66-70

Chapter 66

The cold wind blew through the valley, and the sword aura continuously shuttled through the valley. Song Wei Zhi and Wei Zhao had to protect themselves with their spiritual power in order to move through the gorge.

"Master, why are we here?" Even though Wei Zhao didn't know what Song Wei Zhi wanted to do, he followed her and leaped down with her.

"We are here to retrieve something for Xia Xia." As Song Wei Zhi mentioned her little niece, there was a rare gentleness in her eyes.

As there was a shard of soul in her own primordial spirit, Song Wei Zhi could sense the soul fragments here. She quickly located the position of the soul fragments, which were placed at the center of the valley, where the sword aura was the most intense.

They were currently standing at the outer edge of the valley. The sword aura here was already very harsh, and the walls of the valley had been eroded by the sword aura over the years, creating a rugged and uneven terrain. Song Wei Zhi instructed Wei Zhao to wait for her here and went alone with the demon sword towards the center of the valley. As she progressed towards the center, the sword aura grew stronger. It was no wonder the system hadn't informed her earlier. Even if she had known, with her previous cultivation, she would have been cut into pieces before reaching the center of the valley.

Without dwelling on the thought, Song Wei Zhi hastened her steps towards the center. She bypassed the swords inserted in the valley and finally arrived at the center, only to find that Xia Xia's soul fragments had not been found. Instead, she saw a person chained to a round platform. The person's body was covered with scabbed wounds and fresh bleeding wounds, and the collarbone was pierced through by an iron chain, exposing two deep, dark holes.

The person seemed to be a woman. Song Wei Zhi approached and leaned in to check the person's breathing. The person still had a faint breath, but it was extremely weak.

Who would be detained in such a place? Song Wei Zhi did not know, but she always felt that the person, just like herself, had been kept in such a harsh environment and was likely a good person. Song Wei Zhi was also unsure. She took out some spiritual medicine from her storage bag and fed it to the person, then used her spiritual power to protect the person from the thousands of sword auras. Afterwards, she injected some spiritual power into the person's body, and the person showed signs of slowly regaining consciousness.

The person did not open her eyes and, with a pale face, said, "Zhou Ye Ran, if you want to kill me, just do it quickly. There's no need to torture me like this. But even if you don't kill me, my end is near. I can't hold on much longer. Finally, I'll be free."

"I'm not Zhou Ye Ran," Song Wei Zhi explained as the woman finally turned her head and opened her eyes. The woman had a cold complexion, and even her pale face could not conceal her natural beauty. She seemed surprised that someone had come to such a place and, enduring the pain, reminded, "My girl, this sword tomb is not a good place. Leave quickly before your spiritual power is exhausted."

"Thank you for the reminder. I came here to find something. Why is the senior here?" Song Wei Zhi asked.

"Well, it's my own fault for not recognizing the right person. Are you a demon cultivator?" The woman asked as she noticed the black aura emanating from the sword Song Wei Zhi was holding.

"Not exactly, but it's not important whether I am or not. There are kind-hearted demon cultivators, and there are hypocrites among the righteous sects. As long as one lives openly and honestly, does it matter whether one is a demon cultivator?"

"Indeed, I am too narrow-minded. Miss, I, as a dying person, have a request. Can you give me a quick death? I have been suffering from the sword aura in this tomb for years, barely clinging to life with the medicine provided by that beast Zhou Ye Ran. He does not want me to die so easily, preferring me to endure the torture of a thousand cuts and arrows through the heart every day in this valley. If you can kill me, you'll be doing me a great favor. My life has been too exhausting." The woman's voice sounded weary.

"Zhou Ye Ran is indeed not a good person, but I cannot bring myself to kill you as per your request. Perhaps the situation has not reached such an extreme yet. Maybe there is still some hope?" urged Song Wei Zhi.

"What hope do I have? Miss, to be honest, my three souls and seven spirits have been severely injured in this tomb for years. Many of them have already dispersed. Now, I am left with just one spirit and one soul barely supporting me. It won't be long before I scatter to the wind. Death is just a matter of a day earlier or later for me, there's no difference."

Song Wei Zhi knew that the woman was speaking the truth. She had only a few days left to live. "You must have someone you want to see, right? We can think of a way. I'll save you, and there will be a way for you to see them," Song Wei Zhi said.

When the woman mentioned the person she wanted to see, tears seemed to glisten in the corners of her eyes. After a while, she spoke again, "How can I face her? I just want to take a brief look at her secretly, then I can depart with ease. However, it will probably trouble you, Miss."

Seeing her desire to live, Song Wei Zhi immediately smiled and said, "How is that any trouble? It's just that the wound on your scapula is quite deep. It might hurt a bit when I remove the object," she added with a thoughtful tone.

"You just do as you please. I've been enduring the agony of a thousand arrows piercing my heart every day. I don't feel pain anymore."

In her heart, Song Wei Zhi felt a pang of compassion. This woman had been imprisoned in such a hellish place for nearly twenty years. Zhou Ye Ran was indeed a complete madman. Song Wei Zhi raised the demon sword and severed the iron chains surrounding the woman one by one. Upon reaching the wound on her scapula, Song Wei Zhi intentionally used her spiritual power to protect the injured area, and then used the demon sword to split the wound open and remove the embedded chains, but the woman did not even let out a whimper.

Wei Zhao, seeing that Song Wei Zhi had not come out for a long time, became extremely anxious. He used his own spiritual power and hurried into the center of the valley to see what was happening.

Seeing that Wei Zhao had arrived, Song Wei Zhi handed the woman over to Wei Zhao to carry. Wei Zhao was still a little confused and asked, "Who is this?"

"She's also a victim of Zhou Ye Ran. Use your spiritual power to protect her and go up with her. The sword aura here is too strong. Wait for me upstairs," Song Wei Zhi gave a brief instruction.

After the two left, Song Wei Zhi circled around the round platform. She sensed that the soul fragment should be in the platform. Without hesitation, she raised the demon sword, charged it with spiritual power, and struck the platform. The round platform was shattered, and a golden light was visible beneath a crevice. Delighted that she had found another soul fragment for the little girl, Song Wei Zhi collected the fragment into her own primordial spirit before leaving on her flying sword.

