Chapter 32

“Although you have temporarily suppressed Bodhi’s soul, with your spiritual energy, you cannot refine it. You used evil methods.”

Fan Yue frowned, stating this as a fact rather than a question.

“That’s right. Since the immortal way is unjust and there is no way for me and Piaomiao to survive, what does it matter if I fall into demonhood? The Three Realms have no laws; the strong make the rules!” Songhe’s eyes lacked any trace of benevolent immortality, showing only stubbornness.

“Stop faltering yourself. Claiming to be for the immortal sects, it’s nothing but your own selfish desires. As far as I know, after two generations of Phoenix Emperors took charge of the Heavenly Palace and governed the immortal realm, they have always given the cave paradise of the blessed lands of the Eighteen Islands of the East Sea to the immortals for cultivation. Piaomiao has no one capable of cultivating the Great Dao, and you shift the blame onto the Phoenix Clan…” Fan Yue sneered, “It is said that the immortals are all hypocrites who talk about benevolence and righteousness. Such shameless distortion of right and wrong really broadens my horizons.”

(T/N: The cave paradise/immortal cave was not the usual cave but a place that is infused with a mysterious and tremendous spiritual energy. Immortals will better absorb and utilize this spiritual energy in such a setting, enhancing their cultivation and capabilities.This is the abode of an immortal cultivator and is often high up in the mountains or in a place where spiritual energy is abundant. ) 

Fan Yue seldom spoke, but once he opened his mouth, it would be so choking that people would die. These words came out of the mouth of this demon and hit Songhe in the face, almost extinguishing his remaining breath.

“You!” Song He trembled with rage, his face full of grief, but he couldn’t argue back. Perhaps initially, he concealed the refining of the Bodhi Wood from Songfeng for Piaomiao’s sake, but later, when he faked his death and fell into demonhood, devouring the spiritual energy of the East Sea and even sacrificing his disciples and Bai Shuo, it was purely out of his own selfish desire from his dark obsession.

Fan Yue, unwilling to waste more words, swung the silver chain in his hand.

“Hearing these filthy deeds has soiled my ears. Enough nonsense; I’ll send you on your way.”

The silver chain flew from Fan Yue’s hand towards Songhe, who was already on the verge of collapse, with only a bit of Bodhi Heart protecting his soul. Now, without Er Yun as a hostage, he had no chance of survival.

He closed his eyes, awaiting the end, when suddenly a sword light flashed, and Chong Zhao’s astonished voice rang out, “Senior Sister!”

It was Er Yun who moved. She had been silent since Songhe started speaking but now used all her strength to block the silver chain’s strike. However, she was merely a lower-level immortal. If not for Fan Yue’s demonic energy being damaged, the mere light of the silver chain would have crushed her true essence. Seeing her block the chain, the silver chain paused momentarily, stopping an inch from her forehead.

“Yun’er…” Songhe opened his eyes, moved by the scene, and prepared to leave the Bodhi tree to attack.

“Don’t come over! Go away!” Er Yun seemed to sense Songhe’s intention and, without turning back, shouted through her tears, “Father! Please stop hurting people. Leave, never return to the East Sea again!”

Er Yun, face full of tears, sacrificed her golden core, throwing it towards a beam of light in the water cave, creating a crack.

“Go, Father!”

Using her life to buy Songhe a chance to escape, Er Yun didn’t dare look at Chong Zhao and Bai Shuo. Songhe had fallen into demonhood and harmed his disciples. Not only would the heavens not tolerate him, but Piaomiao would see him as a traitorous demon. But Songhe was her father; she couldn’t watch him die before her.

Without further hesitation, Songhe, clutching the Bodhi Heart, flew towards the crack.

“Seeking death.”

Seeing Songhe trying to escape, Fan Yue coldly snorted, losing patience. The silver chain was about to strike.

“Palace Lord! No!”

“Stop!”

Bai Shuo and Chong Zhao hurried to intervene, but Fan Yue, with a backhand wave, created a barrier blocking them. The two of them crashed into the barrier without any preparation. For some reason, the place where Bai Shuo crashed was extremely soft, and the barrier seemed to be alive and secretly supported her. Chong Zhao didn’t have this treatment. The whole person was like hitting a rock, was heavily bounced away, and fell heavily to the ground.

