As Hanxing broke through, so did Zi Feng, reaching the mid-stage of Divine Transformation as well. But with her lips tied to her master's, she couldn't care for that breakthrough—instead enjoying the blend of candied tongue and flavorful saliva that she got from Xinzi's mouth.
But as Zi Feng's body heated up, she pulled back, looking at Xinzi with a "you're taking advantage of me" frown. Our monk winked in response, but though he could feel that Zi Feng's body told a different story than what her eyes showed, he didn't try to go further.
Afterward, the mnemonics of the Blissful Extinction Art flew into Zi Feng's mind, followed by various Lianist Mantras that had been altered by Xinzi to match his Creed of Liberation.
"First cultivate the Nine Paths of Yin and Yang. Then comprehend these mnemonics. With your Greater Soul, that shouldn't be a problem. When you're ready to practice it, master will be here for you," Xinzi said, and after realizing what type of cultivation method the Blissful Extinction Art was, Zi Feng blushed again—her eyes mixing suspicion and curiosity.
"Your disciple...will try her best. But master should prepare a lot of fruits, pastries and other delicacies. Who knows, maybe a few bribes will help your disciple...cultivate faster." Thorn between shame, fiery needs and gluttony, Zi Feng said and turned so Xinzi couldn't see her burning cheeks.
"Woof, woof, woof!" At that time, the six Mini Overlords leaped out of Xinzi's Demon Heart, flying around Zi Feng, whose eyes blinked at the seven-colored fox cubs.
"These are my children—theoretically your siblings. Take good care of them, I'm sure they'll love you," Xinzi said, kissed Zi Feng on the temple, and with a finger snap, pocketed both Hanxing and Guang Fanghu in his main demon heart. Then, alongside the Klesha Avatar, he walked out of the cave room.
"Are you sure you don't want to devour her?"
"You know what I want. Developing and savoring the emotions makes the deed all the sweeter."
"True, but at the same time, you're so greedy that I wouldn't be surprised if you failed to control yourself."
"Good point, which is why we're going to make sure I get my replacement for the day. Ready for the show?"
"When am I ever not?" The Klesha Avatar and Xinzi went back and forth, a wicked grin stretching their lips as they headed towards Zi Yao's prison. The blood mask returned to the Klesha Avatar's face, and in a whirl of lilac mist, it vanished, racing through the cave walls to return to Zi Yao's side.
At the same time, Xinzi vanished as well, but instead headed towards the gorge's entrance.
In her prison, Zi Yao hung in the air, her limp body tied to the adamantine chains while her eyes trembled, so red that they gave the misconception that blood was about to pop out of Zi Yao's sockets. The Klesha Haze still filled the scene, forcing Zi Yao to go through an unending succession of torturous illusions.
In those illusions, Zi Yao saw Zi Zuixian lead the Zi clan to renounce her, Dong Ling and Chun Xu condemn her cruelty, and Guang Fanghu repeat the words he'd spoken before—labeling her an "unredeemable monster." At the same time, she watched as her plans and dreams collapsed. As the Zi clan broke down, and the radiant future she envisioned turned into a nightmare.
At first, Zi Yao gritted her teeth, relying on her willpower to hold on. But as time went by, willpower alone proved worthless. Guided by an unknown source, the Klesha Haze seemed to see through all of Zi Yao's insecurities and fears, the little things that she managed to keep hidden from Guang Fanghu and the rest couldn't escape the haze's master. The perfect illusions formed in response, obliterating Zi Yao's mental fortitude.
"No! No! I'm not a monster! I don't have a choice! What else can I do? AAAAARGH!" Agony filled her limp body, her mind already one step into madness. Zi Yao's red lips dried up, her scarlet eyes trembling, but her body too weak to move. Inside, Yuemi didn't fare better and had no choice but to shut off her connection to Zi Yao to avoid adding to the tortures she already suffered in the Shadow Realm.
At that time, the Klesha Avatar returned, ambling at Zi Yao like a victorious predator before its depleted prey.
"Please...please...make it stop!" These words destroyed the remnants of Zi Yao's pride, tears streamed down her cheeks, but the Klesha Avatar showed no mercy, towering above her with blatant scorn.
