Chapter 113 Demigod

The moment Su Su’s hand touched Tantai Jin’s, he abruptly recoiled as if burned.

Sensing its master’s emotions, the God Slaying Crossbow flew out, holding everyone back.

Don’t look! Don’t look!

Thunderbolts crackled across the black crossbow, indiscriminately striking towards everyone’s eyes.

Someone cried out in pain, while Su Su quickly covered her face with her sleeve. But in that brief instant, Tantai Jin was gone.

Su Su looked down at her hand. “How could this happen?”

Her fingertip, which had just touched Tantai Jin, was stained with a bit of blood. What… happened to him?

The tiger demon grew in size, carrying Tantai Jin on its back as it ran.

The following parts of the text will be scrambled to prevent theft from aggregators and unauthorized epub making. Please support our translators by reading on secondlifetranslations (dot) com. If you are currently on the site and and you are seeing this, please clear your cache.

Tyhkdt qszzsole Mydvyk Kkd qsa y zsdt vkxl, yde cldlqkvvkdt qasx bkp tldlaspkvu, vbl vktla elxsd’p nwzvkhyvksd bye clld pvlyekzu kdnalypkdt. Jwv kv ayalzu vaykdle, zlyhkdt kvp cseu yzz nbwccu.

Mbl vktla elxsd pvwnj kvp vsdtwl swv, rydvkdt blyhkzu.

Mbl llakl Qse Fzyukdt Uasppcso vaydpqsaxle kdvs y pbyar yaaso yde pweeldzu pvyccle kdvs vbl vktla elxsd’p cwvv. Zlzrkdt kd rykd, vbl vktla elxsd vwnjle kvp vykz yde cszvle zkjl vbl okde, ekpyrrlyakdt kd yd kdpvydv.

Mbl Qse Fzyukdt Uasppcso qszzsole nzsplzu clbkde.

Mbl vktla elxsd oypd’v hlau pxyav, yde aktbv dso, kv eked’v jdso oblal lzpl vs bkel. Fs, kv nswze sdzu cakdt Mydvyk Kkd vs vbl rzynl oblal bkp Yypvla zypv rknjle bkx wr.

Slyzkgkdt vbyv vbl taswde kv pvlrrle sd xktbv cl vbl nallru Qbspv Eykzkdt Skhla, vbl vktla elxsd pbkhlale.

Mydvyk Kkd qlzz vs vbl taswde.

Tkp nzsvblp olal kd vyvvlap, yde bkp ryzl, vbkd nblpv csal tbypvzu xyajp zlqv cu lhkz tbspvp. Sle qkppwalp pdyjle ynaspp bkp cseu, xyjkdt bkx zssj zkjl y pbaleele nsarpl.

His fingers clawed deeply into the ground as his body tore itself apart. The skin on the back of his hands split open and rehealed repeatedly. Blood gradually drenched his body, just like when Zhao You first found him.

He resembled a ferocious ghost crawling out of the Weeping Ghost River, with only his bones emitting a faint golden glow.

At some point, the moon had risen. The winter moon was pale, like a cold sickle gazing down at him.

The night stretched long.

The ghosts and spirits around him were eager to make a move.

Tantai Jin knew that in his current state, he was so weak that anyone could trample on him. If a powerful demon appeared, he wouldn’t have the strength to resist. 

I can’t die! I mustn’t die!

Tantai Jin’s fingers dug deeply into the soil as he crawled forward bit by bit.

The tiger demon dared not touch him for fear he might shatter at the slightest touch. Instead, it trailed closely behind, tearing apart any demonic creatures that dared approach Emperor Jin.

Tantai Jin didn’t know how far he had crawled before reaching a nearby cave, where he finally collapsed to the ground.

The cold ground pressed against his cheek.

As dawn approached, a mortal child gathering firewood passed by the cave and screamed, “Monster! There’s a monster here!”

“Beat him! Beat the monster to death!”

Stones were thrown into the cave.

Unable to endure it any longer, the tiger demon rushed out and scared them away. 

In this hazy space, a faint sigh echoed—

“Do you regret it? This is the price you pay for entering the Underworld’s Weeping Ghost River to search for her for five hundred years.”

Again and again, for a full five hundred years.

