After Changing Her Fate, the Vicious Female Villain and the Protagonist Got an HE! - Chapter 22

Chapter 22: Demon Race

Wen Shurong only felt a dizzy spell. When she recovered, she had reappeared in the Extreme West Desert.

A familiar fragrance reached her nose. Her Senior Sister was holding her right hand, her palm simultaneously gripping the golden jade slip that had transported them out.

After more than half a year, returning to this place, the scene before their eyes was no different from before.

Qin Niyun used her divine sense to survey the surroundings, confirming that there were no suspicious individuals within a hundred li, and her guard slightly lessened.

“Junior Sister, the Extreme West Desert has a hot climate, and the wood-attribute spiritual qi is relatively scarce. It’s not suitable for our long-term cultivation. I suggest we head east. What are your thoughts, Junior Sister?”

Wen Shurong nodded with a smile: “I was just thinking the same. The Fire Spirit Pearl is temporarily unusable due to excessive consumption. To increase our cultivation as quickly as possible, we need to find a place where a Spiritual Vein exists.”

Within the Xuan Yuan Realm, large Spiritual Veins are all controlled by various forces. However, occasionally, newly formed medium and small Spiritual Veins remain undiscovered.

If they were lucky enough to stumble upon one, setting up a Spirit Gathering Array in that area would make their cultivation efforts twice as effective.

Qin Niyun had also thought about this matter before. The two were truly connected by a common thought.

With their agreement, they quickly set off, flying eastward through the air.

Half a day later, passing through Heavenly Void City, Wen Shurong discovered that the Snow Spirit Cat Ruyi, who had been sleeping and recovering in the Spirit Beast Bag, was awake. After discussing it with her Senior Sister, they temporarily stayed in the city and purchased many Spirit Serving Pills that Ruyi loved to eat.

Because flying was prohibited in Heavenly Void City, the two walked slowly along the wide streets. The discussions of passing cultivators continuously reached their ears.

“I heard that many people died outside the city again last night!”

“Alas, it’s already the third day! We don’t even know who the killer is. If this continues, I’m planning to leave this area!”

“Fellow Daoist Li, although it’s dangerous outside the city, the city itself is quite safe.”

“I don’t think so. Didn’t something happen in the west of the city the day before yesterday?”

“But the City Lord’s Mansion said it was an accident, that they went berserk while cultivating and suffered a deviation.”

“Heh, Fellow Daoist Wang might believe that, but I don’t. Four people suffering a deviation at the same time? How could there be such a coincidence in the world?”

…

Wen Shurong listened to these discussions, about to speak, when a sudden commotion came from the city gate.

A cultivator covered in blood rushed into the city, ignoring the guards’ attempts to stop him, repeatedly shouting one sentence: “The Demon Subduing Grand Array in the Return to Origin Mountain Range is destroyed, and a massive amount of Demonic Qi is surging from underground!”

Inside Heavenly Void City, the expressions of all the cultivators who heard this news changed drastically.

“The Demon Subduing Grand Array has existed for nearly ten thousand years. How could it suddenly be destroyed?”

“The Return to Origin Mountain Range is less than a hundred li from Heavenly Void City. Could the casualties outside the city these past few days be entirely due to this change?”

“Rumor has it that the Demon Subduing Grand Array was set up to suppress Extra-Territorial Demon Race members who invaded the Xuan Yuan Realm from the void. Now that the array is gone, have they returned?”

“This is a place of trouble. We shouldn’t linger. It’s best for us to leave as soon as possible!”

At this moment, many cultivators set off, heading straight for the city gate.

Wen Shurong stood side by side with Qin Niyun, momentarily unable to decide.

“Senior Sister, should we stay here, or leave immediately?”

“The demon calamity of ten thousand years ago was thoroughly documented in the sect’s ancient records. It affected more than half of the Xuan Yuan Realm. If it truly is the Extra-Territorial Demon Race, we alone cannot handle it. Staying here is useless. I suggest we return to the sect immediately and report this matter to the sect.”

“Alright.”

The original plan was disrupted, but Wen Shurong knew the seriousness of the matter and had no objection.

The two left Heavenly Void City and rushed eastward toward the Lingxiao Sect’s location.

Affected by the incident at the Return to Origin Mountain Range, they dedicated a part of their divine sense to observing the situation in various places along the way.

