Junior sister, keep forbear for a while, I almost become invincible as soon!

Chen Pingping nodded. "Yes!"

"You better not be tricking me, or I’ll kill you right now," the Great Elder humphed.

"..."

"Alright, our conversation is over. You can leave now."

"Senior, your injury..." 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

"Get lost!"

No longer daring to stay, Chen Pingping staggered away. After leaving the small town, the more he thought, the more peculiar it seemed. He had taken away more than a hundred young prodigies from Fairy Valley. When the Great Elder of Fairy Valley found him, he spoke many strange words, yet he never mentioned the issue of those hundred talents. Why? Moreover, he was injured. Chen Pingping was baffled. He didn’t go far but chose to observe in secret.

After a while, the Great Elder also left the small town, heading in a certain direction... That direction was precisely where Xiaoyu was.

Hmm! Chen Pingping pondered for a moment and then stealthily followed.

Indeed, he entered the small town where Xiaoyu was located, but... he didn’t look for Xiaoyu, instead going to a textile workshop.

In the courtyard, colorful cloths fluttered. There was also a person: an ordinary-looking middle-aged man in plain, simple, and unadorned clothes.

"What is it?" the man asked.

"They have made their move," the Great Elder said, taking a deep breath and trying to remain calm. "The First Courtyard, the Second Courtyard, the Third Courtyard, and the Fourth Courtyard."

The man opened his eyes wide, revealing a profound look. "Nothing else?"

"There is..." the Great Elder said bitterly. "Just as you speculated, the Star Sea has been relentless, secretly promoting the split within Fairy Valley."

This was because Fairy Valley had no Sect Master and no complete Emperor Weapon. The Star Sea had been working hard on this, even paying a great price, such as sending the Fairy into this place. The Great Elder had always known about this but had never spoken of it. The man before him knew as well, but his instruction had been to wait—to let the major Courtyards expose themselves. Then he would act, suppressing them with force or even executing them to rebuild a new Fairy Valley.

The plan was perfect. Unfortunately, there was an additional Chen Pingping. He had taken away more than a hundred young prodigies. Although this prevented the tragedy of the Fifth Courtyard, it also hastened the split among the major Courtyards.

"What do they want?" the man asked.

"It’s not clear yet."

"So? Did you come to me today just to talk about these things?"

"No..." The Great Elder exhaled. "There’s an unexpected variable." He lowered his eyes and began to recount everything about Wuji Sect and Chen Pingping, including Guang Xiaoyu and Zi Ji, who had entered the Fifth Courtyard.

Hearing this, the middle-aged man fell silent.

The Great Elder added, "I’ve talked with Chen Pingping. He said the Ancestor is still alive, in the City of Extinction. I guess Star Sea’s ultimate goal is the Ancestor."

The man’s gaze sharpened, showing astonishment. The Ancestor is still alive? Star Sea’s goal is the Ancestor? Then?

He murmured softly, "What do the Demon Cultivators want then?"

The Great Elder, standing beside him, felt a shock at these words, disbelief stirring within him. Demon Cultivators? The Demon Cultivators from the Western Wilderness... have they entered the Southern Diaspora again?

"You’ve done the right thing," the Sword Saint said. "Since Fairy Valley is no longer itself, then... let’s establish a true Fairy Valley!"

The Great Elder nodded.

"Right here in the City of Extinction, on the old site of Fairy Valley. If the Ancestor is indeed still alive, he would surely do the same," murmured the Sword Saint. "However, if what you just said is true, Wuji Sect’s Chen Pingping will also bring great trouble upon himself."

"That little rascal is very cunning," the Great Elder lamented. "He established a sect within the City of Extinction. Solely with the powers of weirdness, destruction, and curse, he can ward off many strong enemies."

"Indeed," the Sword Saint agreed. "Yet, the City of Extinction cannot stop the Demon Cultivators, nor the Star Power of the Star Sea."

The Great Elder remained silent.

"Moreover, he took the Fairy with him." The Sword Saint lifted his head, looking at the cloths waving in the wind. His once-settled heart began to ripple slowly. This entire matter was profoundly troubling.

If Chen Pingping had taken away a few Elders, they would have means to deal with it, but that guy took the Fairy—a seed from the Star Sea. Her existence bore far too great a significance. If she were to meet Yu Changfeng, or if the news spread, Star Sea would definitely boil over.

