Xie Xuan Yu: Kill.
Li Zhao’s smile froze, his gaze falling upon the black bird. Finally, from its scorched wings, he discerned a trace of a parrot’s appearance.
Anxious yet not daring to show it, he suppressed the twitching muscles in his cheeks and replied with a smile, “It is indeed a parrot. Gray Tongue has gray feathers all over, looking like a crow from afar, which is why I jokingly called it a crow.”
Li Zhao took a step closer, extending his hand toward Xie Xuan Yu.
“I’ve trained this bird for a long time, intending to give it to my sister as a gift today. I didn’t expect it to sneak out—truly mischievous. I was just too anxious and misspoke earlier, making a fool of myself in front of you, Brother Xie. I hope you’ll return it to me.”
The address “Brother Xie” sounded as if it had brought the two closer, yet the person before him merely furrowed his brows slightly, unmoving.
At that moment, a clear voice rang out from behind. “Brother.”
Li Zhao turned to see Li Qin flying down from the sky.
The young woman, dressed in snow-white robes, her sleeves fluttering, landed lightly on her feet and stopped beside him.
Li Zhao gave her a meaningful glance. Meeting his gaze, Li Qin naturally looked toward the parrot in the hands of the young man opposite them.
In an instant, she understood her brother’s intention.
He wanted her to snatch the parrot from the other’s grasp.
Li Qin smiled faintly, her hand holding the sword behind her back secretly forming a hand seal in the shadows as she observed the person before her.
Xie Xuan Yu, the adopted son of the Divine Lord, descendant of the War God, had already mastered the Great Perfection of Sword Dao at a young age. He was the youngest Young Lord to step onto the Immortal Dao thus far, hailed as a Heaven-Bestowed prodigy, one in a million.
Even within the Mingze Immortal Palace, where powerful individuals abounded, his Sword Art Spiritual Power ranked first among his peers.
Naturally, this person was exceedingly arrogant, proud, and unrestrained in his actions, with few things or matters usually catching his eye.
But that was before. After today, the history books of the Six Realms would be rewritten.
The title of the youngest to break through the Transcendent Realm and achieve Ascension would belong to her, Li Qin.
The Spiritual Power she had seized from Xi Ling, initially unruly and disobedient, had been tamed by her and now flowed obediently within her body, subject to her will, warming her internal organs like a gentle current.
She still remembered how Xi Ling, upon first entering the Mingze Academy, had clashed fiercely with Xie Xuan Yu. The two had fought from the heavens to the earth over missions and treasure artifacts.
Xie Xuan Yu was unmatched in Sword Dao, while Xi Ling was unrivaled in Talismans and Spells. Even before achieving immortality, she could occasionally contend with him by relying on her Azure Luan True Form.
Now that she had taken Xi Ling’s Spiritual Power, her Cultivation had greatly surpassed its original level, advancing even further. How could she be any worse than Xie Xuan Yu?
She wondered if she could challenge Xie Xuan Yu today.
As Li Qin gathered flames at her fingertips and was about to raise her hand, she saw Xie Xuan Yu glance sideways. A gust of cold wind suddenly swept toward her, causing Li Qin to stagger backward several steps. She pressed a hand to her chest and used her sword to steady herself, barely stopping her retreat.
“A-Qin!” Li Zhao swiftly stepped forward to support her.
Li Qin gasped for breath, her stomach churning with energy and blood, her throat itching, and a chilling coldness spreading through her limbs.
Where did this coldness come from?
It was because she had already become an immortal, yet her techniques seemed like child’s play before him, easily dispelled with just a gust of wind.
She raised her gaze slightly and naturally caught sight of the Treasure Sword hanging at the man’s side.
A three-foot-long sword, sheathed in a Fish Scale Pattern black scabbard, stained with blood and shimmering with a faint golden light.
Only the blood of an Ancient Beast was golden.
Recently, the Four Continents have been anything but peaceful. Ancient Beasts have been causing chaos, trampling over the territories of the Spirit Clans, stirring up widespread panic.
