Dawn had barely kissed the horizon when Nan Xu Yue's messenger arrived, summoning Xie Xuechen and Mu Xuanling with word that the formation stood ready.
Mu Xuanling touched the handband encircling her wrist, feeling the subtle hum of inscribed power thrumming against her skin. The formation couldn't mask her face, but it would swallow every trace of demonic and fiendish energy that clung to her like shadow. Without that dark aura, something indefinable slipped away—that dangerous allure that made mortals catch their breath—yet what remained blazed even brighter. She seemed more alive now, radiant and dazzling, like a flame freed from smoke.
"Brother Xie, Miss Mu." Nan Xu Yue's smile was warm as spring sunlight as he inclined his head toward them both. "The formation is prepared. We can activate it whenever you wish."
Xie Xuechen's bow was deep, formal, weighted with genuine gratitude. "Thank you for your efforts."
Nan Xu Yue shifted sideways with practiced grace, deflecting the gesture before it could fully land. His smile never wavered. "I have one more request, though I fear it may seem presumptuous."
Mu Xuanling's eyebrow arched knowingly. "You wish to accompany us to Yong Xue Cheng."
It wasn't a question.
Nan Xu Yue's gaze found Xie Xuechen's face, searching. "Would Brother Xie permit it?"
A frown creased Xie Xuechen's brow, concern flickering in those phoenix eyes. "The journey may prove dangerous."
"Precisely why I ask." Nan Xu Yue's voice remained steady, assured. "Brother Xie suspects spies have infiltrated the Celestial Alliance. I wish to lend my abilities to help unmask them."
The wisdom gleaming in Nan Xu Yue's eyes gave weight to his words—here was a mind sharp enough to back such confidence.
"Brother Xie might worry that my cultivation is insufficient for self-protection should trouble arise." A gentle smile played across Nan Xu Yue's handsome features, touched now with quiet certainty. "But I would never offer myself unprepared. Without boasting, I can say that even facing a respected law practitioner, I can manipulate formations with considerable skill."
Silence stretched between them as Xie Xuechen weighed the offer. Finally, he nodded.
"Then you'll travel with us."
"Excellent." Gladness brightened Nan Xu Yue's expression. "Please, enter the formation. I'll have someone activate it. The spiritual energy will surge, and in approximately twenty breaths, we'll arrive at Yong Xue Cheng."
Yong Xue Cheng perched atop a mountain peak on the western continent, where the cold bit deep and never truly released its grip. Here, the sky stretched impossibly blue and close, as if one could reach up and graze fingertips against heaven itself. Everywhere the eye traveled found only pristine whiteness—snow untouched and eternal. Black rock houses dotted the landscape like ink spots on rice paper, creating a scene worthy of a master painter's brush.
The city's inhabitants towered taller and broader than people from gentler lands, wrapped in thick marten fur that made them appear as formidable as the wild beasts whose pelts they wore. Their very presence spoke of survival in a realm that showed no mercy to the weak.
In such a place, Mu Xuanling's heavy furs and deep hood raised no eyebrows. The garments served a dual purpose—warmth against the biting wind, and blessed shade from the sun's relentless glare against endless snow.
The city's protective barrier prevented Nan Xu Yue's formation from delivering them directly inside. Instead, the three materialized at the gates, where the sudden appearance of the Sect Leader sent ripples through the guards like stones dropped in still water.
Recognition flashed across the cultivators' faces the instant they registered Xie Xuechen's features. Their expressions transformed—backs straightening, eyes widening with mingled admiration and excitement, voices trembling as they called out in unison: "Greetings, Sect Leader!"
The attack by demons remained locked behind sealed lips, known only to a trusted few. Xie Xuechen's absence had created no widespread alarm among common folk. Now his keen gaze swept the city, noting the orderly streets, the calm rhythm of daily life. Relief loosened something tight in his chest.
But the guards' enthusiastic greeting carried far, drawing curious gazes from every direction. Townsfolk maintained respectful distances, faces painted with equal measures of fear and awe as they offered salutes to their Sect Leader.
