After the battle of Dharma Bodies, although Xie Xuezhen had managed to stop Fa Jian Zunzhe’s self-destruction, Embracing Snow City still suffered considerable damage. It took the Immortal Alliance members three days to recover from their injuries. On the fourth day, they convened a general assembly to decide on the fate of Chi Mo, Yi Nian Zunzhe, and Mu Xuanling.
There was no disagreement about Chi Mo’s treatment. After discovering that no valuable information could be extracted, everyone unanimously agreed that Chi Mo should be permanently imprisoned in Embracing Snow City. Even if they were to obliterate it, its demonic energy would return to the Void Sea and reconstitute into another demon god after a hundred years.
As for Yi Nian Zunzhe, news came during the assembly that he had taken his own life in his cell, leaving behind a golden core imbued with his lifelong cultivation. A Dharma Body’s golden core was an extremely powerful weapon, and he used this method to express his apology and remorse.
Thus, the focus of the debate centered solely on Mu Xuanling’s fate.
When Fu Lansheng arrived outside the Hall of Righteous Qi, he saw Nan Xuyue standing quietly under a snow cedar. Nan Xuyue’s tall figure appeared somewhat thin, his features refined yet with a hint of loneliness. His clear, bright eyes gazed absently into the distance, his thoughts drifting to unknown places, unaware of the accumulated snow falling from the treetops onto his shoulders.
Fu Lansheng sighed inwardly and stepped forward to brush the snow off Nan Xuyue’s shoulders, bringing him back to his senses.
“Nan Xuyue, are you worried about Miss Ling?” Fu Lansheng’s feelings were complex. “I had noticed something unusual about her identity earlier, but I never imagined she was the Holy Maiden of the demon race, Sang Qi’s disciple. Did you… did you know before?”
Fu Lansheng didn’t know if Nan Xuyue had also been deceived or if he had intentionally concealed it for her.
Nan Xuyue smiled faintly and said, “Of course I knew.”
“Then why did you…?” Fu Lansheng frowned slightly.
“I trust her.” Nan Xuyue’s simple three words silenced Fu Lansheng’s many questions.
Fu Lansheng suddenly found himself at a loss for words.
Nan Xuyue took out a mustard seed bag from his sleeve and handed it to Fu Lansheng, saying, “This is what Ling’er asked me to pass on to you.”
“What is this?” Fu Lansheng had just asked when he saw a small opening appear in the mustard seed bag, from which a round head with two half-moon golden ears emerged. He exclaimed in surprise, “A Bao?”
A Bao crawled out of the mustard seed bag onto Fu Lansheng’s palm, its large black eyes brimming with tears, whimpering, “Brother, will Sister be alright?”
Nan Xuyue explained from the side, “When Ling’er was captured that day, she secretly threw the mustard seed bag to me. When I visited her in the dungeon, she asked me to entrust A Bao to you, so that you could take it to find your father at Bixiao Palace someday.”
Fu Lansheng’s expression became somewhat strange: “Why didn’t she ask you for help?”
Nan Xuyue glanced at him and said, “She probably trusts you.”
Hearing this, Fu Lansheng felt that Mu Xuanling had quite a good eye for people.
Mu Xuanling thought that Fu Lansheng possessed many treasures, which would benefit A Bao’s cultivation. Moreover, the whereabouts of Fu Cangli were most likely to be found at Bixiao Palace, so asking Fu Lansheng for help was the most appropriate choice. Naturally, Fu Lansheng’s character was also trustworthy, after all, he was someone Nan Xuyue approved of.
Fu Lansheng gently pinched A Bao’s ear tip and said, “Your sister might be in trouble this time.” Seeing Nan Xuyue look at him, Fu Lansheng sighed and continued, “A couple of days ago, I saw Su Ningzhen visiting my parents about Mu Xuanling’s fate. I don’t know what they discussed, but Su Ningzhen left looking satisfied, so she probably got my parents’ promise to deal with Mu Xuanling together.”
Nan Xuyue frowned, showing concern. Now, only four families remained in the Immortal Alliance who could vote. Mirror Flower Valley and Bixiao Palace had allied, and Spirit Owl Island was more likely to remain neutral. This meant Xie Xuezhen would have to face the pressure from others alone.
