Chapter 26

Bai Yuxiao was a free-spirited individual who acted entirely on his whims.

A prodigy in cultivation, his cultivation prowess surpassed even that of his elder brother, Bai Zhuixu.

He deliberately chose Qingwu City, a place with the heaviest yin energy, and set up Ten Thousand Souls Tomb just outside the city.

This formation drew most of the city’s vengeful spirits and malicious ghosts, forcing them to kill living creatures within its boundaries.

In the Eight Wilderness, the cycle of life and death followed a natural order.

After death, souls entered reincarnation, while a small portion, weighed down by resentment, lingered and transformed into malevolent ghosts, threatening the mortal realm.

However, when cultivators forcibly extracted living souls to use them as a path to power, they became ghost cultivators.

Ghost cultivators gained immense power rapidly but harmed both themselves and others, often labeled as practitioners of heretical and demonic arts.

Yan Chaosheng, who was born a demon, became the first ghost cultivator in the Eight Wilderness.

Knowing the good deeds Bai Yuxiao had done, Liu Shuang choked up.

Bai Yuxiao had the nerve to despise her.

He was clearly sending Kongsang to the point of no return in advance!

Their conversation inadvertently caught the attention of Bai Zhuixu, prompting Liushuang to exclaim, “Bai Yuxiao, keep the eldest young master in check! Don’t let him find out we’re up to no good. I’ll be back shortly!”

Before Bai Yuxiao could stop her, Liu Shuang had vanished into the forest in just a few leaps.

When she reached the Ten Thousand Souls Tomb, the sight made her hair stand on end.

The entire bamboo forest was pitch black, ghostly shadows obscuring the moonlight.

The dense yin energy had plunged the temperature to chilling lows.

Amidst the eerie black fog, countless vengeful spirits clung to Yan Chaosheng’s body, trying to tear apart his soul.

Sitting cross-legged with his eyes closed, his lips had turned black.

He had already absorbed yin energy into his body.

If Liu Shuang hadn’t known about his origins, she might have thought, like Bai Yuxiao, that he was doomed.

At first glance, the vengeful spirits seemed to be consuming Yan Chaosheng.

However, upon closer inspection, the yin energy of any ghost that approached him grew increasingly faint.

Unconsciously, Yan Chaosheng was absorbing their ghostly energy.

If this continued, not only would they fail to kill him, but he would achieve enlightenment in the ghostly path!

Liu Shuang silently cursed Bai Yuxiao for being a pig teammate.

This wasn’t the time to dwell on his failings; she had to stop Yan Chaosheng from becoming a ghost cultivator. If he grew stronger, Kong Sang would be in grave danger.

Turning her wrist, Liu Shuang summoned the Jiangzhu Umbrella.

Her immortal body naturally aligned with yang energy, rendering her impervious to the yin energy.

Using the umbrella as a shield, she approached Yan Chaosheng.

She swatted away minor spirits as she moved, gritting her teeth and forcing her way into the Tomb until she reached him.

The young man sat cross-legged with his eyes shut, his skin ice-cold to the touch.

Liu Shuang’s fingers glowed with white light as she systematically eradicated the vengeful spirits clinging to him.

“Shoo! Stop boosting his power!”

The air was filled with the relentless wails of ghosts.

Despite this, more spirits surged forward, and Liu Shuang struggled to keep up.

Fearing that Yan Chaosheng might absorb any more energy and fully transition into a ghost cultivator, she gritted her teeth and used the Jiangzhu Umbrella to create a barrier, trapping herself and Yan Chaosheng within.

As expected, ordinary ghosts couldn’t break through the umbrella’s barrier.

When daylight arrived, the formation of the Ten Thousand Souls Tomb would naturally dissipate under the sunlight.

Liu Shuang crouched beside Yan Chaosheng, relieved that she had arrived in time.

He had not yet fully embraced the ghostly path.

His lips were blackened, and his skin was taking on a cold, grayish hue.

At this moment, if she were to kill him with a single strike…

Liu Shuang glanced around cautiously.

Good—Bai Zhuixu wasn’t there.

Killing Yan Chaosheng now wouldn’t ruin her public image.

Forming her fingers into a sharp blade, she aimed for his chest.

The moment her fingers touched his chest, it was like stabbing a solid rock.

Pain shot through her fingertips.

Yan Chaosheng’s skin seemed to have petrified, cold and rigid like the corpse of an ancient zombie.

What about other areas?

Could those be vulnerable?

Liu Shuang tested his head, abdomen, and back, only to find that his cold, stone-like body was impervious to damage.

Her immortal techniques couldn’t cut him.

Unwilling to give up, she considered another method—what if she burned him?

Surely fire could destroy him.

Snapping her fingers, she summoned bright blue flames that danced around them.

The fire licked at Yan Chaosheng’s body, yet his closed eyes and calm expression remained unchanged.

Liu Shuang increased her immortal energy, making the flames burn brighter.

The contrast between his dark hair and the ethereal blue fire created an unearthly, almost haunting beauty.

Burn! Liu Shuang thought furiously.

She refused to believe he was truly indestructible!