The bloodstains on the sword of the person before her were clearly fresh. He must have just returned from slaying an Ancient Beast. Yet even the Upper Immortal Elders of the Academy would have to think twice before facing an Ancient Beast—how could he return completely unscathed?
Just how profound was his strength?
She had clearly seized Xi Ling’s Spiritual Power, so why couldn’t she sense even a trace of it?
Li Qin’s hand resting on the sword tightened slightly. As her heart trembled, a clear, cold voice came from above.
“I had no idea that the parrot I raised with my own hands had somehow become the Second Prince’s Spirit Pet? Does the Second Prince intend to take my Spirit Pet and gift it to your sister?”
The atmosphere in the forest seemed to freeze.
Li Zhao’s expression turned extremely grim. No matter how he thought about it, he never imagined that this strange, dead bird that had appeared out of nowhere in the forest could be Xie Xuan Yu’s Spirit Pet?
Li Zhao weighed his words, but before he could open his mouth to explain, the other had already taken the parrot and left, his figure vanishing into the forest without a shred of courtesy.
After he left, the air around them finally seemed to flow again.
Li Zhao narrowed his eyes as he gazed in the direction he had disappeared. “Xie Xuan Yu is not someone to be provoked lightly. Even Noble Scions like us are no match for him.”
If this person’s background were merely unusual, that would be one thing—the Academy is full of Noble Scions sent by various Spirit Clans to idle away their days. But this man is wholly devoted to the Dao, and in terms of Dao Attainment, he is also among the very best.
Li Qin pressed a hand to her chest. “Brother, why did you just confront Xie Xuan Yu out of nowhere? Could it be that the parrot is related to Xi Ling?”
Li Zhao let out a long breath. “I was tracking Xi Ling when I emerged from the sea of fire and saw a golden light fly toward that parrot. At the time, I didn’t dare confirm it was her, but I thought to capture it and take a look. I never imagined it was Xie Xuan Yu’s Spirit Pet.”
He paused. “If Xi Ling truly possessed that parrot, with Xie Xuan Yu’s level of Cultivation, he wouldn’t be unable to detect it.”
The furrow between Li Zhao’s brows deepened. “Let’s search a bit more.”
However, as he looked at the lush, dense forest around them…
They had searched for so long, yet they still hadn’t found any trace of Xi Ling.
The most likely possibility was that Xi Ling had already been reduced to ashes in the Thunder Tribulation…
Crackle.
The great fire in the forest continued to burn, and the mountains were swallowed by the lingering glow of the setting sun.
The wind in the forest was strong, whipping at their clothes. Xi Ling was cradled in someone’s palm as they moved through the woods, her feathers fluttering wildly in the wind. Sensing this, the person behind her shielded her with his hand.
Exhausted, she couldn’t open her eyes, yet she had to force herself to stay conscious.
A moment earlier, she had used a Secret Curse of the Phoenix Bird Clan to perform a Possession Art, taking over this parrot’s body.
The Phoenix Bird is the leader of the Winged Clan, capable of commanding all birds. Thus, she could easily enter this parrot’s body, coexist with its Spirit Soul, merge seamlessly, and hide within it.
If not for this, how could she have escaped right under the noses of Li Zhao and Li Qin?
At the moment, the parrot’s original few strands of blue soul were curled up weakly, sleeping peacefully in a corner of the physical shell.
In the forest, it had been struck by Tribulation Fire, its wings scorched, injuries severe, and its life hanging by a thread.
It was her arrival that had given it a second chance at life.
But could such a Secret Art, which had silently deceived Li Zhao, continue to fool Xie Xuan Yu?
At the mention of the name “Xie Xuan Yu,” her entire body tensed slightly.
Everyone in the Academy knew that she and this Young Lord Xuanyu did not get along.
Their first encounter began with a competition over an Academy mission, and from then on, they frequently clashed and fought fiercely over Treasure Artifacts and Magical Items.
There was even a time when the two battled from the sky to the ocean depths, from the Western Continent to the Eastern Continent, fighting until the heavens darkened and the earth grew dim.
But no matter how unwilling Xi Ling was to admit it, she had to acknowledge that Xie Xuan Yu was indeed exceptionally powerful.