At that moment, a barrier was set up around the Hall of Righteous Qi, and no one knew what was happening inside. However, this assembly lasted nearly two hours before ending, indicating that the process was not amicable.
Nan Xuyue had been standing outside the door for two hours. When the doors of the Hall of Righteous Qi opened, he moved his feet and only then realized how sore they were.
Although Su Ningzhen’s face showed a hint of dissatisfaction, her emotions were very stable, suggesting that while the result might not have been exactly what she demanded, it wasn’t far off.
Gao Qiumin ran towards Su Ningzhen, anxiously inquiring about Mu Xuanling’s fate.
Su Ningzhen said, “The Sect Leader has ordered to dispel the demoness’s demonic arts and imprison her in Embracing Snow City for three hundred years.”
Nan Xuyue’s heart sank, and he turned his gaze towards Xie Xuezhen. Xie Xuezhen’s eyes were as cold as snow, and he gave a slight nod.
Nan Xuyue had witnessed the pain of demonic energy dispersion, and forcibly dispersing one’s cultivation was a hundred times more painful. It was like having one’s bones sawed through with a blunt knife, being skinned alive while conscious, and having ten thousand arrows pierce one’s heart.
And for a half-demon, imprisonment for three hundred years meant imprisonment until death.
Su Ningzhen said with dissatisfaction, “Actually, given her status as the Holy Maiden of the demon race, executing her at the forefront of our troops would best boost the morale of the human race.”
He Xianwo frowned and said, “How would such an act be any different from the demon race?”
He Xianwo also felt that practicing demonic arts couldn’t be condoned, but killing someone in front of troops was inhumane. Moreover, Mu Xuanling had done Sect Leader Xie a favor; emotionally and rationally, they couldn’t act so cruelly. The two were about to argue again in the Hall of Righteous Qi, but Xie Xuezhen only released his pressure, calming them both down.
Xie Xuezhen finally agreed to dispel her cultivation but refused to execute Mu Xuanling, changing it to imprisonment for three hundred years. Only then did Mirror Flower Valley and Bixiao Palace reluctantly nod in agreement.
“Sect Leader Xie, since the order has been given, why don’t we carry out the sentence today?” Su Ningzhen looked at the sky; it was a fine day with the sun high and the snow having stopped.
Nan Xuyue stepped forward and said in a deep voice, “Sect Leader Xie, her injuries haven’t healed yet…”
Xie Xuezhen clenched his fist and said calmly, “Bring her here.”
When Mu Xuanling walked out of the dungeon, the dazzling sunlight made her eyes water. She lowered her head, and tears rolled down her delicate chin, falling into the gauze around her neck.
Mu Xuanling kept her eyes closed as the guards pulled her shackles, escorting her from the dungeon to the Hall of Righteous Qi. She counted with her eyes closed: a total of one thousand three hundred steps, each step excruciatingly painful. The scorching sun above felt like hot oil pouring over her head. She dug her nails into her palms, enduring the burning and pain, her knuckles turning white while blood seeped from her palms.
Mu Xuanling could feel many eyes on her – suspicious, venomous, worried, pained…
Suddenly, someone forcefully pressed down on her shoulder, making her kneel involuntarily.
She kept her head down, and a snow-white hem appeared in her vision. A familiar cool aura enveloped her.
“The Holy Maiden of the demon race, Mu Xuanling, has practiced demonic arts and brought calamity to the human world. After deliberation by the Immortal Alliance, it has been decided to dispel Mu Xuanling’s demonic arts and imprison her in Embracing Snow City for three hundred years.”
She heard Xie Xuezhen’s voice from above, his calm and cold tone tinged with barely perceptible hoarseness.
She raised her face, opening her eyes slightly, but Xie Xuezhen’s face appeared blurry.
Su Ningzhen’s sharp question came from the side: “Demoness, do you have anything to say?”
Mu Xuanling frowned slightly, her pale lips parting.
“Yes.”
Everyone held their breath, looking at her.
Mu Xuanling tried hard to see Xie Xuezhen’s face clearly, but the midday sun made her eyes red and sore.