After leaving the demon clan in anger, Ji Xian returned to the human clan. The first thing he did was to track down the elders of Yunhai Sect and the Old War Alliance, the group of old men who had schemed against him, and give them a severe lesson.
Qi Yan’s words had made it crystal clear to him. No wonder, all these years, whenever he went out, the elders within the sect would advise him to wear a mask, especially when going to the battlefield.
These people dared to use his appearance to deal with Jiang He, deceiving him and attempting to lure him into danger. They were truly audacious and had no scruples, even daring to use him. These old fools deserved a lesson.
Alright, since they dared to use him, they shouldn’t blame Ji Xian for his bad temper. He returned to the human clan at the fastest speed. The Immortal Sect Alliance consisted of twenty-three sects and clans. He went to each one of them, directly confronting the sect leaders and clan heads, giving them a thorough beating.
The Hundred Clan War was still ongoing, and he wouldn’t resort to killing for now. However, it was necessary to teach them a lesson. These old men dared to use his image and even sent people to impersonate him. Did they not understand Ji Xian’s temper?
Fortunately, his natural talent was high. At his age, he had reached the Advanced Realm. In the entire spirit realm, there were few who could match him unless those old monsters came out. Moreover, with his half-immortal father, Ji Tianying’s reputation, people in the alliance had reservations and couldn’t retaliate too heavily. Faced with him, they could only endure his beating, considering the reasonable cause he had.
These people, feeling aggrieved, went to Yunhai Sect to complain to Ji Tianying. Watching their faces in the hall, Ji Xian could easily imagine the scene when his elder brother was forced. Those who claimed righteousness and justice but acted just as wickedly as the demon and ghost races were no different. The Hundred Clans in the spirit realm were just a mix of different beings.
“Anyone who wants to settle things, come up to me. This is the settlement.”
He coldly pointed his sword at the group of old men. He was full of anger with nowhere to vent.
“Today, I’ll make it clear. I don’t care who orchestrated using my image to attract the attention of the demon clan. In any case, you are all implicated in this matter. With the Hundred Clan War ongoing, I will spare you for now. But from today onwards, I will take control of the war. If anyone disagrees, step forward.”
His sword was already unsheathed, and Ji Xian’s temper was well-known in the sect. Who dared to oppose him?
Everyone looked at him with murderous intent, and no one was foolish enough to provoke him directly. They turned their gaze to Ji Tianying. If someone was to handle it, it would be Ji Tianying.
In fact, their visit today was not just about this matter; it was also related to the ceasefire conditions proposed by the Demon Emperor.
Eight hundred years was a very long time for mortals, and even for cultivators, it was not a short period. Everyone sought the path of longevity, not wasting time on endless battles. The Hundred Clan War had consumed too much energy, and many powerful elders and qualified disciples had died. People were tired of it.
Now, the Demon Emperor had proposed a ceasefire, which was an uplifting piece of news. However, the condition was that Ji Xian had to be handed over. If Ji Xian could obediently sacrifice himself for the greater good, then he wouldn’t be Ji Xian.
Yunhai Sect wouldn’t agree because Ji Xian was the heir of Yunhai Sect, and using his image to design plots against Jiang He was already tolerated to some extent. Handing Ji Xian over to the Demon Emperor wouldn’t be easy.
However, it was still necessary to face the situation. An elder from another sect stepped forward.
“True Sovereign, Jiang He has proposed a ceasefire. How do you see this? The Hundred Clan War has gone on for too long, disturbing the peace of the cultivation world, affecting mortals. You…”
Before the elder could finish his words, his life came to an end. Ji Tianying directly attacked him, turning him into ashes. Even the primordial spirit couldn’t escape.
“The command of the Hundred Clan War is handed over to my son. Does anyone have objections?”
Ji Tianying raised his eyelids, his voice calm and gentle. Although he had returned heavily injured from the battle with the powerful beings of the Yaksha tribe, his half-immortal cultivation was still invincible. Only his white hair had become even whiter.
Ji Tianying had made his stance clear, and if anyone in the Immortal Sect Alliance had objections, they could either come forward and fight or keep silent. The crowd silently accepted it, feeling regretful about the missed opportunity for a ceasefire.
