Chapter 54: 71-75
Chapter 71
"What are the senior's plans for the next step?" Song Weizhi asked as she caressed the little girl's hand.
"I plan to take my senior sister to the mountains and woods to spend the last few months. This time, there's nothing that can stop us from being together," Yao Xintong's eyes welled up with tears.
After bidding farewell to the two seniors, Song Weizhi and Song Zhixia, the little girl gently tugged at Song Weizhi's sleeve and asked, "Senior sister, where are we going next?"
"We're going to find Xiaoxia's other two soul fragments," Song Weizhi smiled as she held the little girl.
"Do you know where the fragments are, senior sister?"
"We'll look for them as we go," Song Weizhi exchanged a thousand points with the system to locate the remaining two soul fragments. She now only had one thousand points left, with one fragment in the hands of Lu Ming, the master of the Yin Soul Sect, and the other in the possession of Gao Chengxuan.
Gao Chengxuan resided in the imperial palace surrounded by formidable experts. Even Gao Chengxuan's guard, Zuo Xuan, was at the initial stage of the Great Vehicle realm. Given this, Song Weizhi planned to start with the easier option. Although the Yin Soul Sect was considered the leader of the demon cultivators, the cultivation of their master, Lu Ming, was only at the initial stage of the Great Vehicle realm. Both Song Weizhi and Xiaoxia were at the stage of the Great Vehicle realm, and with the help of Wei Zhao in the fusion stage, Song Weizhi believed it wouldn't be difficult to obtain the soul fragment from the Yin Soul Sect.
When Song Weizhi transmitted her message to Wei Zhao, Zhou Qingxue had already left. Wei Zhao's injuries were not severe, and after taking a few spirit pills, they were not too much of a hindrance. Without further ado, he used his spiritual treasure to go after Song Weizhi and the others.
Thus, the three of them appeared in the city of Yunxiao, which was the closest place to the demon realm. The Yin Soul Sect was also located near this city. Therefore, the occasional appearance of demon cultivators in the city was not unusual. However, the combination of Song Weizhi and her two companions attracted attention. In the eyes of outsiders, Song Zhixia and Wei Zhao were highly accomplished cultivators, while Song Weizhi seemed to have only achieved the Golden Core stage. Furthermore, the three of them were all good-looking, and Song Weizhi's intimacy with Song Zhixia drew the gaze of many.
"Hey, look at that demon cultivator over there. Not only does he look good, but his cultivation is also high. It's a pity that he's with that girl. She's also quite delicate; I guess she's forced to be with the demon cultivator."
"Yes, and there's that woman in black clothes. Her cultivation is not much lower than that demon cultivator. Why doesn't she help the girl?"
"Well, I guess the girl with the Golden Core cultivation probably did so willingly after all. After all, that demon cultivator is already at the Great Vehicle stage. There's probably no one in this city who can match him. Let's not meddle too much; your life might not be spared."
With their relatively inferior cultivations and sharp hearing, Song Weizhi and the others had heard the conversation. Song Weizhi leaned against Song Zhixia and said with a slight smile, "It looks like I'll have to rely on Xiaoxia for a while."
The little girl blushed at her words and said softly, "Senior sister, don't talk nonsense."
"I'm not talking nonsense; in their eyes, I am currently at the Golden Core stage. Won't it be a little 'soft' for me? Won't Xiaoxia allow it?" Song Weizhi said matter-of-factly.
"She will; senior sister can have whatever she wants," Song Zhixia said as she pulled Song Weizhi's sleeve.
Wei Zhao raised the corner of his lips behind the two. Thankfully, his master and her partner were fine; he could relax a little. However, he still couldn't let go of Zhou Qingxue. He didn't know where she had gone without a word. Lost in thought, he had already distanced himself from Song Weizhi and the others. Song Weizhi turned to call out to him, "Wei Zhao, hurry up. Xiaoxia is inviting us to dinner."
Wei Zhao chuckled and replied, "Coming." With that, he caught up with them.
As the three entered the inn, it fell silent for a moment. However, fearing Song Zhixia's cultivation, no one dared to look in their direction. Yet, the people at a table in the corner occasionally stole glances at Song Weizhi and her companions.
Song Weizhi noticed but didn't pay much attention. With their current levels of cultivation, what was there to fear?
She teasingly said to the little girl, "Xiaoxia, I can only have tender care from now on. Please order some soft food for me later. I can't chew on anything too hard."
Song Zhixia, with a smile in her eyes, looked at her senior sister and replied, "Okay, later we'll order the spiritual fruits and spring water that senior sister likes."
At this moment, Wei Zhao's inner thoughts were: I should be beneath the table, not here. This is simply showing off in front of her. Frustrated, she drank three large cups of spring water.
The man at the corner table seemed increasingly displeased as he watched Song Weizhi leaning on Song Zhixia. Finally, he couldn't resist and walked over to their table.
He didn't look at Song Zhixia, but at Song Weizhi, and said, "Do you have any difficulties, miss? Why are you with this demon cultivator? If you are in trouble, you can tell me."
Song Weizhi lazily leaned on the little girl's shoulder and sneered, "Tell you? With your minor cultivation, you couldn't even handle one strike from her. Why should I tell you?"
The man did not expect Song Weizhi's response. He was the son of the city lord of Yunxiao. Both the demon and ordinary cultivators in the city usually treated him with great respect, and he hadn't expected this female cultivator to speak to him like this.
Then, he seemed to understand something and said, "Miss, you don't have to fear this demon cultivator. I'm sure she's forcing you to say this. You can rest assured, I will help you leave her."
