Upon hearing these words.
"..."
Fairy Bihai's body suddenly stiffened, and she fell into a complete silence.
She stared fixedly at the general before her, the one her father relied on most, as the madness in her eyes gradually faded.
In her mind, the Southern Immortal Palace, shrouded in purple mist year-round, involuntarily surfaced.
Along with that tall, imposing figure who always kept his back to her, as unyielding as a god.
She had originally thought that although her father was furious about her insistence on marrying a lowly carp spirit, he had ultimately accepted it and even secretly provided resources.
That was the last bit of affection her father had for her.
But now...
The fact that her father's general appeared at this time.
Meant that from the very beginning, he had been watching everything from the shadows.
"So..."
Fairy Bihai's eyes grew red, and she suddenly cried out in sorrow, "This so-called status of Little Palace Mistress, this so-called reverence of ten thousand Demons—in the end... what does any of it matter?!"
The Demon General stood with his hands behind his back, expressionless.
He looked at the nearly broken woman before him, a sneer curling his lips. "Being born in the Southern Immortal Palace, it was meant to be this way."
"Since childhood, you have enjoyed the endless Heaven And Earth Treasures of the southern Yunmeng Township and received the worship of ten thousand Demons. You inevitably have responsibilities to bear. In your position, you must handle your affairs, follow your Dao, and fulfill your duties. The thousands of Demons within the Southern Immortal Palace have provided for you. When you squandered those offerings, you didn't say it was hateful to be in the Southern Immortal Palace. But now, when you are required to shoulder your responsibilities and preserve the dignity of the Southern Immortal Palace, you say it is hateful to be in the Southern Immortal Palace."
He leaned forward slightly and suddenly chuckled. "If that is the case, Little Palace Mistress, then you are truly hateful."
"..."
Fairy Bihai stood dazed on the spot. She wanted to refute him, but found she couldn't even say a single word.
After a long while.
She slowly closed her eyes, and two lines of clear tears slid down her cheeks.
"I understand..."
Upon hearing this.
The Demon General looked down, his gaze crossing the ruins to fall upon Jiang Yuechu.
The human and the Demon stared at each other from a distance.
The wind over the Great Marsh suddenly became piercingly cold.
True Lord Linghan stood within the sword screen, his brow furrowed as he quietly took a step forward.
Wait...
This Beast wouldn't turn his back on them now, would he?
If this general of the Southern Immortal Palace decided to cause trouble, it would be difficult to resolve today's matters peacefully.
However.
The Demon General only gave Jiang Yuechu a deep look and did not strike.
He turned around and swept his large sleeve.
"Return to the Palace."
The purple mist rolled.
The figures of the Demons vanished into the horizon in an instant, as if they had never appeared at all.
The purple Qi filling the sky dissipated along with them.
The Great Marsh returned to tranquility, leaving only the devastation on the ground.
A full fifteen minutes passed.
Once he confirmed that terrifying aura had completely vanished from his perception.
True Lord Linghan's tensed back suddenly relaxed, and he slumped onto the ground without a shred of dignity.
"Whew... scared me to death, scared me to death."
After catching his breath, True Lord Linghan looked up and curiously turned his gaze toward Jiang Yuechu. "You're not afraid at all?"
Jiang Yuechu's movements paused slightly.
She tilted her head, her gaze slowly moving downward.
She gave a faint glance at a certain spot on True Lord Linghan's somewhat pathetic sitting posture.
Then she withdrew her gaze and asked in return, "Should I be afraid?"
"..."
Following the girl's gaze, True Lord Linghan's old face turned red.
He coughed twice to hide his embarrassment and suddenly scrambled up from the ground.
"Hahahaha, that's true."
He dusted off his cyan-blue robe and straightened his back, forcibly reclaiming some of his Senior expert's demeanor.
"Although this old Beast is terrifyingly powerful, this Lord is at least a Nine-Seed Chess Player. If we really fought... what would I have to fear!"
True Lord Linghan gave a sheepish smile and waved his hand, his expression suddenly turning solemn.
"However... when traveling through Yunmeng Township in the future, it's best not to easily provoke such existences."
"This Demon is the general that the South Immortal Palace Master relies on most. It is said that his cultivation has already crossed the threshold of a Chess Player and reached the Painting Realm."
"Painting Realm?"
Jiang Yuechu was slightly stunned.
This was the first time she had seen a Painting Realm existence with her own eyes.
Recalling the Demon General's power just now, it didn't seem that different from an ordinary Cultivator.
But it did serve as a reminder to her.
She should keep a lower profile.
This was Yunmeng Township, after all, not her own broken world.
Being in the Chess Master Realm made her feel the massive gap between Chess Players even more acutely.
