The young couple sat side by side atop the clouds, leaning into each other as they began recounting the events of the past two years.
Yan Zhen told Yun Xiu everything about the Evil Consort in complete detail.
Yun Xiu was utterly shocked upon hearing it all. She shot him a sidelong glance filled with disdain, as if to say that certain someone accepted comers without discrimination.
“Still, letting Jiu Youyue break free from her bonds isn’t such a bad thing.”
Yan Zhen coughed twice to change the subject.
“I’ve finished my story. Your turn, Yun Xiu.”
Yun Xiu’s experiences were much the same as in her previous life. The main difference was that this time, she and Huangfu Wenqing had sought out the Qingping Sword Saint with a clear purpose. They convinced her remnant soul to merge into the Inheritance Sword, allowing it to survive as a sword spirit.
Thanks to that, Yun Xiu had broken through to the Mystic Venerable Realm within the inheritance grounds and smoothly joined the Evergreen Holy Land.
Unlike her previous life, where she had cultivated in secrecy, this time she revealed the Sword Saint Inheritance at just the right moment. That earned her the qualification to ascend to Holy Lord—or more precisely, the status of Quasi-Holy Lord.
Besides her, the Evergreen Holy Land had one other Quasi-Holy Lord: the Evergreen Holy Son.
The structure of the Seven Great Sacred Lands was roughly similar everywhere, ranked from top to bottom as follows: Holy Lord, Supreme Elders, Peak Lords or Seat Supremes, Holy Sons or Holy Daughters, Elders, Deacons, and Disciples.
The Evergreen Holy Land had lacked a Holy Lord for ages. Its two Supreme Elders remained in seclusion behind the scenes, leaving the Evergreen Seven Swords to handle all major affairs.
The crux of the matter lay in the fact that those two Supreme Elders belonged to opposing factions.
The Remnant Sword Ancestor advocated holding steady and maintaining the status quo. There was no need to force the selection of a new Holy Lord—without the strength to command universal respect, the title would ring hollow.
The Heavenly Sword Old Ancestor, by contrast, believed a leaderless group was a recipe for chaos. Selecting a new Holy Lord sooner rather than later was the wise course, and the Evergreen Holy Son was naturally the most qualified candidate.
This schism influenced the Evergreen Seven Swords as well, splitting them into factions of three, three, and two—with only the First Sword remaining neutral.
Yun Xiu had burst onto the scene midway through, earning her neither uncle’s nor grandmother’s affection. Even with the Inheritance Sword acknowledging her as its master, she couldn’t claim the Holy Lord position. Instead, they bestowed upon her the lesser title of Quasi-Holy Lord.
In her previous life, Yun Xiu had harbored no ambitions for power. She had simply wanted to cultivate quietly within the Evergreen Holy Land. But things were different now. She had to become Holy Lord if she hoped to save the Evergreen Holy Land from annihilation at the hands of the Demon Domain.
The Heavenly Sword Old Ancestor had long since become a lackey of the Asura Heavenly Monarch. His rush to install a new Holy Lord was all about seizing total control of the Holy Land.
Yun Xiu, the reincarnator, and Yan Zhen, who knew the previous life’s script by heart, saw through it all crystal clear.
“For the past six months, the Heavenly Sword Old Ancestor has sent people over nonstop to persuade me to hand over the Inheritance Sword. I’ve refused every time, and I suspect they’re about to resort to force.”
After all, that was exactly what they had done in her previous life.
But the Inheritance Sword had already recognized Yun Xiu as its master, becoming her lifebound sword. Seizing it by force would mean erasing her spiritual imprint—a blow that could shatter her divine soul. And it would be a grave disrespect to the Qingping Sword Saint besides.
Yun Xiu would never yield, no matter what.
“Relax. With me here, if they make a move, we can wipe the whole lot of them out at once. No need for kid gloves or favors… I came specifically to kill the Asura Heavenly Monarch this time. The Peacock Heavenly Monarch is already dead, leaving seven of the Eight Divisions Heavenly Lords. Take out the Asura Heavenly Monarch too, and your burden in the final battle will lighten considerably.”
Yun Xiu frowned slightly, her worry plain.
“You’ll be fine, right? The Asura Heavenly Monarch is a notch stronger than the Peacock Heavenly Monarch.”
