Chapter 348 29: Meeting Qii Yao Again

For centuries since its founding, the Mountain Country has been governed by the four great families—Zheng, Lin, Lu, and Luu—who have taken turns directing national policy.

Among them, the Zheng Family was the most powerful.

The influence of the four families was deeply entrenched in both the Imperial Court and the common populace.

On one hand, they scouted for exceptional talent from the lower classes; on the other, they expanded their influence within the Imperial Court.

This had been the way of things for hundreds of years.

The change came several decades ago.

Before then, the four great families of the Mountain Country had heard rumors of Cultivators in the world. Some with profound opportunities and extraordinary talent had even earned the favor of an Immortal Master and been taught an Immortal Technique.

However, those they had encountered were mostly Loose Cultivators from the Ten Thousand Mountains. While their strength was not insignificant, it was not so easy for them to influence an entire nation.

Until the Immortal Alliance arrived.

The once-lofty four great families were instantly reduced to being enforcers and servants for the Immortal Alliance's Cultivators.

Upstairs in the tavern.

"Gentlemen."

Zheng Bo, the third son of the Zheng Family, led a young woman forward with a smile.

"This is Miss Qii Yao, daughter of General Qii. She has accompanied me to the capital and will be staying at my residence for the time being."

All eyes turned to Qii Yao, and every gaze was filled with astonishment. Her robes fluttered, and her beauty was exquisite beyond compare.

People often use the phrase "as beautiful as a Celestial Immortal" to describe a woman's beauty, but no one truly knows what a Celestial Immortal looks like. Yet, upon seeing the young woman, that very phrase surfaced in everyone's mind.

Moreover, her beauty was not vulgar, nor did it inspire lust. It simply made one feel the world was a wonderful place, filling the heart with joy.

"Qii Yao, it is a pleasure to meet you all."

The young woman bowed to the crowd, her demeanor open and poised, without a hint of coyness.

"As expected of General Qii's daughter. Truly, her heroic bearing is striking." A man in the crowd laughed heartily.

"I am Lu Nan, commander of the Imperial City garrison. It has been ten years since I last saw General Qii. I can hardly believe his daughter is all grown up."

Someone's gaze paused on Zheng Bo before they said with a smile,

"General Qii has been guarding the mines on the frontier, toiling for the Immortal Family for many years. It is about time he returned."

Zheng Bo was a strong contender for the throne of Mountain Country. Since he had brought the Qii Family's daughter here, General Qii's situation was bound to improve. Offering a few kind words now could leave a good impression.

Indeed.

Qii Yao gave him a sweet smile.

"Yao'er," Zheng Bo introduced,

"this is Brother Lin Yanhua, Commander of the Inner Guard. Half of the Martial Arts I know were taught to me by Brother Lin."

"You flatter me," Lin Yanhua said, shaking his head quickly.

"My skills are hardly presentable. But you, Brother Zheng, you must be close to reaching the Innate realm, aren't you?"

"Well…" Zheng Bo's eyes flickered.

"Thanks to a gift from an Immortal Master of the Immortal Alliance, I received some Elixirs that aid Cultivation. I do feel like I'm on the verge of refining Innate True Qi."

"Congratulations, congratulations!"

"To reach the Innate realm in your early twenties, Brother Zheng… You will surely be able to become a disciple of an Immortal."

"..."

The crowd erupted in congratulations.

Most of the attendees today were from the younger generation. The Immortal Alliance had already arrived by the time they were born.

They had grown accustomed to its influence and aimed to join an Immortal Sect and become Cultivators.

They no longer cared much for their mortal status.

"This is Luu Xuan. She is a favorite of the Empress Dowager," Zheng Bo continued his introductions for Qii Yao.

"Sister Luu not only tends to the Empress Dowager but is also responsible for the daily needs of the Immortal Masters from the Profound Clarity Sect."

"Sister Luu knows best what those lofty Immortal Masters are up to."

"Really!" Qii Yao's face lit up with delight.

"I was born in a mining cave and grew up on a mountain. I've heard so much about the Immortal Masters of the Profound Clarity Sect, but I've never met one."

"Sister Luu, could you perhaps introduce me?"

"Well…" Luu Xuan hesitated, glancing at Zheng Bo before lowering her voice.

"Miss Qii, Immortal Masters were once mortals too. Sometimes they aren't as wonderful as you imagine."

"You are so beautiful…"

"It would be best to focus your attention on those closer to you."

With Qii Yao's beauty, even an Immortal Master from the Profound Clarity Sect might be moved. If that were to happen, Zheng Bo would certainly be displeased.

"Come!"

"It's rare for us all to be gathered together. Shall we share a drink?"

"Hear, hear!"

"..."

A clamor arose as everyone raised their cups.

After several courses and many rounds of drinks, Qii Yao claimed to feel unwell and was escorted from the tavern by Zheng Bo.

In the back alley.

No one was around.

Zheng Bo's expression suddenly changed. He became deferential, bowing his head as he spoke.

"Senior, those people earlier are all dignitaries of the Mountain Country. They are the ones with the best chance of coming into contact with Cultivators from the Immortal Sects."

"There is also my eldest brother, Zheng Xian. He manages the Immortals Residence, where all the residents are senior experts who have established their Dao Foundation. He wasn't here today, but I will bring him to be introduced to you in the next day or two."

"Mm." Qii Yao's smile vanished, her eyes turning cold, like a haughty peacock.

"You did well."

THUD!

Zheng Bo dropped to his knees abruptly. He looked up, his eyes filled with fanatical devotion.

"It is my great fortune to be able to serve you, Senior. With just one word from you, I would go through hell and high water. I would not hesitate."

"Hee hee…" Qii Yao's beautiful eyes danced. She let out a delicate laugh, her body trembling slightly.

"What if I told you to die?"

"Then I will die!" Zheng Bo's eyes went wide, bloodshot veins appearing in them.

"Without a second thought!"

"Enough." Qii Yao pursed her lips and waved her hand dismissively.

"I was just joking. You're still useful to me. I couldn't bear to let you die. Go back and entertain your friends."

"Yes."

Zheng Bo acknowledged, giving her a reluctant glance before turning and heading back upstairs to his friends.

'This guy…' Qii Yao thought, watching Zheng Bo's back and curling her lip. 'He's like a dog!'

She turned and looked toward the shadows at the end of the alley.

"Wouldn't you agree, Fellow Daoist?"

From the darkness.

A figure slowly walked out.

"You?"

Qii Yao's eyes narrowed. Her expression was a complex mix of surprise, anger, and confusion as she stared at him.

"Zhu Ju…"

"You actually crossed the East Sea and returned to the Ten Thousand Mountains!"

"I did," Zhu Ju sighed softly.

"I never thought we would meet again here."

CRASH…

Before he could finish his sentence, the scene before him suddenly shattered like a mirror, revealing countless overlapping images.

Directions became confused, up and down were inverted, and dozens of Qii Yaos lunged at him from different directions using a bizarre and unpredictable Body Technique.

Ten Thousand Illusion Body!

This was a Secret Technique that only Dao Foundation Cultivators of the Demonic Joyful Sect could cultivate. It distorted the target's perception, creating an opportunity to close in for a kill.

'Die!'

As the illusory figures attacked, the real Qii Yao's eyes went wide. She raised a delicate hand, and a White Bone Whip shot out from her sleeve.

SWISH!

The White Bone Whip struck like a sword, aiming straight for Zhu Ju's throat.

Just as the tip of the whip was about to pierce his throat, Zhu Ju, as if he had foreseen it, suddenly tilted his head. While dodging the attack, he reached out and grabbed to the side.

It looked like an ordinary grab, but it seemed to encompass everything, ignoring the numerous afterimages and closing directly on Qii Yao's throat.

WHIP!

The White Bone Whip abruptly changed direction, coiling around Zhu Ju's arm like a nimble snake and unleashing immense power.

This force could easily shatter Magical Artifacts and Meteorite Iron; a mortal body should not have been able to withstand it.

SNAP!

The terrifying power erupted.

But it wasn't Zhu Ju's arm that broke—it was the White Bone Whip, a Top-Grade Spiritual Artifact.

'How can this be?'

Qii Yao's eyes were wide with disbelief.

Although her White Bone Whip wasn't a Magical Treasure, it was incredibly tough and difficult to damage.

Yet now, it couldn't withstand the Strength erupting from his arm.

'Body Refining Third Realm?'

'Or Body Refining Fourth Realm?'

'With that kind of strength, even a Late-Stage Dao Foundation Cultivator would likely lose in close combat.'

Zhu Ju grabbed Qii Yao by the neck and lifted her off the ground. With just a slight squeeze of his fingers, the sound of her throat bones cracking could be heard.

"We haven't seen each other in decades, and this is the gift you give me upon our reunion."

Shaking his head, he tossed her aside.

"I shouldn't have spared you back then."

"COUGH COUGH!"

"COUGH!"

Qii Yao collapsed to the ground, clutching her neck and gasping for air. Yet, when she looked up, her eyes held a hint of a smile.

"As expected of you."

"The only Cultivator to escape Wind Moon Valley in the last century. You even ran circles around me and Senior Sister Zhou."

"You're not so bad yourself, managing to establish a Dao Foundation." Zhu Ju's expression remained unchanged as he spoke slowly.

"Yuann Tong…"

"How is she now?"

