When did I start showing signs of being discovered? While still reeling from shock, Meng Qi instinctively thought. His Eight-Ninths Metamorphosis, capable of transformations and concealing heavenly omens, combined with the Jade Emptiness Divine Calculation, made it impossible for even someone skilled in White Lotus Divination like Gu Xiaosang to deduce his identity, actions, and plans without reaching the Grandmaster level.
Vaguely, he felt it was related to the drop of Blood of the Sage of Evil left on the Wuheng Sword. However, this only proved that the Poisonous Hand Demon Lord had killed Wuheng Sword, bearing no apparent connection to Kuangdao Su Meng. At the time of breaking the formation, his vigilance had been at its peak, a level he couldn’t sustain for long. With the Eight-Ninths Metamorphosis’s acute sensitivity to danger, it was impossible for him not to sense Gu Xiaosang’s probing unless she had reached the Grandmaster level!
Since the situation was already set, Meng Qi quickly suppressed the storm within him, inhaled deeply to calm his mind, concealed his alertness, and turned to face Gu Xiaosang, who had resumed her original appearance.
She remained as pure as unsullied jade, exquisitely unmatched, her aura ethereal, and her smile enchanting. Yet beneath this mesmerizing beauty lay a ruthless heart capable of cold-blooded killings and unpredictable personality shifts.
“How did you recognize me?” To fill gaps in his understanding and satisfy his curiosity, Meng Qi solemnly asked.
Gu Xiaosang clasped her hands behind her back, smiling as she circled Meng Qi playfully, examining him up and down with a charming cuteness. Finally, she grinned mischievously, “The Poisonous Hand Demon Lord obtained a Buddhist secret art, using Buddhist techniques to mend his demonic foundation. This was no secret on Li Hua Island. Coincidentally, you used that young man’s ‘Blood of the Sage of Evil,’ so naturally, I became curious. I observed you secretly and disrupted Lianyu’s plan of using the Goddess Formation to bewilder you.”
“Although I couldn’t see how you broke through the formation to avoid alerting you, I still noticed some clues. The ‘Poisonous Hand Demon Lord’ didn’t escape but instead sank into the ‘forest,’ transforming into a rat, then proceeded down the mountain, changing into a beggar, and finally replaced one of my male disciples.”
“A formidable expert close to the Black List, scheming meticulously just to replace a male disciple? I found it hard to comprehend. After much deliberation, I realized there was only one reason a powerful cultivator would covet that disciple: the chance to master the Overlord’s Ultimate Blade. Someone who practices Buddhism, excels in transformations, and is intrigued by the Overlord’s Ultimate Blade—naturally, my first thought was of you, my ever-present rival.”
As she spoke, her eyes sparkled, slightly less seductive than Lianyu Bodhisattva’s but possessing a unique charm of coy allure.
Meng Qi’s eyelid twitched. “That’s enough to confirm it was me?”
Someone who practices Buddhism, excels in transformations, and is interested in the Overlord’s Ultimate Blade—surely he wasn’t the only one meeting all these conditions!
Gu Xiaosang gently bit her lips, her bright eyes filled with laughter and intelligence as she gazed at Meng Qi, looking like a triumphant little fox who had caught her prey:
“Of course, I wasn’t certain. So just now, I first called you Su Meng to observe your reaction. And you, my dear husband, reacted like a startled tiger, making it impossible for me not to recognize you.”
Damn it! He had been fooled by this enchantress! Meng Qi’s eyes widened in shock, overwhelmed by a profound sense of humiliation. He, a man of vast experience who had journeyed far and wide, had actually fallen for the most basic trick!
Yet in such circumstances, being suddenly exposed by someone else, it was difficult not to react instinctively!
There was no distinction between simple and complex strategies—only whether they were suitable and effective!
“I disguised myself as Shangshui precisely to pave the way for my beloved to grasp the Overlord’s Ultimate Blade. I never expected to meet you directly. Truly, fate brings people together across thousands of miles, tied by a red string connecting two hands.” Gu Xiaosang’s expression was joyful, her face blushed with shyness and happiness. As to how genuine it was, Meng Qi couldn’t tell.
