Chapter 287: Bad Woman and Silly Girl

The Scroll of Luoshu in Qiu Yue's hand began to glow. Within the dim earth core, the murky water and magma were silent, but the rumbling from deeper underground grew increasingly intense.

Qiu Yue's body was coated in a black and white interwoven light, as if day and night imbued her small frame with significance. The mental power she now displayed was an almost all-encompassing dominance. Compared to this, Ning Changjiu's previous fight with her seemed like children splashing water.

On the walls, in the liquid, and in the surrounding space, countless chaotic, interwoven anomalies surged forth all at once. Ning Changjiu felt as if he had fallen into a child's fantastical dream, momentarily losing his combat alertness. Fortunately, her target was not him.

Ning Changjiu immediately compensated for this lapse, his Asura body sweeping away the calamity. By the door, Qiu Yue's figure collided with a woman in black, and the shattered light from their clashing authorities engulfed them.

Ning Changjiu immediately sheathed his sword and turned, soaring to embrace Lu Jiajia. His Asura-infused fist slammed powerfully against the hard wall. The stone wall trembled but was not destroyed by his full-force punch.

Meanwhile, on the other side, the battle between the two women erupted with unimaginable power. Lu Jiajia's hastily erected sword domain was instantly shattered. Ning Changjiu immediately spread his Asura body to shield her. In their ears, Qiu Yue's furious voice suddenly rang out.

“Collapse!!!”

The divine pressure, like a plague, spread rapidly as these two words were uttered. The corpse of Tianzang, trapped deep within the earth, seemed to respond to a summons, its entire body emitting explosive thunder.

Qiu Yue knew time was running out. If the fight dragged on for a few more days and nights or if any new variables emerged, Mu Lingtong would take Tianzang's heart to the Underworld Lord. Once she returned to the Ancient Spirit Sect, it would all be too late.

She had to use the most decisive means to seize the woman's body. As for Ning Changjiu and Lu Jiajia's fate, she was temporarily unconcerned. These 'convenient' parents were merely amusement for her leisure. As long as she could devour the powers of Tianzang and the Underworld Lord, she could settle the remaining scores at her leisure.

Sīmìng had also been wary just before entering. But she didn't know that ever since she entered the Luoshu, Qiu Yue had been watching her. In Qiu Yue's eyes, she was the one that got away, a body even more delicious than Ning Changjiu's.

Sīmìng's authority over time was torn open, and Qiu Yue's power surged in endlessly. Sīmìng struggled to hold on, knowing that her opponent's absorption was only a matter of time. The authority of Collapse exploded against her defenses, and the authority of time, along with the entire earth core, crumbled.

Earth dragons roared, magma spewed, and a sound like ten thousand wailing ghosts shot towards the sky. Within the earth core, it was as if several Immortal-Suppressing Swords had erupted simultaneously, powerful shockwaves spreading out one after another, annihilating everything in their path.

Ning Changjiu held Lu Jiajia, as a power directly aimed at death struck his back, shattering completely against his Asura body. The Asura let out roars of fury and pain. Both of them were swept out of the disaster's epicenter by the raging winds and waves.

The rising dust obscured the sky. In the dim light, Ning Changjiu was covered in wounds, and the Asura protecting him was also shattered, with golden liquid slowly oozing from the cracks, resembling thick blood. Lu Jiajia lay unconscious in his arms.

Holding Lu Jiajia, Ning Changjiu tore off fragments of the Asura body and fed them into her mouth. The fragments melted at her lips, slowly sliding into the woman's mouth. These fragments were rich in spiritual power, making them unparalleled heavenly treasures in this spiritual world. However, his actions were akin to cutting off his own flesh, causing sweat to bead on his forehead from the pain.

Lu Jiajia's pale cheeks gradually regained some color. Her eyelashes fluttered, and her eyes slowly opened.

“Ning…” Lu Jiajia coughed, then said, “Husband.”

Although the situation was urgent, the address of 'Husband' still made Ning Changjiu's heart tremble slightly. In the past, Lu Jiajia always liked to maintain her master's demeanor and rarely called him 'Husband'. Why was she so docile and obedient today? Was it due to her weakness…?