“Not by much. And he cultivates the Dao of Slaughter—a straightforward brute. Higher cultivation or not, he’s even easier to deal with than the Peacock Heavenly Monarch.”
“I could ask Sword Saint Senior for help. She’s only a remnant soul, but channeling the Inheritance Sword’s power, she could briefly unleash Mystic Saint Power.”
“Too dangerous. One mistake, and the Qingping Sword Saint dissipates for good. Just lend me the sword instead—it’ll make my stance seem all the more legitimate.”
“…”
Yun Xiu felt a pang of helplessness. In her previous life, she had been powerless against the Heavenly Sword Old Ancestor and his cronies. They had nearly stripped her of her lifebound sword by force until Yan Zhen swooped in to save her.
After reincarnating, she had vowed to stand taller—to face these trials alongside him at least. Yet here she was, still unable to lend a hand.
She had claimed the Sword Saint Inheritance and refined a holy sword, but her cultivation lingered at mere Third-Grade Supreme. The Evergreen Seven Swords and Heavenly Sword Old Ancestor already filled her with pressure, to say nothing of a monster like the Asura Heavenly Monarch.
Each of the Eight Divisions Heavenly Lords wielded uncanny divine abilities. The Asura Heavenly Monarch lacked any fancy tricks, but his raw slaughter power was enough to make ordinary Mystic Saints steer clear.
Even as a reincarnator, Yun Xiu’s progress was lightning-fast by normal standards. Yan Zhen, however, seemed to outpace her still. She couldn’t match his stride.
“Don’t overthink it.” Yan Zhen drew her slender waist into his arm and planted a kiss on her cheek. “Some things are mine to handle.”
Yun Xiu gazed at her beloved in a daze.
His features had matured from boyish handsomeness to rugged allure, his eyes sincere and limpid. He exuded a warmth like fine jade, drawing her in deeper with every passing second.
How could the world hold such a paragon of a man—one who returned her love in kind? It was the blessing of several lifetimes.
“Have you met Wenqing yet?”
“Mm. She led Jiu Youyue and me inside—and I’ve met Sword Saint Senior too.”
“Has Jiu Youyue come as well?”
“Should we head back?”
Yun Xiu nodded. Hand in hand with Yan Zhen, she tore open space and returned to the Vista Pavilion. They arrived just in time to catch Jiu Youyue teasing Huangfu Wenqing, leaving the girl flushed red.
Yun Xiu cleared her throat twice and shot the demoness a narrow-eyed glare.
“Jiuyou.”
Jiu Youyue whirled around. Spotting her senior sister at last, she feigned shock.
“Oh my, Senior Sister! Done with Little Zhen Zhen already? You were quick—Little Sister figured you’d go till morning.”
Yun Xiu’s expression darkened. That demoness was as unfiltered as ever, scattering the tender sentiments lingering in her heart.
She was used to her faux junior sister’s ways, though. All bark on the tongue, but in bed? She begged for mercy plenty.
Feigning ignorance, Yun Xiu replied coolly, “Yan Zhen tells me you’re free now. Congratulations.”
Jiu Youyue beamed.
“Yes indeed! Now us senior-junior sisters can stick by Little Zhen Zhen’s side forever. No more fearing we’ll be torn apart.”
Huangfu Wenqing piped up from nearby. “And me too, Uncle-Master Yue!”
Yun Xiu rolled her eyes at the pair and took a seat alongside Yan Zhen. Huangfu Wenqing reached to pour tea for her master and husband, but Jiu Youyue snatched the pot first.
“Tea for you, Senior Sister.”
Yun Xiu eyed the demoness’s blatant overture with exasperation. She took a delicate sip from the cup before murmuring, “Were they freezing you out, Jiuyou?”
Jiu Youyue’s smile crumbled.
“Senior Sister… Is that really what you think of Little Sister?”
“You tell me.”
“Besides, Sister Cai Lian and Little Sister Zi Ji have been nothing but kind to me. Xian’er too. They’re all good girls—they never looked down on me for my origins.”
Yun Xiu mulled it over and realized she’d worried needlessly. The demoness had a knack for charming crowds, slipping into the fold more smoothly than she ever could.
