The Young Lady Only Wants to Cultivate Immortality Chapter 94

When Shi Qingqian’s cool, icy words reached A’Ling’s ears, the cruel words felt like sharp blades rolling from her ear canal straight into her heart.

They sliced through flesh and blood, leaving a bloody mess.

In the next second, an indescribable unease and panic seized A’Ling’s heart. Instantly, A’Ling understood the meaning behind Shi Qingqian’s words.

Her face turned ashen, and the heavy sorrow, like towering mountains, pressed down on her heart.

A’Ling understood that Shi Qingqian was taking all the blame upon herself. Her mind was instantly in turmoil, like a storm with raging seas, thunder, and lightning.

No, how can this be!

A’Ling felt as if struck by lightning, trembling violently. She stumbled, trying to get up from the ground to chase Shi Qingqian.

No, you can’t just leave like this. If you leave, Shi Qingqian will become an enemy to all of Mystic Crane Mountain.

Don’t go, let’s go together.

A’Ling staggered to her feet. She wanted to call out to Shi Qingqian to stop, but her hoarse throat couldn’t utter a sound.

From within the black mist, Shi Qingqian’s voice echoed again. This time, it sounded as if it came from a distant abyss, mixed with numerous crying sounds, like the wails of vengeful spirits.

“I’ve taken the Ten Fiend Ghost Soul. If you want it, come to the Demon Realm.”

A’Ling’s forward momentum halted abruptly. What did that mean? The Ten Fiend Ghost Soul was with her. Who was Shi Qingqian talking to?

Seeing the surrounding black mist gradually dissipate, A’Ling’s heart sank to the bottom.

No, don’t go!

Lan Fushang watched as the black mist that had surrounded her from the beginning, without causing her any harm, gradually dispersed.

Since earlier, she had heard various cries of pain and curses. From the words she heard, she deduced that this black mist, burning with dark flames, was attacking them.

However, Lan Fushang, standing within it, was completely unharmed.

She immediately understood. It was Shi Qingqian. She didn’t intend to harm her.

As the black mist in front of her abruptly dispersed, she felt as if the Immortal Rainbow Platform was a vast labyrinth, cleaved by the black mist.

Lan Fushang looked with confusion at the dissipating black mist before her. It seemed to be pointing a path for her.

Without hesitation, she charged forward.

At the end of the path, she saw A’Ling, her face streaked with tears, shouting towards the void as if trying to roar into the black mist.

Not good! Lan Fushang’s heart jolted. She immediately rushed forward, covered A’Ling’s mouth, and whispered in her ear, “A’Ling, calm down. Don’t say anything right now!”

Upon hearing Lan Fushang’s voice, A’Ling forcefully pulled at the hand covering her mouth. She wanted Lan Fushang to stop Shi Qingqian for her.

Seeing A’Ling’s agitated state and the despair in her eyes, Lan Fushang felt her heart ache fiercely. She had never seen A’Ling so sad before.

She had also heard Shi Qingqian’s words. They had completely exonerated A’Ling. If A’Ling said something she shouldn’t now, all of Shi Qingqian’s efforts would be in vain.

A’Ling looked at Lan Fushang and knew she had likely misunderstood.

How could she not understand Shi Qingqian’s intentions? She forcefully pulled away Lan Fushang’s hand. She had just realized she seemed to be able to make a sound.

A’Ling’s heart ached. It must have been Shi Qingqian again.

“A’Ling, don’t speak.” Lan Fushang, unable to cover A’Ling’s mouth, could only lower her voice and remind her.

A’Ling nodded. Before Lan Fushang could react, she grabbed her hand, preventing her from stopping her midway.

Certain that she couldn’t stop Shi Qingqian, A’Ling could only endure the immense pain in her heart and play along with the situation Shi Qingqian had created.

She shouted forcefully into the void, towards the eerie, mist-shrouded, but not yet completely closed rift: “I always knew you were a sinister, cunning, despicable, shameless person with a mouth as hard as stone and a brain scalded by boiling water, but I never expected you to be a devil worse than a petty scoundrel.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t regret it even if you do. I’ll take your surname if I ever regret someone like you, a maggot in a rotten Corrupted Corpse Forest that even the deceased wouldn’t bother with!”

“If you have the guts, don’t run! Running away so fast like a dog, how pathetic! If you like being a dog, from now on, whenever I see an ugly dog, I’ll call it Shi Qingqian!”

Lan Fushang’s current astonishment was no less than when she had seen demonic energy emanating from A’Ling on the Immortal Rainbow Platform. She even suspected that the black mist could cause people to lose their minds.

