Chapter 33: Heavenly Demon

Heavenly Demon's Angry Face

"Xu Shaowei! You actually managed to escape back here!"

In front of the Junping Mansion, the Ruan family bloodline finally appeared. The gazes of everyone present converged upon her, and regardless of their cultivation level, they all wanted to see through the white light covering her face. Only Tai Shi Yi, who was proficient in the Heavenly Demon Formless Sensing Method, merely glanced at the Ruan girl and gave a disdainful snort before turning to Xu Shaowei, who was behind Chen Jun. He shouted, "A woman like you, utterly lacking in upbringing and shameless, the things you've done are too shameful for even me to speak of! If this were to be spread, the reputation of the Profound Heaven Sect would be dragged into the mud! Today, I shall teach you a lesson on behalf of your family."

His words were laden with implication. The cultivators who couldn't see through the white light covering her face couldn't help but listen with excitement, seemingly eager for Tai Shi Yi to expose the scandalous deeds Xu Shaowei had committed. Two cultivators competing in the Southern Zhuzhou Continent, falling into the Netherworld Miasma Swamp—a man and a woman alone together—what could have happened to make a Nascent Soul cultivator like Tai Shi Yi so furious?

Xu Shaowei knelt behind Chen Jun, covering her face with her sleeves, making it impossible to see her expression. Chen Jun, however, remained composed and said gently, "Why must you be so angry, Fellow Daoist Tai? You are in no position to act on behalf of Shaowei's family. Some matters are better left until we return to the Central Continent, where you can discuss them face-to-face with her family. Shaowei is ignorant; why must you bicker with her?"

The crowd couldn't help but whisper to one another, though most cultivators didn't understand the backstory. Only a few deacons in the Dao Palace whispered, "Sect Master Chen's words are reasonable. Sect Master Tai's words went too far. Xu's family has Grotto-Heaven elders; it is not his place to make decisions for the Xu family."

"Could the Grotto-Heaven elder in the Xu family be the Pure Yang Yan Zheng True Person, Elder Xu?"

"Exactly. If it weren't for the reputation of Elder Xu, how could Tai Shi Yi have let her escape the Netherworld Miasma Swamp unscathed? He claims it is beneath him to bully the young, but would a demonic cultivator really care about such things once his true fire is ignited? Don't be fooled by Tai Shi Yi's rough exterior; he is calculating. He is merely picking the softest persimmon by targeting Chen Jun, who likely has no one backing him, to vent his frustrations."

They were whispering in the Dao Palace when Tai Shi Yi seemed to hear them. He sneered three times toward the direction of the Altar City. The Palace Master was terrified and hurriedly activated a green lamp, blowing the smoke toward the sound of the laughter, while using a secret technique to transmit a warning, strictly forbidding any discussion of the Heavenly Demon Order Master in the Altar City. "Do you have a death wish? The demonic path in the Southern Zhuzhou Continent is weak, so you truly do not know the terror of demonic cultivators. The Heavenly Demon Formless Sensing Method, when cultivated to a deep level, can sense names even from thousands of miles away, let alone at such close proximity. If you must speak, speak only good of him!"

In the Dao Palace, the few Golden Core deacons had only heard the laughter, yet they felt their spirits shaken and their chests nauseated; their Dao foundations were unknowingly tainted. Fortunately, the green smoke entered, dispelling the magic. Realizing the danger, they thanked the Palace Master and dared not speak another word. They only heard Tai Shi Yi say to Chen Jun, "Very well. Since you know she did wrong, how will you give me an explanation?" Tai Shi Yi seized this opening to press his advantage. Although Chen Jun had appeared, the vibration frequency of the Heavenly Demon Order within the demonic clouds grew higher and higher, causing the clouds to surge. If not for the stabilizing and calming force emanating from the Junping Mansion, the space above the Altar City might have already become unstable.

The Guiyi Sect and the Baozhi Firm were watching like tigers eyeing their prey, and many other sects were secretly spying—although they were from minor sects, their sect's power could not compare to the major sects, but the cultivation of the individual cultivators was not necessarily weaker. The attention of these many Nascent Soul cultivators was focused solely on the person in front of the Junping Mansion. Chen Jun, however, was unafraid. He smiled slightly, took a folding fan from his waist, and opened it grid by grid on his knees. "This is simple enough. The Profound Heaven Sect never shields its disciples. If Shaowei is indeed at fault, then today, we shall let you have a taste of the Dharma-Treasury Order."

