At the same time, a sword light swiftly swept across the East Sea, plunging into the water and transforming into two figures as it landed in front of the Crystal Palace.
The sword light dissipated, and Daoist Zheng frowned deeply as he surveyed the chaotic scene. In a heavy voice, he said, "This is the place."
"It seems we’re a step too late," Madam Zheng said with concern. "I wonder if we can still save your old friend?"
Daoist Zheng replied, "Let’s follow and see."
He then added, "You’re pregnant, so be careful on the way. Don’t push yourself."
Madam Zheng smiled. "I know."
A faint smile also appeared on Daoist Zheng’s face. "Back then, you insisted on coming along. I still don’t know if agreeing to your playful pleading was a blessing or a curse."
Madam Zheng gave a mischievous grin. "Well, if we encounter danger, you can just abandon me and the child in my womb to save yourself."
Daoist Zheng’s eyes showed a hint of helplessness. After exchanging a few more words, he shielded Madam Zheng behind him, and the two entered the Crystal Palace.
Earlier, they hadn’t paid much attention, but now, reminded by Xia Lianqiao, Li Langhuan and Bai Ji'an took a closer look at the young Daoist’s appearance. His nose was straight, his brows like distant mountains, and his refined elegance bore a striking resemblance to Chen Xuan.
The furrowed brows due to unconsciousness made him look even more like a carbon copy.
Bai Ji'an wondered, "Could this person be Chen Xuan’s descendant?"
Li Langhuan replied, "Chen Xuan left in anger, and there’s no record of him having children with Xiao Lingbo. However, Chen Xuan did have a younger sister who looked very much like him. She married into the Chen Family."
"This person might be Chen Xuan’s grandnephew."
As Li Langhuan and Bai Ji'an discussed this heatedly, Xia Lianqiao quietly stepped back, wisely choosing not to spoil the story further. After all, the truth about the evil dragon would soon be revealed.
Just as she was about to move away, Bai Ji'an, as if he had eyes on the back of his head, suddenly called out to her, "Lianqiao."
Xia Lianqiao stopped in her tracks, surprised and incredulous. "Brother Bai?"
Lianqiao… was he really calling her that?
In the past few days, Bai Ji'an had always addressed her by her full name, never with such familiarity.
Bai Ji'an subtly glanced at the small cuts on her body caused by demonic energy and tossed her a small white porcelain bottle. "Here’s some medicine for your wounds. Apply it yourself."
Xia Lianqiao’s eyes widened slightly as she clutched the bottle, an unexpected surge of joy welling up inside her.
Had Brother Bai finally started to accept her?!
It was impossible not to feel a little down when the character she liked had been avoiding her like the plague. She really adored Bai Ji'an and Li Langhuan!
Being able to interact with the characters she loved in this world and even gaining their recognition—what fan girl could resist that? She playfully bowed to Bai Ji'an and Li Langhuan, her dark eyes sparkling with delight, and happily took the bottle away.
Bai Ji'an was momentarily stunned, a complex feeling stirring within him.
This girl still had the heart of a young maiden. Could it be, as Li Langhuan had said, that her solitary and eccentric behavior was due to the loss of her only family? Had he, as an elder, failed in his duty to care for her?
Lost in thought, he noticed Xia Lianqiao running back to Ling Chongxiao, looking up at him with a cheerful smile and saying something while waving the small white porcelain bottle, as if showing it off.
Ling Chongxiao slightly lowered his gaze, his black hair falling against his jade-like cheeks. His expression remained neutral, showing neither joy nor anger.
Bai Ji'an couldn’t help but feel a slight pang. Ling Chongxiao, though younger than him, was notoriously difficult to approach. Apart from showing some interest in Li Langhuan, he kept everyone else at arm’s length. How had Xia Lianqiao managed to get close to him?
But then again, the two young people seemed quite well-matched.
"Fellow Daoist Xia is truly adorable, don’t you think?" A voice suddenly remarked beside him. Bai Ji'an turned to see Li Langhuan, who had somehow appeared next to him. She was looking in the direction of Ling Chongxiao and Xia Lianqiao, adopting a mature tone as she spoke.
Seeing Li Langhuan, who was clearly still a young girl herself with a stubborn strand of hair swaying in the wind, trying to act so grown-up, Bai Ji'an couldn’t help but chuckle. He didn’t deny her comment, though.
With Ling Chongxiao rejoining the group, the journey became much smoother thanks to the formidable swordsman’s presence.
Ever since Ling Chongxiao had trapped the evil dragon in the Crystal Palace with his array flags a few days ago, the dragon seemed to have realized its fate was sealed. It had spent the time setting up multiple layers of defensive formations within the palace.
