“Return to the Demon Realm to hold the Dao companion grand ceremony.”
While Yan Moxiao was conversing with Shi Chen, a cultivator whose hair at his temples was entirely white and who was draped in silver light slowly walked over from not far away.
“Dharma Follower Sage Ancestor.” Yan Moxiao and Shi Chen bowed together. “The Sage Ancestor has emerged from seclusion.”
Facong waved his hand slightly, his expression cold as he gazed at the absolute highest position on the jade wall at Jun Yanye’s name.
For how many years now, the name at this peak position had never changed.
“That demon is still alive.” Facong murmured to himself. “Even the heavenly tribulation could do nothing to him.”
“How has the Sage Ancestor recovered during his secluded cultivation?” Yan Moxiao asked.
Facong gave a self-mocking smile. “How else can this old framework of mine be? A thousand years of cultivation lost in a single day, and now a heart demon has developed. To live for one day is to live for one day.”
“If that demon hadn’t washed the Sacred Domain in blood back then… alas.” Yan Moxiao also gazed at the peak of the jade wall, upon which many people had withered away.
Decades of the highest-cultivation cultivators in the Sacred Domain had died tragically at Jun Yanye’s hands overnight. The Dharma Follower Sage Ancestor was lucky to survive, but he was crippled for life, and his Dao companion died on the spot.
When this tragic case occurred, Yan Moxiao had not yet been born.
Since then, countless people had wanted to take revenge on Jun Yanye, yet not a single one succeeded.
Jun Yanye had accumulated numerous grievances and deeply entrenched resentment; it was simply that no one could do anything to him.
“I have even been thinking whether the Heavenly Dao is just like this. On what basis can that demon stay alive? On what basis can he undergo a tribulation without dying… Could it be that the Heavenly Dao intends for the Demonic Path to unify the world?”
A stern look flared in Yan Moxiao’s eyes. “Sage Ancestor, this person will absolutely never allow that demon to taint the Sacred Domain and the mortal world. This person swears to hold fast until death and will certainly make him pay for his blood debts!”
Gazing at Yan Moxiao, the Sage Ancestor’s eyes lit up and he nodded repeatedly. “Well said! Blood debts paid in blood. Even if I must throw away my life, I want that demon to fall into eternal damnation.” Saying this, he looked toward Shi Chen, who was standing to the side. “Now that the Changming Young Master has returned to his position, the great undertaking of exterminating the demon has a promising future.”
“Senior, rest assured.” Shi Chen put on a superficial display. He had absolutely no interest in the great undertaking of exterminating the demon; he only wanted to get Shi Li.
“By the way, Sect Master Yan, I heard that the foster son you expelled from the sect is actually mingling together with that demon,” the Sage Ancestor’s face showed displeasure. “No matter how ignorant he is, he should still know what kind of person that demon is.”
“It is due to this person’s poor teaching,” Yan Moxiao lowered his head and said. “If there comes a day when weapons meet, this person will decisively show no mercy.”
Shi Li, who had just ascended to the early Golden Core stage, broke through to the mid-Golden Core stage within a few days.
The mid-Golden Core stage Shi Li learned all kinds of spells and could control spiritual energy with ease.
Every time Jun Yanye met with Shi Li, he could see him casting spells with proficient ease.
For instance, Shi Li would lean back on the bed while the wine jar sat on the table, and the wine liquid would fly through the air from the jar straight into Shi Li’s mouth—the Displacement Spell.
For instance, in the completely empty back kitchen, various pastries would soar into the air one by one and disappear bite by bite, leaving pastry crumbs falling through the air, the Invisibility Spell.
For instance, suddenly disappearing in the middle of dual cultivation, the Water Evasion Spell.
And for instance, Shi Li would stand at the base of the mountain, leap up to fly to the mountain peak, then hop back down the mountain cliff, scurrying all over the mountain the Soaring Spell.
Jun Yanye thoroughly experienced a master’s mixture of gratification and heartbreak.
When Jun Yanye saw Shi Li arguing with a pack of dogs under a willow tree, he finally could not help but ask, “What are you doing?”
“It turns out that ascending to the Golden Core stage allows one to understand the language of dogs!” Shi Li was full of enthusiasm. “Woof woof, woof woof woof!”
