Chapter 122: The Demon Star Reappears

A cool sensation on my wrist... heavy... why didn't it hurt at all? I looked at him in astonishment; the Profound Crystal Sword had transformed into a Profound Crystal Bracelet upon my wrist!

The sword had indeed turned into a bracelet on me. So, this sword truly recognized its master! The moment I wore it, the restraints on my face and body vanished instantly. He kept holding my hand, as if he were holding onto his own heart... I stared at him blankly.

Seeing that the Profound Crystal Sword could not harm me, Lu Xue urged anxiously, "Yun Xiao! That sword is useless! Use the Dragon Abyss Sword!"

"Very well." Master flicked his hand, summoning the Dragon Abyss Sword. He turned to Lu Xue and asked, "How do you suggest I use it?"

"The Dragon Abyss Sword! Have you forgotten?" Lu Xue pressed urgently.

"I have forgotten," Master replied.

Lu Xue began to weave hand seals with one hand. Master raised the Dragon Abyss Sword, pointed it at her, and walked toward her... "Han Qing! Aim it at her!" Lu Xue gestured frantically with both hands, the wound on her wrist tearing open as blood welled up again. "Ah!" The pain made her abandon the seals to use magic to heal herself. Master continued to walk toward her...

"Idiot!" Tian De hid his hands in his sleeves, casting spells in secret.

The sharp tip of the Dragon Abyss Sword was leveled at Lu Xue. Panic-stricken, she retreated, "Han Qing, don't come any closer! It's me, Xue'er! Wu Xiang! Why is he not listening?"

God Wu Xiang stood there, dazed...

Master’s sword tip reached Lu Xue’s throat. He asked coldly, "Why should I listen to you?" Lu Xue tried to flee but found herself immobilized by a binding spell, her feet rooted to the ground.

"Because you are the Han Qing in Xue'er's heart! You are a vessel of righteousness, and now that your soul has gathered, have you developed your own thoughts?" Her face lit up with surprise.

"A vessel of righteousness?" I was stunned.

"Zi Chan, take notes," Master said to the twelfth disciple, who was already watching in a daze.

"Twelfth! Record this!" Master repeated.

"Yes!" The twelfth disciple summoned a silk scroll and brush to begin transcribing.

"Who taught you this?" Master’s sword pressed against Lu Xue’s delicate neck, and a line of fresh blood immediately trickled down. Lu Xue screamed, "Han Qing, what are you doing! Wu Xiang! What has happened to Han Qing's vessel?" She cried out to God Wu Xiang, who remained as still as a wooden statue.

Tian De secretly covered his hands with his wide, flowing sleeves and brought them to his mouth.

Master sensed Tian De’s movement. He sealed Lu Xue, then flicked his hand to freeze Tian De. Tian De tried to channel his power to break free, but he found himself suppressed by the Dragon Seal, unable to muster any strength. Master pulled back Tian De’s sleeve, revealing the short, verdant Nine Immortals Pilgrimage Flute pressed against his lips.

"Tian De, did you take out the Nine Immortals Pilgrimage Flute because you wanted to play a tune for my wedding?" Master asked unhurriedly.

Tian De froze, looking at Master in astonishment, and could not help but mutter, "God, you surely know how to joke..."

Master snatched the Nine Immortals Pilgrimage Flute from Tian De's hand and held it high. "Everyone! Is it my joke that is grand, or the deeds of the Crown Prince!" With a single squeeze, there was a crisp "snap," and the flute broke. God Wu Xiang, the Heavenly Emperor, Consort Jiuhua, Lei Ci, the Emperor of Leixia Marsh, and God Puhua all collapsed to the ground like lifeless puppets. Master waved his hand, dispelling the barrier.

"Heavenly Emperor!" The Emperor's personal guards and the immortal officials cried out in alarm.

"Who exactly are you!" Tian De stared at Master, demanding in fear.

"Who else could I be?" Master laughed.

"Old thief Wu Xiang!" Tian De roared.

"It seems eighty lashes were far too few!" Master flicked his sleeve, pushing Tian De aside, and used magic to force him to his knees.

Tian De studied Master from head to toe. His face turned a sickly shade of blue-white, then black, his muscles twitching involuntarily. Gritting his teeth, he cursed, "Yun Xiao! You are Yun Xiao! You old fox! You treacherous villain!"