“Don't speak,” Ning Changjiu said. “I'll take you away first.”

“Where are we going?” Lu Jiajia asked.

“To the Heaven-Ascending Pillar,” Ning Changjiu replied. “That’s the only way I can think of to leave.” At this moment, in terms of spiritual power, he could even display the peak strength of the Five Paths within the Luoshu, yet he still lacked any confidence regarding the Heaven-Ascending Pillar.

“No!” Lu Jiajia stated emphatically.

“Why?”

“The senior is still inside.”

“Senior?”

Ning Changjiu recalled the black silhouette. The scene had been too chaotic at the time; his only impression was that her figure was beautiful.

Lu Jiajia nodded vigorously. “All along the way, the senior has been looking after me. Without her, I would have probably died long ago. She also imparted all her techniques and Taoist arts to me without reservation.”

Ning Changjiu gritted his teeth, his expression anxious. He knew Lu Jiajia's temperament but still tried to persuade her: “She's just an illusion from history, long since dead. Just treat this as a dream…”

“No,” Lu Jiajia shook her head firmly. “I can't abandon the senior.”

Ning Changjiu rubbed his head, feeling a headache. He wanted to knock Lu Jiajia out and take her away, but the last scene from deep within the earth's core flashed into his mind, and he sensed something was amiss. In the end, Qiu Yue didn't choose to possess him, but instead chose to possess that woman…

If she was just an illusion, why would Qiu Yue possess her?

“She's human…” Ning Changjiu suddenly said.

“What?” Lu Jiajia didn't hear clearly.

Ning Changjiu looked at her and said, “The senior you know must be human, not an illusion from history! Otherwise, Qiu Yue wouldn't have chosen to possess her.”

“But Senior Sister clearly told me she was a historical figure…” Lu Jiajia said, confused.

“Did she really say that?” Ning Changjiu asked.

Lu Jiajia nodded.

Ning Changjiu's mind raced, unable to grasp the crucial point. He asked, “What did she teach you while you traveled together?”

“She taught me many things,” Lu Jiajia replied. To demonstrate the importance of Senior Sister Xue Ci, she quickly stood up, her Clear Shadow sword quivering slightly as she demonstrated a seemingly simple yet profoundly deep Taoist art.

Ning Changjiu found it strangely familiar. He suddenly widened his eyes, his voice trembling slightly. “Did she… tell you her name?”

“Yes,” Lu Jiajia replied. “The senior said her name is Xue Ci.”

Upon hearing that name, Ning Changjiu, along with his Asura body, stiffened in the wind. It was her… He had once imagined encountering her in the Central Land, but he never expected it to be under these circumstances. He thought of the figure in black, marveling at the uncanny coincidence.

Lu Jiajia had actually traveled with her for so long… How could a naive girl like Jiajia contend with her? Jiajia must have had her identity seen through, and surely wasn't spared from being tricked and deceived along the way… Perhaps she even had a lot of bad things said about him behind his back.

No, that's not right. If she really said bad things, Jiajia wouldn't have this expression now. Hmm, Sīmìng, as a goddess, must value her status and wouldn't do such a thing. He dismissed his ominous premonition, replacing it with anxiety for Sīmìng's safety.

Lu Jiajia looked at his expression, surprised. “You know Senior Sister Xue Ci?”

“How could I possibly know her?” Ning Changjiu retorted emphatically.

Lu Jiajia was startled by his sudden vehement demeanor. Ning Changjiu realized his lapse in composure and immediately softened his tone. He had originally wanted to confirm if Sīmìng had been speaking nonsense along the way, thinking that if there were any fabrications, he might still have time to explain now.

However, Sīmìng's situation was already critical.

“Since she's a senior sister who showed you great kindness, I will rescue her for you no matter what,” Ning Changjiu said. “You wait for me behind this mountain, and don't come over, understand?” Ning Changjiu thought for a moment and added, “I don't want you to come over because your cultivation level is still low, and I'm afraid I won't be able to protect you. Don't let your imagination run wild.”

