Chapter 16

It was New Year’s Eve, and the Kunlun Sect was adorned with lanterns and decorations, filled with joyous atmosphere everywhere. Newly recruited disciples had set up fireworks and ran away after lighting them, leaving the explosions to burst behind them with loud bangs.

Then came another loud noise. The disciples paused in confusion, only to find the sect’s main gate blown open with a gaping hole when they regained their senses. Something seemed to flash past them, disappearing before they could get a clear look.

At the summit of Kunlun Mountain, Lin Yi was observing the night sky when his expression suddenly changed and he leaped backward—just as the spot where he had been standing exploded violently.

Amidst the thick smoke, a tall figure approached. When Lin Yi recognized who it was, his eyes widened in shock. “Xie… Xie Zhaixing?!”

Xie Zhaixing’s face was dark with fury as he appeared before him in an instant. “Where is she?”

“…Who?”

“Jiaojiao.”

“What Jiaojiao?” Though inwardly stunned, Lin Yi kept his composure.

Xie Zhaixing stared at him intently, a sinister red glint flickering in his eyes. “Your people took her.”

“Impossible!” Lin Yi immediately denied. “Today is New Year’s Eve—all Kunlun disciples are gathered in the inner sect, with none missing. Who could have gone out to capture anyone? Besides, I don’t even know who you’re talking about!”

Xie Zhaixing didn’t believe him and raised a hand to forcibly extract his memories. Realizing his intent, Lin Yi hastily retaliated, and the two began fighting.

The commotion atop the summit quickly drew attention. When the Kunlun disciples saw who was battling their Sect Leader, they were utterly shocked—especially the outer disciples who had previously provoked Xie Zhaixing, trembling in fear.

When Xie Zhaixing lost control, he indeed had the ability to terrify people, especially in his rage. Unlike Xie Zhaixing’s unrestrained attacks, Lin Yi had to consider the entire Kunlun Sect, holding back in his counterattacks and soon falling at a disadvantage.

As Xie Zhaixing pressed forward relentlessly, reducing the mountaintop to ruins, Lin Yi had no choice but to retreat and call for a halt. “I swear upon my Heart Demon—everything I said is true! If I lie, may I suffer Heavenly Thunder’s punishment with no chance of rebirth!”

Cultivators feared Heart Demons the most, and this oath was undeniably severe. Xie Zhaixing abruptly stopped, scrutinizing him for a long moment before speaking word by word, “Even if you don’t know, the one who took her must be a Kunlun disciple. I give you three days to return her unharmed to Shady Valley. If she bears even a single scratch, I will bathe Kunlun in blood.”

With that, he flicked his sleeve and left—after setting fire to Kunlun Sect’s main hall.

Lin Yi’s face turned livid, but he could only let him go, swallowing his anger with gritted teeth. Turning to the disciples who had rushed over, he ordered, “Notify all Immortal Sects immediately—the seal on Shady Valley has failed, and the Demon Xie has escaped!”

“Yes!”

By the time Xie Zhaixing returned to Shady Valley, the fire atop Kunlun Mountain had already been extinguished. Due to his unwelcome visit, the entire Kunlun Sect was on high alert, and no one dared set off any more noisy fireworks.

Shady Valley was eerily silent, with even the chirping of insects scarce. The scenery remained the same, yet it felt entirely different from before.

Beef brisket still lay on the cutting board, accompanied by neatly prepared vegetables—all waiting to be cooked, but the one who should have been cooking was missing. Xie Zhaixing sat quietly at the low table, but no familiar figure emerged from the tent, grumbling weakly while lighting the fire to stir-fry.

He sat from night until dawn, only realizing when light finally chased away the darkness that New Year’s Eve had come to an end.

Their second New Year together had come to an end.

Xie Zhaixing lowered his gaze, motionless as a petrified statue.

For the next two days, he continued sitting at the low table, waiting. Only when a gust of wind rustled a sheet of paper—distinct from the sound of leaves—did he finally lift his eyes and notice a small note pressed beneath the chopping board.

The note was already tiny, with most of it hidden under the board, which was why he hadn’t seen it earlier. Xie Zhaixing raised his hand, and the note flew into his palm. Scrawled across it was a single line:

“Demon Lord, I’m sorry. I had to leave first. If fate allows, I’ll make you delicious food again someday.”

On the back was a doodle of a crying stick figure, accompanied by the words: “Don’t blame me.”

Xie Zhaixing stared at it for a long time before smiling, though his eyes remained icy cold.

Above, figures darted through the sky, channeling endless streams of Spiritual Power into the seal. The air in Shady Valley trembled, animals poked their heads out nervously before quickly retreating into caves. Overwhelmed by irritation, Xie Zhaixing summoned a long sword with a green hilt and crimson blade, slashing it upward toward the seal.

The seal shattered instantly, triggering a sudden shift in the heavens and violent tremors in the earth. Everyone above was thrown back by the surge of Demonic Energy, and by the time they regained their bearings, Xie Zhaixing was already standing atop the tree canopy.

