Chapter 132: Molting

At this moment, Zhang Zixuan, who had been silent all the while, suddenly interjected, "Why are you mortals so obsessed with the idea of continuing your lineage?"

Caught off guard by the question, Zhao Zhigao found himself at a loss for words. He had never pondered such a thing, and none of his peers had ever asked it either—it was as natural and unquestioned as asking why humans need to eat.

"Because we mortals have such brief lifespans," Song Ye said suddenly. "Unlike you cultivators, who can easily live for centuries, or even thousands of years if your cultivation is profound."

"That is why, once our short lives fade away, we view our descendants as a continuation of our own existence, allowing them to witness the splendor of this world on our behalf."

Song Ye spoke from the perspective of an ordinary mortal like Zhao Zhigao. After all, his own lifespan in this world was boundless, and even if he were to return to the modern world, his physical strength had long since transcended that of an ordinary person, granting him a much longer life than most.

Zhao Zhigao immediately chimed in, "Exactly, exactly! I feel the same way. Brother Song, it seems you do understand the importance of continuing one's lineage, so why can't you get started? If you wait a few more years—"

"Alright, stop worrying about Brother Ye's affairs," Lady Xu said as she stepped out of the kitchen, cutting Zhao Zhigao off. "Brother Ye is so handsome; he won't have any trouble finding a wife later."

She looked at Song Ye and continued, "Brother Ye, there is no need to rush. Take your time and choose carefully; you must find someone truly excellent, someone worthy of you."

She then glanced at Zhao Zhigao. "Unlike you, who just caught a glimpse of me by the fields and were in such a frantic hurry to bring me home."

Zhao Zhigao could only offer a silly grin, unsure of what to say.

Meanwhile, Qin Xuanxi, who had been eavesdropping in the shadows, quietly slipped away. Upon returning to Mount Xuyu, she immediately summoned Bai Ruoling and dismissed all the servants from the Sect Master's Hall.

"Bai Ruoling, I have heard that during my absence, you impersonated me, is that so?" Qin Xuanxi said coldly.

Bai Ruoling broke into a cold sweat, her heart trembling. *Did Senior Sister betray me?*

She knelt before Qin Xuanxi at once. "Master, I know I was wrong. Please, punish me."

"The punishment can be waived, but you must do something for me," Qin Xuanxi said.

"Please command me, Master. I will certainly do my best," replied Bai Ruoling.

"Stand up first, and change your red dress into a blue, short-sleeved ru dress," Qin Xuanxi ordered.

Bai Ruoling was stunned. *Could it be that Master has some peculiar hobby?* Nevertheless, she obeyed, and in a flash, her red dress transformed into a blue, short-sleeved ru dress.

"Now, take on my figure!"

"I dare not, Master..."

"I told you to change, so change."

Bai Ruoling had no choice but to shift her form to match Qin Xuanxi's, though she kept her own face.

"Now change your face to this," Qin Xuanxi said, transmitting the image of her own face into Bai Ruoling's mind through her divine sense.

A stunningly beautiful face, one she had never seen before, appeared in Bai Ruoling's mind. She followed suit and transformed her face accordingly. Before long, a woman who perfectly replicated Qin Xuanxi's appearance and figure stood before her.

Qin Xuanxi continued, "By my calculations, it is time for you to shed your skin. Go ahead and shed the skin and bones of your current form."

"Yes, Master!"

Bai Ruoling’s true form was a White Nightmare Snake, which shed its skin several times a year. For a White Nightmare Snake, shedding was not merely discarding the outer layer; it involved shedding its entire skeleton and organs to achieve a true rebirth from the inside out.

Soon, a bloodless, humanoid skin and bone structure was shed from Bai Ruoling. Qin Xuanxi walked up to the shell, concentrated her power at her fingertip, and allowed a drop of essence blood, infused with her magic, to drip onto it.

As the blood seeped into the shell, the sallow skin instantly regained a radiant, fair complexion, and a heartbeat could even be heard coming from within.

"The face on this shell belongs to a woman named Su Qingyu. She possessed a figure similar to mine," Qin Xuanxi began to weave her story. "Three years ago, during my battle with the Flute Immortal, I accidentally reduced her to ashes. Since that day was meant to be her wedding day, I have always felt deeply remorseful for killing her."

"Recently, I inadvertently learned that the mortal man she was betrothed to intends to break off their engagement, simply because he could not find her for three short years. You know, I despise such unfaithful men more than anything."

Bai Ruoling was taken aback. Master had never mentioned mortal romance in their presence, so she had never heard of her hating unfaithful men. She felt the whole affair was peculiar, but she dared not interrupt.

"I cannot let that mortal man's scheme to break the engagement succeed; I must punish him," Qin Xuanxi continued. "Therefore, I want you to take this shell, which bears the likeness of Su Qingyu, and travel to Yan City."

"Yes, Master!" Bai Ruoling replied.

Her gaze fell upon the shell. Its face was breathtakingly beautiful, and it possessed the same exquisite figure as her Master—it was truly covetous. Unable to resist, Bai Ruoling reached out to touch the shell.

Suddenly, the eyes of the shell, which had been closed, snapped open, and the Master's voice emanated from its mouth.

"Bai Ruoling, this shell has been infused with a drop of my essence blood. My divine sense can be projected into it at any time. Do not harbor any devious thoughts toward it."

Evidently, this humanoid shell was essentially Qin Xuanxi's "human surveillance monitor."

"I dare not, Master!" Bai Ruoling quickly retracted her hand.

Qin Xuanxi walked back to the dais. "Once you arrive in Yan City, you must not harm that mortal man in the slightest. Regarding the situation in Yan City, there is more I must tell you, so you have some understanding..."

...

The next day, at the Prince Xiang's Mansion in Yan City.

Because the daughter of Prince Xiang had gone missing three years ago, and the Prince himself remained in a deep, unresponsive coma, the person currently managing the affairs of the mansion was the Prince's sister, "Princess Hansi," Li Qingying.

Li Qingying was a widow; her husband had passed away at a young age. Having studied medical arts from a cultivator in her youth, she possessed a basic understanding of the Tao of cultivation, which prevented the years from leaving deep marks on her face. She looked to be only in her thirties.

Upon learning that her brother remained in a coma, she had moved into the Prince Xiang's Mansion, hoping to use her medical knowledge to help him wake up. She had not attended the wedding at the mansion three years ago, and since the Princess had gone missing shortly thereafter, status unknown, Li Qingying had never actually met her niece.