NOVPUB◎The Stepmother Demon and the Contraceptive Pill◎
The first thing Yan Luoyue and Wu Manshuang did upon returning to the sect was naturally to report to their own peak.
The journey back from Yixin City to the sect was not a distance that could be covered in a single day.
Over such a long distance, Yan Luoyue couldn’t bear to make her little snake fly the entire way.
So, after being carried part of the way by Wu Manshuang—fulfilling her dream of "Whoa, flying! And with my little snake too!"—she promptly pulled out her portable flying saucer.
Over the years, this little flying saucer had undergone numerous modifications.
Nearly every part of it had been replaced, some even two or three times, essentially making it a completely refurbished machine.
This characteristic of the flying saucer bore a striking resemblance to the philosophical conundrum of the "Ship of Theseus," where every component is replaced over time.
Thus, not long ago, Yan Luoyue renamed the saucer "Theseus’ UFO."
Yan Luoyue: That’s right, I’m a cultured turtle too!
Theseus’ UFO landed at the foot of the peak, not far from the peak’s monument.
Yan Luoyue and Wu Manshuang hopped out of the cabin, only to find—unsurprisingly—the disciple responsible for renaming the peak diligently chiseling something into the stone tablet.
Clearly, Ji Qinghong had come up with another whimsical idea.
Yan Luoyue tiptoed over and suddenly clapped Senior Brother Luo on the shoulder.
Startled, he whipped around, only for Yan Luoyue to greet him with a beaming smile.
"Senior Brother Luo, still hard at work at noon?"
"Oh, it’s you, Junior Sister Yan."
Senior Brother Luo relaxed his shoulders, set down his chiseling tools atop the stone tablet, and couldn’t help but smile.
This Senior Brother Luo was quite familiar with Yan Luoyue, Wu Manshuang, and even Jiang Tingbai—and for good reason.
If you had to visit this peak once a month to rename it anywhere from ten to twenty times, you’d become well-acquainted with its disciples too.
Like the last time, when Yan Luoyue came up with the name "Dala Bengba Bandebei Diduoduo Biru Weng Peak."
After receiving the name, Senior Brother Luo had even remarked with a touch of sarcasm, "This isn’t a peak name anymore—it’s an epitaph."
Peering over Senior Brother Luo’s shoulder at the tablet, Yan Luoyue fell into stunned silence.
"……"
Carved into the stone were the words: "Peak of Not Renaming Today."
—The problem was, by giving the peak this name, they were inevitably renaming it! Wasn’t this some kind of self-contradictory performance art?
Yan Luoyue clutched her wrist in despair: "This? This?! This name isn’t even as good as my Dala Bengba Peak. My previous names were so much better—why did Master have to change them?"
Senior Brother Luo sighed and pulled out a notebook from his robes.
"To be honest, Junior Sister Yan, your master has renamed the peak many times these past few days."
Yan Luoyue flipped to the last page of the log with practiced ease and skimmed through the entries. It seemed Ji Qinghong had gone on a renaming spree—
On the very day Yan Luoyue and Wu Manshuang were sent off on their mission, the peak had been renamed "Lonely Nest Old Peak."
Later, likely after Senior Brother Jiang returned from seclusion at the Cuiwei Sword Pavilion, Ji Qinghong lazily changed it to "Lonely Nest Old-Middle-Young Peak."
Then, around the time news of the Silver Light Arena incident reached the sect, the name became "In Seclusion, Not Here, Go Find My Eldest Disciple Peak."
And just a few days ago, perhaps out of sheer boredom, Ji Qinghong had amused himself with a series of increasingly absurd names: "Peak Peak Peak Peak Peak," "Do You Still Recognize the Character for Peak Peak," and "Peak of Deciding Whether to Rename Tomorrow"…
Yan Luoyue: "……"
Reading through this long list of names was like retracing Ji Qinghong’s descent into extreme boredom, listlessness, and mischief.
Now, she understood Senior Brother Luo’s pained expression all too well.
