The Villainous Demon Lord’s Handbook for Success: Rebirth - Chapter 42

Ning Fuyi slept for a very long time. By the time she woke up, she had already traversed tens of thousands of miles and been sent back to the Yunji Mountain Sect.

So many unexpected incidents had occurred during this Shaoyao Grand Assembly, causing it to grind to a sudden halt halfway through. To err on the side of caution, each sect sent their disciples back first, leaving only a few people at Mount Shaoyao to help manage the complete collapse of the Divine Ruins and the infiltration of the demon race.

The events that took place at Mount Shaoyao spread across the four seas within a short period. The fact that the demon race had managed to infiltrate Mount Shaoyao, a place that was supposed to be exceptionally safe, left the Shaoyao Saintess furious upon her emergence from seclusion. Furthermore, every immortal sect felt as if they were facing a formidable enemy, throwing the entire martial world into a state of panic.

Since that day, Ning Fuyi had become incredibly lethargic, as if she had been exhausted for many days. After listening to a general overview of the situation upon her return to the Yunji Mountain Sect, she fell into a deep sleep once more. This time, she slept for three full days and nights before completely regaining consciousness.

When she woke up, it was already noon, and the other disciples had already gone to their morning cultivation. She stared at the caisson ceiling alone for a long time before rising in a daze. Pingan, who had been guarding her bedside for a long time, barked and leaped into her embrace, nearly kicking her right back into her dreams.

“I have only been gone for a few days, so how did you grow another size bigger?” Ning Fuyi muttered in a daze as she caressed Pingan. The puppy that had originally been skin and bones was now plump and chubby, its belly forming three folds when pinched.

The pup was indeed highly favored by the girls. Ever since Ning Fuyi began raising it within the Zhuguang Pavilion, other disciples gathered around to feed it every day. Every time she went to pat it, its belly was stuffed round, requiring absolutely no effort on Ning Fuyi’s part.

She stroked Pingan’s spine stroke by stroke, her eyes staring blankly at a single spot.

Sleeping for so long made the events within the Divine Ruins feel like a fleeting dream. Although things usually sorted themselves out in the end, it still felt incredible that she had managed to escape when she had previously believed death was a certainty.

Furthermore, although the Emei Piercers had been snatched away, she had managed to draw the divine sword, which counted as gaining something to make up for a loss. She did not know what quality the divine sword had taken a liking to in her.

The moment this thought crossed Ning Fuyi’s mind, the divine sword emerged from the Yinian Bead, hovering and spinning at the foot of the bed while gleaming brilliantly.

Ning Fuyi extended her hand, and the divine sword suddenly leaped into her palm. Its exquisite, translucent blade swayed as it attempted to nuzzle against her face. Had Ning Fuyi not dodged quickly, it probably would have sliced off her ear.

“You should remember that you are a divine sword, so how are you even clingier than Pingan?” Ning Fuyi said helplessly. The moment her words fell, the divine sword switched to using its hilt to nuzzle against her, making her hair a messy tangle. Seeing this, the puppy in her embrace refused to be left out, barking loudly at the divine sword.

“Alright, alright.” The room instantly turned into a chaotic mess. Her face felt sore from all the nuzzling, and with no way to dodge effectively, she had to grip the hilt and forcefully toss it back into the Yinian Bead, pushing Pingan off the bed as well.

As of now, no one aside from Chu Qingqiu knew that she had drawn the divine sword. It was always better to avoid unnecessary trouble; if she exposed it too early, it would inevitably invite greed from malicious individuals.

She also recalled the demon who had explicitly demanded her life within the Divine Ruins. She had lived for a millennium in her past life without ever encountering this person, so how had a nemesis suddenly emerged out of nowhere in this lifetime?

She needed to grow stronger as quickly as possible. That person’s power was unfathomable; if she ran into him again in the future without Chu Qingqiu’s protection and a stroke of good luck, she would inevitably suffer.

