The Villainous Demon Lord’s Handbook for Success: Rebirth - Chapter 36

The contest ended under such chaotic circumstances. The twenty-eight disciples who had managed to struggle out of the illusion were helped up from the ground by their respective sects and led away. The white-bearded old man announced the victory of the Yunji Mountain Sect and respectfully delivered the holy water to the Sect Master’s table.

At the same time, he expressed his apologies to the various sects who were entirely unaware of what had occurred, stating that a feast featuring the unique delicacies and fine wine of Mount Shaoyao would be prepared tonight to entertain everyone. He invited them all to rest well and build up their strength to participate in tomorrow’s Shaoyao Grand Assembly.

With that, the chaotic gathering dispersed. The various sect leaders were personally led back to Peach Blossom Source by the white-bearded old man to rest, while the remaining disciples shattered like birds and beasts, chattering as they headed down the mountain.

Ning Fuyi walked back in the direction of the Yunji Mountain Sect, receiving countless gazes along the way. Some were inquiring, some were filled with disdain, and others were envious, but she ignored them all.

“Fuyi, you must be tired. Go back and rest quickly,” before the other elders could open their mouths to question her, Elder Yuanming said with a smile, handing her the holy water contained in a jade vial. “Here, yours.”

“Thank you, Elder Yuanming.” Ning Fuyi took the holy water and smiled at him. Then, she nodded to the other elders, stepped past them, and blended into the crowd of disciples.

“Yiyi, come quickly!” Liu Wenzhu and Rong Jin hastily waved to call her over. Ning Fuyi ran over in a few steps. Along the way, she was stopped by some curious disciples asking questions, but she brushed them off with the excuse that she felt unwell after just emerging from the illusion. Dodging the crowd, she returned to her friends’ side.

“Let us go. We should head back first.” Rong Jin pulled her down from the high platform to evade the curious gazes of their fellow disciples. The three of them moved at a very fast pace, leaving the others behind in no time as they walked down the white jade steps of Mount Shaoyao.

Ning Fuyi’s thoughts kept drifting back to the scenes she had witnessed in the illusion earlier, causing her to remain distracted the entire way until Liu Wenzhu slapped her on the shoulder, snapping her back to her senses.

“Yiyi, since when did you become so close with the Exalted Goddess? I originally thought that the person called over would either be me or Senior Brother Rong Jin. How did it end up being the Exalted Goddess?” Liu Wenzhu pursed her rosy lips, speaking softly but with a hint of grievance.

Just as Ning Fuyi was at a loss for how to explain, Rong Jin spoke up from the side to rescue her: “I suspect it is just as the elders said; something went wrong with the Nightmare Beast.”

“Alright,” Liu Wenzhu pouted slightly. “So what exactly happened to the two of you inside?”

“It merely brings a person into their most painful and most precious memories. It was just a few small tricks and not difficult to unravel,” Ning Fuyi smiled heartlessly, but Rong Jin and Liu Wenzhu exchanged a glance, tactfully refraining from asking further.

One did not even need to think to know what those painful memories entailed. Filled with pity, Liu Wenzhu wrapped her arm even tighter around Ning Fuyi’s.

As the three of them walked slowly down the steps, a cluttered sound of footsteps approached from behind. Several East Courtyard disciples, led by Feng Ge, came down the stairs. The three of them stepped aside to make way for them, but when Feng Ge walked past them, she let out a disdainful snort.

In the blink of an eye, only the backs of the group remained. Liu Wenzhu frowned as she watched them leave, saying indignantly, “I truly cannot understand why they are acting this way. Senior Sister Feng Ge is usually a very good person, but why does she seem like a completely different person whenever it comes to Yiyi?”

Rong Jin shrugged his shoulders, while Ning Fuyi maintained a calm expression.

“She merely believes that I used underhanded methods to defeat Li Chaoan, thinking my victory was unearned. Combined with the fact that I actually summoned the Exalted Goddess, she is even more convinced that I only know how to exploit connections and use the back door, so she looks down on me.” Ning Fuyi spoke as she continued walking forward.

“Then I will explain it to her,” Liu Wenzhu frowned. “We are members of the same sect; we cannot allow them to wrong you like this.”