Without hesitation, the cultivators charged at him with their swords drawn. Xie Zhaixing remained expressionless, tightening his grip on his weapon.

Beneath the canopy, on the low table by the stream, lay the tomatoes he had taken from the Kunlun Sect’s kitchen, along with two strings of firecrackers he had brought on a whim.

…

The summer sun blazed mercilessly under a cloudless sky.

At the foot of an unnamed mountain, small groups of cultivators lounged on the ground, chatting idly. Among them, Xiao Xihe—now disguised—kept her head down, quietly resting.

“The battle raged for three days and three nights. The major Immortal Sects suffered heavy losses, yet they still couldn’t stop the Demon Lord. They could only watch helplessly as he walked away. The Kunlun Sect was hit the hardest—Sect Leader Lin was so furious he swore eternal enmity against him. But what does that matter? With the Demon Lord’s power, why would he fear him?” A rogue cultivator pontificated to a group of low-level cultivators, pausing to take a satisfied sip of water.

When he didn’t continue, the others pressed eagerly: “Now that the Demon Lord has escaped, won’t he bring chaos and suffering to the world?”

“From what we’ve seen so far, it seems unlikely—for now,” the rogue cultivator said with deliberate mystery.

“Why not?” someone asked.

Xiao Xihe, eavesdropping nearby, subtly perked up her ears.

“Because,” the rogue cultivator glanced around before lowering his voice, “he’s too busy searching for someone.”

Xiao Xihe: “…”

“Searching for someone? Who?” The low-level cultivators were instantly intrigued.

The rogue cultivator studied them. “A woman named Jiaojiao, supposedly a disciple of the Longevity Sect. But as far as I know, there’s no such sect in the World of Cultivation, nor have I ever heard of anyone named Jiaojiao. I suspect the woman lied to him.”

The group erupted in shock. “Someone actually dared to deceive him?!”

“Did she have a death wish?”

Xiao Xihe: “…” Thank you, but it was precisely because she valued her life too much that she dared to deceive him.

“Of course, this is just my speculation. But judging by the way he’s been rampaging, it’s almost certainly the reason,” the rogue cultivator shook his head. “For the past six months, he’s scoured the entire World of Cultivation, even venturing into the mortal realm several times. Everywhere he goes, he leaves destruction in his wake. Lately, he’s been tormenting the Union Sect especially hard.”

“How is this connected to the Union Sect again?” Xiao Xihe had never heard this version of events before and couldn’t help but ask.

The rogue cultivator glanced at her, and she immediately averted her gaze guiltily.

A flicker of suspicion passed through the rogue cultivator’s eyes before he continued, “According to an old acquaintance of mine from the Union Sect, it’s because that woman named Jiaojiao only practiced The Way of Joyful Union and carried many of the Union Sect’s spiritual medicines with her. That’s why he suspected the Union Sect.”

“No wonder they say he’s been staying at the Union Sect lately. I thought he’d developed mortal desires, but it turns out he’s seeking revenge,” one cultivator suddenly realized.

Another cultivator teased, “With his temperament, how could he possibly develop mortal desires? I’d say there must be some deep-seated hatred. Though we don’t know who this woman is, if she falls into his hands, she’ll likely suffer a fate worse than death.”

Xiao Xihe: “…” Though it was already June, her heart felt as cold as ice.

The World of Cultivation was usually dull and lifeless, with few major scandals like this. The group chatted excitedly for a long time, still not satisfied, and continued their discussion. Xiao Xihe knew she should leave—staying longer would only bring danger—but she couldn’t help listening further.

“So, after spending so much time at the Union Sect, has he found her yet?”

“If he had, why would he still be staying there?” The rogue cultivator shot another glance at Xiao Xihe.

The others nodded in agreement. One cultivator who had been silent suddenly spoke up, “But the person he’s looking for is almost certainly from the Union Sect.”

The rest continued to agree. In the World of Cultivation, it was only the Union Sect members who often presented themselves with false identities and appearances. Moreover, the Union Sect’s cultivation techniques were unique—only their disciples practiced them. Every clue about that woman pointed to her being a Union Sect disciple.

“Since he’s gone to the Union Sect, it’s only a matter of time before he finds her. Who knows how he’ll deal with her once she’s caught?” the rogue cultivator said, looking again in Xiao Xihe’s direction. But the spot was empty—she was already gone. He froze in surprise.

“What are you looking at?” someone nosy asked.

“Nothing…” The rogue cultivator looked doubtful. “I can’t shake the feeling that the woman just now was the Jiaojiao we were discussing.”

“Impossible!”

“Absolutely impossible. If I were her, I’d be hiding so deep no one could find me—I wouldn’t dare come out to chat.”

Everyone chimed in with their opinions, but the rogue cultivator only frowned.

Meanwhile, Xiao Xihe didn’t stop running until she reached a deserted riverbank. Only then did she let out a sigh of relief, rubbing the goosebumps on her arms as panic set in—

What should I do? Xie Zhaixing has gone to the Union Sect. Is my real identity about to be exposed?!

