Chapter 33

In the space of a palm flip, the formidable enemy was reduced to ashes, but Ruan Jing’s face showed no trace of triumph; instead, a faint weariness lingered in the corners of her eyes and brows. From Liushishi Peak to Xianyun Peak, a distance of thousands of miles, she had shown mercy several times with her sword, but Grandma had never turned back. In the end, she had no choice but to slay her, and this was fate.

Only then did Xun Ye rush to Qi Taogu from Xianyun Peak. Deng Yuantong gave him a mocking glance. As the top disciple of the prestigious Xiandu Sect, he actually did not know how to ride a sword, losing face in front of the Kunlun Sect and the Pingyuan Sect. He should not have appeared at all.

Xi Huzi said, "Congratulations, Immortal Ruan, on slaying the demon. You have not let down the trust of the Sect Master." The Sect Master he referred to was Ruan Jing’s master, the Sect Master of the Kunlun Sect, Ziyang Daoist.

Ruan Jing responded lightly, "Fortunately, I did not disgrace the mission." She pointed to the corpse of the beautiful python, "Daoist Yunhe died unjustly, and it all started because of Kunlun. Sect Master Xi, take the Soul-Capturing Eye as compensation."

Xi Huzi’s eyes lit up, and without being polite, he dug out the left eye of the beautiful python and carefully stored it.

Ruan Jing then beckoned to Qi Du, "The skeleton of this beautiful python is intact from head to toe, making it excellent material for a python bone whip. Take the bones and leave the flesh; I have another use for it."

Qi Du had already intended to do so. He immediately summoned his flying sword, dismembering the python’s corpse and taking a long strip of white bones, the front part human bones and the back part python bones, still attached with bits of flesh.

Sun Erdou watched with envy. He had no particular feeling for flying swords but was fond of peculiar weapons. The shape of this python bone was strange, and if refined into a whip, it would suit his taste perfectly.

Ruan Jing glanced back at Wei Shiba, hesitated for a moment, and took out an inconspicuous gray cloth bag from her chest. She activated her primordial energy and collected all the flesh and blood of the beautiful python into the bag, not leaving a single drop. She held the bag behind her back and ran to Wei Shiba’s side, tiptoeing to whisper in his ear, "Tonight, at the place where we ate peaches, I have something to tell you. Come alone, quietly, remember?"

Although her voice was low, she did not deliberately lower it. Xi Huzi and the others, with their cultivated hearing, heard everything clearly.

Wei Shiba nodded slightly. Ruan Jing’s face lit up with a radiant smile. She waved to Xi Huzi and, without saying more, rode her sword light away, leaving a turbulent airflow in the sky that lingered for a long time.

Xi Huzi sighed in relief but then frowned, brushing his sleeves and coldly said, "Qi Du, the matter here is settled. I will not see you off."

Without a word, Qi Du rolled up his disciple and flew away, leaving behind a parting shot, "Xi Huzi, your old injury has not healed, and you will never achieve the Great Dao in this life. You will stop here! The Red Cloud Valley Sword Discussion is approaching; take care of yourself—" This cutting remark pierced Xi Huzi’s heart like a sharp knife. His old injury was indeed inflicted by the Pingyuan Sect, and for fifteen years, he had never forgotten it.

After a long while, he sighed sadly and called Wei Shiba to his side, asking for the details of what had happened. Wei Shiba had nothing to hide and told everything, looking hopefully at the Sect Master, hoping he had a way to remove the pill poison from his body.

Xi Huzi shook his head and said, "The beautiful python stole the essence of the sun and moon, refining the pill poison and condensing it into a demon pearl. The pill poison and the demon pearl are one. The poisonous python killed by Qi Du spewed out the demon pearl, which turned into a poisonous mist and was collected by Qi Yunhe, then planted in your abdomen by Grandma—Once the pill poison enters the body, even this old Daoist has no way to remove it. Life and death are fated; it depends on your luck."

Wei Shiba suddenly understood, thinking, "Ruan Jing solemnly collected the snake gallbladder of the beautiful python, it must have some special use. When Qi Du dissected the poisonous python, perhaps he was not looking for the demon pearl but the snake gallbladder?"

Seeing his master’s lack of interest, Deng Yuantong had a thought and deliberately asked, "Wei Shiba, what did Immortal Ruan say to you before she left?"

Wei Shiba, well-prepared, replied calmly, "Immortal Ruan asked me to meet her tonight, but I don’t know what it’s about."

Xi Huzi said with a gentle smile, "This is your opportunity, but it’s a pity..." He sighed, thinking, "Qi Yunhe’s disciple has a good character, but it’s a pity that the pill poison is hard to remove, and his life is in danger."

After a moment of silence, Xi Huzi continued, "Qi Yunhe died unjustly, and his trial disciples cannot be neglected. Xun Ye, you will temporarily take charge of the outer sect, and Qi Yunhe’s lineage will be entrusted to you."

Xun Ye was taken aback but had no choice but to agree. Deng Yuantong secretly rejoiced, thinking, "Trial disciples are usually guided by the outer sect. Is Master trying to expel Xun Ye from the inner sect?"

Xi Huzi looked up at the sky for a long time, remembering Qi Du’s parting words, and said sadly, "Everyone, disperse!"

The Sect Master and Deng Yuantong flew away on their swords, while Xun Ye stared intently at Wei Shiba and asked, "How did you know that the Sect Master heard what Ruan Jing whispered in your ear?"

"Since the Sect Master asked, I should tell the truth."

"Is that really what you think?"

"Yes."

Xun Ye looked at him for a while, then smiled and said, "Unfortunately, Brother Qi met an untimely death. Are you willing to become my disciple?"

Wei Shiba, without hesitation, knelt before Xun Ye and bowed, "Master, please accept your disciple’s bow!"

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