“People can only see what they want to see. Whoever they think I am, that is who I am to them. Opening my mouth to explain will only make them believe it even more firmly. If everyone believes I am an evil person, then no matter what I do, I will be considered an evil person,” Ning Fuyi smiled. “Therefore, I shall walk my own path and let them think whatever they please.”

“Are you not coming?” Ning Fuyi noticed that Liu Wenzhu and Rong Jin had not kept up with her, so she turned back to tilt her head at them, before striding away with large steps, her loose sleeves billowing and her hair swaying wildly from side to side.

Liu Wenzhu and Rong Jin exchanged a glance, both seeing the confusion in each other’s eyes.

“Is this still the same Ning Fuyi who used to cry all the time?” Rong Jin asked.

“I do not know,” Liu Wenzhu shook her head, her gaze fixed on the retreating figure. “But she seems much better like this.”

Upon returning to her room, a young immortal attendant delivered spring water drawn from the divine spring of Mount Shaoyao to every room for the disciples to bathe. It was said that this spring water possessed the efficacy of washing away internal and external impurities, expelling toxins, and calming the mind. Ning Fuyi poured it into the bathing tub, undressed, and began to bathe.

She had sneaked over to the vicinity of the Divine Ruins to take a look earlier. For some reason, the forbidden area that had been unguarded yesterday was completely surrounded by layers of sentries today. Even the Blue Phoenix that guarded the sacred mountain kept circling in the sky, refusing to leave for a long time.

It appeared that having missed yesterday’s opportunity, any attempt to sneak into the Divine Ruins now would be as difficult as ascending to heaven. Her fingertips lightly tapped the edge of the tub as she pondered how to obtain her Emei Piercers.

However, as she thought, her mind suddenly drifted, turning instead to recall the scenes she had witnessed in the illusion today. She had never seen Chu Qingqiu look like that before, with skin like ice and bones like jade, her tearful eyes filled with emotion. Although she had lost none of her aloofness and pride, she seemed a fair bit gentler.

Her fragile state as she lay there formed a stark contrast with her immense power to turn the world upside down with a wave of her hand, giving rise to a strange sense of curiosity in Ning Fuyi’s heart.

When she was held by that dark shadow, the softness she displayed was something she had never shown to anyone else. Her shoulders were soft, her waist was soft, and even her lips looked soft.

“Damn it,” Ning Fuyi suddenly cursed. As her hands relaxed, her body instantly slid down into the bathing tub, the clean water submerging her completely. While it washed away her physical impurities, it also cleared those thoughts from her mind.

What on earth was she thinking? That was Chu Qingqiu. Even if she had been fragile in the past, she certainly was not now.

It was likely because she had been caught off guard by learning Chu Qingqiu’s secret today, suffering a temporary shock that caused her thoughts to become so disordered. Once her emotions returned to normal, she leaped out of the water and waved her hand to summon her clothes. As she put them on, the moisture on her body evaporated along with her immortal force.

Having quickly arranged her attire, she turned to sit by the window, staring blankly at the flourishing blossoms outside.

She did not know when Chu Qingqiu had gone through that experience, nor did she know what kind of person could have harmed Chu Qingqiu to such an extent, driving her to cultivate the Way of Heartlessness. Ning Fuyi pursed her lips in contemplation, suddenly feeling that Chu Qingqiu was not as unapproachable as she usually seemed. After all, she had also been an ordinary person and possessed the same emotions as anyone else.

As she kept thinking, the scenes from the illusion surfaced in her mind once more. Ning Fuyi frowned and slapped herself hard, forcing herself to forget it.

Afterward, she began to circulate her energy to cultivate until a young immortal attendant knocked on the door. Only then did she open her clear eyes, rising to open the door.

“This immortal friend, the Saintess has prepared a banquet at the Qijue Hall. We hope you will grace us with your presence,” the young immortal attendant with red lips and white teeth spoke in a childish tone. After speaking, he spread his wide sleeves, bowed his head in a respectful salute, and departed.