The closer they got to the main hall, the more intricate the formations became, each one interconnected and capable of triggering a chain reaction.
But with Li Langhuan around, these formations were nothing more than decorations.
In the original story, this young immortal master was known for his strict teaching methods. He often conducted impromptu tests, and failure meant expulsion from his sect with no chance of appeal. Under his guidance, Li Langhuan had mastered all aspects of mystical arts and formations. Outwardly, she appeared straightforward and chivalrous, but in reality, she was both intelligent and deeply insightful.
Perhaps wanting to test her, Ling Chongxiao stood by and watched as Li Langhuan diligently worked to dismantle the formation, only stepping in to protect her when necessary.
As she worked, Li Langhuan also took the time to explain the process to Bai Ji'an.
Glancing at the indifferent Ling Chongxiao, Xia Lianqiao then looked at the young Daoist lying unconscious beside her.
While everyone else was busy, she naturally took on the responsibility of looking after him.
"This is it," Li Langhuan said, standing up slightly and pointing ahead with a bright smile. "Once this formation is broken, the evil dragon’s lair should be just ahead."
Just as she was about to dismantle the formation’s core, a pained groan reached their ears. Xia Lianqiao was startled and quickly bent down to check on the young Daoist.
The young Daoist slowly regained consciousness, his phoenix eyes still unfocused and confused.
"You’re awake?" Xia Lianqiao asked, crouching beside him.
The young Daoist’s gaze settled on her, pausing for a moment.
After collecting himself, he pursed his lips and closed his eyes without saying a word.
Xia Lianqiao didn’t press him and instead called out to Li Langhuan and the others, "Fellow Daoist Li, Brother Bai, he’s awake!"
"Are you from the Chen Family?" she then politely asked.
The young Daoist finally opened his eyes, his gaze sweeping over Xia Lianqiao and the others. With a look of resignation, he said, "You’ve recognized me?"
Bai Ji'an stepped forward and asked, "Since you’re a member of the Chen Family, you must be aware of the blood feud between your family and the evil dragon. Why would you aid such a tyrant? Or…" His eyes narrowed. "Is there another reason?"
The young Daoist remained silent for a long moment before finally speaking. "I haven’t introduced myself yet. My name is Chen Chifeng, and I am indeed from the East Sea Chen Family."
Chen Chifeng.
The name took both Bai Ji'an and Li Langhuan by surprise.
"Chen Chifeng…" Li Langhuan asked in astonishment, "Are you the Fourth Son of the Chen Family, the one who volunteered to feed the demon in the painting?"
Although Chen Chifeng didn’t know what Chen Mengfu had said, he nodded in confirmation.
"If that’s the case, what is your relationship with this evil dragon?" Xia Lianqiao followed up, asking with a serious tone.
Chen Chifeng pursed his lips again and remained silent.
Li Langhuan and Bai Ji'an took turns asking a few more questions, some of which Chen Chifeng answered, while others he ignored. Realizing they weren’t getting anywhere, Li Langhuan stopped pressing and instead focused a bit of spiritual energy to break the formation’s core.
As the core shattered, the mist surrounding the formation dissipated like wind, gradually revealing the outline of the Crystal Palace’s main hall.
This intricately carved Crystal Palace rose from the seabed, with a waterfall cascading down from an unknown source behind it. The waves in front of the hall flowed like drifting clouds, the mist swirling around it. The entire scene was radiant and dazzling, like a celestial palace.
Gazing at the breathtaking beauty of the Crystal Palace, Chen Chifeng, who had been steadfastly non-cooperative, suddenly spoke up. "Are you really going to kill her?"
Li Langhuan looked ahead, her usually calm and gentle expression now resolute. "She has killed countless people. She must be destroyed."
Chen Chifeng said, "She… has her reasons."
"Past suffering is no excuse to raise a blade against the innocent," Li Langhuan replied, her clear and unwavering eyes reflecting her conviction.
Chen Chifeng smiled bitterly. "But in the end, it’s our Chen Family that wronged her. All these years, she has only targeted members of the Chen Family. She hasn’t sought revenge on anyone else."
"Innocent children don’t deserve this," Li Langhuan said simply.
Chen Chifeng was about to say something more when a hoarse and mournful roar suddenly echoed from the Crystal Palace not far away.
"Ling Chongxiao! Must you truly push me to this?!"
"It's the evil dragon!" Li Langhuan exclaimed urgently. "Everyone, stay on guard!"
A beam of blue light shot up from the palace, transforming into a long plume of smoke before crashing heavily in front of the group!
A swirling tide of azure waves surged forth, carrying with it a bone-chilling cold. A figure, as white as snow, glided atop the waves, her flowing robes spreading out like a snowy tide. The sound of the waves rose and fell, crashing loudly.
