Su Fengyao and Hu Ji exchanged a glance and kicked off the ground, generating a surge of wind and sand.

Su Fengyao concentrated his internal energy into his fist and struck out, the powerful blow shaking the air for miles around. A wave of force rippled outward.

“Fix the Mountains and Rivers!”

His punch was fierce like a tiger, slicing through the air like lightning as it headed toward a shroud of black mist.

Hu Ji raised his palm, gathering a whirlwind into his hand. With a shout that echoed to the heavens, he unleashed the energy.

The punch and palm strike spiraled together, hitting their target.

Boom!

A massive explosion produced a blinding flash, forming a golden cloud in the sky.

“Fools!”

He Wanyu twisted her wrist, and the black mist coiled around her. Her eyes glowed with ominous black energy. The mist transformed into a black dragon, roaring as it struck Hu Ji and Su Fengyao to the ground.

Yuexia Yu Shu arrived just in time to catch them, while Bai Tan anxiously ran to Chu Yue.

“Are you okay?”

After saving both men, Yuexia Yu Shu looked up. “Wow! What kind of monster is this? No matter what it is, it’s dead for hurting my brothers!”

His Blue Phoenix Sword flew out from his waist with a deafening cry. Yuexia Yu Shu leaped into the air, surrounded by a burst of azure light, the sword hovering in front of him.

With two fingers together, his dark pupils glowed with a sharp greenish light, his aura spreading miles around.

“Desolate by dreams of despondence, the Phoenix ascends to the azure sky. A single sword to shake the heavens, freedom to roam in the realms beyond!”

The sword shot forward, splitting into countless blades, but as they reached the edge of the black mist, they stopped as if striking an impenetrable barrier.

Yuexia Yu Shu spun, the whirling internal energy causing the air to buzz. Seizing his moment, he intensified his effort, the blue glow of the sword growing ever brighter. The blade pierced halfway into the black mist and then halted.

He Wanyu smirked coldly and with a wave of her hand, the sword was flung back. The force of the repulsion struck Yuexia Yu Shu hard, sending him crashing to the ground, gravely injured.

Han Ju’s pupils dilated with urgency. He gathered all his strength and hurled his sword with all his might. As the blade collided with the Orchid Hand, a burst of silver light enveloped the sword. The light expanded rapidly, forming a massive sword of light that pierced slightly into the Orchid Hand.

The intense aftershocks stirred the surrounding sand and wind. Langhe and He Yi led the disciples in a desperate battle against the enemy.

Chu Yue, not yet fully recovered to her peak strength, struggled a bit.

The giant sword slowly pierced into the Orchid Hand, cracks spreading across the surface.

The sound of shattering was crisp. Chu Yue’s forehead was covered in a fine sheen of sweat.

Just as Han Ju felt a surge of hope, believing victory was imminent, a sword bathed in cyan light intervened.

“Clang!”

With a resounding clash, it deflected Han Ju’s sword.

Chu Yue, unsteady from exhaustion, was quickly supported from behind by Su Fengyao and Fan Zhi.

“Why didn’t you include me in this fight? Yanri Sect is here to help!”

With Su Fengyao’s command, Pang Hang led the disciples of Yanri Sect into the fray against the enemy.

The Blue Phoenix Sword returned to its sheath as Yuexia Yu Shu landed gracefully: “Thunder Sect is here to assist!”

Bai Tan flashed a smile at Chu Yue before leading her disciples into battle.

“Yu Junjian and Feilang Sect are here to assist!”

A blond-haired youth in white, wielding a huge blade, charged forward, followed by hundreds of disciples from the Feilang Sect.

A cry of a Roc echoed from the sky. Under a large shadow, a shower of arrows rained down, precisely targeting the disciples of Tianluo Sect.

“Jing’an City and Sky Overlord Sect are here to help!”

“The Twelve Guards of Luo Capital, under the order of Your Majesty, are here to assist the Xiyan Sect!”