Unbeknownst to her, it had already been half a year since she fled Shady Valley.

In the early days after leaving the valley, she had hidden in a small border town, spending her days eating and drinking, enjoying a brief period of happiness. But this good life didn’t last long. When she noticed faint traces of Demonic Energy hovering over the town, her survival instincts kicked in, and she left immediately. Not long after, she heard news that Xie Zhaixing had visited that very town.

That was when she realized Xie Zhaixing had been searching for her—not just by himself, but by summoning help from the Demon Realm. However, due to the delicate balance between the World of Cultivation and the Demon Realm, he had only brought a few trusted subordinates rather than mobilizing the entire Demonic Army of a hundred thousand… She suspected he would have preferred to bring the whole army, but his father wouldn’t allow it.

That near-exposure incident made her realize that as a cultivator, it was nearly impossible to hide among ordinary people—  

Even with Drunken Beauty, she couldn’t conceal the bearing of a cultivator. Instead, she stood out like a crane among chickens, making exposure even more likely. Thus, she had no choice but to return to the World of Cultivation.  

But returning was easy; hiding her identity was hard. After all, most people here had affiliations with sects, while she alone couldn’t name her origins. If she kept introducing herself as a “nameless rogue cultivator,” suspicions would inevitably arise—especially since many in the cultivation world now sought to capture her before Xie Zhaixing could, hoping to use her as leverage to extort benefits from him.  

Not that she believed Xie Zhaixing would yield to such threats.  

These days, she had been living in constant fear, barely resisting the urge to hide in a cave. But finding a cave that could evade the notice of the major Immortal Sects seemed impossible, so she had no choice but to remain on edge. Especially today, when she heard Xie Zhaixing had gone to the Union Sect—she felt death looming over her.  

…What had he said he’d do if she dared to escape? Ah, right. Break her legs and throw her into the Abyss of Ten Thousand Demons.  

The Abyss of Ten Thousand Demons—the most sinister place in the world, perpetually teeming with the most malevolent Spiteful Souls and Demonic Souls. Any living person thrown into such a place would have their body and soul slowly devoured, bit by bit, until nothing remained. A fate worse than being reduced to ashes.  

Xiao Xihe shuddered, realizing she couldn’t go on like this.  

She had to find a safer place to stay—preferably one where she could secure a legitimate identity, avoid suspicion about her origins, and, most importantly, find protection when needed. Recalling the original text, she vaguely settled on a suitable choice.  

As the sun set and night fell, the Union Sect was brightly lit.  

All its disciples were gathered nervously in a courtyard, guarded by demon generals at every corner—not even a fly could escape.  

Before the main hall, a blackwood dragon-carved chair blocked the path between the courtyard and the entrance. Xie Zhaixing sat expressionlessly as his men moved among the Union Sect disciples before finally returning to him.  

“Young Master, the person you seek is not here,” a demon general reported respectfully.  

The Union Sect’s Sect Master quickly added, “Demon Lord, every disciple currently within the sect is gathered here. There are still a few dozen out on trials, but I don’t know their whereabouts—”  

“Register,” Xie Zhaixing interrupted coldly.  

The Sect Master hesitated, then hurriedly ordered someone to bring the disciple registry. Xie Zhaixing didn’t take it, so she dared not approach and could only glance at the demon general beside him.  

“List all disciples who haven’t returned to the Union Sect in the last three years on a separate sheet,” the demon general instructed.  

The Sect Master complied at once.  

Fifteen minutes later, a list of over twenty names was produced.  

The demon general scanned it. “Among these, who has recently reached Foundation Establishment?”  

“They’ve been away for so long, I’m not entirely sure,” the Sect Master said hesitantly. “Though some had already reached Foundation Establishment before leaving.”  

“Then cross out their names first,” the demon general said, returning the list to her.  

The Sect Master obeyed, now having an idea of the cultivation level of the person they sought. She had assumed Xie Zhaixing’s grand search was for someone formidable—yet it was just someone who had barely reached Foundation Establishment? How could someone so weak have even had the chance to offend him?

The thoughts of the Union Sect leader were in turmoil, but that didn’t stop her from swiftly crossing out names.  

Most disciples who could go on such long trials were quite talented, so with a few strokes, more than half the names were eliminated, leaving only seven or eight. The demon general took the list, glanced at it, and then presented it to Xie Zhaixing with both hands.  

Xie Zhaixing’s expression was cold and detached: “Also cross out those who reached Qi Refining before leaving the sect.”  

The sect leader complied, removing five more names, leaving only three on the list.  

Xie Zhaixing lifted his gaze, and the first name that caught his eye was right in the center—  

Xiao Xihe.  

Noticing his focus, the Union Sect leader immediately showed a hint of disdain: “The person you’re looking for couldn’t possibly be her. Her aptitude is abysmal, and she lacks any spiritual insight. There’s no way she could reach Foundation Establishment in just three years.”  

Is that so? It seems we’ve found her. Xie Zhaixing’s face remained expressionless, but an aura of deadly intent surrounded him.