Yan Luoyue murmured, "You’ve really suffered, Senior Brother Luo."
……
It didn’t seem to be Yan Luoyue’s imagination—the moment she stepped into the main hall, Ji Qinghong’s smile took on a peculiar edge.
"Back?"
And for some reason, his gaze kept drifting toward her waist.
Then, resting his forehead on one hand, his shoulders trembling slightly, Ji Qinghong burst into laughter—unrestrained, as if he’d seen something utterly hilarious.
His flowing white hair slipped from his shoulders as he laughed so hard he nearly ran out of breath.
What was going on?
Had Ji Qinghong noticed the extra flower of Wu Ti’s Flame in the grass-woven cage?
But he’d already met Fenfen and Momo—why was his reaction so different now that it was Honghong?
Puzzled, Yan Luoyue glanced down.
And then, like every office worker who hangs keys, access cards, USB drives, and decorative trinkets from their keychain, she had an epiphany.
—It’s you, the rabbit-felt toy!
Oh right, Wu Manshuang had used shed hairs from "Bunny Master" to make a little rabbit for Yan Luoyue to play with.
And now, this adorable, plump little rabbit was dangling from her belt!
Yan Luoyue respectfully cupped the rabbit in both hands and presented it to Ji Qinghong.
Ji Qinghong merely laughed without speaking. After a long pause, he asked knowingly, "What’s this?"
Yan Luoyue played dumb with perfect composure: "Perhaps your long-lost, never-before-met godson?"
"……" Ji Qinghong’s smile was half-amused, half-exasperated. "Why does it look so familiar?"
Yan Luoyue smacked her palm with a fist, feigning sudden realization: "Then it must be your long-lost, never-before-met biological son!"
Ji Qinghong: "……Do you know why my hair falls out so quickly every time I see you?"
Without waiting for an answer, he pinched the rabbit’s long felt ears between his fingers and dangled it playfully.
His rose-red, mesmerizing eyes were a perfect match for the pigeon-blood ruby adorning the rabbit’s felt body.
The sight was oddly delightful—so much so that even Wu Manshuang couldn’t help but stare.
A moment later, Ji Qinghong beckoned Wu Manshuang forward.
Wu Manshuang watched as Ji Qinghong lifted his hood and placed the lightweight rabbit felt on top of his head, even making it hop a little with childish glee.
Wu Manshuang: "……"
The rabbit felt was warm.
But at this moment, his scalp felt inexplicably chilly.
Yan Luoyue coughed lightly and bravely interjected, "Master, I’m the one who claimed the child for you—why are you picking on Manshuang?"
Ji Qinghong smiled like a spring mountain, leisurely meeting her gaze.
Then, in a tone that was almost gentle, he stated matter-of-factly:
"Luoyue, even if I gave you three more Jiang Tingbais, you still couldn’t use common brush hairs to make such a lifeless little rabbit bastard."
Yan Luoyue: "……"
First of all, rabbit hair was indeed a common material for brush bristles.
But more importantly, she had to admire Ji Qinghong’s skill.
How had he managed to roast their entire peak—five people, including himself—in a single sentence?
Finally… adding three Jiang Tingbais to Yan Luoyue—was this supposed to be a positive condition?
This was clearly deducting points from her craftsmanship!
After the joke, Ji Qinghong pinched the plump little rabbit’s body and tossed the felted wool rabbit back to Yan Luoyue with a flick of his hand.
He listened as Yan Luoyue and Wu Manshuang recounted the events of their journey.
As for the enemy who had struck both Yan Luoyue and Wu Manshuang as both familiar and unfamiliar, Yan Luoyue had cautiously relayed the matter to Ji Qinghong after some careful editing.
Ji Qinghong fell into deep thought, nodding only after a long pause.
With a meaningful tone, he asked, “You handled this mission well. What else do you need now?”
Yan Luoyue thought for a moment before answering firmly, “Time.”
—Both she and Wu Manshuang needed more time to grow.
“Hmm.” Ji Qinghong acknowledged but didn’t respond immediately.