HUFF. The Sword Saint stood up, exhaling a breath of turbidity. "If I fail to re-establish Fairy Valley, then... you will take my place in completing all of this."

"You..." the Great Elder exclaimed in surprise.

"There’s no need for sadness. Though my attempt at Cultivating Demon failed, I did gain some experience. Moreover, I still have choices." He spoke softly, as if mentioning a trivial matter.

After all, had he failed? The Great Elder slightly opened his mouth, his emotions complex. For a moment, he didn’t know what to say.

The Sword Saint spoke up, "Let’s go! That little fellow outside has been waiting for you." He paused, then added, "I should also meet this young Demon cultivator."

「In the small courtyard.」

Zhu Menting had been observing the cow all this time but hadn’t discovered anything noteworthy. Curiously, he asked, "Why would you keep such an ugly cow?"

Lao Huang: "..."

A direct hit to the soul! I really want to give this bastard a kick, kick him to death!

Guang Xiaoyu found it somewhat amusing. "It’s not ugly; its beauty just isn’t obvious."

"Let’s kill it tonight!" Zhu Menting said with a smile. "I haven’t eaten beef in a long time."

"You can’t!"

"Why not?"

"Because this cow isn’t mine." Guang Xiaoyu put away her smile and spoke seriously, "I don’t want to get beaten up, and you probably don’t want to die, right?"

Zhu Menting sneered, "Huh? It’s just a cow. What could it possibly do?"

Guang Xiaoyu did not reply to that question, and a brief silence fell.

Soon, Zhu Menting seemed to recall something and smiled. "What do you think the calamity mentioned by the Star Master is, exactly?"

"I don’t know!" She rolled her eyes, but her gaze was fixed on the gate.

A middle-aged man was walking towards them. He was dressed in plain clothes, with an unremarkable appearance and aura, but his steps were steady yet light. Every step seemed to cause an indistinct stir between Heaven and Earth.

Saint Realm. Guang Xiaoyu’s heart skipped a beat.

Zhu Menting, who was beside her, also noticed the newcomer, his expression becoming grave. The surrounding Ask Demons seemed to sense something, their faces changing dramatically.

"Nice yard," the Sword Saint said with a smile as he arrived.

Guang Xiaoyu smiled broadly. "Please come in."

With her insight as a Demon Emperor, it was not difficult for her to see the Sword Intent hidden within the man—turbulent and vast. Such a profound presence in the Fairy Valley area could only belong to one person. The Sword Saint from the Fifth Courtyard.

Seven or eight Ask Demons were in a panic.

Zhu Menting forced himself to calm down. "Greetings, Senior."

The Sword Saint pushed open the bamboo fence and stepped into the yard. He nodded at Zhu Menting, then turned to Guang Xiaoyu. "What’s your name?"

"Guang Xiaoyu," she replied.

"There’s something familiar about you," the Sword Saint remarked.

"Because I am similar to you, Senior," she said with a light laugh. "Senior attempted Cultivating Demon, and I am a Demon cultivator; that’s why you feel a familiarity."

"No..." The Sword Saint shook his head. "I think I’ve seen you before."

The calmness and composure emanating from Guang Xiaoyu were astonishing. Ordinary cultivators couldn’t stay calm in his presence, much like Zhu Menting nearby. But she was too calm.

Before she could speak, the Sword Saint continued, "You just said you’re a Demon cultivator?"

Guang Xiaoyu nodded. "Just an ordinary Demon cultivator, here to seek guidance from Senior. How goes Senior’s Cultivating Demon?"

Very direct.

The Sword Saint sighed. "I failed."

"Oh? What a pity." Suddenly, she didn’t feel like talking anymore, losing interest in the Sword Saint. After all, with her perspective as a Demon Emperor, she naturally wouldn’t hold a Saint Realm cultivator in high regard.

However, the Sword Saint noticed this subtle change and couldn’t help but think, So familiar. I must have seen her before.

He walked a few steps forward, planning to sit down and talk to her about Cultivating Demon. However...

At that moment, the Sword Saint felt a pair of eyes staring at him. He abruptly looked in that direction. It was a cow. When he’d first arrived, his attention had been entirely on Guang Xiaoyu, so he hadn’t noticed it.

Now, upon observation... The Sword Saint was thrown into confusion.

That gaze... How could it be? A Saint Realm yellow cow! Damn!