“One of the elders in my clan is an old acquaintance of Venerable Ao. That’s why I had the chance to see him from afar twice in the past.” A flicker of unease crossed the face of the man surnamed Xu as he replied vaguely.
“Oh? Then, Fellow Daoist, do you know why Venerable Ao sought you out this time?” The middle-aged woman’s eyes shifted slightly as she probed further.
“How could I possibly know? I’m just as clueless as you are. Besides, Venerable Ao didn’t just summon me—Brother Luo was also called. He must have something to discuss with the two of us privately.” The man surnamed Xu shook his head vigorously, like a rattle drum.
Seeing this, the middle-aged woman smiled faintly and didn’t press further.
After Venerable Ao Xiao left, the group in the hall showed no immediate intention to continue discussions. After whispering among themselves for a while, the white-haired elder declared the gathering concluded.
With mixed thoughts, the crowd dispersed from the hall, each returning to their own quarters.
At the same time, the feathered man had already led Venerable Ao Xiao and Silvermoon to a secluded spot on the island.
This place not only boasted the densest spiritual energy on the island but also housed seven or eight isolated pavilions. Each pavilion was exquisitely crafted, complete with specialized chambers for refining artifacts and pills, as well as fully equipped cultivation rooms.
The feathered man invited Venerable Ao Xiao to choose one for himself.
Without hesitation, the long-haired man pointed at a pavilion and strode inside.
The feathered man naturally dared not voice any objections. After arranging a few attendants, he tactfully took his leave.
Seated in the main hall of the pavilion, Venerable Ao Xiao waved his hand, dismissing the maids with an impassive expression.
In the blink of an eye, only Venerable Ao Xiao and Silvermoon remained on the first floor.
The long-haired man sat silently in his chair, eyes slightly narrowed as if deep in thought.
Silvermoon stood quietly beside him, equally silent.
“With your current cultivation and the pills I’ve prepared for you, you have every chance to reach the Body Integration stage. Yet, in the past century, you’ve failed three consecutive breakthroughs. It seems the issue isn’t external conditions but an unresolved inner demon. If your next attempt fails, the path ahead will only grow harder.” Venerable Ao Xiao glanced at Silvermoon and spoke abruptly, his tone indifferent.
“This granddaughter is useless, disappointing you, Grandfather.” Silvermoon lowered her head slightly, her voice soft.
“That lingering obsession in your heart seems impossible to dispel. Ever since you returned from the lower realm, you’ve ignored Tian Kui and even left the clan to live with me. I never asked why or forced you to reconcile with him, hoping you’d resolve this knot yourself. Yet, after all these years, it hasn’t loosened—instead, you’ve buried it deeper.” Venerable Ao Xiao shook his head. Though his tone remained gentle, a trace of disappointment was evident.
“Grandfather, back then, Tian Kui and I—” Silvermoon raised her head as if to explain.
But Venerable Ao Xiao waved his hand, cutting her off.
“No need to explain. I know what you want to say. That brat Tian Kui, while I was in seclusion, broke his promise to me. Before you reached the Body Integration stage, he tried to take your primordial yin. When he failed, he secretly split your soul, subjecting you to the torment of a divided spirit for over a thousand years. Later, when your soul descended to the lower realm, he tampered with the Reverse Star Plate, preventing your timely return. Must I spell out every detail?”
As he spoke, a trace of ferocity flashed across Venerable Ao Xiao’s refined and scholarly face. He slapped the bronze armrest of his chair.
A white flame flickered, and the armrest vanished without a sound, leaving no trace behind.
“Grandfather… you knew about all this?” Silvermoon trembled, her face turning deathly pale.
“Hmph, did you think I was so senile that I wouldn’t notice my own granddaughter being wronged? If not for the fact that the Wolf Tribe lacks other successors for the Wolf King’s throne, and my lifespan is nearing its end—unable to sustain the tribe alone—I would’ve long skinned that brat alive. How could he still sit comfortably as the Demon King?” Venerable Ao Xiao snorted coldly, his voice dark.
Silvermoon’s face grew even paler, but she forced a bitter smile. “In truth, it’s not entirely his fault. I was, after all, his consort in name. When his cultivation stagnated for years, knowing my primordial yin could help him break through, it was inevitable he’d resort to such methods.”