With these thoughts, Ning Fuyi suddenly sat cross-legged, her hands forming a seal over her chest. When she spread them open, a clear pink light accumulated within her palms.

The moment she felt the power within her body, an overwhelming joy welled up in Ning Fuyi’s heart. The long-awaited satisfaction of possessing power made her feel almost euphoric.

She distinctly remembered feeling an abundant immortal force within her body after drawing the divine sword. She had originally assumed it was a fleeting phenomenon, yet now that she circulated her energy, she discovered that the immortal force seemed even stronger.

She suddenly flicked two fingers forward, and the vase on the opposite bedside table instantly shattered to pieces. When she snapped her fingers back, it returned to its pristine state.

Ning Fuyi sat in place, immersed in joy for a long time. She had never realized that her desire to become strong was so intense, and she was absolutely overjoyed by this slight progress.

Once she restored her past strength, she would never have to hide behind others again, nor would she have to lose the ones she loved.

Although it was not demonic power for the time being, as long as she was not a piece of trash incapable of cultivating, it was a good thing.

After her contemplation, she leaped off the bed, feeling completely refreshed and far more energetic in her legs. She looked down at the black dress she had been changed into at some point, hesitated for a moment, and fished out the garment Chu Qingqiu had made for her, putting it on in no time.

A dress woven with immortal force in its threads was indeed far more comfortable than ordinary clothing. She was no longer throwing a tantrum at Chu Qingqiu; there was no need to mistreat herself.

The sight of Chu Qingqiu dying on her feet within the Divine Ruins that day remained vivid in her memory, and she wondered if the woman had fared any better now. Ning Fuyi had always viewed Chu Qingqiu as a divine, omnipotent existence, but after seeing her state within the Divine Ruins, that impression had faded.

Chu Qingqiu could also get hurt, feel pain, experience joy, and display anger, resembling a portrait that was originally colorless but was now gradually growing vibrant and colorful.

Ning Fuyi was well aware of her own weakness. Perhaps because too many people had treated her poorly in her past life while those who were good to her were few and far between, she would remember any act of kindness for a very long time, even if she showed a sharp edge toward ordinary people.

As for Chu Qingqiu, it was indeed a bit complicated, but she could be certain that she did not seem to hate her as much anymore.

In fact, while inside the Divine Ruins, she had intensely wished for Chu Qingqiu not to die.

Perhaps she should go and ask? At any rate, this was not something to be embarrassed about. The two of them had fought side by side after all, so offering a verbal inquiry was only proper.

Having given herself a sufficient rationale, Ning Fuyi cleared her throat, tucked her hands behind her back, and prepared to head toward the Jingshan Palace. However, just as she stepped out the door, she ran into the crowd of disciples returning to their rooms to rest. She felt their gazes landing on her, but she had no intention of paying them any heed, planning to simply brush past them.

Yet before she could step down the stairs, her sleeve was caught. She instinctively tried to pull away, only to have her other elbow linked by someone who practically hung her entire weight onto her. The person exclaimed in pleasant surprise, “Young Sect Master! When did you wake up? Why did you prepare to go out without saying a word?”

Ning Fuyi recognized the voice of the female disciple with high pigtails. Today, her pigtails were tied with green cords instead, swaying atop her head like a bundle of straw. Ning Fuyi forcefully erred her gaze away from the pigtails and withdrew her arm coldly: “I just woke up. I have important matters to attend to, so I shall take her leave first.”

With that, she prepared to escape, but more and more disciples swarmed over upon seeing the commotion, chattering away to ask about the events inside the Divine Ruins. Ning Fuyi was utterly incapable of handling such a crowd, and she was forcefully carried back into the Zhuguang Pavilion by the human tide.

“Young Sect Master, it is said that out of so many disciples who went to Mount Shaoyao, you were the only one who inadvertently followed the Exalted Goddess into the Divine Ruins. What exactly is that place like, and are there truly gods inside?” The female disciple opened her chatterbox the moment her bottom touched a chair, her eyes shining brightly as she asked.

