Chapter 203: The Humiliation of the Priest

In the center of the Royal City, a simple stage had been hastily erected. A few dilapidated buildings stood crookedly around it, while beneath the miraculously preserved structures, numerous refugees gathered, conversing and lamenting, occasionally casting their gaze towards the stage.

The half-ruined Imperial City exuded decay. Temporary shelters were everywhere, and cultivators were still clearing debris. Many bodies, buried for days, were removed along with bricks, tiles, and wood. Their flesh clung to the wooden sticks, emitting a foul stench that was impossible to remove.

Only the stage offered the sole vibrant color in the city.

Shao Xiaoli, dressed in a red embroidered gown, walked backstage with several other girls. Behind the curtain, people cursed the demoness Siming with bitter hatred, while also lamenting heaven's indifference and the deadly calamity. When they saw Shao Xiaoli arrive, many people's eyes lit up, and they swarmed around her. They felt fortunate to see this beautiful flower untouched by the disaster. Some even pulled the middle-aged woman aside, eagerly discussing future positions and prices, offering incredibly tempting sums.

Shao Xiaoli's expression was calm, like a noblewoman in exile. Yet, apart from standing upright, her eyes and demeanor resembled a tender, newly sprouted willow—fragile and endearing.

Shao Xiaoli's gaze shifted slightly. She saw a few people she had known in the crowd, but none of them recognized her.

Firstly, Shao Xiaoli had always worried about her identity as an illegitimate daughter being exposed, which was a heavy psychological burden. She neglected her appearance daily, and this intensified after her mother's death. During her time living with Ning Changjiu, she consistently wore simple, loose dresses, with messy hair and a plain face.

Secondly, these former royal peers had suffered too great a blow in recent days.

In these past few months, the king had died, and the prime minister was disgraced. The goddess they worshipped turned out to be an evil demoness. Their most cherished spirits were completely stolen. Later, even greater catastrophes occurred, and the entire city was almost reduced to ruins by raging torrents.

Members of the royal family were now almost indistinguishable from ordinary people, except for a bit of swordsmanship and Taoist magic. This was profoundly disheartening. Some, even if they survived the disaster, went mad during the tormenting days that followed.

The instigator of all this was right before them, firmly nailed to the torture rack, enduring the gaze of countless people. It was a pity they couldn't inflict more harm on her. Thus, their enthusiasm for this humiliating play was very high.

Shao Xiaoli walked with graceful, small steps, appearing as cautious as if treading on thin ice. An experienced old performer guided her on the required steps, lines, and demeanor.

Although the highlight of the play was the demoness's torture, aimed at alleviating the city's gloomy and oppressive atmosphere by flogging her, the preceding story still needed a simple run-through.

"Your demeanor needs to be fiercer, colder," the old performer earnestly instructed, pointing to the stunning demoness with silver hair and a white dress. "Look at the woman on the crucifix, observe her cold and arrogant bearing and appearance, and truly grasp it. In short, there'll be a fight scene later; I taught you that yesterday, so master it well. Ah, judging by your appearance, you must have been a sheltered young lady from the royal family; you probably haven't learned any swordsmanship or combat skills, so this is indeed difficult for you."

Shao Xiaoli listened to the other person's rambling words and simply acknowledged them with a soft, "I understand."

"Oh, right, later when you're tied to the torture rack, you'll be hoisted up. At that point, your expression still needs to be cold, firm, and you should resist defiantly. That's how you'll stir the audience's emotions; don't be like a submissive doll. Look at that woman more, imitate her. Could that demoness who ruined the country and harmed the people possibly be a porcelain doll like you?"

"Yes, I understand," Shao Xiaoli nodded gently, smiling, her demeanor flawless.

She looked up at the sky above Duankai City, observing Siming's disheveled state, and involuntarily recalled that night. The relentless murderous intent still felt like a knife point against her back whenever she thought of it. The silver hair and dark dress at that time seemed like the embodiment of a god of death; every extra glance felt like enduring bone-searing, blood-melting, soul-shattering agony.

Yet now, this god-like woman was displayed humiliatingly in full public view.

Shao Xiaoli's lips curled slightly, showing a mocking smile towards her.

She knew that Siming was also looking at her at that moment.

The stage was set up amidst a flurry of activity, and people backstage were nervously rehearsing. By the time the play truly began, it was already quite late. People continuously poured into the city, gathering below the stage, forming a huge circle. Among them were members of the royal family, refugees, as well as blind people and many physically disabled individuals. The crowd surged like waves; everyone pushed and shoved in the current, shouting loudly.