“A’Ling, you…”

Lan Fushang didn’t know what to say. Just moments ago, she had seen the sadness on A’Ling’s face and worried she might say something like asking Shi Qingqian to come back.

How, in the blink of an eye, had A’Ling changed so much? These curses were too harsh. She now truly pitied Shi Qingqian.

The people on the Immortal Rainbow Platform had naturally heard A’Ling’s venomous scolding of Shi Qingqian. They were unable to escape the dark flames of the black mist that Shi Qingqian had ignited, and they were in a sorry state.

Although A’Ling’s harsh scolding of Shi Qingqian brought them some comfort, they were also afraid. What if Shi Qingqian, enraged, returned to attack them again?

When Shi Qingqian first heard A’Ling’s words, each syllable like poisoned darts, her face instantly turned pale. She clutched her chest, breathing shallowly in pain.

But when she heard the last sentence, the emphasized “ugly dog” and “Shi Qingqian,” her mind roared like thunder. A bolt of lightning struck her forehead.

Shi Qingqian’s pale face was filled with shock. Her eyes were wide with disbelief. How did A’Ling know?

She actually found out…

Shi Qingqian released her hand from her chest. Her sharp fingernails had already broken her skin, but she seemed not to feel any pain.

Her dazed, scattered pupils gradually focused. Seeing the same painful forbearance in A’Ling’s eyes, a slight smile appeared on her lips.

This fool. She probably doesn’t know that I’ve seen her truly angry and cursing someone in the Demon Realm.

Unlike now, with red eyes, wet corners, and trembling fists.

Shi Qingqian suddenly let out a light laugh. Amidst the wails of vengeful spirits, her laughter sounded so out of place.

She casually swatted away the stray ghostly fiends she had taken with her, which were darting about in the void. The smile in her eyes made these ghostly fiends, who were originally terrified of being captured and tormented, heave a sigh of relief.

The dark red-black mist on the Immortal Rainbow Platform also gradually extinguished its flames with this light laugh. The dense black mist slowly receded into the void.

“Not good! Don’t let Shi Qingqian escape! Quickly, capture her!”

Ye Bingfeng, seeing the rift in the air about to close, hastily rode her sword, attempting to stop Shi Qingqian’s escape.

However, only she still wanted to capture Shi Qingqian. Everyone else wished for the demonic Shi Qingqian to leave as soon as possible!

A’Ling watched the disappearing figure, no matter how hard she wiped, the moisture at the corners of her eyes wouldn’t stop. It was like thick, heavy dark clouds that had gathered for days; once it rained, it couldn’t be stopped.

Seeing Ye Bingfeng ride her sword in pursuit of Shi Qingqian, A’Ling cursed even more fiercely while shedding tears.

“You wait! When Master Cai Yun catches you, she’ll tear you limb from limb, use your flesh and blood to fertilize the flowers of Mystic Crane Mountain, and then tear apart your three souls and seven spirits to wail endlessly with the ghostly fiends of Pi Lingyun Valley…”

Only when A’Ling saw Ye Bingfeng return with a dark expression, riding her sword alone, did she finally seem to run out of curses, leaning on her waist and panting.

Taking advantage of the break, she looked around. The entire Immortal Rainbow Platform was a mess, scorched black by the fierce flames. Even the ground beneath her feet was the same.

But unlike others, she didn’t seem to be burned. The blackened ground beneath her feet felt like an illusion. She didn’t feel any heat at all.

The Demon Subduing Array that had trapped her was now a gaping hole that had been burned through. The Sun Spirit Demon Subduing Chains had melted into a pool of molten iron, dripping down into the hole.

A’Ling looked up in the direction where the flames burned the hottest and showed no signs of extinguishing. The twelve Peerless Floating Thrones were no longer adorned with their golden halos in the fierce flames.

They were as ruined as the Immortal Rainbow Platform: scorched black, filthy, and hollowed out. A’Ling even felt that these words could describe Mystic Crane Mountain now.

She watched the people around her, burned by the dark flames and struggling on the ground for survival. A mountain breeze blew, causing A’Ling’s blood-splattered skirt to flutter.

These were the people who had watched her struggle for survival on the ground earlier. How unpredictable life was. Now, she was the one watching them on the ground, but A’Ling felt no happiness. She only found it all very ironic.

“Save me, save me…”

A faint plea for help came from behind. A’Ling turned to look. Lying amidst the dispersed black mist was Elder Qi Yu.

