"Master."
Ni'e stepped in, kneeling on one knee.
The man atop the high seat reclined in a slouched position, his raven-black hair cascading over his shoulders. His eyes were closed in feigned slumber, his expression dark and brooding.
"I told you, there's no need to kneel."
Ni'e parted her lips slightly, her gaze lifting subtly to rest on the figure above. Though she knew full well he saw her only as a capable subordinate, she couldn't help the flutter in her chest at his words.
"...Understood."
She rose to her feet, clasping her hands together as she stood quietly below the dais.
You Zhou opened his eyes, heavy with sickness, and cast her a weary glance. "So, the demonic fiends were eliminated by Yu Zhiling?"
"...Yes." Ni'e dared not meet his gaze, keeping her head lowered. "All the fiends around Yingshan have been eradicated. Master, do you think... it's time to begin?"
You Zhou let out a low chuckle, straightening slowly. The loss of two avatars had left him severely wounded, and even after a long period of recovery, standing was still a struggle. "Yu Zhiling’s seven souls should be incomplete, no?"
"Correct. Her [Sleepless Soul] has already merged with my spirit. With only six souls remaining, I suspect her memories are damaged—likely due to the missing soul."
You Zhou rested his chin on his hand, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "Then tell me, how did she even appear at Yingshan? She went into the Demon Abyss, was dragged into the boundary by Chan Luo—how could she have climbed out of that place with such grievous injuries?"
"Even I, back then, never considered escaping the Demon Abyss. I fully intended to discard that avatar, letting her slaughter me to her heart’s content—otherwise, Yu Zhiling would have hunted me to the ends of the earth."
This was a mystery neither of them could unravel.
You Zhou was a demonic seed, born with an insatiable bloodlust, his nature wild and reckless. He valued neither others' lives nor his own. Never in his life had he felt fear—except once, when he heard that Immortal Lord Zhuoyu had emerged from seclusion and headed for the Slaughter Realm.
Standing at a distance, he watched as Yu Zhiling and Mo Zhu entered the Slaughter Realm, only to emerge later with Yun Zhi.
Her face no longer bore its usual cold, ruthless expression. Instead, she seemed dazed, almost childlike, dressed in a yellow-green cross-collared ruqun that made her look like a girl in her teens—eerily reminiscent of Yu Xiaowu before Fuchun’s tragedy.
"For a moment, I even wondered if she was some reincarnated deity. How else could her luck be so absurd?" You Zhou murmured, his expression wistful. "And just as you left Yingshan Sect under the pretense of seclusion, she inexplicably appeared there?"
As if... someone had plucked her from the Demon Abyss and sent her back, while Yu Zhiling herself remained oblivious.
Ni'e spoke up hesitantly, "Master... could it have been the Serpentine Jade Bangle?"
You Zhou’s fingers tightened imperceptibly on the armrest, digging into the stone.
"The Serpentine Jade Bangle can tear through space. I sought it precisely to shatter the Slaughter Stele. But when she descended into the Demon Abyss, she didn’t have it on her... How strange. Too strange."
Leaning back in his chair, he mused aloud, "It’s as if someone knew she was trapped in the Demon Abyss within the Slaughter Realm, went there specifically to deliver the bangle to her, and used it to bring her back... But that doesn’t make sense either. How could the bangle recognize her as its master? She shattered her own soul with Frostblade, died completely—her senses obliterated, her meridians severed. How could she return unscathed...?"
"Too strange. Far too strange..."
It was precisely because of this strangeness that he kept his attention fixed on Yu Zhiling.
Ni'e ventured softly, "What if we lure her back to the Slaughter Realm? The Slaughter Stele can no longer be maintained by Yun Zhi and Wu Zhaoyan alone. If I release all the demonic fiends—"
"Do you think news of the Slaughter Stele’s instability would even reach her?" You Zhou asked flatly.
Ni'e fell silent.
You Zhou lazily twirled a strand of his dark hair. "The Slaughter Realm has been unstable countless times. Aside from that one instance two months ago, have you seen her return since?"
