The appearance of the Demon Cultivator erased Jiang Cizhu’s sense of relief, plunging the tense atmosphere back into a standoff fraught with danger. Even if they wanted to look after that two-year-old child, they simply couldn’t spare the hands.
It wasn’t that the Nascent Soul Demon Cultivator failed to recognize Zhao Pingchuan; rather, it hesitated at first due to her dealings with the Demon Cultivators. But once the fight began, it immediately identified her from the aura leaking from her body. Zhao Pingchuan’s prior transactions with the Demon Cultivators had all been conducted in disguise. The Demon Cultivator’s face twisted abruptly, and it roared at Zhao Pingchuan, “Zhao Pingchuan? You’ve broken your oath to us?”
Her identity exposed, Zhao Pingchuan showed no panic. She smiled faintly and replied with calm composure, “I was merely bluffing you all. How could I, a Xuanmen cultivator, ever side with Demon Cultivators?” Her words rang with indignant righteousness. Breaking oaths was nothing new for her—the Demon Cultivators weren’t adept at such deceptions, and she had her ways around them. Besides, as long as she achieved her goal, even heavenly retribution meant nothing to her.
Jiang Xuanji and Jiang Cizhu felt a chill in their hearts. They exchanged bewildered glances, confusion and doubt flickering in their eyes.
The Demon Cultivator snorted coldly, wasting no more breath on debate with Zhao Pingchuan. “Since you’ve come, none of you are leaving.”
Ever since the infiltrator Demon Cultivator in Xuanmen had been exposed, the True Persons knew Yingzhou Island couldn’t hold. Sky Nether City’s goal wasn’t to defend this place anyway. They understood the Xuanmen cultivators’ ways well—in their retreat, they planned to leave a grand “gift” behind. As for the cultivators still here, enemies in stance, they aimed to take down as many as possible, especially a major sect’s True Inheritor among them.
The Nascent Soul Demon Cultivator patted the leopard at its side. A heaven-shaking roar erupted as the Snow Leopard charged forward like lightning, its razor-sharp claws slicing through the air like blades, leaving trails of torn afterimages. A thick, foul stench instantly permeated the surroundings. The Demon Cultivator pinched a hand seal, summoning a gorgeous crimson glow that bloomed like a red cloud, exploding into a mass of scarlet light.
Yan Zhichuan watched intently. That red cloud was clearly composed of countless Blood Thread Worms, buzzing as they shifted! These worms were vicious and cruel, feeding on flesh regardless of whether it belonged to Xuanmen or Demon Cultivators. They swept over the mutilated corpses on the ground like a storm of wind and clouds, leaving only heaps of white bones in mere breaths.
Yan Zhichuan sucked in a sharp breath, a chill gripping her heart.
Jiang Xuanji and Jiang Cizhu clearly had no attention to spare for her. If this continued, she wouldn’t last until her senior sister arrived—she was done for.
At this critical moment on a razor’s edge, a blinding light like a blazing sun shone down on the foremost cluster of Blood Thread Worms. The worms stiffened, then rained down like dust scattering to the ground. Endless more followed, but sensing they couldn’t breach that radiant glow, they veered off to target others instead.
“Thank you,” Yan Zhichuan mumbled indistinctly. She looked up and startled at the sight of a slender figure cloaked in shadows.
The frail, emaciated woman looked like a mere gust of wind could topple her; she trembled all over, clutching a Treasure Mirror that seemed to be a product of Nine Abyss Sect’s Artifact Peak.
This person… Zhao Yulu.
Her senior sister’s cheap little sister.
Why wasn’t she tucked away by Jiang Cizhu?
Yan Zhichuan blinked in a daze, about to say something when Zhao Yulu didn’t even glance her way. Stumbling forward, she rushed toward Zhao Pingchuan, brows furrowed in agony. “Mother, it hurts so much.”
Zhao Pingchuan, locked in fierce combat with the Nascent Soul Demon Cultivator, paled abruptly. She had already instructed Zhao Yulu to hide at any sign of trouble and left her an artifact to conceal her tracks. Though she dealt with Demon Cultivators, how could she ever fully trust them? It was all half-truths, with the crucial piece being to lure Zhan Yujie here using them.
Originally, she planned to use the excuse of gathering herbs for Yulu to draw her in.
But after asking around with Jiang Cizhu and the others, she learned Zhan Yujie had arrived long ago. That Daoist who brushed past her on the street that day was probably Zhan Yujie—and if she’d overheard those words, suspicions would surely arise in her heart.