Song Weizhi, with a playful look, said, "Why should I leave? I like her very much, and besides, she is my partner. Do I need your help? Mind your own business."
In a moment, the inn was filled with laughter, which only made the man's face alternate between red and pale. "I am the young master of Yunxiao City. What I said is true. If you need my help, I can take you away."
"Go, go where? You're just deluded by your desires, aren't you? Just because I look good, you want to claim me for yourself? It's disgusting. I've told you she is my partner. I won't go anywhere," she said and paid no further attention to the man; she began eating the spiritual fruits with Song Zhixia.
The man seemed to have never been treated this way before. He was so angered by Song Weizhi's words that he said loudly, "I have already sent for assistance. I intended to treat you with courtesy, but now it seems unnecessary. I will kill the demon cultivator by your side, and we'll see who you'll rely on then."
Song Weizhi's expression turned cold, and she no longer had the playful look she had before. "Is that so? I'd like to see who dares to touch her."
"Do you, a female cultivator at the Golden Core stage, dare to be so arrogant with me? In the end, you're just a woman. After I'm done playing with you, I'll send you to the place where female cultivators serve men in Yunxiao City…"
Before the man could say anything more, he found a large amount of blood surging from his mouth. There was a black-dripping knife inserted into his chest, and soon, the man turned into ashes.
Soon, the people from the man's table crowded around. "You actually killed him. He is Sun Wenbin, the son of the city lord, Sun Shangwu. You're in trouble now…"
"Hmph, it looks like they're all the same rotten lot," Song Weizhi said, and with a flick of her wrist, her demonic blade charged towards the group of people. Wherever it went, only ashes were left. The inn fell silent for a moment.
Song Weizhi sighed lightly, "What a downer. I always seem to encounter delusional fools. I didn't want trouble, but since it came looking for me, it might be good practice."
Sun Wenbin soon brought reinforcements. His attendants entered the inn and searched for their young master, but none of the guests dared to speak. When they asked Song Weizhi, she just sneered, "Turned into ashes."
"What? Are you daring to say that about our young master?" One of them seemed ready to pick a fight with Song Weizhi. In the inn, the onlookers were tongue-tied in disbelief. This woman was unpredictable, far more ruthless than the demon cultivator beside her.
Waving her demonic blade, Song Weizhi turned the man into a pile of ashes. Not wanting to waste any more time, she turned to Song Zhixia and Wei Zhao, "There's no choice. I was thinking about resting here for a day, but it seems we should go directly to the demon realm."
The three of them left the inn. As they were about to pass through the checkpoint leading to the demon realm, a deep and powerful voice sounded from behind them, "Return my son's life."
The three were not in a hurry and turned to see a towering man standing before them.
"Are you the ones who caused my son's death?" The man's eyes blazed with anger.
"I'm sorry to forget to tell you. Your son probably doesn't have a spirit to be in the heavens. I've destroyed his soul and spirit. Now he's nothing."
"Shut up," he said as he lunged for Song Weizhi.
Unperturbed, Song Weizhi raised her demonic blade in front of her, and in an instant, a few ice blades shot towards the man.
"Ice spirit roots, you are as good as dead," the man said as he conjured a giant fireball starting from the palm of his hand. As the fireball grew in size, the man put in all his effort to push it towards Song Weizhi.
Initially, Song Zhixia intended to go and help, but seeing that her senior sister didn't take the fireball seriously, she halted her steps to assist.
To everyone's surprise, Song Weizhi didn't even try to intercept the fireball. Instead, the fireball instantly rushed towards her, scorching everything in its vicinity.
"Haha, is this all you've got? Watch as I roast you to avenge my son," the man taunted triumphantly.
Unprepared for Song Weizhi to actually be caught in the flames, both Song Zhixia and Wei Zhao were about to rush over to help. However, from the raging inferno emerged a completely unharmed figure, none other than Song Weizhi. She formed a slight smile and nonchalantly said, "I forgot to mention; I spent a few months soaking in lava. Fire can't kill me now. It's my turn."
As she spoke, a light orb rose in her hand. As the saying goes that fire and water don't mix, she managed to merge a huge spherical ice and fire combination together. With both her hands combined, she pushed the sphere towards Sun Shangwu. The sphere exploded on contact, the collision of ice and fire creating a massive explosion that blasted a deep pit of over ten meters where Sun Shangwu had been standing. He was now unrecognizable.
"You can retrieve his soul yourself," Song Weizhi said, as she tossed her demonic blade into the deep pit.
A gleeful voice echoed from within the pit, "Hehe, there's meat to eat with the master. This is a high-level cultivation indeed; I'm in for a treat."
The little girl, however, flew towards Song Weizhi as if she were propelled by a gale, her eyes red with tears. "Senior sister, what's the matter with soaking in lava for a few months?"
Song Weizhi inwardly cursed her slip of the tongue and hurriedly comforted the girl in her arms, "I'm fine, aren't I? It turned out to be a blessing in disguise. I'm completely immune to fire now, and I have the demonic blade. Don't cry, Xiaoxia."
After soothing the little girl in her arms for a while, Song Weizhi finally managed to calm her down.
Once the demonic blade returned, the three of them did not linger and resumed their journey towards the demon realm. This time, no one dared to obstruct them.
Author's Note: Song Weizhi: Finally manage to enjoy some leisure, and they won't even let me have it.
Song Zhixia: I'll feed you, Senior Sister~
Chapter 72
The Demon Realm is not as terrifying as ordinary people imagine. At this time of day, the streets are brightly lit, even more lively than the Cloud City. Many cultivators come here to trade rare equipment, so it's not uncommon to draw attention even without considering their cultivation levels. However, despite Song Wei Zhi's advanced cultivation level, nobody foolish enough comes rushing towards them. Their exact position in the Ghost Sect still needs to be confirmed, so Song Wei Zhi and the others are not in a hurry. They head straight to the inn and book two rooms to rest.
