Moonlight Mystique

Chapter Forty

On the cloud platform of the grand hall, Chong Zhao knelt on one knee as Zhesang swung his sword down at him. The strike was imbued with vast Spiritual Qi, aiming directly for Chong Zhao’s spiritual core.

At that moment, a majestic and orthodox Immortal power erupted from Chong Zhao’s spiritual core, blocking Zhesang’s Immortal Sword.

Zhesang’s pupils constricted sharply. He stared at the Spiritual Artifact before Chong Zhao, then suddenly turned his gaze toward Songyun on the stone steps.

How could Chong Zhao possess such an item?! How?!

“The Mountain-Sealing Jade Slip?!”

The ethereal Mountain-Sealing Jade Slip now hovered steadily before Chong Zhao’s forehead, shielding him. The disciples gasped in disbelief.

Had the Sect Leader truly passed the Mountain-Sealing Jade Slip to Junior Brother Chong Zhao? Then what was the point of this duel?!

Er Yun looked at Songyun, who trembled under Zhesang’s furious gaze but ultimately remained silent.

“This is unjust!”

On the cloud platform, Zhesang roared in rage, his eyes bloodshot. No longer holding back, powerful spiritual energy surged from the blood-red pearl, darkening the sky above the platform as if an evil wind had descended. The disciples were thrown into disarray by the gale.

With a flick of his sword, Zhesang struck at Chong Zhao once more.

Chong Zhao, who had been kneeling with his head bowed, suddenly raised his eyes and grasped the jade slip before him. In his palm, it transformed into an ancient jade sword, and multicolored Spiritual Qi instantly enveloped his body.

“Peak Immortal Lord?!” Er Yun exclaimed in shock. How was this possible? Just moments ago, when Chong Zhao emerged from seclusion, he had only been at the mid-stage of the Immortal Lord Realm!

Zhesang, still mid-air, was equally stunned. He was merely at the Early Stage of the Immortal Lord Realm, and even with the red pearl forcibly elevating his cultivation, he could only reach the mid-stage. But before he could react, the jade sword, carrying overwhelming Aura, slashed against his blade.

A deafening explosion followed as blinding white light erupted across the platform. A figure plummeted from the sky and crashed heavily onto the cloud platform.

As the dark clouds dispersed, Chong Zhao stood tall, while Zhesang spat blood and knelt on the platform. The sword in his hand had shattered into dust, leaving only the hilt behind.

Silence fell over the stone steps and the platform.

Zhesang lifted his head to glare at Songyun.

“Why?” His accusation spilled from his lips along with blood.

There was no way Chong Zhao could have reached the Peak Immortal Lord Realm in just three years. The Spiritual Qi around him was unmistakably the purest and most orthodox of the Piaomiao Sect.

Songyun had willingly transferred his own Spiritual Qi to Chong Zhao!

After a long silence, Songyun looked at the disciple he had raised with his own hands and waved his sleeve, sending a surge of Immortal power toward Zhesang.

Zhesang cried out in pain as his eyes turned an eerie blood-red. At his spiritual core, chaotic strands of Spiritual Qi writhed, accompanied by the piercing wails of infants.

How could an Immortal’s spiritual core contain the aura of mortals? The disciples erupted in uproar—could it be that Senior Brother Zhesang had…

“You consumed mortal Spiritual Qi to cultivate? Zhesang, I raised you for a hundred years—is this how you repay me as an Immortal?” Songyun’s voice was heavy with disappointment and grief as he questioned from the stone steps.

“For a hundred years, I dedicated myself to cultivation, never slacking for a single day, all to revive the Piaomiao Sect!” Zhesang pointed furiously at Chong Zhao. “If not for you and Senior Martial Uncle’s injustice, abandoning me in favor of him, how could I have come to this?!”

“And still you refuse to repent!”

“What have I done wrong?” Zhesang slowly rose to his feet, laughing maniacally. “Only the strong survive in the Three Realms—isn’t that what you taught me, Master?”

Watching Zhesang’s utter lack of remorse, Songyun swayed slightly and closed his eyes. “Wretched disciple!”Song Yun no longer held back, channeling a surge of Immortal Qi directly into Zhesang's spiritual platform. A piercing scream tore through the air as countless strands of Immortal Qi erupted from his body, followed by the crisp sound of shattering—his Golden Core had fractured. Instantly, all color drained from Zhesang's face, his body now devoid of any Immortal Qi.

