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Qingxuan didn’t let Shi Luoyi stay in the bamboo house for long.
Shi Huan was being used as leverage. The illusion was the hope of the Chifeng clan, and the longer it could be maintained, the more Chifeng clansmen would survive in the future.
Qingxuan led Shi Luoyi back to the bonfire and instructed his clansmen to keep an eye on her and Yuewu.
During this time, Qingxuan hardly had a moment’s rest. Occasionally, he would open the illusion to handle newly rescued clansmen. Meanwhile, the younger women of the Chifeng clan whispered among themselves: “What plan does our Young Master have to stop the Divine Lord from attacking the Northern Realm?”
“A Yao and the other children haven’t grown up yet. Hopefully, the illusion can last a little longer.”
A younger girl, uneasy, asked: “Everyone is saying that once the Divine Lord finishes choosing his empress, he’ll reclaim the Northern Realm and purge the traitors of the Shuiling clan. Is the Divine Lord really that powerful? Not even our Young Master can defeat him or hold this place?”
The Chifeng women forced a bitter smile. “The Divine Lord has now merged with his divine soul and reclaimed his strength. No one in the divine realm can stand against him—not just one Young Master, but even several combined wouldn’t be enough.”
This unease spread to the young girl, who twisted her fingers anxiously.
At this point, Shi Luoyi began to believe Qingxuan’s words. He truly needed to defend this place to give his people a chance to survive. He couldn’t allow Bian Lingyu to step foot into the Northern Realm—it made sense why he was so eager to send her away.
Yuewu quietly leaned over and asked Shi Luoyi: “Qingxuan’s plan… doesn’t involve you, does it?”
Shi Luoyi replied: “It does.”
Yuewu’s expression turned worried. “I heard them say that the Divine Lord is especially cruel. Once, a general in the divine realm rebelled and lost. He knelt to beg for mercy, but the Divine Lord crushed his divine soul into nothingness, leaving not a trace behind. He’s like a cold weapon of the divine realm. It’s hard to imagine him cherishing women. Yi’er, maybe you should find a way to escape?”
Shi Luoyi blinked. “A cruel cold weapon?”
She hadn’t expected Bian Lingyu’s reputation to have deteriorated to such an extent—it was almost laughable.
She used to think Bian Lingyu had a terrible temper, cold and harsh, but later she realized how gentle he truly was. Beneath his tough exterior lay a heart waiting for her touch—a heart far softer than anyone could imagine.
“All those are just rumors. He doesn’t kill indiscriminately, nor is he a cruel person.”
“Have you met him before?”
Shi Luoyi nodded. “When he was in the lower realms, he was my Dao companion.”
“…” Yuewu took a moment to process this. “You’re talking about the man who came to the Wandering Sea at the very beginning and transferred divine power to you?”
Shi Luoyi wasn’t aware of this detail, so she was surprised. Yuewu explained: “Back then, he was in so much pain he nearly fell apart, but he still came to see you. After we arrived in the divine realm, however, he never sought you out. And now he’s the Divine Lord of the divine realm?”
Shi Luoyi nodded.
“No wonder Qingxuan wants to send you to him. But he hasn’t looked for you since then, and now he’s choosing an empress—has he forgotten you?” Yuewu snorted. “Men in this world are truly fickle.”
Shi Luoyi shook her head. “Something must have happened to him. If he were truly the kind of person who could forget me, Qingxuan wouldn’t stake the future of his entire clan on sending me to the Divine Temple.”
Yuewu thought for a moment and agreed: “That makes sense. So, do you have any confidence in becoming the empress and making him remember you?”
Shi Luoyi was silent for a moment.
Her last memory was of the tear in Bian Lingyu’s eyes on the Wandering Sea. She had never imagined that one day, he might stop loving her. But if their past had been erased—or if the divine realm had some greater power that ensured he would never love her again—Shi Luoyi didn’t know what she would do then.
Moreover, this matter involved Qingxuan, Shi Huan, and the Chifeng clan. Without knowing the full picture, she couldn’t be sure whether returning to Bian Lingyu’s side would harm him.
Seeing Shi Luoyi’s dazed expression, Yuewu quickly consoled her: “You’re so beautiful. If he’s blind enough not to like you anymore, we’ll go back to the cultivation world. There will definitely be a bunch of cultivators who adore you, and you can pick whoever you want to make him jealous.”
Shi Luoyi was amused by her words, feeling somewhat lighter. She nodded.
Soon, dawn broke in the illusion. After finishing his tasks, Qingxuan returned and said to Shi Luoyi: “Let’s go.”
Shi Luoyi raised her eyes to look at Qingxuan. As far as she knew, Qingxuan was now a rebel general, in direct conflict with the Divine Temple. How did he plan to send her there? Would the temple officials even allow it?
Qingxuan said: “You’ll find out once we leave.”
He didn’t trust Shi Luoyi and feared she might cause trouble during negotiations, so he cast a silence spell on her. Unable to speak, she could only glare at him.
Under her clear, piercing gaze, Qingxuan hesitated for a moment before pulling her up.