Only Ji Xian looked at Ji Tianying, reassessing his relationship with his father, which had been cold and indifferent to the point of an icy wall.
He had never thought that Ji Tianying would directly stand on his side. After all, back then, his father had heartlessly pushed his elder brother away, watching him be forced to death by the five major sects. Why would the old man let go of such a good opportunity for the sake of the world?
“Why did you push my brother away back then?”
He couldn’t help but ask again, his long-standing question finally spoken out loud. It had always been the wall of ice that had kept their father-son relationship frosty.
However, Ji Tianying did not answer him. Whenever the question of his elder brother was raised, the old man would remain silent. Even if he got angry and scolded the old man for being heartless, he would still wear that silent expression.
He had to give up. He should have known that he wouldn’t get an answer, as the temperament of the Ji family members was quite similar.
Under Ji Tianying’s strong presence, Ji Xian gained command of the Hundred Clan War. He personally stepped onto the battlefield, facing Jiang He in battle.
He wasn’t adept at war strategies. In the past, he had always been a lone wolf on the battlefield, leaving the command to those elders in Yunhai Sect who found it troublesome. However, he understood Jiang He, so he knew how to confront him. On the battlefield, he finally understood why the Demon Emperor Jiang He was not only powerful in cultivation but also a true talent as a leader.
This man, except for his low emotional intelligence, was strong in every aspect, making him appear formidable. Facing each other in battle, he and Jiang He seemed to understand each other’s next moves, turning the brutal and life-and-death war into a stalemate, a cat-and-mouse chase.
This made him admire Jiang He but also made him feel frustrated. Was Jiang He intentionally letting him win or was he just playing around? In the eyes of others, their battle seemed to be a deadlock, but he felt that Jiang He was doing it on purpose.
He admired Jiang He’s skills but couldn’t help but think that this person was his nemesis. When he wanted to make a move, Jiang He let him; when he wanted to play, Jiang He played along. Why did he encounter such a guy?
He threw a tantrum in the command camp and impulsively took his sword to the battlefield. He flew to the demon army, called out that scoundrel, and then teleported away for a one-on-one battle.
“Jiang He, this is the extradimensional realm. No cultivator can use spiritual power here. If you defeat me, I’ll willingly go to the demon clan with you. I’m willing to be your substitute.”
He challenged the man in front of him.
Fortunately, he might have been angry, but he was still rational. He chose a place where spiritual power couldn’t be used.
A fierce close combat ensued. Ji Xian used the Cloud Sea Sect’s Dao Heart Technique, but he had cultivated the Body Refinement Technique, making him unafraid of close-quarters combat. Jiang He, being a demon from the demon clan, had powerful defensive abilities in his true form, especially in close combat. They engaged in a close fight, and although Jiang He didn’t underestimate him, he didn’t go all out.
After a series of close combat exchanges that ended in a draw, Ji Xian, feeling aggrieved and competitive, used all his strength to ensure he defeated Jiang He in the final strike. In the end, he lost control and went too heavy.
Surprisingly, Jiang He also didn’t evade. He took the attack head-on, displaying his determination. Even in defeat, he smiled with the joy of victory, as if capturing Ji Xian was more important than anything else.
“You’re not a substitute; I want you.”
He spoke concisely, a response that others might not understand, but Jiang He’s eyes were so sincere.
Ji Xian’s heart pounded a few times, and he didn’t know why all his anger seemed to dissipate. There was a feeling of wanting to laugh. This man was truly… he couldn’t find words to describe him. If those who mentioned Jiang He and the Demon Emperor with fear and awe knew the true face of this man, their jaws would probably drop.
But with his innate bad temper and pride, he couldn’t stop now. Since he had come, he had to fight first and then vent his anger. Today, he had to give this rogue a good beating.
“You’re not a substitute; I want you.”
Despite the concise reply that ordinary people couldn’t understand, the eyes of Jiang He were still full of intense affection.
At that time, he didn’t know what the three words Jiang He said meant. Did Jiang He still consider him as Little Nine, or did he know that he was Ji Xian?
He only knew that when Jiang He kissed him, he fell into it. Jiang He’s love was so persistent and deep that it resonated in his heart. He suddenly wanted it, but he wasn’t that person. He didn’t want to bear such feelings just because of a face.