A’Ling lowered her gaze and looked at her, then exclaimed in panic, “Elder Qi Yu, what… what happened to you?”

As she spoke, she reached out to help, but then seemed to see that she was too badly injured, unsure where to support her.

She shouted to Lan Fushang, who was already actively helping the injured, “Fushang, come quickly and look here! Elder Qi Yu is dying!”

Shan Xinci, whom Lan Fushang was treating, was also severely injured. She was the only one among the three Peak Masters burned by the black mist and was now breathing her last.

She seemed to have heard A’Ling’s call. Worried that Lan Fushang might go to save others, she struggled to extend her blackened hand and tightly grasped Lan Fushang, preventing her from attending to others.

Lan Fushang had to be careful of her wounds and couldn’t make any large movements. She could only shout to A’Ling, “A’Ling, first use your spiritual energy to protect Elder Qi Yu’s heart meridian.”

A’Ling nodded forcefully and replied loudly, “Okay, hurry and come check on Elder Qi Yu.”

As she spoke, she channeled spiritual energy into Elder Qi Yu.

Hmm? A’Ling noticed that her spiritual energy was not right. The exaggerated look of panic on her face faltered slightly. Fortunately, Elder Qi Yu’s condition was poor, so she likely wouldn’t notice A’Ling’s slight abnormality.

“You… why…” Elder Qi Yu felt streams of spiritual energy flowing into her. She struggled to lift her head and look at A’Ling.

She was very surprised. Why was this person still saving her now?

A’Ling widened her eyes, seemingly confused by Elder Qi Yu’s unfinished question. She hesitated and asked back, “Are you asking why I’m still saving you?”

Elder Qi Yu could no longer hold her head up, only letting out a muffled groan of pain.

A’Ling nervously continued to input spiritual energy into her, while urging her to not speak for now. She answered Elder Qi Yu’s question quickly and naturally.

“It’s not your fault, Elder. It’s that Shi Qingqian. Her demonic energy tainted me. I worked so hard to carry her out of Pi Lingyun Valley, only to find out she’s a demon. She just said she took the ghost souls. The destruction of the Pi Lingyun Valley barrier must have been her doing too!”

“Speaking of which, it’s all thanks to the item you refined to detect demonic energy, Elder. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have detected the demonic energy in me, and we wouldn’t have found the real demon spy.”

“Oh, right, Elder Qi Yu, how did you make that item? Can you teach me? I can use it to detect demons around me next time.”

Idiot!

Saint Venerable Dao Rong clutched his chest, a surge of anger burning in his eyes. He looked at the innocent and foolish face in the Jiaoying Mirror, wishing he could skin her alive and drain her blood to make her a mindless puppet!

After all, she wouldn’t use her brain even if she had one.

Dao Rong glanced at Qi Yu, who could no longer hold on. A mouthful of blood spurted from his throat again. His eyes trembled with pain, and the image in the Jiaoying Mirror gradually blurred.

Useless, all of them are useless. Seeing that Ye Bingfeng hadn’t even touched the shadow of Shi Qingqian, he waved his hand and extinguished the image in the Jiaoying Mirror.

So the Ten Fiend Ghost Soul was in Shi Qingqian’s possession. That made everything fall into place. This was also an idiot. Originally, he truly thought that foolish A’Ling had lost the item.

Dao Rong clutched his chest, which was throbbing with pain. Thinking that everything was complete, yet he couldn’t retrieve it now, the anger in his eyes intensified.

Shi Qingqian was indeed lucky. By killing Qi Yu, she had managed to trap him.

Qi Yu was the only perfect puppet he had successfully refined with his heart’s blood. She was obedient, useful, and her appearance and behavior were indistinguishable from a normal person, retaining her thoughts and intelligence, but only having feelings for him and listening to his commands.

It had taken centuries and his heart’s blood to refine just one such perfect puppet!

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to refine more, but there were too many restrictions on using his heart’s blood. If a puppet refined with his heart’s blood died, he would also suffer a backlash to his foundation.

He had already emerged from seclusion prematurely due to his injuries. Now, with another backlash, if he were to forcefully deal with Shi Qingqian, he would likely be trading one thousand casualties for eight hundred of his own.

Shi Qingqian!

Dao Rong thought of this perfect puppet being destroyed by Shi Qingqian like this, and he couldn’t immediately kill her. Dao Rong’s heart ached with resentment.

She had even taken the Ten Fiend Ghost Soul. Dao Rong clutched his chest, a sinister smile appearing on his blood-streaked lips.

