Chapter 462 - 230: Dual Cultivation (Part 2)
"Anyway, it’s not like I can’t cultivate without her, it’ll just be slower."
Although Chu Xuan appeared indifferent, his tone was light-hearted, Qingqing still felt a bit guilty, "I, I, maybe you don’t have to care about me..."
Chu Xuan shook his head, stepped forward to embrace her, and said seriously:
"There’s no need for that. Besides, there might be alternatives. Perhaps we can achieve dual cultivation without doing that? Regardless, I’ll meet with Chen Yunqi and ask if there’s such a method; if not, so be it."
Ji Mingyu discreetly exhaled a sigh of relief, but upon realizing Chu Xuan compromised for Qingqing, she felt a surge of envy...
Qingqing was moved and said, "Chu Xuan, you’re so good~"
Chu Xuan shook his head, "Let’s go, it’s time for us to leave."
...
After leaving the Ancient Battlefield, Qingqing cautiously looked at Chu Xuan and asked, "Are we going to the Hehuan Sect now?"
"No, we’ll first go to the Li’an Demon Sect and speak with your mother." Chu Xuan replied without hesitation.
Qingqing was startled, "Why see my mother? You’re not going to send me back, are you? I don’t want that!"
She tightly clung to Chu Xuan’s arm, feeling a strong sense of crisis and looking a bit puffed up.
A hint of amusement passed through Chu Xuan’s eyes as he patted Qingqing’s head and said, "Why can’t it be to propose marriage?"
"What?!" Qingqing felt ecstatic upon hearing this but quickly realized and angrily punched him, "Don’t tease me, I might believe it."
"Let’s talk seriously, didn’t you say your mother wants to recruit me? I’m going to discuss this with her and also gather some information about recent events."
Upon hearing this, Qingqing felt a bit anxious, "But didn’t you say ’let’s talk about it later’ before?"
Chu Xuan said calmly, "I’ve changed my mind. The Celestial Evil Demon Venerable is about to reappear in the world, and I need my own power; Li’an Demon Sect is a good choice."
"What?!" Qingqing was greatly shocked, almost doubting her hearing.
Even the little snow mink in Chu Xuan’s arms looked utterly astonished.
"But, but, but wasn’t your master asking you never to admit being the Celestial Evil Demon Venerable under any circumstances?" Qingqing was clearly worried, fearing he would be attacked by everyone.
Chu Xuan shook his head, "You’re mistaken. The Celestial Evil Demon Venerable will make a comeback, but I’ll appear before the world in a new guise."
"Thus, when I use the ’Devouring Yuan Demon Technique,’ everyone will believe I am the true Celestial Evil Demon Venerable."
"And Chu Xuan, he’s just an innocent disciple of Cyan Lotus Daoist Palace. He didn’t return to the sect because he was secretly harmed by the Shangguan family; henceforth, no one will suspect him, nor implicate the Daoist Palace."
Qingqing listened in silence, realizing that Chu Xuan’s actions would attract all attention and hostility to himself alone, safeguarding his master and sect who had done him great favors.
"So you’ll never use the Chu Xuan identity again?" Her voice was melancholic.
Chu Xuan calmly replied, "Not necessarily, the story could be that Chu Xuan was severely injured by the Shangguan family and reemerged after recuperating for ten years."
"Thus, this identity would be cleared, and if I want to use it again someday, it’s possible."
The Celestial Evil Demon Venerable was once a master of disguises, having multiple aliases and identities, such as Leng Yu Bing, Feng Yu Xiu, Yu Dao Ren, Long Aotian, and more, so playing this game now is familiar territory.
Since this mental shift, Chu Xuan’s principle is to "follow his heart": kill if disliked; seize what he likes—every action is unimpeded by anyone.
Based on this principle, he wouldn’t want to hide his identity as Celestial Evil, but his master had shown him immense grace, and he didn’t want to let him down, hence devising this ’whitewashing’ plan.
The Celestial Evil Demon Venerable can rise again from the buried past, but he needs to be a separate person from Chu Xuan, even if only superficially.
