Chapter 64: Merging Three Chapters Plus

Chapter 64: Merging Three Chapters Plus

He Qingxin followed Xie Xuanran, traveling by sword.

There was a teleportation array from Floating Cloud Island to Crane Island, but He Qingxin suffered from teleportation sickness, even worse than sword travel sickness, so they had no choice but to settle for the latter.

Fortunately, the distance wasn't too far. He Qingxin, embracing Xie Xuanran’s lean waist from behind, was quite handsy along the way, though they arrived at their destination before she had her fill.

On this journey, He Qingxin found it astonishing how suddenly Xie Xuanran had become so compliant.

Today, he even put her shoes on in front of so many people. Had Xie Lan finally lost his mind?

When they landed, He Qingxin still clung to Xie Xuanran, curious to see how he would react.

Xie Xuanran didn’t leave in embarrassment. Instead, after standing for a while, he removed He Qingxin’s hand from his waist without looking at her, saying, “Class first.”

“What does that mean?” He Qingxin asked, raising an eyebrow. “Are you okay with this or not? Give me an answer.”

“Look at all these handsome young masters here today. If you don’t agree, don’t delay me from finding someone else.”

After saying this, He Qingxin started walking towards the disciples. As expected, after only a few steps, Xie Xuanran grabbed her shoulder but still avoided her gaze, asking, “What exactly… are you thinking?”

Before He Qingxin could reply, Xie Xuanran immediately said, “Eloping is not an option.”

He Qingxin knew eloping was out of the question; how could these fools let her escape easily? The original character, Yuan Wanrou, managed to escape once but was captured by demons and died in the Demon Realm.

“Come pick me up after class. I want to go to the cafeteria for food, then return to Sealing Spirit Palace with me,” He Qingxin said with interest, looking at Xie Xuanran. “Tonight, we can discuss the mysteries of life.”

Xie Xuanran: “...What?”

He Qingxin smiled without a word.

“Just say if you agree or not,” she flirted, poking his waist.

Unable to handle it, Xie Xuanran immediately grabbed her wrist. His expression was hidden by the mask, but the tips of his ears were visibly flushed.

He said, “Alright.”

His agreement, not knowing exactly what he was consenting to, was absolute.

He Qingxin had no intention of being polite. Xie Lan, playing the coward, had sent her a life-sized doll for amusement, and she was determined to make the most of it.

As Xie Xuanran agreed, a quarrel broke out among the celestial leaders in the highest hall of Crane Island, atop the head of the celestial crane.

The debate primarily revolved around accusing Xie Lan of guarding his own theft, lacking fairness, but beyond that, they dared not provoke him further.

In summary, they unanimously disapproved, putting Xie Lan on a high moral pedestal, forbidding him from participating.

“Sect Master Xie, forgive my frankness, but we trusted you to guard the container of the Earth Essence Gold Marrow Beast. Why must you now intervene?”

Xu Heran, despite being of Xie Lan’s bloodline and hence part of his clan, was indignant. Even within the merfolk, it was not uncommon for someone to challenge the merfolk emperor foolishly.

Xie Lan glanced over with cold eyes, one like a frozen wasteland, the other like an endless abyss.

Just one look at Xu Heran, and her soul seemed to freeze, rendering her speechless.

Others in the room who had been murmuring complaints, including some accusing Xie Lan of having no bottom line, with his son and wife getting too close, were silenced.

After seeing Xu Heran silenced by just a glance, the smaller sect leaders also resigned to anger without voice.

In the cultivation world, might often prevailed over right. Even the formidable Sang Yanchen was supported by many sects in his quest to unify the three realms due to his strength.

Once the dispute was quelled, Xie Lan controlled his avatar Xie Xuanran to escort He Qingxin into the lecture area.

The layout of Crane Island differed from Floating Cloud Island, characterized by low buildings and few terraces. Each of the crane's wings was a floating stone platform, spacious and ideal for gatherings.

The Taoist exchange was set on the right wing of Crane Island. The giant wing-shaped stone platform was covered by an enchantment, under which the runes glinted like swimming golden dragons in the sunlight.