After a while, as if recalling something, he asked languidly,
“That alchemist named Yin Wangyou—the one who uncovered the demon lineage chart—is she your friend?”
Yan Luoyue confirmed.
Ji Qinghong sighed softly, his tone tinged with admiration. “Well, she’s certainly accomplished something remarkable.”
Detecting a faint oddity in his words, Yan Luoyue grew concerned. “What’s happened to Wangyou?”
Ji Qinghong chuckled, his smile carrying a hint of schadenfreude, as if anticipating a long-awaited spectacle.
“As of now, nothing has happened to her. But for the future, this might be quite significant—”
“From what I’ve heard, the Yin alchemist was immediately accepted into the Dan Peak upon arriving at the Guiyuan Sect. Lately, she seems to have become quite close with the daughter of Peak Master Chang…”
Chang—as in Chang Lili’s Chang.
Peak Master Chang, naturally, was the master of Dan Peak.
Yan Luoyue: “!!!”
In that moment, her expression shifted rapidly as a famous saying echoed violently in her mind—
“Among my friends, there are two alchemists. One is a research maniac, and the other is also a research maniac.”
After brief consideration, Yan Luoyue clasped her hands in farewell, grabbed Wu Manshuang, and made to leave.
“Master, we’ll take our leave now. We’re heading to Dan Peak to check on things!”
—Heaven only knew what kind of bizarre innovations, like “Cocoon into Father” or “Plant a Melon, Get a Quack,” Yin Wangyou and Chang Lili might concoct together!
…
Rushing to Dan Peak at breakneck speed, Yan Luoyue finally slowed her pace upon arrival.
When she entered Chang Lili’s courtyard, she found Chang Lili and Yin Wangyou huddled together, diligently filling in the gaps of the demon lineage chart.
Spotting Yan Luoyue and Wu Manshuang, Chang Lili’s eyes lit up, and she eagerly pulled the junior siblings into their work without ceremony.
Thanks to Yin Wangyou’s relentless efforts, all evolutionary branches on the main stem of the Thousand-Faced Demon had been completed.
However, aside from the Thousand-Faced Demon, the other branches remained speculative.
Even with the vast resources of the Guiyuan Sect’s library and the expertise of figures like Peak Master Chang, only a little over half of the demon evolutionary tree had been filled in.
Yet, after Wu Manshuang contributed his insights, the remaining gaps were swiftly supplemented with significant additions!
Wu Manshuang: “Shadow-Piercing Demons and Illusionary Shadow Demons should be parallel branches.”
Wu Manshuang: “Inferno Demons and Charcoal Essence Demons actually belong on the same evolutionary branch… Charcoal Essence Demons have cracked, black-and-red bodies with high temperatures, resembling burning embers. Classifying them under the Inkfluid Demon’s evolutionary branch is likely a mistake.”
Wu Manshuang: “And then there’s the Blazing Smoke Demon…”
After his suggestions, Chang Lili looked at Wu Manshuang with amazement.
Even the usually introverted Yin Wangyou couldn’t help but glance at him a few extra times.
Chang Lili exclaimed, “Junior Brother Wu, I never knew you were so knowledgeable.”
Hearing someone praise her little snake, Yan Luoyue beamed with pride.
“Manshuang is practically a walking encyclopedia on demons,” she declared.
Wu Manshuang glanced at her, smiled, and took her hand without another word.
Chang Lili, familiar with their dynamic from frequent interactions, teased,
“Junior Brother Wu is usually so modest—I thought he’d immediately deny it.”
Wu Manshuang nodded calmly and replied in a polite tone, “If Senior Sister had praised me, I would have been modest.”
“Oh?”
He smiled faintly and added, “But when Luoyue praises me, I can only admit it.”
“…”
At that moment, Chang Lili’s expression turned peculiar, as if she wanted to knock the two unconscious, tie them together, and bury them side by side in the backyard.
Yan Luoyue dodged a few playful swats before suddenly remembering the souvenir she had brought for Chang Lili.