In no time, Yiye Mountain was teeming with allies.

Chu Yue’s eyes gleamed with determination: “Kill! Leave no one alive!”

Her call was met with a resounding response, and Yiye Mountain was soon bathed in a reddish hue, its rivers, and lakes saturated, and half the sky ablaze with color.

“Cheers!” Bai Tan raised her cup. “To our great victory!” The clinking of cups rang out, followed by long-awaited laughter and joy.

A blond-haired youth scrutinized Chu Yue from head to toe, still full of doubt. “Are you really my pretty older sister?”

This youth was Xu Yuliang, the current Leader of Feilang Sect. He was just seventeen years old this year, the same age as Chu Yue now.

At the age of twelve, he met Chu Yue and her companions. Back then, his large blade left Yuexia Yu Shu and the others helpless, only Chu Yue could fight him on equal footing.

Even at a young age, he was already a standout talent. Now, at seventeen, he had reached the grandmaster stage. Even Fan Zhi and the others were cautious about sparring with him. This was why Feilang Sect was now regarded as the foremost Sect in the martial world.

Chu Yue raised an eyebrow. “What do you think?”

“My master always said that the dead can’t come back to life. Anyone who does is either a demon or a deity. What are you now?” Xu Yuliang asked earnestly.

Chu Yue smiled. “They all say I’m a demoness, so naturally, I can come back from the dead.”

“I don’t believe it.” Xu Yuliang pouted. “Did you know, when the rumor spread in the martial world that you had returned, I thought it was some kind of prank. Hardly anyone believed it until the recent days when many Tianluo Sect strongholds were eliminated, and there were traces of the Guanyin Hand. Only then did some begin to believe. But I still didn’t until Bai Tan wrote to me saying you were back. I gathered my people and rushed over.”

“Is that so? Looks like little brother still cares about his older sister!” Chu Yue reached out to pat Xu Yuliang’s head.

Xu Yuliang quickly dodged, puffing up in frustration. “I’m not a kid anymore!”

Chu Yue let out an “Oh.” Jin Fengqi added, “Yes, Chu Yue, I didn’t believe it when I heard you were back either. I was about to find the rumor-mongers and teach them a lesson. If Bai Tan hadn’t written, I still wouldn’t believe it.”

Chu Yue’s smile turned bitter. “Honestly, I can hardly believe it myself that I could come back after dying.”

Sensing Chu Yue’s mood shift, Hu Ji quickly changed the topic. “By the way, Yue Er, have you recovered your strength?”

“Not even to fifty percent.”

“Not even fifty percent!” Xu Yuliang exclaimed. “I arrived early, and when I saw you fighting Han Ju using the Guanyin Hand, your power seemed as strong as it did five years ago. If this is you at less than fifty percent, what on earth will you be like at full strength? Ascend to the heavens?”

“The Guanyin Hand I practiced back then had only eight forms, and I never perfected it. Moreover, I was burning my lifespan to generate power. Because of that, it took me six years, from age ten to sixteen, to reach that level of strength. It also meant I was destined to have a short life; it was a shortcut, of sorts. But this time, I am cultivating the Guanyin Hand from the very basics, steadily and thoroughly. While it may be slower, it won’t endanger my life, and its power is no less than before.”

“To have such power at less than fifty percent… I can’t imagine what you’ll become when your skills are fully developed,” Yuexia Yu Shu marveled.

“As long as Chu Yue is back, nothing else matters,” Bai Tan was deeply grateful to the heavens for bringing her older sister back. No matter what path Chu Yue chose this time, Bai Tan was determined to stand by her side until the end.

Chu Yue gave a gentle smile; she knew her younger sister all too well.

“By the way, where’s Langhe?” Bai Tan suddenly realized Langhe was missing.

“He’s outside practicing,” Chu Yue replied. “He needs to regain fifty percent of his strength within a month.”

“As long as Chu Yue is here, Langhe will be motivated. He can definitely do it.”

