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Upon hearing Chen Moqing’s words, Cang Shun fell silent for a long moment, and in the end, still did not utter a word.
After a while, this snow-white little creature poked its head around, pretending to shift its attention, looking very busy as it squirmed and wriggled through Chen Moqing’s hair.
Chen Moqing, “Is this acting spoiled?”
The moment the words left his lips, he was not surprised to hear a loud 'meow-meow'.
Chen Moqing plucked the fluffy little ball that was meowing and placed it down, not allowing it to perch on his head.
The snow-white little creature hopped onto his arm, tucked its tiny paws in, and sat down with a plop.
Sitting here is fine too.
Chen Moqing lightly tossed the fluffy little ball into the air.
Cang Shun floating in mid-air: “......”
“So the Demon Emperor actually knows how to fly,” Chen Moqing said, “Truly impressive.”
Then he walked ahead by himself.
Cang Shun: “........”
The next moment, a small snowy mountain stretched across Chen Moqing’s path, its tall shadow enveloping his figure, while a slender, sturdy tail curled up and hooked the hem of his clothes.
[Get up here.]
The tone sounded careless, and Cang Shun’s eyes also shifted to the side, not meeting his gaze.
Chen Moqing looked at the enormous demon beast lying quietly before him, seemingly surprised that the former Demon Emperor would make such a move. His steps paused slightly.
“If others were to see—”
Cang Shun snorted lightly: [This is not my true form. Even a thousand years ago, no one had ever seen it.]
Chen Moqing, “No wonder.”
— No wonder the records of this Demon Emperor’s appearance had always been vague, with some even claiming that the Demon Emperor’s true form was ugly, with a green face and sharp fangs, which was why he never revealed his true form.
The furry great Demon Emperor began nudging him again with its head, pushing him forward gently and lightly tugging at his clothes with its paw.
Chen Moqing didn’t refuse either. He calmly sat on the Demon Emperor’s back. The snow-white fur felt like the finest soft cushion, supported beneath by a powerful, mountain-like spine. Through the soft fluff, he could feel the formidable strength contained within the thick fur and the coiled muscles underneath.
Cang Shun waited until the young human was completely settled before slowly rising, spinning in place once and effortlessly jostling the person on his back twice.
[Why are you so light?]
Another gentle jostle.
Chen Moqing raised his hand calmly and stroked the fur on the Demon Emperor’s back against the grain.
Messy.
[?]
Smack.
Cang Shun turned his head, his slender tail brushing against the hem of the man's clothes as they slid off his back. With one step, he shot straight through the sky like thunder, leaving only a fleeting trail of electric light.
"What do you think you're doing?!"
The sky was blocked by overlapping runes, forming layers upon layers of chains, pressing down so hard it was suffocating.
Ning Lili supported Bai Yue, who was kneeling on one knee and coughing up blood incessantly, her gaze turning incredulously toward the sky above.
In mid-air, the Second Elder stroked his beard and smiled. Behind him stood the Grand Elder of the Tingyu Sect, at the peak of Golden Core stage.
"Girl Ning, hand over that peak fourth-grade treasure, and we'll pretend nothing happened today."
Bai Yue shielded Ning Lili with one hand, wiping the blood from the corner of her mouth, "The treasure chose its master of its own will and is already bound to her soul. You can't take it!"
"Oh? What a pity. Forcibly extracting the treasure would scatter Girl Ning's soul too..." The Second Elder sighed and shook his head, "I’ve practically watched you grow up, Girl Ning. I really can't bear to do it myself."
He gave a kindly smile, "Why don't you do it, Manager Bai? You're her master, your touch would be lighter. Perhaps you could even save both your lives."
Bai Yue's gaze turned cold and sharp, "With such actions, isn’t the Tingyu Sect afraid of Qianxuan Pavilion seeking retribution later?"
The Second Elder lifted a hand indifferently, brushing off nonexistent dust from his robe, "The head of Qianxuan Pavilion in the Dongzhou Prefecture is only at the peak of Golden Core. Even they are as insignificant as ants before that Immortal. What can they do to me?"
Bai Yue's heart sank to the bottom. No wonder so many spots had been opened for this secret realm. That sword cultivator from the upper prefecture had long struck a deal with the Tingyu Sect, using them as stepping stones!
Nascent Soul, Golden Core—a single stage apart, yet worlds apart.
"Master."
She heard her disciple's low murmur—that always naive and carefree, foolish disciple of hers—a smile on her lips, but her eyes were red and swollen like a rabbit's. Her palms trembled slightly, yet her voice did not waver in the slightest:
"Master, let me go."
Not far away, Liu Piao walked over to Liu Ao and spoke softly, "Father, with the Tingyu Sect acting this way, there’s no guarantee they won’t turn against the Liu family later. Helping Qianxuan Pavilion now is also helping the Liu family in the future."
