The Cannon Fodder Female Supporting Character Captured the Villainous Demon Venerable - Chapter 27

Chapter 27: Heart-Sensing Mirror.

Yun Wushang lied.

She was not attracted by the commotion of Mo Xun’s tribulation but had been consistently monitoring Mo Xun’s situation.

Sensing that Mo Xun had removed her restriction, she left her room and followed her to the barren mountain, only appearing in Mo Xun’s sight when she began to undergo the third wave of the Heavenly Tribulation.

All of this made Yun Wushang increasingly curious about her.

Indeed, for such a destined-to-be-extraordinary person, even undergoing tribulation was extraordinary.

Yun Wushang was at the Soul Transformation stage when she became a demon. She had experienced the Heavenly Tribulation for breaking through from Golden Core to Nascent Soul and knew its approximate intensity.

Mo Xun’s Four-Nine Heavenly Tribulation was comparable in intensity to the Six-Nine Heavenly Tribulation for breaking through from Nascent Soul to Soul Transformation. It was definitely not something an early Nascent Soul cultivator could endure alone.

Yet, Mo Xun relied on a marvelous formation that used a subtle technique to counteract immense force, combined with her incredible self-healing speed, to forcefully endure three waves of heavenly lightning on her own, only showing an expression of helplessness in the fourth wave.

She probably still thought she was weak, given that many cultivators could pass the tribulation on their own, and she failed to do so.

However, Yun Wushang didn’t intend to tell her this. She would let Mo Xun continue thinking that way.

Judging by her healing speed during the tribulation, she probably hadn’t even used 10% of her healing power when treating herself with spiritual energy. If so, why should she comfort her and make her smug?

She could almost imagine the dazzling expression Mo Xun would show if she knew this fact.

Failing to fully pass the Heavenly Tribulation on her own was indeed somewhat frustrating for Mo Xun, but she didn’t find it particularly unexpected.

She was too eager to break through to the Nascent Soul stage, causing her cultivation speed to far outpace her progress in cultivation techniques.

Simply put, her experience bar was full, but her combat power hadn’t kept up, which led to this situation.

Mo Xun: I underestimated the Heavenly Tribulation. At the Nascent Soul stage, I must settle down and seriously improve my strength.

System: “Host can consider completing missions to increase your movement speed and spiritual energy fire manipulation. If you are fast enough, the heavenly lightning can’t catch you! If you have enough magic treasures, the heavenly lightning can’t harm you!”

Mo Xun: I wish I could.

Mo Xun certainly wanted to improve these two aspects. The former would enhance her life-saving ability. For the latter, since the Evil-Ward Aegis was gone, she needed to craft a better protective magic treasure for Chu Jiuqu before she faced her death tribulation. It would be best if she could refine this treasure herself.

But the missions in the second stage were not something she could complete just by wanting to.

Before returning to the Inner Sect Main Peak, Mo Xun tentatively said to Yun Wushang: “Can you tell me about your past? The time before you entered the Water Moon Immortal Sect.”

Yun Wushang replied with “Nothing to say,” and then flew towards her room.

Mo Xun: “…”

It’s not that easy, as expected.

Mo Xun sighed internally and went to the pool near the Inner Sect Main Peak. She took off her robes, used her spiritual energy to control the water flow to clean her body, and then put her robes back on.

While cleaning herself, she couldn’t help but think: Actually, I have a pretty good figure, a nice waist, and hips. There’s no harm in letting Yun Wushang see. Maybe she’ll be tempted after seeing it?

System: “…”

Mo Xun: Except that my chest is a little small?

Mo Xun placed both hands over her chest.

In fact, she had never felt self-conscious about her small chest growing up, because she thought a smaller chest meant less resistance when running, allowing her to run faster and easier.

This was absolutely not a case of sour grapes.

But now, she somehow started to care.

She didn’t know what kind Yun Wushang preferred…

Wait, why should I care about Yun Wushang’s preference?

Mo Xun forced herself to stop thinking about these meaningless things. She used spiritual energy to dry her hair, held the blue hair tie between her lips, gathered her long hair at the back of her head, patiently combed it straight, and then tied it up high with the hair tie.

Then, following her Master’s instruction, she went to find Chu Jiuqu.

Her Nascent Soul formation took more than a week. Chu Jiuqu had broken through to the Nascent Soul stage before her and was currently practicing her sword in the open space outside her room.

Chu Jiuqu sensed Mo Xun approaching from afar, she collected her sword and turned to face her.

Mo Xun flew down in front of her, smiling: “Senior Sister Jiuqu!”

Chu Jiuqu was infected by her smile and also curved her lips: “Congratulations, Junior Sister, on breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage. So, it was your tribulation just now. If I had known earlier, I would have gone to help you.”

Mo Xun didn’t take her words to heart and directly conveyed her Master’s message: “Master told me to inform you that she is entering seclusion for a breakthrough and won’t be able to provide guidance for us in the short term. She wants us to go directly to the External Affairs Elder to participate in the Demon Purging Assembly once we’ve broken through to Nascent Soul.”

Chu Jiuqu said “Good,” and then lamented: “Master was at the Nascent Soul Great Perfection stage when she accepted me as a disciple. Now that we have all broken through to Nascent Soul, she is still at the Nascent Soul Great Perfection stage. It is time for her to focus on breaking through.”

Mo Xun told her the story about their Master having a lover, waiting for him to dual cultivate with her, and then being brutally betrayed.

However, she didn’t mention that she killed the scum man, nor that Yun Wushang killed the scum man’s Master.

The reason she told Chu Jiuqu this was to keep the plot consistent.

After all, in the original book, Chu Jiuqu was stimulated by this incident to pursue the Emotionless Dao. Without this event, she would lose the reason to cultivate the Emotionless Dao, and the entire plot of the book would deviate unpredictably.

“After Master left, I overheard that person saying he wanted to turn Master into a cauldron. He left a letter when he departed. I picked it up and saw that it was full of declarations of love to his own Master. I secretly placed the letter on Master’s desk, and then Master said she was going into seclusion for a breakthrough.”

Mo Xun never mentioned Yun Wushang, completely excluding her from the event.

Although she didn’t think Chu Jiuqu, being the female protagonist, would betray her, it’s better to be cautious. If Chu Jiuqu told the Master about this, and the Master placed blame, Mo Xun would bear it alone.

Chu Jiuqu’s response was: “Although I suspect Master has mostly figured it out… I promise you, I won’t tell anyone.”

Mo Xun said “Mhm,” and then tentatively asked: “I wonder what insight Senior Sister gained after learning about this?”

As expected of the female protagonist, her words are so philosophical…

Wait, this doesn’t sound like someone who would follow the Emotionless Dao?

Mo Xun wanted to ask something else, but held back.

Forget it, it’s fine if she doesn’t follow the Emotionless Dao. Although this might completely derail many exciting parts of the original book’s plot, Mo Xun thought of the scene she saw when she was struck by lightning—the scene of Chu Jiuqu piercing Yun Wushang’s heart with a sword—which felt terrifyingly real.

If Chu Jiuqu not cultivating the Emotionless Dao prevented that scene from happening, then what difference did it make if she completely subverted all the plots of the original book?

The Demon Purging Assembly is held every 40 years and is a very important event for Nascent Soul cultivators.

During each assembly, Nascent Soul cultivators from various immortal sects gather before a natural secret realm called the “Ten Thousand Demons Nest,” waiting for Soul Transformation cultivators to open the realm for exploration.

A secret realm, in short, is a minor world.

The Ten Thousand Demons Nest, as the name suggests, contains many demonic creatures.

Cultivators can extract spirit stones and increase their cultivation by killing demonic creatures and collecting demon crystals.

Furthermore, the secret realm harbors many rare medicinal herbs and even naturally formed secret treasures. Whether one finds them depends entirely on individual luck and skill.

The next Demon Purging Assembly was in three days. Mo Xun, before the assembly began, proactively sought out Yun Wushang and asked if she needed healing.

Yun Wushang replied: “No need.”

Mo Xun was relieved but also surprised: “Why not? Your injury…”

“It’s no longer a major concern,” Yun Wushang interrupted her. “More importantly, have you figured out how to teach me your Black Tortoise Reflection Array?”

Mo Xun: “…”

Mo Xun did want to teach it.

Yun Wushang: “Your handwriting is comparable to a toddler’s.”

Mo Xun: “…Isn’t that because I was afraid you wouldn’t understand it! Every stroke is so clear!”

Yun Wushang: “Too many characters; I don’t want to read it. Teach me directly.”

Mo Xun: “You… fine, come outside, I’ll teach you.”

Yun Wushang stepped outside.

Mo Xun raised her hands to form seals, erecting eight wooden stakes on the ground: “Centering on oneself, with eight directions as nodes.”

Yun Wushang did not form seals but easily condensed eight ice flowers in her eight directions.

Then, Mo Xun took out some spirit stones from her Storage Pouch and scattered them where the eight wooden stakes were interconnected: “Using spirit stones as pathways to construct a spiritual vein, providing energy and reinforcing defense.”

Yun Wushang did the same.

Finally, Mo Xun condensed two balls of water, rotating them around herself: “Using the Two Forces of the Taiji as the array core, absorbing external energy and counterattacking.”

Yun Wushang condensed two ice flowers around herself, spinning them a few times, but nothing happened.

Mo Xun: “Your speed is wrong. It needs to be uniform. That is, the speed can be fast or slow, but it cannot change.”

Yun Wushang: “…”

Mo Xun: “Your rotation trajectory is also wrong. Why is the size of each circle different?”

Yun Wushang: “…”

Mo Xun: “Don’t just focus on the rotation; the spiritual vein of the Black Tortoise Array must also be maintained… How about you practice the Reflection Array separately first?”

Yun Wushang flung her sleeve, removing all the ice flowers and retrieving all the spirit stones. Then, she looked at Mo Xun expressionlessly and said five words: “You are a bad teacher.”

Mo Xun: I want to hit her.

But she couldn’t win.

And she couldn’t bear to hit her.

Mo Xun sighed helplessly, also retrieving all her spiritual energy and spirit stones: “Mhm, I’m a bad teacher. I’ll go back and think about it.”

She felt Yun Wushang’s attitude towards learning was problematic, but…

Turns out even a Great Vehicle stage Demon Lord isn’t omnipotent.

The memory ended. Facing Yun Wushang’s question, Mo Xun pondered for a moment and then answered: “I haven’t figured out how to teach you yet. However, if you can teach me how to make talisman tokens, I can turn the Black Tortoise Reflection Array into a talisman token for you to carry. That way, even if you can’t learn the array, you can still use it anytime.”

“Good. However, when I teach you depends on my mood,” Yun Wushang replied.

Mo Xun had her own little agenda, but Yun Wushang wasn’t foolish.

Mo Xun had too many secrets. Before uncovering these secrets and confirming Mo Xun’s true feelings for her, Yun Wushang had no reason to make the already powerful Mo Xun even stronger.

Three days later, three inner disciples of the Water Moon Immortal Sect, led by the External Affairs Elder, arrived at the natural secret realm called the “Ten Thousand Demons Nest,” ready to represent the Water Moon Immortal Sect in this Demon Purging Assembly.

Inside the secret realm, cultivators from various sects gathered. Conflicts were inevitable due to resource grabbing. Perhaps to avoid large-scale clashes, everyone wishing to enter the secret realm must pass the Heart-Sensing Mirror.

“The Heart-Sensing Mirror reveals the Dao heart and discerning nature,” the External Affairs Elder introduced to the three. “A reflection in that water mirror will reveal your Dao heart to all. The Dao heart is the direction of one’s heart, or more simply, the guiding object on the path of cultivation. Dao hearts inherently have no superiority or inferiority, but those who seek strife and slaughter are not permitted to enter the secret realm.”

“Thank you, Elder, for the explanation,” Mo Xun said, not worrying about herself or Yun Wushang.

She cultivated the Human Dao of No Regret. Although she approved of using killing to stop conflict, she did not actively seek slaughter.

As for Yun Wushang, since she could enter the secret realm in the original book, she must have a way to pass the Heart-Sensing Mirror. However, what was revealed in the mirror would not be her “Dao heart.”

Cultivators whose Dao heart is unstable can develop inner demons, and being swallowed by an inner demon leads to demonic cultivation. After turning demonic, one naturally loses their Dao heart, which is replaced by obsession.

Therefore, when Yun Wushang passed the Heart-Sensing Mirror, what was revealed should be her obsession. Mo Xun wondered what her obsession would be.