Numerous tables and cushions were arranged in an orderly fashion, with no paper or pens, only the disciples' magical tools and weapons.

The participating disciples were divided into several levels. The exchange on the left wing was for higher-level disciples, while this right-wing event was for mid to low-level ones.

The disciples, dressed in robes embroidered with their sect's totems, were seated in their designated areas, disciplined like well-behaved students who don’t pass notes in class.

Their seats encircled a slightly elevated stone platform in the center, where a significant number of disciples attentively listened to a celestial leader lecturing.

As He Qingxin landed from mid-air, she couldn't help but laugh, observing how they all nearly had their hands behind their backs, sitting upright like schoolchildren.

"Do they have to raise their hands to speak next?"

Just as He Qingxin was thinking this, someone indeed raised their hand to speak.

“Venerable Zi Huang, could you repeat the fire control technique you just demonstrated?”

“We understand how to use spiritual energy to gather the inner fire in our hands for use in weapons or combat. What we really want to learn is the technique you used earlier to project your spiritual form using fire!”

After the cultivator finished speaking, many others echoed the sentiment.

As Xie Xuanran led He Qingxin to her seat, situated somewhat towards the back in the middle, she recognized a few familiar faces of mid to low-rank disciples from Yunqi Palace around her.

Some in the crowd glanced her way, while others continued to clamor for Venerable Zi Huang to demonstrate again the projection of spiritual form using internal fire.

Cultivators’ physical appearances are external, but reaching a certain level allows them to amplify and even manifest their spiritual form in combat.

A person's appearance and spiritual form can differ greatly; some may appear ordinary yet possess stunning spiritual forms.

Others might have beautiful or handsome appearances but possess ugly spiritual forms, even hunchbacked or deformed.

There's a saying, 'The face is the mirror of the mind.' In the cultivation world, one's appearance can be altered with various elixirs, but the spiritual form, born of the heart, is immutable.

Moreover, sustaining a spiritual form consumes vast amounts of spiritual energy. Few use it in combat, and even fewer reveal it in public unless it's more impressive than their physical appearance.

Essentially, it's used to show off on certain occasions.

Despite its superficial nature, many are fascinated by it. In the current cultivation world, despite the separation of humans and demons, there are no taboos against intermarriages, and most demons are benign. The few malevolent ones wandering among humans are quickly exterminated.

Many cultivators have mixed human-demon lineage, as such lineage often grants superior spiritual roots.

However, mixed blood usually means retaining some demonic traits, making it challenging to reach the pinnacle of cultivation, with many stuck at intermediate levels.

Despite this, many still choose to marry demons for offspring with longer lifespans than humans.

Those with demonic lineage typically have cool spiritual forms.

Like the Venerable Zi Huang on the stage, her spiritual form was a majestic phoenix ready to take flight, and her spiritual root was fire. Her recent demonstration of the fire phoenix truly captivated the mid and low-rank disciples.

At this moment, He Qingxin took her seat. After Xie Xuanran had escorted her, he nodded to the Venerable speaking on stage and then left.

Before leaving, he glanced at He Qingxin, who flirtatiously winked at him. This caused Xie Xuanran to pause in his sword mounting motion before swiftly flying away.

Venerable Zi Huang appeared gentle and lovely, with beautiful features and a pair of delicate, long yet not sharp phoenix eyes.

“Very well, I will demonstrate it again,” she said in a pleasant voice.

However, He Qingxin hardly spared her a second glance. She wasn't truly there to attend the class; her goal was to find the hidden troublemakers in the crowd.

Venerable Zi Huang began to gather the spiritual fire in her palm again. The flame grew into a giant fire egg, almost as big as a person. To the astonishment of the disciples, it suddenly burst into a massive fire phoenix, as large as two houses, with a fiery tail trailing behind as it soared into the sky.

“Wow!”

“Venerable Zi Huang is so impressive!”

“I can feel the heat of the phoenix…”

Accompanied by a distant cry, the gigantic fire phoenix circled above their heads. The mid to low-rank disciples bowed in awe under the ancient creature's majesty and Venerable Zi Huang's vast spiritual power.