"She's doing great!" Qii Yao snarled, gritting her teeth.

"Thanks to you, Senior Sister understood the meaning of Supreme Forget Love. Her cultivation of the Joyful Sect's Method has progressed by leaps and bounds. She's a Late-Stage Dao Foundation Cultivator now, with a high chance of achieving a Golden Core."

"Time will prove that abandoning her was a mistake!"

"That's good," Zhu Ju said, his face impassive.

"This is an Immortal Alliance outpost. You're bold to have infiltrated it. Is the Demon Dao planning to make a move here?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Qii Yao struggled to push herself up.

"It won't hurt to tell you."

"The Six Paths Saint Monarch intends to annihilate the Righteous Dao. We are merely the pawns clearing the way; a steady stream of reinforcements will follow. I advise you to surrender. Senior Sister Zhou might put in a good word for you and save your life."

"Since ancient times, the Righteous and Demon Daos cannot coexist," Zhu Ju said.

"You're a Dao Foundation Cultivator, hiding your Cultivation to sneak into an Immortal Alliance outpost and meddle with the mortals of Mountain Country. What is your purpose?"

"I'm just following orders. I do whatever my superiors tell me to," Qii Yao shrugged.

"As for why, I don't really know."

"You think I enjoy dealing with mortals who still reek of worldly filth? I'm just forcing myself to stomach the disgust!"

"..." Zhu Ju stared at her for a long moment before finally saying,

"Go. Leave this place. I can pretend I never saw you."

"Hah…" Qii Yao curled her lip.

"The decline of the Dao and the rise of the Demon is already set in stone. You don't actually think this outpost can withstand the Demon Dao's invasion, do you?"

"The Profound Clarity Sect is a top Immortal Sect of the Righteous Dao. Although I haven't had much contact with its disciples, I can sense their indifference toward lower-level Cultivators." Zhu Ju paced with his hands behind his back.

"If they treat other Cultivators that way, they probably care even less about mortals."

"Immortals and mortals live together here. The mortals mine ore, set up formations, and even provide food and lodging for the Cultivators. They are indispensable in every aspect. Furthermore, since Cultivators don't see mortals as a threat, the upper echelons of Mountain Country's mortals actually have a better understanding of the situation inside the outpost."

"By getting on good terms with these mortals and using the methods of the Joyful Sect, you can easily control them. Through them, you can learn of the Immortal Alliance's movements and aid the Demon Dao's invasion."

Qii Yao's face went pale.

"But it's a pity," Zhu Ju sighed.

"When the Demon Dao invades, especially the Cultivators from the Celestial Corpse Sect, they will certainly not spare the hundreds of thousands of ordinary people here."

"They treat you with sincerity, yet you plan to take their lives. You truly live up to your reputation as one of the Demonic Demon People."

"Hmph!" Qii Yao snorted.

"You think they'll survive without me?"

"The people from the Profound Clarity Sect have no illusions about this place stopping the invasion. They just want to buy some time. When they can't hold on any longer, those lofty Immortal Masters will abandon this place and flee. The common people here are doomed either way."

"But me,"

"I can offer protection to some of them. I can at least save some lives. Unlike your so-called Righteous Dao, which speaks with such righteous-sounding principles but doesn't even treat ordinary people as human."

"Hmm…" Zhu Ju seemed thoughtful.

"There is some logic to what you say."

To the Cultivators of the Celestial Corpse Sect, the dead were more valuable. But to the Joyful Sect, the living were more valuable.

Therefore, the Joyful Sect could indeed offer protection to some people.

"Nevertheless, the Righteous and Demon Daos cannot coexist. I advise you to leave this place, lest you perish and your Dao vanishes."

"Are you worried about me?" Qii Yao raised an eyebrow, her beautiful eyes glittering.

"There's something I might as well tell you. Do you remember the Yin Yang Elder who captured you and sent you to Wind Moon Valley?"

"He's been making moves on Senior Sister Zhou recently. I've been caught in the crossfire and sent on this dangerous mission. So it's not that I don't want to leave, but that I'll be punished if I do."

"Here!"

She reached out and tossed something to him.

"This is a token from the Yin Yang Elder. It has his aura on it. I don't expect you to solve Senior Sister Zhou's and my problems, but with your vengeful personality, I doubt you'd let him go if you ever ran into him."

"Finally!"

Qii Yao gave Zhu Ju a deep look.

"I advise you to leave this place as soon as possible."

......

Watching Qii Yao leave, Zhu Ju slowly retracted his gaze.

A Demoness from the Demon Dao cannot be trusted.

Even though they had lived together for many years, he wouldn't believe everything Qii Yao said. However, it was probably true that this place was no longer safe.

'A wise man doesn't stand beneath a crumbling wall.'

'I need to leave as soon as possible!'