“Look after our Senior brother for me,” Chu Yue pleaded with Bai Tan, as she stood up, her eyes filled with a murderous intent.

Chu Yue swiftly flew past Yuexia Yu Shu, leaving him utterly surprised.

“Riding the Wind!”

Chu Yue’s qinggong¹ was derived from Su Fengyao’s Riding the Wind technique.

Her heart brimmed with hatred as she glared angrily at He Wanyu.

“Why did you attack Shiwen? He’s your Eldest Senior brother! The person who has treated you the best in this world. How could you lay a hand on him!!!”

Chu Yue screamed, unleashing a surge of tremendous power.

Everyone below was shocked to see the massive golden Guanyin Statue behind Chu Yue.

“This is…”

He Wanyu laughed derisively. “Senior brother? Does he deserve that title? We fed him and clothed him; that alone was the greatest kindness we could offer. As long as he lived, he was bound to do whatever I commanded! But he dared acknowledge you, an impostor, and raise his hand against me!”

“Hahaha… Impostor? You are the real impostor! I have always been our Senior brother’s Little junior sister. I am He Wanyu—”

Chu Yue formed Orchid Fingers, and the massive golden Guanyin Statue behind her emitted a deep, resonant bell sound. The bell’s chime intertwined with solemn chanting, invoking a sense of awe and reverence in all who heard it.

Chu Yue’s eyes gleamed with golden light, and she softly intoned, “Shattering Golden Body!” Each word carried the weight of divine command.

“The first form of Guanyin Hand, Shattering Golden Body!” Yuexia Yu Shu exclaimed in amazement.

The golden body behind Chu Yue abruptly shattered, its fragments slowly coalescing to form an enormous Orchid Hand before her.

The sky darkened, swirling clouds whipped into a frenzy by violent winds. With a flick of Chu Yue’s fingers, the giant Orchid Fingers pierced through layers of air, crashing down towards He Wanyu.

He Wanyu leisurely raised her hand.

“Go!”

A black dragon writhed out of the dark mist, fiercely charging towards the gigantic Orchid Hand.

Boom!

Bang—

The explosion’s shockwave swept across a vast distance.

Chu Yue stood her ground, repelling with her internal energy, retreating only half a foot.

As the wind ceased howling, Chu Yue launched another attack amidst the chaos.

“The second form of Guanyin Hand, Compassionate Heart!”

Chu Yue’s commanding voice resonated as hazy energy swirled in response to her power. She soared into the sky, and with a thunderous crack from the clouds, the heavens darkened. Through the dense clouds descended an immense Orchid Hand.

He Wanyu condensed the dark mist above her head, forming a black sword.

“Go!”

The colossal sword clashed with the Orchid Hand, and the resulting power created an eerie silence, freezing time for a moment. The energy then rapidly condensed into a single point, which flickered and exploded with even greater force than before.

As Su Fengyao and the others struggled to withstand the impact, Shi Zhao appeared before them and waved his hand, conjuring a barrier to shield them.

Shuiyang, gliding on a beam of white light, tossed the nearly airborne Chu Yue to the ground, where Shi Zhao caught her.

“Big sister!” Bai Tan hurried to tend to Chu Yue’s wounds, with Fan Zhi, Su Fengyao, and Hu Ji gathering around.

Bai Tan’s cry of “big sister” left Yuexia Yu Shu stunned. It wasn’t until Fan Zhi and Su Fengyao called out “Yue Er” that Yuexia Yu Shu fully realized the truth.

“She is Chu Yue!”

With a wave of Shuiyang’s hand, the explosive energy dissipated instantly.

Shuiyang scrutinized He Wanyu with narrowed eyes, uncertain. “A demon? No, a human! But your demonic aura is strong; you don’t seem human.”

Despite Shuiyang’s simple attire, her inherent authority suppressed He Wanyu’s demonic power, causing He Wanyu to grow fearful.

“Who are you?”

