This Young Lady Will Wait for You, Looking Her Prettiest!

"Hmph! Remnants of the Blood Palace lurking right inside my Purple Sky Alliance—truly abominable!" The Mystic Maiden of the Purple Sky had struck in haste, only managing to gravely wound the infiltrator without capturing him. "Was that crimson glow the handiwork of the Blood Lord?" a Sovereign asked, a solemn look in his eyes. The reason Daoist Yu had been able to instantly break free from their encirclement moments ago was precisely that crimson drop of blood. "I once obtained a drop of that blood and consulted the Slate of Fate. "The answer given by the Slate of Fate was that this belongs to the Archdemon!" The Mystic Maiden of the Purple Sky lifted her head, an aura of slaughter in her eyes. Hearing mention of the Slate of Fate, everyone present stiffened, a flicker of greed surfacing in their hearts. That was a supreme treasure of this world, born alongside the Buddha, rumored to see through both the past and the future. That the Mystic Maiden of the Purple Sky had attained such achievements was inextricably linked to the Slate of Fate. One could say that with the Slate of Fate in hand, her combat strength had already reached the pinnacle of this world. Moreover, the Slate of Fate had become the instrument through which she commanded absolute authority. Was the Blood Lord truly an archdemon? That did not matter. What mattered was that the Mystic Maiden of the Purple Sky declared the Slate of Fate had decreed the Blood Lord to be an archdemon. Therefore, the Blood Lord was an archdemon, an enemy for the entire world to strike down together. *** At the Ends of the Earth, inside the Blood Palace. Dawn arrived. There was no sun, yet faint light filtered through. The Ends of the Earth lay at the southernmost reaches of the realm—the very south of the world, and the place where dawn broke earliest. Inside a boudoir, a young woman with cheeks like snow sat as black locks brushed across her delicate face. Gazing at herself in the mirror, she meticulously painted her slender, curved brows. Her somewhat pale countenance transformed into radiant splendor, the flower petals in a vase on the pear-wood vanity reflecting alongside her visage in the bronze mirror. She rose, her silk gown embroidered with an intricate pattern of paired partridges, and her eyes grew bright and spirited. Every morning at dawn, Canary would rise early to carefully pencil her moth brows. Even after three hundred years, she looked just as she had on Mount Jiupan—just as vain, just as attentive to her own beauty. "Sister Canary, I heard Daoist Yu has returned!" a crisp, hurried female voice called from outside the room. "But he came back heavily wounded. Before he could speak a word, he collapsed unconscious from his injuries. Should we go take a look?" "Ah?" Anxiety flashed across Canary's narrow eyes. "Did something happen?" "I heard Sister Yanran say that Daoist Yu was undercover in the Purple Sky Alliance the entire time. Returning so abruptly must mean he brought back urgent news. "The Purple Sky Alliance will probably descend upon our Blood Palace very soon." Deep worry laced the girl's voice. "Sister Canary, shall we go to the main hall to see Daoist Yu?" "Alright..." "Huh? Sister Canary?" The girl showed a bewildered expression. She saw Canary dash out of the boudoir without even putting on shoes. Her jade-like feet, tender as young lotus roots, stepped bare across the floor as she gathered her skirts and ran outside. The girl could not comprehend it. Why was she in such a hurry? It was as if she were rushing to reincarnate. Outside the Blood Palace, the sea surged endlessly. A man clad in a crimson robe stood with a faint smile in his eyes. Looking into the distance, his figure transformed into a streak of flowing light as he flew forward to meet her. "Blood Pearl!" The young woman's small face brimmed with excitement, her eyes brimming with tears. Gathering her skirts, she charged straight ahead and crashed hard into the crimson-robed chest. Clinging to him like a koala, she abandoned all pretense of decorum, wrapping her slender legs tightly around Qi Yuan's waist. "I knew it! I just knew you'd come back to see me!" Canary's voice cracked with emotion. "Sorry, I'm late." Qi Yuan supported her shapely thighs with one hand while resting the other against her back. Seeing her radiant, lovely face unchanged from the past, a brilliant smile spread across his lips. After lingering in Qi Yuan's embrace for a while, Canary still refused to let go. Gazing at his face, her cheeks flushed crimson like peach blossoms. She whispered conspiratorially, "You got even better looking... Good thing this young lady put on makeup this morning, or you would've outshone me!" "I knew it—you're still the only one who appreciates my looks." The smile at the corners of Qi Yuan's mouth deepened. "Along the way, everyone who saw me was terrified of me." "Hmph, those people are blind!" Canary declared cheerfully. "This young lady is the number one beauty of the Eighteen Mountains, and you, Blood Pearl, are the number one handsome man