31.7 - Crazy! Criticizing the Prime Minister for Being a Servant

Chapter 31: Imbalance The study had been cleaned out completely. With rage bubbling inside her, Yin Xi killed all the mute maidservants who had been in the backyard that night without any hesitation. She raised her delicate hand and said in a cold voice, “Throw them into the grand formation. It's their honor to become nourishment for our master.” Ye Su, leading the group of celestial envoys, stood below the platform, too frightened to speak. Before she took over, their leader wasn’t this woman, but the law of the sect had always been survival of the fittest. This woman’s presence indicated that the previous celestial master was already dead, so naturally, these envoys had to follow whoever was now in charge. But they didn’t know Yin Xi's temperament yet; they could only behave cautiously. Now it seemed clear that this person was no pushover, much crueler than her predecessor. The previous leader was soft-hearted; when extracting spiritual power from the inhabitants of Huarong Village, she had set a baseline that their cultivation could not fall below the mid-stage of Qi Refinement. If it did, they would substitute cultivation with their lifespan. Crossing the Qi Refinement threshold generally extended one’s lifespan by one to two hundred years, which, compared to the prior requirement of direct extraction until they were dry, was considerably kind. But Yin Xi was evidently different. With a single swing, she decapitated thirty people and took the souls of everyone present to enrich the formation with just a word. The woman casually looked around and called out the name of the one standing at the front, “Ye Su, is Yueping Town that large? You’ve been searching since last night and still can’t find them?” “Revered one, perhaps they’ve already left Yueping Town?” Ye Su said, trembling, too scared to lift his head. “Oh, so you’re saying you’re all useless?” “No, no, I’ll immediately send people to search Yuehua Mountain.” With a derisive laugh, Yin Xi waved her hand to indicate her agreement and ignored the people sitting below as she turned to retrieve a jade pendant from the inner room. Before long, Lin Yu Xue replied, “Is it done?” Yin Xi sneered coldly, “Ah Xue, why didn’t you tell me Ran Fan Yin would be coming too?” “Did she notice you? Leave quickly, don’t expose family matters,” Lin Yu Xue’s voice carried a hint of urgency, urging her to leave. “Leave? Are you joking? Ning Song Wu has already taken the spiritual enhancement potion; how could I let this chance slip? What you can’t obtain, I will.” After a brief silence, Lin Yu Xue coldly retorted, “Ran Fan Yin values her disciple highly. Yin Xi, I order you to leave.” Yin Xi shut the communication pendant and casually tossed it among the weaponry lying beside her. Never mind that all their records had been plundered; she had painstakingly fed Ning Song Wu the pill. How could she abandon it now? If she could seize what the master needed ahead of everyone else, she could advance another rank sooner. Even if she couldn’t seize it, taking control of Yueping Town to perfect her master’s arrangements in the southeast was an urgent priority; otherwise, the loss might lead her into the Thousand Caverns, becoming nourishment herself. She couldn’t retreat. Back in the Thousand Caverns, she’d failed to kill one person and now had to be subservient to Lin Yu Xue in all matters—a feeling that was quite frustrating. Yin Xi touched her forehead and summoned someone. Her voice languid, “When will the celestial master start recruiting?” “At the usual time.” [This so-called Celestial Master is truly an abomination, sparing not even children! But why wasn’t Xiao Tao…] [Master is truly… I’m crying… How does she always so accurately sense my emotional changes?] [I do feel a bit sad…] [But for these people, I have no right to blame them—the constraints of productivity are evident…] “Disciple wants to stage a performance.” This rare firm declaration came from Ning Song Wu, as she meticulously laid out her plan and then looked to Ran Fan Yin for approval. Ran Fan Yin shook her head, “No, not only would breaking through in the wild without a formation or medicinal pills be dangerous, but I also wouldn’t be there to protect you. Impossible.” “Master, we have the Spirit Gathering Formation here. It would be a waste not to use it, and as for medicinal pills, I’ve already gathered the necessary herbs. I can use my spiritual power to refine them.” Usually reserved, Ning Song Wu was unusually talkative today, as if fearing Ran Fan Yin’s disapproval. She repeated the plan’s risks and her countermeasures several times, clutching Ran Fan Yin’s hand tightly. Only the image of a little dog with white fur, black ears, a black tail, and four little black paws kept popping into Ran Fan Yin’s mind as she imagined her disciple pleading helplessly. Ran Fan Yin secretly wondered if Helan had ever met a real dog spirit. She wanted to know if they acted just as adorably when lying. But she maintained a stern expression and asked coldly, “When did you come up with such a meticulous plan?” Why had she never sensed it in Ning Song Wu’s thoughts until now? She couldn’t refuse. Ning Song Wu blinked and answered frankly, “I was up all night drawing it out on paper.” “Master…” The girl bit her lip gently, her eyes full of struggle, as if making a significant decision. In a soft voice, she pleaded, “Please…” [Master, please indulge me a little longer. Let me be secretly vulnerable, just this once.] [Master said I should handle things on my own. I’ll give it a try.] Shang Yun Sect, south of the Zhaomu Peak— Ever