Chapter 89: The False Xiao Huai

Ning Xianyu dressed herself, then dried the great demon who was still pretending to sleep, placed him atop her head, and crawled forward, intent on eavesdropping.

Xuan Yuan Tunhan felt utterly embarrassed.

Did she really think that crawling on the ground would make her invisible? These people were cultivators, not ordinary mortals.

He pressed a paw to her head, guiding her on how to use spiritual energy to cloak herself, setting up a barrier that concealed both her presence and her strength.

“They’re all at the Golden Core stage. Even if you stroll right past them, they won’t notice you.”

So magical?

Ning Xianyu felt no difference, yet crept cautiously closer.

Though she wasn’t crawling this time, she still moved furtively, which made Xuan Yuan Tunhan feel even more mortified. He kicked her directly.

She tumbled into a tree, making it sway.

Zhao Ling and the others were gathered around Xiao Huai. Hearing the commotion, they immediately became alert and stopped.

Zhao Ling signaled to a junior, who drew his sword and approached with caution.

Ning Xianyu was very nervous, but the demon lord scoffed, “You’re a Nascent Soul cultivator. Why fear them?”

Indeed, she was a Nascent Soul. That group was all Golden Core cultivators; even combined, they might not withstand a burst of her spiritual energy. What was there to be afraid of?

Ning Xianyu stood confidently by the tree, clutching a branch, unmoving.

That disciple looked around carefully but saw nothing at all.

Even though Ning Xianyu stood right before him, staring, he was completely oblivious.

“Senior brother, there’s nothing here.”

He hurried back to report to Zhao Ling.

Ning Xianyu marveled—they really couldn’t see her.

Cultivation was fascinating, and its techniques were both interesting and convenient.

Xuan Yuan Tunhan said, “If you find it amusing, then practice diligently.”

Lazy as a worm, never wanting to do anything but eat and drink—he truly wondered how this woman had grown up.

Ning Xianyu quickly shook her head, “No, it’s too difficult.”

The techniques and cultivation methods were troublesome and incomprehensible to her; memorizing them was out of the question. Better to spare herself.

Xuan Yuan Tunhan was exasperated, “You’re already at Nascent Soul. Haven’t you tasted the benefits of profound spiritual energy? Don’t you want to advance further?”

Ning Xianyu smiled, “There’s always someone stronger, always a higher mountain. One must learn contentment. Nascent Soul surpasses most cultivators—why force myself?”

Her logic was astonishing.

Cultivators who reached Nascent Soul always strove onward, having glimpsed vaster skies and deeper realms, thus feeling even more urgency.

But Ning Xianyu looked downward instead.

As long as she saw many below her still striving, she felt at ease.

Lacking above, but more than enough below.

Xuan Yuan Tunhan fell silent. One more word, and he’d be the fool here.

Ning Xianyu continued to listen with a smile as Zhao Ling harassed Xiao Huai, paying no mind to the demon lord grinding his teeth, wanting to crush her.

Zhao Ling, being a privileged second-generation cultivator, had all the hallmarks of a spoiled young master. His methods of humiliation were ever the same.

Ning Xianyu thought, usually such a character was meant for the male lead—how did he end up confronting Xiao Huai?

After a bout of bickering, the fight finally began.

Ning Xianyu waited to see Zhao Ling beat Xiao Huai, hoping he’d do it thoroughly.

At first, that’s exactly what happened—Xiao Huai was beaten badly, even coughing up blood.

Zhao Ling and his group laughed smugly, eager to teach him another harsh lesson.

But as they approached, a ring of spiritual energy suddenly radiated from Xiao Huai, forming a vortex around him.

Ning Xianyu was very familiar with this scene—a typical breakthrough pattern.

Zhao Ling and the others assumed he was about to advance, thinking it fortunate to do so in a secret realm.

But soon, they sensed something was wrong.

Xiao Huai’s cultivation rapidly soared from Golden Core to the peak of Nascent Soul, then stalled.

Yet there was no heavenly tribulation, nothing at all.

Ning Xianyu watched in surprise. What was happening?

Xuan Yuan Tunhan merely sneered, saying nothing.

“He’s concealed his cultivation,” Zhao Ling shouted.

Xiao Huai should have had such cultivation all along, but he had suppressed it, pretending to be at the Golden Core stage.

“No, his real cultivation might be above Nascent Soul.”

Though spoiled, Zhao Ling and his group weren’t fools—they immediately saw the problem.

“You’re not Xiao Huai. Who are you really?”

They didn’t know Xiao Huai well, but they were clear on his cultivation and whether he’d advanced. This couldn’t be him.

“Xiao Huai” smiled, stretching languidly several times.

“I thought you were just a bunch of idiots, but it seems you have some brains after all.”

Zhao Ling and the others retreated cautiously, but still demanded angrily, “What do you mean?”

Xiao Huai smiled, “Why don’t you think carefully about what I mean?”

Zhao Ling frowned, thinking hard, but couldn’t figure it out.

“Xiao Huai” immediately revealed a look of contempt.

“Think about it—why are you so hostile to Ning Xianyu? Why did you trouble her companions?”

Ning Xianyu grew more curious as she listened.

Could there be another scheme at work?

Zhao Ling pondered, “I… I don’t know.”

Thinking it over, he suddenly sensed something was wrong.

He barely knew Ning Xianyu, had no real animosity. He was a man—spoiled, yes, but he only ever troubled other men, never interested in bothering women.

Yet somehow, upon entering this realm, he developed a fierce hatred for Ning Xianyu, wanting to cause her trouble.

Why did he think that?

“Xiao Huai” smiled, “Since you’re all going to die today, let’s make it clear. I planted a curse on you, making you loathe Ning Xianyu and trouble her. Failing that, you’d harass her fellow disciples.”

Zhao Ling clutched his chest in fright, searching himself for any sign of the curse.

But what he couldn’t understand was, “Why would you do that?”

“Xiao Huai” smiled, “To clear the way for myself, of course.”

“It wouldn’t have been necessary, but Ning Xianyu had too many irrelevant people around her. I couldn’t personally deal with the small fry, so I had to trouble you children.”

Zhao Ling asked in confusion, “Your target is Ning Xianyu?”

This time, “Xiao Huai” didn’t answer. Instead, he drew his sword, glanced at Zhao Ling and the others, and said, “Now you’ve provoked me. Unlucky for you—you’ll all stay here today.”

No sooner had he finished than he unsheathed his sword and leapt forward.

Ning Xianyu had been watching for amusement, but hearing that Lin Kaishu and the others were targeted because of her, she was instantly furious.

That scoundrel had used Zhao Ling to drive away Lin Kaishu and the others—all just to manipulate her.

Enraged, even as a salted fish she could muster some fire.

“To hell with you! Go die!”