Liu Zhuang Xian

In an instant, the water droplet formed its power, and the Sky-Piercing Spell opened up, spinning and flying through the door.

One could only see the spell marks left on the door, as all the evil spirits in the house were sucked into it.

At first, their howling sounds were sharp and piercing, but the moment they entered the spell, they transformed into ethereal echoes.

The withered scenery in the courtyard seemed to warm up like spring, showing a hint of vitality.

The disciples who had fallen at the door regained their senses and got up.

Shu Wuxi said, “Let’s go in.”

“Alright!”

Lu Xiaochan thought to himself, “This time my Sky-Piercing Spell was formed perfectly. If Kunwu saw it, he would definitely be jealous!”

As the confident Lu Xiaochan was about to kick the door open, Shu Wuxi grabbed his waist and said, “Stay behind me.”

Since Shu Wuxi said this, it must really be the Demon Lord inside!

Lu Xiaochan thought, ‘My cultivation isn’t enough, I better stick close to Shu Wuxi!’

Lu Xiaochan immediately moved behind Shu Wuxi. Just as Shu Wuxi lifted his leg to step over the threshold, the door opened by itself.

Moreover, there wasn’t any sound, and there was no light inside. In the darkness, it seemed as if an invisible hand was inviting them in.

The disciples who had just regained consciousness immediately tried to stop Lu Xiaochan and the others from entering.

“You two… inside is our master Meng Yuandao, he…”

Lu Xiaochan finished their sentence. “Has been possessed by demons.”

“Yes… this evil spirit is no ordinary one…”

“Your cultivation level isn’t high enough, just wait outside!”

After Lu Xiaochan said this, he touched his chin and thought, “How amazing, I’m evaluating others’ cultivation levels like an enlightened master!”

He grabbed Shu Wuxi’s back belt and walked into the darkness.

The room was murky, and Lu Xiaochan could barely breathe.

Madam Kang lay on the couch in an unbearable state, while Meng Yuandao continued to press down on her, refusing to let her go.

Lu Xiaochan couldn’t see Meng Yuandao’s form at all, only a large mass of evil spirits so thick that they had consumed everything from his bones to his elixir core.

Unconsciously swallowing, Lu Xiaochan hadn’t expected that being corrupted by evil spirits could be such a terrifying thing, destroying both body and mind.

“Xiaochan, I’ll form another sword formation for you to see,” Shu Wuxi said.

“What? You’re going to show me another sword formation!”

Lu Xiaochan thought to himself, ‘Brother Wuxi is in such a good mood today!’

“You’re good at borrowing water’s power. The Rushing Rapids Sword Formation borrows the power of water.”

When Lu Xiaochan heard this, he thought it was incredible!

It seemed Shu Wuxi could borrow anything to use! The Breaking Moon Sword Formation borrowed moonlight, the Sky-Piercing Formation borrowed thunder, and now the Rushing Rapids Formation could even borrow water!

“Brother Wuxi, is there anything you can’t borrow?”

Shu Wuxi didn’t answer his question, only saying, “Watch carefully.”

Earlier, Lu Xiaochan had only condensed a single dewdrop from the wind, which he considered a small achievement.

But now, countless fine water droplets surged toward Shu Wuxi from all directions. The lightly jumping water drops touched and merged, forming water streams as thin as bowstrings, flowing into the edges of the sword formation.

At first, there was nothing in the empty darkness, then suddenly a sword formation appeared, shooting straight at Meng Yuandao.

All the evil spirits in Meng Yuandao’s body immediately rushed into Madam Kang’s body below him!

The Rushing Rapids Sword Formation instantly trapped the evil spirits that hadn’t managed to escape. Meng Yuandao was in agony, making shrill sounds on the couch. Countless distorted faces formed by the evil spirits tried to break free from his face, chest, and legs, but were suppressed by the Rushing Rapids Sword Formation.

Lu Xiaochan stepped back, because he noticed that Madam Kang’s abdomen, who was barely breathing earlier, had suddenly swollen. It didn’t look like she was three months pregnant, but rather like she was about to give birth!

At this time, in the Soul Refining Cauldron, Ye Linshuang looked at Meng Yuandao before him and said coldly, “Mere illusions, you think you can deceive me? You’re not Meng Yuandao at all!”

Within the Ninglong Sword Formation, Meng Yuandao’s figure dispersed like black smoke.

