Immortal Travel of Longevity

Yu Youyu had only just arrived in Shangjing City, yet she immediately turned and rushed straight toward the south. The moment she molded Xie Huan's face, she remembered exactly where she had seen those features before.

It was the very place she had just come from.

Without delay, she spurred her horse into a gallop and raced back toward the south.

......

After everything that had just happened, Xie Huan remained deeply shaken.

She stepped before the mirror. Staring back at her was the face of Yan Nantian, flawless and utterly complete. It was infinitely more lifelike than the Human Skin Mask; whether she smiled or frowned, there was absolutely no distinction to be found.

Yet, standing before the mirror, Xie Huan's mind only grew more muddled.

She thought back to the words Yu Youyu had spoken right before she left.

"Who am I, really...?" she murmured.

Hearing of the incident in the palace, the Minister of Revenue, Tong Nianyi, had hurried over. By the time she arrived, the assassin was already gone.

When she entered the palace and laid eyes on Xie Huan, she stared in disbelief.

"How did you become like this..."

If not for her undisguised voice, even Tong Nianyi would not have been able to tell whether the person standing before her was Yan Nantian or Xie Huan.

Xie Huan froze for a moment, then simply shook her head. She offered no further explanation.

Her gaze fell upon the Imperial Seal.

This Imperial Seal was also a fake.

Yan Nantian had taken the real one away long ago.

It made sense. There was no way Yan Nantian would casually leave something so important in someone else's hands.

Xie Huan took a deep breath. "If there comes a day when I truly become Yan Nantian, will you still come to see me?"

Tong Nianyi faltered, confused. "What do you mean?"

She couldn't quite understand.

"You are you. How could you become Yan Nantian?"

Xie Huan pursed her lips. She seemed to have a premonition, feeling that such a day was not far off.

Tong Nianyi could not grasp Xie Huan's thoughts. Amidst such hesitation and confusion, likely only Xie Huan herself knew the depths of the trap she had fallen into.

A mortal life was incredibly short, yet she was not allowed to be herself.

This was not what she wanted.

A single tear slipped from Xie Huan's eye. "Nianyi, I think I was wrong," she said. "Terribly, terribly wrong..."

Tong Nianyi did not understand why she was saying this. She fell silent, at a loss for how to answer.

......

All things in this world were bound by karmic fate.

Zhao Yuqing knew perfectly well where this tribulation had originated, and exactly where his inner demon had come from.

He made no further move against the inner demon.

The two of them seemed to be moving in opposite directions, yet deep down, they seemed to harbor the exact same hope.

Lost in long contemplation, Zhao Yuqing found himself completely at a loss.

Even though the inner demon's words were extreme, they had undeniably stirred Zhao Yuqing's heart.

This was a dull world to begin with.

It was far inferior to the Great Thousand Dream Method.

Even this Heavenly Dao was incredibly dull.

With these thoughts in mind, Zhao Yuqing sank deep into his musings, unable to extricate himself.

Meanwhile, the inner demon was already moving through Hongyuan Tianxia. He was secretly placing his pieces, intent on turning this world upside down.

Hongyuan Tianxia's rise had been remarkably swift. In part, this was due to the suppression of the Human Dao, but it was also because there were simply too many demons and demonic cultivators coveting that qi destiny.

Demonic cultivators from the upper realms had also joined the fray, causing Hongyuan Tianxia's strength to surge.

However, this also made Hongyuan Tianxia's internal situation much more complicated.

No one disdained associating with those demonic cultivators more than Sha Tang.

Sha Tang always felt that these demonic cultivators were up to no good. The fact that the Demon Lord had accepted them ran completely contrary to Sha Tang's ideals. What he wanted was a world much like the mortal realm, but ruled by demons. Nothing else could be mixed in; it was a fundamental distinction of race.

"With ideas like yours, perhaps the Demon Market in the Northern Region would be better suited for you."

Sha Tang looked at the inner demon and said, "The Demon Market is too peaceful. They lack the qualifications to vie for the world. It is like the difference between a vassal king and a landlord in a dynasty."

"I wouldn't be so sure."

The inner demon said, "That Demon Market is merely a dragon biding its time in the abyss. When necessary, I suspect they will stir up quite the storm."

Sha Tang agreed with his words, saying, "The winds and clouds of this world change without warning. It is nothing more than using generals to block soldiers, and earth to dam water. The odds are split fifty-fifty; the Demon Market might not be able to seize the chance."

The inner demon laughed and said, "A fair point."

He paused for a moment and said, "However, one of your thoughts happens to coincide with mine completely."

"What?"

"Regarding the demonic cultivators."

Sha Tang glanced at him and said, "That is a strange thing for you to say. Compared to those demonic cultivators, you are the one who is more like a true demon."

"Then why are you speaking with me?"

Sha Tang shrugged and said, "You are different."

The inner demon smiled and said, "Demonic qi is also known as the filthy qi of the world. But I am not filth; I am nothing more than an extreme thought. Though I may be extreme, I am still myself. As for those demonic cultivators, I do not think highly of them. They have strayed from the essence. A true demon should control the qi with their mind, rather than allowing their mind to be manipulated by demonic qi."

Sha Tang raised an eyebrow and said, "I am still curious to know just whose inner demon you are."

"Stop asking."

The inner demon stated, adding, "You would be terrified if you knew."

Sha Tang rubbed his chin; hearing that only made him more curious.

The inner demon changed the subject, saying, "Just watch. These demonic cultivators are bound to run into trouble sooner or later. The minds of the upper-realm demonic cultivators are too heavily influenced by demonic qi now; they will likely turn into monsters in the end. Furthermore, the way the demonic path gathers followers is particularly prone to causing problems."

"What problems?"

"Infighting."

The inner demon said, "Because of the extremes guided by their inner demons, everyone at the bottom thinks they are number one in the world. If there is a hidden hand pushing from the shadows, they will fight endlessly among themselves."

The inner demon paused and said, "I heard in my early years that in ancient times, the demonic path once flourished. Its eventual downfall was partly due to the suppression of the Righteous Path, but the primary cause was internal strife. It was difficult to pacify, and as it grew increasingly severe, it allowed others an opportunity to strike."

Sha Tang considered this, but shook his head and said, "That is too far in the past. I have never heard of it."

The inner demon smiled and said, "You are a talent. It would be a pity if you didn't go to see the Cultivation World. Once you have seen it, you likely won't care about this bit of present glory."

Sha Tang shook his head, however, and said, "If I cannot even grasp this bit of present glory, how can I even talk about the upper realm?"

The inner demon laughed at his words and said, "You kid, truly a talent."

Sha Tang knew he was teasing, but did not take it to heart.

His thoughts suddenly drifted to Yu Youyu.

She was a woman whose Daoist arts and Divine Abilities were truly extraordinary. In the blink of an eye, almost a month had passed; if she didn't show up soon, he would have to leave.

What a pity...

She could not be used by him.

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