Turns Out I'm the Real Monster?!

Ling Ye suppressed the surging thoughts in her mind and crouched down, her fingertips gently caressing Shangguan Luoxue’s cold, delicate cheek.

"Xue’Er, if you’re too tired, just rest for a while."

"Rest?"

A trace of mockery flickered in Shangguan Luoxue’s purple eyes.

"I can’t believe those words came from you. On the path of cultivation, where is there time to rest?"

"If one could rest, how could you have met with such a fate back then?"

"Even the Star Position the heavens granted you was forcefully snatched away. In the end, you were left with a lesser one. You always say I like to gamble, that I’m a madwoman, but weren’t you the very same back then?"

Ling Ye’s expression darkened.

That one reckless decision back then had ultimately ruined the first half of her cultivation path.

Although she had been plotted against, if not for her own deep-seated obsession, how could she have fallen into the trap so easily?

If she hadn’t lost her Star Position, she would have surely climbed much higher by now.

Unfortunately, there are no "ifs" in this world.

She had long since moved past despair and indignation, gradually coming to accept her reality.

"However, I understand you."

Shangguan Luoxue’s tone was calm. "You risked everything back then because you wanted to avenge our grand-master.

Even though you abandoned me, your disciple, for the sake of that faint hope of revenge, I don’t blame you.

After all, you were the one who led me onto this path of cultivation. A teacher for a day is a teacher for life. I will be grateful to you for the rest of my life."

She raised her hand and gently removed Ling Ye’s veil.

In the eerie light of the Cold Pool, her exquisite face was in no way inferior to Shangguan Luoxue’s.

Although she was over thirty, Ling Ye still looked as if she were in the prime of her early twenties.

This was a unique, miraculous effect of the Cold Moon Sect’s Cultivation Technique.

Those who practiced this technique could, at will, freeze their appearance and figure at any point in their life.

Be it the innocence of a young girl or the charm of a mature woman.

However, their lifespan remained that of an ordinary person. It did not grant immortality.

Ling Ye said softly,

"Back then, my master abandoned me for that man, Jiang. I hated her, yet I also pitied her. That’s why I hated that Great Demon even more."

"That is also why, when you were very young, I always warned you that men are like poison—a single touch means death. All men in this world are faithless; only the Great Dao will never betray you."

A look of self-mockery crossed Ling Ye’s face.

"But ironically, I taught you to sever all worldly ties, yet in the end, I was the one who abandoned you."

"Xue’Er, even though you no longer acknowledge me as your master, I still hope you’ll listen to my advice one more time. Do not practice the *Purple Mansion Agreement*. Even if you do, it will be all for naught."

"Why?" Shangguan Luoxue frowned.

Ling Ye said seriously,

"Your grand-master originally stole the *Purple Mansion Agreement* from the Jade Pool Sacred Sect to help that Great Demon. She then altered it, attempting to forge it into a unique Cultivation Technique for her and Jiang Chaoxi to practice as Cultivation Companions.

But in the end, before your grand-master even had the chance to practice it with him, Jiang Chaoxi was struck down by the Celestial Dao and died.

Your grand-master also suffered a cultivation deviation and was suppressed.

The technique was already incredibly difficult to even begin practicing, but after your grand-master modified it, the requirements became even more stringent. In all the world, there is no man other than Jiang Chaoxi who can successfully practice it."

Shangguan Luoxue’s gaze sharpened.

"You mean to say that only Grand-master and Jiang Chaoxi could ever practice this technique?"

"You could say that."

Ling Ye nodded. "Of course, we share the same lineage as your grand-master, our bodies and techniques inherited from her. So, as the ’yin’ partner, we can indeed practice it.

But as for the ’yang’ partner...

Besides that dead Great Demon, no other man in this world can master it."

Shangguan Luoxue understood.

’To put it bluntly, the technique was a dead end. The female partner was available, but the only viable male partner was dead.’

’But the problem is...’

’Someone has already started practicing it.’

’It’s not like Jiang Chaoxi crawled out of his grave, right?’

’That’s absolutely impossible.’

’Annihilation by the Celestial Dao means being completely erased from this world, your Divine Soul scattered.’

’There wasn’t even a body left at the time.’

’So...’

’Ling Ye is lying to me!’

