Nearly an hour earlier.
After Zhongli and the others returned, heavily wounded, everyone hurried to collect the corpses of the two great demons.
Then they gathered the Starspirit Grass and other medicinal herbs.
It could be considered an unexpected fortune.
Unfortunately, the incident came so suddenly, and the situation was still unstable.
They knew full well that the Blood Spirit and the Golden Eagle must have carried treasures, but there was no time to search.
For now, they simply stripped the two demons of their storage rings and put them away for safekeeping.
As for how to open them—no clue yet. That could wait.
After tidying everything, Xiao supported Zhongli, Mountain Carver carried Venti, and Alice insisted on carrying Klee herself,
most likely out of worry that the little one would be too upset otherwise.
Everyone followed Qingluan, choosing to head toward a safer spot to recuperate.
Qingluan seemed to move with clear intent, leading them on winding paths, though none knew where.
Yet along the way, she helped them harvest many spiritual herbs, and even dispatched a few Qi-Condensation–stage beasts in passing.
A small profit on top of everything else.
At this point, Qingluan was like the God of Wealth in everyone's eyes.
The scenery of the Myriad Demon Mountains was monotonous—half a day's march revealed little difference—
yet Qingluan always knew where to go, as if walking through her own home.
Everyone praised her sharp instincts. Only Ganyu's gaze was filled with aching tenderness.
This little one… had survived two hundred years in such a perilous place all on her own.
These skills she showed were all born of necessity, just to stay alive.
She was still a child, yet had been forced to struggle at the edge of life and death every day.
The more Ganyu thought about it, the more her heart ached.
They didn't know how long they'd been walking when Qingluan suddenly looked back and cried out in a clear voice.
Everyone straightened. The destination was near.
They quickened their pace.
Before long, they arrived at a concealed cave.
This cavern was clearly not natural—its walls smoothed by human hands, its entrance shielded by tall grasses and trees.
Ganyu scooped up Qingluan, her voice soft with distress:
"So this… is where you've hidden yourself these past two hundred years?"
Qingluan trilled proudly, as if showing off her cleverness.
Ganyu rubbed her head gently, whispering:
"When we return, I'll report to the Sect Master. A warm, proper home will be built for you. You'll never need to hide and scurry like this again."
"You've suffered enough, Qingluan."
Qingluan froze, then turned her head aside in feigned arrogance.
"Ganyu, let's talk inside. Senior Brother and the others are still badly injured—they need time to recover."
Ningguang walked up, also giving Qingluan a tender look, before reminding her.
Everyone worked together to open the way, with Lishu lingering at the rear, carefully scanning the surroundings.
Only after confirming no demon beasts had followed did she pull the foliage back over the entrance.
Inside, the cave was not damp. Instead, a faint fragrance lingered.
Scattered across the ground were withered Starspirit Grasses, half-eaten fruits, and a few spiritual herbs that still glimmered faintly with aura.
Clearly, Qingluan's own food stores.
No one thought to take them—it was hers.
But Qingluan flew to Klee, gently pecking at her storage ring.
Klee blinked, confused. Qingluan turned her gaze toward Ganyu.
In an instant, Ganyu understood.
"You want Klee to help store these things for you?"
Qingluan nodded eagerly, chattering away in her clear bird-voice.
To anyone else, it was just chirping. To Ganyu, it was perfectly clear.
She stroked Qingluan's head softly:
"You've acknowledged me as your partner, not your master. What's yours remains yours.
But since I mean to take you away from here, let Klee keep them safe for you. When we return, she'll give them all back. Is that alright?"
Qingluan chirped cheerfully and nestled against Ganyu's shoulder.
Once Klee packed away the scattered herbs, the group delved deeper.
The cave path twisted, but was not difficult. The further they went, the more certain they were that it had been carved out intentionally.
Qingluan knew every turn. Before long, she brought them into the depths.
Then—faint light flickered ahead.
"Senior Brother?"
Xiao grew wary, edging close to Zhongli.
"Trust Qingluan," Zhongli sighed.
Even if danger lay within, it was far too late to turn back.
His vital energy had barely recovered, his body still ravaged with inner wounds—he could not fight now.
Qingluan alighted at the doorway, calling back to them.
Taking her lead, they strode inside.
The next moment, their vision burst open—the cavern widened into a spacious chamber.
That glow illuminated everything, turning this subterranean world into day.
It wasn't huge—just a little larger than the Jade Chamber—but enough to house a single thatched hut.
Its door hung ajar, light pouring out.
The instant they entered, dense spiritual energy surged into their bodies.
Venti's face changed. He whispered:
"A Spirit-Gathering Formation—at an incredibly high level!"
"Look at the doorway," Alice pointed.
Everyone followed her gaze—and gasped.
Scattered across the threshold lay over a dozen spirit stones, all of middle or upper grade.
The light came from them. And judging from the glow inside, there were far more within.
Aside from the hut, the only other structure was a rough bird's nest perched upon its roof.
