Transforming into a stunningly beautiful fox spirit, leaving a scar on the heart of a prodigy.

The snow outside the Moon Palace has fallen heavier.

The guards responsible for guarding the palace were replaced batch after batch, their armor changed from black iron to silver scales, and their cultivation level changed from the Foundation Establishment Realm to the Cauldron Forging Realm.

Clearly, that day is approaching.

Su Xiaojiu ignored the commotion outside.

She spread the cloak on the cold jade bed, huddled inside, and held an ancient book she had taken from the bookshelf.

The pages of the book are yellowed, and it records the sacrificial rituals of the ancient demon race.

The door was pushed open.

A tall figure was carried in by the wind and snow.

Indra was not wearing a dragon robe, but only casual clothes, and he was not wearing a crown. His hair was casually tied back.

He waved his hand, and the guards behind him closed the door, shutting out the sound of the wind and snow outside.

Su Xiaojiu didn't get up; she simply closed the book and placed it on her lap.

"What brings Your Majesty to this desolate palace today?"

Su Xiaojiu's voice was very soft, and it was impossible to tell what emotion she was expressing.

Indra walked to the stone table and sat down.

On the stone table sat the empty wine jar, which Tianpeng had left behind a few days ago.

Indra reached out and touched the edge of the wine jar, his fingertips picking up a speck of dust.

"Did Senior Sister come by?"

"I've been here."

Su Xiaojiu pulled her cloak tighter. "I drank a jar of wine, cursed a bunch of people, and then left."

Indra remained silent for a while.

He turned his head and looked at Su Xiaojiu.

In the dim light, that face appeared exceptionally pale, and the expression in its eyes and brows resembled that of someone deep in one's memory.

But he knew it wasn't her.

"Three more days."

Emperor Shitian spoke, his voice somewhat hoarse, "Three days from now, I will open the altar and take your heart's blood."

Su Xiaojiu nodded.

"I know."

"You don't hate me?"

Indra looked into her eyes, as if trying to find some resentment or fear within them.

but no.

Those eyes were as calm as a stagnant pool.

What's the use of hatred?

Su Xiaojiu smiled. "Can hatred stop me from bleeding? Or can it make you let me go?"

Indra shifted his gaze to the withered tree outside the window.

"I had no choice."

"Back then, in order to cut off the Milky Way and protect the demon race's three thousand miles of territory, Master withstood a blow from the Heavenly Dao."

"This injury has been delayed for three thousand years, but now it can no longer be delayed."

"If Master were to perish, those bald monks from the Western Continent and those hypocrites from the Central Continent would immediately attack."

"At that time, hundreds of millions of demon beings will suffer."

Indra spoke very slowly, emphasizing each word.

It was as if he was trying to persuade Su Xiaojiu, but it was also as if he was trying to persuade himself.

Su Xiaojiu listened quietly.

She reached for the teacup on the table and poured herself a cup of cold tea.

"His Majesty."

Su Xiaojiu pushed the teacup forward, "Save these grand principles for your ministers outside."

"I am a mortal, and also a demon."

"I don't understand anything about the common people or the fate of the demon race."

"All I know is that you want my blood to save your master."

"This is a deal."

Indra was taken aback.

He looked at the cold tea in front of him, his somewhat tired face reflected in the tea.

"Buying or selling?"

"Yes, buying and selling."

Su Xiaojiu leaned against the cold jade bed and changed to a more comfortable position.

"I'll give you my blood, you give me a promise."

"What promise?"

"If I die, or become useless."

Su Xiaojiu looked at Di Shitian, "You must protect that tiger from death."

"No matter what he becomes in the future, no matter how many demons he kills, as long as he doesn't destroy this demon court, you must spare his life."

Indra frowned.

"That tiger..."

"He is the one destined for disaster, I know that."

Indra stood up and paced around the hall.

"The old Taoist priest took him as his disciple so that he could fill that hole."

"If Master can't be saved, he will be the next World-Suppressing Stone."

"But what if Master is saved..."

Di Shitian stopped and turned around to look at Su Xiaojiu.

"If Master is saved, then he won't need to sacrifice his life."

"I can grant your request."

"As long as I am on the throne, no one can touch him."

"I could even bestow upon him the title of Demon Saint of the Western Continent and let him rule over a region."

Su Xiaojiu smiled.

This time, the smile had a more genuine meaning.

"That's good."

"Your Majesty's words are law, don't forget them."

Looking at her smiling face, Di Shitian suddenly felt a lump in his throat.

He walked up to Su Xiaojiu and looked down at her.

"Don't you want anything for yourself?"

"What do you want?"

Su Xiaojiu retorted, "Are you begging me to let me go? Or are you begging me to give you a quick death?"

"It's no use."

"Since it's useless, why waste your breath?"

Indra opened his mouth as if to say something, but then swallowed it back.

He suddenly realized that the woman in front of him was much more insightful than he had imagined.

Even more open-minded than him, who had been a demon emperor for thousands of years.

"You look a lot like her."

Suddenly, Indra said something.

"But you're ruthless than her."

"She was too soft-hearted, always thinking she wouldn't let anyone down, but in the end she let everyone down."

"You are different."

"You only have that tiger in your heart; you'd even risk your life for him."

Su Xiaojiu didn't reply.

She simply looked down at the ancient book in her hands.

"If Your Majesty has nothing else, please return."

"It's cold in the Moon Palace, don't let the emperor's body get cold."

Indra stood there for a while.

He took a jade bottle out of his sleeve and placed it on the table.

"This is the Nine-Turn Heart-Protecting Pill."

"Eating this before the blood draw can protect your heart and might... save your life."

After saying that, he didn't look at Su Xiaojiu again, turned around and strode out.

The door opened and then closed.

The wind and snow rushed in, dissipating the warmth from the table.

Su Xiaojiu picked up the jade bottle, uncorked it, and smelled it.

A rich aroma of herbs wafted over.

"nice one."

She tucked the jade bottle into her bosom and picked up the book again.

"Unfortunately, what's the use of protecting the heart meridian if the heart is dead?"

Su Xiaojiu turned a page of her book.

The book page depicts a nine-tailed celestial fox, its head tilted back as it howls at the moon.

Below is a line of small print:

The ritual of offering sacrifices to Heaven requires watering withered trees with one's own blood and sweat in order to bring them back to life.

Su Xiaojiu's finger traced over the four characters "枯木回春" (meaning "withered wood returns to spring").

I don't know if dead trees can come back to life.

"But some people, I'm afraid, will never come back."