His words were full of confidence, as if he were looking forward to the Dharma-Treasury Order and felt no fear. All the cultivators couldn't help but frown secretly—the Wind-Wave-Leveling Bell could only stabilize the Dharma-Treasury Order, but now the Boundless Creation Divine Light and the Baozhi Gold Coin had been revealed. How could Chen Jun still be so confident? Did he bring another Grotto-Heaven magic treasure besides the Wind-Wave-Leveling Bell and the One-Qi Cloud Sail?

Chen Jun naturally wouldn't explain. He paused and smiled again. "But since Shaowei has done wrong, our Profound Heaven Sect will never shield her. Today, I shall hand her over to Sect Master Tai for punishment. Kill her or carve her up, it is all up to you."

He flicked his sleeve, and ropes instantly appeared on Xu Shaowei, binding her hands and sending her toward Tai Shi Yi. Tai Shi Yi was also stunned. Without thinking, seeing that the magic power protecting Xu Shaowei was thin, and with many cultivators watching, he feared she might be snatched away. He fired a black light, capturing her and verifying that it was indeed Xu Shaowei. He then asked suspiciously, "What do you mean by 'kill her or carve her up'—if I really kill her, you'll just watch?"

Chen Jun saw that although he shouted fiercely, he was quick to receive the person. He couldn't help but smile slightly, using his folding fan to cover his face, turning his head away. "This is not something I should watch."

"Indeed." The Palace Master felt a chill in his heart and hurriedly transmitted the order back. Thick fog instantly condensed in front of the Altar City, and many major sect mansions also opened thick fog to cover themselves—Tai Shi Yi could punish Xu Shaowei in public to vent his anger, and the Profound Heaven Sect had spoken first and would not interfere. But this was not a spectacle to be watched. Without a Grotto-Heaven elder to protect them, it was best to be cautious. A Golden Core True Person of the Profound Heaven Sect had been humiliated in public by the Yan Mountain Order Master; who knew if the Xu family elders would take the lives of all the low-tier cultivators present that day just to protect Xu Shaowei's reputation?

Even the Fairy Hui and the Shopkeeper Zhu couldn't help but laugh and withdraw their supernatural powers into their mansions, not wanting to get involved in this karma—even if they could sense the scene outside from within the mansion, it was better to leave a retreat than to witness it in person. Thick fog rose in front of the Altar City, and the demonic clouds gradually dissipated. Tai Shi Yi struck Xu Shaowei dozens of times, and Xu Shaowei couldn't help but cry out, "It hurts, it hurts!"

If these were ordinary slaps, even a thousand or ten thousand would mean nothing to a Golden Core cultivator. But Tai Shi Yi had imbued his palm with magic power, and Xu Shaowei could not use her spiritual power to resist, so she was naturally in immense pain. Tai Shi Yi heard the crying in her voice, struck one last time, and released her. He shouted, "Will you be sensible from now on?"

Xu Shaowei sobbed with her head lowered, "I know I was wrong."

Her hands were bound, and she had no magic power, so she slumped at Tai Shi Yi's feet, looking extremely pitiful. Tai Shi Yi snorted, pointed a finger, and the immortal ropes on her body turned into flying ash. His three heads and six arms also retracted, returning to the appearance of a long-browed young martial general. He glanced at Chen Jun from afar and said, "A good 'Chen the Second,' I underestimated you. It's a pity that after all your efforts, you still found a fake."

With that, he stepped into the void and disappeared.

Seeing him leave, Xu Shaowei covered her face with her sleeves and flew back to Chen Jun's side. Her escape light was slow and swaying; it was clear that the injuries Tai Shi Yi left her were not light. When she reached Chen Jun's side, she lowered her sleeves and looked up. Her face was clean, without a single tear; her eyes were clear and bright, not at all like someone who had been crying.

Chen Jun glanced at her and sighed, "Shaowei, you should at least care a little about your reputation."

