Feng Qishi glanced at Ye Yu, whose expression shifted as quickly as flipping through a book, and said, "Don't let go." His tone was firm.
Ye Yu nodded, "Mm, he's a bad guy." With that, he glared at Piao, who was trying to figure something out.
Piao completely ignored Ye Yu and focused intently on the demon barrier.
At the same time, Feng Qishi deliberately met Ouyang Ye's gaze, which had shifted to his face, and smiled faintly.
Ouyang Ye stared at Feng Qishi, his brow furrowed.
Feng Qishi, in turn, stared back at Ouyang Ye, trying to glean something from his expression.
Conversely, Ouyang Ye felt goosebumps from Feng Qishi's stare and turned his head towards Mu Anxiao.
Seeing this, Feng Qishi clicked his tongue and also shifted his gaze to Mu Anxiao.
Mu Anxiao, meanwhile, stood with her broadsword held high, shielding the fake Mu Long and Aunt Mu Xiang. The fake Mu Long, holding the trembling, on-the-verge-of-a-breakdown Aunt Mu Xiang, hesitated and looked up at Mu Anxiao, "Find a way."
Mu Anxiao had witnessed all of Mu Xi's worst traits, so hearing his command only filled her with annoyance. However, recalling the events of Xin'er's death in her previous life, she replied, "I know, you don't need to tell me." As she spoke, she looked up at Xi'er, who was perched on a roof beam, grinning at them.
Xi'er: "You're blocking my demonic energy."
"..." Mu Anxiao shot Xi'er an angry glare, narrowed her eyes, and then turned to look at the pale-faced Aunt Mu Xiang, realizing, "You've cast a demon spell on her." After speaking, she suddenly turned back to Xi'er.
Just moments ago, Mu Anxiao had sensed Xi'er's demonic energy but had assumed Xi'er was merely releasing it to intimidate Mu Xi and seize the opportunity to act.
Therefore, worried that Xi'er might harm her aunt, she had prioritized Ouyang Ye.
Who would have thought... Xi'er had made the first move.
It now appeared that her suspicion about Xi'er and Ouyang Ye's relationship was far from ordinary.
"If you break it, she won't go mad. If you can't, she will," Xi'er said, propping her chin with one hand, watching Mu Anxiao leisurely.
Mu Anxiao: "You did this on purpose." She thought of Xin'er's final state in her previous life.
Xi'er lowered her eyes and smiled, looking at Ouyang Ye, "You said you would help me."
Hearing this, Ouyang Ye looked up at Xi'er, who was staring at him, thought for a moment, and then looked at Mu Anxiao, "I never expected you to be so ruthless towards me."
Mu Anxiao was taken aback.
Ouyang Ye: "Mu Xi, actually... she killed Xin'er. Xin'er died not long after you did." He then raised his hand.
Mu Xi's eyes widened upon hearing Ouyang Ye's words, "...." His gaze towards Mu Anxiao turned sinister.
Following Ouyang Ye's words, Mu Anxiao shifted sideways, lowering her head to meet Mu Xi's eyes, "Mu Xi, do you believe me, or do you believe him."
Within the demon barrier, if Mu Xi and Ouyang Ye were to cooperate, Mu Anxiao would be the one to suffer. Furthermore, based on Mu Anxiao's limited understanding of Xi'er, she knew that Xi'er would undoubtedly make a move on Aunt Mu Xiang while she was fighting with Mu Xi.
At that point, she might inexplicably be blamed for killing Aunt Mu Xiang. Not only Mu Xi would hate her, but Aunt Mu Xiang would too, including Aunt Mu Xiang's child.
Thinking about it, she had to make things clear with Mu Xi.
Mu Xi (fake Mu Long): "You pushed me off the cliff, you..."
"Shut up," Mu Anxiao interrupted, worried about wasting time. She squatted down and looked directly into Mu Xi's eyes, "Do you remember how you treated me back then?"
"..."
Mu Xi still remembered being used by Mu Anxiao. The moment Mu Anxiao said those words, he averted his gaze.
Mu Anxiao continued, "Back then, I considered you my closest relative. In the end, you treated me like that, and all for Xin'er. These," her eyes welled up with tears, "have you forgotten?"
"..."
"You say I pushed you off the cliff, but have you ever considered if a ten-year-old me had that much strength? Also," Mu Anxiao said, "I've told you, your grave is on the other side of the cliff. If you fell and died, do you think... you would have a grave?"
"I was clearly by you..."
"You believe everything they say but me. I can understand. We're not close anyway," Mu Anxiao interrupted, still looking directly into Mu Xi's eyes. "In short, I saw the entire process of your death."
"What?"
"You were torn apart by a monster under Xi'er's command. In the end, your soul jumped off the cliff. Your body," Mu Anxiao forced herself to recall the scene she had witnessed at the time and continued, "was torn apart. I... buried you, and Xin'er is buried beside you." After speaking, she glanced at Aunt Mu Xiang.
