Chapter 19:

The Obsession Demon’s gaze roamed across the faces before him, finally settling on Xie Xuechen.

“It is your esteemed Sect Leader Xie,” the Obsession Demon said.

“Nonsense,” Fu Yuan ting wrinkled his brow. “You’re trying to sow discord within the Immortal Alliance.”

Xie Xuechen stared coldly at the Obsession Demon. Under that phoenix-like gaze, the demon felt a chill and turned his head away, unable to meet his eyes directly.

“I’m not lying,” the Obsession Demon said. “Earlier, when I was bound, it was with our demonic race’s artifact—the Judgment Demon Vine. It was forged by our High Priest specifically for the Holy Maiden. It is a unique tool designed to suppress demons.”

He Xianwo chuckled slightly. “That’s amusing. Why would your High Priest forge an artifact specifically to suppress demons?”

The Obsession Demon had never considered this question before and was momentarily stunned, stammering, “It’s for punishing disobedient demons…”

Those disobedient demons were transformed into demonic pills by the Judgment Demon Vine.

“Previously, when Sect Leader Xie killed his way out of the Demon Realm, he escaped by kidnapping the Holy Maiden,” the Obsession Demon added. “If you don’t believe me, you can ask Sect Leader Xie himself.”

All gazes turned to Xie Xuechen.

Standing amidst the crowd, Xie Xuechen wore white robes, appearing proud yet solitary.

“Yes,” he nodded lightly.

Everyone was shocked. The Obsession Demon smirked triumphantly. “See? I didn’t lie. Your sect leader has consorted with our demonic race’s Holy Maiden—hahahaha!”

Xie Xuechen slowly stepped forward, approaching the Obsession Demon. The demon’s laughter was abruptly cut off, as if strangled by an invisible hand. The smile on his face had not yet faded but transformed into terror, appearing both strange and ridiculous.

“You’re repeating what Sang Qi taught you, aren’t you?” Xie Xuechen said coldly. “With your demon mind, you couldn’t have come up with these words yourself.”

The Obsession Demon’s pupils constricted, his limbs stiffening.

Indeed, those words had been taught to him through a transmission conch by Sang Qi.

Yet one person reacted even more intensely—Su Ningzhen. Her hand gripping the World-Sweeping Dust trembled involuntarily, the veins on the back of her hand rising, her breathing quickening. She gritted her teeth, “Sang Qi…”

Xie Xuechen glanced at her. Su Ningzhen stepped forward, confronting the Obsession Demon fiercely, “Where is Sang Qi now?”

“The High Priest naturally remains at the rear—he wouldn’t come here himself,” the Obsession Demon replied.

Su Ningzhen sneered, “That coward! Who is this Holy Maiden you mentioned?”

“The Holy Maiden is the High Priest’s direct disciple. Like him, she has a half-demon bloodline. Hehehe, our Holy Maiden is peerlessly beautiful. I’m sure Sect Leader Xie couldn’t resist her charms either,” the Obsession Demon replied.

Suddenly, Su Ningzhen recalled someone—a mortal woman who bore a resemblance to Gao Qiumin, yet whose beauty was unparalleled. No wonder Gao Qiumin had repeatedly said he sensed demonic energy from her. That person was indeed Sang Qi’s disciple! But she never expected that this person was actually Sang Qi’s student!

Su Ningzhen suddenly expanded her six senses and seven orifices, sensing Mur Xuanling’s location. In the next moment, her figure vanished from the spot, rushing toward Mur Xuanling.

Suddenly appearing before Mur Xuanling, Su Ningzhen found that Mur Xuanling, while using the Judgment Demon Vine, had already prepared mentally for being discovered. Mur Xuanling swiftly retreated, narrowly avoiding Su Ningzhen’s first strike. Su Ningzhen then swung her World-Sweeping Dust toward Mur Xuanling’s face, but her attack was blocked by a sword and ruthlessly repelled.

Su Ningzhen’s eyes turned bloodshot, her hatred clearly visible. She glared at Xie Xuechen, who had stepped in front of Mur Xuanling, gritting her teeth, “Sect Leader Xie indeed protects that demon girl.”

