What is this woman thinking?

I just mentioned it casually, and she actually wants to go down to the Abyss Sea to talk with my true form?

Does Shi Qingjun not know what she represents in the Immortal Sect?

If she leaves the Chaoyun Territory today, within an hour, the Chaoyun Sect will gather their forces assuming the Demon Sect is launching a full-scale attack, so her best choice is to hide at the peak of Chaoyun Mountain. As for the grudges between the Demon Sect and the Chaoyun Sect, what do they have to do with them?

And also...

Ah Qing’s true form would not dare to appear in front of Shi Qingjun.

Don’t be fooled by how Ah Qing can talk so freely with Shi Qingjun as if they were sisters; it’s all because she is using a split body. If it really were her true form, she would have fled at first sight of Shi Qingjun.

After all, they have been enemies for so many years. Although Shi Qingjun says she’s given up on the Dao Rhyme, who knows if she would define me as an ’enemy’?

Immortal Chaoyun is a persistent person; Ah Qing doesn’t want a life-and-death battle with Shi Qingjun. It’s pointless.

Shi Qingjun: "..."

Shi Qingjun didn’t expect that just by mentioning the Abyss Sea, Ah Qing would have such a big reaction.

Watching Ah Qing’s charming face, Shi Qingjun thought she seemed quite worried about her finding her?

If her cultivation were still intact, confronting Ah Qing would be a simple matter... But because of her Heart Demon Tribulation, her cultivation fell by twenty percent, and at most, it’s an even match with Ah Qing. She really has no need to fear her.

Seeing the ’equal conversation’ she wanted right in front of her, Shi Qingjun felt an indescribable feeling in her heart.

"Are you very afraid of me?" Shi Qingjun asked.

"What do you think?" Ah Qing retorted.

Shi Qingjun was at a loss for words.

When that universally leveling Thunder Tribulation struck, sealing all cultivators under the heavens, because she happened to be present, the whole world believed she caused the Tribulation Thunder, and Ah Qing thought so too. After the Thunder Tribulation day passed, the entire Demon Sect retreated thousands of miles to avoid Chaoyun’s edge... Proof that she truly was afraid.

Ah Qing was indeed afraid.

However, now she vaguely sensed that perhaps the matter of the Tribulation Thunder might not have much to do with Shi Qingjun.

But that doesn’t matter.

Ah Qing is no longer concerned with such matters; now Xu Chang’an is first in her mind, followed by Yun Qian, with no place for Shi Qingjun.

As long as it’s not her true form directly speaking with Shi Qingjun, the split body doesn’t need to care about Shi Qingjun at all. Seeing her displeased and killing her isn’t an issue; a bit of damage and a few days’ rest, and she’ll recover.

She can have as many of these split bodies as she wants.

Ah Qing thought that she was like a demonic beast bound by ropes; knowing that the other party can’t hurt her, she’s not worried at all, even somewhat enjoying the feeling of questioning and counter-questioning Shi Qingjun.

"Shi Qingjun, you really have changed a lot." Ah Qing observed Shi Qingjun closely, shaking her head, "If I weren’t familiar with you, I’d think I’d mistaken you for someone else."

Who is Immortal Chaoyun?

It’s not an exaggeration to call her a killing god.

Turning to Shi Qingjun’s calm tone, where’s any trace of the cold and lofty demeanor?

"People do change." Shi Qingjun replied.

"But collecting Dao Rhyme... you should’ve been not quite human." Ah Qing saw through everything and scoffed, "So I said, this Dao Rhyme is really not a good thing."

"..."

Upon hearing this, Shi Qingjun quietly watched the sky outside the window. Once she confirmed that Ah Qing indeed didn’t suffer punishment for disrespecting the Heavenly Dao, she raised her eyes and asked, seemingly puzzled:

"You’re not even afraid of the Heavenly Dao, yet you are afraid of me?"

"You’re much more terrifying than the Heavenly Dao." Ah Qing smiled sweetly, "The Heavenly Dao has Young Master to save me; as for you... who knows."

"Young Master..." Shi Qingjun mused as she got an unexpected piece of information.

"And besides, you’re indeed right." Ah Qing wrapped her outer garments around herself again and fastened the ties at her chest, her gleaming eyes gazing at Shi Qingjun’s face, "I am indeed very afraid of you.