of the Eighteen Mountains." Listening to her voice, Qi Yuan tightened his arms around her. Holding Canary, he gazed out across the sea before them. Out on the waters stood a Gate of Myriad Manifestations. Noticing the gate, Canary momentarily lost focus. Qi Yuan caught her small foot and brushed away the dust. "It got dirty. Let's wash it off." A wave of warmth washed over her, making Canary feel shy. She looked at him. "I just got out of bed and didn't even put my shoes on... You're not allowed to touch my feet, it tickles!" Qi Yuan set Canary down upon a massive boulder in the sea. They sat side by side, facing the Gate of Myriad Manifestations. [You have comprehended origin. Mutation ability +1,000.] [You have comprehended origin. Water control ability +10.] Just as when Qi Yuan first arrived at Mount Jiupan, Canary sat beside him while he comprehended the Gate of Myriad Manifestations. "Blood Pearl, I suspect you tricked me!" Canary grumbled discontentedly. "Tricked you about what?" "You told me that comprehending the Gate of Myriad Manifestations would make me prettier! That was a lie! "This young lady has been contemplating it for so many years, and it hasn't had any effect at all! "Besides... everyone says the Gate of Myriad Manifestations is an ominous gate, that it seals... the Archdemon's inner demon. "If you keep meditating on it, you might be possessed by the Archdemon's inner demon." Concern edged into Canary's tone. Qi Yuan narrowed his eyes as he looked at the Gate of Myriad Manifestations. [Gate of Myriad Manifestations, unknown gate, gate of myriad gates; it can be any gate.] According to the investigations of Shang Yanran and Bai Ze, the Gate of Myriad Manifestations was a replica forged from the boundless inner demons of the Liufeng Realm. Yet what Qi Yuan's eyes perceived had nothing to do with any replica. Qi Yuan patted Canary's head and said gently, "Those are all rumors. We've never witnessed it ourselves, so how could we know what is true or false? "Even the legends of the Buddha, the Archdemon, and the demoness might not be real. "Perhaps someone fabricated them. "Or perhaps the truth is entirely different from what they claim." When it came to rumors, Qi Yuan only ever believed a third. What he trusted most were his own eyes. "Canary, don't believe just anyone. The only person you can truly trust is yourself. Understand?" The sea breeze stirred the surface of the water, raising blossoms of white spray. Canary tilted her head to look at Qi Yuan. "This young lady barely manages to trust you!" Qi Yuan chuckled. "Alright, we should head back to the Blood Palace. There are still matters to attend to." Only then did Canary remember. "Oh no, I forgot! Daoist Yu apparently brought back critical information, but he was gravely wounded and passed out!" Canary quickly told Qi Yuan about Daoist Yu acting as an undercover agent. Upon hearing this, Qi Yuan said, "Let's go have a look." Back when Qi Yuan had preached the Dao, twenty-seven disciples had followed him. Among the twenty-seven, Daoist Yu stood as the foremost. *** Inside the Blood Palace. Daoist Yu lay upon a bed, the sheets soaked red with fresh blood. His face was as pale as paper, unconscious from severe trauma. A grave expression marked Shang Yanran's enchanting, vixen-like face. "The Mystic Maiden of the Purple Sky grows stronger by the day. With just a single blow, Eldest Brother was critically injured." The twenty-seven had sworn brotherhood. Among them, Daoist Yu was their eldest brother. Every one of them held utmost reverence for him. Standing at her side, Bai Ze said anxiously, "Now that she wields the Slate of Fate, the Mystic Maiden's power has grown terrifying. I wonder if our Blood Palace can weather this crisis safely." "Husband, why fret? We'll only know once we fight," Shang Yanran said unyieldingly. She and Bai Ze had been husband and wife even before hearing the Dao. Their temperaments were entirely different. "Alas." Bai Ze sighed. "I only feel that this world is too harsh. "How can someone like the Mystic Maiden of the Purple Sky—a charlatan who steals fame and deceives the world—become the realm's leader? "Slandering our revered master and declaring him to be an archdemon... utterly detestable!" "Who told her to have the Slate of Fate?" Shang Yanran said. Remembering something, she added, "If battle breaks out, we must send Mistress away in advance." "Mistress? What mistress?" Just then, an ethereal, otherworldly voice drifted into the hall. A handsome man dressed in a blood-red robe appeared, holding the hand of the young woman in the bright yellow silk gown. Canary's cheeks flushed crimson. Facing the crowd, she shot a glance at Qi Yuan and muttered, "Don't talk nonsense!" Meanwhile, the moment the people in the hall heard that voice and saw the crimson-robed figure beside her, shock and excitement washed over every face. "Blood Lord!" "Revered Master!" "Revered Master!" Over a dozen figures stepped forward, their excitement beyond measure. They had never imagined that on this very day, they would lay eyes on the Blood Lord, who had vanished