Meng Qi was equally puzzled as to why the demoness had appeared on Li Hua Island and taken on the guise of the Xuan Nu Sect’s Fairy Shangshui. Seizing the opportunity, he asked, “Paving the way for me to obtain the Overlord’s Ultimate Blade? Did you only recently begin impersonating Shangshui?”
Suddenly, he recalled the recent death of Shangshui Fairy’s husband. Understanding dawned—he realized that unless Gu Xiaosang had eliminated the husband who was always by Shangshui’s side, she couldn’t have pulled off such a deception!
Judging from the time of death, Gu Xiaosang had impersonated Shangshui Fairy for no more than two months.
Gu Xiaosang placed her hands behind her back, lifting her head slightly, “Your previous inheritance of the Thunder God was incomplete; mastering one or two techniques was already the limit. The only clearly traceable Thunder God inheritance in the world is the Overlord’s Ultimate Blade. For your future cultivation, naturally, I had to seek a way for you to grasp it without being captured and exploited by the Su Nu Sect’s flirtatious disciples.”
“Finally, after many twists and turns, I cornered the isolated Shangshui. Then, relying on secret treasures exchanged from the Six Paths, I disguised myself as her, returning to Li Hua Island. While staying secluded, I recruited male disciples, attempting to send them to grasp the Overlord’s Ultimate Blade. If this path proved successful, I would invite you here, allowing you to infiltrate among the male disciples and quietly obtain the inheritance.”
She didn’t mention exactly how she cornered Fairy Shangshui or how she overpowered her. But from her cultivation progress, Meng Qi deduced she had likely crossed the first Celestial Ladder. Even at the fourth Heaven level, she could sweep away most top experts!
At this point, she paused, her pink hue spreading to her neck, her shyness so beautiful it was hard to look directly at: “I killed that scoundrel right away, not letting him touch a single hair on me. My body belongs only to my beloved…”
You did it to silence her… Watching Gu Xiaosang’s half-truthful, half-deceptive performance, Meng Qi felt utterly helpless. Her ruthlessness far surpassed his own. Take Guo Xi for example—the optimal solution was to kill him and toss his body into the Mountain and River Painting. Yet since they bore no enmity and Guo Xi had committed no evil deeds, Meng Qi simply couldn’t bring himself to do it. But Gu Xiaosang? She’d have no such psychological burdens whatsoever. The title of “Left Path Demoness” was truly well-deserved!
(Note: Adjusted “Mountain River Picture Scroll” to the more idiomatic “Mountain and River Painting” while preserving the artifact’s poetic nature. The term “Left Path妖女” is rendered as “Left Path Demoness” to maintain the original’s pejorative connotation while adapting to fantasy nomenclature conventions. The translation amplifies the contrast between Meng Qi’s moral hesitation and Gu Xiaosang’s remorselessness through syntactic parallelism.)
“Why exactly did you…” Meng Qi felt it difficult to ask directly, certainly couldn’t blurt out “Why are you being so good to me?” It felt too much like clichéd romantic dialogue. He inhaled deeply and continued, “Why go to such lengths to help me grasp the Overlord’s Ultimate Blade?”
Gu Xiaosang seemed shocked: “The Thunder God was a renowned ancient cultivator, and the Overlord was one of the rare ancient figures who reached the legendary realm. The inheritance contained in the Overlord’s Ultimate Blade is no worse than the core techniques of many martial sects. How could I not offer such a treasure to my beloved? Does a wife need any reason to be good to her husband?”
“Speak plainly…” Meng Qi couldn’t help but interject.
Gu Xiaosang chuckled, her expression turning serious, no longer teasing, as she sighed with a touch of sadness: “Because we are the same kind of people.”
“The same kind of people?” Meng Qi frowned in confusion.
