Chapter Thirty-Four
If one were to speak of handsomeness, no one in the Nine Provinces and Eight Wastelands could surpass Divine Lord Tian Qi of the Ancient Divine Realm. Throughout the ages, his appearance had caused the waists of ladies across the Three Realms and Nine Provinces to bend countless times. Yet this youth who had transformed from a fox into human form atop Guixu Mountain, aside from a hint of youthful naivety, possessed seventy to eighty percent of Tian Qi’s striking looks.
No wonder, in this extremely perilous moment, Ayin found herself momentarily stunned.
“Hmph! You vile beast! Destroying others’ treasures and still spouting such nonsense here. Hand over your Inner Core!”
A Jiu rolled his eyes in Jing Zhao’s direction, snapping his fingers flippantly as his ancient robe transformed into simple, practical martial attire.
“Hey, old hag, who are you calling a vile beast? Your true form is just a golden dragon. Neither of us is human, so insulting me is like insulting yourself! Besides, what does the birthday tree of your Immortal Realm’s second prince have to do with me? I’m a demon fox, one of the so-called heinous Demon Tribe in your Immortal Tribe’s mouths.”
The youth was indeed beautiful, but his mouth was far from elegant, exuding a sharp, biting edge.
“A Jiu!” Ayin knew this was trouble as soon as she heard his words. Sure enough, even Gu Jin frowned.
“You insolent wretch! Shameless junior! The Fox Demon Clan truly has sharp tongues, sinister and vicious! Back in Rakshasa Land, my elder brother died at the hands of that fox. Today, I will not spare you!” A Jiu’s harsh words enraged Jing Zhao. With a wave of her hand, her immortal sword flew out, slashing toward A Jiu.
Having consumed the heart of the phoenix tree and transformed into human form, A Jiu’s Demonic Power had greatly increased. He dodged Jing Zhao’s sword energy and leaped up, landing atop the withered phoenix tree.
“Hmph! Accusing our Demon Tribe of being sinister and vicious—what about your Immortal Tribe? Back then, the Phoenix Sovereign was exiled by your mother to the Abyssal Marsh as a monster. It was our Demon Tribe’s old demon tree that raised her!”
Hearing Jing Zhao mention the great war a century ago, A Jiu’s eyes suddenly turned icy cold for some reason. He spoke slowly, deliberately striking at Jing Zhao’s sore spots.
“You! Demon fox, how dare you be so arrogant! Today, I will surely leave you buried on Guixu Mountain!” The matter concerning the Heavenly Empress centuries ago was an eternal pain in Jing Zhao’s heart; otherwise, she would not have secluded herself on Guixu Mountain for a hundred years. Hearing A Jiu bring up the past, her anger flared even more. With a sweep of her sleeve, the immortal sword in her hand multiplied into thousands, forming a sword array.
A Jiu neither dodged nor retreated. A red light suddenly appeared in his hand as a crimson, crescent-shaped Demon Artifact was summoned. Although the powerful Demonic Power within the artifact was not yet a match for Jing Zhao’s sword array, it already showed signs of being able to contend with it.
A Jiu had endured great battles in the Nine Nether Purgatory, and his Demonic Power had been extremely low before entering Guixu Mountain—otherwise, Gu Jin would not have allowed him to stay by Ayin’s side. Even after consuming the phoenix tree’s heart, it was impossible for his Demonic Power to suddenly rise to the level of a high-ranking Demon Monarch. Sensing something amiss, Gu Jin looked toward A Jiu and noticed traces of blood faintly visible on the palm summoning the Demon Artifact. He realized A Jiu was forcibly enhancing his Demonic Power. Although this method could temporarily contend with Jing Zhao, forcibly gathering power could very likely cause his body to explode and perish.
