Chapter 0: The Secret Revealed
Xia Luyin truly died a quick death. With the right time, advantageous location, and human harmony, Qin Gou was unyieldingly pushed into this predicament. If Qin Gou hadn’t carefully investigated just now and concluded that Xia Luyin’s external incarnation was truly beyond repair, he would have thought this was all a meticulously planned scheme.
Although Qin Gou had only temporarily managed the Purple Extreme Demonic Sect, a peculiar sect even among evil factions, he was willing to reluctantly try. Given Xia Luyin’s consistent trust and respect for the Celestial Master’s name throughout, Qin Gou decided to attempt to elevate the Sword Questioning Sect, known for its “righteous and unyielding nature, with a body as sharp as a sword,” under his stewardship.
Upon entering, Qin Gou saw that Bai Yunxi’s delicate face was still adorned with faint tear streaks. These were likely tears of joy from her reunion with her mother moments ago.
“Peak Master Bai, what pressing matter do you have?” Qin Gou asked calmly.
Bai Yunxi cupped her fists and said, “Sect Master, I wish to use some sect contributions to commission you to personally forge an Emperor Weapon, a long whip. I have already prepared all the necessary materials.” As she spoke, Bai Yunxi produced a Nasal Ring.
Upon hearing this, Qin Gou’s expression turned awkward.
He had been very passionate about artifact forging in the past, but he truly lacked talent in that area. He would often use several times the materials as other artifact refiners without achieving the same level of quality. The Mystic Maiden Raksha Palace’s Rebirth Tower, for instance, was a product of a past fortuitous encounter. Despite being an ordinary magic treasure with mediocre abilities, it was infused with too many rare and precious materials, granting it an extremely high ceiling and potential for advancement. Coupled with the small tower’s own efforts, it had grown step by step from the thumb-sized Zhixuan Tower to its current massive form.
“Let’s put this matter aside for now. I’m not in the right state of mind recently. Peak Master Bai, you know that to forge artifacts, one needs to consider the time, place, and inspiration. Only then can the most perfect Emperor Weapon be crafted,” Qin Gou deflected, his tone steady.
“But, Sect Master, you have refused me several times before with the same excuse.” Bai Yunxi’s dark eyebrows furrowed slightly. “For years, whether it was me, Peak Master Tang, or Peak Master Xie, whenever we requested your assistance in forging an artifact, you would politely decline with various excuses… Is it possible that something has gone wrong with your cultivation? Please, Sect Master, do not hide this from us.”
Xia Luyin had left behind such a mess! Qin Gou’s only thought at the moment was to use all means to revive Xia Luyin and then perform a beautiful over-the-shoulder throw with his nose as the target.
“It is not so. Rather, I am on the verge of a breakthrough in my artifact forging skills. During such a crucial period, it is not conducive to forge personalized Emperor Weapons that have too many restrictions imposed by others. On the contrary, acting on impulse is more beneficial for my breakthrough. Once I succeed, I will not disappoint Peak Master Bai again,” Qin Gou waved his hand, brushing off the request. Although he wasn’t a master artifact refiner, he was skilled enough to fool laymen when it came to the essentials of artifact forging.
“I see.” Bai Yunxi nodded with a blank expression. “Then Bai Yunxi will take her leave.”
Qin Gou smiled and nodded.
“Oh, I almost forgot about this,” Bai Yunxi seemed to suddenly recall something and added, “Soon, Peak Master Zhou’s only daughter will be marrying into the Dark Holy Land. You previously mentioned that you would personally attend to congratulate her. What about that matter…”
“Rest assured. Once I speak, my words are as good as gold,” Qin Gou said nonchalantly.
Upon hearing this, Bai Yunxi gently nodded. Suddenly, she stomped her foot, and the neatly arranged stone bricks perfectly formed a stone sword, which she tightly gripped. The sword energy was sharp and pointed directly at Qin Gou.
“Our sect’s Peak Master Zhou has no offspring. The one getting married is Peak Master Xie’s second daughter. Moreover, your artifact forging skills only reached the level of a Refinement Master several years ago. How could you possibly advance so quickly again? You clearly know nothing about the Sword Questioning Sect, yet you dare impersonate the Sect Master? Who exactly are you?!”