She promptly retrieved the corpses of the Parasitic Mother Demons from her storage pouch and mischievously urged,
“Senior Sister Chang, Wangyou, study these well—put your alchemy skills to the test!”
Yin Wangyou blinked. “What do you mean?”
Yan Luoyue rubbed her hands together and flashed a delightfully wicked grin.
“If you can develop contraceptives or abortifacients specifically for Parasitic Mother Demons, I’ll sneak into the demon realm and spike their water supply with it…”
Chang Lili: “…That makes sense?”
Yin Wangyou: “…Worth a try!”
For a moment, Yan Luoyue, Yin Wangyou, and Chang Lili—three girls who were each formidable in their own way—exchanged glances, marveling at one another, unsure who among them was the most outrageous.
Wu Manshuang observed this in silence, then tactfully took a few steps back.
The sight of the Parasitic Mother Demons inevitably drew their attention back to the demon lineage chart.
In Yin Wangyou’s hypothesis, the Parasitic Mother Demon was both the trunk of the entire tree—since nearly all demon species were birthed from it—and a branch of the same tree.
Yan Luoyue suddenly remarked, “Honestly, demons have always struck me as… strange.”
This peculiar feeling was hard for her to put into words.
If she had to summarize it, it was a sense of… incongruity with the natural order.
The growth patterns of demons seemed fundamentally misaligned with those of beings in the human and spirit realms.
If it were just “evolution,” one might draw parallels to the metamorphosis of insects.
If it were just “all demons being birthed by the Parasitic Mother Demon, and through self-replication at that,” then the saying “a dragon begets nine offspring, each different” might loosely apply.
But demons could both evolve and be born in wildly divergent forms—combining these traits created a deeply unsettling impression.
It was like a robot smiling with human-like warmth, or a creature indistinguishable from humans possessing a twenty-fourth pair of chromosomes.
To put it simply, these creatures didn’t strike Yan Luoyue as native beings. Instead, they seemed like unwelcome guests from another dimension.
If this were a sci-fi setting, Yan Luoyue would probably be posting theories about an "alien invasion" by now.
After explaining her wild speculation in terms the cultivation world could understand, Chang Lili and Yin Wangyou exchanged a glance, their expressions turning inscrutable.
"Actually, Luoyue…" Yin Wangyou said softly, "Before you and Daoist Wu arrived, Lili and I were just discussing this."
"What?" Yan Luoyue asked curiously. "About the inconsistency in the world’s framework?"
"More or less," Chang Lili took over, pointing to a corner of the tree diagram.
There, two types of demons were listed separately, unconnected to the main branches.
"Wangyou and I both think these two demons are oddly out of place… to use your words, they don’t fit the worldview of the Mother Demons."
Yan Luoyue focused her gaze and saw that the singled-out demons were the "Rolling Spheres."
This was an old acquaintance. In the current era, when it came to firsthand experience of being attacked by a giant Rolling Sphere, Yan Luoyue was likely the number one expert.
Anyone else hit by a Rolling Sphere twice would either be dead or severely injured.
Yan Luoyue understood why Chang Lili had separated the Rolling Spheres.
Unlike other demons that underwent drastic transformations during evolution, Rolling Spheres had a clear growth trajectory—
From small, slimy, gelatinous forms resembling slimes, to medium-sized Rolling Spheres, then to larger ones with increasingly murky colors, and finally to the colossal Rolling Spheres capable of absorbing attacks and releasing the energy in one burst.
Moreover, these demons weren’t birthed by Mother Demons.
Their reproduction was more akin to the self-division of slime molds.
In short, there was hardly any connection between Rolling Spheres and Mother Demons.
As for the second demon Chang Lili had singled out…
The moment Yan Luoyue saw its name, her expression shifted slightly.
She exclaimed in surprise, "…The Cowardly Demon?"
Instantly, Wu Manshuang’s gaze snapped toward her.
The Cowardly Demon lived up to its name.