Coincidentally, her stomach was completely empty and rumbling with hunger, so she agreed. Unable to find Liu Wenzhu upon stepping outside, she walked toward the Qijue Hall alone.

There were attendants guiding the way along the path. She passed through pavilions and glazed palace walls, walking toward a region filled with glowing clouds. The sunset looked exceptionally magnificent on Mount Shaoyao, with colors far more vibrant than anywhere else. The so-called Qijue Hall was the main hall of Mount Shaoyao, soaring high through the seven-colored auspicious clouds, surrounded by flower trees that remained in perpetual bloom. Standing in front of the hall, one could take in a panoramic view of half the sacred mountain.

The surroundings were filled with disciples from various sects. Some were dressed in extremely luxurious attire, looking as if they belonged to prominent and orthodox sects, while others wore plain cotton clothes, looking around with faces full of curiosity as they marveled at the grandeur of the divine site.

She mingled with the crowd and walked into the hall. Although this place was outdoors, it was brightly lit, with two rows of night-glowing pearls embedded around the main hall, illuminating the interior as if it were daytime.

The area closest to the inner hall was shrouded in immortal mist, and the stairs were paved with crystal-clear water. Although it flowed tricklingly, stepping onto it felt as solid as regular ground, and it did not wet the soles of one’s shoes. Low tables were placed separately on the left and right sides above the stairs, prepared for the leaders and elders of each sect. The guests were seated, already beginning to clink glasses and toast one another.

Ning Fuyi found a secluded corner to sit down. The moment she was seated, fine wine and delicacies instantly appeared on the table before her. The wine was the deity-intoxicated brew made from peach blossoms, the fruits and vegetables were special items found only in the immortal realm, and even the meat differed from that found outside the mountains, bearing a floral fragrance.

Once seated, Ning Fuyi began to devour the food like a whirlwind, clearing everything on the table in a short while. After she finished eating, the remaining scraps vanished, leaving behind only the wine and pastries made from fresh flowers.

“What? This year’s Shaoyao Grand Assembly requires us to enter the Divine Ruins?” The conversation of two Tianji Sword Sect disciples suddenly drifted from behind her. Ning Fuyi’s heart skipped a beat, and she set down her wine cup.

“You must have misheard. The Divine Ruins is the place where the ancient God of War fell. The Shaoyao Saintess has guarded Mount Shaoyao for generations and never allows anyone to enter; even a bird can barely fly inside. How could they choose the Divine Ruins as the location for the final trial?”

“I definitely did not mishear. I heard it with my own ears when I went to deliver tea to the Sect Master. Could our Sect Master’s words be false? What kind of place is the Divine Ruins? There must be countless treasures inside. It seems everyone will definitely go all out during this Shaoyao Grand Assembly to secure a chance to enter the Divine Ruins.”

“Sigh, I originally held little hope of securing a ranking. Now that everyone will be exerting all their abilities, it will be even more impossible for me to stand out,” that disciple said in disappointment.

Ning Fuyi did not listen to the complaints that followed. She was already immersed in overwhelming joy. The final stage of the Shaoyao Grand Assembly was actually to enter the Divine Ruins? That truly meant obtaining it without any effort at all.

She did not care about the ranking of the Shaoyao Grand Assembly itself, but having heard this, she intended to exert all her efforts to give it a try.

After considering her plan, Ning Fuyi felt full and satisfied. She rose, intending to leave this place and return to prepare for tomorrow’s Shaoyao Grand Assembly. However, just as she stood up, she caught sight of a white figure out of the corner of her eye.

That figure sitting there was not difficult to notice. Aside from the fact that she was sufficiently eye-catching on her own, there was also a large area of empty tables surrounding her, looking as if she carried her own barrier.

It seemed no one dared to approach her vicinity. Although this was driven by fear, her figure sitting there all alone formed a rather poignant contrast with the lively grandeur of the surroundings.

Ning Fuyi’s footsteps paused, and she walked toward her as if possessed by some sudden impulse.

Upon drawing near, Ning Fuyi understood why there was no one here. The cold aura radiating from Chu Qingqiu was simply too intense, resembling an ice cellar used to store fruits in the summer; taking a single step closer brought a chilling frost.

