020 Ye Yin’s Fair Scoring Diary.
The Profound Darkness Hall shimmered with golden light, wisps of smoke rising from incense burners drifting past walls painted with the Eighteen Demon Generals War God Picture, eventually floating out through the high-hanging rosewood windows.
Viewed from outside, the Profound Darkness Hall situated at the highest point of the Demon Realm Capital was enveloped in clouds and mist, inspiring awe in all who beheld it.
Only one hundred slots were available each year for participation in the Spirit Fighting Competition.
The Spirit Seeking Crane would select one hundred individuals who met the age requirements and reached the spiritual power standard, delivering invitations to them.
Last night, Yu Chichi grew curious and couldn’t resist asking Nan Yao: “Eh? Miss Nan Yao, weren’t you out searching for a good man to entrust the rest of your life to? Why are you also participating in this Spirit Fighting Competition?”
Nan Yao pretended to be justified, flipping her handbook with rustling sounds: “Look, the book says all the outstanding young talents have been selected to participate in the Spirit Fighting Competition. If I don’t participate, how can I encounter them by chance?”
Yu Chichi found this reasonable. She secretly glanced at Nan Yao’s “Handbook for Conquering Quality Men” and spotted a somewhat familiar name—Xiao Wuji.
Xiao Wuji…?
She seemed to have heard that name somewhere.
But her memory was poor, and after thinking for a long time she couldn’t recall anything concrete, so she had to give up.
At noon, the Profound Darkness Hall was bustling with noise and excitement.
Nan Yao had woken up early today, and having slept poorly during the past few days while roughing it at Demon-Guarding Mountain, she was propping her chin and struggling to stay awake.
But Tang Shaoling beside her was clearly in high spirits. This was his first time participating in the Spirit Fighting Competition, where he could meet so many legendary figures. So he kept exclaiming in surprise throughout, pulling Qi Guyuan into enthusiastic conversation.
“I wonder if we might see that famous Charm Cultivator, Liu Zhiyai.”
“Charm Cultivator?”
Qi Guyuan immediately pricked up his ears at this term.
Not long after he enrolled in the Immortal Realm, the imperial capital suddenly encountered a change. He rushed back at full speed only to be captured immediately by his imperial uncle. So he had hardly spent any time in the Immortal Realm and wasn’t very familiar with the major sects.
But that didn’t prevent him from knowing about the Joyful Union Sect’s Charm Cultivators.
Rumor had it that Charm Cultivators mostly possessed exceptionally outstanding appearances that made them unforgettable at first sight. Moreover, they had the ability to captivate hearts and bewitch minds, and most importantly, they had mastered Dual Cultivation techniques to perfection…
Nan Yao, who had been struggling to stay awake, instantly became alert upon hearing this term. She stealthily shifted closer to Tang Shaoling, pressing her ear toward him.
Dual Cultivation, Dual Cultivation, Dual Cultivation—she wanted to hear, wanted to hear, wanted to hear.
Xie Diao glanced at her, lazily rose while leaning on the table, then sat down between her and Tang Shaoling.
Nan Yao’s head was gently bumped aside by Xie Diao’s arm. She covered her forehead, about to righteous indignation, but when she saw it was Xie Diao, she cowardly backed down.
Why did he suddenly change positions?
Oh oh, he wanted to listen too.
So Nan Yao stubbornly continued leaning her ear forward, her small head just resting against Xie Diao’s chest as she desperately tried to press closer.
Xie Diao pressed against her forehead and pushed her back.
Nan Yao flailed angrily: “Let’s listen together.”
Xie Diao acted like he was teasing a cat, unhurried: “That won’t do. I don’t play by the rules.”
Top floor of the Profound Darkness Hall.
Ye Yin’s eyes were bloodshot, his hands slightly trembling, dark clouds seeming to gather above his head. His voice was hoarse, his eyes filled with restraint: “Xie Diao, is it? Let me go, I’m going to kill him.”
Elder Xuanxu used all his strength to hold him down, continuously signaling the surrounding servants to feed Ye Yin cool tea while patting his back as if comforting a child: “Endure it a little longer, endure it. Yao Yao is just making new friends.”
The servants trembled as they handed tea to Ye Yin, while Elder Xuanxu pleaded until his throat felt parched.
He went from “Our Spirit Fighting Competition must be fair and just, we cannot harm the participants,” to “If you kill someone, Yao Yao will definitely be upset with you,” and finally to “If you act impulsively again, I’ll tell Miss Nan Yuqing and let her deal with you.”
Finally, Ye Yin yielded.
Suppressing his rage, he sat back on the devil emperor’s soft couch, pulled out a roster, and began making marks on it.
Elder Xuanxu peeked over:
[Nan Yao] +5 points: Today’s clothes look nice
[Xie Diao] -15 points: Surname “Xie”
“…” Is this really okay?
*
Nan Yao remained completely unaware of what was happening at the top floor of the Profound Darkness Hall.
She was still eavesdropping on stories about the Charm Cultivator.
Qi Guyuan said with great interest: “Liu Zhiyai, I’ve heard of this name.”
