Chapter 100: House-Wrecking?
Zhuiyin Well
The aftershocks of the battle between the two Tribulation Immortals were like a natural disaster. Stray attacks fell randomly everywhere, harming the “fish in the pond.”
The “fish” fled in despair as the entire interior of the barrier turned into a chaotic mess.
After another clash, the two pulled apart. They stared at each other from a distance, their clothes unchanged, their skirts swaying gently.
Ning Ye spoke first: “As a first-rank Lord of Tribulation, your cultivation is quite good, but you are still too green. In terms of depth of experience, you are no match for me.”
“Are you secretly congratulating yourself for being born earlier than me?” In her ghostly state, Song Juanyu’s lips, vibrant as if stained with blood, parted in a mocking shape. “Old hag.”
Ning Ye: “Trying to provoke me while knowing the gap in our cultivation is not a wise choice.”
“The games should end now.” Ning Ye raised her hand. A terrifying power condensed at her fingertip, compressing into a thin, purple feather.
Song Juanyu’s expression darkened. In the next instant, she had already circled behind Ning Ye. Her whip lashed out accompanied by a toxic mist, creating a sharp, piercing sound.
It hit empty air.
Song Juanyu immediately retracted her whip, Yin energy swirling around her. Closely following, countless feathers attacked from all directions like a rain of arrows.
The toxic mist expanded into a giant toad, opening its maw to swallow all the feathers.
The giant toad let out a long cry and then exploded.
The purple feathers disintegrated into sand, dyeing the entire sky purple amidst the rolling waves of the explosion.
Song Juanyu’s chest heaved slightly as she stared at her opponent through the purple sand rain.
“Not ready to admit defeat? I didn’t intend to kill you.” Ning Ye raised her hand again. “I can use an attack of that level many more times. But you—you must be near your limit.”
Song Juanyu chuckled. “You really do love talking to yourself. If you want to kill me, don’t be so full of yourself.”
“Bravado is useless against me.” Ning Ye formed a hand seal, and once again, the sky was filled with floating feathers.
Song Juanyu remained unmoved, though she cursed inwardly: What is with this old monster’s immortal power? Is it a bottomless pit?
“The barrier is gone! Run!” A shout came from below. Looking down from the sky, the figures of demon and ghost cultivators looked like black dots the size of ants. These black dots scattered and fled; in an instant, several had disappeared.
Ning Ye frowned. How could the array be broken? Had something happened to Luo Yue?
Just as the thought surfaced, a spatial channel opened beside Song Juanyu.
A figure stepped out from the channel. White hair draped over his shoulders, the tips dyed with ink, looking as if crane feathers had transformed into long hair—gentle and elegant. On the shoulder near his neck, a black scorpion wagged its tail, half its body hidden in the hair.
A small tower flew behind Yun Wuxiang, with a cage hanging beneath it.
Ning Ye’s gaze moved to the cage. Inside, a Luo Yue who had been shrunk to the size of a sparrow raised a hand and gave a bitter smile as he greeted her. “Hi, Ning Ye. I’ve been caught.”
Ning Ye: “…”
Song Juanyu beamed. She raised a hand to cover half of her upturned lips, drifting down like a fluttering butterfly to the Qiutian Cage. She poked the cage with her finger, making it tremble and spin.
She turned to her recent opponent and asked, “This little thing—do you still want him?”
Ning Ye silently scanned the three people and the tower opposite her. Her gaze lingered on Yun Wuxiang and the Seven Phantom Lightning Locking Tower for a moment longer.
The veil fluttered; it seemed the person beneath had let out a long sigh of relief. “His value is limited. What do you want?”
Yun Wuxiang: “In exchange, you join the Qingdi Guan.”
This request sounded so absurd to Ning Ye that she froze for a moment before saying, “Are you joking, Excellency?”
Yun Wuxiang’s peripheral vision swept over the Tianqing Ring flickering with green light at the tip of the tower. That green glow was brighter than ever before, too brilliant to ignore.
A strange emotion appeared in his gaze toward Ning Ye—inexplicably weird. Yet, upon closer inspection, it seemed as if nothing was there. He simply spoke again: “Truly not coming to my Qingdi Guan? The cultivation method best suited for you in this world is in my hands.”