Lu Jiajia thought, *Of course I have that much sense, why emphasize it? And… what could I possibly be imagining?*

“You must also be very careful,” she said with concern. “If it's impossible, don't force it.”

“Don't worry,” Ning Changjiu said. “Since she's someone Jiajia cares about, then she's someone I care about too… Moreover, Qiu Yue is trying to possess her now. If Qiu Yue succeeds, we'll have no chance at all.”

“Mm.” Lu Jiajia nodded lightly. As he was about to leave, she suddenly tilted her head up and kissed his lips.

The explosion at the core of the spiritual world shattered the earth's veins, overturned rock strata, and everything collapsed, exposing the deep chasm that had been hidden deep beneath the surface. Sīmìng and Qiu Yue entered their final confrontation. This possession attempt erupted far too suddenly. Qiu Yue had prepared for many years, while Sīmìng's on-the-spot reaction ultimately seemed a bit rushed.

Within the collapsed earth veins, only Tianzang's corpse remained intact. Yet, even this astonishingly hard body developed countless clear fissures during the eruption of its own authority. Sīmìng, clad in a black robe, knelt on the ground, the hem of her garment fluttering like a skirt in the strong wind. A faint silver glow emanated from between her brows. Most of her consciousness had been suppressed, with only the Moon Sparrow within her holding the last line of defense.

“Do you know? The Day of Finality is coming soon.” Qiu Yue gradually infiltrated, her voice echoing in Sīmìng's mind, carrying a soul-snatching demonic power. “The Day of Finality is the last day, meaning the day the Saint fails. Few know exactly when this day will be. But I know… I chose this day because it will give everything I do special value. This five-hundred-year cycle should end today. Heaven and Earth will be reshuffled. The next few decades will be purely natural disasters and calamities, with no hope in sight. No one will ascend to fight in the heavens, and all the Heaven-Ascending Pillars will be destroyed. At that time, the firmament will remain high above, while humans, demons, and ancient gods will endure the purgatorial baptism in the mortal realm…”

Qiu Yue seemed to be both stating historical facts and making a long-past prophecy.

“This is the second Nation-Hunting War. Tonight, the sky will collapse… Everyone will die, including the Saints they believe in. Thus, tonight is also the Night of Collapsing Faith. The Saint is indeed very, very strong, stronger than the Candle Dragon in its peak state. And his authority happens to possess the power to suppress divine kingdoms, as if he was born a nation-hunter… This is also why he had the confidence to enter the divine kingdom and fight in the Thunder Prison. It was the same over 2,300 years ago. That was the first Nation-Hunting Divine War… The Four Deities of the Beginning were successively killed, and Sui Puti and the Barren River Dragon Sparrow rebelled, becoming gods of a new world alongside those lowly beings.”

Her words were like a trance. Sīmìng's Moon Sparrow gradually dimmed.

Qiu Yue looked at Sīmìng's divinely beautiful face and revealed a sorrowful expression: “Once I devour you, I will go devour my parents. Ah, actually, I also want to be a filial child, but I must survive, you see.”

Sīmìng's brows trembled, as if in her final struggle.

Qiu Yue quickly convinced herself again: “Hmph, it's my inheritance anyway. If I don't eat it, should I leave it for those beasts?” She accelerated her infiltration.

Sīmìng pressed her lips tightly together. Kneeling on the ground, she couldn't utter a word. Qiu Yue's incessant voice sounded extremely irritating, making one want to tear her mouth apart, but Sīmìng knew she couldn't give in to such impulses. She had to guard the Moon Sparrow's last shred of defense to the death. She had guessed her enemy would be strong, but never imagined such a degree of strength… that she could even break through the supreme authority of time. Unfortunately, her own authority over time was no longer complete.

In a trance, she returned to that twilight when she was defeated by the Sinful Monarch. It was a twilight she would forever remember. She fell beneath the tip of the Sinful Monarch's spear, bound to a golden cross entwined with a great serpent. The eyes of ten thousand people fell upon her. She had descended from a goddess to a prisoner, watching sunrises and sunsets, seeing stars fill the city and wilderness, enduring the city's insults, and awaiting the Day of Judgment.