This Liu Zhiyai had become a famous Charm Cultivator from the Joyful Union Sect over the past two years. Though male, he possessed extreme feminine beauty – his appearance was elegant with a touch of sickly delicacy, yet he was meticulous in his schemes and ruthless in his methods.
More importantly, he was known to pursue both men and women.
Countless young talents had fallen into his hands.
Qi Guyuan grew worried: “He wouldn’t take a liking to me, would he? After all, I’m the crown prince who attracts everyone’s attention.”
“Your crown prince status has long been worthless,” Tang Shaoling said without mercy. “Besides, this Liu Zhiyai set his sights on my senior brother Xiao Wuji half a year ago. But what kind of person is my senior brother? Pure as moonlight and fresh breeze, filled with righteous energy – how could he possibly look favorably upon someone like Liu Zhiyai who always uses underhanded methods and indiscriminately kills cultivators? But recently…”
Recently, Liu Zhiyai had indeed become very strange.
Hundreds of popular posts on the gossip forums all featured this famous Joyful Union Sect Charm Cultivator as their main subject.
First: [Is Charm Cultivator Liu Zhiyai out of his mind?]
Greetings everyone, I’m a Charm Cultivator from the Joyful Union Sect. That day, Liu Zhiyai and I went to the Mist Purple Pool together to investigate the recent disappearances of Devilfolk, and we both inhaled Love Evoking Flower powder.
That day, the weather was perfect, the moonlight serene, and the air filled with an intimate atmosphere.
The Love Evoking Flower made our entire bodies burn with heat, requiring Dual Cultivation to counteract its effects. So I glanced at Liu Zhiyai beside me and tenderly placed my hand on his arm.
Then, he said to me: “I’m so hot.”
I replied in a delicate, dependent voice: “I’m so hot too.”
Then he said: “So could you move over there? You sticking to me makes me even hotter. There’s so much space, do you have to sit pressed against me? How strange.”
Damn.
I’d rather die under the influence of the Love Evoking Flower powder than touch a single hair on this damned man. He’s completely un-Joyful Union Sect, completely un-Charm Cultivator.
Second: [I want to clear Charm Cultivator Liu Zhiyai’s name – he’s the most upright Charm Cultivator the Joyful Union Sect has seen in a hundred years.]
I’m male. That day I got separated from my senior sister in the mountain forest and was saved by a Joyful Union Sect disciple.
When I woke up, I discovered that the person who saved me was actually Liu Zhiyai. He was sitting by the window drowning his sorrows in alcohol, humming a song. I moved closer to listen carefully and found him singing tearfully: “Brother, give me a hug, tell me what’s in your heart, speak of all the grievances and changes of these years.”
Hearing this, my eyes instantly welled up with hot tears. I never expected the notoriously ruthless Charm Cultivator to sing such a soul-stirring song. Not only had he saved me from dire straits, but he was also about to offer me a warm embrace, so I immediately hugged him. However, he pushed me away and said, “None of that. I don’t fence—just pay up.”
I never imagined he’d be so upright, unlike the rumors of him being indiscriminate with men and women. He wouldn’t even draw his sword on innocent people and deliberately charged money to preserve others’ dignity. How profoundly moving!
After listening to this account, Nan Yao fell silent for a moment.
Something felt off.
Just then, the attendant at the door greeted the next contestant, respectfully accepting the invitation from his hands before announcing clearly, “Liu Zhiyai of the Joyful Union Sect, please take your seat—”
Liu Zhiyai?
At the sound of this name, the previously noisy hall quieted briefly. Almost in unison, everyone turned to look at the entrance, gazing at this legendary figure from the Joyful Union Sect who could effortlessly captivate countless young men and women.
Liu Zhiyai stood at the doorway under everyone’s scrutiny.
He didn’t appear as effeminate as the rumors suggested—his build was quite sturdy. Dressed in a lake-blue robe with his hair casually tied up, it was clear he hadn’t mastered the art of styling it properly, as numerous stray strands stuck out haphazardly.
“What’s going on?” Tang Shaoling pondered deeply. “I’ve seen portraits of Liu Zhiyai. How did he gain so much weight in just a few months?”
Now, the noticeably heavier Liu Zhiyai stood at the entrance, scanning the room while scratching his head. His eyes settled on the empty seat near the corner beside Nan Yao, and he squeezed through the crowd toward it.
Finally, after what seemed like an arduous journey, he plopped down next to Nan Yao and turned to stare directly at her.
Nan Yao: Danger.
Liu Zhiyai cleared his throat. “I feel like I’ve met this sister before.”
…This sister has never met you.
But the next moment, Liu Zhiyai continued, “Since we’re so fated, how about we team up for the upcoming competition? What do you think?”
“Cut it out,” Tang Shaoling interjected, sensing something amiss. “Are you just trying to sneak in and coast to victory? Let me tell you, it’s impossible. A team can have at most three deadweights, and the slots are already full.”
Qi Guyuan and Yu Chichi gritted their teeth in frustration: Why drag us into it when you’re insulting yourself?
