After His Demise, the Demon Lord's Doted Canary Finally Sees the Light - Chapter 42

Three days later, Qiu Fuxue still found Jiufang Cangze’s  name on the list of applicants for the great selection.

“Chuanze,” an independent cultivator.

When he had brought the man back, he had used this name to avoid suspicion.

“He’s really deluding himself into becoming Senior Brother’s disciple, isn’t he?” Li Yun  ran his fingertip over the character ‘ze’, pressing down with some force, leaving a faint indentation.

Qiu Fuxue was calm. “The rules of the selection are in our hands. We’ll just find a reason to dismiss him later.”

The selection was imminent, and Sunset City at the foot of Snowfall Mountain was bustling with activity. Many cultivators had come, and even those who were too old to be accepted still wanted to participate.

After Jiufang Cangze entered the solitary confinement area, he realized it was more than just a place for meditation. He was thoroughly tormented, suffering many superficial injuries before he was let out, covered in dirt.

His spiritual core was damaged, so his wounds healed slowly. Fortunately, Sunset City was a chaotic mix of people, and his state didn’t attract much attention from the cultivators. A few young women, however, blushed and gave him shy glances.

His looks were exceptional, but at the moment, his heart seemed to belong to only one person.

Even without his cultivation, he still had the aura of a high-ranking individual. Jiufang Cangze merely glanced at the young women, and they were startled and ran away.

He looked away disdainfully when a familiar white sleeve entered his view.

“A-Xue! What are you doing here?”

With a wooden sword and a scabbard, Jiufang Cangze sharply noticed a hint of red on the tip of the blade, carrying a few wisps of demonic energy, as Qiu Fuxue sheathed it.

“Just passing by.”

“Passing by?” Jiufang Cangze gave a meaningful smile. “Could it be that A-Xue was worried about my safety…?”

As he spoke, his hand started to move.

Qiu Fuxue’s eyes flashed with a warning. “I was just taking care of some stragglers. I can take care of you, too.”

The string of blood-red pearls peeked out from under his sleeve. Recalling that unpleasant sensation, Jiufang Cangze wisely backed away. “You don’t need to deal with those scum personally. Just send them after me.”

But Qiu Fuxue didn’t think so. Jiufang Cangze had only been down the mountain for a few hours, and he had already attracted those people. It showed how eager the other side was to find out what was going on.

A suspicious figure flashed through the crowd. Qiu Fuxue sensed them, used his sword scabbard to push Jiufang Cangze aside, and gave chase.

Everything was ready, and the selection began.

Everyone was eager, but at the sect gate alone, more than half of the unqualified applicants were eliminated.

On the first day, Qiu Fuxue did not show up. Li Yun sat on the high platform and watched. Although Jiufang Cangze had lost his cultivation, his martial arts skills were still intact. With his damaged spiritual core, he still managed to pass two rounds of the selection.

With his fists clenched, Li Yun watched the brave figure below with displeasure. Regardless of the reason, he could not allow Jiufang Cangze to have a smooth journey.

He then remembered what his senior brother had said: the rules were in their hands.

Li Yun leaned back in his chair, summoned a disciple, and pointed to the striking figure in the crowd. “The challenges are so difficult, yet he passes so easily. Go and investigate his background. Especially, find out what kind of evil arts he’s using.”

He intentionally emphasized the last words. The disciple, who was one of his trusted confidants, immediately understood his intention.

“Yes, sir!”

The first day of the trial ended. The Thousand Thoughts Sect arranged accommodation for the successful applicants. Just as they were secretly celebrating, a group of inner disciples came in and took away a person named Chuanze without any explanation.

That night, Qiu Fuxue returned to his room and found that Li Yun was already waiting for him.

“Senior Brother, you’re back.”

Li Yun was dressed in a clean inner robe, his long hair spread out. He looked as if he was about to bring his pillow and blanket over.