Ordinarily, such a visually stunning display would captivate all the disciples, but He Qingxin noticed that despite the grand spectacle, some were sneakily observing her instead of the phoenix.

These few were not too far from her position.

Narrowing her eyes slightly, He Qingxin touched He Jixiang in her sleeve, preparing to use her beloved pet to investigate these suspicious individuals.

Suddenly, she felt an intense heat rushing towards her. Turning her head, she saw the formidable fire phoenix, which had been circling above, now diving towards her with its flaming jaws wide open!

Caught off guard and with no time to react, He Qingxin, whose cultivation was akin to an ordinary person and without any mental preparation, was helpless.

At the same time, the anxious celestial leaders in the hall, who had been watching closely, rushed towards He Qingxin with their avatars, intending to shield her from this imminent danger.

However, as powerful as their true forms might be, their avatars were still inferior. In the brief moment it took for them to mobilize their avatars, the phoenix was about to engulf He Qingxin’s head.

“What is happening? Which sect does this lecturer belong to?!” There was an uproar in the Crane Top Hall.

Xie Lan instantly disappeared from the hall, transforming into a wisp of faint light and rushing directly towards He Qingxin.

But everyone was a step too late.

Just as the fiery tongues from the phoenix were about to reach He Qingxin’s hair, the small chicken in her hand and the immense power of the Earth Essence Gold Marrow Beast hidden within her body, feeling threatened, rapidly heated up.

Then, they burst forth from He Qingxin’s body, intertwining into a shield of countless golden lights in mid-air, enveloping her completely.

The phoenix, with its gaping beak, collided with this shield, creating a loud boom. The phoenix let out a long cry before shattering into myriad sparks that fell around He Qingxin.

Venerable Zi Huang, who controlled the fire phoenix, spat out blood from the impact on her spiritual form. Her previously gentle demeanor vanished, replaced by a fierce gaze directed at He Qingxin!

Meanwhile, four or five cultivators from different sects rushed to He Qingxin’s side, each spreading their arms protectively, resembling a game of eagles catching chicks, shielding He Qingxin behind them.

The scene was quite... comical.

He Qingxin, holding her beloved He Jixiang, remained calm throughout, her hair not even stirring.

Only after Venerable Zi Huang’s spiritual form disintegrated before her, and the cultivators tumbled awkwardly onto He Qingxin’s table, did she raise an eyebrow and move back slightly.

She looked at the group with evident disdain.

“What era is this to still play the hero saving the beauty?”

“A bunch of fools.”

Xie Lan, who had reached just outside the barrier, didn’t need to intervene upon sensing the activation of the Earth Essence power.

Realizing He Qingxin was unharmed, he didn’t land but remained invisible above the barrier, observing her from a high vantage point with a complex expression.

Xie Xuanran, who had just left, returned quickly with two disciples from the Punishment Hall, heading towards Venerable Zi Huang.

Venerable Zi Huang, still glaring fiercely at He Qingxin's direction, pointed at her and exclaimed, “She harbors the power of the Earth, just like the former Demon Sovereign, carrying the Earth Essence Gold Marrow Beast! She will surely become a calamity in the future!”

“What are you waiting for! While she is defenseless, kill her to prevent future troubles!”

“Kill her!”

As Venerable Zi Huang tried to incite the crowd further, Xie Xuanran unsheathed his Lamenting Sword and struck directly towards her.

Sword light flew wildly, and a heavy aura emanated from Xie Xuanran. Although Venerable Zi Huang was far more advanced in cultivation, she fought haphazardly, and within a hundred moves, Xie Xuanran's sword pierced her ribcage.

Then, he quickly formed seals with his hands and pressed a palm charged with righteous energy onto Venerable Zi Huang’s skull.

Venerable Zi Huang lost her ability to resist and, after shaking her head violently, rolled her eyes back as if her soul was extracted, falling unconscious.

Meanwhile, Feng Xi, who had used dark magic to temporarily seize Venerable Zi Huang’s consciousness, was harshly impacted by the broken formation and backfire, coupled with an attack that severely wounded her. She spat out a mouthful of thick black blood.

Then she opened her eyes, filled with madness.

She had succeeded!