Jun Yanye: “…”
“I wanted to pick a spiritual pet from among them, but they are fighting over who gets to be my spiritual pet, so they started arguing.” Shi Li lied without blushing.
“Woof woof woof!” The dogs barked even more tragically, though upon seeing Jun Yanye, they all lowered their heads and tucked their tails, whimpering very aggrievedly: “Woo woo woo.”
Jun Yanye could tell that this pack of dogs was vehemently denying it.
“If you want a spiritual pet, we can go to the Spiritual Beast Mountain. A fire spiritual root is very suitable for raising a phoenix.”
Jun Yanye felt that a phoenix suited Shi Li very well both were very fervent, beautiful, proud, and unyielding.
“I like dogs.” Shi Li was unmoved.
“I also raise spiritual hounds in my demonic palace. Once we return, you can pick one.”
Shi Li squatted down to stroke the head of an earth-colored puppy. From time to time, the willow twigs lightly brushed against the ends of his hair; Jun Yanye brushed the willow branch aside, plucked a willow leaf from his hair, and tucked it into his sleeve.
“By the way, teach me the Immobilization Spell!” Shi Li stood up, and the pack of dogs instantly ran off until none were left.
“Watch closely.” Jun Yanye demonstrated the hand seal and incantation once.
The comprehension capacity of the late Golden Core stage was very fast; a technique like the Immobilization Spell could be learned as soon as it was taught.
“Freeze!” The crimson spiritual light at Shi Li’s fingertip flashed as he pointed it toward Jun Yanye.
With his realm and spiritual energy, it was impossible to immobilize Jun Yanye. Although the spell was easy to learn, the gap in their cultivation was far too wide.
However, Jun Yanye’s body did not move at all, and his eyes did not even blink. The wind blew his robes, making him stand beneath the tree like a puppet.
Jun Yanye was merely curious about what Shi Li would do after freezing him, so he pretended to be immobilized.
“Hmph hmph, that day you used the Immobilization Spell on me, now it’s returned to you!” Shi Li smiled triumphantly, stepping forward two paces to get close to Jun Yanye.
A gentle breeze blew over, and Jun Yanye caught the waves of peach blossom wine fragrance drifting from Shi Li’s body.
Shi Li sized Jun Yanye up carefully, as if brewing some mischievous idea.
The two quietly gazed at each other beneath the willow tree, as if time itself had stopped.
Before Shi Li could even play his trick, Jun Yanye grasped his hand. “Come back to the Demon Realm with me.”
“Whoa ah ah ah” Shi Li’s body shuddered, shocked to the point of blurring. “You moved! You did that on purpose to scare me!”
“Come back to the Demon Realm with me to hold the Dao companion grand ceremony,” Jun Yanye said.
With his hand held by Jun Yanye, Shi Li blinked his eyes before finally reacting. “Dao companion grand ceremony? You and me?”
“Yes.”
“Not going.” Shi Li pulled his hand out. “I am not your Dao companion.”
Jun Yanye did not understand. They already had a Dao companion bond, and Shi Li also called him his Dao companion with every breath; why was he still not his Dao companion?
“There are only two kinds of people in this world who can be your Dao companion,” Shi Li picked up a willow twig and drew on the ground. “One is your political marriage partner, like a princess of the Underworld or a queen of the Demon Race. The other is your true heart’s love, someone you want to never separate from for eternity. And I am within neither of these two.”
“You said before that you are an important person to me, and I also-”
“An important person is not necessarily a lover; it’s also possible I am your father,” Shi Li said with a serious face.
“Uh.” Jun Yanye once again revealed a blank expression; he was starting to fall behind Shi Li’s train of thought again.
“You still need to find your memories back,” Shi Li said.
Jun Yanye had not expected Shi Li to reject him so quickly and decisively.
“As for today’s words, just pretend you never said them, and I will pretend I never heard them.” Shi Li stood up, turned around, and walked away. After taking a few steps, he suddenly turned back and whipped the willow twig: “Freeze!”
Jun Yanye remained completely motionless, standing right where he was.
The author has something to say:
Shi Li: I like dogs.
Jun Yanye: Woof.