Ten thousand years ago, the Extra-Territorial Demon Race invaded the Xuan Yuan Realm. They were eventually jointly sealed by various Great Powers. There were a total of ten Demon Subduing Grand Arrays until now.

Starting from Heavenly Void City and heading to the Lingxiao Sect’s gate, a journey of approximately eighty thousand li, they would pass by two Demon Subduing Grand Arrays.

If those two arrays were intact, the situation would not be overly serious. However, if both arrays were destroyed, the Xuan Yuan Realm would likely face another demon calamity.

Facts proved that the worst outcome had occurred.

When Wen Shurong and Qin Niyun passed through the relevant areas, they clearly sensed the surging Demonic Qi below, soaring straight into the sky.

Historically, Demonic Qi and spiritual qi are mutually exclusive. In places where Demonic Qi exists, the spiritual qi is completely devoured.

Demon Cultivators and the Demon Race are vastly different. Although the former act recklessly, they ultimately cultivate using spiritual qi and belong to the human race. Judging solely from their meridians and Dantian, they are no different from orthodox cultivators.

However, the Demon Race are not human. Demonic Qi should not exist in the cultivation world.

Once a cultivator in this realm comes into contact with Demonic Qi and has it infused into their body, their meridians and Dantian will undergo anomalies, transforming them into non-human, non-demon monsters who abandon all familial ties.

According to the sect’s ancient records, cultivators infused with Demonic Qi are collectively referred to as Half-Demons.

After becoming a Half-Demon, their strength would increase by a large margin compared to their original level, making them very difficult to deal with.

Zhou Kong at the time secretly acted to seize the World Origin Power of the subordinate Canghai Minor World precisely when the Great Powers of the Xuan Yuan Realm were exhausted from dealing with the rampant demon calamity and had no time to spare.

By the time the cultivators of the Xuan Yuan Realm had paid a huge price to seal the source of the demon calamity and discovered the matter, it was too late.

With the World Origin Power of an entire realm bolstering him, no one in the Xuan Yuan Realm was a match for Zhou Kong.

Fortunately, the fiend was eventually punished by the Heavenly Dao and failed to ascend. Otherwise, going to the Immortal Realm with his character, he would certainly become a Fallen Immortal who harms that realm.

Wen Shurong recalled the records in the sect’s ancient texts, flying through the air while transmitting a message to Qin Niyun.

“With the initial manifestation of this demon omen, Senior Sister, do you think it could be Zhou Kong secretly at work, finding a way to destroy the Demon Subduing Grand Arrays?”

A response quickly came from the Sea of Consciousness.

“That’s definitely possible. Everything Zhou Kong did before was to seize Destiny. If the destruction of the Demon Subduing Grand Array was indeed his doing, there must be a purpose, perhaps the same as before.”

Wen Shurong mused: “Now that the demon calamity has begun, there are many variables. Judging by the current scale, the sect must have already learned the details.”

If only one Demon Subduing Grand Array was destroyed, the news might not spread so quickly, but that was not the case now.

Despite this speculation, the two did not change their planned route.

With danger lurking everywhere, returning to the sect would be safer.

Furthermore, with the demon calamity descending, the Lingxiao Sect would dispatch personnel to various regions under its jurisdiction when necessary.

As sect cultivators, they had been sheltered by the sect since joining. Even if they had had conflicts with some fellow disciples, they could not disregard the sect’s kindness.

The Soul Transformation Stage is already genuinely considered high-level cultivation in the Xuan Yuan Realm. Although the Lingxiao Sect has many disciples, the total number of Soul Transformation cultivators is no more than a hundred. Returning to the sect might allow them to help at a critical moment.

…

Two zhuxiang later, Wen Shurong and Qin Niyun approached the Pinghe Sea Area and were suddenly surrounded by a group of Half-Demons.

Cultivators infused with Demonic Qi are easily recognizable by their blood-red eyes and the black, spider-web-like patterns covering their faces.

If the previous speculation that the demon calamity was caused by Zhou Kong’s meddling, now it could be confirmed.

These Half-Demons were clearly prepared. The moment they appeared, they unleashed all their killing moves, giving the two no chance to react.

