Chapter 238: Chapter 153: The Serpent Ancestor’s Poison (5k)

Going back in time to six days ago, Ji Xueruo was invited for the first time to the Young Lord’s hall.

In the hall, the eldest Young Lord showcased the gift he intended to give Ji Xueruo, a scroll he had personally written.

The scroll recorded the excerpt from "Ailin’s Story," as spoken by You Su. The calligraphy was elegant and slender, graceful like the Young Lord himself, upright and refined.

"It seems the Young Lord truly loves these words."

Ji Xueruo carefully examined the writing on the scroll. The Young Lord’s calligraphy was exquisite, worthy of being a collectible. However, she wasn’t admiring the technique, but rather, every time she heard these words, she was touched by the noble integrity within them.

"Ming Zhen holds it as an ideal."

The Young Lord sighed at the scroll and continued, "Our Jade Ring Pool is famous for lotus, and just these words about the lotus are enough to be carved in stone and placed outside the Jade Ring Pool for all the world to admire."

"If so, why not carve the words in stone for everyone, and instead write a scroll for self-pleasure?"

Ji Xueruo, as the leader of her race, did not favor actions that claimed to warn the world but resulted in self-satisfaction.

With his hands behind his back, the Young Lord shook his head and said:

"Miss Ji is mistaken. I don’t even have the right to please myself, nor does anyone in Jade Ring Pool. I wish to write it, but I am not worthy to keep it. That’s why I wish to give it to Miss Ji. The achievements you’ve contributed to the Snake Race, even I have heard of them in Jade Ring Pool. You alone are worthy of these words."

Ji Xueruo was taken aback, "Why would the Young Lord say such a thing? Even among the attendants, your reputation is excellent, there is no need for self-deprecation."

"It’s just foolish talk. Today, I present this scroll to Miss Ji, hoping that one day Miss Ji will feel that Ming Zhen deserves the praise of ’emerging clean from the mud, and remaining pure yet bewitching.’"

With great care, the Young Lord rolled up the scroll and respectfully handed it to Ji Xueruo.

Ji Xueruo accepted the scroll, feeling that the Young Lord’s words hinted at something. However, at that time, she hadn’t realized that her body was quietly being transformed by the lotus seeds. These undercurrents hidden beneath the light façade of the Jade Ring Pool were something the Young Lord seemed unable to openly discuss with her.

...

Ji Xueruo retrieved the scroll previously gifted by the Young Lord from her silk pouch. She slowly unfolded it so that the weary Young Lord could clearly see each character he had personally penned.

The Young Lord’s pupils quivered, and the bloodshot eyes seemed to gradually rekindle their brilliance. Each character appeared to hold a magical allure that captivated him.

As he finished reading the scroll, his expression underwent several transformations.

His full heartache eventually turned into tightly clenched fists, with his nails seemingly ready to dig into the flesh.

"Miss Ji... I have wronged you..."

Ji Xueruo gently placed the paper on the table in front of the Young Lord, her expression serene:

"Young Lord, you need not blame yourself. I indeed did not die. Are you curious why, in your view, I was destined to die, yet I survived?"

The Young Lord stood frozen, only able to nod woodenly.

Ji Xueruo did not answer immediately. Instead, she took out a verdant Jade Pendant from her chest, which You Su had secretly slipped into her hands before they parted.

"Because I am a member of the Exorcism Bureau, this Exorcism Order is what I truly intended to show you. I am here to eliminate demons, so how could I possibly be tainted by them?"

"Ex... Exorcism Bureau!" The Young Lord stared intently at the Jade Pendant, nearly crying out in shock, but managed to hold his tongue just in time. "But aren’t you from the Spirit Platform Realm?"

Ji Xueruo swayed the Exorcism Order in her hand twice, seemingly wanting the Young Lord to see more clearly:

"The Young Lord once told me that your greatest wish is to join the Divine Mountain Exorcism Bureau, with the mission to exorcise evil and protect the path. Then you should know that the Exorcism Order cannot be counterfeited. In recent years, overseas demons have become increasingly rampant, and the hidden demons within the Five Continents territory are stirring restlessly. In the ethereal darkness, a massive cloud has already shrouded the Five Continents. The Divine Mountain’s Exorcism Bureau has decided to unite forces to eradicate these demons. The first step is to completely cleanse the demons still lurking in the land. The world has already noticed the abnormalities in Jade Ring Pool, so You Su and I became this exception, infiltrating Jade Ring Pool to make you all lower your guard, thinking we posed no threat."

"No wonder you knew each other all along..." The Young Lord’s voice trailed off, evidently still in disbelief from the shock.

"If something happens to us, the people from the Divine Mountain Exorcism Bureau will come out in full force. The Pool Protection Array might stand firm for a moment, but not forever. If it really comes to that, the Jade Ring Pool will likely cease to exist. The Young Lord, young and capable, seeks to make a name for himself outside the pool, and elevate the name of Jade Ring Pool. But if one cannot clean one’s own house, how can they clean the world? I hope you cooperate with us; your path to fame will begin with helping Jade Ring Pool to break out of its shell and be reborn."

Ji Xueruo’s voice was lowered, yet it carried an invigorating fervor, stirring listeners deeply.

The Young Lord had told Ji Xueruo more than once about his admiration for the members of the Exorcism Bureau, which made him yearn for the opportunity, given his cultivation that had nowhere to be displayed.

The ultimate goal of immortality cultivation is longevity, indeed. But to have a young and healthy life solely cultivate for the sake of longevity is somewhat meaningless. At the prime of one’s youth, no one would willingly hide in a dark cavern, seeking unattainable immortality.

The Young Lord’s neck veins throbbed, his entire body tense, as if making an extremely difficult decision.

Suddenly, he exhaled a long turbid breath, tying up his slightly disheveled hair, his gaze determined: