Lin Xi, the blind Hall Master of the Immortal Music Palace, appeared and saved Baili An with her powerful divine music. Though critically injured and unable to sense Baili An's precise location, Lin Xi's intervention ensured his survival. His worried mother, Ying Ji, reassured Wen Hanwei and thanked Lin Xi for her life-saving aid. Meanwhile, Li Jiujiu was shocked to learn Baili An's true identity and new name, Xi Nian.
Lady Ying Ji was not one to bully the weak. Despite harboring a grudge, she had no intention of causing trouble for Li Jiujiu.
With a graceful flick of her hand, she steadied Li Jiujiu’s trembling form, preventing her from completely bowing.
However, upon observing Li Jiujiu’s face, Lady Ying Ji couldn’t help but remark, “Why such a grand display? As a prominent figure from the Immortal Pearl lineage, Li Immortal girl, you have no ties to my precious son. Furthermore, we share no familial bonds. It’s truly too much for an old woman like me.”
Li Jiujiu, having just regained her balance, felt her legs tremble violently again, threatening to give way.
In a moment of unfortunate revelation, the treasure from Central Netherworld, which she had been flaunting, slipped from beneath her skirt and rolled to Lady Ying Ji’s feet.
Lady Ying Ji glanced down at it with a soft chuckle, but offered no comment.
Li Jiujiu’s scalp tingled. She finally understood how foolish she must have appeared at that instant.
What must the Empress of Central Netherworld have been thinking, witnessing a cultivator from a third-rate sect flaunting her son’s grave goods as if they were mere trinkets?
Previously, Li Jiujiu had believed the people of Central Netherworld to be vengeful and quick to anger. Now, it seemed those rumors were unfounded.
If Li Jiujiu were in the Empress’s position, seeing another woman flaunt her child’s burial artifacts would have been ample justification for a swift strike.
This thought brought tears to Li Jiujiu’s eyes.
Initially, she had believed her Xiao An was merely an ordinary cultivator in the You Dynasty. She never imagined he would turn out to be the Crown Prince of Central Netherworld.
Li Jiujiu mourned for a considerable time, not minding that Xiao An was a corpse demon.
However, he had no parents. If they were to have children, there would be no in-laws to assist during confinement, which was a rather unsettling prospect.
Her own father, being a man, would be of limited help with childcare. Thus, raising children, cleaning, and nursing them would fall heavily upon her.
Now, things had changed. Her Xiao An possessed heavenly parents: one was the Heavenly Seal Sword Master, and the other, even more formidable, was the Empress of Central Netherworld, who dared to slay Golden Immortals.
Li Jiujiu could hardly picture the esteemed Lady Ying Ji changing diapers for her grandchild.
She worried that a distinguished family like the You Dynasty might not concern themselves with someone of her lowly status.
Observing Madman Yin, she recalled the battle between him and Su Jing two hundred years prior. It struck her that this man was likely Xiao An!
Faced with such a celestial woman, the difference was as vast as between the clouds and the mud. She had no right to be considered a rival.
Why would Lady Ying Ji abandon the perfect match for her son and choose someone like her instead?
Not to mention that on the previous night, she had gotten drunk, vomited on the Empress, and even used her demon pet, the green-headed fish, to slap the Empress’s face…
Oh dear, Li Jiujiu grew increasingly alarmed, feeling that her survival thus far was nothing short of a miracle.
Li Jiujiu’s dreams of marriage and children were thoroughly dashed.
It was highly probable that Xiao An had disguised himself to meet her, deliberately choosing not to recognize her.
Indeed, having regained his memories, for someone from such a lofty background to be entangled with a person like her was simply a blemish on his life.
Moreover, their connection was fleeting. Both were first-timers. Without him, she would not have escaped the Demon Cave, and neither owed the other.
If anything, her father had ridiculed and disliked him, yet he still bestowed the spiritual treasures he acquired from Xianling City upon the Lihe Sect.
Without his intervention, the Lihe Sect would have faded into obscurity instead of flourishing as it had.
Presently, they were worlds apart. For her to cling to him now would be truly foolish and presumptuous.
With such thoughts, her heart turned desolate, growing increasingly melancholic.
She knew that if she possessed any semblance of dignity or self-respect, she should have departed from his world long ago.
