Transmigrated as the Villain’s Sword - Chapter 64

Ling Chenyan had been feeling incredibly sad and distressed, but seeing the idiot standing opposite her, she suddenly found herself caught between laughter and tears. After a small hiccup, she chose to ignore him.

[Sys, can you locate the Demon Pearl?]

System: [Theoretically, I can’t. However, the place where the Demon Pearl is currently located happens to be trackable.]

[What do you mean?]

[It means the Demon Pearl is currently in the hands of the heroine.]

Ling Chenyan: [?]

She sprang up instantly, wiped away her tears, and bolted back toward the Demon Forest as fast as her legs could carry her. As she ran, she thought to herself: How did the Demon Pearl end up with the heroine? What kind of strange plot twist is this?

Seeing her run so fast, Ling Tian hurriedly got up and chased after her. “Hey! Sword spirit girl! Where are you going?”

Ling Chenyan was deaf to his words, only hoping her pace could be faster—just a little bit faster.

Meanwhile, within the Lingxiao Immortal Sect.

Zhen Xuzi watched the flickering soul-lamp of Elder Chenxu extinguish. Toying with the Demon Pearl in his hand, he asked, “How are things outside?”

Elder Lingxu replied, “The experiments have succeeded in many border regions. However, it’s a bit difficult to lay hands on the larger sects.”

Zhen Xuzi turned around, revealing a face full of gloom. Compared to a few months ago, he actually looked sturdier; even his cultivation, which had previously plummeted, had recovered and even progressed beyond its former peak. Furthermore, if one looked closely, a bizarre eye-shaped pattern could be seen on his forehead.

Not just him—most of the disciples and elders of the Lingxiao Immortal Sect had been cultivating at lightning speed lately. Their realms increased rapidly, but with it came a loss of their former detachment; they had become aggressive and combative.

Hearing the report, a sinister grin appeared on Zhen Xuzi’s face. “No matter. Continue sending those disciples to those sects. Now that the Demon Pearl is in our hands, the Demon Race won’t be able to hold out for much longer.”

Elder Lingxu nodded, then asked, “Has that one issued any directives?”

At the mention of this, the smile on Zhen Xuzi’s face faded, replaced by a look of heartfelt veneration. “None. That Great One said our Lord is in a critical period of awakening and descent. No one is to disturb them. We are ordered to guard the Lingxiao Immortal Sect well.”

Elder Lingxu’s pupils trembled slightly, his face filled with near-fanatical reverence. “If that Great One is already this powerful, how terrifyingly mighty must our Lord be!”

Zhen Xuzi nodded, though a trace of pain flickered across his face. “A pity Chenxu won’t be able to see the day our Lord descends. But no matter—I will settle all scores on his behalf.”

By the time Ling Chenyan arrived panting, Guan Luowei and the others had already begun the ritual.

Though she was desperate, she didn’t know if it was safe to interrupt. She could only shout from the sidelines, “Highness! Highness! I know where the Demon Pearl is!”

No one responded. Ling Chenyan was frantic. Watching their synchronized movements, she cursed the fact that she didn’t have wings.

Ling Tian said from beside her, “Stop shouting. They’ve already started. This spell creates a barrier against outside sound. You can’t stop them.”

Ling Chenyan turned to look at him. “Is there any way to interrupt them without hurting them?”

Ling Tian thought for a moment. “No. Forcing an interruption would cause a backlash for all four of them. Unless… they stop voluntarily.”

Ling Chenyan slowly crouched down. Watching Guan Luowei’s calm expression, her heart sank. How could Guan Luowei ever stop voluntarily?

Seeing her like this, Ling Tian crouched beside her. “By the way, do you really know where the Demon Pearl is?”

Ling Chenyan was in no mood to talk to him and simply gave a silent nod. Ling Tian shrugged helplessly and watched the four casters.

The ritual seemed to be reaching its climax. Guan Luowei’s closed eyes suddenly snapped open. “Now!”

Ling Tian watched the formation layered upon the primary array, and his eyes flickered. That’s… the Qiankun Array, a formation used to transfer damage and backlash. He frowned deeply as he looked at Guan Luowei. Her Highness intends to shoulder the entire backlash herself.

