Jiang Zimei
Murderous intent pierced straight through the clouds, halting even the howling gales of the ninth heaven. The mountain-guarding array activated in response.
In an instant, several sword lights descended upon the serene little courtyard, only to be blocked by the barrier. An old Daoist spoke up: "Elder Shen, what has happened?"
"Get lost!" A voice cold as frost spat from within the courtyard, showing no regard for anyone else's face.
The old Daoist flushed with anger, but the sheer terror of that killing aura gave him pause. He exchanged glances with the others, their eyes flashing with shock and disbelief.
"Elder Shen is also at the 6th Realm, yet how can her killing intent be so terrifying?"
"No wonder she array-slayed the Bloodkill Old Demon—truly extraordinary."
"If it's nothing serious, let's head back."
"Like a dog snapping at Lü Dongbin—good intentions misunderstood. We'll sort it out with her another day."
As they spoke, another woman descended from a sword light. The old Daoist and the others cupped their hands in salute: "Sect Leader."
The woman wore flowing white palace robes, her beauty utterly peerless, though her age was impossible to pin down—she seemed both an innocent girl and a mature beauty, exuding an air of refined elegance and ethereal lightness.
This was none other than the Shangqing Sword Sect's leader, Jiang Zimei. She nodded to the group. "That felt like Junior Sister Shen's aura. What happened?"
The old Daoist gave a wry smile. "Elder Shen suddenly unleashed a burst of killing intent that triggered the mountain-guarding array. I wanted to check on the situation, but she called us a nuisance and told us to scram."
Jiang Zimei's gaze flickered, her clear eyes like limpid autumn waters. She spoke gently: "Junior Sister's emotions must be running high, leading to careless words. Allow me to apologize on her behalf first. She'll make it up to you elders properly another day."
The old Daoist waved it off with a bitter chuckle. "No harm done. With the sect leader here, it's surely fine. We'll take our leave."
Once the others had dispersed, Jiang Zimei glanced at the barrier but said nothing. She found a spot, sat cross-legged in meditation, and quietly waited for Shen Luhua to emerge.
Shen Luhua paid no mind to the minor disturbance outside. Frost clung to her face like it might drip water at any moment, giving even Li Ye across from her pause.
Noticing her son's reaction, Shen Luhua's expression softened. Her hand trembled as she reached out, stroking his cheek with heartache and guilt. "I'm sorry, Xiaoye... I'm so sorry. I came too late..."
Li Ye had already vented his grievances last night. Though his nose stung now, he gently took his mother's hand and comforted her. "Mom, it's okay. It has nothing to do with you."
Pain stabbed through Shen Luhua's heart. She could scarcely imagine the suffering her son had endured these past five years—he'd only been twelve back then! And she'd so casually called him a "little pervert." Hearing his reassurance now only hurt more. She pulled him into an embrace, sobbing. "These years... you've suffered so much..."
"It's all in the past now... all in the past..." Li Ye held his mother close, patting her back soothingly.
"Yes... all in the past..." Shen Luhua wiped her tears, looking at Li Ye. "Xiaoye, don't worry. There must be a way in this world. The 7th Realm allows remolding the body—there have to be other methods. Stay here; I'll check the sect records."
A spark of hope ignited in Li Ye's chest. Right—Mom wields the Yin Jie Jian; her cultivation can't be weak. Even if there's no other way, catching an extraterrestrial demon isn't impossible.
"Mom, what realm are you at now?"
"Immortal Path 6th Realm, Yuan Shen. Why?" Shen Luhua was already turning to consult the records.
"Nothing." Li Ye shook his head, a touch of disappointment settling in. 6th Realm... still too risky.
"Wait here. I'll go look through the archives."
"Mom, no rush."
Shen Luhua shook her head stubbornly, parting the barrier to step out. She spotted Jiang Zimei waiting outside and quickly composed herself. "Senior Sister."
Jiang Zimei had never seen her junior sister like this. Suppressing her curiosity, she nodded. "Junior Sister, what happened?"
Shen Luhua shook her head. "Nothing."
Jiang Zimei smiled faintly. "That doesn't look like 'nothing' to me."
Shen Luhua sighed helplessly. Remembering that her senior sister had perused the entire Daoist canon, she said, "Come in and talk."
Jiang Zimei stepped gracefully into the courtyard, her eyes immediately landing on Li Ye with curiosity. "This is the one you had Chushuang bring back?"
"Mm." Shen Luhua nodded, glancing at Li Ye before turning to Jiang Zimei. "Senior Sister, no need to hide it from you—this is my long-lost son, Li Ye." To Li Ye: "Xiaoye, pay your respects to Sect Leader Jiang."