He stared in disbelief at his shattered Golden Core, muttering as he looked up at Song Yun, "You... you destroyed my Golden Core..."

Struggling to crawl toward Song Yun, he no longer had the strength to stand.

"The Misty Immortal Sect, standing for a thousand years, cannot tolerate those who harm Mortals. Zhesang, with your Golden Core shattered, you can no longer cultivate immortality. You shall reflect on your sins in the Profound Ice Cavern for ten years. After that, you will live as an ordinary Mortal."

Song Yun sighed deeply, saying no more. With a wave of his hand, a floating gate appeared midair. A beam of light shot from the cavern, dragging Zhesang toward it.

"Fine! What a grand Misty Immortal Sect! Song Yun, from this moment on, the bond between master and disciple is severed! If I do not die, I will return to kill you—to destroy your Misty Sect!"

Zhesang's frenzied, resentful voice faded into the void as the light flashed, and the floating stone gate vanished.

On the stone steps, Song Yun coughed up blood, his face etched with sorrow, suddenly appearing a decade older.

Chong Zhao swiftly flew forward, supporting him alongside Er Yun.

"Master!"

"Second Uncle!"

"Sect Leader!"

The Disciples rushed forward as well.

"It's nothing." Song Yun waved them off, then addressed the gathered Disciples.

"From this day forth, Chong Zhao shall be the successor of the Misty Sect. Tomorrow, he will represent us at the Wutong Martial Banquet."

Song Yun's aged voice echoed beyond the grand hall as the Disciples knelt in unison, paying respects to Chong Zhao.

"As you command, Sect Leader."

Chong Zhao held a Jade Slip in one hand while supporting Song Yun with the other, yet his gaze lingered toward the back mountains—where the Profound Ice Cavern lay, the place where Bai Shuo was imprisoned.

After a long pause, he slowly knelt before Song Yun and spoke solemnly, "As you command, Sect Leader."

"Ow!"

Inside the Profound Ice Cavern, Bai Shuo abruptly sat up, colliding headfirst with someone in front of her.

"Ouch, ouch, ouch!"

Rubbing her forehead, she instinctively reached out, only to touch a warm, bare chest.

What in the—? Bai Shuo looked up, meeting a pair of delighted eyes.

"Mu Mu? What are you doing here?" Dizzy, she glanced down—her hand was planted squarely on the boy's bare chest, shamelessly groping.

"Y-you—why aren't you wearing clothes?!" Bai Shuo leaped back three feet, shoving the boy away.

Stumbling but unbothered, the boy pouted, "I put clothes on you."

Me? Bai Shuo looked down at the robe draped over her and hastily threw it at Fan Yue. "Put this on!"

"Oh." The boy obediently tied the robe around himself.

Bai Shuo scanned the cavern—still the Profound Ice Cavern. The firewood on the ground had long burned out. Rubbing her icy hands, she felt a pang of lingering fear.

They say people see those they long for when near death. She must have been close to freezing to death to hallucinate the fireworks of the imperial capital—and that distant figure in the palace hall.

Fan Yue had saved her. That faint warmth had pulled her back from death's edge.

Bai Shuo felt like she had forgotten something, that something was off, but her head was too muddled to think straight.

The boy had somehow sidled up beside her again, poking her cheek. "Still cold?"

"No, no, I'm thinking—stop poking me... Wait, why are you still on the island? Didn’t I ask Old Turtle to take you away?" Bai Shuo suddenly snapped back to reality, turning to him in alarm."You were in danger." Fan Yue pouted. "So I came."

"How did you know I was imprisoned here?"

"I didn't. I just thought of you, and then I was here."

Bai Shuo choked, suddenly remembering the Divine Soul contract between her and Fan Yue. Though he'd lost his demonic powers and memories, this instinct from their bond remained.

"I wonder how long I've slept... How did A-Zhao and Zhe Sang's duel go..." Bai Shuo muttered to herself, pacing the cave.

"You slept three days." Fan Yue earnestly held up three fingers.

"Three days!" Bai Shuo jolted, then froze as realization struck. Trembling, she turned back. "Y-you-you-you can talk now?!"

She finally noticed what was off—this blockhead used to only stammer single words! Since when could he speak so fluently?

Had the great demon regained his memories?! Bai Shuo's lips quivered uncontrollably.

The youth stepped beside her and reached out.

Heavens, she was done for! Bai Shuo's eyes widened, but instead of attacking, the boy pulled her into a full embrace, burying his face against her neck.

What was happening?

