On that day, the blood of the demon race stained every village outside the city of Yutian.
One moment, the demons were grinning wickedly, chasing humans like cats toying with mice, gleefully admiring their expressions of fear and despair. The next moment, their heads were severed from their bodies.
The last sight they saw before their heads rolled off their shoulders was a flash of silver sword light and a pair of cold, emotionless eyes.
Meng Shuying, dressed in a black Taoist robe, wielded a silver spiritual sword, like a death god from the abyss, mercilessly reaping the lives of the demons. She was already at the peak of her cultivation, and combined with her half-demon bloodline, she possessed a natural suppression over the demons. In front of her, the demons were like docile lambs, too frightened to move.
Occasionally, demons with higher cultivation would resist the suppression of her bloodline and attempt to fight back, but they were swiftly defeated by a single move from Meng Shuying. Her speed was too fast, and her strength too overwhelming, far beyond what the demons could contend with.
The cultivators who followed her to evacuate the villagers only saw a flash of black before all the demons had already fallen. They didn't even need to lift a finger.
A young cultivator, filled with admiration, asked, "Will we become this powerful after passing the Immortal Tribulation?"
A senior sister pinched her cheek and said, "What are you thinking? Never mind if we can even reach that point. Even if we do, we won't be as strong as her."
She was Meng Shuying, the ruthless and cold-hearted Meng Shuying who killed demons without blinking.
Thankfully, she stood on the side of humanity, for if she were their enemy, the ones lying in pieces on the ground would probably be them.
A female cultivator cast a disgusted glance at the greenish slime on the ground, then pulled out a jade bottle from her sleeve. After sniffing the Qingxin pill inside, the nausea subsided.
Just looking at the remains made her heart quiver, yet that person didn't even frown. It was hard to imagine how someone so cold and emotionless could be so devoted to her lover.
Thinking of the books in her storage pouch, the female cultivator silently vowed that once this matter was dealt with and she returned to the sect, she would lock herself away for three months to write the second volume of Eternal Ages. Such a poignant love story must be shared with the world!
Unaware that the female cultivator she briefly encountered would be the one responsible for spreading her story far and wide, Meng Shuying was busy heading to the next village, trying to save as many innocent lives as possible from the demons.
As dusk approached, the number of people she rescued grew, and these villagers, overcome with gratitude, inquired of the cultivators about her name, wishing to erect a monument in her honor.
A cultivator raised an eyebrow and wrote her name in bold strokes: Meng Shuying. Then, carefully, they added another name beside hers: Su Luowei.
The villagers, puzzled, asked why. The cultivator smiled and explained, "This is her Daoist partner. When you erect the monument for Senior Sister Meng, be sure to include her partner's name. Otherwise, Senior Sister Meng will not be happy."
As the villagers happily left with the paper, Wen Miaomiao shook her head and tapped Xie Hanzhu on the forehead. "You—"
Xie Hanzhu laughed mischievously, covering her forehead, "Didn't you say that once we become immortals, we can't absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth anymore? We need the power of belief. Since they're going to erect a monument anyway, why not have them honor two people instead of one? After all, Senior Sister isn't an outsider."
As the sun dipped below the horizon and the last rays of light disappeared from the sky, Meng Shuying stopped her relentless slaughter. She turned southward, quietly sensing the ever-closer presence of her Daoist partner, and without hesitation, she sheathed her sword and turned back.
Looking at the bloodstained sword in her hand, she showed a rare expression of disdain and cast a cleansing spell. Once she was clean, she belatedly noticed how strong the scent of blood had become.
She snapped her fingers, summoning a breeze from the mountain and casting a spell to call down the snow. Flakes fell gently, covering the ground and soon burying the bodies of the demons.
As the land turned pure and white, Meng Shuying looked satisfied. Then she turned around, a smile tugging at her lips, and strode forward to greet her Daoist partner.
But that smile quickly froze on her face, for Su Luowei was not alone. Five steps behind her, a monk clad in white robes and with a handsome, serene face followed.
In her past life, Meng Shuying had met this monk once and even fought him, so she still remembered him. She hadn't expected him to be an old acquaintance of her Senior Sister.
Penglai Mountain was far away, and in this life, Senior Sister had never been to Penglai, so it was likely this man was a friend of Ten Directions, not "Su Luowei."