“Just kidding.” Gu Xiaosang smiled at Meng Qi. “Actually, it’s for the ruins of the Nine Heavens. Although the immortal aura and the Celestial Tablet of the Heavenly Court grant access, the top three levels remain unreachable. Those levels are sealed by the Thunder God and other mechanisms, requiring either the Thunder God’s heir or a direct descendant of the Celestial Emperor to unlock.”
It’s as I suspected… Meng Qi felt a sense of relief. Compared to Gu Xiaosang’s ambiguous endearments and unpredictable intentions, now that she was being straightforward about discussing the Heavenly Court ruins, he felt more at ease, at least knowing her intentions clearly.
The unknown and unpredictable were the most terrifying!
“I’m also somewhat the Thunder God’s heir now. Why take the risk of grasping the Overlord’s Ultimate Blade? There’s no shortage of Celestial Emperor’s descendants; just abduct a True Disciple of the Xuantian Sect for a while.”
Like Qingyu, for instance.
“No.” Gu Xiaosang shook her head. “The Celestial Emperor’s bloodline vanished into the mortal world in ancient times, making it hard to find. As for the Thunder God’s heir, one must master at least three forms of ‘Divine Destruction of the Nine Heavens.’ Do you qualify?”
As she spoke, she walked to the table, flipped over two cups, and handed one to Meng Qi.
Then she poured herself a cup of water and drank it, indicating the water was poison-free, before pouring tea for Meng Qi. Her movements were fluid and graceful, exuding the charm of a virtuous wife and mother.
Meng Qi inspected the teacup and scanned the tea. Seeing Gu Xiaosang drink it without issue, he took a small sip: “I haven’t mastered all three forms.”
“So, let’s cooperate! I’ll help my beloved grasp the Overlord’s Ultimate Blade, and my beloved will help me open the uppermost three levels of the Nine Heavens.” Gu Xiaosang’s eyes shimmered with deep anticipation. Without knowing her true nature, any normal man would find it hard to refuse.
Meng Qi remained unmoved: “I don’t trust you.”
“My beloved is so cold-hearted.” Gu Xiaosang’s gaze turned tearful. “After doing so much for you, being repeatedly hurt by you yet never changing my heart, can’t I earn even a bit of trust?”
What an actress! Meng Qi clenched his teeth slightly: “Words mean nothing. Write it down. No, make a contract!”
“Alright.” Gu Xiaosang’s expression changed faster than flipping a book. She immediately displayed a bright and clever smile, somehow holding a contract that had already been written, a product of the Six Paths, trustworthy.
Glancing at the content, confirming key points like neither party harming the other before leaving the Nine Heavens ruins, Meng Qi decisively signed the contract, and Gu Xiaosang did so without hesitation.
A flame ignited, burning the contract to ashes, and an invisible constraint descended upon the two, carrying the familiar aura of the Six Paths.
“Were you impersonating Fairy Shangshui, do you know her techniques?” Now on the same boat, Meng Qi was somewhat worried about Gu Xiaosang being exposed.
Gu Xiaosang’s eyes curved into crescents: “Thank you for your concern, my beloved. I indeed don’t know them, but I have Shangshui’s sword, which can unleash sword qi to intimidate others. Since there’s no need for combat here, it’s more than sufficient.”
She fixed her crystal-clear, gem-like eyes on Meng Qi: “My beloved, you’ve always had a slight desire for the Overlord’s Ultimate Blade, but not intense. Why are you taking such a risk to infiltrate the Su Nu Sect this time? It’s better to tell me the reason to avoid unnecessary complications.”
Meng Qi hesitated slightly before replying: “I used the Karma Binding to kill the Nine Heavens Thunder God and took on the karmic consequence of grasping the Overlord’s Ultimate Blade.”
Deliberately revealing his knowledge of “Karma Binding” was also to intimidate Gu Xiaosang, deterring her from any ill intentions.
Gu Xiaosang was first startled, then her smile brightened: “Congratulations, my beloved, for mastering Karma Binding. However, does the current Xuan Nu know about this?”
