Chapter 116: This Young Lady Will Wait For You Beautifully!

Chapter 116: This Young Lady Will Wait for You, All Dressed Up!

"Hmph, remnants of the Blood Lord lurking within our Purple Heaven Alliance—how detestable!"

Purple Heaven Mystic Maiden struck hastily, but only managed to gravely wound that person, unable to detain him.

"That streak of blood light—was it the Blood Lord's doing?" a Sovereign spoke, his eyes heavy with solemnity.

The reason Foolish Daoist had managed to break free from the encirclement so instantly was precisely due to that drop of blood.

"I once obtained a drop of that blood and consulted the Tablet of Fate.

The Tablet of Fate's answer: this is the relic of a Great Demon!" Purple Heaven Mystic Maiden lifted her head, her eyes sharp with killing intent.

At the mention of the Tablet of Fate, all present stiffened, a flicker of greed surfacing in their hearts.

That was the supreme treasure of this world, born alongside the Buddha, rumored to see past and future.

Purple Heaven Mystic Maiden's achievements were inseparable from the Tablet of Fate.

It could be said that with the Tablet of Fate, her combat power had become the strongest in this world.

And the Tablet of Fate had become her tool to wield authority.

Whether the Blood Lord was a Great Demon or not—that didn't matter.

What mattered was that Purple Heaven Mystic Maiden declared the Tablet of Fate had judged the Blood Lord a Great Demon.

Thus, the Blood Lord was a Great Demon, and the whole world would unite against him.

...

At the World's End, within the Blood Palace.

Dawn arrived, sunless yet touched by faint light.

The World's End lay at the southernmost point of the world, where the sky brightened earliest.

In the boudoir, a maiden's cheeks were white as snow, her black temple locks brushing her delicate face. She gazed at herself in the mirror, carefully painting her slender, arched brows. Her slightly pale little face transformed into a radiant visage, and the flower stamens in the vase on the pearwood mirror stand mingled with her reflection.

The maiden rose. Her silk long gown was embroidered with intricate, paired partridges, and her eyes grew bright.

Every morning at dawn, the Goldfinch would rise early and painstakingly paint her moth brows.

Even after three hundred years, she seemed unchanged from her days at Nine Coil Mountain—just as fond of beauty, just as mindful of her appearance.

"Sister Goldfinch, I heard Foolish Daoist has returned." A hurried, crisp female voice came from outside the room. "But when he came back, he was badly wounded. Before he could speak, he fell into a coma from his injuries. Should we go see him?"

"Ah?" A flicker of urgency passed through Goldfinch's slender eyes. "What happened?"

"I heard Sister Yanran say that Foolish Daoist had been undercover in the Purple Heaven Alliance. His sudden return likely means he has urgent news to deliver. Probably, the Purple Heaven Alliance will soon arrive at our Blood Palace." The girl's voice was thick with worry. "Sister Goldfinch, shall we go to the main hall and see Foolish Daoist?"

"Alright..."

"Eh? Sister Goldfinch?" The girl looked puzzled.

Because she saw Goldfinch dash out of the boudoir, not even taking time to put on shoes, her jade-like bare feet as tender as a young lotus root, lifting her skirt as she ran outside.

She didn't understand.

Why such haste?

As if more urgent than being reborn.

Outside the Blood Palace, the sea churned endlessly. A man in a blood-red robe, a faint smile lingering between his brows, looked into the distance and transformed into a streak of light, rushing forward.

"Blood Pearl!"

The maiden's little face was brimming with excitement, her eyes welling with tears. Lifting her skirt, she ran and crashed fiercely into the embrace of the blood-red robe.

Like a koala, she clung to the blood-red robe. At this moment, she no longer cared about appearances, her long legs tightly wrapped around Qi Yuan's waist.

"I knew it, I knew you'd come back to see me!" Goldfinch's voice cracked.

"Sorry, I'm late." Qi Yuan supported the maiden's plump thigh with one hand and stroked her back with the other.

Seeing her face as radiant as ever, he broke into a brilliant smile.

After nestling in Qi Yuan's arms for a while, Goldfinch still refused to leave, hanging onto him. She looked at his face, her own blushing like a peach blossom. She whispered, "You've become even more handsome... Good thing I put on makeup this morning, or you'd outshine me!"

"I knew it—you're the one who appreciates my looks." Qi Yuan's smile widened. "All along the way, people were afraid of me when they saw me."

"Hmph, those people have no eyes!" Goldfinch's voice was lively. "I am the first beauty of the Eighteen Mountains, and Blood Pearl, you are the first handsome man of the Eighteen Mountains."

Listening to her voice, Qi Yuan pulled her even tighter.

Holding Goldfinch, he gazed at the sea ahead.