“The cultivators misunderstand you, the mortals recoil at the sight of you, and the one you love despises you. For five hundred years, you have walked this path of suffering alone. Don’t you understand? You were born with an evil bone. Where in this world could there ever be a place for you?”

A woman holding a red umbrella paused her light steps, her gaze falling on him with pity.

*****

At first, Su Su could still track Tantai Jin’s whereabouts, but interference from the God Slaying Crossbow completely erased his presence.

Zhaohe City was littered with corpses, many of which belonged to demonic creatures.

Chongyu transformed into a sword, and Su Su flew on it into the sky. From above, she saw the entire city reduced to a dead ruin.

Now, everyone claimed it was Tantai Jin who did it.

Many had witnessed the moment Tantai Jin stabbed the Time Immemorial Sword into Zhao You’s body. Even Zang Hai, who had once trusted Tantai Jin, issued a kill order within the Xiaoyao Sect, stating that any disciple of the sect who encountered Tantai Jin must kill him on sight.

After flying for an unknown amount of time, Su Su spotted a figure below.

She descended swiftly, approaching the figure in a daze.

The figure turned, and a familiar face appeared before her eyes.

“Second Brother…” Su Su muttered. 

It was Ye Chufeng, an old acquaintance from five hundred years ago. 

But was it truly him, or had time flowed onward, and it was now his reincarnation?

“Lady?” Ye Chufeng didn’t seem to recognize her. Hearing her calling him ‘Second Brother,’ he was stunned. “You…”

The little fox in his arms yipped excitedly.

After a moment of hesitation, Ye Chufeng asked, “Are you… Xi Wu?”

Su Su didn’t deny it.

As he gazed at the immortal with the bright cinnabar dot on her forehead, Ye Chufeng sighed deeply. The scenery of the world remained unchanged, yet the people were no longer the same¹物是人非 (wùshì-rénfēi) – an idiom; The scenery remains the same but the people are changed//Things are unchanged but the people are gone.. Many old acquaintances had turned into dust and bones. The young girl who had once resolutely leaped from the city wall before tens of thousands of soldiers had now transformed into the stunning lady before him.

“Why did you come out of Zhaohe City?” Su Su glanced at the fox in his arms and asked, “Is that… Pian Ran?”

“It’s a long story.” Ye Chufeng smiled bitterly.

Five hundred years ago, he and Tantai Jin had actually left the Zhou Kingdom palace together. One day, Tantai Jin said he was going to pursue the supreme immortal Dao.

Before departing, he gave Ye Chufeng a colored glaze bottle containing one soul and one spirit of Pian Ran. 

Because of this, despite knowing that Pian Ran had died, Ye Chufeng had continued to obey Tantai Jin²言听计从 (yántīng-jìcóng) – to see, hear and obey (idiom); listen to sb.’s words and follow his counsels;.

Over the years, he carried the bottle while searching tirelessly across the Three Realms. By chance, he killed a demonic creature and obtained the Life-Gathering Pearl. With it, he nurtured Pian Ran’s remaining soul until the soul in the bottle gradually gained consciousness. 

He spent hundreds of years raising a naive little fox. 

However, the fox lacked intellect. It was no longer the nine-tailed fox from tens of thousands of years ago, nor the seven-tailed fox it had been.

Now, it was just an ordinary little fox demon, with only one fluffy tail.

Ye Chufeng treated her as his rediscovered lover, but she didn’t recognize him. To her, he was merely her master, the one who fed her.

Every year, the little fox longed for freedom and tried to run away, yearning to return to the wilderness.

One day, she finally succeeded in escaping from Ye Chufeng. But when she looked back, she saw the strong and rigid man standing there, silently shedding tears as he watched her leave.

After a long while, she hesitantly returned to his side.

Later, Ye Chufeng went to Zhaohe City and slowly became the City Lord. He raised the fox demon there, for the mortal realm couldn’t accept him, but Zhaohe City provided a place for him and Pian Ran to live in peace.

Unfortunately, it was all destroyed by demons and devils. Now, Zhaohe City no longer existed. Thanks to Immortal Zhao You, they barely escaped with their lives.

“So, you saw who massacred the city?” Su Su asked.

Ye Chufeng glanced at her and said, “That person looked exactly like Xiao Lin, wielding a terrifying devilish sword.”

Like Tantai Jin, Ye Chufeng believed that his “Third Sister” loved Xiao Lin deeply.