since Ran Fan Yin had cast Lin Yu Xue out of Zhaomu Peak years ago, she had been forbidden to step onto the main peak without explicit permission. But the entrance to the grand formation shouldn’t be on the main peak, should it? Lin Yu Xue decided to start her search from the southern side of the mountain range. Thanks to the sect's lenient management of inner disciples' free time, she moved freely along the ridge without much oversight. But really, would the entrance to a formation with a frozen core be placed on this side? As she carefully explored, a sharp pain struck her chest, forcing her to her knees. This was the usual way that woman contacted her. Enduring the dull ache, Lin Yu Xue found a secluded spot and produced the jade pendant. The woman’s cold, angry voice echoed out— “I gave you a year’s worth of medicine, and in return, you ruined my painstaking arrangements in the southeast? Lin Yu Xue, do you think I wouldn’t care for just one year?” Clutching her chest tightly, Lin Yu Xue gritted her teeth, “I warned Yin Xi. She didn’t listen; there’s nothing I can do.” The woman laughed coldly, “I remember you can control her; she’s not ranked as high as you.” “They don’t accept me. After all, I’m only at the mid-stage Golden Core. My talent convinces you but not them.” The woman’s voice paused, then she chuckled, “Oh? So what you mean is…” Cold sweat broke out on Lin Yu Xue’s back, and she hurriedly shook her head, “No, Master, that wasn’t my intention. I’ll find a way.” The communication pendant suddenly dimmed. Wiping the sweat from her forehead, Lin Yu Xue leaned on the ground slowly standing up. A small stone rolled down effortlessly, disappearing into the endless darkness below. As she leaned against the wall and calmed her breath, she realized after a long while—the stone seemed to roll quite a distance. A sudden thought struck her, followed by joy. For some reason, her intuition told her that what she had been searching for might be right here. The moment this thought surfaced, an image of a map flashed through her mind. Though it presented only one path, it was winding and complex. The destination was the core of the Absolute Heaven Formation, the place she had been searching for so long. How could it be? Holding her forehead, the girl pushed her disbelief aside and ventured inward. After just a few steps, the map in her mind became even clearer. Could it be right here? Clutching her jade pendant, she infused it with spiritual power. As it lit up, the woman’s furious voice came through: “Useless! The formation on Yuehua Mountain is already broken, huh? I don’t need them alive, just kill Ning Song Wu immediately!” Taking a deep breath to compose herself, Lin Yu Xue calmly said, “Master, I think I found the entrance to the Absolute Heaven Formation.” The woman’s voice grew colder but more controlled, “Ah Xue, memorize the route and kill her immediately.” “If she can destroy the southeast’s largest Spirit Gathering Formation before fully developing…just kill her and then come to the Demon Realm. I have ways to make sure you survive.” [I am social and brave, I am social and brave, I am social and brave…] [Will Master have someone she cares for one day? Will she marry?] [I don’t want Master to marry…] The red string suddenly shone, lifting Ning Song Wu into the air, barely dodging the strike. In her mind, Ran Fan Yin’s voice echoed, “First time, go run around the mountain circuit a thousand times for practice later.” This had been part of last night’s agreement. Ran Fan Yin had said casually, “Her cultivation clearly rose after sucking dry that demon’s power, so it’s unstable. You can handle her easily. Therefore, I’ll only protect you three times. Each time you use my protection, extra training is required.” Unexpectedly, she had used the protection for the first time so soon. Biting her lip, Ning Song Wu dared not be distracted. She gripped her sword tightly, and as the force on her wrist slackened, she conjured ice beneath her feet, twisting her body. Before Yin Xi could react, Ning Song Wu drove her sword into Yin Xi’s shoulder. Blood splattered, freezing half of the woman’s body with a chilling aura. She was about to twist her sword to sever Yin Xi’s arm completely when a burst of spiritual energy erupted, flinging Ning Song Wu away. She landed barely but knelt on the ground, breathing heavily. She looked up at Yin Xi, her breath hitching, unable to believe that— Ning Song Wu froze, watching Yin Xi’s movement in stunned silence. With a graceful wave of her hand, Yin Xi summoned one of the men standing guard. Grabbing his neck, she snapped it with force. A surge of cold spiritual power exploded, then receded, and Yin Xi’s severed arm mended itself as good as new. Ning Song Wu’s mouth opened, but the name “Ye Su” remained stuck, caught in her throat. The man rapidly withered, his eyes bulging to the brink of falling out, filled with terror that even the frost couldn’t mask. Sucked dry, he was nothing but a husk, discarded by Yin Xi without a second glance, tossed like garbage to the ground below. The ordinary spectators had erupted into chaos the moment she began siphoning life force. Despite the area being surrounded by celestial envoys, preventing their escape, they shouted all kinds of obscenities at the people on the platform, words more damaging than rotten eggs. After all, they couldn’t distinguish who was good or bad on the stage, so they cursed everyone equally. Yin Xi laughed, stretching her shoulders as she stood up. “Look, they’re cursing you.” Ning Song Wu rolled her eyes. [Seriously, elder sister, even a child wouldn’t fall for such provocation.] Her mind raced. Right now, how to get the crowd below to disperse safely was the top priority. A panicked crowd could easily lead to trouble. Yin Xi certainly wasn't going to give her any chance to catch her breath. Thick vines, as wide as a person's torso and wrapped with iron, repeatedly slammed down. Ning Song Wu blocked and dodged the smaller vines that occasionally shot up to snare her ankles. But Ning Song Wu wasn’t just defending; the floating snowflakes seemed to develop an intent, growing sharper. Yin Xi's robes soon became tattered, even stained with blood. Yin Xi gritted her teeth hard as the frequency of the vines’ attacks increased. The snowflakes turned into blades, entwining with the vines. Chaos bred more chaos, the scene becoming exceedingly hectic. [She escaped disaster because her parents didn’t love her, even resenting her.]