Are There Only Demonesses Left in the Cultivation Realm?

The Ninefold Celestial Palace, a lone peak wreathed in clouds.

Here stood a grand hall, its walls carved with all manner of scriptures. From this vantage point, one could look out upon all living beings.

Legend had it.

That from this place, Immortals could take in the entire world with a single glance each day.

In the rear hall was a canopied gauze bed. Vaguely seen through the fabric, a delicate body, seemingly a masterpiece of nature’s spiritual grace, lay reclining on its side.

A brilliant crimson streak ascended the snow peak with extreme speed, finally coming to a stop before the palace gates.

"A Great Demon has appeared in the world."

She stood before the palace gates and said flatly, "Based on its aura, it must be a Great Demon who once reached Yao Guang. We cannot allow it to be absorbed by the Desire Demon, or the Desire Demon will become even more difficult to deal with."

A voice drifted out from within the palace. "I am already aware."

The voice was tranquil, without a ripple of emotion. The Immortal who resided in the Ninefold Celestial Palace didn’t seem to pay this newly appeared Great Demon much mind.

The crimson figure said, "You can draw your sword, or I can draw mine."

A soft voice came from behind the canopy. "I’ll do it."

Her voice was like a gentle breeze and flowing water, like drifting snow on a mountaintop. Though clearly heard, it seemed to drift from a great distance, and to seek its source was like searching for a green lotus hidden in the mist.

The crimson figure said, "You’re becoming more and more like him. Devoid of emotion."

The voice came from behind the gently swaying white gauze. "He was my master. I will change myself to match his ideals."

A single feather drifted out from the canopy. It grew in the wind, finally taking the form of a sword.

The sword was three-feet six-inches long, a Blue Glazed Sword. It hung horizontally, facing the world, as if ready to cleave the very wind.

It was said...

The Daoist Sect Master spent her days upon the Ninefold Heavens, and when a demon appeared in the world, she could smite it with a single sword strike from this very place.

This was only a legend, but today it was proven true.

After the Chang’an Daoist disappeared, the strongest sword in the world was hers.

"Hm?"

Suddenly, the Daoist Sect Master’s calm but confused voice was heard. Something in the world had actually managed to startle this Immortal, who had cultivated for countless years, making her sound like a young child seeing something new and fascinating.

The crimson figure also seemed shocked. "Someone borrowed a sword strike from Jian Guyang. That’s... A Sword from the West!?"

Not another sound came from the ethereal mountain peak, and the sword that was about to pierce the heavens slowly vanished.

「After a long while.」

A voice came from behind the gauze curtain. "There’s a fluctuation of Law in Miao Yu Palace. It seems someone is Ascending Yao Guang. Go and see for me. Do not interfere."

The Daoist Sect had always been this way. As long as mortals were not involved, the Daoist Sect couldn’t be bothered to leave its mountain.

The crimson figure stared intently at the form behind the gauze curtain. "And this sword user?"

"Just go and see for yourself."

The woman in red, Jiayi, showed no emotion on her face as she said lightly, "I understand."

’In this world, besides the two of them, there shouldn’t be a third person who knows A Sword from the West.’

’So I must bring this person back to the Daoist Sect.’