The Yingshan Sect, along with Yun Zhi and Wu Zhaoyan, seemed determined to shield her from these matters. Yu Zhiling had only appeared during the initial disturbance; since then, she had never descended the mountain to purge nearby evils.
"Word of the Slaughter Realm never reaches her. Her martial siblings and childhood friends are all keeping it from her. The sect’s disciples and elders handle most of the nearby demonic threats—all to prevent a repeat of the past. Right now, Yu Zhiling is living in blissful ignorance."
"And now she’s reached the Tribulation Transcendence stage." You Zhou’s voice turned colder. "I’ve lost two avatars to her, and my wounds are still healing. In a direct confrontation, I’m no match for her."
Ni'e kept her head bowed as You Zhou fell silent, knowing he was devising a countermeasure.
"She must leave Yingshan Sect—no, she must be drawn beyond Yingshan’s borders." Rising from his seat, he descended the dais, stopping beside Ni'e. "You know what to do. Add fuel to the fire."
Ni'e bowed respectfully. "Understood."
You Zhou walked past her, his body wracked with sickness. He had never valued his own life, never concealed his weariness of existence. A demonic seed had no capacity for emotion.
"Master." Just as You Zhou was about to vanish, Ni'e called out to him.
He didn’t turn, but his steps halted.
Ni'e parted her crimson lips, then closed them again. In the end, a thousand words condensed into one sentence: "Master, please take care of yourself."
You Zhou heard her, yet still didn’t look back. His steps remained unhurried, as if her words were nothing more than idle noise, unworthy of his attention.
Ni'e lowered her eyes, fingers twisting together. Merely speaking those words had drained her courage. She had followed You Zhou for nearly a millennium, never overstepping—because she knew he had no heart.
He despised everyone, including himself.
"Ni'e."
His voice was cold, detached.
For a moment, Ni'e didn’t react, as if the sound of her own name was unfamiliar. When she finally registered it, she responded swiftly.
"Master."
You Zhou stood in the shadows, his back to her, his expression unreadable. The ghostly flames on either side cast eerie light upon him, his demonic aura oppressive.
"When I saved you, it was only because your bloodlust at such a young age rivaled that of my three guardians. Nothing more."
"If you drown in sentiment, I have no use for you by my side."
He had always been this way. How could he not have noticed her feelings?
He simply didn’t care. Her devotion meant nothing to him—just as anyone else’s would. Ni'e was no exception.
Ni'e lowered her head, her crimson-nailed fingers digging into her palms.
You Zhou left. Ni'e tilted her head back, drawing a slow breath. She had known he saw through her. She had known he was heartless.
But after a thousand years at his side, hearing those words still cut deep.
You Zhou often said that love was the easiest thing to destroy a person—that only by being heartless and emotionless could one ascend to greatness.
Were those who achieved great deeds truly so unfeeling?
Then why wasn’t Yu Zhiling like that?
She was clearly… more emotional than anyone else, with far too many vulnerabilities.
Yu Zhiling sat cross-legged in a wide chair—Xiang Wuxue had made it larger than usual, as if he already knew of her habit.
Mo Zhu sat across from her, his long lashes lowered slightly as the glow of the luminous pearl cast delicate shadows on his face. The air between them was heavy, though Yu Zhiling remained unbothered. What had happened was in the past; all she could do now was seek vengeance, not wallow in sorrow.
But Mo Zhu was different.
She could clearly sense his murderous intent and the emotions he was forcibly suppressing in her presence. Hesitating for a moment, she handed him a cup of tea. "Mo Zhu, have some tea?"
He lifted his gaze, but her carefree grin didn’t amuse him—instead, his expression grew even more complicated.
Yu Zhiling awkwardly retracted her smile. She had only meant to lighten the mood, but it seemed he wasn’t feeling any better.
Seeing her like this made Mo Zhu’s heart ache. He turned away, taking a deep breath, but the knot in his chest refused to loosen. Rising, he moved to her side.
He was tall, looming over her like a small mountain as she sat curled up in the chair, barefoot and staring up at him in confusion.
Mo Zhu knelt beside her, his fingers gently brushing her cheek—his large hand nearly covering her entire face.
"...What’s wrong?"
"Did it hurt?" he asked.