However, after Guan Luowei spoke, no one moved except for Ling Chenyan and Ling Tian, who had both stood up abruptly. The other three remained motionless. Guan Luowei’s gaze sharpened, her voice cold: “Do you no longer obey my words?”

Still, no one spoke. The three disciples gritted their teeth, choosing by unspoken agreement to shoulder the backlash themselves. Guan Luowei paused, looking at the forbidden art about to be completed. She waved her hands, intending to forcibly extract the backlash from them.

The three were shocked and opened their eyes simultaneously, shouting, “Highness!” Even Ling Chenyan and Ling Tian were leaning against the edge of the array, calling out to her.

Guan Luowei persisted. Just then, a faint, pure glow suddenly emerged. In that instant, time seemed to freeze. Guan Luowei’s heart jolted; she knew she had won her gamble.

The bluish radiance centered on Guan Luowei, spreading slowly along the formation like a spring breeze. In a mere moment, it neutralized the nearly-formed array from within. An instant later, the formation vanished.

No one except Guan Luowei knew what had happened. Even the three sitting in the center of the array looked bewildered. Compared to the confusion of others, Ling Chenyan stared with wide eyes, hardly able to believe that Guan Luowei had actually dispelled the formation.

She rushed to Guan Luowei’s side and grabbed her sleeve tightly. “Highness, I know where the Demon Pearl is! Don’t use the forbidden art!”

Guan Luowei looked stunned. The other three were equally shocked. Tong Di stammered, “You… you know again?”

Ling Chenyan nodded vigorously, pretending to calculate with her fingers. “I’ve figured it out. The Demon Pearl should be in the Lingxiao Immortal Sect.”

Everyone: “…?”

Ling Tian’s reaction was the most extreme. He stared at Ling Chenyan with burning eyes. “You’re actually an expert in the Five Elements and Divination? Can you calculate something for me too?”

Ling Chenyan looked at him. Before she could speak, Ling Tian asked, “Can you calculate when Her Highness and I can get married?”

Ling Chenyan: “…”

Tong Di shot him a look that said you’re hopeless.

Ling Chenyan narrowed her eyes and smiled through gritted teeth. “Sure. But my divination fee is very expensive.”

Ling Tian rubbed his hands. “Easy, easy. What do you want?”

Ling Chenyan looked him up and down. “How about that blade of yours?”

Ling Tian shrank back, laughing sheepishly. “Not that. Can we trade for something else?”

Ling Chenyan gave a fake smile. “Forget it. It seems Her Highness isn’t as important as a broken blade to you. Let’s drop it.”

Ling Tian reached out to stop her, but was once again sent flying by Guan Luowei’s energy. She stared coldly at him. “You can report to the Demon Prison Department now.”

Ling Tian stood petrified, watching Guan Luowei lead the girl away. Shaoyou, passing by, patted his shoulder helplessly and whispered, “Can’t you tell yet? The relationship between Her Highness and that girl is… unusual.”

Shaoyou followed them out. Tong Di gave him a gloating look and strode away. As for Zong Xian, she didn’t acknowledge him at all. Left alone, Ling Tian slowly began to crack as he stood there.

The two girls he had feelings for… were together.

Guan Luowei parted ways with the others at the hall and brought Ling Chenyan back to the Demon Palace. Once inside, she looked at the girl sitting on the bed. “Yanyan, is the Demon Pearl truly in the Lingxiao Immortal Sect? I don’t distrust you, but this matter is of great consequence. I must be cautious.”

Ling Chenyan saw her serious expression, her eyes darted, and she said, “Let me calculate again.” She then squeezed her fingers, pretending to divine.

[Sys, the location of the pearl is correct, right?]

[Correct. It is in the Lingxiao Immortal Sect where the heroine is.]

Ling Chenyan let out a sigh of relief. Finishing her “divination,” she said with an air of profound mystery, “I’ve just calculated. It is indeed within the Lingxiao Immortal Sect.”

Guan Luowei heard the girl’s inner thoughts and looked at her “wise” expression, finding it a bit amusing. However, as it concerned the Demon Pearl, she wasn’t in the mood for jokes. She nodded. “Alright. We leave for the Lingxiao Immortal Sect tonight.”

Ling Chenyan’s eyes sparkled. “Ahem, Highness, can I…” she rubbed her hands and giggled, “…steal—I mean, stock up on more betrothal gifts for you?”