Qiu Fuxue felt a sense of nostalgia, as if he were a child again. He wasn’t good at expressing emotions, but he genuinely liked this clingy junior brother. Whenever the other person insisted on sleeping with him, he would generously give up half of his bed.

Li Yun helped his senior brother take off his outer robe. When he smelled the demonic energy on it, his brows furrowed. “Let’s get this robe washed tomorrow.”

Qiu Fuxue nodded, then turned to business. “There are some impure disciples in the sect. I’d appreciate it if you’d keep an eye on them for me, A-Yun.”

“Of course, Senior Brother. There’s no need to be so polite.”

They had only just taken over the sect, and they had a very small number of trusted people to rely on, so they had to do most things themselves.

After a long day of work, Qiu Fuxue took off his clothes and bathed. Li Yun held his “freshly made” senior brother for a while, rubbing against him until he started to feel a strange reaction. When Qiu Fuxue showed no response, he reluctantly let go.

Giving up the idea of staying the night, Li Yun forced a smile. “Senior Brother, you should rest. I’ll get going now.”

On the second day of the selection, a snow-white figure finally appeared on the lonely high platform.

The trial ground was the open plaza of the Thousand Thoughts Sect. A barrier was set up around it, and the applicants filed in through the gate.

The first thing they noticed was the brilliant figure on the high platform.

“That must be Sect Leader Qiu, right?”

“Immortal Lord Fuxue, his reputation is well-deserved… He’s so beautiful!”

“He looks even younger than us…”

“How can you see that from so far away?”

“With my heart, of course…”

The applicants were all young, but one couldn’t judge cultivators by mortal age. A rare genius like Qiu Fuxue, who was favored by the heavens, was a once-in-a-millennium sight.

“Ahem!”

The inner disciple in charge of the trial gestured for them to snap out of it and turn their gaze away from the sect leader.

“The rules for today’s trial are simple. You will draw lots, and you’ll be paired up. The loser leaves.”

After the rules were announced, they voluntarily lined up to draw their opponents. At that moment, Li Yun, who was sitting next to Qiu Fuxue, gave a slight smile.

Qiu Fuxue glanced at him but didn’t say a word.

When the first group of participants entered the special barrier for the match, they were shocked to find intense magical fluctuations in the center of the open area. In no time, a person with both wrists bound by dark iron chains appeared there.

It was none other than Chuanze, the man who had been taken away yesterday.

Jiufang Cangze knelt on the ground, covered in bruises and wounds. Blood dripped from his forehead and the corner of his mouth. He seemed to have suffered a serious internal injury, and his consciousness was hazy.

For a moment, Qiu Fuxue mistook the blood on his forehead for a demonic pattern, and his heart clenched.

At that moment, a warm hand covered his. “Don’t worry, Senior Brother. His identity won’t be exposed.”

Qiu Fuxue lowered his eyes. It was clear that this was his first time being the “villain,” and he was a little unaccustomed to it. “Give him a little lesson. It’s better this way, so he’ll behave.”

After a small commotion, the inner disciple in charge of the event spoke up. “There’s no need to be alarmed, everyone. This man used evil arts to infiltrate our Thousand Thoughts Sect and plotted ill intentions. He has been captured, and his appearance here is to deter demons and demonstrate the power of our Immortal Sect!”

Immortals and demons were irreconcilable enemies. Everyone agreed and responded in unison. The sound filled the sky.

Qiu Fuxue took a deep breath. He felt that this scene was very familiar.

It was probably the same sight he had faced when he was tied up on the Spirit Extermination Platform.

The hearts of people were so easily swayed.

He touched the string of pearls on his hand. Underneath the pearls was the Golden Silk Birdcage Seal , a mark he would never be able to get rid of in this life.

His flesh had grown back, and the curse had naturally returned to its complete form. Just as Qingsu had said, this curse was quite beautiful, one-of-a-kind in the world.

His pale red eyes flickered. He whispered to himself, “This is nothing. I have suffered far more than you…”