Chapter 23: Rebirth Countdown 2 Part 2

She paused for a moment before continuing, “Right now, the righteous path of the Nine Provinces won’t tolerate you. Why force yourself to stay here? Even if you do, in the long run, you’ll inevitably breed a heart demon. Why not come back to the Demon Sect with me now? The cultivation methods of demonic cultivators differ from the righteous path. With your talent, you’ll surely shine again.”

“Don’t worry, if I breed a heart demon and turn demonic, the first thing I’ll do is chop off my own head.” Lu Mingyi leaned her head back further, pulling away from Ji Xuyun, her gaze icy as she said, “Besides, all that vague nonsense you’ve spouted is just to shake my Dao heart and make me fall to the demonic path!”

For ordinary righteous cultivators, falling to the demonic path always began with breeding a heart demon.

Heart demons arose from two things: sufficiently intense negative emotions and a powerful emotional shock. The more negative and intense the emotions, the faster and more likely the fall.

Whether bringing up the collective condemnation or openly admitting she had orchestrated all the rumors, Ji Xuyun’s goal was crystal clear—she wanted to stir up Lu Mingyi’s surging negative emotions.

As for the kiss.

Lu Mingyi had been raised in the Shen Family, the foremost clan, from the age of five, and later became a once-in-a-millennium genius. Even though her nature was easygoing and carefree, she inevitably carried some pride, not to mention her stunning beauty.

After coming of age, cultivators in the Nine Provinces who yearned to become Lu Mingyi’s Dao companion were as numerous as carp crossing the river. Some didn’t even seek a formal title, only hoping to stay by her side, yet none caught even a glance from her.

It was clear that Lu Mingyi kept herself pure and above reproach, with exceedingly high standards, extremely picky when it came to romance.

And Ji Xuyun—this deceiver of her true feelings, this high-ranking figure in the Demon Sect who had nearly ignited a great war between righteous and demonic paths, the demonic cultivator she hated most—had not only stolen her first kiss but now sought to ravage her at will, and she could barely resist. This was truly the utmost humiliation.

I think, if I were any prouder, this kind of humiliation would definitely breed intense negative emotions. Or if I were more hot-tempered, I might bite Ji Xuyun to death right now and then bite my own tongue to end it.

Yet ever since her cultivation had plummeted, she had tasted the warmth and coldness of human relations. After enduring the torment of those strange voices, her resilience far exceeded that of ordinary people.

This was probably why Ji Xuyun had just said Lu Mingyi “wasn’t hateful enough yet.”

But after being forcibly kissed by Ji Xuyun like that, her lips still tingled. Shame and fury churned in her heart, and seeing the red at the corners of Ji Xuyun’s eyes made her own heart pound wildly.

How could she think of such a method that hurts the enemy a thousand times while damaging herself eight hundred?!

Ji Xuyun wasn’t surprised that Lu Mingyi had seen through her intentions; she had long witnessed Lu Mingyi’s cleverness. She continued, “Why put it so absolutely? I know you hate demonic cultivators because of your mothers’ deaths. I’ve already investigated what happened back then. When you come to the Demon Sect, you can personally deal with those who killed your parents.”

Her neck had been gripped by Ji Xuyun the whole time, and pain continued radiating from her heart. Lu Mingyi forced herself not to show any weakness, though sweat had begun beading on her forehead.

When Ji Xuyun so casually mentioned her parents, the pain in Lu Mingyi’s heart intensified. She said hatefully, “My mothers didn’t die because of a few demonic cultivators. They were escorting goods for the Shen Family, and you demonic cultivators just wanted to seize the Shen Family’s cargo, to kill even more people! Without your malicious intent, how could my parents have died tragically!”

Ji Xuyun burst into “giggling” laughter at that. Her fox-like eyes narrowed slightly, carrying a hint of pity as her hand shifted from gripping to gently stroking Lu Mingyi’s neck. “Lu Mingyi, have you really become the Shen Family’s loyal dog?

Let me tell you something else. That day, I mentioned that in the early stages of the Demon Sect’s turmoil, the Shen Family Head had the Sect Leader divine for them, and the divination showed great peril ahead for a period. So the Shen Family Head secluded themselves for a year without appearing. But what I didn’t say was that right then, the Shen Family was due to receive an important secret treasure. Not wanting to face that dire divination, they hired several high-cultivation rogue cultivators and clan disciples to escort it.”

A crack appeared on Lu Mingyi’s face, which had been full of cold intent.

Ji Xuyun smiled at her. “Mm… Lu Mingyi, you’re so smart—you must have figured it out. Those rogue cultivators’ identities, right?”

“At the time, the Demon Sect dispatched all four protectors from the southeast, northwest, and dozens of inner sect disciples, determined to seize that secret treasure. How could they stand a chance? So… those dozens fought to the death in relay to deliver the escort to the Shen Family, but they all lost their lives. Afterward, out of some guilt, the Shen Family adopted the orphans left behind by those rogue cultivators.

But obviously… the kindhearted Shen Family Head never told them the full story of why their parents fell in battle, right?”

“Shut your mouth!”

Lu Mingyi couldn’t hold back and roared. A surge of spiritual power rippled out, and the Gu Li sword, under Ji Xuyun’s control, vibrated wildly.

She glared viciously at the woman before her and raged, “You’re just saying all this to claim the Shen Family is innocent, aren’t you? That secret treasure belonged to the Shen Family to begin with—why did your Demon Sect have to kill and rob? How many lives have you taken for your selfish desires? What right do you have to stir up trouble here!”

