Hearing the conversation between his master and Ming He, Cheng Zui's heart was filled with even greater shock.
It turned out his master was originally a Heavenly Demon, who had transformed into a Living God to occupy the Moonflower Realm.
Not only that, but he had also made so many arrangements.
Even He Lianluo, the Sect Master of the Heavenly Dao Sect, and Yong Gaoya, the former Grand Elder of the Golden Crow Palace, were demonic cultivators. Two hundred years ago, to collude from within and without, he had even, without hesitation, sent a clone of himself, named Qing Lan, to apprentice under the Heavenly Dao Sect.
A chill ran down Cheng Zui's spine. His master had been meticulously planning for five hundred years. He had exhausted all his tricks; he wondered if there were any other arrangements he was unaware of. At this moment, looking at the familiar face, he felt fear.
Zhu Ji felt the same. Although she was just a small bamboo spirit, she did not want the Moonflower Realm to be occupied by demonic cultivators. However, she could do nothing at this moment. She could only do her best to mask Cheng Zui's aura, preventing the Heavenly Demon from discovering them. She knew that if their whereabouts were exposed, they would surely die. With the Heavenly Demon's cultivation, crushing them would be as easy as crushing an ant.
"Master, should I notify He Lianluo and have him cooperate with us at Furong Peak under the name of the Heavenly Dao Sect?" Ming He suggested, his heart filled with worry after learning everything.
"No need. It's not yet time for him to reveal his identity. He has more important things to do, and he has been doing them for two hundred years. Success is near. You may go now. If there is any news from Sifang Mountain, report it to me immediately." The Heavenly Demon waved Ming He away impatiently, then looked up at the moon in the sky.
"There are indeed other arrangements! No, I must stop my master and persuade him to turn back." Cheng Zui thought, about to reveal himself.
Unexpectedly, he felt a sharp pain in the back of his head and fainted. It was Zhu Ji's doing. Seeing the resolute expression on Cheng Zui's face, she knew what he was about to do. Thus, she directly knocked him unconscious and used the art of earth遁 to escape. She returned to the palace where the teleportation array was located, then took the unconscious Cheng Zui back to Immortal Valley.
She knew what Cheng Zui intended to do, but she did not have high hopes. The Heavenly Demon's plans, which had been in motion for five hundred years, would not be abandoned because of the short twenty-year master-disciple relationship with Cheng Zui. If Cheng Zui had revealed himself to dissuade him at that moment, it would only have brought about his own death. Therefore, she acted decisively and knocked Cheng Zui unconscious.
When Cheng Zui woke up, he did not blame Zhu Ji, nor did he say a word. He simply sat quietly in his room, like an emotionless wooden puppet. It was not until two days later that he found Zhu Ji and asked her to leave Immortal Valley. This was because he had decided that even if his master killed him, he would go to the Heavenly Demon Valley to persuade the Living God. He could not let him be willful and lead to eternal damnation.
Zhu Ji refused to leave, insisting on accompanying him. She said they would face life and death together, never to be separated. Thus, the two of them, using the teleportation array in Langya Cave, once again arrived at the Heavenly Demon Valley. However, they discovered that the Heavenly Demon was no longer in the Heavenly Demon Valley, nor was Ming He, whom they had seen before.
The two of them captured a demonic cultivator from the valley to inquire about the situation. This time, Zhu Ji not only became anxious but also so enraged that she attacked, destroying half of the Heavenly Demon Valley and attracting the pursuit of countless demonic cultivators. According to the captured demonic cultivator, a rare treasure had appeared on Furong Peak. The Five Elements Demon Venerable and ten thousand demonic cultivators sent from the Heavenly Demon Valley had all perished. The Demon Master Ming He had rushed to seize the treasure but had also lost his life there. These individuals were killed by a pear blossom tree spirit named Ming Yue, in conjunction with the senior disciple of the Golden Crow Palace. Finally, the treasure was obtained by Ming Yue. Furthermore, that Ming Yue was extremely close to Ji Shiyou. It was said that Ji Shiyou had once, in the night market of Furong Town, slain He Hua, the young sect master of the Heavenly Dao Sect, for her. Many itinerant cultivators who were doing business at the time witnessed this. They said the two were deeply in love and their relationship was very unusual. Now, Ming Yue had been brought back to the Golden Crow Palace by the Golden Crow Fairy. There were even rumors that the Golden Crow Fairy intended to recognize Ming Yue as her sister. Various sects had already received invitations from the Golden Crow Palace for the adoption ceremony. Those who lived far away had already set off.
Upon receiving this news, the Heavenly Demon flew into a rage. He vowed to personally go to the Golden Crow Palace in Mount Wuliang, kill Ming Yue, and reclaim the treasure. When Zhu Ji heard this, the Heavenly Demon intended to kill her friend, and her mind became a blur. She set up a pitfall formation in Immortal Valley, destroying half of it. More than a thousand demonic cultivators within were either killed or injured. However, Zhu Ji and Cheng Zui's whereabouts were also exposed. Cheng Zui was severely wounded protecting Zhu Ji. Zhu Ji used her earth遁 technique to escape with the injured Cheng Zui, attracting the pursuit of demonic cultivators.
Meanwhile, on the day Ming Yue was taken away by the Golden Crow Fairy at the foot of Furong Peak, Ji Shiyou, though reluctant to part with Ming Yue, had been given a mission by the Golden Crow Fairy. He could only stay behind to clean up and lead the Golden Crow Palace disciples back. Shi Li led the Sword Sect members, ascending into the sky on their swords. Gui Zi led the Hundred Flowers Palace members, departing with the wind. Watching their figures disappear, Ji Shiyou patiently led everyone out of Sifang Mountain on foot. There was no other way. Some of the disciples could not fly on their swords for extended periods. Even though they were eager to return home, they had to walk back obediently. Fortunately, the direction of their return was clear, and they would not get lost as they had on the way there. It was estimated that if they hurried, they could return to the Golden Crow Palace within seven days.
Six days later, as they were on their journey, they noticed demonic energy surging in the distance, reaching straight into the heavens. Ji Shiyou instructed Tian Jian to lead his junior disciples to continue on their way, while he flew on his sword to investigate. As he approached, he saw hundreds of demonic cultivators attacking two young people, a man and a woman. The man was already injured, but he still stood in front of the woman. However, it seemed he was at the end of his strength and could not hold on much longer. These two were Zhu Ji and Cheng Zui, who had destroyed the Heavenly Demon Valley and were being pursued.
The immortal sects' mission was to eliminate demons and protect the righteous path. Ji Shiyou immediately rendered aid. With a blast of Golden Crow fire, he incinerated all the demonic cultivators. Zhu Ji helped Cheng Zui over to express their gratitude. During the robbery in Sifang Mountain, Zhu Ji had seen Ji Shiyou before, but at that time, she had impersonated a disciple of the Divine Physician Valley, so Ji Shiyou did not recognize her. As Zhu Ji thanked him, she recognized the person who had saved her and Cheng Zui as Ji Shiyou, who was rumored to be romantically involved with Ming Yue. However, the matter was of great importance, and she dared not rashly reveal the truth.
Just then, Tian Jian arrived with his men. He reported a piece of news to Ji Shiyou: the Golden Crow Fairy intended to recognize Ming Yue as her sister and had sent invitations to all sects for a recognition ceremony to be announced to the world. Ji Shiyou was instantly anxious. If the adoption was successful, then due to ethical restrictions, he and Ming Yue would not be able to be together. Thus, he intended to return to the palace quickly to explain the situation to the Golden Crow Fairy and request that the adoption be canceled and their marriage be announced instead.
Upon hearing this, Zhu Ji confirmed her suspicions. She immediately grabbed Ji Shiyou and asked if the Ming Yue they were referring to was a pear blossom tree spirit, and described Ming Yue's appearance and personality. After confirmation, she pulled Ji Shiyou and exclaimed that Ming Yue was in danger. To gain Ji Shiyou's trust, she even recounted the past incident of the robbery to prove her identity as Ming Yue's friend and that she was not speaking nonsense.
Since the matter involved Ming Yue, Ji Shiyou naturally wanted to know more. Zhu Ji explained the reason. After listening, Ji Shiyou's expression changed drastically. He instructed Tian Jian and the Golden Crow Palace disciples to escort Zhu Ji and Cheng Zui on their way to the Golden Crow Palace, while he himself ascended into the sky on his sword and disappeared. He was anxious, fearing that if he returned too late, Ming Yue might meet with misfortune.
Upon his arrival, he happened to encounter Ming Yue being coerced. He stepped forward to rescue her and publicly announced his relationship with Ming Yue. The reason he did not immediately expose the Living God was the lack of evidence. Therefore, he spoke volubly, which was uncharacteristic of him, in order to stall for time and wait for Cheng Zui to arrive at the mountain, so that the Living God's identity could be revealed to all.
Inside the Golden Crow Palace, the Living God was unaware that his disciple had already learned everything. "Cheng Zui, what's going on? Who is he?" After hearing Zhu Ji's words, his face, which had been filled with doubt, became stern. He spoke to Cheng Zui with authority. However, Cheng Zui did not answer the Living God's question. He simply looked at him quietly, his eyes red with heartache and anger.