Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
“Did you hear? If you perform well, you’ll be optimized!”
The new sect leader hurried down from Canglang Mountain, passing through in a rush—no one knew which hall master he was off to see this time.
The disciples of the Demon Palace craned their necks, watching the new sect leader approach and then disappear into the distance. Finally, they sighed deeply and settled down quietly. No one knew which would come first: tomorrow or an accident. Maybe tomorrow, while mining, they’d be crushed in the cavern. It was better to enjoy life while still alive.
Recently, mining tasks were light, so the usual assignments of escorting ore shipments had ceased. The disciples scattered deep in the mountains now had leisure to gather in small groups and chat.
Moreover, with the new sect leader making frequent moves, they had plenty of gossip to pass the time after meals.
They had thought changing the sect leader wouldn’t affect the lower ranks, but who would have guessed the first impact would fall on them?
“What does ‘optimization’ mean?” someone asked.
Others shook their heads. “It’s probably a good thing. The words sound positive. Maybe those optimized won’t have to mine all day in the mountains. Or maybe they won’t have to dig up a hundred thousand pounds before they can go ashore and redeem themselves at the Celestial Institute.”
A few older brothers leaned against the earthen slope, chatting. Suddenly one called out, “Xiao Zhu, you’re learned. What do you think this optimization means?”
Not far from them, a young man lay resting in the shadow of a rock, trying to escape the rising heat.
He had expected hardship in the Demon Realm, but never imagined it would be this harsh.
The youth wore patched black cloth clothes, with a silver forehead band of unknown material covering half of his rebellious brows and eyes. A blade of grass, picked up from somewhere, dangled from his mouth as he lounged lazily in the shade, sleeping peacefully and comfortably.
Hearing his comrades call, he twitched his brow. The grass blade bobbed up and down, but his eyes remained closed.
Seeing no response, they didn’t press further and turned back to their conversation. They resumed discussing the personal resumes they had submitted a few days ago, their faces drawn with worry.
“You tell me, someone who swings knives, wields guns, and handles hoes—how many days in this life have I ever held a pen? Asking me to write is like asking for my life!”
“Yeah, who knows what this new sect leader wants. Didn’t he come to the Demon Realm just to mine demon crystals and make money? What good comes from these fancy things? Can it help us leave this lousy place sooner and see our wives and kids?”
“I heard this new sect leader came from ‘outside’—someone from a major sect.”
More people gathered, the voices growing louder. “I know, I know! His name’s Qin Jun, from the Lingxiao Sect. I was right in front that day; I swear I heard it myself!”
Mention of the Lingxiao Sect brought spontaneous hisses from the crowd.
“They had a perfectly good righteous disciple, but here they are messing around in the Demon Realm? Some pampered young lady sent by the Celestial Institute to ‘polish’ herself in the Demon Realm?”
Amid the chorus of complaints, the youth surnamed Zhu opened his eyes.
The chatter continued, “I heard she was hunted down. The Celestial Institute’s Red Bird Enforcement Squad even tore out her spiritual root. Lucky to be alive, or she’d have lost her soul by now!”
“Maybe it’s just an excuse! Qin Jun! Master He Shan! Such a famous name—how could the Red Bird Squad chase her down so easily? What kind of trouble did she get into? Isn’t the Lingxiao Sect the most protective? They couldn’t even save her?”
The grass blade stopped bobbing, fell to the ground, rolled through some dust, and was carried away by the wind to an unknown place.
The others resumed talking. “I heard they’re organizing some kind of employee training conference in a couple of days. Don’t know what they’ll teach us. Maybe they finally want to teach us some real skills like the outside sects?”
“Teach skills? Dream on!” The last speaker was slapped on the back. “Training here wastes spiritual stones. With the little spiritual stones we earn, barely enough to survive here, do you want to work in the mines till you die? Where else would you get stones for cultivation?”
“Besides, do you think spiritual stones are so easy to refine? If top-grade Heavenly-level stones aren’t refined, do you think with your level you can absorb them? If not, you’d either explode or not even extract the spiritual energy inside!”