With a loud gong, the play finally began. After the narrator read a passage, everything started in full swing.

Shao Xiaoli emerged from backstage, showing no stage fright at all. Shedding some of her delicate softness, her lines were clear and decisive, and her swordplay was crisp. Her spirited figure drew continuous cheers from the audience below.

"For the next ten years, no one will likely be able to challenge her for the title of courtesan queen at the pleasure house," many said, the beautiful figure of the girl wavering in their eyes. The red dress was like fireworks exploding in the night sky, unmatched in splendor. Many noble young masters were already fantasizing about the scene after prosperity returned, when the pleasure house would surely be bustling with visitors.

Shao Xiaoli's opponent in the play was their imagined deity. The deity wore a mask, a black and red costume, with banners fluttering on its back, and cried out in a theatrical manner, looking supremely righteous.

Shao Xiaoli exchanged several fierce blows with him, then, as per the script, feigned defeat and injury by the deity. After uttering a few sharp, defiant words, she was captured. Then the deity began to list her sins one by one, and Shao Xiaoli's face was filled with pain, as if the other person was reciting an exorcism spell.

Siming watched the scene on stage and sneered, "Heh, children playing house. Humans are indeed weak and childish. Do you really think this can disturb my Dao heart? That's too naive."

Despite her words, her expression grew colder, as if covered in frost and snow.

The play progressed slowly, and it was indeed boring. Siming also turned her gaze there, watching Shao Xiaoli's crimes being listed one by one, and then seeing her tied to the crucifix.

This was the climax of the play; they eagerly watched the scene of the demoness being punished, and also to let the demoness currently nailed to the torture rack see the fate that awaited her.

Shao Xiaoli's hands and feet were tied to it, and ropes on the crucifix would pull her up. Then there would be a real-looking flogging. This was something the middle-aged woman had persuaded the girl, who called herself Miss Xiang'er, to agree to after much effort. She said that as long as she allowed the entire city to vent their resentment today, she would become the most popular person in the city tomorrow, even more famous than the king.

Shao Xiaoli watched her feet slowly lift from the ground, the cheers of the crowd and the wildly waving hands seeming to drift away from her.

The real golden crucifix was not far from them, and the black snake was also watching, but its pupils were hollow, like an emotionless puppet.

She looked at Siming, her smile widening.

Siming knew that Shao Xiaoli's presence here had a purpose, and it wasn't just to perform a clumsy play, but she didn't understand what the girl intended to do.

Shao Xiaoli, along with the crucifix, was raised to the height of the surrounding buildings. On top of a building, a man walked out holding a long, thin whip, shouting "Demoness on trial!" and then lashed out at the girl's delicate, curvaceous body.

The crowd below erupted in an instant, but soon after, the clamor ceased, giving way to silence.

They stared blankly upwards, some frowning, some rubbing their eyes, all suspecting they had seen wrong.

The whip aimed at Miss Xiang'er had stopped in mid-air.

A hand grasped the tail of the whip.

It was a slender, beautiful hand, but its five fingers were like iron hooks, gripping the whip tightly.

The girl in the red dress had somehow freed herself from her bindings.

She stood on top of the crucifix, causing it to sink slightly under her weight, almost making the people holding the ropes lose their grip from exhaustion. In her hand, she held the long whip, and her cool, clear eyes perfectly mirrored Siming's appearance when she stood on the high platform that day.

"This... is this part of the script?"

"Doesn't seem so."

"Demoness, this must be another demoness! So beautiful, what else could she be if not a demoness?"

Below the stage, whispers erupted, and many people, overcome with panic, began to scatter. The crowd was like several colliding streams, splashing countless drops of water.

Shao Xiaoli looked at the audience below and realized that her state of mind upon returning to the royal city was completely different from before. Others watched the play she was performing on stage, but she, looking at the audience, felt like she was watching a play herself.

She pulled her arm back, easily snatching the whip from the other person's hand. She stood firmly below the crucifix, her flowing dress like evening clouds.

"Don't you want to see the goddess humiliated and punished? What's the point of a stage play? Don't you want something real?" Shao Xiaoli mimicked Ning Changjiu's calm tone, her voice as desolate as an autumn wind.

Siming was slightly startled. She had considered this possibility, but in her eyes, this girl was merely a waste with mediocre sword skills. How could she truly reach her?

Shao Xiaoli turned around, shifting her gaze.

