Xiong Man had gone to Heng Mountain to meet the Golden Granny Luo Ziyuan. Luo Ziyuan had embarked on the path of cultivation since the Northern Song Dynasty, accumulating good deeds over three lifetimes. Compared to the likes of Qian Kang, she not only had a longer history of cultivation but also walked a straighter path on the Immortal Dao, and possessed greater mana. Among the three sisters of this lifetime, her mana had grown the fastest, reaching the standard of the two elders of the Three Immortals.

Upon meeting Xiong Man, Luo didn't share the happiness of her fellow disciple Xiao Nineteen but instead was fraught with worry, "I've gone to great lengths over the years to inquire and calculate your affairs. Your master was originally a Demon Dragon that lived in the Yangtze River. By chance, it overheard cultivators speaking and went to Dinghu Peak to obtain the Jade Box Heavenly Book left behind by the Ancient Golden Immortal Guang Chengzi, a relic of the Yellow Emperor.

Many things happened after that. He ventured far to the East Sea, hid from disasters in the North Sea, and finally made his fortune in the South Sea. Although he is lofty and proud, he remains an anomaly among our kind. You refuse to follow your master's arrangements, insisting on defying fate. Although your effort has improved by leaps and bounds, I can see your ill fortune as clear as day. Your predestined calamity is right before your eyes!"

Xiong Man was quite displeased upon hearing the words "Demon Dragon," but she endured and listened till the end, her face as cold as frost, "Luo, you're really being armchair sympathetic! You obtained the 'Yue Nu Scripture' left by our former master, you could cultivate in seclusion and achieve the Immortal Path. Should I then drown in worldly desires, be trapped in the cycle of life and death, and let myself be taken by the current?

Do you look down on your old junior sister now that you have gained favor from the Immortal Master and achieved great success in Immortal Law? Or have you awakened the memories of your accumulated cultivation over hundreds of years and several lifetimes, treating me as just a passerby you briefly encountered? If you're going to be so flippant, then spare me your so-called well-meaning words. Either way, I'm going to face this calamity myself, so let it be!"

After saying this, she intended to leave the mountain, but Xiao Nineteen desperately tried to persuade her, "Sister, she is truly concerned for your well-being. Otherwise, why would she go to such lengths…"

"For my benefit, she advises me to accept my fate, to marry a man, bear children, and wait to die of old age while you idle around the Five Mountains, enjoying immortal blessings and laughing at me. That's what you call looking out for me!"

Seeing that she was genuinely enraged, Luo Ziyuan felt helpless and could only say, "I am only advising you to follow the arrangements of our former master. I know you're a strong-willed person who never admits defeat in anything. You want to fight against heaven, but your calamity is really upon you, right in front of you. If you stay on my mountain and don't leave in the coming hundred days, you'll avoid this calamity…"

Xiong Man cut her off, "If I were to avoid the calamity, it would be better to hide on Outer Heaven Divine Mountain. But my master has said that this tribulation can only be postponed, not completely avoided. Even if that Wei Da dies, he will be reborn in his next life and still find me, maybe even be born directly onto Outer Heaven Divine Mountain. Now is the best time to settle things. I have come to Central Earth with my master to face this tribulation!"

Seeing that Luo Ziyuan couldn't persuade her, she stopped trying to and asked instead, "Since your master has sent you to face this tribulation, did he tell you what kind of calamity to expect and what to do?"

Xiong Man shook her head, "Master didn't say anything."

Luo Ziyuan laughed, "That must be because he's tired of you and has thrown you directly into the fire pit."

Xiong Man stood up abruptly, "You insult my master in my presence, which is the same as insulting me! If you utter another word like that, our relationship as fellow disciples ends this very moment!"

Xiao Nineteen hurriedly tried to mediate while Luo Ziyuan awkwardly laughed, "Alright, alright, I won't say it. I just want to see how you will surmount this calamity."

Xiong Man felt stifled staying there and only stayed in the cave for two days before she wanted to leave.

Luo Ziyuan solemnly told her, "I have calculated for you. Your predestined calamity is in Southwest Kun Earth. If you insist on leaving, it's best not to go to the areas of Sichuan, Shu Yun Gui."