Xie Xuechen blocked Su Ningzhen’s path with the Jun Tian sword.

“She used the purple vine to bind the Obsession Demon and saved you all,” Xie Xuechen said coldly. “Otherwise, the Obsession Demon would have already possessed one of you.”

Su Ningzhen deeply feared Xie Xuechen. She had now fully realized the gap between them, but she still couldn’t easily let go of Sang Qi’s disciple.

“Half-demons are cunning, and demons are cruel. Who knows what their true intentions might be? Pretending to save others, yet who knows what ulterior motives they may harbor!” Su Ningzhen said angrily. “Sect Leader Xie, as the leader of the Immortal Alliance, could you truly be deceived by these demons?”

The arriving crowd frowned inwardly upon hearing Su Ningzhen’s disrespectful words toward Xie Xuechen.

Gao Qiumin also arrived upon hearing the news, listening to Su Ningzhen’s words and seeing Mur Xuanling hiding behind Xie Xuechen.

“Master, she really is a demon…” Gao Qiumin said bitterly. “I didn’t wrongly accuse her!”

Mur Xuanling coldly surveyed the surroundings. She somewhat regretted intervening just now. What did she care about these people’s life or death? She simply didn’t want these useless ones causing trouble for Xie Xuechen.

Mur Xuanling removed the jade bracelet talisman on her wrist, no longer concealing her aura. Instantly, the energy of a half-demon and a demon was exposed to everyone.

“What the Obsession Demon said is true…” Fu Yuan ting’s eyes flickered, already calculating how best to act for the benefit of Bi Xiao Palace.

He Xianwo was somewhat surprised but not adverse to half-demons. After all, this young girl, though possessing demonic energy, was not tainted—it seemed she wasn’t an extremely vicious demon.

The one reacting most intensely was only Jing Hua Valley.

Su Ningzhen’s attitude was firm: “Sect Leader Xie, this half-demon is Sang Qi’s disciple. She must be executed without mercy!”

“She saved my life,” Xie Xuechen replied.

“She pretended to help you—her real intention is to get close to you for ulterior motives. You absolutely cannot trust her!” Su Ningzhen countered.

“She has never killed anyone,” Xie Xuechen stated.

Gao Qiumin shook her head, shouting loudly, “No, she tried to kill me!” Recognizing the figure before her, she gritted her teeth and glared. “Master, the demon girl who tried to kill me in Xiao City was exactly this one. At that time…”

Gao Qiumin’s words abruptly stopped.

At that time, a man with a sword had blocked this demon girl. That man had no spiritual energy and, logically, shouldn’t have been able to stop her.

That figure gradually overlapped with the one before her, completely merging.

Gao Qiumin’s face turned increasingly pale, her mind flashing through many scenes.

—Sect Leader Xie truly liked this demon girl.

—She shouldn’t have run away back then.

At this moment, Su Ningzhen had no mood to consider Gao Qiumin’s thoughts. She only needed to know one thing: Mur Xuanling had murderous intent. A half-demon girl capable of killing must die! Especially since she was Sang Qi’s disciple.

“Xie Sect Leader, the Immortal Alliance does not belong to you alone. If you insist on your own way, then I can only request a general assembly to decide this demon girl’s fate!” Su Ningzhen declared.

Fu Yuan ting hastily stepped forward to mediate, smiling, “After all, she’s just a demon girl. Why must Madam Su get so angry?”

Su Ningzhen glared coldly at him. “Half-demons are evil. the Law Mirror Sage was killed by a demonic scheme, his corpse not yet cold. How can you speak in favor of the demon race’s Holy Maiden? Shouldn’t her life be offered in exchange for the Law Mirror Sage’s?”

Seeing her husband being cornered by Su Ningzhen, Duan Xiaoru immediately stepped forward to defend him. “Madam Su, that’s not how it should be said. the Law Mirror Sage’s death had other culprits—his life cannot simply be exchanged for another’s. Sect Leader Xie also made a reasonable point. If this demon girl indeed saved the Sect Leader’s life, we cannot casually execute her. Moreover, our immediate priority should be dealing with the One-Thought Sage and the Obsession Demon.”

