Forcing the Aloof Master to Madness - Chapter 50

“Silly girl.”

Wang Xi’s cold voice was as before. If one disregarded those sensual dreams, the last time Shen Lezhi parted ways with Wang Xi was in the tense atmosphere at Youfang Academy.

But those dreams…

That Wang Xi who was repeatedly tortured by her in the dream and never resisted.

Shen Lezhi watched the small white sword emit white mist and Wang Xi emerge from it; the truth of the dreams seemed to have been answered.

This person with the cold face and cold eyes was always like this. In the book, her kindness to the original protagonist was never vocalized, and it was the same now with Shen Lezhi.

But that soft phrase landed in Shen Lezhi’s heart, making Shen Lezhi suddenly not want to dwell on anything anymore.

Besides, they didn’t have time to dwell on it now.

Although the illusion was broken, the pursuing enemy had not disappeared.

The enraged three-tailed, four-eyed sable demon saw its illusion broken and immediately roared, charging towards the group.

Shen Lezhi was too weak to fight, and although Hua Man’s body had recovered, she was still unconscious, and it was unclear if she was seriously injured.

Wang Xi glanced at Senior Sister Yunsha, signaling her to leave with Shen Lezhi and Hua Man.

Senior Sister Yunsha immediately understood. She half-supported Shen Lezhi, went down to retrieve the unconscious Hua Man, and then left the battleground on her sword.

But this area seemed to be obstructed by something. No matter how she flew, she couldn’t leave Fengdu Village. In the end, she had no choice but to stop in a hidden spot that wouldn’t be affected but still allowed them to observe the situation.

Senior Sister Yunsha realized that even though the three-tailed, four-eyed sable demon’s illusion was broken, they still couldn’t leave, meaning a special formation must be trapping them.

However, Senior Sister Yunsha wasn’t overly worried. After all, the Moonlit Immortal Venerable had arrived. Not just Senior Sister Yunsha, Shen Lezhi also had no doubt about this.

Wang Xi held the Azure Dragon Sword in the air, her cloud-embroidered robes billowing, looking ethereal and immortal between heaven and earth.

Wang Xi gathered spiritual power into the Azure Dragon Sword. The icy aura spread far, reaching the hidden spot where Shen Lezhi and the others were, allowing them to feel the terrifying pressure and coldness.

But the three-tailed, four-eyed sable demon was not an easy opponent. The sword strike Wang Xi delivered with gathered spiritual power was blocked by the demon head-on.

Shen Lezhi had never seen Wang Xi fight with her true strength. Everything Wang Xi had inflicted on her before were just minor methods; perhaps the overwhelming spiritual power Shen Lezhi felt then was less than one-tenth of what it was now.

At this moment, frost stained her brow, and even her hair was covered in a layer of ice. A cold, somber aura emanated from the Azure Dragon Sword.

Just looking at it, one could feel the chilling and intimidating presence surrounding her.

Yet, Wang Xi’s second sword strike was still taken by the sable demon.

Although the three-tailed, four-eyed sable demon was covered in blood from blocking the two strikes, its body’s healing speed was incredibly fast. The flesh torn by the sword aura was restored in just a few breaths.

“This three-tailed, four-eyed sable demon actually has the cultivation of the Soul Division stage,” Senior Sister Yunsha exclaimed in surprise while channeling spiritual power to Hua Man and watching the battle. She was astonished to see the sable demon block two of Wang Xi’s strikes.

Senior Sister Yunsha knew that Wang Xi’s cultivation had fallen after saving Shen Lezhi, and she only had Peak Soul Division cultivation now.

However, due to the Linglong Heart, even with only Peak Soul Division cultivation, she could still fight a Void Return stage grand expert.

But the three-tailed, four-eyed sable demon was also powerful. If the Moonlit Immortal Venerable hadn’t arrived today, the three of them would probably have died here.

Shen Lezhi, however, wasn’t worried at all, because she had already recognized that Wang Xi was using the Jadefrost Sword Technique.

The further the Jadefrost Sword Technique progressed, the fiercer and more domineering the moves became.

Especially when combined with Wang Xi’s Linglong Heart, the oppressive force of the sword moves made people almost gasp for breath.

Shen Lezhi even felt that this set of sword techniques was tailor-made for the Linglong Heart, or rather, for the owner of the Linglong Heart.

Because even though Shen Lezhi also possessed the Linglong Heart, she couldn’t fully integrate with it and similarly couldn’t unleash Wang Xi’s level of power.

But when Wang Xi used it, the vast and domineering spiritual power of the Linglong Heart perfectly merged with the Jadefrost Sword Technique. Every swing of the Azure Dragon Sword carried the astonishing force of moving mountains and seas.

The third sword strike, a deafening sword wind, shot out like a clap of thunder. The sword aura condensed into an extremely sharp spear, piercing directly towards the three-tailed, four-eyed sable demon.

The fourth sword strike—the continuously rising sword aura was now like a boundless ocean. The terrifying pressure caused the sable demon’s body to sink into the ground.

The demon’s body’s healing speed was visibly starting to slow down. It couldn’t hold on.

Wang Xi spun her wrist, executing a simple sword flourish, and then shot out like lightning, flying close to the three-tailed, four-eyed sable demon, whose arms hung limply, covered in fresh blood, and was now powerless.

The fifth sword strike was unleashed, swift and sharp, like a broken bamboo.

This earth-shattering blow was meant to declare the end of the battle.

But suddenly—

Wang Xi’s figure abruptly paused. She stopped right in front of the three-tailed, four-eyed sable demon, completely exposed and defenseless.

Even the sword aura on the Azure Dragon Sword dissipated completely in an instant.

Shen Lezhi and Senior Sister Yunsha were also stunned, their minds ceasing to think due to this sudden change.

By the time they recovered, Wang Xi had already been stabbed through the body by the three-tailed, four-eyed sable demon’s sharp claws.

Her body was violently slammed to the ground by the demon, falling heavily like a broken kite.

Vivid blood instantly stained her snow-white robes, dying the cloud embroidery on her hem a bright crimson.

It was like the fiery red clouds in the sky at dusk.

Shen Lezhi’s heart stopped. She couldn’t believe that what was happening before her was real.

How could Wang Xi be injured?

How could that astonishing person be defeated in this fight?

Seeing the three-tailed, four-eyed sable demon’s attack coming again, Wang Xi immediately rolled away to dodge, raised her hand to form a magical seal, and braced herself on the Azure Dragon Sword, readjusting her fighting stance.

Shen Lezhi saw her figure begin to blur. Shen Lezhi recognized this state; it was the same when the other party came to save her through the small white sword in the small secret realm.

Shen Lezhi later learned that because the small secret realm suppressed cultivation, with Wang Xi’s spiritual power at the time, her body couldn’t fully solidify.

Although she could be touched, she appeared only as an ethereal and unreal illusion.

And coming to Shen Lezhi through the small white sword was not her actual body but her spiritual consciousness, similar to a spirit-out-of-body technique.

The main body remained in place, and the spiritual consciousness attached to a material object to travel elsewhere.

Therefore, did Wang Xi suddenly stop defenseless and then suddenly turn into this illusory state because her main body was injured?

Shen Lezhi dared not imagine.

She saw blood oozing from the corner of the person’s mouth hanging in mid-air, and the frost on her brow was even thicker.

And her figure became more and more illusory, looking as if she would disappear at any moment.

The three-tailed, four-eyed sable demon also sensed her current instability, seized the opportunity, and attacked furiously, wildly swinging its claws without caring about Wang Xi’s counter-attacks.

Wang Xi was no longer as skillful in responding as before. She frowned deeply. More and more blood flowed from the pierced wound on her waist, quickly soaking her entire robe.

Shen Lezhi was anxious and wanted to shout for her to quickly stop this state. If Wang Xi’s main body was truly being attacked in such a defenseless state, the consequences would be unimaginable.

As if sensing Shen Lezhi’s anxiety and inner voice, a burst of icy spiritual power seemed to wander through Shen Lezhi’s spiritual platform.

Wang Xi suddenly turned to look at her, the dazzling crimson staining those thin lips, seemingly making the icy person less cold and ruthless.

Wang Xi raised a finger to her lips, as if reminding Shen Lezhi not to make a sound.

She was indeed reminding her. The clear voice and the finger gesture entered Shen Lezhi’s mind simultaneously.

Then, she turned her head, no longer looking at Shen Lezhi, and her originally illusory body suddenly solidified completely again.

The aura around her instantly surged to an alarming degree.

But Shen Lezhi became even more anxious. She was practically pinching her fingertips, staring at the person in front of her with tremors.

Because as Wang Xi’s aura soared, she could no longer suppress the coppery sweetness surging in her mouth, and she spat out a mouthful of blood.

Shen Lezhi had never seen Wang Xi in such a state of distress, only once dreaming when she first arrived in this world that the other party was surrounded by countless cultivators and pierced through the body by the original protagonist’s sword.

In that dream, Wang Xi eventually died.

But here, Wang Xi couldn’t stop the blood gushing from her body. She simply ignored it, carelessly wiping away the bloodstains from the corner of her mouth.

Then, the Azure Dragon Sword was drawn. First, it parried the heavy incoming blow from the three-tailed, four-eyed sable demon, and then spiritual power immediately poured out. The dominating ice spirit instantly froze and condensed everything around them.

The three-tailed, four-eyed sable demon’s next attack was delayed by this move. Immediately following, Wang Xi raised the Azure Dragon Sword high, and an overwhelming aura swept through.

Heaven and earth changed color at this instant. A deafening dragon roar sounded from the clouds in the sky.

It was as if a true dragon was parting the clouds, about to descend from the heavens.

Wind surged, thunder sounded, accompanied by bursts of shocking dragon roars, as if a heavenly punishment was descending.

This world-shattering strike landed on the three-tailed, four-eyed sable demon without missing. It dodged frantically, but it was useless.

It even tried to rely on its rapid regeneration to withstand the blow, but the moment the attack landed on it, it was instantly reduced to dust, leaving nothing behind.

But Wang Xi’s figure flickered at the same moment, and she fell heavily to the ground, unable to hold on, her body immediately becoming transparent and illusory.

Before Shen Lezhi even had time to rush to her side, her figure dissipated and completely disappeared, without even leaving a farewell message.

Shen Lezhi stood listlessly, her eyes red, her whole body feeling icy cold, as if even the air around her had turned frigid.

On the other side, after sending Shen Lezhi off, Wang Xi found a hidden cave and stayed there. She planned to attach her spiritual consciousness to the small white sword and travel with Shen Lezhi, at least until the other party reached Canfeng City.

She knew that prolonged separation of the spiritual consciousness from the body was very dangerous. Without someone to guard her, any Core Formation cultivator could kill her. So, she couldn’t stay at Youfang Academy all the time; there were too many prying eyes.

This cave was located within a steep cliff, with a waterfall conveniently concealing the entrance.

Wang Xi had even bored the cave straight through to the center of the mountain, a long distance from the exit.

Wang Xi also asked Feng Nianzhen for a Spirit-Warding Formation to ensure that her spiritual power would not linger outside the cave.

But even so, she was still found. Wang Xi didn’t know where the problem lay or how the enemy found her.

She had been traveling externally with her spiritual consciousness for a long time, staying inside the small white sword, and was completely unaware that someone had found her location.

She hadn’t thought anyone would find her.

This place was extremely secluded, like a remote area where even birds wouldn’t fly. Two high mountains were split apart, forming a huge canyon with a turbulent, ceaselessly flowing river below.

But those people seemed to know her location perfectly. In less than a month, they had managed to find her and injure her while her spiritual consciousness was traveling.

The reason they were searching for her so desperately was twofold: first, Wang Xi had found the forbidden area of the Jadefrost Sect during her last visit and destroyed the entrance, which alerted them.

Second, Wang Xi had previously planned to keep playing along with those people. They wanted to use Shen Lezhi to kill her, and she wanted to use Shen Lezhi to lure out the people in the shadows.

But now, she no longer wanted Shen Lezhi to return to the Jadefrost Sect and was unwilling to let the latter get involved again.

She had cut off all of Shen Lezhi’s connections with the Jadefrost Sect. The Sect Master could no longer even find Shen Lezhi via spiritual communication.

Such actions naturally aroused the Sect Master’s suspicion. The other party likely guessed something, so they resorted to more drastic measures against Wang Xi.

So, what method did they use to find her?

Could this method also be used to find Shen Lezhi?

Wang Xi had only set up one layer of defense for herself. The defensive artifact was quickly shattered by the enemy when she was attacked.

But she couldn’t abandon Shen Lezhi at that moment. The three-tailed, four-eyed sable demon of Soul Division cultivation had immediately dragged them into an illusion.

Wang Xi was not good at formations, illusions, or similar spells. If her main body had been with Shen Lezhi, she might have been able to find a way to break in from the outside, but the power of her spiritual consciousness alone was not enough.

However, her disciple was truly reckless yet kind. Despite her meridians being in such a state, she still forcibly circulated her spiritual power to save others.

But despite her recklessness, she was always perceptive. Shen Lezhi desperately tore open a small gap in the illusion, which finally gave Wang Xi an opportunity.

After being attacked, Wang Xi couldn’t worry about the danger to her main body; she had to save Shen Lezhi. If she couldn’t kill the sable demon, Shen Lezhi and the other two trapped within would only die.

The moment her spiritual consciousness returned, Wang Xi immediately engaged in a fight with the people who attacked her. They were only two Jadefrost Sect Elders whose strength was not profound.

They had severely wounded her while she was defenseless but failed to kill her in time.

Judging by the cultivation of these two people (Nascent Soul stage), the Sect Master likely only knew her approximate location and couldn’t pinpoint it, still needing to send people to search.

So, only Nascent Soul stage Elders were sent, and their purpose was merely to ascertain her exact location, not to engage her in combat.

It was just that these two saw her spiritual consciousness traveling outside—a perfect opportunity to strike—and recklessly inflicted a serious injury on her.

Wang Xi coughed up blood. Spiritual power surged wildly in her body, but the recovery ability of the Linglong Heart was terrifying. Even though she was wounded in her Dantian and meridians by the two, she still had room to fight back at this moment.

But she couldn’t drag it out any longer. Wang Xi didn’t know if they had reinforcements. She immediately forced her meridians to circulate to the extreme, releasing the dominance and killing moves of the Jadefrost Sword Technique along with the vast spiritual power of the Linglong Heart.

Inside this narrow cave, the two Elders only had Nascent Soul cultivation. How could they withstand the renowned Moonlit Immortal Venerable?

They were blocked for a moment by her defensive artifact during the sneak attack, failing to kill Wang Xi directly. By the time Wang Xi’s spiritual consciousness returned, it meant they had no chance left.

They were so terrified by the surging aura that they couldn’t even hold their artifacts steady. The blood-stained, frost-cold figure before their eyes was like a ghost.

They were so frightened by Wang Xi’s oppressive aura, which felt like the heavens descending, that they couldn’t execute any more moves. That fear remained in their hearts even until the moment of their death.

Wang Xi coldly cut off the two people’s heads. Her meridians and chest ached excessively, but she didn’t have time to linger here. She immediately shook the blood from the Azure Dragon Sword and rushed outside.

She was worried that Shen Lezhi might also be found by those people, so she sent a spiritual message to Yunsha to quickly take Shen Lezhi into Canfeng City.

Wang Xi knew Yunsha’s true identity. Outsiders found it extremely difficult to enter Canfeng City, so when Yunsha said she would take Shen Lezhi there, Wang Xi hesitated but then let her go.

When Senior Sister Yunsha received Wang Xi’s spiritual message, she immediately told Shen Lezhi. There wasn’t much change in the emotions in Shen Lezhi’s reddened eyes.

She also received Wang Xi’s spiritual message, the cold voice being no different from before.

Wang Xi didn’t say anything about her condition, only two words echoed in Shen Lezhi’s spiritual consciousness.

【I’m fine.】

Shen Lezhi lowered her eyes. The bloodshot threads in her eyes, caused by her previous emotional agitation, had not yet subsided.

Wang Xi’s blood-soaked figure seemed to be right before her eyes, and that body, plummeting like a broken kite, was still heavily imprinted on her heart.

How could Wang Xi be fine? That person was always so good at lying.

She lied to her when she was consumed by hatred, and she was still lying now that the hatred was gone.

It was truly despicable.

Shen Lezhi refused to care about Wang Xi’s unforthcoming attitude. She turned her head, gazing at the ferry crossing of Fengdu Village. The Black Water River still surged.

Her eyes were also reflected in black, emanating a faint shimmer like black obsidian.

She gripped the small white sword, her fingers stroking the cold blade, as if sensing Wang Xi’s icy aura.

Every day and night after leaving Youfang Academy, did the other party also come to her side through the small white sword?

And how did she manage to make the Crying Soul Thread completely unaware and prevent her from feeling any strangeness?

She truly hated those insincere, secretive words.

She hated Wang Xi’s constant tendency to make her guess even more.

【Come see me, Wang Xi.】

She also sent a spiritual message to Wang Xi, calling her by her full name, direct and resolute, allowing no evasion from the other party.

.

Wang Xi had already found another hidden place when she received the spiritual message, but she wouldn’t stay long; she needed to treat her injuries first.

Shen Lezhi’s emotionless tone came through, fearlessly calling her by her full name, which almost made Wang Xi laugh out loud.

A wave of helplessness followed. She suddenly wondered what kind of person Shen Lezhi originally was, to be so reckless and willful.

Wang Xi sighed and did not immediately respond to Shen Lezhi.

After adjusting her breathing, she sent a spiritual message to Feng Nianzhen, asking her to guard her while she recovered.

With Feng Nianzhen guarding her, even if she was found again, the enemy wouldn’t be able to break Feng Nianzhen’s formation immediately.

Feng Nianzhen was still the same as in the previous life. She didn’t question why Wang Xi was doing this and selflessly helped her.

In the previous life, when Wang Xi saw Feng Nianzhen again, she had already become a demon. The maniacal desire for bloody revenge had long taken over her mind. She had never asked Feng Nianzhen why she didn’t condemn her, the demonic overlord, like everyone else.

But now, she suddenly wanted to know the reason.

“Why don’t you ask?” Wang Xi sat within the formation set up by Feng Nianzhen, looking up at the latter.

Feng Nianzhen’s life-bound artifact, the Flying Frost Fifteen Commands, was suspended around her. Spiritual talismans shimmered. She hadn’t expected Wang Xi to ask such a question and couldn’t help but smile.

“When did you become so hesitant? You’re even concerned about this kind of question?” Feng Nianzhen scrutinized Wang Xi. The latter still had the same cold expression, yet something felt different. “Do you like your little disciple that much? Your entire nature has changed for her?”

Feng Nianzhen finished speaking and didn’t wait for Wang Xi’s response. She raised her head slightly, as if recalling the past.

“The first time I went down the mountain to eliminate demons, I encountered a Nascent Soul stage demon. The senior sisters with me were no match for it. Even if we fought desperately, we only added more corpses beneath the demon’s feet.”

“Until you saved us. While we were all terrified, you alone drew your sword and faced the demon. It’s been too long, and I can’t clearly remember what you looked like then, but I only remember that you saved my life, saved all of our lives.”

“Perhaps for the Moonlit Immortal Venerable, that was just an experience of eliminating demons. But for us, that was a glimmer of hope that suddenly appeared after we had already stepped into the gates of hell.”

Feng Nianzhen finished speaking, met Wang Xi’s gaze, and smiled: “I’m just repaying a debt, Immortal Venerable. Don’t be touched.”

Wang Xi looked away, knowing she was teasing her, and ignored Feng Nianzhen.

With everything prepared, Wang Xi closed her eyes, and her spiritual consciousness entered the small white sword.

She didn’t know if Shen Lezhi was waiting for her, but she slowly materialized from the white mist of the small white sword, directly meeting Shen Lezhi’s gaze.

Wang Xi’s clothes were clean now, without a trace of blood, yet Shen Lezhi still noticed that her face was paler than before.

After all, she was entangled with this person every day and night and had thoroughly witnessed all of her expressions.

Wang Xi stood rooted, momentarily unsure how to speak. Aside from when she was possessed by the demon and blinded by hatred, she had always been this aloof and inarticulate.

She also didn’t know how to face the current Shen Lezhi. The gaze directed at her seemed even colder than her own.

“I dream every night.” However, Shen Lezhi was not someone lacking in words. She looked directly at Wang Xi, standing a few feet away, her voice as cold as her gaze.

Wang Xi knew what she was going to say.

Or rather, when she received Shen Lezhi’s spiritual message, Wang Xi could already imagine this scenario.

“Every time, I am dual cultivating and making love with you.”

She spoke so nakedly and directly that Wang Xi was utterly stiff for a moment.

“I always thought it was just my dream, because you were so obedient, giving yourself to me, allowing me to be wanton.”

As Shen Lezhi spoke, she took two steps forward, closing the distance to Wang Xi.

She was so fearless, so honest.

“You show that kind of expression beneath me. You hold me and tangle wildly with me in the spiritual platform.” She slightly raised her head, looking into Wang Xi’s eyes.

Wang Xi’s breathing became shallow. How could the other party speak such intimate words in such a cold voice?

Shen Lezhi took two more steps closer. Now, the two were extremely close, almost touching.

Shen Lezhi asked Wang Xi at this distance, her tone finally softening a bit.

“So, was it just my dream, Wang Xi?” She called Wang Xi by her full name again, her eyes firm, as if she absolutely needed Wang Xi’s answer.

Wang Xi closed her eyes. By complying with Shen Lezhi’s request to see her today, she was already prepared to tell the other party the truth.

“It was not your dream.”

After Wang Xi answered, knowing that Shen Lezhi had more questions, she lowered her eyes, waiting for the other party.

Sure enough, Shen Lezhi spoke again, asking, “Did you dual cultivate with me because you wanted to heal my meridians?”

“Yes.” Wang Xi answered truthfully.

Shen Lezhi paused slightly upon hearing this, then reached out and grabbed Wang Xi’s lowered sleeve. She paused for a long while before finally speaking.

“My name is Shen Lezhi. My elders hoped I would be optimistic and magnanimous, possessing great talent and knowledge.”

Wang Xi understood her meaning. She was stating her true name. She was clearly telling Wang Xi who she truly was.

Wang Xi slowly nodded, a hoarse voice spilling from her throat: “I know.”

Shen Lezhi finally showed a smile upon hearing this. The coldness in her eyes instantly faded, and her expression completely relaxed.

Wang Xi looked down at her appearance, watching her fingers tightly gripping her sleeve. The spirited expression made a strange itch rise in Wang Xi’s heart.

She suddenly leaned closer to Shen Lezhi, so close that the other party fell completely into her embrace.

Shen Lezhi almost cried out in surprise. The next second, she felt herself being tightly hugged by Wang Xi in a practiced way. Just as she was about to say something, she heard Wang Xi’s clear voice, faintly transmitted.

“I’m injured. Help me, Lezhi.”

Shen Lezhi hadn’t yet realized how she was supposed to help her with her injury when she felt a surge of icy spiritual power abruptly penetrate her body.

It quickly invaded her spiritual platform, hooking her spiritual consciousness without question.