow.


    And the rain?


    It''s not normal rain.


    It''s Spirit Silver, charged droplets that nourish Rain Qi, enhance dream clarity, and make people feel... strange.


    Sensitive... Emotional... Horny.


    Cultivators report lucid wet dreams, sudden inspiration, and memory flashbacks. Some call it "the rain of past lovers." sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Every year, treasure hunters, rogue cultivators, and pleasure sect disciples swarm Qingxie Port for one reason:


    The Vale opens.


    The gates shift.


    And deep within the corrupted wilds¡ªtreasures wait.


    ____


    [Southern Ridge ¨C Qingxie Port]


    17th Day of the Weeping Moon Festival


    The sky wept silver.


    Rain poured like strands of moonlit silk, falling endlessly from clouds so thick they looked like the heavens were rotting with grief. The scent of wet stone, spirit-soaked soil, and perfume from incense stalls hung like a lazy ghost.


    The Weeping Moon Festival had entered its middle phase.


    For seventeen days, the heavens hadn''t stopped crying¡ªand they wouldn''t for another thirty-two. The silver rain nourished the Yin and Yang in all things. It made people reflective.


    Sensitive, erotic and angerous.


    Qingxie Port, perched at the lip of Misty Vale Basin, was alive.


    And now, it was getting a visitor.


    ____


    Arrival by Sky ¨C A Flying Ship of Sin Descends!


    RUMBLE...


    CRACK!


    Thunder echoed like an angry ancestor getting spanked.


    Su Xiaobai stepped out onto the outer deck of his flying ship, the rain hissing off the protective array around it. His eyes narrowed lazily.


    Below, the city glimmered under the rain¡ªjade rooftops slick with silver water, stone alleys curved like serpent spines, spiritual lanterns hovering mid-air in soft golden hues.


    This place?


    It was a cultivator''s wet dream.


    Literally.


    Fog kissed every corner. Moisture hugged to silk robes. People moved slow, graceful, as if the very aura carried the weight of longing.


    Up front, Yu Feng stood under the rain-veil, arguing¡ªcoldly¡ªwith two Spirit Severing Realm guards in silver-gray cloaks.


    They wore robes patterned with the Cloudwood sigil and wide bamboo hats that barely kept off the downpour. Their weapons weren''t visible... Their killing intent was.


    "Ten gold coins."


    "Per person."


    Su Xiaobai squinted. "Gold? Not spirit stones?"


    What kind of backwards port charged in mortal currency?


    Yu Feng sighed and flicked her spatial ring.


    Coins clinked.


    She paid.


    For him.


    ____


    [Boom!]


    As the ship descended past the gate barrier and entered the formation-protected zone, a massive bolt of skyfire cracked overhead, splitting clouds with a shriek of divine metal.


    Rain fell harder.


    The flying ship, sleek and rune-etched, soared over the city like a traveling monument to arrogance.


    People below stared. Even through the downpour. Even through veils.


    All eyes locked upward.


    Who dares arrive during peak festival week with a ship that luxurious?


    The buildings below¡ªwere tall, crooked, and layered¡ªgray-green tiles, black wood frames, and spirit-eaves that curled like demon tongues.


    Women in translucent silk robes wandered barefoot, carrying incense burners or lanterns with trapped glowing dragonflies, which pulsed golden light against their damp veils.


    Men wore rain-cut robes with wide sashes, hoods, and spirit-woven cloaks; travelers, treasure hunters, assassins, and wandering cultivators. Everyone here had a sword. And a secret.


    At a moonlit street corner, Su Xiaobai saw a group of veil-dancers¡ªbarefoot women, hips swaying in the muddy street, veils clinging to their faces from the rain, sleeves flowing like phantom wings.


    They weren''t vulgar.


    But every movement was soaked in ancestral seduction.


    Only a slice of white waist showed beneath layers of spiritual silk.


    Just enough to curse your thoughts for hours.


    Lanterns danced above them.


    The entire street seemed like a living, breathing wet dream.


    Su Xiaobai grinned.


    "This festival is trouble."


    ____


    Before stepping off the ship, Su Xiaobai turned to the two white-haired sisters behind him.


    Their eyes were half-dead, their tails twitching under their robes.


    "Take care, my foxes."


    "Don''t get seduced by sect elders back home, or I''ll have to discipline you again."


    SMACK! SMACK!


    "Ah¡ª!"


    The twin snow foxes flinched in unison as he slapped their butts, squeezing with villainous flair.


    Their legs buckled.


    Hu Mei''er pouted, voice shaking:


    "Sister¡­ I hope he never comes back¡­"


    Hu Jiao''er, voice hoarse from too many days in villain service, patted her shoulder.


    "Let''s talk about that after our hips recover."


    The ship lifted again¡ªleaving stunned spectators behind, wondering who had arrived, and why there was no grand entrance.


    Little did they know¡­


    Brother Su had already entered deep.


    _____


    SPLASH. SPLASH.


    His boots hit the muddy street like a spirit beast stepping into enemy territory. He walked calmly toward Misty Pavilion¡ªthe largest inn in Qingxie Port.


    Naturally¡­


    Yu Feng paid.... Again.


    With a growl and a hundred gold coins per room, she made sure to book them separately.


    Only two adjacent rooms were left.


    She glared at the clerk, then glared harder at Su Xiaobai, knowing he was smirking behind her.


    A bearded cultivator next to them muttered:


    "Hundred gold coins? For a single room?! This is robbery!"


    BANG!


    Guards tackled him and dragged his ass out in seconds.


    Su Xiaobai watched him get escorted face-first into a rain barrel, then turned to Yu Feng.


    "I''d complain, but I didn''t pay, so¡­"


    ____


    Inside this evil city, even if you didn''t find treasure during festival week, there were¡­ other things.


    The women of Misty Vale Basin were rumored to be of Yunmu blood¡ªdark-skinned, curvaceous, sexy and mystical.


    Their bodies? The stuff of brothel legends.


    Their moans? Claimed to hold remnant spirit energy.


    Some men came just to hear them whisper while riding. Others came just to try their luck¡­ with more than one type of entrance.

 Chapter 225 - 225: Cultivation meets horny ghost trauma in Room 407!

    The 18th day of the Weeping Moon Festival.


    Outside, the silver rain whispered against the window panes. The faint drizzle soaked the city in quiet longing. Lanterns flickered softly in the mist.


    But inside the Misty Pavilion, Room 407?


    There was warmth.


    There was softness.


    There was tit!


    Specifically, Huo Lingxue''s massive pair, one pressed under Su Xiaobai''s palm, the other smushed against his chest like it belonged there.


    They were entangled like lovers... Peaceful...Dreaming.


    Until¡ª


    "Sniff..." Su Xiaobai''s nose twitched.


    His eyes stayed closed, but his spiritual sense prickled. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Rotting Qi.


    The stench of death, laced with floral perfume.


    Not decay¡ªritual bloom.


    Unholy botany.


    Rustle~


    A silhouette slithered out from under the floorboards like a whisper of fungus and lust.


    A woman.


    Long, elegant limbs.


    Bare feet that didn''t step¡ªthey grew.


    And from her shadow¡­ flowers bloomed.


    Faintly ominous purple and green, dripping dew, petals pulsing like they were breathing.


    ____


    It started at the foot of the bed.


    From the darkness below, a silhouette rose, with skin the color of faintly glowing jade, wrapped in flowing tattered robes that whispered of burial silks and funeral incense.


    Her eyes were closed.


    Her lips were parted.


    And her desire?


    Unholy.


    Yi Muqing.


    Undead, Plum Spirit race.


    Once a princess of a fallen race. Now Su Xiaobai''s officially sealed slave.


    And her biological clock was screaming.


    She didn''t climb the bed.


    She grew into it.


    Phasing up from the floor like a hungry ghost in heat, vines trailing behind her like wedding train from the underworld.


    Then¡ªSQUELCH.


    Her mouth locked onto his. Her tongue? Way too long. Sliding down his throat like a cursed ribbon.


    "Nnnghh¡ª!?"


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes snapped open.


    Green flushed face of a slut, sharp long nails, slutty ghost eyes closed in pure bliss.


    "What the fuck¡ª!"


    She moaned into his mouth.


    "Mmmm... Master... Give me an heir...!"


    "You again!?¡ª"


    BOOM!


    He kicked her off the bed like a missile.


    Yi Muqing rolled, vines curling around her ankles, robes fluttering as she hit the floor with a wet thud¡ªand a very suggestive moan.


    "Mmmnhh~"


    "Maaaaster...it''s been three months r... My womb is drying out... I can feel the Yin rot..."


    "YOU DON''T EVEN HAVE BLOOD FLOW!"


    "Wha¡ªwho''s attacking!?" Huo Lingxue jolted awake, red hair cascading down her back, barely conscious¡ªAnd stared in frozen shock as Su Xiaobai suplexed a half-naked green spirit woman into the carpet while she begged for "seed" like a deranged farming sect prostitute.


    She was simultaneously crying, moaning, and calling him ''Daddy Warbloom.''


    "T-this¡­ this is real, isn''t it?" Huo Lingxue whispered, voice cracking, her red eyes wide with ''I signed up for the wrong sect'' energy.


    She was still half-covered in the blanket, one breast bouncing free like it was personally protesting the madness around her.


    In front of her?


    Su Xiaobai had just drop-kicked a glowing green flower corpse across the room¡ªand that woman had the audacity to moan.


    "Ahn¡ª! Not there! Or maybe there¡ªWAIT¡ªno, yes, YES¡ªstop¡ªMORE¡ª!"


    "Shut up, you invasive species!" Su Xiaobai barked, spitting spiritual spit like a man exorcising a horny demon.


    Yi Muqing rolled on the carpet like a horny salad.


    "Master, my race''s fertility window is only once every 300 years¡ª!" she cried.


    "I''m ovulating! Please fertilize my egg spirit¡ª!"


    Su Xiaobai blinked.


    Looked at the flower bitch.


    Looked at Huo Lingxue.


    Back at the flower bitch.


    Then he smiled.


    That crooked, "I''m about to get arrested by heaven" smile.


    "Good." He cracked his knuckles. "Then today I''ll beat the fertility out of you!"


    Huo Lingxue flinched as he leapt off the bed, flying through the air like a disciplinary immortal.


    "M-Master¡ªah! W-Wait!"


    Too late.


    [Undead Spanking Arts ¨C First Form: Garden Punishment]


    THWACK!


    He landed knees-first on her back, grabbing both her wrists and yanking her vines like reins.


    "Ahn¡ª?! M-my pollination cord¡ª!"


    He slapped her glowing jade ass so hard the nearby lantern flickered.


    "This is for sneaking into my room!"


    SMACK!


    "This is for waking me up without a handjob like normal women!"


    SMACK!!


    "And this¡ª!" He slammed her face-first into the rug.


    "Is for making me say the word ''egg spirit'' before breakfast!"


    Yi Muqing moaned with every impact, her glowing nipples lighting up the rug like someone dropped two glow worms in heat mode.


    "I''m leaking... spirit nectar¡ªMaster, please! I can feel the embryo field opening!"


    "That''s your bladder, you psycho blossom!"


    ____


    Meanwhile, in the Room Next Door¡­


    The walls of the Misty Pavilion were spiritual-grade¡­


    But not soundproof.


    And right now?


    The entire left wing of the inn was echoing with:


    "Take this, you slutweed!"


    "AHHN¡ªMaster, YES¡ªstep on my ovaries¡ª!"


    "You want eggs? I''ll scramble ''em!"


    Yu Feng lay wide-eyed beneath her blanket like a retired saintess experiencing mortal-level PTSD.


    She slowly pulled the covers up over her face, leaving only her eyes visible through the folds of spiritual silk.


    "¡­He''s not human."


    "¡­He attracts demons in heat."


    "¡­And I let this man exist next to me."


    Even as a former dark church saintess, she''d never heard such abysmal phrases strung together in one room.


    It was like trauma poetry.


    She rolled off the bed.


    "Screw this."


    She dressed quickly, wrapped her veil, and left the room with all the elegance of a woman fleeing a cursed chamber.


    "I''ll find the Forbidden City myself."


    "Better that than hearing one more moan about someone''s egg spirit."


    The door shut softly behind her.


    ____


    Back Inside Room 407: Su Xiaobai''s Room of Regret and Rot...


    The room was a mess.


    The carpets were torn.


    The furniture had been used as weapons.


    There were vines and flower petals stuck to the ceiling.


    And in the middle of it?


    Su Xiaobai sat on the edge of the bed, shirtless, glowing, pissed, arms crossed like a father who just beat up his daughter''s suitor.


    Yi Muqing lay on the floor¡ªface bruised, lips swollen, robes half-melted¡ªbut with the content smile of a woman who had just been beaten within her kink parameters.


    Her green skin slowly repaired itself, glowing slightly under the post-pounding death Qi aura.


    Even at Nascent Soul level, her body was peak Tribulation material¡ªa living undead battle doll.


    And she?


    Had zero shame.


    She slithered forward again¡ªon her knees, palms pressed together, head bowed¡ªand wrapped her cold fingers around Su Xiaobai''s ankle like a cultist hugging to salvation.


    "Master¡­ please¡­ if not babies¡­ can I at least taste the rod of legacy¡­?"


    Su Xiaobai cracked his neck, narrowed his eyes.


    "You want me to burn you?"


    FWOOSH!


    His hand lit with Infernal Dao fire, flames roaring red-hot, licking his knuckles like the tongues of angry hell spirits.


    Yi Muqing''s eyes widened in real fear for the first time.


    She backpedaled five meters, her undead thighs kicking up petals as she scrambled like a garden snake in heat.


    "N-No! Not the fire! Not the unholy fire! I''ll behave, I swear!"


    Su Xiaobai lowered the flame.


    "Good... Then speak."


    ____


    [The Mission Update]


    Yesterday, before he dozed off on top of Huo Lingxue''s chest, he''d sent Yi Muqing and Ku Rong out to scout Qingxie Port.


    The map he held?


    Only detailed the inner ruins of the Forbidden City¡ªmarked with decayed sigils, incomplete pathways, and cryptic death formations.


    But to reach the damn place?


    He needed someone to find the entrance first.


    "Did you get anything or not?"


    Yi Muqing paused dramatically¡ªthen tried crawling closer again.


    "...Can I sit on your lap while I report¡ª?"


    "NO."


    "¡­What if I wrap myself in a rug¡ª?"


    "NO!"


    Finally, after another round of threats and mild kicking:


    "Fine! Ku Rong found something, okay!?" she huffed, cheeks puffed. "He infiltrated a mercenary cell talking about the Lost City."


    Su Xiaobai squinted.


    "Lost City?"


    "Yes. They''re calling it that. But the descriptions¡­ match the Forbidden City you seek. Black gates, dead Qi rain, terrain that twists time¡­"


    "Huh?"


    "Wait. What mercenary group?"


    "¡­Uh. Well."


    Yi Muqing smiled nervously.


    "The ones Ku Rong infiltrated. He''s¡­ kind of inside them now."


    "Inside?"


    "Infiltrated how?"


    "He might''ve¡­ challenged their leader to a drinking contest, headbutted him, won, then was promoted to squad captain¡­"


    "¡­WHAT!?"


    ___


    From behind the privacy veil, Huo Lingxue stepped out, tying her red sash over her chest, sword sheathed at her hip, eyebrow twitching.


    "¡­She''s your slave?"


    Su Xiaobai glanced at the green woman hugging his foot.


    "Technically, yes."


    Yi Muqing ignored the judgment.


    "I''m very loyal."


    "And fertile!"


    "And I''ve only tried to rape him three times this month!"


    "¡­You need help." Huo Lingxue said flatly.


    Su Xiaobai stood.


    "Let''s go meet Ku Rong."


    "If this lead''s good, we''ll move on the Lost City by nightfall."


    Yi Muqing beamed.


    "Yay! Fertility quest field trip!"


    He raised his palm again¡ªflames sparked.


    She shut up.


    _______


    One Hour Later¡­


    Su Xiaobai slipped into a side alley so narrow it felt like a spatial rift forgotten by urban planners. The place was damp, shadowed, and filled with the scent of wet stone, burned incense, and bad karma.


    At the end of the crooked path stood a building that looked like it had been built by criminals, for criminals¡ªa three-story black pagoda with peeling paint, crooked eaves, and a formation ward that buzzed like it was one spark away from exploding.


    "Charming," Su Xiaobai muttered.

 Chapter 226 - 226: Ten Gold Coins, One Ass Slap, and a Death Mission!

    The Black Lotus Mercenary Guild...


    From the outside, the Black Lotus Mercenary Guild looked like a ruin that refused to collapse¡ªweather-worn stone, cracked sigils, and a formation barrier that flickered like it owed rent.


    But inside?


    It was alive.


    A pungent cocktail of bloodlust, body odor, and broken dreams filled the room like incense. Men with too many scars and women with not enough morals crowded the hall¡ªmercenaries, beastkin, cursed alchemists, demon-blood hybrids, and a few cultivators who smelled like they hadn''t bathed since the last heavenly tribulation.


    Weapons clinked.


    Fists slammed.


    A man with a tail was arm-wrestling a woman with tusks.


    And in the corner, someone was probably being eaten.


    It was beautiful.


    But what caught Su Xiaobai''s eye?


    At the heart of the chaos, behind a reception counter carved from black obsidian¡ª


    A woman.