“Stop talking nonsense… Luckily we have Xiao Zhu going to that training conference with us. He’s well-read and knowledgeable, surely he’ll figure out what’s going on. Without his help, I’d never have been able to write my resume, even if it cost me my head…”
More sighs followed. The youth surnamed Zhu closed his eyes again and continued to sleep peacefully in the shade.
…
Outside the Demon Realm—
The immortal mountains rose majestically, stretching endlessly.
Like blades piercing the sky, interrupted midway by surging clouds, separating the worlds of immortals and mortals completely.
Several streaks of light flashed between the peaks. The leading golden light moved fastest, crossing thousands of ridges in an instant, breaking through the thick mist, heading straight for the main hall atop Lingxiao Sect’s mountain.
Where the golden light passed, admiration swelled.
“So fast! Senior Sister Mingwei, who is that expert?”
“That’s Senior Brother Su Yuan, known as the Cold Star Lord of the Starfire Falling Cold Mountain. He’s the most outstanding disciple of Lingxiao Sect!”
On Fulong Mountain, all Lingxiao Sect disciples looked up to watch the streak of light flying across the sky. They had heard of Cold Star Lord Su Yuan’s name, but many were seeing him for the first time.
Such speed meant he was likely already—
“Senior Brother is not yet a century old but has reached the seventh stage of cultivation. His future is boundless; he will surely be the first to ascend to immortality in these five hundred years!” Xie Mingwei gazed upward, seeing Su Yuan’s golden light land on the main hall, and stepped forward to follow.
“Senior Sister, where are you going?”
“To see Senior Brother Su Yuan!” Dressed in tender green, Xie Mingwei transformed into a streak of light, rushing straight to the mountain’s main hall.
…
Lingxiao Sect, Lingxiao Hall.
The sect leader and elders stood solemnly prepared.
A seven-person squad returning from the Demon Realm gathered before the hall, following Su Yuan inside.
Su Yuan, the sect’s top disciple, was famed for his sword technique as swift as a falling meteor, with sword qi as icy as frost, earning him the title “Starfire Falling Cold Mountain” and the moniker Cold Star Lord.
At this moment, Su Yuan removed his cloak, revealing a round-collared robe dyed with inked landscapes. A small red mark adorned his forehead, standing out against his cold, frost-white face like a star fallen on a frozen mountain.
His expression was stern and solemn as he strode into the hall. The others followed closely, not daring to delay.
“Greetings, sect leader and elders. Disciple Su Yuan has returned.”
The silent, oppressive hall instantly became lively.
“Su Yuan is back! The journey must have been exhausting. The Demon Realm is harsh; you have our gratitude.”
Though Su Yuan held no official position, he was highly respected. Many high-ranking elders eagerly asked after his wellbeing.
Standing silently in the center of the hall like a piece of jade, Su Yuan responded faintly to all remarks, showing no emotion, like a statue.
The meaningless pleasantries lasted for a quarter of an hour before Sect Leader Mu Chongluan spoke.
“Yuan’er, how was the situation in the Demon Realm?”
The hall fell silent again, awaiting Su Yuan’s reply.
Su Yuan raised his hand; spiritual energy manifested as a clear orb showing the Demon Realm’s border.
A desolate swamp stretched out, with nothing but a faint trace of lingering spiritual energy.
Su Yuan spoke in a cold voice, “Reporting, sect leader. This is a trace of spiritual energy I found at the Demon Realm’s edge—very weak, left by the traitor Qin Jun. According to the Red Bird Enforcement Squad’s interrogation of their captives, they claim to have removed Qin Jun’s spiritual root, confirming her death at the Demon Realm’s boundary. I and my companions searched carefully; the area is rife with demons and vicious beasts feeding on corpses. Near the swamp, we found drag marks and fragments of clothing with residual aura.”
The other disciples standing behind Su Yuan produced jade boxes from their spatial pouches, handing the fragments to the waiting temple attendants inside the hall.
