To fight over a spirit beast, Liu Jiang Fusheng formed a mortal enmity with Yan Tianjiao. This made Lu Ziyin wonder if there was more to the story.
As it turned out, there wasn't.
Lu Ziyin, projecting his own experiences, believed all his youthful, reckless actions in this life were for the sake of a beauty. So, was Liu Jiang Fusheng, in his rage over a "beast," intending to raise his spirit beast as his future companion? But to feel such intense possessiveness and murderous intent just from someone being touched or coveted.
After his vicious internal monologue, Lu Ziyin faced Liu Jiang Fusheng’s unforgiving retaliation. He was now on Liu Jiang Fusheng's list of targets simply because he had rescued Yan Tianjiao in the third realm when he was disoriented.
Lu Ziyin and Yan Tianjiao weren't exactly friends, but their mentors had a good relationship, so they often met in various settings. He figured that if he truly ignored Yan Tianjiao, his master and others wouldn't be able to explain it later. That's why he intervened when he saw him and rescued him.
But he regretted it now.
Liu Jiang Fusheng was a calm madman. Anyone targeted by him was truly unlucky.
He was sharp-minded, terrifyingly skilled, and particularly adept at hunting people. While searching for clues to clear the path, he could still spare time to hunt him and Yan Tianjiao, his energy seemingly boundless.
Once an elegant young master, he now looked disheveled like a wild man under the constant pursuit. He thought that if they ran into Liu Jiang Fusheng together, they'd both be caught, so it was better to split up.
With that self-righteous reason, Lu Ziyin conveniently shed the "burden" that was Yan Tianjiao. He felt he had done all he could for Yan Tianjiao, and Liu Jiang Fusheng's main firepower was directed at Yan Tianjiao. He was merely an accessory, so the one who caused the trouble should be the one to resolve it; he was done with it.
Of course, after witnessing Liu Jiang Fusheng’s combat power, which was far beyond his cultivation level, and the inscrutable sword in his hand, Lu Ziyin had long given up on confronting him.
Wasn't it better to stay alive?
While he didn't expect his ancestors' luck to bring him victory in the "Newcomer Ranking," he felt securing a spot in the top ten shouldn't be a problem.
The prerequisite for that, however, was knowing what could be provoked and who to avoid.
Meanwhile, this person whom Lu Ziyin had identified as a calm madman was inexplicably feeling a sense of unease.
This feeling, for some unknown reason, made him look into the distance, his gaze seeming to penetrate the illusionary peak's barrier to reach the West Cliff chambers... the place where Gu Junshi resided.
He couldn't help but wonder, what was she doing now?
—
And what was Gu Junshi doing?
What else could she do? Ever since returning from Cheng Hong on the East Cliff, she had been "obedient and disciplined," not venturing out to "break the law" again.
She was someone with a very clear plan for her life.
According to her pace and machinations, her life was even planned out beyond ascension.
But this sudden "accident" gave her a premonition that everything could collapse.
Was it a permanent affliction or a natural progression?
This question lingered in her mind. She didn't rush into a decision, as it was clearly not something that could be decided hastily.
Since she couldn't make the right decision to bear it, she swallowed a "Golden Cicada Pill" to stabilize the situation for the time being.
Next, she sat in meditation, entering her own consciousness.
Now that she knew about the pregnancy, she wouldn't overlook any unusual sensations in her womb as she had before. She "saw" the cluster of embryonic light coiled into a ball, enveloped by a warm and gentle aura. This was the "Golden Cicada Pill" slowly nourishing it. It seemed to sense the sudden feeding, and the faint, weak light greedily "devoured" it.
This instinctive reaction indicated its desire to live.
That was also why it uncontrollably drew upon her innate power when it couldn't receive adequate nourishment from its mother.
However, the "nutrition" drawn from her was not what it truly desired; it wasn't even enough to quench its hunger or thirst.
Finally, as if it had been sufficiently nourished by the spiritual energy of the "Golden Cicada Pill," it happily floated into Gu Junshi's conscious embrace, then curled up contentedly. She cupped it in her hands and finally heard the "fetal heartbeat" that Cheng Hong had mentioned.
Thump, thump, thump...
It was still a tiny ball, but it was warm and pure, a completely different existence from her cold and dark consciousness.
Gu Junshi's calm expression masked a complex turmoil.
Why was it that someone like her had conceived such a pure spirit fetus?
Was it destined not to survive in her womb?