    She had the kind of dangerously sweet smile that could either warm your soul or suck it out through your dick.


    Her dimples were illegal, and her fangs peeked out when she spoke like a man-eating fox girl in customer service cosplay.


    "Welcome to the Black Lotus Mercenary Guild," she purred, voice like wine mixed with low-grade poison.


    Her eyes flicked to Su Xiaobai''s aura.


    They dilated.


    "Oh my¡­ you''re that kind of cultivator."


    Su Xiaobai tilted his head.


    "You''ll have to be more specific. There are¡­ many kinds of me."


    She giggled, and it was unfairly charming.


    Then slammed down a registration slip with bureaucratic force.


    "Ten gold coins."


    Su Xiaobai blinked.


    His face darkened.


    Ten. Gold. Coins?


    Scammed by smile?


    He didn''t even have a copper on him. He was a villain, not a fucking pay-to-play protagonist.


    For a moment, his brain did a full reboot.


    She smiled innocently.


    "New face tax," she added.


    He grumbled¡ªuntil she thankfully clarified that they also accepted spirit stones.


    He paid with a sneer, pocket lighter and pride dented.


    Once registered, Su Xiaobai glanced at the ranking wall. Each rank had a plaque and a tiny spiritual light.


    And yes, the names were... something.


    - Ironblood Fighter ¨C Qi Condensation Realm


    - Bronze Fist Warrior ¨C Foundation Establishment


    - Silver Blade Knight ¨C Core Formation Realm


    - Golden Battle General ¨C Earthly Rebirth Realm


    - Platinum Warlord ¨C Nascent Soul Realm


    - Jade War Saint ¨C Soul Fusion Realm


    - Amethyst Battle King ¨C Spirit Severing Realm


    - Obsidian Martial Emperor ¨C Integration Realm


    After that?


    Nothing.


    Because as the guild law stated:


    "If you''re in Deity Transformation Realm and joining as a mercenary, you''re either insane, broke, or an author trying to sound cool."


    And Su Xiaobai?


    He stared at the rank on his chest.


    A cheap iron badge.


    Ironblood Fighter.


    The literal bottom of the food chain.


    His eyebrow twitched.


    His soul nearly detached in protest.


    "I have sword intent that could cut rivers¡ª"


    "I tamed foxes, broke ghosts, and slept with death!"


    "And you''re telling me I''m a sword intern!?"


    Then he remembered.


    Right.


    He was hiding his cultivation aura.


    Everything made sense... Unfortunately.


    "Damn it¡­" He glared at the badge like it personally insulted his bloodline. "This thing is gonna ruin my reputation¡­"


    Then he looked around.


    Everyone else was trash-tier too... Half of them looked like they couldn''t even beat a chicken in heat.


    He sighed.


    "Fine. Let''s just find Ku Rong before I kill someone and get promoted through murder."


    Then¡ª


    BANG!


    A loud crash shook the hall, drawing every mercenary''s greasy gaze toward the entrance as the sound of boots echoed like thunder.


    A giant man had entered¡ªseven and a half feet tall, muscles packed like spirit-forged bricks, with a greatsword the size of a corpse slung over his shoulder and enough raw testosterone to make a bull spirit back up.


    His voice? Like a war drum.


    "Recruiting for the Hanmeng Plain''s Lost City mission!"


    "We''re gathering elite warriors! Two Platinum Warlords, one light-path priest from the Light Church, a dark Qi cultivator with Yunmu bloodline, and an elf archer who can guide us through Cloudwood Forest!"


    "Only serious cultivators need apply!"


    The room?


    Half the crowd straight-up vanished.


    Poof... Gone.


    One rat-faced man muttered under his breath while slinking toward the exit:


    "Only idiots would take that A-rank suicide scroll... Crimson Thunder Mercs tried last time. Whole group got erased in the plains."


    Su Xiaobai''s ears perked up.


    He strolled over.


    He flashed a few spirit crystals like they were candy, casually hooking the rat-faced man''s collar.


    "Brother, this Crimson Thunder group¡­ were they strong?"


    The man looked him up and down¡ªpaused at the lowest rank badge on Su Xiaobai''s chest¡ªand instantly adopted a ''talking to a newb'' expression.


    "You just joined, huh?"


    "Yeah..."


    He leaned in.


    "Crimson Thunder Mercs tried that three months ago. B-rank guild, Battle King in the lead, Sword Grandmaster on rear guard, twelve Nascent Souls dogs¡ªand all of ''em got turned into fertilizer by the cursed Qi storms in Hanmeng Plain"


    He pointed at the shouting giant.


    "That fool''s team? Courting death."


    ____


    Su Xiaobai looked toward the giant again.


    He was still shouting. Still hopeful, and still thinking someone would sign up.


    Su Xiaobai walked over casually.


    "Hello. I''d like to join."


    The giant, Dong Lei, gave him a look that could fart milk.


    "This is a death mission, not a young master''s field trip. Go back to your brothel."


    Su Xiaobai raised his hand¡ªsnapped his fingers¡ªand a ripple of luminous sword Qi arced through the air.


    SLASH!


    A single strand of Dong Lei''s hair drifted down, sliced cleanly mid-air.


    Everyone went still. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The temperature dropped.


    Dong Lei slowly reached up, touching where the hair had been cut. "Y-You''re a Sword Master...?"


    Su Xiaobai didn''t answer, and he didn''t need to.


    Level 3 intent... That was enough.


    In the world of swords, the rankings were sacred:


    - Intent Level 1¨C2: Sword Disciple (intern)


    - Intent Level 3: Sword Master


    - Intent Level 4: Sword Grandmaster


    - Intent Level 5: Sword Monarch


    - Intent Level 6: Sword Ancestor


    - Intent Level 7: Sword Immortal (a.k.a. Fairy)


    - Intent Level 8: Sword Saint


    - Intent Level 9: Sword God


    Dong Lei''s eyes lit up like a starving mercenary seeing free roast duck. He immediately changed tone like a merchant sensing a platinum card.


    "COME WITH ME!"


    He waved frantically, dragging Su Xiaobai away like he''d just caught a golden fish in a dirty pond.


    Su Xiaobai followed, amused. ''Hanmeng Plain, huh...''


    That''s deep corrupted wildlands core. Definitely cursed. Probably filled with sexy ghosts. Light Church priest and dark cultivator? That pairing stinks of "plot." And an elf archer? That''s either a top-tier trap bait or a harem flag.


    That was suspiciously close to a setup involving the Forbidden City.


    He didn''t know if this squad was legit.


    But worst case?


    He''d just walk away.


    Best case?


    He''d rob their map, sleep with their woman, and send their leader back to the guild in a sack.


    Su Xiaobai glanced around as they moved deeper into the guild. He couldn''t help but sneer at the crowd again. Everyone here wore dirty cloaks, uneven aura, and battle-worn gear.


    He?


    Had the strength to erase the top five squads before breakfast and still have time to wipe his rod on a Lynx''s tail.


    "Maybe¡­" he mused to himself.


    "The standards here really are too damn low."


    As they descended the stone spiral staircase beneath the guild¡ªwalls flickering with soft soul lamps and the damp scent of earth pressing in¡ªDong Lei finally turned his head.


    "Brother, this one''s called Dong Lei. You don''t look like a native of the green evil (Qingxie) port... what''s your name?"


    "Su Xiaobai."


    A simple name. One that rolled off the tongue like a death threat.


    Dong Lei nodded¡ªbut before he could ask more¡ª


    "Um... I don''t know if I could join?"


    Soft.... Almost timid. The voice echoed faintly through the stone corridor.


    Both men halted mid-step, halfway down the staircase.


    "Huh?"


    "Eh?"


    They turned.


    A woman stood behind them.


    Plain black hair, ordinary round face, dressed in faded traveling robes with an oversized belt pouch. She looked like the kind of girl who sold talismans by the roadside.


    Except¡ªThose eyes.


    Deep blue, cold,.calculating and familiar.


    Su Xiaobai blinked.


    "You''ve got to be kidding me."


    This wasn''t just anyone.


    It was Yu Feng.


    Former Saintess of the Dark Church.


    Current half-slave, half-traitor.


    And one of Su Xiaobai''s biggest unresolved "I''ll either fuck her or kill her" relationships. She didn''t even bother to hide her voice properly.


    "My name is Feng Yu," she said calmly.


    "Soul cultivator."


    Then¡ª


    Boom.


    A wave of pressure rippled from her forehead¡ªpure soul intent rolled across the corridor like a silent scream. Even Dong Lei staggered.


    "Wha¡ªSoul cultivator?!"


    Soul cultivators were like phoenix sightings in the wild. Rare, dangerous and borderline priceless.


    Dong Lei''s eyes lit up like he just won the lottery.


    "Sister Feng Yu! You''re in!"


    Su Xiaobai just clicked his tongue,''Pfft. Qingqing gives these out like candy.''


    ____


    As they walked down the hall together, Yu Feng was pointedly avoiding eye contact¡ªlike a wife trying to pretend her husband wasn''t dragging spiritual porn scrolls in public.


    Su Xiaobai wasn''t having it.


    PAKH!


    His hand smacked her tight ass with full villainous precision.


    Nearly faceplanted.


    "Y-You¡ª!"


    "Little bitch," Su Xiaobai whispered, grinning like a villain with three criminal charges pending. "Why''d you run off like that? Is Daddy not feeding you enough that you''re out here sniffing street food?"


    "!!"

 Chapter 227 - 227: Error 404: Flirting Attempt — Failed!

    Yu Feng''s eye twitched so hard her soul almost left her body. If embarrassment could kill, she''d be a cold puddle by now.


    "Can you¡ªCAN you act like we don''t know each other?" she hissed between clenched teeth, "They''re working with a light-element priest. You want to get me exorcised?"


    Su Xiaobai removed his hand¡ªslowly, as if reluctant.


    But not before his eyes flicked once more over her figure.


    Plain illusion on the outside.


    But beneath?


    That waist.


    Those hips.


    That rear he just slapped.


    Heh.


    "Tch. I''ve been ignoring treasure in my own ring."


    At that moment, Dong Lei stopped at a corner, scratching the back of his head awkwardly.


    "Brother Su¡­ Sister Feng¡­ Although you both clearly have¡­ some prior karma¡­"


    His eyes didn''t move, but his spirit sense definitely caught the ass slap.


    "Perhaps we save the lovers'' quarrel for after I introduce you to the rest of the squad?"


    Su Xiaobai smiled, Yu Feng looked like she''d chew a tribulation cloud.


    But both nodded.


    ____


    The stairway finally ended.


    The walls opened up.


    And Su Xiaobai stopped walking.


    "Holy sh¡ªthis is a tavern?"


    The underground space stood like a hidden pleasure dome: glowing lanterns, spirit-forged walls inscribed with noise-dampening runes, and a vibe that screamed ''You might die, but you''ll die tipsy and horny.''


    It was a cultivator pub¡ªwith demon-girl flair.


    - Demi-human girls in bunny robes were literally spitting flames from their mouths as they twirled on stage poles.


    - A harpy songstress in full bird-girl glory belted out a sultry power ballad from the main stage, her feathers shimmering under formation lights.


    - Servers dressed in modest-yet-sinfully-tight robes floated through the room like butterflies armed with trays of spirit wine and enchanted snacks.


    It was a den of rogue cultivators, mercenaries, and beastkin degenerates.


    And Su Xiaobai?


    Instantly felt at home.


    Dong Lei led them to a corner booth¡ªspacious, semi-private, lined in black cloud-pattern leather.


    Five people sat around it already.


    Each one radiated "I have a backstory" energy.


    Shi Yan.


    Age ¡ª Probably 200.


    Cultivation ¡ª Spirit Severing Realm.


    Style ¡ª Light Church.


    Appearance ¡ª He wore a glowing red mane, a chiseled jaw, literal fairytale knight armor, and golden blonde hair.


    What the fuck¡ªwho made him a priest?


    Su Xiaobai blinked.


    This man looked like a paladin who''d walked off the cover of a holy cultivation romance drama. Golden blade across his back. Sparkling white smile.


    The handshake was firm.


    The eyes were not.


    ''Fake ass Light Church dog,'' Su Xiaobai thought. ''Blonde... handsome... humble¡­ definitely my enemy.''


    Because if there''s one thing the author liked more than random power-ups, it was inserting a fake noble blonde dude to contrast with Su Xiaobai''s villain vibes.


    Shi Yan smiled even brighter when he looked at Yu Feng.


    "A pleasure to meet a soul cultivator," he said, bowing slightly.


    Su Xiaobai rolled his eyes so hard they cut through two minor dimensions.


    Second ¡ª Lan Tian


    Age, unclear.


    Cultivation ¡ª Soul Fusion Realm.


    Style ¡ª Darkness & Shadow Techniques.


    Identity ¡ª Yunmu Clan Descendant.


    Appearance ¡ª Slightly darker skin, a gloomy aura, and the trademark "betrayal brows." S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Su Xiaobai squinted.


    Yup, cunning face, moody eyes, forehead tattoo glowing with ominous runes.


    Instantly tagged:


    ''Mid-journey betrayal flag. Will try to backstab me near a soul-devouring shrine. Possibly has mommy issues.''


    Lan Tian said nothing. He merely nodded.


    That alone made him more suspicious.


    Third ¡ª Ku Rong


    Cultivation ¡ª Red Demon, Cleaver Class.


    Role ¡ª Hidden Undercover Muscle.


    The crimson-skinned behemoth sat silently, eyes flicking to Su Xiaobai like a puppy who wanted to bark "Young Master!" but was trained not to.


    Su Xiaobai subtly raised a brow.


    Ku Rong got the message. Stay quiet, stay scary.


    He resumed gnawing a spiritual bone like a bored death god.


    Last ¡ª Nalan Yufei.


    Race: Elf


    Age: ???


    Role: Archer / Forest Guide


    Cultivation: Unclear. But strong.


    Appearance: Gray hair, emerald eyes, high elf cheekbones that screamed "noble and will step on you." She wore tight black leathers, bow slung on her back, and gave off "ex-girlfriend energy with better thighs."


    Dong Lei coughed.


    "This is Yufei. You can call her Feifei. She doesn''t like being called old."


    Nalan Yufei narrowed her eyes and slapped her wine cup down with a glare.


    "I''m not old. I''m experienced. I''m only 150!"


    Su Xiaobai smiled innocently.


    "Hello, Little Elf."


    "Don''t¡ª!"


    She bit her lip, ears twitching in fury. The flush rising to her cheeks was not qi.


    Dong Lei facepalmed.


    Su Xiaobai, between sips of his wine, studied the group dynamic.


    Shi Yan and Lan Tian were both clearly stronger than Dong Lei. Even the elf probably had more killing power.


    So why was Dong Lei leading?


    Ah.


    ''He''s the dumb glue guy,'' Su Xiaobai realized. ''The one everyone tolerates. He buys food. He arranges lodging. He has no hidden agenda because he''s just... big.''


    The gentle fool archetype.


    Useful.


    Expendable.


    ___


    As Su Xiaobai sat, a faint smirk curled on his lips.


    Because now it was obvious.


    Dong Lei wasn''t a leader.


    He was a meat mountain with enthusiasm.


    The kind of guy who recruited Ku Rong by arm-wrestling him, called it "reliable strength," and genuinely thought that was equivalent to a spiritual background check.


    In summary?


    A perfect idiot.


    The type who''d heroically throw himself into a spiritual explosion to save the squad...


    And take the healer with him.


    At the table:


    - Shi Yan, Spirit Severing Realm, holy knight with fake modesty, hiding Light Church holy-kill-everything scripts under his armor. Likely racist.


    - Lan Tian, Soul Fusion Realm, Yunmu curse-baby, guaranteed to betray someone¡ªpossibly himself.


    - Yu Feng, Disguised, pissed-off, sex-starved dark church saintess currently pretending to be a normal girl. Hah.


    - Dong Lei, Nascent Soul, spiritual himbo, muscles for brains.


    - Ku Rong, Su Xiaobai''s red demon warhound pretending to be a silent dog.


    - Nalan Yufei, Elf, Hot, Deadly, 150 years old. Hates being called old. Might shoot Su Xiaobai mid-mission just for fun.


    - And Su Xiaobai, Supposedly Earthly Rebirth realm. Actually stronger than everyone except Shi Yan. Possibly stronger than him too, if annoyed enough.


    If a historian wrote down this team, it''d sound like the setup to a dark sect joke.


    Dong Lei stood up, face grim like he was delivering a eulogy instead of a mission briefing.


    "Well¡­ since everyone''s here, let''s discuss the mission."


    He glanced around, solemn.


    "This Lost City expedition is classified as high-risk. You''ve probably heard¡ªCrimson Thunder Mercenary Group went in last month."


    "..."


    "They were all wiped out."


    Someone in the back choked on spirit wine.


    Dong Lei continued.


    "But they lacked something crucial¡­ what we have."


    ''Plot armor?'' Su Xiaobai muttered under his breath, sipping his drink.


    Dong Lei reached into his robes and pulled out a parchment wrapped in spiritual seals.


    "A map. Passed down from Lan Tian''s ancestors. Marked with death beast zones, spiritual traps, terrain shifts¡­ even the coordinates of the Lost City''s entrance."


    Lan Tian said nothing, but his smug smirk twitched like he was trying not to grin.