Her months of sword training flashed through her mind like a rapidly spinning lantern; spiritual energy instantly burst through her qi sea, rippling outwards in circles around her.

Shao Xiaoli hooked her middle finger into her sleeve; a pre-prepared red rope shot out, instantly tautening into a straight line, and lashed onto the golden crucifix. The red rope coiled around it from above. With a twist and pull of her wrist, Shao Xiaoli's body soared like a flying celestial being in a mural, propelled by the force.

The black snake detected the disturbance, suddenly opening its jagged maw and lunging towards her. The crow, meanwhile, continued to peck at Siming's divinity, completely indifferent.

Shao Xiaoli gazed at the charging giant snake, her heart pounding. The sword moves that had become ingrained in her very being burst forth, striking towards the center of the black snake's brow bone.

The giant snake's roar was like tens of thousands of mice shrieking in unison.

Shao Xiaoli, holding the red rope, swung over the black snake's head and landed on its spine. Her hand pressed against its body; she raised the sword in her hand and skillfully plunged it down. The sword pierced through its scales, reaching the flesh and crushing bone.

The black snake on the crucifix continuously twisted its body, trying to shake off the cursed girl. Shao Xiaoli gripped the hilt tightly with both hands, dragging the sword, tearing through the black snake's flesh as she frantically moved upwards.

In its rage and pain, the black snake's scales all splayed open, like a rooster ruffling its feathers.

Shao Xiaoli's body was pushed away by the flaring scales, losing her balance and falling towards the crowd. The black snake opened its maw, twisted its neck, and lunged at Shao Xiaoli.

The long whip in Shao Xiaoli's other hand also extended. With a flick of the whip, she precisely wrapped it around one of the black snake's fangs. Then, using the force of the black snake's charge, she violently swung her body upwards, redrawing her sword in mid-air and stabbing towards the black snake's pupil.

The black snake was coiled around the golden crucifix, its movements not very large, seemingly unwilling to harm any civilians or damage any buildings.

This was the order given to it by the Sin Lord.

The Sin Lord would not actively kill those who didn't deserve death. In the Sin Lord's eyes, this catastrophe caused by the collision of heaven and earth's qi currents was merely their unprovoked misfortune, not something caused by his own methods.

Shao Xiaoli leaped onto the black snake's back, unleashing all the sword techniques she had learned throughout her life. Its scales were crushed in large sections under her sword. Shao Xiaoli sprinted and hacked furiously, her red dress billowing like fire rapidly moving across a black field.

The crowd watched this breathtaking scene, their hearts pounding. How could that seemingly fragile and easily broken young girl erupt with such power?

Shao Xiaoli had originally used the acting troupe to sneak back into the city, then used this opportunity to attract the crowd, making the black snake hesitant to attack freely, so that even if her strength was insufficient, she could blend into the crowd and escape.

These were the rough plans her boss had made for her, but she considered her spontaneous decision to join the acting troupe a stroke of genius.

Shao Xiaoli stepped on the black snake, retrieved her long whip, and then drew her sword again, stabbing it into the black snake's vulnerable pupil.

Blood spurted like a geyser.

This Nine-Headed Serpent had died many times. This was its final, extremely faint wisp of remnant soul, fortuitously retrieved from the Abyss of Time. Although granted some power by the Sin Lord, how could it compare to its peak?

With so many people around, and its actions restricted everywhere, it had actually been wounded in the eye by this little girl.

Siming watched the scene unfolding below her, her gaze icy.

She still didn't believe this girl could kill the black snake.

Because its power was ultimately bestowed by the Sin Lord. What kind of being was the Sin Lord? How could something he created be easily killed?

The black snake swung its massive head, its spiritual energy creating a powerful gust of wind that swept Shao Xiaoli backward.

Shao Xiaoli's sword-holding hand wavered, and she was struck by the oncoming airflow, thrown into the air. Her body briefly lost its point of leverage, and she watched helplessly as the black snake charged towards her. The girl gritted her teeth, and a sword move she had never used before appeared in her mind.

Siming knew this sword move very well, so when Shao Xiaoli raised her hand, she immediately knew that the girl could not possibly execute it.

But reality once again defied Siming's expectations.

Invisibly, it was as if some power had been granted to her. She unleashed this sword strike; the awe-inspiring killing intent briefly subsided, then immediately reached its peak after colliding with the giant snake. Along her sword's edge, snake blood cascaded like an unending torrent, continuously gushing to both sides, staining the giant snake's teeth blood-red.