"Old fox..." Hearing him curse like that, I couldn't help but laugh, tears streaming down my face. Wave after wave of tears welled up, only to be held back by the image before me. He had truly returned! He was the one who stood back-to-back with me at Chasing Immortal Cliff, the one who gazed out at the sea of clouds from Viewing Immortal Terrace, the one who parted from me in Remembering Immortal Valley—he was back!

"Ding Mao, bring Tian Sheng here," Master ordered.

"Master? What is going on? You're not foolish anymore? Not muddled? Your soul is whole? You recognize everyone now? Are you still going to punish Tian Sheng? Tian Sheng was wronged, and so was Junior Sister..." The eleventh disciple began to ramble on again. The fifteenth disciple nudged him secretly and whispered, "Go!"

"Ding Mao," Master said slowly.

"Yes?" the eleventh disciple responded.

"Shut up!" Master commanded.

"Yes!" The eleventh disciple hurried toward the Beast Garden.

The gathered immortals were a mix of shock, confusion, and fear, not knowing what to do.

"Everyone, please take your seats," Master said to the gods. Seeing me standing there foolishly, smiling at him, he chuckled and said, "Still smiling like a fool? Which immortal mountain would ever take you? Go and wake Chun Feng."

I dispelled the sleeping spell on Chun Feng, yet I still kept my eyes fixed on Master, smiling like an idiot.

"Yun Xiao has lost his mind! He doesn't even recognize me!" Chun Feng cursed the moment he woke up.

I hurriedly said, "No! No!"

"No?" Chun Feng asked.

"No, it's him! He's back!" I said.

Chun Feng realized the truth, pointed at Master, and said, "Fine! Fine! You little rascal, you even toyed with me! I know now, I'll settle the score with you when we get home!"

*To pretend so well without telling me, I'll have to settle the score with you too!* I thought to myself.

The disciples of Jade Purity Realm looked at one another, glancing from Master to me, then to Chun Feng. They couldn't understand how Junior Sister had just emerged from the bow, yet Master had given the Profound Crystal Sword to "Senior Aunt" and was smiling at her so affectionately...

Tian Sheng arrived at the main hall with the eleventh disciple.

"Zi Chan, record Crown Prince Tian De!" Master said.

"Oh, yes!"

"Crown Prince Tian De, first charge: forming cliques for personal gain, hoarding divine artifacts, and colluding with the Underworld to harm God Yun Xiao in exchange for two Heavenly cities and the chaotic artifacts—the Qian-Tian Seal, the Binding God Lock, and the Infinite Cauldron! This led to the slaughter of the immortal citizens of the two cities and the unjust deaths of many soldiers! Evidence and witnesses are attached!" As Master spoke, one of the guests, dressed as a Star Lord, stood up and transformed into the Underworld Elder. The Elder presented the Qian-Tian Seal and the Infinite Cauldron, providing his testimony.

"Second charge: accepting bribes from the Western Sea God Gui Er and trafficking immortal positions! Confessions and ledgers are attached! Tian Sheng, present them!" Tian Sheng presented the signed confession of the Western Sea God Gui Er.

"Third charge: using the Nine Immortals Pilgrimage Flute to create puppets to replace the Heavenly Emperor, God Yun Xiao, God Wu Xiang, God Puhua, Consort Jiuhua, Crown Princess Lei Ci, and the Emperor of Leixia Marsh. Evidence from the scene is attached!"

"Fourth charge: harming the pregnant Crown Princess Lei Ci, mutilating her into a human swine! Here is a witness! I have the testimony!" It was the voice of Princess Changyang. Having received help from the eleventh disciple, she had traveled from Qingqiu, bringing Lei Ci with her. The "maggot-ridden" Lei Ci wept as she recounted Tian De’s crimes. Her appearance and voice were so horrific that the immortals were terrified, some even unable to stop themselves from vomiting.

I waved my hand to break the seal of the Vast Sea Bow and released the primordial spirit of Immortal Dan Biyou. I said sternly, "Fifth charge: murdering Immortal Dan Biyou of Penglai! After promising a marriage alliance to Penglai, Tian De coveted the power of Leixia Marsh. He betrayed his promise and resorted to spreading malicious rumors. He stabbed Immortal Dan Biyou to death with a dagger, staging a fake suicide to clear his name!"

