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

Let's rewind to three years ago.

The door to the Moon Palace was pushed open.

No wind or snow poured in; only Tianpeng, clad in silver armor, stood at the door. She had shed her usual arrogance, and instead of carrying her nine-toothed rake, she held only a solitary lamp.

Su Xiaojiu sat on the cold jade bed, holding the communication jade slip that had long since lost its spiritual energy in her hand.

"The time has come," Tianpeng said, his voice somewhat hoarse.

Su Xiaojiu put away the jade slip and straightened the elaborate red sacrificial robe she was wearing.

This was specially sent by Indra. It was embroidered with a totem of a golden crow falling and a hundred demons paying homage. The stitches were fine, but it exuded a bloody smell.

"Let's go." Su Xiaojiu stood up.

Tianpeng didn't move. She looked at Su Xiaojiu, her eyes, which had been accustomed to the Milky Way and the Weak Water, were now bloodshot.

"You can leave," Tianpeng suddenly said. "The breach in the barrier at the back of the mountain is still there, and Juanlian is guarding outside. As long as you agree, we'll send you out, even if it means giving up this official robe."

Su Xiaojiu smiled and reached out to straighten the slightly crooked collar of Tianpeng's cloak.

"Send me out, and then what?"

Tianpeng remained silent.

"And then watch that stupid tiger get caught and stuffed into that hole?" Su Xiaojiu asked calmly, as if she were talking about what to eat for dinner. "Marshal, I know this better than you do."

Tianpeng's fingers, gripping the lamp handle, turned white. She opened her mouth, but only managed to utter two words: "Take care."

The two walked out of the Moon Palace.

Outside stood rows of demon court guards, a dark mass so dense that not even a whisper could be heard.

Emperor Shitian stood at the forefront, dressed in imperial robes, his expression solemn. Upon seeing Su Xiaojiu emerge, he did not adopt the airs of an emperor, but instead clasped his hands and bowed deeply.

"Thank you, for the sake of the demon race," said Di Shitian.

Su Xiaojiu ignored him and walked straight to the sedan chair that had been prepared.

What she considered the greater good of the demon race was nothing more than a transaction.

She risked her life to save Bai Yin's life.

The procession set off.

After passing through the long palace road and around the Lingxiao Palace, we finally stopped in front of a dark altar.

This is the forbidden area of ​​the Demon Court, surrounded by twelve towering stone pillars, covered with ferocious monster reliefs.

In the center of the altar, there was a black stone bed, with grooves for drawing blood carved all around it.

Indra dismissed his attendants.

"Please." He pointed to the stone bed.

Su Xiaojiu walked up and lay down. The stone bed was cold, and a bone-chilling cold instantly seeped into her body.

Di Shitian stood by the altar, holding a jade box containing the dagger used to draw blood. He looked at Su Xiaojiu with a complex expression.

"If you have any hatred, then hate me."

"Why should I hate you?" Su Xiaojiu looked at the gray sky above her head. "You're a pitiful person too, stuck with a mess, and you have to kill women to save your master."

Indra's face stiffened, and he remained silent.

He placed the jade box beside Su Xiaojiu and then withdrew from the altar area.

The surroundings became quiet.

Su Xiaojiu closed her eyes, waiting for the final moment.

Just then, a coughing sound rang out.

"Cough cough..."

The voice was old and had a decaying quality.

Su Xiaojiu opened her eyes.

An old man had appeared by the altar sometime earlier. He wore a gray robe, was hunched over, and had a face full of wrinkles, looking like an old farmer about to die.

But as he stood there, even the space around him began to distort.

The Demon Ancestor, Taiwei.

Su Xiaojiu sat up and looked at the old man.

She showed no fear whatsoever; instead, she narrowed her eyes and sized the other person up and down.

Taiwei was also looking at her.

Those cloudy old eyes, which were originally lifeless, suddenly contracted when they saw the glimmer of light deep in Su Xiaojiu's soul.

"It's you?" Taiwei's voice carried a hint of surprise.

Su Xiaojiu raised an eyebrow: "Old man, do you know me?"

Taiwei took two steps forward, a strange expression appearing on his wrinkled face.

"The Great Sage remains as magnificent as ever, but this old man is already halfway to the grave."

Su Xiaojiu's heart skipped a beat.