Xie Xuechen was more than just the lord of Yong Xue Cheng—he was their guardian deity, their shield against the darkness. Even those who knew nothing of cultivation understood their lord's terrible power. Demons whispered his name with dread. The five factions of the Celestial Alliance bent knee to his authority. Yet he rarely walked these streets, so many now glimpsed him for the first time. They were struck first by beauty—features so perfect they seemed carved by divine hands—then by the stern, imposing aura that rolled off him like winter wind. Eyes dropped quickly as minds scrambled to process what they'd seen. Yes, their lord was truly formidable indeed.
Xie Xuechen paid no mind to the stares. He allowed Mu Xuanling and Nan Xu Yue to set an unhurried pace as they made their way toward the Sect Leader's residence.
News traveled faster than arrows in Yong Xue Cheng. By the time they reached the main gate, the massive stone doors—each several zhang wide—were already groaning open. The thunder of rushing footsteps poured forth.
"Master of the Sect! You've truly returned!"
The Elder from Yong Xue Cheng led the charge, with the leaders and elders of the other four major sects crowding close behind.
Xie Xuechen's gaze swept across each face like a blade, cataloging every expression, every gleam lurking in every eye.
"Everyone." His voice cut through the clamor like silk through silence. All noise ceased instantly. "Thank you for your concern these past days. Please—let us discuss matters inside."
Within the Celestial Alliance's hierarchy, Xie Xuechen stood at the apex as Sect Leader. Beneath him sat the faction heads, who often found themselves so consumed by administrative duties that their cultivation suffered neglect. Consequently, they weren't necessarily the strongest within their own sects. That honor belonged to the elders—and among the elders, only the most formidable earned recognition to participate in Celestial Alliance deliberations alongside their faction leaders. These five were known as the Five Elders of the Celestial Alliance.
Before entering the Wandering Immortal Array, Xie Xuechen had entrusted his plans to both the Five Elders and the five faction heads. When something went catastrophically wrong within the formation, these ten had converged on Yong Xue Cheng with urgent speed.
"Seven days after the Sect Leader entered the formation, he failed to emerge at the appointed hour." Fu Yuanting, Master of the Bixiao Palace, spoke with the polished cadence of someone accustomed to command. He appeared to be in his early forties, refined and handsome, though in truth he'd lived over a century. As a law practitioner, he possessed techniques to preserve youthful appearance. Some cultivators valued such things highly, maintaining the fresh face of sixteen despite eight hundred years of existence. Others neglected their exterior entirely, appearing seventy or eighty regardless of their true age.
"We knew immediately something was amiss," Fu Yuanting continued. "We entered the formation to investigate and discovered signs of intense combat at its core. We suspected a demon trap. For days now, we've dispatched trusted members from each faction to search the vicinity of Two Realms Mountain's Wandering Immortal Array. We've even attempted to infiltrate the Demon Realm itself." His expression darkened. "However, their defenses proved extremely stringent. We have not yet succeeded."
Consider the practitioners of Xuantian Temple, known as Pathseekers. These cultivators embraced asceticism from birth, cultivating body and mind as one. Their Yuan Power ran exceptionally robust and pure. Yet they possessed no striking appearances—only gray hemp robes, shaved heads, gaunt frames, and unremarkable features.
When word reached them of Xie Xuechen's peril, both Master Yinian of Xuantian Temple and Master Fajian of the Five Elders had hastened to Yong Xue Cheng. Master Fajian carried the weight of over five centuries on his frail-looking frame, yet commanded deep respect throughout the Celestial Alliance. Like Xie Xuechen, he devoted himself utterly to cultivation, having passed sect leadership to his disciple two centuries prior. While others murmured among themselves, he remained silent, gaze lowered as if in perpetual meditation.
Master Yinian wore a compassionate smile as he spoke. "We rejoice that Sect Leader Xie has returned safely. But we remain ignorant of what exactly transpired within the Wandering Immortal Array that day."
Every eye fixed upon Xie Xuechen.
"The Lord of Demons led his subordinates to lay a celestial net within the Wandering Immortal Array." Xie Xuechen's voice remained eerily calm, as if describing something that had happened to someone else. "I was gravely injured and captured. I endured punishment in Rongyuan for seven days before barely escaping three days ago."
"Rongyuan!" The word exploded through the assembly like thunder. "Rongyuan—that place of ultimate terror, rumored to overflow with the remains of fallen deities, crawling with malevolence so thick even the Demon Lord himself dares not linger long!"
