Chapter 29: The Soul Fragment of Emperor Xiaoyao

Trusting the sect leader’s sterling reputation, Ye Feng didn’t hide the truth and spoke plainly.
She also had her own motives.
Empy Old had told her he felt incomplete, with fragmented memories he couldn’t piece together.
He suspected his soul fragments were scattered elsewhere.
With her Foundation Establishment cultivation, recovering them was a distant dream.
Empy Old also claimed she was a child of destiny, fated to save the world.
Please, I was just a college girl who loved dramas and variety shows before transmigrating—how am I supposed to save the world?!
Before, she had no options. Now, with a chance to cling to a powerful thigh, she’d try her luck.

Leng Qingqiu glanced at Chu Huaizhou, her eyes widening slightly, surprised he’d sensed Ye Feng’s benefactor in the ring.
A faint smile curved her lips. As expected of Master, sharp even three hundred years ago.
She’d need to be careful with her little schemes—being caught faking their partnership would be disastrous.
Bai Li, catching Leng Qingqiu’s glance, flinched instinctively. Realizing it wasn’t aimed at her, she looked away, feigning nonchalance to hide her embarrassment.
No one paid her mind—Chu Huaizhou barely noticed her squirming, his focus locked on Ye Feng, awaiting Emperor Xiaoyao’s appearance.

But Ye Feng sighed. “It’s not that Empy Old refuses to meet you, Master. He’s in a deep slumber…”
Huh? That’s not right.
In the game, though weakened, Empy Old could still manifest a shadow from the ring.
Then it hit Chu Huaizhou.
Many crises in the game were resolved with secret realm items—items he’d taken.
Hiss…
He couldn’t meet Ye Feng’s eyes.

Sure enough, she lowered her head, sheepishly admitting, “Empy Old exhausted his soul saving me multiple times, so he fell into a slumber.”
Leng Qingqiu stepped forward, expressionless, extending a hand.
Ye Feng hesitated, then respectfully handed over the ring.
Leng Qingqiu channeled spiritual energy laced with soul power into it, probing.
Chu Huaizhou asked, “Qingqiu, how is it? Can Empy Old wake up?”

She shook her head, regretful. “No, his soul is too weak—beyond nourishment. Even mild soul-replenishing liquid could overwhelm him like boiling water.”
“The fact he’s alive in this state is unheard of, likely tied to the Immortal Realm.”
“If only we could restore his soul…”

Trouble.
Chu Huaizhou quietly released Bai Li’s two tails.
“Woo, meow?”
Bai Li yelped softly, then relaxed, collapsing limply in his arms.
Emperor Xiaoyao’s soul was in bad shape, but Chu Huaizhou had a plan.
With Qingqiu’s help, they could find the nine soul fragments.
Good news: having cleared the first playthrough, he knew five fragment locations.
Bad news: the other four were unknown.
Fortunately, one fragment, per the game, was recently unearthed from a secret realm and slated for an auction.
He needed to ask Qingqiu how long her array could hold the Calamity Plague Emperor Lord. If there was time, he’d hit the auction—Emperor Xiaoyao was his best shot at recovering his memories and cultivation.
If Xiaoyao didn’t know, no one would.
If time was short, he’d rally their forces to perfectly eliminate the demon lord.

Either way, speed was key—other sects couldn’t learn the demon was alive.
The seven great immortal sects had rivals in the five demonic sects, who’d jump at any chance to scheme with his less-friendly peers.

Setting Bai Li down, Chu Huaizhou said, “Ye Feng, I have matters to attend to. Let Bai Li show you around the sect.”
He headed to his chambers alone. Leng Qingqiu returned the ring to Ye Feng, gave Bai Li a meaningful look, and followed.
Bai Li, clueless about their talk, stared blankly at Chu Huaizhou’s retreating figure.

Ye Feng, relieved as the two left, turned to Bai Li, eyes sparkling.
This fox is too cute!
She’d noticed her earlier—the legendary Heavenly Origin Sword Sect’s guardian beast, the nine-tailed heavenly fox, king of demons!
Despite her status, Ye Feng couldn’t resist wanting to pet her glossy white fur.
Crouching, eyes gleaming, she opened her arms. “Senior Bai Li, thank you for guiding me. Let me carry you so you don’t tire.”

Bai Li, used to Chu Huaizhou’s “non-fox” treatment, was caught off guard by the respect. Puffing up proudly, she nodded.
“Huh? Oh, fine, you can carry this palace, meow. Tell me where you want to go, and if I’m in a good mood, I’ll show you, meow.”

Meanwhile, in the endless abyss of the Nine Nether, a ghostly palace built from ancient beast bones exhaled eerie miasma.
This was the hidden stronghold of the Nether Sect, one of the five demonic sects.
Located on a yin-evil leyline, without special suppression, any cultivator within a hundred miles would have their soul scorched by bone-eroding nether flames, writhing in agony.

A group of light-green-robed cultivators, faces obscured, stood before a deep-green-robed figure.
“Great Elder, are we… really going to the Rotting Bone Nether River?” a light-green-robed demon cultivator whispered, voice trembling with fear.
“It should’ve been wiped clean by that one from the Heavenly Origin Sword Sect. There might be residual sword qi—we’d die touching it!” another added, voice shaky.

Who’d have thought the Nether Sect, dreaded for consorting with the dead, would cower at one cultivator’s name?
Their blood-red eyes flickered with dread.
Once, their sect was feared, their name sparking terror.
Now, reduced to nobodies, all thanks to that continent’s top cultivator.
The Great Elder wanting to provoke him? He must be mad!