So it turns out I'm the demon!

Ling Ye suppressed the surging thoughts in his heart, squatted down, and gently stroked Shangguan Luoxue's cold and delicate cheek with his fingertips:

"Xue'er, if you're too tired, take a rest."

"Want to take a break?"

A hint of mockery flashed in Shangguan Luoxue's purple eyes.

"I can't believe these words came from your mouth. Where can one find rest on the path of cultivation?"

"If you could have rested, how could you have ended up in such a state back then?"

"Even the star position bestowed upon you by heaven was forcibly taken away by others. In the end, you could only be relegated to a lower-ranking star. You often say I like gambling and am a madman, but weren't you the same back then?"

Ling Ye's eyes dimmed.

A single, impulsive decision back then ultimately ruined half of her life's path.

Although I was tricked, if I hadn't been so obsessed, how could I have fallen into the trap so easily?

If she hadn't lost her position, she would surely be able to climb even higher now.

Unfortunately, there are no "what ifs" in this world.

From despair and resentment to gradual acceptance, she had long since accepted reality.

"However, I can understand you."

Shangguan Luoxue said calmly, "The reason you took such a desperate gamble back then was to avenge your master."

Even if you abandon me, your disciple, for that vague desire for revenge, I will not blame you.

After all, it was you who led me onto this path of cultivation. A teacher for a day is a teacher for life; I will be grateful to you for the rest of my life.

She raised her hand and gently removed Ling Ye's veil.

Her exquisite and beautiful dimples, reflected in the dim light of the cold pool, were in no way inferior to Shangguan Luoxue's.

Although he is over thirty, Ling Ye still looks like he is in his early twenties.

This is the unique and miraculous effect of the Cold Moon Sect's martial arts.

After practicing this skill, one can freeze one's appearance and posture at any point in time according to one's will.

Whether it's the innocence of a young girl or the charm of a mature woman.

However, their lifespan is no different from that of ordinary people; they are not immortal.

Ling Ye said softly:

"Back then, my master abandoned me for that man surnamed Jiang. I hate her, yet I also love her. She was like a mother to me. That's why I hate that great demon even more."

"That's why, when you were very young, I always warned you that men are like poison, once you touch them, you will die. All men in the world are fickle, only the Great Way will not betray you."

A self-deprecating smile appeared on Ling Ye's face.

Ironically, I taught you to sever your worldly ties, but in the end, I was the one who abandoned you first.

"Xue'er, although you no longer acknowledge me as your master, I still hope you can heed my advice one more time and not cultivate the 'Purple Mansion Cantong Qi'. If you do, it will be a waste of your time."

"Why?" Shangguan Luoxue frowned.

Ling Ye said solemnly:

"This 'Purple Mansion Covenant' was originally forcibly taken from the Yaochi Holy Sect by your grandmaster to help that great demon, and was then altered in an attempt to create a cultivation technique exclusively for her and Jiang Chaoxi."

But in the end, before your grandmaster could cultivate with that person, Jiang Chaoxi was punished by heaven and died.

Your grandmaster was also suppressed due to going astray in his cultivation.

This cultivation method was already extremely difficult to learn, and after being modified by the grandmaster, it became even more demanding. Apart from Jiang Chaoxi, there is absolutely no other man in the world who can master it.

Shangguan Luoxue's gaze narrowed slightly:

"You mean, this skill can only be cultivated by our Grandmaster and Jiang Chaoxi?"

"You could say that."

Ling Ye nodded. "Of course, we and your grandmaster are from the same lineage, and our physical constitution and cultivation methods are inherited from the same lineage. So as the 'yin' side, we can indeed cultivate."

But as the 'yang' side...

Aside from that dead great demon, no man in the world could possibly master it.

Shangguan Luoxue understood.

To put it bluntly, this technique is a dead end. The woman is in position, but all the men are dead.

But the problem is...

There are already people who have mastered the basics.

Could it be that Jiang Chaoxi has come back from the dead?

That's absolutely impossible.

To be obliterated by the Heavenly Dao means to completely evaporate from this world, with one's soul and spirit vanishing.

