Slaying Immortals in One Step - Part Five

"You truly are... truly insane."
Bai Lu Ye sighed thus.
Yet he seemed to have no words, and could only follow the will of these madmen.
Jiang Xue He said he wanted to help Ti Ying; good, he would help.
Ti Ying said she wanted to save Jiang Xue He; good, he would follow his junior sister.
But Yujing Sect was so vast; to rescue someone from within, with just him and his junior sister, it was likely not enough. Yet Bai Lu Ye could not speak these words—Ti Ying had a youthful spirit, a stubborn temperament; she wouldn't turn back until hitting the southern wall. The more he spoke of difficulty, the more she would want to save him.
What's more, it was Jiang Xue He.
Although Jiang Xue He always felt that Ti Ying didn't like him that much, to Bai Lu Ye, who grew up with Ti Ying, he knew best that his junior sister's fragile love was almost entirely devoted to Jiang Xue He.
Perhaps they all underestimated their junior sister's heart.
A group of cultivators eagerly rubbed their hands, ascending Yujing Mountain to assist Yujing Sect in jointly slaying the immortal. Ti Ying and Bai Lu Ye mingled within the crowd.
They heard those people speak of "Kai Xian Lu" with excitement, and of "Ye Sha" and "Jing Ren Zhu" with fear and hatred. It seemed that overnight, Jiang Xue He, once heaven's chosen, became reviled by countless people.
Bai Lu Ye worried that Ti Ying would be impatient.
But Ti Ying wore a veiled hat, hiding her face behind the veil, and was more composed than ever before.
She did not rush out to confront those people, nor did she argue on Jiang Xue He's behalf. She quietly watched everyone's fear of immortals and their yearning for cultivation, listening to them curse Jiang Xue He.
She felt this was wrong.
But she had no intention of arguing with them at this moment.
Her heart was in turmoil and uneasy.
She had many questions she wanted to ask Jiang Xue He, and much anger directed solely at Jiang Xue He.
She neither understood why Jiang Xue He had deceived her, nor why Jiang Xue He would be taken away by Yujing Sect.
Senior Brother is so powerful... Would there also be times when he couldn't defeat Yujing Sect?
She had thought that, unless Master Shen left the mountain, no one would be Senior Brother's opponent. But if even Senior Brother couldn't defeat Yujing Sect, how could she save him?
Ti Ying could only think: *Once I rescue him, everything will become clear.*
Next, on their way to Yujing Sect, Ti Ying and Bai Lu Ye met someone.
No, it should be said, a demon.
This great demon was not met by chance; he had originally come to find them—Bi Fang.
The great demons of the Demon Race, arrogant and self-important, took human form for convenience.
When the tall, slender man with deep-set features stopped Ti Ying and Bai Lu Ye on the road, the senior and junior siblings initially didn't recognize him as Bi Fang.
When they did recognize Bi Fang, their scalps tingled. Ti Ying conjured a Talisman, pinching it with her fingers, while Bai Lu Ye wove a circle of puppet strings between his five fingers. The senior and junior siblings faced him as if confronting a formidable enemy, but Bi Fang was stunned, his interest waning.
Bi Fang: "I didn't come to fight you, nor to capture the First Young Master. I have other important matters."
Ti Ying's eyes flickered: She reacted to "First Young Master" referring to her Senior Brother, Bai Lu Ye.
Bai Lu Ye raised an eyebrow, looking at Bi Fang with profound meaning: This was the first time this great demon had been so polite to him; before, he never spoke like a human.
Ti Ying, with her bad temper, directly lifted her chin: "Senior Brother will not go with you to the Demon Realm to meet your Queen. Senior Brother and I also have matters to attend to. If you want to stop us, let's see if your prowess is sufficient!"
Her heart was set on rescuing someone, and she had no time to fight with this great demon, so she threatened him: My current prowess is different from before, much more formidable!
Bi Fang glanced at her indifferently, then scoffed.
He was so arrogant, his eyes gazing at the sky, as he stated his purpose: "Something has happened in the Demon Realm; the Queen has perished. When the Eldest Young Master ascended the throne, there were some minor troubles. Some demons believe the First Young Master also has the right of succession, advocating for the First Young Master to return to the Demon Realm... This is clearly an attempt to split the Demon Realm."
"So I represent the Eldest Young Master in seeking the First Young Master. If the First Young Master renounces his right to the throne and supports the Eldest Young Master, it will silence those wild dogs. This is not a big problem; as long as you agree, the Demon Realm will no longer hunt you down in the future."
Ti Ying was astonished.
She didn't quite understand what this great demon was being so noble about; he clearly had a request for Senior Brother, yet he acted with an air of bestowing a favor.