for three centuries. Their revered master! A faint smile appeared in Qi Yuan's eyes. Reuniting with old acquaintances brought him some joy as well. However, having already met Canary, that joy was considerably milder. Glancing at Daoist Yu on the bed, he asked softly, "Injured by the Mystic Maiden of the Purple Sky?" Suppressing her agitation, Shang Yanran answered solemnly, "Yes." "What a pity. When I came, I only ran into their army and didn't encounter the Mystic Maiden. Otherwise... a single sword strike would have finished off that clown," Qi Yuan remarked. He had only been gone for three hundred years. Yet this Mystic Maiden of the Purple Sky had gone out of her way to throw mud at him. This gave Qi Yuan a sudden revelation. Once he cleared the game and faced the Palace of Light, he would certainly register a few alternate accounts to aggressively flame them on the forums. "Did Revered Master... come all the way from Mount Jiupan?" Shang Yanran asked. "Yes, without stopping. Aside from drawing my sword to kill a few people along the way, I didn't pause once." Qi Yuan had indeed moved swiftly. The frail old master of Hei Yu and Bai Luo had wanted to send word of the Blood Lord's resurgence to the Ends of the Earth. Yet while that message was still on the road, Qi Yuan had already arrived. "Revered Master, the Mystic Maiden is advancing with terrifying momentum. My recommendation is that we abandon this stronghold and avoid a direct confrontation. "The Purple Sky Alliance possesses well over a hundred Sovereigns, and the Mystic Maiden's strength is unfathomable. "Our Blood Palace only has eight Sovereigns, and one is heavily injured. We are simply no match for them," Shang Yanran said calmly. Had the Blood Lord not returned, she would have already ordered a retreat. Now that he was back, however, she had to seek her master's counsel. Canary tugged at Qi Yuan's sleeve and whispered, "Blood Pearl, the enemy is too strong. Let's just hurry up and run!" Canary cared nothing for pride; she only wanted to stay alive. Looking at everyone, Qi Yuan said slowly, "They are the ones who offended me. Why should we run?" Confidence showed on his face. "I will handle everything!" Had they been Sovereigns of the North-South Accord, Qi Yuan might have harbored some wariness. Yet the Sovereigns of this realm were less true Sovereigns and more half-step Sovereigns bearing the title in name only. Without an origin divine ability, they stood on the exact same cultivation stage as Qi Yuan. Qi Yuan possessed a Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment; why would he fear cultivators of the same rank? A single sword strike could fell them by the dozen, effortlessly. The only slight nuisance was the Mystic Maiden of the Purple Sky. Hearing Qi Yuan's words, the others exchanged glances. Shang Yanran smiled and flattered, "Since Revered Master is here, all our worries are resolved!" Bai Ze remained burdened with worry, but said nothing more. To them, their master's divine sanctity surpassed even the Slate of Fate. Qi Yuan looked toward Daoist Yu and tapped the empty air with his finger. A crimson hue spread through the void, condensing into a single drop of blood. With a flick of his finger, the droplet entered Daoist Yu's mouth. Qi Yuan said, "In half a day, he will awaken." This healing technique stemmed from the Way of the Human-Demon. Qi Yuan had long mastered the Way of the Human-Demon; his comprehension of this system had surpassed even the Venerable and the White Emperor during his last journey into the past. Mending a few injuries was trivial. "Since there is nothing else, I will take my leave. "When the Purple Sky Alliance attacks, I will naturally take action." Having spoken, Qi Yuan led Canary away. Of all his ties to this realm, his connection to Canary ran deepest. He intended to comprehend the Gate of Myriad Manifestations. Once the Purple Sky Alliance was annihilated, he would attempt to enter it. At present, the gate had not yet opened, and Qi Yuan could not be completely certain he could enter. To him, the rest of the people here were mere passersby. "Respectfully sending off Revered Master!" "Respectfully sending off the Blood Lord!" The crowd bowed reverently. Watching Qi Yuan depart, those present felt as though they were living in a dream. The Blood Lord had arrived in haste and left in haste. A brief silence fell over the room before one Sovereign spoke up. "Everyone, were you able to discern Revered Master's true strength?" the Sovereign asked, raising a delicate question. Under normal circumstances, he would never have asked such a thing. Yet with the threat of the Purple Sky Alliance looming over them, they could no longer afford hesitation; they had to consider their own survival. "I could not tell," the other Sovereigns shook their heads. The Blood Lord was born sacred, shrouded in profound mystery to them. Shang Yanran spoke up. "He is probably stronger than me, but compared to the Mystic Maiden, it is hard to say. After all... she possesses the Slate of Fate." At the mention of the Slate of Fate, everyone's hearts