Yu Zhiling thought of the agony in her dreams, the pain of Windfrost Slash’s backlash—none of it compared to even a tenth of having her soul torn apart.
She paused, then nodded slowly. "...Yes."
Mo Zhu looked almost despairing. "Then… did Shizun cry?"
Yu Zhiling searched her memories before shaking her head. "...No."
Neither Zhuo Yu nor Yu Zhiling had ever shed tears from pain.
Mo Zhu grasped her hand, pressing his forehead against her knee. His shoulders trembled, his breathing ragged, and Yu Zhiling heard the faint sound of a sob.
She didn’t know how to comfort him, but she understood his grief. Loving someone meant their pain became your own.
Leaning down, she wrapped her arms around him, resting her chin atop his head. Her voice was soft. "It’s alright, Mo Zhu. At least now we know this body of mine was never stolen. If You Zhou could split his soul into three vessels, then disguising someone, stealing my memories, and evading soul-searching techniques wouldn’t be difficult for him."
After all, soul-searching was a forbidden art created by demons. You Zhou would know its flaws well enough to exploit them.
Mo Zhu remained silent. Yu Zhiling felt dampness against her knee—her little snake was crying.
"Mo Zhu, if he stole my memories to deceive my senior siblings, then how did he fool the Central Continent’s Soul Mirror?"
Mo Zhu stirred. Yu Zhiling straightened as he lifted his head.
His eyes were red-rimmed, lashes still wet—he had truly wept.
His expression darkened. "Unless the Soul Mirror we used back then had already been swapped."
A real Soul Mirror could reveal the form of one’s soul. Yu Zhiling, a cultivator of the Pure Heart Path, had a soul of unparalleled purity in the Central Continent—unmistakable at a glance.
A demonic cultivator’s soul could never be so pristine, yet the mirror had shown a radiant, holy glow.
Yu Zhiling wiped the tears from his face. "The Soul Mirror was kept in the Immortal Alliance’s vault. How could he have replaced it?"
Mo Zhu frowned. "Does Shizun suspect an inside agent? Elder Jing Wei?"
Yu Zhiling shook her head. "No. Jing Wei’s hatred for demons is genuine. He may be stubborn and selfish, but he’d never collaborate with them. Aside from the three Immortal Lords, only the thirteen elders had access to the Immortal Alliance. Yun Zhi and Wu Zhaoyan are beyond suspicion, so…"
Mo Zhu’s voice turned icy. "Then one of the thirteen elders is the traitor?"
Yu Zhiling tried to recall her meeting with the elders at the Zhongli residence. Jing Wei had been the most aggressive, insisting on taking Ning Hengwu and the others away.
She sighed. "I can’t remember clearly. Yun Zhi and Wu Zhaoyan visit the Immortal Alliance often—perhaps we should ask them. Or my senior siblings. They were the ones who retrieved the Soul Mirror. Did they notice anything unusual?"
The other elders had left little impression. At the time, she’d been consumed by fury, focused solely on killing Jing Wei. Now, she couldn’t pinpoint who might be suspicious.
But without an inside agent, it would have been impossible for an outsider to bypass the Immortal Alliance’s defenses. The alliance, as the Central Continent’s ruling body, housed elders from every major sect and clan—each a formidable cultivator. Its arrays were intricate; a single misstep could trigger a lethal trap.
Only the three Immortal Lords and thirteen elders had unrestricted access. Even Yingshan Sect’s leader, Yan Shanqing, needed prior approval and an escort to enter safely.
Whoever swapped the mirror undetected must have had free access—likely one of those with authority.
Excluding herself and her childhood companions, the elders were the only suspects left.
Mo Zhu’s expression remained stormy. Ever since they’d deduced that Yu Zhiling’s Sleepless Soul might have been extracted, he hadn’t been able to calm down.
Yu Zhiling patted the chair beside her. "Sit down. Aren’t your legs numb from crouching?"
Mo Zhu exhaled sharply but didn’t take the seat. Instead, he scooped her up, settling into the chair with her in his lap.
Yu Zhiling’s face flushed instantly. Even though only the two of them were at Tingchun Cliff, every intimate moment still made her shy.