"I came to face the calamity, and since it is there, I will head straight there!" Xiong Man stubbornly decided to head toward Sichuan.

Xiao Nineteen then said, "I'm also planning to visit a friend in Shu. Let's go together."

Xiong Man asked, "Whom are you going to visit?"

Xiao Nineteen smiled helplessly, "It's the Green Sachet Fairy Hua Yaosong. She has now moved her cave dwelling to Mangcang Mountain. She mentioned that Master Changmei has asked her to guard something that is due to emerge in the next few years. She went to stay nearby to prevent it from being seized by demons."

Xiong Man then agreed and went with her toward the west. This time, Xiao Nineteen did not bring her disciple Lin Su'e with her, instead, leaving her in Heng Mountain under the care of the eldest sister, Luo Ziyuan.

The two women had not gone far, just passing through Wuxia, when they encountered eight Demon Monks who harassed and besieged them. The two against eight were not at a disadvantage, and Xiong Man wanted to slay them for the benefit of the world. However, the monks each brought out a Demon Lamp and trapped them within an array formed by Demon Fire, creating a huge Fire Cloud that encased them.

The two women couldn't break free, and although they were safe for the moment, if they were refined for several days and nights, they would turn to ash.

After being trapped for a whole half day, Wei Da suddenly appeared, disguised as a layman with a ceremonial hat and dressed in a white shirt, wielding a Flying Sword and masquerading as a Sword Immortal to break the Demon Formation from the outside, driving back the eight Demon Monks.

Seeing Xiong Man after so many years, Wei Da was very excited. When he saw that Xiong Man still looked as she did in the past while he had become a weathered middle-aged man, he felt a degree of inferiority. He claimed that he had since been taken as a disciple by a stranger and taught swordsmanship to bolster some self-confidence.

However, Xiong Man and Xiao Nineteen saw through his lies at a glance. Although he used a Flying Sword, it had similarities to the flying knives used by those eight barbaric monks. Those Demon Monks belonged to the Western Demon Cult, and the two women secretly deduced that Wei Da must also be a disciple of the Western Demon Cult. This was a staged heroic rescue!

Remembering that Wei Da had once risked his life to save her, Xiong Man did not expose him on the spot. Aware that Wei Da was part of her destined tribulation, and she had come specifically to overcome it, she pondered that no matter the outcome, she must guide Wei Da back to the Righteous Path. She did not reject his invitation and followed him to his so-called newly established cave dwelling.

Wei Da had carved out a cave dwelling nearby and invited Xiong Man as a guest.

His thinking was, in the past he was a mere mortal, unworthy of the Fairy Xiong Man, but now that he was also a cultivator and with the help of his master, the Chuandeng Monk, he naturally could fulfill this karmic relationship.

He took out fruits and pastries he had prepared in advance to entertain Xiong Man.

Xiong Man asked him who his master was, but he only mentioned an anonymous Sword Immortal who didn't allow his name to be casually revealed. Then they discussed spells together.

Wei Da's knowledge was all from the Western Demon Cult and he gave himself away in just a few words.

Xiong Man sternly warned him to follow the righteous path.

Wei Da, struck by her words and aware that she had seen through his background, said with some urgency and a sigh, "I too wish to follow a proper Immortal Path, but I simply cannot find the way. Nor am I willing to plod along the mortal trail until death. Now that such a path lies before me, what can I do? Xiong Dao-you, if you were me, would you tread this evil path? Or would you willingly remain a mortal and let this life pass by in mediocrity?"

Xiong Man wanted to argue against it, but her words halted on her lips as she suddenly remembered—if she had not met Shi Feiyang, what would her end have been? Would she have been content to live an ordinary life, or... if a high-ranking member of the Demon Cult had been willing to take her in, could she have accepted?

And to their senior sister and the others, Shi Feiyang was considered an anomaly who had achieved Dao, and compared to the high-ranking members of the Demon Cult, it was a matter of fifty versus a hundred steps.

Upon reflection, her mentor, though an anomaly, followed the Dao of the Three Emperors, which was in no way comparable to the likes of evil demons.