“You still defend him? Before marrying him, you were the Holy Maiden of our Silvermoon Clan. As the Wolf King, how could he not know that losing your purity before mastering the Silvermoon Art would drastically shorten your lifespan? And after marrying you, he surrounded himself with concubines, never sparing a thought for your dignity. Since becoming the Demon King, he seems to have forgotten that our Silvermoon Clan is the true royal line of the Wolf Tribe. If not for the lack of worthy successors in this generation—not a single Body Integration cultivator among them—why would I have supported an outsider as Wolf King?” A layer of killing intent surfaced on Venerable Ao Xiao’s face.
Silvermoon bit her lip lightly but ultimately sighed and said nothing more.
“However, your descent to the lower realm, despite its hardships, unexpectedly awakened your Seven-Star Moon Body—a blessing in disguise. With your original aptitude, reaching the Void Refinement stage would’ve been your limit. But now, with the Seven-Star Moon Body and some fortune, you might even have a sliver of hope to ascend to the Grand Ascension stage. My own aptitude wasn’t extraordinary, but after awakening my Moon Body, I reached my current realm.” As he spoke, Venerable Ao Xiao’s eyes gradually brightened.
“But this granddaughter would rather not have had such ‘fortune’.” Silvermoon shook her head, her face still pale.
“I know you’ve suffered these years. But since you now have the potential to reach the Body Integration stage, I no longer need to hold back. It’d be best if Tian Kui perishes alongside a Demon Monarch in the upcoming war. Otherwise, once the demonic calamity ends, I won’t allow him to remain as Wolf King.”
“Grandfather, you mean…” Silvermoon was startled, staring at the long-haired man in disbelief.
“The Seven Demon Kings aren’t restricted to men. I was never fully willing to support an outsider as Wolf King. Now that your ties with Tian Kui are severed, I’ll naturally reclaim the throne for you.” Venerable Ao Xiao declared without hesitation.
“That… might not be appropriate.” Silvermoon’s lips parted slightly, murmuring after a long pause.
“What’s inappropriate? It’s not as if I’m the one acting maliciously first—Tian Kui struck at you long ago. Unless… do you still harbor feelings for him?” Venerable Ao Xiao’s expression calmed, but his tone grew colder.
“After all that’s happened, if we’re not enemies, it’s already fortunate. There’s no affection left. But even with the Heavenly Moon Body, whether I can reach the Body Integration stage is uncertain. If I fail, the Wolf Tribe will still need Tian Kui to maintain its standing.” Silvermoon hesitated before forcing another bitter smile.
“Mn, as long as your inner demon remains, advancing will indeed be difficult. With the demonic war imminent, we can’t wait for you to progress slowly. If I fail to survive the battle, you’ll be left vulnerable. Very well, I’ll make an exception and assist you. First, examine the contents of this jade slip.” Venerable Ao Xiao frowned, sighed, then suddenly opened his mouth and spat out a faintly glowing jade slip, which floated slowly toward Silvermoon.
Puzzled, Silvermoon caught the slip and pressed it to her forehead, sending a strand of divine sense inside.
“‘Heartless Art’!” The moment her divine sense scanned the slip, Silvermoon exclaimed aloud.
“Indeed. This ‘Heartless Art’ is an ancient secret technique I stumbled upon long ago. Not only is it immensely powerful, but it also has miraculous effects on mental cultivation. Once you decide to practice it, I’ll use other methods to help you master it quickly, likely repairing the flaws in your mental state. With that, advancing to Body Integration should be possible. However, as the name suggests, this technique carries significant side effects. According to the mnemonic chant, once practiced, emotions and desires will gradually fade. At full mastery, they may vanish entirely. That itself isn’t an issue, but the technique’s methods are extreme. It may hinder your future advancement to the Grand Ascension stage. So weigh the pros and cons carefully.” Venerable Ao Xiao’s gaze held a trace of conflict as he studied Silvermoon’s face.
As Silvermoon read the jade slip and listened to her grandfather’s words, her expression shifted repeatedly, torn between emotions.
Having said his piece, Venerable Ao Xiao closed his eyes and fell silent, leaving the decision entirely to her.
After the time it takes to finish a meal, Silvermoon finally lowered the jade slip and bowed her head in contemplation.
A while later, her brows lifted as if reaching a decision. She looked up and asked solemnly, “Grandfather, can this technique truly help me reach the Body Integration stage before the war with the demons?”
“I can’t guarantee absolute success, but the odds are at least seventy to eighty percent. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have offered it so readily. But don’t rush your decision. Take a few days to reflect before giving your answer.” Venerable Ao Xiao opened his eyes, fixing her with a steady gaze.
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