“Master, why did you let her go? Over these years, that Lu Xiaoyan has slain quite a number of our demonic sect members. Even Uncle Hong himself perished at her hands. This time she was alone—wasn’t it the best chance to eliminate her?”

One of the figures asked in confusion.

“It’s not that I deliberately let her go. That little girl is truly formidable. If she wants to leave, I cannot stop her.”

The demonically handsome man shook his head.

“Even you can’t stop her?”

The two figures stiffened in shock. They knew all too well how unfathomable their mysterious master was.

Not to mention, even though their own cultivation had reached the second transformation of the Golden Core Realm, they still couldn’t see through their master’s true cultivation level.

Yet their master now claimed he couldn’t even keep Lu Xiaoyan?

“Do not underestimate Fairy Lu. By your era’s classifications, though she has only just stepped into the fourth transformation of the Golden Core Realm, the Golden Core she condensed is very likely one of the most powerful—an upper-grade Golden Core.

Add to that her extraordinary swordsmanship, and even I can only ensure I remain undefeated.

To keep her here, if she were to fight to the death, it would end in mutual destruction.

We still have great matters ahead. There’s no need to waste our strength in a pointless clash.”

“Golden Core fourth transformation… an upper-grade Golden Core?!”

The two shadows were stunned.

Ever since Lu Qing had first explained on Sacred Mountain that the Golden Core Path had nine transformations and three grades of quality, that system gradually spread throughout the cultivation world and became widely accepted.

Now, to hear their master say Lu Xiaoyan had possibly formed a legendary upper-grade Golden Core, and already reached the fourth transformation, how could they not be shocked?

Since the revival of spiritual energy, decades had passed. Golden Core cultivators were no longer few.

Yet they had never heard of anyone successfully condensing an upper-grade Golden Core.

If Lu Xiaoyan truly had one, no wonder even their uncle had fallen to her blade.

The thought left them secretly relieved.

They prided themselves on talent, having endured a red heavenly tribulation and five bolts of thunder to finally condense mid-grade Golden Cores.

But compared to Lu Xiaoyan, they were nothing. One casual sword from her, and they might not even be able to block it.

“Master, is her talent really so terrifying?” one of them asked doubtfully.

“Indeed. Even in my era, her aptitude would have been peerless. And rumor has it that her elder brother is even more dazzling. In those days, he was already called the number one under heaven. Just imagine how unmatched he must be.”

The demonically handsome man sighed.

“But isn’t there word that he left this world decades ago to explore the starry sky?” one of the figures asked.

If not for that, they would never have dared act so openly.

After all, not long after spiritual energy revived, that man had already reached the Golden Core Realm and was hailed as the world’s number one.

Such a figure was one anyone would dread.

“Perhaps. But it’s only speculation. No one can be sure whether it’s true.” The man shook his head.

“What if he is merely in secluded cultivation, not out exploring the stars? Everything we’ve done these years has been to test whether he still remains.

And even if he really has left this world, he surely left behind safeguards—and those safeguards may well rest with Fairy Lu.

That is why I didn’t press her too hard. If we corner her and trigger those safeguards, who knows what might happen?

If we end up in mutual ruin, it would only cheapen others.”

This demonically handsome man, though himself a Nascent Soul demonic cultivator who had endured from the ancient age, still held deep wariness toward the one who had achieved Golden Core before he even awakened, and was hailed as heaven’s favored son.

He knew well—such people could not be treated by common sense. A single misstep could mean death at their hands.

Thus, without absolute certainty, he dared not confront him head-on.

“The best course now is to restore my strength as soon as possible. If I can once again step into the Nascent Soul Realm, what of heaven’s chosen? Before absolute power, destiny itself can be crushed.

I could even use demonic techniques to seize his heavenly fortune and bind it to myself.

By then, the world will tremble at my feet!”

His eyes gleamed with a ghostly light.

In the ancient cultivation era, he had been one of the most dazzling demonic geniuses. Young, yet already at Nascent Soul.

But his timing was ill-fated. Not long after he reached that realm, spiritual energy in this world began to dry up.

The righteous path cultivators united, seizing resources to forge boundary-breaking vessels, while also exterminating demonic cultivators.

Forced into desperation, the surviving Nascent Soul demonic cultivators fled to the northern extremities. There they sealed themselves within a demonic abyss to escape annihilation.

But by doing so, they lost their last chance to leave this world.

As the age of spiritual depletion came and the Five Decays of Heaven and Man descended, countless calamities swept the land.

In the end, those Nascent Soul demonic cultivators sealed in the abyss had to devour one another to survive.

By the time spiritual energy revived, fewer than one in ten remained.

But it was precisely by devouring the divine souls of his peers that this demonically handsome man’s foundation grew deeper still.

He was confident: once he recovered his Nascent Soul cultivation, not even heaven’s chosen could stand against him.

And then…

“Fairy Lu… such a cold, untouchable immortal. To take her as a concubine… wouldn’t that be delightful?”

He gazed in the direction she had gone, a wicked smile curling his lips.

The two figures at his side shivered as dread crept into their hearts.

“Come. The Myriad Demons Secret Realm will soon emerge. That place is the key to my restoration. If you fail, you know the consequences.”

The two trembled and answered in unison, “Yes, Master!”