"Greetings, Sect Leader Jiang." Li Ye eyed the enigmatic beauty his mother had brought back, wondering at her age, but tensed upon hearing she was the sect leader.
Jiang Zimei was stunned by the revelation—it sounded absurd. Her junior sister had joined the sect over a decade ago; he'd never even heard of a husband, let alone a child. But Shen Luhua's earnestness ruled out a joke. Suppressing her astonishment, she smiled at Li Ye. "Since you're Junior Sister's son, just call me Aunt Jiang."
Shen Luhua chimed in aptly: "Senior Sister saved me back then and took me as her disciple. To me, she's both master and sister—Aunt Jiang fits perfectly."
"Thank you, Aunt Jiang, for looking after my mother all these years." Li Ye warmed to the woman at his mother's words.
Jiang Zimei nodded with a smile, appraising Li Ye. Aside from being somewhat handsome, he seemed utterly ordinary. "All these years, and we've never heard Junior Sister mention a child."
Shen Luhua sighed. "I thought he'd died back then. It was too painful to speak of—and yet heaven took pity, granting us this reunion."
Though questions lingered, Jiang Zimei didn't press. She smiled. "Mother and son reunited—you should be overjoyed, Junior Sister. So why the rage earlier?"
Shen Luhua's killing intent surged anew at the memory, taking a moment to calm. She gazed fondly at Li Ye and said, half-serious, half-testing: "This child grew up alone, no father or mother, helpless and abandoned—sold into the palace as a eunuch. His body is now incomplete. I was hoping to consult you, Senior Sister. You've read every book there is. Is there a quick way to restore such damage?"
Jiang Zimei felt a pang of pity, averting her eyes from Li Ye's ruined lower body. She pondered. "Reattaching a severed limb promptly is simple enough. But if vitality has faded long ago, you'd need to create anew from nothing—far more complex. Beyond reaching the 7th Realm, sky-mending spiritual marrow works, as does the Life-Creation Pill. The Jade Void Palace's Yuan Shi Jin Zhang allows basing one's foundation on a cyan lotus dharma body for remolding the flesh. The demonic Tianmo Jiuxiang borrows extraterrestrial demon power to reshape the body. Or the ghost path—refining the false into true reaches a complete body by the 4th Realm..."
Hearing so many options, Shen Luhua brightened. "Which do you think best, Senior Sister?"
Jiang Zimei frowned. "Sky-mending spiritual marrow is a pipe dream. Yuan Shi Jin Zhang is Jade Void Palace's core—unattainable. Tianmo Jiuxiang vanished with the demonic sect. Ghost cultivation relies on chance and brings uncertain consequences. That leaves the Life-Creation Pill. I can refine it, but regenerating a yang root would require century-old Purple Yang Flowers as the main ingredient..."
"Century-old Purple Yang Flowers? Weren't the last batch used for Yan Shou Dan and Zhen Yan Dan?" Shen Luhua's brows furrowed.
Jiang Zimei nodded. "The next batch needs three more years to mature."
Shen Luhua's worry deepened. "Three years..." Li Ye, who'd been listening silently, finally spoke up. "Actually... I've seen the Tianmo Jiuxiang."
Two pairs of beautiful eyes turned to him—one ethereal and faintly surprised, the other warm and brimming with delight.
"You've seen it? Where?" Shen Luhua's warm eyes lit up.
"The imperial palace's secret archives hold the original Tianmo Jiuxiang. I've memorized the first four realms."
Jiang Zimei's smile bloomed radiantly. "In that case, we just need one extraterrestrial demon."
Shen Luhua's gloom vanished, a hint of domineering aura emerging. "A mere extraterrestrial demon—Senior Sister, Xiaoye, wait here a moment. I'll fetch one."
Jiang Zimei smiled faintly, cautioning: "Have you thought it through, Junior Sister? Three years isn't long. Tianmo Jiuxiang is a demonic art—once Xiaoye cultivates it, he can't join the sect."
Shen Luhua paused, glancing hesitantly at Li Ye.
Li Ye's gaze wavered, but he asked: "I hear extraterrestrial demons start at the 6th Realm, with many beyond the 7th. You're only 6th Realm—won't it be dangerous?"
Shen Luhua smiled coolly. "Never mind 7th Realm demons, billions of miles away. If we met one, the question is whose danger it would be."
Hearing her confidence, Li Ye relaxed, his eyes burning with resolve. "In that case, I don't want to wait."
Shen Luhua hesitated no longer. Demonic art or not—with her protection, where in the world couldn't he go? "Senior Sister, watch over Xiaoye for me."
"Want me to come along?" Jiang Zimei didn't press further.
"No need." Shen Luhua gazed at Li Ye, her fierce eyes softening. "Xiaoye, wait here patiently. Don't wander off."