In terms of Cultivation, his disdain for others knew no bounds.
The Immortal Realm was filled with powerful figures, and everyone admired strength. Naturally, Xie Xuan Yu was surrounded by many admirers and followers. However, aside from cultivating the Dao, nothing else in the world could capture his attention. He was proud and aloof, cold and distant, always keeping others at arm’s length.
In the forest, perhaps because they were too familiar with each other, Xi Ling recognized his presence the moment his figure appeared beside her.
Yet, upon seeing the Parrot for the first time, he remarked that such an ugly and sinister creature existed in the world, only realizing after a while that it was his own Spirit Pet.
Xi Ling couldn’t help but wonder: If this was truly the little bird he had raised, how could its owner be so careless?
Ironically, it was during her most wretched and desperate moment that Xie Xuan Yu picked her up and brought her back.
Thus, she dared not sleep, could not lose consciousness, and could only remain tense, breathing as lightly as possible, fearing that the slightest slip would reveal something unusual to him.
The man’s aura drifted over with the wind—clear and crisp, yet it made Xi Ling feel deeply uncomfortable.
She moved her wings slightly, the motion tugging at her scorched feathers, when a voice sounded from above: “Don’t move.”
Another voice soon followed: “Master, this bird has tried to escape time and again—it’s an ungrateful wretch. You saved it and cared for it, yet it only thinks of fleeing. Being struck by lightning was its destined calamity. Why bother bringing it back again?”
The voice came from the Treasure Sword hanging at Xie Xuan Yu’s waist.
Heaven and earth possessed spirit, and all things could develop Spiritual Consciousness.
This Superior Treasure Sword, nourished by spiritual energy, had naturally developed Spiritual Intelligence long ago.
“Master, you’ve never kept anything worthless. In my opinion, this bird looks like it won’t survive. Why not just drop it now and let it fend for itself?”
Xi Ling grew alert. Li Zhao and Li Qin hadn’t gone far. If she were dropped here, there was no guarantee they wouldn’t track her down.
Xie Xuan Yu, however, remained noncommittal.
The Sword Spirit grew increasingly noisy, and after receiving no response for a while, it started clamoring again. The next moment, Xie Xuan Yu mercilessly silenced it.
Just then, the wind around them died down, and a Golden Barrier appeared ahead. After verifying their identities, the barrier allowed them to enter the Academy.
Under the night sky, the dwelling was silent and still.
“Boss, you’re back, meow!”
A black cat nimbly dashed out from the courtyard, leaping onto a waist-high low wall.
As the Chief Disciple, Xie Xuan Yu was granted a private courtyard within the Academy as his Dormitory. However, the location was exceptionally remote, nestled at the foot of a mountain, surrounded by peaks, and far removed from the bustling Academy Halls.
The courtyard was modest in size, with a corner dedicated to a bamboo grove. A gust of wind rustled through the bamboo, creating a gentle, wave-like sound.
The black cat straightened up, casting a shadow on the wall. “Why are you back so late today, meow?”
Xie Xuan Yu casually closed the wooden gate and replied lazily, “An Ancient Beast was causing trouble in the Spirit Domain outside the Academy at the foot of the mountain. Several elders went to suppress it, but they were short-handed and called me to assist.”
The black cat raised its paw, took the long sword handed by Xie Xuan Yu, carried it behind its back, and walked into the house with Xie Xuan Yu. Seeing the little parrot in Xie Xuan Yu’s palm, its eyes lit up, and it gestured for Xie Xuan Yu to hand over the parrot.
“Isn’t this the parrot that ran away earlier? It’s been missing for several days. How did you find it? Where did you find it?”
“Outside the Academy, in that Forbidden Forest.”
The black cat was astonished: “The Forbidden Forest? This afternoon, I saw lightning and thunder in the direction of the Forbidden Land, as if someone was Undergoing Tribulation. Who was it?”
“Xi Ling.” Xie Xuan Yu’s voice was cold, devoid of any emotion.
Upon hearing this name, the black cat reacted dramatically: “Xi Ling? That Little Azure Luan who always troubles our boss?”