When Ye Linshuang turned around, he saw a woman in pure white robes, with a faint smile on her lips, an elegant face, and dark eyebrows and hair that captivated the mind.

“Linshuang, your master has waited for long, why haven’t you returned?”

Her voice was like jade lotuses in a celestial pool, echoing softly.

Ye Linshuang’s consistently cold expression suddenly changed. She raised her sword, frost formed in the strong wind, and the sword formation instantly rushed toward the white-robed woman!

“Insolent demon—how dare you defile Lord Miaochen Yuan!”

Unexpectedly, the white-robed woman used her finger as a sword, forming a vermillion sword formation that looked like sunset clouds, which melted and swallowed Ye Linshuang’s sword formation.

“Linshuang, don’t you miss your master day and night? Why are you so angry when your master has come specially to find you! Don’t you know that once anger fills your heart, the frost becomes impure, and your sword formation weakens.”

The white-robed woman approached gracefully, her figure ethereal, her fingers brushing past Ye Linshuang’s cheek.

Ye Linshuang suddenly retreated, raising his sword to block the woman’s hand.

He said nothing more, closed his eyes, and ran his fingers along the Linshuang Sword’s blade. Excluding all emotions and desires, silver-white spiritual energy surrounded the sword. Person and sword became one, frost flowers fell lightly, transforming into the form of Lie, an ancient spiritual beast of the Northern Sea. With one turn, it absorbed all the overwhelming black energy.

Just as Lie was about to bite the white-robed woman, a pure white spiritual sword suddenly appeared in her hand. The sword handle pressed against Lie’s lower jaw, the sword tip pierced through its upper jaw, and with a flick of her wrist, she split the spiritual energy beast in half. Both Lie and the woman dissipated.

The evil clouds that had filled the cracks were refined away, and sunlight fell down. The Soul Refining Cauldron remained.

Inside the cauldron were countless young women, all appearing soulless, huddled tightly together.

Ye Linshuang rushed to the cauldron’s edge and looked down. There was neither blood nor tortured souls in the cauldron—everything was an illusion.

He suddenly understood something and said through gritted teeth. “So it’s the Mirror Flower Water Moon Sword?”

Mirror Flower Water Moon meant the moon’s reflection in water.

Neither real nor false, seemingly true yet illusory.

At this moment, a warm breath brushed past Ye Linshuang’s ear, and a teasing, mischievous voice sounded.

“Yes, it’s me.”

Just as Ye Linshuang was about to turn around, someone embraced him from behind, one hand pressing down on his elixir core location, the other forcing the Linshuang Sword back into its scabbard.

Ye Linshuang was startled and about to activate his elixir sea when the person behind suddenly bit his ear. Ye Linshuang’s elbow struck hard against the other’s chest.

He turned around, on high alert.

Before her was a man in pure white robes, identical to the woman from before.

He was handsome, with a small mole under his eye corner that made his narrow, emotional eyes appear even more romantic and charming.

“Linshuang, ah Linshuang, you’re so biased.”

He completely disregarded Ye Linshuang’s sword, approaching until his chest pressed against his sword tip.

“Look at you, I merely borrowed your master’s appearance, and you summoned the ancient spiritual beast of the Northern Sea to take my life!”

“Martial Uncle Lianyue, my cultivation is inferior to yours. The mere Lie wasn’t even worth your attention.”

“But I not only pay attention to you, I keep you in my heart.”

Lord Lianyue Yuan smiled faintly and continued forward. The sword tip had pierced his chest, but Ye Linshuang’s expression remained unwavering, his sword steady as a mountain.

“Martial Uncle, please return with me to the Nanli Jingtian.”

Lord Lianyue Yuan laughed: “Silly child, if I return, your master will surely imprison me in the Myriad Melting Furnace.”

“That’s to remove the demonic nature in your heart, Martial Uncle.”

“But my heart belongs to you.”

Lord Lianyue Yuan continued smiling and stepped forward again. The sword blade entered his body, its tip emerging from his back, blood dripping down drop by drop.

“Martial Uncle! Please control yourself!”

In the next moment, Lord Lianyue Yuan turned sideways, embraced Ye Linshuang, and kissed him.

Before Ye Linshuang could even gasp, Lord Lianyue Yuan forcefully kissed him and pushed him into the Soul Refining Cauldron!

And the sword had completely penetrated through Lord Lianyue Yuan’s body!