Su Ningzhen, having slightly calmed her anger, regained her composure. She retrieved her World-Sweeping Dust and coldly said, “Fine, but this demon girl cannot be easily let go. Her powers should be sealed, and she should be imprisoned in the underground dungeon.”

Mur Xuanling looked at Xie Xuechen’s back. After a moment, Xie Xuechen lightly nodded.

Back in his room, the moment Xie Xuechen closed the door, he could no longer suppress the raging injuries within his chest. A mouthful of hot blood spewed out, staining half the doorframe red.

Leaning against the door, he knelt halfway to the ground, his face paler than snow.

The Law Mirror Sage, known as the foremost among all Law Forms, had profound cultivation. His self-destructive power was not something that could be easily endured. Xie Xuechen had used his soul force to resist directly, with the Jun Tian sword absorbing half the impact. Without these, he would have perished on the spot.

Blocking Su Ningzhen’s attack had already been his last effort. If Su Ningzhen had relentlessly attacked again, he might not have truly been able to stop her—he could only temporarily compromise Mur Xuanling’s position.

With difficulty, Xie Xuechen returned to his bed and began circulating the Jade Gate Sutra to regulate his breath.

—The righteous path has always been arduous and muddy, and those who walk it must walk alone.

He had long known his path and had long prepared to walk it alone.

Xie Xuechen closed his eyes, exhaled deeply, and silently made a decision.

A decision that might change the Three Realms.

Su Ningzhen’s hatred for demons was well known, but Gao Qiumin had never seen her so furious, her eyes bloodshot, nearly unable to control her spiritual energy. Gao Qiumin even suspected that the Obsession Demon’s influence still lingered in her heart.

“Master, are you alright?” Gao Qiumin asked cautiously.

But Su Ningzhen seemed not to hear her. She was immersed in her emotions, her eyes bloodshot, her hand gripping the World-Sweeping Dust trembling slightly.

“Kill her… no, don’t kill her easily. Sang Qi must pay the price.”

Hearing the name Sang Qi from Su Ningzhen’s mouth, Gao Qiumin knew that Sang Qi was a half-demon, the High Priest of the demonic race. This half-demon was mysterious and powerful, the true ruler of the demon race. Since she had become Su Ningzhen’s disciple, she had deeply felt Su Ningzhen’s intense hatred for half-demons.

No, it was more accurately hatred for Sang Qi. Any mention of Sang Qi, even the slightest, would provoke an intense reaction from her. Let alone the fact that Sang Qi’s disciple was standing right in front of her.

Gao Qiumin disliked and even feared Mur Xuanling’s existence but could not feel the same intense hatred as Su Ningzhen. Why did her master hate Sang Qi so much?

“Master?” Gao Qiumin softly called, stepping forward to support Su Ningzhen’s arm. “You’re quite injured. Please return to bed first and meditate to recover.”

Only then did Su Ningzhen snap out of her trance, turning her head to look at Gao Qiumin.

“Qiumin, recount to me in detail the incident you had with that demon girl before. Leave out nothing!” Su Ningzhen ordered sternly.

Gao Qiumin was somewhat frightened by Su Ningzhen’s current demeanor. She swallowed hard, suppressing the tremor in her voice, and slowly said, “That day, I was secretly ordered to search near Xiao City. I accidentally obtained a Treasure-sniffing rat, but someone ambushed me, allowing the rat to escape. My junior brothers and sisters and I were staying at an inn and saw a couple. I suspected they were pretending to be ordinary people but didn’t expose them immediately, instead secretly setting up a Hexagram Demonic Flower Formation.”

Su Ningzhen nodded slightly. “You were cautious enough.”

Gao Qiumin continued, “At midnight, the demon girl indeed revealed her true form, trapped by my Hexagram Demonic Flower Formation. However, I didn’t expect her strength to be so overwhelming—she broke through the formation with a single move, intending to kill us. Fortunately, the man traveling with her intervened and stopped her.”

“What was that man’s cultivation level?” Su Ningzhen asked, puzzled. “Was he human, demon, or something else?”

Gao Qiumin hesitated slightly before honestly replying, “He was human, but he had no spiritual energy.”