Truly rushing to her own death!

If it weren’t for Qi Yu being destroyed now, today would have been Shi Qingqian’s death day!

The pain was so immense that Dao Rong crumpled, unable to straighten his back. He fought back the murderous impulse towards Shi Qingqian, desperately trying to rein in the chaotic energy tearing through him. His skeletal fingers, glowing with spell light, clawed at his chest like talons. He drove them into his own flesh, encasing his tormented heart in a crushing grip of magic to contain the agony.

If anyone could see Saint Venerable Dao Rong’s appearance at this moment, they would likely be terrified to death. His face was a savage, contorted mask of pure malice, and his bony fingers clawed into his flesh, digging as if to tear his own heart from its cage..

All of this exuded a chilling horror that would seize one’s breath.

A’Ling’s eyes widened. Looking at Elder Qi Yu, who slowly closed her eyes before her, she couldn’t believe she had just died.

She had already given her so much spiritual energy, yet she couldn’t even hold on until Lan Fushang could see her.

Lan Fushang, having finally stabilized Shan Xinci’s condition, rushed over upon hearing A’Ling’s exclamation to check.

But the person was already dead.

Seeing A’Ling’s dazed and seemingly heartbroken appearance, Lan Fushang hesitated. After thinking about it, she felt she should tell A’Ling.

“A’Ling, don’t you think Elder Qi Yu might have had a problem?”

How could A’Ling not know? She was sad that she hadn’t managed to ask who was behind her. She had originally thought it was Shan Xinci, but after seeing Shan Xinci also lying there, she had ruled her out.

Since Shi Qingqian’s words when she left were meant to clear her name, there must be someone she feared. These two people were clearly no match for Shi Qingqian. What was there for her to fear?

What a shame. She felt her acting was quite good just now. She even thought Elder Qi Yu was moved by her innocence. It was too late, though. She was too badly injured.

And this Shi Qingqian, why didn’t she think of capturing her too for interrogation? She was too impulsive.

“A problem? What problem?”

A’Ling tidied her expression. When she looked up again, she had a look of confusion that made Lan Fushang’s forehead twitch.

But before she could say anything more, two flashes of light suddenly swept past. Her heart jolted, and she was about to circulate her spiritual energy for defense.

“Don’t worry, it’s Little Wandering.”

A’Ling looked at the magic artifact that had suddenly returned to her hand, and the Nine Heavens Immortal Binding Net had also transformed into a long chain wrapped around her arm.

These two magic artifacts had been locked in the Huchi Restraining Cage. How did they suddenly return to her hand?

A’Ling looked back. After the black mist dissipated, the Huchi Restraining Cage looked like rusted iron that had been corroded by seawater for many years. With a gust of wind, it crumbled to pieces, as fragile as ever.

Looking at Little Wandering, which she had lost and then found again, tears welled up in A’Ling’s eyes again. If she hadn’t tried her best to hold them back, she would have started crying again.

Lan Fushang looked at the magic artifacts in A’Ling’s hand and suddenly realized something. The severely injured people she had just treated were those who had harmed A’Ling after she was tested for demonic energy.

The magic artifacts that had touched A’Ling’s blood were all burned into branding irons and couldn’t be shaken off, as if embedded in their palms.

However, thankfully, she had been able to help remove them with spiritual energy, though after being removed, all those magic artifacts had turned to ash.

Looking at the undamaged magic artifacts in A’Ling’s hand, Lan Fushang couldn’t quite articulate her feelings. After thinking about it, she shared this discovery with A’Ling.

She felt that if she didn’t say anything, A’Ling probably wouldn’t have noticed.

A’Ling indeed hadn’t noticed. After hearing Lan Fushang’s words, she looked around in surprise. The first thing she saw was Gong Shuangyu, who was being helped up, her hand hanging by her side blackened.

Her magic artifact was indeed gone. The Gangfeng Hammer was the first magic artifact that had knocked her down.

Shi Qingqian…

This person…

A’Ling gazed into the void where no figure remained. The tears she had held back just now, like pearls from a broken string, rolled down incessantly.

She withdrew her gaze and forcefully wiped away the tears. It was not the time to cry. She still had things to do, but the tears seemed to be acting contrary to her wishes, only increasing.

Finally, she gave up and hugged her knees, crying bitterly.

It was as if she were crying out all the tears she hadn’t shed over the years.

The people around saw A’Ling crying so sadly in front of Elder Qi Yu’s body, and they all felt a sense of unease.

Some felt ashamed for suspecting A’Ling earlier, some admired her broad-mindedness and lack of grudges, and some secretly cursed A’Ling for being foolish and too kind.

Although Elder Qi Yu had been deluded by Shi Qingqian’s demonic energy, she was the one who had cruelly driven seven demon-subduing nails into A’Ling after detecting demonic energy in her.

They had all felt the pain just by watching A’Ling’s wails.

Now that she was dead, A’Ling could still be so sad for her.

They didn’t know what to say.

Ye Bingfeng had been somewhat suspicious of A’Ling. After all, Shi Qingqian had gone up to Winter Snow Peak with A’Ling, and Shi Qingqian had protected A’Ling everywhere, even setting up a life-soul barrier for her.

Although A’Ling seemed to have no romantic feelings for Shi Qingqian back then, it was always possible for one to develop feelings for someone who treated them so well.

She hadn’t expected A’Ling’s heart to be so black and white. She had also heard Shi Qingqian’s words. Shi Qingqian wanted to take A’Ling with her, but A’Ling refused.

Now, A’Ling was even sad about Elder Qi Yu. Ye Bingfeng was now certain that A’Ling’s feelings for Shi Qingqian were not as deep and devoted as Shi Qingqian’s for her.

A’Ling was crying so sadly that everyone was looking at her. No one noticed that the void, which had completely closed, had actually opened a crack again.

“Master…”

Apothecary Mu Ling looked at the scene below, then at Shi Qingqian, who had been silent all along. She didn’t know what to say.

After being rescued by Shi Qingqian earlier, she thought they would return directly to the Demon Realm.

She hadn’t expected Shi Qingqian to return to this gathering place, likely because of A’Ling below.

However, as for A’Ling, a look of displeasure welled up in Apothecary Mu Ling’s eyes. Seeing her crying so sincerely for someone so insignificant, she felt a pang of sorrow for her master.

Did she truly deserve the master’s affection?

Shi Qingqian looked deeply at the person whose shoulders were shaking violently with sobs. Her heart also ached dully. She still preferred seeing her smile.

“Go.”

She withdrew her gaze, casually tore open the void, and stepped into the sunless, desolate, and eerie Demon Realm. Looking at the Iron Pagoda that had appeared in her illusions countless times, she hid the pain in her eyes and resolutely walked in.

With flashes of lightning and rolling thunder, the heavy, accumulated clouds seemed unable to bear the impending raindrops. Instantly, a torrential downpour, accompanied by thunderclaps, lashed onto the scorched Immortal Rainbow Platform.

Lan Fushang escorted the heartbroken A’Ling back to her cave dwelling.

As soon as they entered the cave dwelling, A’Ling wiped away her tears and used magic to cleanse her face. Apart from her eyes still looking a bit red, there was no sign that she had been immersed in sorrow and crying uncontrollably.

Lan Fushang looked at this scene and opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but didn’t know how. She felt that A’Ling was a little strange today.

A’Ling ignored Lan Fushang’s surprised expression, pulled her closer, and asked, “Are you okay?”

Lan Fushang was also present when the dark flames ignited on the Immortal Rainbow Platform. She was worried that she might have been injured.

Earlier, on the Immortal Rainbow Platform, she had a performance task. It was inconvenient for her to check if she was alright.

Lan Fushang quickly shook her head. “I’m fine. Those black mists have been protecting me.”

A’Ling guessed the reason for this. This time, Shi Qingqian had done a decent job.

Lan Fushang had also participated in treating the wounded earlier. She thought of the injured people and said, “The severely injured this time were all those who harmed you after you were tested for demonic energy.”

A’Ling nodded and explained Shi Qingqian’s actions: “This can’t be blamed on Shi Qingqian. They attacked first without distinguishing right from wrong. Shi Qingqian was merely avenging me.”

Lan Fushang raised an eyebrow. She hadn’t said Shi Qingqian was wrong either. Although in her opinion, the revenge was indeed doubled, A’Ling also said it was revenge, and there was no such thing as fairness in revenge.

You couldn’t stab me and expect me to only retaliate once, could you?

Seeing that Lan Fushang was fine, A’Ling set up a barrier and pulled her inside. They walked to the table where they usually drank tea and sat down close to her.

She leaned in and whispered in Lan Fushang’s ear, “Check my spiritual energy for me.”

Seeing her cautious demeanor, Lan Fushang immediately agreed, though she didn’t know why.

She extended her hand, and blue light emanated from her palm as she carefully checked A’Ling. Soon, her open eyes widened slightly. She looked at A’Ling in surprise, as if seeking confirmation from her eyes.

A’Ling blinked. Seeing Lan Fushang’s shocked expression, she knew her own feelings were correct. Her spiritual energy was indeed not right.

Earlier on the Immortal Rainbow Platform, when she saw her wounds rapidly healing, she had felt an excessive abundance of spiritual energy in her body. Her entire being felt as if her marrow and veins had been cleansed, and her flesh and blood reforged.

However, at that time, she was caught off guard by Shi Qingqian’s sudden actions and didn’t have time to ponder the change.

Later, when she was channeling spiritual energy to Elder Qi Yu, she felt something was wrong again. There were actually two streams of spiritual energy vying to emerge from her palm.

What made her most concerned, and what necessitated her wanting to know what had happened in this unsafe situation, was that on their way back, she had been pretending to be in pain. It wasn’t entirely fake.

The constantly condensing spiritual energy in her body was indeed causing her some pain. It felt as if a hand was grasping the spiritual energy within her and rolling it into pearls.

Lan Fushang confirmed it again. The trembling in her eyes clearly expressed her shock. A’Ling’s body actually contained two golden cores.

How could this be…

She shared this discovery with A’Ling in a whisper, mimicking A’Ling’s posture.

A’Ling let out a heavy sigh. It was exactly as she had thought.

“What’s going on?” Lan Fushang couldn’t help but ask in a low voice.

A’Ling angrily slapped the stone table in front of her. With a ‘crack,’ the table made of East Pole Stone broke apart.

Before Lan Fushang could finish her surprise, A’Ling directly used magic to put the table back together.

Then she slapped it again, shattering it.

This slightly eased the anger in her heart.

“Do you have a table?” A’Ling turned to ask Lan Fushang.

Lan Fushang hadn’t fully recovered from the sudden shock. Hearing A’Ling’s question, she nodded absently and took out a simple wooden folding table from her Universe pouch, which they had brought on their missions.

A’Ling rested her head on one hand and tapped the table irritably with her fingers, controlling her strength. Her words seemed to be enlightening Lan Fushang, even though Lan Fushang hadn’t dared to ask anything amidst A’Ling’s strangeness.

“It’s Shi Qingqian’s! That brain-damaged thing!” A’Ling gritted her teeth, emphasizing the word “brain-damaged.”

She couldn’t imagine how someone with a normal brain could do something like giving their cultivation to someone else.

When Shi Qingqian took the Demon Lord’s Tears, she had felt some anomaly. But later, thinking of Shi Qingqian’s kiss, which was both startlingly aggressive and incredibly tender, A’Ling’s cheeks flushed.

That damned creature. In that situation, how could she care about anything else? She had even worried that if she accidentally vomited blood, it would cause psychological trauma to Shi Qingqian, who was kissing her for the first time.

She was quite rational, kissing her while taking things, and even sending them away. With such capability, why didn’t she go to the human realm and join a circus or a performing troupe?

With such talent, she would definitely become a star performer.

Being a demon was burying her talent!

Lan Fushang wasn’t surprised when A’Ling said it was Shi Qingqian. Besides her, who else could give a golden core, which was equivalent to life for a cultivator, to another person?

No, there was one other person. Lan Fushang immediately thought of Supreme Lan Huang Jin Zhuyue, whom she had seen in the secret chamber.

She had personally cut open her golden core to give to Saint Venerable Dao Rong after he was injured by demons.

Thinking of this, Supreme Lan Huang’s feelings for Saint Venerable Dao Rong were likely not ordinary.

“I really want to twist her head off and ask her if her brain has grown a blister. If needed, I can poke it with a needle. Before the blister disappears, don’t do anything that makes people want to twist off your head!”

Lan Fushang listened quietly. Seeing A’Ling’s eyes redden with anger, she sighed inwardly. What exactly was Shi Qingqian trying to do?

A’Ling was also pondering this question. What was this person trying to do? Why did she give her golden core to her? How could she just leave without saying a word?!

Of course, she knew the situation was tense, and Shi Qingqian had to appear in her demonic form to save her. But was the situation so dire that she didn’t even have time to say an explanation?

Even if she had said the time and place of their next meeting, what did this mean now? Was she going to stay in the Demon Realm?

And lying about the Ten Fiend Ghost Soul being with her, who was she trying to get to find her?

A’Ling touched Little Wandering on her wrist. The Ten Fiend Ghost Soul was clearly inside her Little Wandering.

Speaking of which, inside her Little Wandering, there was also the thousand-year demon core that the Mountain Tiger Head Spider intended to sacrifice to Saint Venerable Dao Rong.

