"Marriage engagement?"
Bai Qian looked at Bai Zhixi with some disbelief.
Especially the shyness on the young girl's face at this moment made her heart tremble involuntarily.
"It seems there is such a matter. It should be in the next couple of days."
"Oh." A flash of disappointment crossed Bai Zhixi's face.
Since returning to Qing Qiu, she had asked both the Fox Queen and the Ancestor to carefully inspect her sea of consciousness. There were indeed no signs of a Soul Brand being planted.
But Bai Zhixi still couldn't remember where the swordsman who had been chasing her that day had ultimately gone.
The only thing she remembered was that at her most desperate moment, a figure had stepped in front of her.
The smile on his face was very clean, brighter than the stars tonight.
She wasn't sure if that figure was Ling Xiao, but these past few days, she would inexplicably think of him.
Think of him.
Still think of him!
Bai Zhixi was going crazy. She desperately wanted to throw caution to the wind and rush to the Eastern Frontier to find Ling Xiao and ask him clearly.
But the Fox Queen had confined her, strictly forbidding her from taking even half a step outside Qing Qiu.
Of course, since returning to the Holy State, she had never mentioned the name 'Ye Fan' again.
After all, the events of that year were a major taboo for the Nine-Tailed Clan; she didn't want to provoke the Fox Queen's anger over it.
"Zhi Xi, you don't need to worry too much. Although Ling Xiao has a powerful background, our Heavenly Fox Clan is one of the Nine Royal Clans of the Ten Thousand Demons Sacred Land. You had a minor conflict, but the Ling Clan probably won't make a huge issue out of it." Although Ancestor Bai Qian found it strange that the girl was concerned about Ling Xiao's marriage, Bai Zhixi was only ninety years old, equivalent to a human's fourteen or fifteen years old; her body hadn't even finished developing.
This Fox Clan ancestor would never imagine that she had developed feelings for someone.
"Mmm, he won't." Bai Zhixi was clearly distracted, her little head filled entirely with the news of Ling Xiao's impending engagement to the Dao Palace Saintess.
What should I do?
Should I go find him?
But if he doesn't like me, what's the use of going?
"Ancestor, is it truly forbidden for our Nine-Tailed Clan to intermarry with humans?" Bai Zhixi suddenly thought of something else, looking up at Ancestor Bai Qian behind her and asking softly.
"Of course. If it weren't for the humans back then, our demon race should have been the masters of this domain. Later, the humans grew powerful, hunting and killing our clan's strong everywhere. We had no choice but to retreat to this Northern Frontier, banding together to survive." Ancestor Bai Qian's face immediately darkened.
The between humans and demons were numerous, far too complex to explain in a few words.
It was just that now, humans held dominion over the world, with talented individuals emerging in great numbers.
In contrast, the stronger the bloodline among demons, the harder it was to produce offspring.
The gap between the two races had widened because of this.
"But back then, the Eldest Princess..."
"Silence!!"
Before Bai Zhixi could finish her sentence, a wisp of imposing aura surged from Ancestor Bai Qian, who sharply cut her off.
"Never mention that name again. Zhi Xi, you must understand that the hope of our clan now rests entirely on you. Matters like marriage, love, and romance are all fleeting illusions on the path of cultivation, as transient as clouds and smoke. Only by making yourself truly powerful can you protect everything you wish to protect."
With these words, Bai Qian waved her hand. A beam of spiritual light instantly fell, enveloping Bai Zhixi.
"Ancestor, you..."!
"I have sealed your cultivation. These next few days, stay quietly in Qing Qiu and calm your mind." Although Ancestor Bai Qian didn't know exactly what was going through the girl's mind, the look in her eyes clearly revealed a longing for the outside world.
With the chaotic times emerging, many had already taken notice of Bai Zhixi's innate talent.
This assassination attempt, though ultimately harmless, had been a close call. Who could guarantee she would be so lucky next time?