In her past life, Meng Shuying had found a white jade ring in Ten Directions' abode, but the master of Ten Directions had already perished.
If this monk had been a friend of her master, then he must have lived a very long time.
A faint jealousy suddenly stirred in Meng Shuying's heart.
She wasn't envious of his long life but jealous that he had known her master long before she had.
In her past life, her master had never spoken to her about her previous life, her childhood, or her experiences. Other than knowing her master's name was "Ten Directions," Meng Shuying knew almost nothing about her.
Later, she had read many ancient texts and learned of her master's achievements, how she had been the strongest in the human realm, shining light upon all.
Her master was the best person in the world, with a heart so broad that it could accept someone like her. Meng Shuying was proud, admiring, and filled with longing. She had dreamed of meeting the dazzling Ten Directions in person, to share drinks under the moon and talk all night.
So, knowing there was someone who had witnessed her master's radiance long before her, how could she not feel jealous?
Meng Shuying's deep gaze slid over Mingjing, who instantly shivered.
What was going on? His hand hidden in his sleeve wouldn't stop rubbing together. If it weren't for the people around, he might have wanted to blow on them to warm up.
It was so cold. How was it that they hadn't even reached Kunlun, and he already felt so chilled?
Meng Shuying's probing gaze only lingered on him for a moment before shifting to her Senior Sister.
Her Senior Sister was still dressed in a pale white Taoist robe, plain and unadorned, her hair simply tied back with a hairpin behind her ear, exuding an understated yet undeniable beauty.
The day they had parted on Yanmo Peak, her Senior Sister had looked just like this. As Meng Shuying gazed at her, for a moment, she almost felt as if her Senior Sister had never left.
Su Luowei walked through the snow, stopping before Meng Shuying and taking her hand. "Why is there so much snow here?" she asked.
Meng Shuying didn't hide anything and replied frankly, "I dealt with some demons. It got a bit messy, and I didn't want you to be uncomfortable, so I took care of it."
To think that beneath the snow lay the corpses of demons! Mingjing was so shocked he nearly jumped. He had always hated the cold and loathed demons.
Seeing the heavy snowfall, he had assumed Meng Shuying had summoned it to make him uncomfortable. But no, he had underestimated her.
Yes, she was heartless and ruthless! She wouldn't have such childish thoughts. Ten Directions was innocent and pure-hearted—getting involved with Meng Shuying was like a lamb walking into a tiger's den!
Just as he was about to speak, Su Luowei gently brushed a piece of ice from Meng Shuying's hair and smiled, "I see. Thank you, Junior Sister."
The demon clan near Yutian had all been cleared out by Meng Shuying. Disciples of Qingxu Sect and Danyang Alliance ferried injured villagers back to the city on their flying artifacts. Initially, their plan was to escort all the living villagers back, but after the demons were eradicated, they discovered many more villagers had been hiding.
They had hidden in trees, cellars, or crevices between rocks, and once the danger was gone, they cautiously emerged.
With more people, the scene became a bit chaotic as they surrounded the cultivators with faces full of relief for surviving the ordeal. Not fond of being in such crowded places, Meng Shuying had already taken her Senior Sister and left, leaving Mingjing behind.
To be honest, Mingjing preferred dealing with these simple villagers over interacting with Meng Shuying.
Even though the disciples carried flying artifacts, they couldn't accommodate so many people. Led by several village elders, the villagers formed a long line and followed behind the cultivators.
Women and children were at the front, followed by the elderly, and finally, the able-bodied men. Night had fallen completely, and they lit torches, the flickering flames looking like a long, winding dragon.
Mingjing walked at the back of the line. Since his cultivation was the highest, he was tasked with bringing up the rear. At some point, Wen Miaomiao came to walk beside him.
"I didn't expect you to leave Penglai," Wen Miaomiao said suddenly, her tone indifferent. "I remember in the last life, you said you would never leave Penglai, that you would rather die there."
Mingjing turned to look at her, trying to see if there was any mockery in her expression. But her face remained calm, as if she weren't the same person who had once begged him to leave Penglai.
Aware of the mistakes he had made in his past life, which had hastened the demise of the human race, Mingjing couldn't help but feel a bit guilty. With a soft sigh, he said, "I admit I miscalculated in the past. But I also had my difficulties. You humans have two feet, so you can move about freely, but for me, it's different."