He remained silent, barely glancing at her, leaving Shi Luoyi unable to communicate with him through eye contact. Whether it was her imagination or not, she felt that since Qingxuan had mentioned sending her back to the Divine Temple, he had become unexpectedly aloof.
Just yesterday, he had personally dragged her along, but today he handed her over to a Chifeng woman named Diecui.
Qingxuan turned around without looking back at Shi Luoyi even once.
Shi Luoyi was forced to follow them out of the illusion. From afar, she spotted a carriage drawn by a divine bird parked outside the Tianhe River in the Northern Realm.
The divine bird radiated golden divine light, quietly waiting by the riverside.
Several soldiers from the Chifeng clan surrounded the carriage, holding it hostage.
The Divine Temple was indeed choosing an empress. Houmi had gone to great lengths to ensure this selection would prevent future Divine Lords from repeating past mistakes. Any eligible divine maidens of virtue and beauty across the divine realm could participate. Houmi even sent temple officials to escort candidates personally.
Inside the carriage sat a young divine maiden, nervously clutching the sleeve of a female official. The official patted her hand gently: “Don’t be afraid.”
The temple official stepped down from the divine carriage. Her long hair was adorned with a ceremonial crown, and golden divine patterns were embroidered on her shoulders. Seeing Qingxuan, her expression darkened.
“Lord Qingxuan, is this your blatant challenge to the authority of the divine realm?”
Behind Qingxuan stood members of the Chifeng clan. Hearing this, he responded calmly: “Not at all. Houmi himself declared that any suitable maiden from across the divine realm may participate in the selection. Our Chifeng clan also has a worthy candidate. We humbly request that you take her to the Divine Temple.”
The temple official sneered inwardly.
The Chifeng clan held a lowly status. Although Qingxuan, as the child of Zhonghao, once held respectable standing, he had since fallen into disgrace as a rebel general. How dare he suggest sending someone from the Chifeng clan to the Divine Temple?
The official intended to refuse outright, but just as she opened her mouth arrogantly, Qingxuan shot her a cold glance. Turning her head, she saw the weapons in the hands of the Chifeng warriors silently inch forward. Qingxuan’s face remained impassive as he stared at her indifferently. Frowning, the official knew that even Zhonghao had failed to defeat him. Avoiding further confrontation, she decided to retreat with the maiden in the carriage first, saying: “My duty is only to escort the candidates. I cannot guarantee anything beyond that.”
“Naturally,” Qingxuan replied, raising his hand. Someone quickly handed him a contract.
“I’ve heard that Houmi promised that if a maiden chosen for the selection becomes the empress, the Divine Temple will grant one condition within its power. If that’s true, then seal it.”
Indeed, there was such a promise. This was the glory bestowed upon the family of the future empress by the Divine Temple—whether it be land, honor, or divine power, Houmi and the others were generous in their offerings. The official took the contract and read it. It stated: “If the maiden sent by the Chifeng clan is selected as empress, the Divine Temple pledges that no attacks will be launched against the Northern Realm within a year, and the Divine Lord shall not enter the Northern Realm for the same period.”
The official: “….” She didn’t dare to stamp the seal or make such a promise on behalf of the Divine Temple.
But it didn’t matter—Qingxuan would help her. He raised his hand, and someone forced the temple official to stamp the Divine Temple’s seal on the contract.
Qingxuan collected the signed contract and ordered his people to release the official: “Alright, you may leave.”
The official gritted her teeth but managed to ask: “May I know which maiden you wish me to escort to the Divine Temple?”
“Ah, almost forgot. Diecui.”
Diecui quickly brought Shi Luoyi forward. When the official saw her, she froze. Before her stood a young girl in a dusty pink gown, her fair cheeks smudged with dirt. She didn’t look like a candidate for empress selection; rather, she resembled a hostage.
Even so, her beauty was no less striking than the noble maiden already in the carriage.
Though bound, her eyes were clear and bright, glaring back at Qingxuan with evident frustration.
Diecui helped Shi Luoyi into the divine carriage. Smirking faintly, she said to the official: “We trust you’ll take good care of our person and safely deliver her to the divine realm. Otherwise, news of your abduction will surely bring shame upon you, just like those traitors of the Divine Temple.”
“…”
The official clenched her jaw. She was certain this girl wouldn’t be chosen as empress. Once delivered, she planned to act as if nothing had happened, confident that Shi Luoyi would soon be sent back.
Shi Luoyi sat in the divine carriage, while the other divine maiden already inside looked at her with suspicion and fear. Shi Luoyi knew the girl was terrified—she must have appeared like someone who had escaped from a bandit’s den—but she couldn’t explain herself due to the silence spell still binding her.
—Qingxuan hadn’t lifted the spell! Whether he did so intentionally or not remained unclear.
As the carriage departed from the Tianhe River, the figures of Qingxuan and Diecui gradually faded into the distance.
On the other side of the Tianhe River, Diecui glanced at Qingxuan: “Young Master, let’s return.”
“Mm.”