With a slight purse of her lips, Shuiyang said, “Me? A Deity!”

The word “Deity” was uttered with weight, authority, and a formidable sense of pressure.

With barely a flick of her eyelids, Shuiyang sent a white beam of light piercing through He Wanyu’s body.

He Wanyu spat out blood and hastily fled.

The world returned to silence as Chu Yue crawled towards He Shiwen’s corpse, clutching him tightly.

Shi Zhao and Shuiyang stood before them, their silhouettes tall and steadfast in the dawn’s early light.

At Thunder Sect.

Chu Yue locked herself in a room, vigilantly keeping watch over He Shiwen’s body day and night. No matter how Bai Tan tried to reason with her, Chu Yue couldn’t accept the reality of He Shiwen’s death.

“Is she really Chu Yue?” Yuexia Yu Shu’s mind was still reeling, seeking confirmation from Bai Tan repeatedly.

Bai Tan nodded but showed no joy.

Bai Tan understood that Chu Yue was in deep pain, having lost everything once more.

Yuexia Yu Shu collapsed into a chair, utterly shaken.

Whether she was Chu Yue no longer mattered; they now worried whether she could endure this ordeal and feared she might lose hope.

With much difficulty, she had finally regained everything she had lost, allowing her a brief period of peace and happiness. Yet the heavens had once again taken it all away.

Bai Tan glanced at the two impoverished Deities standing beside her, who seemingly remained unperturbed by the situation.

“Are you really Deities?” she inquired.

Shuiyang raised an eyebrow and replied, “If I said we were, would you believe it?”

With a sudden movement, Bai Tan knelt before them. “If you truly are Deities, can you save Young Master He? I’ll give you anything you ask for!”

The two immediately sprang up, quickly helping her to her feet.

“What are you doing? Although we are Deities, we are not to be worshipped casually. As for your request, it’s beyond our power,” Shuiyang refused outright.

“Why?” Bai Tan questioned.

Shi Zhao then explained, “The young man is already dead; his soul has been taken away. Life and death are governed by fate, as are wealth and honor. Life and death cannot be reversed, not even by Deities.”

“Then what use are you?” Hu Ji shouted angrily, about to make a move. Shi Zhao furrowed his brow slightly, and Hu Ji was sent flying several meters, crashing through a wall.

Shi Zhao’s face darkened. “You are quite impolite, young man!”

Shuiyang quickly intervened, “Hey, hey! Don’t hurt him; he’s just a mortal.”

“Stop!”

Chu Yue entered the room, looking utterly exhausted.

“Chu Yue!”

“Yue Er!”

The group rushed to her, with Chu Yue helping Hu Ji to his feet and slowly making her way into the hall.

Chu Yue’s eyes were icy, exuding a fierce aura; it seemed as if she had reverted to the ruthless demoness she was five years ago.

Seeing this familiar yet changed Chu Yue filled Bai Tan’s heart with indescribable sorrow, and both Fan Zhi and Su Fengyao felt deep guilt and pain.

Chu Yue approached the two deities, and the atmosphere grew tense.

With a faint, almost mocking smile, Shuiyang asked, “Are you here to ask me to save someone too?”

Chu Yue’s tone was icy. “Shiwen is dead. I know the dead cannot be revived, and you’re powerless to change that. I want to cooperate with you.”

Shi Zhao’s sharp blue eyes curved slightly, showing interest. “How so?”

“We were ambushed by the Tianluo Sect before encountering that demon. If I’m not mistaken, the Tianluo Sect is connected to that creature.”

Shuiyang clapped her hands, clearly impressed. “You’re a smart woman. Indeed, cooperation between humans and demons is not unusual; it’s happened many times over the millennia.”

“Therefore, the Tianluo Sect must be eradicated. As for the demon, it will be up to the two of you.”

“Killing a half-human, half-demon is simple, but I need to find a helper,” Shuiyang replied.

“A helper? The two of you aren’t enough?” Chu Yue asked, perplexed.