    Su Xiaobai squinted at the map from across the table.


    That paper was too clean. No creases. No scent of spiritual decay.


    ''You expect me to believe that''s ancestral? My grandpa''s pills look older than that.''


    Still, everyone nodded like obedient


    disciples during a lecture.


    Dong Lei pressed on.


    "All rewards from the expedition¡ªspirit treasures, relics, or legacy items¡ªwill be shared equally among all of us."


    Shi Yan smiled like a saint.


    Lan Tian nodded like a traitor.


    Yu Feng didn''t even smile.


    Su Xiaobai just said, "Sure."


    Which meant only one thing.


    Everyone here was lying together, beautifully.


    Translation: I''ll take everything once you''re all dead.


    Pa! Pa!


    Dong Lei clapped his hands together like a mortal tour guide.


    "Good. Then tomorrow morning¡ªeast gate of Qingxie Port. At dawn."


    Everyone split off.


    Some left to prep.


    Some to drink.


    Some to mentally prepare for their future corpses.


    Su Xiaobai didn''t leave.


    He slid into a more relaxed posture at the bar, twirling his spirit wine¡ª''Green Immortal Spirit'', fruity and overpriced.


    He took a sip, mind turning gears.


    "That map''s too clean. If it''s from Lan Tian''s ancestors, then they printed it yesterday."


    Behind him, Ku Rong was forcefully relocated after being accused of "disruptive energy." (Translation: Nalan Yufei just didn''t want his demon aura near her wine.)


    The elf?


    Didn''t.


    Nalan Yufei¡ªwhite-haired, robed in tight forest-silk robes¡ªslid into the seat next to him without invitation.


    She didn''t speak at first.


    Just ordered the same wine.


    Two cups of ''Green Immortal Spirit Wine'' between them.


    She sipped.


    He sipped.


    He didn''t speak.


    She didn''t either.


    They just... observed each other, like two apex predators at the same watering hole.


    Finally¡ª


    "From a sect?"


    Nalan Yufei leaned closer, her voice dripping with lazy interest.


    Her gaze shimmered like spring dew on a poisoned leaf, eyes just seductive enough to qualify as illegal in three kingdoms.


    It was the classic flirt-probe: Cute. Calm. Calculated.


    But before her mind-gears could even shift into seductive deduction mode¡ª


    BAM.


    Su Xiaobai turned to her, deadpan.


    Didn''t flinch.


    Didn''t blink.


    Just vocal slapped her logic across the face.


    "Yes," he said, sharp as a sword edge.


    "And now what? I''m supposed to ask how you guessed?"


    "Then you''d give me that smug little breakdown¡ªhow I''m too calm for a death mission, how I wear robes too nice to be poor, but walk alone with no guards, so I''m not from some rich clan."


    "So you''d conclude: sect-trained. On a solo adventure. Probably bored. Probably talented. Probably dangerous."

 Chapter 228 - 228: Light God!

    "... So you''d conclude: sect-trained. On a solo adventure. Probably bored. Probably talented. Probably dangerous."


    He leaned forward, chin resting on his knuckles, smirk dangerous and eyes gleaming like moonlit knives.


    Nalan Yufei''s face shifted.


    From flirtation¡ª


    To surprise¡ª


    To emotionally bitch-slapped silence.


    Her lips parted... No words came out.


    Just blinking.


    System Error: Elf Brain Overloaded.


    Su Xiaobai almost added:


    [Bitch, please. I did this level of deduction when I was eight. While fucking a city


    mayor''s daughter blind.]


    But he let it pass.


    No need to crack her ego clean in half.


    She already looked one insult away from turning into a full-blown tsundere with a longbow. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He swirled his wine casually and took another sip.


    "Still... nice try."


    Yufei finally exhaled, cheeks a touch red, and muttered¡ª


    "Arrogant bastard."


    Su Xiaobai grinned.


    "Mmm. Would say it slower next time."


    "Pftt..."


    Nalan Yufei nearly spit out her wine like a broken spirit spring, her brain stuttering like a Qi-deprived formation array.


    What was wrong with him?


    She sighed, shook her head, then ¡ª tried to reset her social cultivation technique.


    Su Xiaobai, meanwhile?


    Zero interest in sleeping with her.


    Not because she wasn''t beautiful¡ªshe absolutely had the skin of a divine beast and the hair of a shampoo commercial sponsored by the Celestial Pavilion¡ªbut because...


    He didn''t have enough intel.


    And like any good paranoid villain, he refused to stick his sword into a mystery box while dungeon-diving with unknown variables. No horny sidequests until the main mission clears.


    If Nalan Yufei knew that her attempt at making a casual friend was being interpreted as a full-blown seduction event by the walking sword-harem that was Su Xiaobai, she''d cough blood, scream "This wasn''t a flag!" and keel over in a pool of her own spiritual regrets.


    All she wanted was someone semi-normal to walk around with.


    But her options were tragic:


    - Holy cosplay prince? Too blessed, probably repressed.


    - Emo tattoo boy? 200% cursed and one heartbreak away from becoming a villain backstory.


    - Muscle mountain? Brain-dead. Might eat a sword accidentally.


    - Demon dog? Actually kind of adorable, but would draw too many weird looks.


    Su Xiaobai?


    Closest thing to a functional human.


    Barely.


    So they left the Black Lotus Guild together¡ªlike a couple on a low-budget cultivation date¡ªand wandered through the city.


    The day was chill.


    Until night came.


    And they stumbled upon a sketchy, two-stage pagoda called "Three Hundred Flower Pavilion."


    Which, naturally, sold a drink named "300 Flower Wine."


    Which sounded poetic.


    Tasted divine.


    And hit like a thunder tribulation wrapped in a romantic subplot.


    Result?


    Nalan Yufei¡ªknocked the hell out.


    Out cold... Sprawled like a goddess who lost her savings in a drinking contest.


    Su Xiaobai blinked.


    "¡­What a pain."


    He carried her with all the emotional investment of a man transporting laundry, kicked open the inn door, and¡ª


    Plopped her half-naked elf body directly onto Yu Feng''s bed.


    Zero explanation. Zero guilt.


    Problem: transferred.


    ____


    Yu Feng, upon entering her room and seeing an unconscious half-nude elf laying across her bedsheets like a passed-out love rival, almost ascended out of sheer confusion.


    Her first instinct was to exorcise her.


    Fortunately, she recognized the ears.


    Barely.


    Instead of tossing her out the window, she sighed like a woman who''d seen too much sin and not enough explanations.


    ____


    Meanwhile...


    Su Xiaobai?


    Vanished into the night.


    Why? Because like a true villain protagonist, he''d remembered a side quest that smelled like lore and heresy.


    "Light Church," he muttered.


    He knew plenty about the Dark Church¡ªhome of the heretic arts, cursed Qi, and sexy assassins with daddy issues.


    But Light Church?


    Nothing.


    He only heard whispers in the sect, mostly dismissive stuff like:


    [They''re not relevant in the heavens anymore. Most of the elemental gods are basically frozen action figures now.]


    Still, curiosity struck. So he climbed to the top of Qingxie City''s only Light Church cathedral¡ª


    And found himself standing right behind the statue of the Light God. A winged man in pristine robes, white marble gleaming like a virgin sect disciple.


    Behind the marble wings of the Light God statue, he casually peered over the edge of the church rooftop, watching the faithful bow below like ants worshipping a glowing lantern. He squinted. From above, they looked sincere, too sincere.


    Divine light spilled over them like gentle rain, and Su Xiaobai saw actual wounds closing, spiritual fatigue lifting, even cursed marks fading into nothingness.


    "¡­Bullshit," he muttered. "Definitely a scam. Probably running on leftover subsidies from the Celestial Treasury."


    Still, his instincts twitched. So he activated "Dragon Eyes", golden pupils narrowing to pierce through illusions and lies¡ª


    Nothing.


    No formation nodes.


    No illusion threads.


    No hidden puppeteers in the rafters.


    Just divine light. Real. Pure. Unfiltered.


    Su Xiaobai''s smirk faltered.


    Then frowned.


    Then realized¡ªhe was still peeing.


    Right on the statue''s leg.


    Like it was a urinal sponsored by the Abyss Sect.


    The stream flowed. Majestic. Graceful. With a steady arc that insulted heaven and architecture alike.


    And just as he was about to zip up?


    "¡­Huh?"


    He blinked.


    Something¡­ shifted.


    The air around him stiffened cold like it had density. Like the atmosphere itself noticed him. The rooftop wind stilled, and the light flickered.


    Then¡ª


    Crunch.


    He heard it.


    Stone moving against stone.


    He turned his head. Slowly. Very slowly.


    And the statue of the Light God?


    Its head had turned.


    Not all the way.


    Just a few degrees.


    Just enough that its dead, marble eyes were looking right at him.


    His bladder nearly froze mid-stream.


    A cold prickle ran down his spine, the kind that makes even a seasoned cultivator reconsider his karma score.


    That face¡ªstill smiling, still serene¡ªnow had weight behind it. Like judgment. Like the heavens had found his browser history and weren''t impressed.


    The eyes didn''t glow.


    They didn''t move.


    But they were watching.


    "..."


    Su Xiaobai didn''t breathe.


    Didn''t blink.


    Didn''t even flinch, in case that counted as guilt.


    For a moment, the entire rooftop was silent. No wind. No night birds. No city sounds.


    Just him, the pee, and divine judgment.


    Then¡ª


    The feeling vanished.


    Gone.


    The head hadn''t moved.


    The statue hadn''t changed.


    Just illusion.


    Just a hallucination. A flicker of Qi distortion. Maybe too much spirit wine.


    "¡­Hmph." He zipped up with practiced flair. "Getting soft."


    Still, he gave the statue one last side-eye, just to be sure.


    It stared forward, blank, lifeless, like always.


    But as he walked off the rooftop, hands behind his back, posture casual¡ªHis shadow stared for a moment longer than it should have.


    And the statue?


    Maybe it was a trick of the moonlight.


    But it almost looked like it was smiling wider.


    Hiss~


    A chill slithered down Su Xiaobai''s spine like a cursed snake crawling through his meridians.


    He narrowed his eyes, glanced at the statue one last time, and muttered¡ª


    "¡­Nah. Fuuuuck that."


    This whole place felt wrong. Holy aura in the air, sky too quiet, and statues looking back.


    He''d had enough.


    Su Xiaobai bolted off the rooftop in a flash of afterimages and disdain. If someone had drawn a formation circle around his escape route, it would''ve spelled out "NOPE."


    Because now that he actually thought about it¡­This was a fantasy world.


    Where gods exist.


    And whether they''re dead, frozen, or chilling on divine welfare¡ª


    He just pissed on one.


    As Su Xiaobai zipped across the rooftops, fate¡ªever the petty bitch¡ªdecided to slap him.


    Mid-air, his cultivation core glitched like a faulty spiritual modem. His limbs lost tension, muscles slackened¡ª


    "Oh come on¡ª!"


    His foot caught nothing. Air, karma and regret. Whatever it was, his balance broke like a cheap pill furnace.


    Why?


    Because his foundation realm was still janky. That''s what happens when you speedrun cultivation like a madman¡ªoccasional random power hiccups.


    Like now.


    When his strength suddenly nosedived at the worst possible moment.


    CRASH!


    He slammed into someone full-force, the collision loud enough to scare a nearby ghost into spontaneous combustion.


    "Ah¡ª!"


    A shriek echoed as a woman in red robes got absolutely yeeted across the market square like a ragdoll in a drama arc no one asked for.


    Next to her, a maid stared in frozen horror, mouth open, hands clutching a tray of dumplings like they were sacred talismans.


    The woman lay groaning, clearly a protagonist-tier beauty¡ª


    Silky golden hair. Crimson phoenix robes. Delicate yet sharp features. Definitely 100% the kind of girl with secret bloodlines and unresolved trauma.


    Su Xiaobai?


    He stood up, brushed imaginary dust off his sleeves, and walked away like nothing happened.


    "W-Wait¡ª!" she called out, breathless, confused, clearly flagged by fate.


    He didn''t even look back.


    Just clicked his tongue.


    "Tch. Aura drop. No mood."


    Chance encounter? Romance spark?


    Fuck that.


    The author only gave him chance encounters with death, betrayal, and sexually confused demons.


    He wasn''t about to chase some plotline just because her face looked expensive.


    He was a villain, not a harem protagonist with a side quest tracker.


    ___


    "Madam, are you alright?"


    The maid finally regained control of her face and her dumplings, rushing to the side of the red-robed woman now dusting herself off like a kicked treasure box.


    Lady Lianhua¡ªhair like strands of gold-forged sunlight, eyes like autumn regret¡ªlooked toward the alley where Su Xiaobai had vanished.


    "I¡­ I feel like I''ve seen him somewhere before," she muttered, voice dazed.

 Chapter 229 - 229: Horny Wind, Holy Forest, and the Smell of Plot!

    "I¡­ I feel like I''ve seen him somewhere before," she muttered, voice dazed.


    That man.


    That fleeting figure. Cold eyes, devil-may-care stride. A spiritual aura that smelled faintly of villainy and good wine.


    The maid tilted her head, confused. "An old friend?"


    The woman didn''t answer immediately.


    Because if Su Xiaobai had waited just one moment longer, he would''ve realized¡ª


    He''d just body-checked Lady Feng Lianhua.


    Phoenix-blooded of the Vermillion Phoenix Dynasty.


    And the girl whose treasure map he once "borrowed" in the forest.


    It was about a year ago.


    She''d been injured¡ªin the wilds.


    And Su Xiaobai, found her passed out and immediately activated his two signature techniques:


    - Villain''s Greed


    - Speed Looting


    He stole her treasure map, the one she spent years researching and millions of spirit stones acquiring.


    It led him to the lost legacy of Emperor Tian Yu, which he robbed like a bandit with a celestial discount code.


    He also may or may not have considered stealing her body, until a random talisman on her chest zapped his perverted intentions into a premature retreat.


    He chalked it up to "author cockblock" and slapped on some medical paste for "good karma."


    Then he vanished.


    Like a horny wind.


    Fairy Lianhua, meanwhile?


    Woke up hours later, healed, and assumed she''d been saved by a mysterious cultivator with the heart of a saint and the patience of a monk.


    She never saw his face.


    She just remembered warmth, the scent of herbs, and the absence of malice.


    She thought¡ª


    > He must be a noble rogue... a true gentleman cultivator¡­ one who saves lives, then disappears like smoke.


    She returned to her dynasty.


    Never saw him again.


    She''d nearly forgotten the incident completely.


    But today¡ªduring the bustling 49-Day Weeping Moon Festival of Qingxie City¡ªshe''d wandered the market with no thought in mind...


    And got shoulder-tackled by fate.


    Her heart now beat faster. Not from pain. But from instinct.


    Something familiar in that man''s posture. That lack of apology... That aura that whispered:


    > "I''m up to something. And it''s probably illegal."


    She placed a hand to her chest, blinking rapidly. "... Could it be him? My mysterious savior from back then¡­?"


    She rubbed her arm, still watching the corner where Su Xiaobai had disappeared with all the grace of a rogue cultivator ghosting a Tinder date.


    "Madam¡­ you think he recognized you?" the maid asked cautiously.


    But Feng Lianhua wasn''t listening.


    "¡­He didn''t even look at me," She muttered. "Just crashed into me like a bull and walked off like I wasn''t here..."


    Her spiritual senses stretched out like blooming petals, searching for that rogue Qi signature.


    Eyes narrowed.


    Which, in Phoenix Dynasty terms, meant someone was about to suffer.


    She wasn''t mad.


    She just wanted a word.


    Possibly followed by several thousand flaming arrows and a heated explanation in public.


    _____


    Eastern Gate, Qingxie Port.


    Next Morning ¡ª Just Too Damn Early


    "Great. Since everyone''s here, let''s go."


    Priest Shi Yan''s voice rang out, polished and heroic, as if he was about to deliver a sermon instead of lead a bunch of barely-compatible degenerates into a death zone.


    He looked too excited.


    The kind of excited that screams "I get extra Light Points if someone dies heroically in front of me."


    Su Xiaobai arrived last¡ªyawning like a bastard who overslept after committing auditory war crimes.


    Everyone turned to glare at him.


    Except two people:


    Yu Feng and Nalan Yufei.


    Why?


    Because they were too damn tired to care.


    The two women had spent half the night in neighboring rooms, bonding over shared trauma.


    Specifically?


    The nonstop noise from Su Xiaobai''s room.


    Clothes hitting floors.


    Beds shaking.


    Walls knocking like they owed debt.


    Except... he was alone.


    They didn''t know what he was doing.


    Was it solo dual-cultivation practice?


    Spiritual exercise?


    Masturbating with intent to transcend?


    All they knew was that Nalan Yufei had whispered through the wall, "...Does he always go this long?"


    To which Yu Feng, red-eyed and vengeful, simply pointed at the dark circles under her own eyes and muttered, "He''s always like this."


    Thus, a sacred sisterhood was forged.


    Not from trust. Not from respect.


    But from being sleep-deprived co-victims of Su Xiaobai''s nightly activities.


    They marched in formation.


    Shi Yan took the rear¡ªheroic self-preservation mode.


    Lan Tian led up front, guided by the dark aura like a sad compass.


    Dong Lei lumbered somewhere in the middle like a walking spirit fortress.


