152 - Douluo: Martial Spirit Blue Silver Grass
Chapter 152: Days and Nights of Reincarnating as a Malicious Senior Sister GL Jiu Ying was startled, momentarily unsure how to respond. In her past and current life, she had never doubted the ways of the heavens. What disappointed her were the celestial beings who were supposed to protect the world. During the time when the dragon demon wantonly slaughtered mortals and the human world flowed with blood, these beings didn’t bestow a shred of blessing upon the earth, allowing everything to be destroyed by the force of heaven. She pressed her lips together, ultimately saying nothing. Tianxiu practitioners have a deep comprehension of heavenly fate, far surpassing that of ordinary people. Fu Ling’s life experiences differed from hers, as did her mindset, leading to naturally divergent views on destiny. Their conversation ended in silence. Fortunately, the earlier explanation had calmed the young girl from her anger, and without needing further prompting, she obediently slipped her hand into the white sleeve beside her. The soft, compliant gesture carried a hint of coquettishness as her fingers intertwined. As Jiu Ying felt the warmth in her palm, a delicate body came to rest against her arm again. "Sister, what is the Ling Bao Ge? Why haven’t I heard of it before?" Her arm, nudged against two soft mounds, curiously reminded her of that tantalizing glimpse on a certain night. Despite her cold nature, her heartbeat quickened. Embarrassed by the memory of that scene, she took a step forward, inadvertently pulling her arm away from the yielding softness. Walking side by side, the atmosphere gradually returned to normal. Jiu Ying didn’t know much about Ling Bao Ge. The organization had been founded less than half a year but already wielded immense influence, with demons and upright folks alike involved. In just a few months, it had transformed from an obscure auction house into the fastest treasure trove of the era. Where there are people, there are conflicts of interest. Mortal citizens believe that cultivators are solely focused on their path, untempted by wealth. But reality is far from that. Initially, Ling Bao Ge only engaged in auctioneering, purchasing items at steep prices and selling them low. Within a month, its reputation was thoroughly established. No one knew the nature of the power behind it, whether human, demon, or magic. No one cared if the traders were human, demon, or magic, as long as they possessed riches or treasures to step through its doors. As Jiu Ying narrated, the girl beside her suddenly blurted out, full of surprise: "I understand now! A few days ago, during the clan meeting, I overheard Uncle Xuan Xiu mention that Yu Su Wen from Qing Chi Ge was poached for a high price, nearly causing a rift between Si Jia and Lu Jia! Could it be Ling Bao Ge doing the poaching?" Jiu Ying nodded slightly, her eyes brightening, "Indeed, it was Ling Bao Ge." Qing Chi Ge is the largest auction house in the righteous path, backed by the foremost eight families, the Si Jia. In earlier days, to garner support and consolidate its position, Si Yi Guang entrusted Lu Jia with its management. At the Sunlight Judgement, Lu Jia's second son, Lu Xing Lan, was made by Si Jia to bear the brunt of scorn in place of Si Xiao. To this day, he remains regrading the Great Embankment in Dongshan County. Since that time, Lu Jia harbored dissatisfaction with Si Jia, giving rise to a slow rift. Yu Su Wen, the world’s top auctioneer and Qing Chi Ge’s greatest asset, was a monumental loss. Without her, Qing Chi Ge wouldn't boast its current status. Her departure dealt a significant blow to Qing Chi Ge, and as its true owner, Si Yi Guang naturally couldn't bear it. Suspicious by nature, he blamed Lu Jia for it. The two families already had underlying conflicts, not as harmonious as outsiders perceived. Si Yi Guang’s distrust became the final wedge dissolving the Si-Lu alliance. In the fallout, Lu Jia withdrew from Qing Chi Ge, hinting at a severed relationship with Si Jia. Such a significant ordeal would have been widely known, but the appalling parent-child murder at Xuanyuan Sect overshadowed much of its impact. Fu Ling didn’t expect her guess to be correct, showing even more shock. "Who knows what Ling Bao Ge offered to lure Yu Su Wen from Qing Chi Ge." Jiu Ying chuckled, highlighting the key point in a sentence. "Think carefully, who hates Si Jia the most right now?" Fu Ling frowned, turning her face upwards to her confidant, catching the fleeting smile across Jiu Ying’s eyes. After brief contemplation, understanding dawned within her. "Are you referring to... the Xuanyuan Sect?" The incident of Fang Ke Yuan killing his son was still brewing. If it weren’t for Si Jia fanning the flames, it would have calmed by now. It goes without saying