Chapter 681 -546: I Am Very Calm Now

News of the Yuzhu Secret Realm’s collapse spread like a thunderclap throughout the entire Demon Race’s World.

Of the tens of thousands of cultivators who had entered the Yuzhu Secret Realm seeking their fortune, fewer than one in ten made it out alive.

However, one piece of news set everyone’s greed ablaze like a wildfire: the Yuzhu Demon Pill had been successfully brought out of the Secret Realm.

Suddenly, countless cultivators began a frantic search for the Demon Pill’s whereabouts.

After all, this Demon Pill came from a being at least in the Ascension Realm.

It was even possible that its original owner had touched upon the legendary Lost Second Realm.

Such a supreme treasure was an irresistible temptation, even for cultivators of the Ascension Realm!

And aside from the Demon Pill, people were also searching for news of a certain man.

But as more and more news trickled in to Tushan Jing Ci and Xiao Qing, their hearts sank bit by bit.

Finally, after repeated investigations, the Tushan cultivators came to a conclusion: Xiao Mo had remained in the Yuzhu Secret Realm until the very last moment, right before its complete collapse.

This didn’t just mean that Xiao Mo was dead.

His Divine Soul may have even dissipated along with the annihilation of the Secret Realm.

As for why Xiao Mo had remained in the Secret Realm until the very end, the survivors’ accounts varied wildly.

Some said that Xiao Mo had died trying to seize the Demon Pill, a victim of his own insatiable greed.

Others claimed he may have been controlled by some strange entity within the Secret Realm, unable to act of his own accord, because they themselves had been controlled while inside.

In truth, Xiao Qing had a nagging suspicion that Tushan was somehow involved in Xiao Mo’s death.

Although she had no concrete evidence, she felt it was most likely orchestrated by Tushan’s Grand Elder, Tushan Meng!

‘If Sister finds out that Brother Xiao’s Divine Soul has dissipated…’

Xiao Qing didn’t dare to let the thought finish.

She knew her sister’s temperament all too well.

‘If Sister knew, she would go insane!’

And even without a shred of evidence, her sister would stop at nothing, leading the entire Four Seas to raze Tushan to the ground.

But Tushan’s roots in the Demon Race’s World ran deep, and it held every strategic advantage.

Tushan Meng herself was a Late-stage Ascension Realm cultivator.

With the added power of Tushan’s protective Array, passed down for ten thousand years, and the blessing from generations of the Fox Race’s accumulated Qi Fortune…

…within Tushan’s borders, she was like a Saint presiding over her own domain. Her Realm could rise to Ascension Realm Perfection, making her almost a match for Xiao Qing’s sister.

If her sister were to truly unleash the full power of the Four Seas to destroy Tushan, she would most likely be facing overwhelming odds, with little chance of survival.

Moreover, Brother Xiao was now gone without even the chance of reincarnation, having dissipated completely between heaven and earth.

‘At that point, would Sister even have the will to live on?’

‘Brother Xiao was her whole world…’

‘But can I really hide this from Sister forever, letting her search day after day, year after year, clinging to a hope that is impossible to fulfill?’

Xiao Qing’s heart was in turmoil, as if she were being torn in two.

She didn’t know what the right thing to do was.

But she knew in her heart that she had to return to the Four Seas first.

…

“Miss, Elder Tushan Hongxia has returned from Quicksand City. The Grand Elder has called a clan assembly in the great hall and insists that you attend.”

On this day, Yue Shi had come to Moon God Mountain, and she spoke slowly.

Beneath the towering, hundred-zhang-tall Moon God Tree, a woman was kneeling silently.

Ever since learning of Xiao Mo’s death, the woman had knelt beneath this tree day and night, her head tilted back as she gazed vacantly at the divine tree of Tushan.

She spoke not a word.

She did not eat or drink.

She remained motionless.

Like a statue that had lost its soul.

Just as Yue Shi was wondering how to console the young lady, the woman beneath the tree finally spoke, her voice soft. “Sister Yue Shi, tell me… how exactly did Xiao Mo die?”

Her voice was so calm it sounded less like a question and more like she was talking to herself.

“Xiao Mo was never the type to covet treasures. He never once asked me for anything.”

“Besides, Xiao Mo was cautious by nature and meticulous in his thoughts. He would never have been reckless enough to get into a fight with someone.”

“And most importantly, I kept telling Xiao Mo not to go to the Yuzhu Secret Realm.”

“I saw the list of cultivators submitted by Quicksand City with my own eyes. Xiao Mo’s name wasn’t on it at all!”

“So why… did Xiao Mo still go? Was it really as Elder Hongxia said, that he simply went on his own?”

“Miss…”

In her heart, Yue Shi understood what the young lady was implying.

‘But how could she tell her that outright? What proof did she even have?’

Seeing Yue Shi’s silence, Tushan Jing Ci said no more.

She rose slowly from beneath the tree, straightened her robes, and folded her hands before her. She walked toward Yue Shi one step at a time, her gait deliberate and heavy—a stark contrast to her usual light-footed grace.

“Sister Yue Shi, I know what you’re worried about.”

She brushed past Yue Shi, her voice drifting back to her, heartbreakingly calm.

“Don’t worry. Right now…”

“I am very calm.”

…

Moon God Peak, outside the Great Hall of Tushan.

Tushan Hongxia was already standing outside the great hall, waiting for the future Saintess.

“Thank you for your hard work in Quicksand City.” Tushan Meng walked to Tushan Hongxia’s side and patted her shoulder. “I’m afraid I have to ask you to endure one more inconvenience.”

“It’s nothing, Grand Elder.” Tushan Hongxia shook her head with a bitter smile. “After all, it was my failure to ‘watch’ Xiao Mo that allowed him to go to the Yuzhu Secret Realm. I should be the one to apologize to the Holy Daughter.”

“I’m glad you understand.” Tushan Meng gave a faint smile, then walked into the great hall.

Tushan Hongxia, however, remained at the entrance, waiting for Tushan Jing Ci.

Even though she was one of Tushan’s ten great Elders, she now had to “atone for her sin” before the future Holy Daughter.

After the time it takes to burn an incense stick, Tushan Hongxia, who had been waiting outside, finally saw Tushan Jing Ci approaching with solemn grace.

Tushan Hongxia put on no airs, immediately stepping forward and bowing to Tushan Jing Ci. “Holy Daughter,” she began respectfully, “Regarding…”

But just as Tushan Hongxia began to explain, she looked up, and the words died in her throat.

The young woman’s eyes were as placid as autumn waters.

As deep as the Nine Netherworld.

As cold as an iceberg.

Though Tushan Hongxia was an Immortal Realm Cultivator, she now found herself before a junior of the Nascent Soul Realm, unable to move an inch or speak another word.

Tushan Jing Ci gave Tushan Hongxia a single, indifferent glance before looking away and continuing on her path.

She left Tushan Hongxia standing alone, rooted to the spot. It was a long moment before the Elder came back to her senses.

Watching her retreating figure,

Tushan Hongxia knew.

The innocent girl from before was gone forever.

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