The same hoarse, icy voice chanted again:
"Chanting alone at night, the sound of the tide draws near; passing through a thousand mountains at dusk, the chill of snow fills the air."
As the tide receded and the mist cleared, the figure of a slender woman emerged.
Her snow-white hair cascaded down to her feet, her lips tinged with a dark hue. Her phoenix-like eyes were filled with coldness, sorrow, and resentment.
The faint, ghostly blue water patterns around her eyes flickered like will-o'-the-wisps in the twilight snow, exuding an eerie aura.
Xia Lianqiao, Bai Ji'an, and the others were stunned. None of them had expected that the infamous evil dragon, Xiao Lingbo, would turn out to be such a hauntingly beautiful woman—pale, ethereal, cold, and utterly captivating, as if she had emerged from a snowy midnight, clutching a candle as she wandered alone.
The only flaw was the empty sleeve where her left arm should have been, severed by Ling Chongxiao just days prior.
At the sight of the evil dragon, Chen Chifeng's face turned pale, and he coughed up a mouthful of blood. "Xiao Lingbo."
"Chen Chifeng? What are you doing here?" Xiao Lingbo's gaze fell on Chen Chifeng's face, and her phoenix eyes instantly burned with a deep, resentful hatred.
Chen Chifeng remained silent, his eyes closed. Xia Lianqiao wanted to speak up and explain that he had come to help her, but Bai Ji'an subtly held her back.
After a long pause, Chen Chifeng finally spoke in a cold, ambiguous tone, "I came to save you."
"Save me?" Xiao Lingbo sneered. "What gives you the right to save me? Do you love me?"
Xia Lianqiao was dumbfounded. She couldn't help but glance back and forth between Xiao Lingbo and Chen Chifeng. What kind of soap opera scene was this? She didn't recall any mention of a romantic entanglement between Xiao Lingbo and Chen Chifeng in the original story.
Xia Lianqiao remembered how Chen Chifeng was described in the original text.
He was said to be a rare genius in cultivation within the Chen Family, second only to Chen Xuan. Chen Mengfu, the head of the Chen Family, often sighed with regret when speaking of Chen Chifeng.
Xia Lianqiao thought to herself: ...But this old man would never have imagined that his beloved grandson would end up entangled in such a scandalous relationship with the family's sworn enemy, Xiao Lingbo.
When Chen Chifeng was just eight years old, he volunteered to offer himself as a sacrifice to the demon. This brings us to his lineage—he was a descendant of Chen Xuan's younger sister, though several generations removed.
That sister had married into the Chen Family, and her bloodline had continued through the generations.
Originally, Chen Chifeng would have met the same fate as the other children offered as sacrifices, but at the critical moment, Xiao Lingbo recognized the bloodline of her sister-in-law and, recalling the kindness of the past, spared his life. She kept the young boy by her side to serve her.
Xia Lianqiao: So, is this the story of an ageless demoness and her adopted son? I wonder how Chen Xuan would feel if he knew...
Unfortunately, there was a deep blood feud between Xiao Lingbo and Chen Chifeng.
After years of enduring, the once-young Chen Chifeng grew into a graceful, jade-like youth. He eventually found a way to escape the Crystal Palace and joined a righteous sect, vowing to one day return to the East Sea and kill Xiao Lingbo to avenge his family.
However, by a twist of fate, he later learned of the practice of "killing one's wife to prove one's Dao," and decided to atone for his ancestors' sins by sparing Xiao Lingbo's life.
Bai Ji'an and Li Langhuan looked equally bewildered. Clearly, this convoluted web of interpersonal and moral relationships was beyond the comprehension of these two ancient individuals.
Chen Chifeng did not answer. A look of sorrow crossed his gentle, refined face as he slowly closed his eyes.
Xiao Lingbo took a few graceful steps forward, her voice as cold and hissing as a snake's. "Then do you love me?"
Chen Chifeng opened his eyes. His clear, lotus-like gaze flickered with a hint of disgust as he replied in a cold, resolute tone, "I hate you."
This was a stark contrast to his earlier plea to spare Xiao Lingbo's life.
Xiao Lingbo looked at the young man who had endured for over a decade, all for the sake of driving a sword through her heart.
The answer was already clear.
Xiao Lingbo didn't seem surprised. She let out a cold laugh and raised her hand, summoning a surge of azure water. "If you don't love me, then die!"
As soon as she spoke, the water beneath their feet rose into the sky, blotting out the sun and rushing toward Chen Chifeng.
The water surged higher and higher, cascading down like a collapsing mountain, the roar of the waves like rolling thunder and falling rocks.