The woman's injuries were quite severe, so Song Wei Zhi instructed Wei Zhao to buy some medicine to treat external wounds, while she used her spiritual power to change the woman into clean clothes. Then, she carried the woman to the inn.

However, when Song Wei Zhi and the woman entered the inn, a red-clothed woman emitting black aura appeared from behind a distant tree. It was indeed Song Zhi Xia.

Song Zhi Xia's expression was somewhat dim. She knew that her senior sister was kind to her and would not develop feelings for someone else in such a short time, but seeing her senior sister carrying another woman on her back, Song Zhi Xia's heart still felt a pang of sadness. Moreover, she now looked like a fallen demon cultivator. How could she face her senior sister? After a few moments, Song Zhi Xia disappeared behind the big tree.

Song Wei Zhi fed the woman a few more pills, and Wei Zhao brought back the medicine for external wounds. Song Wei Zhi applied the medicine to the woman's injuries and stopped the bleeding from her shoulder before letting her rest. Once the woman had regained some energy, Song Wei Zhi planned to take her to see the person she wanted to meet.

During this time, Song Wei Zhi once again appeared at the Cold Mountain Sword Sect. She planned to catch up with Li Qing Yuan while she had the chance. After all, the matter of her limbs being broken by him still needed to be settled.

Not holding back, Song Wei Zhi shattered the door of Li Qing Yuan's room with a palm. From inside came Li Qing Yuan's displeased voice, "Who dares to be so rude?"

With a cold laugh, Song Wei Zhi entered Li Qing Yuan's room and found a chair to sit on. "What's wrong? Don't you recognize me?"

Li Qing Yuan emerged, completely petrified. He had heard the chaotic voices of the disciples outside, but he did not pay it any mind. "You, you, weren't you already dead that day?"

"Yes, I shouldn't have died. While I'm still breathing, you're all living peacefully. How could I leave so quickly?" Song Wei Zhi said as she slammed her palm toward Li Qing Yuan. He tried to block, but with the enormous difference in their strengths, it was like trying to block a mountain with a straw. Li Qing Yuan was thrown to the ground, several of his meridians already shattered.

Song Wei Zhi knocked her demon sword against the ground and asked softly, "How did you torture me back then? It seemed like you broke all the bones in my body. Well, rest assured, I will definitely return the favor tenfold and a hundredfold."

Li Qing Yuan was drenched in sweat, even shedding tears, "Senior sister Song, I beg you to spare me. I did it unwillingly. It was Zhou Ye Ran who forced me to do it. Spare me, Senior sister Song, I'll do anything for you."

"Do anything for me? Are you even worthy?" With a few light taps in the air, a crisp cracking sound emanated from Li Qing Yuan's body. It was as if every bone in his body was slowly being crushed, and in reality, that was exactly what was happening.

Li Qing Yuan's room was filled with his screams and the sound of bones breaking. When disciples heard the commotion and rushed to check, they immediately turned and ran for fear of being caught by Song Wei Zhi.

"Save me, save me," Li Qing Yuan shouted desperately.

"Noisy." After shattering Li Qing Yuan's bones, Song Wei Zhi went on to sever his tendons. However, Li Qing Yuan could not endure the torture and fainted.

"Useless, can't handle it?" Song Wei Zhi snorted and had her demon sword absorb Li Qing Yuan's three souls and seven spirits. In a few moments, Li Qing Yuan turned into ashes.

Chapter 67

"Heh heh, thank you, Master. I've been well-fed these days." The man's grating voice echoed from the demon sword.

Ignoring him, Song Wei Zhi coldly snorted and soon returned to the inn. The woman lying on the bed had already woken up.

Seeing the woman awaken, Song Wei Zhi walked up to the bed and pulled up a chair, "Senior, how should I address you?"

"Heh, I am Feng Yi Liu, the traitor of the Cold Mountain Sword Sect as spoken of by their people. It was about twenty years ago, at that time, I was almost the same age as you are now. I was the sect's leading disciple and considered a once-in-a-century immortal cultivation genius by the entire Ji Mo City. At that time, I had a junior sister I was fond of, Yao Xin Tong. We grew up together at the Cold Mountain Sword Sect. She is the daughter of the sect leader, and she always clung to me since childhood. In my eyes, there was only room for her. We had already decided to become Dao companions." Feng Yi Liu cleared his throat and continued, "But things took a sudden turn. Xin Tong's father was suddenly ensnared by the Yin Soul Sect, first falling into demonic cultivation and then dying from a burst body. With the sect in disarray, I stood up and led several junior brothers and sisters with high cultivation levels to seek revenge on the Yin Soul Sect. We were ambushed on the way, only I survived. When I returned to the Cold Mountain Sword Sect, everything had changed. My senior brother, Zhou Ye Ran, who used to respect me, accused me of colluding with the Yin Soul Sect. He found correspondence with the Yin Soul Sect in my residence and had already secured the support of the five elders by using treasures from the sect. Coupled with the fact that only I survived the ambush, more and more people started to stand on Zhou Ye Ran's side. Later, I learned that the ambush was orchestrated by Zhou Ye Ran. A lie repeated a hundred times becomes the truth, and soon I was condemned to die."

As Feng Yi Liu spoke, her eyes gradually reddened, "Zhou Ye Ran was a master at deception. He long coveted my junior sister. After my junior sister pleaded with him to spare me, he agreed to let her marry him in exchange for sparing my life. She thought he would really let me live and go on to live on another continent. In reality, he imprisoned me in the heart of the sword mound. Being injured by the sword energy every day was usual, but at noon, I would suffer unbearable agony, as if pierced by innumerable arrows. That beast Zhou Ye Ran would come to give me medicine from time to time to ensure I wouldn't die easily. That beast would also talk to me about him and Xin Tong. Each time, I only regretted my inability to take a sword and kill that beast."

Before encountering Song Wei Zhi, Feng Yi Liu had long been as good as dead, knowing she wouldn't survive for a few more days. She only regretted not being able to protect her loved ones at that time, instead causing her junior sister to be humiliated. She regretted being too naive, letting the people around her frame her as a spy for the Yin Soul Sect.