Song Zhi Xia instructs the innkeeper to bring some spirit fruit and spring water, while Song Wei Zhi, lazily lying on the bed in her middle garment, waits for the food to arrive.
Song Zhi Xia teasingly looks at Song Wei Zhi and says, "Senior Sister, the food is here. Come and eat."
Song Wei Zhi slightly smirks and replies, "No, I'm in the mood to be fed. Xia Xia, come and feed me, then I'll eat."
The little girl lightly laughs, thinking that if her senior sister, who is considered to be "eating soft food," has such high standards, it's better to obediently feed Song Wei Zhi by placing the food on the stool beside the bed.
Song Wei Zhi, without hesitation, rests her head on the little girl's lap and starts eating the spirit fruit.
Blushing, the little girl recalls the day when she and her senior sister formed a Daoist bond. Her heart beats faster, knowing that today she is alone with her senior sister and not knowing whether her senior sister would act the same way.
Lying in the little girl's embrace, Song Wei Zhi notices her distraction and can't help but tease her. She turns over and lightly kisses the blushing little girl, asking with a smile, "What are you thinking about so deeply? So lost in thought?"
Swallowing nervously, the little girl replies, "Nothing, just thinking about you."
Song Wei Zhi becomes interested and pulls the little girl into her arms, kissing her reddened earlobe, "Thinking of me? I'm right here with you, Xia Xia. Are you planning something mischievous?"
"I'm not," the little girl responds, feeling a little flustered.
Seeing her junior disciple, Song Wei Zhi cannot resist but play along. She continues to shower the little girl with kisses, eventually making her feel helpless and coquettish, leaning into Song Wei Zhi's embrace.
Seeing her dear disciple, Song Wei Zhi cannot resist but to attempt some mischief. However, just as she is about to take advantage of her dear junior disciple, urgent footsteps are heard near the inn. It's evident that trouble is on the way.
"Master, should we stay or leave?" Wei Zhao asks.
"Let's stay and observe for now. It's better to capture someone and question them directly rather than aimlessly searching for the Ghost Sect," Song Wei Zhi instructs.
The three of them settle in the inn's hall, waiting quietly for the arrival of the visitors. Soon, dozens of demon cultivators surround the inn, with Zhou Qing Xue, who hadn't been seen for some time, at the forefront. However, she appears different this time, with black mist enveloping her and her exposed skin displaying a strange purple hue, setting an eerie atmosphere.
"Why are you with these demon cultivators? What is going on?" Wei Zhao wants to confront her but is stopped by Song Wei Zhi.
"She seems different. Wei Zhao, wait for instructions. If we need to take action later, I will deal with her. Trust me, I know what I'm doing," Song Wei Zhi tells him.
Wei Zhao feels conflicted, wavering between trusting Song Wei Zhi and his concern for Zhou Qing Xue. However, he eventually complies with Song Wei Zhi's instructions.
"I have come for revenge... I have come for revenge..." Zhou Qing Xue's voice, gradually growing louder, catches the attention of everyone in the inn.
"Senior Sister, what's wrong with her?" Song Zhi Xia asks, visibly concerned.
"It seems like she's being controlled. I'm not entirely sure. We'll detain her and investigate later," Song Wei Zhi explains.
Just then, Zhou Qing Xue suddenly lifts her eyes. Her previously lifeless gaze focuses sharply on Song Wei Zhi. "Revenge, revenge, revenge," she repeats menacingly.
At the sound of the final "revenge," Zhou Qing Xue makes a move. Her cultivation has clearly advanced by several stages, but it's not apparent to Song Wei Zhi. She brandishes her sword and charges towards Song Wei Zhi, followed by the other demon cultivators rushing towards them.
The demon cultivators charging towards Song Zhi Xia are swiftly repelled, while Wei Zhao also deals with his opponents. Their inferior cultivation levels leave them no match against him. However, Song Wei Zhi, somewhat at a loss, can only use the back of her blade against Zhou Qing Xue, who seems impervious to pain and completely disregards the demonic weapon in Song Wei Zhi's hand. She relentlessly tries to reach Song Wei Zhi, but Song Wei Zhi skillfully evades her attempts.
Soon, Zhou Qing Xue grows impatient. Veins on her neck swell, showing an eerie dark purple color. Suddenly, she grins and rolls up her sleeve, drawing a long, bloody gash on her exposed arm. A stream of sinister black blood flows from the wound, seemingly unaware of pain, she flings the blood at Song Wei Zhi.
Anticipating this, Song Wei Zhi envelops herself in spiritual energy. The black droplets of blood splatter against her energy shield, falling to the ground and transforming into wriggling, black insects.
Frowning, Song Wei Zhi crushes the insects with her spiritual power. However, where the insects were crushed, even more quickly emerge, multiplying and wriggling rapidly, especially after feeding on the crushed corpses. The free-roaming insects swarm the inn.
Seeing a few cultists still in the vicinity, Song Wei Zhi warns the others to keep away from the insects.
Wei Zhao watches in dismay as Zhou Qing Xue continues to pour the blood, while the other monster suffers from a similar fate. These insects seem to consume their flesh rapidly, leaving their skin filled with writhing bugs, as if there were countless worms wriggling underneath their skins.
Song Zhi Xia manages to conjure a large fireball, incinerating the insects on the ground. Seeing its effectiveness, Song Wei Zhi also generates fire using her spiritual power, prompting Zhou Qing Xue to retaliate by slashing her own chest, causing more blood to flow.
