The Demonic Titan’s Shadow and Hidden Truths

Inside the forbidden grounds behind the Jade Maiden Sect, grotesque, craggy rocks jutted abruptly from the earth. A thick, inky demonic mist churned wildly in the air, subtly interwoven with eerie, dark red glows.

Shangguan Zhi, adorned in a light pink silk dress, moved with graceful agility. She lowered her head slightly, her gaze sweeping over the cracked, scorched earth beneath her feet, where not a blade of grass dared to grow. Her delicate brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.

Then, she raised a fair finger, pointing towards a circular formation not far away, which glowed with a soft golden light.

The formation was encircled by ten towering, dragon-shaped stone pillars that seemed to pierce the clouds. Each pillar was intricately carved with lifelike dragon patterns; their scales were distinctly visible, and their whiskers trembled gently in the breeze. They looked as though they might burst forth from the stone at any moment, soaring directly into the heavens.

She waved a hand dismissively. “See? This seal is perfectly fine, isn’t it? There’s no problem at all!”

Her voice was clear and melodious, imbued with a hint of playful petulance.

“You still don’t believe me? Don’t you know this makes you look bad?” She pouted her cherry-red lips slightly, casting a worried glance at the four individuals beside her, feigning concern for their reputation.

The four remained silent.

Among them, Liu Mengyun stood out, dressed in moon-white robes that accentuated her refined, otherworldly grace.

A flicker of slyness swiftly crossed Shangguan Zhi’s eyes. With a natural movement, she wrapped her arm around Liu Mengyun’s slender waist.

Shangguan Zhi pressed her pretty face against Liu Mengyun’s, rubbing gently.

‘So comfortable…’

A look of pure enjoyment spread across her face. “Mmm~”

“Mengyun, you’re so mean~ I only went into seclusion for ten years, and you actually ganged up with them to bully me.” Shangguan Zhi’s voice was filled with grievance and a touch of coquetry, her large, watery eyes glistening with a thin film of moisture.

“Ah Zhi, stop messing around. Aren’t I just worried about that great demon breaking free?” Liu Mengyun gently pushed Shangguan Zhi away, her pretty face flushing slightly as she felt the gazes of the other three. She shot Shangguan Zhi an annoyed glare.

“Ever since ancient times, your Jade Maiden Sect’s founding ancestor sealed it here. Countless years have passed since then, and this time, that demonic titan is simply too bizarre…” Liu Mengyun furrowed her brows slightly, her expression turning serious, her tone laced with a hint of worry.

“For someone to effortlessly breach your Jade Maiden Sect’s mountain gate alone, if not for your sect’s peak lords’ testimony, I would have almost believed it was you…” Her voice paused, and she looked directly at Shangguan Zhi, slowly uttering the four words: “Embezzlement by a guardian.” With that, she gently shook her head, still finding the demonic titan’s power utterly unbelievable.

In ancient times, the Jade Maiden Sect’s power was unparalleled across the land; even the Empress of that era had to avoid its might. Although it had fallen into decline now, with the sect-protecting grand formation left by its founding ancestor, even if the other four major sects attacked simultaneously, they would likely struggle to shatter it.

Yet, such an impregnable sect had its mountain gate effortlessly breached today. Although the demonic titan was eventually forced to retreat, the incident highlighted its terrifying power.

Truly, the demonic path was on the rise! It wasn’t enough to have one Demonic Sect Saintess; today, an even more terrifying demonic titan had appeared.

She clenched her fingers, letting out a deep sigh.

“Waaah, waaah, waaah… Yaoyue, listen! Just listen! What kind of talk is Mengyun spouting? ‘Embezzlement by a guardian’?” Shangguan Zhi’s almond-shaped eyes widened, her face a mask of disbelief and indignation as she shrieked.

“How could I? She truly doesn’t love me anymore! Yaoyue, I’m telling you, you absolutely cannot fall for a fickle woman like her! Understand? But I’m different; I’ve loved only you from beginning to end~” She said, puffing out her cheeks, while her gaze drifted to the ample ‘fruits’ on Yaoyue’s chest, her throat unconsciously giving a soft swallow.

Liu Mengyun: “…”

The moment her words fell, Shangguan Zhi’s figure flashed like lightning, darting towards Yaoyue’s embrace. Yet, Yaoyue simply extended a hand, pressing it against Shangguan Zhi’s forehead, preventing her from advancing an inch.

“Hmm! You’re right…” Yaoyue glanced indifferently at Shangguan Zhi, who was now within arm’s reach, and nodded faintly.

Hearing this, a spark of hope flickered in Shangguan Zhi’s eyes, and her face instantly broke into a wide smile. “Mmm~ Yaoyue, you’re so kind~ Not at all like that mean woman Mengyun! I’m going to reward you with a hug of love~” As she spoke, she dramatically spread her arms wide again, preparing to pounce.

Liu Mengyun: “…”

However, Yaoyue slowly began, “No! You misunderstood. I meant you’re right! One truly shouldn’t love a fickle woman!”

As she spoke, she cast a meaningful glance at Shangguan Zhi before her.

Sensing Yaoyue’s gaze, Shangguan Zhi instinctively looked behind her, only to find nothing there. Immediately, her figure flickered, reappearing behind Liu Mengyun, just as Yaoyue’s gaze finally settled.

Shangguan Zhi’s face instantly flushed crimson with indignation. “You wretched Yaoyue, how dare you call Mengyun a fickle woman! Mengyun, quick! Go hit her!” She patted Liu Mengyun’s shoulder, giving her an encouraging look. “I’ll cheer you on!”