Even the bodies were gone by then.

and so……

Ling Ye is lying to her!

Shangguan Luoxue knew her master all too well.

Because of his master's legacy, Ling Ye harbored a deep and almost obsessive hatred for men.

She did not want any man to touch her apprentice.

That's why he fabricated this lie that "it can only be repaired by Jiang Chaoxi" in an attempt to make himself give up.

A hint of disappointment flickered in Shangguan Luoxue's eyes as she said indifferently:

"Master, are you so sure that besides Jiang Chaoxi, no one else in the world can master this technique?"

Ling Ye opened her red lips, as if she wanted to say something but then stopped herself.

Actually, she had only heard her master mention it casually back then, and she wasn't entirely without doubt in her heart.

"You can leave now."

Shangguan Luoxue said no more and dismissed him.

A hint of sadness flashed in Ling Ye's eyes.

The disciples of the Cold Moon Sect are all aloof and cold-hearted, yet each is unique.

Her master appears gentle and warm, but is inwardly aloof and stubborn.

She is cold on the outside, but warm on the inside.

But Shangguan Luoxue in front of me was cold on the outside, and even colder on the inside.

The ruthlessness of the Great Dao was fully embodied in her.

Perhaps that's why, even without her master's protection, she was still able to reach her current level of success all by herself.

"Master."

Shangguan Luoxue suddenly spoke up, "If you had been given such an opportunity back then, would you have practiced it?"

Ling Ye was taken aback, then firmly shook his head:

"I won't practice. I once swore that I would never fall in love with any man in this life, let alone depend on a man for the sake of cultivation."

Shangguan Luoxue's voice was indifferent:

"So, you're very immature."

Ling Ye was stunned.

"Go back. Everyone has their own path. Master, you have been lost on your path for far too long."

Shangguan Luoxue gently waved her sleeve.

Before Ling Ye could react, he found himself outside the gate of the underground palace.

"The cold lamp burns without flame, the tattered fur coat offers no warmth; I merely toy with fleeting moments. My body is like withered wood, my heart like dead ashes; I cannot escape the void..."

Shangguan Luoxue's voice drifted out softly.

"Master, although I have never met our grandmaster, I believe she must be very disappointed in you."

Disappointed...

Ling Ye stood there for a long time, then turned away sadly and disappeared at the end of the corridor.

Inside the underground palace, silence returned.

Shangguan Luoxue's gaze fell on the lone watermelon lying beside the jade platform.

"How childish..."

"You think you can make me give up with just a watermelon? Do you still think I'm that little girl who could be appeased with a piece of watermelon when I was a child?"

……

After an incense stick has burned.

Shangguan Luoxue gently wiped the juice from the corner of her lips; her stomach felt bloated.

With a casual wave of his hand.

A purple flame swept past, and the watermelon rind on the ground vanished into nothingness.

To destroy the evidence and make a clean mess.

She patted her lower belly contentedly, a rare hint of ease appearing on her usually icy and beautiful face.

Just then, a pure white origami crane flew through the wall.

It landed gracefully in her palm.

Shangguan Luoxue's expression hardened, and she regained her usual aloofness.

She tapped her fingertips lightly.

The paper crane unfolds and transforms into a line of light.

"Um?"

Upon seeing the information above, the woman's originally languid face was instantly covered with a layer of coldness.

"That old geezer from Liuli Island actually wants to prove his identity as the Purple Star?"

A cold glint flashed in Shangguan Luoxue's eyes.

Sure enough, some people couldn't sit still any longer.

But that's understandable, the Purple Star Emperor is the only key to the legendary Fourteen Realms.

It's a piece of fat meat hanging over the heads of all the top experts; who wouldn't be envious?

The woman felt a deep sense of regret.

If she hadn't failed to break through this realm and damaged her foundation, with her background and talent, she might have been qualified to try and get her hands on that imperial star.

However, opportunities are never predictable.

She has a strong sense of self-confidence.

As long as we can overcome this difficulty, we can return to our peak.

That Purple Star, hanging high in the sky and overlooking all living beings... will be hers sooner or later!

"What's mine is mine...no one can take it away!"