After the Demon Lord was Reborn, She Switched to a Master-Disciple Romance Script - Chapter 26

Zhu Jiyun never imagined Zhao Qianfan and the others would spend three whole days at Lingyan Pavilion before emerging.

Three days in such a place could drastically change a person’s demeanor.

The Senior Brother who had arrived at Lingyan Pavilion looking so clean and reserved now emerged with swollen eyelids and hazy eyes.

Though the two men had discreetly used magic to cleanse themselves of any physical traces while avoiding mortal eyes, no amount of outward cleanliness could hide the ugliness that had taken root in their souls.

Zhao Qianfan clapped the man beside him on the shoulder, a knowing smile spreading across his face. “See, Junior Brother? Wasn’t I right?”

Xiang Shao recalled the three days and nights of unrestrained pleasure, and his mouth suddenly went dry again. He bowed to Zhao Qianfan. “Senior Brother, your wisdom truly knows no bounds.”

A smug glint flashed in Zhao Qianfan’s eyes. “Those women in our Sect? Their minds are always on cultivation. They’re utterly clueless about romance. Touch them even slightly, and they’ll draw their swords as if you’ve insulted them. How can they compare to these mortal women? So charming, so gentle, so alluring.”

“Remember, the balance of yin and yang is the natural order of the Heavenly Dao. Why should we shy away from such things?”

Having now tasted the pleasures of the flesh, Xiang Shao naturally agreed with Zhao Qianfan’s words.

Seeing this, Zhao Qianfan’s smugness only deepened.

During this trip to the Human Realm, he had spent far longer at Lingyan Pavilion than usual. Normally, he would only stay for a day and a half at most, but this time he had lingered for an unusually long time. The pavilion had also gained several new faces, and he found himself drawn in, unable to tear himself away.

After indulging in some relaxation, it was time to focus on more important matters.

He had taken on a mission to the Monster Realm, so he exchanged a few words with Xiang Shao about their experiences before departing.

Zhu Jiyun glanced at Zhao Qianfan and, taking advantage of his distraction, cast another Tracking Spell on him. Then she turned and followed Xiang Shao.

Two years ago, Senior Brother Chen had been brought to Lingyan Pavilion by Zhao Qianfan. The Spirit-Seeking Art had traced his last known location to the pavilion itself, or at least the surrounding area.

Unfortunately, Zhu Jiyun had searched for three days recently without finding anything unusual.

Now that Xiang Shao had also been brought to Lingyan Pavilion by Zhao Qianfan, and like Senior Brother Chen and Senior Sister Huang, was considered one of the more promising disciples of their generation, these overlapping factors suggested that Xiang Shao might hold a clue.

As for Zhao Qianfan, based on past observations, he likely wouldn’t encounter any trouble for the time being.

Zhu Jiyun followed Xiang Shao northward.

Since he was on a mission, Xiang Shao was clearly traveling with purpose.

Zhu Jiyun kept her eyes fixed on Xiang Shao’s retreating figure, maintaining a careful distance to avoid detection.

But as they approached a dense forest, he suddenly vanished!

Her pupils constricted as she rushed to the spot where he had disappeared.

“Hidden Spirit Secret Art!”

Standing where Xiang Shao had vanished, Zhu Jiyun’s gaze darkened as she meticulously sensed the subtle fluctuations in the air.

The Hidden Spirit Secret Art was a spatial technique. When activated, it could sweep a cultivator into another dimension, completely concealing their spiritual presence and making them untraceable. Hence its name, “Hidden Spirit.”

The method for mastering this art was recorded on an ancient scroll, long lost to time. Few knew of its existence, and even fewer could fully master it and successfully cast it.

Only seconds had passed between Xiang Shao’s disappearance and Zhu Jiyun’s arrival, yet the distorted air had already returned to normal, leaving no trace of the anomaly. It was as if what she had witnessed was merely an illusion.

A spatial technique capable of such rapid restoration required cultivation at least at the Spirit Severing Stage.

Zhu Jiyun retrieved an item from her Cosmic Pouch that carried Xiang Shao’s lingering spiritual aura. It was a piece of fabric she had deliberately torn from his robes when he left Lingyan Pavilion.

Though not a personal item, it should have absorbed enough of his aura over the past three days to serve her purpose.