“The elders have been busy sealing the mountain gates these past few days. Rumor has it that the demon race infiltrated Mount Shaoyao and disrupted the Shaoyao Grand Assembly, which is why precautions are being taken. However, the elders strictly forbid us from discussing this matter. Young Sect Master, please tell us about it!” People continuously used soft tactics to pester Ning Fuyi, driving her to the brink of annoyance. She wanted to flare up but held it in, her face turning red from the suppression.

“Why are you all gathered here instead of resting during your break?” Fortunately, a stern voice resonated from the doorway at this moment. Upon hearing it, the disciples instantly scattered like birds and beasts, finally liberating Ning Fuyi.

She frowned and rubbed her ears. When she looked toward the entrance, the person caught in her gaze instantly froze in place, a flush mounting her cheeks.

That person was Feng Ge, who had just returned from the Xuanyang Courtyard. Walking beside her was Li Chaoan dressed in a bright yellow gown. Li Chaoan had originally been smiling as she spoke, but her expression turned dark the moment she spotted Ning Fuyi.

The person chosen to attend the Shaoyao Grand Assembly this year was supposed to be her, yet this opportunity had been snatched away by Ning Fuyi.

Not only had Ning Fuyi defeated her to go to Mount Shaoyao, but she had also made such a grand display of herself there. The entire sect had been discussing this matter for the past few days; every time she heard it, she ground her teeth in fury.

Thus, Li Chaoan deepened her steps, stamping heavily against the floorboards as she slammed the manual on celestial history onto the table. Just as she was about to utter a few cynical remarks, she turned around only to witness a scene that made her blood boil even more.

Senior Sister Feng Ge, who had previously listened to many of her complaints and thus held prejudices against Ning Fuyi, was currently walking cautiously over to Ning Fuyi’s side. She spoke in a low voice, looking exceedingly concerned.

Li Chaoan nearly shattered her teeth from grinding them. In the past, the senior brothers, senior sisters, and elders of the sect had all favored her, while no one liked Ning Fuyi aside from Ning Changfeng. She had always felt superior to Ning Fuyi because of this, but seeing such a scene now made her feel as if all that favor was about to be snatched away.

She stared gloomily at the two of them before grabbing her book from the table and leaving in a huff.

“Ning Fuyi, how is your body?” Feng Ge asked rather uncomfortably. Noticing Ning Fuyi’s hand rubbing her ear, she hastily retrieved medicinal pills from her sleeve. “Are your old injuries still unhealed? I have some high grade pills here, you can take them.”

“No, no, no.” Ning Fuyi waved her hands repeatedly, as she was still unaccustomed to such an uncharacteristic Feng Ge. “I didn’t suffer much injury to begin with, so I am naturally fine.”

“That is good.” Feng Ge let out a sigh of relief but still left the pills on the table, her hand gripping the spiritual sword at her waist. “We were all utterly terrified when we learned that you and the Exalted Goddess were trapped within the Divine Ruins. Fortunately, the two of you are unharmed; otherwise, how could we live with ourselves?”

“That day, it was all thanks to you recognizing that they had been possessed by demonic aura, which saved our lives. In the past, I foolishly believed the words of others, assuming you were someone who relied on underhanded tricks, and intentionally chose to ignore you.” Feng Ge spoke with a face full of shame. “Thinking back now, it was truly a case of a petty person judging a noble heart. Since you were willing to risk your life to rescue your fellow disciples, how could you possibly be unprincipled?”

“This Feng is deeply ashamed.” Feng Ge prepared to bow as she spoke, but she was quickly stopped by a swift Ning Fuyi.

In the past, Ning Fuyi had always been the one feared or detested by others. She could face malice with equanimity, but being handed such a solemn apology all of a sudden left her rather unaccustomed to it.

However, listening to such pleasant words did put her in a rather good mood. Even though she had not intended to save them, she still held her back straight and stated that it was of no consequence.