Even Qiu Yi was not guarding nearby, having been sent away to some unknown location by Chu Qingqiu. Carrying her hands behind her back, Ning Fuyi walked up behind Chu Qingqiu. Just as she was about to speak, a plate suddenly flew from the table into the air, spinning toward her forehead as if determined to slice off the top of her skull.

Fortunately, Ning Fuyi was quick-witted and dodged to the side. The plate flew past her and struck the head of a drunk immortal who happened to be passing by. With a dull thud, the unfortunate soul fell backward onto the ground, rendered completely unconscious.

Very soon, two young immortal attendants approached with short steps, carrying the drunk immortal away to rest.

“Who is it?” Chu Qingqiu raised her cold eyes. Upon seeing that it was Ning Fuyi, her words came to an abrupt halt, though the cold aura around her grew even heavier.

“What did you come over for?” As she spoke, she lifted her fingertip, and the wine vessel on the table automatically flew up to fill her cup with wine.

How should I know what I came for? Ning Fuyi thought to herself. She let out a sheepish smile and sat down cross-legged beside her.

Although Chu Qingqiu’s fury intensified, she fortunately did not drive her away. Instead, she threw her head back to pour the wine into her mouth, a crystal-clear drop of wine trickling down her elegantly contoured jaw and into her collar, which was concealed by layers of fabric.

Ning Fuyi averted her gaze.

“Is the Exalted Goddess drowning her sorrows in wine because of what happened during the day?” Ning Fuyi glanced at the wine cup on her table.

“It has nothing to do with you. Get lost immediately,” Chu Qingqiu said in a low voice, raising her hand to pour more wine.

If it has nothing to do with me, why is her reaction so intense upon seeing me? Ning Fuyi thought. Thus, she spoke up: “The Exalted Goddess can rest assured. Although I am not some grandly virtuous person, I have never been fond of gossiping. I will never reveal a single word regarding what I witnessed in the illusion.”

“If the Exalted Goddess does not believe me, I can swear an oath right now,” she said, raising her hand, only to have it slapped back down to the table by a gust of air manifested by a wave of Chu Qingqiu’s hand.

“There is no need. If you truly utter a single word, I will personally tear out your tongue,” Chu Qingqiu said flatly.

How fierce, Ning Fuyi closed her mouth.

Having reached this point in the conversation, she really ought to have left. However, Ning Fuyi found herself completely unable to move her feet, so she spoke up to advise her: “Since it is a matter of the past, the Exalted Goddess might as well forget it. Who in life does not have a past?”

“Who said I still remember?” Chu Qingqiu retorted.

Then what are you feeling sad about? Ning Fuyi thought to herself.

“After all, that person has also long forgotten about this matter,” Chu Qingqiu seemed to be drunk, actually uttering an extra sentence before swallowing more wine.

It turned out to be a treacherous and unfaithful person who abandoned her after obtaining her. It was no wonder Chu Qingqiu had become the way she was today, and it was no wonder she chose to cultivate the Way of Heartlessness; she had clearly suffered such a severe emotional wound.

“Since it was a piece of trash, you should care even less about hurting over it,” Ning Fuyi spoke up. “Since she betrayed you, you should go back, find her, and give her a beating or two to resolve the obsession in your heart. If she truly hurt you too deeply, then tie her up and feed her to Bai Lin to rid the world of a scourge.”

Chu Qingqiu’s hand holding the wine cup paused slightly, and the cold aura around her softened a fair bit.

“You certainly understand how to seek revenge for the smallest grievance,” after a long while, she finally spoke, her tone no longer quite so icy.

Seeing that her advice had produced an effect, Ning Fuyi felt quite gratified. She decided not to linger any further, rising to say, “This disciple shall take her leave.”

Chu Qingqiu gave an “um” sound, but just as Ning Fuyi turned around, she suddenly spoke to call her to a halt. Her gaze did not look at her; she merely raised one of her arms.

Ning Fuyi did not know what she meant, looking at her hand and then at her profile.

“Take this,” Chu Qingqiu said, shaking her sleeve to reveal the dark Yinian Bead strung with a red cord upon her wrist.

