The Arch-Enemy Must Not Become a Wife

"Greetings, Master~"

Chu Xuan nodded slightly, "No need for formalities. How are the tasks I entrusted to you coming along?"

As he spoke, he naturally walked to the seat of honor and sat down.

Yao Yufei replied calmly, "Over the past two days, public opinion has begun to ferment. Our plan has been very successful. Now, external cultivators basically consider ’Celestial Evil’ and ’Chu Xuan’ as two separate people."

"The biggest blunder by the Shangguan family last time was that they ultimately couldn’t present any concrete evidence."

"It was more like ’I say you are, so you are.’ Because they were too assertive, coupled with several of Celestial Evil’s old acquaintances stepping forward to help, it led many to truly believe it."

"However, with you making a move at the Alchemy Dao Conference, the Blood God’s treasure and the Devouring Yuan Demon Technique, these two things are more convincing than anything else."

"Moreover, the cultivation levels of the two don’t match, so we hardly had to exert any effort to guide the narrative."

"Then, regarding the rumor refutation, since Chu Xuan is not the Celestial Evil Demon Venerable, no one believes in things like ’Bewitching Heart Evil Technique’ or ’Peach Blossom Evil Eyes’ anymore. As a result, even the reputations of Primordial Monarch Taixu and Wu Gou have been somewhat restored."

"Throughout this process, our people have been secretly guiding public opinion, claiming it was all slander and framing by the Shangguan family behind the scenes."

"Those who spread the rumors naturally couldn’t admit their mistakes. Seeing a convenient scapegoat, they all passed the buck, insisting it was the work of the Shangguan family and had nothing to do with them."

"Of course, due to the close association of these two fairies with you that day, some still harbor doubts. However, these rational viewpoints are drowned in the extreme whirlwind of public opinion, with some even labeling them as lackeys of the Shangguan family."

Chu Xuan nodded slightly, quite in line with what he anticipated.

"Lastly, we released the news that Shangguan Yu is afflicted with the ’Five Decays of Heaven and Man’ and is now hiding in his stronghold, barely surviving."

"This spread like wildfire in a very short time, even more shocking to the world than the reappearance of Celestial Evil."

"The Shangguan family has been perpetuating this colossal lie for six or seven hundred years, and many are now only realizing that in the third righteous-demonic war of yore, he wasn’t the real victor but suffered mutual destruction."

"Those cultivators who were firmly convinced that ’evil cannot prevail over righteousness’ and ’Celestial Evil Demon Venerable, no matter how rampant, was ultimately defeated by Profound Silence True Monarch,’ are collectively outraged."

"In short, in the short term, just these waves of public opinion are enough to give the Shangguan family a hard time."

"Simultaneously, we officially released the news of the reconstruction of the Celestial Alliance."

"Currently, the Li’an Demon Sect and Hehuan Sect are collaborating with us, with the addition of two formidable seventh realm allies, Li Xingchuan the Ice Sea Demon Monarch and Yu Zhanfeng the Blade Emperor, with many mysterious powerhouses yet to reveal themselves within the alliance."

"Oh, by the way, we’ve also released information about a ’mysterious organization’ that’s been secretly loyal to the Demon Venerable over the years, only offering some vague details to let outsiders guess wildly."

"For a time, many in the righteous and demonic paths are eager to join us, and no one dares to utter nonsense about besieging ’Celestial Evil’ anymore."

Chu Xuan listened thoughtfully and nodded, "Don’t expand further. I don’t want to ignite a fourth righteous-demonic war. Just drip-feed them information to keep them intrigued."

"Also, inform the three major sects of the righteous path, so they don’t overreact."

In Chu Xuan’s original plan, this organization was not supposed to re-emerge. It was only established now to concentrate forces against the Shangguan family, and as soon as Shangguan Yu is dead, the Celestial Alliance can be dissolved on the spot.

Now, with natural disasters raging, he doesn’t wish to place further strain on this already battered cultivation world, lest it lead to mutual destruction of both the righteous and demonic paths.

Yao Yufei felt a tinge of regret hearing this, but nodded nonetheless. After all, if an all-out war broke out, she wasn’t confident that Li’an Demon Sect could retreat unharmed.