In the sea stood a Gate of Ten Thousand Differences.

Goldfinch noticed the gate too, her expression dazed.

Qi Yuan took hold of Goldfinch's small foot and brushed away the dust. "It's dirty—let me wash it."

A warm sensation spread, and Goldfinch felt shy. She looked at him. "I just got up and didn't put on my shoes properly... Don't touch my foot—it tickles!"

Qi Yuan set Goldfinch down on a large rock by the sea. They sat side by side, the Gate of Ten Thousand Differences before them.

[You have comprehended the origin. Mutation ability +1000.]

[You have comprehended the origin. Water control ability +10.]

Just like when Qi Yuan first came to Nine Coil Mountain, with Goldfinch beside him, he comprehended the Gate of Ten Thousand Differences.

"Blood Pearl, I suspect you're lying to me!" Goldfinch said discontentedly.

"Lying about what?"

"You lied to me, saying that comprehending the Gate of Ten Thousand Differences could make one beautiful—it's false!

I've comprehended it for so many years, and it's had no effect at all!

And... and everyone says that the Gate of Ten Thousand Differences... is an ominous gate, that inside it is sealed... the Great Demon's heart demon.

If you keep comprehending it, you might be possessed by the Great Demon's heart demon." Goldfinch's voice carried worry.

Qi Yuan narrowed his eyes, looking at the Gate of Ten Thousand Differences.

[Gate of Ten Thousand Differences, unknown gate, gate of all gates—it can be any gate.]

According to Shang Yanran and Bai Ze's investigation, the Gate of Ten Thousand Differences was a replica created by the endless heart demons of the Drifting Wind Realm.

But what Qi Yuan's eyes saw had nothing to do with a replica.

Qi Yuan stroked Goldfinch's head and said gently, "Everything is just rumor. We've never seen it—how can we know what's true or false?

Even the tales of the Buddha, the Great Demon, and the Enchantress may not be true.

Perhaps they were made up by someone.

Perhaps they are completely different from what people say."

Qi Yuan only believed one-third of rumors.

What he trusted most were his own eyes.

"Goldfinch, don't believe anyone. The only one you should believe is yourself. Understand?"

The sea breeze stirred the surface, waves blooming like flowers.

The canary tilted its head, gazing at Qi Yuan: "This young lady barely trusts you!"

Qi Yuan smiled faintly: "Alright, we should return to the Blood Palace now; there are still matters to handle."

The canary then recalled something and hurriedly said: "Oh no, I forgot—Foolish Daoist seemed to have brought back important information, but ended up gravely wounded and unconscious!"

The canary also told Qi Yuan about Foolish Daoist's undercover mission.

Upon hearing this, Qi Yuan said: "Let's go see him."

Back then, Qi Yuan had preached the Dao, and twenty-seven people followed him.

Among the twenty-seven, Foolish Daoist was the leader.

...

Inside the Blood Palace.

Foolish Daoist lay on the bed, the sheets stained crimson with blood, his face pale as paper, unconscious from severe injuries.

Shang Yanran's fox-like face showed a grave expression: "Purple Heaven Mystic Maiden's power grows stronger by the day; with just one strike, Big Brother was gravely wounded."

The twenty-seven of them had sworn brotherhood.

Among them, Foolish Daoist was the eldest brother.

They all held him in deep admiration.

Bai Ze stood to the side, speaking with concern: "With the Fate Stone Tablet in her possession, Purple Heaven Mystic Maiden's strength becomes ever more terrifying. In this crisis, I wonder if our Blood Palace can survive unscathed?"

"Husband, why worry? We'll only know after we fight," Shang Yanran said, unwilling to concede.

She and Bai Ze had been husband and wife even before listening to the Dao.

Their temperaments were also vastly different.

"Alas," Bai Ze sighed, "I just feel this world is too harsh.

How can someone like Purple Heaven Mystic Maiden, who steals fame and deceives the world, become the leader of all?

Slandering our master, claiming he is a great demon—how detestable!"

"Who else but her has the Fate Stone Tablet?" Shang Yanran said, then recalling something, continued, "If war breaks out, we must send the master's wife away in advance."

"Master's wife? What master's wife?"

Just then, an eerie, ethereal voice echoed through the hall.

A handsome man in a blood-red robe appeared, holding the hand of a young girl in a bright yellow silk dress.

The girl's face was flushed with crimson; she looked at the crowd, then stole a glance at Qi Yuan: "Don't talk nonsense!"

At that moment, upon hearing the voice and seeing the blood-robed figure beside the girl, everyone in the hall showed expressions of excitement and disbelief.

"Blood Lord!"

"Master!"

"Master!"

Over a dozen figures stepped forward, their excitement beyond measure.