The ground beneath them shook violently. Coral reefs snapped, palace walls crumbled, and bricks rained down like a storm. The small fish hiding among the coral reefs scrambled in panic, fleeing in all directions.
Chen Chifeng, already wounded by Li Langhuan's sword, was struck by Xiao Lingbo's overwhelming attack. His already strained consciousness finally gave out, and he was sent flying dozens of feet away, his fate unknown.
The young man frowned and swiftly moved to shield Li Langhuan, raising his hand to summon a sword aura that shattered the falling debris into dust.
Xia Lianqiao wasn't so lucky. She could only twist and turn like the little fish, dodging the falling bricks and tiles in a frantic, undignified scramble. Finally managing to steady herself, she stared in shock and awe at the stunningly beautiful yet terrifying woman before her.
What a brutal character!
After delivering a devastating blow to Chen Chifeng, Xiao Lingbo turned her gaze to Ling Chongxiao, her voice filled with hatred as she unleashed a powerful wave. "Ling Chongxiao! Since you've forced me to this, today it will be a fight to the death!"
Li Langhuan urgently warned, "Be careful, fellow Daoist! This evil dragon has absorbed the Jade Dew and Sweet Rain, and her cultivation may have advanced significantly."
Ling Chongxiao ignored Xiao Lingbo's provocation. He raised his hand, summoning a sword orb, and lightly ran his fingers along the blade, polishing it.
A glimmer of sword light shot toward the azure waves.
One was as cold and clear as starlight, the other a deep blue. The sword aura and the surging waves clashed in an instant.
Xiao Lingbo's eyes burned with hatred. Knowing that she had lost an arm and that the gap between her and Ling Chongxiao was vast, she realized that even the slightest misstep could mean her death today.
Thus, she pushed her spiritual energy to its limits, forcing the waves to rise higher and higher, one after another.
Swordsmen excelled in battle, valuing speed above all. Few dared to face their techniques head-on. However, Xiao Lingbo was a hundred years older than Ling Chongxiao, and her foundation was far more solid. If she could overwhelm him with her superior spiritual energy and trap him within the water's currents, preventing him from using his sword techniques, she might still have a chance.
With this in mind, the azure waves surged like the inverted East Sea, crashing down toward Ling Chongxiao.
Water had no fixed form, and the waves churned wildly. Ling Chongxiao transformed into a streak of light, darting through the chaos like a lone boat on a vast sea, searching for an opportunity to strike.
When gods and immortals battled, mortals suffered. Xia Lianqiao and the others were far from capable of intervening in a fight of this level.
Even as Li Langhuan desperately channeled her spiritual energy to erect a semi-circular barrier around the three of them, Xia Lianqiao was still drenched by the torrential waves. Her already tattered green dress was now completely ruined, resembling a soggy mess of pickled vegetables.
Xia Lianqiao wiped the water from her face, her expression a mix of frustration and awe. They were all at the same cultivation level, so how could the gap be so vast?
Seeing that she couldn't overpower Ling Chongxiao, Xiao Lingbo gritted her teeth and pushed her mystical arts to their absolute limit.
The waves churned even more violently, towering like distant mountains, carrying a force that could instantly drag someone underwater and crush them to pieces. They surged toward Ling Chongxiao once more.
The young man's expression remained calm. With a flick of his sword light, he darted away, his movements so fast that he seemed to flash four times in quick succession.
His sword light split into multiple streaks, darting through the air like phantoms. In an instant, he broke through the curtain of water and closed in on Xiao Lingbo.
With a single finger, he unleashed a sharp sword aura aimed directly at her head.
Xiao Lingbo's expression shifted slightly, but she remained composed. From her sleeve, she summoned a bronze mirror adorned with intricate dragon patterns.
Though no larger than a palm, the mirror expanded to a hundred feet in the blink of an eye, releasing countless golden rays of light.
Xia Lianqiao was still holding onto her "ill-fated" skirt with one hand and shielding her head from the water with the other when she saw the young man in the distance suddenly freeze mid-movement. In the blink of an eye, he was helplessly drawn into the bronze mirror before him.
The eerie light seemed to possess a mesmerizing power, and Xia Lianqiao was momentarily entranced. Before she could break free from the spell of this strange radiance, faint shouts reached her ears.
It sounded like Li Langhuan and Bai Ji'an.
"Lianqiao!"
"Lianqiao! Get out of the way!"
Get out of the way?
Out of the way of what?
Xia Lianqiao was startled, a chill running down her spine as she snapped back to reality. But the light had already expanded to an overwhelming intensity, leaving her no room to escape. In an instant, both she and Ling Chongxiao were engulfed in the beam of light!