Ye Linshuang finally turned his face aside, catching his breath. “Martial Uncle…”

Lord Lianyue Yuan lowered his voice and said through gritted teeth. “Cut open my chest and see if there’s a heart inside!”

With a flick of his wrist, all the young women in the cauldron were thrown out!

“Martial Uncle, what are you doing!”

“What do you think? Martial Uncle will teach you!”

Lord Lianyue Yuan’s smile carried a hint of enchantment, demonic energy overflowing.

Just as Ye Linshuang was about to push him away with his spiritual energy, Lord Lianyue Yuan said, “If you push me, your sword will stab harshly into my chest… You truly hate me to death!”

In the moment Ye Linshuang froze, the sash at his waist was pulled loose!

Instantly, his eyes could see nothing—he knew he had fallen for his illusion!

Meanwhile, in the back mountain villa, the evil spirits in Meng Yuandao’s body had been driven out and refined away, but he was completely exhausted, collapsed beside the couch, as wretched as mud.

Madam Kang clutched the bedding with both hands, making heart-wrenching sounds.

“Heavens… she… could she be giving birth…”

Lu Xiaochan saw the life force in her belly—it was a real human fetus, with a nose and eyes!

Shu Wuxi gathered spiritual energy around him, using his finger as a sword, and thrust toward the fetus!

Suddenly, a spiritual sword rushed in, blocking in front of Madam Kang, actually deflecting Shu Wuxi’s spiritual energy!

Lu Xiaochan was almost hit by the deflected spiritual energy, fortunately, Shu Wuxi pulled him into his embrace.

Countless spiritual flames like meteors were blocked by Shu Wuxi’s true qi and dispersed.

Madam Kang was in unbearable pain, forcefully beating her abdomen.

As Shu Wuxi confronted that spiritual sword, Lu Xiaochan could see this sword’s profound spiritual energy was extraordinary, actually blocking three of Shu Wuxi’s consecutive sword formations.

Since knowing Shu Wuxi, whenever he made a move, he had never failed.

This was the first time someone had blocked three of Shu Wuxi’s attacks!

At this moment, it seemed as if a pair of hands were struggling inside Madam Kang’s belly, forcefully tearing it open, and an infant crawled out.

Madam Kang’s eyes widened, her body stiffened, and with her last breath caught in her throat, she died.

Her body’s essence was completely drained, leaving no blood or vitality in her flesh, turning her into a dried corpse.

Lu Xiaochan instantly understood why Shu Wuxi had tried to strike at Madam Kang’s belly earlier—there must be something wrong with this infant!

Suddenly, the spiritual sword that had been battling Shu Wuxi turned over, carrying away the infant as it rushed out of the room.

The doors and windows flew open. In the courtyard stood a man in white robes, his spiritual energy like moonlight at full moon, beautifully ethereal.

Besides Shu Wuxi, this was the first time Lu Xiaochan had seen such spiritual radiance.

It surpassed even those with over a thousand years of cultivation like Mo Qianqiu and Ye Linshuang.

Yet within this pure spiritual energy intertwined countless threads of dark demonic energy.

“Lord Lianyue Yuan,” Shu Wuxi said.

The man in the courtyard smiled and nodded.

“Your sword isn’t with you today, so I’ve taken advantage of that. I’ll be taking this infant.”

“Even without my sword, I can still destroy your primordial spirit.”

Shu Wuxi suddenly pressed Lu Xiaochan’s head into his chest, nearly flattening his nose.

He hadn’t even had the chance to ask who “Lord Lianyue Yuan” was!

Lord Lianyue Yuan looked up at the rolling clouds in the sky, like a vast sea, and smiled indifferently. “In this world, there’s no power you cannot borrow. But today, if you let me leave, I’ll trade you a secret about the Evil God Chaos.”

“Speak,” Shu Wuxi withdrew his spiritual energy but still held Lu Xiaochan’s head, preventing him from turning to look at Lord Lianyue Yuan.

“What the Evil God Chaos wants most isn’t to lead you down the demonic path. Watch over your precious one carefully—with Kunwu’s cultivation level, he can no longer form bones and flesh to create a physical body for him.”

After speaking, Lord Lianyue Yuan took the infant and flew away on his sword.

Only then did Shu Wuxi release Lu Xiaochan.

“Ah! I almost suffocated!” Lu Xiaochan pushed Shu Wuxi away disapprovingly.