“It is fine as long as you do not take it to heart.” Feng Ge felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted, patting her shoulder in an experienced manner. “The Elder said you were mostly fine; it was just that the immortal force within your body was chaotic for some reason, which caused you to fall into a deep sleep. You would be fine upon waking. However, you did come into contact with demonic aura after all, so if you experience any discomfort these days, you must report it immediately.”

Ning Fuyi nodded in response, and only then did Feng Ge take her leave.

With no one left to hinder her, Ning Fuyi finally had the leisure to walk toward the Jingshan Palace. However, just as she arrived at the entrance, she spotted Qiu Yi running out in a frantic rush while carrying a cloth pouch. Ning Fuyi caught her by the arm, nearly causing her to stumble face first onto the ground.

“Where is Chu Qingqiu, I mean, the Exalted Goddess?” she asked.

Qiu Yi turned back in irritation. Seeing that it was Ning Fuyi, she flung her hand away: “Master is not around. What are you causing trouble here for? Move aside, I have important matters to attend to!”

As she spoke, she manifested her scimitar, stepping onto it to soar into the sky. Seeing that she did not answer, Ning Fuyi deduced that she must be going to find Chu Qingqiu. Thus, she retrieved the divine sword from the Yinian Bead, tapped the tip of her foot lightly against the ground, and soared into the gentle breeze.

She was already proficient in the art of sword riding; it was just that her previous cultivation had been insufficient and she lacked a suitable dharma artifact, which was why she could not master it. Now, things were different; stepping onto the divine sword felt like a fish in water, allowing her to easily keep pace with Qiu Yi.

She watched as Qiu Yi rode her sword down the mountain, coming to a halt by the stone gates at the foot of Mount Yunji, where she handed the cloth pouch to a person.

That person was indeed Chu Qingqiu. She was dressed in her white robes, standing elegantly beneath the gate. She accepted the cloth pouch with one hand, retrieving a delicate, precious pearl from within and placing it onto a tray. Judging by her posture, she appeared to be waiting for someone.

Based on how straight her posture was, she seemed to have recovered some of her strength, displaying no trace of having been injured.

Ning Fuyi sheathed her divine sword from a distance, landing soundlessly behind a pine tree. She had not known that there was actually someone in this world capable of making Chu Qingqiu wait.

Furthermore, she had even prepared a lavish gift. A reclusive and aloof individual like Chu Qingqiu usually disdained such gestures entirely.

As she pondered, a ray of glowing light suddenly materialized on the horizon. As the light drew closer, it revealed itself to be a person arriving upon orange yellow auspicious clouds. Her attire was simple and elegant, and a sunset colored sash was draped over her arm, billowing in the wind.

The woman possessed a delicate and dignified beauty, particularly her eyes, which were bright and expressive. She landed as gracefully as if walking upon water, taking a few small steps forward to bow to Chu Qingqiu.

Chu Qingqiu handed the precious pearl to her. Upon receiving it, the woman smiled and said something, suddenly catching hold of Chu Qingqiu’s palm and slowly caressing it.

A rush of heat instantly mounted Ning Fuyi’s ears. Staring coldly at the sight, an inexplicable wave of indignation welled up in her heart. She had not expected that while Chu Qingqiu appeared like a crane among the clouds, she was secretly enjoying the flowers of the mortal realm behind everyone’s back.

As for that woman, becoming unruly in broad daylight meant she was truly not a good person. She really wanted to do something about it.

However, before her thought could fully form, the divine sword within the Yinian Bead grasped her intention. Transforming into a gust of wind, it flashed forward, its hilt striking a heavy blow directly against the woman’s forehead. Consequently, before the woman could even pull back her smile, she crashed into the roadside bushes with a loud rustle.

Chu Qingqiu’s hand remained extended in midair. She paused in wordless silence before turning her gaze toward Ning Fuyi’s direction.

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