“I know.”
Facing Jiang He’s emphasis, Ji Xian still didn’t know what Jiang He meant with those three words. Was he still treating him as Little Nine, or did he know that he was Ji Xian? He only knew that when Jiang He kissed him, he was captivated. Jiang He’s love was so deep and intense that he couldn’t resist. How did he end up with such a person?
“I don’t care who you thought I was before, but listen, now that I’ve set my eyes on you, you’re mine. The person with you now is called Ji Xian.”
He pushed Jiang He onto the ground, tore a strip of cloth, and blindfolded the man’s eyes. Then, he took off his clothes, ripped apart Jiang He’s clothes, straddled his waist, hugged his head, and kissed him passionately with an overbearing attitude, displaying the demeanor of a superior. Despite the final initiative still in Jiang He’s hands, he still wanted to be on top, for that was Ji Xian.
“Jiang He, you can’t marry me. I tell you, now that I, Ji Xian, have set my eyes on you, you’re mine. Wait for me to welcome you in the demon clan.”
When parting, he took off the cloth covering Jiang He’s eyes. Although he was exhausted all over, he still wore a confident smile.
However, this promise had not been fulfilled until now. On his way back to the human clan, he was attacked.
The people who attacked him clearly valued him highly. Dozens of experts at the Great Accomplishment stage and two half-immortals attacked him just to capture him alive and threw him into a forbidden area of the spirit realm, the Forbidden Domain.
It was rumored to be a dreadful immortal prison and a shortcut to becoming a true immortal. Those who entered and came out would become true immortals in the Upper Realm. If they couldn’t come out, they would be eternally annihilated until they turned into nothingness, experiencing endless cycles of reincarnation.
However, until now, the entire spirit realm had not heard of anyone who had entered and then come out again.
They threw him into the Forbidden Domain not to kill him but to lure Jiang He in. Only if he and Jiang He died together could the Hundred Clan War continue, just as Ji Baiyin and Little Nine had to die for the Hundred Clan War to begin.
As all the suppressed memories connected, the faces of the attackers twice overlapped. Everything that was inexplicable suddenly became clear to Ji Xuan.
Ji Baiyin, Little Nine, Qi Yan, Jiang He—all were just major chess pieces in this Hundred Clan War.
When all the memories were fully connected, Su Jingxuan understood everything. The tragedies and stories were all originated from the word ‘interest.’
There were hundreds of races in the spirit realm, and just like the conflicts between nations in the mortal world, various races constantly vied for resources for cultivation. After tens of thousands of years of settling, natural selection, and competition, the strength disparity among the hundred clans became evident.
The stronger ones possessed more resources, making their clans more powerful. Conversely, weaker clans lacked sufficient resources, resulting in their weakness. This led to continuous conflicts, and those who couldn’t bear it would inevitably resist.
However, the spirit realm had always been a world where the strong were respected. To overturn this situation, the only way was to reshuffle the deck, and the only way to shuffle it was through the Hundred Clan War.
Due to the relationship between the Yasha clan and the ability to refine spirits, the Yasha clan has deep enmity with almost all other clans, with humans being the most prominent among them. The human race is also one of the most powerful among the hundred clans. If these two major clans engage in a deadly battle, it could lead to the beginning of a great war.
Therefore, Ji Baiyin became the first sacrifice, while Qi Yan became the pawn to start the war. Faced with the hatred of Qi Yan, who lost his loved one and saw his people annihilated, he went mad with rage and engaged in a bloody battle with the human race.
The spirit world was initially in chaos. The mastermind behind the scenes intended to take advantage of the situation to provoke a war among the clans. However, unexpectedly, a ‘Little Nine’ emerged, pressing forward to seek revenge on the six major immortal sects.
If Little Nine succeeds in avenging, the Yasha clan and the six major immortal sects will be annihilated, and it would only be a mutual destruction. The other clans would remain unaffected, and the only thing divided would be the six major immortal sects.
Therefore, Little Nine became the second sacrifice, and finally, when the straw that broke Qi Yan’s collapse came, the hatred drove Qi Yan’s Saint Sovereign into complete madness, making reconciliation with the human race impossible in this lifetime.