Liu Ao stood with his hands behind his back, haughtily replying, "There are still too many players on the chessboard in Qingzhu City."
Liu Piao cursed inwardly, but on the surface, she maintained a cautious expression, "Brother Jiang is closely tied to Qianxuan Pavilion, and Manager Bai might have backup plans. It's unlikely they’ll be easily forced off the board."
Liu Ao remained silent, his eyes filled with both fear and envy as he gazed at the Tingyu Sect's Grand Elder at the peak of Golden Core stage, unmoved.
Liu Piao clenched her fist slightly. That sword intent had already returned to her side. Though it was Nascent Soul sword intent, with her Qi Refinement cultivation, she could at most unleash combat power at the peak of Foundation Establishment.
But she couldn't stand those lofty immortals, couldn't stand this dao of killing by force.
Under the condescending gaze of the two elders of the Tingyu Sect, Bai Yue looked at her disciple and slowly spoke, "You've never been one for diligent cultivation, always preferring to slack off and sleep. If I hadn't insisted on bringing you here..."
Blood seeped from her lips again. She swallowed the rest of her words and said in a voice only Ning Lili could hear, "I'll count to three. Then you run."
Ning Lili wept uncontrollably, not uttering a word. Suddenly, she reversed her palm and struck herself between the brows!
She was still unable to wield that fourth-grade treasure—just refining it had required her master to expend most of her spiritual power to protect her, which was why she couldn't hold her own against those from the Tingyu Sect.
She knew she had been too lazy, not diligent enough, so her cultivation had never progressed, and she always had to rely on her master to protect her.
She also knew that if she destroyed her spiritual sea—she could detonate that peak fourth-grade treasure, unleashing power at the Nascent Soul stage!
"Master, run!"
"Not good! She's going to self-destruct!"
Ning Lili moved too quickly. The Second Elder's expression shattered instantly as he reached out to stop her—
Yet, someone was even faster!
Bai Yue suddenly unleashed hundreds of runes, instantly sealing Ning Lili's spiritual meridians. The latter's body was swept backward by countless runes, retreating dozens of zhang in the blink of an eye!
"Catch her!"
In Ning Lili's frozen gaze, dozens of zhang away, her master threw her head back and laughed, rising with fierce determination, "Worthless fools! Come and fight!"
"Master!!"
High in the sky, the Grand Elder of the Tingyu Sect, who had been keeping his eyes closed, slowly opened them.
"An ant trying to shake a tree."
At the peak of the Golden Core stage, his aura surged like a tidal wave, suppressing the entire scene—in that instant, everyone present was immobilized!
Liu Ao was shocked, not expecting to be suppressed as well, and immediately spoke up, "Grand Elder! I am willing—"
The Grand Elder casually pointed a finger.
The runes transformed into a massive glacier above his head, exploding open as countless ice spikes shot out, blanketing the sky and devouring the field of vision.
The deadly ice spikes closed in. Panic-stricken, Liu Ao, not knowing where he found the strength to break free from the suppression, yanked Liu Piao in front of him, "My son, help me!"
Liu Piao’s eyes reflected the magnified ice spikes, the cold almost freezing her eye sockets. In that instant, she hesitated no longer, sending a strand of sword intent straight through her back.
Under the icy rain, Bai Yue’s eyes bled as she pointed two fingers directly at the Tingyu Sect’s Grand Elder, burning her cultivation in a desperate, final struggle. Far from her, Ning Lili stretched out a hand toward her with all her might in the last moment—
Inside the secret realm, a nine-petaled lotus bloomed!
A radiant nine-petaled lotus blossomed, its enormous petals cascading down, crystal-clear and flawless, like a compassionate eye of an immortal opening.
The lotus fragrance was sharp, the ice spikes shattered, falling like a brilliant shower of ice crystals. Amid countless swirling ice crystals and snowflakes, a young cultivator in black robes descended from beyond the sky, stepping down as if on stairs. Between his brows was a snow lotus mark, and his eyes were free of dust, like a sword of heaven falling into the mortal world.
In an instant, the entire scene fell silent.
A fifth-grade treasure!
The Tingyu Sect’s Grand Elder abruptly took a large step back, his previously calm expression of life-and-death judgment shattering into one of extreme disbelief.
Just earlier, he had only been at the early Foundation Establishment stage—how could he have already surpassed the mid-stage in such a short time?
Not only that, but within the secret realm, all the aura and essence of the talisman-path now draped over that person—at this moment, he was no different from the master of the secret realm!
In that instant, even as a peak Golden Core cultivator, even knowing he was the strongest here, the Grand Elder dared not act rashly. He stared fixedly at the young cultivator who should have been at early Foundation Establishment, feeling an inexplicable pang of unease.