Shuiyang explained, “There are three realms: the Heavenly Realm, the Mortal Realm, and the Ximan Realm. The heavens have nine layers, all deities belong to the Heavenly Realm. The Ximan Realm is home to demons and ghosts, while the Mortal Realm is governed by Human Deities and the Earth Deity. If beings from other realms invade, they are to be managed by those realms’ administrators. We can’t intervene beyond our jurisdiction.”

“This time, the invader is a demon, so I must go to the Ximan Realm to find their administrator to handle this. We cannot overstep our bounds,” Shuiyang emphasized.

Yuexia Yu Shu grumbled, “Even Deities have so many rules. How troublesome!”

Shi Zhao countered, “Without these rules, the three realms would fall into chaos.”

“How long will it take?” Chu Yue asked.

Shuiyang replied, “At least half a month, at most a month.”

“Fine, I will wait for a month.”

“Rest assured, that demon is wounded. It won’t be able to cause trouble during this period,” Shuiyang reassured her.

“I understand. There is one more thing I need your guidance on,” Chu Yue added.

Shuiyang immediately grasped her concern. “You want to know about your soul?”

“Yes!”

Shuiyang’s eyes flashed a red light, immediately seeing the intricacies within Chu Yue’s body.

“If I’m not mistaken, your soul is anchored to this body by a trace of demonic power.”

“Demonic power?”

“I surmise that this demonic power originates from the body’s original owner. She must have secretly practiced demonic arts and, due to improper practice, her soul left her body. Your soul entered this body, and the residual demonic power held your soul in place, which is why you are as you are now.”

Chu Yue clenched her fists, gritting her teeth, “So, she was practicing demonic arts early on!”

“Yes, she had made some progress even before your soul entered,” Shuiyang confirmed.

Chu Yue recalled the death of He Wanyu’s daddy. His wounds had exuded a black mist. At the time, she hadn’t thought much of it, but now it all made sense—this matter could indeed be connected to He Wanyu.

Ximan Realm, Hall of Three Lives.

Situated atop an immense plum tree, the temple stands serenely, its blossoms perpetually in bloom. Vivid red petals envelop the hall, while an aurora of four colors dances across the sky, creating a sacred and beautiful spectacle.

After placing the captured souls in their designated positions, Bai Wuchang headed to the Hall of Three Lives.

“Greetings, Deity Lord!”

The man on the divine throne parted his crimson lips, his ethereal voice resonating with a magnetic charm.

“What is it?”

“Deity Lord, today, while I was collecting souls, I happened to see both the Human Deity and the Earth Deity.”

The man paused, his eyes slowly opening, revealing a galaxy of golden-brown in his gaze.

“Oh! Those two are usually quite idle. I’ve also heard recently that Chengqi has been chasing Little Shuiyang.”

“It seems that the two deities are living poorly in the Mortal Realm. Their clothes looked somewhat shabby.”

The man let out a soft, melodious laugh, his amusement gentle and tender.

“Those two, haha…”

Back at the Hall.

Hearing the news, Langhe hurried to the hall, only to find Chu Yue seated with a stern expression.

“Chu… Chu Yue?” Langhe called out hesitantly.

Chu Yue rose and approached him.

“Smack!”

She delivered a solid slap to Langhe’s face.

Bai Tan stepped forward to intercede, but a glare from Chu Yue silenced her instantly.

“Kneel!” Chu Yue commanded icily.

Langhe knelt willingly, understanding why she had been so disappointed a few days ago, calling him useless.

“Do not rise without my permission.”

Chu Yue left the hall without looking back. Unable to bear his punishment, Bai Tan followed her out, hoping to persuade her. Fan Zhi and the others refrained from intervening, recognizing it as a matter between siblings.

Langhe knelt in the hall all night. Meanwhile, Chu Yue, He Qing’an, and two others cremated He Shiwen.