At that time, she repeatedly thought of that story. On the evening of the sixth day, Ning Changjiu broke into the city and rescued her. Although it was also an entanglement of interests, an alliance formed out of necessity to defeat the Sinful Monarch.

But the moment she descended from the cross… As Qiu Yue devoured her consciousness, in the blur, the emotions and scenes from that time were instantly magnified. In the deepest part of her memory, the boy in white stood in the shadows, his fluttering robes like an eternal banner in a snow-covered gorge.

Qiu Yue widened her innocent and naive eyes. She could feel the woman's consciousness gradually fading. She was already impatient to occupy this body, capable of charming all beings.

“Stop!”

A sudden roar erupted in Qiu Yue's ears. Sīmìng heard the voice and slightly opened her eyes, just a slit. The scenes of memory and reality overlapped. Ning Changjiu, his sword robes flowing, arrived like a meteor trailing a white tail, with the golden shadow of Asura closely behind him.

Qiu Yue's eyebrow twitched slightly.

“Father, you dare to come back? Could it be you've taken a fancy to this elder sister's beauty? Ah, does Mother know about this?” Qiu Yue said with a smile, extending her hand.

Between them, space vibrated. Ning Changjiu's charging figure was abruptly blocked. His attack bought Sīmìng some time.

But Sīmìng made no resistance. She glanced at Ning Changjiu, then calmly closed her eyes, withdrawing her last defenses, allowing Qiu Yue to occupy her body.

Qiu Yue found it a bit strange. Sīmìng's action felt like digging a pit for herself to jump into. But what kind of pit could it be? She must have exhausted herself under my repeated attacks and given up resisting!

Qiu Yue no longer hesitated, diving into Sīmìng's body like a diver. She occupied Sīmìng's consciousness.

Sīmìng slowly rose. The ice and frost in her eyes condensed deeply, becoming even more tragically beautiful and cold. She stared at Ning Changjiu and said, “Father?”

Ning Changjiu opened his golden eyes, staring directly at her, but gave no response.

Qiu Yue examined her new body, shyly asking, “Father, do you like your daughter like this?”

“Oh… I suppose you must like it, otherwise you wouldn't have risked your life to save me, right? Her figure is quite similar to Mother's. Is this the type Father likes?” Qiu Yue was still adapting to this body. Once she fully merged with it, she could voluntarily release the Luoshu and return to the woman's physical body.

“Father, don't look at me with such eyes. Your daughter won't kill you…” Qiu Yue chuckled. “Do you know why?”

“Never mind, let me tell you one last secret, Father.” Qiu Yue said seriously, “Actually, the most important reason I chose you, Father, is because you carry a very ancient aura…”

Ning Changjiu said nothing, the golden light in his pupils growing more intense.

Qiu Yue continued to speak to herself, “Actually, I can hardly believe that you have the aura of the Barren River Dragon Sparrow on you. Later, I learned from your conversations that this is related to a young girl named Zhao Xiang'er. Ah, Father is so lucky, you might even become the consort of the Vermillion Bird Divine Kingdom. But it's fine, I will go meet Xiang'er's mother in your place later. And then… kill her. Heh heh, after all, the Barren River Dragon Sparrow and Sui Puti collaborated to kill my mother back then. As a daughter, I should always seek revenge to honor her, right?”

“Ah, it seems I'm talking too much again,” Qiu Yue chastised herself. She knew that as a villain, she shouldn't talk so much, but after hundreds of years of solitude, how could she restrain herself?

“Father, what are you doing concentrating your spiritual power like that? Surely you're not planning some fatal strike? Father, you're truly naive. I am now…”

Her words stopped abruptly. Ning Changjiu, who had been silent, suddenly raised his head. His eyes were like the sun. The black spot at the center of the sun was his pupil, also the crow perched at the heart of the sun. His gaze pierced through Sīmìng's figure, coating her face in a golden radiance.