Bai Shuo blinked rapidly.

"Master, if I hug you, you won't feel cold anymore." His voice was urgent, as if desperately explaining. "You were asleep, and I couldn't wake you. But when I spoke, you woke up."

"Mu Mu?"

"It's me. I can talk now, Master. I'll hide properly from now on and not cause trouble. Please don't send me away."

His muffled voice by her ear made Bai Shuo pause. Her diamond-hard heart cracked audibly, melting into tenderness.

Fan Yue hadn't regained his memories—only his intelligence. He remembered everything since waking behind the medicine hut, including that night with Zhe Sang. He believed himself to be a young spirit tree, and that Bai Shuo had been imprisoned here because she sheltered him, forcing her to steal the Jade Slip under Zhe Sang's threats.

Bai Shuo didn't know whether to laugh or sigh. Patting his back, she said, "Alright, alright, you're grown now. No need to act spoiled. I won't send you away."

"Really?" The boy lifted his head, staring intently into her eyes.

"Really, really. When has your Master ever lied to you?" She warned, "But you must promise me—after we leave here, stay hidden properly. Don't let anyone discover you again..."

Before she could finish, sunlight suddenly streamed in, warming the entire Ice Cave as two figures entered.

Before Bai Shuo could react, Fan Yue had already transformed into a tiny vine, swiftly coiling around her wrist.

Seeing Bai Shuo unharmed, the newcomers exhaled in relief, their voices tinged with joy.

"Junior Sister Bai Shuo, your three days are up. You may leave now!"

Junior Sister Bai Shuo? Bai Shuo gaped at Yi Fan and Chang Xu. Since when were inner island disciples so polite to her?

Wait—A-Zhao! How had his duel with Zhe Sang gone? That treacherous Zhe Sang had advanced to Immortal Lord. A-Zhao mustn't fall for his tricks...

"Many thanks for your guardianship these days, Senior Brothers. Please escort me to the inner island." Anxiety colored Bai Shuo's expression. "I know I've committed grave offenses, but I only wish to witness today's duel. Once I confirm A-Zhao's safety, I'll depart Misty Haven immediately, causing no further trouble."

"Junior Sister, you needn't leave." Chang Xu quickly interjected."No need to leave?" Bai Shuo was taken aback. "But the Sect Leader said—"

"Ah, today Senior Brother Chong Zhao won the competition. The Sect Leader has already announced that he will succeed as the leader of the immortal sect in the future. Given your relationship with him, he’ll surely let you stay..." Chang Xu whispered in Bai Shuo’s ear, "We all know you stole the Jade Slip for his sake. With him here, he’ll protect you. Don’t worry."

"A-Zhao won?" Bai Shuo’s face lit up with joy, and she let out a long sigh of relief. But then she frowned. "Senior Brother, you said the Sect Leader announced today that A-Zhao would inherit Piaomiao? Then... what about Senior Brother Zhesang?"

Yifan’s expression darkened slightly, his usually dull face showing rare disdain. "He absorbed the Qi of mortals to ascend to Immortal Lord. The Sect Leader shattered his Golden Core and imprisoned him."

What? Bai Shuo was stunned, muttering to herself how Piaomiao kept producing such crooked figures—first the evil Bodhi Songhe, and now Zhesang?

"Junior Sister Bai Shuo, the Sect Leader is upset over Zhesang’s actions. Junior Brother Chong Zhao is attending to him now. You should return to the medicine hut first," Yifan said solemnly. Chang Xu wanted to object, but Yifan silenced him with a look.

"Alright, alright. Since the competition’s over, I won’t go to the inner island. I’ll head back to the medicine hut and brew more Spirit Medicine for Piaomiao." Bai Shuo, who had a little monster hidden on her, immediately changed her mind upon hearing Chong Zhao was with Songyun.

She yawned exaggeratedly. "Senior Brothers, I’ll go back on my own. No need to see me off."

Before they could respond, Bai Shuo dashed away.

Back in the Profound Ice Cave, Chang Xu pouted. "Senior Brother, Junior Brother Chong Zhao is going to be the Sect Leader. Bai Shuo suffered so much for him—he must care deeply for her. Why didn’t you let me take her to the inner island? It was the perfect opportunity."

"Fool." Yifan gave him a cool glance. "If Junior Brother truly cared for her, do you think we’d be the ones welcoming Bai Shuo out of the Profound Ice Cave?"

With that, Yifan turned and left. Chang Xu froze, then rubbed his nose thoughtfully.