“She constantly opposes the boss, always competing with him for tasks. The boss’s friends said this woman is arrogant and domineering, bullying Fellow Students everywhere, accustomed to acting tyrannically. If someone like this truly Ascends, who knows how wild she’ll become in the future!”
Speaking excitedly, the black cat forcefully slapped its paw. Xi Ling in its palm suddenly suffered a heavy blow, feeling as if her organs were about to be shattered.
Xi Ling opened her eyes and saw the black cat flick its claws, revealing two sharp teeth, its face twisted in a fierce expression.
“In short, it’s right that the boss dislikes that woman.”
Xi Ling was greatly puzzled—when had she ever bullied Fellow Students?
Instead, she had once confronted several senior disciples to rescue a bullied junior sister, causing relations to become extremely strained.
Most people in the Academy clearly liked her very much.
She coughed incessantly, and the black cat finally realized it had struck too hard, quickly extending its paw to gently stroke Xi Ling’s wing.
The black cat entered the house with Xie Xuan Yu, climbed onto the table in a few steps, hung his Treasure Sword on the wall for him, and said: “Boss, you still need to go out for work tonight. Let me bandage the parrot.”
Before Xie Xuan Yu spoke, Xi Ling, her consciousness dim, only heard the distant conversation between the man and the cat, followed by his footsteps gradually fading away. Xi Ling then slowly opened her eyes.
As for the black cat, claiming to apply medicine to her, it handled her clumsily and without care, clumsily wrapping Gauze around her, its claws gripping Xi Ling’s wing and haphazardly winding the bandage, finally bundling Xi Ling into a ball.
Xi Ling collapsed on the tea table, struggling a few times. The black cat had already scurried off the table, following Xie Xuan Yu’s steps, entering a Secret Chamber hidden behind the bookshelf.
After the black cat entered, the door of the Secret Chamber vanished into nothingness.
In the silence, the little parrot on the tea table remained motionless for a long time, moonlight enveloping its body.
After a long while, confirming that no one would come out, it finally propped itself up and crawled to its feet.
The little parrot arduously moved its claws, arriving before a mirror placed on the table.
The Water Mirror reflected a scorched face, unrecognizable and ugly in color, only the little parrot’s round eyes remaining.
She gazed at herself in the mirror for a long time, tears gathering in her eyes.
The little parrot raised its wing feathers, wiping away the tears fiercely before they fell.
So ugly.
The parrot in the mirror resembled the Azure Luan True Form she had once cherished immensely. She had combed those wings daily, yet Tribulation Fire had pierced them, leaving bloody holes one after another.
Li Qin.
Xi Ling silently recited this name, her heart feeling as if plunged into boiling hot water.
A close friend grown up together since childhood, treated like siblings, for whom she risked life and death—yet that person had long secretly plotted to seize her Spiritual Power, contemplating how to kill her with one strike.
How could she not hate?
She refused to believe that after nearly thirty thousand years together, Li Qin wouldn’t know what she cared about most—yet Li Qin was determined to cruelly strip it away from her.
But what right did Li Qin have to Ascend? What qualifications did she possess?
Things that did not belong to her, even if Li Qin had stolen them temporarily, she would never be able to control.
She would reclaim everything that was hers.
And now, having suffered such a calamity, her Father King and Mother Queen remained unaware. If news of her disappearance reached them, they would surely be deeply worried.
The little Parrot’s eyes were crimson, as if weeping blood. Clenching its claws and wiping away tears with its wings, it stubbornly refused to let a single tear fall. Soon, it shook off its despondency and began grooming its feathers with lowered head.
Once its feathers were smoothed, it rolled its eyes and began surveying its surroundings.
The room was exceptionally tidy, serene and quiet. On the bookshelf, a Taotie-Patterned Incense Burner gently emitted bamboo fragrance, its azure smoke swaying with the breeze. A Twelve-Branched Bronze Lamp cast a faint glow, its shadows dancing on the wall like wandering starlight. The remaining shelves were neatly arranged with Cultivation Tomes, everything meticulously organized.
Yet Xi Ling felt that something was off—everything felt wrong.