The Ten Thousand Demons Nest had no specific opening time. One could take the Heart-Sensing Mirror test upon arrival and enter once they passed.

First come, first served. Mo Xun confidently stepped forward: “Let’s see the Dao heart.”

Doesn’t one know what their own Dao heart is?

Mo Xun truly didn’t know.

The Human Dao of No Regret was a relatively clear cultivation direction for Mo Xun, but it was hard to imagine how it would manifest as a “guiding object” for all to see.

The Heart-Sensing Mirror was a water mirror embedded in a stone wall.

Mo Xun approached the mirror. It did not reflect her image but gradually formed another humanoid figure.

After a moment, the figure clearly appeared to all: it was a woman.

A snow-white robe enveloped her perfect figure. Her beautiful face was impossible to look away from. Her black hair was meticulously styled. Her appearance seemed gentle, yet her eyes conveyed a hint of superior arrogance.

The person revealed in the water mirror was Yun Wushang.

Mo Xun’s Dao heart was Yun Wushang.

Mo Xun: “…”

Yun Wushang: “…”

Mo Xun: Wait, I can explain! I can definitely come up with a reason!

Mo Xun: Is it because I view Yun Wushang as a goal I need to surpass and constantly compare my strength to hers, thus making Yun Wushang my Dao heart?

Yes, that must be it! So that’s why!

Mo Xun suddenly saw the light!

But when she looked at Yun Wushang, a hint of guilt still flickered in her eyes.

And Yun Wushang, sensing Mo Xun’s gaze, not only avoided looking back at her but turned her sight to an empty side.

She tried to hide the flutter in her eyes with her eyelashes, but she couldn’t conceal her pursed lips and the heat on her ears.

“It is not uncommon to take a person as a Dao heart, but it is quite rare to take a fellow sect sister as a Dao heart,” said the Soul Transformation cultivator in charge of the Heart-Sensing Mirror, as he tossed a jade token to Mo Xun.

Mo Xun hastily caught it.

The Soul Transformation cultivator said: “With this jade token, you may enter the secret realm for thirty days. You must exit within thirty days, or the token will lose its effect, and you will be lost in the secret realm, beyond the rescue of even a True Immortal.”

Mo Xun said “Good,” and stepped back, clearing the path for Yun Wushang.

Yun Wushang calmed her mind and then stepped forward.

The human figure in the Heart-Sensing Mirror disappeared. After a while, it reappeared. It was still Mo Xun’s figure.

Yun Wushang’s obsession was Mo Xun herself.

Mo Xun had expected this but still felt a little disappointed, though she didn’t know why.

Was she expecting the mirror to reveal her own figure?

Yun Wushang was probably not even born when she became a demon. Her obsession could be anyone but her.

But at least, Yun Wushang’s obsession wasn’t someone else.

Thinking this, Mo Xun’s mood improved.

She was so engrossed in her own disappointment and subsequent relief that she didn’t notice Yun Wushang staring at her for a moment after accepting the jade token, looking like she wanted to say something but held back.

This was not the first time Yun Wushang had participated in the Demon Purging Assembly.

Before she became a demon, when she was a cultivator of the Heavenly Mountain Immortal Sect, she had come once. At that time, the mirror had revealed her Master, her Senior Sister, and her Junior Sister.

The mirror contained everyone she cared about, except for herself.

At that time, she believed that the bond between people was unshakeable, and that emotions could unite everyone to overcome anything.

She followed the Sentient Dao.

Until that incident…

Heh, the bond between people? Only a fool would believe in such an ethereal thing.

She only cared about her own pleasure and satisfaction. She did whatever she wanted, disregarding anyone’s opinion.

But why…

When her gaze met the disappointment in Mo Xun’s eyes, a hint of tenderness arose in her heart?

This feeling of having her emotions affected by another person’s emotions was long forgotten.

Yun Wushang shifted her gaze away from Mo Xun. The hand that wasn’t holding the jade token clenched into a fist. Her fingernails dug into her palm, not breaking the skin, but causing a sharp pain.

Yun Wushang: No matter who you are, no matter whether you love me or not, you will not disrupt my state of mind.

After Yun Wushang left the Heart-Sensing Mirror, Chu Jiuqu stepped forward.

Mo Xun’s attention was instantly drawn to her.

