Ji Xiu told a story.
The protagonist of the story was selfish, greedy, and cunning, skillfully navigating between different men, resorting to any means to achieve her goals.
The image she projected to the outside world was all fake.
She had deceived everyone.
A layer of frost covered Ji Xiu's face, "I thought Liu Jinghong was my spiritual companion. Her performance on the Kyushu Continent was too perfect, until we ascended to the Upper Realm..."
The Upper Realm was not as peaceful and beautiful as they had imagined. Where there were interests, there was killing.
Liu Jinghong and Ji Xiu were renowned figures on the Kyushu Continent, but in the Upper Realm, they were reduced to the lowest strata. If it weren't for the help of the seniors from various sects, they would have long since died in the endless struggles.
Although Ji Xiu and the others were somewhat disappointed, they quickly adjusted their mindsets and actively adapted to life in the Upper Realm. Because of this, they didn't notice Liu Jinghong's changes in time.
By the time they sensed something was wrong, Liu Jinghong had already developed ambiguous relationships with the seniors of their sects and began to distance herself from them.
Not willing to admit they had misjudged her, Ji Xiu and the others sought an explanation from Liu Jinghong.
"Heh, do you know what Liu Jinghong said?
She said we were mutually beneficial, and now that we are no longer valuable, she is going to find more powerful backers, and told us not to block her path."
It was at that moment that the halo surrounding Liu Jinghong was shattered by Liu Jinghong herself.
"No, that can't be. How could Ancestor Jinghong say such a thing..." someone muttered in disbelief.
The disciples of Xuanji Sect were even more incredulous, their faces burning with shame.
They had always been proud of Liu Jinghong and regarded her as their life goal.
The Demon King sneered. He was of course aware of Liu Jinghong's past troubles; he had personally witnessed these people being played for fools by Liu Jinghong.
What is fake is ultimately fake.
"Ji Xiu!" Liu Jinghong's voice trembled with anger. She hadn't expected Ji Xiu to actually repeat what she had said back then.
The image she had painstakingly cultivated for hundreds of years was ruined in an instant.
"Liu Jinghong, today, in front of all the fellow cultivators of the Kyushu Continent, I will ask you: the resolute and wise Liu Jinghong on the Kyushu Continent, and the shameless and despicable Liu Jinghong in the Upper Realm—have you changed, or have we changed!"
This question had plagued Ji Xiu and the others for years, and today they could finally ask it aloud.
"I have never changed!"
At this point, Liu Jinghong decided to go all out. She put away her hypocritical smile and said coldly, "If you didn't possess luck, do you think I would have wasted so much time on you?"
Liu Jinghong only realized how important luck was after ascending to the Upper Realm.
When she was on the Kyushu Continent, she had seized the female protagonist's opportunities and befriended Ji Xiu and others, making her cultivation path incredibly smooth.
She had grown accustomed to taking shortcuts. Upon reaching the Upper Realm, she discovered that everything had to start from scratch, and cultivation was no longer easy. She inevitably began to harbor wicked thoughts again.
If a person does not act for themselves, heaven and earth will destroy them.
Liu Jinghong did not believe she was wrong.
Furthermore, she had no real connection with Ji Xiu and the others; if there was any, it was their own wishful thinking.
Liu Jinghong's words struck Ji Xiu and the others like a heavy hammer, shaking their souls.
They had misjudged the person from the very beginning.
"Spectacular, truly spectacular!"
The Demon King smiled and applauded softly.
He hadn't witnessed such a dramatic spectacle in a long time.
"Ancestor Jinghong, the Demon King said you stole heavenly secrets and told him that the demon race would perish if a peace treaty was not signed, which is why he compromised. I want to ask if this is true!"
Ancestor Jingzhi's sudden question drew everyone's attention back to Liu Jinghong.
The love-hate entanglement between Liu Jinghong and Ji Xiu and the others was, at most, a subject of criticism, but not a grave sin, and did not cause any substantial harm to Liu Jinghong.
However, the signing of the peace treaty was different.
It was precisely by signing the treaty with the demon and monster races that Liu Jinghong became the faith of all cultivators on the Kyushu Continent.
But if it were now proven that the peace treaty she advocated was actually benefiting the demon race and putting the human race at a disadvantage, all the praise Liu Jinghong had received would rebound a thousandfold.
Did Liu Jinghong dare to admit it?
She dared not.
Her expression stiffened slightly, and she uncomfortably pursed her lips, denying, "The demon race and the human race have been irreconcilable since ancient times, and I would naturally not favor the demon race."
"Liu Jinghong, then tell me, how did you persuade me to sign the peace treaty? Was it with your infinite charm or your lewd body?"
The Demon King no longer seemed in a hurry to destroy the human race. He crossed his arms, staring at Liu Jinghong with a face full of amusement.
"Shut up!"
Liu Jinghong glared at the Demon King fiercely.
It was only after ascending to the Upper Realm that she discovered the Demon King had also been using her back then.
She and the Demon King were also the first to fall out.
"Liu Jinghong, is what the Demon King said true!"
Ji Xiu and the others were also stunned.
They had initially only thought Liu Jinghong had moral issues, but now it seemed far more complicated than they had imagined.
"Of course, it's fake! Stealing heavenly secrets, it's all his lies!"
Liu Jinghong knew that this matter was of great importance, and she would never admit it no matter what, so she vehemently denied it.
She had thought clearly: as long as there was no evidence, no one could prove she was lying.
"Liu Jinghong, do you really think you can hide it from everyone?"
Liu Jinghong looked in the direction of the voice, her brow furrowed, "Who are you?"
Ji Buwang walked out of the crowd, his voice not loud, but clear enough for everyone to hear, "I am the current Sect Master of Xuanji Sect, Ji Buwang."
"It's you!"
Liu Jinghong's eyebrows shot up, and an ominous premonition inexplicably rose in her heart.
Ji Xiu's brow furrowed slightly.
This name was exactly the same as the junior disciple's name he had once intended to give.
Was it a coincidence?
"How dare you! Since you are a disciple of Xuanji Sect, how dare you speak to me like this! You are rude and deserve to be punished!"
Liu Jinghong felt that Ji Buwang might say something extraordinary. With a wicked thought, she decided to strike first.
However, with Ji Xiu and the others present, she certainly wouldn't be allowed to do as she pleased.
Thus, her attack was jointly thwarted by several people, and Ji Buwang recounted his life story in front of everyone.
How he was found by Ancestor Fengjian, and how he cultivated under Liu Jinghong's remote guidance.
The crowd, not being foolish, naturally understood the underlying implications.
At that time, Liu Jinghong had already ascended to the Upper Realm; why would she show special attention to an orphan?
Liu Jinghong forced herself to remain calm, "I simply felt a connection with you, which is why I taught you meticulously. I didn't expect to have raised an ungrateful wretch.
If I had known this would happen, I should have let you starve to death in the wilderness, to be gnawed by wild beasts."
Ji Buwang shook his head slightly, without refuting. Instead, he pointed behind him, "Liu Jinghong, look, who is she?"
Liu Jinghong looked in the direction Ji Buwang was pointing and saw an unfamiliar face. She instinctively wanted to shake her head, but upon closer inspection, cold sweat suddenly broke out, and her eyes widened abruptly.
"Xu Yi, you're not dead!"