Even between an Eight Chess Pieces of Strategy like Fairy Bihai and a One Chess Piece like herself.
If she didn't use her final trump card.
The gap between them was perhaps even larger than the gap between the Wen Xian Realm and the Lamp Lighting Realm.
Seeing Jiang Yuechu sink into thought, True Lord Linghan's eyes flickered.
After a few moments.
He spoke tentatively, "By the way... little friend, your talent is exceptional and your combat power is startling. I wonder who your master is? Are you a descendant of some School?"
Jiang Yuechu withdrew her thoughts, her tone flat.
"I am just a Loose Cultivator, without any Sect or School."
Upon hearing this.
A sharp light suddenly burst from True Lord Linghan's eyes.
Saving her wasn't in vain!
Whether it was her calm Heart-Nature in the face of danger or her terrifying combat power that allowed her to kill those above her level while only being a One Chess Piece.
If he could bring her back to the Jieqing Sect and cultivate her carefully.
In time, the Jieqing Sect would surely produce another peerless great Cultivator who could shoulder the burden!
At this thought, the smile on True Lord Linghan's face became increasingly kind and amiable.
"I see."
He stroked his beard and nodded, changing the subject.
"Little friend, you helped this Lord slay the Demon today. As I said before, there will surely be a heavy reward afterward."
He put on a troubled look and sighed.
"It's just that I left home in a hurry, and those treasures worthy of your efforts are all kept within the Sect; I didn't bring them with me."
True Lord Linghan looked at Jiang Yuechu, his tone sincere.
"If you don't mind, little friend, why not accompany me to the Jieqing Sect?"
"Firstly, to collect that heavy reward."
"Secondly, the Jieqing Sect is one of the Nine Great Dao Sects of Yunmeng with a deep foundation. You can stay in the Sect for a few days and witness the style of our Human Race's orthodox lineage."
Upon hearing this.
Jiang Yuechu began to calculate silently.
She had originally intended to quickly scout out the situation in Yunmeng Township and go to the so-called Yunmeng Palace to finish the task the Restless Soil Old Woman had given her.
But looking at things now.
Even a Southern Immortal Palace that was subordinate to the Yunmeng Palace had such a deep foundation.
If she rashly headed to the Yunmeng Palace like this, who knew if they would turn on her or if some other accident would occur along the way.
She at least needed enough power to protect herself first.
Going to see these so-called Nine Great Dao Sects didn't seem like a bad idea.
Besides, now that she had entered the Chess Master Realm, her current methods were indeed a bit lacking for her present level.
Recalling the purple mist techniques the Little Palace Mistress of the Southern Immortal Palace had used... if she was lucky enough to master similar techniques, it would undoubtedly raise her combat power to another level.
Thinking of this.
She nodded slightly, her cold voice ringing out.
"Then I shall trouble you."
Hearing this answer.
True Lord Linghan was overjoyed and stroked his beard repeatedly.
"Good, good."
Just then.
Two more streaks of light flashed across the sky, landing not far away.
True Lord Linghan looked into the distance and suddenly smiled. "Wuya, Wanyin, come here."
He Wuya and Tang Wanyin walked forward quickly upon hearing him.
The way they looked at Jiang Yuechu was extremely complicated... after all, compared to the two of them, her methods were undoubtedly more fitting of the name of a Dao Sect disciple.
True Lord Linghan pointed at the two and began to introduce them with a smile.
"These are the Personal Disciples of my Jieqing Sect, He Wuya and Tang Wanyin."
Jiang Yuechu nodded slightly as a greeting.
True Lord Linghan looked back at Jiang Yuechu. "I have yet to ask for your name, little friend?"
"Jiang Yuechu."
"So it is Little Friend Jiang."
True Lord Linghan nodded and swept his large sleeve. A massive cyan-blue Flying Sword emerged from the Void Realm, hovering before everyone.
"This place is not suitable for a long stay. We shall set off for the Sect now."
Just as they were about to step onto the Flying Sword.
Tang Wanyin looked at True Lord Linghan's lower body with a strange expression. She hesitated for a moment but couldn't help but speak up.
"Deacon Linghan... your pants..."
He Wuya followed her gaze and his face also stiffened. He silently looked away.
True Lord Linghan's old face instantly turned beet red.
Just now, when the Painting Realm Demon General of the Southern Immortal Palace had swept his gaze over him and the pressure had weighed down, he, a grand Nine-Seed Chess Player, had actually failed to control himself.
But how could he admit to such an embarrassing thing!
He suddenly turned his head and glared at his surroundings, his voice rising sharply.
"Who!"
"Who the hell sh*t in my pants pocket!!"