Had she not met her mentor but instead encountered a powerful figure from the evil factions, could she have refused? She definitely wouldn't have become a disciple of someone who was utterly wicked and would rather die than submit. However, if it was someone who feared destiny and did not commit evil deeds, perhaps she would have taken that path. Without becoming a disciple, that meant an ordinary life... Even if it was from the evil or demonic ways, as long as she maintained her virtue, it wouldn't necessarily be wrong.

Then she thought: Why couldn't Wei Da maintain his virtue?

Rapidly contemplating, she no longer possessed the conviction to continue "educating" Wei Da.

"Enough," she said, "no matter whom you take as your master, or what laws you cultivate, as long as you don't do anything that's against heaven's will, you're still a good person. I have no right to lecture you."

Wei Da, originally prepared to argue with her and having a plethora of responses ready, found his prepared words useless in light of her statement.

Wei Da wanted to marry Xiong Man, but she did not wish to marry, quickly making the atmosphere awkward. Xiong Man thought of leaving temporarily, to ponder on the Tribulation Crossing Technique once she was away.

Sensing her intent to depart, Wei Da felt a deep sense of loss when suddenly, a Divine Demon spoke in his mind, instructing him to lace his tea with an elixir given by the Chuandeng Monk. Wei Da adamantly refused.

Seeing his firm resolve, the Divine Demon offered to teach him a Secret Technique that could make Xiong Man fond of him, saying, "That woman and you once shared a bond of love and companionship in a past life; she is fated to be your wife in this life. It's just that she has forgotten the cause of the past and remembers nothing now. I'll pass this technique to you, so she can awaken her past memories and remember all your good virtues, naturally leading both of you into marriage."

Wei Da was taken by this method, and as the Divine Demon demonstrated the casting in his mind, he grasped it instantly.

The Divine Demon also told him, "Your Effort is not sufficient to unlock her memories, you need to rely on some external force."

Following the Divine Demon's instructions, Wei Da lit a Demon Lamp in the back cave, placed a bowl of water in front of it, and dropped a jade token inscribed with Xiong Man's name into the water, calling out her name.

When Xiong Man heard him call her, she responded, and her image immediately appeared in the bowl.

Looking at the strikingly beautiful woman in the bowl, who also showed a heroic spirit he adored, Wei Da, overflowed with love and began casting as taught.

After some time, he brought the water, now boiled into tea, to Xiong Man.

Growing increasingly impatient, Xiong Man tried to leave several times, but Wei Da said, "Since you insist on leaving, drink this tea to the last drop. Let's drink tea in place of wine and wish each other well in the future."

Xiong Man, eager to get away, lifted the tea, blew away the steam, and drank it all in one gulp.

Just as she finished her tea, eight Barbarian Monks, whom Wei Da had previously feared, arrived outside, laughing heartily, "Miss, our master invites you to come with us to Haideng Temple by the Sichuan!"

Wei Da, with a guilty conscience, was startled by their arrival, "Why have you come?"

The Barbarian Monks laughed and said, "Our master sent us to invite this Dao-friend to Haideng Temple for a wedding."

Wei Da's heart eased somewhat, feeling grateful to the Chuandeng Monk for sending his disciples to escort them to Haideng Temple and apparently to arrange their marriage ceremony. However, it was all so sudden; he had not yet confessed the full truth to Xiong Man to seek her forgiveness.

"You're all in this together! But that doesn't matter." Xiong Man snorted coldly and turned to Wei Da, "Are you planning to join them in capturing me to go to Haideng Temple?"

Wei Da hastily waved his hands, "I have absolutely no such intention! My master said we shared a predestined marital connection in a past life, destined to be a good match in this one. Fearing that you would refuse, he specifically used this method...After you regain your memories of the past life, you will know our story. My master sent my senior brothers to take us to the temple to get married, all with good intentions."

Xiong Man angrily retorted, "Who is going to marry you? What past-life bond do we have? Even if there were such a thing, it doesn't necessarily mean I must marry you this life!"

The leading Barbarian Monk chuckled, "Right, right, what scum this Wei fellow is, how could he be worthy of you? Our master personally wants to marry you, to make you our Demon Consort."

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