that Fang Si Mian must resent Si Yi Guang bitterly. Si Jia sought to dethrone Xuanyuan Sect from its top rank, and Fang Si Mian wouldn’t just wait idly. He had to retaliate. "Ice Lake, Water Essence, such unique treasures, would suffice to draw Yu Su Wen away from Qing Chi Ge." "Regardless if Lu Jia harbored genuine animosity towards Si Jia, this incident would inevitably be their burden, affecting relations between the two families." Listening quietly, Fu Ling felt a newfound awareness of how major sects and powerful families entwine in schemes and plots. Recalling the methods Fang Si Jian spoke of for subduing demon clans, she suddenly found Xuanyuan Sect's maneuver quite familiar. "Why do I feel that Fang Gongzi has a hand in this?" Jiu Ying curved her lips, a touch of appreciation glinting in her eyes. "Your intuition is right. It was his idea given to Fang Si Mian." "Si Jia is powerful and not easily dealt with. Now that Si Yi Guang openly confronts Xuanyuan Sect, Fang Gongzi wouldn’t miss such an opportunity. He acts this way to pave your path and to protect the sect." Fu Ling’s heart skipped a beat, suddenly feeling a sense of unreality. Settling disputes among the three clans always felt like an unrealistic dream. To realize someone has begun preparations unbeknownst to her was unthinkable. She bit her lip, her expression showing hesitation. "I—" Jiu Ying knew what she worried about and tightened their interlocked hands. "Don’t be afraid, I will always be with you." *** Among the eight families, Qin Jia specializes in weapon crafting, while He Jia in poison making. Gui Xi City sits at the intersection of these two families. With the seal at Wuhui Valley loosening, demons and devils emerged into the world. Descendants of both the Qin and He families, while suppressing demons, were ambushed by demons using their own crafted weapons and poisons, their bodies hung aloft on city walls. Consequently, this place became a no man's land. As bustling and lively as before, yet within the city thrived not just human beings. As dusk neared and the sun dipped low, desolation enveloped all. Jiu Ying, before even entering the city, already sensed the pervasive wicked aura. After a moment of hesitation, she led Fu Ling by the hand into the city. People crowded the long streets, human, demon, and devil alike. A pervasive scent of demonry lay thick in the air. Not far ahead, a large crowd gathered, seemingly focused on something. Fu Ling’s curiosity piqued, she couldn’t resist taking a peek. Having no set direction to locate Lady Ning Wan Qiu, Jiu Ying led her slowly forward. As they approached, it became clear at the end of the street was a spatial array. At its center stood a tall, circular arena. The daylight hadn’t faded, and the matches had yet to commence. Though the arena stood empty, many onlookers had already gathered. Turning her head, Fu Ling surveyed the surrounding spectators, a hint of surprise on her face— To her left loomed a demon, cloaked in black mist, disguising its form; on her right, a fox demon boldly flaunting its ear. Among the throng of demonic and devilish beings also hid numerous human cultivators, both sword-practitioners and Daoists. Even Jiu Ying couldn’t help but knit her brows at the strange sight. To see humans, demons, and devils standing together so peaceably. Fu Ling watched for a while, noticing no movement on the stage and was puzzled. "Sister, what is this place about?" Thinking she spoke quietly, Fu Ling didn’t realize someone had been eavesdropping. Their secret conversation was unwittingly overheard by the next standing fox demon. The fox demon always fancied cute and pure young girls. Whenever it encountered someone appealing, it couldn't resist the urge to seduce them. As soon as Fu Ling appeared, the fox demon’s interest was immediately piqued. By this point, it had stolen countless glances, internally marveling at how this girl in pink seemed to embody its ideal type. In this turbulent world, the strong preying on the weak happened incessantly. With Gui Xi City devoid of Qin Jia and He Jia's protection, the fox demon thought it could do whatever it pleased without rebuke. Noticing Fu Ling's low cultivation level, it schemed to lure her away even before Jiu Ying could intervene. Sidling up closer to Fu Ling, it spoke. “Hello there, are you new here?” “Tonight’s fights will feature notable figures. Missing it would be a lifetime regret.” “If you want to know more, just call me ‘sister,’ and I’ll tell you everything.” The fox demon carried an alluring charm, its every expression radiating seduction. The blatant flirtation was apparent even to Fu Ling. Jiu Ying’s expression darkened immediately, her cold gaze like ice daggers directed at the fox demon, making it quite apprehensive. Startled by the cold stare, the fox demon’s