Song Wei Zhi's fists tightened as she listened. She only wanted to put an end to Zhou Ye Ran immediately. If Xia Xia weren't the original female lead and she didn't have the system by her side, she and her little girl would probably also struggle to escape such a fate. She would have been reduced to ashes long ago.

"So, Senior Yao always thought you were living well in another place?" Song Wei Zhi asked, gritting her teeth.

Feng Yi Liu nodded weakly.

Stifling the bitter taste in her heart, Song Wei Zhi stood up abruptly, "Senior, I will take you to see Senior Yao now and expose Zhou Ye Ran's true colors."

With a sigh, Feng Yi Liu shook her head, "My body—I suppose you noticed when you transferred spiritual energy to me earlier—is probably not going to hold up for much longer. I have a few more days, at most. Thank you, Miss. If you hadn't brought me out, I wouldn't have been able to hold on to my last shred of life. Disturb her no more; I've already caused her enough harm in her life."

Suppressing the sourness in her heart, Song Wei Zhi nodded, "Alright, I promise, we'll just take a brief look at her and then leave."

Several hours later, as night fell, Song Wei Zhi carried Feng Yi Liu on her sword and headed to Yao Xin Tong's residence, followed closely by Wei Zhao. However, when they arrived at Yao Xin Tong's residence, it was empty. The pitch-black courtyard was lit up with torches, and at the forefront was Qi Ying Zhe, whom they hadn't seen in a long time.

He knew that Song Wei Zhi had killed many disciples of the Cold Mountain Sword Sect, yet he still carried himself with the same confident bearing, "Miss Song, Master has already anticipated your arrival sooner or later. We have been waiting for you. He said to invite you to the main hall; Master's wife is also there."

"Miss, I, someone at death's door, have caused trouble for you again," Feng Yi Liu's feeble voice sounded from Song Wei Zhi's back.

With a clear gaze, Song Wei Zhi stared at the disciples in front of her without fear and lightly laughed, "The thing I fear the least in my life is trouble. It's best to clean up any messes."

Looking at Qi Ying Zhe, Song Wei Zhi continued, "Let's go, are we supposed to wait here for death?"

Although Song Wei Zhi still appeared to have reached the consummation stage of the Golden Core realm, she had killed many highly cultivated disciples. Even Li Qing Yuan had turned into ashes. Upon hearing her words, the disciples scattered; only Qi Ying Zhe remained.

Ignoring him, Song Wei Zhi and Wei Zhao ascended their flying swords and headed for the main hall. As expected, the main hall was bustling. Zhou Ye Ran, the five elders, Yao Xin Tong, and the accompanying Zhou Qing Xue and Zhou Cheng Wen were all present. At first glance, Yao Xin Tong noticed the person on Song Wei Zhi's back.

The person looked extremely pale, with a sickly expression in their features, a stark contrast from the Feng Yi Liu she had known twenty years ago. Yao Xin Tong staggered to Song Wei Zhi's side, reaching out to touch Feng Yi Liu's shoulder, whispering softly, "How did it come to this? What happened to your body?"

"Zhou Ye Ran, how could Senior Sister end up like this?" Yao Xin Tong questioned loudly, her scorching tears already flowing.

Zhou Ye Ran gave a light chuckle, "Indeed, didn't I promise to spare her life? She isn't dead yet, but she probably won't last another day or two."

"What have you done to her?" Yao Xin Tong's eyes were red as she yelled at Zhou Ye Ran.

"Not much, just imprisoned her in the heart of the sword mound. I make her suffer the agony of being pierced by numerous arrows every day. Oh, and staying there for a long time, no matter how high one's cultivation level is, one's three souls and seven spirits won't hold up. But, Song Wei Zhi, I didn't expect you to meddle with my affairs. Instead of being burnt to death, you should have hidden away. How dare you rescue this traitor?" Zhou Ye Ran's face turned a sickly shade.

"Traitor? You're the traitor. I've never seen such a disgusting person like you. First, you framed Senior Feng, then you used Senior Feng's life to threaten Senior Yao and us. We rightfully won the martial arts competition and obtained the Soul Fragment, yet you forced us to hand it over. How can there be such a beast like you in this world?" Song Wei Zhi stared at Zhou Ye Ran with cold eyes, speaking slowly.

"You... I think the lesson I gave you last time wasn't enough." Zhou Ye Ran said, taking a swing at Song Wei Zhi. Unperturbed, Song Wei Zhi supported Feng Yi Liu behind her and retaliated with a punch towards Zhou Ye Ran's attack. Zhou Ye Ran was caught off guard, and a slap from Song Wei Zhi left him bleeding.

Zhou Ye Ran seemed somewhat incredulous. He clutched his chest to steady his breath, pointing at Song Wei Zhi, "You, you're very strong. I will definitely kill you this time."

Originally, Song Wei Zhi had intended to hand Feng Yi Liu over to Wei Zhao so that she could focus on dealing with Zhou Ye Ran. However, Yao Xin Tong was quick to take Feng Yi Liu from Song Wei Zhi's back. Song Wei Zhi, taking the opportunity, handed her over to Yao Xin Tong. Wei Zhao, seeing that a fight was about to break out, promptly positioned himself beside Song Wei Zhi. At this point, he had achieved great perfection in the Harmonizing Stage.

"Alright, then I won't hold back. I'll deal with you and these five old men together." Song Wei Zhi said as she raised her demonic sword, filled with more dark energy than usual, due to her consumption of many souls these past few days.

"Hmph, Song Wei Zhi, I thought you had learned some amazing skills, but it turns out you're in league with the demon cultivators, just like that traitor. Today, I'll take justice into my own hands." Song Wei Zhi coldly retorted, "Your thick skin knows no bounds. Let me expose your dirty face."

Meanwhile, Zhou Cheng Wen and Zhou Qing Xue were in a panic. Upon witnessing their mother's actions, Zhou Cheng Wen already understood, and having found out that his mother had been forced to marry his father, he was now on the brink of collapse. This confusion raised questions about himself and his sister's status.

In recent days, Zhou Cheng Wen had been struggling to comprehend some of Zhou Ye Ran's actions. Now, knowing that his mother was coerced, he was about to break down and rushed out the door.