"Mo Zhu, put me down," she whispered, as if afraid someone might overhear. "There are plenty of chairs here."
Mo Zhu rested his head against her shoulder, eyes closed. "Just let me hold you for a while."
Yu Zhiling’s arms, braced between them, slowly relaxed. Seeing his closed eyes, she hesitated but didn’t push him away.
He held her tightly, his breath warm against her neck and ear—ticklish, sending a flutter through her chest. She stayed still, letting him lean on her.
Time passed until she nearly thought he’d fallen asleep.
"Mo Zhu?"
"Hm?"
"You’re not asleep?"
"No. Just thinking."
He opened his eyes, meeting her gaze as she turned her head.
She shifted slightly. "Aren’t your legs numb? Maybe you should let me go—"
Mo Zhu answered by pressing a quick kiss to her lips. Yu Zhiling fell silent at once.
His nose was tall and straight, their tips nearly touching, so close that each could see their own reflection in the other's pupils.
"Not numb at all. I love holding you, Master. With you by my side, I feel at ease."
Truthfully, he wasn’t deliberately speaking sweet nothings. When those words left his lips, his expression was earnest and composed. Yet to Yu Zhiling’s ears, every word he uttered sounded like a confession.
Yu Zhiling stepped forward and embraced him, resting her chin on his shoulder. The scent of sandalwood clung to him—cool, faint, yet clean. He was always so immaculate.
"There are things I’ve kept from you, Mo Zhu."
"I know. It’s alright."
Mo Zhu wrapped his arms around her, enveloping her completely against his chest.
"It doesn’t matter, Master. I don’t care."
How could he not care?
Just as he cared about Gui’s existence, every unknown detail about her, every secret she held, pricked at him like a thorn in his throat. It unsettled him, yet the moment he saw her, he only wanted to stay glued to her side.
Hold her tight, so she wouldn’t leave.
Yu Zhiling parted her lips. "I’m actually from another wo—"
The rest of her words dissolved into silence. Her mouth refused to open; he couldn’t hear her.
"What? What did you say, Master?" Mo Zhu tilted his head to look at her, noticing her dazed expression.
Yu Zhiling’s face paled slightly. She shook her head. "Nothing."
She saw the faint tightening of Mo Zhu’s lips and knew he had guessed she was hiding something. She also knew he wanted her to share those secrets.
Yu Zhiling wanted to tell him too—to have no barriers between them.
But she could do nothing. All she could manage was a murmur: "Are you absolutely certain I’m Zhuo Yu?"
Mo Zhu countered, "Whether you are or not, the one I love is you."
His heart had been quick to sway. Not quite love at first sight, but his resistance to her had always been weak. A man alone for too long would cling to any warmth within reach.
Yu Zhiling spoke again, "I can’t be entirely sure either—whether I’m truly Zhuo Yu. My past..."
If she had grown up in this world, she would have been certain by now that she was Zhuo Yu.
But her life in another world—from birth to death—had been utterly ordinary. The orphanage was real. Grandma Xu and her sister were real. Gui was real. Her heart disease, her brushes with death, her struggles and determination to live—none of it was fabricated.
So how could she be both Yu Zhiling and Zhuo Yu?
Mo Zhu kissed the tip of her nose, pressing his forehead against hers. "Master, let’s take our time to figure it out, alright?"
Yu Zhiling lowered her gaze and fell silent for a long while.
Thinking she was upset, Mo Zhu brushed his fingers against her cheek. "Don’t overthink it. We—"
"Mo Zhu," Yu Zhiling interrupted softly.
Obliging as ever, he hummed in response. "Hmm? What is it, Master?"
She tightened her grip on his jade-like hand, tracing his palm lightly before looking up at him. "Can you focus on your cultivation during this time? Try to reach the Tribulation Transcendence stage as soon as possible?"
Mo Zhu: "…What?"
Yu Zhiling was dead serious. "The sooner you ascend, the better. We originally planned for ten years, but there’s a special circumstance now. You need to hurry."
Mo Zhu: "…"
He had no idea how the conversation had veered back to his training.
"What special circumstance?"
"A very special one."