Realizing that this won't work, Song Wei Zhi encapsulates Zhou Qing Xue in her spiritual power, preventing her movements, while using her abilities to control the spiritual medicine and stop the bleeding. Meanwhile, Song Zhi Xia and Wei Zhao eliminate the rest of the demon cultivators, leaving only the one who was initially infected by Zhou Qing Xue's insects.
This demon cultivator, now unrecognizable, attacks Song Zhi Xia and Wei Zhao without regard for his own safety. He self-inflicts multiple wounds, sparking a similar transformation, with his blood turning into writhing creatures upon hitting the ground. Seeing this, Song Wei Zhi hurls her demonic blade at him, reducing him to ash in an instant.
Helpless, Song Wei Zhi resorts to the system, hoping for a solution to save Zhou Qing Xue.
"Host, through system verification, there is no medicine that can save this woman. Her body is infested with parasites, serving as a host for the mother insects. Her organs have been eaten away, and the system is incapable of reversing this. However, there is a pill that can grant her consciousness for ten minutes," echoes the mechanical voice of the system in Song Wei Zhi's mind.
"Quickly exchange it," urges Song Wei Zhi in her mind.
"Understood, Host. Deducting one hundred points for the exchange. You currently have nine hundred points remaining."
As the system concludes, a pill materializes in Song Wei Zhi's hand. She utilizes her spiritual power to administer the pill to Zhou Qing Xue. Moments later, Zhou Qing Xue, held in place by Song Wei Zhi, opens her eyes.
Unlike before, her gaze focuses this time. She looks at Song Wei Zhi and the others, enduring the pain of the insects' bites, and pleads, "Kill me, please, Wei Zhao, I beg you to kill me. I have turned into a monster. It's so painful; my body is infested with worms. Only by killing me can you stop me from causing harm."
Tears and sweat stream down her face.
Chapter 73
Song Wei Zhi sighed, "Do you hate me this much? Even if you want to seek revenge on me, there's no need to make yourself look like this. Have you ever thought about your mother and brother? How would they feel if they saw you like this?"
Weakly, Zhou Qing Xue shook her head, "I didn't want to seek revenge. You are right, my father brought this upon himself. But he is still my father. After leaving, I planned to go to other places and help those in need, to alleviate some of my father's sins. But I met Qi Ying Zhe before I even left Jimo City."
Tears rolled down Zhou Qing Xue's cheeks, as she fell into memories:
After leaving the Cold Mountain Sword Sect that day, she felt lost. When she thought about her mother's hatred for her father and how he treated Song Wei Zhi and Song Zhi Xia, she felt a sharp pain in her heart. For a moment, she felt like she had nowhere to go. Just as she was about to leave Jimo City, she ran into Qi Ying Zhe.
Qi Ying Zhe was the most relied upon disciple of Zhou Yeran during his lifetime and held high prestige in the Cold Mountain Sword Sect. Zhou Qing Xue always regarded him as an elder brother.
"Where are you going, Junior Sister Zhou?" Qi Ying Zhe asked, his expression as calm as ever.
Zhou Qing Xue uttered a bitter smile, "The world is vast, and I have nowhere to go. I don't know where I should go."
"Junior Sister Zhou, I have something to tell you. This is not the right place for a conversation. Let's find somewhere else to talk."
Zhou Qing Xue nodded and followed Qi Ying Zhe to a private room in a restaurant. After thinking for a moment, Qi Ying Zhe said, "Junior Sister Zhou, our master's revenge has not yet been avenged, and you want to leave?"
Zhou Qing Xue shook her head, "Even my mother hates my father. Besides, it is true that my father was at fault first. What he did to Song Wei Zhi and Song Zhi Xia is also true. I don't want to seek revenge anymore, nor can I face them. Brother Qi, you will have to take care of the matters in the Cold Mountain Sword Sect in the future. I will leave first."
"In that case, Junior Sister can't blame me. I did this to help Junior Sister seek revenge," Qi Ying Zhe's voice sounded behind Zhou Qing Xue, who didn't even suspect her elder brother, so she fainted as soon as Qi Ying Zhe used his spiritual power.
When she woke up again, she found herself in a hazy, dark hall, the residence of Lu Ming, the master of the Yin Soul Sect. Her admired elder brother was standing beside the man sitting in the hall, dressed in black robes.
Zhou Qing Xue was momentarily unable to comprehend what had happened. "Brother Qi? Where are we? Why did you tie me up here?"
Lu Ming calmly took a sip of tea and said to Qi Ying Zhe, "Thank you for your hard work. After lurking in the Cold Mountain Sword Sect for so many years, there's no need to continue."
Then Lu Ming glanced at Zhou Qing Xue and said, "This is the Yin Soul Sect. Your senior Brother Qi is the guardian of the Yin Soul Sect and the one I inserted as a spy in the Cold Mountain Sword Sect."
Zhou Qing Xue shrank back on the ground, unable to believe the extraordinary events that had occurred recently. Her dear Brother Qi, the seat of honor and respect, was placed in the Yin Soul Sect. How could it be?
"No, Brother, it's not like that. My father has always been good to you. Why? Why betray us?" Tears streamed down Zhou Qing Xue's face, and she couldn't even remember how many times she had cried in recent days.