    Su Xiaobai?


    Casually strolled near the center, chewing on dried demon fruit, eyes half-lidded.


    He clicked his tongue.


    "Tch. Priest just doesn''t wanna die first. Coward."


    Clearly, he didn''t know jack about standard merc formation.


    ___


    The landscape changed.


    Green, dew-kissed grass gave way to towering trees¡ªCloodword Forest.


    And with it, the Formation of Ten Thousand Trees.


    Massive trunks¡ªfifty meters thick, stretching a thousand meters high, leaves interlocking in a formation that pulsed with natural [Qi blocking] lines¡ªsealed off the corruption like a living divine array.


    Su Xiaobai stared up.


    "...That''s one hell of a wooden lock."


    He wanted to admire it, but something felt...off.


    The elves here¡ªstationed at the border¡ªweren''t right.


    They stood in elegant silver armor, blades sheathed, bows at the ready...


    But their auras? S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Dull, muted, and twisted.


    Even Nalan Yufei, as beautifully built as she was¡ªwith gray hair like moonlit silk, sharp cheekbones, full lips, a womb-tier waistline, and a pair of phoenix-level breasts that could bless an entire sect''s bloodline¡ªgave off that same eerie feeling.


    Her figure?


    God-tier.


    But the Qi around her?


    Wrong.


    Dead wrong.


    "...Don''t they look a bit cursed?" Su Xiaobai muttered, eyeing her curves while also sensing spiritual rot.


    Yufei, arguing with a border guard, didn''t hear.


    Yu Feng did.


    And immediately misunderstood.


    Snorting, she snapped, "Don''t bother. They''re not interested in breeding with outer-race perverts."


    Su Xiaobai raised an eyebrow. "Breeding, huh?"


    Yu Feng flushed red. "I mean¡ªcourting! I meant courting!"


    But he wasn''t listening.


    His eyes stayed on Yufei, watching her from behind.


    Then muttered, "Good hips. Definitely fertile. Wonder what she looks like in heat mode¡ª"


    "Cultivate a conscience!" Yu Feng hissed, almost elbowing him.


    Dong Lei, ever the well-meaning meathead mediator, scratched his chin and offered with innocent wisdom, "Usually , elves stick to their little forest dynasties. Nalan Yufei''s just¡­ a strange branch on the tree. Some of them get curious, want to see the world...."


    Su Xiaobai was already drifting away.


    Toward Lan Tian, who stood at the front, looking like he wanted to kill every tree in sight.


    His gaze was cold, sharp¡ªtwisted with a strange emotion.


    Hatred.


    "They''re cursed," Lan Tian muttered, eyes locked on the elves. "They can''t use Light Qi anymore."


    His voice dripped with spite.


    Like he enjoyed watching holy bloodlines rot.


    Su Xiaobai tilted his head. "Huh. Explains the weird funk."


    Before he could ask more, Nalan Yufei returned, signaling that the gate was open.


    The squad formed back up, stepping into the forest.


    And that''s when it hit them¡ª


    FOOM!


    A wave of corrupted black miasma slapped their faces like a demon''s greasy fart.


    Everyone reached into their sleeves, pulling out cloth masks pre-soaked in purifying elixirs.


    They pressed forward.


    The vibrant forest floor ended.


    And in its place¡ª


    An ashen wasteland.


    Mud the color of rot... Trees shriveled like corpses.


    A faint acidic drizzle hissed softly, burning against their protective auras.


    Their pace slowed.


    A protective formation deployed, covering the team in a sphere of muted light as they passed through the hellscape.


    Everyone was silent now.


    No jokes.... No flirting... No complaining.


    Only one thought among them:


    They had no idea what the fuck was coming next.


    And neither did Su Xiaobai.


    But he already smelled it.


    Plot.


    Something wicked was stirring.


    And for once, it wasn''t his dick.


    ____


    Half a Month Later ¡ª Outskirts of the Hanmeng Plain


    The journey was long.


    Mud, miasma, and murder.


    But somehow¡ªthrough beast ambushes, cursed trees, and one extremely awkward incident involving Ku Rong accidentally sleeping inside a spirit-devouring cocoon¡ªthey made it.


    Before them now lay a town.


    Yi Town.


    Small in size, but bloated with activity. A tumor of civilization at the edge of the world. What began as a pit stop for desperate merchants had swelled into a full-blown sin market, sustained by blood money and the constant churn of mercenaries prepping to die gloriously (or stupidly) in the corruption beyond.


    And today?


    It throbbed with energy.


    The 49 Days of Weeping Moon Festival had begun.


    Banners fluttered between buildings. Spirit lanterns glowed with hollow joy. People drank, gambled, fucked, and bought talismans they were definitely going to die with.


    Overhead, the sacred dome barrier shimmered like a soap bubble reinforced with divine script¡ªthe only thing keeping the Corrupt Qi out.


    As they stepped through the entrance gate¡ª


    FWOOOSH.


    The pressure lifted.


    Masks off... Breaths deep.


    "Finally¡­ I can breathe." Nalan Yufei exhaled, her voice bright and relieved, a sweet smile lighting up her face.


    Pearl-white teeth, moon-skin cheeks.


    She looked radiant, and fresh.


    Like someone who hadn''t seen a single corpse in their life. Which, of course, made her stick out like a phoenix feather in a pigsty.


    Those more attuned¡ªSu Xiaobai included¡ªinstantly noted it.


    "Yup. Forest girl ¡ª Untraumatized. Probably still believes in love."


    He said nothing. Just smirked faintly, hands tucked into his sleeves like a smug fortune-teller watching fate prepare its dick.

 Chapter 230 - 230: Volume 12, Shitpost #9: The Dao of Strategic Finger Theft!

    He didn''t say anything.


    But the tired look he gave her said, ''You still think breathing is a privilege? Cute.''


    ____


    Lesson No #101!


    ¡ª Corrupt Qi


    No one knew where it came from.


    Not even the scholars who wore ten jade hairpins and called themselves "Dao of Decay experts."


    All they did know:


    It was born from the unholy clashing of Light Qi and Dark Qi, producing a third element:


    Corruption.


    It devours life force.


    Rots meridians.


    Drinks spirit like soup.


    Only creatures that feast on death or corruption can survive long exposure.


    Ku Rong?


    Totally fine.


    The man was practically a walking corpse furnace. His Qi aligned with death so naturally that even cursed spirits gave him side-eye.


    Su Xiaobai?


    Not immune, but¡­ resistant.


    He''d cultivated pure yin Qi, bathed in ghost springs, and once spent three weeks stuck inside a haunted cave that orgasmed every time you stepped on a rune.


    He didn''t like Corrupt Qi.


    But he wasn''t scared of it.


    He just treated it like unfiltered water¡ªdon''t drink it unless you absolutely have to, and for god''s sake, don''t brag about surviving it.


    In terms of corruption resistance, the group stacked like this:


    1. Ku Rong ¨C death Qi junkie. Could probably snort miasma.


    2. Su Xiaobai ¨C ghost-fondlerwith body-refining habits.


    3. Lan Tian & Yu Feng ¨C shadowblood emo prince. Half-corrupted lady + daddy issues.


    4. Shi Yan ¨C light defense, but allergic to anything morally gray. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    5. Dong Lei ¨C muscular but not bright. Immune to thought, not to rot.


    6. Nalan Yufei ¨C elven, delicate, and probably one exposure away from coughing blood in high-definition.


    ____


    Once inside Yi Town, the squad split up, each drawn to their respective shops, stalls, or suspicious back alleys.


    The streets were loud, chaotic. Market vendors shouted about poison-resistant robes, demon repellents, corruption-grade food pills, and even one-use "sex-freezing talismans" (whatever the hell those were for).


    Even Su Xiaobai paused for a moment and thought:


    "Damn. This place has better economy than half the Yunnan city I destroyed."


    But the air was choaking¡ªnot just with incense, but with tension.


    Everyone here?


    Veterans, killers, or worse¡ªcultivators with nothing left to lose. As they walked past the main square, Dong Lei, surprisingly lucid for once, turned and muttered:


    "No one''s watching out here. If someone dies, they just get thrown in the bone pit."


    He gestured to a trench down the road.


    They looked.


    And yeah.


    There was an actual fucking bone pit.


    Bleached skulls, severed limbs, and few swords still stabbed into ribs.


    No guards. No mourning.


    ¡ª Yi Town was a neutral zone only because it was too cursed for empires to care. There were no elders, no city guards, no sect rules.


    If someone pissed you off, you could rip their spine out and sell it for pills.


    This wasn''t a place for honor.


    This was the waiting room of death, and everyone was checking in.


    Even Su Xiaobai¡ªthe man who once insulted a sect elder mid-lecture and lived¡ªfelt his senses go sharp.


    Too many strong auras.


    Too many hidden blades.


    Too many people who smiled like they already picked your burial plot.


    The clouds above darkened.


    A low rumble echoed through the sky.


    Even nature seemed to understand:


    Shit was about to go sideways.


    And somewhere out there, in the deeper zones of Hanmeng, something waited.


    ___


    Just as they were about to find an inn¡ª


    BOOM.


    A massive spiritual fluctuation erupted, tearing through the city like a divine slap to the face. Rooftops shook, stall umbrellas flew and someone''s donkey burst into tears.


    "We should avoid this. Definitely don''t intervene," Dong Lei said grimly.


    Translation: "Let''s not die for someone else''s plotline."


    Shi Yan, the Light Church golden retriever, opened his mouth to argue.


    And fate said: "Shut the fuck up."


    BANG!


    A half-body slammed into the dirt near Shi Yan''s boots, intestines dragging behind it like unwilling worms.


    The man''s expression froze, paled and recoiled.


    Even Su Xiaobai raised a brow.


    Not from horror, but interest.


    The corpse wore a blue robe inscribed with alchemy runes and a turtle-shell crest.


    Dong Lei gasped. "Alchemy King''s disciple Mu Long¡­ of the Black Tortoise Empire?!"


    ''Oh? Empire guy,'' Su Xiaobai thought. ''Looks like someone important got turned into pudding.''


    Alchemy Kings weren''t nobodies. They were pill-crafting demigods, usually guarded by half a dozen old monsters and a secret formation that explodes on contact.


    So to see one''s only disicple halved?


    Delicious.


    Up above, the sky raged.


    Obsidian-level cultivators clashed.


    Lightning cracked. Blade-light burned. Spirit beasts roared... And at the center?


    A man with four arms and a spirit tattoo of a skeletal dragon wrapping around his bald head.


    Master Leng, mercenary king of the mainland branch.


    Ranked Obsidian Martial Emperor, former disciple of the Six-Handed Slaughter Sect (before it exploded). Famous for being banned in three empires due to one incident involving a brothel, a beastkin princess from Baihua plains, and something called a "soul-melting position."


    Apparently, Mu Long mistook Master Leng''s personal concubine for a working girl.


    He tried to hand her a spirit coin.


    And in return?


    Got bisected like a failed alchemy pill.


    "What a waste," Ku Rong muttered, disgusted.


    Shi Yan looked horrified. "He was a national treasure!"


    Su Xiaobai just tilted his head, watching the fight above like it was a traveling performance.


    Obsidian Emperor-class infighting. Multiple empires. A dead pill master. Public setting...


    Yup... This is a diplomatic incident wrapped in murder foreplay.


    He smiled faintly.


    "Say... what if we stole his storage ring?"


    Everyone froze.


    Even Lan Tian blinked.


    Dong Lei''s jaw dropped. "Are you mad?! He''s half a corpse, but he still has an auto-defense talisman inscribed by a Forgemaster!"


    "Yeah," Su Xiaobai said casually. "But that''s only a problem if you touch it. Not if you trick someone else into touching it."


    The others blinked.


    Confused and wary.


    And then¡ª


    SLASH!


    In a single, lazy flick of his sword, a ripple of cold sword Qi sliced through the air.


    Chhk!


    A severed finger¡ªcleanly cut, still twitching, its blood glowing faintly with residual pill-nourished Qi¡ªspun into the air like a tossed spirit bean.


    It belonged to one of the Alchemy King''s disciple¡ªhis body barely cold, his hand still twitching in death.


    Before anyone could gasp¡ª


    Su Xiaobai reached out casually, caught the finger mid-air, and tossed it into his spatial ring like he was feeding a beast pup a treat.


    Plop.


    No formation triggered.


    No explosion.


    No divine curse erupting from the void.


    Nothing.


    Just silence.


    The others just stared.


    Even Lan Tian, face usually locked in permanent gloom, looked mildly shocked.


    Deng Lei looked like he wanted to say something righteous but couldn''t find the right moral vocabulary.


    Shi Yan''s mouth opened. Then closed. Then opened again.


    "¡­You just¡­ took his finger," he finally muttered.


    "Correction," Su Xiaobai said, not even glancing back. "I took a key. The corpse was just holding it."


    Only one person nodded.


    Ku Rong.


    The crimson-skinned demon warhound grinned, sharp teeth glinting. His heavy jaw flexed, like a wolf watching another predator do something delightfully awful.


    "This new master¡­ very good." he rumbled.


    "Knows how to hunt without barking."


    ___


    Meanwhile, more people began showing up in the sky:


    A woman riding a phoenix chariot: Lady Yansha, Flame Crown Princess of the Thousand Ashes Sect, here to "observe the Weeping Moon Festival," but actually looking for a husband to rob and poison.


    A pale cultivator with hollow eyes and a flute: Ancestor Gu Ye, loose affiliate of the Nightshade Bone-Picking Pavilion, an assassin clan that charges by the organ.


    And worst of all, a Dao Cultivator of the Fifth Crown Path, glowing with holy scripture and floating on a cloud shaped like a middle finger¡ªSect-Envoy Lin Mu, peacekeeper of the light, here to "watch" but more likely to "report nothing and eat dumplings."


    ___


    Nalan Yufei frowned. "If they keep fighting like this, the barrier will shatter."


    "It won''t," Deng Lei said. "They''ll take it outside. Nobody wants to be responsible for corrupting the whole place."


    As if on cue, the fighters above shifted, shooting toward the wastelands in streaks of fire and death.


    But not before someone threw a body at a vendor stall and stole a gourd of immortal wine.


    The vendor didn''t even complain. He just wept softly.


    Su Xiaobai folded his hands behind his back.


    "...So nobody''s going to notice that half the people flying out just now are from opposing nations who shouldn''t even be here together?"


    Lan Tian snorted.


    Nalan Yufei opened her mouth. "¡­ Do we aid our guild''s side or something? Aren''t we supposed to help if it becomes guild of one empire vs another? It was in the rulebook."


    Everyone froze.


    Even Dong Lei turned to him with the face of a man forced to babysit a tribulation cow.


    "¡­Would you die if you didn''t talk?" Dong Lei muttered. "Do you not see we''re pretending this has nothing to do with us?"


    He sighed. "We''re from a provincial nation. Nobody pays us enough importance to care about empire''s affair."

 Chapter 231 - 231: Monkey fight monkey!

    "... We''re from a provincial nation. Nobody gives us enough importance to care about empire''s affair."


    "Hmph! Monkey fight monkey. Let''s go find an inn for the day," Shi Yan finally spoke, snorting with righteous disdain. His voice was calm, but his meaning clear:


    "Let the dogs kill each other. I''ve got sermons to write and wine to sip."


    He was from the Light Church, after all. Technically above petty mercenary guild rules. The kind of man who''d watch a battlefield from a holy rooftop, praying loudly for peace while privately ranking everyone''s swordplay.


    But not everyone shared that level of holy detachment.


    Outside the city, the fight between hundreds escalated to thousands.


    The wastelands shook, rumbling beneath the feet of mortals and idiots alike as barrages of sword Qi, beastfire, and lightning hailstorms slammed into the cursed soil like divine punishment with no moral authority behind it.


    Fortunately, the fight stayed outside the barrier.


    Yi Town remained untouched.


    For now.


    Just like Dong Lei said: this was a free kill zone.


    And more than that¡ªit was profitable.


    The Mercenary Guild, though one in name, was actually a splintered beast, with different branches managed by different empires, each one answering to their local politics first and the guild laws second.


    The "peace" policy?


    Only applied inside the city.


    Once you stepped into the wasteland?


    All bets were off.


    Looting, killing, backstabbing, and spirit-harvesting were not only legal¡ªthey were rewarded with merit points, rank boosts, and "reputation tokens" that could be exchanged for discounts on cultivation pills and whores with spiritual alignments.


    At this very moment¡ª


    - A Tianlong Empire mercenary stabbed a Black Tortoise cultivator through the neck and looted his storage ring.


    - A Black Tortoise escort squad bribed rogue sect wanderers with ten fire crystals each to join their side.


    - One ambitious Foundation Establishment fool tried to ambush a Nascent Soul veteran and was promptly used as a spell component.


    All because one horny Alchemy King''s brat couldn''t tell a concubine from a working girl. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Master Leng, the four-armed freakshow who started it all, now had a bounty on his head.


    The Black Tortoise side demanded it¡ªnot just for revenge, but to save face.


    They had failed to protect their Alchemy King''s reputation.


    So now, to avoid shame and inter-empire backlash, they needed a trophy. A head. A corpse. A scapegoat.


    And that head?


    Was Master Leng''s.


    Dong Lei explained as the squad walked away from the madness.