She cast the Spirit-Seeking Art, and the results confirmed this was the last place his aura lingered.

Zhu Jiyun wasn’t too disappointed.

She had anticipated this outcome, and this attempt was merely to confirm her suspicions.

The situation mirrored their recent efforts to locate Senior Brother Chen and Senior Sister Huang.

“The Hidden Spirit Secret Art…”

Very few people knew of this secret art, let alone how to break it. Unfortunately for Elder Yue, Zhu Jiyun was one of those rare individuals.

Her knowledge stemmed from another person’s influence.

Elder Yue, so you began plotting this long ago?

Zhu Jiyun chuckled softly, her eyes shifting with unfathomable emotions. Finally, she raised her hand and channeled her spiritual power. The pure, pristine energy in her palms gradually darkened, inch by inch, until it was completely black.

Demonic Qi!

Flap flap

The birds nesting in the dense forest shrieked and scattered in all directions, their wings beating frantically.

The Demonic Qi surged violently, coalescing into a massive blade. Its razor-sharp edge, impossible to withstand, slashed toward the far north!

Hum

An invisible barrier cracked. Yue Changqiu whirled around, abandoning the unconscious Xiang Shao on the ground.

Who dared tamper with his secret art barrier?!

Sensing something amiss, he glared balefully at the unconscious Xiang Shao. This young Spirit Bone, whose true potential remained unknown, had become an unexpected complication.

Yet having finally captured another specimen, letting this opportunity slip away would be a terrible waste.

A flash of viciousness crossed Yue Changqiu’s face. With a flick of his sleeve, he unleashed his Integration Stage Spiritual Power, instantly strangling the unconscious Xiang Shao. Then, with practiced ease, he extracted the Spirit Bone and departed.

When Zhu Jiyun arrived, she found Xiang Shao already lifeless.

His entire back had been sliced open, dripping with blood. The cavity where his Spirit Bone had been stored lay empty, a clear sign that someone had skinned him and extracted the bone.

After a cold glance at the bloodstained corpse on the ground, Zhu Jiyun raised her hand. An Image Stone the size of a copper coin materialized in her palm.

She had concealed this coin-sized Image Stone within the hilt of her Demonic Qi-transformed blade. If the Demon blade managed to breach the barrier of the Hidden Spirit Secret Art, the Image Stone would record everything within.

With a swipe of her palm, the Image Stone began playing the recorded footage.

The footage clearly showed the cause of Xiang Shao’s death, but the culprit remained indistinct.

Zhu Jiyun stared at the attacker’s back, shrouded in a black hooded robe that completely concealed his features. Only the half of his jaw exposed when he turned his head had been captured by the Image Stone.

On that jawline, there was a clear black mole.

Zhu Jiyun recognized him instantly!

It’s you, Yue Changqiu!

Zhu Jiyun’s grip on the Image Stone tightened, nearly crushing it to dust.

She quickly regained her composure and sent messages to Xia Lianjiao and Han Banmeng.

Half an hour later, the two arrived, their faces paling at the sight of the corpse on the ground.

Han Banmeng closed her eyes in terror. “Ahhh!”

Zhu Jiyun glanced at them, her words concise. “Take care of the body for now. I’m going after Zhao Qianfan.”

Xia Lianjiao, though brimming with questions, knew this wasn’t the time for them. She nodded. “Go. We’ll handle things here.”

Having given her instructions, Zhu Jiyun followed the Tracking Spell she had cast on Zhao Qianfan.

But when she arrived at the location, she found it completely empty.

“Is that you?”

A startled voice came from behind her.

Zhu Jiyun turned around.

Zhao Qianfan frowned deeply. “Junior Sister Zhu, why are you following me?”

He studied the strikingly beautiful Zhu Jiyun before him, recalling that he had never interacted with the Immortal Venerable Qingwu’s disciple before.

Halfway through his journey, Zhao Qianfan suddenly noticed traces of a Tracking Spell on his person. He immediately concealed his aura, curious to see who was following him.

To his surprise, it was Zhu Jiyun.

Zhu Jiyun’s gaze remained remarkably calm. “Because you’re useful,” she replied.

Before Zhao Qianfan could fully grasp her meaning, Zhu Jiyun drew her sword and pointed it at him.

His expression darkened as he parried with his own blade. “We have no quarrel, Junior Sister Zhu! What is the meaning of this?” he demanded fiercely.

“I’m at the Golden Core Stage, while you haven’t even formed your Golden Core yet. I advise you not to strike a stone with an egg!”

If it had been anyone else, Zhao Qianfan would have attacked without hesitation. But Zhu Jiyun was different. As the Immortal Venerable’s Chief Disciple, he couldn’t be certain whether harming her would provoke the Immortal Venerable to return and cleave him in two. He dared not take such a risk.

“You and your master, Yue Changqiu, are in league, scheming to seize the Spirit Bones of Sect disciples,” Zhu Jiyun declared. “How dare you ask why I’ve drawn my sword?”

Her voice was steady and soft, but her words struck Zhao Qianfan like a thunderbolt.

Seize Spirit Bones?!

Zhao Qianfan’s face flushed crimson. “Don’t spread such lies!”

The Spirit Bone was crucial for cultivation disciples. Without it, further progress in cultivation became impossible. No matter how great one’s talent, it would be forever stunted. Worse still, improper recovery could even threaten one’s life.

How could he do such a thing?!

No! How could his Master do such a thing?!

Zhu Jiyun sneered and showed him the Image Stone recording.

When Zhao Qianfan saw the black mole on the half-exposed jaw of the hooded figure, his pupils shrank dramatically.

He instinctively reached out to snatch the Image Stone.

Zhu Jiyun, anticipating this, quickly stored the Image Stone in her Cosmic Pouch before he could react.

Zhao Qianfan’s eyes flickered. “There are countless people in the world with moles on their jaws. Junior Sister Zhu has never even met my Master. How can you make such baseless accusations based on such flimsy evidence? Even Immortal Venerable Qingwu herself wouldn’t condemn someone without proper proof!”

As he spoke, he secretly gathered his energy, then suddenly lunged at Zhu Jiyun.

This woman must be silenced!

Zhu Jiyun drew her sword to parry.

They were a Spirit Void Stage cultivator and a Golden Core Stage cultivator respectively, a difference of one major realm, like an impassable chasm.

Yet, for some reason, the more Zhao Qianfan fought, the more he felt his strength failing him.

He was secretly alarmed, his eyes flickering as he stared at Zhu Jiyun, whose killing intent was palpable. One misstep, and he felt a ringing in his ears, his arm going numb from the force of her strike. He nearly lost his grip on his sword.

Zhu Jiyun was faring no better.

She had just used her own Spiritual Power to transform it into Demonic Qi, surpassing her usual strength to break the Hidden Spirit Secret Art. She hadn’t fully recovered yet, and now she was facing Zhao Qianfan, a Golden Core Stage cultivator. Her Spiritual Power was dangerously depleted, and her dantian felt hot, as if her Golden Core was beginning to form. She needed to end this quickly.

“Zhao Qianfan,” she called out deliberately, “surrender now!”

As expected, a flicker of guilt flashed across Zhao Qianfan’s face.

Belatedly, he recalled his Master’s instructions before his recent trips to the Human Realm. He finally understood what was happening.

But he couldn’t admit it.

He couldn’t even let Zhu Jiyun return to Qingmiao Sect alive.

If the Sect Leader were to probe his memories, everything would be exposed. His and his Master’s lives would be forfeit.

With these stakes in mind, Zhao Qianfan’s eyes turned malevolent. Gripping his sword tightly, he charged forward once more.

Zhu Jiyun’s eyes sharpened as she channeled the last of her nine layers of spiritual power, preparing for a final strike.

But before her sword could strike, a pure and formidable spiritual force erupted between her and Zhao Qianfan, shattering both their attacks.

Boom!

Zhao Qianfan was sent flying by the force, crashing into a tree. He twitched twice before losing consciousness.

Zhu Jiyun was also thrown backward. Before she could regain her balance and soften her fall, a gentle force from behind caught her, lowering her slowly until she lay back in a soft, icy embrace.

Master: Let’s see who’s fighting. Is that my little disciple? Sibling rivalry? Fine, I’ll stop them for now.

Spiritual Power: I understand preferential treatment. Just split into two streams: one to blast him away, the other to catch her.

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