It could die of fright from a strong wind, a heavy downpour, or even overly bright sunlight.
Even the sound of a human’s footsteps passing by might scare it to death…
In short, this demon was the cultivation world’s equivalent of an overly sensitive creature.
For ordinary cultivators, such a demon wasn’t even worth a second glance.
But Wu Manshuang held a very special sentiment toward them.
Remember when the little snake and little turtle were just two small creatures reunited in their makeshift home?
Back then, Wu Manshuang had explained the Cowardly Demon’s mating customs to Yan Luoyue.
He told her that Cowardly Demons would build their nuptial homes using "Lover’s Fruits."
That was why these fruits, despite resembling terrifying red human heads, were called Lover’s Fruits.
At the time, it was the first opportunity Wu Manshuang had to speak so much to Yan Luoyue.
Even if it was just sharing demon trivia, it filled him with quiet joy and deep satisfaction.
Yan Luoyue clearly recalled the same memory.
She turned to Wu Manshuang, her eyes brimming with nostalgia and a flicker of bright amusement—
Life’s encounters were truly wondrous.
Yan Luoyue had once regarded the mummy-wrapped Wu Manshuang with wariness.
Yet who could have guessed they’d now be inseparable, as close as two halves of a whole?
"Right," Yan Luoyue murmured. "Cowardly Demons… they aren’t born from Mother Demons either!"
Just look at their mating customs—the males were responsible for building nests and gathering Lover’s Fruits!
Yan Luoyue pressed eagerly, "Do Cowardly Demons have any evolved forms?"
To this, Chang Lili, Yin Wangyou, and Wu Manshuang could only shake their heads.
But then, a familiar voice drifted in from beyond the threshold.
It was a voice Yan Luoyue had heard countless times over the years—usually languid, lazy, and laced with amusement…
Yet now, that melodious tone carried an undercurrent of chilling sharpness.
Ji Qinghong stated coolly, "They do. But it’s exceedingly rare."
Meeting Yan Luoyue’s questioning gaze, Ji Qinghong gave a slight nod.
"You and Manshuang have seen it before. The 'evolved' form of Cowardly Demons—or rather, their one-in-a-hundred-thousand variant—is the Heart-Devouring Demon."
Yan Luoyue: "!!!"
In an instant, everyone in the room widened their eyes in shock.
Years ago, the incident involving Chu Tiankuo of the Snow Region had shaken the cultivation world.
The tragedy was so gruesome and its consequences so severe that for a long time, "Heart-Devouring Demon" became a buzzword across the realm.
Yin Wangyou instinctively glanced at her hypothesis tree diagram.
On one of the branches, the Heart-Devouring Demon was marked at the very top of the "Screaming Demon" lineage.
Yin Wangyou murmured, "I thought…"
Yan Luoyue reacted swiftly. "How does Shizun know this?"
Ji Qinghong’s lips curled into his usual teasing smirk. "Oh, the Heart-Devouring Demon visited me in a dream last night and told me."
Yan Luoyue: "…" That answer was utterly ridiculous.
Well, if Ji Qinghong clearly didn’t want to explain, no amount of questioning would pry it out of him.
Clearing her throat, Yan Luoyue changed the subject. "Shizun, what brings you here?"
Ji Qinghong flicked the letter in his hand. "The Sect Leader summoned us."
"…Huh?"
Yan Luoyue blinked in surprise. She couldn’t imagine what matter required both her and Ji Qinghong’s presence.
…
As it turned out, such a matter did exist.
The Sect Leader of Guiyuan Sect was a man with luminous eyes, an ethereal demeanor, and a wispy beard that lent him an immortal-like grace.
Cultivators were unaffected by age, and the Sect Leader’s appearance defied estimation.
Judging by his face alone, he might be twenty-five. The keen light in his eyes suggested thirty-five. But if one witnessed his benevolent, flower-pinching smile… three hundred and fifty seemed more plausible.
In reality, Ji Qinghong addressed him as "Senior Brother."