This old man saw through her true form.

Although her body was merely an incarnation without cultivation, her soul essence was a genuine quasi-emperor level.

Ordinary people wouldn't be able to tell, but this ancient demon ancestor, who has lived for countless ages, has a very sharp eye.

"Now that you've recognized me, you still dare to take my blood?" Su Xiaojiu sneered.

Taiwei sighed and sat down by the altar.

"If it were anyone else, this old man would naturally dare not. But if it were you... this old man knows that this game has been won."

"What do you mean?"

"That secret involves too much, it cannot be spoken of, it cannot be told." Taiwei pointed to the sky, "There are people watching from above."

Su Xiaojiu frowned. She hated people who spoke in riddles, only saying half of what they meant.

"What if I don't give it to you?" Su Xiaojiu asked. "Since you've seen through my secrets, you should know that if I want to leave, this avatar can dissipate at any time, and you can't stop me."

"I can't stop him," Taiwei nodded, "but someone has to fill that hole."

Su Xiaojiu fell silent.

She looked at Taiwei, and Taiwei looked at her too.

"If I don't give this heart's blood, if I don't offer this source of essence," Su Xiaojiu asked slowly, "would the tiger have to fill the void afterwards?"

Taiwei nodded without hesitation.

"He is the one destined for this calamity. The fate of the demon race has been severed, and it must be renewed with lives. Either it is the blood of you, the great god, or it is his life."

Su Xiaojiu smiled.

She lay back down on the stone bed and picked up the dagger beside her.

"Old man, let's make a deal."

"Please speak."

"I'll give you this heart's blood. I'll also give you the essence of this avatar." Su Xiaojiu toyed with the dagger, the blade gliding across her fingertips. "But I have one condition."

"Please speak."

"I want him to live." Su Xiaojiu's voice was soft, but undeniable. "Not a life of lingering on, but a life of dignity. I want him to achieve enlightenment, and I want him to be someone no one will dare to bully in the future."

Taiwei nodded: "I agree. I will pass on my mantle to him."

"And one more thing," Su Xiaojiu paused, "You're not allowed to tell him the truth."

Taiwei paused for a moment, then asked, "What truth?"

"Don't tell him I'm just an avatar. Don't tell him my real self is still alive." Su Xiaojiu looked at the knife in her hand, her eyes gentle. "Let him think I'm dead. Let him hate, let him feel pain."

"Why?" Taiwei asked, puzzled. "If he knew you were still alive, perhaps..."

"If he knew I was still alive, he would come looking for me, and he would become dependent on me." Su Xiaojiu interrupted him. "I know his personality best. Only by cutting off his hopes and pushing him to the brink can he truly stand up again."

"I want him to become a saint, to become an emperor."

"Instead of being a silly tiger that only follows me around."

Taiwei remained silent for a long time before finally bowing deeply.

"You... have put a lot of thought into this."

(Guess if he told her or not (laughs))

Su Xiaojiu waved her hand.

"Alright, stop praying. Remember your promise."

Taiwei took a step back, and his figure began to dissipate.

"I've noted it down."

Only Su Xiaojiu remained on the altar.

She raised the dagger and pointed it at her heart.

No hesitation.

The blade pierced the skin, passed through the ribs, and plunged into the heart.

A sharp pain struck.

Fresh blood flowed out of the blood groove, instantly staining the stone bed beneath them red.

Su Xiaojiu's consciousness began to blur.

My body is getting cold, and my vision is getting darker.

She didn't feel any pain, only a little sleepy.

In the final moments before her consciousness faded, what surfaced in her mind was neither the grand ambitions of her original self nor the treacherous schemes of this demon court.

Instead, it has a silly-looking tiger face.

"That idiot..."

"Right now, they're probably trying to find me, aren't they?"

Su Xiaojiu smiled radiantly.

With a forceful thrust, the dagger was advanced.

A muffled groan echoed across the empty altar.

"To the Tune of Bu Suanzi: Farewell at the Altar"

Cold jade locks away crimson makeup, a solitary figure offers sacrifices to the heavens.

Don't say that people's hearts are as hard as stone; they only want to protect their lovers.

Blood stains the cold altar, the soul departs but the memory remains.

He deceived all the people and even the emperor, and will return home one day.