The "special circumstance" was Yu Zhiling’s gut feeling—that once she reached 5,000 merit points, the system would reveal everything to her. She had no patience left to hide in the Yingshan Sect, waiting for You Zhou to be captured before Yan Shanqing and the others could leave. It wasn’t fair to them.
Because of her, the entire Yingshan Sect had sealed its gates. Disciples couldn’t visit their families. Yan Shanqing and the others were trapped inside. Even Mei Qiongge, who loved wandering, was confined to the sect. And if You Zhou wasn’t caught for a hundred years—would they have to hide for a century?
Mo Zhu frowned slightly. "Master, what does my cultivation have to do with you? Ever since you left seclusion, you’ve been pushing me to train harder."
Yu Zhiling lied without batting an eye. "What’s wrong with a master encouraging her disciple to work hard? Nothing at all."
Mo Zhu: "…"
He almost believed her.
He tilted his head and kissed her, nipping lightly at her lower lip. When she gasped, he soothed the spot with his tongue.
As expected, her face flushed crimson, her ears burning red.
"What’s my reward this time? You promised me before—once I reach the Tribulation stage, I can ask for anything."
Yu Zhiling whispered, "What do you want?"
Mo Zhu seized the moment. "A Daoist Union Pact. Will you give it to me?"
A Daoist Union.
A marriage.
Yu Zhiling looped her arms around his neck and murmured, "A marriage certificate?"
Mo Zhu: "?"
Mo Zhu: "…Something like that."
Many of her terms were unfamiliar to him, but judging by her expression, it likely meant what he thought. Perhaps she’d heard a different phrasing elsewhere.
Yu Zhiling’s response was to hug him tightly, burying her face against his shoulder without another word.
Mo Zhu had always been patient—especially with her. He didn’t press her, simply holding her quietly until she gave her answer.
Fortunately, it didn’t take long.
"First, transcend your tribulation. Then I’ll tell you."
A half-yes, half-no answer. Mo Zhu didn’t push further. Some things couldn’t be forced; she would agree when she was truly ready.
He pressed her closer, kissing the shell of her ear.
"Alright, Master. Wait for me."
Those memories that didn’t belong to him had returned gradually as his power grew. Like Yu Zhiling, Mo Zhu was eager to uncover the truth.
The moon hung bright, stars sparse, casting silvery light across the room.
Yun Zhi sat upright at his desk, propping his forehead with one pale hand as he massaged his temples. Dark circles shadowed his eyes after days without sleep, his already frail frame looking even more sickly.
"Master."
A young man in bright yellow robes entered, placing a tray on the desk.
Yun Zhi didn’t look up. Shu Feng glanced at the map spread before him—red marks indicated areas already purged of demonic spirits, while black circles marked those still uncleansed. Even the lands near the Yun family had their share of lurking evils.
Shu Feng sighed, lifting the medicine bowl. "Master, drink this. Your injuries haven’t healed yet."
Yun Zhi downed the medicine in one gulp, wiping his lips with a silk handkerchief. "Any word from Xiaowu?"
Shu Feng tidied the desk as he replied, "Yes. The Immortal Lord sent a message earlier today. The largest horde of demonic spirits near Yingshan was in the Qijue Valley—they’ve all been exterminated."
Yun Zhi nodded. "And Zhaoyan?"
"Immortal Lord Wu also sent word. The demonic spirits near the Wu territory aren’t numerous. Their lands are prosperous, with little wilderness for the fiends to hide. They’ve nearly finished dealing with them."
Yun Zhi murmured softly, "In the entire Central Continent, only Yingshan, the Yun family, and the Wu family have demonic shadows lurking nearby. It’s clear they’re targeting the three of us. The largest horde is buried near Yingshan, so they must have been planted the earliest."
You Zhou had initially buried the demonic shadows near Yingshan to deal with Immortal Lord Fuchun, as back then, among the three great immortal lords of the Central Continent, Fuchun was the most formidable, and Yingshan’s combat strength surpassed all the other great families.
The demonic shadows buried centuries ago had now multiplied into hundreds of thousands. If awakened all at once, they could slaughter every last soul in Yingshan.