Qingqing knew from Chu Xuan’s tone and eyes that he was resolved, and no one could dissuade him, so she just nodded.
"How do you plan to proceed? This path will be dangerous."
"So I need to have my own power; if I appear strong enough, many enemies will turn into my friends."
"Daoist Palace disciple Chu Xuan was hunted by everyone because he was only a pitifully weak fourth-realm cultivator; but once my strength returns to its peak, once I gather a formidable force, countless cultivators will flock to my side."
"Don’t forget, I was once someone who stirred the Wind and Cloud."
Chu Xuan posed with hands behind his back, his expression calm, but his tone brimmed with confidence.
Honestly, seeing him like this, Qingqing felt her heart racing—it was a side she’d never seen before.
"Those calling to return under the Demon Venerable’s banner, I do not trust; I have a few people in mind."
"Demon Rain Demon Monarch Yao Yufei, Miaoyu Bodhisattva Chen Yunqi, these two are key targets for recruitment, I need their power."
Upon hearing this, Qingqing finally understood Chu Xuan’s plan but was still worried, "But my mother is a tricky opponent; if you want to get something for nothing, it’s not easy."
Chu Xuan chuckled, "Remember, she is your mother; how can you side with an outsider against your mom?"
"You bad guy! You’re a bad guy," Qingqing protested, hammering Chu Xuan’s chest with her fists, "I’ve given you my body, and you still call yourself an outsider."
Chu Xuan hugged her with a smile, "Alright, alright, no more joking; don’t forget, you’re the Sect Leader of Li’an Demon Sect."
Qingqing’s eyes lit up, "That’s right!"
Yao Yufei had specially organized a "retirement ceremony," inviting numerous peers to witness the legitimate transfer of leadership to the Sect Leader.
She personally declared to "restore ancient customs, return power to the Saintess"; can she really turn her back on her own words?
Well... given her mother’s character, it’s possible, but it’s still a decent excuse to use.
"Anyway, we’ll meet your mother first; you’ll have to help me then."
Qingqing nodded repeatedly, evidently determined to side with the outsider.
Ji Mingyu, watching aside, increasingly felt Chu Xuan’s mindset was shifting towards the Celestial Evil days; she couldn’t tell if it was good or bad, only knowing Chu Xuan was straying far from the initial plan... Of course, she was also partly to blame.
But anyhow, Ji Mingyu would forever, ever, stay by his side—she loved him and he loved her; they would certainly reunite and walk together again.
Suddenly, Chu Xuan tossed the little snow mink into the air, casually instructing, "Turn human."
"What? Ah!" Both the snow mink and Mingyu were deeply shocked, wondering why Chu Xuan suddenly wanted it to transform into a human.
Wait, Ji Mingyu had a very bad feeling, thinking perhaps Chu Xuan wanted to target the mink now? Was this heartless man finally unable to resist?
Even Qingqing felt tense; in her view, though the snow mink sometimes acted oddly, it clearly appeared to be "competing for affection," but a pet is merely a pet—could it possibly turn the world upside down?
But once the snow mink transforms back into human form, it’s a different league altogether; although small, what if Chu Xuan has peculiar tastes?
Not to mention the snow mink’s actual age isn’t young—it can adjust its appearance age at any time...
The snow mink itself was even more terrified and lamented inwardly: please, let me quietly be a pet!
Chu Xuan noted their expressions, making his face slightly peculiar, "What’s going on in your heads?"
"I’m appearing before the world with a new identity—naturally, I can’t be holding Primordial Monarch Taixu’s demon pet; isn’t it normal to have the snow mink return to human form? That way, the two identities can be differentiated."
Qingqing suddenly felt embarrassed and coughed, "That’s why I thought..."
"Thought what?" Chu Xuan glared at her.
Qingqing quickly shook her head and hands, looking guilty, "Nothing, nothing."
"How about you?" Chu Xuan turned to the snow mink.
It shook its little head vigorously, "I thought you were tired of my current form, change, change, I’ll change right now."