    "The bigger this gets, the more the empires will care," he said grimly. "Tianlong and Black Tortoise have been saber-dancing for decades. Something like this? Could ignite a proxy war."


    "But we''re not in the empire," Lan Tian said, frowning. "We''re in Yue Country."


    Exactly.


    Yue Country, while under Tianlong''s nominal control, was independent in spirit and too isolated by geography to be dragged into frontline politics.


    - To the east lay the Eternal Frost¡ªa cursed glacier range so deadly even spirit beasts learned to migrate south. Beyond that lay the territory of the Vermilion Phoenix Empire, which was mostly allied with the Tianlong Empire.


    - To the south was ocean, and past that, the lawless Bai Hua Plains, ruled by rogue tribes, matriarchs, and insane plant beasts.


    - The west and north were Tianlong Empire heartland, directly linked to Black Tortoise territory.


    If war broke out, the frontlines would be up north.


    Yue?


    Might not see a single bloodstain.


    Might even profit, by selling medicine and collecting corpses for resale.


    That''s why, in Yi Town, mercenaries from Yue were the most neutral.


    Not cowardly¡ªpragmatic.


    They didn''t fight for empire glory.


    They fought for merit, money, or mayhem¡ªpreferably all three.


    After finally settling into Yi Town''s most overpriced and spiritually-questionable inn, the group got their rooms assigned.


    And as expected¡ªsocial dynamics kicked in like formation arrays during a beast tide.


    Yu Feng and Nalan Yufei? Obviously got a room together. They were women, and despite mutual breasts friction, they''d both rather share with each other than wake up next to any male from their party.


    Lan Tian and Shi Yan?


    From opposite factions. One born of shadows, the other glowing with holy hypocrisy.


    And yet¡­ they chose to room together.


    Why?


    Because real cultivators can ignore petty doctrine in favor of a quiet room and a decent lock.


    Then came Dong Lei and Ku Rong.


    Now by default, they should''ve shared a room. They were both muscle-built tanks with about three brain cells between them (and two belonged to Dong Lei).


    But the moment Ku Rong walked in¡ªseven feet tall, red skin, the vague aura of a death deity who once ate his own shadow¡ªDong Lei suddenly remembered he really needed a room to himself.


    > "A-ahem! I snore loud," Dong Lei said, sweating.


    > "Also I fart out spirit smoke in my sleep. Dangerous. Very dangerous."


    So Ku Rong got his own room too.


    Finally¡ª


    Su Xiaobai.


    He was automatically given a private room.


    Not because he asked.


    Not because he deserved it.


    But because the innkeeper took one look at him and instinctively thought:


    "This man will definitely be visited by assassins or succubi in the middle of the night, and I''m not cleaning up the mess."


    Which was, to be fair, accurate.


    But Su Xiaobai?


    Didn''t even plan on staying.


    The moment his luggage touched the floor, he placed a fake puppet under the covers (standard villain decoy trick), he slid out the window like a lusty ghost thief and vanished into the night.


    He wasn''t here to nap!


    He was here to observe and maybe loot some corpses.


    ____


    Outside the barrier, the world had gone to hell.


    The wasteland was aflame, tens of thousands of mercenaries fought across shattered terrain, qi blasts cracked the sky, blood rivers ran through darkened soil and corrupted beasts, summoned war constructs, and flying swords zipped through like drunk mosquitoes.


    And through it all¡ª


    Su Xiaobai just stood at the edge.


    Watching.


    Feeling the heat kiss his cheeks.


    Ah, war, terrible, tragic, beautiful, profitable.


    And then¡ª


    "You?"


    A surprised voice broke through the sound of explosions and screaming.


    He turned.


    From behind a formation-etched boulder, a veiled figure stepped out. The veil was pulled back¡ªCharming blue eyes, lips like provocation.


    Who else?


    Yu Feng.


    Caught red-handed.


    Also sneaking out.


    She looked at him like a wife catching her husband reading erotic talisman scrolls under the covers.


    "Hm... seems like we''re on the same page," Su Xiaobai muttered, surprised.


    Yu Feng didn''t smile back. She crossed her arms, eyes narrowing.


    And then¡ª


    Another voice.


    "This is great~!"


    Nalan Yufei popped up beside her like a squirrel who found a war. Her eyes sparkled, her armor shimmered, and he looked like a noble elf princess cosplaying as an adventurer.


    Too enthusiastic.


    Too excited to see death.


    ''Definitely ran away from home,'' Su Xiaobai thought, ''Probably rebelled against her strict elf mom who wanted her to marry and water her flowers for eternity,''


    This elf just wants blood, loot, and bad decisions.


    He smirked.


    Adventurous, naive, fun and angerous.


    Perfect.


    What Su Xiaobai didn''t know was¡ª


    A certain author, perched in a wine-soaked celestial teahouse above the clouds, heard that exact thought.


    And with a smirk, dipped his spirit brush into karma-ink and scribbled onto Su Xiaobai''s fate scroll:


    "Elf princess mother arrives. Overpowered. Possessive. Judgmental."


    "Possibly brings marriage contract."


    Fate shivered.


    Somewhere in the distance, a massive white crane dropped a letter onto a matriarch''s desk in the Elven Kingdom.


    And the matriarch?


    Read it once.


    Then stood up slowly.


    Her aura cracked the palace walls.


    "Feifei... Ran away?!"


    ___


    Back in the wasteland, Su Xiaobai suddenly sneezed.


    "¡­Tch. Must be the corrupt Qi."


    Yu Feng side-eyed him suspiciously.


    Nalan Yufei was too busy pointing at some poor bastard being electrocuted into giblets by a divine lightning pig the size of a war chariot.


    "Ooooh, that one popped!" she said gleefully, as the man''s spirit beast and pants were vaporized together.


    Su Xiaobai shook his head.


    Childish...But entertaining.


    Let''s be honest¡ªhe wasn''t here to play moral guardian.


    He was here to watch a goddamn war¡ªand it was glorious.


    Thousands of cultivators, from Core Formation trash mobs to Integration Realm bosses, clashing like ants with nukes. The wasteland outside the barrier had become a hell-forged arena, and it was the first time Su Xiaobai had seen so many fights outside the Xiantian Sect''s safety net.


    Which meant only one thing.


    Data collection time, baby.


    His mind calculating spiritual outputs, observing aura control, measuring killing intent distribution. He wasn''t just spectating¡ªhe was profiling the entire battlefield like a villain with an Excel spreadsheet of death.


    Yu Feng, having seen too many wars, remained calm.


    Until¡ª


    The ground screamed.


    And a black-robed cultivator from the Black Tortoise side let out a roar, raising both hands into the sky¡ª


    "Mountain Rupture Swamp Domain¡ªForm!"


    The earth cracked.


    A mountain rose.


    No, not just a mountain¡ª


    A fucking black swamp mountain, a hundred meters tall, made of rotting stone, liquefied earth, and death qi vapor. It tore out of the land like a demon sprouting from the corpse of the continent.


    And then?


    He hurled it like a rock.


    Straight at the enemy.


    Su Xiaobai raised his eyebrows.


    Boss move.


    "Humph!" Until the opposing cultivator dodged with a lazy sidestep.


    The swamp-mountain missed the mark.


    Now it was coming for them.


    Right where Su Xiaobai and the girls stood.


    "Fuck¡­"

 Chapter 232 - 232: Boss Battle Already?

    ... The swamp-mountain missed the mark.


    Now it was coming for them.


    Right where Su Xiaobai and the girls stood.


    "Fuck¡­" Su Xiaobai muttered, eyes narrowing.


    "Not good!" Yu Feng''s face paled instantly. That wasn''t just mountain-sized. It was a fcking apocalyptic spell.


    Nalan Yufei froze mid-bite of a corruption-resistant melon. Her eyes widened.


    A golden glow erupted around her as her spiritual bow started to manifest.


    "I''ll shoot it¡ª!"


    But before she could even pull the string¡ª


    Something moved.


    Faster than her thoughts.


    Su Xiaobai stepped forward.


    Not because he wanted to protect anyone.


    But because the plot demanded it, and because he wanted to test his sword.


    ''Let''s see what you can do¡­ Gu Ren.''


    The obsidian jade beads on his wrist pulsed¡ªblack light crawling like liquid metal.


    In the next breath, they surged down his arm, slithering and reforming into a long, curved sword, ink-black, humming with anticipation.


    And then¡ªSLASH.


    A wave of Sword Intent exploded outward, crashing into the falling mountain with a sound like a god biting into metal.


    Wind screamed, space twisted and the mountain?


    Cut clean in half.


    The two massive chunks slammed into the cursed earth behind them, exploding like twin meteors.


    The entire battlefield froze for a second.


    Thousands of cultivators¡ªsome in mid-attack¡ªpaused. All eyes turned toward the origin point of that cut, and there, standing in his billowing robes, sword still humming in his hand¡ª


    Was Su Xiaobai.


    Unbothered.


    Like he just swatted a fly.


    The Integration Realm cultivator who threw the mountain snorted, clearly displeased his war-art didn''t even force a retreat. He flicked his wrist and resumed slaughtering another squad.


    But the rest?


    They got the message.


    Avoid that guy.


    His Sword Intent?


    Level 4.


    Sword Grandmaster.


    At his age?


    No one wanted to be the dumbass who followed up the Alchemy King''s disciple by becoming the second "important guy who got clapped."


    Su Xiaobai casually flicked his blade once, then let it collapse back into his wrist¡ªbeads reforming as if nothing happened.


    But inside?


    He was grinning.


    "Finally¡­"


    ''That pressure, that power, that intent. You''re the real deal, Gu Ren. I might actually fall in love''


    Nalan Yufei stared at him, her bow long vanished.


    Her lips parted.


    "¡­You''re¡­ a Sword Grandmaster?"


    Her voice cracked... Her worldview did too.


    She''d been pouting this whole time, thinking she was on the same level as Su Xiaobai¡ªEarthly Rebirth Realm, maybe core formation if she squinted.


    But this?


    This was Soul Fusion at minimum. Maybe higher.


    And his sword was alive.


    She felt like someone told her gravity was optional.


    "So¡­ I''m the weakest one here." she mumbled, visibly devastated.


    Yu Feng, meanwhile?


    Trying very hard to look unimpressed.


    As if she hadn''t just felt her core flutter.


    She coughed. "Still flashy. Could''ve used a barrier instead¡­"


    Her hand was still shaking.


    Su Xiaobai glanced at the battlefield, now even more blood-soaked and unhinged.


    > Eyes gouged out.


    > Intestines braided into ropes.


    > Someone screaming with half a head.


    > Beautiful.


    Cultivators without sects were wild. And deadly. If a righteous sect disciple came here without killing intent, they''d get ripped apart like spirit rabbits.


    He turned away, eyes cold.


    "We''re done here."


    "Time to withdraw."


    And for once?


    Yu Feng and Nalan Yufei agreed.


    "Y-yeah," the elf muttered, pouting quietly.


    "¡­Too dangerous," Yu Feng echoed, already walking faster.


    Just as the trio began to withdraw¡ª


    A massive sucking force swept across the land.


    Not a wind, not Qi manipulation, but something far deeper... Like the air itself had stopped breathing.


    The battlefield went dead quiet, thousands of cultivators froze mid-motion, Qi techniques fizzled, beasts cowered, and even spiritual weapons trembled and deactivated, like scared children retreating into their sheaths.


    "What''s going on¡­?" Su Xiaobai muttered, halting his steps.


    He looked up¡ªand so did everyone else.


    A wave of pressure, pure and refined, blanketed the sky like silk soaked in killing intent.


    Yu Feng, frowning, whispered:


    "There''s only one possibility. Someone really powerful just arrived¡­"


    And she wasn''t wrong.


    The clouds parted.


    Descending slowly, flanked by celestial light and what might''ve been ethereal incense smoke, was¡ª


    A short-dark-haired woman in a flowing white robe, her expression was serene, her face, angelic¡ªlike a saint carved by hand from celestial jade.


    But her eyes?


    Sharp, cold, cruel & amused.


    She looked like she judged nations for breakfast and flirted with warlords for dessert.


    Su Xiaobai''s first thought? ''That''s my type. Soft face. Devil heart. Might stab me in bed. Perfect.''


    He recognized her instantly from Deng Lei''s earlier info dump:


    Lady Yansha.


    Flame Crown Princess of the Thousand Ashes Sect, daughter of a fire-path war general. Supposedly here to "observe the war." Definitely here to instigate it.


    But Yansha wasn''t the main problem.


    The one everyone really noticed¡ª


    Was the old man descending beside her.


    Long grey hair, light blue robes with faded immortal sigils. His beard flowed like mist. His eyes were half-closed, like he hadn''t been impressed by anything since the last dynasty fell.


    And when he spoke?


    The world listened.


    "This is a matter of your guilds, not mine, but I do not appreciate being disturbed, disperse now or I''ll do more than talk."


    His tone wasn''t loud.


    It wasn''t angry.


    It wasn''t even spiritualized.


    But the effect was immediate.


    Thousands of mercenaries retreated like whipped dogs.


    Weapons vanished, flags dropped.


    The war? Gone.


    Just like that... (¨i©n¨i) S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Lady Yansha stood there, smiling faintly¡ªlike she''d just won a war without lifting a finger.


    And everyone watching?


    How the hell did she get him to come?


    They don''t have¡­ a thing, do they?


    Scandalous whispers flickered through the crowd. Old man, young woman... Shared flying cloud.


    Oh no.


    But then someone remembered:


    Wait... isn''t that¡­


    "Shan Baixu¡­"


    Someone whispered his name with reverence.


    Master Shan Baixu.


    One of the last remaining ascendent Daoists of the Yue Country. Famous for single-handedly sealing a demon invasion with just one zither stroke. Revered as the Silent Daoist¡ªa man so aloof he once ignored a princess''s marriage proposal to finish a tea ritual.


    His reputation?


    Flawless.


    Untouchable.


    Above worldly desire.


    So naturally¡ª


    Everyone ran away before he could get "polite."


    Su Xiaobai, watching the retreating crowd, tilted his head. "¡­Shan Baixu? Is that someone important? From the mainland?"


    Yu Feng, still mildly pale, answered without looking at him: "No. He''s from Yue Country, just like you. One of the few bigshots aside from¡­ well¡­ the Sword Fairy."


    Su Xiaobai''s eyebrow twitched. "Oh?"


    So not from the central empire. That''s interesting.


    Then¡ª


    Why is he descending from the clouds with a young sexy noblewoman from the mainland?


    "Don''t think too much," Yu Feng snapped, already catching his line of thought. "His character is better than yours."


    Su Xiaobai smiled. "Better? A man with no appetite for meat isn''t holy¡ªhe''s just untested."


    "If she wasn''t special to him¡­ why''d he come down for her?"


    Yu Feng opened her mouth to argue¡ª


    Then paused.


    Brows furrowed.


    "¡­True¡­"


    And then, Su Xiaobai asked the most dangerous question he could ask. "If the two of us fought¡ªwho would win?"


    Silence.


    Even the wind held its breath.


    Nalan Yufei and Yu Feng both turned to look at him, their eyes wide. Like he''d just challenged fate to a duel with his dick.


    This wasn''t a question.


    This was a flag.


    A big, beautiful, "please bring karma lightning" flag.


    Even the ground trembled slightly.


    And somewhere, up in the heavens, the author again paused with his pen and went:


    [You want boss battles? Don''t worry. I got you.]


    And indeed¡ª


    Even Shan Baixu, who was mid-air, mid-exit, and mid-pretending-he-didn''t-give-a-shit¡ª


    Froze.


    Mid-step.


    In the sky.


    As if a cold draft of karma just slapped the back of his neck.

 Chapter 233 - 233: Zither of regret!

    [You want boss battles? Don''t worry. I got you.]


    And indeed¡ª


    Even Shan Baixu, who was mid-air, mid-exit, and mid-pretending-he-didn''t-give-a-shit¡ª


    Froze.


    Mid-step.


    In the sky.


    As if a cold draft of karma just slapped the back of his neck.


    Because he had heard it.


    Su Xiaobai''s very curious, very disrespectful, very potential-flag-of-doom question:


    "If the two of us fought¡ªwho would win?"


    Of course he heard it.


    He was Shan Baixu¡ªan ascendent-level mystic cultivator, the Silent Daoist, rumored to have heard a heavenly voice scream when someone once bad-mouthed him three cities away.


    Bai Yujian had once told Su Xiaobai over breakfast:


    "I can hear you making out with Qingqing from 3,000 meters away..."


    So Su Xiaobai knew spiritual hearing was a thing.


    He just didn''t give a single fart..


    Why? Because now he had backing.


    Not just backing¡ªabsurd backing. A Sword Fairy, cursed fox elders, a demonic Qingqing, and an entire sect.


    If anyone from the Yue Country''s high ranks wanted to touch him now?


    They''d need heavenly insurance and a posthumous title ready.


    But little did Su Xiaobai know¡­He didn''t have to provoke Shan Baixu.


    Because he already had.


    In the past. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Sort of.


    You see, Su Xiaobai had already met Shan Baixu.


    Well¡ª"been witnessed by" was more accurate.


    It was months ago. Back when Bai Yujian, the infamous Sword Fairy, took Su Xiaobai on a very polite little visit to the Yue Royal Capital.


    What did she do?


    Parked her celestial sword in the main palace courtyard like it was a spirit taxi, made a scene, insulted a prince, drank wine without permission, and demanded all high officials bow to her.