All of Ning Changjiu's accumulated spiritual power burst forth at this moment. Qiu Yue instinctively reached out, disbelieving that Ning Changjiu could defeat her in her own world. But Ning Changjiu's attack was not physical.

Qiu Yue felt her thighs in this body grow hot. Then, the patterns, like intensely entangled flames, instantly flared up, becoming arrows shooting skyward. They surged along her spine, rushing forcefully into her brain.

“Ahhh!!!”

Ning Changjiu poured all his spiritual power into the patterns. This was a sensation Qiu Yue had never experienced. She couldn't tell if it was pain or pleasure. She merely bent her knees and knelt, her mind blank as if fireworks were exploding within her brain.

Ning Changjiu's figure moved abruptly. He easily tore through Qiu Yue's now-useless defenses and appeared before her. Qiu Yue wanted to rise, but now that she occupied this body, one extreme wave after another continuously overturned her thoughts of resistance. Her sea of consciousness was like a village swept away by a flash flood, utterly defenseless. She couldn't understand how Ning Changjiu had done it. How could he control this slave mark… Could it be… could it be that…

“Ahhh…”

Amidst Qiu Yue's painful screams, Ning Changjiu violently clutched her neck. He gazed at Sīmìng's long-unseen face, feeling a sense of wistful loss. He took a deep breath.

When Sīmìng had given up resistance earlier, she must have guessed that he could save her. He couldn't let Jiajia and Sīmìng be disappointed in him.

His Purple Mansion opened wide, and the Golden Crow flew out, its flowing golden light sprinkling like stars upon Sīmìng's cheeks.

“Wake up…” Ning Changjiu softly called. He wasn't calling Sīmìng, but the Moon Sparrow within her. The Moon Sparrow sensed the Golden Crow's aura, and like an old friend, slowly awakened.

Qiu Yue felt an immense sense of foreboding. She discovered that the body's submerged consciousness was beginning to revive, rejecting her presence…

“Help… help me…” Qiu Yue cried out loudly. Her hands clutched frantically, trying to tear Ning Changjiu apart. His Asura body was carved into countless fragments by her knife-like hands. It was the pain of tearing apart a divine soul; even a trace of it would be enough to make an ordinary person wish for death. The Asura, who had faced life and death with him, wailed incessantly, yet Ning Changjiu seemed impervious.

Within Sīmìng's sea of consciousness, the Moon Sparrow awakened. The Golden Crow and the Moon Sparrow met. They pecked beak to beak. They chirped joyfully. The solar corona fully reassembled, and divine radiance enveloped the sea of consciousness. Qiu Yue lost her footing, her consciousness instantly squeezed out.

Ning Changjiu watched the escaping afterimage from Sīmìng's body. From the complete sundial, arrows formed of sun and moon radiance simultaneously shot out, chasing after Qiu Yue. Even in the spiritual world, Qiu Yue could not outrun true light. The Golden Crow and the Moon Sparrow pierced through her spiritual body.

Qiu Yue let out a bloodcurdling scream. Her shoulders were pierced, pinned into the void by the two arrows. Qiu Yue continuously activated the authority of Collapse, but she could not shatter these cursed arrows.

“You… you despicable couple, ahhh… So you already knew each other!”

“Despicable couple, working in cahoots! Male prostitute and female thief! Vile and shameless! Ahhh…”

“This slave mark must have been placed by you! Otherwise, how could you possibly control it?”

“I never imagined someone as good-looking as you could be so base! You've disappointed me greatly!”

“Wuwuwu, let me go…”

Qiu Yue struggled weakly. The Luoshu slipped from her hand and fell to the ground. Crying, she tried to reach for it with her foot, hoping to seize the chance to hide inside and never come out again.

Ning Changjiu picked up Sīmìng. Sīmìng rested in his arms, her cascading hair like molten silver. She slowly opened her eyes and smiled at Ning Changjiu: “Long time no see… Master.” That address of 'Master' was spoken with captivating charm.

Ning Changjiu remotely grabbed the Luoshu, severing Qiu Yue's last hope.