Feng Xi had heard all the celestial leaders' secret plots that day. They intended to keep the cultivation world in the dark and then, with various schemes, pursue Yuan Wanrou, elevating her to a pedestal?

In her dreams!

She intended to let the entire cultivation world know that Yuan Wanrou, like the Demon Sovereign Sang Yanchen, harbored the Earth Essence Gold Marrow Beast and was an emerging evil force destined to upset the world!

Soon, both the righteous and the demonic factions would swarm towards Yuan Wanrou, but their intention would be to tear her apart!

If she couldn't obtain the Earth Essence Gold Marrow Beast in a short time, she certainly wouldn't allow those celestial leaders to truly elevate Yuan Wanrou.

Feng Xi remembered the initial period after Yuan Wanrou’s death when the Earth Essence Gold Marrow Beast transferred to her. How much hurt and suspicion had she endured?

Shortly after leaving, Xie Xuanran returned, accompanied by two disciples from the Punishment Hall, heading towards Venerable Zi Huang.

Venerable Zi Huang, still glaring aggressively in He Qingxin's direction, pointed at her and accused, “She harbors the power of the Earth, just like the former Demon Sovereign with the Earth Essence Gold Marrow Beast! She is destined to become a calamity!”

“Why are you all hesitating! While she's defenseless, kill her to prevent future troubles!”

“Kill her!”

As Venerable Zi Huang attempted to further incite the crowd, Xie Xuanran's Lamenting Sword unsheathed and slashed towards her.

The sword flurry exuded a heavy aura from Xie Xuanran. Although Venerable Zi Huang’s cultivation was much higher, her fight was full of flaws. Within a hundred moves, she was impaled by Xie Xuanran’s sword.

He then swiftly formed a seal with his hand and pressed it against Venerable Zi Huang’s skull, enveloping her in righteous energy.

Venerable Zi Huang lost her resistance, then shook her head violently as if her soul was extracted, and fell unconscious.

Meanwhile, Feng Xi, who had temporarily controlled Venerable Zi Huang's consciousness using dark magic, suffered the backlash of the broken spell. Struggling with the counterattack and the assault, she coughed up thick black blood.

Opening her eyes filled with madness, she realized her plan had worked.

Feng Xi had overheard the celestial leaders' secret plans. They intended to conceal the truth from the cultivation world and pursue Yuan Wanrou, placing her on a pedestal.

In her dreams! She was determined to let the whole cultivation world know that Yuan Wanrou, like the Demon Sovereign Sang Yanchen, harbored the Earth Essence Gold Marrow Beast, an emerging force of evil.

Soon, both the righteous and demonic factions would target Yuan Wanrou, intending to tear her apart.

Feng Xi, unable to withstand the strain of controlling a person with higher cultivation and being hit hard by Xie Lan's righteous energy, suffered severe internal injuries, with many of her meridians torn.

Yet, in her soundproofed bedroom, she laughed low and hoarsely, her laugh sinister and dark.

Next, the entire cultivation world, including the demonic faction, would swarm to tear Yuan Wanrou apart!

Feng Xi only needed to wait, as in her previous life, for Yuan Wanrou to meet her end at the right moment, then appear after her death. Once Yuan Wanrou died and the Earth Essence Gold Marrow Beast had no emotions or desires to feed on, it would transfer to her.

Then, even Xie Lan, for the sake of the world, would come to her side to care for her.

Feng Xi was certain that Xie Lan would eventually return to her side!

After laughing for a while, she hurriedly took out a bottle and poured the healing pills into her mouth.

She needed to recover quickly and appear normal, or else she would be discovered as the puppeteer behind everything. Xie Lan, incredibly sharp, must have already realized that Venerable Zi Huang was being controlled!

Following her severe injuries, she forcefully ingested the potent healing pills, causing a violent surge of spiritual energy through her meridians.

While the pills rapidly repaired her, the scars on her meridians remained, leaving her in excruciating pain even as she regained a semblance of normalcy.

Writhing in agony on the ground, she spat out mouthfuls of black blood, her face twisted in a grotesque smile.

Her prospects of further cultivation in this life were now bleak.