Xu Shaowei smiled frankly, "Second Senior Brother, I don't care about my reputation; I want to break through to the Nascent Soul stage. I know I was wrong this time, but I'll dare to do it again next time."

Chen Jun was speechless and sighed, shaking his head. He flicked his sleeve, wrapping Xu Shaowei and the Ruan girl, and was about to enter the Junping Mansion when he heard someone behind him say, "Wait." He turned around, stunned for a moment, and looked at the white jade carriage in the far distance, whispering, "Young Master Yue..."

In front of the Altar City, the Dao Palace Palace Master, who had just relaxed, felt his heart tighten again—it seemed the dispute today was not yet over.

#

"Why did they all leave?"

Inside the Junping Mansion, near the Pine Pavilion, the young boy and girl sat together in a half-collapsed small pavilion, looking at the bronze mirror held by Qu Qu Qu Tan Yue. The mirror reflected the situation outside the mansion. The people outside seemed unaware, even Tai Shi Yi. Ruan Ci asked, "Is it because they saw Sister Rong and realized she isn't the real Sword Seed?"

"Exactly. The Lady is indeed intelligent."

Qu Qu Qu Tan Yue still had that smiling expression. "Sister Rong has already joined the Profound Heaven Sect and learned the Profound Heaven Sect's pulse-opening technique. If she were the Donghua Sword Seed, she would have been able to establish a connection with the Donghua Sword after opening her pulses. Both Fairy Hui and the various True Persons have seen Sister Xie use the Donghua Sword and have a sense for it. As soon as they saw Sister Rong, they knew the Profound Heaven Sect had failed this time. They spent so much effort to snatch the Ruan family bloodline back from the Lu Kingdom, only to find out it was a fake; there was no Donghua Sword on her at all."

He followed Ruan Ci's way of addressing her. Ruan Ci felt it was a bit strange, but she didn't correct Qu Qu Qu Tan Yue. She only said, "Have you also seen Sister Xie use the Donghua Sword?"

Qu Qu Qu Tan Yue smiled, "Naturally. Sister Xie killed several of my brothers; I should thank her. If it weren't for her, how would the position of Young Sect Master have fallen to me?"

Ruan Ci thought, "It seems the infighting in the Profound Soul Sect is also very intense. If Qu Qu Qu Tan Yue can bring me back to the Profound Soul Sect, his position should be much more stable."

She now knew why Chen Jun wouldn't let her go out and walk around, and she also knew why the Old Master gave her that Heavenly Destiny Cloud Seed. She wanted to ask Qu Qu Qu Tan Yue if there was such a chess-loving Old Master in the Profound Heaven Sect, but the words died on her lips. She only said, "No wonder Chen Jun took Sister Rong out. It was to turn a big issue into a small one, and a small one into nothing. Sect Master Tai gave the Xu True Person a few slaps... and then left with the Life-Replacing Gold Bell, making a lot of noise but doing very little."

Qu Qu Qu Tan Yue sneered, "Tai Shi Yi and Xu Shaowei had clearly agreed on this beforehand, singing in harmony to force Chen Jun to hand the person over. Since it was confirmed she wasn't the Sword Seed, the show should naturally come to an end. Tai Shi Yi took the Life-Replacing Gold Bell, but can't Xu Shaowei ask for it back? There are restrictions on that Life-Replacing Gold Bell; what use is it if he takes it?"

He added, "Chen Jun's heart is still upright, but he is alone and helpless. He had to wait for Xu Shaowei to cause some trouble in the Netherworld Miasma Swamp before he could hide you in the Junping Mansion."

These words were all his own speculation, but they sounded very plausible. The infighting and undercurrents in the Profound Heaven Sect were depicted in more than half by these words. Ruan Ci didn't respond and sat silently. Qu Qu Qu Tan Yue smiled again and said gently, "If you are truly unwilling to leave the Profound Heaven Sect and follow me to the Profound Soul Sect, then I have no choice. But if you have anything you need in the future, remember to find me."

Ruan Ci nodded. Seeing Qu Qu Qu Tan Yue about to leave, she couldn't help but call out, "Husband..."