Yet, when she considered Baili An, severely wounded and his whereabouts unknown, Li Jiujiu could not find peace in her heart.
Lady Ying Ji, with her keen perception, observed the color drain from Li Jiujiu’s face, her former vigor vanishing.
She discerned that Li Jiujiu’s mind was troubled, consumed by imagined worries.
Frowning slightly, Lady Ying Ji disapproved of seeing such a vibrant young woman wilt like a drooping flower:
“My child’s birth was unusual, unlike others. He was under the watch of malevolent entities from a young age.
Two hundred years ago, he met an untimely demise under mysterious circumstances. Even now, numerous eyes scrutinize him from the shadows. Therefore, he must alter his appearance to navigate the Mortal World.
His failure to recognize you at Yundu Villa is not for the reason you suspect. Given your nature, I can tell you are not one to keep secrets.
He was well aware that Chi Wenyan was no simple individual; had he laid bare the truth before you, your reactions would undoubtedly betray his schemes.”
Li Jiujiu, much like a resilient weed that drinks in water, felt her spirit revive.
Yet, upon deeper reflection, even if Xiao An harbored no intention of forgetting her, with so many women around, could he truly have considered bringing her back to his home?
Lady Ying Ji, casting a weary glance at her, muttered that women were indeed a source of trouble, adding:
“If he genuinely held you in contempt due to your background, why would he have candidly recounted the details of your affair to me?
If he truly sought to end all ties, why would he have specifically cautioned you about Chi Wenyan’s machinations?”
Li Jiujiu could scarcely believe it: “Xiao… Xiao An actually confided in Your Highness about our relationship?”
Hearing this, a sliver of sweetness mingled with her existing sadness.
Lady Ying Ji let out a sigh, “Some truths you must seek from him directly. Why torture yourself with such baseless anxieties?”
…
…
Deep within the secluded valley's forests, amidst the ochre mountains and bathed in the cool night mist, a small, snow-white silver fox darted like a phantom through the mountain streams.
The heavens were adorned with a bright moon, its ethereal glow falling upon the foliage, while ancient trees lining the deserted woods and winding rivers swayed gently. The soft, silvery luminescence caught the white fur of the little fox, making it gleam.
Its delicate paws abruptly broke the water's surface before finding purchase beneath a colossal, ancient locust tree, leaving faint impressions on the dry earth.
Around it, lush flowers and shrubs stood tall, reaching as high as a person’s chest, yet within the shadowy thicket, no symphony of insects or chirping cicadas could be heard.
An unnerving stillness permeated the environment; the very air seemed suspended.
The small white fox tilted its head, its gaze lifting. Its tiny pink nose twitched, detecting a faint, almost imperceptible trace of dark karma.
Shu Ci’s eyes suddenly lit up. It approached the massive, partially burnt, lightning-scarred ancient locust tree, its attention drawn to the figure lying within the scorched earth pit.
Licking its lips, the two tails behind it began to sway.
Shu Ci then leaped into the charred pit, seizing the person by the scruff of their neck and dragging them out.
Finding a patch of clean ground, Shu Ci settled beside Baili An, its paws clasped together before its chest.
It stared pensively at the blackened individual, seemingly contemplating the most suitable spot to sink its teeth.
As the immortal First River Lord of the Demon World, Shu Ci, despite being born into a demonic form, was fundamentally different from the Great Demons.
She had mastered both demonic and magical paths, existing beyond the cycle of the six realms since the very dawn of time.
She consumed no earthly food, nor did she feast on essences like common demons.
Requiring no nourishment, she maintained her supreme condition through an innate, immortal ability of self-sustenance.
Her sole interest lay in consuming worldly karma, sin, and calamities—phenomena known as karma barriers.
Mundane karma barriers were insignificant in Shu Ci’s estimation, unworthy of even a passing glance.
However, this young man, despite his seemingly benevolent countenance, radiated a profound and intricate network of karma barriers from his spiritual essence.
Such an immense concentration of karma was unmatched, surpassing even that of the First Demon Lord who dared defy the heavens and slaughter the celestial deities.
Were it not for the presence of Emperor Zhu Zhan and the Five Venerables, Shu Ci might have harbored suspicions that he had personally slain the Emperor in a prior existence.”