⊙ [It seems absurd.] [But it was their greed that led to this—how can that be considered pitiable?] [But seeing that child with bones only four years old, having lost over a decade of her life, and likely to lose even more... this village might not have any future generations... If this technique spreads...] Ning Song Wu sat cross-legged in the Spirit Gathering Formation. Her aim was clear: to destroy this formation by summoning lightning, while simultaneously establishing herself as a deity in the minds of the people of Huarong Village. After all, the simplest and most effective way to change these hardworking farmers was to introduce a deity or Buddha they could believe in. A thunderclap descended, delivering the expected pain but bringing an unexpected sound. Instead of the anticipated thunder, she heard voices. At first, she thought she was hallucinating due to the ringing in her ears. She shook her head, but the voices grew clearer. “Demon! Isn’t this demon dead?” “What demon? Clearly, she’s a celestial being.” “Regardless, she died years ago, didn’t she?... Her body and soul perished, so how is she here? She shouldn’t even be in the cycle of reincarnation... Ah.” “Ah, it’s a long story…” Ning Song Wu strained to listen, but another thunderclap silenced the voices, replaced by a familiar chuckle. She did not open her eyes, but within the vast, consciousness-constructed space, she saw a female cultivator in green robes appear opposite her, also seated cross-legged, hands forming a mudra as if undergoing her own tribulation. A thick white mist obscured the woman’s face. Ning Song Wu willed herself to speak, her voice echoing in her mind, “Who are you? Are you the sword spirit of Shuangxue?” The woman shook her head. Another bolt of lightning struck Ning Song Wu, lighter in intensity this time, seemingly mitigated by the presence of this woman. Feeling an urgency, Ning Song Wu asked, “Who are you? How can you affect the strength of my tribulation?” The woman ignored her, and after a long silence, sighed in frustration, “She got away.” “Who got away?” Alarm bells rang in Ning Song Wu’s mind. The tribulation's oppressive force even seeped into her spirit, leaving her no choice but to sit and watch the woman in green robes. The woman moved, and Ning Song Wu felt a pair of piercing eyes lock onto her through the mist. As the woman stood up, the angle of her gaze shifted until she was fully upright. Ning Song Wu couldn’t help comparing her with Ran Fan Yin, finding her shorter—but something about the elegance of the green robes, tall and slender like bamboo, lent her a refined aura. Her voice was soft yet clear, “You’ve done well, identifying many blind spots. Keep it up.” [If changes can be made, perhaps this opportunity can also shift these people's views on girls.] [Even if it's just a small village.] [This must be what A Xin wanted to say but couldn’t. When Master mentioned her poor health, A Xin must have thought of it.] [His hesitation suggests he might have already regretted it.] [...I would be failing myself if I didn’t choose the latter option.] After two chaotic days following the theft at the Celestial Master’s residence, things settled down. On the day of the ritual, most attendees were tourists; there were few locals. Close to Yueping Town stood a celestial sect, which many townsfolk found intriguing due to the Zonglian Cult’s boast that anyone could cultivate. Now, even before the so-called Celestial Master began, a theft occurred, and after two days of failed attempts to catch the thief, it felt like a farce. Wearing a heavy purple robe, Yin Xi sat in the main seat, hands placed palm-up before her. Glancing at the sparse crowd, she whispered, “Didn’t the local officials say they would organize more people?” Ye Su, clad in grey-black, whispered back, “I pressed them about it, but this is all we have so far. Master, it's time to start, or the Overseer will hold us responsible.” Yin Xi took a deep breath, suppressing the cold glint in her eyes. Forcing a smile, she looked at the crowd. The trouble caused by Ning Song Wu was more than she had anticipated, and although she had searched all around Yuehua Mountain and other sects, she found no trace of her. Having a peerless master by her side truly allowed one to act with impunity. Greed rose from within her. These people below would all serve as her nourishment. Once she consumed half the town, she could also advance and then take care of Ning Song Wu. The speech was just a set of fixed phrases. Yin Xi recited it mechanically, then randomly picked an eager man from the crowd. She grabbed his hand, preparing to infuse it with spiritual energy to “enlighten” him. Just then, strong winds began to blow overhead. In the late spring season, a single snowflake falling stood out conspicuously.