Chapter 129: If Only I Had Been Born Thirty Years Earlier

Song Ye watched as Qin Xuanxi unleashed a unilateral slaughter upon the members of the Immortal Sect. Before her, the forces from the three great sects of the Cloud Kingdom were unable to mount any effective joint defense, as they had against Lu Xian moments prior. When Lu Yixian attempted to repeat his previous tactic—joining forces with the masters of the Immortal Edict Palace to summon the Great Dao Demon-Slaying Lightning—he discovered that every master from that palace had already been wiped out. Moments later, he too was shredded to death by countless blades of spirit energy.

Song Ye had often heard others whisper, "The Xuanyuan Demon Venerable is a cold-blooded killer," or "Seven thousand disciples of the Saint Heaven Sect died by her hand; she is utterly brutal." Yet, these were merely rumors. Her previous battle against the Flute Immortal had been focused solely on that one individual, with the deaths of the Yancheng citizens being nothing more than unfortunate collateral damage. But now, Qin Xuanxi was slaughtering every immortal master arrayed around the execution platform without blinking. It was a true massacre. It was no wonder her reputation was that of the "Number One Female Demon of the Xuanying Continent." Song Ye couldn't help but worry; such a formidable demoness would surely make for a difficult opponent when it came to establishing dominance in their future household.

Jiang Suxin, the "Wanqiu Immortal Venerable," who had remained idle until now, realized there was no longer any need for her to intervene. The Jiyi, Yonghai, Hanxuan, and Qijian Immortal Venerables had all perished before her eyes. Of the six Immortal Venerables who had arrived from the Cloud Kingdom, only she and the likewise inactive "Baiye Immortal Venerable," Jing Ying, remained. Jing Ying, from the Changba Gate, possessed an ageless, doll-like face and a petite frame, dressed in a pale green bodice and skirt. She clutched a black cat to her chest, whispering, "Xiao Yu, don't be afraid. Your life is linked to my soul; when I fall, you will pass away without feeling a thing—you won't feel any pain at all." Clearly, Jing Ying had abandoned all thought of resistance, resigned to die alongside her beloved pet.

Like her, Jiang Suxin gave up on futile resistance. She withdrew a "Spring and Autumn Jade Tablet" from her storage space, intending to record her final moments. With her spirit energy serving as ink, she wrote rapidly: "On the day of Bingchen in the sixth month of the eighty-first year of the Chonghuang Era, the six Immortal Venerables—Jiyi, Yonghai, Hanxuan, Qijian, Wanqiu, and Baiye—all fell in Yancheng of the Li Kingdom." Words inscribed on this tablet would be mirrored on a jade wall within the Spring and Autumn Pavilion, providing future historians with an authentic record.

Just then, the Great Profound Heavenly Demon manifestation loomed over the execution platform. Since Jing Ying and Jiang Suxin were standing close together, the manifestation brought a heavy fist down upon them. Neither woman attempted to channel their energy to defend, closing their eyes instead to meet their end with composure. Yet, in that instant, a golden bell appeared from nowhere, encasing them both. The Demon’s fist struck the bell, caving it in deeply.

Qin Xuanxi frowned slightly upon seeing the artifact; it was the "Dust-Clearing Golden Bell," the signature treasure of the "Xiaoyao Immortal Venerable." A sovereign-level immortal who had lived in seclusion for over a millennium, the Xiaoyao Immortal Venerable had long since ceased to involve himself in the affairs of immortals and demons. Yet, he had been persuaded by the sect ancestor, Zhuge Yang, to emerge and support the "Hundred-Year Talent Cultivation Plan," during which he had taken on two new disciples. While traveling with them, he happened to pass by and intervened to save the two women.

Though the bell was heavily dented, its power remained. It transformed into a golden sphere and whisked Jing Ying and Jiang Suxin toward the east. The Xiaoyao Immortal Venerable never revealed himself, only projecting a voice from the horizon: "Xuanyuan Demon Venerable, you have already claimed the lives of four Immortal Venerables and fifty masters. Surely, the debt the Immortal Sect owes you has been settled. I ask that you show mercy and spare these two."

Qin Xuanxi did not pursue them. Her master, the Wine Immortal, had once mentioned that the Xiaoyao Immortal Venerable had saved her own life. By allowing him to rescue these two, she was essentially repaying that debt on her master's behalf. Though the Xiaoyao Immortal Venerable was also a sovereign, Qin Xuanxi’s current cultivation reached the Primordial Supreme Profound Void Realm, far surpassing his own. Were it not for the sake of her master’s debt, he could never have saved them under her watchful eye.

Lu Xian, having regained much of her strength, knelt before Qin Xuanxi, bowing her head. "I am useless, Master. Without you, I cannot accomplish anything." It was as if she were declaring that her life had no meaning without her master. Seeing that the master she thought dead had returned unscathed, tears streamed down her face.

"Stand up, and take your Second Senior Sister away," Qin Xuanxi ordered calmly.

"Yes, Master." Lu Xian wiped her tears, hoisted the bronze coffin from the center of the platform, and followed Qin Xuanxi as they rode the wind away. The unfortunate He Yixin was still inside the coffin. Song Ye figured that with Lu Xian taking the coffin, He Yixin was out of immediate danger. The "Wager of Life" had not yet concluded, as the bet required He Yixin to survive the day, not just the noon hour. With Qin Xuanxi by her side, He Yixin was safe, and Song Ye would soon be able to claim his reward of the Thunder Soul Stone.

The battle had been a brief, one-sided annihilation, leaving Yancheng largely intact, save for some damage in the East Market. Most of the wandering cultivators watching from the sidelines had survived, as Qin Xuanxi had no interest in taking their lives. The "passionate youth" Duan Ling, however, was filled with indignation. "The demoness has added another blood debt to our sect!" He looked up at the blue sky, squeezing a tear from his eye. "I only hate that I am young and my cultivation is shallow. To see my colleagues slaughtered and be unable to help... If only I had been born thirty years earlier, I might possess the power to clash with this demoness for a few dozen bouts."

Song Ye patted Duan Ling on the shoulder. He was tempted to mock him, noting that even if he had been born a hundred years earlier, he wouldn't be able to survive a single strike from his future wife. But fearing that such words would only provoke a second tear, he held his tongue.