A flicker of panic crossed Liu Zhiyai’s eyes, but he quickly composed himself. With tearful eyes, he said, “Young man, you misunderstand. I truly once met someone who looked very much like this young lady. We were deeply in love—she promised to stay with me forever, until mountains crumble and heaven and earth merge, only then would we part.”
Nan Yao: Starting to plagiarize, are we?
“But shortly after our vows, she left without a word and was never heard from again. I spent my whole life waiting, resenting, regretting, and longing, yet I don’t regret having someone to wait for, resent, and miss.” Liu Zhiyai wiped his tears. “Young lady, seeing you feels like witnessing my fading youth. So, let me stay by your side to protect you.”
Yu Chichi listened, dabbing her tears. “How touching. Maybe we should bring him along.”
Qi Guyuan nodded repeatedly. “I never expected a Charm Cultivator to be such a romantic soul.”
Tang Shaoling’s eyes brimmed with tears. “Anyone who can utter such moving poetry and words must be a deeply passionate and devoted man. Fine, I agree to add another useless person to the team—I’ll even cover your expenses.”
Liu Zhiyai: “Many thanks, many thanks.”
Nan Yao: …? The cultivation world forbids plagiarizing Qiong Yao’s dialogues.
This guy isn’t right.
He’s absolutely not right—that tragic backstory he just spun would’ve been enough to make at least three modern authors slam the table and sue him for copyright infringement back in the day.
Liu Zhiyai clearly isn’t a pure-blooded cultivator.
The jade pendant glimmered briefly, and Xiao Huang’s voice, audible only to her, whispered by her ear: “Don’t rashly reveal your identity to him. The entire Profound Darkness Hall and Spirit Fighting Competition are monitored by the God-Peering Mirror. If any anomalies are detected, it could draw far too much attention.”
Nan Yao understood.
Moreover, for safety’s sake, this Liu Zhiyai—who clearly spelled trouble—was better kept close under her watch. If he happened to know something and blabbered carelessly, any spies planted by the heavenly realm might notice, inevitably causing major complications.
So she grasped Liu Zhiyai’s hand: “So touching. I agree to let you stay.”
Liu Zhiyai gazed back at her with equal sincerity.
Excellent.
He could lie low a little longer.
Liu Zhiyai was troubled.
In the modern world, he’d been a shut-in who’d just finished his college entrance exams and spent his days holed up at home watching anime. Who knew that upon opening his eyes, he’d transmigrated into this androgynous Charm Cultivator’s body?
Being a Charm Cultivator was one thing, but the real issue was this person’s terrible reputation—so bad that no girl would give him the time of day. Instead, some men would come offering themselves, but as a staunchly straight guy in what was clearly a romance-novel setting, there was no way he’d ever engage in… sword-crossing.
Although refusing Dual Cultivation meant no future in the Joyful Union Sect, Liu Zhiyai felt that even in a cultivation world, he couldn’t just mess around with relationships.
Thus, Liu Zhiyai idled away his days in the Joyful Union Sect, eating and waiting to die. Occasionally, he’d pick up a few lost young Cultivators in the mountains, extort a hefty sum from them, then let them go. Life was comfortable—until he received an invitation to the Spirit Fighting Competition.
The Joyful Union Sect elder declared, “Those who dare not even attend the Spirit Fighting Competition are unworthy of being disciples of our sect.”
Considering he owned no property and would end up homeless if kicked out of the sect dormitory, Liu Zhiyai resolutely journeyed to the Demon Realm.
But not wanting to get beaten to a pulp, he spent a fortune at the Dipper Inn to inquire about the strongest competitors in this year’s tournament, planning to latch onto a powerful ally.
The Dipper Inn provided two names. The first was Xiao Wuji.
Xiao Wuji was definitely not an option.
This body’s original owner had constantly pranced and preened before him, only to get beaten until he howled in pain, then accidentally fell into the Bone Eating Pool and froze to death—which was how Liu Zhiyai ended up transmigrating into him.
Climbing into Xiao Wuji’s good graces was no different from seeking death.
The second name was Nan Yao.
He’d heard that this Nan Yao had only arrived in the Demon Realm yesterday but had already beaten a death commander into weeping hysterically. Plus, she was exceptionally beautiful.
A pretty big sister—time to get close.
Liu Zhiyai felt confident.
So he boldly went to cling to Nan Yao’s coattails, expecting it to take some effort, but never imagining it would be this easy.
Yet he soon realized he might have celebrated too early.
Because two piercingly cold gazes had fallen upon him—one source unknown, but the other crystal clear: that terrifying man sitting beside Nan Yao!
Xie Diao was watching Liu Zhiyai.
Though his expression seemed neutral, his eyes were like icy blades, scraping inch by inch across Liu Zhiyai’s face.
Danger.
Liu Zhiyai swiftly withdrew the hand Nan Yao had been holding, hid it behind his back, and scooted away. “Wait, even though you look a lot like my white moonlight, you can’t just touch me like that.”
Nan Yao: “?”