They had never expected to see the Blood Lord, who had vanished for three hundred years, on this day.

Their master!

A faint smile lingered in Qi Yuan's eyes.

Reuniting with old friends brought him some joy.

But after seeing the canary, his joy had dimmed slightly.

He looked at Foolish Daoist on the bed and said softly: "Wounded by Purple Heaven Mystic Maiden?"

Shang Yanran was somewhat agitated but replied earnestly: "Yes."

"What a pity. When I came, I only encountered their army, not Purple Heaven Mystic Maiden herself. Otherwise... one sword strike would have finished off that jumping clown," Qi Yuan remarked.

He had only been gone for three hundred years.

And this Purple Heaven Mystic Maiden had been frantically slandering him.

This made Qi Yuan feel he had gained much.

When he cleared the game and faced the Bright Palace, he would also register a few alt accounts and frantically post to smear the Bright Palace.

"Master... did you come from Nine Coil Mountain?" Shang Yanran asked.

"Yes, without pause. On the road, aside from a few sword strikes and killing a few people, I never stopped."

Qi Yuan's speed was indeed swift.

The old man, master of Black Feather and White Spiral, wanted to spread the news of the Blood Lord's revival to the ends of the earth.

The news was still on its way when Qi Yuan had already reached the horizon.

"Master, Purple Heaven Mystic Maiden's assault is fierce. My suggestion is that we abandon our stronghold and avoid a direct confrontation with her.

The Purple Heaven Alliance has over a hundred Sovereigns, and Purple Heaven Mystic Maiden's power is unfathomable.

Our Blood Palace has only eight Sovereigns, one gravely wounded—we are no match for the Purple Heaven Alliance," Shang Yanran said calmly.

If the Blood Lord had not returned, she would have ordered a retreat.

But now that the master had returned, she had to seek his opinion.

The canary tugged at Qi Yuan's sleeve and whispered: "Blood bead, the enemy is too strong—let's run!"

The canary cared not for face, only for survival.

Qi Yuan looked at the crowd and said slowly: "They are the ones who wronged me—why should we run?"

A confident expression appeared on his face: "I have everything under control!"

If it were the Sovereigns of the North-South Duel, Qi Yuan might have been wary.

But the Sovereigns of this world were, more accurately, half-step Sovereigns bearing the title—lacking innate divine abilities, they were on the same level as Qi Yuan.

And Qi Yuan, with his Heavenly Dao Foundation, would he fear cultivators of the same rank?

One sword could take down a crowd, effortlessly.

The only troublesome one was Purple Heaven Mystic Maiden.

The others, upon hearing Qi Yuan's words, exchanged glances.

Shang Yanran then smiled and flattered: "Since the master is here, all is well!"

Bai Ze remained full of worry but said nothing.

To them, the master's sanctity surpassed even the Fate Stone Tablet.

Qi Yuan looked at Foolish Daoist, his hand lightly tapping the void.

In the void, a streak of blood-red spread, eventually condensing into a single drop of blood.

He flicked the drop, letting it flow into Foolish Daoist's mouth, and said: "In half a day, he will awaken."

This healing technique came from the Human Demon Path.

Qi Yuan had long mastered the Human Demon Path, and his understanding of that system had already surpassed the Venerable One and the White Emperor when he last returned to the past.

Treating such injuries was no trouble.

“Since there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave.

When the Purple Heaven Alliance attacks, I will act.”

Qi Yuan finished speaking, then took the Golden Canary by the hand and departed.

Of all the ties binding him to this world, only the Golden Canary ran deep.

He was going to contemplate the Gate of Myriad Distinctions.

After he destroyed the Purple Heaven Alliance, he would attempt to enter the Gate of Myriad Distinctions.

For now, the Gate of Myriad Distinctions had not yet opened, and Qi Yuan was not entirely certain he could enter it.

The others, to him, were merely passersby.

“We bid you farewell, Master!”

“We bid you farewell, Blood Lord!”

Those present spoke with reverence.

Watching Qi Yuan leave, they still felt as if in a dream.

The Blood Lord had come in haste and gone in haste.

A brief silence fell over the room, then a Sovereign spoke.

“Everyone, can you discern the Master’s strength?” a Sovereign asked, raising a sensitive question.

Ordinarily, he would not have asked such a thing.

But now, with the Purple Heaven Alliance’s threat so close, they could no longer dally; they had to consider their own safety.

“We cannot discern it,” the other Sovereigns present shook their heads.

The Blood Lord was born divine, utterly mysterious to them.

Shang Yanran then said, “He is likely stronger than I, but compared to the Purple Heaven Mystic Maiden, it remains unknown—after all… the Purple Heaven Mystic Maiden possesses the Tablet of Fate.”