    Shan Baixu had been tasked with defending the capital that day.


    And what did he do?


    He sat on a mountain, brewed tea, and said:


    "Ah. She''s back. Have fun."


    When she left?


    Only then did Shan Baixu realize the sword fairy had brought a new disciple


    That night?


    Shan Baixu played the zither of regret until 3:00 AM.


    Witnesses said his melody echoed with a sadness not heard since the Empire fell during the Ninth War.


    You see¡ª


    There is one sacred rule in Yue Country:


    You do not fight the Sword Fairy.


    Not because she''s the strongest.


    There are, technically, stronger cultivators.


    But because¡ª


    She''s never lost.


    Not once.


    Not in duels, not in wars, not even in drinking contests.


    Even when she fought Master Qingxuan and Saint Wuji of the Golden Buddha Sect¡ªtogether¡ªshe almost won.


    How?


    Because she''s not a solo player.


    She has a sword spirit, a second consciousness. Fighting her is like fighting two top-tier monsters wearing the same dress.


    And Shan Baixu?


    He fought her once.


    Just once.


    He survived, yes.


    But his ego never fully recovered.


    So now?


    When Su Xiaobai¡ªclearly that same disciple¡ªdares to even speculate on the outcome of a duel between him and Su Xiaobai? Could the Sword Fairy''s disciple have already reached ascendance? It can''t be!


    His spiritual PTSD activates.


    His brows twitch his beard sways unnaturally.


    "This man¡­ here¡­" he mutters to himself.


    Recognition flickers in his ancient, weary eyes.


    No. Not again. He shouldn''t be allowed to lose face twice in this lifetime.


    Still completely unaware that Sword Fairy was once the reason Shan Baixu composed a musical piece titled "Suffering Has Many Forms, But Not All of Them Wear Swords."


    "Father, what''s wrong? Do you know him?"


    Lady Yansha''s voice was soft, inquisitive, dangerously feminine¡ªlike honey dipped with soul-numbing poison.


    She noticed Shan Baixu''s expression had shifted¡ªthe usual calm of a sage replaced by something... awkward.


    Something like a bad flashback wrapped in resentment and incense ash.


    Shan Baixu coughed. Not because of Qi deviation¡ªbecause of emotional trauma. He realized he had misunderstood; he thought the Sword Fairy''s disciple was still young and weak, with no chance of winning.


    But then he remembered... and glanced at his beautiful daughter''s face, then at Su Xiaobai. A young man with potential? Sure. He could still lose to Su Xiaobai¡ªjust in a different way. And this one would definitely hurt more than just his ego!


    He forced a calm tone. "That man over there¡­ see him? The one standing like he owns the sky?"


    Lady Yansha blinked toward Su Xiaobai.


    "¡­Yes?"


    "Stay away."


    His voice dropped.


    "He looks like some kind of bastard."


    He didn''t elaborate... He didn''t need to.


    His finger pointed¡ªand with it, a glimmer of his soul energy condensed into a dart.


    A soul probe. Non-lethal. Just a warning.


    He flicked it through the air with the precision of a sage.


    And then¡ª


    SLAP!


    It was intercepted.


    An ethereal hand¡ªtranslucent and elegant, clearly female in shape¡ªappeared behind Su Xiaobai.


    With no fanfare, it simply batted the dart aside like it was a rude fly.


    Su Xiaobai blinked.


    The hell?


    He turned, feeling the pulse of an attack that never landed. His eyes met Shan Baixu''s across the spiritual space.


    The old man was now... studying him.


    Like one would observe a strange insect they thought they squashed last season.


    Su Xiaobai felt a cold sweat down his back.


    Oh no.


    Not again.


    Why is it always old men?


    First the Xu Tianran, now this ancient fossil?


    Is being handsome a fucking crime in this world?


    If Shan Baixu could read Su Xiaobai''s thoughts, the earth might split from the fury.


    Luckily for the universe, he couldn''t.


    Instead, he nodded solemnly to himself.


    "As expected¡­ from her disciple."


    And just like that¡ª


    He vanished in a breeze of light blue mist, slipping into the sky like a regretful page in a history book.


    But Lady Yansha?


    She didn''t leave. Not right away.


    Her gaze on Su Xiaobai. Her lips curled slightly. And her eyes? Smiled. Because there''s one universal truth of the cultivation world:


    "Tell a woman not to look at something¡­ and she will stare until it becomes her destiny..."


    Before, Su Xiaobai had been a name she hadn''t even heard.


    Now?


    Now he was the man her father called a bastard.


    "Interesting¡­" she thought.


    Her smile twisted unnaturally.


    Very interesting.


    Su Xiaobai had already turned to leave.


    He wasn''t about to duel an old man just to prove a point. The dart hadn''t even been deadly.


    Just a test.


    A poke.


    A warning.


    But he never looked back.


    If you stare at the drama long enough, it thinks you want to join the cast.


    No thank you.


    But Lady Yansha''s eyes never left.


    And her smile?


    What no one knew¡ªnot even Su Xiaobai¡ªwas that Lady Yansha wasn''t just some noble princess.


    She was, in secret¡ª


    The only daughter of Shan Baixu.


    Her identity was hidden under layers of sect titles and imperial affiliations. And if that truth got out? The entire Yue Country''s political foundation would start shaking.


    Why?


    Because Shan Baixu wasn''t just a guardian. He was the main cog of Yue Country''s inner structure.


    And yet¡­


    He was known to have been "seen" traveling with a woman from the mainland, sharing clouds and spiritual chambers.


    A woman who sat in his lap while disguised as a disciple.


    And even had a scandalous affair to give birth to her daughter?


    If the truth spilled¡ª


    Was Shan Baixu a Yue loyalist¡­ or a secret imperial sympathizer?


    Double agent? Romantic traitor? Divine sugar daddy?


    No one knew.


    But what everyone felt?


    Was that this moment just birthed a storm.


    And Su Xiaobai?


    Might just be at the eye of it.

 Chapter 234 - 234: When Heaven Sends a Beast, Check for Hidden Teeth!

    Early the next morning, as the twin suns crawled sluggishly over the edge of the cursed plains, Su Xiaobai and the squad set out.


    Their target?


    Yaoguang Valley.


    Also known by those who feared to speak its name aloud as¡ª


    "Valley of the Light."


    A place where the soil glowed with forbidden memory. Where legends said the Lost City slept beneath the bones of light-path gods, bathed in an aura that even corrupt Qi couldn''t swallow.


    Everyone came with different goals.


    Su Xiaobai wasn''t fooled by the so-called "treasure hunt."


    He had already noticed something off. A quiet connection between Shi Yan and Lan Tian¡ªsomething beneath the surface, like bloodline resonance or repressed sect marriage vows.


    Relatives? Allies? Cult siblings with matching trauma tattoos?


    Whatever it was, he didn''t stop it.


    Why?


    Because when the heavens gift you a fire, you don''t piss on it, you add oil, let chaos bloom, let the storm dance, and then? Walk through it like you lit it yourself.


    Su Xiaobai was a villain. Not a peacekeeper.


    Besides¡ª


    He had his own backers.


    The Lin quintuplets, spirit-severing cultivators waited hidden.


    He was the army.


    Everyone else?


    Fodder.


    According to Lan Tian''s ancient map¡ªallegedly passed down through blood and cursed whispers¡ªthe Lost City lay far east, hidden deep inside Yaoguang Valley.


    Their path?


    A twisted trail of swamps, deserts, and spirit-choking wilderness, all corrupted by residual battlefield Qi, and scattered with mutated demonic beasts that couldn''t decide whether they were alive or starving for your soul.


    The conflict between empires yesterday had left the land unusually empty.


    No side wanted to send their elites into the wilds now.


    Too easy to be "accidentally" assassinated by a rogue merc from the other side.


    Which meant¡ªmore beasts. Less witnesses.


    Their group encountered minor threats the first day:


    - Two-Fanged Obsidian Serpent¡ªbit through a spiritual shield like tofu, died to Su Xiaobai''s sword in two breaths.


    - One-Tailed Crimson Sand Scorpion¡ªYu Feng incinerated it before it could inject its poison.


    - And a ghost-bloated coyote that only existed for five seconds before Ku Rong punched it into meat jam.


    These weren''t normal beasts.


    They were corrupted.


    Warped by Corrupt Qi, bloated with rot, and completely uneatable unless you wanted diarrhea that liquefied your meridians.


    Everyone wore thick armor, not for protection from attacks, but from airborne sickness and rot-borne venom.


    And the sandstorms?


    They pierced through spirit sense like dull swords through skin¡ªannoying, but effective.


    By nightfall, the group was exhausted, gritty, and just spiritual enough to curse loudly at nothing.


    They set up tents, drew formation wards, and offered a chunk of their preserved moon rabbit meat to the local spirits¡ª


    ¡­before eating it themselves, because who gives up meat that cost eighty spirit stones per strip?


    And then¡ªtrouble arrived.


    His name was Ku Rong.


    And he was starving.


    He ate.


    And ate.


    And ate.


    He inhaled roasted rabbit, dried fruit, spirit-crusted bread, soul-nourishing herbs¡ªlike someone eating their last meal before execution.


    "¡­" Su Xiaobai stared blankly.


    One third of the food stores were gone.


    "¡­What''s wrong with this bull?" he muttered, rubbing his temples. "Did he starve through his last three reincarnations?!"


    Even Yu Feng blinked.


    "¡­Did he eat a whole gourd of peach wine roast?"


    Nalan Yufei?


    Just watched in silence.


    Until Ku Rong slowly turned his head.


    His dark red eyes glinted in the firelight, expression blank.


    Their gazes locked.


    And she immediately pretended to look at the stars.


    Note to self, she thought. Never talk about food in front of the demon ox.


    ..


    "..."


    "..."


    "Here. Take it." Su Xiaobai sighed, tossing a chunk of glistening, roasted spirit chicken toward the butcher.


    This damn ox demon¡­ I''ll deal with him later.


    Because right now? He had bigger problems. Like the mountain-sized hostility in the air. And the mountain-sized appetite right next to him.


    He rubbed his forehead as he tapped his ring. From within, a small white farm chicken clucked weakly before being yoinked into Lulu''s cleaver zone in his inner world.


    Forgive me, little ones. You were raised for a greater purpose...


    Moments later, steaming roasted chicken hit the fire.


    Everyone stared.


    Not at the chicken.


    But at Su Xiaobai''s spatial ring. Most spatial rings had limits¡ª10 cubic meters, 100 max.


    But this?


    This thing had a living farm inside.


    Someone coughed.


    Greed briefly flashed in more than one pair of eyes.


    Until Su Xiaobai shot them a lazy, side-eye smile that said:


    ''Try it, and I''ll feed you to my pig next.''


    The moment passed.


    They resumed eating.


    But silently.


    Deng Lei cleared his throat.


    "Right. According to the map, if we keep this pace, we''ll hit the Black Swamp by tomorrow."


    He gestured to the parchment glowing with faint ancestral Qi lines.


    "That''s the last barrier before Yaoguang Valley. One final zone to cross."


    He paused dramatically.


    "But¡­ there''s one major obstacle¡ª"


    "Dragon."


    Lan Tian interrupted coldly.


    Everyone stiffened.


    "¡­Earth Dragon," Shi Yan corrected after a beat, his tone still grim.


    Not a dragon in the majestic, "calls lightning and breeds legends" way.


    But worse.


    An Earth Dragon was a ground-based wyvern, scaled and horned, corrupted and territorial.


    At full maturity?


    Deity Transformation Realm.


    A being capable of leveling mountains, swallowing sects, and digesting Nascent Soul cultivators like vitamins.


    Deng Lei hesitated. "¡­It probably hasn''t reached full size."


    They all nodded, they were hoping. Because if not? They might as well dig their own graves now to save time.


    Then¡ª


    "Hmph."


    Everyone turned.


    Ku Rong, crimson-skinned, hulking, silent until now, snorted.


    Su Xiaobai''s brow twitched.


    "Got something to say, Butcher?"


    He looked at the man carefully. There was something in those dead eyes.


    Not just brutality.


    Regret.


    Dark and quiet.


    ____


    When Su Xiaobai first heard Yin Muqing mention that her entire plum spirit race was slaughtered¡ªright before she met the Blood Warlord¡ªhe''d had suspicions.


    In his past life, his own family did shit like that to train elites.


    Break someone''s past. Rip out their roots. Don''t let them realize you caused it.


    Then offer them a sword. A collar. And a purpose.


    She¡­ might''ve been one of those projects.


    I''ll figure it out later, Su Xiaobai thought.


    He wasn''t sure yet.


    But he was watching.


    ___


    "The Earth Dragon will be mutated."


    Ku Rong finally muttered.


    Like stating a death sentence.


    It wasn''t a warning, it was a certainty, and everyone knew he wasn''t bluffing.


    A heavy silence fell again.


    Bad news.


    On top of bad news.


    On top of dragon-shaped bad news.


    "ALERT!"


    Lan Tian suddenly shouted.


    Everyone froze ¡ª Because they didn''t need his voice... They had already felt it.


    A massive spiritual pressure swept over them like a cold tidal wave.


    Chilling, oppressive... Sentient.


    A beast''s sense.


    Scanning.


    Tasting.


    Integration Realm. Minimum.


    And slowly¡­ from the dark edge of the swamp¡ª


    It appeared.


    A shape.


    Massive shiloutte.


    And right now?


    It was staring directly at Su Xiaobai''s back.


    He smiled stiffly.


    "¡­Yeah, of course. Of course it''s me."


    "Great, it''s MY turn to get wrecked now, huh?"


    Because in every cursed expedition, there''s always one guy who the boss monster decides is main character-shaped bait.


    And unfortunately for him¡ª


    Su Xiaobai looked delicious.


    "Don''t move!"


    Clang!


    Weapons were drawn in perfect synchrony¡ªcold steel, blessed wood, cursed bone.


    A war cry of warriors ready for war.


    And in the middle of it?


    Su Xiaobai.


    Hands casually holding a grilled chicken thigh, eyes half-lidded with boredom, heart half-dead with cynicism.


    The others gestured wildly¡ªDon''t move! Stay calm!


    Right, he thought, chewing slowly. Let me pretend I''m fine with becoming spiritual beast feces. Truly living the dream.


    He didn''t flinch, didn''t stir, just sat cross-legged under the dark sky, devouring what might be his final poultry leg with philosophical dignity.


    Then¡ªit emerged.


    From the fog beyond the campfire''s reach.


    Two pale-white eyes like moons reflected in still water.


    Black fur, sleek as shadow silk, absorbing light like it owed it money.


    Footsteps? None.


    The beast moved like death on velvet paws¡ªcompletely silent.


    The pressure?


    Still there. Heavy. Ominous.


    Everyone braced¡ª


    Until it stepped forward fully.


    And then?


    "Pew!"


    Everyone blinked.


    "¡­What?"


    That wasn''t a roar.


    It wasn''t even a growl.


    It sounded like someone squishing a spirit rat with a slipper.


    A groan. A squeak. A very confused sneeze.


    Su Xiaobai turned.


    Slowly.


    Surely.


    And saw¡ª


    A cub.


    A tiger cub.


    Sleek, black fur, little pointed ears, teeth barely showing, tail wagging like a dog with secrets. It padded up to the firelight, eyes locked¡ªnot on the people¡ªBut on the meat in Su Xiaobai''s hands.


    "It looks hungry~" came Nalan Yufei''s voice, light and cheerful, like she was narrating a fairy tale.


    Before anyone could stop her¡ªshe skipped forward, crouched down, and offered the beast a skewer.


    "Wait! It could be dangerous!" Lan Tian shouted, voice sharp.


    But too late.


    Nalan Yufei''s logic?


    Unmatched.


    "He would''ve killed us if he wanted to, long ago."


    And that?


    Was that adventurous idiot logic that could only come from someone raised in a sterile elven forest full of polite spiritual deer.


    Everyone stared.


    Tense.


    Waiting.


    Su Xiaobai just sighed.


    ''Classic. She''s going to die. Definitely going to die.''


    It''s always the elf. Cute one, curious one, first to pet the abomination disguised as fluff.


    But nothing happened.


    The little tiger blinked. Sniffed the food. Took a bite. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Purred.


    Literally purred.


    Like a house cat pretending it wasn''t born from void and murder.


    Yu Feng exhaled. "¡­It¡­ doesn''t seem dangerous?"


    She stepped forward too. Careful.


    And now¡ªeveryone except Su Xiaobai was slowly approaching it.


    Pampering it.


    Petting it.


    Talking to it like it was a lost puppy.


    They checked its Qi flow.


    Its spiritual meridians.


    Its bones.


    Its tail wagging.


    And?


    Nothing.


    No signs of aggression.


    Just an overpowered aura with zero offensive output.


    Which meant¡ª


    Useless.


    Adorable.


    Team mascot, apparently.


    Except.


    Su Xiaobai.


    He stood far away, eyes narrowed.


    Watching.


    Waiting.


    Mistrusting.


    ''You think I''m dumb enough to cuddle a walking disaster flag?''


    ''It''s cute, has mysterious power, and wandered directly into our camp like a scripted beast companion introduction scene?''


    ''This thing''s gonna sprout wings and kill someone mid-backstory flashback. Guaranteed.''


    While the rest played zookeeper, Su Xiaobai backed up even more.