She stared at it for a moment with a faint gaze and then pushed it away.
It paused, seemingly realizing its mother's displeasure, and then shrank itself even smaller, but refused to give up, trying to move closer to her.
Even after she pushed it away multiple times, it still tearfully and affectionately wanted her to hold it.
However, Gu Junshi could not mistake the fact that it was being harmed by the deathly aura emanating from her.
For the first time, Gu Junshi felt a sense of helplessness.
With a wave of her arm, she forcibly created distance between them.
It floated there, looking at her with what seemed like bewilderment and grievance, not understanding why its mother refused to be close to it.
Although it had felt emotions like "pain" and "discomfort" during the single instance it had curled up in her embrace, what it felt more was "happiness" and "joy."
Gu Junshi said, "Don't come any closer..."
It transmitted a thought to her: "Hold me, I want a hug..."
Gu Junshi regretted looking at it. She had never felt such complex emotions before. In the end, Gu Junshi left in a hurried, ruthless manner.
She abruptly opened her eyes, her hand unconsciously pressing against her abdomen. Sometimes, hearing something with her own ears was completely different from experiencing it with her own eyes.
She lowered her eyelids. The sunlight streaming through the window warmed her cold features, her gaze like clouds forming a sea tower, drifting and submerged.
Footsteps sounded outside the door, approaching from afar. She heard the faint sound of conversation.
"Martial Uncle, do you think the Void Sect has been unlucky lately? There's been one incident after another. It hasn't been long, and they've already imposed a lockdown and are conducting searches, prohibiting us from moving freely."
An elite disciple from the Great Evolution Sect spoke with some emotion.
It seemed that the major sects weren't as stable and peaceful as their smaller ones. Although he didn't know the specifics of what had happened, he had heard rumors.
Among the four Martial Uncles of the Great Evolution Sect, Liu Jiang Fusheng, Tan Ya, and Fang Rui had gone to the Illusionary Peak for the "Grand Competition." The only Martial Uncle remaining behind was undoubtedly Zi Ying.
She knew more than the elite disciple. She said, "We are under their roof. The Void Sect has even placed its sect leader's eldest disciple under house arrest, so what hope do we outsiders have?"
"Martial Uncle, do you know something? Why was the Void Sect leader's eldest disciple put under house arrest?"
"Didn't they capture a demon during the minor competition arena earlier?"
"A demon? I suppose so, but what does that have to do with that demon?"
Zi Ying and the elite disciple passed by the door and continued walking further away.
"There must be a connection, otherwise, why would the eldest disciple be put under house arrest right after that demon died?"
"That demon is dead? Martial Uncle, how do you know?"
Zi Ying smiled coquettishly, "I have my sources..."
Their voices faded into the distance.
Gu Junshi already knew that Zi Ying's origins were unusual, so it wasn't surprising that she knew some internal affairs of the Void Sect. What was strange was why she was discussing this matter with an ordinary disciple.
While pondering Zi Ying's intentions, Gu Junshi also contemplated Xiao Chenmu's situation.
He had been placed under house arrest...
Wouldn't that delay the investigation into the murderer?
Her "Demon Concealing Bead" illusion wouldn't last long before Sheng Chou detected something amiss, so she hadn't left much time for Xiao Chenmu to waste.
Her eyes flickered. She temporarily set aside her own matters and transformed into a wisp of smoke, arriving at the place where Xiao Chenmu was under house arrest.
She had left a mark on him, which allowed her to track his location at any time for a period.
He was confined to a hall with green tiles and white pillars; he wasn't actually locked up. He stood quietly on the steps. Clouds swirled around, and the mountain wind surged. The distant nine peaks appeared hazy amidst the fog.
His tall and strong figure was now quite dejected, his eye sockets were bruised, and his eyes were bloodshot. He stared fixedly at one spot, his gaze unwavering. The pervasive air of death suggested that the demoness's death had hit him hard.
Gu Junshi watched him quietly for a moment. Her suicide was not for him to mourn and grieve, but for him to find the true culprit and reveal the true beginning of his life.
With a flick of her finger, she inscribed words, concealed her form, and tossed a thunder-letter down to Xiao Chenmu below.
Compared to cloud letters, thunder-letters possessed greater power and speed. Generally, cloud letters represented friendliness and peace, were traceable, and were used for ordinary or friendly correspondence. Thunder-letters, on the other hand, were the opposite; they were usually used for provocation, issuing challenges, or demonstrating dominance.