The layout of this dwelling contradicted the nature of little birds like them.
Birds were inherently fond of disorder, loving to build nests and hoard things. Only when their living space was filled with a dazzling array of objects would they feel at ease.
If this room were merely ordinarily tidy, it might be acceptable—but it was spotless, without a trace of dust, so impeccably arranged that it could almost be described as “excessive.”
Perhaps it was her innate aversion, or perhaps because this was the dwelling of her sworn enemy, everything around her—even the crisp, clean scent in the air—sent a shiver from the tips of her claws to the depths of her heart.
But only one path lay before her. To separate herself from this Parrot’s body, she needed to find an elixir capable of restoring her vital energy.
For High-Level Spirit Cultivators, Immortal Elixirs and Spiritual Medicines offered little benefit. But for Low-Level Spirit Cultivators, a single High-Level Elixir could help break through bottlenecks, promote the flow of spiritual energy in the Dantian, and greatly restore one’s cultivation.
Given that Xie Xuan Yu had already stepped into the Immortal Rank, he would certainly not lack such items.
Yet this room was far too clean—there were no containers storing elixirs on the shelves.
The room was filled with Restrictions, and the bookshelves were embedded with Formation Arrays designed to isolate and conceal, as if intentionally hiding something. Xi Ling fluttered her wings, about to struggle free from the Gauze wrapped around her and soar up to conduct a thorough search.
Suddenly, footsteps echoed from the inner chamber behind her. Xi Ling lifted her head and, through the Water Mirror Stone before her, locked eyes with the approaching figure from a distance.
He had arrived so swiftly, leaving her no chance to hide.
As he stepped out of the darkness, his features gradually became clear.
He had changed into a new outfit—robes entirely black, a jade belt cinching his waist, his face covered by a black cloth. His tall, straight nose was hidden beneath the mask, leaving only a pair of eyes visible.
The young man stood tall beside the desk, picked up a teacup, poured himself some tea, and brought it to his lips beneath the mask.
Then, his gaze swept toward the little Parrot hiding in the corner of the desk.
Xi Ling dared not even breathe. The next moment, Xie Xuan Yu’s voice rang out: “Cat Master, why have you bandaged it like this?”
He leaned closer. Xi Ling retreated repeatedly, her claws slipping, but his hand steadied her in time. Then, with gentle fingers, he reached under her wing, intending to unwrap the Gauze from her feathers.
Puzzled, Xi Ling looked up—and what met her eyes was an enlarged face.
The Abyssal Dragon Clan, once tasked by the Divine Lord to survey the abyssal territories, possessed the brightest eyes in the world, rumored to have the power to bewitch hearts. The eyes of the person before her were like solitary stars in the cold night sky—clear, cold, and brilliantly luminous, as if steeped in countless gemstones.
His long, slightly upturned eyes caught her gaze, and Xi Ling hastily averted her own.
Xie Xuan Yu unwrapped the gauze and applied the medicinal ointment to her, his movements so practiced it seemed he had done this many times before.
As the cool ointment touched her wing, the little Parrot winced in pain and let out a chirp.
Xie Xuan Yu acted as if he hadn’t heard, ignoring the little Parrot’s resistance as he continued applying the ointment. After bandaging her, he placed the Parrot back on the table and said, “Don’t run outside again until your wound is healed.”
Xi Ling bit her lip and didn’t respond. His eyes darkened slightly as he raised his hand and patted her head. A tingling sensation shot through her skull, and she chirped in reply.
Only then did the man before her straighten up, satisfied.
Xi Ling scrambled up from the table, still reeling from the humiliation, when she saw the man lazily lift a finger, hook his mask over half his face, revealing only his pitch-black eyes. He then picked up his Treasure Sword and strode out.
“I’m going out to kill a few people. I’ll be back later. Keep an eye on the house, and don’t forget to change the water for the little dog outside the courtyard before bed.”
The Cat Master meowed in acknowledgment.
Xi Ling widened her eyes. He was going to kill people? Who? The Academy had a curfew—how could Xie Xuan Yu leave? And what was in that Secret Chamber?