Fan Yue didn’t even look at the two people who were fighting like an egg against a rock. He raised his fingertips slightly, and the silver chain emitted a ray of light, heading for Er Yun’s forehead without mercy.

The demonic weapon pierced flesh, blood splattering and staining the barrier. Bai Shuo couldn’t bear to watch and turned away.

“Father!”

A cry of anguish echoed in the cave. Bai Shuo turned to see a black light erupt from Songhe, forming a shield before Er Yun. The silver chain had pierced his chest instead.

The chain passed through his chest, taking the Bodhi Heart and returning to Fan Yue’s hand.

“Haoyue Palace Lord, today’s events are all my doing. The Bodhi Heart has been returned intact. Piaomiao is merely a minor sect in the East Sea; please spare them.”

Songhe, trembling, placed Er Yun’s golden core back into her body, his form becoming increasingly transparent.

“Father!” Er Yun, crying, flew towards Songhe. He raised his hand as if to touch her face.

“Child, father was… was wrong…”

Before Er Yun could touch his outstretched hand, Songhe turned to ashes.

“Father!”

Seeing Songhe’s soul dissipate, Er Yun spat blood and fell. The barrier blocking Chong Zhao vanished. He quickly flew up, catching the unconscious Er Yun.

As the black light in the cave faded completely, the Bodhi branches vanished, and the water cave’s illusion dissipated. The sound of waves hitting the shore reached their ears, placing them on the shore of Fire and Ice Island. The evening moon shone on them, restoring all life as if it had been a lifetime.

Bai Shuo, momentarily dazed, saw Fan Yue leaving and couldn’t help calling, “Palace Lord…”

Fan Yue didn’t look back, only pausing his steps to send a beam of light onto Er Yun. A red glow flashed, causing Er Yun to groan in pain. Chong Zhao shouted in anger and caution, “Haoyue Palace Lord, what did you do?”

Bai Shuo, unprepared for Fan Yue’s sudden action, was momentarily taken aback, but she remembered that this scene was inexplicably familiar and hurriedly said, “Senior Brother, protect Senior Sister’s core. Don’t worry, the Palace Lord didn’t harm her.”

When Bai Shuo turned back, Fan Yue had already vanished into a streak of light.

Er Yun’s painful expression faded, and she fell into a deep sleep. Chong Zhao, examining her true essence, found it intact and sighed in relief.

“What did he do?”

“He took Er Yun’s memories of tonight.”

All was silent. Bai Shuo looked at the stars, feeling inexplicably forlorn.

Bai Shuo sighed softly, and Chong Zhao was stunned. He was about to ask Bai Shuo how she knew this, but he saw Bai Shuo turn her head and take out a branch emitting divine energy from her sleeve. It turned out to be a small piece of Bodhi wood.

“What’s this…?”

“Bodhi Wood. Earlier, when the evil Bodhi tried to kill me, I managed to snatch a piece from the tree’s heart. It’s a divine tree from the god realm, more precious than a first-grade earth treasure. It’ll surely make a great elixir for you. After a whole night’s ordeal, at least it wasn’t for nothing.”

Bai Shuo chuckled, stretching lazily.

“Let’s go home, Ah Zhao!”

Seeing the smile on Bai Shuo’s face, Chong Zhao suppressed his doubts and nodded gently.

So be it. The demigod lord of the demon realm, Haoyue Palace Lord, was beyond their reach. There was no point in asking further.

Inside the main hall of Piaomiao Island, the lights were bright. The jade slip was placed back on the table. Songfeng, gazing at the ancestral jade slip, looked aged by several years, worry etched into his face.

After today’s catastrophe, the mountain protection formation was destroyed, and the spiritual energy of the jade slip that stabilized the mountain was nearly depleted. The Liuyun disciples perished, leaving the Piaomiao Sect in decline.

“Senior Brother, oh Senior Brother, one wrong thought and you’ve destroyed Piaomiao’s foundation of a thousand years.”

Songfeng sighed with helplessness, coughing heavily and trembling.

Chong Zhao quickly supported him, his eyes full of concern.

