Chapter 88 Part 1

On Yingzhou Island, Zhan Yujie was assaulted dozens of times by the furious yet pitiful Yan Zhichuan. A single glance told her exactly what the girl was thinking. Without hesitation, Zhan Yujie crossed her sword sheath in front of her body. The sword’s hum roared like surging ocean tides, a brilliant azure stream of light blocking ahead perfectly, halting the little cannonball mid-transformation.

After the relentless tempering of the sea tides, the body-forging pills’ effects had fully manifested. Yan Zhichuan had barely stepped onto the path of physical strength. Without defense, that furious charge would have hurt.

But after one burst of energy came exhaustion. Yan Zhichuan lifted teary eyes, gazing at Zhan Yujie with pitiful grievance, accusing, “You lied to me.”

Zhan Yujie leisurely stowed the Heaven-Penetrating Treasure Mirror and faintly acknowledged with an “Mm.”

Yan Zhichuan’s eyes widened as she stared at Zhan Yujie, her face full of disbelief.

Lying and still so righteously indignant?

She furrowed her brows, puffed her cheeks, and swatted aside the sword light ahead. “I want to go back.” She was a Nascent Soul True Person now—her cultivation speed unprecedented and unparalleled. She had to let her sect sisters see the grace of the Heavenly Dao’s favored daughter, to inspire their diligent practice.

“Can’t go back.” Zhan Yujie’s gaze darkened slightly.

Since the Heavenly Balance Mansion had divined the existence of the Demon Seed, they would eventually trace it back to her junior sister. Then, her junior sister would become the enemy of all Xuanmen.

“Why?” Yan Zhichuan didn’t understand. She stared at Zhan Yujie, and after a moment of realization, said, “Senior Sister, did you do something bad? Go back and confess—Master and the Fu Shis will forgive you.”

Zhan Yujie’s expression remained indifferent.

Taking Yan Zhichuan away wasn’t exactly a good deed.

Her gaze deepened profoundly, fixing straight on Yan Zhichuan. “What if I am the demon?”

Yan Zhichuan froze. “Huh?”

Did she not know if Zhan Yujie was a demon? If she’d fallen to the demonic path, Xiao Tian would have crashed long ago, surrounding her with piercing alarms instead of towering waves. Originally kneeling before Zhan Yujie, she scooted forward on her knees upon hearing this, pressing a hand to Zhan Yujie’s forehead and mumbling, “Are you running a fever?”

Zhan Yujie caught Yan Zhichuan’s opportunistic wandering hand. “Why does Junior Sister assume I’m the problem?”

“Then is it me?” Yan Zhichuan shot back, huffing. “Who in this world is purer than me? I’m full of righteousness, the object of Heavenly Dao’s favor.” This suspect—who, once fallen, would destroy heavens and earth under Heavenly Dao’s watch—was actually doubting her? Where was the justice? Yan Zhichuan huffed and puffed bonelessly, collapsing entirely onto Zhan Yujie.

“What if Junior Sister accidentally falls to demonhood?” Zhan Yujie supported Yan Zhichuan’s waist and asked again.

Yan Zhichuan pondered for a moment. “Then be a demon, but—” Being the only demon was no fun. Even if all of Sky Nether City worshipped her, with demon cultivators’ Cave Heavens serving her day and night, it couldn’t replace Nine Abyss’s place in her heart. “Senior Sister, will you all become demons with me? Then we can establish a Nine Abyss branch in Sky Nether City. Since we’re there, we have to be number one, right?”

Zhan Yujie fell silent.

She looked at Yan Zhichuan, who showed not a hint of panic and was instead delightedly plotting to conquer Sky Nether City as the top demon cultivator. A sense of powerlessness welled up.

After a long pause, she convinced herself otherwise.

Better if Junior Sister is this heartless.

“When do we return to Nine Abyss?” Yan Zhichuan asked again, missing her bookshelves.

Zhan Yujie pondered briefly. “After you reach Soul Transformation.”

Yan Zhichuan: “?” She pointed at her chest. “Senior Sister, where’s your sword? Stab it here.”

“Junior Sister, your talent is unparalleled in the world. As long as you’re willing—”

Yan Zhichuan covered her ears, refusing to listen. “I know I’m smart, but you can’t pull up seedlings to help them grow!”

Amid Yan Zhichuan’s wailing, Zhan Yujie gave up gentle persuasion and said coldly, “Train!”