As for the Yun and Wu families, the demonic shadows were fewer in number, likely cultivated only a few decades ago. Perhaps You Zhou had decided to target these two families only after learning that Yun Zhi and Wu Zhaoyan had ascended as immortal lords of the Central Continent.
Shu Feng tidied the desk and stepped aside. Seeing Yun Zhi’s pallid complexion, he couldn’t help but advise, "Master, perhaps you should rest for a few days?"
Yun Zhi shook his head. "There’s no time to rest. Any news of You Zhou?"
Shu Feng replied, "None. The great families have all sent scouts, but not a trace has been found."
"Not even by tracking demonic energy?"
"No. Over at Yingshan, Mo Zhu even used the Unreturning Sword, but nothing was found. The Demon Sovereign is of the Heavenly Demon lineage—his three souls and seven spirits differ from ordinary demons, as if condensed from malevolent energy."
Yun Zhi muttered to himself, "She never wielded the Unreturning Sword in the past because she knew You Zhou’s three souls and seven spirits were unlike ordinary beings. The Reincarnation Stone couldn’t detect him?"
Shu Feng answered, "Most likely. With Immortal Lord Zhuoyu’s intelligence, she must have known You Zhou’s identity from the start."
She had kept silent because she intended to kill him herself. Had she revealed You Zhou’s identity as the Demon Sovereign, the Yingshan Sect would have stopped her from pursuing him—the risk was too great.
Shu Feng could understand this, and so could Yun Zhi.
He fell silent, his silver hair bathed in the warm glow of candlelight. Yun Zhi lifted his gaze to the window, where a crescent moon hung in the void.
"Any movement from the Immortal Alliance?"
Shu Feng didn’t understand why he asked but answered, "None. The thirteen elders remain within the alliance, never stepping out."
"Not even the slightest stir?"
"...Nothing."
Yun Zhi’s eyes turned icy.
"Has Sect Leader Yan already informed them about the Tengshe royal family incident? The alliance promised a response within five days?"
"...Yes, Master."
Yun Zhi suddenly stood and strode out. "Gather our people. Send word to Zhaoyan and Xiaowu—we’re heading to the Immortal Alliance."
Shu Feng hurriedly assented, "Understood!"
But just as he moved to follow, he saw Yun Zhi pause in the courtyard.
"No. Only inform Zhaoyan. Keep Xiaowu out of this."
Shu Feng blinked in confusion. "...Why?"
Yun Zhi’s pale lips pressed tightly together.
"Some things are better left untouched by her. She’s only just returned."
He turned and left, his steps swift, not even taking his crane-feather cloak.
Shu Feng snapped to attention, rushing back inside to fetch the cloak and a hand-warmer before chasing after him.
Walking beside Yun Zhi, he noticed the coldness in his master’s expression and knew something was wrong. Shu Feng was young—he couldn’t fathom what it might be.
But Yun Zhi was always composed, his emotions so steady he seemed almost unreal. For him to react like this meant he had uncovered something.
The Yun family head’s intellect was legendary in the Central Continent—not only was his combat prowess fearsome, but his mind was also unmatched.
Shu Feng ventured quietly, "Master, Immortal Lord Zhuoyu has always ignored you in the past. Why…?"
He had only followed Yun Zhi for ten years, and in all that time, Yu Zhiling had never shown him kindness. Once, during her harshest scolding, even Yun Zhi—a man of unshakable patience—had coughed up blood in anger, his eyes red as he stared at her before leaving in silence, never seeking her out again.
So Shu Feng, too, had come to resent Yu Zhiling.
This Immortal Lord Zhuoyu was arrogant beyond measure, utterly heartless.
Yun Zhi’s steps slowed for just a moment, the collar of his cloak brushing his cheeks.
Then he quickened his pace again.
"Shu Feng, she is a good friend. She has helped me far more than you can imagine."
But what had Yu Zhiling ever done for Yun Zhi?
Shu Feng had never heard him speak of it—he couldn’t begin to guess.
Yet strangely, whenever Yun Zhi spoke, his words carried undeniable weight.
Perhaps the Immortal Lord Zhuoyu he so disliked was, in truth, a good person after all.