Siming sensed something was wrong and immediately raised her head, looking in a certain direction.

Siming's pupils constricted.

From a pavilion not far away, from the small room where Shao Xiaoli had previously dressed, a young man in flowing white robes emerged.

The young man wore an nameless sword at his waist and had the branch that she detested tucked into his clothes. A gentle smile graced his face.

Before leaving, Shao Xiaoli had carved the small teleportation array that Ning Changjiu had instructed her to on the dressing table. After the chaos began, Ning Changjiu, using his authority over fate, changed the black feather's destiny, making it entangle Night Exterminator instead of himself. Then he used the small teleportation array to arrive here.

However, deities are difficult to deceive. It wouldn't be long before the black feather would break free from its destiny and return, at which point he would face divine wrath.

Ning Changjiu walked out of the pavilion and softly said, "Shao Xiaoli is using the sword move from her heart."

And so, Shao Xiaoli truly unleashed that sword strike, leaving a huge gash on the black snake's body.

Ning Changjiu looked at the black snake.

This was the remnant body of the Nine-Headed Serpent.

It was also the source that attracted the Sin Lord.

Ning Changjiu's expression towards the Nine-Headed Serpent was utterly cold. For him, it was also one of the instigators of everything.

The Abyss of Time had preserved its last wisp of soul.

"Since you're a persistent spirit, I'll just kill you a few more times," Ning Changjiu said calmly. The sword at his waist transformed into a streak of rainbow-like green light, drawing from its sheath with a sharp clang.

Shao Xiaoli was still entangled in battle with the black snake.

Although that sword had directly ripped its mouth, the Nine-Headed Serpent felt no pain. It thrashed its head, spraying blood, and lunged forward to bite. In a flash, Shao Xiaoli clashed with it several more times. After their figures bounced and leapt, the black snake mustered all its strength, first knocking the sword from her hand, then swinging its head like a hammer, intending to smash her directly to the ground.

*Clink—*

Inside the black snake's mind, a low, crisp sword hum sounded. Then, its body made a strange contortion, reaching directly backward to bite its own tail.

Ning Changjiu hovered on his sword in front of it, his five fingers splayed, disrupting its fate.

The black snake already had no spiritual intelligence, so its fate was easier to interfere with.

After biting its tail, it actually began to swallow itself from the tail end, intending to consume itself from back to front.

Ning Changjiu looked at the breathless Shao Xiaoli and smiled, "Your play isn't over yet. There's a highly anticipated grand finale coming."

As he spoke, Ning Changjiu drew the sword from his waist, flicked a finger, and the sword hovered in front of Shao Xiaoli.

Shao Xiaoli stepped onto the sword's blade and nodded vigorously.

Ning Changjiu said, "Don't think about being gentle with her."

Shao Xiaoli smiled, "Of course not."

Shao Xiaoli stood steadily on the sword, which floated upwards, carrying her to a high position, directly facing Siming on the crucifix.

At the same time, behind Ning Changjiu, a monotonous, mechanical voice sounded:

"Deceiving Lord Sin, a capital offense."

Ning Changjiu sighed, surprised it had arrived so quickly.

It was the Sin Lord, manifested from a black feather.

This black feather, of course, couldn't kill him now, but he also couldn't do much against it. Night Exterminator was currently too far away from him, and the weak laws of fate could barely affect the black feather. Ning Changjiu casually reached out, directly taking the black sword suspended on the crucifix. He gripped it, and fierce flames erupted along the blade. The young man, holding the sword, clashed with the Sin Lord's black feather in the air.

Shao Xiaoli, meanwhile, looked directly at Siming and smiled, "Lord Siming, we meet again."

Siming's eyes were like snow, her face like frost, and her silver hair, like strands of ice, radiated coldness. She instinctively struggled a couple of times but couldn't free herself from the crucifix.

"What do you want to do?" Siming looked at Shao Xiaoli, her delicate brows furrowed.

She had lived for over a thousand years, was a divine official second only to one in the Divine Kingdom, and possessed a peerlessly beautiful immortal face. Yet at this moment, a teenage girl dared to hover before her on a sword, holding a long whip and smiling, while she herself was immobile on the torture rack.

For her past self, this was utterly unimaginable.

Shao Xiaoli, standing on the sword, came before her.

Siming was now completely weakened; the spiritual energy she emanated was more than enough to handle ordinary people's rotten vegetable leaves, but it was far from sufficient against Shao Xiaoli, who had now achieved minor mastery in swordsmanship.