Yan Zhichuan shuddered, drooping her head dejectedly. “Okay…” After quieting down, she looked up eagerly. “Any rewards?”

Zhan Yujie asked breezily, “What do you want to eat?” Aside from initial complaints of hunger, she hadn’t mentioned it since. Though not very obedient, she’d reached Nascent Soul Stage—time for a reward.

Yan Zhichuan’s expression shifted.

Is Senior Sister trying to poison me?

She said tactfully, “I’m already at Nascent Soul. I’ve long abstained from grains.”

Zhan Yujie’s lashes trembled. Hearing that from Yan Zhichuan’s mouth felt utterly novel.

Yan Zhichuan: “But I need spiritual sustenance.”

Zhan Yujie raised a brow, all ears.

Yan Zhichuan licked her lips, lifting her gaze to Zhan Yujie, intending to name a book. But that peak-snow visage stole her breath; she only managed “Senior Sister…” before trailing off.

All those senior sisters in the stories… they’re just illusions.

Zhan Yujie narrowed her eyes slightly. “What?”

Yan Zhichuan’s mind, stuffed with novels, made her stammer. “Um… Senior Sister… can you let me… have a taste?”

Zhan Yujie drew a deep breath, fearing Yan Zhichuan might lunge to bite her—such things weren’t unprecedented.

She directly revoked Yan Zhichuan’s rest days. “Junior Sister, your spirits are high. Better to cultivate.”

Yan Zhichuan went rigid as if struck by lightning. Moments later, her eyes rolled back, and she toppled straight to the ground.

I’m actually dead.

In Nine Abyss Sect.

Blocked by Zhong Zhanxi, who stubbornly poked at the Heaven-Penetrating Treasure Mirror to message Zhan Yujie and Yan Zhichuan.

Though Yan Zhichuan had the Word Spirit on her, to slay Dong Rong and counter the demon cultivators’ Cave Heaven, her shadow clone had merged with her true body. They could find her in person, but it would alert other sects’ Daoists.

For the first time, she appreciated Zhan Yujie’s cunning. Fuyu Sha had chased her qi traces to over a dozen spots—all dead ends.

Those were all decoys laid by Zhan Yujie.

“Sect Master, Fu Shi, maybe give up?” In the water mirror, Fuyu Sha sounded listless.

Zhong Zhanxi rolled her eyes. “You let her go; you bring her back.”

Fuyu Sha: “…” She’d die unjustly. If she’d known the Sect Master and Fu Shis were aware of Junior Sister Yan’s identity, she never would’ve urged Senior Sister Zhan to flee. She’d thought Nine Abyss Cavern Heaven was just acting eccentric—who knew they truly walked the talk? Harboring a Demon Seed in the sect.

Now that Heavenly Balance Mansion had divined the Demon Seed, they’d come to Nine Abyss soon enough. Then Nine Abyss would be Xuanmen’s public enemy, right? She mused and said, “Please inform the peak stewards: if someone comes collecting debts for me or Senior Sister Zhan, don’t pay.” They’d all be enemies by then—debts written off?

Yan Jizhi shoved Zhong Zhanxi aside. “Yuyu Sha, come back first. Stop searching.”

Zhong Zhanxi: “?”

Fuyu Sha sensed something off. “Something happened?”

Yan Jizhi uttered only two words: “Chongxu.”

Fuyu Sha’s expression shifted slightly. So Lin Hanzhi truly hadn’t honored the Heavenly Dao Oath!

Why hide her headache-inducing junior sisters so well!

After learning of the Demon Seed, Lin Hanzhi hesitated but decided to break her Heavenly Dao Oath and recount everything from Peach Blossom Miasma truthfully. Xuanmen cultivators joked about oaths, but true ones required heaven-earth contracts, personal seals, and Heavenly Dao’s power. Lin Hanzhi’s forest vow wasn’t idle talk. Once truth emerged and oath triggered, half her life was gone—saved only by Chongxu Sect’s three Cave Heaven experts pulling her back from death’s door.

With Chongxu’s younger generation dwindling one by one, Lin Hanzhi’s dire state naturally enraged Jin Posha and Liu Kongsang, who itched to storm Nine Abyss Sect.

Bie Jingque remained composed, having Lin Hanzhi carried away for treatment. She then contacted Yan Jizhi via Heaven-Penetrating Treasure Mirror.

