The Cannon Fodder Female Supporting Character Captured the Villainous Demon Venerable - Chapter 25

Chapter 25: Lustful Thought.

After looting the items and disposing of the corpse, Mo Xun and Yun Wushang flew back side-by-side to the Inner Sect Main Peak of the Water Moon Immortal Sect.

Along the way, Yun Wushang suddenly spoke: “I have a question.”

“What is it?” Mo Xun listened attentively.

Yun Wushang first slowed her flying speed, then asked: “If you didn’t care about your Master’s feelings, why bring that letter to show her? What harm would it be if she remained ignorant? If you do care about your Master’s feelings, why did you unilaterally kill the person who deceived her emotions? Why not tell her and let her handle it herself? Or are you afraid she wouldn’t believe you?”

Mo Xun: “…”

A good question.

Mo Xun indeed didn’t believe her Master would trust her.

She was convinced that Bai Muqing was lovesick. If she weren’t lovesick, how could she have been turned into a cauldron by someone far beneath her cultivation stage?

Mo Xun didn’t believe Bai Muqing was capable of handling the situation properly. Since she knew the original plot and what the scum man planned to do next, rather than gambling on Bai Muqing believing her, it was better to act directly, kill him, and prevent future complications.

Thinking this, Mo Xun organized her thoughts and replied: “Without physical evidence, I wasn’t confident I could persuade Master. I genuinely cared more about her safety than her feelings. Regardless, I believe I did the right thing by killing the person who deserved to be killed, and I have no regrets. Giving the physical evidence to Master is to prevent her from making the same mistake in the future.”

“That perspective is certainly domineering,” Yun Wushang said in a very faint tone.

She sounded casual, but Mo Xun was very mindful and couldn’t help but ask: “If I hadn’t acted, what would you have done?”

“The same as you, kill him,” Yun Wushang replied without hesitation. “But I would kill him not for anyone’s safety, merely because I found him distasteful.”

Mo Xun: As expected of the Demon Lord.

“Mhm, that’s also my reason for killing him,” Mo Xun replied, secretly sighing in relief.

It was wonderful that Yun Wushang was so smart; it saved her a lot of trouble explaining things.

“I have another question,” Yun Wushang spoke again.

“Ask away,” Mo Xun was willing to answer anything.

Yun Wushang: “You said you like me. To you, am I more important, or is the sect more important?”

“You, of course,” Mo Xun answered without hesitation.

Yun Wushang: “If that’s the case, knowing there’s a life-and-death pact between us, and knowing my death would mean your death, why did you still use your body to shield the sect?”

Mo Xun: “…”

What a lethal question!

Mo Xun broke out in a cold sweat.

Fortunately, she reacted fast enough. After only a brief silence, she came up with a suitable answer: “I didn’t know you were nearby. I thought you had already returned to the sect. Therefore, what I was protecting was indeed the sect, but that sect includes you.”

Yun Wushang turned her head to look at her.

Mo Xun met her gaze with an open and honest look.

Yun Wushang pursed her lips, turned back, and said nothing further, accelerating her flying speed.

She seemed satisfied with Mo Xun’s answer.

Mo Xun secretly breathed a sigh of relief and followed her, her mind momentarily drifting.

Those words were, of course, not sincere, but were a temporary excuse driven by the will to survive.

So, what was her true thought at the time?

Actually, she hadn’t thought anything at all.

The female cultivator’s target was her. She was responsible for her actions. She absolutely could not watch everyone in the sect be buried with her. So, she instinctively positioned herself to shield the sect.

When she asked the System to exchange all her reward points for healing, preparing to heal Yun Wushang in one go, she also hadn’t thought about anything.

She merely obeyed her instinct, attempting to secure a lifeline for herself and Yun Wushang, completely disregarding what she would do if Yun Wushang truly recovered to the Great Vehicle stage and broke the life-and-death pact.

However, even if the current Yun Wushang still didn’t have much affection for her, she should no longer resent that kick, right?

Back at the Water Moon Immortal Sect’s Inner Sect Main Peak, Mo Xun cautiously slipped into Bai Muqing’s room. Confirming she wasn’t present, she placed the letter on her desk.

Bai Muqing should recognize her lover’s handwriting. After reading the letter’s contents, she would know that the person she believed to be her beloved had never viewed her as such.

As for why the female cultivator followed them, Mo Xun didn’t know.

Perhaps she wanted to secretly protect the scum man, perhaps she sensed something unusual and wanted to follow him to investigate, or perhaps she was the one who instructed the scum man to turn Bai Muqing into a cauldron for the two of them to use.

It didn’t matter now. In any case, the person had turned into ice shards, and all the truth and conspiracies had fallen into the deep gorge along with the ice shards.

Mo Xun returned to her room, finally having the time to ask the System some questions.

Mo Xun: When did my reward points become 19? Weren’t there 18 before?

System: “Host, you hugged Yun Wushang today. I didn’t want to interrupt, so I didn’t remind you.”

Mo Xun was momentarily stunned.

Hugged?

Oh right, when they were hiding behind the boulder to eavesdrop using the “Omni-directional Sound Talisman.”

Yun Wushang cultivates both talismans and spells, primarily Ice-element spells, supplemented by talismans.

Her ability to draw an eavesdropping talisman that a Nascent Soul Great Perfection cultivator couldn’t detect, even at the Golden Core stage, demonstrated her talent in talismans.

She wondered if she would have a chance to ask her to teach her later.

System: “Host, since you have exchanged all rewards for the first stage, I can now tell you the missions and rewards for the second stage!”

Mo Xun: Bring it on.

Although she felt the second-stage missions wouldn’t be easy, Mo Xun was quite looking forward to what the rewards would be.

The System first announced the missions: “Second Stage Mission Type 1: Deep Contact with Yun Wushang. ‘Deep Contact’ means contact more intimate than kissing. Clothes do not have to be removed, but you must touch her… private parts.”

Mo Xun: Am I deaf? Yes, I am deaf! I heard nothing! Even if I heard something, I heard nothing!

Despite being mentally prepared, Mo Xun was still deeply shocked by the mission content. She felt she would be stuck at this stage for a long time.

System: “Completing once grants 5 reward points!”

Mo Xun: That’s a lot! But this mission is too difficult!

System: “Mission Type 2: Learn about Yun Wushang’s Past. Have Yun Wushang share her past experiences with you. Completing once grants 3 reward points!”

Mo Xun: This one seems doable? She said her former Master expelled her from the sect. Does that count?

System: “Information that the Host already knows does not count!”

Mo Xun: Alright.

System: “There are only these two types of missions in the second stage, and each type can be completed once per day.”

“Next are the abilities the Host can exchange with reward points in this stage:”

“1. Maximum Movement Speed Increase by 30%. Maximum cap is 3000%. Achieving the maximum grants the qualification to engage in a chase with a Great Vehicle cultivator.”

Mo Xun: I have a bad feeling about this.

It’s specifically the Great Vehicle stage, as if it were designed to give her the ability to escape from Yun Wushang.

Although it was quite a coincidence, Mo Xun had to admit she needed this.

The life-and-death pact could only protect her until Yun Wushang fully recovered. Before Yun Wushang was completely healed and regained her stage, Mo Xun had to find another way to protect herself.

The appearance of the Soul Transformation female cultivator let her know that her 100% evasion had speed limitations. Even if she sensed danger in advance, if her body couldn’t react in time, she would still die.

Improving her physical capabilities was urgent!

“2. Acquire Spiritual Energy Fire Manipulation. Each 1 reward point can increase the grade of the spiritual energy fire by one level, up to 27 levels.”

Mo Xun: Spiritual Energy Fire Manipulation? I don’t have a Fire Spirit Root?

System: “Host, you have a Wood Spirit Root; Wood generates Fire. Your Spiritual Energy Healing ability comes from the Water Spirit Root, and the Spiritual Energy Fire Manipulation ability comes from the Wood Spirit Root. Spiritual Energy Fire Manipulation won’t significantly increase your combat power, but it will allow you to achieve twice the results with half the effort in alchemy and artifact refining.”

Mo Xun: Understood, to boost my alchemy and artifact refining capabilities.

System: “Yes. These are the only two redeemable abilities in the second stage. Please strive to complete the missions, become stronger, more charming, and quickly cultivate a proper relationship with Yun Wushang!”

Mo Xun: Two rewards: one boosts movement speed, the other boosts alchemy and artifact refining—both are auxiliary. Including the first stage’s rewards, I thought there would be options to boost my offense and defense.

System: “Host, if you want to increase offense, you can practice cultivation techniques. If you want to increase defense, you can study formations.”

Mo Xun had something more to say but ultimately resigned herself to the fact that the System wouldn’t directly boost her combat power.

Both offense and defense were important, but for Mo Xun at this stage, defense was slightly more crucial.

She took out the Compendium of Formations from her Storage Pouch, intending to study defensive formations.

Upon opening the relevant page, she suddenly noticed two small characters that looked very out of place with the layout.

The text on the page was arranged vertically, straight and tidy, but these two characters were printed diagonally in the lower left corner, with irregular ink smudges around them, as if stamped with a seal.

Mo Xun: What is this? Who stamped it? What does it mean?

The System did not reply.

Mo Xun curiously flipped through, finding these two characters occasionally stamped on other pages as well.

But there were other characters too.

For example, on the page for the “Spirit Gathering Formation,” the stamp read “Star River.”

Mo Xun remembered that the novel Emotionless Dao Senior Sister featured an ancestor named Star River, who created many cultivation techniques and formations, benefiting the entire cultivation world. Could these small characters stamped on the pages, whether “Star River” or “Seek Opportunity,” refer to the formation’s creator? For instance, the page for the Shifting Stars and Changing Constellations Formation was stamped with “Seek Opportunity,” possibly meaning the creator of that formation was an ancestor named “Seek Opportunity?”

However, this was not important. Mo Xun dismissed it and quickly focused her attention on a defensive formation called the “Black Tortoise Formation,” studying it all night.

The next morning, Bai Muqing summoned Mo Xun and Yun Wushang to her room using spiritual sound transmission.

Mo Xun’s gaze swept over the desk; the letter was nowhere to be seen.

Bai Muqing wore a veil even indoors. She looked at the two with a calm expression and asked: “Have either of you left the Water Moon Peaks yesterday?”

Mo Xun: How should I answer? Tell the truth or…

Before Mo Xun could decide, she heard Yun Wushang decisively utter two words: “No.”

Since Yun Wushang said so, Mo Xun could only bite the bullet and match her answer: “Reporting to Master, no.”

“That is good,” Bai Muqing lowered her eyes, paused, then said: “Your Master will enter seclusion to attempt a breakthrough to the Soul Transformation stage. It may take several months or several years. During this time, if either of you breaks through to the Nascent Soul stage, you may approach the External Affairs Elder, and she will take you to attend the Demon Purging Assembly. Chu Jiuqu is also in seclusion for a breakthrough; convey this message to her when she emerges.”

Mo Xun and Yun Wushang bowed together: “Yes, Master.”

On the way back to her room, Mo Xun felt very relieved.

She remembered that in the original novel’s plot, Bai Muqing was stuck at the Nascent Soul Great Perfection stage not because of a bottleneck, but because she was waiting for her lover to dual cultivate with her. Now that she was willing to enter seclusion for a breakthrough, she must have woken up from that false relationship.

With this, Mo Xun could also enter seclusion with peace of mind.

Mo Xun reached her door, about to push it open, when she suddenly felt that something was missing. She subconsciously turned her head in a certain direction.

Realizing that direction was where Yun Wushang lived, she was stunned for a moment.

She knew what was missing.

Mo Xun: Why didn’t Yun Wushang come to me for healing?

Although her current spiritual energy healing effect was dramatically better than before, and healing Yun Wushang now might cause serious problems, the other party shouldn’t miss any opportunity for treatment.

What happened?

If Yun Wushang had done anything in the last two days, it was using a talisman token that could cast a Great Vehicle stage spell.

Casting a Great Vehicle spell with Golden Core strength—surely there was a price to pay?

Mo Xun: System, is Yun Wushang alright? Should I go check on her?

Since the question concerned Yun Wushang, the System quickly responded this time: “No need. The Demon Sha Token requires the co-driving of Demonic Qi and Sha Qi. She forcibly reversed her meridians to use a trace of Demonic Qi and Sha Qi. Her internal energy is currently in disorder. She is likely avoiding treatment from the Host for fear of the Host discovering the issue. A few days of rest to stabilize should be enough.”

Confirmed that Yun Wushang was alright, Mo Xun felt relieved.

She asked curiously: I know Demonic Qi, but what is Sha Qi?

System: “After killing someone, there is a certain probability of being entangled by Sha Qi, which is formed from the deceased’s resentment, affecting emotions and luck.”

Mo Xun: I killed someone too. Do I have Sha Qi?

System: “Host, you have only killed one person. To be entangled by Sha Qi, you would need to have killed at least a hundred people.”

Mo Xun: “…”

Yun Wushang has killed over a hundred people…

Right, she is the Demon Lord, after all.

Mo Xun asked no further questions. She set up the protective restriction formation and the Spirit Gathering Formation, then began to attempt the Nascent Soul breakthrough.

After killing the scum man, her comprehension of the Heavenly Dao had improved, and her cultivation efficiency increased severalfold.

Why kill? To uphold the Heavenly Dao. What is the Heavenly Dao? The Heavenly Dao is the righteousness in one’s heart. What is the righteousness in one’s heart? Answer: Punishing evil and promoting good.

Punishing evil and promoting good, at its core, is to foster a better human society. Since it pertains to human society, this “righteousness in one’s heart” cannot exist if one separates from humanity or society.

In other words, my Dao is the Human Dao.

And ending conflict through killing, saving people through killing, is driven by sorrow for the good, hatred for the wicked, and hope for a better future. The core lies in no regret. Since I would regret standing by, it is better to act decisively, and once done, I shall not regret it.

In other words, my Dao is the Dao of No Regret.

What I cultivate is humanity, and no regret.

It is the Human Dao of No Regret.

With her cultivation direction clear, Mo Xun’s vision widened. The mist obscuring her sight dissipated, and the path to the heavens was clearly visible.

Mo Xun circulated her spiritual energy more decisively and firmly, absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

When her cultivation could no longer be increased in the slightest, she swallowed all the Nascent Soul Pills like candy and simultaneously told the System: System, guide me through Nascent Soul formation.

System: “Understood, Host! Golden Core formation only required the Host to condense spiritual energy into a core, while Nascent Soul formation requires the Host to fuse their soul with the Golden Core, nurturing a soul body in the Dantian—this soul body is the Nascent Soul.”

“With a Nascent Soul, even if the physical body is destroyed, as long as the Nascent Soul remains, there is a possibility of rebuilding the body and achieving Nirvana rebirth.”

“It should be noted that the Host possesses Dual Spiritual Roots of Water and Wood. Therefore, as with Golden Core formation, the Host can choose to form either a Water Nascent Soul or a Wood Nascent Soul. Although a Water-Wood Dual Nascent Soul is possible, the Nascent Soul must be cultivated separately. Thus, I recommend the Host separate one Spiritual Root to the Nascent Soul to simultaneously boost the cultivation speed of both the physical body and the Nascent Soul.”

Mo Xun: What’s the difference between having the Spiritual Root on the physical body versus the Nascent Soul?

System: “On the physical body, it aids in the execution of cultivation techniques. On the Nascent Soul, it aids in the manipulation of spiritual consciousness.”

Mo Xun hasn’t encountered Wood-element cultivation techniques yet, but she has the Water Moon Sword Art for the Water element.

Spiritual Energy Fire Manipulation requires spiritual consciousness control, and that power originates from the Wood Spirit Root.

Although Wood-element spiritual energy clusters are slower to condense than Water-element, they are more stable, aiding in the construction of formations, which requires spiritual consciousness assistance.

Mo Xun: Decided, I will separate the Wood Spiritual Root to the Nascent Soul.

System: “Very well. If the Host is ready, let us begin!”

Mo Xun: I am ready.

Mo Xun replied in her mind, took a deep breath, and closed her eyes to begin Nascent Soul formation.

The first step: Shatter the Core.

Circulate all spiritual energy to impact the Golden Core until it shatters.

The second step: Fusion.

Carefully peel the Wood Spiritual Root from her physical body, carry it with her soul, and fuse it with the shattered core, like an organ transplant surgery.

The third step…

Mo Xun was concentrating on fusing her soul with the core fragments when a familiar voice suddenly rang in her ear:

“Mo Xun, I feel so unwell… Could you clean my wound for me one more time? Please?”

It was Yun Wushang’s voice, very close, but that tone of unfulfilled desire…

Mo Xun called out to the System in her mind, but the System was silent as if dead.

Mo Xun didn’t dare open her eyes. She vaguely realized the voice was an illusion, not real.

In the hazy light, translucent white gauze stirred in the gentle breeze. Behind the gauze, a body lay on a soft bed, completely uncovered.

The figure had Yun Wushang’s outline. One hand covered her chest, yet concealed nothing.

Her legs were curled inward, pressing against each other and rubbing slowly. Her toes scratched against the sheet, smoothing out wrinkles only to create new ones.

Mo Xun swallowed hard, unable to banish the image from her sight, unable to control the invasion of desire in her body.

But what if there was desire?

Even with desire, the surgery must continue.

The uncontrollable reaction raged in Mo Xun’s body, but neither the rhythm nor the progress of her fusion of the soul and the shattered core was affected.

“Mo Xun, come and help me… I beg you…”

The figure on the bed pleaded in Yun Wushang’s voice.

“I want your hand, touching me… touching my wound, touching my body, touching my…”

The secret words spoken frantically aroused Mo Xun’s nerves, making her body a mess.

Mo Xun quietly sighed and replied in her mind: You are not her.

Yun Wushang would not be like this.

It wasn’t that Yun Wushang wouldn’t ask for her help, but she wouldn’t use this tone or say these words.

That was Yun Wushang.

With such a deep wound, it must have been incredibly painful when she cleaned it, yet she hadn’t made a single sound, not even a soft moan, from start to finish.

Feeling humiliated, she merely turned her head away in silent endurance.

Forcing the reversal of her meridians to use the Demon Sha Token caused her internal energy to become disordered, as if enduring torture, yet she could calmly fly in the air and demand answers to her questions.

Yun Wushang is the Great Vehicle stage Demon Lord. She is not always strong. She has moments of vulnerability. She feels anger, frustration, and grievance like most people, and she was moved to have red eyes by a single word from Mo Xun.

But she would absolutely not bow or compromise to anyone or any desire.

Mo Xun: You are not Yun Wushang; you are my inner demon tribulation, my lustful thought.

“Mo Xun!”

The “Yun Wushang” on the bed suddenly sat up, donned a black robe, and her opened eyes were blood red.

“I told you to help me! Didn’t you hear!”

With this roar, the surrounding air suddenly turned cold. The sound of rapidly condensing ice was everywhere.

However, this time, Mo Xun laughed out loud.

Mo Xun: Actually, when I think about it, I’m not that afraid of death. It would just be a little funny to die at the hands of my own inner demon.

If possible, Mo Xun definitely wanted to live. Not just live, but live to the fullest, to the point where no one in this world, including Yun Wushang, could force her to do anything she didn’t want to do.

To achieve this, she must form the Nascent Soul. If she couldn’t form the Nascent Soul, it was no different from being dead.

Mo Xun: I must form this Nascent Soul! Even if I die trying, I will form it!

The air grew colder and colder, almost freezing Mo Xun’s breath, yet Mo Xun stubbornly continued to fuse her soul and the shattered core.

After some time, the cold ice disappeared. The “Yun Wushang” dressed completely, sat down in front of the dressing table, and while brushing her long hair, said: “I am the Great Vehicle stage Demon Lord. If you serve me well, I can give you anything you desire. If you want a city, I will empty the entire city for you as your residence. Why put yourself through such hardship?”

Mo Xun: Because I don’t want to be controlled by anyone.

Yun Wushang: “What a joke! As powerful as I am, someone managed to injure me severely. No matter how strong you are, can you really reach the apex of the entire cultivation world?”

Mo Xun: Why not?

First, surpass you, then surpass your Master. From now on, no one but me is allowed to hurt you in the slightest!

Yun Wushang: “You are already strong enough. Your cultivation talent is unmatched among your peers. Your formation talent has astonished both sect masters. A genius like you will surpass everyone sooner or later, even if you don’t form a ninth-grade Nascent Soul.”

Mo Xun: No.

Yun Wushang: “Why not?”

Mo Xun: Because I have OCD.

Inner Demon: “…”

Perhaps due to the effect of the Nascent Soul Pills, Mo Xun felt her consciousness was incredibly clear and becoming clearer.

When the lustful thought emerged, she nearly lost control, but for the subsequent thoughts of fear, greed, and arrogance, she was well aware that her inner demon was playing tricks.

Although she didn’t know why her inner demon took the form of Yun Wushang, it didn’t matter; the form was irrelevant.

Mo Xun: Are you done acting? If you’re done, you can scram. No one is going to stop me from forming my Nascent Soul!