Liu Zhiyai: “Don’t even think about making me abandon my masculine virtues—I’m a high-quality human male.”
…But you’re a Charm Cultivator!
At the top floor of the Profound Darkness Hall.
Xuanxu Zhanglao was drenched in sweat, slumped in his chair as he patted his chest in relief.
Fortunately, that Charm Cultivator had let go early—otherwise, even with all his strength, he wouldn’t have been able to restrain the furious Demon Lord beside him. But soon, he wouldn’t have to face this alone.
Elders and stewards from various sects had arrived one after another at the Profound Darkness Hall, totaling twenty, including Ye Yin.
After the elders took their seats and exchanged pleasantries, they noticed Ye Yin hadn’t looked up once. Uncharacteristically abandoning his usual laziness, he was meticulously recording something. Witnessing this, the elders couldn’t help but marvel: “To think the Demon Lord is so dedicated—even before the Spirit Fighting Competition has begun, he’s already observing each contestant in such detail.”
A curious elder leaned in for a closer look.
[Nan Yao] +30 points: Nice clothes, sweet smile, kind-hearted, pleasant voice.
[Liu Zhiyai] -50 points: Ugly name, Charm Cultivator, male Charm Cultivator, eating, too loud, has two hands.
[Xie Diao] -100 points: (omitted)
“…” What’s going on here?
Forget the bonus points—deducting for eating and being too loud is barely acceptable, but why penalize having two hands?
And that cultivator named Xie Diao—why was he docked a hundred points without even a reason listed?
Is this really okay?
Is this actually acceptable?
Sensing the elders’ bewildered stares, Xuanxu Zhanglao forced an awkward smile. “Don’t worry, the Spirit Fighting Competition hasn’t started yet. The Demon Lord is just fooling around.”
Let’s hope so.
The grand feast at the Profound Darkness Hall was meant to help contestants get acquainted and form a basic understanding of one another. Only after this feast would the Spirit Fighting Competition truly commence.
Demon Realm Flying Beasts carried devilfolk, cultivators, and demons from all corners of the realm to this year’s competition venue: Soul-Calling Mountain.
Soul-Calling Mountain was a top-tier secret realm under the jurisdiction of the Demon Realm.
Top-tier secret realms weren’t opened lightly. This mountain’s terrain was treacherous and uniquely featured multiple climatic zones—four distinct weather patterns could be observed simultaneously.
It was named Soul-Calling Mountain because its peculiar spiritual energy strongly attracted dead souls. Many who died unjustly, unable to find their way to the Bridge of Helplessness, would linger and wander here.
“Everyone, rest for the night at the mountain inn,” instructed the attendant leading the hundreds of contestants. “Remember, each room accommodates only one person. By noon tomorrow, all must gather here, where we will announce the rules for this year’s Spirit Fighting Competition.”
The format of the Spirit Fighting Competition changed every year. Until the official start, no one knew exactly what the rules would be.
Hundreds of people took their keys and returned to their rooms according to the characters on the keys.
By now, night had fallen. Birds and beasts scattered outside the window, moonlight streamed in through the panes, and tranquility reigned both inside and outside the rooms.
Yet no one dared let their guard down.
Those who received the invitations were all outstanding talents from the three realms. They knew well that although the attendants said the competition format would be announced at noon tomorrow, the Spirit Fighting Competition had actually begun the moment they entered this inn.
Danger lurked within these very rooms.
Top floor of the Profound Darkness Hall.
“It seems the cultivators this year are quite clever, exceptionally cautious in their approach,” Xuanxu Zhanglao remarked with great satisfaction as he watched the scenes through the God-Peering Mirror. “They’ve likely all realized that the first challenge of the Spirit Fighting Competition lies within these rooms.”
A struggle of trapped beasts.
In each of the hundred rooms, there was a malevolent ghost.
These ghosts could hide anywhere. The rooms that appeared calm on the surface were actually fraught with peril. Moreover, these ghosts were all formidable opponents. To successfully leave the inn, one had to find the ghost’s weakness and defeat it before the door would open.
This challenge tested the participants’ ability to perceive danger, analyze enemy weaknesses, and most fundamentally, control their spiritual power. Those who couldn’t safely exit their rooms weren’t qualified for the subsequent trials.
To ensure fairness, the Spirit Fighting Competition wasn’t just visible to the twenty overseeing elders—anyone possessing a fragment of the God-Peering Mirror could watch from anywhere.
Simply put, this was a live broadcast across the entire Immortal Realm.
The moment all hundred participants entered their rooms, the competition officially began.
Ghostly flames, sword glares, talisman ignitions.
These techniques flashed brilliantly across the God-Peering Mirror.
The first participant to leave their room—Xiao Wuji!
“Excellent,” Xuanxu Zhanglao nodded approvingly. “As expected of the finest from the Immortal Realm. Look, he immediately detected the ghost hiding in the mirror upon entering. It took him only half an incense stick’s time to find its weakness and eliminate it—the fastest in three years.”
