Chapter 076: Is She Following Me?

"Moreover, the sword blood left behind by the Bloodsword Demon Lord here is not quite the same as before," Su Xiqiu seemed to glean a wealth of information from the lingering scent of blood. "At first, his sword blood was weak, but later, the blood that flowed from the sword brimmed with vitality. This shows that the Demon Lord’s strength is recovering, his injuries are slowly healing."

As she spoke, Su Xiqiu’s sharp gaze fell upon Murong Qingyi, her tone laced with anger. "You actually healed him?!"

Murong Qingyi hurriedly shook her head, waving her hands in protest. "No, I didn’t! I haven’t even seen the Bloodsword Demon Lord!"

But suddenly, her expression faltered. She abruptly recalled the old man yesterday, the one with the bleeding cane. Could the "sword blood" this white-robed Immortal Master spoke of be the very blood that seeped from that cane? And that strange old man—was he the Bloodsword Demon Lord?

Yet Murong Qingyi had studied the portrait of the Demon Lord in the "Records of Demon Lords": a tall, powerfully built man with glossy black hair. How could he possibly be that gaunt, white-haired elder from yesterday?

At that moment, Su Xiqiu addressed her again. "The Bloodsword Demon Lord was gravely wounded, causing his appearance to age rapidly—he no longer resembles his portrait in the records. So, were you deceived by him into healing his wounds, or are you simply in league with him?"

After hearing these words, Murong Qingyi grew increasingly anxious. Only now did she realize that the elderly man who had eaten her pills yesterday was likely the infamous Bloodsword Demon Lord himself. She was, after all, a disciple of the Immortal Sect, yet she had given her painstakingly refined Marrow Blood Pills to this villain. Wasn’t that the same as aiding the enemy?

"Immortal Su, there’s no need to waste words with her," Zhou Zhengyang suddenly drew the long sword strapped to his back. "A stubborn little girl like this won’t tell the truth unless she’s shown some consequences!"

Clearly, he intended to teach Murong Qingyi a lesson himself. Murong Qingyi’s cultivation was only at the ninth level of Profound Connection Realm—Song Ye knew this well. But this sharp-faced Zhou Zhengyang possessed the fifth level of the Ethereal Spirit Realm. Zhou’s strength was on par with Song Ye’s current level.

Song Ye’s latest attributes were as follows:
[Level]: 77
[Vitality]: 1313
[Soul]: 50

Just this morning, he had tested his maximum damage output on the training dummy in the player’s space: 365,000. According to the damage chart, the standard output for fifth-level Ethereal Spirit Realm was 360,000. Based on his latest results, his strength was now equal to Zhou Zhengyang’s. However, this was purely his physical power. If he were to use a guardian skill like "Annihilate All Living," only Su Xiqiu would possibly survive a blow from him.

"You can’t just attack people here," Song Ye set Song Yan down and stepped into the courtyard, warning Zhou Zhengyang and the others. "Your actions just now already count as unlawfully forcing your way into a private residence. If you assault someone afterward, according to the laws of Great Li, you’ll be punished with thirty strokes of the rod and three months in prison!"

Zhou Zhengyang threw back his head and laughed. "And you—a mere bailiff—want to lecture us Immortal Masters about your so-called Great Li laws? Don’t you know your laws don’t apply to us?"

"Even if the law doesn’t reach you, I will!" Song Ye placed his hand on his blade, his expression grave.

"If you, a petty official, insist on meddling, I’ll kill you first!" Zhou Zhengyang shouted, true energy swirling fiercely around his sword. He raised his blade, pointing it at Song Ye.

"Put your sword down!" Su Xiqiu suddenly barked at Zhou Zhengyang.

"Immortal Su, he’s just a lowly bailiff. The crusade against demons is what matters. If he gets in our way, we kill him—no one will care about the life of a mundane official," Zhou Zhengyang replied.

"I said, put your sword down!" Su Xiqiu’s voice hardened, her robes billowing as true energy surged around her.

Zhou Zhengyang was taken aback. He hadn’t expected Su Xiqiu to so staunchly defend a mere mortal bailiff. What was her purpose?

Though Zhou Zhengyang was displeased, he nonetheless lowered his sword—for his cultivation was inferior to hers.

"Song Ye, as for this woman, we can spare her," Su Xiqiu said to Song Ye. "However, we must take her to Xuanqing Palace for questioning!"

"Immortal Su, I don’t think that’s necessary. She’s a Murong clan descendant, unlikely to be involved with the Bloodsword Demon Lord. Besides—" Song Ye’s expression suddenly grew stern. "I am an officer of the imperial court. In my enforcement of the law, I care not for immortals or demons—only right and wrong. If she is unwilling to go with you to Xuanqing Palace, then today, none of you will take her from here!"

"Well, Song Ye," Su Xiqiu retorted angrily, "I only protected you from Zhou Immortal Master’s sword because I hold you in some regard. I did not expect such ingratitude!"

"The ones who don’t know their place are all of you!" A great saber suddenly descended from the sky, half its blade embedding deep into the ground. A slender, graceful figure landed atop its exposed hilt.

Noticing her flowing purple robe, Song Ye quickly recognized her—Qi Shuyu, a third-rank Violet Yu Guard.

He was surprised at her timely arrival. Had she been secretly observing or even tailing him every time he patrolled the streets?

Yet Qi Shuyu’s cultivation was only at the eighth level of Profound Connection Realm—among those Su Xiqiu had brought, any Immortal Master surpassed her. What she lacked in cultivation, however, was compensated by her Violet Yu robes. Even the Immortal Sects, with no ties to the imperial court, would show some respect to these robes—not for the court, but for the Immortal Lord Jiuli.

Over two centuries ago, the Immortal Lord Jiuli had served in the Great Yu Temple as a junior minister before retiring to cultivate in seclusion. On Mount Xuanji, she passed the Immortal Lord’s trial, earning the title "Jiuli." Her fame and prowess attracted many followers, and because of her origins in the Great Yu Temple, the Immortal Sects accorded anyone in Violet Yu robes special respect.

"You so-called Immortal Masters may tyrannize the world beyond my sight, but here, under my protection, I will not allow you to act with wanton cruelty against the people of Great Li!" Qi Shuyu’s sharp gaze swept over the assembled Immortal Masters, her voice cold and resolute.