From the day he became conscious, his true body had taken root in Penglai Island, never leaving for thousands of years.
Even though his cultivation was now nearly unrivaled, he still couldn't leave his true body for too long. If he did, he would grow weaker with each passing day.
"Oh?" Wen Miaomiao glanced at him. "So, this time... were you persuaded by Senior Sister?"
Mingjing huffed, flicking his sleeve. He didn't confirm or deny it, but his face did look a little sour.
It wasn't that Ten Directions had persuaded him—she had threatened him. She had told him that if he didn't join them in battle, she would have Meng Shuying come personally to invite him.
Heavens knew how much he hated Meng Shuying! In the past life, when Meng Shuying had "invited" him out of Penglai, he had nearly lost half his life! Fortunately, luck had been on his side, and he had found a spiritual vein on Kunlun, which had saved him.
Even so, it had taken him decades to fully recover.
Although Meng Shuying was now married to Ten Directions, with her fierce demeanor, there was no way she'd show him any mercy. Rather than face her wrath again, Mingjing had voluntarily relocated.
The Kunlun Mountains were beautiful, with the added benefit of a spiritual vein. He might as well treat it as a pleasant outing.
Mingjing kept these grievances to himself, stomping more heavily in the snow, the crunch underfoot offering some satisfaction. After walking for a while, he finally muttered, "To be honest, when you first came to me with that plan, I didn't have much hope. I never thought you'd actually succeed. You're truly remarkable."
"It wasn't me who was remarkable." Wen Miaomiao gazed at the endless line of torchlight. "It was Senior Sister. Without her, none of it would've mattered."
Thinking of the silhouettes of Meng Shuying and Su Luowei as they walked away, Mingjing wore a complicated expression. "Sacrificing herself, feeding the demons with her own life... truly worthy of Ten Directions."
Three days later, disciples of the Eastern Pole Sect and Penglai Pavilion finally arrived in Yutian. The four major sects gathered at the base of Kunlun, and after a brief discussion, they decided to split into four groups and sweep through the area, clearing out any remaining demons.
The strongest demon lord, Fuguang, and his close followers had already ascended to the top of Kunlun, but while the remaining demon army was formidable, they weren't invincible.
After bidding farewell to Su Haocang and Zhan Xueying, Su Luowei, Meng Shuying, Wen Miaomiao, and Mingjing began their climb up the mountain. Originally, Xie Hanzhu had wanted to join them, but somehow, Wen Miaomiao persuaded her otherwise, leaving her standing with Zhan Xueying, both of them wiping away tears.
Turning back to take one last look at her parents and friends, Su Luowei waved to them, signaling that they needn't see her off any further.
Su Haocang gave her a firm nod, pulling his weeping wife close and saying gently, "Enough, don't cry anymore. If you keep this up, how will our daughter feel at ease?"
Hearing this, Zhan Xueying immediately wiped her tears, forcing a smile as she waved back at Su Luowei.
Su Luowei returned her smile. "Mother, don't worry. We'll come back safe and sound."
She was holding Meng Shuying's hand, and at that moment, she felt a slight squeeze. Pausing briefly, she added with a smile, "When we return, I have something to tell you."
Ascending Kunlun once again, Su Luowei's mindset had changed completely.
Last time, she had climbed the mountain with Wei Tishao, thinking only of reaching the summit and securing her immortal fate. Along the way, she hadn't paid much attention to the scenery, only noticing how cold and white the snow was.
She hadn't imagined she'd meet her Junior Sister again.
Now, walking along the steep mountain path, she could appreciate the snow-covered peaks, the majestic pine trees standing tall, and the shimmering river in the depths of the mountains, reflecting the sunlight. Occasionally, fish leaped out of the water, carefree and untroubled.
And her Junior Sister was at her side, holding her hand, as they walked together.
Recalling her brief time in the Kunlun Sect, Su Luowei sighed, "Back then, when I closed my eyes in your arms, I opened them and found myself in Yutian. With such distance between here and Qingxu Sect, I thought I'd never see you again."
A smile tugged at Meng Shuying's lips. She glanced at her. "Senior Sister must have been quite sad."
She had certainly been heartbroken, thinking her Senior Sister was dead.
Su Luowei pressed a finger to her chin, pretending to ponder. "Sad, maybe a little. But heartbroken? Not so much."
