NOVPUBChapter 123: I’ll Give You Another Chance to Rephrase That
In this world, a distinction had to be made between demonic cultivators and demons.
Even in the Eastern Realm, a land dominated by human cultivators, demons existed. They were rare, but they weren’t affiliated with the Demon Realm.
Ling Long, in a way, was also a demon.
Her aura was demonic.
It was clear now. The Demon Measuring Ruler had been pointing at Ling Long!
Her simple “Aaa,” a gentle inquiry, yet it carried an immense pressure, sending shivers down Ning Shuwen’s spine.
His title as vice peak lord of Metamorphic Jewel Peak might command respect in most places.
But not in front of the sect master, or Ling Long.
The Third Prince stared at her, a strange sense of familiarity washing over him. He had seen her somewhere before… He glanced at Ning Shuwen. “Peak Lord—”
But Ning Shuwen had already reacted, bowing respectfully. “Senior Ling Long, I apologize for the intrusion. We were unaware of your presence.”
The Third Prince froze, his mind reeling, then he looked at Lin Ling, his eyes widening with shock.
…Ling Long…?
This silver-haired woman, radiating demonic aura, she was the ancient dragon, the one who had existed since the sect’s founding?!
This was her human form…?
The disciples were also stunned.
When the Demon Measuring Ruler had targeted the pavilion, they had all assumed that Mu Zhi’an was indeed harboring a demonic cultivator, that he was doomed…
And a demonic cultivator had indeed appeared.
But their identity was unexpected.
Huang Manting stared at Lin Ling, her gaze then shifting to Mu Zhi’an.
He knows Ling Long?
That explained how he had known the true method for receiving the destiny inheritance.
And hadn’t they interacted in the Celestial Realm?
She hadn’t expected them to leave together, or for her to be staying here.
“Why is she here?!” Ye Yu stared at Lin Ling, her expression innocent and sleepy, as if she had just woken up, his mind screaming.
The ruler hadn’t been pointing at Bai Ruoxi. It had been pointing at Ling Long!
Her presence had masked Bai Ruoxi’s faint demonic aura!
But what could he do now?
Claim that Bai Ruoxi was the demonic cultivator?
Who would dare to challenge her?
Three peak lords, who had been observing from the sky, landed gracefully, bowing respectfully.
“Senior Ling Long.”
Their tone and demeanor were deferential, their status as peak lords forgotten…
Firstly, because she was on par with the sect master. And secondly, because she represented destiny…
Destiny was something all cultivators sought. Most of them, at Nascent Soul, were stuck at their current bottlenecks, their progress stagnant for decades. But with Ling Long’s blessing, perhaps they could break through…
But she rarely appeared, and she only bestowed destiny upon disciples, so they hadn’t considered this possibility.
In the past, some peak lords had tried to approach her, but she had ignored them.
Seeing her here, it sparked a flicker of hope within them.
One of the peak lords was Yi Hao, whom Mu Zhi’an had already met. The other two were a beautiful, alluring woman, the peak lord of Dao Peak, and a man with wild red hair, who looked more like a demon than a cultivator. He was Xiang Yan, the peak lord of Pure Yang Peak.
Lin Ling glanced at the three peak lords, then her gaze landed on Mu Zhi’an, and she tilted her head. “Aaa?”
She’s asking who they are… He understood, somehow. “These are the peak lords of our sect, Senior Lin Ling. Senior Yi Hao has been quite helpful. And the Eight Treasures Cranes you ate, he raised them.”
She looked at Yi Hao, nodding slightly, then uttered a soft “Aaa,” acknowledging his presence.
She picked up a twig and wrote two words on the ground.
Yi Hao looked down and saw the words: Thank you.
He smiled, bowing. “It was my honor to serve you, Senior. You’ve protected our sect from demons, and you even fought against the demon race. A few cranes are nothing…”
He glanced at Mu Zhi’an, his eyes filled with approval and gratitude…
The peak lords of Dao Peak and Pure Yang Peak glared at him, their gazes filled with envy.
That shameless old thief… Using a junior to gain Senior Ling Long’s favor… How despicable…!
They studied Mu Zhi’an, their thoughts racing.
They only knew him because he was Bai Ruoxi’s partner.
But they hadn’t expected him to be acquainted with Ling Long…
That old fox Yi Hao, he must have known about this and befriended him beforehand… They cursed him inwardly, then began to consider how to approach Mu Zhi’an…
Lin Ling, smoothing her skirt, wrote on the ground with the twig: What was happening here?
Ning Shuwen’s heart skipped a beat, and he glanced at Mu Zhi’an.
If he had known Ling Long was staying here, he would never have helped the Third Prince!
His relationship with the Third Prince was based solely on family ties…
And those ties were insignificant. He wouldn’t have intervened if he hadn’t thought it was a trivial matter…
Mu Zhi’an, seemingly oblivious to his gaze, bowed to Lin Ling. “The Third Prince and I made a bet, Senior. He suspected there was a demonic cultivator here.”
He paused, then added, “These four peak lords, their hearts filled with righteousness, came here to protect the sect, believing his accusations.”
He bowed to Ning Shuwen. “There seems to be a misunderstanding, Senior Ning. But I’m not sure if Senior Ling Long falls under the category of demonic cultivator…”
Ning Shuwen relaxed, his eyes filled with gratitude. He bowed, smiling. “You jest, Young Friend Mu. Senior Ling Long is our sect’s guardian beast. How could she be a demonic cultivator?”
His expression had shifted from stern disapproval to a gentle smile with remarkable speed…
Mu Zhi’an hadn’t taken the opportunity to complain. He had given him a way to save face…
Ning Shuwen had been in the Two Polarities Sect for a long time. He knew how to navigate these situations.
He bowed to Lin Ling. “Senior, this was simply a minor dispute between juniors. I believed there was a demonic cultivator present, so I came to investigate.”
“Since it was a misunderstanding, I won’t interfere any further.”
He bowed to Lin Ling, the other peak lords, and Mu Zhi’an, then, without even glancing at the Third Prince, he turned and left.
Mu Zhi’an wasn’t surprised by his reaction.
Anyone with a brain would have made the same choice.
After all, the Third Prince was the one who had initiated this conflict.
They would inevitably see each other again within the sect. There was no need to make an enemy of Ning Shuwen.
Royals were heartless. He might be related to the Third Prince, but would he truly support him unconditionally…?
The answer was clear.
Mu Zhi’an looked at the Third Prince, his expression dark. “Third Prince, who do you think won the bet?”
The Third Prince stared at the Demon Measuring Ruler, then at Mu Zhi’an, his eyes widening with a sudden realization, his voice filled with anger.
“You tricked me! The demonic cultivator isn’t Senior Ling Long! It’s Bai Ruoxi!”
He had been misled from the beginning.
The information he had received was that Bai Ruoxi was a demonic cultivator, not that there was a demonic cultivator in the Garden of Heavenly Harmony.
Ling Long couldn’t be a demonic cultivator. It had to be Bai Ruoxi! The talented young woman who was close to Mu Zhi’an!
Mu Zhi’an sighed, his voice filled with mock exasperation. “Third Prince, you claimed there was a demonic cultivator in the Garden of Heavenly Harmony. I didn’t object. I thought if there truly was one, it would be good to eliminate the threat. Then you wanted to investigate, and I allowed you to.”
“And now you’re claiming Miss… Bai…” He remembered Ye Lingxuan’s presence and quickly corrected himself. “…Miss Bai is a demonic cultivator. Isn’t this a bit unfair…?”
“And do you really think Senior Ling Long wouldn’t notice if there was a demonic cultivator here?”
“She’s close to you! What would she do, even if she knew?!” the Third Prince retorted angrily.
Mu Zhi’an’s eyes widened with mock shock. “Are you suggesting that Senior Ling Long is colluding with a demonic cultivator…?”
The Third Prince was good at making accusations, but so was he.
After all, he was skilled at manipulating the narrative…
The Third Prince opened his mouth to speak, but the peak lord of Dao Peak interrupted him, her voice sharp.
“Enough! This is the Two Polarities Sect, not the Great Qian Dynasty. Stop causing trouble. If you continue, I’ll have to escort you out.”
He looked at her, her gaze cold and unwavering, and he swallowed his words, his frustration growing.
Mu Zhi’an glanced at Ye Yu, who was glaring at him, then at Huang Manting and the others, before looking away.
The boy who cried wolf, people only believed him once…
And Bai Ruoxi’s demonic aura was concealed within her Vessel. It wouldn’t be detected unless she consumed a pill that forced it out, like she had done that day…
But even if she did, what then?
If Ling Long said she wasn’t a demonic cultivator, who would dare to disagree?
In fact, she didn’t even need to speak.
Her presence alone was enough.