With that, her sword qi shot skyward, and she vanished.
"You really don't want to join Shangqing Sword Sect? With your mother's talent, she might break through to the 7th Realm anytime—perhaps even inherit the sect leadership. It could be yours." Jiang Zimei watched the departing sword light with a light laugh.
Li Ye gave a wry smile. "Aunt Jiang, that's tempting, but I can't wait anymore. Entering the palace at twelve as a eunuch, enduring years of it—I might go mad if it drags on."
"Go mad in the heart?" Jiang Zimei blinked, then covered her mouth in delighted laughter. "What a fun phrase."
Li Ye's long-held wish seemed solvable with his mother's casual words. Amid the complexity, anticipation dominated. He had little mind for chit-chat. "Besides, Mom has her path, and I have mine. I can't rely on her forever."
"Fair enough." Jiang Zimei arched a brow. "Judging by your bone age, you're just seventeen—lost at two, then. How'd you survive? And how reunite with Junior Sister Shen?"
Li Ye couldn't fabricate wildly but couldn't ignore her either, so he countered: "Aunt Jiang, you don't believe me?"
Jiang Zimei still smiled faintly, but her aura shifted subtly—like a chilling moon over the ninth abyss, high and remote. The faint smile between her brows carried veiled killing intent. Unlike Shen Luhua's sky-piercing fury, it chilled Li Ye to the bone, as if any twitch would summon sword qi from the depths.
Only now did the Shangqing Sword Sect leader shed her warmth, revealing the apex predator beneath. She spoke softly: "In the fifteen years since Junior Sister joined, I've never seen her so joyful and free. If I find out you're deceiving her, you'll regret being born."
Though sword chill permeated him, Li Ye sensed her deep protectiveness toward his mother. He ignored the threat, smiling instead. "Thank you."
The unexpected response stunned Jiang Zimei; her sword qi faltered. A strange pang hit her—like a daughter she'd raised slipping away. She waved a hand, dispersing the qi like melting snow. Staring at Li Ye oddly, she said: "I'm starting to believe you."
"You mean... Mom hasn't been happy these past dozen years?"
"Always seemed burdened by some heartache. Wouldn't speak of it—like her heart was dead ash."
"Dead ash heart..." Li Ye murmured.
"I first thought her perfect for our sect's supreme path of utter detachment. But she couldn't let go, couldn't forget..."
Li Ye's heart twinged at "couldn't let go." He forced a smile. "Isn't that fine? Utter detachment—what's the difference from a stone?"
"True. For Junior Sister, it's ideal. With her Yin Spirit Sword Body, no need to turn to stone to break realms."
"Any special reason?"
"You think the 7th Realm is easy? Everyone else in Shangqing Sword Sect needs utter detachment to cultivate the Tai Shang Sword Codex—no hope for the 7th otherwise."
"Then... what does Mom cultivate?" A hint of worry crept into Li Ye.
"Tai Su Jiu You Sword Scripture."
Li Ye exhaled in relief, then noted: "You don't seem to cultivate the Tai Shang Sword Codex either."
Jiang Zimei chuckled. "How do you know I don't?"
"Doesn't feel like it."
"Not stony enough?"
"Nope."
Jiang Zimei extended a hand; clouds and mist gathered from the heavens, coalescing. "Because at the final step of breakthrough, I stopped."
"Stopped?"
"Yes. I suddenly asked myself: Is a lifetime of cultivation just to forget everything? The scriptures speak of great joy in the Dao, but I felt only great terror. Turning to stone like those old fogeys when lifespan nears its end—fine. But I was only in my thirties, cultivating since childhood. Why turn myself to stone?"
"Makes total sense. I won't even stay a eunuch—let alone a stone." Li Ye nodded vigorously.
The mist formed a delicate white flower. Jiang Zimei sniffed its cloud-scent like a girl, her elegant face blooming with a peerlessly radiant smile. "Right? So many wonders in the world I haven't tried. Wait till I'm eighty or ninety, then play enough. I ran into your mom on that trip, thought I'd groom her as sect leader and leave. Turns out she's trouble too—now it's all on that girl Chushuang."
Li Ye smacked his lips inwardly. Fifteen years ago, Aunt Jiang was already at the 6th Realm pinnacle, poised for the 7th.
"Does breaking through require detachment? No other ways?"
Jiang Zimei laughed lightly, unconcerned. "scared of death. Don't want to disperse my cultivation and start over."
Li Ye opened his mouth, but sword light descended from the sky. Shen Luhua returned to the courtyard, a dreamlike illusory shadow trailing her—pristine and untouched.
"I was going to grab a few more, but a pack of demons got tangled up. If it's not enough, I'll make another trip."