At this moment, Ji Yan’s memories wandered to the past, to over 860 years ago. Back then, he had been a spirited youth, ranked among the prodigies of the Sanqing Immortal Sect. Although not among the very top ten True Disciples, he was nonetheless a model for countless junior brothers and sisters to admire and adore, with an incredibly bright future ahead of him. His mentality was also good; he was a sunny and cheerful young man.
Unfortunately, the Demon Race army later invaded. Numerous prodigies perished before his eyes, many of whom had even greater talent than Ji Yan. But they all fell, overwhelmed by hordes of demons. They exhausted their mana and ultimately died from sheer depletion.
At that time, Ji Yan also fought, but his desperate struggle seemed laughable in the face of the endless Demon Race. Even fighting to the death, he was insignificant in the war, unable to influence the outcome in any way. In the end, he too was struck down, defeated by the demons. He lay beneath a demon’s foot, watching as it raised its butcher’s knife high, feeling his own exhausted body, incapable of mustering any resistance.
He knew he had been defeated, utterly crushed. His talent wasn’t strong enough, his cultivation level wasn’t high enough; he was too weak. By himself, he simply could not contend with the countless demons. Had a senior brother from his sect not arrived just in time, Ji Yan would have died 860 years ago. Yet he was saved and lived on.
The senior brother who saved him, however, died in a subsequent siege by the Demon Race. He exhausted all his mana in battle, and Ji Yan could only watch powerlessly, unable to save him. The scenes from those many years ago seemed long past, but in reality, they had always been hidden deep within Ji Yan’s heart, becoming his Heart Demon and a thorn in his side.
Over the years, Ji Yan had been preoccupied with having children and recruiting young prodigies. It seemed he was striving to expand the Thunder Sect, but even he did not realize he was running away. He was avoiding pressure, shirking responsibility, and evading confrontation with the demons. He believed that if so many peerless prodigies had died at the hands of the Demon Race, how could he, with his mediocre talent, possibly carry that banner? How could he stand alone against the endless Demon Race with his own strength? He lacked confidence.
Because he felt he could never do it, he placed his hopes on the next generation, pinning his high expectations on his children. That’s why he nearly obsessively strove to train the next generation, even pushing them to the brink, transferring the pressure he bore onto his descendants. His treatment of all his sons was harsh, with corporal punishment being a frequent method of teaching.
This self-denial had always been hidden in the deepest recesses of Ji Yan’s heart, to the point that even he was unaware of it. But it was precisely because of this self-denial that after Ji Yan’s cultivation level reached the Emergence Stage Ninth Heaven, he could progress no further, forever unable to take that most critical step. After all, a Saint Manifestation existence’s spirit resides within a Divine Statue for the world to worship. How could a man who denied himself ever inspire belief in others?
Now, Wang Xiu had successfully mastered the Heavenly Calamity Curse in just five days, delivering a huge blow to Ji Yan. Under this intense stimulation, the deep-seated lack of confidence in his talent and his self-denial were fully ignited. It was like a snake shedding its skin to become a dragon. If he could overcome this Heart Demon, he would be reborn, taking a step further toward an immeasurable future. If not, his Dao heart might collapse and his cultivation level would suffer greatly. It was not even impossible that he might suffer a cultivation deviance and perish.
However, it was quite evident that Ji Yan was far from ready to confront his Heart Demon directly. The provocation had lured out the demon, and his Dao heart was already seriously damaged. His state was worrying. If this entanglement with his Heart Demon was not handled well, he feared it would be a predicament with only a one-in-ten chance of survival.
Ji Yan let out a long howl to the heavens as a terrifying power of lightning swept through the Zhao Residence in an instant, reducing the ruins to utter dust. The last bit of reason lingering in his mind made him realize he could not rampage in the city and harm innocents. He violently tore open space and stepped into the void. As the crack in space healed, the presence of the Thunder Sect’s leader vanished without a trace.
The entire Zhao Residence once again fell into absolute silence.
Even Wang Xiu himself didn’t know that his one Heavenly Calamity Curse had not only directly killed a Golden Core Stage cultivator, but had also indirectly crippled a peerless Great Ability at the peak of the Emergence Stage.