Diecui cast one last look at Shi Luoyi. The pink gown she wore was now dirty—it had been the same set of divine maiden’s robes Qingxuan had brought back last month when collecting spirit dew.
The winds of the Northern Realm, which had howled ceaselessly, finally fell silent today.
Qingxuan returned to the bamboo house to reinforce the illusion around Shi Huan. Yuewu leaned against the doorway, noticing the bite mark on Qingxuan’s hand.
It was unmistakably a human bite.
Seeing her peeking curiously, Qingxuan said coldly: “I cannot open the passage to the lower realms right now. If you wish to return, you’ll have to wait longer. Once Shi Huan awakens, Bian Lingyu will unlock the Demonfall Pool.”
Yuewu blinked, blurting out: “Are you insane? Since when have you been so generous?”
Qingxuan shot her an icy glare.
Startled, Yuewu shrank back, clutching her chest fearfully.
That evening, A Yao emerged from the illusion.
The little girl had died again in the trial grounds that day, yet there was no trace of dejection on her face. Spotting her Young Master beneath the Heavenly Fire Tree, A Yao clutched her garment tightly and ran over, returning the vial of spirit dew to him.
“Young Master…”
Qingxuan lazily glanced at the vial: “Didn’t I give it to you?”
“I’d rather save it for Sister. She needs it more than I do.”
“What do you know? She won’t need it anymore.”
A Yao blinked, unable to comprehend his meaning. Qingxuan tossed her back into the trial grounds: “Mind your own business.”
Once A Yao’s figure disappeared, Qingxuan lowered his gaze to the bite mark on his wrist. Without hesitation, he raised his hand and erased the last traces of it.
He lifted his head, gazing out at the endless night before him—a barren expanse of red earth littered with white bones.
________________________________________
Several days later, the temple official arrived at the Divine Temple. After much deliberation, she dared not conceal what had transpired in the Northern Realm and went to report to Elder Houmi and the Divine Lord.
Bian Lingyu was inside, purging demonic energy.
Houmi waited outside, originally intending to report on the former empress imprisoned in the Skywalking Abyss. However, upon hearing the official nervously recount the events in the Northern Realm, Houmi asked: “You’re saying that Qingxuan orchestrated the hijacking of the divine carriage simply to demand you escort a woman back to the divine realm?”
The official flushed with shame: “Yes.”
Houmi was usually broad-minded and gentle-tempered, but the mere mention of “Qingxuan” irked him. Back then, he had foolishly admired Qingxuan’s potential, nearly allowing him to become empress. Now, not only had Qingxuan turned renegade, but he also had the audacity to send someone to the Divine Temple!
Houmi pressed his fingers to his forehead: “What kind of woman is she?”
The official replied: “She doesn’t appear to be from the Chifeng clan—no marks on her body. She can’t speak; it seems she’s under a silence spell. Her clothes are dirty, but… she’s very beautiful.”
Houmi pondered deeply, puzzled by Qingxuan’s intentions. Fearing some hidden scheme from the Chifeng clan, he was about to order the official to detain the girl for observation when a figure quietly emerged from the inner chamber.
Bian Lingyu stood there, having likely overheard the entire conversation.
Houmi bowed respectfully, and the official hastily lowered her head: “Divine Lord.”
Bian Lingyu spoke coldly: “Expel her from the Divine Temple.”
The official blinked, realizing he referred to the girl. She quickly bowed her head: “Yes.”
Houmi glanced at the aloof Divine Lord, understanding that Bian Lingyu had likely heard their earlier exchange. Hesitating, Houmi asked: “Shouldn’t we observe her first? What if Qingxuan has some plot…?”
“A month from now, I will personally go to the Northern Realm.”
Houmi understood Bian Lingyu’s meaning. By going himself, the Northern Realm would cease to exist, rendering any of Qingxuan’s schemes useless. After dealing with the rebellion in the Northern Realm, Bian Lingyu planned to journey to the Sacred Birthplace to purge the demonic core within him.
No one knew how long that journey would take. Fearing further complications, Houmi and the seven Great Priests urgently pushed forward with selecting an empress for Bian Lingyu.
This process should have taken place over a decade ago when Bian Lingyu came of age. In recent days, Houmi had been overseeing the arrangements, dreading Bian Lingyu’s displeasure. Yet, despite witnessing the changes in the divine realm, Bian Lingyu showed no reaction.
It seemed as though Houmi and the others could choose anyone, and Bian Lingyu wouldn’t object. His indifference was absolute.
He no longer favored anything—not since his return from the Skywalking Abyss. Emotionless and detached, he was the perfect embodiment of a divine being. As his former teacher, Houmi couldn’t help but feel that Bian Lingyu had been happiest when he still remembered that person, even if it brought him pain. Back then, he had been obstinate and naive, repeatedly transferring divine power to her.
For the first time, Houmi hesitated, wondering if he and the Great Priests had made a grave mistake.
But it was too late to undo their actions. Where could they find the girl from the Wandering Sea now? They could only press on, hoping the Divine Lord might consider someone else.
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