Moreover, the moment a thunder-letter exploded to reveal its message, its aura would dissipate, making it difficult to trace its origin.
Even immersed in his thoughts, Xiao Chenmu didn't completely ignore the changes happening around him. He sensed the vibration in the air, his fierce brows tightening, and he instinctively reached out and caught the thunder-letter.
The thunder-letter, like a cloud mass crackling with electricity, was caught in his palm. But he didn't rush to examine it; instead, his gaze was sharp as he scanned his surroundings vigilantly.
However, with his cultivation, he couldn't sense Gu Junshi's presence.
So, he found nothing and assumed the sender had already left.
Only then did he skeptically unfold the thunder-letter. As it exploded, the words "Demon Concealing Bead stolen" appeared in mid-air.
He jolted.
The words "Demon Concealing Bead" immediately sent his cold blood coursing violently through his limbs, and his head felt a rush of blood.
"Demon Concealing Bead" was A Xue's...
She had once told him that she possessed a treasure, and that it was the "Demon Concealing Bead" she carried with her that allowed her to blend in with human cultivators without her demonic identity being detected. The "Demon Concealing Bead" could conceal the demonic energy of a demon.
What did this thunder-letter stating that the "Demon Concealing Bead" was stolen mean?
Could it be that the murderer stole it... or, was the murderer's true motive for killing A Xue the "Demon Concealing Bead"?
In an instant, numerous thoughts flashed through Xiao Chenmu's mind.
But this thunder-letter, of unknown origin, could not be entirely trusted.
The only way forward was for him to first check if A Xue's body still had the "Demon Concealing Bead." If the "Demon Concealing Bead" had indeed been stolen, it meant that whoever possessed the "Demon Concealing Bead" would be the killer!
The sorrow and regret that had previously overwhelmed Xiao Chenmu had made him lose himself, but this news revitalized his resolve.
He would find the murderer for her. He would ensure that A Xue's eyes, which had died with regret, could close peacefully.
When a person has a new goal and a task that must be done, their eyes regain their luster, no longer appearing dim and lifeless.
He felt he could no longer remain in despair.
Xiao Chenmu was, after all, the eldest disciple of the Void Sect. Temporary confinement wouldn't completely break him.
With an idea, he immediately composed himself. He knew his previous actions had greatly disappointed his master. His master believed he had been bewitched by the demoness. If he directly asked his master for help in finding A Xue's murderer, his master likely wouldn't agree.
Therefore, he had to conduct this investigation in secret.
But first, his master had to release him from house arrest.
He descended the steps and told the guarding disciples below that he wished to see his master.
Gu Junshi watched from above as Xiao Chenmu recovered, his eyes regaining their spark, and his mind formulating a firm plan. She knew he would diligently search for the murderer.
It was only a matter of time before Sheng Chou was exposed by him, because the "Demon Concealing Bead" she had given him was not only fake but also a lure.
However, whether Xiao Chenmu ultimately succeeded in capturing Sheng Chou, the ghost cultivator spy, or fell victim to Sheng Chou's machinations and ended up in the same predicament as in the original storyline, it did not change the ending Gu Junshi had written for Xiao Chenmu.
Because Xiao Chenmu would eventually leave the Void Sect anyway.
This had nothing to do with Sheng Chou's framing; it was because of the Void Sect's sect leader, Tai Xuan, Xiao Chenmu's master.
When she learned of the original storyline in her dream, she had only skimmed through the plot points of this supporting male character. She didn't have detailed information about how easily he was framed and betrayed, or how his sect leader master had so readily abandoned him. Now, it seemed, all of this was merely his master's way of going with the flow.
The rift and problems between them likely stemmed from more than just a few instances of defiance and rebellion. Tai Xuan seemed to have a deeper unresolved issue with Xiao Chenmu.
She wondered how much of his master's intentions Xiao Chenmu understood.
Therefore, as long as Xiao Chenmu sought to thoroughly investigate the truth behind the demoness's death and avenge her, their conflict with Tai Xuan would continue to be ignited.
Because she was certain that Xiao Chenmu's departure from the Void Sect was an inevitable outcome.
—
Three days later, disciples from the eight peaks finally reached the summit, signaling the countdown for the remaining spots.
This first disciple to emerge victorious naturally attracted everyone's attention. He was not any of the disciples they had privately discussed and speculated about.