Yun Wuxiang continued, “The set of techniques you have now will never help you break through to become a Daoist Sovereign.”
“No need for your concern, Excellency,” Ning Ye said coldly. “Just speak plainly.”
Yun Wuxiang: “Then that is the first time.”
Ning Ye was confused. “What are you talking about?”
Yun Wuxiang: “Fifteen years. Within this timeframe, you are not allowed to leave the Bailing Sect.”
“After you swear the oath, the person is yours.”
Ning Ye agreed to the condition. After swearing a Heavenly Dao oath, the hostage was delivered. She immediately left with Luo Yue, as if she couldn’t stand staying here for another second.
After they left, the Tower Spirit manifested, sitting on the tip of the tower and gazing in the direction they had departed.
“The Guanzhu knows that Ning Ye?” the black scorpion on his shoulder spoke up.
Yun Wuxiang’s gaze turned icy. “She should be the reincarnation of Master Jiangzi.”
The Tianqing Seal was practically glowing like an incandescent bulb; it had never had such a violent reaction before.
“That Bailing Xianjun is competing with us for people?” The black scorpion’s tone was dissatisfied.
He didn’t like other people appearing before Yun Wuxiang, but someone competing with them for the reincarnations of the Daoist Sovereigns was a different matter entirely.
Two Daoist Sovereign reincarnations in a row were under the Bailing Sect. Who would believe that was a coincidence?
“Dear nephew, you seem to know quite a lot of interesting things. Come and tell your Auntie all about it,” Song Juanyu interjected, her eyes scrutinizing Yun Wuxiang up and down.
Yun Wuxiang turned to look at her. The Toad Envoy?
“Ignore her, Guanzhu.” Song Yilou transformed into human form, his hands draped over Yun Wuxiang’s shoulders as he stared at Song Juanyu warily. “Let’s go back.”
“Mhm.” Yun Wuxiang opened another spatial tunnel and was pulled in by Song Yilou.
Song Juanyu arched her brow, a playful and eerie light flashing in her eyes. She excitedly followed them into the tunnel.
“Count me in~”
…
After walking a long distance with the cage, Ning Ye released Luo Yue. The two stood in silence for a while before Ning Ye asked, “What happened?”
Luo Yue wiped his face, his expression incredibly weary. “Don’t even ask. Both of those people are insane!”
“Have you ever seen a couple where both Daoist companions want to lock the other in a cage and keep them like a bird? They actually discussed such a crazy topic seriously for ages before finally deciding to lock me up because they wanted to stay together.” Luo Yue’s entire face twitched as he spoke.
Ning Ye hesitated for a split second before performing a Heart-Calming Seal for him.
Luo Yue’s mind cleared instantly. The expression on his face smoothed out, becoming quite serene.
“Feeling better?” Ning Ye asked with concern.
Luo Yue looked calm. “Much clearer.”
“It went like this…” Luo Yue described the process of his capture.
“I’m certain they must have planted something on me. Quick, help me check.”
Ning Ye checked him thoroughly and shook her head. “There is nothing.”
Seeing Luo Yue scratching his head and acting neurotic, she added, “If you aren’t at ease, let the Xianjun check you again when we get back.”
“I guess I have to.” Luo Yue rubbed his arms. He still felt itchy all over, as if invisible little insects were crawling on him.
“I learned something else from their conversation. The Qingdi Guanzhu has another master.”
“What level do you think this master is?” Luo Yue felt a headache coming on just thinking about more experts.
“At the very least, not a Daoist Sovereign,” Ning Ye said with certainty.
“Below the rank of Sovereign, the higher the opponent’s cultivation, the more interesting it is.”
Luo Yue: “Huh?”
Looking up, he saw Ning Ye smiling.
How to describe that smile? It was a mix of curiosity and excitement—like a fierce beast that had reigned supreme in a mountain forest for a long time, so invincible she had become somewhat detached, only to finally discover the existence of another beast of the same grade one day.
“The Qingdi Guanzhu’s cultivation might not be that high. Like the Xianjun, he is someone favored by the Heavenly Dao. The Xianjun’s cultivation isn’t as high as mine, yet whenever I fight him, I always lose for some inexplicable reason.”
“Fighting someone like that is boring. But his master—I’m looking forward to it.”
Ning Ye looked back toward Zhuiyin Well, suppressing the excitement rising in her heart. She had been bored for far too long.
“Let’s go back and ask the Xianjun to resolve this Heavenly Dao oath.”
In a time like this, how could she shrink back and stay in the sect for another fifteen years?
…
Inside the Black-and-White Floating Life Flower
“What does Jiangzi’s reincarnation look like?” Tianqing Daozun, dressed in her regent outfit, sat in a Chinese sandalwood chair, looking at Yun Wuxiang with curiosity.
Yun Wuxiang used a spell to project Ning Ye’s image. “It’s just a guess. I’m not certain she really is Master Jiangzi.”
Tianqing Daozun stared at the projection, her tone much more certain than his. “It’s absolutely her. That punchable look in her eyes—it really brings back memories.”
Yun Wuxiang: “In that case, next time I will invite her over to chat with Master.”
“What is there to chat about with a reincarnation who remembers nothing?” Tianqing Daozun laughed. She didn’t have much interest; in this regard, her attitude matched Jiangzi Daozun’s.
If it wasn’t the person from her memories, there was no need to meet.
“No, I need Master to chat with her.” Yun Wuxiang: “Ning Ye’s cultivation has reached the rank of a multi-Tribulation Immortal, close to a Sovereign.”
In other words, he couldn’t beat her for the time being.
Tianqing Daozun understood and changed her tune. “Teasing Jiangzi’s reincarnation does sound like fun.”
“But, my disciple—where is the Daoist Seal I left on you?”
Tianqing Daozun looked at Yun Wuxiang, her fingers tapping the armrest. “Your current state is not good. Your killing intent is far too heavy.”
He was practically like a lethal weapon fresh off the battlefield. Even washing the blade with water couldn’t suppress that edge; he could snap and devour someone at any moment.
And yet the “lethal weapon” himself didn’t feel that way. Yun Wuxiang: “I haven’t killed anyone lately.”
He had only thought about it.
Tianqing Daozun glared. “I didn’t ask you that. Where is the Daoist Seal?”
Yun Wuxiang: “I put it somewhere else. I didn’t throw it away.”
“Song Yilou keeps failing to plant the Love Gu in me. Do you know the reason?”
“You removed my Daoist Seal just for that? You’re just letting Song Yilou run wild!”
Tianqing Daozun rolled her eyes in annoyance. “What other reason could there be? You are a demon—a Heart Demon. From the moment of your birth, you were meant to seize everything from your original body. Even though you are independent now, your essence is still that of a demon.”
“A Love Gu amplifies emotions and uses desire to manipulate others. It shares the same origin as your instincts but is mutually exclusive. The demonic nature in your body thinks it’s here to steal territory. Forget about it taking effect—it’s a miracle it hasn’t died.”
So that was it…
Yun Wuxiang had intended to bring Song Yilou in to ask about this together, but in the end, only he had entered.
Meanwhile, Song Yilou was outside engaged in a power struggle with his mother, who was busy sabotaging him.
When Yun Wuxiang’s consciousness returned, those two ghosts had just torn off his roof.
Literally torn it off.
Sunlight poured in from overhead, warm and cozy, yet entirely out of place for an indoor setting.
The noise outside was ceaseless—shouts and cries of alarm making for a very lively atmosphere.
A ridge beast flew through the giant hole in the roof, hitting the floor with a loud thud before rolling to a stop at Yun Wuxiang’s feet.
Yun Wuxiang looked down, meeting the comical, abstract giant eyes of the ridge beast. His lips parted as he spoke.
“House-wrecking?”
Translator’s Note:
A few terms to keep in mind:
- Avalokiteshvara (觀音 – Guanyin): The Bodhisattva of Compassion. Song Juanyu’s title is the “Guanyin Ghost Lord,” making her demonic behavior a sharp irony.
- Lord of Tribulation (劫君 – Jiejun): The high-level cultivation rank.
- Avalokiteshvara Ghost Lord (觀音鬼君): Song Juanyu’s title.
- Bailing Sect (百靈宗): Ning Ye’s sect.
- Qiutian Cage (囚天籠): The “Heaven-Prison Cage” Yun Wuxiang uses.
- Daoist Seal (道印): The mark of protection/restraint Tianqing left on Yun Wuxiang.
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