Only someone as desperate as Feng Xi would choose a path that harmed her as much as her enemies.

She always believed she could obtain the Earth Essence Gold Marrow Beast as in her previous life, thinking the injuries on her meridians could be healed later.

With the Earth Essence Gold Marrow Beast, these injuries would be trivial.

Meanwhile, Xie Xuanran handed the unconscious Venerable Zi Huang over to the Punishment Hall disciples and quickly walked towards He Qingxin.

A group of disciples silently rose from their seats and gathered around He Qingxin.

Some even discreetly drew their swords halfway, warily encircling He Qingxin.

Venerable Zi Huang was not an obscure figure in the cultivation world.

Highly respected, originally a solo cultivator who later joined the No-Duality Realm, she was known for her maternal gentleness, protecting disciples of every sect and even mortals during their trials. She spent years exorcising evil spirits and was a guardian to many sect disciples.

Her prominence was the reason she was the first to speak at today's lecture.

Her words held weight; hearing her accusations, the disciples of various sects first doubted and then developed hostility towards He Qingxin.

If they sensed any demonic aura from her akin to the former Demon Sovereign Sang Yanchen, they would not hesitate to draw their swords against her.

Sitting there with a small chicken in her palm, He Qingxin mused that the drama had ended before it even began...

"What kind of quality control do these old tortoises have? How did a spy manage to infiltrate this place?"

"Revealing her identity so early, how are we supposed to proceed with the plan?"

He Qingxin was somewhat displeased, having guessed that the person blocking her path and surrounding her tightly was likely the incarnation of the simple-minded Zuo Xinyuan.

"It's too easy to recognize him; his chest is really big."

At this moment, Xie Xuanran had already reached He Qingxin, extending his hand to pull her out of the encircling crowd, heading towards the outskirts of the lecture area.

Although disciples from various sects were suspicious of He Qingxin, and even harbored hostility towards her due to Purple Phoenix Immortal Venerable's words, they couldn't intervene on the territory of Yunqi Palace, especially not against a disciple from the Punishment Hall.

Those who had heroically rushed to her rescue now exchanged glances, each huffing coldly, filled with dissatisfaction.

In the Crane Top Hall, the immortals were arguing heatedly again, this time directing their ire at Zuo Xinyuan, questioning the intentions of his subordinate.

"Sect Master Zuo’s disciple has done this; shouldn’t we get a reasonable explanation for our fellow cultivators?"

"Exactly, I've always doubted that Purple Phoenix Immortal Venerable. She acts saintly but always seemed dubious. Out training, she helps disciples from all sects, pretending to be some sort of saint. And now, for her own selfish desires, she jeopardizes our plans!"

"Who informed her about the woman possessing the Earth Core Marrow Beast? She shouldn’t have access to such classified information!"

"Isn’t Sect Master Zuo going to explain this?!"

"It wasn’t me who told her! I only sent a message back about the Dao exchange meeting. It was her own decision to come here to clarify doubts and teach the disciples."

"Besides, Purple Phoenix Immortal Venerable is highly respected by disciples of all sects. It's impossible that she acted out of selfishness. Her behavior was entirely out of character, almost as if she was possessed!"

"Stop shirking responsibility! This is Yunqi Palace, layered with formations. How could a demon possess anyone here?"

A group of people hurled accusations at Zuo Xinyuan, who, despite his loud voice, was overwhelmed by the barrage. This time, indeed, it was an issue with someone under his command, but even Zuo Xinyuan himself was clueless about what had happened.

Soon, Xie Lan returned from outside, and as he entered the hall, it was as if a layer of frost had settled over everyone.

The once-vocal crowd was now silenced, their voices dropping several tones, subdued by the chill.

Yet, their eyes still bore resentment towards Zuo Xinyuan. Now, everyone knew about the Earth Core Marrow Beast within the female cultivator, and even she was aware of it.

Their plan was ruined!

Upon entering the hall, Xie Lan addressed the crowd: "Venerable Zi Huang was not possessed by a demon, but temporarily ensnared by a dark spell with a demonic pact. I’ve severely injured the perpetrator following the spell on her. Now, we just need to lock down Yunqi Palace and search for someone with serious injuries to identify the culprit."