Shangguan Luoxue knew her master all too well.

Because of what had happened with their grand-master, Ling Ye’s hatred for men was profound, bordering on paranoia.

She didn’t want any man touching her disciple.

That’s why she had concocted this lie about "only Jiang Chaoxi being able to practice it," hoping to make her give up.

A flicker of disappointment appeared in Shangguan Luoxue’s eyes. She said coolly,

"Master, are you so certain that besides Jiang Chaoxi, no one else in this world can master this technique?"

Ling Ye parted her red lips, but then hesitated, saying nothing.

In truth, she had only heard her own master mention it in passing once, and she wasn’t entirely without her own doubts.

"You may leave."

Shangguan Luoxue said no more, issuing an order of dismissal.

A shadow of sorrow passed through Ling Ye’s eyes.

The disciples of the Cold Moon Sect were all cold and solitary by nature, yet each was different in her own way.

Her own master had appeared gentle and warm on the outside, but was inwardly cold and obstinate.

She herself was cold on the outside, but warm within.

But Shangguan Luoxue, standing before her, was cold on the outside and even colder on the inside.

The saying "the Great Dao is merciless" was embodied perfectly in her.

Perhaps that was why, even after losing her master’s protection, she had still managed to reach such heights on her own.

"Master."

Shangguan Luoxue suddenly spoke. "If you had been given an opportunity like this back then, would you have taken it?"

Ling Ye froze for a moment, then shook her head firmly.

"No. I swore an oath that I would never fall in love with any man in this lifetime, let alone depend on one for the sake of my cultivation."

Shangguan Luoxue’s voice was devoid of emotion.

"That is why you are naive."

Ling Ye was stunned.

"Go back. Everyone has their own path. Master, you have been lost on yours for far too long."

Shangguan Luoxue gave a light flick of her sleeve.

Before Ling Ye could even react, she found herself standing outside the entrance to the Underground Palace.

"A cold lamp without flame, a worn robe without warmth—always trifling with fleeting scenes. A body like withered wood, a heart like dead ashes—one cannot help but fall into obstinate emptiness..."

Shangguan Luoxue’s voice drifted out from within.

"Master, although I never met our grand-master, I believe she would be very disappointed in you."

’Disappointed...?’

Ling Ye stood stunned for a long while before finally turning, dejected, and disappearing at the end of the corridor.

Silence returned to the Underground Palace.

Shangguan Luoxue’s gaze fell upon the watermelon lying forlornly beside the jade platform.

’So naive...’

’Did she really think a watermelon would make me give up? Does she still see me as the little girl who could be placated with a slice of melon?’

...

「A stick of incense later.」

Shangguan Luoxue gently wiped the juice from the corners of her mouth, her stomach pleasantly full.

With a casual wave of her hand.

A wisp of purple flame curled past, and the watermelon rind on the floor disintegrated into nothing.

Destroying all evidence, leaving no trace.

She patted her stomach in satisfaction. A rare look of contentment appeared on her beautiful face, which was usually as cold as ice.

Just then, a glowing white paper crane phased through the wall, landing gracefully in her palm.

Shangguan Luoxue’s expression tightened, her usual frosty demeanor returning.

She tapped it lightly with her fingertip.

The paper crane unfolded, transforming into a line of glowing words.

"Hm?"

As she read the message, the woman’s previously relaxed expression instantly turned frigid.

"That old fossil from Glazed Island is actually trying to claim the Emperor Star?"

A cold glint flashed in Shangguan Luoxue’s eyes.

’Someone’s finally making their move.’

’But it’s no wonder. The Emperor Star... It’s the only key to the legendary Fourteenth Realm.’

’It’s a prize dangling over the heads of every top-tier expert. Who wouldn’t be greedy for it?’

The woman felt a pang of regret.

If she hadn’t failed her recent breakthrough and damaged her Dao Foundation, she, with her own resources and talent, might have had a claim to that Emperor Star.

But then, matters of fate and opportunity were always hard to predict.

Still, she felt a surge of fierce confidence.

’As long as I can overcome this ordeal and return to my peak...’

’That Emperor Star, hanging high in the heavens and looking down upon all of creation... sooner or later, it will be mine!’

"What is mine will always be mine... No one can take it from me!"