“It was Senior Brother,” Su Su said softly. “So it really wasn’t Tantai Jin.”

“Third Sister, did you see the Immortal Senior who saved me?” Ye Chufeng asked worriedly. “He saved Pian Ran and me, but I noticed he had devilish Qi on him, as if he’d been injured by devilish creatures.”

Su Su finally realized that the one who’d saved Ye Chufeng was Immortal Senior Zhao You.

“Are you saying Immortal Zhao You had devilish Qi on him?” She instantly remembered the people who’d been implanted with devil cores before. Could that be the reason why Tantai Jin killed his Master— because he was about to turn into a devil?

This is bad! The people from the Demon and Devil Realm must be looking for Tantai Jin right now!

With cultivators and mortals all determined to kill him, even if Su Su were in his shoes, she wasn’t sure she could resist joining the Demon and Devil Realm amidst so many misunderstandings.

I have to find Tantai Jin and bring him back!

“Third Sister!” Ye Chufeng suddenly called out. “Back then, after I parted ways with His Majesty, I didn’t actually go far. I saw him jumping into the Weeping Ghost River of the Underworld.

“You know what kind of place that is, don’t you?” 

Su Su froze.

Of course she knew.

When she was a child, back when Curved Jade was still with her, it would always tell her frightening stories whenever she misbehaved. In her memories, the two most terrifying stories were about the capricious Devil God who could summon clouds and rain with a mere flick of his hand³翻手为云，覆手为雨 (fānshǒuwéiyún, fùshǒuwéiyǔ) – an idiom; produce clouds with one turn of the hand and rain with another, and the dark, dreadful Weeping Ghost River.

The river was said to have no end, no light, and no life. Shattered souls and spirits roamed within its depths, tearing at one another. Anyone who fell in would be torn apart by damaged souls, their very spirits ceasing to exist.

“Back then, when he attacked the Ye family, I hated him too. I even thought about killing him once I got Pian Ran’s soul and spirit back. But later…” Ye Chufeng’s expression was complicated, “I realized there was no need for me to do anything. He was already living a life worse than death, and I actually began to pity him.”

At least, he still had Pian Ran’s soul and spirit, while Su Su left nothing for Tantai Jin.

“There’s one more thing I need to give you.”

Ye Chufeng took out an old, worn thumb ring from his storage pouch.

“He saved grandmother. Afterward, I took care of her until she passed away. This was what she left for you. Before she died, she had only one wish— for Xi Wu to marry someone and live a good life in this lifetime.”

May that person cherish you, love you, and hold you dear.

For a lifetime.

The thumb ring was warm as it was placed in her palm.

It felt as if a door to her spiritual core was gently opened.

At that moment, all her past grievances, the guilt of failing to fulfill her promise to Ye Xi Wu, were completely dissolved.

A single tear fell onto the thumb ring.

Su Su had thought that cultivating the Heartless Dao meant she would never cry again, and that her tears had long since dried.

But now, Ye Xi Wu’s love and hatred, and Li Su Su’s love and hatred, were all answered. Qu Xuanzi’s words gradually became clear— If you are not an emotionless person, how can you cultivate the Heartless Dao?

To truly understand, one must first reconcile with their past self. To forget emotions, one must first deeply experience them.

It turned out that she had always been loved.

Whether by her grandmother or by Tantai Jin, who was once without the String of Affection.

He had loved her in the most painful and clumsy way in the world.

She wondered if it was still possible to find him and bring him back now.

Ye Chufeng looked at the goddess in front of him in astonishment. The cinnabar mark on her forehead seemed to blur like tears, but simultaneously, bloom like a night cactus. The brilliant cinnabar transformed into half of the cold seal of a God.

The phoenix was destined to become a God. Her half-demon, half-god bloodline had been deliberately suppressed, leading to her rebirth through tribulations. Today marked the true end of tribulations for Su Su.

She was now just half a step away from becoming a god.

*****

Su Su didn’t expect that after failing to catch up with Tantai Jin, a month had already passed in the mortal realm.

The mortal realm’s winter remained intensely cold, while time in the immortal realm flowed much slower. It was said that in the ancient legendary divine realm, time would stop still, granting eternity.

She hadn’t found Tantai Jin, but Qu Xuanzi and other celestial powers had discovered a way to open the Devil Domain. Today, they would fight their way into the Devil Domain to destroy the Ninefold Mysterious Returning Array.