"Unfortunately, I have to disappoint you, Junior Sister. I am indeed from the Yin Soul Sect. The reason I went to the Cold Mountain Sword Sect was solely to find the fragment of the Xuan Niao's soul in the Sword Tomb of the Cold Mountain. But your father was too suspicious and refused to take me to the tomb. Moreover, the fragment of the soul from the martial arts competition fell into the hands of Song Wei Zhi. It had no meaning for me to stay in the Cold Mountain Sword Sect. Oh, I forgot to tell you, I also ordered the previous group of assassins targeting Song Zhi Xia, but unfortunately, those useless fools weren't of any use," Qi Ying Zhe explained in an exceptionally calm tone, no different from his usual way of speaking.
"You scoundrel, what do you want by capturing me?" Zhou Qing Xue glared at Qi Ying Zhe, her eyes red with anger.
"What do I want? Of course, I'm helping Junior Sister seek revenge. How could you, with your insignificant cultivation, kill Song Wei Zhi? I merely helped you improve your cultivation so you could get revenge on Song Wei Zhi. After all, Zhou Yeran also acted as my nominal master. I couldn't just watch him die like that," Qi Ying Zhe answered with his usual tone.
"Would your brother and mother have time for you? I think you should give up hope," Qi Ying Zhe retorted.
Lu Ming's brow creased slightly, and he spoke softly, "Go ahead, use her as the host. I want to see whether Song Wei Zhi will take action against her."
Qi Ying Zhe nodded in agreement. He turned and took out the host of the soul insect from a palm-sized ink-colored box, which, when initially small, he controlled with his spiritual power to enter Zhou Qing Xue's ear immediately.
Suddenly, Zhou Qing Xue felt a stinging pain throughout her body. It seemed as if the insect was devouring her brain and flesh, and no matter how much she screamed, it did not stop. After a while, the substance in her head had been eaten to the point where the stinging pain was indescribable. The mother insect seemed to have had its fill, and its form grew enormous as it began to produce eggs in Zhou Qing Xue's head.
"No, don't. Qi Ying Zhe, you're killing me!" Zhou Qing Xue screamed with intense pain.
In his usual voice, Qi Ying Zhe replied, "Endure it for a while, you will soon become a gu person. At that time, you won't even be able to die if you wanted to."
"No, I don't want to become a monster," Zhou Qing Xue screamed before losing consciousness.
A few hours later, Zhou Qing Xue's body had been invaded by the soul insect. There was a soul insect in every part of her body, and she had lost all consciousness, entirely at the command of Lu Ming, who held a short whistle.
After snapping out of her reverie, Zhou Qing Xue pleaded, "Please help me. I am now an unkillable monster. Song Wei Zhi, your sword can make people vanish. Please, put me out of my misery."
Song Wei Zhi summoned the system in her mind to look for a way to save Zhou Qing Xue.
"Hello, host. According to the system's analysis, Zhou Qing Xue's body has been taken over by the soul insect and is not suitable for normal human use. The best solution now is to extract her intact three souls and seven spirits, place them in the system's jade pendant for nurturing, and when a suitable container for Zhou Qing Xue's body is found, use it to restore her body. However, this will require deducting all remaining points from the host," the mechanical voice of the system rang out.
Song Wei Zhi relaxed. As long as points could solve the problem, it would be fine. She immediately used her remaining points to exchange for the jade pendant.
Taking the jade pendant in her hand, Song Wei Zhi said to Zhou Qing Xue, "At least I won't let you vanish completely. However, your current body can't be saved. Let me take out your three souls and seven spirits. I will find a suitable vessel for you in the future."
"Thank you, Master," Wei Zhao said tearfully. She felt more despondent seeing Zhou Qing Xue injured than if it were herself.
With a slight smile, Song Wei Zhi said, "Qing Xue, I'm helping you for the sake of Wei Zhao."
As she finished speaking, she lifted the jade pendant. The system swiftly absorbed Zhou Qing Xue's three souls and seven spirits, then stored them in the jade pendant in Song Wei Zhi's hand.
"Qing Xue, I can only destroy your physical body," Song Wei Zhi stated to the jade pendant in her hand.
"Okay, I'm no longer me. It's filled with bugs," Zhou Qing Xue's voice transmitted from the jade pendant.
After receiving Zhou Qing Xue's response, Song Wei Zhi placed the jade pendant in Wei Zhao's hand and instructed her, "Be careful and safeguard it. Your fellow Daoist is inside."
As she spoke, Wei Zhao's unchanging face appeared to blush subtly. Zhou Qing Xue's voice came from the jade pendant, "What? I'm not her Daoist! Song Wei Zhi, don't talk nonsense!"
Listening to the voice from the jade pendant, Wei Zhao was relieved that her master had found a way to save Qing Xue, otherwise she wouldn't know what to do.
In the meantime, Song Wei Zhi threw the magic sword at Zhou Qing Xue's physical body. Reluctant to consume the soul insects, the magic sword grumbled for a while, but did not dare to offend Song Wei Zhi, and begrudgingly shattered Zhou Qing Xue's body, consuming numerous soul insects inside Zhou Qing Xue's body and grumbling incessantly.
With Zhou Qing Xue's guidance, Song Wei Zhi and her companions quickly found the main headquarters of the Yin Soul Sect, built next to a cliff overlooking a bottomless abyss. The Yin Soul Sect building resembled a secluded residence rather than a demonic palace. However, the eerie aura inside was undeniable.
A faint smile formed on Song Wei Zhi's lips as she waved the magic sword in her hand and said, "Now, I'll give you a change of taste so you won't find the bugs distasteful."
With a slash, Song Wei Zhi engaged the enemies. Wei Zhao wielded her long whip like a serpent, and in a matter of moments, over a dozen demonic practitioners had already fallen under her lash. Because Zhou Qing Xue had suffered greatly here, Wei Zhao's demonic practitioners killed exceptionally more.