Meaning, the Sect Leader was at least three thousand years old.
Perhaps because of his youthful appearance, the Guiyuan Sect Leader’s mindset was also remarkably spry.
The moment Yan Luoyue took her seat and heard his proposal, she nearly doubted her own ears.
"You’re suggesting… opening an arcade?"
Honestly, even the earlier discussion about Mother Demons hadn’t felt this dimensionally jarring.
The Sect Leader gazed at Yan Luoyue with the doting expression one might reserve for a very clever baby turtle.
"Indeed. After all, the Silver Light Arena is one of the largest and most widespread fighting arenas in the cultivation world."
"After this incident, none of our sects can allow such a scourge to operate unchecked within our territories. But the void it leaves must be filled by something."
With an air of solemn grandeur, the Sect Leader announced his decision.
Then, Yan Luoyue summarized it in her own words—
In short, the Silver Light Arena was the leading force in the entertainment industry of the cultivation world.
Now that the Silver Light Arena had collapsed, a vast blank space in the market was suddenly left open.
If other chain arenas were allowed to compete and fight over this market share, not only would it turn into a bloody free-for-all, but there was no guarantee another abomination like the Silver Light Arena wouldn’t emerge.
Therefore, the Sect Leader was determined to drive technological advancement and reform the entertainment industry’s supply chain.
Thus, he planned to have the Guiyuan Sect invest, operating under a different name, and establish chain gaming halls across the cultivation world to replace the Silver Light Arena’s dominant market position.
From the Silver Light Arena’s example, it was clear that large-scale chain entertainment industries could accomplish much.
Yan Luoyue, who understood now: “!!!”
Heavens, Sect Leader! Not only do you look young, but your thinking and your methods are so youthful too!
The Sect Leader stroked his beard and smiled, calm and composed.
“Leading a sect is like sailing a ship against the current—if you don’t advance, you’ll fall behind. Those who cling to outdated ways will only plummet.”
This was why, generation after generation, the sect needed to absorb more young talent.
Only short-sighted sects would treat these inexperienced youths as cannon fodder, troublemakers, or stepping stones, forcing them to conform to the mold of jaded veterans.
In truth, these bold and fearless young cultivators—their courage, ambition, and innovative ideas—were all priceless treasures to the sect.
Yan Luoyue nodded repeatedly and proposed an even bolder idea.
“In that case, let’s release even more new games!”
Yan Luoyue declared firmly, “The Silver Light Arena and the Hongtong Palace are connected—that’s already a proven fact. If the Silver Light Arena colluded with demonic creatures, the Hongtong Palace likely isn’t clean either.”
“Now that the Silver Light Arena has been eradicated, it’s like tearing a chunk of flesh from the Hongtong Palace… They probably won’t just sit back and take it. In fact, they might even seize the opportunity to act, subtly paving the way for demonic influence…”
After all, just look at the Silver Light Arena’s underhanded practices.
In recent years, the demon realm had been quietly planting spies in the cultivation world, clearly preparing for a second Demon-Subduing War.
When the time came, the second alliance between humans and demons might happen in the blink of an eye.
In that case…
“We must uphold the conviction of a righteous force!” Yan Luoyue clenched her fists resolutely. “Aside from material and talent reserves, spiritual readiness is just as important.”
The words “culture” and “entertainment” have always been inseparable.
Therefore, when designing new games, they could shift the focus—not prioritizing pay-to-win mechanics, but instead crafting rich storylines to move players.
The game’s content could draw from the history of the Demon-Subduing War, revisiting the determination of past heroes who fought to the death with their backs against the wall.
By this point, Yan Luoyue had stood up. She looked at the Sect Leader earnestly and said softly,
“Our Cuiwei Sword Pavilion… the many seniors of the Guiyuan Sect who fought and died… and all those heroes recorded in history…”
Their names should be known to the world.
If it was already foreseeable that a war with the demon realm was inevitable within the next century,
Then the cultivation world must prepare—not be dragged into battle unprepared, but ensure mobilization beforehand.