“The Nirvana Wheel! So you are indeed connected to the Fox Demon Clan’s royal family!” Jing Zhao roared in fury, leaping into mid-air. Her Immortal Power condensed to its peak as the sword array shone with dazzling light, once again slashing toward A Jiu atop the phoenix tree.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Several deafening explosions echoed as a figure soared into the air. Jing Zhao’s sword array was forcefully blocked right before the Nirvana Wheel by an immortal sword. The sword wielder was blasted several steps back by the sword array but still resolutely stood in front of A Jiu.The sound of blood splattering on the ground was particularly clear in the quiet summit of Guixu Mountain. A sword wound had torn open on Gu Jin’s left palm—clearly, he had used his own blood to awaken the sword spirit of the Primordial Spirit Sword, barely managing to block Jing Zhao’s sword array.
“A Jin!” Ayin’s face turned deathly pale, and she was about to fly into the air in a panic.
Gu Jin gently restrained her in place with a wave of Immortal Power. “Ayin, stay where you are. Do not interfere.”
A Jiu, seeing who had blocked the sword array for him, revealed a flicker of complexity in his arrogant eyes but silently withdrew a portion of the Demonic Power from the Nirvana Wheel.
“Princess, A Jiu should not have offended the birthday tree of the Second Prince Jing Jian. But now, the heart of the Phoenix Tree has merged with his core. No matter how precious the birthday tree is, it cannot compare to his life. Tribal Chief Chang Qin once showed me kindness, and I cannot let him die on Guixu Mountain,” Gu Jin spoke.
Jing Zhao, who had been blocked by Gu Jin, was not as furious as before. Instead, she stared blankly at the Primordial Spirit Sword in his hand, her eyes filled with shock and complexity.
“You… you are… No wonder, no wonder Dong Hua made an exception to take you as his disciple, and Feng Ran punished you so lightly. So that’s how it is, so that’s how it is,” she murmured, though she did not utter that name aloud.
There was no mistake. Though the surge of Divine Power had lasted only an instant, she could not have misjudged it.
During that world-renowned wedding in the Vault of Heaven, the Divine Power that had severely wounded Bai Jue with a single sword strike felt exactly the same as the aura emanating from this sword just now.
Primordial Chaos Power, and… those eyes that were almost identical to his.
Jing Zhao slowly clenched her hands hidden within her sleeves.
A century ago, on Great Marsh Mountain, she had seen this child.
The glow of the sword array between the two sides gradually dissipated.
“My elder brother died on the battlefield. Now, this birthday tree is my brother to me. Knowing full well that it holds the memory of the deceased, he still sought to seize its heart. How can I spare such a demonic creature?” Jing Zhao spoke slowly, her hands clasped behind her back, her gaze heavy as it settled on Gu Jin.
“Princess, do not be anxious. During the battle at Rakshasa Land, although the Second Prince fell in battle, he left a wisp of his Soul with the Phoenix Sovereign.”
Jing Zhao suddenly looked up, her voice trembling. “What did you say? My brother’s Soul still exists in this world?”
When Jing Jian fell in battle, the Celestial Emperor and Empress arrived at Rakshasa Land but could not find even a trace of his Soul. They had no choice but to bring his body back for burial.
Gu Jin nodded. “Though it is uncertain when the Second Prince will be reborn, he is of the Phoenix Clan. It would be better for his Soul to remain on Phoenix Tree Island, close to the Phoenix Sovereign.”
“Perhaps this is also what my brother himself would have wished,” Jing Zhao murmured.
“Since the Second Prince will return one day, I ask that you spare A Jiu and forgive him for the offense of seizing the tree’s heart.”
“Even if my brother returns one day, what does it matter? The enmity between immortals and demons runs deep. Now that he has entered my Guixu Mountain, does he still think he can leave? Others may not know my methods, but surely you do?” Jing Zhao flicked her sleeve coldly.
Ayin and A Jiu, standing nearby, were both taken aback by Jing Zhao’s words. Jing Zhao had secluded herself on Guixu Mountain for a century—why did her tone sound as though she knew Gu Jin?
“The seal outside Guixu Mountain was re-established by you, wasn’t it?” Gu Jin did not respond to Jing Zhao’s provocation but instead suddenly asked this question.