Ti Ying's eyes darted about, then she sneered: "You can continue hunting us down; we're no longer afraid of you."
Bi Fang glared: "You!"
If he were in his bird form at this moment, he would surely have flapped his wings and slapped her. Unfortunately, he was currently in human form, so he could only glare.
Bai Lu Ye's pupils suddenly flashed. He slowly retracted his puppet strings, stepping between his bickering junior sister and Bi Fang, his peach blossom eyes curving into a smile as he pointed at himself: "So... you actually have something to ask of me?"
Bi Fang was furious.
After a long while, he grudgingly snorted through his nose.
Bai Lu Ye chuckled: "Easy to say, easy to say. If you want me to renounce my right of succession, does that mean I must accompany you on a trip to the Demon Realm?"
Bi Fang looked at Bai Lu Ye with a strange gaze, his expression softening: He hadn't expected Bai Lu Ye to be a good person.
He nodded.
Bai Lu Ye threw his hands up in distress: "Don't worry, I won't contend for the Demon King's position with your 'Eldest Young Master.' I'm an ordinary person; why would I want to be the leader of the Demon Realm? To be honest, your constant pursuit of me has been very annoying. If we can put aside past grievances, I can also breathe a sigh of relief. I am very willing to go with you."
Ti Ying: "Huh?"
She looked at her Senior Brother suspiciously: When did he become so kind-hearted?
Bai Lu Ye, with his delicate and handsome face, curved his peach blossom eyes, pinching his thumb and forefinger together, leaving a tiny gap: "However, I'm currently encountering a small problem in the human world. Just a tiny bit. Only after resolving this small problem can I return to the Demon Realm with you. Please, Great King Bi Fang, wait a moment."
Bi Fang arrogantly scoffed: "What troubles could you have in the human world? I'll solve them directly for you; you just come with me to the Demon Realm."
Bai Lu Ye immediately gave a thumbs-up: "Great King is generous and righteous!"
Bi Fang sneered.
Bai Lu Ye immediately continued: "This trouble is a trouble for us, but for Great King, it will certainly be easy to resolve—my junior sister and I want to assault Yujing Sect to rescue someone."
Bi Fang said carelessly: "A small problem... What?! Assault Yujing Sect?!"
His eyes widened.
The former Queen of the Demon Realm deeply hated Yujing Sect, yet she dared not assault Yujing Sect. These two children, combined, hadn't even lived half a century, yet they dared to speak of assaulting Yujing Sect?
Bi Fang turned and left.
This time, it was Bai Lu Ye's turn to jump out and block him.
He smiled placatingly: "We're not trying to destroy Yujing Sect; we don't have that kind of ability, do we? We just want to rescue someone. Once we've rescued them, we'll definitely leave..."
He turned his head, winking at little Ti Ying.
Ti Ying then suppressed her arrogance, enduring her rubbing temper, forcing out a very awkward little face, and coaxed this great bird with sweet words: "Great King Bi Fang, you've lived for centuries, haven't you? How can you be afraid of Yujing Sect?"
"Great King, along the way, haven't you heard them talk about 'Slaying Immortals and Lifting Restrictions'? They want to destroy my Senior Brother. Think about it, with Yujing Sect's abilities, once the Kai Xian Lu opens, those powerful Grand Elders might immediately step onto the immortal path and become true immortals... Then wouldn't your Demon Realm have some minor troubles? Wouldn't you be afraid of the Demon Realm facing disaster?"
"This..." Bi Fang calmed down. Indeed, along the way, he had heard many slogans of "Slaying Immortals and Lifting Restrictions."
He hadn't thought much of it.
After all, the opening of the immortal path was also a good thing for demon races like him.
But, just as Ti Ying said... The immortal's restrictions should indeed be lifted, but not during this period when the immortal sects suppress the Demon Realm. Only when the Demon Realm could trample Yujing Sect underfoot would it be the most opportune time to lift the immortal's restrictions.
Bi Fang lowered his eyes, glancing at them, then said solemnly: "Let's discuss how to proceed."
--
Thus, the senior and junior siblings, with headaches, dragged a great demon into their team.
But in reality, it didn't improve their luck much.
The great demon also had a headache from the start.
Bi Fang stated frankly that he could block one Nascent Soul Stage Grand Elder, and at most he could hold off two or three, but any more, and he couldn't. As for children like Bai Lu Ye and Ti Ying, who hadn't even cultivated a Primordial Spirit, they could probably only deal with miscellaneous soldiers and generals.
Bi Fang said unceremoniously: "Just the two of you want to assault Yujing Sect. I'm afraid the moment Yujing Sect's mountain-protecting grand formation opens, the two of you will die inside."