Mu Xi was speechless.
Seeing Mu Xi speechless, Mu Anxiao also breathed a sigh of relief. "Protect her," she said, standing up and turning towards Ouyang Ye, "How did you know he was Mu Xi?"
From the beginning, Mu Anxiao had realized that Ouyang Ye actually knew nothing. He only wanted to marry Aunt Mu Xiang and kill Mu Long, who always bullied Aunt Mu Xiang.
And now... he had mentioned the name 'Mu Xi,' which confused her.
"..." Ouyang Ye smiled and snapped his fingers. A red light floated towards Mu Anxiao.
Seeing this, Mu Anxiao quickly swung her broadsword, a seemingly futile gesture towards the red light.
Ouyang Ye scoffed, "Naive."
Mu Anxiao frowned and watched the red light pass through her broadsword and float above Mu Xi's head.
She turned to Mu Xi, muttering, "It's over."
Outside the demon barrier.
Feng Qishi listened to the conversation between Ouyang Ye and Mu Anxiao, then looked up at Xi'er hiding on the roof beam. He thought about what the old master had once said: if a demon collaborated with a monster, the monster would merge with its own weapon, becoming a weapon exclusive to the demon.
However, that monster had to submit to the demon. If the heart wasn't sincere, nothing would work.
Thinking this, he glanced at Ouyang Ye and Xi'er, and then at the demon barrier before him, he suddenly understood. If his guess was correct, Xi'er had become Ouyang Ye's weapon, and they were now in a telepathic relationship. Therefore, Xi'er was the one who had told him about Mu Xi's true identity.
He then glanced at Piao, who happened to turn his head to look at him, and said, "I understand."
Piao: "I understand too."
Hearing this, Feng Qishi frowned, "What do you understand?"
"I can't," Piao shook his head.
Feng Qishi did not appear surprised by Piao's reply. Instead, he remained calm, "I know, you're right. If you try to break it forcefully with demonic arts, you'll only trigger the mechanisms within the demon barrier, and then the monsters will surely come out. Conversely," he glanced towards Mu Anxiao, "only Mu Anxiao can break it herself, and the switch to break it is that female monster." He then looked up at Xi'er on the roof beam.
Piao also looked in that direction.
Ye Yu chuckled.
"However, for safety's sake," Piao said, "we should wait for the battle."
Feng Qishi nodded.
Thus, Piao and Feng Qishi were in agreement.
Inside the demon barrier, Mu Anxiao looked down at Mu Xi, whose demonic energy was gradually returning, and then at Aunt Mu Xiang, who sat in place, giggling and her expression changing. Her heart sank. To prevent her aunt from being harmed, she bent down and took her aunt's arm.
The aunt's body stiffened, and she looked up into Mu Anxiao's eyes, pouted, and shouted, "Daddy."
In her previous life, Xin'er had recognized Mu Anxiao as Mu Xi the moment she saw her. Mu Anxiao could accept that. After all, she was Mu Xi's sister, and it was natural for them to resemble each other somewhat.
Now... her aunt's calling her "Daddy" left Mu Anxiao stunned, "..." She didn't know what to say.
Aunt Mu Xiang cried, "Yu'er is scared." She then hugged Mu Anxiao's arm.
Mu Anxiao didn't want to accept this reality, but seeing Mu Xi still dazed, she realized this was the best time to take her aunt away.
Therefore, ignoring Ouyang Ye behind her and enduring the heartache of being called "Daddy," she pulled her aunt, looked to both sides, and finally placed her aunt in a corner by the chair, "Yu'er, sit." She deliberately deepened her voice.
Aunt Mu Xiang pouted, "Daddy, Yu'er is scared, it's dark." Tears slid down her cheeks.
Mu Anxiao was stunned.
Ouyang Ye watched with amusement as Mu Anxiao openly began arranging Aunt Mu Xiang and asked, "Mu Anxiao, is this useful?"
Hearing this, Mu Anxiao tilted her head, completely ignoring Ouyang Ye, and looked down at her aunt, who was tightly holding her arm, saying, "Be good, sit down, I'll light a candle for you."
"Candle, okay, there will be light, Yu'er can sleep."
Seeing her aunt so foolish, Mu Anxiao's heart sank. She remembered Xin'er waiting for her in the rain, thinking she had put on her wedding dress. Her nose stung, "Mm, then you can sleep well." As she spoke, she personally helped her aunt sit down and then tried to use her demonic arts to undo the spell Xi'er had cast on her.
Immediately, Aunt Mu Xiang's mind relaxed. She released her grip and leaned against the corner.
Mu Anxiao stood up, took a step back, and while Ouyang Ye was mocking her, she secretly raised two fingers and cast a barrier around her aunt.
Ouyang Ye did not sense what Mu Anxiao had done and laughed, "Mu Anxiao, it's futile."
