Chapter 2: The Saintess is Cursing Her

It seemed she could hear the screams of her most favored subordinates as she traversed through the crowd.

“Saintess, you must hold on!”

“Demon Lord, you scoundrel, leaving me behind to go have fun by yourself!” The voice was filled with a mixture of helplessness and envy. If Ye Wenxin had not transmigrated as she was, she reckoned she would begrudge parting with such wealth and luxury.

“Oh no, Saintess, the Demon Lord has run away with everything from the treasury.”

Another subordinate spoke. The Saintess’s incomparably beautiful face flushed red with anger. She reached out to strike at a nearby round table, teeth gritted as if in hatred.

“Demon Lord, you despicable scoundrel!” She only dared to curse this line in repeat as a way to calm the turbulence in her heart.

Ye Wenxin began to feel somewhat sorry. After a moment of thought, she lifted the restriction on the storage ring and, channeling her qi, threw it towards the Saintess in the distance.

Still pondering how to support the Wind and Moon Palace’s Saintess, she looked at the storage ring in her hand, and with a flash of gold, the ring started to spew out gold coins.

“Uh-oh!” she shouted loudly, but the next instant, everyone present was engulfed by the burst of gold and silver treasures spilling out from the storage ring.

Not only that, there were also divine weapons and top-grade treasure among the pile, leaving everyone stunned and speechless. They could not fathom how the lost treasures could appear here.

“Gu Qingcheng, I know you’re here! Don’t just run away and leave the position of Palace Master to me! Without you in this Wind and Moon Palace, there is no ‘Wind’ and ‘Moon’ worth mentioning!” The Saintess called out Ye Wenxin’s name in a frenzy, like an abandoned child chasing after a familiar figure.

Ye Wenxin sighed. Although she felt it was a pity not to plunder the treasury, it was time to return the Wind and Moon Palace to its rightful owner. With this in mind, Ye Wenxin turned and left, weaving through the chaotic crowd. However, no one knew that the seemingly ordinary girl in front of them was none other than their unrivaled Demon Lord, Gu Qingcheng.

Three days later, astonishing news spread from the Wind and Moon Palace.

Chief of the demon cultivators, Demon Lord Gu Qingcheng, had gone to cultivate in seclusion. Saintess Liu Churan of the Wind and Moon Palace would take temporary charge of all matters until Demon Lord Gu Qingcheng exited seclusion. This news caused chaos throughout the world, with various rumors abound, the most prevalent being of Demon Lord Gu Qingcheng’s impending breakthrough to the Soul Transformation stage and entering the Tribulation period.

Ye Wenxin was sitting in a certain inn, listening to a storyteller enthusiastically narrate these events. When the rumor about the Demon Lord breaking through to the Soul Transformation stage and entering the Tribulation period was mentioned, everyone gasped in shock.

“The Soul Transformation stage, is it so formidable?” Ordinary people did not have a deep understanding of cultivation, so when they heard the words of the storyteller in front of them, they could not really comprehend what the so-called Tribulation period meant.

After saying this, the man who asked the question tossed a silver tael then asked the storyteller how powerful this so-called Tribulation period was.

“This gentlemen looks unfamiliar, perhaps it’s your first time here. Allow me to explain then. Cultivation is divided into Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Soul Transformation, and Tribulation. Whether it’s cultivation in the immortal sects or among demonic cultivators, strength is categorized according to these stages. Ordinary people simply cannot reach these levels, and as one’s cultivation progresses over time and with talent, they gradually ascend.”

The storyteller gave a brief introduction to the levels of cultivation, and the man continued to inquire, “Then why is everyone so intimidated by the Soul Transformation stage?”

“This guest, have you heard of the Azure Wings Sect?”

“Naturally.”

“Then do you know how strong the Sect Master of the Azure Wings Sect is?”

“Well, I suppose she’s at Soul Transformation, considering that even the Demon Lord has reached Soul Transformation.”

The man felt quite embarrassed and blurted out a term.

The storyteller became rather pleased with himself, folded his feather fan, and continued, “Not quite, not quite. Among the major sects, whether they are immortal sects or demon cultivators, most are only at the Nascent Soul stage. Few have reached the level of Soul Transformation, let alone being able to enter the Tribulation period.”

“So, does that mean this Demon Lord can take on ten opponents at once in the Soul Transformation stage?”

The storyteller could not help but glance at the man a few more times. Although everyone had witnessed the Demon Lord’s formidable strength, it was still surprising to hear someone speak of it so directly.

“Well, it’s more or less as the guest said. The Demon Lord is indeed powerful, hence why she’s called the strongest in the world.”

The man nodded in acknowledgment, seeming to have no further questions, so the storyteller continued explaining the concept of the Tribulation period.

“The number of people at the Soul Transformation stage is already few, and the Tribulation period is even harder to reach. It is rumored that if one can reach this Tribulation period, they can ascend to immortality, achieving eternal life.”

This statement aroused everyone’s interest. They harbored boundless admiration for cultivation, but it was nothing more than a longing for the Martial World.

Upon hearing this, Ye Wenxin tossed a silver tael onto the stage.

The storyteller looked delighted, but after searching for a while, apart from the young girl who appeared to be only twelve or thirteen years old, he could not see anyone else.