"Exhausted already? It could have all been simpler if you just surrendered from the start. Now, you will still become My Eminent Self's plaything, except that it will happen in the most horrifying of manners." Adopting the Bloodstone Patriarch persona, the Klesha Avatar said, and lifted up Zi Yao's pale chin, making her look at the blood mask that by now had become the catalyst of all her fears.
In that instant, Zi Yao rediscovered the meaning of powerlessness. But not only did she no longer have the strength to fight back, even if she did, she wouldn't dare—for she knew that once resistance resumed, so would the torture.
The scars piled up in her soul, and though she could blame Zuixian, Dong Ling, Chun Xu and the Zi clan's rejection on illusions, she'd heard Guang Fanghu personally call her an "evil" and "unredeemable monster." These were facts, and who was to say that after being exposed to her misdeeds, the Zi clan wouldn't think the same.
Who was to say that Zuixian, Dong Ling and Chun Xu, wouldn't all crusade against her as well?
But if not for them, who was she doing all this for?
Why...why could no one understand her difficulties?
Nefarious energies erupted from the Klesha Avatar's hand, spreading through Zi Yao's body.
"Now, Yao'er, My Eminent Self will harvest you, then dump your worthless shell to the beasts you so kindly provided me with!" The Klesha Avatar pressed on Zi Yao, making her fears blossom into full-blown terror.
"No...nooo!" Panic oozed from her pores, and yet Zi Yao knew that as life wasn't a fairy tale, no knight would appear to save her from ruin.
Destiny disagreed. And as Zi Yao's consciousness vacillated, resplendent divine light shafted through the scene, grabbing the attention of both the Klesha Avatar and Zi Yao.
"BOLD AND INSOLENT FIEND, HOW DARE YOU DISRESPECT MY WHITE IMMORTAL SECT'S MATRIARCH?" Xinzi's voice boomed out. A tide of Five Elements Qi and Blood Energy rolled out, pairing with crushing Divine Power that forced the Bloodstone Patriarch to recoil in shock.
"Who dares to invade my lair? Presumptuous junior, do you know who you're messing with?" The Bloodstone Patriarch's Blood Energy and Evil Qi rolled out, challenging Xinzi's Divine Power. However, under the irresistible might of the true Heaven-Trampling Dao Bones, the Evil Qi failed to meet the challenge, forced to collapse by a flurry of blinding runes.
"The presumptuous one is you. Not only have you destroyed my sect, but you also took its most honorable woman captive, putting her through untold humiliation! If I don't break your body and drink from your skull, I am not worthy of being a White Immortal Sect disciple!
DIE!" Xinzi waved his sleeves, and as if coming from the heavens themselves irresistible suppression force dropped on the Bloodstone Patriarch, making his limps shake, and sweat fill his mask.
The blood drained off his face, and he turned heels, running for dear life.
"To think that My Eminent Self would suffer such a loss at a milk-drinking junior's hands...how hateful! Wait for me, when I cultivate my Thousand Soul Immolation Flag to the peak, you will be the first to die!" The Bloodstone Patriarch screamed at Xinzi, then burst into a fog of Evil Qi—vanishing from the scene.
"Humph! You sure can run!" Xinzi stomped his foot, then shifted towards Zi Yao.
All along, the matriarch's eyes had stayed glued on him, dazed and unable to believe that the boy she refused to acknowledge had become the savior of her fairy tale. His face full of concern, Xinzi rushed towards Zi Yao and aimed his hands at her wound, releasing seven-colored energies that quickly dispelled the diabolic energies.
"You...are not afraid of me? You...do not despise me?" With a weak, barely audible voice, Zi Yao asked.
"How can I not sympathize with someone that devoted centuries of hard work to development and growth, only to see it all crushed by unjust powers?
Righteousness is the privilege of the powerful. The weaker and more helpless you are, the more difficult it is to live an honorable life. Only those that have experienced true powerlessness, those that have seen their morals routinely challenged by fear, humiliation and desperate living conditions, can understand this truth.
Matriarch, I will never judge you, because I represent...the epitome of privilege," while proceeding with Zi Yao's healing, Xinzi said, and instantly, a current of torrential warmth filled the matriarch's broken heart. Unable to restrain the impulse, she threw herself into Xinzi's arms, sobbing uncontrollably.