“Yes, yes, we’re demonic cultivators! Of course we’re unforgivable!” Seeing Lu Mingyi grow agitated, Ji Xuyun grew excited too, her eyes flashing with fanaticism and anticipation. “But look, Lu Mingyi—the prestigious righteous sect you’ve devoted yourself to was also a link in your parents’ deaths! The Shen Family Head didn’t want losses among those around them but didn’t care at all about your parents’ lives! What’s the difference between that and us bloodthirsty demonic cultivators!”

Lu Mingyi breathed raggedly, a hint of red rising in her eyes.

In those early days after arriving at the Shen Family, she had indeed thought many times that it would have been better if her mothers hadn’t taken that escort job.

But during that same period, whenever she sneaked out of the Shen Family into the city, she heard passersby discussing with solemn, mournful, or numb expressions how yet another cultivator family had fallen to the Demon Sect’s claws today.

The fear and helplessness in their eyes were seared into Lu Mingyi’s memory.

She gradually understood that as long as the Demon Sect wanted to ignite war, cultivators across the Nine Provinces would live under the shadow of death, escort job or not.

The Shen Family’s request was merely the final link in the chain of causation.

Lu Mingyi recalled the night her mothers left, thinking of their tragic deaths at the hands of demonic cultivators. But demonic cultivators would never reflect or feel guilt over lost lives.

Just like Ji Xuyun before her.

She watched the greedy red glow in the woman’s eyes as she unscrupulously used Lu Mingyi’s most painful memories to lure out her heart demon.

Yet involuntarily, a memory from the year before flashed in her mind—the scene when they had returned to Jiangxia together.

One night, Lu Mingyi had told Ji Xuyun about that evening when she was five.

After she finished, Ji Xuyun was silent for a long time, just gripping her hand tightly. Only when Lu Mingyi was about to head back to her room to sleep did she say, “Senior Sister Lu, you’ll definitely achieve the Great Dao and exterminate the Demon Sect.”

At that time, Lu Mingyi’s cultivation was already steadily declining; even she felt that the so-called “Great Dao” was probably just a pipe dream.

But Ji Xuyun shed her usual spoiled and clingy demeanor. Amid those naturally amorous, upturned eyes was a stranger’s seriousness and sincerity, as if stating an indisputable fact.

“No need to comfort me…” Lu Mingyi had smiled.

But Ji Xuyun still held her hand, looking at her softly. “I believe that day will come, and I hope to see it with my own eyes.”

The image and voice from back then floated before her eyes, making Lu Mingyi’s own eyes heat up.

She finally saw the person before her clearly.

The junior sister she had spent three years with day and night had never existed. From start to finish, there had only been the Demon Sect Saintess.

So Lu Mingyi took several deep breaths, closed her eyes, and said, “You don’t need to waste your breath here. I will never become a demonic cultivator. And even if you try to kidnap me to the Demon Sect by force, it won’t work. My master’s seal is directly on me—you can’t take me away.”

Ji Xuyun truly hadn’t expected that even at this point, Lu Mingyi remained unshaken.

But hearing Lu Mingyi mention Jiang Liuzhao made malice rise again in her eyes. “Speaking of that seal…”

“It was to lure you out.” Lu Mingyi sneered, though her gaze dimmed slightly.

She met Ji Xuyun’s surprised look and stated bluntly, “The prophecy is real, but you’ve been spreading rumors targeting me everywhere. The Demon Sect must have some reason to target me specifically. Even though you escaped from my master once, as long as I’m still in the Taiqing Sect, your Demon Sect people will come back someday.”

That day, when Jiang Liuzhao had told her to think about the Demon Sect matter without forgetting her own situation, Lu Mingyi had already caught the implication. Later, she discovered the restrictions on Lingxiao Pavilion were easy to enter but hard to leave, and they were essentially set just for her.

Putting the two together, it wasn’t hard to conclude: she, Lu Mingyi, was the bait.

But—

“Ji Xuyun, you won’t escape this time.” Lu Mingyi enunciated each word.

After a moment of stunned shock, Ji Xuyun’s face regained its smug, coquettish smile, her bitten red lips parting. “Fine…”

But before she could say more, a crisp sword cry rang out. Azure sword light hurtled straight at them!

Cold light flashed in Ji Xuyun’s eyes. A half-ring artifact appeared in her right hand, with a red gem suspended in its center. The gem glowed, and the sword light was instantly blocked.

While disguised in the Taiqing Sect, Ji Xuyun had also practiced swordsmanship; her sword was an Earth-grade immortal sword named Crimson Plume.

But this artifact was her true natal spirit tool: Yama Slayer.

The clash of two profound spells was too much for Lu Mingyi’s bedroom. The door and windows had long been shattered, and howling wind and snow surged in.

Yet Lu Mingyi hadn’t expected the newcomer to be her senior sister, Xiao Yuxie, whom she hadn’t seen in days.

In the swirling snow, she looked at Xiao Yuxie’s face—dimly visible but carrying a faint chill—and the second half of that earlier sentence flashed in her mind—

But if Master was using her as bait, why not tell her?

Behind Xiao Yuxie were disciples from various peaks of the Taiqing Sect. In the night sky, Lu Mingyi even spotted figures like Ming Xuan, Sanhua True Person, and other Taiqing Sect peak masters and elders.

She heard Ming Xuan transmit her voice with spiritual power, booming like a bell: “Disciples of the Taiqing Sect, heed this order! The demonic cultivator causing chaos in the sect has revealed themselves. For the peace of the Nine Provinces and our sect, for your glory—exterminate this Demon Sect scum!”