Even games could subtly wield their influence in this regard.
After hearing Yan Luoyue’s thoughts, the Sect Leader looked at her deeply.
After a long pause, he sighed and clapped his hands.
Turning to Ji Qinghong, he smiled. “Junior Brother Ji, you know my temperament—I’ve never been one to easily admit admiration for anyone.”
“—But your judgment in taking disciples truly leaves me in awe!”
…
In the end, the matter was decisively settled by the Sect Leader and Ji Qinghong.
Today’s No-Rename Peak would contribute patented technology and assembly-line training, securing a 35% stake in the new chain gaming halls.
The Guiyuan Sect would invest capital and construction efforts, holding the remaining 65%.
As for the 35% profits allocated to No-Rename Peak, Ji Qinghong and Yan Luoyue would split them evenly.
At this moment, the two wealth-bringing figures of No-Rename Peak exchanged smiles.
If Ling Shuanghun had been here, he would’ve flipped to the “Tortoise and Hare” chapter again and added some bizarre unofficial anecdotes.
Before leaving, Ji Qinghong also managed to wrangle a magical artifact called the “Boundary-Breaking Mirror” from the Sect Leader.
Hearing Ji Qinghong’s request, the Sect Leader frowned slightly. “Junior Brother Ji…”
Ji Qinghong smiled. “No need to worry, Senior Brother. I know my limits.”
“Your limits… Do you even remember how to write the word ‘limits’…”
The Sect Leader shook his head, clearly not convinced by this assurance.
But in the end, he still handed over the artifact to Ji Qinghong.
Yan Luoyue and Ji Qinghong, master and disciple, returned fully laden, their atmosphere harmonious and respectful for once.
But when it came to discussing who would handle the actual work, the two immediately began shirking responsibility, each eager to embrace the bliss of laziness.
Yan Luoyue spoke candidly to Ji Qinghong: “Maintaining and training the assembly line for game consoles would be no challenge for a refining master like you, Master. How could I dare to steal your glory?”
Ji Qinghong lazily replied, “A disciple should labor in their master’s stead. Besides, you’re so young—this is the perfect time to make a name for yourself.”
“I don’t need fame from this,” Yan Luoyue said cheerfully. “I already have naming rights for the game consoles.” 𝘯𝘰𝑣𝘱𝑢𝘣.𝑐𝑜𝑚
Ji Qinghong patted Yan Luoyue’s head affectionately. “Silly child, I’m not discussing this with you. I’m pulling rank.”
Yan Luoyue: “…”
Seriously, could you at least pretend not to be slacking off so blatantly?
Seeing Yan Luoyue speechless and deflated, Ji Qinghong shifted into an even more leisurely posture. His long silver hair cascaded like flowing water over his shoulders, not a single strand out of place.
Finally satisfied, Ji Qinghong smiled.
“Fine, I won’t make you handle this matter.”
Slowly, he drew out a treasure mirror from his sleeve—the very one he had borrowed from the Sect Leader earlier.
The mirror had an ancient design, its surface reflecting no images but instead filled with a misty, cotton-like chaos.
Beneath the mirror’s handle hung a small shard of the mirror’s core, polished into the shape of a key.
Ji Qinghong spoke unhurriedly, “Bring Wu Manshuang here as well.”
“Boundary-Breaking Mirror?” Yan Luoyue silently repeated the artifact’s name.
Connecting this to what she had previously discussed with Ji Qinghong about her and Wu Manshuang’s situation, she began to sense something.
Sure enough, after summoning Wu Manshuang, Ji Qinghong set the mirror aside and began explaining to the two of them.
“Ancestors once discovered a secret realm. It was said to hold no particularly remarkable treasures—only its vastness and faster flow of time were noteworthy.”
“Thus, the ancestors refined the spatial passage’s entrance into this chaotic mirror. Over time, the mirror eventually ended up in the hands of the Guiyuan Sect.”
At this point, both Yan Luoyue and Wu Manshuang had understood Ji Qinghong's meaning.