The Immortal Realm forum on the Book of Wishes exploded with activity:
【Brother Xiao Wuji is truly a celestial descended to earth! This time the Immortal Realm can finally hold its head high before the other two realms!】
【Did anyone record Brother Xiao Wuji’s ghost elimination using a Transformation Talisman? No one across the three realms compares to his divine handsomeness!】
【First! First! Xiao Wuji takes first place!】
Soon, the second and third places were determined one after another.
Yu Chichi, being an assassin, might seem careless ordinarily, but her environmental awareness was no less sharp than Xiao Wuji’s. She quickly lured out the ghost hiding in her room and, after a difficult struggle, eliminated it with hidden weapons, becoming one of the earliest to escape.
Tang Shaoling and Qi Guyuan—one from a prestigious cultivation family, the other a crown prince bearing true dragon energy—though usually slack in their studies, possessed profound spiritual power. Even if they couldn’t precisely pinpoint the ghosts, they could still subdue them through sheer force.
But Liu Zhiyai’s situation was rather special.
After being chased around the room by the ghost, Liu Zhiyai reflected deeply on his predicament and decided he must leverage his specialty as a Charm Cultivator. So he stood still, winked at the malevolent ghost, and said in a pinched voice, “Chu mi.”
The malevolent ghost: “…”
Liu Zhiyai: “Chu mi chu mi.”
The malevolent ghost: “Just kill me instead.”
Liu Zhiyai: “Wow, Charm Cultivators are really amazing.”
There were also those who were either no match for the malevolent ghosts or let their guard down, quickly finding themselves cornered and losing the ability to continue fighting.
In such situations, an elder would step in to rescue them. At the same time, these individuals would forfeit their eligibility for the next round of the competition.
Elder Xuanxu watched for a while, feeling that something was amiss.
Among the group of managing elders, only a handful knew of Nan Yao. After all, due to Nan Yuqing’s wishes, although the three Venerable Ones doted on Nan Yao, they hadn’t made her known to everyone, aiming to prevent her from being thrust into the spotlight at such a young age.
Though few knew of her, Elder Xuanxu was fully aware of Nan Yao’s capabilities.
This young girl appeared gentle and soft, but in truth, she possessed an Innate Spirit Bone and was a prodigy in cultivation, coupled with excellent comprehension. Even as a child, she could beat the ferocious beasts of the Demon Realm into fleeing in disarray, so her current strength should be no less than Xiao Wuji’s.
…But now, why was there still no movement?
Thus, Elder Xuanxu specifically located the scene where Nan Yao was and zoomed in to look—
Nan Yao lay on the bed, wrapped in blankets, eyes tightly shut, breathing evenly, occasionally turning over and softly smacking her lips, sleeping exceptionally soundly.
Elder Xuanxu: His pupils trembled violently.
What?!
She was asleep?
She fell asleep during the Spirit Fighting Competition?
What about the evil spirits? The extremely dangerous evil spirits?
Actually, this couldn’t really be blamed on Nan Yao.
She was truly exhausted. She hadn’t slept well during the journey to Demon-Guarding Mountain. Who would have thought that right after arriving in the Demon Realm, the Spirit Fighting Competition would begin the very next day? This morning, she had originally planned to sneak some sleep in the Profound Darkness Hall, but then a bizarre Charm Cultivator showed up and kept her on edge the entire morning.
Now that she finally saw a bed, who would have thought this room would turn out to be an escape room?
Nan Yao couldn’t accept it.
Moreover, if she killed the evil spirits now, the room’s door would be destroyed. The inn was bustling with people and ghosts coming and going; sleeping with the door open was far too improper.
No, no.
She couldn’t kill them immediately.
She calculated briefly—the attendant said they had to leave the inn by noon tomorrow at the latest.
Perfect.
In that case, she could just sleep until the sun rose tomorrow morning and then deal with the evil spirits.
So, after entering the room, Nan Yao went straight to the bed, wrapped herself in the blankets, pulled out two wads of cotton to stuff in her ears to avoid being awakened by the loud fighting outside, and then buried her head under the covers to sleep soundly.
The elders in the Profound Darkness Hall were so shocked they couldn’t close their mouths: “How can there be a girl with so little sense of danger?”
“Unacceptable, deduct points. Notify the elders near Soul-Calling Mountain to be ready to rescue this little girl at any moment. If she gets attacked by evil spirits in her dreams, it would be a near-certain death.”
“Ah, it seems we’re going to lose another participant.”
Elder Xuanxu listened to the murmurs around him and glanced at Ye Yin with great concern.
…The Demon Lord must be very upset.
But when he turned his head, he saw Ye Yin resting his chin in his hand, gazing at the God-Peering Mirror with a kindly, affectionate, and touched smile.
Ye Yin: Adorable sleeping posture, plus ten points.
Ye Yin: Blankets tucked in so well, won’t catch a cold, plus twenty points.
Ye Yin: Oh ho, even stuffed cotton in her ears, so clever, plus another twenty points.
Ye Yin: Breathing very evenly, good, plus thirty points.
Elder Xuanxu: …What are you doing!!