The Daoist Sect Master lay back down and said, as if talking in her sleep, "Remember to check that person’s shoulder, or stomach, or perhaps their rear, for a Demon Pattern."

~~~~~~~~~~

A cool energy flowed from the Demon Pattern, spreading through her internal organs. The beautiful Fairy nearly moaned aloud.

’Respond to things with true constancy; attain your nature with true constancy. Always respond, always be still; always be pure and still... Who in the world is that guy?’

Qiu Yuehan concluded her Circulation of Heaven and Earth and slowly stood up.

’The Fifth Realm... it’s within my grasp.’

But she wasn’t in a hurry to attempt a Breaking Realm. This was because she had already begun to master the Supreme Pure Spirit Forget Immortal Technique.

To cultivate the body, one must first cultivate the heart.

The Heart Method of any Major Sect was its most treasured secret, and also the most difficult art to learn.

Qiu Yuehan still remembered when she first started learning the Miao Yu Heart Method. She had soaked in the sect’s Cold Pool for a full month just to barely grasp a sliver of its intent. It took another half a year before she reached the First Layer of the Heart Method.

But the Supreme Pure Spirit Forget Immortal Technique was different. It had been less than ten days since she was carried away by the immortal crane, yet she had already begun to master this Heart Method, one said to be even stronger than the Miao Yu Heart Method.

This was enough to show just how compatible she was with this Heart Method, so the Dao she had originally chosen would have to be slightly altered.

’The sword style I used to cultivate was ferocious and unrelenting, so my path to Enlightenment was naturally the Sword Dao. Now that I’ve changed my Heart Method, I’ll have to reconsider which Dao to pursue... Or should I wait for that man to fight his way to Miao Yu Palace and ask his opinion then?’

Qiu Yuehan gently slapped her own face.

’Qiu Yuehan, how could you have such a thought? Don’t forget, he’s the scoundrel who took advantage of your weakness to place a Demon Pattern on you. You’ll be under his control for the rest of your life.’

’When the time comes, if that Old Monster tells you to practice your swordplay naked in front of him, you’ll have to obediently comply.’

’How could you possibly have a good impression of him?!’

’And yet... if being controlled was the price for such a powerful Heart Method, countless people in the Cultivation Realm would probably be willing to break down his door, kneel before him, and line up to offer everything they had.’

"Senior Sister Yuehan, Senior Sister Yuehan?!"

Someone knocked on the door to her pavilion. The voice was soft; it was a woman’s.

Qiu Yuehan did not open the door, instead asking coolly, "What is it?"

She was always like this within the sect. To say she wasn’t approachable would be an understatement; she was as cold as ice. She was cold to women, and to men, she was so frigid she seemed one step away from drawing her sword to kill.

The junior sister at the door knew of Qiu Yuehan’s temperament, so she didn’t take it personally. "Hanyi Master requests Senior Sister’s presence at the main hall."

"I understand."

Ever since returning to the sect, Qiu Yuehan had been recuperating from her injuries in the Cold Pool. She had only just returned to her own pavilion yesterday and had not seen Hanyi Master once during that time.

’Why would Hanyi Master be looking for me now?’

Despite her thoughts, Qiu Yuehan quickly made her way to the main hall of Miao Yu Palace.

Three True Masters were seated high in the main hall.

In the last five hundred years, Miao Yu Palace had suffered a decline in talent. Aside from the Palace Master, who had not been seen for a long time, not a single other person had managed to break through the great barrier of the Seventh Realm Yao Guang.

A few years ago, Han Shui Master seemed to have a chance, but she failed to break through and passed away when her lifespan ran out.

But even so, Miao Yu Palace still held a firm position as one of the Nine Gates and Twelve Palaces. One Seventh Realm Yao Guang expert and three Sixth Realm Kai Yang cultivators were enough to dominate the world.

While the Palace Master was in seclusion, major affairs within the palace were decided by the three True Masters.

Qiu Yuehan looked up. "True Masters, you summoned me. Is there an urgent matter?"

Han Ze Master’s voice was stern. "Hanyi Master claims that Xia Lianxue betrayed the palace, colluded with the Demon Dao, and harmed a fellow disciple. As the one involved, we wish to hear your account."

Qiu Yuehan said, "I was unconscious at the time. I don’t know what happened."

"Then take a look at this memory projection." Hanyi Master raised a hand, and an image materialized before them—a moment she had captured from her own memory.

The memory unfolded from Hanyi Master’s perspective. It showed her arriving beside the carriage, and the very first thing she saw was Xia Lianxue, having Fallen into Demon, about to kill Qiu Yuehan.

Han Ze Master said, "Now that this memory has been shown, the palace must naturally punish Xia Lianxue. Hanyi Master and Han Qiu Master have already agreed to expel Xia Lianxue from the palace and strip her of the title of True Inheritor."

Han Qiu Master was the third True Master. Seated to the left, they remained utterly silent.

Qiu Yuehan took a deep breath. She didn’t actually believe that Xia Lianxue had Fallen into Demon, but she couldn’t refute it directly. So, she said, "For Hanyi Master to expel Junior Sister Lianxue from the palace and even cripple her cultivation, all without a formal sect trial—is that not against the rules?"

Xia Lianxue was no ordinary disciple. She was a True Inheritor who had grown up in Miao Yu Palace since childhood, and she was even the sole remaining disciple of the late Han Shui Master. Expelling her should have required a unanimous decision from all three True Masters. Hanyi Master’s actions were a clear violation of the rules.