Fortunately, the defense of a Soul Transformation cultivator is not weak. Relying on their protective spiritual light, they barely blocked the first wave of attacks.

Due to the intense offensive, they suffered a recoil that caused their vital energy and blood to surge. Undoubtedly, if the attack had been slightly stronger, they would have been injured.

There were a total of twenty enemies. Although infused with Demonic Qi, it could vaguely be determined that their highest cultivation was only the late Nascent Soul Stage.

This level, after becoming Half-Demons, gained a huge boost in strength, enough to directly besiege two Soul Transformation cultivators. The terror of the demon calamity in the past was evident from this.

Wen Shurong reacted extremely quickly. The moment she blocked the attack, she swiftly took out the Shan Hai Zither and plucked the strings consecutively. She played in unison with her Senior Sister, and a defense unique to Innate Spiritual Treasures instantly formed around them.

At the same time, the sound attack reached the enemies’ ears, controlling their minds and instantly plunging them into an illusion.

The second wave of attacks, which was about to be launched, was suddenly interrupted, with only a very small number landing on the defensive circle.

The Zither Spirit and Flute Spirit seized the opportunity to attack. Light blades of spiritual power instantly shot out, reaping the enemies’ lives.

Under this joint effort, the surrounding Half-Demons were eliminated one by one.

Before long, Wen Shurong, holding the Shan Hai Zither, and her Senior Sister set off again, rushing toward the sect.

This time, they maintained a high level of vigilance and encountered no further enemies, successfully returning to the Lingxiao Sect.

When they left, they were both at the Core Formation Stage. Now, they returned from their journey at the Soul Transformation Stage.

Disciples who noticed their return, sensing their realms, stopped in place, one by one, speechless in shock.

It was a long while before someone spoke: “Are those Senior Sister Qin and Senior Sister Wen?”

Not far away, a fellow disciple nodded in agreement: “Senior Brother Zhao, you are not mistaken. They are indeed the two Senior Sisters.”

“Didn’t the sect have a rumor that Senior Sister Qin removed her Core to save someone…”

“Rumors are just rumors. They haven’t been confirmed. Who knows what the truth is? Besides, there are countless rare items in the world. I believe that even after removing her Core, recovery is not impossible.”

“I wonder what great fortune the two Senior Sisters encountered. They left the sect for only half a year and actually jumped from the Core Formation Stage to the Soul Transformation Stage. If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I absolutely wouldn’t believe it!”

“I heard that something big happened outside recently. At this critical juncture, it’s great for the sect to have two more Soul Transformation cultivators. Let’s hope the disaster doesn’t spread to us.”

…

Wen Shurong returned to Ruo Yun Peak and stayed in the cave dwelling with her Senior Sister for a moment. She unexpectedly received a divine sense message from her Master, Yue Lan.

Previously, when she left Fountain Ancient City and went to the Kunlun Mountains, she had gone to the divine shrine to bid farewell to her Master before leaving.

At that time, she had asked her Master whether she should return to the Lingxiao Sect. Her Master had remained silent and did not give an answer.

Therefore, Wen Shurong hadn’t held much hope.

Now, suddenly hearing her Master’s divine sense message, she was naturally overjoyed. A smile blossomed on her face as she spoke to the girl in white beside her about the matter.

“Senior Sister, Master is back! She has something to discuss with us and asked us to visit Green Bamboo Peak when we are free.”

Qin Niyun nodded with a smile: “Since that’s the case, let’s go immediately.”

Yue Lan was once the Peak Master of Green Bamboo Peak. During the war between the human and demon races that year, she sacrificed her body to form an array. The position of Peak Master was cunningly obtained by Wu Yuan. Later, that person was punished by Luo Hua and confined to the Forest of Contemplation, leaving the Peak Master position vacant.

Not long ago, with the assistance of Elder Jiu Xuan, Yue Lan returned to the Lingxiao Sect and retook charge of Green Bamboo Peak.

Wen Shurong and Qin Niyun set off together. Two streaks of light instantly rose into the air, reaching their destination in just a moment.

Arriving at Green Bamboo Peak, they found that the layout had undergone earth-shattering changes compared to half a year ago.

Not only that, but they didn’t see any of the somewhat familiar faces that were originally on the peak. All signs indicated that Green Bamboo Peak had likely experienced a major event during the past six months…

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