Let’s not think about that for now. A’Ling looked at Lan Fushang and very seriously leaned in to ask her ear, “Do you have any methods for surgically removing a golden core that are less painful or can reduce the pain?”

Hearing this question, Lan Fushang immediately moved back slightly, her heart filled with vigilance. “What are you planning to do?”

A’Ling took a deep breath and pulled her back, saying matter-of-factly, “Naturally, to return it to her.”

Lan Fushang looked at A’Ling seriously, confirming she wasn’t joking. “Are you serious?”

A’Ling countered her doubt with a question, “If Gu Jingyang gave her… to you, would you want it?”

She deliberately paused at the crucial word, not saying it out loud. She felt that her words and actions were being watched. This feeling was given to her by Shi Qingqian. She felt that everything that happened on the Immortal Rainbow Platform indicated that someone was secretly causing trouble.

If someone was causing trouble, how could they not be monitoring them? Know your enemy, increase your chances of winning.

Lan Fushang felt very uncomfortable with A’Ling’s analogy. She felt awkward. How could Gu Jingyang give her a golden core? But if, if she really did give it, Lan Fushang thought seriously, she would also, like A’Ling, not want it.

Thinking of this, Lan Fushang nodded, but her tone was very hesitant. “There are ways.”

She had always loved to research lesser-known things in the ancient texts left behind by the ascended ancestor of the Soaring Rainbow Tower, such as painless golden core removal.

After seeing the pain Supreme Lan Huang endured when she surgically removed her golden core in the secret chamber of Zhuoling Mountain, she had remembered some methods from the ancient texts upon her return. However, she had not personally tested them, and she was a little worried.

A’Ling was relieved. It was good that there were ways. Seeing Lan Fushang’s worried expression, she was about to comfort her when she suddenly heard the sound of a transmission bell.

She removed the barrier and let the person in. Seeing that it was Gu Jingyang, her heart leaped with joy. She had something to discuss with Gu Jingyang.

The two of them anxiously cared for each other. After confirming that they were both well, they finally relaxed.

Gu Jingyang, having been released this time, also brought back all of A’Ling’s confiscated items and returned them to her.

A’Ling reached out and took her Universe pouchs, casually looking through them. Nothing was missing.

Gu Jingyang noticed that A’Ling’s eyes were red, and her eyelashes were still a little wet, looking as if she had been crying. Her heart was deeply moved. She had never seen A’Ling cry before.

Thinking of what she had heard on the way, Gu Jingyang furrowed her brows. She hadn’t expected that while she was imprisoned, A’Ling had almost lost her life. Fortunately, Shi Qingqian was there.

“Qingqian, she—”

Before Gu Jingyang could finish her sentence, A’Ling interrupted her sharply, “Don’t mention that black-hearted demon! Thinking of her makes me angry.”

This statement was half true and half false. She led everyone to sit by the wooden table. Gu Jingyang noticed that Lan Fushang’s complexion wasn’t great either, and she seemed a little dazed after seeing her.

Lan Fushang felt a little embarrassed to see Gu Jingyang after A’Ling’s question.

After a brief greeting, the two of them looked at A’Ling, who seemed to have something to say.

A’Ling set up a barrier again and, just like before, leaned in to whisper in Lan Fushang’s ear, “We’ll discuss the golden core removal later. Did you bring the Ling’er Powder?”

Lan Fushang didn’t know why she was asking about this, but nodded. “I brought them.” She always brought them wherever she went, so she could have a response when she wanted to talk.

A’Ling explained her plan to Lan Fushang. Lan Fushang nodded after listening, “Okay.”

A’Ling then cast an illusionary barrier over the entire cave dwelling.

She led Gu Jingyang to sit on a rattan chair nearby, while Lan Fushang remained alone by the wooden table, taking out the Ling’er Powder.

Lan Fushang thought about what they could talk about today, but suddenly having to have a serious conversation in front of someone, she didn’t know how to start.

Gu Jingyang didn’t know what they were doing, but she still followed A’Ling to sit on a rattan chair a short distance from the table. Seeing A’Ling cast another barrier and illusionary shield around them, Gu Jingyang furrowed her brows.

If someone with high cultivation could see through A’Ling’s barrier and into her cave dwelling, they would see A’Ling, Lan Fushang, and Gu Jingyang sitting together by the wooden table.

Lan Fushang was even chatting with ‘A’Ling.’