He Qing’an took He Shiwen’s ashes home for burial, while He Yi stayed behind to assist Chu Yue.

The morning sun shone through the window lattice, casting a lonely shadow over Langhe. The door to the hall suddenly burst open with a loud bang, and Chu Yue strode up to him.

“Do you know why I made you kneel here?” she demanded.

Langhe hung his head in shame. “I brought disgrace to you, big sister.”

“Disgrace? Do I care about that? Do I care about appearances? I’m punishing you because you gave up on yourself, willing to become a worthless person! I don’t blame you for not being able to protect Xiyan Sect or for losing your martial skills. What disappoints me is your willingness to fall and truly become useless!”

Langhe lowered his head even further.

Chu Yue sighed deeply, then sat down behind him, cross-legged, and began to use her internal energy to unblock his meridians.

The excruciating pain felt like worms gnawing at his flesh, but Langhe gritted his teeth and endured it.

Two hours later, Chu Yue, drenched in sweat, helped the weakened Langhe to his feet and pulled out a book from her robe.

“I’ve unblocked your seven meridians and eight veins. This is the ‘Ziye Swordsmanship.’ Go home and rest well tonight. Start practicing diligently tomorrow. I want you to regain thirty percent of your power within seven days!”

“Yes! Langhe will obey!”

Exhausted, Langhe staggered out.

Bai Tan entered just at that moment and bumped into Langhe. “Langhe, are you…”

“Tan’er, come in.”

Bai Tan was about to express her concern but was summoned by Chu Yue.

Langhe nodded, assuring her he was fine, so Bai Tan stepped inside.

“Big sister.”

“Tan’er, gather all the former members of Xiyan Sect and spread the word across the martial world that Chu Yue has returned. It’s time to settle old and new scores.”

“Understood! Actually, the Thunder Sect…”

Chu Yue raised a hand to cut her off. “This is Xiyan Sect’s matter. No need to involve other factions.”

“Yes! Tan’er will take care of it.”

Ximan Realm, Yuehua Area.

Majestic mountains, fragrant grasses, and wandering lakes, with scattered grass roots following the gentle flow of the streams.

The most eye-catching aspect of Yuehua Area is the four gigantic, mysterious light portals in the sky. No one knows where these light portals lead or what their function is. Everyone in the Ximan Realm, even deities, speaks of them only in whispers and dares not enter.

Shuiyang and Shi Zhao sauntered into the grand Yuehua hall.

“Zhen Yin! Zhen Yin!”

Shuiyang’s loud calls echoed through the solemn Great Hall, making the roof seem to vibrate slightly.

When no one responded, Shuiyang found it strange. She looked around and noticed the glowing stone near the throne.

Shuiyang nodded in that direction, and Shi Zhao immediately understood.

The two quietly approached the stone. Shuiyang rolled up her sleeves, blew on her fist for luck, and gave the stone a hard punch.

There was a wail, and the stone flew up, landing as a person.

“Ouch! Little Shuiyang, are you trying to murder me?”

The man, clutching his head, jumped up while cursing.

His eyes were covered with a cloth, and his white hair lazily draped over his shoulders. A blue feather-shaped mark adorned his forehead, accentuating his refined and elegant appearance. Dressed in a green robe embroidered with phoenix patterns, he looked like a courteous young master, but he was quite the opposite…

Shuiyang crossed her arms and retorted, “Who told you to play deaf when we called you? Hiding like that, what’s the big deal? Didn’t want to see me?”

Shi Zhao laughed beside her, “Zhen Yin, what are you doing hiding here? And why is your Great Hall completely empty?”

With arrogance, Zhen Yin replied, “None of your business! Why are you two here? Don’t tell me you came to mooch off a meal.”

Shuiyang bluntly exposed him, “You didn’t go looking for a fight with Li Yan again, did you? And lost?”

At her words, both Shuiyang and Shi Zhao laughed out loud, much to Zhen Yin’s chagrin.

“Nonsense! Can I lose to that pretentious guy? Stop laughing! Hmph!”

