Chapter 43: A Great Vehicle Demon Breaks Free?

Instantly, the jade slip disintegrated, transforming into a stream of light that merged into the Nine Luminaries Abyss Ring.
The ring trembled, its once-dormant black-gold patterns flaring to life.
Within its deep, night-sky-like surface, specks of stardust began to swirl faster, as if infused with new vitality.
Chu Huaizhou sensed the ring’s jubilant emotion, now more expressive, less mechanical than before.
Soon, the transformation settled. A sudden insight struck him—the ring’s grade had leaped from a top-tier spiritual treasure to a low-grade immortal treasure!
It also granted a one-time ability to restore him from near-death to full health.
How it worked was unclear, but it felt like a game mechanic.
That wasn’t the main point.

Beyond enhancing its existing functions—comprehensive boosts, spatial storage, and automatic mental defense—it gained a new ability: Hundred Weapons Martial Evolution.
This allowed the ring to refine any technique he used into its most suitable form for him, even completing incomplete techniques.
Talk about a cheat code for a second playthrough!
Chu Huaizhou couldn’t have asked for better timing.
For his current Golden Core cultivation and complete techniques, it was slightly redundant, offering a minor combat boost.
But his true state? Peak late Tribulation, half a step from ascension!
Though amnesiac, a high-grade healing pill could restore his strength momentarily.
In that instant, the ring could likely detect his true cultivation and upgrade his Nascent Soul-level sword techniques to Tribulation-level.
Thrilling just to think about!
He also sensed the ring’s intelligence had grown. No longer an artificial idiot?
Channeling a wisp of spiritual energy, he tested its smarts.

“Who am I?”
You are the esteemed master, Trib… Golden Core late-stage powerhouse…
The ring’s response lagged, clearly confused by the mismatch between his aura and weakened cultivation.
“Open the storage space.”
Detected incomplete soul, activating defense, storage access denied.
Chu Huaizhou: Are you kidding me?! Still an artificial idiot!
He briefly considered tossing the ring away.

Xia Baiqian, seeing his face shift from joy to frustration, nuzzled into his arms.
“What’s wrong, Master? Is the ring acting up?”
Leng Qingqiu, having secretly taken a seventh-grade Life Creation Pill, had nearly recovered from the forbidden technique’s toll.
Meditation would handle the mental fatigue.
Feeling spry, she saw Xia Baiqian’s move, snorted, and latched onto Chu Huaizhou’s other arm.
Her peaks, smaller than Bai Li’s but larger than Xia Baiqian’s, pressed against him, pulling him closer to steal his attention.
Not to be outdone, Xia Baiqian tugged his other arm, “accidentally” slipping off a boot.
Pretending to pull harder, her bare foot landed on his leg, vying for his gaze.

Caught between them, Chu Huaizhou sighed. Two women, one drama.
Why did they always turn into a jealousy contest?
Still, it was safer than being alone with either.
Both disciples had yandere streaks, giving him a headache.
How did they end up like this?
He sighed, missing Bai Li for the umpteenth time.

Just then, as they basked in the post-crisis cheer, Leng Qingqiu’s phoenix eyes narrowed, letting out a puzzled, “Hm?”
A blue butterfly broke through the void, landing on her shoulder.
The trio quieted. Leng Qingqiu closed her eyes, absorbing its message, then opened them, her playful expression turning grave.
Chu Huaizhou: “What’s wrong, Qingqiu? Trouble in your dynasty?”
Xia Baiqian, serious now, patted her flat chest.
“Yeah, Sister Qingqiu, another dynasty attacking? Go handle it—leave Master to me.”

Leng Qingqiu, no longer in a playful mood, frowned.
“Youming Sect’s demonic cultivators, for some reason, went to the Bone-Corrupting Nether River. They worked with Calamity Plague Emperor to break the seal…”
“What?!”
Chu Huaizhou and Xia Baiqian exclaimed in unison.
Xia Baiqian knew the Great Vehicle demon hadn’t been destroyed by Master, but had no idea of its current state.
A moment’s thought told her this was bad news.

At Heavenly Origin Sword Sect, atop Sky Sword Peak, in the sect master’s courtyard.
Ye Feng sat at a stone table, brush in hand, scribbling on rice paper.
Bai Li paced opposite, her pink paws making pat-pat sounds, nine tails swaying slowly, her mood visibly low.
“Listen up, newbie. Cultivation is about fighting the heavens, people, earth, and… demons, meow.”
Ye Feng: “Got it! Master Bai teaches so well—I’ve learned tons!”
She nodded enthusiastically, but her paper held only scribbled nonsense.
Naive Bai Li, basking in admiration, never checked it.
Her tails perked up at the praise, her mood easy to read.

Ye Feng glanced at the sky, gauging the time, and smiled.
“Master Bai, it’s getting late. Can you take me to the sect cafeteria?”
Bai Li nodded, tilting her head with a haughty look, about to agree.
Suddenly, her eyes lit up, nine tails shooting upright.
Her short legs zoomed toward Ye Feng like a motor.
Ye Feng, thinking she’d cheered Bai Li up, opened her arms for a hug.
But as they neared, Bai Li leaped under her arms, shouting, “Human! You’re back! This palace missed you, meow!”
Ye Feng: ??? So love fades, huh?

Turning, she saw her true Master—her idol—return. Her faint resentment vanished, replaced by excitement.
Chu Huaizhou entered the courtyard, spotting Bai Li charging at him, Ye Feng close behind.
He grinned, running toward Bai Li.
But history repeated—Bai Li leaped for his arms, only for him to sidestep, jogging to Ye Feng instead.
“Great, Ye Feng, you’re here—saves me the trouble of finding you!”
Bai Li: What the—?! Meow?!