Bai Lu Ye twirled the puppet strings in his hand, slowly saying: "That's not necessarily true."
He was a puppet master, and his methods were different from ordinary cultivators.
And at this moment, he could even joke: "I'm so unlucky, maybe a bolt of heavenly lightning striking down could injure everyone around me."
Ti Ying's expression was steady as she said: "I have a very powerful ultimate killing technique. However, this Immortal Art is best used by surprise; if used at the very beginning, the effect won't be good."
She was resolute: "If I use this Immortal Art, I might be able to stop several Grand Elders for an instant."
Bai Lu Ye's heart skipped a beat.
He immediately warned Ti Ying: "We are here to rescue someone, not to fight with Grand Elders."
Ti Ying snorted.
Bi Fang pondered.
Bi Fang raised his chin, muttering to himself: "Rescue someone, rescue someone... If it's just to rescue someone, perhaps it's much easier."
The senior and junior siblings were stunned.
Bi Fang said: "You must know that the Queen of the Demon Realm and the former Sect Leader Bai of Yujing Sect had an old feud. In the past, after I, the Demon King, was schemed against by that Bai, I returned to the Demon Realm, filled with indignation, and began refining a completely unprecedented Magical Treasure, intending to deal with Sect Leader Bai. I hoped that once the refinement succeeded, I could assault Yujing Sect and settle scores with Sect Leader Bai."
The senior and junior siblings were invigorated.
Ti Ying repeatedly asked: "What Magical Treasure?"
Bi Fang: "What do we have most of in the Demon Realm? Seawater. The Buku Sea surrounds us. The Demon King patrolled it once and began refining the Buku Sea. Her cultivation was refined for more than half its duration within the Buku Sea... Later, our Demon King did not succeed and perished."
This plan, naturally, also failed. But the Buku Sea, however, can rise ten zhang high, carrying the residual spiritual power of the Demon King. Perhaps it truly can hold back Yujing Sect for a short period.
Ti Ying's spirits soared.
She slammed the table: "Good, let's do it! Flood Yujing Sect with water, we'll drown Yujing Sect!"
Bai Lu Ye coughed violently at the side: How could it be that easy? If it were that easy, wouldn't the Demon King have assaulted Yujing Sect long ago?
Bi Fang looked awkward at the side: "As the Demon King's most trusted great demon, I have a way to divert the Buku Sea for a moment. But as you also know, that is the Buku Sea, located in Nanzhou, while Yujing Sect is in Dongzhou. To divert the seawater from Nanzhou to Dongzhou requires forming an array to avoid causing a great disaster, harming the world, and incurring heavenly punishment. With my spiritual power, it's a bit strenuous..."
Bai Lu Ye said nothing.
Ti Ying said: "I understand many formations; I can help you consider it."
Bai Lu Ye: "I can also temporarily lend you my spiritual power..."
This was merely a drop in the ocean.
But Bi Fang lowered his head in contemplation, then still gritted his teeth, slammed the table, and decided.
He was a loyal follower of the Queen.
The Queen was dead, and he would devote himself wholeheartedly to the Eldest Young Master. As long as Bai Lu Ye wasn't snatched away by those thieving disciples to contend for the Demon King's position with the Eldest Young Master, helping Bai Lu Ye was nothing.
Although it was strenuous, wealth and honor are sought amidst danger.
Bi Fang: "Then it's settled."
--
They finally agreed that Ti Ying would stay here to look for an opportunity to rescue someone, while Bai Lu Ye and Bi Fang would make a trip to assist in diverting the Buku Sea.
Perhaps Wushen Palace, being in cahoots with Yujing Sect, would obstruct them along the way. Bai Lu Ye's cultivation method countered Wushen Palace, which might prove useful.
Before leaving, Bai Lu Ye warned Ti Ying not to act recklessly in his absence.
Ti Ying agreed.
But Bai Lu Ye was still uneasy about her.
Bai Lu Ye took out his puppet strings and cast a spell—"If you don't listen, and insist on courting death, my spiritual power is higher than yours. I can temporarily take your place a bit, making it impossible for others to harm your life."
Ti Ying was startled.
She looked at Bai Lu Ye with a very strange gaze.
Temporarily take her place... In reality, at the critical moment of life and death, it meant taking on damage beyond her capacity, protecting her life.
Bai Lu Ye was a puppet master; he had his puppet master's methods. As long as his puppet strings wrapped around Ti Ying, Ti Ying would become his puppet, and he would become her master. Thus, at a crucial moment, their master-servant identities could be exchanged.
But what Bai Lu Ye didn't know was that he could no longer replace Ti Ying.
