AUOF - 23

Sang Li still vividly remembered seeing Situ’s figure before entering.

To avoid him lurking outside for her, she sat alone on the steps for a long while, contemplating her next move.

Returning to Modu now was out of the question.

First, the illusionary spell indicated that she was severely injured. On top of that, Yan Jinglou’s plan had failed, leaving him in a foul mood. If she were to go back now to retrieve his blood, it would be akin to walking straight into death. Therefore, this matter couldn’t be rushed.

The pressing priority now was to cultivate and improve her magical abilities so that when she eventually returned to the Demon Palace, she’d have the strength to protect herself.

Since leaving Gui Xu Palace wasn’t an option, and she no longer wanted to remain a mere immortal maid, there was only one path left—joining the Demon Subjugation Guard.

The rules and structure of Gui Xu Palace were relatively clear.

Outer hall disciples were responsible for guarding the gates and handling miscellaneous tasks, while the inner hall was divided into the Medicine Division, the Defense Division, the Punishment Division, and the Demon Subjugation Guard.

Of all these divisions, the Demon Subjugation Guard offered the most freedom.

Disciples of the Demon Subjugation Guard frequently descended the mountain to subdue demons, and every month they had opportunities for practice. If luck favored them and they stumbled upon a hidden realm, gaining strength quickly wasn’t impossible.

Yes.

She was determined to join the Demon Subjugation Guard!

Sang Li slapped her knee and stood up, heading back toward the inner hall.

“Immortal Lord, I have something to discuss with you.”

“Enter.”

Sang Li pushed open the door. “Immortal Lord, I want to—” Her words trailed off halfway as she realized the seat was empty; Ji Hengyu was nowhere to be seen.

Just as she was puzzled, his familiar voice sounded behind her: “Over here.”

Sang Li turned around, realization dawning. “Immortal Lord, may I join the Demon Subjugation Guard? I wish to train and gain experience. Perhaps I’ll even find a way to break the curse, sparing you from having to worry about this matter alone.”

What a great reason, surely Ji Hengyu wouldn’t have grounds to refuse.

He stood in the shadows.

Sang Li couldn’t see his expression; his gaze appeared dark and deep, like bottomless star vortices hidden in the shadows.

“Immortal Lord?”

He stepped forward slowly.

At some point, Ji Hengyu had changed into a black robe, its hem adorned with faint red patterns that swayed with his movements. The jade pendant at his waist jingled softly.

“What did you say?” Ji Hengyu stopped in front of her, staring unblinkingly at her face.

Sang Li felt uneasy and instinctively took a step back.

He closed in, his gaze intense as though he wanted to devour her.

“I… um… that is…” Sang Li, who had been full of confidence moments ago, suddenly became tongue-tied.

Ji Hengyu didn’t rush her, patiently watching her, almost too patiently.

Suddenly—

His fingertips twitched. “Wait for me.”

With those two words, he turned and disappeared back into the inner chambers.

He soon reemerged, speaking gently to Sang Li: “Alright, you may speak now.”

Sang Li: “?”

Though unclear about what had just happened, she felt that Ji Hengyu had become much more normal in an instant. She repeated her earlier statement word for word.

Ji Hengyu listened quietly. “Do you really think… anyone can simply walk into my Gui Xu Palace?”

“Uh.” Sang Li hesitated. “I don’t think so.”

As he approached her, Ji Hengyu continued, “Though Gui Xu lies beyond the celestial realms, it is the throat of the six realms. Listen carefully beneath your feet—thousands of ancient demon gods are imprisoned here. Those who become part of the Demon Subjugation Guard are the ones who stand out through countless trials. Do you truly believe that a simple ‘I want to’ will suffice to shoulder such responsibility?”

Though harsh, his words were undeniably true.

Gui Xu Palace was riddled with karmic afflictions, and every year, disciples of the Demon Subjugation Guard perished—not in battle, but due to the karmic afflictions. Even Ji Hengyu himself was plagued by them, with no solution in sight.

To become a member of the Demon Subjugation Guard required not just courage or superior magic, but an unwavering willpower capable of resisting the invasion of karmic afflictions.

The surroundings were eerily quiet.

It was as if she could hear wave after wave of piercing screams emanating from beneath the ground. Sang Li stiffened her back, feeling more defeated than afraid.

She wanted to change her fate, to grow stronger and carve out a place for herself in this world—but it seemed… it wasn’t as easy as she had imagined.