A’Ling took out her two sound-eating birds from the Universe pouch that Gu Jingyang had returned to her and hugged one each with Gu Jingyang.

Gu Jingyang guessed that A’Ling had something important to tell her. Thinking of the last time this happened, when A’Ling told her about Shi Qingqian, it had shocked her for many days. This time, her even more serious demeanor made Gu Jingyang’s heart race.

She felt like she was about to hear something incredible.

“My dao companion is gone again.” A’Ling lay down and said, with a very aggrieved tone.

“Ah?” Gu Jingyang had never expected this. She held her breath, her heart pounding, only to hear such a sentence. “What do you mean, your dao companion is gone again?”

A’Ling looked at Gu Jingyang with a resentful gaze. She would let Lan Fushang discover her own thoughts later. What she wanted to talk about was Shi Qingqian.

“Do you remember that time when I was summoned for questioning on Winter Snow Peak, and I asked you to save me? That day, I ran because Shi Qingqian said she wanted to become my dao companion.”

“Ah!” Gu Jingyang said, “No wonder. Why did A’Ling run that day? I didn’t expect Qingqian to directly express her feelings to A’Ling.”

A’Ling continued, “But I didn’t agree.”

“Ah.” Gu Jingyang wasn’t too surprised by this.

A’Ling sniffled. As she reached this point, she even felt like crying. “At that time, I didn’t know certain things. But this time, after carrying her out of Pi Lingyun Valley, I wanted to tell her when she woke up that I had changed my mind.”

“Ah~” Gu Jingyang’s eyes trembled. Did A’Ling’s words mean she had agreed?

During these five years in Pi Lingyun Valley, A’Ling had indeed not mentioned her desire to become Lan Fushang’s dao companion again. Her relationship with Qingqian had also eased considerably.

Qingqian had also treated A’Ling exceptionally well.

Gu Jingyang actually knew that it was only a matter of time before A’Ling was completely conquered by this ‘kindness.’ However, she hadn’t expected to hear this at this time.

A’Ling’s mood was a little hurt initially. Her chosen dao companion had run away. But due to Gu Jingyang’s reaction, she felt a little unable to be sad.

“You answer me with one word for every four tones. What are you trying to do? Did a crow turn into a spirit?” A’Ling playfully punched her.

Gu Jingyang rubbed her arm where she had been hit. “Isn’t this unexpected? So, what do you want to do? Go find Qingqian?”

A’Ling shook her head. “Where can I find her? The Demon Realm is so vast.”

Gu Jingyang had never been to the Demon Realm, but on the way, she had learned that Shi Qingqian was the new Demon Lord.

“Isn’t the Demon Lord’s cave dwelling usually not hard to find?”

A’Ling shook her head. The previous Demon Lord’s whereabouts were unpredictable. She didn’t even know if she had a cave dwelling in the Demon Realm.

In the past, the most comfortable cave dwelling in the Demon Realm was probably her Iron Pagoda. Actually, it was a good place to live, large and sturdy. When she was bored to death, she could climb high and watch the maggots fight in the rotten Corrupted Corpse Forest.

It was all Shi Qingqian’s fault for leaving so hastily. She hadn’t even had time to recommend it to her.

“Even if we find her, we can’t become dao companions anymore.” A’Ling’s sorrowful tone made Gu Jingyang furrow her brows.

Is A’Ling planning to find someone else now?

Then this time… Gu Jingyang glanced at Lan Fushang not far away. She was an excluded option. Qingqian’s whereabouts were unknown now, and A’Ling was talking about this again…

Could it be? Gu Jingyang’s eyes widened slightly. This time, was it her turn?

Before the word ‘Ah,’ spoken in yet another peculiar tone, could leave her lips, she heard A’Ling sigh with annoyance.

“Now that our paths are different, how can we become dao companions? She’s a demon, and I’m a cultivator. What do you call it when we are together?”

Gu Jingyang raised an eyebrow and blurted out, “Colluding?”

A’Ling punched Gu Jingyang in the chest again. “What nonsense! At most, we’re like mice in the same hole.”

Gu Jingyang’s lips twitched. Were these words any better than hers?

But listening to A’Ling, she wasn’t planning to find someone else. She was just conflicted about what their future relationship should be called.

“So, you’ve decided it’s her?” Gu Jingyang put away her casual expression and asked seriously.

A’Ling didn’t know why she suddenly became serious, but she had thought about this question countless times on her way up the mountain in Pi Lingyun Valley.

She looked back at Gu Jingyang, her eyes filled with immense seriousness, and nodded.

“Yes, it’s her.”