Liu Mengyun: “…”

Yaoyue sighed helplessly. “Alright, Ah Zhi! Stop fooling around! But speaking of which, I remember your sect has a disciple named Zhang Xiaocha, doesn’t it?”

“Could this whole incident be her doing? Honestly, I don’t believe such an incredibly powerful demonic titan actually exists!” Her eyes were half-closed, a hint of profound meaning in their depths.

Shangguan Zhi was startled, her eyes widening as her face filled with shock and confusion. “H-how do you know about that?”

Hearing her words, a glimmer of hope simultaneously flashed in the eyes of the other four individuals.

Compared to the actual appearance of a demonic titan whose power was terrifying enough to induce despair, they were more inclined to believe this was an inside job within the Jade Maiden Sect.

After all, if such a formidable enemy truly existed, the safety of the entire Daughter Nation would face an unprecedented threat.

Shangguan Zhi nodded eagerly, her face radiating sincerity. “Of course, it’s true! I remember it perfectly clearly. It was a night of thunder and pouring rain…”

“But wasn’t that day today? And it’s not raining!” Liu Mengyun frowned slightly, looking up at the sky, her eyes filled with bewilderment.

“Ah? Is that so? Oh dear, then I might have misremembered! But these are just minor details, you should just listen to me continue to fabricate… Oh, no, cough! Continue speaking…”

Oblivious to their suspicious glances, Shangguan Zhi continued speaking, engrossed in her own narrative. “You simply cannot imagine how troublesome that Zhang Xiaocha is!”

“She and I fought for a full three hundred rounds, with neither of us able to gain an advantage! If I hadn’t gritted my teeth at the end, sacrificed a large portion of my lifespan, and forcibly activated the grand formation’s spirit to repel her, our Jade Maiden Sect would have long since turned to dust!”

“But I heard your sect’s peak lords say that Zhang Xiaocha hasn’t been in the sect at all recently?” Yaoyue narrowed her eyes slightly, a clear look of suspicion on her face.

“If you already know all that, why bother asking me?! You just made me waste all that time fabricating a story!” Shangguan Zhi glared angrily at Yaoyue, her face a picture of displeasure. “Hmph! I’m not playing anymore, this Sect Master is leaving!”

Yaoyue: “…”

“Don’t go! Where are you going? We still need to discuss the Five Sect Grand Competition, which is happening in a few months!” Liu Mengyun interjected, trying to smooth things over.

“Hmph! I’m going to find that demonic titan and settle the score! As for the Five Sect Grand Competition, you can just go discuss it with Ling Qinxue later! This Sect Master is leaving!”

With that, her figure flashed, disappearing from the spot and leaving the other four alone within the forbidden grounds.

Liu Mengyun sighed. At this point, it seemed that the demonic titan truly did exist!

As for Shangguan Zhi claiming she would seek out the demonic titan, Liu Mengyun merely took it as a joke.

Given the demonic titan’s power, even the current Empress, a peak Soul Transformation realm cultivator, would likely struggle to survive an encounter. Much less Shangguan Zhi, who was only at the Nascent Soul realm.

For a moment, a stifling atmosphere enveloped the four of them.

High above the Jade Maiden Sect, Shangguan Zhi, having just emerged from the forbidden grounds, swiftly extended her divine sense to cover the entire sect. She tried to search for Zhang Xiaocha’s figure, only to find it empty…

Even Luo Bingning was gone!

She stared dumbfounded. “No way… that girl Bingning…”

‘Damn it! Fortunately, this Sect Master had left a secret mark on Zhang Xiaocha earlier to prevent any mishaps, otherwise, I really wouldn’t have found her!’

Her figure then flashed, instantly appearing at the entrance of a stone cave three hundred li away from the Jade Maiden Sect.

From within the stone cave, a series of moans could be heard.

“Bingning~”

“Mm-hmm~”

…

Shangguan Zhi: “!?”

‘No way, Zhang Xiaocha has already scored?’

‘That fast?!’

…

Meanwhile, within another stone cave not far away,

Luo Bingning lowered her gaze, casting a cold glance at Ye Wanrou, who lay unconscious on the ground. She silently activated a soul-searching secret art in her palm, applying it to Ye Wanrou’s head.

In an instant, a flood of memories appeared before her eyes.

After a while, she slowly opened her eyes, murmuring to herself, “‘It seems not everyone can hear Xiaocha’s inner voice…'”

‘But why, in her memories, did I not see how she entered this stone cave?’

‘Even the memories concerning that past incident had vanished without a trace…’

As her gaze fell upon the dying Ye Wanrou on the ground, a flicker of complexity crossed Luo Bingning’s eyes.

‘Had she severed them herself?’

‘Or…?’

For some reason, Mu Xi’s figure inexplicably flashed through her mind. Hadn’t she also disregarded the restrictions and entered the cave?

She shook her head abruptly. ‘It must be a coincidence!’

‘Just like Xiaocha…’

Luo Bingning took a deep breath. Now that she had confirmed Ye Wanrou couldn’t hear Xiaocha’s inner voice, it was time to let her go.

She then retrieved the Violet Nether Lock from Ye Wanrou’s body, and at the same time, produced a bucket of medicinal bath, placing Ye Wanrou within it.

Once Ye Wanrou awoke, her injuries should be mostly healed, allowing her to leave on her own.

With another flash of her figure, she flew towards the stone cave where Zhang Xiaocha was.