Hearing this, Mu Anxiao looked down at her aunt, who had closed her eyes, and whispered, "Sleep well, and when you wake up, you'll be yourself again." As she spoke, the light within the barrier carried her aunt into sleep. xxs1
On the roof beam, Xi'er looked down at Mu Xi, who had opened his eyes, and smiled, "There's a good show to watch." She then looked at Ouyang Ye.
Ouyang Ye took a step back, "Everything I said is the truth, Mu Xi."
(Fake Mu Long) Mu Xi glanced at Ouyang Ye, then looked down at his hand, and said, "I believe you." He then looked up at Xi'er.
Heavenly Realm.
By the lake, the Great Immortal and lesser immortals were accustomed to Mu Anxiao's frequent use of demonic arts. They were now calmly watching Mu Anxiao, who could potentially cooperate with the demon Ouyang Ye at any moment, and were discussing heatedly.
Butler Immortal: "Who do you think will win?" he asked, staring at the scene in the lake.
Butler Immortal No. 2: "I believe in Mu Anxiao."
Fate Immortal: "If Mu Anxiao wins, I will help her apply for the right to use demonic arts."
"Count me in."
"Count me in." They said in unison.
Demons posed a great threat to immortals. If Mu Anxiao were to marry Ouyang Ye, given the harm they had inflicted on Mu Anxiao, they would only gain an enemy.
This would be a significant trouble for them.
Moreover, Ouyang Ye was a disgrace to the Fate Immortal. He had been trying to subdue Ouyang Ye all this time, but the Fate Immortal had never found him.
Now, looking at this scene through the Immortal Lake, he couldn't help but see Mu Anxiao's usefulness.
Zhang Yan: "Now that they're talking like this, I wonder which group of people previously wanted to kill my disciple." He stopped behind the Fate Immortal.
Shi Yi and Shen Xian stood in the distance, watching the crowd of immortals, exchanged glances, and said nothing.
They smiled at Zhang Yan.
Zhang Yan put his hands behind his back and put on a profound air, "Fate Immortal, this is your disciple, isn't it?" he said, looking at the Fate Immortal.
The Fate Immortal smiled awkwardly, "Ashamed, ashamed."
"This demon, to us, is both a threat and not a threat. However," Zhang Yan clicked his tongue, "your disciple is no simple matter."
The Fate Immortal averted his gaze.
Zhang Yan walked to the edge of the lake, glanced at the lake, turned to Mu Xi (the fake Mu Long) who was facing Mu Anxiao, and narrowed his eyes, "To be this brother is quite something. But, if he hadn't been so ruthless," a smile touched his lips, "I wouldn't have such an excellent disciple."
Fate Immortal: "This is not the time for your sarcastic remarks. Help her." He stood beside Zhang Yan.
Zhang Yan glanced at the Fate Immortal and said calmly, "Don't worry, my disciple will definitely win. Of course, she will use her arts. We don't need you to... apply."
"You..."
"I don't do things that create obligations. Even if I apply, I'll apply myself."
"That requires witnesses," the Fate Immortal said.
Zhang Yan smiled faintly, "I have evidence of my disciple using demonic arts to save people. Soon..."
"Great Immortal Zhang, it's here."
Hearing this, they all turned to look at a black-clothed lesser immortal approaching them. Zhang Yan deliberately looked at the Fate Immortal and feigned ignorance, "What is it?"
The black-clothed lesser immortal passed the group of immortals and stood opposite Zhang Yan, holding out his hand to conjure a booklet, "Your disciple's right to use demonic arts has been approved, but the premise is that she cannot harm others."
"I know, I've taught her all this," Zhang Yan smiled, reached out to take the booklet, and turned to the Fate Immortal, "Oh dear, you're not needed anymore."
"When did you...?" the Fate Immortal exclaimed in surprise.
Zhang Yan: "Not long ago." He nodded to the black-clothed lesser immortal, then turned and shouted towards the lake, "Disciple, use your demonic arts!" He then smiled faintly.
The Fate Immortal was speechless.
The other immortals turned to look at the lake again.
Shi Yi said, "When can I cultivate spiritual energy so I can see Mu Anxiao?" he said in a low voice.
Shen Xian: "Cultivate your spiritual energy well, and you'll be able to soon."
There were many demon immortals whose expectations had turned to disappointment. Although those demon immortals had not cultivated into demons, most of them had become useless. Although he and Shi Yi did not have a deep friendship, he could see that Shi Yi's hope was Mu Anxiao. Therefore, only Mu Anxiao could convince Shi Yi.
Thus, to prevent Shi Yi from ending up like Ouyang Ye, he had to personally give Shi Yi hope and confidence.
Shi Yi nodded after hearing Shen Xian's words, "I will work hard."
"That's good." Shen Xian patted Shi Yi on the shoulder.
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