"By the way, Master, isn’t it time you brief me about this mysterious organization?"

Chu Xuan felt a bit embarrassed upon hearing this. What mysterious organization? Should he reveal it was all his fabrication?

Forget it. Mentioning it now might dampen morale. Better save it for later.

So he said nonchalantly, "No need to rush. I’ve already said, this organization will reveal itself only when it’s most needed."

Yao Yufei gave him a somewhat plaintive look, "We’ve come this far, and you’re still keeping secrets from me?"

Chu Xuan, a bit uncomfortable, silently thought to himself: Can you stop looking at me like that, as if I owe you something?

He immediately changed the topic, "I heard something about the Celestial Pool Secret Mansion at the Alchemy Dao Conference. Do you know anything about it?"

Yao Yufei nodded, "The information I have is limited, mostly hearsay, but there is indeed such a thing. It’s said this Grotto Heaven will open in five to ten years."

"Of course, there’s the Celestial Pool, but it’s also said there’s a mysterious Celestial Daoist Book, through which one can see their own future..."

Chu Xuan waved his hand, "Let’s not hurry with that. I just want to know if Shangguan Yu can enter it."

He then relayed the latest intelligence he had received from Gu Haitang.

Yao Yufei pondered for a moment and said, "Based on what you’ve said, Master, Shangguan Yu probably can’t enter because this Grotto Heaven is quite peculiar. According to records, only mortal cultivators have been able to enter it since ancient times."

"Shangguan Yu has already become half an Immortal, so this mansion is entirely out of reach for him."

"Of course, if the waters of the Celestial Pool are truly useful to him, he could always have his subordinates enter and bring them out. The question is whether the waters will still be useful once removed from the Grotto Heaven."

"Regardless of its usefulness, we must stop the Shangguan family when the time comes," Chu Xuan affirmed.

Yao Yufei nodded. She reminded him, "Additionally, there’s something else we must guard against. Even if Shangguan Yu can’t enter, could he lay an ambush at the entrance for you?"

"Or perhaps wait for you to let your guard down and then attack when you exit."

Chu Xuan conceded, "That is possible as well. Do you know the exact location of the Celestial Pool Secret Mansion?"

Yao Yufei looked innocent, "I don’t know. I don’t even know how to open it. Although our sect’s heritage is reasonably old, there are no records of this."

As the two were discussing this, Qingqing quietly approached.

After not seeing him for over half a year, Chu Xuan indeed returned to see her as promised. Qingqing’s heart was originally very happy.

But upon arriving at the hall, seeing Yun Ni Fairy, whom she had met at the Hundred Flowers Banquet, standing gently next to Chu Xuan, Qingqing puffed up in anger. This playboy brought back another woman!

Of course, seeing her mother discussing business with him, Qingqing didn’t rush forward but waved to Xiaoxue instead.

Xiaoxue had no choice but to sneak over and join Qingqing outside the hall.

"Why has Chu Xuan brought back another one?" Qingqing asked as soon as she arrived.

Xiaoxue sighed, "That’s not something I can control. I’m just a pet, you know."

"What about details from Chu Xuan’s visit to the Hehuan Sect? Did Chen Yunqi actively try to seduce him?"

Xiaoxue recounted the previous events from her perspective, and Qingqing listened with growing jealousy, especially upon learning that Chu Xuan and Gu Haitang were likely reconciled privately, heightening her sense of urgency.

"Where is your master?" she suddenly asked.

Qingqing knew well that Ji Mingyu was likely spying on Chu Xuan nearby.

Xiaoxue was startled and quickly shook her head, saying she didn’t know.

Just as Qingqing was about to press further, Chu Xuan’s voice called out, "What are you two whispering about outside? Come in."

Reluctantly, Qingqing returned with Xiaoxue. In a whirlwind, she dashed into Chu Xuan’s arms like a swallow returning to its nest, "I missed you~"

Pei Shurou frowned slightly but said nothing.

Chu Xuan chuckled, patting her head, "Alright, everyone’s watching."

But Qingqing refused to get up and just lingered in Chu Xuan’s embrace.