As participants were either eliminated or escaped, the number of scenes visible on the God-Peering Mirror dwindled, so more and more people began to notice the peculiar situation in a certain room.
[Did anyone see that? There’s really a little girl sleeping in the inn!]
[What? She couldn’t possibly not know that the first round of the Spirit Fighting Competition has already started, could she?]
【I saw it too, I saw it too! Wow, she looks so cute, but seems a bit dim-witted and weak.】
Finally, under the watchful eyes of all, the ghost in Nan Yao’s room couldn’t hold back any longer.
How could there be someone so disrespectful toward ghosts?!
It had originally planned to torment this young girl thoroughly, watching her live in constant fear and anxiety. When she was mentally exhausted from the torment of terror, it would deliver a fatal blow and devour all her life force and spiritual power.
For this purpose, it had cleverly hidden outside the window, hoping to watch her break down when she sensed the ghost’s presence but couldn’t locate it.
Never did it expect that not only would this girl not bother looking for it, but she’d actually be sleeping soundly in her room?
The malevolent ghost couldn’t tolerate this insult!
It phased through the window into the room, dark Ghost Qi surging in the cramped space, making the fragile window rattle and creak. The vase on the table wobbled before crashing heavily to the ground, shattering into countless pieces.
Two crimson eyes glowed within the black Ghost Qi as it opened its bloodthirsty maw, swooping down from the ceiling beam.
“She’s done for. Taking this hit unprepared will shatter her organs with the Ghost Qi.”
“Where are the guards of Soul-Calling Mountain? Quickly, save her!”
The supervising elders of Profound Darkness Hall were on edge. If a competitor died under their watch, they would be held accountable by the entire world.
Xuanxu Zhanglao was also somewhat concerned. He glanced toward Ye Yin and saw him frowning deeply while scribbling furiously.
【Nan Yao】 +10 points: Composed, excellent sleep quality
【Malevolent Ghost in Nan Yao’s Room】 -10 points: Disturbing others’ sleep
“…” Why are you deducting points from the ghost too?!
However, no matter how anxious the supervising elders were, even the fastest guards wouldn’t make it in time at this speed.
In the blink of an eye, the Dark Energy shot straight toward Nan Yao’s head.
And at that moment, Nan Yao rolled over.
Boom—
The malevolent ghost bit empty air, heavily smashing through half the bed board.
Finally, Nan Yao woke up.
She sat up, her face completely expressionless. But the faint dark circles under her eyes revealed some irritation at being woken from insufficient sleep. She slowly turned to look at the ghost, her dark pupils fixed intently on it, and then… she yawned.
Malevolent ghost: …This is infuriating.
Nan Yao unhurriedly reached for her sword hanging by the bedside, her lower body still wrapped in the blankets, unwilling to move. Holding the sword in her hand, she quietly stared at the ghost, completely still.
It seemed she was waiting for it to make the first move.
Malevolent ghost: …? What does this mean? You can’t even be bothered to stand up to fight me?
This was simply adding insult to injury.
The malevolent ghost was enraged, thoroughly and completely enraged. It felt an unprecedented power surging within its body.
Excellent.
Thanks to this young girl, the Ghost Qi within it had been tempered through resentment and anger, successfully breaking through to a new level. Now, even if all the ghosts in the entire inn joined forces, they probably wouldn’t be able to fight it to a draw.
It had originally planned to leave this pitiful girl’s body intact, but that seemed unnecessary now.
The malevolent ghost let out a sinister cackle as the Ghost Qi gradually thickened. Its crimson eyes filled with murderous frenzy, staring fixedly at Nan Yao before it. In an instant, it attacked with a force that split the air.
Nan Yao raised her sword.
Crack.
Sliced in two.
The evil ghost: “Urgh…” Damn it, I can’t give up. Although I’ve been cut in half, given enough time and effort, I can still regenerate.
But the next second, Nan Yao grabbed the bisected ghost, pulled out a small vial from her spiritual pouch, twisted the ghost into a ball, stuffed it inside, and sealed the lid.
The ghost panicked: What are you doing! What are you doing!
Nan Yao placed the bottle on the table, shook the wood chips off her blanket, and curled back under the covers.
“I’ll kill it after sunrise tomorrow.”
“Need more sleep, need more sleep.”
Nan Yao didn’t utter a single word throughout, leaving only the ghost frantically crashing around inside the bottle.
D-damn it, how can such a terrifying person exist in this world?
The presiding elders in the Profound Darkness Hall fell completely silent.
They lowered their heads, silently erased the points they had just deducted from Nan Yao, and after a long pause, quietly changed them to bonus points.
Wholehearted admiration.
It was truly wholehearted admiration.
This was the first time in all these years they had witnessed a righteous cultivator killing an evil ghost in a manner so resembling a great demon lord slaughtering innocent civilians.
When the elders peeked at the Demon Lord’s scorebook and saw the long string of bonus points he had awarded Nan Yao, they once again felt genuine respect.
Truly worthy of the Demon Lord—discerning talent with remarkable foresight.