On the other hand, Zhou Qing Xue was caught in a dilemma, as this was her father who had raised her for over a decade—despite his tremendous evil deeds; he was still her family. She could not bear to see her father hurt and dying in front of her.

Song Wei Zhi had already made her move, filling her demonic sword with spirit energy and swinging it towards Zhou Ye Ran. He attempted to block with his sword, but how could his sword stand against a demonic sword that had been consuming countless souls daily? In a split second, his sword was split in half.

Zhou Ye Ran staggered, a large patch of blood oozing from his chest. He was slammed against the wall before falling to the ground. His internal meridians had just been severed by Song Wei Zhi's sword.

"Is that all the might the Sect Leader Zhou possesses? A person like you is not even worthy of death. Don't worry, I will make your soul scatter." Song Wei Zhi said, poised to deliver a second blow.

However, Zhou Qing Xue, in a panic, flew to stand in front of Song Wei Zhi, who merely made a casual gesture in the air. As a result, the sword in Zhou Qing Xue's hand flew out, and she fell to her knees, begging Song Wei Zhi, "I know my father's mistakes are grave. I beg you; please spare him."

With a slight raise of her eyebrows, Song Wei Zhi retorted, "Spare him? Then why didn't anyone spare me and Xia Xia that day? Is your father's life more valuable than ours? Do we deserve to die?」

Zhou Qing Xue was rendered speechless by Song Wei Zhi's words, and she turned to look at Yao Xin Tong, "Mother, what should we do? Save father, please, save him."

Yao Xin Tong held the now unconscious Feng Yi Liu in her arms. When she saw Feng Yi Liu, she lost control. She thought her sacrifice would bring this person peace, only to realize that the person she cherished had just a few days of life left, with only a sliver of soul. Yao Xin Tong feared that the person in her arms would leave her in the next moment.

She looked at Zhou Qing Xue and said, "He should have died long ago. I regret not having the same level of cultivation as him. Even if Miss Song were to spare him today, I would have personally ended his life."

Zhou Qing Xue was stunned; she hadn't expected her mother to say such things. She looked around in a daze, instinctively wanting to stop Song Wei Zhi.

As Song Wei Zhi brought down her hand, Zhou Qing Xue fainted. Song Wei Zhi picked her up and placed her to the side, then stepped in front of Zhou Ye Ran.

"Heh, I never expected my reputation to be ruined by you. If I had known, I should have killed you early on." Without waiting for him to continue, Song Wei Zhi swiftly swung her demonic sword, and in no time, Zhou Ye Ran's three souls and seven spirits were devoured clean. All that was left on the ground was ashes.

Upon seeing Zhou Ye Ran's demise, the elders, to clear themselves, attempted to flee. Song Wei Zhi sneered, "Leaving? It's not that easy. I remember it was you who apprehended me and Xia Xia and brought us back. Now, it's my turn to take action."

Channeling her spirit energy to the utmost, her demonic sword seemed to possess a life of its own as it moved toward the five individuals. In an instant, only piles of ashes remained on the ground.

Chapter 68

The magic blade, having devoured numerous souls, dripped with blood from its edge.

Yao Xintong cradled the unconscious Feng Yiliu in her arms. "Miss Song, thank you for saving her. If not for you, I fear I would never have seen her again. She may only have a day or two left. I want to stay with her."

Song Weizhi nodded slightly. "I understand your feelings," she summoned the system in her mind, "Is there any way to save Senior Feng? It hurts me to see her die after just meeting her."

"Host, I understand your feelings, but the system does not have the authority to bring people back from the dead. However, there is a spiritual medicine that can extend her life for three months, like an ordinary mortal. It will require 600 points for exchange. Does the host want to proceed with the exchange?" The mechanical voice of the system sounded in Song Weizhi's mind.

"Let's do it. Being able to use a few points to give them more time is worth it," Song Weizhi clicked the exchange in her mind and a black pill appeared in her hand.

"Senior Yao, please wait. I have a medicine that can temporarily extend Senior Feng's life for three months. However, I still won't be able to save her after these three months," Song Weizhi said with some reluctance.

Yao Xintong, however, was overjoyed. She had thought that she and Feng Yiliu only had a short day or two to be together, so the sudden three extra months felt like a heaven-sent blessing.

"Miss Song, thank you. If you need my help in the future, I am at your service," Yao Xintong said tearfully.

"The senior is too kind. We only met briefly yet we are friends. How can I stand by and not help a friend in need?" Song Weizhi said, squatting down to feed the spiritual medicine to Feng Yiliu.

"Leave Senior Feng to the senior. I'll come to see you another day. I live in an inn not far from here. If you need me, you can come find me," Song Weizhi said before preparing to leave. Wei Zhao, however, still held the fainted Zhou Qingxue in his arms. "Master, I'll wait for her to wake up before returning."

Song Weizhi patted Wei Zhao's shoulder. "Alright, no rush."

Zhou Qingxue had only fainted. It shouldn't take long for her to wake up. Song Weizhi was not worried about her waking up, but was concerned about whether Zhou Qingxue could accept Zhou Yeran's death and whether Wei Zhao and Zhou Qingxue could still get along harmoniously.

On the way back, the system reminded Song Weizhi in her mind, "Host, Feng Yiliu only has one soul left. Her soul is damaged, and in the future, she can only be an ordinary mortal and cannot pursue the path of cultivating immortality."

Song Weizhi sighed. "Being an ordinary person is fine. It's just that it will burden Senior Yao. After Feng Yiliu is reincarnated, she will no longer have her previous memories."

Seeing Song Weizhi's low mood, the system remained silent.

Song Weizhi was thinking of her little girl. It had been a long time since they last saw each other. Was she in pain during her demonic transformation? Was she being bullied by others?

Now that she had found two pieces of the shattered primordial spirit and resolved the matters at the Cold Mountain Sword Sect, Song Weizhi promptly sent a message to Wei Zhao, telling him not to waste his efforts. Then, she went to the vicinity of the Blood Demon Cliff.

Standing at the top of the cliff, Song Weizhi felt something strange. She remembered that many evil spirits of demon cultivators lingered here, but she felt the demonic aura was weak. Even if there were remnants of demon cultivators, there weren't many.