Tian De grinned hideously, while Biyou glared at him with gnashing teeth.

"Ah! Junior Sister! You were Immortal Dan Biyou in your past life?" the eleventh disciple asked Biyou, leaning in.

"I am not your Junior Sister," Biyou replied.

"Senior Brother knows, you're angry because Master kicked you out of the sect. But it's okay now. Junior Sister, you were so pitiful in your past life, and pitiful in this one too... No wonder Master dotes on you so much... You didn't have your soul scattered? How did your spirit end up trapped in a bow? All those immortal dresses I burned were for nothing, and the strength pills too... Master is alive, but you died, what will you do now..." Seeing "me," the eleventh disciple lapsed into his usual chatterbox state. Biyou looked at him as if he were a monster. Unable to bear it any longer, she covered her ears and transformed back into the Vast Sea Bow. When Biyou said she would explain later, I knew that once she appeared, she wouldn't be able to make sense of things with the eleventh disciple.

Chun Feng walked up and hit the eleventh disciple with his fan. "Fool!"

"Ah?" The eleventh disciple was bewildered.

"Zi Chan, record this! Present the evidence!" Master commanded.

"Sixth charge: Tian De secretly mobilized the dark troops of Leixia, using the Yin-Yang Sealing Seal and Soul-Locking Nails to kidnap and harm Master Yu Fei, a disciple of God Yun Xiao, causing him to fall into the Underworld!"

Under the watchful eyes of all, Tian De’s "skin" was peeled away layer by layer. Beneath the face of a gentle gentleman lay layers of filth and a heart that sought vengeance for the slightest grievance.

*He pretended to be controlled just to reveal Tian De's true colors in front of everyone! So he knew everything! He knew about my marriage alliance with the Underworld...* Thinking of this, I lowered my head, unable to look at him.

Tian De grinned hideously. "Yun Xiao, do you dare tell everyone how your precious female disciple ended up in the Underworld!"

Chun Feng waved his hands at Yun Xiao, signaling him to stop.

Master continued, "Tian De kidnapped Master Yu Fei under the name of the 'Seventh Princess' and sent him to the Underworld to marry Ming Zhong! Witness: The Underworld Elder and..." Before Master could finish, the entire Jade Purity Realm was in shock. The immortals were in an uproar. "Ah!"

"Good! Yun Xiao! I admire you for being able to speak of the scandal of Jade Purity Realm yourself! Aren't you supposed to be fearless of gossip? Aren't you supposed to be above reproach? That time twenty-four thousand years ago, it was someone else's disciple, so it didn't pierce your heart, and you didn't feel the pain, right? This time, it's your own beloved disciple!" Tian De laughed wildly.

"Beast! Scoundrel!" Holy Mother Danxia grabbed Tian De and slapped him a dozen times. She drew her sword to strike him, but Master stopped her. Her sword could not harm Tian De; he was protected by the Crown Prince’s Seal.

"Sigh!" Chun Feng exhaled. I kept my head down, speechless... my heart throbbed with pain... I couldn't let Biyou take the blame for this... but how could I explain my "thick-skinned" self...

"Mother!" Suddenly, Little White's voice echoed through the hall. I stood up with a start. How could Little White be here!

At the entrance of the main hall stood a beautiful woman with curly hair cascading over her shoulders, her hair a dark red, her face strikingly elegant. She was weeping, holding Little White.

Who is she! Why is she holding my child! Chun Feng and I had used our divine power to set four barriers—four-fold barriers set by two gods—that no one could forcefully open. How did she bring my child here! Master and I leaped to her side simultaneously.

The woman clutched Little White tightly, sobbing, "Where is the Great Sound True God? Make her come out! Please, save my child!"

Seeing the woman’s unstable emotional state, I hurriedly said to her, "Put my child down, and I will call her out!"

Chun Feng also flew to my side, "The Great Sound True God is dead! Put down my child!" To protect me, Chun Feng tried to deceive her.

"Impossible! That Rebirth Star is still there! She is alive and well! Please, make her come out and save my child... or I will kill this child!" The woman's gentle, pitiful expression suddenly turned ferocious. Her fingernails grew long and sharp like daggers, digging into Little White, who struggled to protect himself with immortal magic.

"I am her! Don't you touch him!" I shouted desperately.