Jing Zhao was startled and did not reply."The immortal power of the four old Immortal Lords from the Heavenly Palace is exceptionally formidable, yet the seal we encountered upon entering the mountain today was remarkably gentle. If not for the additional protective immortal spell the princess cast outside the seal, it would never have been so. How Princess Jing Zhao acted a century ago, Gu Jin did not witness with his own eyes, and thus he cannot judge. But the princess of today, though she resides in Guixu Mountain and remains aloof from worldly affairs, possesses a benevolent heart—this is what Gu Jin has personally witnessed. The conflict between immortals and demons has raged for tens of thousands of years, with countless casualties, and it is difficult to determine which side is right or wrong. Now that the two races have enjoyed peace for a century, why not let go of your resentment toward the Demon Tribe?"
"By what identity do you ask me to spare this demon fox?" Jing Zhao spoke coldly, turning her gaze to Gu Jin, meeting his eyes directly.
Gu Jin understood the implication in Jing Zhao's words. If he spoke these words as the Little Divine Lord of the Ancient Divine Realm, even if Jing Zhao secluded herself in Guixu Mountain and ignored worldly affairs, she would have no choice but to obey.
Gu Jin remained silent for a long while before bowing respectfully to Jing Zhao, performing the gesture of a junior. "Gu Jin, disciple of Dong Hua Shang Shen from Great Marsh Mountain."
"Very well, very well." Jing Zhao let out a long sigh, the anger and hatred in her eyes gradually fading, replaced once more by tranquility.
"I have secluded myself here; the past is nothing more than a fleeting memory. To see you again like this after a hundred years and to hear that my elder brother has a chance of revival—this can be considered a form of fulfillment. Enough, you may leave."
She withdrew her immortal sword and turned to walk deeper into the bamboo cottage.
The mountain was covered in golden dragon flowers, gradually obscuring her plain white figure.
Gu Jin sheathed his Primordial Spirit Sword and looked toward A Jiu. "Since she has permitted you to leave, she will not trouble you further. Let us depart from the mountain."
A Jiu retracted the Nirvana Wheel and leaped down from the tree. Following behind Gu Jin, his expression was complex. Though Gu Jin had shown no leniency when he saw him swallow the Phoenix Tree heart, why had he just risked his life to protect him?
Could it be solely because of his identity as the nephew of the Fox race's king?
A Jiu was proud and stubborn by nature; even if he had questions in his heart, he would not lower himself to ask Gu Jin.
Seeing Ayin following closely beside Gu Jin, her face full of worry, he snorted, raised an eyebrow, shape-shifted into a small fox, and leaped into Ayin's arms, rubbing his little paws against her face.
Ayin gasped in surprise, about to scold A Jiu, but when she saw his large, watery eyes, she held back. She patted his forehead lightly as a form of reprimand.
However, no matter how much A Jiu acted cute or tried to win her over, Ayin did not speak another word to him all the way out of Guixu Mountain and onto the journey back.
Back at Purple Moon Mountain, Gu Jin had already agreed with Ayin that once they retrieved Feng Yin's soul from Guixu Mountain, they would return to Great Marsh Mountain to rest for a while. This would also allow them to inform their two senior brothers about the progress of their soul-searching, so they could notify Phoenix Tree Island and reassure the Phoenix Clan.
Thus, upon leaving Guixu Mountain, the two headed straight for Great Marsh Mountain.
That night, still several thousand meters away from Great Marsh Mountain, Ayin's immortal power was low, making prolonged travel unsuitable. Gu Jin decided to rest at Mount Putuo for the night and continue the journey the next day.
A Jiu, this fox, was prouder than anyone, yet his skin was thicker than anyone's. Though he had shape-shifted into a youth back in Guixu Mountain, he now shamelessly turned into a young fox, stubbornly refusing to leave Ayin's arms. Though Ayin did not speak to him, she could not bring herself to push him away.Gu Jin had been doted on by everyone at Great Marsh Mountain since childhood. If not for the century he spent cultivating his temperament in Forbidden Valley and the habit of caring for Ayin, he would have long since thrown in the towel. After finding food and immortal dew for Ayin and the little fox, and settling the two hungry little creatures, he went to bathe in the stream at the back of the mountain.
Watching Gu Jin walk away, Ayin carefully placed A Jiu, whose round little belly was full and who was now snoring, on a thick pile of dry leaves. Then, on tiptoe, she quietly followed him.
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