Song Weizhi furrowed her brows, deciding to go down and take a look herself. Though she knew her little girl was not in real danger, she still didn't want her to suffer.

After the sword descended to the bottom of the valley, Song Weizhi discovered that the valley was unexpectedly calm. There were hardly any remnants of demonic creatures. It took her half a day to find a few scattered remnants, and she immediately used her spiritual power to intercept them.

These remnants seemed afraid and tried to run as soon as they saw Song Weizhi.

"Please don't leave. I have some questions for you. Besides, it's not normal for malevolent spirits to flee upon seeing people," Song Weizhi stopped the spirits and inquired.

"Miss, spare us, we beg for mercy. Miss, you are not aware. A few months ago, a very powerful lady appeared at the bottom of the cliff. Despite her beautiful appearance, she was merciless in her attacks. In just a few months, she almost eradicated all evil spirits here. We are just the ones she missed. Please spare us," if these malevolent spirits had physical forms, they would have kneeled and pleaded with Song Weizhi.

After thinking for a moment, Song Weizhi realized that the lady was probably her younger sister, Zixia. "Where did she go now?" Song Weizhi hurriedly asked.

"Miss, we don't know. We only know that after she cleared the evil spirits at the bottom of the cliff, she left," the spirits explained.

Song Weizhi sighed. It seemed she had arrived too late. Her younger sister had already left. Those malevolent spirits entreated her, "Miss, if there's nothing else, could you let us go?"

"Let you go? Impossible. You can help me deal with the unfinished business my younger sister didn't take care of," Song Weizhi said as she swept her magic blade towards the malevolent spirits, leaving the area peaceful.

After searching the bottom of the cliff a few more times and not finding any sign of Song Zixia, Song Weizhi had to return empty-handed.

On the other hand, Gao Chengxuan thought that Song Zixia had probably fallen into the demonic path and suffered a lot. He sent some of his subordinates to the bottom of the cliff to search for her. Soon, those practitioners returned.

With a stern face, Gao Chengxuan asked, "Did you bring back the person?"

The team leader of the practitioners glanced at Gao Chengxuan and hesitantly spoke, "We didn't see anyone. Also, there were hardly any malevolent spirits at the bottom of the Blood Demon Cliff."

"What? How is that possible? The gathering of malevolent spirits at the bottom of the Blood Demon Cliff is well known. How can it suddenly disappear?" Gao Chengxuan reprimanded.

The practitioners begged for forgiveness on their knees. "Your Highness, we're telling the truth. There's really no sign of Song Zixia at the bottom of the cliff."

"These are all useless. Zuo Xuan, take care of these useless people. I don't keep trash by my side," Gao Chengxuan said coldly.

Meanwhile, Song Zixia had actually been lurking near the inn where Song Weizhi stayed. She kept a close watch on Song Weizhi's actions, afraid of being discovered and only dared to sneak a few glances from a distance. She longed to see her elder sister more than ever. However, looking at her own current dark and gloomy appearance, Song Zixia didn't dare to approach her elder sister. She intended to continue secretly observing her elder sister like this, but the more she looked, the more she missed her elder sister. Even though her elder sister was not far away, Song Zixia felt an intense longing inside her.

Finally, when her elder sister went to find her at the Blood Demon Cliff, Song Zixia's last string of reservation shattered. Her elder sister had been looking for her all along. Even if she had to suppress the demonic aura on her body, she had to go and see her elder sister again. She changed into her previous white dress, suppressed all the demonic aura with her spiritual power, reverting to her appearance before falling into the demonic path. However, this was extremely draining on her spiritual power, and the confined demonic aura caused excruciating pain.

By the time she climbed the steps to the inn, Song Zixia was already as pale as a ghost. When she knocked on Song Weizhi's door, she felt like she was about to collapse.

Having known there was someone outside the door, Song Weizhi, at the Great Accomplishment stage, opened the door and saw the person outside had an aura very similar to her little girl. She couldn't wait to open the door, and to her delight, she saw her longed-for person standing there, tears welling up in her eyes.

Without the slightest hesitation, she pulled her little girl into her arms, holding her tightly as if afraid that she would disappear, "Zixia, you're really back. I missed you so much."

Tears had already welled up in Song Zixia's eyes. She had thought she wouldn't cry anymore, but as soon as she saw Song Weizhi, her tears flowed uncontrollably," I missed you, too, elder sister."

Song Weizhi hugged her little girl tightly, one arm supporting her slender waist, the other using spiritual power to close the door and set up a barrier in the room.

"Zixia, where have you been all this time? Are you hurt? Let me have a good look," Song Weizhi pushed her little girl away slightly and inquired.

"I'm fine, just a bit exhausted. Elder sister, aren't I standing perfectly fine in front of you?" Song Zixia said, but cold sweat was dripping from her forehead.

Song Weizhi reached out to wipe Song Zixia's sweat. She seemed to be sweating more and more, her complexion getting worse. Feeling a little flustered, Song Weizhi asked, "Zixia, what's wrong? Your complexion is so poor."

"I'm fine, elder sister. I'm just a little tired. I'll lie down on the bed for a while," leaning her head on Song Weizhi's shoulder, suppressing the demonic aura had drained too much of her spiritual power. If Song Weizhi hadn't supported her, she would have collapsed.

Song Weizhi was worried for her little girl, and indeed, she was not well.

Song Weizhi felt that something was amiss but she instinctively laid her little girl gently on the bed. She had been too overwhelmed upon seeing her little girl, and had forgotten about many crucial matters. She could be certain that her little girl had suffered tremendously at the Blood Demon Cliff and had fallen into the demonic path. Yet, apart from her physical weakness, her little girl seemed no different from an ordinary person. There was only one possibility: her little girl had forcibly suppressed the demonic aura using her spiritual power.

Song Weizhi was somewhat angry that her little girl didn't take care of herself, but she also felt pity for her. Why was her little girl doing this? Was she afraid of scaring her?

Sitting beside her little girl, Song Weizhi softly asked, "Zixia, is there something you want to tell me?"

Looking at Song Weizhi's concerned eyes, Song Zixia wanted to speak the truth several times, but in the end, she said nothing.