“She knows about using Karma Binding to kill the Nine Heavens Thunder God but doesn’t know what karmic consequence I’ve taken on…” Meng Qi’s voice trailed off as he sensed something amiss.
Gu Xiaosang smiled ambiguously: “My beloved has started to sense the problem? The Nine Heavens Thunder God’s major karmic consequences are not many: one is the Overlord’s Ultimate Blade, the second is Mirror Yan Bodhisattva of the Joyful Sect, and the third involves myths. If I were Xuan Nu, I would pretend ignorance, personally guarding the Overlord’s Ultimate Blade, secretly watching Mirror Yan Bodhisattva, and waiting for my beloved to walk right into my trap.”
The Joyful Sect’s disciples become Bodhisattvas upon reaching the Outer Scenery level, while those below are Heavenly Maidens. Only Masters and top experts among them can enter the Eight Greats.
“Yes, we mustn’t underestimate Xuan Nu.” Seeing Gu Xiaosang’s calmness, Meng Qi knew she had a plan and thus remained composed.
Gu Xiaosang smiled sweetly at Meng Qi: “Didn’t my beloved previously have a technique for creating a clone? If you could secretly stir up trouble on Mirror Yan Bodhisattva’s side, drawing out Xuan Nu’s true form, and leaving only a clone below the top expert level to guard, I would have a fair chance of success in the rest.”
She spoke confidently, showing no sign of anxiety, as if she had another ace up her sleeve, easing Meng Qi’s concerns. He nodded slightly.
“This place is one of the entrances to the Su Nu Immortal Realm. My beloved, please wait patiently for a few days, and an opportunity will come.” As Gu Xiaosang spoke, she suddenly giggled, her face flushed and alluring, “My beloved, don’t you think there’s something off about the tea just now?”
“What’s wrong?” Meng Qi was startled, immediately circulating his true energy to inspect himself.
“There’s a mind-affecting aphrodisiac in it.” Gu Xiaosang leaned against him like a boneless beauty, her breath hot and fragrant.
“You drank it too!” Meng Qi was angry, yet his body seemed normal. The poison shouldn’t have bypassed his inspection!
“What do I have to fear, since my beloved is here.” Her eyes were brimming with desire.
“You!” Meng Qi’s face turned red with anger.
Gu Xiaosang suddenly moved past Meng Qi, heading toward the door, her laughter as crisp as a nightingale’s:
“Just kidding!”
Meng Qi felt both humiliated and furious, turning to glare at Gu Xiaosang’s back, wishing he could strike her with a blade.
With her back to Meng Qi, Gu Xiaosang lowered her voice: “My beloved managed to keep your purity intact despite the seductions of Lianyu and Yingning, the direct disciple of the Joyful Bodhisattva. I’m very pleased.”
Yingning was the direct disciple of the Joyful Bodhisattva? Meng Qi felt relieved, proud of his strong willpower, unaware that Gu Xiaosang had already removed the barrier, reverted to Shangshui, and opened the door. Outside, a female disciple was peeking furtively.
Suddenly, Gu Xiaosang turned her head, her face reverting to its original form, her smile hinting at mischief. She approached Meng Qi in a few steps, her fragrance enveloping him, her soft warmth intoxicating, her lips luscious and translucent.
Push her away! This was Meng Qi’s instinctive reaction, but seeing the female disciple peeking outside, he feared exposing their secret!
Caught between hesitation and struggle, he felt a sudden warmth on his lips, a soft and slippery sensation, a fragrance slightly stronger than her usual scent invading his nose.
“This is your reward.” Gu Xiaosang’s smiling voice reached his slightly dazed ears. “I’ve read Shangshui’s collection of books. I’m not much worse than them.”
With laughter trailing behind, she transformed back into Fairy Shangshui and stepped out the door, her clear, flowing voice echoing from afar:
“Gather your belongings and come to my cave dwelling.”
Meng Qi touched his lips, feeling as if his innocence had been tainted.
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