Elder Bai Mei, sitting to Sect Leader Mu’s right, took out a porcelain vial from his sleeve. The transparent liquid dripped onto the fragments, releasing a mist.
Suddenly, a roar erupted, revealing a fierce and monstrous beast with blood-red jaws emerging from the mist, then vanishing again.
Elder Bai Mei’s expression turned grave; finally, he looked to the sect leader and nodded, “Indeed so.”
Sect Leader Mu’s face showed hidden anger, knuckles whitening as he gripped the armrest, cracking audibly.
“The Celestial Institute acted swiftly. Even if a disciple of Lingxiao Sect goes astray, we have our own way to handle it. Yet they overstep—”
Other elders echoed his indignation, voices rising in righteous anger. Yet Su Yuan, who had personally raised Qin Jun, remained calm and composed, neither pleased nor angry.
Sect Leader Mu asked, “Su Yuan, is there truly no chance of survival?”
Su Yuan nodded, producing a shattered soul lantern. The cracks covered the lantern, extinguished completely, a testament to the miserable death of its owner.
With the last hope gone, Mu sighed deeply and sank back into his chair.
“Enough. Let’s accept this as Qin Jun’s fate.”
Su Yuan stood with hands behind his back, his flowing sleeves concealing a glowing spiritual rune heating up on his hand.
“Yuan’er…” Mu sighed, “Your master knows this pains you. But life and death are fate. At this point, it’s beyond recovery. I know you were close with Qin Jun, having raised her yourself. But this has happened; I advise you let go. If you let this block your cultivation, I’m sure Qin Jun’s spirit would not want to see this.”
Su Yuan lowered his eyes, obediently, “Yes, disciple will heed master’s teaching.”
Mu waved his sleeve. “Go rest. The Demon Realm’s demonic aura will affect you. Go to the back mountain’s spirit pool and bathe for three days. Wash away the worldly filth before resuming cultivation.”
“Yes, thank you, sect leader!”
…
Su Yuan led the others out, leaving only the sect leader and Elder Bai Mei in the hall.
Sect Leader Mu asked, “What does Elder Yu think?”
“Qin Jun’s death seems certain. But the whereabouts of her remains may be another matter,” Elder Yu Baifeng stroked his beard. “Either someone in the Demon Realm took them, or scattered beasts tore them apart and swallowed them. Such things do not vanish with the host’s death.”
“Elder Yu means Su Yuan is lying?”
Elder Yu’s expression darkened but he withheld judgment. “Hard to say. Further investigation is needed. It’s possible the Celestial Institute is lying. To evade their watchful eyes, they might have sent others to secretly investigate the Demon Realm. We must find out what happened to those remains, or the Lingxiao Sect’s century-long plans will be ruined.”
A heavy sigh answered Elder Yu’s words.
…
Inside the Demon Palace, a furtive figure sneaked quietly into the Lanqing Hall.
System: “Host, why do you sneak into the office like this?”
“…” Qin Jun was startled. “Did you finish programming or not? Why meddle when you’re not done?”
System: “…Not yet.”
“Then get to work. Don’t waste precious time before finishing your main duties.”
“Oh. Okay,” the system said.
Qin Jun: “Remember to confirm receipt.”
System: “…Received.”
Qin Jun pulled a jade talisman from her sleeve pocket, given by Granny Dragon Heart, and crept to the huge painted wall inside Lanqing Hall. The relief depicted heaven, earth, humans, gods, and ghosts; scales, feathers, fierce roars—all vivid and lifelike.
At the center of the mural was a towering mountain dotted with massive stones. Qin Jun glanced at the talisman, preparing to place it into a groove in the stones.
“Host, have you finished your work?”
“!” Qin Jun patted her rapidly beating heart. “Why do you suddenly pop up again?”
System: “To remind you to complete your main work and not waste precious time.”
Qin Jun: “…Got it. Don’t bother me.”
In the deepening night, the jade talisman glowed faintly.
…