Because there was someone who had already opened the Xingzhong Array with Ti Ying. He had already used his life to protect her; as long as Jiang Xue He was alive, it would be impossible for anyone to first exceed the authority of the Xingzhong Array and take on the suffering in Ti Ying's place.
Ti Ying's eyes were slightly vacant.
To prevent Bai Lu Ye from suspecting, she extended her hand, allowing her Senior Brother's puppet strings to wrap around her.
One's soul, borrowing the puppet strings, produced a faint resonance.
Ti Ying felt this novel experience. Bai Lu Ye, fearing she wouldn't like being his servant, reassured her: "It's only temporary. Once we rescue him, I'll remove the puppet strings."
Ti Ying smiled.
Her smile was clean and clear, without any abnormality: "It's fine. I want to save him, and you're doing this for my good; I understand."
Bai Lu Ye paused.
He stroked her hair.
She tilted her face, wanting to dodge, but endured it, allowing her Senior Brother's hand to touch her head.
Bai Lu Ye felt even more bitter, coaxing her: "Then let me check your soul, to see if the puppet mark is there."
Ti Ying: "Mm."
Others entering her soul was not the first time. Yet she felt extremely unnatural and uncomfortable. She instinctively felt vigilance, instinctively felt a desire for self-preservation... Then she was stunned, wondering why, when Jiang Xue He entered, she had no thought of avoiding him.
Ti Ying lowered her head.
She innocently realized that Jiang Xue He, in her heart, was probably truly different from others.
Bai Lu Ye checked her soul.
He saw the mist at her spiritual root in her sea of consciousness, thinking that Jiang Xue He had indeed not lied to him. Jiang Xue He had arranged everything properly...
...Could Ti Ying truly break Jiang Xue He's arrangements?
Bai Lu Ye had heard Jiang Xue He's words, yet he followed Ti Ying to rescue Jiang Xue He. Bai Lu Ye himself found it hard to say what kind of ending he hoped this story would have.
Ti Ying's delicate voice echoed in his sea of consciousness: "Are you not done yet? Hurry and come out."
Bai Lu Ye snapped back to reality, smiling and saying he was.
He exited his junior sister's sea of consciousness.
Ti Ying immediately jumped back, three steps away from him, her face solemn.
She finally felt uncomfortable with someone else intruding into her sea of consciousness.
Bai Lu Ye watched her for a long time, then thought for a moment, and suddenly added unnecessarily: "I saw a contract in your soul in your sea of consciousness. You formed a contract with him? What kind of contract is it?"
Ti Ying lowered her head.
After a long while, she said: "...I haven't thought clearly about what kind of contract it is."
"Once I rescue Senior Brother, I'll know."
*Once I rescue Senior Brother... she might then understand how to use the divine contract.*
Bai Lu Ye said: "Do you perhaps think it's a divine contract?"
Ti Ying was stunned.
She looked up.
She asked: "...Isn't it?"
Bai Lu Ye paused, then overcame his conflicted thoughts, and said something cryptic: "...I always knew he treated you very well, loved you very much, but I didn't know he would go this far for you."
Ti Ying's eyes moved.
Bai Lu Ye said gently to her: "Did he tell you that it's a divine contract, that with this contract, your souls can be united, living and dying together, and you can contact him at any time, sense his aura at any time, and know where he is?"
Ti Ying's voice immediately rose: "Can't I?! Did he lie to me again?!"
She immediately became annoyed, about to try the divine contract, but Bai Lu Ye stopped her—
Bai Lu Ye deliberated: "You can indeed contact him at any time, sense his aura at any time, and know where he is. But your souls cannot be united, living and dying together. He hasn't completely lied to you... because if it were living and dying together, you wouldn't be able to do it either."
Ti Ying was angry: "How do you know I can't without trying?"
Bai Lu Ye: "Let me explain more clearly. With this contract, you can contact him, but he cannot contact you. If you never contact him, he will never sense you. No matter how much he misses you, he cannot disturb you, nor can he actively speak to you."
"What kind of contract do you think this is?"
Ti Ying was stunned.
She racked her brains.
She knew too many spells, formations, and contracts, but she didn't have this kind in her mind.
Bai Lu Ye lowered his eyes: "That's a master-servant contract—very similar in function to my puppet strings."
"The difference is that it's a master-servant contract that can only be formed between a person and a Spirit Beast. He used a method to conceal his identity, treating himself as a Spirit Beast, and signed a contract with you, so he can only be used by you."
Bai Lu Ye bent down.
He looked into Ti Ying's eyes, softly saying: "Xiao Ying, don't be angry with him."
"For love of you, he willingly debased himself, to be your ox and horse, to be your Spirit Beast."