What pleased the mastermind behind the scenes even more was that Little Nine’s death unexpectedly triggered a demonic emperor’s intervention, truly inciting a great war among the hundred clans.
But what no one expected was that in the midst of the hundred clans’ war, a ‘Ji Xian’ appeared. Ji Xian, with the same appearance as Little Nine, influenced the decision of the demonic emperor.
Seeing that all the powerful clans were suffering heavy losses in the war, and a reshuffling was about to happen, how could the war stop at such a critical moment?
So, Ji Xian became the third sacrifice, effortlessly killed, a pawn in the hands of the one manipulating the great war between the hundred clans.
With the death of Ji Xian, the demonic forces led by the demonic emperor lost their leader; Ji Tianying, nearing ascension, had no one to inherit the Yunhai Sect; internal strife within the two major camps led to the final reshuffling of the hundred clans!
However, perhaps the person behind the scenes never expected that both Ji Xian and Little Nine were actually Su Jingxuan.
The person who attacked him twice, he could clearly see. Among those responsible for this design were not only the evil races jumping around like cockroaches in the spirit world but also more than a dozen restless individuals from various clans…
Alright, very good. These people hid really well, fooling everyone in the entire spirit world!
Su Jingxuan spent several hours digesting the sealed memories, then opened his eyes. The first thing he did was to go see Ji Tianying.
He had a question, a question that only Ji Tianying could answer.
Ji Tianying could have ascended to the higher realm a thousand years ago, but the old man was unwilling, suppressing his cultivation to stay in the spirit world. Combined with the fact that he was severely injured in the battle with Su Jingxuan’s elder brother, Ji Tianying had been healing within the Yunhai Sect, directing everything behind the scenes.
He experienced the illusionary reincarnation in the forbidden realm, which seemed like a long time, but in the spirit world, it was only a matter of months. However, when he returned to see Ji Tianying again, his mindset had changed significantly from before.
Because of his elder brother’s incident, he had never had a good impression of the people in the immortal sects. His resentment towards Ji Tianying was even stronger. He didn’t understand why Ji Tianying could be so heartless, even abandoning his own biological son. So, the relationship between him and Ji Tianying was not better than that of strangers.
However, after going through so much, when he saw Ji Tianying again after just a few months, Su Jingxuan found that the old man had aged a lot—not in terms of appearance; cultivators naturally maintained their looks—but his gaze seemed much more weary.
Seeing him entering the cave, Ji Tianying seemed to show a relieved expression on his face, though subtle. Even though it was faint, Su Jingxuan could still perceive it. The old man wasn’t as cold and heartless as he appeared.
“I… I already know everything. I only ask you one question: Is my brother still alive?”
This question perplexed him, and he really wanted to know. Could his father be so heartless? In the forbidden realm, Yan Junfeng warned him to trust his father, but could the old man provide an answer?
“That person back then was you,” Ji Tianying evaded the question and asked another.
“Yes, at the top of the sky that year, it was me. They wanted to kill me, but unexpectedly sent me back a thousand years. Old man, don’t you find it amusing? They probably never dreamed of that.” Su Jingxuan couldn’t help but laugh.
The old man’s question made him unable to hold back his laughter.
The beginning is the end. After circling around, he was back. From now on, the fate was in his own hands. Those who plotted against the hundred clans, he wouldn’t let any of them go!
“The Ji clan, my son Ji Xian is the most unique. Forget it, take Baiyin to the demonic tribe. It’s time to change the rules of the Yunhai Sect…”
Looking at him from the cushion, Ji Tianying suddenly smiled and waved his hand, lifting a jade carving with spiritual power and placing it in front of Su Jingxuan.
The jade carving wasn’t large, only palm-sized, with a white jade texture and abundant spiritual energy. It was carved in the likeness of a person, unmistakably Ji Baiyin’s appearance!
“When I was about to ascend a thousand years ago, I cast a divination. The divination showed that my son Baiyin would face a great calamity, and there would be no chance of reincarnation. But the specific details were unclear, which worried me a lot. So, I stayed in this realm. Little did I know that my son would encounter a calamity of love. Not only was the person a man, but he was also the Saint Sovereign of the Yasha clan, Qi Yan…”
Ji Tianying looked at the floating jade carving in mid-air, and wrinkles seemed to appear at the corners of his eyes.
