Chapter 719: Upheaval in the Profound Sky Sect

One month later, at the Demon Spirit Pagoda on Henggao Divine Mountain.

Ji Xueruo leaned blankly against the railing, gazing out into the vast expanse, almost losing herself in the view.

She only woke up a week after that day’s events. When she regained consciousness, she realized someone was applying a warm towel to her face. Reacting instinctively, she muttered a curse, yet still enjoyed the care with peace of mind.

But when she opened her eyes comfortably, she saw that the person before her was not who she imagined, but a demon she had never met before—it was Miss Hou, who had previously checked Ji Lingruo’s pulse.

That’s when she realized she was no longer on the ever-changing South Sea Immortal Island, but at the gathering place built by the Demon Race on Henggao Divine Mountain—the Demon Spirit Pagoda.

As if realizing something, she looked around cluelessly, as if she were a lost soul.

Miss Hou, puzzled by whom she was searching for, received no reply until the girl hoarsely asked about ‘You Su’s’ whereabouts, revealing her lingering concern.

“Mr. Ji need not worry, there will be someone to handle that evildoer,” was Miss Hou’s reply.

Ji Xueruo was taken aback on the spot, “Who are you calling a criminal?”

“Why, You Su. He tainted hundreds of prodigy cultivators from various clans with demon blood, an incident witnessed by many great immortals! Coupled with his numerous heaven-defying actions and intricate ties with Zhengyang True Immortal, it’s not hard to deduce that he might actually be a demon in disguise! Some even speculate he could be the fourth Evil God beyond the three known Evil Gods!” As Miss Hou spoke, she seemed visibly shaken; she knew of the intimate relationship between the Snake Race’s second young mistress and You Su, hoping the young mistress could stay out of this.

“Those… those who escaped from Celestial Awakening Island, have they protested against this?” Ji Xueruo asked anxiously.

Miss Hou furrowed her light eyebrows, “Many who escaped don’t recall anything about that day, and those few who do mostly corroborate this claim.”

Upon hearing this, Ji Xueruo was rendered speechless, her lips opening and closing as if to argue, yet no words came forth.

The situation was now clear: You Su was inevitably burdened with this dark reputation, his voice silenced by others.

Though he had saved everyone, he was now an unforgivable sinner through the ages. Ji Xueruo felt as if her heart was clenched tightly, a suffocating feeling more painful than her own grievances.

“However, there have been some rebuttals, mostly from the disciples of the Profound Sky Sect,” Miss Hou added, “but nowadays, the words of the Profound Sky Sect’s disciples… hold little weight. To outsiders, it’s merely the Profound Sky Sect trying to clear its own name with false evidence.”

Ji Xueruo appeared broken upon hearing this, shaking her head desperately, almost in tears:

“No… It’s not like that! It’s not like that!!”

The fleeting glimpse before she fell unconscious was actually the last farewell. If only she had known then, how could she have willingly closed her eyes?

Miss Hou observed her reactions and gently embraced the bewildered girl, muffling her protests against her bosom:

“Mr. Ji, please watch your words… The You Su you know may be different from what the world sees, but the truth isn’t always the most important thing. Anything related to him now will become a target; for your sake, your sister’s, and the Snake Race’s, remain silent, let the situation evolve…”

Ji Xueruo was so weak she was nearly unconscious, unable to even cry, her body and soul both like a barren desert.

She knew Miss Hou was right; staying silent was her best option now, but was the truth really unimportant?

“Then… where is he now?”

“Everyone is looking for him, but no one has found him. The Evil God’s plan to sever a generation of humans and demons has almost succeeded, he must have been taken back to the sea by the Evil God.”

The girl, upon hearing this, oddly ceased panting, as if she had finally heard a piece of relatively ‘good’ news.

Even if he truly had been taken by the Evil God, it was better than falling into the hands of these sanctimonious people…

He won’t die, he absolutely won’t die! He’s the True Lord… how could he possibly perish at the hands of evil?

Thinking this, Ji Xueruo freed herself from the old woman’s embrace.

“Senior, I wish to go out and have a look…”

Miss Hou did not refuse, helping the girl out the door.

This was the residence of a guest, the corridor outside empty, below the railings lay ethereal immortal mountains.

The late spring sun shone painfully, the girl subconsciously shrinking her shoulders.

She was not innately afraid of sunlight, she just couldn’t emerge from that long, dark night.

Every day thereafter, she recovered under the care of Miss Hou and other demon cultivators, yet every day she would look out from the corridor, even knowing she would never see the figure she longed for.

Everyone in the Demon Spirit Pagoda treated her with respect, which left her feeling strangely flattered.

Though she had some fame, it would never warrant such high treatment; many demons here hailed from great clans on the immortal mountains.

From the sporadic words of Miss Hou, she discerned some reasons; she had become a renowned hero across the Five Continents, whom no one dared to neglect.

Outside tales of her heroic deeds spread wildly, stories of her small stature harboring a death-defying heart that delayed the giant serpent for everyone. Such courage earned the recognition of the Star Shining Immortal Ancestor, who descended from the heavens to strike down the sinful serpent.

Ji Xueruo felt no emotional shift from the Ancestral Temple of Immortals ‘stealing’ her glory; after vanquishing the serpent, countless things emerged in her mind from nowhere. Although most were obscure, she knew, in a sense, that her slaying of the serpent was truly the Star Shining Immortal Ancestor manifesting.

The Ancestral Temple’s act of picking peaches, instead, became a form of protection.

Yet despite her and You Su overcoming the crisis together, their treatments differed wildly, weighing heavily on her conscience with persistent guilt.

Over the past month, she’d come to realize one thing: the truth is very important.

She would remember everyone who applauded You Su’s fall and unearth the true mastermind, restoring You Su’s good name!

Until then, all she could do was endure!

Suddenly, the building she was in experienced a slight tremor, a distant rumbling echoing through the valleys.

This was an almost impossible occurrence on the solemn divine mountain, and just as she was at a loss, Miss Hou hurriedly ascended the stairs.

“Senior Hou, what’s happened?” Ji Xueruo quickly inquired.

“Something major has occurred! Mr. Ji! I must escort you back to Dngying now!” Miss Hou said, trying to lead Ji Xueruo away.

“What major event?” Ji Xueruo wasn’t easily fooled.

Miss Hou sighed thrice and finally admitted:

“Recently, many people have been blocking the outskirts of the divine mountain, cultivators demanding answers for disciples and kin lost during their journey to the immortal island. But they merely surrounded it. Then today, someone confirmed traces of residual evil on the body of Celestial Technique Venerable, and they erupted! As the foremost sect of the Five Continents, the Profound Sky Sect failed to recognize their disciple was a demon, leading to many being corrupted and dying, plummeting their reputation; moreover, the Celestial Technique Venerable, supposedly the savior of the Zhongyuan Continent, was found aligned with evil taint, raising suspicions that his Celestial Awakening Realm was attained through deals with demons.

Now, the Profound Sky Sect is the target of accusations, many suspecting the institution’s deeper ties with demons. Even numerous other sects from the divine mountain expressed belief and joined forces to attack the divine mountain, determined to unearth the Profound Sky Sect’s secrets. The long-absent Sect Leader of the Profound Sky Sect finally appeared today to hold everyone back, and his answer to the world—was Lotus Peak!”

“What… what does this mean?”

“Lotus Sword Venerable and Fairy Wangshu, they are the sacrifices he offered to preserve the Profound Sky Sect!”

Ji Xueruo was shocked on the spot, as if struck by lightning.