“Uncle Master.”

Songfeng waved his hand and, with a hint of doubt, asked, “You just said… that Haoyue Palace Lord erased Yun’er’s memories before leaving?”

“Yes, Uncle Master. What exactly is the background of this Haoyue Palace Lord?”

Songfeng shook his head.

“The Three Realms only know that the origin of the Haoyue Palace Lord is a mystery. He is a prodigious demon cultivator who emerged ten years ago by slaying the Taotie of the Extreme North, gaining instant fame. No one knows his background, but I’ve heard he lives reclusively in the Extreme North of the demon realm, rarely appearing before others. When the Bodhi descended upon the East Sea, your master used his life essence to conceal its aura, even from the Heavenly Palace. But this time, he came to the East Sea specifically for the Bodhi Heart, suggesting a deep connection with it…”

Songfeng paused.

“Enough. The matters of demigods are beyond the reach of someone as insignificant as me in Piaomiao. Zhao’er, in the future, if you encounter the Haoyue Palace Lord again while traversing the Three Realms, treat him with respect and do not offend him.”

Chong Zhao was taken aback.

“Uncle Master…?”

“If the Heavenly Palace learns of your master’s descent into demonhood, Piaomiao will be scorned by the immortal sects and find no place in the Three Realms. He erased Yun’er’s memory, giving us a lifeline. Despite the difference between immortals and demons, Piaomiao must be grateful for this favor.”

Though there were longstanding tensions between immortals and demons, it was no longer the fierce enmity of centuries past. Only demonic paths were universally reviled in the Three Realms.

“Yes, disciple understands.”

“And that outer disciple, Bai Shuo…”

Seeing the doubt in Songfeng’s eyes, Chong Zhao hesitated before quickly reassuring, “Uncle Master, rest assured, Bai Shuo’s memories were also erased by Haoyue Palace Lord.”

Songfeng nodded, relieved.

Chong Zhao relayed all the events on Fire and Ice Island to Songfeng but concealed the secret of Bai Shuo’s spiritual blood and her crucial role in the matter. Songfeng only knew that Bai Shuo had accidentally triggered the seal while collecting herbs on the island, leading to the discovery of the evil Bodhi.

“She has done a service for Piaomiao. Henceforth, let her be an inner disciple.”

With the loss of the Liuyun disciples, Bai Shuo, though lacking in talent for immortal cultivation, excelled in alchemy, making her valuable to the current Piaomiao Sect.

Chong Zhao was overjoyed.

“Thank you, Uncle Master.”

“Zhao’er, with this calamity, our Piaomiao Sect has declined further. I am old, and progress in my cultivation is now difficult. The burden of our sect’s future rests on your shoulders.”

“Uncle Master…” Chong Zhao, seeing Songfeng’s sorrowful expression, was at a loss for words.

“If you can win at the ‘Wutong Martial Banquet’ in three months and obtain the Wutong Sword to enter the Heavenly Palace for cultivation, our Piaomiao Sect might one day rejoin the ranks of the Three Mountains and Six Sects.”

Songfeng patted Chong Zhao’s shoulder and looked wistfully at the jade slips scattered around the hall.

“Uncle Master, rest assured. I will do my utmost.”

Chong Zhao responded solemnly.

In the extreme north of the demon realm, where ice stretched for thousands of miles and snow lay year-round, the most ferocious and evil beasts of the world gathered. However, at this moment, all was silent, and no beast dared to make a sound. This was because, at the deepest part of the ice plain, a magnificent and imposing snow palace stood.

The cold moon cast its icy light down. The rear hall had no signs of life, as the palace lord preferred silence and no one dared to enter. On the desk, the wooden Long Er donkey hopped around but was continually smacked back onto the desk whenever it tried to jump off.

The wooden Long Er donkey was on its 108th attempt and planned to keep trying. Its spiritual energy was sealed by Fan Yue, with restrictions set around the table. Long Er donkey also knew that its efforts were futile, and since there was no one around, it should find some fun.

A red light flashed, and Fan Yue appeared in the hall. Long Er donkey froze mid-jump and promptly collapsed onto the desk, playing dead like a proper captive.

A golden pig flew out of Fan Yue’s sleeve, beaming with joy.

