Chapter 254

Ning Ning looked around, feeling that the scenery within the illusion was almost indistinguishable from the real world. Finally, she focused her gaze on Pei Ji’s profile and asked, “The Demon Refining Tower imprisons only the most heinous of evil spirits… Do even they possess such strong obsessions?”

She had thought that the malevolent beings here would be similar to the Shadow Demon, only capable of writhing around like a lump of coal.

But on second thought, it made sense. Humans, immortals, demons, and ghosts all have desires. Having watched so many historical dramas, she had long understood the cliché truth that “even demons have feelings.”

But this was the 62nd floor, so it had to be a major demon, at least at the Nascent Soul stage. What could have caused such deep-seated turmoil?

“The Futu Realm needs to be carefully explored,” Pei Ji said after a moment of silence, his voice soft. “When I was outside the cave, I encountered an old acquaintance.”

“An old acquaintance?”

As soon as these words left her mouth, Ning Ning suddenly heard the rustling of the forest outside the cave, followed by a flash of white.

A young man with a slender figure, an elegant demeanor, and dressed in pure white walked into the cave after brushing aside the vines. His white robes, stained with a few drops of blood like red plum blossoms, added a touch of sharpness to his otherwise serene and otherworldly appearance.

The moment he met Ning Ning’s gaze, he slightly curved his eyes, his delicate features illuminated by the firelight.

“Little Junior Sister.”

“Senior Brother Meng Jue!”

Ning Ning was surprised to see so many people from her sect and raised her eyebrows, smiling as she asked, “How long have you been here?”

“Before you two arrived.”

Although Meng Jue was smiling, his expression remained distant, as if smiling was just his default expression, something he always wore.

As for what he was truly thinking, Ning Ning couldn’t tell.

“I met Junior Brother Pei when you were still asleep and later went to investigate the forest,” Meng Jue said with a hint of teasing in his tone.

“I had planned to have him accompany me, but he insisted on staying at the cave entrance and refused to leave.”

Pei Ji’s long eyelashes trembled slightly, and he frowned but said nothing.

Ning Ning didn’t notice anything unusual and asked curiously, “Did you discover anything suspicious, Senior Brother?”

“This place seems to be within the Qingzhou region, in the Chongling Mountains,” Meng Jue replied in a calm voice.

“It’s said that Qingzhou is known for its witchcraft and curses, with many poisonous creatures and giant beasts in the mountains. And Chongling—”

He paused, the smile on his lips deepening.

“—is the old lair of one of the Demon Lords, Xie Yu.”

Ning Ning: …

So your expression did become more excited, didn’t it?

That trace of amusement in his eyes was definitely caught by her!

Is this really the kind of thing that makes Senior Brother happy?

Ning Ning suddenly remembered the fear she felt when she first met Meng Jue and was taught swordsmanship by him day and night.

Aside from being somewhat influenced by Tian Xianzi’s crooked ways, one had to admit, this was a true sword cultivator.

Ning Ning turned into a question machine without emotion: “Xie Yu?”

“Xie Yu was no ordinary person,” Meng Jue said, narrowing his eyes as he leisurely met her gaze.

“The slave system still exists in the Qingzhou region. He was born into a lowly background, a family of slaves for generations, but he possessed extraordinary cultivation potential. After enduring years of humiliation, he finally turned to demonic cultivation and became a powerful demon, eventually earning a place among the Demon Lords.”

He’s a ruthless figure.

But Ning Ning found it hard to understand. If he had lived solely as a slave, it would have been nearly impossible for him to even learn cultivation techniques, let alone become a Demon Lord. There might be more to the story. She thought about it for a while but couldn’t figure it out. Not wanting to interrupt Meng Jue, she simply nodded and listened as he continued, clearly intrigued.

“Xie Yu had a vengeful nature. After his power grew and he made a name for himself, he returned to Qingzhou during the war between the immortals and demons, causing widespread devastation. Those who had once humiliated him all met terrible fates. For instance—”

He stopped short, his pupils flickering slightly as he smiled.

Ning Ning immediately understood the meaning behind that smile.

Those who had died were too pitiful, and Meng Jue, mindful of her feelings, swallowed back the detailed description.

“Only a powerful cultivator could create a Futu Realm,” she pondered for a moment and then said softly, “Given Xie Yu’s status as a Demon Lord, it does seem to align with the malevolent beings in the Demon Refining Tower… Could this be his memory?”

Meng Jue shook his head.

“It’s uncertain. If we mistake the owner of the Futu Realm and help the wrong person within the illusion, it could throw the obsession into chaos… making it nearly impossible for us to leave.”

Xie Yu didn’t sound like a good character to Ning Ning from the start, so she wasn’t inclined to help him. Hearing this, she smiled contentedly and asked, “Since Xie Yu did so many bad things, what was his ultimate fate?”

“That’s the part I can’t quite understand.”

The white-robed sword cultivator lowered his gaze. Although the firelight brightened his pupils, there was only darkness in his eyes.

“One day, Chongling was suddenly struck by a great disaster—wildfires raged, and thunderbolts fell. When the catastrophe finally ended, there was no sign of life—not even Xie Yu himself was ever seen again.”

Ning Ning was stunned.

“Just beyond this forest lies the town where Xie Yu once lived. We might as well go there to investigate. We might find some clues.”

As he spoke, he let out a soft laugh, his gaze shifting slightly to Pei Ji, who was standing in the corner.

“I wonder, Junior Brother Pei, what do you think?”

Ning Ning turned her head to look at him.