Cultivators were different from ordinary people. Pursuing the path of ascending to the higher realm, though the spirit world had a hundred clans, the future separation was clear. The human race would go to the immortal realm, while the Yasha clan, demonic tribe, ghost clan, etc., would each go their separate ways.
Ji Baiyin and Qi Yan, both being men and from different clans, by being together, they gave up the opportunity to ascend as immortals. The path to becoming an immortal was irresistibly tempting, something Ji Tianying, as a father, understood.
People of the Ji clan were stubborn, unyielding stones. Once Ji Baiyin decided on Qi Yan, he wouldn’t change his mind. Ji Baiyin was willing to give up the chance to ascend as an immortal, but would Qi Yan Saint Sovereign?
Ji Tianying didn’t know.
“What should come will always come. The people of the Ji family, especially in matters of the heart, are ultimately unable to pass the test. The elders in the sect asked him to break up with Qi Yan, but he refused. When representatives of the five major sects came, he also insisted…”
“So, my father… used a scheme, sacrificing my brother’s physical body, protecting his soul…”
Su Jingxuan took the jade carving, feeling the soul fluctuations sealed inside. He couldn’t help but choke up. Everyone misunderstood Ji Tianying. How could the Ji family be so heartless?
Everything his father did was to protect his elder brother. If it weren’t for the subsequent events, perhaps after the storm settled, his father would have handed over his brother’s soul to Qi Yan’s eldest brother. Su Jingxuan thought.
Unfortunately, the person who triggered the great war among the hundred clans not only disrupted the spirit world but also wasted so much time for his elder brother and Qi Yan’s eldest brother.
Wishing to strike, the deadlock of over eight hundred years has claimed many lives from various tribes. Now, as the list of those planning and conspiring for the upcoming major battle is publicly disclosed, the revelation of traitors within their own kin sparks immediate turmoil among the people of a hundred tribes.
If it were only the thirteen wicked clans being targeted, perhaps there would be some reluctance and resentment against the harsh demand for the extermination of all tribes. People might believe that the Yunhai Sect is seeking revenge to oppress everyone for its own grievances.
However, a significant portion of the disclosed list consists of individuals from various tribes who harbor intentions of rebellion. The leaders of each tribe cannot tolerate such treacherous individuals and immediately order their pursuit and execution.
In a moment, the entire spirit realm is thrown into chaos again. This time, it is not a conflict among the hundred tribes, but a scattering of traitors from various tribes fleeing in all directions. The sudden and extensive issuance of kill orders and the publication of the list leave no sanctuary in the entire spirit realm.
Especially the surviving members of the Yasha tribe, which was once annihilated, no longer conceal their identities. The grudge of the exterminated Yasha tribe is something every surviving Yasha spirit dare not forget. They have been waiting for this day for eight hundred years, and now, with determination, they hunt down those named on the list at the risk of their lives.
The thirteen wicked clans are attacked by the surrounding tribes as soon as they realize it. The celestial messenger warns that anyone resisting the kill order or sheltering the condemned will face merciless death. Being closest to these individuals, they have no choice but to act; otherwise, the blame will fall on them when the celestial beings inquire.
“Kill them all, these bastards!”
The rage of the multitude is unleashed. In the great battle among the hundred tribes, many lives are lost. Despite the presence of powerful beings in the thirteen clans, they are unable to resist the combined assault of the hundred tribes. The thirteen clans are wiped out, and the remaining escaped individuals are now hunted by the entire spirit realm.
A millennium of planning collapses in an instant.
The war drums cease, and Su Jingxuan stops channeling his spiritual power, rushing urgently towards the Yao tribe.
Compared to the chaos in other tribes, the Yao tribe is relatively better off. They are unaware of the absence of their emperor due to the aura of concealment Su Yan maintained while going to the forbidden realm.
Under the pressure of the alliance, there are few rebels within the Yao tribe. Once the truth is exposed, traitors are swiftly captured and executed by the enraged Yao tribe.
When Su Jingxuan arrives at the Yao tribe, the chaos has already subsided. With his current status as a True Immortal, he no longer needs to conceal himself as he did before.