Yan Luoyue exclaimed excitedly, "So Manshuang and I will head to this secret realm next?"
Ji Qinghong first nodded, then shook his head.
He smiled and spoke unhurriedly, "As far as I know, the entrance to this realm hasn’t opened for at least five thousand years... So I have no idea about its current state, the level of danger, or how its time flow compares to ours."
"If, after careful consideration, you still decide to enter, you’ll be taking a great risk."
Yan Luoyue thought for a moment. "What if we gather enough supplies and bring plenty of storage pouches? Would that work?"
Ji Qinghong shook his head slightly.
"The essence of a storage pouch is to compress and contain a pocket of space."
"Although the mirror connects to the entrance of a spatial passage, judging by its artifact grade, it’s merely a narrow spatial path—its stability is questionable. The storage pouches themselves could disrupt its spatial balance."
"Unless you possess higher-level spatial laws, I wouldn’t recommend bringing storage pouches inside."
"...Oh."
Now, Yan Luoyue finally understood why even Ji Qinghong emphasized the difficulties of this journey.
After all, being unable to carry storage pouches meant they might be ill-prepared.
If the realm had undergone drastic changes over the millennia, no one could predict what they might need.
Still...
Yan Luoyue said firmly, "At worst, we’ll just carry a few large bundles on our backs. I’m still going."
Wu Manshuang nodded as well. "I’m going too."
Hearing this, Ji Qinghong detached the mirror’s core key from its handle and handed it to Yan Luoyue.
"Keep this safe. It’s your key to leave the realm."
Once the decision was made, Yan Luoyue acted swiftly.
She and Wu Manshuang packed everything they thought they might need, loading themselves with bundles large and small, looking like refugees ready to flee.
Just before setting off, Yan Luoyue suddenly remembered something. "Wait, why hasn’t anyone thought to peek into the Boundary-Breaking Mirror all these years?"
Even if the realm lacked resources, since time flows faster there, wouldn’t it make a great spiritual herb nursery?
Ji Qinghong replied, "Because it’s not worth it—activating this mirror even once consumes an enormous amount of spirit stones. Even if you grew celestial-grade herbs, the cost would still outweigh the gains."
Yan Luoyue: "!!!"
Instantly moved, she blurted out, "Thank you, Master! You’re so generous—"
Seeing right through her intentions, Ji Qinghong smiled amiably and cut her off.
"No need for gratitude. The expense will be deducted from your dividends."
Yan Luoyue: "...Oh."
Fine, no free rabbit fur to pluck.
Worried that the spatial passage in the mirror might be unstable, Yan Luoyue made sure to hold Wu Manshuang’s hand tightly with one hand, even while lugging their bundles with the other.
"We’re ready."
The next second, ripples shimmered across the mirror’s surface before thick mist swallowed it whole.
In the blink of an eye, Yan Luoyue and Wu Manshuang vanished completely into the mirror.
"..."
Ji Qinghong watched, raising an eyebrow slightly, then folded a paper crane and sent it flying.
A short while later, Senior Brother Luo—responsible for updating peak names—once again stood dutifully at the door of Plain Thread Hall.
"Might I ask what Plain Thread Hall summons me for...?"
Before he could finish, Ji Qinghong lazily tossed out two words.
"Rename."
Senior Brother Luo: "..."
Wait, wasn’t your peak name "No Renaming Today"? Why change it again?
But as everyone knew, Ji Qinghong’s moods shifted faster than May weather.
And since the peak master wanted a new name, Senior Brother Luo had neither the standing nor the authority to object.
With a long internal sigh, he muttered a prayer for his overworked self and respectfully asked,
"Might I inquire what name Plain Thread Hall wishes to adopt this time?"
Ji Qinghong rested his chin on his hand, pondering.
After a moment, he smiled leisurely. "Let’s call it—‘Once Again, the Lonely Old Peak.’"
Senior Brother Luo: "..."
Senior Brother Luo: "Understood. I’ll see to it immediately."