Afraid.

She fears the Shi Qingjun as scorching hot as the Great Sun.

She fears the Shi Qingjun who cleanses the universe, towering high like an Immortal God.

But how much of this fear is terror, and how much is admiration?

She is so intensely blazing that just a silhouette can burst forth with dazzling infinite colors, shaking her heart, making it quiver uncontrollably—that is the result of her overwhelming power.

’Who knows.’

Ah Qing no longer wants to think about such things because unlike Shi Qingjun, who lacks a goal direction, she no longer needs an aspiration. She already has Yun Qian and Xu Chang’an...so Shi Qingjun for her is just the ’past.’ While meeting gives her feelings...

But thinking about Xu Chang’an and Yun Qian watching her, the Shi Qingjun before her who can’t threaten her life isn’t so important anymore.

’I’m afraid of you...’

Listening to Ah Qing’s words, Shi Qingjun remained silent for a while, then sighed softly.

She had no more words.

Indeed, in the dark era, she has faced beings with cultivation like Ah Qing before, and they have reasons to fear her.

But if even Ah Qing is afraid of her...then perhaps finding someone who can treat her equally might truly be difficult... or maybe only Yun Qian is possible?

"Hey, what are you thinking now?" Ah Qing felt an innate sense of foreboding, interrupting Shi Qingjun’s thoughts.

"Nothing." Shi Qingjun lifted her head, looking at the banquet stage, "So, Wen Li’s Divine Soul’s restoration was your doing?"

"Yes, it was me."

"Reason?"

"I did it because I like it."

"Like..." Shi Qingjun truly didn’t know what to say. Their discourse had no logical progression, purely based on personal preference.

The key is she can’t do anything about it; Ah Qing helped restore Wen Li’s Divine Soul’s flaw, which is undoubtedly a good thing, stemming from her dereliction as Sect Leader allowing outside interference.

"You have become strange." Shi Qingjun said.

"I think the real strange one now is Heaven." Ah Qing snorted softly.

She hadn’t done anything, yet the Heavenly Dao seeks to eradicate her... thinking about it, the strange one isn’t her.

"I don’t know, but the path of Harmonization currently seems indeed mistaken." Shi Qingjun pressed her fingers against her brow.

Resentment.

She felt resentment towards the Heavenly Dao emanating from Ah Qing.

What happened with Ah Qing?

She thought Ah Qing wouldn’t tell her.

Indeed, the path of Harmonization led to significant emotional loss on her part, the good news being her emotions are gradually returning... But how to pursue a new ascending path, she had hoped to get Ah Qing’s help.

’...’

But given the current situation, even if she discussed it with Ah Qing, she’s not willing to listen.

So, maybe this conversation should end here.

Having exchanged information that doesn’t require Dao Rhyme and gaining possible intelligence on Xu Chang’an from Ah Qing, Shi Qingjun felt this trip down the mountain wasn’t wasted.

"Do you plan on staying here indefinitely?" Shi Qingjun asked.

"This Flower Moon Building belongs to Zhu Tongjun, why does it concern you so much?" Ah Qing spat.

Even if she isn’t shy facing Shi Qingjun, she doesn’t want to discuss brothel matters with her; that would truly make her feel hot-faced.

"Or are you planning to become my patron?" Ah Qing tilted her head, mimicking the girls from the Flower Moon Building with a playful gesture: "I’m just Refining Heart; if you want to come to play, it’s not impossible. Considering our old acquaintance, if you choose me... I can give you a discount."

"..." Shi Qingjun thought carefully for a moment, finally understanding Ah Qing’s meaning: she was saying that if she really chose her services, she’d get a reduced rate.

"?"

She showed some doubt in her eyes, hesitantly looking at Ah Qing, watching her with flirtatious eyes, finally showing a bit of genuine emotion.

"Are you here... selling yourself to clients?"

"What’s there to be surprised about?" Ah Qing saw Shi Qingjun’s reaction, her lips curved.

Performing on stage, saying it’s client service isn’t incorrect.

"It’s just as an Artiste-Courtesan, pretty interesting, a good Refining Heart experience." Ah Qing chuckled.

"Want to join?"