Chapter 110

Tian Wu Sect was a medium-sized sect, spread across seven mountain ranges within a few hundred miles. Most of their defensive arrays had been torn open by the demonic tide. The sword cultivators were caught off guard by the frenzied assault of the corrupted demons.

Fortunately, the guest rooms of Tian Wu Sect were located on Xun Xian Peak, the main peak among the seven mountains. The young newcomers were initially in chaos, like headless flies, when they saw flames and red butterflies vanquishing the corrupt demons…

The young cultivators: "???"

Everyone knew that the appearance of the flames and red butterflies symbolized the arrival of death.

Between a rock and a hard place.

Fear gripped everyone, making them hesitate to approach. But since they couldn't defeat the numerous corrupt demons and had to watch their comrades get killed, they figured dying at the hands of a Divine Lord might be quicker?

In despair, someone took the lead, and everyone started fleeing towards the guest rooms.

The guest rooms were sealed off by red vines and fire. The group stood at the entrance, caught between two fires. Eventually, voices emerged from the courtyard, and the vines slowly retreated, creating a path for them to enter.

The young cultivators rushed in to find that many of their fellow disciples were already there. A youth in white robes was instructing the terrifying presence in the air, "Wu Huan, expand the defensive circle a bit more. Let people in if they approach, and if you find any intriguing corrupt demons, let them in too."

"Alright," Yue Wu Huan despised being stared at by strangers. He brought back his golden mask from years ago and offered a gentle smile.

Even so, it was sufficiently awe-inspiring.

People are naturally inclined to lower their guards in the presence of beauty. Although the disciples of Tian Wu Sect had heard tales of terrifying incidents during the dark period, they had not experienced it themselves. Bold as only the young can be, they found the Divine Lord rather amicable, so they overcame their fears and joined the fray, helping to finish off the weakened corrupt demons.

Song Qing Shi directed a few Tian Wu Sect disciples who had been on duty in the guest rooms and had already assessed the situation. They prepared rudimentary sickbeds and assisted in treating the wounded.

Fortunately, as a sect of sword cultivators often involved in skirmishes, they were well-versed in treating external injuries. Minor injuries were dealt with swiftly, while Song Qing Shi provided emergency treatment for those corroded by venom or severely wounded. Lives were preserved for the moment, to be tended to by their brethren after the battle.

Having bandaged the newly arrived minorly injured, they turned back to see several menacing corrupt demons caged. Rage surged as they thought of their fallen comrades. Several young disciples immediately drew their swords, ready to avenge their brothers by slaying the demons!

"Stop!" Song Qing Shi's eyes and hands moved quickly, protecting his precious captives.

The youths, eyes reddened, demanded, "Why are you protecting these demons?"

Song Qing Shi explained, "I'm keeping them for research."

The youths didn't understand and still wanted to argue, swords in hand.

At that moment, the guest room chef arrived with freshly slaughtered poultry, trembling as he handed them to Song Qing Shi. He hurriedly fed the starving corrupt demons and observed their feeding habits. Worried, he said, "This doesn't seem enough. Get more food, preferably something larger and alive..."

Song Qing Shi looked back at the passionate young disciples and found them somewhat idle.

The youths sensed his peculiar interest and shivered, their initial fervor fading. They remembered he was in league with that terrifying figure from the Indestructible Peak—no matter how innocent he appeared, he was a ruthless killer. Could he be planning to feed them to the demons?

Their Master had once said that sword cultivators should have the courage to challenge strong opponents, but when the disparity is too great, caution is warranted. Otherwise, the sect would be doomed.

Quietly, the young disciples began to withdraw, hoping to act as if nothing had happened.

Annoyed by their retreat, Song Qing Shi was already swamped with taking care of severely injured patients and his new "treasures." How dare these youths cause chaos and attempt to slack off? He swiftly summoned a barrier of mystic fire, blocking their escape route and sternly commanded, "All of you stay!"

Their faces paled in fright.

Fuming, Song Qing Shi scolded these slackers who showed no initiative or diligence. Dragging them into an impromptu training session, he put them all to work in caregiving roles.