He teleports directly to the Yao tribe’s grand hall, the ancient hall adorned with a black dragon stone carving, where the transaction with the black-robed Qi Yan was completed.
Qi Yan still wears the same black robe, but the once overwhelming and sinister aura is gone. He sits on the steps of the hall, emitting an air of desolation.
Seeing him appear, Qi Yan’s gaze is complex and bitter.
“Why can you resurrect even when you die in the tunnel, but they have no chance? I’ve tried many methods, but why do Bai Yin and Xiao Jiu not have the slightest chance, not even a trace of residual soul?”
Revenge is the only reason supporting his continued existence. With the cessation of the Hundred Tribes War, relying solely on himself is impossible to exterminate the Human tribe and the Yunhai Sect. Regardless of the world’s morality or the fate of the hundred tribes, he is determined to settle the score for the deaths of Jibai Yin and Xiao Jiu.
“Why could Ji Xuan die in the forbidden tunnel and still resurrect, while I, after years of effort, cannot retrieve even a trace of Bai Yin and Xiao Jiu’s souls? Why is the heavens so unfair?”
Qi Yan is filled with bitterness and regret.
Seeing Qi Yan in such a state, Su Jingxuan cannot help but feel a pang in his heart. While the deaths of those who have passed away are regrettable, the pain is most profound for those still alive.
It’s because he has seen the former Saint Emperor Qi Yan that the current black-robed Qi Yan looks even more unbearable.
No explanation can compare to the appearance of Bai Yin. He lifts the jade statue, given to him by Ji Tianying, with a familiar spiritual fluctuation, and presents it to Qi Yan.
Qi Yan suddenly raises his head, feeling the aura of his lover.
“Big brother, Xiao Jiu said that he would definitely bring Bai Yin back for you. The reason you couldn’t find Bai Yin and Xiao Jiu is that they have been alive all this time. On the day of the attack in the forbidden tunnel, they accidentally sent me back to that year.”
On that day, he promised Qi Yan’s big brother that he would bring Bai Yin back. Though it took so long, today he finally fulfilled that promise. Everything from the past has a chance for a beautiful new beginning.
“No wonder, no wonder Jixuan would be Xiao Jiu, and he didn’t even recognize his Xiao Jiu. He still hated Ji Xian for taking away Xiao Jiu’s things. He was truly foolish. How could he be so harsh on his Xiao Jiu?”
“Xiao Jiu doesn’t blame big brother. I just miss him. Big brother, where is he? I really want to see him.”
He shakes his head. Big brother Bai Yin often said that big brother Qi Yan is a persistent fool. He knows, he knows. It’s just that he really wants to see Ji Xuan now. He wants him to come to the Yao tribe, and he has.
Qi Yan doesn’t speak, smiling as he glances at the black dragon stone carving on the wall of the grand hall. He lowers his head and gently kisses the jade carving emitting the breath of his lover, then retreats.
When he leaves, the spacious hall is empty, leaving only Su Jingxuan. At that moment, the black dragon stone carving on the wall emits a brilliant light. Accompanied by a resounding dragon roar, the stone carving on the wall transforms into a black dragon that descends.
The black dragon eventually stops in front of Su Jingxuan, taking on the form of a familiar person with a stern face, deep black eyes—his beloved Ji Xuan.
He doesn’t embrace him. Instead, he pushes him onto the steps of the grand hall, strips off his clothes, and rides on the man. He smiles and pulls down the other’s collar, displaying a radiant smile.
Whether it’s Xiao Jiu or Ji Xian or Su Jingxuan, they are inherently proud. Even if their hearts are lost, they must maintain such an attitude.
“I’ve said it before, it’s impossible for you to marry me at Yunhai Sect. I’ve taken a liking to you. Now I’ve come to welcome you. From now on, you are mine, my Ji Xuan.”
“Good.”
Looking at the young man who still smiles on top of him, Ji Xuan’s black eyes hold a gentle smile. He has finally waited for him to come back. As long as he doesn’t leave, it’s enough.
Su Jingxuan looks at the silly man beneath him and can’t help but bend down to embrace him.
Big brother Bai Yin was right. If he didn’t have Jiang He, even immortality, he would rather not have it.