Her plan had been disrupted.
Thus, upon encountering Jiang Cizhu and her group, she’d unhesitatingly led them here, using the opportunity to distance herself from the Demon Cultivators and pin everything on “righteousness.” With Xuanmen cultivators as witnesses, she’d have leeway even if her actions came to light later. As for the messages sent to Zhan Yujie, true or false, they were just to string her along—whether she believed them or not didn’t matter.
Zhao Pingchuan steadied her mind, her gaze falling on the wailing Zhao Yulu. Her sword light faltered for a moment. Knowing Zhao Pingchuan was a tough opponent, the Demon Cultivator’s eyes flashed with icy malice. Seizing the opening, it launched a ferocious assault on Jiang Xuanji and Jiang Cizhu. Brave as the two were, they were merely Golden Cores—how could they match a seasoned Nascent Soul cultivator?
Just as death loomed, a surging roar erupted like flooding rivers and seas. Coiling sword lights churned like crashing waves, buying Jiang Cizhu and Jiang Xuanji a slim chance at survival. They frantically channeled their mana and escaped the Demon Cultivator’s attack range. Looking up, they saw the Daoist arriving astride sharp sword light and cried out in ecstasy, “Perfect—it’s Daoist Zhan!”
They were saved.
Mother and daughter exchanged a fleeting glance.
Zhan Yujie’s brows furrowed, her face frosty as frost. Her gaze quickly skipped over Zhao Pingchuan and Zhao Yulu, landing on Yan Zhichuan, who lurked furtively to the side. With a flick of her sword light, she shattered the Blood Thread Worms in an instant and swooped to Yan Zhichuan’s side, scooping her into her arms.
Yan Zhichuan clung to Zhan Yujie, her words tumbling out clumsily via transmission: “Those Demon Cultivators earlier were killed by your mother, but she conspired with them to take your Sword Bone—who knows what she really intends. In my eyes, her hostility toward the Demon Cultivators isn’t fake. She’s a bully, sure, but not red-named like them.”
Zhan Yujie’s brows knitted tightly. She gave a cold “Mm.”
Zhao Pingchuan’s gaze lingered on Zhan Yujie for a beat but said nothing, her full attention on Zhao Yulu at her side.
Seeing Zhan Yujie appear, the Demon Cultivator’s cold smirk deepened. The Snow Leopard darted unpredictably, the red thread worms multiplying endlessly. With Xuanmen cultivators finding their way here, the outside must be in chaos—they needed to capture everyone here swiftly. With a thought, it unleashed four streams of varied glows that writhed like serpents, strangling everything in their path. A single hit shattered any protective treasures with a metallic clang. The area quaked, thunder rumbling all around.
“Senior Zhao.” Jiang Cizhu’s urging was urgent. Here, Zhao Pingchuan was the only Nascent Soul cultivator. Along the way, she’d shown no mercy to Demon Cultivators, regardless of sect—clearly aligned with Xuanmen.
Zhao Pingchuan’s eyes darkened, her grip tightening on her sword.
A faint gaze lingered on Zhan Yujie. Though her heart burned, she knew striking now would yield no gain. Her own notoriety was one thing, but she couldn’t drag Yulu down, preventing her from standing among Xuanmen.
After a few breaths, she said, “Yujie, let’s deal with this Demon Cultivator first.”
Zhan Yujie looked up. “Yes, as Mother commands.”
Jiang Cizhu’s eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at Zhao Pingchuan and Zhan Yujie.
So she’s Daoist Zhan’s mother? No wonder—the pillar of Xuanmen.
Her suspended heart suddenly relaxed.
Meanwhile, the Demon Cultivator unleashed a cluster of flame-like crimson light, which morphed amid roars into a dragon-headed beast with double horns and four claws, lunging forward.
Zhan Yujie’s heart tightened. Without hesitation, she thrust her sword ahead.
The Bone Shrinking Pill’s effects hadn’t fully worn off; Yan Zhichuan remained tiny. Zhan Yujie feared dropping her if she let go.
Zhao Pingchuan struck at the same instant, her sword light fierce as blooming glacial orchids, aimed straight at the Demon Cultivator’s brow.
The Demon Cultivator’s form dispersed like light smoke, reforming with a mocking laugh. “Yingzhou Island is about to sink into the sea. Taking my life seems more important to you than saving the island’s mortals, hmm?”