Song Zhi Xia directly attacked with her fire-based spiritual power. The demonic practitioners she struck exploded one after another. For a moment, the three of them hacked their way out of the Yin Soul Sect, surging straight into the grand hall of the Yin Soul Sect.
Lu Ming, who had long since abandoned his usual calm demeanor over his tea, stared straight at the three not far away.
"Impossible, how could you? Song Wei Zhi, did you kill Zhou Qing Xue?" Lu Ming stood up, somewhat agitated.
Unperturbed, Song Wei Zhi nodded. "Yes, not a bit left."
Lu Ming's gaze shifted to Wei Zhao. With Qi Ying Zhe acting as an internal agent in the Cold Mountain Sword Sect, he was very clear about their relationship.
"Wei Zhao, you truly have no backbone. Your beloved was killed by your master, yet you still stand by her side?" he accused.
In a cold voice, Wei Zhao retorted, "You are a reminder. After you and Qi Ying Zhe have harmed her, I must annihilate you both."
"You understand. Your beloved was killed by Song Wei Zhi. If you want to kill someone, it should be her—"
"Shut up! You harmed me and now you want to harm them?" Zhou Qing Xue's voice resounded from the jade pendant.
"Humph, no more room for excuses now," retorted Song Wei Zhi, coldly. A huge ice and fire mixed sphere was already hurtling towards Lu Ming. Although Lu Ming countered with his spiritual power, he was forced to cough up blood by the force of Song Wei Zhi's palm.
Not allowing him a chance to recover, Song Wei Zhi struck several more times. Lu Ming was knocked against the wall behind him, before sliding to the ground.
In a cold voice, Song Wei Zhi stated, "If it's not yours, you shouldn't hold onto it. I'll just take it myself."
Before he could react, Song Wei Zhi lifted him with one hand. With a twist, she broke Lu Ming's neck and then extracted the fragment of the soul from his spiritual body.
Meanwhile, Wei Zhao, three major realms higher in cultivation than Qi Ying Zhe, had beaten him until he was bloody with her whip. There was no sign of his former composed demeanor. Bearing in mind the suffering Zhou Qing Xue had endured, her eyes were bloodshot, and she continued to lash out viciously, the ferocity only abating once Qi Ying Zhe had turned into a pile of debris.
Chapter 74
When the evil cultivators of the Yin Hun Sect saw the situation, those who were wise had already fled. Song Weizhi and her companions had achieved their goal and did not resort to annihilating everyone. They successfully left the demon world with their spiritual weapons.
Song Weizhi found an inn in Yunxiao City and settled in. She planned to let Song Zhixia refine the shattered soul fragment before making further plans, while Wei Zhao wandered around the city. Zhou Qingxue had not found a suitable body for her three souls and seven spirits yet, due to the existence of the Heavenly Dao. Even if she sought a body, she could only choose those of naturally deceased people or animals, making it difficult to find a suitable match for the time being.
Song Weizhi asked the young girl to sit on the bed and released the fragment of the soul from her storage bag, intending to merge it with the girl's soul. However, the girl used her spiritual power to push the soul fragment back to Song Weizhi. Somewhat puzzled, Song Weizhi looked at the girl and asked, "What's wrong, Xiaxia?"
"Didn't you last put it into your own soul, Senior Sister?" Song Zhixia's face gradually blushed.
Song Weizhi was taken aback for a moment before she realized what the girl meant. She sat next to the girl, feeling amused, and leaned in to kiss her on the lips, then said, "I was so focused on finding the soul fragment that I neglected you, Xiaxia. Alright, I'll put the soul fragment into my own soul first and then give it to you."
The girl stole a glance at Song Weizhi and buried her face in Song Weizhi's shoulder, feeling shy. She wondered if her Senior Sister would make fun of her for being clingy.
Song Weizhi's lips had not stopped curling since earlier. She placed the soul fragment into her own soul and set up a barrier in the room. After that, she gently kissed the girl's lips, continuously deepening the kiss. It wasn't until they were both out of breath that Song Weizhi let go of the girl.
She leaned over to kiss the girl's earlobe and asked, "Don't you feel the day is too bright this time?" Saying this, she planted a series of gentle kisses on the girl.
The girl was short of breath from the affectionate kisses. She pretended to be petulant and said, "Wasn't it you who said you could see clearly last time?"
Song Weizhi smiled and teased, "Yes, it was me. My Xiaxia is always so obedient."
Saying that, Song Weizhi gently laid the girl down on the bed. The girl had already softened from the previous kiss, her rosy lips slightly parted while her gaze was filled with mist. After a while, everything melted into Song Weizhi's tenderness.
Wei Zhao wandered around Jimo City but could not find a suitable body for Zhou Qingxue. Finally, he found a dying body, that of a cat. Wei Zhao sat and waited for the black-brown cat to pass away peacefully.
He took a jade pendant from his storage bag and said to Zhou Qingxue, "Qingxue, I couldn't find a suitable body for you after looking around. How about making do with this cat's body for now?"
Zhou Qingxue's voice came from the jade pendant, "Alright, it can run and move at the very least. It's better than staying in the pendant."
Shortly after, the cat closed its eyes. Wei Zhao carefully checked its breath with his spiritual power to confirm its passing. Then, he transferred Zhou Qingxue's three souls and seven spirits into the cat's body. After a while, the previously deceased cat suddenly sat up, blinked its cat eyes, and stared straight at Wei Zhao.
Wei Zhao reached out and gently touched the cat's head, asking uncertainly, "Qingxue, is that you?"
As he spoke, Wei Zhao found that the cat's touch was quite good, and he couldn't help but stroke it a few more times. In response, Zhou Qingxue delivered a punch with her cat paw.