That Xie Xuechen had survived seven days of torment in Rongyuan seemed more impossible than demons ambushing him in the first place.
Yet no one doubted his words. Perhaps because he had exhibited too many miraculous feats already. Perhaps because disbelieving him felt like disbelieving the sun would rise.
"The Demon Lord, three demon gods, and the High Priest all participated in the ambush." Xie Xuechen's gaze swept across the gathered faces, noting every reaction. "Currently, they are all severely injured and have retreated to recover. The Demon Realm appears heavily guarded on the surface, but in truth, it is hollow at its core."
Each statement landed like a thunderclap, leaving the assembly stunned and somewhat numb.
One man with one sword had nearly obliterated the Demon Realm's leadership, then emerged relatively unscathed. Did the Demon Lord truly intend to kill Xie Xuechen, or merely provide him a whetstone for his swordsmanship?
Su Ning Zhen, valley master of Jinghua Valley, pressed her lips into a tight line. Her smile, when it came, was cold as winter iron. "Well done, Sect Leader."
Everyone heard the bitter resentment lacing those words. Su Ning Zhen appeared delicate and elegant, seemingly around thirty years old, though she'd lived far longer. Many disciples in her valley harbored deep fear of her. She possessed an extreme personality—capricious, unpredictable, nursing an unusual hatred for demons, especially half-demons. Sharp brows and lean cheeks made her seem harsh and ruthless, and her stern demeanor left precious little room for smiles.
She bowed slightly to Xie Xuechen, the gesture perfunctory. "I have something to report. This matter may relate to disturbances in the Demon Realm. Yesterday, I received transmission from a disciple who encountered a female demon of extraordinary skill and enigmatic cultivation outside Xiao City. She must hold significant rank among the demons. Since the Sect Leader recently ventured into the Demon Realm, have you ever engaged this individual in combat?"
Xie Xuechen understood immediately—she spoke of Mu Xuanling. The messenger was naturally Gao Qiumin.
"I have not," he replied, voice betraying nothing.
Sudden loud laughter shattered the tension. Heads swiveled toward a disheveled cultivator in tattered green robes, sprawled awkwardly in his chair with deliberate casualness, a wine gourd dangling from one hand.
"With the mediocre skills typical of Jinghua Valley disciples," He Xianwo drawled, "anyone would seem powerful. They mistake every common cat for a tiger."
"How dare you!" Fury ignited Su Ning Zhen's features as she shot to her feet. Her duster whipped forward, seemingly delicate silver threads transforming instantly into vicious steel needles that flew toward He Xianwo's face with the force of a thunderstorm.
He Xianwo sneered coldly, spitting fine wine forward in a spray. His overwhelming Yuan Power formed an invisible wall. Two streams of spiritual energy collided mid-air with explosive force, the shockwave toppling tea cups and shattering vases.
"The Great Dao is merciful!" A voice boomed like a temple bell, suppressing both clashing energies with absolute authority.
Su Ning Zhen started, withdrawing her attack immediately and nodding toward the speaker. "Master of Law Practice, He Xianwo insulted my Jinghua Valley. I had no choice but to respond."
As another law practitioner, Master Fajian possessed cultivation several centuries deeper than He Xianwo's. Moreover, he carried the respect of a person of great virtue. Even unruly He Xianwo had to show him proper deference. He lowered the wine gourd with exaggerated politeness. "Since Master Fajian has spoken, I shall hold my tongue."
Su Ning Zhen said nothing more, but the veins bulging on her hand betrayed simmering rage.
He Xianwo ruled Lingju Island as its Lord. Originally, Lingju Island and Jinghua Valley had no particular relationship, as the island lay far beyond the Eastern Sea. But unlike other sects, Lingju Island specialized in raising spirit beasts, creating a place where humans and demons coexisted peacefully. Naturally, many humans and demons formed unions and bore half-demon children. Su Ning Zhen believed this violated natural order and the regulations of the Demon Investigation Department. She repeatedly petitioned the Celestial Alliance, demanding Lingju Island change its customs.