Zhan Yujie ignored it, focused only on slaying the demon.
The intel she’d gathered was already sent back to Nine Abyss Sect; the islanders’ fates weren’t her concern.
Battles at the Cave Heaven level were beyond a mere Golden Core like her.
The Demon Cultivator’s face darkened.
It turned to Zhao Pingchuan. “You want her Sword Bone— isn’t now the perfect chance?” Its lips curled in amusement, malice dripping from its sinister tone. “Your youngest daughter won’t hold out much longer. Forcing her way into Foundation Establishment with pills… not wise.”
Zhao Pingchuan’s expression turned icy. “If I hadn’t said that, how could I earn your trust and learn the Earth Abyss’s location?”
Zhan Yujie paid no heed to the words ringing in her ears.
Chilling sword light bloomed from her blade. As mana clashed, it rang like shattering ice, the commotion growing louder by the moment.
Seeing its attempts to sow discord fail, the Demon Cultivator clicked its tongue and prepared to retreat.
It wanted Xuanmen heads for merit, but only if it survived.
“She’s fleeing!” Jiang Cizhu’s voice rose sharply.
Zhan Yujie’s eyes sharpened. She pursued with her sword, but as the light shifted, she found herself amid clouds and mist. When she steadied, the Demon Cultivator lay dead on the ground, as if slain in an instant.
At first, Zhan Yujie thought it a demonic illusion, but upon closer look, her heart sank. She looked up at Zhao Pingchuan approaching sword in hand and feigned confusion. “Demons ravage the island, and Yingzhou Island may sink—why does Mother stop me?”
“You came to Yingzhou Island because Nine Abyss Sect detected anomalies here, right? The island’s matters will be handled by others. That Demon Sect Cave Heaven Luo Guanyin stirring trouble—if she dares show, a Cave Heaven will intercept her.” With a light scoff, Zhao Pingchuan stared intently at Zhan Yujie.
Her tone grew odd at “Cave Heaven,” laced with jealousy. Her talent wasn’t inferior, yet they’d entered Cave Heaven early while she, crippled in her cultivation and forced to restart, languished at Nascent Soul.
Zhan Yujie said, “Wasn’t it Mother who asked me to gather herbs?”
Zhao Pingchuan chuckled. “That disguise of yours couldn’t fool me easily. When I messaged you, hadn’t you already arrived on Yingzhou Island?” Still, she’d only noticed after speaking those words to Zhao Yulu. Fortunately, with the Demon Cultivator present, Zhan Yujie would come regardless.
A chill crept into Zhan Yujie’s heart.
She had seen Zhao Pingchuan, and Zhao Pingchuan had seen her—but neither had spoken of it.
Zhan Yujie asked, “What does Mother seek?”
The standoff between mother and daughter was cold, devoid of any familial warmth.
She had her suspicions, yet clung to a sliver of hope for a different answer.
But she wouldn’t get it.
Away from other Xuanmen cultivators, in a place where her goal seemed achievable, Zhao Pingchuan relaxed. She confessed to Zhan Yujie plainly, “Lend me a segment of Sword Bone.”
Zhan Yujie asked, “What will become of me?”
Zhao Pingchuan replied, “I’ve gathered suitable herbs. Even without the Sword Bone, you won’t die.”
But wielding a sword would never be the same.
“Shameless!” An indignant shout rang out—from Yan Zhichuan, buried in Zhan Yujie’s embrace.
Zhao Pingchuan noted the two-year-old in Zhan Yujie’s arms but paid it no mind, assuming Xuanmen charity.
Scolded, she didn’t flare up, merely stating calmly, “Everything you have comes from me. Repay me with a segment of Sword Bone to help your sister achieve the Dao—what’s wrong with that?”
Yan Zhichuan huffed angrily. “Does it?”
Birth grace? No. Rearing grace? Barely any. If repaying debts, it should be to Nine Abyss Sect.
Zhao Pingchuan fixed her gaze on Zhan Yujie. “Will you betray kindness?”
Zhan Yujie’s eyes dimmed. She sighed softly. “A mother’s grace is greater than the heavens. I—”
Yan Zhichuan grew frantic, thinking Zhan Yujie might really yield her Sword Bone. Patting her urgently, not knowing how to stop this “filial” act, she blurted in desperation, “You can’t repay it anyway. Rather than agonize, why not sever the mother-daughter bond? Then you owe her nothing, she has no claim on your gratitude—perfect harmony!”