“Junior Sister Yan.” Bie Jingque’s qi was feeble, but her eyes sharp and clear.

Yan Jizhi tugged Zhong Zhanxi, perking up a bit. In their youth, Nine Abyss and Chongxu relations weren’t so poor; their cultivators moved together, and she shared history with Bie Jingque. Gazing at the mirror’s white hair, Yan Jizhi sighed inwardly and returned the salute.

“Doesn’t Peach Blossom Miasma deserve an explanation?” Bie Jingque asked.

“What explanation?” Zhong Zhanxi frowned. “Our sect members nearly perished in Peach Blossom Miasma, and we never heard a word of thanks.”

Bie Jingque wasn’t angered. She smiled mildly, bowing to the projection ahead. “Many thanks to Nine Abyss for your righteous aid.”

Zhong Zhanxi tsked. Bie Jingque was as dull as ever.

Ignoring Zhong Zhanxi, Bie Jingque slowly relayed Lin Hanzhi’s report, then asked, “Does Nine Abyss have anything to say?”

“Probably bewitched by Dian Dang’s spell and saw wrong,” Yan Jizhi said, rubbing her temple wearily.

Zhong Zhanxi took over the talks with Chongxu, flashing Bie Jingque an unfriendly smile. “As for the oath’s backlash… couldn’t it be her lying and suffering heavenly retribution?”

Jin Posha, returning to the hall, overheard that provocative line. She glared at Zhong Zhanxi. “My disciple wouldn’t lie!”

Zhong Zhanxi: “You swore up and down Liu Lizhu wasn’t a demon cultivator before.”

Jin Posha: “…”

Bie Jingque said, “I want to meet little Daoist Yan.”

Zhong Zhanxi: “That hope might fall through.”

Bie Jingque settled for less. “Then, her birth chart.”

Zhong Zhanxi smiled sweetly. “When did you take a job from Heavenly Balance Mansion?”

Bie Jingque’s face stayed stern, unsmiling. “Yan Zhichuan appeared from nowhere—is she truly your Nine Abyss disciple? With Demon Seed manifest, threatening the Roots of Heaven and Earth, this isn’t a joke.”

Zhong Zhanxi lifted a brow. “Appeared from nowhere? We have imprints of Little Zhichuan from infancy to now. Can’t dismiss her just for being unknown.”

Bie Jingque’s face darkened. Even in five hundred years, Zhong Zhanxi would be this impervious deadpan. Annoyed, she said coldly, “Must you let all Xuanmen know, shaming your ancestors?” After learning of Yan Zhichuan’s anomaly from Lin Hanzhi, she hadn’t contacted Li Tianshu but came straight to Nine Abyss. Yet Zhong Zhanxi’s attitude—consistent disdain.

Zhong Zhanxi blurted without thinking, “Our ancestors are already embarrassing enough; what’s a little more?” She immediately earned Yan Jizhi’s cold glare and unsparing kick.

Yan Jizhi looked up, her usually drowsy eyes sharpening in confrontation like a sword unsheathed, radiating chill. “Senior Sister Jingque, doubting and demanding to see her over mere words? No justification. If our Nine Abyss disciples objected, would Chongxu drag everyone before me one by one?”

Bie Jingque paused, then said coldly, “This involves demon cultivators—must be cautious.”

“Fine then.” Yan Jizhi sighed heavily. “One true disciple morally corrupt, another fully demonized under Daoist Liu. I suspect Daoist Liu Kongsang colludes with demon cultivators, grooming spies for Sky Nether City. Please send Daoist Liu over.”

Liu Kongsang: “?” She endured, barely refraining from rude words before her sect master sister.

“Daoist Yan, mind your words!” Bie Jingque’s anger finally ignited by Yan Jizhi and Zhong Zhanxi.

“And please, Daoist Bie, mind yours.” Yan Jizhi smiled faintly, eyes icy. When agreeing to Tan Lianjian’s request, she’d prepared to become Xuanmen’s enemy—they’d walk this lonely path for that possibility.

“She’s pissed,” Zhong Zhanxi said, clinging to Yan Jizhi.

Yan Jizhi, retracting her edge, resumed her weary look, pushing futilely at Zhong Zhanxi before letting her be. Eyes closed: “Ancestor is pissed too.” A pause, then, “Contact Daoist Chang of Myriad Beasts Sect.”