grew heavy. That supreme treasure was cloaked in far too much legendary wonder. Rumors held that whoever gained it would conquer the world. Others claimed that the Buddha had been able to reign supreme over the realm precisely because of the Slate of Fate's aid. "Since Revered Master is confident, we ought to place our trust in him." Bai Ze had always revered the Blood Lord with unquestioning faith. Knowing her husband's temperament, Shang Yanran smiled. "We shall prepare on two fronts. On one hand, we will stand alongside Revered Master against the Purple Sky Alliance. On the other, we must prepare an escape route just in case." *** At the Ends of the Earth, the ocean waters surged. Qi Yuan sat upon the giant boulder, quietly meditating on the Gate of Myriad Manifestations. Canary rested her chin in her hands, watching Qi Yuan without blinking, as if terrified that the moment she closed her eyes, Blood Pearl would vanish once more. "Blood Pearl... how long will you stay this time?" After an unknown amount of time, Canary summoned the courage to ask. "I don't know." Qi Yuan truly did not know. The opportunity to comprehend origin had pulled him into the Liufeng Realm's past. The girl sitting quietly beside him was a figure from history. Ultimately, he had to return to the present era and could not remain forever in the past. The thought left Qi Yuan restless. It only strengthened his resolve to attain the Dao of a Primordial Chaos Sage and take control of the River of Time. Unfortunately, meditating on the Gate of Myriad Manifestations had not granted him any abilities related to time and space. "Then when will you appear next? Will it be when the Gate of Myriad Manifestations appears again?" Canary asked expectantly. She and Blood Pearl had always spent far more time apart than together. Yet thinking that good things never came easy, warmth filled Canary's heart. "I don't know that either." Qi Yuan fell silent. After a long while, he spoke slowly, "Canary... one day, I will find you at the end of time." He had many people left to find. There was also Jin Li. "Hmph, this young lady will definitely wait for you, looking her prettiest!" Canary declared cheerfully. "Don't you go getting old, either. If you come see me with a head full of white hair, I'll pretend I don't know you!" She leaned in close, boldly wrapping her arms around Qi Yuan's arm, cherishing this reunion with all her heart. Qi Yuan's heart also calmed as he focused on perceiving the Gate of Myriad Manifestations. Once he eliminated the Mystic Maiden of the Purple Sky, he would consider stepping into the gate. *** Within the Blood Palace, dark clouds gathered. News of the Blood Lord's return had invigorated the palace for a time. Unfortunately, it was not long before trouble arose. Many experts who had joined the Blood Palace in later years fled. Before departing, these experts proclaimed, "The Slate of Fate declared that the Blood Lord is an archdemon! "The Archdemon is the origin of all inner demons; the entire world should unite to destroy him!" This stirred great unrest within the Blood Palace, plunging everyone into panic. Many sought to flee. Shang Yanran ruthlessly suppressed several traitors, staining the Blood Palace with blood. Only then did the defections slow. Even so, the entire Blood Palace remained like a fragile boat tossed about in a tempest, beset by ill fortune and teetering on the brink of capsizing at any moment. Yet at this juncture, many veteran followers who had once listened to the sermon on Mount Jiupan rushed toward the Blood Palace to support the Blood Lord. Regrettably, compared to the sea of experts from across the realm converging on the Ends of the Earth to slay the Archdemon, their numbers were far too few. A storm brewed; undercurrents surged. Outside the Blood Palace at the Ends of the Earth, experts from the Three Imperial Dynasties, the Seven Great Sects, the Twelve Noble Clans, and the Purple Sky Alliance assembled in endless streams. They awaited only an order from the Mystic Maiden of the Purple Sky for the heroes of the realm to launch a unified assault against the Archdemon. One day, when the wind was calm and the sky was clear over the open sea, the crimson-robed figure on the shore stood up. Across the firmament, the Gate of Myriad Manifestations finally swung open. Qi Yuan looked toward the gate, a sharp gleam flashing in his eyes. Countless terrifying, eerie auras permeated the air. A look of greed surfaced in Qi Yuan's gaze. He had a premonition that once he entered, the rewards would be beyond measure! Perhaps he might even comprehend his own origin divine ability. Just then, a roar echoed from within the Gate of Myriad Manifestations. It sounded as if a terrifying entity was struggling to break free from the gate and emerge into the world. Looking at the gate, the greed in his eyes faded, replaced by curiosity. "Is the Archdemon's... inner demon inside the Gate of Myriad Manifestations?" At that moment, the heavy roll of a war drum sounded, plunging the entire world into an atmosphere of slaughter. The great battle... had begun.