Zhen Yin, his pride wounded, scowled as Shuiyang and Shi Zhao quickly quieted down.

“Oh, come on, don’t get mad. You’re the great Demon Deity; why are you getting worked up over a Ghost Deity?”

“Exactly, next time we’ll help you teach him a lesson.”

Their combined efforts to cheer him up made Zhen Yin smile.

“Okay, what do you two want from me?”

With Zhen Yin in a good mood, negotiations would be easier.

“It’s not a big deal. Just a half-human, half-demon causing trouble in the Mortal Realm. We need your help to handle it.”

“Little Shuiyang, why bother coming all the way here for such a small fry? Just lift a finger, and it’s done.”

“Oh, come on! This thing is somewhat related to your Demon Clan. If I overstep again and Chengqi finds out, he’ll send people to catch me. Lately, he hasn’t been happy with me.”

“Yeah, I heard Chengqi sent people to chase you. What’s up with that?”

“If he really wanted to catch me, he wouldn’t just send some Celestial Generals. He’d come personally. It’s just a little spat between us.”

Zhen Yin chuckled, “Only you could mess with him like that. Anyone else, and he’d seriously send an assassin.”

“Enough chit-chat! I’m in a hurry; let’s go!” Shuiyang tugged at Zhen Yin to leave, and Zhen Yin’s hand brushed against Shuiyang’s clothes.

“Hey, hey, hey! Wait a minute…” He carefully felt around, but Shi Zhao quickly slapped his hand away from Shuiyang. “Where do you think you’re touching?”

“No, really, what’s this new game you two are playing? Dressed like beggars? You’re deities, for heaven’s sake! Going out like this, I’d be embarrassed to say I know you!”

Shuiyang and Shi Zhao raised their fists, ready to punch him.

Shuiyang pouted, “Who says deities can’t be poor?”

With a helpless sigh, Zhen Yin waved his hand, and Shuiyang’s outfit transformed into Demon Clan attire.

The sheer fabric revealed delicate shoulders and a slender waist, sensuously highlighted beneath a crimson gauze skirt. Her hair, styled in a lily-shaped bun, was adorned with golden beads. The wear moved gracefully, creating a gentle jingle like the ringing of bells, echoing with a melodious chime that ensnared the heart.

Shi Zhao was stunned by Shuiyang’s striking, elaborate makeup.

Fortunately, Zhen Yin couldn’t see, or Shi Zhao might have been tempted to gouge his eyes out.

“How about that? Not bad for our Demon Clan attire, huh?”

Shi Zhao immediately wanted Zhen Yin to dress him up similarly, but Zhen Yin protested, “You want it? Pay up—one hundred taels per outfit!”

“One hundred taels per set? Why don’t you just rob people?”

“Take it or leave it!”

Shi Zhao rolled his eyes, resisting the urge to punch Zhen Yin.

Seven days later, news of Chu Yue’s return had spread throughout the martial world.

Chu Yue gathered the remaining former members of Xiyan Sect. With Langhe, whose power had recovered by thirty percent, they raided several Tianluo Sect strongholds, these former bases of Xiyan Sect.

Gradually, Xiyan Sect began to regain its former glory.

Yiye Mountain, Mid-Mountain.

Chu Yue and Langhe encountered Han Ju, one of the four Elders of Tianluo Sect.

Neither side yielded, and Chu Yue unleashed her Guanyin Hand technique.

With its release, the world changed color. Black clouds rolled in, pressing down from above. From the dark clouds emerged a deafening, resonant bell that seemed to break the gates of heaven.

Wind swept through the clouds, forming a massive vortex descending from the sky. At the vortex’s center, golden light burst forth. As the clouds shattered, a golden Orchid Hand, towering like a mountain, descended upon them.

Footnote:

Qinggong(轻功): Qinggong is a Chinese martial arts technique that allows a person to appear as if they are moving lightly or flying through the air.