"What are you touching? Do you really take me for a cat?" Zhou Qingxue's voice came from the cat, and Wei Zhao could barely contain his laughter.
"I was just testing if your spirit had entered the cat's body," Wei Zhao laughed and lifted Zhou Qingxue, cradling her in his arms.
If Zhou Qingxue had been in her human form, her face would probably have blushed ages ago. Wei Zhao was quite oblivious; he simply picked her up and placed her on his chest without asking.
After they returned to the inn, Wei Zhao removed his outer clothing and lay down on the bed's edge. Zhou Qingxue, a big cat, looked at Wei Zhao and said, "I won't sleep with you! I want to go down."
She then jumped onto Wei Zhao's body and stepped around a bit. But she was still in the form of a cat, and her actions seemed more like a massage than stepping on him.
Seeing that Zhou Qingxue was back to her former self, no longer dwelling on the matter of Zhou Yeran, Wei Zhao felt relieved. The smile on his lips never faded. He hurriedly picked up Zhou Qingxue as she tried to get off the bed, holding her in his arms, and coaxing her, "Don't wander. You can't protect yourself in this form. Stay with me, good girl."
Zhou Qingxue turned her cat face away and said, "Then I want to sleep on you. The bed is too hard."
Her cat-like behavior amused Wei Zhao. He agreed and lifted her onto the bed, "Alright, I'll pamper you."
When they woke up the next morning, Zhou Qingxue stretched her furry limbs, full of energy, and rolled around on Wei Zhao's chest, feeling safe and secure. Wei Zhao quickly protected her with his hand to prevent her from falling off the bed.
Zhou Qingxue saw Wei Zhao smiling and immediately puffed up. She pressed her paws against Wei Zhao's neck while complaining, "Why are you laughing? You woke me up so early."
Then she buried herself in Wei Zhao's arms and fell asleep again. Although Wei Zhao had awakened, he selflessly acted as Zhou Qingxue's living cushion.
When Zhou Qingxue opened her cat eyes, it was already bright outside. She extended her fluffy limbs, rolled around on Wei Zhao's chest, and said with a petulant tone, "I want to go down."
Wei Zhao picked her up and soothed her, "This time the masters are going to the palace to settle the score with the Third Prince. If you don't want to go, shall I take you to your mother's place for a few days? I'll come back for you after we finish our business."
Zhou Qingxue hugged Wei Zhao's arm tightly with her cat paws and said, "It seems like you don't want me. I don't want to bother them. If you don't want me, then just leave me here."
Wei Zhao raised the cat to his eye level and explained, "That's not what I meant. How could I not want you? I'm just worried that going back to Jimo City will upset you. Alright, from now on, we go wherever we need, together. It's decided."
Zhou Qingxue languidly lay in his arms and said, "But I'm in this state now. It's a burden on you. Your cultivation level is so much higher than mine, and you're more desirable. If I'm not around, you won't have less admirers..."
"Stop thinking nonsense. When you find a suitable body, we'll form a Daoist couple. That way, you won't have to worry so much," Wei Zhao comforted her, then added, "After all, you were the one who provoked me first, and you gave me the keepsake first. Zhou Qingxue, you can't just run away. You have to take responsibility for me."
After a moment of silence, Zhou Qingxue shyly buried her cat head in Wei Zhao's embrace. Seeing this, Wei Zhao couldn't help but smile and hugged Zhou Qingxue while they went to find Song Weizhi and the others.
Chapter 74
The young girl was particularly affectionate last night, and in the morning, she seemed reluctant to leave Song Weizhi's side, wanting to linger in bed. Song Weizhi was naturally delighted and ended up cuddling with the girl all morning before getting up.
After Song Weizhi and Song Zhixia were both dressed, a mechanical voice from the system sounded in Song Weizhi's mind, "Due to the disharmonious activities of the host last night, the system was temporarily blocked. Congratulations on finding another fragment of the female lead's soul. You are rewarded with 1,000 points. Your current total points are 1,000."
Song Weizhi's lips curved slightly. The system was surprisingly empathetic.
At that moment, Wei Zhao knocked on Song Weizhi's door while carrying Zhou Qingxue. Song Weizhi got up to answer, "Master, when are we setting off?"
"We're leaving soon. Oh, where did this little cat come from in your arms?" Song Weizhi reached out to touch, but Wei Zhao dodged.
"Master, this is Qingxue. It's better if you don't touch her," Wei Zhao said with a hint of apology.
"Alright, we can look for a suitable body for Qingxue on our journey. You can't stay a cat forever," Song Weizhi said matter-of-factly.
Wei Zhao widened his eyes. What did the master's words just now mean? Wei Zhao felt that something was not quite right!
Chapter 75
After tidying up, they headed directly to the city of Jimo on the imperial sword. Wei Zhao was afraid of hurting Zhou Qingxue in battle, so he put her in the storage bag.
"Master, shouldn't we be more careful when entering the palace? It could be too dangerous to go straight there," Song Weizhi said. She had exchanged the thousand points she had earned yesterday for armor-piercing bullets. She planned to launch an attack on the palace. In the chaos, the guards would presumably prioritize protecting the emperor, making it easier for them to deal with Gao Chengxuan.
Soon, Song Weizhi and the others arrived at the foot of the imperial city. Wei Zhao easily found out Gao Chengxuan's residence by capturing a palace guard. Song Weizhi asked Song Zhixia and Wei Zhao to go and intercept Gao Chengxuan while she released the armor-piercing bullets towards the city gate. In no time, the once-peaceful palace was engulfed in flames.