Chapter 69

"I see that your cultivation has already reached the Mahayana stage, so why is your body so frail?" Song Wei Zhi couldn't bear it and spoke gently to the girl.

"Maybe I've been too tired these days, Sister, don't worry, I'll be fine after a good rest," the girl with watery eyes looked at Song Wei Zhi and said.

Song Wei Zhi sighed, seeing that the girl's hand was trembling with pain, her heart tightened. She didn't want to delay any longer and went straight to the point, "Xia Xia, I heard from Zhou Ye Ran that you were forced to the Bloodthirst Cliff by Gao Cheng Xuan, are you possessed by the devil?"

Xia Xia seemed surprised by Song Wei Zhi's direct question, and for a moment, she hesitated. Her eyes turned slightly red. She didn't want Song Wei Zhi to know that she had fallen into the demonic path, but she also didn't want to lie to her. She struggled to sit up from the bed and leaned against the edge, "Sister, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to lie to you, but I look so ugly. I was afraid of scaring you, so I used my spiritual power to suppress the demonic energy. I just wanted to see you and then leave. I'm sorry, I miss you so much. I couldn't help but come to find you."

As she spoke, tears streamed down her cheeks, Song Wei Zhi felt her heart ache for the girl. She reached out to wipe away the tears and softly coaxed, "I'm not angry because of this. Suppressing the demonic energy is harmful to your body. Look, you are sweating coldly. Please, don't suppress the demonic energy anymore."

The gentler Song Wei Zhi's tone, the more aggrieved Xia Xia felt. She cried silently, "Don't, I'm so ugly. Sister only likes beautiful girls, and I don't want her to see me like this. I'm unattractive."

Song Wei Zhi couldn't help but smile at her little girl's behavior. She hugged her and comforted, "Xia Xia, no matter what, I like you. Please, don't suppress the demonic energy. It pains me."

"Please, I'm so ugly, don't let Sister see me." Xia Xia weakly leaned in Song Wei Zhi's embrace, crying softly, her body was weak but her will was strong.

Song Wei Zhi loosened her grip on the girl's hand, and with a slight smile, she looked at the girl who was being stubborn in her arms. She tenderly kissed the girl's lips and caressed them slowly. In a moment, the girl's breath became unstable under Song Wei Zhi's kisses.

Knowing the girl's weak condition, Song Wei Zhi didn't dare to kiss for too long. "Xia Xia, we've been through so much together. Don't you know me by now? No matter how you change, I will still like you. If you don't listen to me, I will really be angry," Song Wei Zhi said seriously.

The girl, leaning on Song Wei Zhi's embrace, hadn't recovered from the kiss just now. With misty eyes, she couldn't bring herself to look away, having planned to just glance at her and leave. However, her sister was being so kind to her, and she was captivated by her. She didn't want to leave at all.

After thinking for a while, Xia Xia bit her lip and said in a choked voice, "Sister, you can't abandon Xia Xia, and you can't find other pretty girls."

"Okay, Xia Xia says so, that's how it is. Besides, in my eyes and my heart, there's only Xia Xia. Are there any other girls?" Song Wei Zhi said softly.

Xia Xia nibbled her lip and nuzzled against Song Wei Zhi's neck before saying, "It's not true. I saw you carrying a girl behind you that day. Sister has never carried me before."

"I was carrying an elder that day. She was in a pitiful state after being harmed by Zhou Ye Ran. She only has three months left to live. Let's not talk about this. Xia Xia, be good and don't suppress the demonic energy anymore." Song Wei Zhi stopped giving the girl time to procrastinate, as suppressing the demonic energy with spiritual power would greatly harm her body, and Song Wei Zhi couldn't bear to see that.

Seeing her sister's determination, Xia Xia reluctantly retracted her suppressed spiritual power and lay on Song Wei Zhi's shoulder, not daring to lift her head. "Sister, don't look at me, I'm so ugly," she said.

"Okay, my Xia Xia is the most beautiful. Don't be afraid, Sister is here," Song Wei Zhi whispered to comfort her.

Soon, without the suppression of spiritual power, black energy began to emanate from Xia Xia's body. Song Wei Zhi, seeing her suffer, felt nothing but heartache. Believing that Song Wei Zhi didn't like how she looked, Xia pouted, "Sister, please don't look at me, I'm so ugly. I should suppress it again, I'm afraid you'll be scared."

"No, Xia Xia, you mustn't cover the demonic energy anymore. I'm not joking," Song Wei Zhi said, gently removing the girl from her shoulder, but the girl had already covered her face with her hands.

Song Wei Zhi amused and gently connected her hands with the girl's, pulling her hands away. At first, the girl tried to resist, but then she stopped, allowing Song Wei Zhi to reveal her face.

The girl, now with lowered eyes, dared not look at Song Wei Zhi, who was amused by her behavior. And in Song Wei Zhi's opinion, the girl seemed even more attractive than before, with her mesmerizing peach blossom eyes and rejuvenated rosy lips.

Hearing Song Wei Zhi's light laughter, the girl pushed Song Wei Zhi down. Although she was feeling a bit uneasy, she couldn't understand why her sister was laughing.

Song Wei Zhi allowed the girl to push her and said softly, "I think you look even better than before, Xia Xia."

The girl was a bit nervous as she looked up and found herself caught in Song Wei Zhi's gentle gaze. She couldn't look away.

Song Wei Zhi's gaze followed the girl's eyes and stopped at her rosy lips. She leaned in for a kiss, not as gentle as before, pulling the girl closer, as she had just regained her beloved. She was happier than ever.

The girl didn't resist and obediently held on to the hem of Song Wei Zhi's clothes, accepting her kisses. Their breaths became uneven, and Song Wei Zhi gently pulled away, looking at the blushing girl in front of her. She realized that those two kisses didn't relieve her longing for the girl; instead, they made her desire even stronger.

Seeing that Song Wei Zhi's gaze hadn't changed and seemed more passionate than before, the girl's suspended heart finally settled. She knew that her sister wasn't the type to change her affections easily, but she still worried because she had descended into the demonic path, something many righteous individuals wouldn't accept. Fortunately, her sister didn't care.

With her heart at ease, the girl nestled against Song Wei Zhi, nuzzled her shoulder affectionately, and coquettishly said, "Sister, Xia Xia missed you so much. I thought I would never see you again."