This house was filled with strangeness.
It was only a while after Xie Xuan Yu left that Xi Ling snapped out of her shock.
The top priority now was to find the Spiritual Elixir. With Xie Xuan Yu gone, this was the perfect opportunity for her to be alone.
If all went well, she could take the elixir tonight and restore her True Form.
She pretended to sleep, watching the Cat Master out of the corner of her eye as he tidied the desk. She saw him walk toward a shelf, and then a door covered in golden patterns quietly appeared—the entrance to the Secret Chamber.
In an instant, Xi Ling spread her wings and flew in after the Cat Master.
The Cat Master seemed to sense something, lifting his eyes to scan the darkness, but found nothing. He meowed softly.
Xi Ling hid on one of the shelves in the Secret Chamber, waiting for a long time until the Cat Master, tail held high, left the chamber. Only then did she push open a jar and carefully fly down.
The Secret Chamber was a hidden world of its own. The walls were built of stacked stones, and the sound of flowing water echoed softly, as if the place had been carved out behind a waterfall.
Rows of shelves were neatly organized with various Magical Treasures: a Taiji Diagram, a Qi Refining Furnace, a Kylin Treasure Mirror… Each was enveloped in the Purple Light unique to Supreme-Grade Magical Treasures. Any one of these treasures, if brought outside, would be fiercely fought over by spiritual cultivators, yet here they were, stored away on high shelves.
Xi Ling moved carefully among them, searching for the Spiritual Elixir.
Forced by circumstances, she had no choice but to take this step. For now, she would borrow a few pills, and once she regained her human form, she would repay them tenfold.
Xi Ling spotted a transparent jar storing Elixir Pearls and flew toward it, only to feel a sudden chill behind her.
A familiar presence washed over her. Xi Ling turned her head to see a black vortex swirling in the void, materializing into the figure of a man.
It was Xie Xuan Yu.
He had returned. Walking to the table, he unbuckled the sword at his waist while glancing at Xi Ling, the corners of his dark eyes slightly upturned.
His gaze was too blatant, filled with a direct scrutiny that made her eyelids twitch uncontrollably.
The Cat Master followed closely behind. “Huh, boss, why are you back? Did you forget something?”
Cat Master followed his gaze and saw the little parrot, eyes wide with surprise. “How did it get in here, meow?”
Xie Xuan Yu said, “It has developed spiritual consciousness. There’s a light in its eyes—didn’t you notice?”
As soon as the words fell, Cat Master scurried up the shelf. In the blink of an eye, he was beside Xi Ling, leaning his head in for a closer look.
Xi Ling quickly retreated further onto the shelf, while Xie Xuan Yu stepped toward the wall and took down another treasure sword.
The Black Cat turned its head, as if realizing something. “Did the Boss come back to change swords? Was that sword not good enough?”
Xie Xuan Yu did not answer. With a sharp clang, he drew his sword. The blade gleamed like autumn water, illuminating his eyes.
The Cat Master, receiving no response, looked displeased and turned to ask the Sword Spirit of the previous Treasure Sword.
The Sword Spirit remained silent for a long time before finally speaking in a resentful tone. “He said fighting with me wasn’t cool enough.”
The Cat Master: “…”
The Cat Master said, “Don’t draw too much attention. Keep a low profile. Now, the entire Ghost Market knows of you. The Spirit Cultivators you’ve taken contracts to kill were all ruthless and vicious, entangled in significant interests. If those behind them are pushed to desperation, they might come after you.”
In response, Xie Xuan Yu sheathed his sword.
“Many want to kill me. Who do they think they are?”
His voice was clear and resonant, like jade striking jade, carrying a hint of casual disdain.
The Cat Master helplessly licked its paw. There was nothing to be done—this was just his personality.
Xie Xuan Yu turned his gaze, locking it onto Xi Ling.
“Keep an eye on the Parrot. Wait for my return.”
His gaze was sharp as a blade, piercing as if it could see through a person. Xi Ling’s heart pounded like a drum.
His figure transformed into a dark light, leaving only a wisp of black mist that dissipated into the air, vanishing without a trace.