Could it be... that the anomalies earlier in the secret realm... all arose because of this person?!
The Grand Elder quickly crushed a jade slip hidden beneath his robe sleeve, sending a voice transmission to that upper prefecture Immortal, urgently requesting his assistance.
Chen Moqing's gaze swept over the scene below, and he slightly lifted his palm.
The shimmering nine-petaled lotus slowly rotated, its petals folding back in, returning to the size of a glass lamp—just as it was about to float back into his hand, it was snatched away mid-air by a furry paw.
Cang Shun held the beautiful little lotus close, his demonic pupils reflecting its crystalline glow.
Chen Moqing glanced at the snow-white little creature on his arm, which was toying with the lotus, patted its furry little head, and casually said, "Gun Gun, go."
Countless pitch-black threads exploded in the air, swiftly weaving into a slender figure. The Talisman Demon floated behind Chen Moqing, happily raising its noodle-like arms.
A Talisman Demon?
The Grand Elder’s brow twitched.
It seemed that using that treasure had drained too much of his spiritual power, leaving him unable to continue fighting, which was why he had summoned a mere insignificant Talisman Demon.
He immediately regained his calm expression and casually cupped his hands, saying, "This fellow Daoist—"
Boom!
The Grand Elder’s figure was sent flying hundreds of meters, crashing into the valley and embedding himself in a massive crater three meters deep.
In the Second Elder’s horrified eyes, the spot where his Grand Elder had stood was now occupied by a pitch-black figure, towering imposingly over the scene below.
A great perfection of the Golden Core stage Talisman Demon?!
His terrified gaze shifted upward once more, landing on the young cultivator behind the Talisman Demon, whose dark eyes were calm and undisturbed.
Just who was he, that he could command a Talisman Demon at the half-step Nascent Soul stage as a servant?!
"Senior!" Cold sweat soaked his robes as the Second Elder immediately cupped his hands, forcing a trembling smile, "It was all a misunderstanding just now, I—"
Boom!
Another deep crater formed in the valley, right beside the previous one. The Talisman Demon lazily flicked its wrist, then lifted its head, waving its arms energetically at Chen Moqing high above.
Chen Moqing lowered his gaze, his eyes settling on Bai Yue, "How do you want to handle this?"
Before Bai Yue could speak, a voice rang out beside her, "Kill them!"
Ning Lili’s eyes were red as she stepped forward, "Senior Jiang, please help me. Let me kill them with my own hands!"
Chen Moqing, "Fine."
Bai Yue raised her arm, forcefully pressing down on Ning Lili’s trembling, vein-popping hand. She shook her head, then bowed to Chen Moqing, "The priority now is to leave this place as quickly as possible. That upper prefecture sword cultivator will likely arrive soon."
Chen Moqing calmly replied with five words, "No need to mind him."
Bai Yue’s eyes trembled, as if she had realized something. She glanced at Ning Lili again and fell silent for several seconds before slowly saying, "I’ll do it."
Chen Moqing remained silent, gently stroking the soft fur of the snow-white little creature.
Taking action herself was to prevent her disciple from being stained with bloodshed and accumulating inner demons that might hinder her future Nascent Soul formation.
As the faintly scented fingers brushed over his head, Cang Shun narrowed his demonic eyes slightly, looking up at Chen Moqing’s profile, pausing for a moment.
Why did he seem a little sad?
He placed the pretty little lotus into this young human’s hand, then raised his paw again.
A warm touch at his fingertip. Chen Moqing lowered his eyes. The snow-white little creature lay in his palm, its furry paw gently resting on his finger, sending a surge of spiritual power smoothly into his body.
He raised a finger and lightly flicked the soft, drooping furry ear.
Cang Shun shook it off quickly.
[???]
Touching his ears again!
The little fluffy ball visibly fluffed up, emitting a loud 'meow' before angrily pressing its paw down on his hand.
Its round demonic eyes glared at him, indignant, as it continued to channel spiritual power into him.
The two elders of the Tingyu Sect were yanked out like chicks by the Talisman Demon, hanging in the air in an utterly undignified manner. The Grand Elder was still roaring, "You can't touch me! That Immortal will not spare any of you!"
The Second Elder, meanwhile, kept begging for mercy, "Senior, spare us! Using power to oppress others is not the act of a true gentleman!"
"I am no gentleman," Shen Moqing said with a smile, "Safe travels, you two."
The Second Elder wept tears and snot, "Senior, save me! Manager Bai! For the sake of our years of acquaintance... Ah!!"
Cang Shun paid no attention to the commotion over there. After channeling a heap of spiritual power, he stretched out long and lazily, resting his chin on the back of Chen Moqing’s hand, and shamelessly rubbed against it twice under Chen Moqing’s gaze.