While continuing to release the armor-piercing bullets, Song Weizhi flew to Gao Chengxuan's bedchamber. Meanwhile, Song Zhixia and Wei Zhao had already rushed into Gao Chengxuan's chambers, having killed most of the guards. Left with no choice, Gao Chengxuan tried to flee but found himself facing Song Weizhi after the explosion of a wall.
"Hey, isn't this the Third Prince? Where is your usual authority now? Where are you planning to run?" Song Weizhi teased, looking at Gao Chengxuan as if he were a clown.
"Song Weizhi, I warn you. This is the palace, my territory. If you dare to touch me, I will make you wish for death and it will elude you," Gao Chengxuan threatened.
Curiously observing him, Song Weizhi retorted, "Your father's palace has been blown up by me. He is too occupied to protect himself. Enough of the chatter. I will help you loosen your bones. You owe Xia Xia, and I will get it back from you little by little."
Without a word, Song Weizhi twisted Gao Chengxuan's bones in an eerie manner, causing him to writhe in pain, begging for mercy. "Please, don't kill me. I don't want to die."
"I'm afraid I must. I need your life, and nothing else," Song Weizhi replied unmercifully.
On the other side, Song Zhixia and Wei Zhao also approached Gao Chengxuan.
"Please spare me. I really don't want to die," Gao Chengxuan pleaded.
Unmoved, Song Weizhi said, "I have to take action. I can't afford to waste any more time."
She then extracted a fragment from Gao Chengxuan's soul, without asking Song Zhixia, and absorbed it herself before returning it little by little to Xia Xia later. Afterward, she let the magic blade consume Gao Chengxuan's soul, and the three of them left. The once busy city of Jimo had become chaotic, with fires raging in the palace, seemingly ready to swallow everything. They left on their spiritual weapons and settled in an inn in a remote town, finally able to relax.
Wei Zhao released Zhou Qingxue from the storage bag, who was quite annoyed from being cramped up throughout the journey. Showing her dissatisfaction, she stomped on Wei Zhao but then he promptly picked her up to appease her.
Meanwhile, Song Weizhi took Song Zhixia into her room and set up a barrier.
The girl provocatively asked, "What is Sister up to?"
"Don't you know, Xia Xia? Last time, didn't you pester me for it?" Song Weizhi's lips curved slightly as she drew the girl into her embrace and kissed her.
The girl protested, "I don't remember that, Sister. Don't say that."
Afterward, when the passion between the two dissipated, a considerable amount of time had passed. Song Zhixia's souls had all been restored. Just as Song Weizhi was considering another round with the girl, the sky unexpectedly darkened.
"This looks like a thunder tribulation?" Song Weizhi exclaimed.
Song Zhixia, her face flushed, glanced outside and was taken aback. Just a while ago, the sky was clear and sunny, but now it had turned completely dark.
"Sister, I'm afraid one of us is about to undergo the thunder tribulation," she said, dressing quickly.
Amidst the confusion, the thunder tribulation struck at the two of them. Song Weizhi, who had endured numerous trials in the lava, felt the tribulation was bearable. Song Zhixia, on the other hand, after withstanding multiple tribulations, was aided by something that flew out of her body—a fiery red nine-tailed bird, which seemed to possess sentience and assisted in repelling the tribulation.
Song Weizhi, having managed to overcome her own eight tribulations, went to her aid. Together with the bird, they effortlessly withstood the eight tribulations that had descended on Song Zhixia. Eventually, the sky began to clear, but the area was left scattered with small and large craters caused by the tribulation.
Looking at the majestic nine-tailed bird, Song Weizhi laughed and called out, "Little Chicken?"
The bird, having changed its stance, rubbed its head against her hand, despite growing much larger. It remembered the old times, but Song Zhixia appeared jealous.
"Sister, release the big tiger to keep the little chicken company," Song Zhixia suggested, thus prompting a white and blue tiger, now adorned with a red halo from the lava, to emerge. In contrast to the past, the tiger was no longer afraid of fire. The little chicken, seeing the tiger, gleefully ran over and hopped on its back. The tiger, although taken aback, permitted the little chicken to stay.
"Through all these experiences, I can't help but feel that the little chicken is still the same at heart," Song Zhixia remarked, her eyes slightly reddened. She never expected that she would one day be able to protect herself and the person she wanted to protect. Moreover, she didn't expect to recover all her souls, attributing her current state to the person in front of her.
Song Weizhi clearly sensed the fluctuations in the girl's emotions and comforted her in her arms. "Well, not everything has changed. My affection for Xia Xia has been deepening every day," she said, planting a gentle kiss on Song Zhixia's lips. The girl responded by tilting her head slightly, allowing Song Weizhi to deepen the kiss.
"I also like Sister," the girl expressed her affection for Song Weizhi, unwilling to show weakness.
Embarrassed by the recent tribulation that the two had attracted during their spiritual communion, the girl felt somewhat shy. If it weren't for their swift action, not only the inn but the entire town could have been struck by the wrath of the tribulation.
Just as the two were about to wrap up and return to the inn after collecting the spiritual beasts, a mechanical voice resonated in Song Weizhi's mind, "Congratulations, host, for finding the final piece of the female protagonist's fragmented soul. Reward: 1,000 points. You currently have 1,000 points. With this, the host has completed the task of finding the soul fragments. The next step is to elevate your realm to ascension to obtain a complete life in this world."
Song Weizhi heaved a sigh of relief. With all of the soul fragments now found, and Xia Xia having collected all her soul fragments again, they were just a step away from ascension. It seemed that when they merged their souls together, it accelerated their progress more than regular cultivation. Song Weizhi believed that she and Xia Xia were not far from ascension.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone