Chapter 50 (Part 2)- The Truth

His eyes narrowed as he scanned the disciples of the Yuling Sect seated on either side of the hall. They were men and women, most of them direct disciples of Xiao Bichi.

They were the same ones who had just gossiped in Shanshui’s presence, wagging their tongues.

The black-robed cultivators knelt in unison, and Hengwu Xianjun’s cold voice rang out, “Cut out their tongues. Leave no one behind.”

Before anyone could react, the demonic cultivators charged at the group. Xiao Bichi didn’t even have time to protest before three or four disciples had their jaws dislocated and tongues severed.

As blood spread across the floor, Xiao Bichi turned to the Heavenly Emperor in panic, shouting, “What do we do now?!”

The Heavenly Emperor said nothing.

He knew Heng Su too well. Until everyone who needed to be dealt with was gone, Heng Su would not stop.

Even though Xiao Bichi’s disciples were all cultivators in the Golden Core stage or higher, they were no match for the overwhelming number of demonic cultivators.

Soon, the hall was awash with blood, severed limbs strewn everywhere. The once-bright floor was now a gruesome scene of carnage.

There were only two people the demonic cultivators dared not touch.

One was the Ghost King; the other was Shanshui.

The former had nearly exterminated their kind in the past. The latter was the Demon Lord’s wife, their future lady of the Demon Realm.

Yu Zhengzheng struggled against the onslaught of demonic cultivators. As she fended them off, she could only curse Hengwu Xianjun in her heart.

What had she done to deserve crossing paths with a ruthless wolf like him?

Amidst the chaos, she caught an unintended glimpse of Rong Shang’s half-smiling eyes.

He sat calmly on a cushion, untouched by the screams and carnage around him. Clad in pure white robes, he stood out like a lone crane in a flock. His features were relaxed, his demeanor languid, resembling a refined youth straight out of a painting.

Rong Shang lazily lifted his gaze and said with casual indifference, “Come here.”

Indeed, if she went to his side, the attacking demonic cultivators would no longer dare to target her.

But stepping toward him would mean admitting defeat.

He was confident—absolutely certain—she would come to him.

After all, she cherished her life above all else. To her, survival outweighed everything.

If she yielded today, he would let bygones be bygones and stop holding her past actions against her.

Seeing her unmoved, Rong Shang remained unbothered, repeating calmly, “Come here.”

Yu Zhengzheng froze momentarily. She had never encountered someone so shameless.

Where did his confidence come from, sitting there so unperturbed?

He was like a strange amalgamation of the Monk Tang and Sun Wukong; strip away Wukong’s protective aura, and he was nothing but prey waiting to be devoured.

If she shouted out that the Ghost King had lost his divine powers, the crowd would tear him to shreds in an instant. Did he not realize how many coveted his divine essence?

Of course, he knew.

This was yet another gamble on his part.

Last night, he had wagered on whether she would assist the Seventh Prince in killing him. Today, he bet on whether she would reveal his loss of divine powers.

He presented her with two choices: admit defeat and seek refuge by his side, or expose his secret and redirect the demonic cultivators’ attacks away from her.

But he was far too arrogant.

Why must she choose the options he laid out?

Yu Zhengzheng scoffed coldly, dodging the oncoming demonic cultivators with agility before darting toward Shanshui. She clung to her. “Shanshui, they’re trying to kill me…”

Shanshui, though visibly weak and seemingly on the brink of collapsing, instinctively protected Yu Zhengzheng. Her voice was faint but resolute. “Don’t worry. Shanshui is here.”

Rong Shang: “…”

The battle raged on, but Shanshui’s condition deteriorated. Fearing she might pass out and leave Yu Zhengzheng defenseless, Shanshui forced herself to stretch out her hand toward Hengwu Xianjun. “Xianjun, I’m so tired…”

Hengwu Xianjun seemed to understand her intention.

He swept her up in his arms, his white-veiled eyes scanning the room.

By now, everyone who had insulted Shanshui earlier had been slaughtered. Only a few individuals who couldn’t be killed so easily remained.

Shanshui clearly didn’t want more bloodshed. Defying her wishes would only upset her further.

Hengwu Xianjun’s gaze landed on Xiang Feng. Just as he was about to order his execution, Shanshui grasped his hand. Her pale face showed exhaustion, and her voice was almost inaudible. “Don’t…”

After all, it was Xiang Feng who had given her life anew. She had once been nothing but a decayed coffin lying on the Heavenly Steps of the Sacred Spring.

But that debt was now repaid. From this moment on, they owed each other nothing.

In the end, Hengwu Xianjun spared Xiang Feng. He didn’t want to force her into an ultimatum. Once they were married, he would have ample time to deal with Xiang Feng in secret.

He carried Shanshui out of the hall, followed by the remaining demonic cultivators. What was left behind was a grisly scene of severed limbs and pools of blood.

Xiao Yuqing, seemingly in a hurry, departed quickly. Yu Zhengzheng’s gaze lingered on the unscathed Yu Jiangjiang, her heart filled with suspicion.

Yu Jiangjiang was also in the Foundation Establishment stage, yet her spiritual power was weaker than Yu Zhengzheng’s. Despite this, while Yu Zhengzheng sustained injuries in the fight, Yu Jiangjiang was completely unharmed—merely shaken.

Yu Jiangjiang had been seated near Xiao Yuqing. If Xiao Yuqing had protected her, it would make even less sense.

Sitting at the same table was Xiao Yuqing’s junior martial sister. Logically, Xiao Yuqing should have protected his fellow disciple first. Why abandon his own sect member to shield a woman unrelated to him?

Could it be that Xiao Yuqing liked Yu Jiangjiang?

No, that didn’t add up. Xiao Yuqing had answered during the illusionary trial that he had no one he loved.

Yu Zhengzheng shook her head, realizing her thoughts were straying. Xiao Yuqing and Yu Jiangjiang’s affairs had nothing to do with her.

Her attention shifted to the unconscious An Ning. Crafting a high-level puppet like An Ning required immense time and effort. Why, then, had Xiao Yuqing exposed her identity so willingly?

Even if An Ning was merely a pawn to Xiao Yuqing, she was a useful one. Disposing of her so recklessly rendered all prior effort meaningless.

The more Yu Zhengzheng thought about it, the stranger it seemed. She glanced briefly at the fainted An Ning, then quietly followed Xiao Yuqing.

Rong Shang watched her leave, an inexplicable irritation surfacing within him. Ever since she had discovered his true identity, she had become a completely different person.

Once, she had held him in awe and respect. Now, she treated him with complete disregard, not even sparing him a proper glance.

Even if he had been in the wrong back at Penglai Mountain, did she truly expect him to humble himself and apologize?

His eyes darkened as he followed her out of the Hall of Enlightened Virtue.

Yu Jiangjiang ran outside, covering her mouth. She couldn’t hold back the urge to vomit.

In the end, only four people remained in the hall.

The Heavenly Emperor still sat unmoved in his high seat. Xiao Bichi’s temples seemed streaked with new gray, while the lightly wounded Xiang Feng stood motionless, like a lifeless pillar.

His gaze was dull, as though his soul had been stripped away, leaving only his body behind.

The Heavenly Emperor’s tone was gentle. “The Mirror of Transcendence shows this life on one side and the past life on the other. Though she may be a puppet in this life, how do you know her past life wasn’t Xue Xi?”

This statement rekindled a faint spark in Xiang Feng. His lips moved slightly, murmuring, “And if she is? Xue Xi is no more.”

The Heavenly Emperor shook his head. “That is not entirely true. If she possesses Xue Xi’s body, then with the Celestial Treasure of the Soul Condensing Pearl, her soul can be restored anew.”

Xiang Feng froze. “You’re willing to lend me the Soul Condensation Pearl?”

The Heavenly Emperor nodded slightly. “Xue Xi was a once-in-a-millennium genius in medical cultivation. I admire talent. If you help me bring Heng Su back to the Celestial Realm for the arranged marriage, I will lend you the pearl.”

After a brief pause, he added, “However, the pearl requires three months to condense a soul, and this girl’s life is nearing its end. Once she dies, her body will be unusable.”

Xiang Feng’s expression turned dazed. Nearing her end?

Yes, An Ning was dying.

Xiao Bichi had told him that the only way to extend her life was to use the primordial spirit of a godly descendant.

But he didn’t want to betray Rong Shang. Even though Rong Shang had been unkind to him, Xiang Feng didn’t want to return the same.

Lost in thought, he suddenly noticed the Heavenly Emperor lift the Mirror of Rebirth and aim its reverse side at An Ning.

The reverse side reflected her past life. After a hazy glow of white light, Xue Xi’s visage appeared in the mirror.

Xue Xi loved wearing white. She said white was the purest color. The woman in the mirror wore white, her face adorned with a warm, radiant smile, as vivid and brilliant as the sun, leaving Xiang Feng in a daze.

Before he could dwell on her warmth, the scene shifted to her panicked retreat. Her garments were torn, her ankles shackled by chains.

Xiang Feng’s pupils constricted as he suddenly remembered—this was the day Xue Xi took her own life.

Xue Xi fled to the base of the mountain. Exhausted, she collapsed amidst a cluster of forsythia flowers. Then, a figure in white appeared in the mirror.

It was Rong Shang, his face painted with mockery, saying something to Xue Xi.

Xue Xi, barely clinging to life, gazed up at him in desperate plea. Xiang Feng could only guess she was begging Rong Shang to save her.

Rong Shang didn’t seem to agree. Instead, he took something from Xue Xi. Her eyes filled with despair as she clung to his robes.

After a moment of silence, Rong Shang tossed a longsword beside her.

Summoning her last strength, Xue Xi slit her throat with the sword. Blood splattered across the ground, staining the yellow forsythia blossoms crimson.

The sword looked all too familiar—it was the Chixiao Sword, a gift Rong Shang had once bestowed upon Xiang Feng.

Xiang Feng’s nails dug into his palms. His eyes turned bloodshot, tears welling up as fresh blood oozed from between his clenched fingers.

Meanwhile, Yu Zhengzheng trailed Xiao Yuqing, lurking outside his palace.

After entering, Xiao Yuqing made no further noise.

Yu Zhengzheng hesitated. Could he be deliberately luring her in?

Was there a trap waiting inside?

While she pondered, a low, calm voice spoke behind her. “Come back with me.”

Yu Zhengzheng didn’t need to turn around. She instantly recognized the voice and felt an overwhelming urge to spin around and kick his head into a 360-degree rotation.

She glared coldly. “Elder Xiao is injured. I need to check on him. I have no time to waste with you.”

Without waiting for a reply, she strode toward the palace.

What traps? What lures? The only thought in her mind was that she couldn’t go back with Rong Shang.

She dashed into Xiao Yuqing’s chambers, and Rong Shang stopped at the door, choosing not to follow.

Once inside, Yu Zhengzheng noticed Xiao Yuqing wasn’t in the outer hall. He seemed to have gone deeper into the inner quarters.

A sliver of hesitation crept in. If there was a mechanism in the inner quarters and she accidentally triggered it, wouldn’t she be silenced forever?

She took two cautious steps back, preparing to leave, when a large hand grabbed her. “Don’t leave.”