He Xianwo was an unruly, carefree cultivator. Despite his handsome, charming appearance, he often appeared half-drunk and unrestrained—hardly befitting a sect leader's dignity. Su Ning Zhen despised his cavalier manner. After several contentious Celestial Alliance meetings, she treated him with open cold disdain and hostility. He Xianwo, typically lazy and even-tempered, reacted for the first time with genuine anger, engaging Su Ning Zhen in combat. When she couldn't prevail and retreated to Jinghua Valley, He Xianwo burned ten acres of her medicinal fields in retaliation. Since that day, the two sects nursed a deep-seated enmity, becoming mortal enemies.
Only Xie Xuechen and Master Fajian possessed sufficient authority to keep their volatile tempers in check.
Master Fajian didn't spare the quarreling pair another glance. Instead, his gaze found Xie Xuechen seated on the raised platform, and his words fell like stones into still water. "Has the Sect Leader's Divine Aperture been damaged?"
Shock rippled through the assembly. Every head turned toward Xie Xuechen.
Master Fajian continued with measured deliberation. "I did not intend to intrude upon the Sect Leader's privacy. But when I used spiritual energy to reprimand the two faction leaders just now, it naturally would have triggered divine protection from anyone's Divine Aperture. Yet there was no fluctuation of Yuan Power from the Sect Leader's direction."
Breath caught in every throat. All eyes fixed on Xie Xuechen, who sat upright and utterly composed, his face revealing nothing. The crimson mark on his brow added an almost divine quality to his already perfect features. Those phoenix eyes absorbed every expression, every flicker of thought, before he spoke in a voice as steady as stone.
"I employed a unique cultivation technique to restore sufficient strength to escape Rongyuan. The cost was that for ten days, my Divine Aperture would remain sealed."
Sacrificing future power for temporary survival was not uncommon. Everyone accepted this explanation immediately, finding it far more reasonable than alternatives.
Of course—even Xie Xuechen could not leave the Demon Realm without paying some terrible price.
"How long until the Sect Leader's Divine Aperture is restored?" Master Fajian asked.
"Seven days." Xie Xuechen's gaze swept the assembly. "During these seven days, I request that you all remain in Yong Xue Cheng."
Puzzled glances bounced between the gathered leaders. Though Xie Xuechen had temporarily lost his Yuan Power, surely he didn't require protection from the other four factions. That seemed... unnecessary.
Reading their doubts like open scrolls, Xie Xuechen spoke with devastating calm. "Within seven days, I expect all of you to unmask the demon spies hidden within your ranks."
The words struck like lightning from a clear sky.
Xie Xuechen paid no attention to the waves this stone created. Instead, he listened—listening to heartbeats, cataloging rhythms, noting every irregularity.
As a law practitioner, he could sense when others probed his aura. If he remained silent, no one would dare investigate, and none would discover his sealed Divine Aperture or absent magical power. But when He Xianwo enraged Su Ning Zhen, when both clashed and Master Fajian suppressed them, spiritual energy had flooded throughout the hall. In that crucial moment, anyone paying attention could have detected Xie Xuechen's anomaly.
Was it He Xianwo who deliberately started the conflict? Su Ning Zhen who initiated the attack? Or Master Fajian who intimidated the entire assembly?
The question hung in the air like poisoned smoke.
Meanwhile, Mu Xuanling and Nan Xu Yue walked side by side along Yong Xue Cheng's main street. One was a stunningly beautiful young woman, the other a handsome and elegant gentleman. Both stood out dramatically from the city's native population, drawing frequent curious glances from passersby.
The street's snow was swept daily, keeping pathways clear. After a few steps, Mu Xuanling glanced back and paused, waiting for Nan Xu Yue. He smiled slightly, moving with unhurried grace that suggested he had all the time in the world.
"Miss Mu need not wait for me. Just follow this road straight to the Sect Leader's residence," he said.
"I'm not in a hurry." Mu Xuanling's eyes gleamed with mischief. "I wanted to see if you were in a rush."
Nan Xu Yue's soft chuckle carried genuine amusement. "If Miss Mu isn't hurried, why should I be? Moreover, even if urgency possessed me, I still couldn't walk faster. I must rely on your kindness to accommodate me—the lame."
The self-deprecating remark made Mu Xuanling feel oddly guilty, as if she'd committed some small cruelty. She laughed to cover it. "Your legs may be slow, but your mind moves faster than anyone's. Why don't you accommodate those of us less sharp?"
"How unreasonable—turning comforting words into such arbitrary logic," Nan Xu Yue said, still smiling.
"I'm not comforting you. As the lord of Yunsui Manor, supposedly the most intelligent person in the world—I'm hardly qualified to comfort you." Mu Xuanling's tone turned more serious. "Besides, you don't need cheap consolation or sympathy. Such gestures only serve to give others a sense of superiority and stroke their self-righteous sense of kindness."
Nan Xu Yue studied her closely, something like respect flickering in those bright, wise eyes. "Though Miss Mu is a half-demon, your insight is remarkably keen. I have a presumptuous question to ask."
"Go ahead. There's no harm in speaking."
"What is your true intention in getting close to Brother Xie?" His gaze locked onto hers, missing nothing—not the smallest flicker, not the briefest shadow.
Mu Xuanling responded without hesitation, without guile. "Because I like him, of course."
"Oh?" Significance weighted that single syllable. "Are you aware that Brother Xie has a verbal betrothal with Gao Qiumin of Jinghua Valley?"
Whether considering her background at Mingyue Manor or her status as Jinghua Valley's top disciple, Gao Qiumin made an excellent match for Xie Xuechen. She possessed exceptional talent—natural nine apertures, extraordinarily rare. Seven years ago, Xie Xuechen had risked his life to save her, and Gao Qiumin had harbored deep affection for him ever since. Xie Xuechen was already a respected law practitioner despite his youth, blessed with a lifespan of a thousand years. Very few cultivators could endure a thousand springs alone. Eventually, he would need to seek one or several dao partners.
Mu Xuanling waved one hand dismissively, utterly unconcerned. "Xie Xuechen doesn't even like her."
Nan Xu Yue's smile deepened. "You're very confident. Does Brother Xie like you?"
Mu Xuanling considered this for a moment, then answered with complete seriousness. "If it troubles him, he doesn't have to like me. If he wishes to protect mortals, then I'll guard him instead."
The words struck Nan Xu Yue with unexpected force. For a moment, he lost his usual composure, caught off guard by what felt like absolute sincerity.
Unrequited, selfless devotion?
His fan snapped open, concealing the gentleman's thoughts. No one could guess what calculations spun behind that elegant barrier.
Suddenly, a piercing screech shattered the street's tranquility. Golden light streaked downward, landing before the Sect Leader's residence in a flash of brilliance.
Mu Xuanling and Nan Xu Yue turned their attention to the figure now standing before the gate. The distinctive attire immediately identified her—a female cultivator from Jinghua Valley.
"I am Gao Qiumin of Jinghua Valley!" Her voice rang out with desperate urgency. "I must see my master immediately!"
Mu Xuanling and Nan Xu Yue exchanged a meaningful glance, then approached in silence.
"The Sect Leader is holding a Celestial Alliance meeting," the guarding cultivator announced sternly. "Unrelated persons are not permitted inside."
Joy blazed across Gao Qiumin's features. "The Sect Leader has returned?"
She had brought three junior disciples to Two Realms Mountain, ostensibly searching for demon beasts. In reality, she followed Master Su Ning Zhen's orders to locate Xie Xuechen. The encounter with the treasure-sniffing rat had been pure accident, and the subsequent attack by a half-demon sorceress made her suspect a connection to Xie Xuechen's disappearance. She'd immediately informed her master via transmission formation, then rushed ahead on her sword to reach Yong Xue Cheng.
She hadn't expected he would already be here!
"Lord of Yunsui Manor, Nan Xu Yue, requests an audience with Sect Leader Xie." The warm, cultured voice came from behind her, snapping Gao Qiumin from her reverie. She turned to see two figures—a gentleman of unmatched handsome features, and a stunningly beautiful young woman.
But Gao Qiumin's gaze didn't linger on the gentleman. Her eyes locked onto Mu Xuanling, pupils widening with shock and something close to disbelief.
Mu Xuanling stared back with equal intensity. Today, Gao Qiumin wore no veil of thin silk, her face completely visible.
A face of unparalleled beauty, the kind that launched legends and toppled kingdoms. But...
She looked far too familiar.
Mu Xuanling and Gao Qiumin's faces shared approximately fifty percent resemblance.
Memory sparked—Nan Xu Yue had mentioned she resembled an old acquaintance. Could that acquaintance be Gao Qiumin?
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