Guan Luowei smiled and nodded, her eyes flickering. “Go report our departure to His Majesty first. I need to prepare.”

Ling Chenyan didn’t suspect a thing and happily agreed.

After Ling Chenyan left, Guan Luowei set up a barrier in the room. She pulled out the half-jade pendant, looking down at it with a cold gaze. “Fu Qingshi. Since you are awake, why do you dare not show yourself?”

The half-jade pendant emitted a faint glow. The air was deathly silent. No one answered. Guan Luowei didn’t speak either, just staring coldly at the pendant.

After an unknown amount of time, a burst of bluish light erupted. Then, a man—tall, elegant, yet cold and handsome—manifested in the air. However, unlike the last time, the ghost was only half a body.

Guan Luowei’s coldness erupted instantly. “Fu… Qing… Shi…”

The man looked down at her, momentarily dazed. He whispered, “Ajing…”

The moment the name left his lips, a sharp attack grazed his hair, shattering the table and chairs behind him. The man seemed to snap back to reality, a slight ripple appearing in his clear, cold eyes.

Guan Luowei stared at him icily. “Fu Qingshi. You are a disciple of the Lingxiao Immortal Sect, aren’t you?”

Fu Qingshi’s gaze shifted before finally settling. He asked, “What is your name?”

Looking at this man made Guan Luowei feel sick. She only repeated coldly, emphasizing every word: “You are a disciple of the Lingxiao Immortal Sect, aren’t you?“

Fu Qingshi gazed at the woman before him, who shared seventy percent of her mother’s features. He replied impassively, “Don’t you already know?”

Demonic energy surged around Guan Luowei. She clenched her fingers. “Why?”

Why did you deceive my mother? Why did you steal the Demon Pearl? And why did you save me?

In the Lingxiao Sect, when she was seduced by the pattern, it was he who pulled back her sanity. Earlier, when she tried to take the backlash, it was he who dispelled the forbidden art. Guan Luowei didn’t believe in some ethereal fatherly love or regret. If he truly felt remorse, he wouldn’t have abandoned her mother while she was pregnant, nor would he have remained hidden after stealing the pearl.

Fu Qingshi said flatly, “There is no ‘why.’ Stealing the Demon Pearl was an order from my sect, so I took it. You are my daughter, so I saved you. As for your mother… she and I were natural enemies from the start.”

He spoke calmly, without any emotional fluctuation. He admitted to everything he had done, yet he felt no guilt toward her mother, nor did he believe he was wrong.

Watching his coldness, which was identical to her own, Guan Luowei felt a wave of loathing for her own personality for the first time. Her mother was a passionate, bright woman, yet she was exactly like Fu Qingshi—cold, even cold-blooded.

Guan Luowei gave a self-mocking laugh. Raising her eyes, she said, “Disgusting.”

Fu Qingshi’s gaze shifted slightly, his hands tightening behind his back. “I am already dead. Consider it a debt paid. If you see your mother, apologize to her for me.”

A cold smile hooked Guan Luowei’s lips. “Fu Qingshi, don’t you know? My mother transformed into the second Demon Pearl. Now, it has also been stolen by the Lingxiao Immortal Sect.”

Fu Qingshi truly didn’t know. During his slumber, he could only sense Guan Luowei’s state, but he knew nothing of the outside world. Since so many years had passed, he thought it normal that Guan Luowei found out he was a Lingxiao disciple. He hadn’t expected she knew because the second pearl was there.

Fu Qingshi’s composure finally broke. He frowned. “Ajing, she…”

“Shut up!” Guan Luowei looked at him with disgust. “This is how your Lingxiao Immortal Sect operates. Stealing Demon Pearls, causing the demons to lose their sanity, and then using the power of the world to crusade against us.”

Fu Qingshi’s eyes filled with shock. He stammered, “The Demon Pearl… was it not returned to the Demon Race?”

Meanwhile, Ling Chenyan trotted off to find the Old Demon Emperor. Just as she was about to tell him what Guan Luowei had instructed, she saw him with his back turned, half his face hidden in the shadows, looking incredibly heavy.

Ling Chenyan peeked out tentatively and coughed. “Your Majesty?”

“Yinye…” The Old Demon Emperor turned slowly toward her, offering a kind smile. “I heard… you found a few jars of wine in the Demon Forest?”