At that moment, he was riding the Black Tortoise Mirror at top speed toward Dragon Head Peak of the Sanqing Immortal Sect. After all, the deadline to complete the mission of performing a soul-guiding ceremony for Landlord He’s father had been yesterday. This meant he was overdue again.
Moreover, what was more serious than being overdue was that he had hung up on Senior Sister Qingyu’s communication message.
*The winds blow cold over the waters of Yi; a valiant man, once gone, never returns.* Returning to the Dragon Head Peak Task Hall to submit his mission was likely to be ill-fated.
Soon, the Task Hall of Dragon Head Peak was in sight. Wang Xiu strode inside and quickly spotted Xiao Qingyu.
"Senior Sister," Wang Xiu sidled up, squeezing a smile onto his face. "I’m back."
"Back?" Xiao Qingyu turned, glanced at Wang Xiu, and said indifferently, "And you might be, Junior Brother?"
An awkward expression appeared on Wang Xiu’s face. Xiao Qingyu gave him a displeased look.
Seeing the other disciples looking over, Xiao Qingyu turned and walked toward the reception room for True Disciples. "Junior Brother, let’s have a chat inside."
As the door to the reception room closed, it immediately sparked a flurry of gossip among the disciples.
"Tsk, tsk. Senior Sister Xiao is known as the Smiling Blossom of Dragon Head Peak. She always wears a smile, even when facing outer disciples. Why is she so cold today?"
"He’s done for. I’m telling you, this guy is done for!"
"He’s offended Senior Sister Xiao. He’s definitely going to have a rough time in our Sanqing Immortal Sect from now on!"
Inside the reception room, Xiao Qingyu said with a forced smile, "I remember now. It’s Junior Brother Wang Xiu. Let me check on your mission."
"Oh!" Xiao Qingyu covered her mouth, a look of surprise on her face. "The soul-guiding and burial mission, overdue again? Could it be you were ensnared by some little demoness at the foot of the mountain?"
Wang Xiu forced a laugh. "Senior Sister, please don’t be angry. I just ran into an unforeseen situation and went to help at the Zhao Residence!"
"Help?" Xiao Qingyu slapped her forehead and sighed. "Sigh! Look at my memory. I almost forgot that a Golden Core Stage demon appeared in Maple City. I was initially worried that your cultivation level was too low for you to get involved in such a conflict. I didn’t expect myself to be so blind to your greatness."
"Junior Brother, at only fifteen years old, your cultivation level has already reached the Core Formation Stage—truly incredible. I wonder why you would hide your cultivation level by pretending to be at the Foundation Establishment Stage. Ah, it seems I worried for nothing. How sentimental of me."
Good heavens. This version of Senior Sister Xiao is terrifying! Her mastery of the Way of Yin and Yang must be maxed out!
Knowing he was at fault, Wang Xiu hurriedly took out a jade box from his spatial ring and placed it in front of Xiao Qingyu. "Senior Sister, please don’t be mad. I promised to give you a Nourishing Soul Lotus. Look, I’ve brought it back specially for you this time!"
With that, Wang Xiu opened the jade box. The most beautiful and best-preserved lotus among the dozen or so was revealed before Xiao Qingyu, emitting a delicate fragrance that seemed capable of soothing away any negative emotions.
A Nourishing Soul Lotus.
Seeing the graceful, radiant lotus before her, Xiao Qingyu was taken aback for a moment, then said softly, "Is this flower for me?"
Wang Xiu eagerly smiled. "Of course, it’s for you, Senior Sister. You’ve helped me so much, what’s a single flower in return? Even if you wanted the stars in the sky, I’d have to become a True Immortal to pluck them down for you."
"Pfft—" Google seaʀᴄh ɴovᴇl(ꜰ)ir(e).nᴇt
"You! You just know how to sweet-talk people!"
Xiao Qingyu couldn’t hold her stern expression any longer and burst out laughing. Her charm in that instant was boundless, making even the Nourishing Soul Lotus seem colorless in comparison.