Qu Qu Qu Tan Yue stopped and asked with a smile, "What is it?"

Ruan Ci hesitated, but finally said, "Can I ask you to do one thing?"

Qu Qu Qu Tan Yue couldn't help but smile, "If you don't tell me, who else would you tell?"

He said this as if he were truly in tune with Ruan Ci's heart. In fact, they were sitting side by side, and Ruan Ci had never relaxed her vigilance for a moment. But she really couldn't help it.

"You must have ordered Xiu Nu and Li Nu to find quite a few hosts to find me, right?"

She was a bit hesitant and said in a low voice, "I know these hosts may not only have the purpose of finding me for you... but... but, now that you know I am here, can you let them stop possessing the common people of the Southern Zhuzhou Continent?"

Given their actual relationship, this was truly an unreasonable request, but it was indeed a heavy burden on Ruan Ci's heart. She sighed and couldn't help but say, "The common people are truly pitiful. How much have they been implicated for the sake of a Donghua Sword? One less bit of turmoil is one less bit of suffering."

Qu Qu Qu Tan Yue didn't expect Ruan Ci to be so serious about this, and he couldn't help but be stunned. The look in his eyes when he looked at Ruan Ci seemed to have a hint of difference from before. He smiled and said, "If I agree to this, how will you compensate me?"

Ruan Ci thought, what can I accomplish now? You probably just want a promise from me.

She had been worried about this for a long time, but she hadn't seen Qu Qu Qu Tan Yue before, so she had no way to talk about it. Now, even though she knew the thing Qu Qu Qu Tan Yue wanted her to do might be extremely tricky, she still agreed resolutely without hesitation, "Just tell me what you want me to do."

Qu Qu Qu Tan Yue looked at Ruan Ci deeply for a while, then suddenly smiled and bent down to pick a two-colored winter plum from the side of the pavilion, tucking it into Ruan Ci's temple, and gently tucked a strand of loose hair behind her ear—after the series of tremors, Ruan Ci's hair bun was a bit loose.

"I was lying to you, it's just a small matter," he said, "What arrangements could there be in the Southern Zhuzhou Continent that are more important than pleasing my Lady? Accepting a flower from me is enough."

Ruan Ci didn't expect him to agree so readily, and she couldn't help but be overjoyed. She touched the winter plum and gave him a brilliant smile, willingly calling him "Husband," "Thank you for doting on me, Husband."

Qu Qu Qu Tan Yue's bronze mirror still reflected the situation outside the mansion. In the vast white clouds, the various Nascent Soul cultivators stood in a standoff from afar, looking like a great battle was about to break out. But inside the Junping Mansion, amidst the broken walls and ruins, the young boy and girl looked at each other and smiled, a scene of indescribable charm and romance.

Ruan Ci was young and just blossoming; she wasn't a great beauty, but this smile was as bright as spring flowers. Qu Qu Qu Tan Yue couldn't help but show a hint of amazement in his eyes. He stepped closer and whispered in her ear, "Actually, Tai Shi Yi and Xu Shaowei did have some conflicts in the Netherworld Miasma Swamp that shouldn't have happened. I spent a lot of effort to ruin Xu Shaowei's chance to advance to the Nascent Soul stage. But these frictions were far from the extent they showed."

"Xu Shaowei and Xie Xie Yan Huan have always been close. I did this for your sake, and also to find an opportunity to enter the Junping Mansion to find you—you must be careful in the Profound Heaven Sect. You must know that cultivators live for thousands of years, and no great cultivator has reached their current level smoothly. The schemes of some people are far beyond what you can imagine now."

He winked at Ruan Ci and said with a smile, "Look, am I not very good at lying?"

His figure slowly dissipated. Ruan Ci sat by the pavilion for a long time without moving, still looking at Qu Qu Qu Tan Yue's retreating back. After a while, she turned her head and said, "Panpan, since you're here, come out."

A small orange cat slowly walked out from the woods. Wang Panpan sniffed in the direction of Qu Qu Qu Tan Yue and said, "Young Master Yue is really good at this."

Ruan Ci asked, "Good at what?"

She stood up and walked back with Wang Panpan. Wang Panpan jumped onto her shoulder, tilted its head, and said, "He really likes you, don't you think?"