At the mention of the Tablet of Fate, the hearts of those present grew heavy.

That supreme treasure was shrouded in too many legends.

Some said that whoever obtained it could conquer the world.

Others said that the Buddha had been able to dominate the world only with the Tablet of Fate’s aid.

“Since the Master is confident, we should trust him,” Bai Ze said, who had always revered the Blood Lord with blind faith.

Shang Yanran knew her husband’s nature and smiled: “We shall prepare two plans: on one hand, we fight alongside the Master against the Purple Heaven Alliance; on the other, we must secure a retreat in case of unforeseen events.”

…

At the ends of the earth, the sea churned.

Qi Yuan sat atop a great boulder, quietly contemplating the Gate of Myriad Distinctions.

The Golden Canary propped her chin on her hands, gazing at Qi Yuan, her eyes unblinking, as if afraid that in the blink of an eye, the Blood Pearl would vanish again.

“Blood Pearl… how long will you stay this time?” After who knew how long, the Golden Canary gathered her courage to ask.

“I don’t know,” Qi Yuan replied, for he truly did not know.

The chance to contemplate the origin had pulled him into the past of the Flowing Wind Realm.

The girl quietly accompanying him was a figure from that past.

He would eventually return to the present, unable to linger forever in bygone days.

Thinking of this, Qi Yuan grew vexed.

It only strengthened his resolve to attain the Way of the Primordial Saint, to master the River of Time.

Yet, alas, in contemplating the Gate of Myriad Distinctions, he had grasped no power related to time or space.

“Hmm, then when will you appear next? Will it also be when the Gate of Myriad Distinctions appears?” the Golden Canary asked expectantly.

She and the Blood Pearl were always together less than apart.

But thinking that good things come to those who wait, her heart felt sweet.

“I don’t know either,” Qi Yuan said, then fell silent. After a long while, he spoke slowly, “Golden Canary… one day, I will find you at the end of time.”

There were many others he had to find.

Jinli, too.

“Hmph, this lady will be waiting for you, looking beautiful!” the Golden Canary said happily. “Don’t you grow old—if you come to see me with white hair, I’ll pretend not to know you!”

She leaned close to Qi Yuan, boldly wrapping her arm around his, as if cherishing this reunion.

Qi Yuan’s heart calmed as well, and he continued to contemplate the Gate of Myriad Distinctions.

After he killed the Purple Heaven Mystic Maiden, he would consider entering the Gate of Myriad Distinctions.

…

Within the Blood Palace, dark clouds gathered.

The news of the Blood Lord’s return had lifted spirits for a time.

But alas, before long, many upheavals struck the Blood Palace.

A number of powerful figures who had joined later fled the Blood Palace.

Before leaving, these strong ones declared: “The Tablet of Fate has spoken—the Blood Lord is the Great Demon!

The Great Demon is the source of all inner demons, and all under heaven should strike him down together!”

This stirred great unrest in the Blood Palace, with hearts full of fear.

Many wished to flee.

Shang Yanran ruthlessly suppressed some rebels, staining the Blood Palace red with blood.

Only then did the exodus slow somewhat.

Yet the entire Blood Palace remained like a small boat in a storm, its fate uncertain, ever on the verge of capsizing.

But at this time, many elders who had listened to the teachings on Nine Coils Mountain hastened to the Blood Palace to support the Blood Lord.

Alas, compared to the throngs rushing to the ends of the earth to slay the Great Demon, their numbers were far too few.

The storm was brewing; undercurrents stirred.

At the ends of the earth, outside the Blood Palace.

The strong of the Three Great Dynasties, the Seven Great Sects, the Twelve Clans, and the Purple Heaven Alliance gathered in growing numbers.

They awaited only the Purple Heaven Mystic Maiden’s command for the heroes of the world to strike the Great Demon together.

One day, the wind was calm, the sea vast and the sky wide. On the shore, that blood-red robe rose to its feet.

For, the Gate of Myriad Forms above the firmament had finally swung open.

Qi Yuan gazed at the Gate of Myriad Forms, a sharp light flickering in his eyes.

Countless terrifying and eerie auras pervaded the air.

A look of greed appeared in Qi Yuan's eyes.

He had a premonition: once he entered, he would reap indescribable gains!

Perhaps he too could comprehend his own original divine ability.

But at that moment, a roar came from within the Gate of Myriad Forms.

As if some terrifying creature was struggling to break free from the gate, to emerge from within.

He looked at the Gate of Myriad Forms, his greed vanishing, replaced by wonder: "The Great Demon's... heart demon, is it within the Gate of Myriad Forms?"

And then, a heavy drumbeat sounded, and the entire world turned grim and murderous.

The great battle... had begun.

Another chapter in half an hour, sorry!

(End of this chapter)