eyes darted to their tightly clasped hands hidden under the sleeves. With a raised brow, the fox demon retracted its gaze from their hands, still smiling with seductive allure. Though saying “such a pity,” its tone revealed no actual regret. “Already taken, what a pity.” Before finishing the sentence, its gaze shifted to Jiu Ying. Realizing Jiu Ying had no cultivation, it grew bolder and inched closer to Fu Ling, even reaching a hand toward her face. “In the cultivation world, strength is what counts. Little sister, your partner doesn’t seem very promising. As pretty as you are, and she can’t even cultivate—how could she ever protect you?” “Don’t mind if sister speaks bluntly, she simply isn’t worthy of you.” “After the bouts tonight, let sister show you around Gui Xi City. Once you’ve enjoyed enough, you can rest at sister's place, how about it?” It was clear the fox demon truly favored Fu Ling’s looks. As it spoke, its possessive intent was blatant, aiming to belittle Jiu Ying into the dirt, hoping Fu Ling would follow willingly. “Sister looks better, has more cultivation. Why not come with me and enjoy a carefree life in Gui Xi City?” “Little sister, consider it?” Its words carried a veiled threat. Fu Ling furrowed her brow, seeing the fox demon’s hand nearing her face. Despite intense aversion, she refrained from retaliating, instead hiding demurely behind Jiu Ying. If she acted first, it would confirm the fox demon's claims about her partner being incapable. In this situation, she hoped her senior sister would step up to protect her. Moreover, it would make her feel cherished and loved. Turning slightly, she gently rubbed Jiu Ying’s hand with her thumb, her soft lips parting slightly to call softly to the woman beside her, “Sister~” Her voice, filled with grievance, sounded as if she were wronged. Jiu Ying was already fuming. The warmth from Fu Ling’s hand in hers further darkened her expression. The fox demon witnessed Fu Ling’s appeal to Jiu Ying, fueling its scornful amusement. Choosing an uncultivated partner and boldly coming to Gui Xi City was asking for trouble. The fox demon’s gaze flitted over Jiu Ying, full of disdain, as if mocking her weak cultivation yet daring to claim a beauty. “Such a shame.” “Just a pretty face and nothing more.” Yet another “such a shame,” sounding like provocation to Jiu Ying’s ears. Seeing the fox demon's overt desire for Fu Ling and hearing its repeated disparagement, Jiu Ying could not tolerate it any further. The divine beast Qing Long is the ruler of all beasts, and its dragon nature inherently subdues demons and evil entities. Jiu Ying subtly released Fu Ling’s hand, stepping in front of her. Instantly, a forceful and oppressive aura spread through the air. While those present couldn't detect it, the demons could feel it— This wasn’t suppression by cultivation level; it was a soul-level dominance. With a cold, unwavering expression, Jiu Ying advanced toward the fox demon, drawing the attention of countless nearby eyes. No demon or devil present could discern the source of the oppression but all focused on Jiu Ying. The fox demon realized it had provoked someone it shouldn’t have messed with only upon seeing the woman in white before it. Its cultivation was not low, and it engaged Fu Ling initially due to her low cultivation. Jiu Ying, showing even less cultivation, inexplicably made the fox demon anxious. Too late to escape. A gust arose, whisking the fox demon onto the high platform before it could respond. In the next moment, Jiu Ying appeared, god-like, before it. Those below couldn’t see clearly, but the fox demon’s pupils widened in fright, frozen in place— The woman standing before it bore dragon horns on her brow—she was a dragon spirit manifested! Author's note: Hitting a creative wall entering new plotlines, writing is slow. Excited for the new year tomorrow, I’ll definitely double update!!! Seeing over 400 bottles of nutrition solution, how much writing must offer to repay this? Thanks to the little angels who gifted explosions or nourishment from 2020-12-29 23:58:29 to 2020-12-30 23:58:50~ Thanks to the little angels who gifted rocket launchers: 2 for being irresistibly drawn to sia; Thanks to the little angels who offered landmines: MuQingMu, Lemon Cake, Strawberry-flavored F Mandarin 1; Thanks to the little angels who nourished with nutrition solution: Little Wintermelon 449 bottles; Irresistibly drawn to sia 52 bottles; Big Demon King 40 bottles; zy 30 bottles; Strawberry-flavored F Mandarin, XiuyuanXi 20 bottles; Do You Have ShenMengYao? 17 bottles; Shark Me 12 bottles; Nanyue, Fragment ~ Persistence 10 bottles; Ah Tong doesn’t want to do homework 9 bottles; Yu Mengze 6 bottles; Dear Wu Xuanyi Little Baby 5 bottles; 216917411 bottles; Thank you so much for your support, I will continue to work hard!