"Then I'd rather he just wanted me to go to the Profound Soul Sect with him." Ruan Ci said, "He is thousands of years old, and I am only ten-something. He likes me? If he didn't like me, that would be fine, but if he really liked me, that would be disgusting."

Wang Panpan scolded, "You! How can you say that! You really don't understand romance!"

Ruan Ci smiled, "If my Husband had children, I would probably be about the same age as his great-great-great-grandchild. He likes me? If it weren't for the fact that this incarnation of his only has Qi Condensation cultivation, I'm afraid he would have knocked me out and taken me away."

The girl and the cat argued endlessly. When they returned to the Little Wisdom Wind, Wang Panpan heard what Qu Qu Qu Tan Yue had said from Ruan Ci. It rolled around on the bed and said unhappily, "I said that although Xu Shaowei is naughty, she has always been able to handle things. How could she suddenly make such a big mistake, causing herself to lose face? So it was him playing tricks in the middle. I was sleeping well, but I was suddenly shaken to the ground. I'm counting this debt on Young Master Yue."

Ruan Ci sat at the table, couldn't help but look in the mirror, and touched the plum blossom on her temple. Wang Panpan lay on the bed, licking its paws, and added, "But this is also good. Tai Shi Yi saw the Ruan family bloodline, and Chen Jun also used his hand to let everyone see that sister of yours. Since the Sword Seed is not in the hands of the Profound Heaven Sect, the Junping Mansion should be safe until we return to the Central Continent. You can finally apprentice and cultivate, open your pulses, and refine your methods—"

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Updated, sorry for the wait, I will send out red packets in the comments for this chapter.

The Southern Zhuzhou Continent map is going offline for now~ Which of the Southern Zhuzhou cultivators do you like the most?

I'm having takeout for lunch today~ stir-fried small rooster with green beans, and Di San Xian, both are signature dishes from a restaurant near my house. We'll just make a mushroom and tofu soup ourselves. Ah, ah, I'm hungry, I'm hungry.

. Thanks to the little angels who voted for me or irrigated nutrient solution between 2020-07-20 12:01:30 and 2020-07-21 12:00:03~

Thanks to the little angel who voted for a rocket launcher: Cang Sun x1;

Thanks to the little angels who voted for hand grenades: Wo Cai Bu Shi Xiao Wei Ba x2; Yu Wan Yao x1;

Thanks to the little angels who voted for landmines: Shui Shui Er x3; Xing Xing, Xia Wan Zhe Chang Yu, Wo Yang Ni Ya, truedfy, Li Li He Ping x1;

Thanks to the little angels who irrigated nutrient solution: Tang Yuan x20; UMASOU x19; Chi Se x14; Cheng Huang Ju Lv, Xi Gua A Si x10; sidewalker x5; 21699986, Wo Yao Zhong Ke Xiao Tai Yang mio, akilayue, Zhi Ling, Kuang Xiao Er Wang x1;

Thank you all very much for your support, I will continue to work hard!

I'm eating takeout for lunch today~ Stir-fried small rooster, Earth Three Fresh, are all signature dishes of the restaurant near my house. We can make mushroom tofu soup ourselves. Ah ah, hungry, hungry.

. Thanks to the little angels who gave me overlord votes or irrigated nutrient solution between 2020-07-20 12:01:30 and 2020-07-21 12:00:03~

Thanks to the little angels who gave rocket launchers: Pot Pot (1);

Thanks to the little angels who gave hand grenades: I am not a little tail (2); Yu Yu Wan Yao (1);

Thanks to the little angels who gave landmines: Shui Shui Er (3); Xing Xing, After this rain, I'll raise you, truedfy, Li Li He Ping (1 each);

Thanks to the little angels who irrigated nutrient solution: Tang Yuan (20 bottles); UMASOU (19 bottles); Red (14 bottles); Orange Yellow Tangerine Green, Watermelon Ah Si (10 bottles); sidewalker (5 bottles); 21699986, I want to plant a little sun mio, akilayue, Zhi Ling, Laughing to Death (1 bottle each);

Thank you all very much for your support, I will continue to work hard!