According to the original book’s plot, Bai Muqing perished before the Demon Purging Assembly, and Chu Jiuqu consequently embarked on the Emotionless Dao. What the Heart-Sensing Mirror revealed was a blank canvas, devoid of attachments.

Now the plot had changed. Bai Muqing was in secluded cultivation for a breakthrough. Although Chu Jiuqu knew the cause and effect of Bai Muqing’s situation, she wouldn’t trust people easily, but she also hadn’t denied all emotions because of it. Mo Xun wondered what her Dao heart would be now.

Under Mo Xun’s curious gaze, Chu Jiuqu walked to the Heart-Sensing Mirror and stood still.

Soon, two people appeared in the mirror.

One was the Water Moon Immortal Sect Master, Bai Muqing, and the other was Mo Xun.

Yun Wushang was absent.

Mo Xun: “…”

Yun Wushang: “…”

The Soul Transformation cultivator in charge of the Heart-Sensing Mirror glanced at the three people, a hint of amusement in his eyes: “The Dao hearts of you three are quite interesting.”

Mo Xun: …I agree.

Chu Jiuqu’s Dao heart included her but not Yun Wushang. Mo Xun’s Dao heart was Yun Wushang, and Yun Wushang’s “Dao heart” was herself.

If Mo Xun didn’t know her Dao heart had nothing to do with romance, she could certainly concoct a whole story in her head.

Chu Jiuqu accepted the jade token, turned to face the two, and didn’t offer any explanation, speaking flatly: “Let’s go in.”

Mo Xun subconsciously looked at Yun Wushang. Seeing that Yun Wushang showed no intention of responding, she hesitated and said “Good.”

Just then, the surrounding cultivators exclaimed in surprise.

“Look! It’s the people from the Heavenly Mountain Immortal Sect!”

“And the Spirit Sword Immortal Sect! They actually came together!”

“The three major immortal sects—only the Benevolence Immortal Sect hasn’t arrived yet.”

Mo Xun looked up curiously, seeing two groups of cultivators descending from the sky. One group’s blue robes looked somewhat familiar.

Right, Mo Xun had seen them on the scum man.

The scum man was actually a cultivator from the Spirit Sword Immortal Sect, one of the three major immortal sects—unbelievable now that she thought about it.

The other group of cultivators wore light gold robes, giving an impression of divinity, nobility, and inaccessibility.

The Heavenly Mountain Immortal Sect…

Mo Xun suddenly remembered something and turned to look at Yun Wushang.

She noticed that Yun Wushang had put on a veil at some point.

The translucent white veil covered the lower half of her face, making her beautifully shaped eyes even more captivating.

Mo Xun’s heart skipped a beat. After a while, she regained her composure: “…You startled me. Are you mimicking Master?”

“Too many male cultivators; I don’t want to be stared at,” Yun Wushang explained, then followed Chu Jiuqu toward the entrance of the secret realm. “Come.”

“Okay,” Mo Xun replied, following without hesitation.

However, as she stepped into the secret realm, a flicker of unease crossed her eyes.

According to the original book’s plot, Yun Wushang killed the cannon fodder female supporting character named Mo Xun after entering the secret realm and then disappeared without a trace.

Years later, when Chu Jiuqu reunited with her, she was already the Great Vehicle stage Demon Lord.

In other words, Yun Wushang likely fully recovered her injuries and returned to the Great Vehicle stage cultivation within the secret realm.

After everything they had experienced together, Mo Xun didn’t believe the current Yun Wushang would kill her upon recovering her strength as the original book’s plot suggested, but she wasn’t sure what she would do. After all, most demon cultivators were volatile.

Anyway, she had already done everything she could.

Her cultivation stage had reached Nascent Soul, the defense of the Black Tortoise Reflection Array was comparable to the Evil-Ward Aegis, and her mission progress had hit a bottleneck.

Given this, whether she lived or died depended on Yun Wushang’s choice.

Thinking this, Mo Xun didn’t notice that after the Spirit Sword Immortal Sect cultivators landed, they all collectively glanced in her direction, right until her figure disappeared behind the water curtain leading to the secret realm.

“Water Moon Immortal Sect,” one of the Spirit Sword cultivators ground out the four words.

“Our Master’s demise is inseparable from them. Regardless of their innocence, kill them all to avenge our Master!”