She had nowhere else to go; becoming a member of the Demon Subjugation Guard was her only path forward. Now that this path was blocked, her resolve crumbled along with it.

Seeing her downcast expression, Ji Hengyu asked, “Your desire to join the Demon Subjugation Guard isn’t solely to break the Silken Thread Curse, is it?”

As if seeing right through her, his eyes were filled with knowing insight.

Sang Li had nowhere to hide, knowing she couldn’t deceive him. She admitted honestly, “I want to become stronger. Once I have enough confidence, I won’t have to continue working for Yan Jinglou.”

Ji Hengyu raised an eyebrow, his smile softening slightly. “It seems I underestimated you.”

“It’s only natural that you underestimated me,” she muttered under her breath. “If I were as powerful as you or Yan Jinglou, I’d look down on others too.”

He chuckled softly. “Are you implying that I spend my days looking down at you?”

Sang Li turned her head away without answering, but her meaning was clear.

“Seven days from now is the Inner Hall Selection Day. If you still wish to join the Demon Subjugation Guard, ask Yuezhu Qing for a registration token. Whether or not you’re chosen depends entirely on your abilities.”

Every year, Gui Xu Palace held an Inner Hall Selection.

On this day, unqualified inner hall disciples were weeded out, and the palace gates were opened wide. If any minor cloud immortals wished to join Gui Xu, they could register for the assessment using a token. Similarly, outer hall disciples aspiring to enter the inner hall could also apply using a registration token.

Among the twelve uppermost palaces, Gui Xu’s selection process was the strictest.

The Selection Day could last up to a month or as short as a week, with random assessment content. Each disciple might face different challenges, ranging from difficult to simple, depending entirely on luck.

Sang Li’s eyes lit up with renewed hope. “Thank you, Immortal Lord. I shall take my leave now.” She hurried out, preparing to ask Yuezhu Qing for a token.

Watching her retreating figure disappear into the distance, Ji Wu emerged, unable to stay silent. [So, are you really going to help her rise?]

Ji Hengyu shook his head. “It’s not about helping her rise. I simply want to see how she plans to oppose Yan Jinglou.”

Ji Hengyu didn’t have much interaction with Yan Jinglou.

His impression of him was still rooted in the incident where Yan Jinglou had attempted to steal the She Tian Soul Pearl. After being discovered, Ji Hengyu had shattered his bones and discarded him at Mount Raksha.

A man as ruthless as that wouldn’t be easy to break free from.

Ji Hengyu flicked his fingertips and noticed the shadow concealed behind the dragon pillar: “Come out.”

Ji Xun reappeared: “Master.”

Ji Hengyu: “Considering this is your first mistake, I won’t punish you. Next time, be more careful and don’t let her notice anything amiss.”

Ji Xun bowed his head and said, “Yes.”

**

Sang Li jogged out of Shuo Guang Hall, intending to take the cable car down to find Yuezhu Qing when suddenly a red figure blocked her path.

She quickly came to a stop, staring incredulously at the girl who had appeared out of nowhere.

Situ, dressed in fiery red robes, stood with her arms crossed, arrogantly sizing her up. “You don’t even know to greet me?”

Realizing the situation, Sang Li schooled her expression and respectfully lowered her body: “Greetings, Divine Maiden.”

“Hmm, rise,” Situ circled around her, her eyes darting all over Sang Li’s figure, seemingly trying to discern something.

Sang Li squirmed under her gaze.

She had assumed Situ would have left long ago, never expecting her to be so patient, waiting outside for nearly half an hour.

“Ji Hengyu seems quite interested in you.”

At these words, Sang Li was so startled she nearly jumped, vehemently denying it: “The Immortal Lord saved me while we were descending the mountain, so I came to pay my respects. There’s absolutely no other meaning.”

Situ glanced at her sidelong: “What are you panicking about? I didn’t say there was anything between you two.”

She continued, “It was my fault last time. I’m here to apologize. Don’t read too much into it.”

Sang Li: “…”

She didn’t believe it.

This girl clearly had ulterior motives.

Sure enough, the next moment, Situ took out an exquisite golden pouch from her storage satchel and tossed it over: “Just some useless trinkets. Take them if you want.”

Sang Li stealthily pinched it.

It was heavy; judging by the feel, it seemed… like spirit stones?

She opened a small gap, and golden light spilled out, nearly blinding her.