After all, she hadn't expected nearly two hundred years to pass in the blink of an eye. And at that time, she had no spiritual power left, utterly defenseless, so her immediate priority had been cultivating rather than mourning.
Meng Shuying huffed. "Senior Sister didn't mention it, but I remember Little Shao calling you 'Ali' back then. I've always wondered, was it the 'pear' of a pear blossom, or the 'li' of farewell?"
Su Luowei blinked innocently and then gave a playful smile. "Guess."
"There's no need to guess. It's obviously the 'li' of farewell. Senior Sister was planning to part from me," Meng Shuying mused, then hooked her pinky around Su Luowei's. "But I don't want to part from you, Senior Sister. No matter where you go or what you become, I'll always find you."
A sudden cough came from behind them. It was Mingjing, clearly unable to endure the intimacy between the two any longer.
All three turned their gazes toward him.
Mingjing, momentarily at a loss for words, cleared his throat again, this time using his fist to cover his mouth, trying to mask his awkwardness. But Wen Miaomiao wasn't about to let him off easily. "Is Senior Mingjing perhaps catching a cold?"
Mingjing mentally rolled his eyes. His true body was a tree, and he had never heard of trees catching colds! Outwardly, though, he waved dismissively. "No, no, it's nothing."
Wen Miaomiao, smiling slyly, narrowed her eyes. From her expression, Mingjing could tell she was thoroughly enjoying his discomfort.
Sure enough, Meng Shuying drawled lazily, "Perhaps Senior Mingjing is feeling sentimental."
Feeling sentimental? Mingjing thought about it for a long moment before realizing Meng Shuying was mocking him about their past life. Yes, he had lost to her before, but he hadn't wronged her in this life. Why was she bringing that up now?
Furrowing his brows, Mingjing finally spoke up. "There are only four of us here. Let's speak plainly and stop beating around the bush."
He first turned to Wen Miaomiao. "In the last life, after the demons attacked, you came to Penglai to seek my help, and I refused. I admit that was unfair, but from my perspective, we're not the same species. Why should I care about the life and death of your people? So, even though you didn't save me when she came to Penglai, I never held it against you."
Wen Miaomiao raised her hands innocently. "I wasn't saving myself, I was barely holding on."
Mingjing was left speechless. After all, she wasn't wrong—she had been barely hanging on back then. She truly hadn't had the time to save him.
He then turned to Meng Shuying. "As for you, Meng Shuying, I never wronged you in the last life. Yes, Ten Directions entrusted you to me before she passed, and I failed to keep that promise, but that has little to do with you. At most, I owe Ten Directions a favor."
Meng Shuying's gaze lingered on Mingjing, making him feel a shiver run down his spine, before she spoke slowly. "In the last life, I stood with the demons. Fuguang wanted to eliminate you, but I only drove you out of Penglai. So, in the end, you owe me a favor."
What kind of logic was that?! Mingjing was dumbfounded. Meng Shuying had beaten him half to death, and now she was saying he owed her?
Seeing his disbelief, Meng Shuying added, "Fuguang had planned to deal with you personally, and you know how strong he is."
Mingjing fell silent. He did know Fuguang's strength. As the oldest and most powerful demon lord, Fuguang's abilities were beyond comparison. And as a spiritual creature, Mingjing would have been a great prize for Fuguang. Falling into his hands would have meant a terrible fate.
Wait... was Meng Shuying saying that it was her remaining conscience that saved him in the last life?
Mingjing's feelings were complicated. Very complicated.
He was about to ask more when Meng Shuying abruptly asked him, "You said Ten Directions entrusted me to you in the last life. What did you mean by that?"
Mingjing looked between Su Luowei and Meng Shuying, suddenly realizing, "So, she never told you?" He had always assumed that Meng Shuying's hostility toward him was because of that.
It seemed there had been a huge misunderstanding.
"In the last life, Ten Directions only had a trace of her divine sense left, and she knew she couldn't hold on much longer. So she came to Penglai and asked me to look after you. But because I didn't like your demon bloodline, I refused to take you to Penglai." Mingjing's face showed no shame as he said this.
"I am the purest of all Bodhi trees. Not liking demons is perfectly reasonable, right?" He glanced at Wen Miaomiao, hoping for some support, but she turned away, refusing to engage.