The Gossip Chronicles heatedly discussed this incident—
[“I think this young girl seems more likely to win the championship.”]
[“Hmph, I must admit, she’s the only one in the entire Spirit Fighting Competition worthy of fighting alongside Xiao Wuji.”]
[“‘Bickering Lovers: First Meeting at the Spirit Fighting Competition’: The Aloof Senior Brother and the Ruthless Jianghu Maiden”]
But before rumors about Xiao Wuji and Nan Yao could fully circulate, everyone noticed another anomaly in the God-Peering Mirror.
[“Does anyone know who that black-clad youth with tied hair is?”]
[“…I think I recall him. Could this be that death row inmate Xie Diao?”]
In the projection, Xie Diao was listlessly building a pagoda with matchsticks. He randomly pulled one out, causing the pagoda to wobble precariously before collapsing with a clatter onto the table.
Xie Diao: “Tch.”
The ghost massaging his shoulders behind him trembled in fear, freezing its movements.
Xie Diao glanced at it: “Continue.”
The ghost shakily resumed pounding.
Back when Xie Diao was still an Evil Seed in the underworld, he sustained his life and power by devouring ghosts from the scorching hells.
All specters were his nourishment.
The ghosts in this inn were all pathetically weak. Participating in such a tedious competition felt like a waste of time.
He hadn’t wanted to stay a moment longer.
But before entering his room, Nan Yao had let out a huge yawn, eyes teary, and told him: “I really need a proper night’s rest.”
Rest?
She was right next door.
He could clearly hear any movement from her room.
Complete silence.
She had actually fallen asleep.
After an unknown length of time, commotion finally erupted next door—brief roars and snarls cut short by a loud crash, followed by the ghost’s muffled sobbing.
Xie Diao chuckled softly.
It seemed he had underestimated her.
Xie Diao tossed aside the matchstick, finally appearing bored with these trivialities. He rose and lay on the bed, resting the back of his head on his arms with closed eyes to conserve energy, casually instructing the ghost: “Wake me at dawn.”
At this point, she added lightly, “By the way, remember to remind me to kill you before noon.”
The evil ghost fell silent.
The presiding elders fell silent.
The commoners, cultivators, Devilfolk, and Demon Beasts watching through the God-Peering Mirror all fell silent.
Killing the ghost and shattering its spirit.
How could someone utter such icy and cruel words?
Later, the preliminary round of this Spirit Fighting Competition came to be known as “The Day We Never Learned Who the Evil Ghost in the Room Really Was.”
At the break of dawn, Nan Yao had a good night’s sleep.
In high spirits, she stretched comfortably and turned to see the evil ghost weeping while shrunk inside a bottle. She beamed brightly at it: “Good morning.”
The evil ghost: Wuwu!!
Nan Yao rolled out of bed, picked up the bottle and placed it on the floor, then thrust her sword hard into the bottle.
The bottle shattered, and the ghost dispersed.
The door opened accordingly.
Nan Yao stepped out, glanced around, and heard some commotion from the room next to hers. After a few screams, Xie Diao pushed the door open and emerged. He lowered his head to brush the wrinkles from his sleeves, then looked up and met Nan Yao’s gaze.
Nan Yao: It’s the Evil Seed.
Xie Diao chuckled: “Sleep well?”
Nan Yao nodded like a pecking chick: “Mhm, mhm.” But soon she grew puzzled. Although she knew those outside could see inside the secret realm through the God-Peering Mirror, according to the rules, no one inside the secret realm could use any magical artifact to view their opponents’ or teammates’ scenes.
How did Xie Diao know she had been sleeping?
Before she could ponder further, the man in front of her had already started downstairs. Nan Yao scurried after him, tugging at his sleeve, and began her daily chattering: “Why are you only coming out now too? Did you sneak in some sleep as well? What was the evil ghost in your room like? The one in mine was super cute—it could be squeezed into a tiny spot and stuffed into a bottle.”
Inside the Profound Darkness Hall, Ye Yin gritted his teeth.
[Xie Diao] Deduct points for stepping out with the left foot first, deduct points for walking with legs, deduct points for having ears, deduct points for noisy breathing.
Some female cultivator laughed and teased, “These two both seem quite extraordinary, but their auras unexpectedly match. They might even develop a beautiful story in the secret realm.”
Hearing this, Ye Yin shot to his feet and strode toward the exit.
Xuanxu Zhanglao wrapped his arms around Ye Yin’s waist, weeping and sniffling: “Think twice, Your Highness, please think twice!”
Just then, a message paper crane flew in through the window and landed on Ye Yin’s shoulder.
Ye Yin unfolded the crane, and Nan Yuqing’s vigorous voice came through: “Ye Yin, you old scoundrel, if you dare hinder my daughter from shining, I’ll tear down your demon hall and make sure you don’t set foot in my home for three hundred years.”
The presiding elders present were too terrified to utter a word.
Who was it?
Who dared speak to Ye Yin in such a tone?