Song Wei Zhi gently caressed the girl's back and ears and coaxed, "I missed you too, Xia Xia. This time we won't be apart anymore, okay? I found two more pieces of the soul fragments. I'll give them to you later, but..."

"But what, Sister?" The girl's peach blossom eyes twinkled as she gazed at Song Wei Zhi.

"But those two soul fragments are now in my own spirit. To give them to you, we need to fuse our souls," Song Wei Zhi said, kissing the girl's forehead and speaking into her ear.

The girl felt itchy from Song Wei Zhi's breath and was overwhelmed by her words. Then, a tinge of sadness appeared in her eyes.

Seeing that the girl didn't react for a while, Song Wei Zhi gently laid her down on the bed and pulled down the dark curtain by the side of the bed. Then, she leaned over the girl.

The girl stared at Song Wei Zhi, who was so close, and unconsciously swallowed, "What are you doing, Sister?"

Song Wei Zhi kissed the girl's nose, smiling softly, "What am I doing? Giving my dear Xia Xia a calming pill, so you don't have to worry anymore and won't have second thoughts about leaving my side."

The girl blushed even more, she thought her sister wanted to...

The girl dared not meet Song Wei Zhi's eyes and uttered nervously, "But it's still daytime."

"It's even better during the day; I can see more clearly," said Song Wei Zhi, gazing at the girl's peach blossom eyes teasingly, and the girl blushed even deeper.

As Song Wei Zhi leaned over to kiss the corner of the girl's lips, she began untying the girl's belt and then whispered in the girl's ear, "Is it okay, Xia Xia?"

The girl's voice trembled as she couldn't help but swallow hard.

With one hand fumbling with the girl's clothes and the other soothingly, Song Wei Zhi coaxed, "Be good, Xia Xia, don't be afraid. I'll be gentle, okay?"

"Okay," the girl's voice trembled.

Song Wei Zhi's movements in helping the girl undress became lighter. When she almost finished, she placed the girl's hand on her own belt and softly coaxed with a kiss on the girl's lips, "Xia Xia, can you help me to undress?"

The girl couldn't resist this and even blushed at her neck. She obediently reached out to untie Song Wei Zhi's belt. Perhaps due to nervousness, she inadvertently turned the buckle on Song Wei Zhi's belt from a loose one to a tight one.

Song Wei Zhi smiled as she watched her little girl's shy and flustered manner. She decided to lightly press against the girl, leaning against her shoulder, without offering any help.

Chapter 70

The young girl looked a little aggrieved and bewildered as she gazed at Song Weizhi, who was leaning on her, and pleaded, "Senior Sister, it's tighter now, I can't undo it."

Raising her head, Song Weizhi planted a kiss on the young girl's cheek and then smiled, "Alright, I'll help Xia Xia with it." She then unfastened the girl's belt, which had been tied into a tight knot around her waist, and placed the girl's hand on her own sash, saying, "There, this time Xia Xia will do it by herself."

With a blush on her face, the girl stumbled to take off Song Weizhi's outer garment. Seeing the girl's flushed skin, Song Weizhi gently kissed her forehead and said, "Xia Xia, I'm coming."

The girl blushed and closed her eyes directly.

Outside the room, the rain grew heavier, with the raindrops hitting the roof tiles, splashing into a spray. The raindrops gently rubbed against the tiles, trickling through the gaps, getting cleansed by the heavy rain. At first, the rain seemed urgent under the shroud of dark clouds, as if it intended to conquer the world. However, after the initial intensity, the sky gradually cleared and the rain slowed down, but it continued to fall densely and continuously, wrapping around the roof tiles in a lingering manner. It seemed an eternity before the clouds cleared and the weather gradually improved.

Their spiritual energies merged together, and they could no longer distinguish themselves from each other. Song Weizhi left her mark in the girl's spiritual energy and also returned the two fragments of her spiritual energy to the girl. In return, the girl also left her mark in Song Weizhi's spiritual energy.

When Song Weizhi woke up, she saw the girl still sleeping in her embrace. It seemed that she was exhausted. Song Weizhi adjusted the blanket for the girl and noticed the faint kiss marks on her body, softening her gaze. She gently kissed the girl's forehead, as the memory of her alluring tenderness from the previous night caused Song Weizhi to succumb time and time again.

The girl, having been kissed, showed signs of waking up. Instinctively, she nuzzled affectionately against Song Weizhi's neck and shoulder. The kiss marks on the girl's cheek and forehead indicated that she had opened her sleepy eyes and found herself unclothed, with her skin in close contact with her senior sister's. The embarrassing memories from the previous night flooded back, causing the girl to bury her head even lower.

Seeing the girl's embarrassment, Song Weizhi kissed her on top of her head and said softly, "Xia Xia, you're awake, so adorable."

The girl was too shy to lift her face and coquettishly said with a slightly hoarse voice, "Senior Sister…"

"Alright, don't be unhappy, Xia Xia is my little companion now, and there's no escaping from that." Song Weizhi playfully kissed the girl's ear, making it even more rosy than it already was.

Surprisingly, the once shy girl looked directly into Song Weizhi's eyes and said earnestly, "Then, Senior Sister, you can't escape either. You belong to Xia Xia alone."

Song Weizhi softly laughed and said, "After last night, I feel even more unable to leave Xia Xia."

The girl shyly nuzzled against Song Weizhi's neck and murmured, "Senior Sister, you're so bad."

"Where am I bad?" Song Weizhi teased with a raised eyebrow.

"Ugh, you're just too bad, bullying Xia Xia." The girl blushed and buried herself under the blanket, refusing to look at Song Weizhi.

It took a while for Song Weizhi to soothe the girl. She was so reluctant to get out of bed holding the soft and tender girl in her arms.

By the time they were both ready, it was already midday. It was then that Song Weizhi received a message from the system in her mind, "Congratulations to the host for helping the female lead successfully merge two fragments of her spiritual energy. Reward: 2000 points. The current remaining points are 2400. Due to some disharmonious scenes yesterday, the system was automatically blocked, hence the delay in reporting today."