He also planned to suggest to Yu Wen Yan that revitalizing Tian Wu Sect shouldn't rely solely on Yu Wen Yu or focus only on swordsmanship. The long-term vision should emphasize education for these young disciples. Practice makes perfect; it is through rigorous training and intellectual pursuits that a sect can truly prosper.

Just look at how well their Qing Luan of Yao Wang Valley had done, a figure who had earned historical recognition, and all from humble beginnings!

He was proud to have recovered his memories. Initially, Yao Wang Valley was a small sect with just one mountain peak. After his time-traveling endeavors, it became a colossal medical institute with thousands of students and vast lands spanning miles. Just thinking about it filled him with excitement and an urge to rush back home to embrace his Daoist partner.

Yue Wu Huan had already set up a superior magical ship between the Indestructible Peak and Yao Wang Valley, complete with a mobile study and laboratory. Pulled by nine magical birds, it was as fast as lightning and fully met the needs for travel between the two locations. But with the current unseen threats, Yue Wu Huan wanted to remain inseparably by Song Qing Shi's side to protect him. Thus, he suggested relocating Yao Wang Valley's finest labs and assistants to the Indestructible Peak until the issues were resolved, after which they could reside in Yao Wang Valley.

Song Qing Shi happily agreed.

Yu Wen Yan sent a message; after confirming everyone's safety, he unashamedly handed over control of the main peak to Yue Wu Huan.

The Divine Lord of the Indestructible Peak, the most formidable existence in the cultivation realm, was fatal to touch, whether it be his Phoenix Flames or Rebirth Red Butterflies. The corrupt demons that fell were transformed into nourishment for the Blood King Vines.

Although the demons lacked intelligence, they had the instinct of living creatures. After leaving a trail of corpses, they finally learned the dangers and dared not assault the main peak again. Instead, they scattered in small groups of five or six, searching for flesh and blood elsewhere.

The pressure on Tian Wu Sect greatly lessened. Yu Wen Yan and the elders led the disciples above the Golden Core stage in several small teams, exterminating demons and rescuing any stranded or injured humans to provide them shelter and treatment at Xun Xian Peak.

The demonic invasion lasted from dawn till dusk, leaving corrupt demons scattered everywhere, impossible to exterminate completely.

Help arrived from Immortal Spirit Island—a dignified and beautiful woman descended from a magnificent magical ship. Adorned in a golden crown featuring crane and bat motifs, with crescent-shaped earrings, a pearl skirt, and a cloud-patterned mantle, she moved with great poise.

Leading a group of equally elegant female cultivators, she paused momentarily at the sight of Yue Wu Huan's familiar golden mask. Then, she gracefully bowed and declared, "Upon the Divine Lord's summons, Immortal Spirit Island is here to assist."

Tian Wu Sect focused on the path of Yang-style swordsmanship and mostly comprised male cultivators. Their few female cultivators, regardless of appearance, all had awe-inspiring presences. Accustomed to brotherly camaraderie, the young men were excited by the sight of the beautiful Island Master and her female cultivators, whispering and speculating amongst themselves.

Song Qing Shi nudged a sword cultivator beside him and quietly asked, "Who is she?"

"You don't know Lady Nian?" The sword cultivator shifted his gaze from the beauties, surprised. "She's the realm's foremost formation master, an expert in mechanical traps and mathematical principles. She has created and improved countless talismans. Additionally, she's adopted and taken care of many orphans, providing them livelihoods and teaching them the art of talisman creation. She's both kind and extraordinary."

Song Qing Shi understood: "An impressive mathematician."

"Lady Nian is highly valued by that individual," the sword cultivator glanced towards Yue Wu Huan before considerately informing Song Qing Shi, "Don't wander near her. She has a peculiar sense of humor and a bad temper. She likes to lock attractive men in a dark room and force them to solve bizarre problems. My flamboyant brother tried courting one of her disciples and ended up spending three years in such a chamber. He emerged as a shadow of his former self, forgetting all his poetic skills and muttering about the Pythagorean theorem—it was horrifying."

Song Qing Shi felt puzzled, but the description sounded terrifying, so he nodded.

The Divine Lord instructed Lady Nian to set up large tracking formations within the range of the demonic invasion, utilizing the demonic aura fluctuations to locate and control the movements of the corrupt demons on the ground for unified extermination through the Blood King Vines. After discussing the specific arrangements with him, Lady Nian quickly drafted a formation plan using Tian Wu Sect's map and sent her personal disciples to lay out the formation points.