“The Yinian Bead?” Ning Fuyi was exceedingly surprised. She knew this item was said to be capable of storing all things, making it difficult to find even across the six realms. In her past life, she had only ever seen her own.

Furthermore, she had no idea where that one had come from; it had simply appeared on her wrist one day, and she could not remove it no matter what.

She extended her hand to untie it from Chu Qingqiu’s fair and tender wrist, intentionally avoiding any potential physical contact with her. This resulted in her spending a considerable amount of effort before the heavy bead finally fell into her palm.

“Is the Exalted Goddess giving this to me?” she asked in surprise.

“This originally belonged to your mother; it is only right to return it to you,” Chu Qingqiu said. Having spoken, she continued to drink, no longer engaging in conversation with Ning Fuyi.

Miraculously, the moment the item fell into Ning Fuyi’s hand, it fixed itself firmly upon her wrist as if taking root.

A familiar sensation washed over her. Could it be that the Yinian Bead she possessed in her past life was the exact same one she held now?

She thanked Chu Qingqiu and turned to leave the Qijue Hall. As the cool wind of the sacred mountain blew against her face, Ning Fuyi suddenly experienced a sensation she had never felt before.

Aside from her still-imperfect temper, the Chu Qingqiu of this lifetime was actually not that objectionable.

When the first ray of glowing light lit up the eastern sky, the Shaoyao Grand Assembly commenced amidst the simultaneous chirping of a hundred birds on the sacred mountain.

The leaders of the six major sects formed a circle, standing at the summit of Shaoyao. Colored lights of different hues erupted from their palms, converging in the center into a pillar of light that shot directly toward the dim firmament. The piercing light suddenly dispersed, reflecting the half-risen morning sun in the east, appearing even brighter than the daylight for a moment.

In this manner, they forced open the Primal Chaos Realm. A massive white circle appeared in the sky directly above, and the disciples who had been standing on the high platforms transformed into streaks of falling stars, flowing into the white circle.

The scene looked exceptionally grand for a time, as if everyone were falling into a galaxy, the rising points of light leaving behind afterimages in midair like a glowing pillar reaching to the heavens.

Only after all the disciples had entered the Primal Chaos Realm did the pillar of light begin to fade. The seven leaders of the six major sects lowered their hands, the residual wind causing their robes to rustle loudly.

“The disciples of the Tianji Sword Sect emerged victorious in the past few Shaoyao Grand Assemblies, and I suspect this time will be no exception. The Tianji Sword Sect truly deserves its reputation as the number one sect, commanding admiration,” Master Feiguang of the Kongming Sect, the last of the six sects, laughed.

The sect leader and disciples of the Kongming Sect were all bald monks. Master Feiguang was a plump monk with a glistening forehead, looking very approachable when he smiled.

“You flatter us. Talents emerge in every generation. I notice quite a few new faces among the disciples who came to Shaoyao this time; it will surely be difficult to determine a victor,” Tang Wenshu smiled elegantly, extending his hand to invite the other leaders to return to the high platforms to take their seats.

After the disciples entered the Primal Chaos Realm, the summit of Shaoyao was no longer bustling, turning far more solemn instead. Only the leaders and elders of each sect, along with a few sparse disciples who had opted out of the participation, remained seated on the high platforms.

Before the leaders could exchange a few words of idle chatter, several disciples suddenly plummeted from the sky, landing squarely on their bottoms without exception. With a wave of the white-bearded old man’s calligraphy brush, the names and sects of the eliminated disciples were written in ink in midair. The leaders of the mentioned sects blushed, and some who could not contain their temper were already furiously berating the disciples who had been eliminated right after entering.

“Everyone, do not be anxious. The trial is fraught with dangers, and an occasional elimination amounts to nothing; only those who remain until the end can determine the victor,” the white-bearded old man chuckled. With another wave of his brush, the rainbow-like archway from yesterday appeared once more, divided into small sections displaying the situation within the Primal Chaos Realm.

“I wonder if those two North Courtyard disciples from our sect can survive the first trial,” Elder Pingyao muttered anxiously as she scanned the archway for signs of her disciples.