“Finally, we got back Long San! Quickly, you must refine it.”

Long Er donkey who had been eavesdropping, was startled. It saw a Bodhi Heart flickering in Fan Yue’s palm.

Fan Yue waved his hand, and a complex, ancient array appeared on the ground. Flames erupted within the array. Fan Yue stepped into the array and sat down, the flames instantly burning away his upper garment. Seven star-shaped marks, as if carved into his chest, were visible. These stars were connected by a sinister pattern of thorns leading to his heart.

As the full moon hung in the sky, just as Fan Yue began to refine the Bodhi Heart, he suddenly coughed up blood, his face turning ashen. The Long Yi pig, now lounging on the desk and leaning against the rigid Long Er donkey, did not seem surprised by the turn of events.

“I told you, with your energy suppressed to only fifty percent, why do you insist on acting tough? If you had waited just one more day for your energy to recover, dealing with that evil Bodhi would have been effortless. But no, you had to form a soul contract with her using your heart’s blood when you were at your weakest. This drained your energy, and you even helped save those two disciples from the immortal sects. Palace Lord, were you kicked in the head by a donkey?”

Long Yi Pig speaks coldly while kicking the wooden donkey head under its feet.

Fan Yue’s face remained icy as he glared at the Long Yi pig, who muttered, “Am I not allowed to say anything? You’re injured so badly, and did that girl show any concern for you? She was entirely preoccupied with her childhood sweetheart. I don’t believe you didn’t see that she secretly hid a piece of Bodhi wood…”

Before Long Yi pig could finish, a red light struck it.

It staggered and fell with stars in its eyes. The Long Yi pig didn’t have the strength to say more.

Flames roared in the ancient array. Fan Yue pressed the Bodhi Heart against his chest, letting it slowly merge into one of the star marks. The sinister thorn pattern’s color faded… Fan Yue closed his eyes, entering a state of meditation to refine the heart.

Under the bright moon, Long Yi pig and Long Er donkey watched anxiously as Fan Yue refined the Bodhi Heart. As the heart fully integrated into the star mark, the flames in the array suddenly flared. A look of surprise flashed across Fan Yue’s cold face as he vanished in a red light.

This unexpected turn left Long Yi pig and Long Er donkey, now both animated, staring at each other in shock. The donkey asked dryly, “He was eaten by the heart?”

“No, it’s you who’s got eaten by the heart, you crow mouth,” retorted Long Yi pig.

(T/N: jinx)

“Where is he?”

Long Yi pig sighed deeply, seemingly reminded of something.

“Woman, what a sin…”

On the outer island of Piaomiao, Bai Shuo, who had been busy all night, sat on a small wooden stool by the medicinal furnace, yawning as she meticulously worked on refining the Bodhi Heart. The Bodhi was a divine wood, and if Sect Master Songfeng sensed its presence, all the fabrications she and Ah Zhao had concocted would be exposed…

A drunken old turtle snored away in a corner, its limbs sprawled out, adding to the drowsy atmosphere. Apart from the crackling of the fire in the furnace, the herb garden was eerily quiet. Bai Shuo, bored, poked at the firewood with her chin resting on her hand, and she couldn’t help but pout as she thought about something.

“After going through life and death together, he leaves without a word. Demons really have no sense of propriety…”

Lost in thought, Bai Shuo’s finger got pricked by a splinter, leaving a small cut that quickly bled. She cried out in pain but didn’t pay much attention to it. Just then, a spark from the furnace landed on her forehead. She quickly wiped it away, unaware that a dark moon mark that appeared in the water cave, briefly flashed where the blood touched her forehead, absorbing the drop of blood rapidly.

Unaware of what had happened, Bai Shuo grumbled, “Why leave in such a hurry? At least let me check your pulse. Even a demigod who sacrifices his heart’s blood wouldn’t just… Ow!”

A red light flashed, and something heavy hit Bai Shuo, shattering her small wooden stool into pieces and leaving her dazed in the debris.

“What the hell…?!”

Struggling to push away the object that had fallen on her, Bai Shuo felt something cool yet warm to the touch. She looked up in shock, only to see a familiar yet strange face and a bare chest before her.