Though Song Weizhi felt a hint of unease, she remained outwardly composed. Now, having found six out of eight fragments of spiritual energy, both she and Xia Xia had stepped into a higher realm of cultivation. Only two major levels were left before ascension. Song Weizhi's worry gradually dissipated.

On the other side, after being knocked unconscious by Song Weizhi the other day, Wei Zhao had been keeping watch by Zhou Qingxue's side. When Zhou Qingxue woke up, her first question was about her father: "Where's my father? Where is he?"

Sitting by the bedside, Wei Zhao glanced at Zhou Qingxue and replied, "He's already dead."

Tears welled up in Zhou Qingxue's eyes as she shook her head and said, "I don't believe it. Where's my father? Take me to see him. Take me to him."

"You can't see him anymore; all the remains are gone," Wei Zhao said.

Hearing this, Zhou Qingxue's eyes turned red, and she drew her ancestral spirit sword and aimed it at Wei Zhao, saying, "Did your master kill my father? All the remains are gone? That person was my father. I'll kill you all."

Wei Zhao took out his own ancestral whip and attacked Zhou Qingxue, dodging her strikes and saying, "Your father was the one who harmed my master and Miss Song first. Qingxue, don't be so obstinate."

"Obstinate? Maybe in your eyes, my father is unforgivable, but he raised me for nearly twenty years. You all think he deserves to die, even my mother despised him to the core. Maybe I was never meant to exist in this world. Wei Zhao, move aside. I want to avenge my father," Zhou Qingxue's judgment was clouded by her father's death.

Wei Zhao stood still, showing no intention of evading Zhou Qingxue's thrust. Her sword stabbed his chest directly, but luckily she managed to hold back, leaving only a shallow wound and a trickle of blood.

"If you want revenge, you can kill me, but don't go after my master," Wei Zhao said, disregarding the blood flowing from his chest.

"Master, is she so important to you?" Zhou Qingxue withdrew her sword from Wei Zhao's chest and ran away crying.

Wei Zhao sighed softly as he touched his chest.

In a few breaths, Zhou Qingxue arrived at her mother's residence, where she found her mother feeding Feng Yiliu with a bowl of yogurt, showing a tenderness she had never seen before. Tears streamed down Zhou Qingxue's face as she realized that she had no place in this vast world. Perhaps, in her mother's eyes, she was never meant to exist. She silently left without looking back.

Having taken a short break, Song Weizhi brought Xia Xia to Yao Xintong's place to see Feng Yiliu. She explained everything to Xia Xia, who was left terrified after hearing it.

"Senior Sister, if we weren't so lucky, I fear our outcome wouldn't be any better than the two seniors'," Xia Xia felt sad after hearing about Yao Xintong and Feng Yiliu.

Song Weizhi embraced Xia Xia and said, "That day will never come. As long as I'm here, you mustn't think that way."

Affectionately holding Song Weizhi's hand, Xia Xia asked, "Senior Sister, is it okay for me to be like this?"

"Of course, the two seniors aren't conventional people. Just come with me, my dear Xia Xia." Song Weizhi summoned her magic sword, and in a blink of an eye, they appeared in Yao Xintong's courtyard.

"Yao senior, Xia Xia and I have come to see Feng senior. Is it convenient?" Song Weizhi asked as she lightly knocked on the door.

Yao Xintong hurried over to open the door for Song Weizhi and Xia Xia, saying, "Come in, please."

Song Weizhi led her little companion into the room. Yao Xintong noticed the dark energy enveloping Xia Xia and asked, "Who is this young lady?"

Song Weizhi smiled and held Xia Xia's hand, saying, "She is my companion. Xia Xia fell into the demonic path because she was pressured by the Third Prince's men at the Blood Devil Cliff. But whether one falls into the demonic path or not doesn't matter; as long as it's her, it's good."

Yao Xintong looked at the two of them, her expression somewhat complex. After a while, she said, "Song Miss, I am not as good as you. If I had your courage twenty years ago, my sister and I wouldn't be in our current situation. You're right, even if one falls into the demonic path, in this world of treacherous hearts, there are good people among the demonic cultivators, and there is no lack of hypocrites among the upright sects. I was just too foolish before, I only understand this now. We must cherish the people before us."

"Senior, don't worry, we will," Song Weizhi said with a gentle smile.

They then went to Feng Yiliu. Her complexion had improved significantly after emerging from the Sword Burial Ground a few months ago. She had been told by Yao Xintong that Song Weizhi had given her those three months and had been eager to express her gratitude. "Miss Song, you've given me these three extra months of life. I'm truly grateful. I thought I was about to leave, but now I have these three months to be with her."

"Silly child, you've already helped us so much. Thank you," Feng Yiliu smiled.

"Yao senior, I have something to tell you," Song Weizhi said.

"Alright, let's go outside," Yao Xintong gently placed Feng Yiliu down, asking her to rest for a while, and then walked outside with Song Weizhi and Xia Xia.

Song Weizhi pursed her lips before speaking, "Senior Yao, Feng Qianbei will be reincarnated in three months, but her two souls and six spirits have completely dissipated in the Sword Burial Ground. Even if she is reincarnated, she cannot embark on the path of cultivation anymore. She can only be an ordinary person, enduring the cycle of reincarnation, and she will lose all her previous memories in each subsequent life, including her memories with you."

"I am aware of that. I don't want to concern myself with anything else. Qingxue and Chengwen are already adults; they have their own lives ahead. I will just accompany my sister from now on. However, human life is fleeting, and I don't know how many years I will be able to spend with her when I find her again," Yao Xintong's eyes were filled with desolation. She was not afraid of her sister repeatedly forgetting her; she was afraid that she might not find her sister as soon as she wished.

"You don't have to worry about that. Please take this," Song Weizhi said, handing a red stone to Yao Xintong, and explained, "I just integrated the essence of this stone into Feng Qianbei's body. If you hold onto this stone, you will be able to find her no matter where she is in the future."

Song Weizhi had just exchanged this stone for 400 points. Since they had just met, she felt it was the least she could do to help.

"I really don't know how to thank you, Miss Song, especially since we only met a few days ago," Yao Xintong said as she looked at the stone in her hand in a daze.

"No need to thank me," Song Weizhi replied.