Before darkness descended, the patrolling elder of Danxia Palace finally arrived. He directed his disciples with methodical precision as they began to tidy up the aftermath. Corpses were systematically removed from the withered-leaf cottage, while traces of demonic energy had to be meticulously eradicated. The Huangquan wood could not remain here and needed to be transported back to Danxia Palace. Furthermore, the Bai family had suffered severe casualties; their assets and the power vacuum left behind needed careful management.
However, Bai Siyao paid little heed to these matters. Sitting under the lamp, she meticulously examined the Reincarnation Mirror in her hands. Though her magical energy had been depleted, she could still perceive lingering traces; indeed, it was the Reincarnation Mirror she had seized from the Ziwei Ruins. Therefore, the claims of moving mountains and altering fate were no exaggeration.
With time flowing backward, the shifting of seas and the reversal of stars posed no challenge. The dead could once again walk among the living, and what was lost could still be held tightly. Every mistake could be revisited.
Bai Siyao lifted her gaze to behold her reflection in the mirror. The fourteen-year-old girl bore a youthful face, still marked by innocence and naivety, embodying a sense of fulfillment as if nothing had been in vain. A smile danced across her lips. She disliked evasion and had never considered what it would be like if nothing had happened. Yet now, fortune smiled upon her, and she discovered this feeling to be immensely gratifying! No longer did she need to confront the ugly faces of malice or endure inexplicable hostility. No one pursued her, denouncing her as the great demon. What a splendid life it was!
She had long harbored disdain for those righteous figures, cloaked in a guise of moral integrity while engaging in unspeakable deeds beneath the surface. Now, it was her turn to don this facade.
Returning to her bed, Bai Siyao assessed her inner sanctum. If all this were indeed real, she would need to approach her cultivation with seriousness. In her previous life, when she betrayed her sect, she had ruined her foundational path and was forced to practice demonic techniques, suffering countless hardships. Yet this time, fortune had bestowed upon her a demonic heart from the heavens, and before she had even begun her training, she had become a Gold Core cultivator.
Her dantian remained unscathed, and with the enhancement of her Jade Body, her progress in demonic arts would be remarkably efficient. Moreover, she could establish a new inner sanctum and cultivate orthodox Daoist techniques.
A thought flickered through Bai Siyao's mind. This method seemed feasible? The Jade Body was immune to demonic energy, and as long as she managed the relationship between the two, she could simultaneously cultivate both techniques.
Additionally, she must safeguard the Reincarnation Mirror. Such an astonishing ability to reverse time had depleted its magical essence, but its crafting principles remained intact. If she could restore some of its power, it would undoubtedly serve as a valuable ally in future battles.
She returned the Reincarnation Mirror to her inner sanctum. Having recognized her as its master after she activated it, the mirror had lain dormant within her inner sanctum. Had it not been for her absorption of the demonic heart, which had surged her cultivation and nourished it, it might have taken her much longer to discover its existence.
A peaceful night passed.
The next morning, Bai Menglian knocked on her door. "Second Sister, are you awake?"
Bai Siyao opened her eyes, brimming with vitality after a night of cultivation. Rising, she opened the door to find Bai Menglian and Bai Mengxing, who was carrying a food box.
"I'm glad you're awake; let's have breakfast together," Bai Menglian said with a radiant smile, turning to call out to her brother, "What are you standing there for? Hurry up and bring it out!"
Bai Mengxing replied with a long face, obediently acting as a servant.
Bai Siyao couldn't help but laugh, asking, "Why does Brother have to run errands himself? Can't he just send a maid?"
Bai Menglian replied, "Who would dare trust anyone else at this point? It's best to handle it ourselves."
The three siblings sat down, eating and chatting.
"Here's something for you; eat more to replenish your strength," Bai Menglian said, peeling an egg and handing it to her.
Bai Siyao accepted it with a thank you, but Bai Mengxing interjected, "Eldest Sister, isn't this a bit inappropriate? Second Sister is now a demonic cultivator; wouldn't consuming spiritual food be counterproductive?"
Bai Menglian paused, considering his words. "That seems to make sense... but there's no such thing as demonic food, is there? For demonic cultivators, what's most nourishing is essence blood and spirit souls; we can't very well go catch someone on the street to eat."
"Right, right?" Bai Mengxing exclaimed, feeling triumphant for having made a valid point.
Bai Siyao laughed lightly, "Demonic cultivators can absorb spiritual energy too; it just requires transformation. Don't worry; I can manage it."
"Well, that's good." Bai Menglian continued to peel the egg for her.
Her expression grew somber. "Uncle and Aunt, as well as my parents, are no longer with us. The Bai family will only have the three of us to rely on from now on."
Bai Siyao nodded. "Eldest Brother and Eldest Sister, please take care."
Bai Menglian forced a smile and then turned to reprimand her brother, "When you had your parents, I couldn't interfere much in your affairs. Now that it's just the three of us, I am the eldest sister and have the responsibility to guide you. From now on, you can't act recklessly."
Bai Mengxing shrank back. "Eldest Sister, just worry about me, not Second Sister…"
It was better that he hadn't said anything; once he did, Bai Menglian glared at him. "Second Sister doesn't need managing. Look how well-behaved she is. And you? How dare you compare yourself to her!"
Bai Mengxing sulked, feeling wronged.
Bai Siyao stifled a smile. In her previous life, this matter had not occurred; Eldest Brother had always remained in the Bai family and ultimately died at the hands of their uncle. This time, he was fortunate; with Eldest Sister looking after him, he likely would not meet a tragic end.
"Has anyone from Danxia Palace arrived?" she changed the topic.
Bai Menglian nodded. "According to Master Changling, the three of us will go to Danxia Palace. The Bai family lacks cultivators, and someone needs to take over Qingyun City—of course, the assets left by the Bai family will still belong to us."
Bai Siyao had no interest in power. "Do you both want to go to Danxia Palace?"
Mentioning this made Bai Mengxing's eyes light up. "I want to go! I want to go!"
Had it not been for this incident, his qualifications would surely have failed the assessment. Now, however, being able to go was a fortunate turn of events.
Bai Menglian sighed. "I never thought much about it before. Each day was simply spent working hard on my cultivation, hoping to pass the assessment at Danxia Palace. Now that our parents are gone, it seems that apart from going to Danxia Palace, we have no other path."
Stay in Qingyun City? She was still so young; of course, she wanted to see the outside world.
After saying that, Bai Menglian perceptively sensed something and asked, "Second Sister, you wouldn't have other intentions, would you? You mustn't! Although you've practiced demonic arts, Master Changling has said you are different from those demonic cultivators, and there's no need to go to the Demonic Realm."
Demonic cultivators were universally reviled, yet they had their gathering places. The Demonic Realm of Beiming was one such place, rumored to be filled with demonic cultivators, each a desperate rogue.
Bai Siyao hurriedly replied, "No, I won't go." She had already resolved to don this human facade; how could she willingly abandon her bright future?
Yet…
"Could it be that you don't wish to go to Danxia Palace?" Bai Menglian tilted her head, pondering something.
As a member of the Bai family, entering Danxia Palace was a matter of course. How could she even entertain the question of whether she wanted to go? Unless she truly didn't wish to.
"It's not that," Bai Siyao contemplated her words carefully. "I simply feel that my situation is unique, and the techniques at Danxia Palace may not be suitable for me…"
In this world of xianxia, the sleeves and pockets often represented more than mere physical concepts; they frequently served as spatial storage. When she previously mentioned placing something in her bosom, it was actually retrieved from her inner sanctum.