Thrown into the Ten Thousand Souls Tomb by Bai Yuxiao, the ghosts began tearing at his body.

Yan Chaosheng’s gaze was icy.

The ghostly energy invaded his body, yet there were no visible wounds.

He understood well that without his cultivation, he couldn’t escape the tomb.

The formation, like a ghostly maze, trapped him completely.

He didn’t possess an immortal body, and the spells he had learned were hardly effective against malevolent spirits.

Backed into a corner, he became ruthless.

Instead of dodging, he simply sat cross-legged where he was.

If they wanted to devour him, he might as well turn the tables and consume them instead.

If he survived this ordeal, Bai Yuxiao would pay for it.

As he entered meditation, a bitter irony struck him.

People often said that immortals cherished their disciples, yet when he had joined Kong Sang with wholehearted sincerity, the descendants of the immortal clans had treated his life like dirt.

Immortals, demons—how were their ugly hearts any different?

Yan Chaosheng didn’t expect anyone to save him.

Every time he survived a near-death experience, it was through his own endurance.

This time, they had better not hope for his return.

Ghostly energy was frigid.

Even a tiny exposure could shorten a mortal’s lifespan by ten years.

For those with demonic veins, ghostly energy was as lethal as poison.

Yan Chaosheng felt as if his body had been thrown into an abyss of frost, the cold piercing to his very bones.

Every inch of his skin and skeleton seemed frozen, his blood no longer flowing.

The only sensation left was unending, unbearable pain.

He couldn’t tell if the torment of the ghosts tearing at his soul was worse than the agony of recklessly absorbing the ghostly energy.

Amid this torture, Yan Chaosheng lost all sense of whether he was alive or dead.

The wailing of ghosts echoed in his ears, and he had no idea when it would finally end.

Suddenly, footsteps approached.

Though immersed in the bitter cold of ghostly energy, his senses remained intact.

Eyes shut, he heard light, nimble steps scattering the ghosts that had been attacking him.

A faint fragrance reached his nose, like the subtle scent of crabapple flowers after rain.

The scent drew closer.

The person crouched beside him.

After a brief silence, the ghosts all vanished.

Yan Chaosheng immediately recognized who it was.

In Taichuan City, when they were alone together, he had smelled the same fragrance on her.

It was Chishui Liushuang.

Yan Chaosheng couldn’t sort through his emotions.

Just moments ago, he had vowed that if he survived, Bai Yuxiao, Bai Zhuixu, and even Chishui Liushuang would pay with their lives.

Yet, in his most agonizing moment, Chishui Liushuang had appeared.

Then, a small hand touched his chest.

Yan Chaosheng froze.

For a moment, even the pain brought by the ghostly energy seemed to dissipate, replaced by a wave of embarrassment and irritation.

He could clearly feel that hand roaming over his chest, sliding across his face, his abdomen, and even his lower back.

Yan Chaosheng was thankful his body had already stiffened; otherwise, he might have strangled her on the spot.

What on earth was Chishui Liushuang doing?

He could feel her actions but couldn’t see them.

Thankfully, she stopped after a few moments.

The girl snapped her fingers, and faint blue flames ignited around them.

Yan Chaosheng’s body, previously encased in ice, felt every thread of ghostly energy numbing him even as he struggled to breathe.

But the instant the warm flames brushed against his skin, the excruciating pain began to fade.

He remembered the first time he saw her at the Lotus Platform, the blue flames she conjured reflected in the Nine Thoughts Pool, resembling peacock feathers.

If these flames stopped, he would undoubtedly sink back into the icy torment.

Yet, for what felt like an eternity—even until the sun rose—she tirelessly kept him warm.

The first rays of sunlight shone upon them.

The young man’s eyelashes fluttered before he opened his eyes.

Years later, Yan Chaosheng would never forget this scene: under the Jiangzhu Umbrella, the first golden light bathed their surroundings as the ten thousand ghosts dissipated, and sunlight streamed into the forest.

The morning sun rose over the mortal world.

The veiled girl, her forehead glistening with sweat, continued to hold the Jiangzhu Umbrella aloft.

As sunlight brushed her hair, her strength finally gave out.

Exhausted and drained of immortal energy, she collapsed straight into his arms.

Yan Chaosheng thought his first reaction would be to push her away, but his hands seemed to disobey his mind and caught her instead.

The Jiangzhu Umbrella fell, nearly hitting her face.

Yan Chaosheng reached out and grabbed it.

Lowering his gaze, he looked at the girl in his arms.

She was unconscious, clearly exhausted.

The bitterness and resentment he had harbored against everyone in Kong Sang the previous night now felt irritating in the morning light.

Perhaps… Bai Yuxiao’s actions really had nothing to do with her.

Maybe she wasn’t involved at all.

Otherwise, why would she have stayed by his side all night in such a place as the Ten Thousand Souls Tomb, even keeping him warm?

Maybe, as she had said on the Lotus Platform, she truly regretted her initial false accusations against him, was sincerely repentant, and wanted to make amends.

With a cold expression, Yan Chaosheng’s mind churned with countless thoughts before his attention finally fell on her slender hands.

