On the Jade Chamber—
Ever since Hu Tao blasted out her soul-freezing, life-questioning funeral advertisement, the entire group had sat in stunned silence for a long while.
Only after regaining their senses did Ningguang and the others hurriedly drag Hu Tao away before she could launch her third advertisement.
Only then did Liyue Harbor slowly return to normal.
Everyone who had taken part in the battle against Osial and Baqiu—aside from the outer and servant disciples—had returned to the Jade Chamber.
Only Tartaglia's group remained absent, still faithfully carrying out Zhongli's command in Tianqiu Valley:
Beat Ruoduo the moment he speaks nonsense.
Beat him until he becomes a loyal dog.
As for Xingqiu and Chongyun—
In order to "avoid suspicion," they very deliberately chose to sit far apart, with Xiaoyue squeezed between them like an unlucky human bookmark.
Xiaoyue:
I don't want to sit here.
I don't want to breathe here.
I don't want to exist here.
Across from them, Shenhe sat with an expression as black as a thundercloud, staring at Chongyun the entire time.
Every time Chongyun and Xingqiu even accidentally glanced at each other—
BOOM—!
Shenhe's divine sense slammed onto Chongyun's head like a metaphysical brick.
In her eyes, Chongyun was now**… crooked.**
And it was absolutely Xingqiu's fault.
If she wasn't his aunt, she wouldn't care.
But she was his aunt.
So she would sooner destroy the world than let Chongyun "bend."
Meanwhile the actual guilty parties—
Xingqiu and Chongyun—
were on the verge of tears.
They only wanted to figure out a way to explain the situation to their families.
But now the entire Liyue Harbor had already witnessed their love-heart sword-beam of "Tilting the City With Absolute Romance."
How were they supposed to explain THAT?
Xingqiu's parents might be fine, but Chongyun's parents…
They would absolutely murder him.
And yet—Tilting the City With Absolute Romance was a shockingly powerful life-saving technique.
They would be fools to give it up.
Which was why they kept trying to exchange eye contact to discuss it…
And kept getting smashed by Shenhe's divine-sense hammer.
Chongyun: This is injustice. This is suffering. This is auntie abuse.
Jiang Yan, of course, understood perfectly well that the two weren't actually in a relationship.
But the sect rarely had such high-quality gossip.
Why would he spoil it?
Private matters. None of his business.
He simply cleared his throat and smiled.
"Your performance today was commendable. Especially you, Shenhe."
Instantly, Shenhe withdrew her soul-crushing glare and nodded obediently.
"Thank you for your praise. I will continue to cultivate diligently."
Jiang Yan turned toward Ningguang and the others.
"In truth, I had been worried. I feared that while I'm away at the Demon-Locking Tower, your lack of coordinated training might hinder your performance in the Nine Netherworlds."
"But given what you've shown today…
Your cooperation was exemplary."
Ningguang, Keqing, Hu Tao, Yelan, and the others all brightened with joy.
"When Zhongli finishes his matters, return to Mount Shu.
Before I depart for the Tower, I will lecture once more."
Everyone straightened like diligent students.
"是!多谢掌门!"
Jiang Yan waved dismissively.
"For now—
you may discuss matters with Lisa.
She has been waiting."
Lisa raised a hand with a soft smile—
unashamed in the slightest.
"After all, we are talking about the souls of the top-tier demon god Osial and his wife Baqiu.
Such materials are… rare."
"With these two essences, I can reach the peak of Refining Essence before the Nine Netherworlds."
Everyone's hearts clenched with envy.
Sometimes… being a demonic cultivator was really convenient.
While orthodox cultivators needed to meditate, suffer, endure, and strive—
demonic cultivators just needed to find treasure and eat it.
Ningguang politely produced the purple-gold gourd.
"Alice elder, Cloud Retainer, your purple-gold gourd is indeed quite exquisite."
"Without it, Osial would've required Shenhe herself to act."
Alice giggled.
"Don't praise me too much~ I only offered the design. Cloud Retainer did the forging."
Cloud Retainer shook her head.
"And if Jiang Yan had not reforged it, the gourd would never have been able to contain Osial."
Ningguang smiled and shook the gourd lightly.
"He should be melted by now. Only the primal soul remains."
Hu Tao's eyes sparkled.