    He tossed the chicken bone behind him, shook his head, and muttered under his breath:


    "I''m not dying in chapter 46 because someone wanted to adopt a demonic housecat."

 Chapter 235 - 235: The Beast, The Elf, and the Acid Rain!

    "What...?"


    Su Xiaobai had just managed to perfectly keep his safe distance. He was three meters away. Emotionally disengaged. Spiritually detached. Ready to pretend this tiger cub was someone else''s curse.


    And then¡ª


    "Peeww!"


    Thump.


    The little black-furred abomination crashed against his leg, rubbing its head affectionately like a cat who decided its next toy was a cultivator with no consent forms.


    Su Xiaobai stared.


    His face didn''t move.


    His eyes twitched like they wanted to sue someone.


    No. No no no.


    ''You''re supposed to cuddle the elf. Go chew on Dong Lei''s foot. I''m not qualified to raise space panthers, damn it.''


    Around him, the others blinked in confusion.


    Yu Feng''s eyes visibly darkened.


    She took a step forward¡ªhand half-raised, dark energy flickering.


    "...Eh? Why did it go to him?" she asked with a smile that barely concealed a small breakdown.


    Nalan Yufei was stunned too¡ªbut at least she took it with an "aww, that''s cute" expression.


    They tried.


    They called it.


    Fed it.


    Tempted it.


    Yu Feng even pulled out a shadow fruit, a delicacy only dark beasts liked.


    But nope.


    The cub wasn''t budging.


    It had chosen.


    It had claimed its idiot.


    "He¡­ doesn''t want to leave you."


    "Yeah." Su Xiaobai''s voice sounded like someone who had just signed a soul contract with a cursed doll on accident.


    He stared down at the little cosmic monster now trying to crawl into his robes.


    With a sigh full of karmic regret, he muttered:


    "Your name is... Black Hole Destroyer."


    Everyone around: "¡­"


    Dong Lei: "That sounds like a weapon, not a name."


    Shi Yan: "That''s... aggressive."


    Yu Feng: "You''re naming it like a death sentence..."


    Su Xiaobai rolled his eyes. "Fine. Little Blackie. There. That better?"


    It wasn''t. They all hated it.


    But Su Xiaobai?


    Didn''t care.


    The name was set in Dao-stone.


    Yu Feng, pouting slightly, secretly named it "Xiao Fang" when no one was listening. She was already emotionally invested.


    She was a dark-element cultivator, and the little creature''s aura screamed Void-Dark duality¡ªwhich meant the affinity was perfect.


    Once trained, she thought, this beast could become a legendary devourer...


    A Voidwalker-class contract beast... Possibly even a guardian-type spiritual companion.


    But no matter how much she tried¡ªpampering, bribing, seduction¡ªit only had eyes for Su Xiaobai.


    And that¡­ was terrifying.


    Because Su Xiaobai had sensed it. The one thing no one else had.


    That faint breath of Void around the cub''s soul.


    The same breath that came from his own Void Steps technique.


    It wasn''t just affinity.


    It was resonance.


    This thing had probably smelled the Void on him like a baby beast smelling its mother''s scent.


    Which meant... the Void had marked this thing.


    And it had marked him.


    Which meant... this was no normal cub.


    If the cub has this kind of aura... then what about its mother?


    What kind of cosmic bitch gave birth to a beast that cuddles me like a pillow and still radiates "I eat light for snacks"?


    If she shows up looking for her lost kitten, not even the Sword Fairy''s rage can save him.


    Su Xiaobai stared at the sky.


    He didn''t cry.


    He just exhaled like a man accepting another layer of unwanted plot development.


    ''I didn''t choose this fluffball.''


    ''It chose me.''


    ''Because the author hates me.''


    Somewhere above, a bored celestial author dipped a brush in destiny ink and scrawled across Su Xiaobai''s karma:


    [Pet Acquired: Obsidian Tiger (??? Rank)]


    [Title: Ancient World Devouring Beast Shi Tian, also known as "Omen" beast]


    [Affection: MAX.]


    [Escape Chance: 0%. Deal with it.]


    _____


    On the way deeper into the wasteland, Deng Lei, tried to strike conversation.


    "Lan Tian, your Dark Qi manipulation''s impressive. The remnants of the Yunnan Clan must be proud. That kind of affinity¡ªvery rare. Could be the key to turning corruption into power."


    He meant it as a compliment.


    Lan Tian''s response?


    A sharp scoff, followed by a sneer that could fart holy milk.


    "Hmph! What do any of you know about the Yunnan people? We are not creatures of darkness¡ªWe are children of Light!"


    The mist turned cold.


    Everyone blinked.


    Even the beasts seemed confused.


    That... didn''t make sense.


    The Yunnan Clan¡ªaccording to every record, every sect scroll, and every cursed bard''s ballad¡ªwas the origin point of Corrupt Qi. The catalyst for the Rot Plague. The exiled bloodline.


    If Lan Tian was descended from them¡­ then wasn''t his mastery of Dark Qi proof?


    Even now, his Light Qi pathways were blocked¡ªhe couldn''t summon a flicker of pure radiance like Shi Yan could.


    And yet¡ªhe spoke as if Light was his birthright, not his enemy. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Su Xiaobai, seated at the rear, quietly chewed on dried demon jerky.


    He didn''t comment.


    ''Hmm... big hidden bloodline drama. Ancestral betrayal...Definitely sounds like a side quest. But I''m not here for backstories. I''m here for the Dark Tab.''


    He tuned out the conversation entirely.


    Soon enough, the mood settled again. No one brought up the Yunnan Clan anymore.


    Lan Tian walked ahead, slicing through cursed vines and phantom mist.


    Shi Yan followed behind him, his radiant Light Qi forming a barrier that burned away the corruption fog like incense smoke.


    It was a strange sight.


    Light and Dark. Together.


    Enemies by nature.


    Allies by necessity.


    By the end of the week, the sandy lands faded behind them, and the true nightmare began:


    The Black Swamp.


    Sticky, wet, foul-smelling terrain. Every step sucked at their boots like the ground didn''t want them to leave.


    Toxic mists clung to the skin like invisible insects.


    The corruption here wasn''t passive¡ªit was alive.


    And somewhere in this swamp?


    The Earth Dragon.


    The apex predator.


    The thing that might end their journey early.


    Their pace slowed dramatically. What should''ve been a day''s march became two. Then three.


    By the fourth night, exhausted and soaked, the group had no choice but to set up camp¡ªright in the heart of the poisoned lands.


    They had no choice.


    Their bodies were weakening.


    The swamp drained vital Qi just by contact, and their talismans were burning out fast.


    But it turned out to be the right choice.


    Because shortly after they erected their corrosion-resistant tents¡ª


    Ka-BOOM!


    The sky twisted violently.


    Purple clouds churned like bruises across the heavens.


    Lightning cracked.


    Rain fell.


    Not water¡ªbut acid.


    Drops that hissed against the shield barriers, eating into rock like oil on skin.


    The corruption in the mist had bonded with the moisture¡ªturning the storm into poison.


    Inside his tent, Su Xiaobai sat in silence.


    He watched the sky through a slit in the tent flap, letting the flickers of lightning reflect in his eyes.


    Rain¡­


    His thoughts drifted back.


    He remembered her on the rooftop¡ªnot a woman, but a blade disguised in mourning. When she wept, the sky wept. When she raged, lightning obeyed.


    Rain Intent.


    He had seen it only once.


    But it haunted him.


    He raised his hand now.


    Closed his eyes.


    Tried to feel the rhythm of the sky.


    But¡ªnothing.


    Just the hum of his internal Qi. The pull of the rain. The whisper of thunder.


    It always felt like she was holding back. Why didn''t she use it more?


    If I had it¡­


    He imagined it.


    Standing atop White Cloud Star, his blade pointed to the heavens, calling rain like falling knives.


    Each droplet a killing intent.


    Each storm a massacre.


    He could annihilate armies, flood sects, wipe out cities while sipping tea.


    But right now?


    He was in a swamp.


    Stuck with a black tiger cub curled up on his robe. A demon ox snoring in the next tent. And a team of suspicious allies carrying hidden knives and mutual trauma.


    "Hm?"


    Su Xiaobai narrowed his eyes.


    Through the acid-pocked mist outside, he saw a shadow moving fast toward his tent. His fingers instinctively curled toward his sword ring.


    Enemy? Beast? Another death flag?


    But as the figure drew closer¡ª


    He recognized it.


    Pointed ears. Slim figure. Graceful panic.


    "...Little Elf?"


    "What''s wrong?" he called, pushing open the flap just as the figure stumbled inside.


    SPLASH.


    The acidic rain hissed against her armor as she dove in, collapsing to her knees with a sigh of relief.


    "My tent¡­ it broke." She pouted, cheeks puffed like a disappointed noble who got sold a fake spirit pet.


    "The merchant sold me low-quality goods¡­" she muttered, shaking off droplets.


    Then she looked up at him.


    Eyes soft. Apologetic.


    "I tried knocking on Sister Feng''s tent. But¡­ she''s meditating. Didn''t respond."


    The meaning was clear.


    Yu Feng didn''t answer. Ku Rong was terrifying. Lan Tian looked cursed. Shi Yan was worse.


    Which meant¡­


    Su Xiaobai was the only safe option.


    His smile twitched.


    ''Am I being taken for a eunuch?''


    Lately he''d been¡­ slightly kinder. Slightly more reasonable.


    And this was the thanks?


    Woman now treated him like a safe furniture option.


    But he smiled anyway.


    A slow, villain''s smile¡ªthe kind that could be misread as kindness.


    "You can stay. I''ll go outside."


    "No need!" she cut him off.


    Without thinking, she grabbed his wrist.


    Warm fingers. Slightly trembling. Wet from the rain.


    But her gaze?


    Dead serious.


    "I''ll sleep on the opposite side," she said. "But you''re not leaving. It''s too dangerous out there."


    She pointed to the mat laid across the far end of the tent, meant for emergency night watch rotations.


    Su Xiaobai chuckled darkly. ''Of course I''m not going outside.''

 Chapter 236 - 236: Meeting the Eleven Queen?

    Su Xiaobai chuckled darkly. ''Of course I''m not going outside.''


    He sat back, watching her as she began undoing her armor, piece by piece.


    First the pauldrons.


    Then the arm guards.


    Then the thigh plates¡ªeach one clinking softly as it hit the ground.


    Underneath?


    A simple silken top, thin enough to cling slightly from the rain.


    And around her waist?


    A light-green wrap, spiritual silk layered several times but still light enough to flow with movement.


    Her hair¡ªdamp from the acidic rain¡ªstuck to her pale cheeks, making her already fair features look like something out of an immortal''s forbidden daydream.


    Su Xiaobai didn''t say anything.


    But in his mind?


    ''Great bossom, good hips, definitely breedable. Would birth strong half-elf children. Flexible shoulders too¡ªalways a good sign.''


    He turned off the lantern with a flick of spiritual energy.


    The tent went dark.


    They lay down.


    She took one side.


    He took the other.


    Only the sound of breathing remained.


    Soft, heavy, in sync.


    Outside, the acid rain continued to fall, sizzling softly against the enchanted fabric.


    The flap was sealed tight, no light, no danger.


    Just silence.


    Breathing.


    And the faint scent of earth and rain.


    "..."


    "..."


    Only after slipping into Su Xiaobai''s tent, warm, dry, and reeking of male calmness¡ªdid Nalan Yufei realize something horrible.


    She had made a fucking mistake.


    A fatal miscalculation wrapped in elf-logic and social naivety.


    Mankind¡ªkind or cruel¡ªwas evil when it came to helpless women sleeping beside them.


    Especially one like Su Xiaobai.


    He didn''t breathe like a fool.


    He didn''t stare like a pervert.


    He just existed beside her¡ªquiet, composed, and deeply unsettling.


    "Mm¡­"


    She clenched her lips tightly, curling on her side like a guilt-ridden forest bunny.


    ''My mother was right.''


    The Elven Queen had told her for years¡ª


    [You''re too soft, too curious, too trusting of humans.]


    And now, lying inches away from the walking definition of "bad decision in a robe", she understood.


    That cruel, bitter realization every child has when they grow up and realize¡ª


    The parents were right all along.


    Behind her, Su Xiaobai shifted.


    He didn''t say anything. Didn''t move quickly. Just¡­ leaned in, stared at her back.


    His gaze traced the line of her hair in the dark. Strands stuck softly to her neck, damp from the rain earlier.


    Her scent hit him next.


    Not perfume.


    Not pills.


    But something natural¡ª


    Moonflower blossoms, crushed greenleaf, a hint of morning dew soaked in sunlight. His nostrils flared once.


    ''What the hell? Did ascending realms always boost your senses like this?''


    He could now distinguish the fragrance of a woman''s skin down to the memory it triggered.


    And hers?


    Felt like home in a place he didn''t trust.


    Then¡ªhis hand moved.


    Idly at first.


    Then not so idly.


    It slithered slowly across the mat¡ªlike a devil''s fang poking from silk.


    "!?"


    Nalan Yufei froze.


    Her breath caught in her throat, a single inhale stuck like she''d swallowed a forbidden pill.


    "Su¡­ Su¡­ Xiaobai¡­"


    Her voice was faint.


    Weak.


    Too soft for someone who could shoot arrows through beast skulls.


    Because at that moment¡ª


    He was behind her.


    Close... Too close.


    His arm slipped around her waist¡ªnot groping, not grabbing, just being there¡ªas if he''d always belonged there.


    ''Why¡­ can''t I move?''


    She wanted to twist away.


    Wanted to turn.


    Wanted to slap or scream.


    But she didn''t.


    Because her cultivation heart knew something her conscious mind refused to accept¡ª


    She was being suppressed.


    Not by brute force.


    Not by Qi.


    But by presence.


    Su Xiaobai''s ''astral sword aura'', invisible to her, brushed gently against her skin.


    Not attacking, just hovering.


    Testing.


    Like a blade resting on her shoulder¡ªnot cutting.


    But promising it could.


    And that was the worst part.


    She wasn''t being violated.


    She was being overwhelmed.


    A primal thrill mixed with fear.


    Her instincts told her:


    This is not a rabbit... This is a demon wolf, wearing sheep''s clothing, and smiling softly.


    All this time, she thought Su Xiaobai was just another quirky cultivator with attitude issues.


    Turns out?


    He''d been hiding teeth.


    And now that she''d wandered into his space willingly¡ª


    He wasn''t even trying to bite.


    Just letting her realize¡ª


    He could.


    "Little Elf."


    His voice was low, brushing her ear like a passing gust of mischief. "...What do you think about Lan Tian?"


    "Doesn''t it seem strange... how close he is with Shi Yan?"


    His tone was lazy, like idle gossip.


    But his hand?


    Was very focused¡ªslowly trailing across her waist, casually violating at least six etiquette laws by softly caressing the skin just under her light clothes.


    He didn''t expect a response.


    She was supposed to squeak. Push him off. Punch him, maybe.


    But instead¡ª


    "Lan Tian?"


    She actually replied.


    Like a scholar answering a pop quiz while pretending his hand wasn''t inside her shirt, drawing soft circles against her abdomen like he was testing the resistance of forbidden fruit.


    Oh?


    Su Xiaobai blinked once.


    The elf had more mental discipline than he gave her credit for.


    Nalan Yufei exhaled through her nose.


    "He''s¡­ complicated," she muttered. "You know, the Yunmu Clan isn''t a dark race."


    Su Xiaobai raised an eyebrow. Not dark?


    "They''re a cursed race," she added. "Different."


    Her voice was calm, a little distant¡ªas if repeating something she''d memorized rather than experienced.


    "As per our records in Cloudwood Forest, the Yunmu were once children of light¡ªnot as worshipers, but in the sense of¡­ ''Truth.''"


    "Truth?" Su Xiaobai repeated. "Like¡­ Dao?"


    "I don''t know. Not even the Elders know exactly what that means."


    She shrugged faintly.


    "How does a race just appear out of nowhere? Unless... someone made them."


    Su Xiaobai''s fingers paused, mid-rub.


    His curiosity now outweighed his lust.


    Which was rare.


    She continued.


    "The first elven contact with the Yunmu Clan was around 450,000 years ago. That''s when we started recording them."


    "Before that," she said, eyes distant, "the whole southern ridge was part of the Northern Continent, under the dominion of the Northern Emperor."


    Su Xiaobai''s eyes snapped open.


    This was the first time he had ever heard that name mentioned casually. Even Bai Yujian had never spoken of him.


    ''Northern Emperor Tian Yu¡­ finally shows up in someone''s mouth.''


    He leaned in, voice soft. "You know more?"


    Nalan Yufei shook her head, still composed. "Not me. But my mother might. She always said... there are stories the trees remember, even if we forget."


    Su Xiaobai smiled faintly. ''Of course. The Elven Matriach. Bet she bathes in spiritual dew and hoards history like dragons hoard gold.''


    He was starting to see the web. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She went on, oblivious to the fingers on her belly being the reason he was listening so intently.


    "The Light God''s teachings spread into the Immortal Rain Valley around 800,000 years ago."


    "What''s that got to do with the Yunmu?" he asked.


    "They didn''t come from nowhere. They came from a place called¡­" She hesitated.


    "The Light City."


    Su Xiaobai''s entire brain rebooted.