“Don't kill me!” Qiu Yue pleaded pitifully. “I can still be useful!”

“She's useless,” Sīmìng said coolly.

Ning Changjiu hummed in agreement. The Golden Crow and Moon Sparrow transformed into ten thousand arrows, piercing Qiu Yue repeatedly. She shrieked, her figure crumbling into paper scraps that flowed into the Luoshu. Before shattering, she still screamed, “Just you wait… I'll be back!”

Unless the Luoshu was destroyed, Qiu Yue would not truly die. But there was no meaning to that. In any case, her centuries of cultivation were ruined. From now on, if she emerged, he would simply kill her each time.

“Take me to meet Sister Jiajia,” Sīmìng said. “She must have been waiting for us for a long time. Don't let her worry too much.”

Ning Changjiu was silent for a moment, then picked her up and said, “Thank you for taking care of Jiajia on the way… You didn't say anything inappropriate, did you?”

Sīmìng smiled faintly. “You are my Master. How could I speak inappropriately?”

“It's good that you didn't say anything inappropriate,” Ning Changjiu said. “Otherwise, I wouldn't let you off.”

Sīmìng leaned against his chest, her silver hair framing her celestial face, which held a faint, world-captivating smile: “Rest assured, how could I dare defy my Master?”

Ning Changjiu was silent for a moment, then said, “Hmm, I suppose you wouldn't dare.”

Ning Changjiu carried her through the ruins. As they neared Lu Jiajia's location, he set Sīmìng down and said, “I see your injuries are mostly recovered. You can walk the rest of the way yourself.”

Sīmìng gave him a resentful look and said, “It seems you really love Sister Jiajia, don't you?”

“What sister or younger sister?” Ning Changjiu said. “She is your Lady Mistress.”

“Oh,” Sīmìng said, feigning innocence. “So she's the Lady Mistress. In that case, should we tell her… about *our* matter?”

“Don't you dare!” Ning Changjiu retorted.

“What can't you tell me?”

From behind them, Lu Jiajia's voice drifted over. She emerged from behind a large boulder, her eyes slightly red as if she had been crying, but now breaking into a smile. Ning Changjiu had previously expended too much spiritual energy and hadn't even noticed Lu Jiajia's hiding place.

“Jiajia.” Ning Changjiu turned, a little nervous, and chuckled, “When did you arrive?”

Lu Jiajia looked puzzled. “I've been waiting behind the boulder all along… You're finally back. Husband, Senior Sister Xue Ci, it's good that you're both safe.” As she spoke, clear light flickered in Lu Jiajia's eyes, brimming with what seemed like tears.

Sīmìng also offered her a gentle smile.

It seemed she hadn't heard anything… Ning Changjiu felt relieved. He hugged Lu Jiajia and said, “Of course! Your husband is so powerful, of course I could bring myself and your Senior Sister Sīmìng back safely.”

A moment of silence.

“Sīmìng? What Sīmìng?” Lu Jiajia's voice grew alert.

Ning Changjiu instinctively glanced at Sīmìng. Sīmìng blinked her icy eyes, an expression that clearly said, 'You brought this upon yourself.'

Ning Changjiu's expression remained unchanged. He chuckled at Lu Jiajia, “I meant… like destiny… fated. Everything is so wonderful.” As he spoke, he seemed like a naive, ignorant youth.

Still silent, Lu Jiajia watched her, slowly frowning.

“Senior Sister Sīmìng?” Lu Jiajia looked at Xue Ci, rubbing her head, as if something had clicked.

Ning Changjiu, half-hoping Lu Jiajia would be slow to catch on, turned to Sīmìng and said, “Miss Xue Ci, are you alright? Earlier…”

He had only spoken half a sentence when Sīmìng suddenly bent her knees, half-knelt on the ground, and her body trembled: “Mmm-hmm… Ah…”

Ning Changjiu froze. This… this… I didn't do anything!

Sīmìng knelt with her arms crossed, trembling incessantly. Her eyes silently lifted, and the corners of her lips curled into a sly smile.