Qingluan's dwelling place.
Ganyu asked gently:
"Qingluan, may we enter?"
Qingluan gave no answer. Her gaze grew complicated.
After a long silence, she let out a low cry and flew to the nest, perching quietly.
"Qingluan…"
Ganyu sensed the little one's sadness.
"I'll go," Xiao volunteered, gripping his Primordial Jade Winged-Spear as he carefully approached.
No traps sprang to life. All was calm.
Soon he reached the door. He ignored the spirit stones and nudged the wooden door open.
What he saw made him freeze.
"Xiao?"
Zhongli called anxiously.
Xiao snapped back, quickly saying:
"I'm fine! Senior Brother! Everyone—come quickly! There's a human skeleton inside!"
A skeleton?!
And humans?
Could it be… a Mount Shu disciple?
Startled, they rushed up.
Xiao pushed the door wide, and they crowded in.
Indeed—a human skeleton sat cross-legged within.
The build was of medium stature, its bones like jade, faintly glowing with white light.
The floor was littered with spirit stones—at least a thousand by rough count.
Beside it lay a tattered pack, within which a dim jade talisman rested.
On its finger gleamed a space ring. Upon the ground lay a strange disciple's token.
A tremor shook Zhongli's heart. Forcing himself up, he picked up the token.
He brushed away dust—and froze, expression complex.
"…Longshou Peak disciple."
"What?!"
Xiao leaned in. The characters matched his own token exactly, though the material was odd.
"This… was a senior of Longshou Peak. For some reason, he perished here…"
Zhongli's chest tightened as he looked upon the skeleton. A deep discomfort churned inside.
"Old man—his chest, look!" Venti's sharp eyes caught something amiss.
Though the outer bones were jade-like, the inner ones were blackened, crawling with dreadful fractures.
Through the hollow sockets, sinister runes could be glimpsed carved inside the skull.
Ganyu frowned deeply.
Something about it stirred memories—something Jiang Yan had once explained to her.
Her eyes widened.
"The Soul-Eating Curse!"
"What?!"
Everyone turned to her.
"The Sect Master once told me—it is one of the most vile arts in the cultivation world.
The afflicted suffer as their soul burns for forty-nine days, rotting alive as their consciousness crumbles.
Even in death, their spirit remains bound, enduring centuries of torment until it withers away with the corpse.
It is cruelty of the foulest degree!"
In her words, a chill swept through them. Then came a surge of fury.
Zhongli slammed the ground, voice shaking with rage:
"To kill is one thing—but why such venom?!"
"Old man… in this Nine Nether Secret Realm , who else could be so depraved? Only demon beasts," Venti said bitterly.
The cruelty of this world weighed heavy on them. Even Venti, who had lived for countless years, had never seen such malice.
They stood before the skeleton, hearts heavy, words lost.
"Look here!" Alice suddenly pointed at the wall behind it.
They hurried closer.
There—words carved in blood, every stroke cut deep, brimming with despair.
Unbidden, an image filled their minds: a Mount Shu disciple, body rotting, forcing each bloody stroke with hatred and grief.
Zhongli pressed a hand to the wall. Across centuries, the will within the words flowed into his mind.
He saw it—the dying disciple, flesh festering, writing his final testament.
And he read aloud:
"To the forebears of Mount Shu, to Sect Master, to my Master above—
Final words of Xuanxing, disciple of Longshou Peak.
I was reckless, disobeyed my master's command. Wounded grievously, yet still pressed into the depths of the Nine Nether Secret Realm—
And so met my doom. My fate is mine to blame, born of arrogance.
Yet I do not regret it. My junior sister, Xuanxiao, was struck by a villain with the Soul-Eating Curse. Her life hung by a thread—how could I stand idle?
Within the Nine Nether Secret Realm grows the Soul-Congealing Grass, deep in the forbidden land of the Myriad Demon Mountains. I had no choice but to seek it.
By Heaven's grace, I found it. Yet I, Xuanxing, was careless—struck down by the demon king, Greenwind Ox, and cursed with Soul-Eating.
Despair grips me, but I entrust the herb to my junior brothers Xuanyin and Xuanqing to deliver.
I wounded the Greenwind Ox grievously, but my end is nigh.
My death matters little. My sister's life matters much.
Master, this unfilial disciple, Xuanxing, fails your expectations. I cannot serve you again.
Yet I hold no regret. You often said: disciples of Mount Shu are as siblings, bound by family.
If kin suffer, and Xuanxing turns cold and does nothing—then what use is the Dao I cultivate?
Mortal life is fleeting. Affection spans three thousand rivers.
To trade my life for my sister's—that is my solace.
Only… I grieve for my unborn spirit beast, Qingluan. Master, I have failed you—and I have failed Qingluan thrice over.
To any later disciples who come here—take Qingluan away. Only then can Xuanxing rest.
Final testament of Xuanxing, third true disciple of the Wine-Sword Immortal Mo Yixi, Longshou Peak of Mount Shu."
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