Bai Yunxi’s voice was sharp, and her aura roared like a strong wind, causing all the chairs and benches in the room to vibrate.
“Peak Master Bai, wait! Let me explain in detail!” Qin Gou inwardly cursed. He truly knew nothing about Xia Luyin, which was why he had been exposed.
At that moment, Xia Luyin’s external incarnation, which had been hidden behind the throne and was devoid of consciousness, was also shaken and toppled over, revealing half of its body with its back to the two.
“Sect Master!”
For a moment, Bai Yunxi’s eyes were filled with disbelief. She shouted, and the stone sword in her hand swung at Qin Gou like a thunderous clap, swift and unstoppable.
“Damn it!”
Qin Gou dodged and weaved, retreating repeatedly. At this point, he was in an untenable situation, unable to speak. In such circumstances, anyone would lose their mind.
Qin Gou was gradually forced to the windowsill, with no room to retreat. After all, even if he broke through the window and escaped, Bai Yunxi would likely escalate the matter, making it impossible to resolve.
In utter helplessness, Qin Gou decided to reveal his true appearance. “Peak Master Bai, actually, I am…”
At the same moment, behind him, his slender shadow, illuminated by the sunlight, coincidentally transformed into the shape of a delicate woman.
Yi Chengying, in her gracefully flowing pleated flower skirt, rose from the shadow like an elf. “Finally, I can teleport! Lord Qin, Fellow Daoist Li asked me to tell you that if…”
Yi Chengying’s words were cut short as she saw Bai Yunxi’s stone sword ruthlessly cleaving towards Qin Gou.
Although Qin Gou had changed his appearance, Yi Chengying, born from his shadow, naturally recognized him. In an instant, two furry cat ears sprouted above Yi Chengying’s head, and her black and white beautiful eyes narrowed like a furious wild cat. She punched the body of Bai Yunxi’s sword, directly deflecting the long sword.
“Do you want to die!?”
A furious shout filled with shock and anger was heard. A multitude of afterimages of small chairs exploded within the room, indistinguishable from the real ones. They moved like ghosts from various tricky and vicious angles, constantly attacking Bai Yunxi, preventing her from getting within half a step of Qin Gou.
Bai Yunxi’s eyes flashed. While performing a sharp sword dance, spiritual power emanated from her throat.
Qin Gou immediately transformed the Myriad Seed into the Profound Rank Living Dead Vine and wrapped it around Bai Yunxi, shouting, “Little Chair, restrain her! Do not let her transmit any messages!”
Amidst the dazzling afterimages, one of the small chairs twitched its cat ears. Gritting its silver teeth, it slapped its own chest.
The pleated flower skirt on Yi Chengying’s body seemed to turn into mist and directly penetrated and detached from her body. It then coiled around Bai Yunxi like a spirit snake, binding her tightly. Caught off guard, Bai Yunxi’s face showed anger, and she knelt on the ground.
This dress was no longer the one Little Chair wore when she was in the Mystic Maiden Raksha Palace. It was the top-grade Emperor Weapon that Qin Gou had personally given her after he plundered the Purple Extreme Demonic Sect’s treasury, a treasure even the Purple Extreme Demon, Zhao Xinting, cherished.
At the same time, with complete trust in Yi Chengying’s success, Qin Gou had already lunged forward. He covered Bai Yunxi’s delicate face with the Dizzying God Handkerchief and pushed her to the ground.
Despite her struggles, Bai Yunxi lost consciousness after a few seconds, still unconvinced.
Qin Gou withdrew the Dizzying God Handkerchief and looked at his masterpiece before him: Little Yan’s mother, Bai Yunxi, the esteemed master of Li Yuanzhen, now in a coma… He felt a headache coming on. Due to various coincidences, he seemed to have strayed far down the path of becoming enemies with Little Gambler and Little Yan…
Little Chair, now clad only in her undergarments, squatted in the corner hugging her snow-white knees. She looked at Xia Luyin, who had died behind the throne, and then at Bai Yunxi at Qin Gou’s feet. She patted her little head, her crimson lips pursed with a hint of lingering fear. “Lord Qin previously said he would definitely not attack Fellow Daoist Li’s junior disciples, and he certainly keeps his word.”