…

High above the skies, Xiaoyan transformed into a streak of sword light, piercing through the heavens. She descended upon Sacred Mountain, entering the cave dwelling where Lu Qing had once secluded himself.

Her arrival drew the attention of disciples and elders alike.

“Fairy Lu has returned!”

“Her grace is still the same. If only she would glance at me once, I could die without regret.”

“You toad, dreaming of swan meat. Fairy Lu isn’t someone you can covet. With your face, you’d only sully her eyes!”

“How dare you insult me! Let’s settle this on the dueling stage!”

“Afraid I’m not?”

“Since that lord entered seclusion, Fairy Lu has been the strongest on Sacred Mountain. Haven’t more than ten Golden Core demonic cultivators already fallen to her sword?”

“Wasn’t she investigating the demonic traces near Guiyuan Sect? I wonder what she found.”

…

Disciples and elders gossiped endlessly, their eyes filled with admiration and awe.

Clearly, in Lu Qing’s absence, Xiaoyan had become Sacred Mountain’s pillar of authority.

“Fairy Lu has returned?”

Even the Three Holy Lords sensed her arrival and went to her cave dwelling.

Just as they were about to send word, the cave’s formation rippled and the doors opened.

Her calm voice drifted out: “Honored Holy Lords, I expected you would come. Please, enter.”

The Three Holy Lords exchanged glances and stepped inside.

There sat Xiaoyan, cross-legged before a sword, her expression serene.

“Fairy Lu, in your investigation of Guiyuan Sect’s demonic traces, what did you find?” the First Holy Lord asked.

“I found much.” Her tone was flat. “The so-called true disciple of Guiyuan Sect, Xie Guang, had long since been possessed by a Nascent Soul demonic cultivator who survived from the ancient era. He was secretly restoring his power.

When I discovered him, he fled at once. I pursued, but his methods were strange. Neither of us could defeat the other.

When his allies arrived, I had no choice but to withdraw.”

“A Nascent Soul demonic cultivator from the ancient age!”

The Three Holy Lords were stunned.

Though they had long suspected the resurgence of the demonic path, to hear it confirmed still left them shaken.

“Fairy Lu, if that was truly an ancient Nascent Soul demonic cultivator, you shouldn’t have chased him. Far too dangerous,” the First Holy Lord said with lingering fear.

“Merely an old wretch who barely endured from the ancient age. His power isn’t fully recovered. Nothing to fear.

Had I consolidated my breakthrough already, I would have cut him down.”

She spoke lightly, as if it were nothing.

“Even so, Fairy Lu, though your cultivation is profound, two fists cannot fend off four hands. Open threats are easy, hidden ones hard. It is too risky to investigate demonic traces alone.

Perhaps, in future, you should take disciples with you. For safety.”

The First Holy Lord suggested.

“No need.” Xiaoyan shook her head. “With their meager strength, they would only burden me.”

“But…”

The First Holy Lord began again, only for her to cut him off.

“Enough. I must cultivate. Please leave.”

Her cold tone left him silent. At last, he sighed, and the three left together.

Back in their hall, worry lingered on the First Holy Lord’s face.

“Elder brother, are you concerned about Fairy Lu?” the Third Holy Lord asked.

“Yes.” He sighed. “These years she has scoured the land, slaying demonic cultivators. Her cultivation has soared, but her temperament grows ever colder.”

“She cultivates an ice-based technique. Coldness of heart is only natural,” the Second Holy Lord said.

“Perhaps. But whether it is good or ill, I cannot say. And think—when Lu Qing returns one day, if he finds his beloved sister so changed, what then?”

The other two fell silent.

Unlike the outside world, which speculated endlessly about Lu Qing’s fate, they knew the truth: decades ago, he had left this world to explore the starry sky.

They didn’t know when he would return. But they could well imagine: if he found his cherished sister transformed, his fury would be boundless.

No one could say what he might do.

“Her coldness comes not only from her cultivation, but because she isolates herself, never bonding with others. Left alone too long, anyone would grow solitary. We must find companions for her, to ease her heart.”

The First Holy Lord finally said.

“But who? Among Sacred Mountain’s disciples, none are worthy. Only Zhirui has some friendship with her, but he is a man—and already married.”

“Then Zhirui won’t do. Truly, the only ones she might accept are that old doctor, or the Palace Mistress of Cold Water Palace.

I’ll write two letters, explaining the matter, and send them.”

“That’s the best course.”

At once, the First Holy Lord penned two letters and entrusted them to two Golden Core elders, instructing them to deliver them personally to Jiuli Village and Cold Water Palace.

In these times, with demonic activity rampant, even jade talisman messages risked interception. Safer to send them by hand.

The elders set off.

Within days, one arrived at Cold Water Palace.

His arrival stirred great respect, and Palace Mistress Han Lingshuang personally welcomed him.

When she heard he bore a personal letter from the First Holy Lord, her face grew grave, fearing some grave calamity.

But upon reading the letter, her heart eased slightly—though worry still remained.

After pondering, she arranged her affairs and accompanied the Sacred Mountain elder back.

From that day, Han Lingshuang took up residence on Sacred Mountain, returning to her palace only occasionally to manage its matters.

Lu Qing never knew that, after he departed, Xiaoyan’s nature had grown colder and colder.

More than ten years later, in the depths of his seclusion, he finally opened his eyes once again.

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