“That Liu Wenzhu is the eldest daughter of the Liu family, possessing bright natural talent and divine power, so she likely will not fare too poorly. It is only that Ning Fuyi,” Elder Jingshan let out a laugh. “I only hope she can hold on a bit longer, so as not to bring too much shame upon our Yunji Mountain Sect.”

Chu Qingqiu did not listen to their words, her gaze fixed on the archway before her as if she had fallen into a trance.

Meanwhile, within the Primal Chaos Realm.

Ning Fuyi had fallen along with the other disciples of the Yunji Mountain Sect. She nearly stumbled upon landing, but fortunately, the ones who landed beside her were Liu Wenzhu and Rong Jin, who caught her by the arms and pulled her up.

“Thank you,” Ning Fuyi said, quickly surveying her surroundings.

She found herself in what appeared to be a dense forest. The surrounding trees had peculiar shapes; some towered into the clouds, some had tangled vines cascading down like waterfalls, and others actually grew upside down, plunging straight into the soil.

“Isn’t this Tongchuan?” Feng Ge, who had landed nearby, drew her spiritual sword and pushed aside the waist-high shrubs before her.

“It is Tongchuan,” Hong Ying, the managing disciple of the East Courtyard, said in a deep voice, untying the heavy sword from his back and holding it before his chest. “Everyone from the Yunji Mountain Sect, keep close to me. Tongchuan is dangerous; be careful not to fall behind.”

The moment his words fell, a scroll descended from the sky, landing squarely in his hand.

“It says here that this trial involves dealing with spiritual beasts. Within a duration of two hours, whoever obtains the most beast stones from the spiritual beasts will be the victor,” Hong Ying announced the contents of the scroll loudly.

Although everything within the Primal Chaos Realm felt real, it was ultimately an illusion, meaning the hunted creatures were not actual spiritual beasts, yet the dangers remained just as potent.

“Let us move,” Hong Ying said gruffly, preparing to lead the crowd forward, but he was suddenly stopped by Feng Ge.

“Wait,” Feng Ge pointed behind Hong Ying toward Ning Fuyi, who was preparing to follow them, her gaze bearing a trace of impatience. “Are we truly going to bring her along?”

“Senior Sister Feng Ge, what is the meaning of your words? Fuyi is also a member of our Yunji Mountain Sect; how could there be any reason not to bring her along!” even the usually good-tempered Rong Jin could not contain himself, speaking out.

“Why?” Feng Ge asked with a frown. “This place is the border of Tongchuan, populated entirely by low-tier spiritual beasts. The further ahead we go into the depths, the more high-tier spiritual beasts there will be, and we might even encounter demonic beasts. With her low cultivation, staying here is actually safer for her.”

“Since we want the Yunji Mountain Sect to win, we must hunt more spiritual beasts to obtain more spirit stones. Liu Wenzhu is one thing, but with someone of her Mortal Realm cultivation following us, we will not only have to hunt spiritual beasts but also constantly protect her. Won’t that drag everyone down?”

Ning Fuyi had long caught her meaning, but she did not offer a rebuttal now. Instead, she crossed her arms and leaned against a tree trunk, listening lazily.

“There is no need for Senior Sister to worry; Wenzhu and I will personally protect her,” Rong Jin’s usually smiling face was completely filled with anger.

“You will protect her?” Feng Ge held her sword and scoffed. “Do you know how many dangers lurk within the depths of Tongchuan? When the time comes, you won’t even be able to protect yourselves, yet you still want to protect her?”

Just as Rong Jin was about to say more, a male disciple from the West Courtyard spoke up: “I believe Senior Sister’s words make sense. Having her follow us is not only dangerous but also adds unnecessary trouble.”

Two others voiced their agreement, leaving Hong Ying caught in a difficult dilemma as he fell into contemplation.

After a long while, he finally nodded and turned to Ning Fuyi, saying, “Forget it. Your cultivation indeed makes it difficult to survive, so you should remain here and wait.”

Historical patterns showed that she displayed no panic or sadness whatsoever. Instead, she remained leaning lazily against the tree trunk, waving her hand at them quite happily.

“Take care, I won’t see you off,” she said with a smile.

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