“Lord Lianyue Yuan is naturally licentious.”

“Huh?”

So what? What does it matter to me whether he’s licentious or not?

“If he knew you were attracted to his spiritual energy, he would surely use that to tempt you in the future.”

Lu Xiaochan almost choked on his own saliva.

“Him, tempt me? Haven’t you heard the saying ‘After seeing the clouds of Wushan Mountain, no other clouds can catch your eye’?”

“Is that so?”

“Yes! You are my Wushan cloud! Looking at Lord Lianyue Yuan’s spiritual energy again, it’s nothing special! Although… his spiritual energy is profound, but it seems…”

“Lord Lianyue Yuan fell to the demonic path during the immortal-demon war a thousand years ago.”

After saying this, Shu Wuxi took Lu Xiaochan’s hand and led him out of the room.

As they walked, Lu Xiaochan couldn’t help but look back.

“Brother Wuxi, is Meng Yuandao dead?”

“Not yet. But his years of cultivation have been drained away. Except for his elixir core, everything else is gone.”

Lu Xiaochan and Shu Wuxi had just walked out when Meng family’s disciples rushed in through the door.

Meng Yuandao’s disheveled and haggard appearance was secondary; it was Madam Kang’s withered corpse that was most terrifying.

Lu Xiaochan sat on Lushu’s back, about to fly over Pengyuan Mountain, when he looked down and saw that the crevice split open by Ye Linshuang was clear of evil clouds.

“Ye Linshuang does have some skills… wait… what’s that?”

“Soul Refining Cauldron,” Shu Wuxi answered.

At that moment, the Linshuang Sword flew out from the Soul Refining Cauldron and blocked Lu Xiaochan and Shu Wuxi’s path.

When Lushu moved east, the Linshuang Sword moved east. When Lushu moved west, the Linshuang Sword moved west.

“It seems to want us to follow it… what’s going on?”

Shu Wuxi directly pinched the sword tip with two fingers, and the Linshuang Sword began to tremble.

Lu Xiaochan narrowed his eyes and pulled at Shu Wuxi’s sleeve.

“Let’s follow it and see. Otherwise, this sword will keep chasing us endlessly.”

Shu Wuxi lowered his eyes, glancing at the Soul Refining Cauldron, “Since Lord Lianyue Yuan didn’t take the Soul Refining Cauldron, he probably left something behind.”

This meant that Shu Wuxi also agreed to go take a look.

Lushu carried them down into the crevice.

Lu Xiaochan discovered that the young women lying beside the Soul Refining Cauldron still had breath, but it was Ye Linshuang who was inside the cauldron.

Lu Xiaochan got down from Lushu’s back, leaned on the cauldron’s edge, and peered in to look. He found that Ye Linshuang had lost consciousness, but his eyes were open with a vacant stare, his lips constantly muttering.

“Master Uncle… no… no…”

“No what?” Lu Xiaochan asked.

Lu Xiaochan could only see Ye Linshuang’s spiritual energy in disarray, but couldn’t see that his clothes had been torn open, though a silver robe had fallen on him, covering him from shoulders to ankles.

Yet he could faintly see his slender waist and slightly trembling knees.

But there were purple bruises on his neck and wrists.

“Ye Linshuang? What happened to you? Wake up!”

Lu Xiaochan went to grab Shu Wuxi’s hand, but found his palm was somewhat hot. When he felt Lu Xiaochan grab him, he suddenly withdrew his hand.

“Brother Wuxi? What’s wrong with you too?”

Lu Xiaochan reached for Shu Wuxi’s hand again, and this time Shu Wuxi gripped his hand tightly.

“Lord Lianyue Yuan used the Soul Refining Cauldron to trap Ye Linshuang’s spirit. And…”

“And what?”

Shu Wuxi fell silent.

“I’ll help release him.”

Instead of answering Lu Xiaochan’s question, Shu Wuxi gathered his spiritual energy and sent it into Ye Linshuang’s brow.

The Soul Refining Cauldron shook and suddenly stopped. In that instant, Ye Linshuang’s back arched as if about to snap. Sunlight fell into his eyes, and he finally saw clearly the crevice he had split open, understanding everything that had happened.

When he tried to sit up, the silver robe almost slipped off his body, and he quickly pressed it down. When he realized what was covering him, his brows furrowed tightly.

Lu Xiaochan tilted his head to look at him. He had thought Ye Linshuang was like Shu Wuxi, someone without much expression, but unexpectedly he could show such a conflicted look.

He looked at Shu Wuxi and bowed his head, saying, “Thank you for saving me, Senior.”

“What exactly happened? Did Lord Lianyue Yuan trap you in the Soul Refining Cauldron to refine your soul? Was he trying to consume your elixir core? I think he might have entered demonic cultivation! He…”

“He wasn’t trying to refine my soul, nor did he want my elixir core,” Ye Linshuang quickly answered, as if afraid Lu Xiaochan would truly think of Lord Lianyue Yuan as some great demon.

“Then what did he want?” Lu Xiaochan still didn’t understand.

Shu Wuxi’s hand reached over from behind, covering Lu Xiaochan’s eyes, blocking his wisdom eye so he couldn’t even see the spiritual energy around Ye Linshuang anymore.

Shu Wuxi held Lu Xiaochan from behind like this and turned him around.

Lu Xiaochan had countless questions and had just opened his mouth when he heard Shu Wuxi whisper gently in his ear. “Be good.”

His warm breath fell on his ear, making Lu Xiaochan’s heart skip a beat and his ears inexplicably grow hot.

“Thank you, Senior.”

Ye Linshuang quickly arranged his clothes, but just as he tried to stand up, his breathing halted for a moment.

Lu Xiaochan couldn’t help but wonder what Lord Lianyue Yuan had done to Ye Linshuang – he seemed to be in such pain!

“Today, we’ll rest at the Meng residence. I have questions for you.”

It was rare for Shu Wuxi to initiate conversation with anyone besides Lu Xiaochan.

“Thank you for saving my life, Senior. I will answer anything you ask.”

For some reason, Lu Xiaochan felt Ye Linshuang’s voice was truly dejected.

The common people of Peng City came to the door, nearly destroying the Meng residence.

At this time, the Meng family was defenseless, and everyone from disciples to servants was begging for mercy as the common people beat them with hoes, shovels, and brooms.

Meng Yuandao barely had any life left in him, and the people said they wanted to hang him to avenge their dead daughters.

As for Shu Wuxi, Lu Xiaochan, and Ye Linshuang, the common people treated them like immortals. While one side was shouting for blood, the other side was offering all sorts of delicacies – the difference couldn’t have been more obvious.

Shu Wuxi had never been particular about food, and could even go without eating.

Ye Linshuang was probably similar.

But Lu Xiaochan was different – he needed to eat his fill to sleep well.

So he gnawed on a chicken leg while listening to Meng Yuandao’s wailing.

This Meng Yuandao was truly shameless. He kept saying he knew nothing, that during these days he had been trapped by some evil god with over a thousand years of cultivation. This evil god had controlled his concubine, and everything was his concubine’s doing – she had ordered the disciples to capture young women from Peng City. All those young women were harmed by Concubine Kang.

Meng Yuandao ordered his disciples to carry out Kang’s corpse.

Seeing the state of the corpse frightened the angry crowd.

Meng Yuandao wailed to heaven and earth.

“Not just your daughters! My son is gone too! He was devoured by evil spirits before he was even born! My entire sect was corrupted by evil spirits! Look at my disciples – every one of them is nothing but skin and bones, withered away!”

Meng Yuandao was unusually clever. While the people were shocked by Kang’s corpse, he ordered his disciples to bring out all the gold, silver, and silk the Meng family had accumulated, saying it was compensation for the people. He spoke of how the dead were gone, and hoped the living could live well. Finally, he added that if the Meng family fell, when the Chenhuan Cave Master came looking months later, there would be no one to protect Peng City’s people from his wrath.

This actually worked – those who had lost daughters took the money and goods, and the families of girls who hadn’t died also received considerable wealth. They declared that if Meng Yuandao did evil again, they would surely burn down his Pengyuan Mountain.

Finally, after the people were coaxed away, Meng Yuandao naturally came before Shu Wuxi and Ye Linshuang with his disciples’ support to kneel and thank them.

After eating and drinking his fill, Lu Xiaochan wanted to hear the story.

Emboldened by Shu Wuxi’s presence beside him, he slammed her hand on the dining table. “Meng Yuandao, what exactly happened here? Tell me everything from beginning to end!”

Meng Yuandao trembled like chaff in the wind.