"The soul?? Where? Wherewherewhere?"
Lisa chuckled.
"Don't worry. A primal soul is merely a more complete form of soul. It includes his authority and godhood, though extracting those is… unlikely."
Hu Tao rubbed her chin thoughtfully.
"So if we eat—
cough—if we refine his primal soul…
we get the power of Vortex?"
Ganyu's mother—
the Cryo Archon—
smiled gently.
"In theory, yes.
In practice?
Impossible."
"Magma gods and demon gods never truly die. Their laws remain. The 'new' Vortex demon god will reemerge after countless years… but it will no longer be Osial."
Everyone nodded.
It didn't matter.
They only wanted the soul.
"As for his demon-god blood…" Ningguang glanced at Ganyu's mother.
The Archon shrugged.
"Only Tartaglia needed that. He wasn't here. Too bad, too late."
Ningguang opened the gourd.
Instantly—
a transparent, swirling light mass shot upward, trying to escape into the heavens.
Lisa snapped her fingers.
A bloom of purple-black karmic flames appeared, encasing the entire soul like a cage.
Within the flames, a faint red glow pulsed—
a sign of deepening mastery.
Jiang Yan nodded appreciatively.
"So your karmic fire has advanced again. Once it blooms into its first Red Lotus, your offense and defense will rise greatly."
Lisa's eyes lit with delight.
"I only just managed to push through."
She turned toward Ningguang and Hu Tao.
Ningguang waved calmly.
"No need to mind me. Souls of this type do not benefit my arts."
Lisa nodded in gratitude.
"And as agreed—half for Hu Tao, half for me?"
Hu Tao eagerly pulled out Baqiu's soul.
"It lost a chunk because of Xingqiu and Chongyun's love-power explosion—
but there's still plenty!!"
Xingqiu & Chongyun:
"…Must you mention that out loud!?"
Lisa gave them a long, meaningful look.
Then—
Her karmic flames split both souls cleanly in half.
Hu Tao whistled in satisfaction and gathered her portions.
With Osial and Baqiu's soul essence nourishing a powerful ghost, she could finally create her first true ghost general.
Her entire being radiated excitement.
As for Lisa, she didn't immediately refine hers.
Burning demon-god souls with karmic flames… was a horrifying sight.
Best done back in her cave residence.
"Once we return to Mount Shu, I'll deliver the agreed pills to you," Lisa said.
Hu Tao beamed.
"No rush no rush! Thank youuuuu~"
With both souls secured, Hu Tao's upcoming ghost general would certainly reach the peak of Refining Essence.
Her Nine Netherworlds gains would be enormous.
Ayaka watched the whole thing, then murmured softly:
"From the moment Osial broke his seal…
the final outcome was already assured."
"Tidal waves suppressed by cultivators.
Sea monsters cut down by martial artists.
Osial and Baqiu…"
"From start to finish…
they were simply toys for Hu Tao and Miss Lisa."
Her tone was full of awe—
And envy.
Ningguang shook her head slightly, gazing at Jiang Yan.
"This is all thanks to the Sect Master's gift of cultivation. Without it, Rex Lapis's abdication and the demon-god's return would have devastated Liyue."
Jiang Yan chuckled.
"You have cultivated for barely three months—yet have already broken realms."
"Talent matters, yes…
but effort matters even more."
Everyone brightened at the praise.
Ayaka and the Inazuman group looked on with longing.
The whole world is changing…
Only Inazuma remains frozen.
"How long until our turn…?" they wondered.
Just then—
Lumine stretched lazily on her chair.
"So now that Liyue's handled, we can head to Inazuma soon, right?"
Kokomi's eyes glowed.
"If you're ready, that would be perfect!"
"Rest assured, Inazuma will welcome you."
Lumine waved a hand.
"No need to trouble yourselves. I'll handle the issue quickly and come back to train for the Nine Netherworlds."
Ayaka smiled politely.
"It would not be proper to neglect hospitality. Please allow us to treat you well."
Lumine shrugged.
She wouldn't refuse free food.
Just then—
Alice blinked mischievously and turned to Jiang Yan.
"By the way, Sect Master,
I'm thinking of visiting the Outer Dark Sea for a few days."
To read 220+ future chapters, head over to Patreon:
patreon.com/WhiteDevil7554