Not only were they spirit stones, but also many precious pearls she had never seen before.

“!!!”

This malicious divine maiden had just given her the equivalent of a house!

“Divine Maiden, this is…”

Situ shrugged impatiently, saying, “There are too many useless things, and my storage pouch can’t hold any more. If you don’t want them, toss them—it doesn’t matter.” With that, she turned and left Sang Li with a dazzling and carefree back view.

Sang Li stood dumbfounded, holding the bulging treasure bag.

So… the malicious divine maiden had waited for her so long just to give her gifts?

Naturally, Situ’s intentions weren’t purely altruistic.

She wasn’t foolish or overly familiar, nor would she casually cozy up to just anyone. All of this effort was for her grand plan in the future.

Giving gifts was just the first step; winning hearts was the second.

How to win hearts? How to achieve that?

Situ couldn’t figure it out, so she pulled out the Universal Mirror and typed in—

[How to make a girl fall madly in love with you.]

She sent the query.

Waiting quietly for an answer.

But instead of receiving a reply, a face suddenly popped up.

A handsome, clear-eyed youth hung upside-down from a pine tree, a blade of grass dangling from his mouth, grinning mischievously at her.

Situ rolled her eyes and tried to walk past Li Ningxi.

He relentlessly pursued her: “I didn’t expect the Divine Maiden to be so considerate of her subordinates. Since you have so much stuff, why not give me some too?”

Situ sneered: “Would you like a whip?”

Li Ningxi grinned, saying: “Let me guess the Divine Maiden’s intention. You don’t want to stay in Gui Xu anymore, so you’re trying to win over a pretty immortal maid to charm our lord. If he voluntarily proposes to call off the engagement, that would be the best outcome for you.” He jumped in front of Situ, “Am I right?”

He was mostly correct.

Situ had indeed taken note of Sang Li’s appearance and Ji Hengyu’s special treatment of her. If the two could genuinely fall for each other and voluntarily dissolve the engagement, it would be the best outcome for both Situ and Ji Hengyu.

Even if that didn’t happen, it wouldn’t matter.

As long as Sang Li trusted her, obeyed her commands, and ultimately worked for her, tarnishing Ji Hengyu’s reputation, she could still achieve her goal.

“None of your business,” Situ raised her palm, summoning her Ryūun Whip, “If you don’t leave now, don’t blame me for being impolite.”

Li Ningxi shrugged, “I’m just giving you friendly advice. If you and your group of Celestial Pavilion disciples cause any more trouble, our lord won’t stand idly by. When it escalates to the divine realm, you’ll be the one suffering the consequences.”

Whoosh—!!

A gust of wind from the Ryūun Whip slashed through the air, narrowly missing him. Li Ningxi quickly scampered away.

Situ was thoroughly irritated.

She naturally understood the rights and wrongs of the situation, but compared to that, staying in Gui Xu was the most terrifying consequence.

Situ was the daughter of Di Qi.

Who was Di Qi? A malevolent deity of the six realms who committed unforgivable sins!

When he died, her mother had already been three months pregnant with her.

To evade the punishment of heaven and the pursuit of the divine realm, her mother, the Holy Maiden of the Desolate Waters, fled far from the divine lands, hiding alone in the sunless Abyssal Sea. She slept for nearly three thousand years, and Situ remained in her womb for nearly three millennia as well.

By that point, Situ’s consciousness had matured. She forcefully tore herself out of her mother’s womb.

And by then, her mother had been dead for a hundred years.

Before her death, her mother had used the last dregs of her remaining spiritual energy to protect her, ensuring her safe birth.

The Supreme Venerable One found her and took her in—not out of kindness, but to earn a good reputation across the realms. He bestowed upon her the illustrious title of Divine Maiden, compelling countless immortals to bow before her. But aside from this empty title, she had nothing.

Now, the Supreme Venerable One had left her stranded in Gui Xu, tying her fate to a “waste”—a person considered useless. If trouble were to arise in Gui Xu later, he could easily find an excuse to eliminate her along with the chaos!

Situ was no fool.

She was determined to find a way back to the divine realm—even if it cost her life, she would return!

In Gui Xu, the only person she could exploit was Sang Li.

The problem was, Situ had no idea how to win over a girl’s trust. Aside from throwing money around, she had nothing else of value to offer. So how could she gain Sang Li’s trust and make her willingly work for her?