The best way was to have her stay within the clan to cultivate until she possessed sufficient strength to protect herself.
"Ancestor!! Ancestor, let me go... Wuwuwu, how can I cultivate like this, Ancestor..." Bai Zhixi immediately started crying and making a fuss. This trick usually worked like a charm.
But this time, the Ancestor paid her no further mind. She tore open space and disappeared on the spot.
"Ancestor!!!"
Bai Zhixi shouted angrily, real tears actually welling up in her eyes.
Why?
Why must humans and demons be set on different paths?
She suddenly remembered when she was young, cultivating in the mountains, a traveling old monk who had come to Qing Qiu once smiled and said to her, "Child, you are born with Fortuna by your side. In the future, your immortal path will be smooth, and your marriage will be happy."
Looking at it now, she didn't even have the right to choose whom to love. How could there be any talk of happiness?
So, that old monk had lied to her.
Even Buddhas can speak falsehoods.
Bai Zhixi gazed into the distant sky, unaware that tears had already moistened the corners of her eyes.
At the end of her gaze.
Were clouds, were mountains.
Was a figure she wanted to see but didn't dare to see.
In an ancient temple, green candles burn, Buddhist sutras are softly chanted.
Buddha says all worldly affairs are empty, only cause and effect are not empty.
Buddha says the word 'love' has millions of forms, yet love is the hardest to understand.
Buddha says abandon illusions, abstain from the seven emotions and six desires, take refuge in the Dharma, take refuge in the heart.
If one day, I can go to your side.
Whether you are Buddha or Demon, whether you are Dharma or Precept.
I am willing, to take refuge in you.
"Ninth Princess, Ninth Princess, what's wrong?" Two young fox girls of similar age suddenly walked up behind Bai Zhixi, blinking their curious big eyes at her.
"A-Yun, when did you get here?" Bai Zhixi's little face stiffened as she hurriedly wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes.
"We've been here for a while! Young Miss, who were you thinking about so deeply?" The two fox girls immediately covered their mouths with light laughs, curiosity in their eyes.
"A-Yun, do you think... he might be thinking of me?" Bai Zhixi didn't hide the longing in her heart. Instead, she asked with a melancholic tone.
"Aiya, has our Ninth Princess... found someone she likes? Hehehe."
"Never mind, I'm not talking to you anymore!" Bai Zhixi snorted coldly and turned to walk down the mountain.
"Ninth Princess, wait for me! You still haven't told us which clan's young master has caught your eye."
...
Ten Thousand Daos Demon Sect, Mountain Peak Cave Dwelling.
"Achoo!"
Ling Xiao, sitting cross-legged on his bed, sneezed for no reason.
"Damn, who's cursing me again?"
These past two days, he had been feeling unsettled, as if something major was about to happen around him.
"Tomorrow I return to my clan. This time, it's time to make those old fellows agree and officially designate me as the Ling Clan's heir." A dark gleam flashed in Ling Xiao's eyes as he looked up at the night sky outside the cave dwelling.
Unknowingly, he had been in this world for some time now.
From the initial excitement and novelty to his current calm composure.
Ling Xiao felt, inexplicably, a little weary.
Although the path of immortality offered boundless glory and majestic landscapes, it was truly fraught with danger at every step.
Especially for a villain, every move required careful consideration; otherwise, a single misstep could mean being crushed to death.
"Enough, overthinking is useless. Better to reach the Paragon Breakthrough Realm soon." Ling Xiao smiled wryly. He didn't know who was affecting his mood, but he felt unusually irritable.
He casually took out a bottle of pills from his Qiankun Bag and swallowed them, then closed his eyes again, sinking into cultivation.
Although this traditional method of cultivation was somewhat slow, it was better than nothing.
Especially since these spirit pills given by Xuan Yuan Yue were all above the fourth grade—each one a rare treasure in the outside world.
In that case, he might as well reluctantly eat a few.
Not bad, the taste is pretty good, crunchy.