Yet the next moment, Ye Yin—who would normally kill anyone or any god in his way—carefully folded the paper crane, tucked it into his robe, and silently returned to his demon throne. He then took out his notebook again:
[Nan Yao] Her mother’s voice is also pleasant, add points.
Xuanxu Zhanglao: You’re doomed as a Demon Lord!
After Nan Yao and Xie Diao went downstairs, they found Soul-Calling Mountain already crowded with people.
Hearing the noise behind them, the crowd turned in unison to watch the two late-arriving competitors.
Yu Chichi, tears in her eyes, rushed toward Nan Yao and threw her arms around her. “Wuwu, I thought you and Brother Xie Diao had secretly dropped out because it was too troublesome. Thank goodness, we’re saved!”
The four hangers-on let out joyous cries of relief, like salted fish rescued from despair.
Someone in the crowd sneered, “Such a simple trial, and yet someone actually took an entire night to struggle with that evil spirit? It seems the skill level of this year’s participants is truly uneven.”
“Shh, stop focusing on these nobodies. Look, the competition rules are out.”
Words slowly emerged on the Demon’s Record before Soul-Calling Mountain—
Second Round: Soul-Igniting Lanterns
1. Sixty-six participants in this round. Ten Soul-Igniting Lanterns are hidden within Soul-Calling Mountain.
2. Form teams of up to six to light the lanterns, or search alone. Different scoring methods apply to lantern lighters and assistants.
[Soul-Igniting Lantern Guidelines]
1. Soul-Igniting Lanterns are located in perilous areas. Prioritize your safety.
2. Lanterns can only be lit during daylight.
3. Fresh blood is required to ignite the lanterns.
4. If in danger, crush your token. Guards will escort you out of Soul-Calling Mountain.
After the rules finished displaying, a crack slowly appeared in the barrier.
Passing through this crack meant truly entering the depths of Soul-Calling Mountain.
The crowd surged forward, but just as everyone prepared to enter, a voice suddenly rang out: “Wait! Everyone, hold still!”
The crowd halted.
The speaker was a talisman cultivator. He pointed at the words on the Demon’s Record. “See? It says there are sixty-six participants, but I just counted… there are clearly sixty-eight people here.”
His words sent a chill through the crowd.
After verifying, others chimed in: “It’s true! There really are sixty-eight!”
“I’ve heard from senior disciples that in past Spirit Fighting Competitions, evil spirits sometimes take human form and infiltrate the arena to kill indiscriminately. But such incidents haven’t happened in a long time. Could it be…?”
“I suspect the evil spirits are those two!” The talisman cultivator pointed at Nan Yao, who had already reached the secret realm’s crack, and Xie Diao behind her. “They arrived last. It’s entirely possible they’ve been possessed by evil spirits.”
Nan Yao said, “You make a valid point, but since you lack evidence, I’ll be heading in now.”
“Not so fast!” The talisman cultivator declared righteously, stepping toward Nan Yao and drawing his sword. “For everyone’s safety, I cannot stand by and let such suspicious individuals enter Soul-Calling Mountain.”
Nan Yao thought for a moment, then reached out and covered his eyes.
“What are you doing?!” the talisman cultivator fumed.
Nan Yao explained kindly, “There. Now you can’t see me going in.”
“…?!” How absurd.
Author’s Note: A special program for the entire cultivation world: The Villainess Growth Plan
Combining ten thousand words into one chapter makes for a slightly hefty read.
Worried that frequent perspective shifts might be confusing with so many words, I revised and rewrote several versions. Apologies for the delay! Kowtowing to everyone! Will make up for it with six thousand words tomorrow!
Acknowledgments: Teacher Cao Xueqin – “Dream of the Red Chamber”, Teacher Pang Long – “Brothers, Let’s Hug”, Teacher Qiong Yao – “My Fair Princess”, Teacher Xin Yiwu – “To Our Youth That Is Fading Away”, Anonymous Teacher (I know the meaning of anonymous, but it truly is anonymous) – “Song of the Sky”
Thank you to the little angels who voted for me or provided nutrient solutions between 2022-01-07 18:07:48 and 2022-01-08 18:27:42~
Special thanks to:
Little Angel Bai Ze for throwing a hand grenade (1)
Little Angels “Too Cool to Chat”, Tang Si, and “Dedicated to Those Who Can’t Think of an ID” for throwing landmines (1 each)
Gratitude for nutrient solutions:
Little Angel Li Yu (20 bottles)
Little Angel Guang Xiang (12 bottles)
Little Angels “Share Half a Crushed Ice Pop with You” and “Mountains and Rivers” (10 bottles each)
Little Angel “Dedicated to Those Who Can’t Think of an ID” (5 bottles)
Little Angel Qu Something Hui (4 bottles)
Little Angel “Can’t Wake Up After Sleeping” (3 bottles)
Little Angels “You Talk Too Much”, “Full City of Willow Catkins”, and “God, I Want to Pick Up Soap for You” (2 bottles each)
Little Angels “Peach is Thinking Nonsense” and “Miss Peach Who Loves Sweets” (1 bottle each)
Thank you all very much for your support. I will continue to work hard!