Lady Nian felt that the Divine Lord's attire and demeanor were softer than before. Her eyes wandered briefly, and she had her suspicions. After the formation designs were completed, she scanned the crowd and, sure enough, saw the long-missing Medicine King Immortal, teaching sword cultivators how to treat poison wounds in the middle of the crowd.

A wave of nostalgia swept over her.

Back in the day, at the Red Dragon Sect, the Medicine King Immortal had saved Yan Yuan Immortal Monarch and her. Young as she was, she had been grateful and even developed a vague affection for the gentle and beautiful Immortal, considering the possibility of marrying him when she grew up. However, this fondness lasted a mere three days before she was disciplined by her master and fellow disciples due to some damned novels.

She'd been disciplined physically, but that was not the end of it.

Two deplorable characters had sung her praises in front of her master, causing him to grow smug and proud of having the world's most brilliant disciple. He then accepted countless scrolls for her to practice.

From that moment on, she was plunged into an infernal sea of endless problems and questions. When she tried to skip her lessons, her master commanded her senior apprentices to supervise her with sticks in hand. Her tearful struggle went unnoticed, and eventually, she was sent to the Isle of Celestial Spirits to learn even more under the tutelage of Lady Lingmiao.

After the Medicinal Emperor went into seclusion and Yue Wuhuan disappeared, the messenger birds stopped delivering scrolls for a while.

Having caught a moment of relief, she started to worry about the safety of the two.

Years later, when a dark era descended, the Eternal Peak began to clamp down on various sects. While others trembled at the bloody slaughter by the Divine Emperor, she shook at the heaps of math and array problems personally sent by him.

The Divine Emperor gently said, "The fate of the Red Dragon Sect and the Isle of Celestial Spirits depends on your performance. I will conduct periodic checks on your progress."

At that moment, Nian Nian nearly broke down.

The world was on the brink of destruction, so why was she still stuck solving problems and taking tests?

True to his word, the Divine Emperor held great sway, and both the Isle of Celestial Spirits and the Red Dragon Sect were relatively minor sects. Without the protection of the Eternal Peak, they would perish in the chaos. Forced to abandon her joyful childhood, Nian Nian secluded herself to study rigorously. After a relentless 800 years of solving problems and drawing runes, she was left emotionally scarred.

Later, she achieved enlightenment through runes and became the unrivaled rune master in the celestial realm, the esteemed Lady Nian.

After Lady Lingmiao passed away, she inherited the Isle of Celestial Spirits and took charge of the Red Dragon Sect.

Very few people knew the identity of the Divine Emperor, and they wisely kept their mouths shut.

Once, after having had too much to drink, Lady Nian encountered an incarnation of the Divine Emperor and couldn't help but ask boldly, "How could you be so sure that I would become an exceptional rune master?"

"I wasn't sure," the Divine Emperor paused and admitted, "but someone said you were exceptional, so you had to be."

Lady Nian felt like she was choking on her own blood, not knowing where to even vent her frustration.

Her feelings towards the Medicinal Emperor were a complex mix of love and hate, a maelstrom of emotions.

　...

The Medicinal Emperor has emerged from his seclusion—no wonder the Divine Emperor is in such high spirits.

Lady Nian approached with a radiant smile and softly said after glancing at the soulmate mark on Song Qing's hand, "Immortal Emperor, it's been a long time."

Seeing the approach of a beautiful stranger, Song Qing felt a bit nervous but nodded in response.

Lady Nian laughed, "It's a joyous occasion that you and the Divine Emperor have become soulmates. I have a gift that I've been preparing for years to offer you."

Song Qing modestly replied, "You're too kind."

Lady Nian offered a saccharine smile: "I've prepared over 10,000 scrolls for Your Honor, encompassing every rune and mathematical problem known to man. I trust you'll find them to your liking."

Song Qing had initially wanted to decline, but upon hearing the nature of the gift, found himself at a loss for words.

Who says Lady Nian is ill-tempered? She's clearly gentle and considerate, beautiful in both form and spirit! This wedding gift couldn't be more perfect for him!