Although people often doubted Xie Lan, his words carried significant weight in such critical moments.

The entire Yunqi Palace was sealed off, and even the mid and low-level disciples attending the lecture were confined to their spots, not allowed to leave.

A thorough inspection began inside Yunqi Palace. Most people, unaware of the actual situation, were told that an important magical artifact had been lost.

Meanwhile, Xie Xuanran had already escorted He Qingxin back to her Fengling Palace.

He Qingxin, clearly bored, complained, "All this early morning fuss for nothing. I met a lunatic who almost burned me, and now I'm sent back without any explanation…"

“What’s all this about? I could still be sleeping soundly right now.”

Xie Xuanran patiently listened to her complaints, then responded, “It was just an accident. The lecturing immortal seemed to have been controlled by the demonic clan.”

He Qingxin feigned ignorance, “Oh, really? And here I thought I might actually possess the Earth Essence Gold Marrow Beast and become as powerful as the former Demon Sovereign, haha!”

She knew these old schemers would never want her to learn about the extraordinary beast within her.

They must fear she'd leverage this knowledge for personal gain or join the demonic faction, following the path of Demon Sovereign Sang Yanchen.

After all, knowing one has such earth-shattering power, it’s hard not to harbor greed.

Thus, He Qingxin deliberately offered Xie Xuanran, and by extension the celestial leaders behind him, a way out, metaphorically covering their shame.

“I was so scared. That fire almost reached me. Fortunately, the formation in the lecture area activated in time and shielded me.”

She added, “And those friendly disciples, each one of them ready to sacrifice themselves for me, I’m really touched.”

Acting deeply moved, she continued, “I must thank them later and get to know them better. They are truly good people.”

With all these exits laid out, Xie Xuanran… or rather, Xie Lan, just needed to follow her lead.

With everyone's eyes metaphorically covered, they could continue playing their unspoken game as before.

However, Xie Xuanran paused for a moment and suddenly grasped at the air in front of him.

A faint boom was heard, and He Qingxin clearly saw the surveillance formation around him shattering.

Then Xie Xuanran took a step towards He Qingxin and said seriously, “You indeed possess the Earth Essence Gold Marrow Beast. It’s the crystallization of the Earth’s heart, the same one Demon Sovereign Sang Yanchen once acquired after devastating half of the cultivation world before it was finally extracted from him.”

He Qingxin initially appeared indifferent and even slightly mocking.

But upon hearing Xie Xuanran's words, she abruptly looked up at him, her eyes wide in disbelief, as if questioning his sanity.

Xie Xuanran, however, looked at her seriously and continued rapidly, “When I married... when my father married you, it was because you possessed the Earth Essence Gold Marrow Beast. As a leader of the Immortal Alliance, he was responsible for guarding you.”

“But others in the cultivation world are reluctant to give up, as the former Demon Sovereign gained tremendously powerful abilities. Such power is almost irresistible to any cultivator.”

“You might not remember... but you have entered two formations already. They were attempts to separate you from the Earth Essence Gold Marrow Beast.”

“But undoubtedly, all attempts failed. The Earth Essence Gold Marrow Beast refuses to leave your body; it's perfectly fused with you, even instinctively protecting you as if it has its own consciousness.”

“The golden light that emerged when you were attacked, those were manifestations of the Earth Essence Gold Marrow Beast within you.”

He Qingxin stood with her mouth slightly open, looking somewhat dazed. Why... why would Xie Lan suddenly reveal this?

She remembered from the novel that Xie Lan always stood with the cultivation world until the end, cold and ruthless, organizing every attempt to extract the Earth Essence Gold Marrow Beast and tormenting the female protagonist.

“Even though you possess such a powerful beast, you don't utilize it. Your own cultivation is too shallow to protect yourself.”

“If the Earth Essence Gold Marrow Beast doesn’t sense imminent danger, like in our current proximity, if I intended to kill you, you wouldn’t be able to escape.”

As he spoke, Xie Xuanran even grasped He Qingxin’s throat, gradually tightening his grip.