This young miss of Kong Sang, though possessing an exceptionally ugly face, had a pair of delicate, fair hands.

Her fingertips were tinged with a soft pink, strikingly beautiful.

Startled, Yan Chaosheng averted his gaze as if burned, but he couldn’t help recalling with resentment how she had touched him all over the previous night.

A thought began to surface.

Chishui Liushuang had treated his wounds on the Lotus Platform, shielded him from the snake demon in Taichuan City, removed her robe for him, and held up the umbrella for him.

And now, she had taken advantage of his meditation while absorbing ghostly energy to touch him all over, even keeping him warm in the Ten Thousand Souls Tomb.

Truly… shameless! He had heard of some promiscuous immortal clan heirs, but could it be that she…

Was it possible she had deliberately made a scene at Kong Sang’s entrance to catch his attention, only for it to backfire?

At this thought, Yan Chaosheng let out a cold laugh.

There was no way he would ever fall for this hideous woman.

Her schemes were all in vain.

The Jiangzhu Umbrella was nearly warm in his grasp.

Yan Chaosheng caught sight of the bracelet on his wrist—it was identical to the one on her fair wrist.

Pressing his lips together, he maintained a frosty expression and scooped her up in his arms.

Since she seemed to have intentions toward him, outright rejection would yield no benefits.

Better to use this foolish young miss to obtain what he wanted.

If Kong Sang Immortal Realm was like this, then the other eight wilderness immortal realms would be no better.

He was determined to restore his cultivation, find a master, and ascend the immortal path.

The soft girl in his arms might be a useful stepping stone.

As long as he didn’t develop feelings for her, when she eventually learned the truth, her heartbreak would be the best revenge.

Having rationalized his actions, Yan Chaosheng carried Liu Shuang back without guilt.

The ghostly energy he absorbed had, by some twist of fate, transformed his demonic veins.

His body, once fragile, had now become more resilient—a fortunate turn of events.

He couldn’t defeat Bai Yuxiao  for now, but that didn’t matter.

He had time and patience.

One day, he would kill Bai Yuxiao with his own hands.

Yan Chaosheng thought emotionlessly that as for Chishui Liushuang, after she was utterly heartbroken, he might, if in a good mood, mercifully spare her life.

Liu Shuang had burned ghostly energy away from Yan Chaosheng tirelessly through the night.

If it had been a mountain stone, it would have turned to ash.

Yet Yan Chaosheng remained unharmed.

In the latter half of the night, realizing what a rare opportunity this was, she intensified the flames.

The Jiangzhu Umbrella’s barrier consumed immortal energy, and Liu Shuang hadn’t cultivated long.

As dawn broke and her immortal energy was depleted, she fainted.

When she awoke, she was already on Bai Zhuixu’s immortal sword.

Liu Shuang jolted upright and looked toward Yan Chaosheng.

Was he burned to death?

The youth in green sensed her gaze and turned his head.

Their eyes met.

She clearly saw a faint understanding in his gaze before he turned away coldly, his expression one of disdain.

Disappointed, Liu Shuang’s shoulders slumped.

Even after all that, he was still alive.

What would she do now?

Bai Yuxiao was equally perplexed.

He leaned closer and whispered, “What’s that guy’s deal? I’ve never heard of anyone escaping the Ten Thousand Souls Tomb. When he carried you back the day before yesterday, not only was he fine, but he acted like nothing happened and didn’t even report to my brother.”

“What did you say? He carried me back?”

“Yes. By the way, what were you doing last night?”

The thought of Yan Chaosheng carrying her sent Liu Shuang into a tailspin.

She immediately cast several cleansing spells on herself before feeling slightly better.

Yan Chaosheng’s pretense of nothing happening usually meant that, in his eyes, the person was already dead.

Liu Shuang glanced at Bai Yuxiao with pity.

“You should cultivate hard and ensure you have enough strength to protect yourself.”

Bai Yuxiao snorted.

“Do you even need to say that? When did it become your turn to lecture me? Worry about yourself first—you can’t even keep yourself safe.”

With a mocking tone, he added, “Look where we are now.”

Liu Shuang looked around and realized that during her immortal energy-depleted slumber, Bai Zhuixu had reliably brought them to the Kunlun Immortal Realm.

Bai Zhuixu guided his immortal sword to a stop at Kunlun’s gate.

Before them was a flourishing peach grove.

In the mortal world, peach blossoms had long withered by this season, but Kunlun remained vibrant and full of life.

Bai Zhuixu gazed at the beautiful scenery and said with a smile, “Since ancient times, Kunlun has been known for divination using peachwood. Only Kunlun can cultivate a peach grove as flourishing as this one. The plants here are gentle, just like the temperament of the Jimo clan in Kunlun. Young Miss, there’s no need to worry; the Kunlun Young Master won’t make things difficult for you.”

Liu Shuang had hardly thought about this matter before, but Bai Zhuixu’s words stirred a sense of unease.

She—or rather, “she”—had previously sought them out to humiliate them with a withdrawal of marriage. Would the Kunlun Young Master truly forgive her?