“Little miss, did you give this silver tael as a tip?” The storyteller asked quietly, seeming somewhat unsure.

Despite Ye Wenxin’s delicate and charming appearance, she was dressed in clothes made of coarse fabric. Moreover, she lacked any form of cultivation, which left the storyteller puzzled as to why such an ordinary girl would be interested in cultivation.

“Sir, I’d like to ask when the Azure Wings Sect will be recruiting new disciples,” Ye Wenxin spoke up, her voice taking on a soft and gentle tone, complementing her petite figure, giving off the image of a runaway young mistress.

“There’s still about six months until then, if I remember correctly. Little miss, since you’re planning on attending the recruitment, how come you don’t even know these basic details?” The storyteller felt even more puzzled, becoming increasingly convinced that the Ye Wenxin before him was some wealthy family’s young mistress.

“Um…my circumstance is rather unique. Could you please tell me more about it, sir? I wish to become an Azure Wings Sect disciple.” Ye Wenxin’s voice carried a hint of pleading, innately captivating. Her pitiful demeanor made the storyteller swallow hard.

The storyteller struggled internally for a moment, but with so many people in the audience, he had to calm down and carefully consider what he should do next.

“Of course I can, but I’m not done yet. You may come find me later, little miss. I will tell you everything then.”

Ye Wenxin thanked him, smile blooming like a flower. The hearts of those around her skipped a beat. Subconsciously, they found themselves swallowing, their mouths dry, as if entranced by Ye Wenxin.

Ye Wenxin could not help but laugh and cry at the sight. She could conceal her cultivation level or even alter her appearance and size, even grow a third leg if needed, but she could not hide her unique constitution – Iceborn.

The so-called Iceborn referred to a constitution of harmony between Yin and Yang, which was more suitable for dual cultivation compared to normal cultivation methods.

In the past, Ye Wenxin suffered greatly due to her Iceborn constitution. She began to resist her fate, and through a series of rebellions, she eventually transformed into the current Demon Lord Gu Qingcheng.

Even now, she could not find a way to change or conceal her Iceborn constitution. She grew increasingly worried about being discovered for who she truly was while mingling with the Azure Wings Sect.

The more she thought about it, the more her delicate face twisted into a smile more bitter than tears, tugging at the hearts of those around her, evoking a sense of pity towards Ye Wenxin.

After about half an hour had passed, the storyteller finished sharing the latest gossip and began to take a break. He walked over to where Ye Wenxin was sitting and struck up a conversation with her.

Ye Wenxin had been patiently waiting for the storyteller to pour her tea or water, but instead of making any movements, the storyteller simply stared expectantly at her.

“Sir, please have some tea.” Realizing she was no longer the exalted Demon Lord, Ye Wenxin finally reacted.

The storyteller’s expression softened considerably at this. He accepted the tea, drank it in one gulp, and then thanked her with a smile. “This tea tastes really good. Thank you, miss.”

Ye Wenxin shuddered slightly but managed to force a smile. “It’s all the same tea.”

The storyteller smiled faintly. He was a man in his forties. He had a dignified appearance, but no matter how you looked at him, he could easily pass as Ye Wenxin’s grandfather given her apparent age.

“But with the tea passing through the hands of a young lady like you, it becomes something different,” he remarked.

Ye Wenxin felt a chill run down her spine, goose bumps rising all over her body. However, she maintained an innocent demeanor and continued to inquire the storyteller about the Azure Wings Sect’s recruitment details.

“The recruitment is scheduled at approximately half a year from now, and as for the written test, it consists of three parts,” the storyteller began to explain earnestly, as if he had experienced it firsthand.

Ye Wenxin could not help but scrutinize the storyteller. Although he was only at the lowest level of the Qi Refining stage, he still counted as a cultivator. Upon further thought, the Azure Wings Sect’s outer disciples enjoyed relative freedom of movement, and this storyteller seemed to have a deep understanding of the sect’s affairs. Considering they were currently in a town close to the Azure Wings Sect, it was not difficult to imagine the storyteller’s identity.

“Could it be that you’re an Azure Wings Sect disciple?” Ye Wenxin voiced her suspicions. The storyteller’s face carried a hint of pride, but he remained modest in his response. “Indeed, I am. My name is Mei Xiaosheng, an outer disciple of the Azure Wings Sect.”

He spoke with a sense of pride. Despite the fact that being a mere outer disciple meant little to a Demon Lord like Ye Wenxin, he was currently her only hope.

“You’re amazing, sir. I wonder if you could reveal more details about the exam?” Ye Wenxin suppressed her inner disdain and showed a face full of admiration.

“Well… I’ve already told you all I can. But may I ask, miss, why are you so eager to join the Azure Wings Sect?” The storyteller seemed oblivious to any suspicion, continuing the conversation with Ye Wenxin.

“It’s…it’s to avoid marriage, of course…” Ye Wenxin recounted the story she had already crafted, delivering it with great emotion, which moved the storyteller.

In reality, Ye Wenxin had indeed faced forced marriage upon arriving in this world. However, she thwarted her suitor’s advances and embarked on a wandering journey, eventually achieving greatness.

Unaware of the latter part of the story, the storyteller, filled with sympathy upon learning of Ye Wenxin’s escape from marriage, racked his brain on how to help her change her situation.