“A normal human with no spiritual energy couldn’t possibly stop a demon girl,” Su Ningzhen said, but immediately realized the truth herself, her expression darkening. “It was Sect Leader Xie. His spiritual pathways were sealed before, and he had lost all his powers.”

Gao Qiumin lowered her head silently. She had known that Xie Xuechen’s spiritual pathways were sealed, but this was a secret of the Immortal Alliance, and her master had never told her. If she had known this earlier, she would have guessed Mur Xuanling’s identity sooner.

“Sect Leader Xie had lost his powers and couldn’t possibly be a match for the demon girl unless the demon girl had intentionally held back,” Su Ningzhen frowned.

“Master, they came to Yunxue City together,” Gao Qiumin recalled the day she met Nan Xuyue and Mur Xuanling at the gate. “Nan Zhuangzhu also knew about this. He was also helping the demon girl conceal her identity.”

“So that’s what Sect Leader Xie meant by the debt of gratitude,” Su Ningzhen sneered. “I understand now.”

Gao Qiumin looked at Su Ningzhen, puzzled. “Master, what do you understand?”

Su Ningzhen’s face was filled with mockery. “Half-demons are experts at bewitching people’s hearts. Sang Qi must have sent this demon girl to get close to Sect Leader Xie and disrupt his cultivation.”

But Gao Qiumin felt there was a flaw in this reasoning. “But Sect Leader Xie was already captured by the demons and trapped in the Molten Abyss. Why would Sang Qi go to such lengths?”

“What do you know!” Su Ningzhen interrupted her. “Sang Qi is cunning and ruthless, taking pleasure in manipulating people’s minds.” Su Ningzhen gritted her teeth, and in her excitement, she smashed the table with one palm, scaring Gao Qiumin back half a step.

“Master…”

“He is our Jing Hua Valley’s mortal enemy, with a hatred that cannot coexist! I will not let him go, nor will I let that demon girl go!”

Gao Qiumin stared at Su Ningzhen in shock. A nearly absurd suspicion flashed through her mind, and she blurted out, “Master, did Sang Qi… deceive you?”

“Nonsense!” Su Ningzhen angrily rebuked her. “How could a lowly half-demon even dare to approach someone from Jing Hua Valley?”

“But you…” Your hatred is too intense.

Su Ningzhen gritted her teeth. “You must hate him. You must hate him. He slaughtered the Bright Moon Villa, and he caused your mother’s death!”

Gao Qiumin recalled that night of bloodshed, when the vast villa was reduced to flames, filled with the screams of demons and the cries of the dying. She had been carried away from the villa by someone, chased by demons. Then a white-robed youth descended from the sky like a god, cutting down evil with a single sword strike.

Of course, she hated Sang Qi, but that person was too mysterious and powerful for her to even think of seeking revenge now.

Moreover…

Gao Qiumin felt puzzled. Wasn’t her mother said to have died from complications during childbirth?

Mur Xuanling, the One-Thought Sage, and the Obsession Demon were each imprisoned in separate cells. The dungeons beneath Yunxue City were deep within the mountain, devoid of sunlight, with solid walls inscribed with layers of talismanic runes, making escape difficult even for demons and monsters.

The stone chamber was simple and crude, containing nothing but a pile of straw that could be called a bed. Torches hung on the walls of the corridor outside, their flickering flames illuminating only a corner of the cell. Mu Xuanling hugged her knees, curling herself into the shadows.

After yesterday’s exposure to overflowing demonic energy that had seeped into her body, she was actually very weak, barely managing to hold herself together. Now, a dull headache began again, clouding her thoughts and preventing her from devising a plan to escape.

A rustling sound came from the corridor—shuffling footsteps. Mu Xuanling slightly lifted her heavy eyelids and saw a stretched shadow cast on the ground outside the cell.

Soon, the figure stood directly in front of the prison cell.

It was Gao Qiumin.

Gao Qiumin opened her palm and used spiritual energy to unlock the magical formation, then stepped into the cell.

Mu Xuanling closed her eyes again, slightly frowning as she endured the throbbing pain at her temples.

Gao Qiumin assumed this was Mu Xuanling deliberately ignoring her, and her anger flared. She sneered, “You’ve repeatedly framed me. Did you ever imagine that one day you’d end up as a prisoner?”