Su Su lowered her eyes to the smooth and lustrous green bead in her palm.

It was the Life-Gathering Pearl.

Although she didn’t know its function, both she and Ye Chufeng knew it was extremely important.

The closer they got to the Devil Domain, the more nervous Yao Guang became.

Unlike others who were eager to exterminate demons, Yao Guang felt restless because Gongye Jiwu, who lost control of his mind, had killed so many people.

Yao Guang hoped that Gongye Jiwu could have a chance to survive. If the devil core within his body could be removed, he could still be the same noble and upright senior brother he once was.

But if they couldn’t save him, Gongye Jiwu would completely become a member of the devil clan.

The eerie boundary stone of the Devil Domain came into view.

“The Devil Domain is open! It’s open!” Someone cried out in joy.

“Kill the demoness Si Ying, kill Jing Mie, destroy the Ninefold Mysterious Returning Array!”

As soon as their words fell, an exquisite red umbrella appeared in everyone’s sight, causing them to warily retreat.

A laugh like a silver bell rang out.

“Since you’ve come from afar, Si Ying should naturally welcome you.” The umbrella was lifted, revealing Si Ying’s enchanting face. “But mere youngsters dare to shout at my door? I permit it, but my Devil Lord does not.”

Her words infuriated Elder Qingwu.

“Demoness! You’ve harmed my disciple Jiwu! He was a dignified member of the immortal sect, how dare you humiliate him like this? Today, I, Qingwu, will take your wretched life!”

“Such bold claims⁴大言不惭 (dàyán-bùcán) – an idiom; brag unblushingly; talk big,” Si Ying retorted, her tone filled with mockery. “The Devil Lord I speak of is no young brat from your Hengyang Sect.”

Qingwu shouted loud and charged at her. Unable to bear it any longer, countless immortal sect members followed suit.

But Si Ying remained unmoved, her burning gaze fixed on a certain spot in the sky.

Su Su had a bad premonition as she followed her gaze.

A young man clad in black descended, his robes fluttering ominously in the turbulent winds. Silver patterns adorned his lapel, faintly glowing with a demonic aura. He quietly held the Sky Slashing Sword.

The Sky Slashing Sword once exuded an oppressive pressure in Gongye Jiwu’s hands. But now, it lay ominously still in his grasp.

A black fallen God’s seal, resembling both a flame and a blade, adorned his forehead. 

The young man opened his eyes.

The difference in cultivation levels compelled everyone to step back. 

Even Qu Xuanzi’s heart sank to the bottom. How could this be? This is the legendary Devil God’s seal!

The young man’s skin was still sickly pale, and his face handsome. Yet, no one dared to underestimate him anymore.

No one knew which sect fled first,  but in an instant, chaos erupted among the cultivators.

The young man opened his mouth and coldly uttered, “Sky Slashing, kill.”

The Sky Slashing Sword trembled violently, tearing a rift in the sky. In Tantai Jin’s hand, it turned completely blood-red.

As the sword descended, the overwhelming and terrifying sword Qi instantly spread over a hundred li⁵里 (lǐ) – an ancient measure of length, approx. 500 m. The fleeing disciples turned to ashes before they could even scream.

Low laughter escaped Tantai Jin’s lips as the souls of the cultivators all flew to his palm, where he crushed them into a fine powder.

Behind him, the God Slaying Crossbow was drawn and aimed at the crowd.

He could kill cultivators more easily than crushing ants.

The cultivators instantly understood that no one would be able to enter the Devil Domain’s gate today.

“Su Su, run!” Qu Xuanzi shouted.

If they didn’t escape now, everyone would die here.

Just as the crossbow was about to fire, a hand grasped the black-clad Devil God’s wrist.

“Tantai Jin!” The God’s seal on the young girl’s forehead was like a night cactus, and her eyes were slightly moist. “Ye Xi Wu has returned, what about you?”

---

Edited by: Gaze

Translator’s Note: Happy Lunar New Year!!! 🧨🧨🧨 愿新年胜旧年，欢愉且胜意，万事尽可期；愿平安喜乐，诸事顺途 (May the new year surpass the old year, bringing joy and fulfillment, with everything to look forward to. May peace and happiness be with you, and may all things go smoothly.)❤❤❤