    ...Excuse me?


    "The very same forbidden region we''re approaching?" he muttered.


    "Yes..." She nodded. "That''s what the ancient texts call it. Not dark. Not cursed. But the Resting Place of the Light God."


    She glanced at him, lips curling slightly.


    "Funny how everything you''ve been told is the opposite of what actually happened, huh?"


    Su Xiaobai stared at the flap of the tent, lost in thought.


    Yunmu weren''t from darkness.


    They were forged from light. Cursed by something. Twisted.


    And they lived in the city of light that now breathes corruption?


    And then the kicker:


    The Northern Emperor¡ªTian Yu¡ªwas listed as the friend of the Light God?


    This changed everything.


    The timeline. The roles. The idea of "good and evil."


    It seemed Lan Tian wasn''t lying when he blew a fuse over Dong Lei telling him to embrace his "Dark Qi."


    Of course he wasn''t lying. Bro had veins popping out like demonic vines and his pupils were doing that edgy golden glow thing. That wasn''t acting¡ªthat was repressed trauma hitting puberty.


    Meanwhile, back in the tent filled with dangerous tension and even more dangerous imagination¡ª


    "Feifei," he said, voice low like a beast whispering sweet nothings before ripping off your clothes. "Are you the Elven Queen?"


    "Huh?" Nalan Yufei blinked.

 Chapter 237 - 237: Soap Opera of Betrayal Circle and a Stupid Elf Princess!

    "Are you the Elven Queen?"


    "Huh?" Nalan Yufei blinked.


    Then her face did the full celestial spectrum¡ªconfusion, pride, horror, mild offense, and finally landing on disbelief.


    "No!" she snapped, almost offended.


    She had a point.


    She was young, fresh, cultivated in both body and spirit like a premium sect disciple harvested under optimal moonlight.


    Definitely not old enough to rule a race. But that didn''t stop Su Xiaobai from crafting his own internal fanfiction.


    In his version, Nalan Yufei was the Elven Queen¡ªjust in disguise. Sent to the Light City on some mysterious matriarchal mission to retrieve a divine artifact or uncover ancient secrets or stop her race from being corrupted by light-turned-dark bullshit.


    Which¡­ wasn''t entirely wrong. Just warped through Su Xiaobai''s brain, which ran on cunning, instinct, and at least one philosophical theory he invented during dual cultivation practice.


    To him, Elven hierarchy had to be like sect structure.


    There''s the Queen? Sure.


    But above the Queen?


    The Matriarch. The secret ruler. The true boss bitch behind the forest curtain.


    Same way in a sect, you''ve got the flashy Sect Master¡ªand then the grumpy old Guardian who''s been alive since dinosaurs cultivated grass.


    Hell, if Zhao Tianxuan tripped over a horny rhino beast tomorrow and died? Su Xiaobai, being next in line by pure plot armor, would instantly become Sect Master.


    Not strong enough? No problem. The Guardian watches his back until he ascends high enough to flash his sword aura without pulling a muscle.


    That''s how it worked.


    But apparently¡ªElves were normal.


    Monarchy.


    Actual monarchy. With rules.


    No hidden elders, no plot-protected bloodlines, no secret matriarch with a thousand-year-old hymen guarding light relics. Just one ruler. The Queen. Strongest elf wins. Everyone else fucks off or dies trying.


    So Nalan Yufei?


    Not even close.


    If she so much as pretended to wear the crown, stronger elves would shank her with spirit-thorns before you could say "Heavenly Wood Technique."


    "Su Xiaobai¡­" she turned toward him, pouting. "Why would you think I''m the Elven Queen? Do I look that old to you to be my own mother?"


    The insult landed.


    She realized it too late.


    "¡­Ah?"


    Her face blanked. Mouth shut. Internal panic flared like rampant Qi inside a mortal pill furnace.


    Su Xiaobai ¡ª Stared, speechless.


    Then he smiled.


    Gently. Like a villain about to cross one of those lines he''d draw in the sand just to feel powerful stepping over.


    He reached out.


    Took her hand.


    And like any gentleman with absolutely no shame and zero impulse control, he summoned a [Restraining Rope] from his spatial ring and bound her wrists.


    "Ah!? What are you doing? Free me!" she gasped, struggling, her silken top ruffling as her body shifted.


    But her hands were already tied.


    The rope tightened with spiritual runes glowing faintly¡ªa gift from a rogue cultivator who owed Su Xiaobai for saving his life during a brothel raid.


    True story.


    No way in hell he was letting her walk away now.


    Not when things were getting interesting.


    ''So she isn''t the Queen¡­ but her mother is?'' he muttered, staring at her forbidden bossom like they held the answers to ancient elf politics.


    He exhaled, eyes trailing from her collarbone to her hips, as if reading sacred scripture with his gaze.


    "If the daughter looks like this," he muttered aloud, "what monster did they call a Queen?"


    A chill ran down his spine¡ªnot from fear, but from libido mixed with ancestral survival instinct.


    Some dragons shouldn''t be chased.


    But Su Xiaobai was already in the lair, petting the tail.


    Nalan Yufei twisted in place, glaring at him, wrists still bound.


    Su Xiaobai leaned forward, shadows dancing on his face as the tent flickered with Qi interference from outside.


    "Why did you come with us, Feifei?"


    The tone had shifted.


    No longer teasing.


    Now it sounded like an interrogation.


    Nalan Yufei stilled.


    Because in that moment, she felt it again¡ªthe presence.


    The same astral sword aura curled tighter around her body¡ªlike a spiritual snake slithering across pale neck, hissing against her nerves, not striking yet¡­ just reminding her:


    [I could kill you naked]


    And that was enough.


    "I''ll tell you everything! Don''t kill me!" she cried out.


    The proud elf from Cloudwood?


    Gone.


    In her place?


    A sniveling, bound bunny girl who just rolled over and exposed her entire spiritual underbelly like a rookie demonic beast in mating season.


    Su Xiaobai blinked.


    Damn.


    She folded faster than a mortal gambler in a demonic casino.


    ''I knew you were mentally weak,'' he muttered, disappointed. ''But I didn''t think you''d betray your whole damn bloodline just from a check.''


    She didn''t even deny it.


    She just looked away, shame coloring her cheeks pink like a cherry blossom slapped by karma.


    According to her blubbering, she''d run away.


    Not for adventure. Not for rebellion. No.


    She bailed because her precious little elf race was cursed¡ªand she thought Light City had the key to undo it.


    Let''s rewind.


    Apparently, the elves of Cloudwood Forest were once powerful¡ªdescendants of an empire so vast it made mortal kingdoms look like back-alley sects run by drunkards and handjobs.


    The Nalan Empire. Half the southern continent bowed before them. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    And then?


    The Yunmu Clan came knocking.


    Twisted, corrupted, cursed by Light God''s energy after offending him during a ritual orgy or something. Banished from the light, leaking Dark Qi like a broken cauldron.


    They ran to the elves, crying tears of moonlight.


    "We''re just cursed! Help us! We''re still light-aligned inside!"


    The elves¡ªsoft-hearted, dumb as bricks, and probably high on forest incense¡ªwelcomed them.


    And got cursed for their kindness.


    Boom.


    Light Qi¡ªgone.


    No more holy healing, no more photosynthesizing in moonlight. Their spiritual roots withered. Appearance? Warped. Aura? Muted. The once-noble aura of celestial wood? Replaced with forest-floor decay and the scent of tragic backstory.


    No wonder Nalan Yufei''s vibe was off.


    Su Xiaobai had seen true high elves in the memories of the Immortal King.


    Nalan Yufei?


    This poor dumb flower thought she could undo a divine curse just by walking into Light City and asking politely?


    Su Xiaobai nearly choked from holding in his laughter.


    He turned his head, face twitching, spiritual pressure fluctuating as his inner jackass screamed for release.


    ''This princess really thought she could undo a god''s curse like it''s some sect paperwork. Just walk in, knock on Heaven''s Door, and say ''Hey can I get a refund on that divine punishment?"''


    But she wasn''t joking.


    She was dead serious.


    Eyes watery.


    Voice trembling.


    If she knew the outside world was this cruel, this filthy, she might never have left the protection of her spiritual trees and mom''s overpowered bosom.


    Su Xiaobai stared at her, bound and trembling, her thighs pressed together like she was physically trying to hold in her destiny.


    "What else do you know?" he asked, eyes narrowed, voice dipped in the kind of menace that made divine beasts flinch and sect mistresses wet themselves involuntarily.


    He wasn''t asking out of kindness.


    He was assembling a maze¡ªa web of betrayal, curses, and idiot protagonists pretending they were heroes.


    The Yunmu Clan? Misunderstood.


    The elves? Dumb enough to get cursed by proxy.


    The mighty Nalan Empire, once rulers of half the southern continent? Now reduced to eco-friendly squatters, hugging what little was left of their spiritual trees like virgins clutching purity tokens.


    And Lan Tian?


    Oh, that backstabbing, map-hoarding, destiny-deepthroating bastard?


    He was definitely on some ancient clan mission. Probably sent by the old monsters hiding under the Yunmu sect, carrying that dusty-ass map like it led to redemption.


    Shi Yan was likely double-crossing him too.


    Or triple-crossing.


    At this point, Su Xiaobai wouldn''t be surprised if they were secretly married, pregnant with demonic triplets, and trying to kill each other during morning meditation.


    It was a goddamn sect soap opera out there.


    And him?


    Su Xiaobai was smack in the middle of it, fully dressed, fully annoyed, and now in possession of one (1) crying elf girl who might actually be too dumb to manipulate.

 Chapter 238 - 238: Elf as a Pet? Great! Accepted!

    "...What the hell do I even do with you?" he muttered, staring at Nalan Yufei.


    Enslave her?


    Keep her as pet?


    Use her tears to refine pills?


    There were options.


    But her pathetic little whisper interrupted them.


    "I-I don''t know¡­" she said, head bowed, voice shaking. "You¡­ You should ask my mother¡­"


    Oh.


    Of course.


    The classic dodge: "I don''t know shit, but my OP parent does."


    Su Xiaobai sighed, rolled his eyes, and then did what any self-respecting villain with blue balls would do¡ª


    He grabbed her tit.


    Not gently.


    Not roughly.


    Just purposefully.


    His palm sank into her soft chest like it was a divine marshmallow blessed by the Dao of Squish.


    Warmth.


    Weight.


    Wobble.


    The white silk between them barely counted as clothing¡ªit was silk, sure, but it was no match for his determined fingers.


    "!!" Nalan Yufei gasped, her face turning red like a sunset peach caught in heatstroke.


    She didn''t resist.


    She didn''t even twitch.


    She just froze¡ªears red, breath shaky, and thighs clenched like a jade door that had been sealed for centuries and was now hearing a knock.


    "If you don''t tell me," Su Xiaobai murmured, voice practically dripping on her skin, "I won''t let you go."


    Her lips trembled.


    "Mmm¡­"


    She nodded.


    She fucking nodded.


    Su Xiaobai.exe has stopped responding.


    Hold on.


    Did she just nod?!


    She was supposed to fight.


    To slap.


    To unleash a holy light burst that singed his eyebrow.


    Instead?


    She looked like she was about to ask for more.


    He blinked, spiritually crashing for the second time this week.


    "¡­Wait, what?"


    He genuinely didn''t know what to do with her now.


    This wasn''t a seduction.


    This wasn''t even a battle of wills.


    She just¡ª


    Yielded.


    Like a bunny who not only rolled over but spread her legs and offered the divine carrot.


    "We''re not playing elf simulator," Su Xiaobai muttered under his breath.


    And yet¡­ here she was.


    Bound.


    Breathing hard.


    Chest heaving like twin spirit mountains during an earthquake.


    And worst of all?


    Obedient.


    "How are your barking skills?" Su Xiaobai suddenly asked.


    His grip tightened on her shoulders, eyes locked on hers with the seriousness of a sect master delivering the final heaven-splitting sword technique.


    It was a stupid question.


    A vile question.


    But he asked it like it was divine truth.


    Nalan Yufei blinked.


    "¡­Huh?"


    She tilted her head like a confused spirit beast, ears twitching, pupils dilating.


    "D-Don''t beat me¡­"


    The words slipped out like an instinctive cry for help.


    And in that moment¡ª


    Su Xiaobai had never wanted to beat someone *more.*


    "..." His spiritual patience shattered like a trash-tier pill in a dragon''s ass.


    "Fuck it."


    The lantern went out.


    The tent fell into blackness once more.


    And Nalan Yufei? Still bound. Still dumb. Still soft.


    He didn''t hesitate.


    She was back on the mat before she could squeak. Her wrists were still tied, her heart pounding like a celestial drum summoning the storm of degeneracy.


    Su Xiaobai spooned her from behind, breath warm against the nape of her neck. Not in a romantic way.


    In the way a man hugs a beast he''s about to train.


    Spiritually.


    His hands slid down¡ªover fabric, over elven shame made manifest.


    Nalan Yufei gasped, squirming as his palms roamed like a pervert mapping out forbidden terrain. Her legs trembled, her spine arched, her breathing went from panicked to something else.


    "W-Why¡­ I told you everything¡­" she whimpered, confused, aroused, and mad at herself for being both.


    "Yeah," he whispered. "But now I want something else."


    His hands didn''t ask.


    They took.


    Slipping beneath her silken robes like spiritual invaders seeking the Dao of Breast Mastery. He cupped the soft orbs of elf heritage, squeezed gently¡ªthen harder¡ªlike testing ripeness before harvest.


    She groaned.


    Back arched. Neck flushed red. Hips twitching like her body was rebelling against her common sense.


    "Don''t¡­" she gasped.


    But it was the weak, breathless kind of don''t¡ªthe kind that came with a shameful moan and zero resistance. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Su Xiaobai grinned in the dark.


    "You said don''t," Su Xiaobai whispered into her pointed ear, "but your body''s about to bark."


    Nalan Yufei blinked.


    "¡­What?"


    She didn''t get time to process it.


    He spun her around like a cultivation dummy mid-training, pushed her onto the mat, and mounted her like he was claiming territory.


    Her confused eyes widened as he leaned down and devoured her glistening lips¡ªnot kissed. Devoured. Tongue first, rules second, morality somewhere buried six feet under the nearest spirit beast graveyard.


    She gasped against his mouth as his hands groped deeper into her robe, fingers curling under cloth, squeezing the sacred twin peaks of elven nobility like they were ripe celestial fruits begging for harvest.


    Tears welled up in her eyes.


    Not from pain.


    But from overstimulation, confusion, and the terrifying realization that her brain was short-circuiting¡ªand her hips were twitching.


    Then he bit her cheek.


    Not hard.


    Just enough to mark her.


    Like a pet.


    Like a toy.


    Like a villain slapping his name on someone who didn''t yet understand what she''d signed up for.


    Her hands flailed, tried to stop him.


    She reached for her ears, gasped something that might have been a warning¡ª


    And that''s when Su Xiaobai paused, eyes gleaming.


    "Oh? You undid the ropes?"


    She froze.


    Too late.


    "Cute."


    Didn''t matter.


    His fingers gripped the edge of her upper fabric and pulled.


    The enchanted fabric gave way with a whisper of Qi and a soft gasp from her lips¡ª


    And just like that, the upper half of her elven glory was unwrapped like a forbidden treasure stolen from the Vault of Heaven.


    White skin glowing faintly under the spiritual barrier.


    Peaks standing proud despite the situation, nipples taut from cool air and hotter tension.


    He didn''t look at them like a man seeing tits.


    He looked at them like a treasure appraiser who just found twin divine artifacts hidden under ancient silk.


    "You know," he murmured, brushing his thumb lazily over one pert nipple, "for a cursed elf, you''re sinfully blessed in the chest department."


    Nalan Yufei whimpered.


    Not a full protest.


    Just a shameful noise.


    Because deep down, she realized¡ª


    She wasn''t resisting.


    "..."


    What''s wrong with me?


    She didn''t even have time to finish the thought.


    Because by the time her brain asked the question, her mouth had already betrayed her.


    "Ahhn~!"


    The sound burst out as Su Xiaobai grabbed her snow-white divine-tier breasts and started motorboating them like a degenerate riding a flying treasure into a spirit fog at full speed.


    His teeth nipped her left peak like it owed him money.


    His tongue traced sacred runes only he could see.


    His hands squeezed like a man possessed, like he was kneading sacred pill dough on a furnace made of sin.


    Her fingers tangled in his hair, grip tight, thighs trembling like jade leaves in a hurricane.


    Her lips parted again, gasping as her mind and body split in half, one screaming "What are you doing?!", the other moaning "Do it harder."


    "W-Wait¡ªdon''t bite¡ªahhh¡ª! You''re not allowed to¡ª"


    She bit her lip, but her voice betrayed her.


    "M-My chest''s not for training!" she tried, desperately.


    No response.


    Just tongue.


    "Y-You can''t just¡­ nghh¡­ suck like that¡ª!"


    She was falling.


    Not physically.


    Her internal cultivation was chaotic under the weight of villainous lust arts. Her foundation shook. Her Qi flowed backward.


    "I-I''m a! You can''t just¡ª"


    Su Xiaobai paused long enough to flick her nipple with the tip of his tongue.


    Her breath exploded.


    "Okayyoucan¡ª!"


    She slapped a hand over her mouth.


    Mortified.


    But too late.


    She''d already said it.