Mu Xuanling had no intention of responding. Leaning against the wall, sitting with her knees drawn up, she appeared to others lazily indifferent, seemingly unconcerned about her predicament.

In truth, she genuinely didn’t care. She had spent seven years in the demonic realm without seeing the light of day, and even before those seven years, she had endured countless hardships. Compared to that, this environment was actually quite tolerable.

“I heard your name is Mu Xuanling,” Gao Qiumin stepped closer, looking down at her. “You are the direct disciple of Sang Qi, the High Priest of the Demons. I assume you know him very well.”

At the mention of Sang Qi’s name, Mu Xuanling’s eyebrows slightly twitched. She lifted her eyes slightly in surprise and slowly said, “Now that you mention it, I remember—he was the one who led the army to destroy the Bright Moon Village.”

Gao Qiumin’s breathing quickened, “Were you there at that time?”

Mu Xuanling tilted her head slightly, thinking for a moment, then gave a smile of ambiguous meaning, “I was.”

Gao Qiumin drew the Sword of Spring’s Birth, its cold, sharp tip pointing directly at Mu Xuanling. “Then I definitely cannot let you go!”

“Anyway, you never intended to let me go in the first place,” Mu Xuanling was completely unfazed by the threat before her. “But you’d better be clear about one thing—even if I were to die, it wouldn’t be your place to execute me.”

Gao Qiumin trembled slightly with rage, “As my master said, half-demons are indeed despicable creatures!”

“Hmph,” Mu Xuanling lazily rolled her eyes, “Isn’t that always how human cultivators view us? If the young lady has gone to the trouble of coming to visit this despicable half-demon, it must be for more than just to insult me a few times.”

Gao Qiumin bit her lip, her chest heaving violently, seemingly still hesitating whether or not to speak.

Mu Xuanling had originally no intention of responding, but seeing Gao Qiumin’s hesitation, she felt a flicker of curiosity.

“I’m asking you…” Gao Qiumin’s voice trembled slightly, “How did Sang Qi kill my mother?”

“What?” Mu Xuanling frowned, “Wasn’t your mother’s death due to complications during childbirth? What does Sang Qi have to do with it?”

Gao Qiumin knew this already. At the time, she had asked Su Ningzhen, but Su Ningzhen’s expression had abruptly changed, and she had driven Gao Qiumin out of the room, refusing to say another word. Full of doubts, Gao Qiumin grew increasingly fearful and finally decided to ask Mu Xuanling. She assumed that since Mu Xuanling was Sang Qi’s disciple, she might know what had happened back then. But from Mu Xuanling’s response, she seemed unaware of the truth as well.

Since childhood, Gao Qiumin had heard from those around her that strange omens had appeared on the day of her birth—brilliant lights filling the room so intensely that no one could keep their eyes open. Her mother’s body couldn’t withstand the auspicious signs and she died. Could it be that those weren’t auspicious signs at all, but rather the result of some trickery by Sang Qi that had caused her mother’s death? Why would he want to kill her mother?

Gao Qiumin’s eyes betrayed her inner shock and fear. Mu Xuanling saw this clearly and said, “Although I don’t know exactly what Su Ningzhen told you, from what I know, in the year you were born, Sang Qi was in seclusion. It was highly unlikely that he could have gone out and killed your mother.”

“Why should I believe what you say?” Gao Qiumin glared at her.

Mu Xuanling gave a disdainful laugh, “If you didn’t believe me, there would be no point in coming here to ask me. Twenty years ago, although I hadn’t yet been adopted by Sang Qi, I heard from other demons that at that time, Sang Qi had been severely injured, lost an arm, and entered seclusion for three years to reconstruct his physical form. Therefore, there’s absolutely no way he could have gone to the human realm.”

Sang Qi had once lost an arm?

Few people knew this information. Gao Qiumin’s eyes flickered slightly, and she began to believe what Mu Xuanling had said.

Mu Xuanling raised a hand to press against her aching forehead and sighed, “Cultivator Gao, have you finished asking your questions? Don’t disturb my rest anymore.”