On the other side of the secret realm, two more individuals stood facing each other.
Liu Ao clutched his chest, where blood flowed ceaselessly, and stared ahead in disbelief, "You traitorous son, you..."
Liu Piao remained silent. Just moments ago, when Liu Ao had pushed her to the front, she had already guided that sword intent through his chest.
She slowly raised her head, looking up into the sky, "Brother Jiang, is our agreement still valid?"
Chen Moqing, "Naturally."
As soon as he spoke, the sword intent transformed into a frost-white longsword, hovering before Liu Piao.
Liu Piao took a deep breath, grasped the sword with both hands, and walked step by step toward Liu Ao.
"Do you know what my mother said before she passed?"
Liu Ao covered his chest, retreating step by step, "Yu'er, what are you planning? You... you need to calm down..."
His eyes fixed on the sharp sword in Liu Piao's hands, then lifted to the expressionless face of his eldest son, and further to the young cultivator in dark robes standing gracefully behind him.
Liu Ao forced out a smile, mustering a trace of unfamiliar paternal affection, "It was my fault regarding Yuniang... What did she say?"
Liu Piao stared at him for several long seconds before replying coldly, "That was not my mother's maiden name."
"And also, I am not your son."
"What?! You—"
Liu Ao first stared in shock, then his eyes widened in fury as he cursed aloud, before finally resorting to endless pleas—even promising to pass the position of family head to Liu Piao once they left.
Liu Piao watched this farce unmoved, waiting until he had uttered his last words before nodding and saying, "Fine."
Then, under Liu Ao’s astonished gaze, she swung the sword down.
...
The wind passed through the forest leaves; the sun set in the western mountains.
The entrance to the secret realm lay just ahead. Though they had been inside for barely a day, Bai Yue felt as if lifetimes had passed.
She lowered her head and looked at Ning Lili, who was clinging to her like a bear rubbing against a tree, and the corner of her mouth twitched, all her sentiment vanishing instantly like clouds dispersing.
Black threads drifted aimlessly in the air. A Talisman Demon circled around Chen Moqing, seemingly reluctant to return to the storage pouch.
Cang Shun glanced at it sideways.
The Talisman Demon trembled and shrank behind Chen Moqing, peeking out with just a small head, its single white eye drooping pitifully.
Cang Shun: “?”
Chen Moqing looked at the Talisman Demon, then at a certain Demon Emperor.
Cang Shun raised his chin high: What about it?
Chen Moqing lifted a knuckle slightly.
The snow-white little creature immediately covered its ears.
Chen Moqing’s lips curved upward as he lowered his palm, gently stroking the soft fur.
Cang Shun fell silent at once.
After being petted a few times by that elegant hand, he lazily slumped down, turning into a soft, round little pancake.
A few black threads drifted over quietly, trying to coil around this snow-white ball of fluff.
Cang Shun swatted down with a paw.
The black threads instantly scattered. The Talisman Demon let out a sharp scream and fled back into the storage pouch.
Chen Moqing watched as the snow-white little creature in his arms arrogantly lifted its head, hopped onto his shoulder, lay down, and pressed a few strands of his black hair beneath itself, then shamelessly rubbed against him again.
"Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Jiang," Bai Yue said with a smile as she walked over, "Not only have you broken through to the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment, but you’ve also gained the inheritance of the secret realm."
Ning Lili, who was clinging to her arm, widened her eyes slightly, "Huh?"
When they first met, wasn’t this Senior Jiang only at the peak of Qi Refinement?!
Chen Moqing calmly lifted the furry paw of a certain Demon Emperor and freed those strands of his hair, "Please keep it a secret that I’ve obtained the inheritance."
As soon as the words left his mouth.
[He who receives my Xing Yun inheritance: Jiang Yu]
An ancient voice, like the toll of an old bell, resonated throughout the secret realm. Its echoes reverberated endlessly, spreading layer by layer.
Qingzhu City, even the entire Dongzhou Prefecture—all heard this voice!
Bai Yue: "...Haha, Fellow Daoist Jiang, now the world will know you."
Ning Lili: "Haha."
Liu Piao: "Haha."
Chen Moqing: "......"
He turned his head. The little fluffy ball on his shoulder was giggling, its fur trembling with each laugh, like dandelion fluff rustling in the wind.
Chen Moqing looked at this fluffy little ball of fur and said only two words, "Dried fish."
Cang Shun sat up straight, solemn and focused.
[What happened just now?] His voice was low and serious.
Chen Moqing was speechless.
A figure slowly landed beside him.
Upon seeing this person, the smiles on the faces of Bai Yue, Ning Lili, and Liu Piao instantly vanished.
It was that Tianshu Sect Immortal... Murong Zhou!
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