Shao Xiaoli's delicate, beautiful hand gently stroked her silver hair, then ran down the soft, long strands, her knuckles lightly brushing Siming's cheek, lingering yet detached.

"Lord Siming truly possesses a face that can bewitch all beings," Shao Xiaoli said with a smile, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, then gently pinching Siming's earlobe, playing with it between her fingers.

Siming's cheek tingled slightly, her earlobe too. Even though she was restrained, she couldn't shed her arrogance: "Take your hand away!"

Shao Xiaoli obediently withdrew her hand, then raised it high.

Siming's face showed a hint of panic.

*SLAP!!!*

The next moment, the raised hand sharply descended. Siming's cheek snapped to the side from the impact, followed by a burning pain spreading across her face, like countless tiny needles pricking her. A low hum also resonated in her ear canal.

On that snow-white cheek, a vivid red handprint stood out.

Siming's eyes filled with a blizzard-like murderous intent. Her fury swelled with the rise and fall of her proud chest, but this rage could only fester within her; at this moment, she had no room to retaliate.

Shao Xiaoli gripped her chin, looked at the cheek flushed red, then turned her face to the other side and raised her left hand high.

Another crisp slap.

Shao Xiaoli had been practicing how to slap for the past two days; she had slapped the air tens of thousands of times. Now, her wish fulfilled, she finally brought her perfectly honed slap down on Siming's face.

Siming let out a pained groan, pursed her lips tightly, her body trembling with rage. She knew that Shao Xiaoli was exacting revenge for that night.

Shao Xiaoli examined her face and said, "Lord Siming, have you thought of something embarrassing? Why is your face so red?"

Siming's silver hair wildly danced. She stared at Shao Xiaoli and said coldly, "Have you gone to all this trouble just to humiliate me like this? Isn't this too childish?"

Shao Xiaoli pointed downwards and said, "The whole city is watching, you know. How is this childish? This is clearly *your* grand performance, isn't it, Grand Divine Official Siming?"

Hearing that title, Siming's heart stirred, and she tried to speak, but then saw Shao Xiaoli reach her hand directly behind her neck.

Shao Xiaoli's hand gathered and grasped, taking Siming's entire head of soft silver hair into her palm.

The girl grabbed her hair, pulling it up, and looked down at her ice-sculpted, snow-carved face, raising her hand high again.

*SLAP! SLAP! SLAP...*

Slap after slap rained down like a furious storm on her left cheek. Siming turned her head, the pain from her left cheek piercing her to the core, accompanied by soul-wrenching humiliation. She was a mysterious and powerful divine official, the goddess who controlled the city's fate; when had she ever suffered such disgrace?

The higher one climbed, the harder one fell. Now her divinity was being devoured, and her human weaknesses exposed her deeply hidden vulnerabilities. The more noble she had been in the past, the more abject she was now.

Her self-esteem and pride disintegrated and shattered under the slaps of this seventeen-year-old girl, turning into surging hatred and rage.

Below the city tower, faint shouts of "Well done! Well done!" could still be heard.

Everyone witnessed it.

"Enough!" Siming, unable to bear it any longer, shrieked, "What exactly do you want? State your terms!"

"Only now do you know how to compromise?" Shao Xiaoli slapped her face again.

The girl flicked the whip in her hand, looking at Siming's slightly red and swollen left cheek; the previously porcelain-white cheek was now a vibrant red.

Shao Xiaoli gripped her chin, looked into her eyes, and said earnestly, "I want you to make a blood pact to become Boss's humble servant, to obey his commands forever, to pursue him as your lifelong faith, to offer your body and soul, to work like an ox or a horse, to endure beating and scolding, to consider punishment a reward, and admonishment a grace, and to feel honored by it. Can you do that?"

As Siming listened to her words, extremely humiliating scenes flashed through her mind. The murderous intent welling up from the depths of her eyes seemed as if it would transform into real blades, tearing the person before her into a thousand pieces.

Her teeth gnashed loudly, and words filled with resentment squeezed from her red lips: "You're dreaming. I'd rather die than..."

Shao Xiaoli raised the long whip, smiling as she interrupted her, "Boss said, if you don't submit, we'll keep beating you until you do. This play has only just begun, Little Li will properly train Lord Siming."

The sky gradually darkened.

She was supposed to be the Queen of the Night, but now, in her own night, she was about to endure unprecedented humiliation.