"Purest of all?" Meng Shuying mused, then sighed. "It's because of that kind of thinking that you've been stuck and can't ascend, always half a step away from immortality."
"I don't care anymore," Mingjing replied indifferently. "I've come to realize that becoming an immortal doesn't benefit me. I've got one foot through the door already. As long as Penglai stands, I'll live as long as heaven and earth. And if Penglai falls, I can always step back and enjoy being a carefree spirit."
Meng Shuying asked, "If that's how you feel, why come with us to the mountain?"
"Because no one survives a fallen nest," Mingjing said, bringing his palms together as he softly chanted, "Amitabha." Then he continued, "This time, I don't want to live in constant fear. I need to see Fuguang defeated to put my heart at ease."
Besides Fuguang, many of his followers awaited them at the summit. Mingjing might not be able to defeat Fuguang, but he could certainly deal with those subordinates.
Once they met Fuguang, Meng Shuying and Su Luowei would lead the charge, while Mingjing would stay on the sidelines, ensuring they wouldn't be distracted by lesser foes. In a way, it would be his way of repaying his past debt.
As they continued to ascend, the temperature dropped, and the snow fell heavier. Those with lower cultivation levels needed fire stones to ward off the cold, but the four of them were unaffected.
After some time, the summit of Kunlun finally came into view. They could also see the bloodied figure of Quanyang Zhenren, hanging outside the temple gates, and Fuguang himself, seated casually in the temple, waiting.
Upon seeing the four unexpected visitors, Fuguang lowered his leg from the armrest and lazily dusted off his robe before standing.
"You've finally arrived. I've been waiting for you."
His gaze first fell on Meng Shuying, and a flicker of admiration appeared in his eyes, so similar to hers. "I heard you've passed the Immortal Tribulation. Impressive. Truly worthy of being my daughter."
Meng Shuying remained silent, staring coldly at him.
His attention quickly shifted to the person beside Meng Shuying. "And you must be... Su Luowei?"
It had been so long since he last saw her, he had almost forgotten about her.
No, not forgotten—he had assumed she and Meng Shuying had perished in the Endless Sea.
But not only had she survived, she had also passed the Immortal Tribulation like Meng Shuying. This pleased Fuguang greatly. His face lit up with rare approval. "It seems you had quite the adventure in the Endless Sea. However..."
His brows furrowed as he examined Su Luowei more closely. The longer he looked, the more uneasy he became. For some reason, Su Luowei gave him a strong sense of danger.
In the last life, even when he had faced Wen Miaomiao, imbued with the will of the heavens, he had never felt this way. No matter who he faced, he had always been in control. Even when temporarily at a disadvantage, he had remained confident in his ultimate victory.
But now, for the first time, he felt as if something had gone terribly wrong, as if something had deviated from his plan.
His mind racing, he turned his gaze to the other two at the rear—Wen Miaomiao and Mingjing.
In the last life, he had battled Wen Miaomiao for years. He knew her inside and out. Even if she had turned to dust, he would have recognized her. One glance told him that this Wen Miaomiao had not ascended in this life.
"Hah! Is this your punishment for defying the rules?" His face twisted into a mocking sneer. "Last time, you spent half your life fighting me. This time, I had looked forward to our rematch, but it seems you don't even qualify to face me. And that one with you... that's the Bodhi tree from the Western Sea, isn't it?"
His tongue slid across his lips, and his eyes filled with greed. "I can sense it. You'll be very useful to me. You've saved me a great deal of trouble by coming here."
The demon lord's immense pressure suddenly crashed down, targeting Mingjing. Mingjing felt his breath catch in his throat, and just as he prepared to resist, he was horrified to find his spiritual energy completely frozen.
Damn it, demon suppression! He had always hated demons!
Su Luowei quietly stepped half a pace to the left, shielding Mingjing. Naturally, Meng Shuying wouldn't let her Senior Sister act alone. She directed her will, instantly dispelling the demon lord's oppressive force from Mingjing.
"Hm?" Fuguang frowned in displeasure. "Didn't you bring them to offer them to me?"
How dare they defy him?
"Of course not," Meng Shuying met his gaze without flinching. "I think you misunderstand me."
"The reason I'm here is to take your life."
Fuguang's expression darkened, his eyes narrowing like blades. After confirming there was no hint of jest in her words, he burst into laughter. "Then let's see if you have the ability to do so."