Gao Qiumin’s hatred toward Mu Xuanling burned intensely. Everyone in the Immortal Alliance had been injured due to Sang Qi’s schemes, yet here she was, sitting comfortably and resting as if she weren’t one of the main culprits.

“Don’t get too smug,” Gao Qiumin said coldly. “Do you really think Master Xie can protect you forever? Sang Qi caused the two Demon Sovereigns to severely wound the Immortal Alliance. The One-Thought Venerable has already revealed all the demonic clan’s plans. Soon, the Immortal Alliance will launch an attack on the Two Worlds Mountain to eliminate the demonic clan and half-demons. As Sang Qi’s disciple, you’ll be the perfect sacrificial offering to raise our banner.”

“Whether he can protect me or not—that’s a question you should ask Master Xie,” Mu Xuanling smiled slightly. “I’ve already given my life to him.”

Mu Xuanling’s smile pierced Gao Qiumin’s eyes, causing her heart to ache even more. Seven years ago, when Xie Xuechen had saved her life, she had devoted herself to him. He was peerless among immortals, and in this world, only Xie Xuechen could capture her gaze, and only she was worthy of Xie Xuechen. How could this despicable half-demon dare to approach him, let alone earn his attention?

Was it just because of that face, which bore a slight resemblance to her own?

Gao Qiumin tightened her grip on the sword, her eyes burning with fury. “I may not be able to kill you, but what if I were to carve your face a few times? Who would dare to scold me for marring the face of a half-demon?”

Mu Xuanling gazed calmly at Gao Qiumin, watching as she raised the Sword of Spring’s Birth, its blade glowing with a ghostly green light from the spiritual energy.

“I was once hideously ugly too,” Mu Xuanling said calmly, her eyes reflecting the green glow. “But he never rejected me.”

Gao Qiumin hated that composed and unfazed expression of hers. A despicable half-demon like her should be reduced to a demon slave, groveling and begging for mercy! If she had pleaded for mercy, perhaps Gao Qiumin might have been a little gentler.

A flash of hatred crossed Gao Qiumin’s eyes, and the Sword of Spring’s Birth slashed toward Mu Xuanling’s face. Bound by chains engraved with magical formations that prevented her from using spiritual energy or moving freely, Mu Xuanling could only raise her arm to block the sword. The blade struck the chains, producing a metallic clang. The sword’s energy shattered Mu Xuanling’s sleeve, leaving a two-inch-long wound on her pale arm, from which blood immediately flowed.

The impact numbed Mu Xuanling’s entire arm. Having cultivated demonic arts for many years, she barely felt the pain, merely frowning slightly. However, Gao Qiumin’s second strike quickly changed direction. Mu Xuanling rolled onto the ground, narrowly avoiding the slash aimed at her face, but the blade grazed her neck, leaving a bloody mark. Had the cut been three inches deeper, it would have been fatal.

At this point, Gao Qiumin had become bloodthirsty, forgetting that she wasn’t allowed to kill Mu Xuanling. Her next strike aimed directly at Mu Xuanling’s heart. Mu Xuanling coldly watched the Sword of Spring’s Birth rushing toward her chest. At that moment, a folding fan suddenly flew sideways, knocking the sword off course. The blade plunged directly into the stone floor.

“Gao Qiumin!”

The folding fan spun around once and flew back into its owner’s hand. A figure appeared outside the prison cell—none other than Nan Xuyue.

Nan Xuyue’s face usually bore a spring-like smile, but now, for once, his expression was serious and cold. He addressed Gao Qiumin directly by her name.

Gao Qiumin’s hand gripping the sword trembled slightly. She finally regained her senses, turned to look at Nan Xuyue, and flashed a mocking smile. “Hmm? Another man enchanted by this witch?”

Nan Xuyue’s gaze swept over Mu Xuanling’s bleeding arm and neck, his eyes darkening slightly. He limped over to her side, crouched down, and pressed several acupoints to stop the bleeding, completely ignoring Gao Qiumin’s presence.

Gao Qiumin watched Nan Xuyue warily. She hadn’t expected a crippled, powerless cultivator to possess the strength to stop her. That folding fan called “Breaking Wind” couldn’t be underestimated.

No, it wasn’t just the fan—it was Nan Xuyue himself who couldn’t be underestimated.