The moment He Qingxin felt suffocated, he immediately let go, seemingly just verifying that the Earth Essence Gold Marrow Beast wouldn’t emerge to protect her unless her life was in critical danger.

“Today was just an accident, but there are countless such accidents waiting to happen.”

“Now that your possession of the beast is exposed, the entire cultivation world, even the demonic clans who've heard rumors, will swarm to you, trying to extract the Earth Essence Gold Marrow Beast’s powers from you.”

He Qingxin pursed her lips, swallowing hard.

She had known this all along. The revelation of her identity today was inevitable, and she had been prepared for it.

However, the person before her now said, "But don't be afraid, I will look after you."

After Xie Xuanran spoke, he realized that perhaps his cultivation and status might not be enough to reassure He Qingxin.

So, he added, "Both my father and I will look after you."

He Qingxin: "..." What’s going on? Why the sudden direct approach?

And why wasn’t Xie Lan siding with the cultivation world anymore?

He Qingxin felt she could protect herself. The plot hadn't reached its peak yet, and all she wanted was to live freely for a few decades.

"I’ll teach you how to cultivate," Xie Xuanran said. "Using the power within you, you’ll soon become stronger than many."

"Just stay in Yunqi Palace, and no one can harm you. Once you're strong enough that no one can hurt you, you won’t have to fear them anymore..."

He Qingxin: "..." What’s happening here?

Wasn't Xie Lan supposed to fear her becoming powerful, eventually turning into the Demon Sovereign, Sang Yanchen, like in the story?

Shouldn't Xie Lan, just like in the plot, be unwilling to teach the female protagonist, Feng Xiyi, any formidable skills?

He Qingxin didn't know how to react at the moment. She pinched He Jixiang in her sleeve, using its softness to soothe her somewhat tumultuous heart.

With her mind full of schemes, she had numerous ways to protect herself, confident in outsmarting those old tortoises.

She could turn the cultivation world upside down, living a life of grandeur and freedom before her storyline ended and she died after a few decades.

Living as she pleased.

Taking revenge on those old tortoises who played her, just like in that illusion, turning against them!

But suddenly... suddenly, the biggest antagonist she was supposed to confront, the chief cause of her character's demise in the book.

The one who feared the Earth Core Marrow Beast the most throughout the book, who initially wanted to seal her in the Sky Realm and freeze her to death... was saying he would protect her and teach her self-defense.

All the cunning and scheming inside He Qingxin suddenly lost their direction, as she looked into Xie Xuanran's eyes, hidden behind a mask.

She felt scorched by the sincerity in his eyes.

Good heavens.

How did the plot deviate like this?

He Qingxin's expression was unnatural, unfamiliar with this turn of events, and Xie Xuanran mistook it for fear.

He tightened his grip on her shoulder and then slowly led He Qingxin forward.

Pressured by his force, He Qingxin took a few small steps on the ground.

Then she bumped into Xie Xuanran's solid chest, his arms encircling her shoulders.

It was an awkward and clumsy embrace, even... embarrassing.

But Xie Xuanran's voice whispered in He Qingxin's ear, "Don’t be afraid, with me... and my father, no one can hurt you."

He Qingxin stiffened, as Xie Xuanran's voice suddenly merged with that of the little fish from the illusion.

Although they spoke entirely different words, the sacrificial sincerity in his tone left He Qingxin somewhat overwhelmed.

Initially, Xie Xuanran had only one arm around He Qingxin's shoulder, but soon he raised his other hand to her back, pulling her tightly against him.

The strength of his hold was almost uncontrollable, squeezing He Qingxin to the point of breathlessness, her head butting against Xie Xuanran's cold mask.

He Qingxin struggled to look up, feeling a conflicting mix of pain and pleasure...

Meanwhile, in the grand hall, the elders argued noisily like ducks about future actions.

However, the real Xie Lan, manipulating his incarnation and severing the scrying formation, was orchestrating his "rebellion."

His hands hung at his sides, requiring all his strength to suppress any movement, striving not to look like he was holding someone.

But his ears and cheeks were visibly flushing.

The spiritual energy in his inner palace became restless, emitting waves of icy chill, freezing the buttocks of a cultivator sitting not far from him to his chair.