Chapter 9

After pondering for a long time, she recalled that Yuyou in the book showed little concern for the sect members, her heart entirely devoted to the man she loved. Thus, the book did not provide detailed information about the whereabouts of the former sect leader.

There was only a single line in the story, occurring decades before the present.

According to the book, Yuyou had heard that her often-traveling eldest senior brother had brought back the former sect leader.

Because she harbored jealousy and hatred—seeing him as a threat to the man she loved—she had only casually paid attention to this matter.

It was said that after bringing back the former sect leader, Chu Xingyun’s reputation soared, and the entire sect unanimously regarded him as the rightful next sect leader.

The cultivation world praised Chu Xingyun highly.

His fame had grown even greater.

This infuriated Yuyou in the book.

She cared nothing for the old man who had disappeared for decades; her only concern was that Chu Xingyun had actually brought back this supposedly dead relic as a backdrop for himself.

In the book, the only remarks Yuyou had about the old man were a few curses about his lack of wisdom.

Where Chu Xingyun found the former sect leader, why his original soul lamp was shattered, and what exactly had happened—all remained unknown. The little one only managed to remember the one line from the book:

“Why didn’t he die out west!”

He was still alive.

He was in the western part of the cultivation world.

“Grandfather!” This was the only piece of news about the former sect leader in the book. The little one’s eyes brightened as she eagerly called out.

She had only taken half a furnace of spiritual pills and had slept well. Although she still felt weak, she was much more spirited than before.

The little one clenched her tiny fists and shouted.

The two looked down at her simultaneously.

This was a matter of utmost urgency. Though Yuyou was not used to speaking much, her small belly rose and fell as she gripped her eldest senior brother’s slightly cold fingers and shouted, “Alive!”

“Little junior sister, what did you say?” Chu Xingyun’s face immediately turned grave.

He exchanged a glance with Zhu Changshu and did not dismiss the words of a three-year-old as meaningless.

On the contrary.

Though the little junior sister had been abandoned by Gong Miaohua, she at least lived in the demon city, close to Gong Miaohua’s side.

If Gong Miaohua truly knew about the former sect leader, she might have overheard some fragments of information.

Yuyou was momentarily stunned. She did not understand what this had to do with her birth mother, whose heart was obsessed solely with the love child of the Demon Lord.

But since it was a matter of great importance, and she could not clearly explain the source of the information—after all, she could hardly say it came from the book’s plot—she stammered vaguely, inadvertently placing a heavy burden on her mother far away.

“West!” she hurriedly added.

If possible, she wished the former sect leader had been found safe much earlier.

Not merely because she was kind-hearted.

More so because Sect Leader Yu had never given up searching for his master.

She wished for her father’s happiness, for him to live without regrets. Thus, she hoped her ancestor master was safe and sound, so that her father could live happily, no longer burdened by heavy matters in his heart.

Her father’s beloved, Yuyou would love as well.

Those who had helped her father were her benefactors, too.

Therefore, she wished to be of help.

“The ancestor master is still alive, currently in the west,” Zhu Changshu said, rarely showing emotion, but now unable to hide her anger.

Her beautiful face twisted with rage, yet she cared little for appearances, speaking with a hint of murderous intent, “How dare she keep such a major secret!”

The former sect leader had been raising Gong Miaohua since she was a baby, no different from a biological father. Yet after his disappearance, Gong Miaohua’s actions were detestable.

Running away, abandoning her husband, then her daughter, and now even neglecting her own father.

“She is indeed capable of such deeds.” Back then, after eloping with the Red Flame Demon Lord and being caught by the sect and brought back, she was the most indignant when accusing Sect Leader Yu, saying, “Ever since I became pregnant with Yuyou and gave birth, you never sympathized with me, always wandering outside, refusing to return home.”

At that time, she knew well that Sect Leader Yu roamed in search of his master.

Yet she still complained about being neglected by her husband.

Although the little one’s clue pointed only to a direction—the vast western lands of the cultivation world—it at least prevented them from searching blindly like headless flies.

Moreover, the little one was certain the former sect leader was still alive.

Given the gravity of the matter, even hearing “west” caused Chu Xingyun and Zhu Changshu to exchange wary glances, but they still summoned a burst of spiritual light and sped beyond the palace.

In an instant, the sound of thunder and wind echoed as several figures appeared at the palace gate.

Yuyou clung to the little one, who was eating and drinking, gazing outside eagerly.

The spiritual energy fluctuated, and the spiritual energy indicated five people approaching. One of them emitted a clear, profound aura—the kind that instinctively signaled an otherworldly celestial spirit capable of manipulating heaven and earth.

This celestial aura was like a bright lamp in the heavens, astonishingly distinct even before entering the main hall.

Yuyou felt this celestial aura was even stronger than her father’s spiritual energy. Timidly peeking out, she met a pair of jet-black eyes.

Before her stood a tall, dignified man clad in a blue robe, handsome and imposing. Sect Leader Yu stood slightly beside him, showing him respect.

“Yuyou, come and pay respects to your great-uncle and the elders. They all personally visited you while you were asleep,” Sect Leader Yu whispered.

Chu Xingyun and Zhu Changshu stepped forward to respectfully greet them.

Seeing her senior brother and sister bow, and hearing Sect Leader Yu address the man as “great-uncle,” Yuyou hurriedly straightened in her eldest senior brother’s arms, clenching her tiny fists to wave and call out, “Uncle!”

Feeling that bowing in his arms was somewhat improper, she twisted her small body, wanting to get down.

At that moment, the handsome man in the blue robe raised his hand calmly and said, “Let’s focus on the important matters; no need for formalities.”

“This…”

“If she doesn’t bow to me, does that mean I’m not her great-uncle? Do they not respect me?” The man in blue was clearly pragmatic, turning to gesture at the others behind him.

The three others emitted equally stern auras, much like Sect Leader Yu. Chu Xingyun quickly whispered into Yuyou’s ear, “This is Dao Lord Feihong, and that one is…”

He introduced each of them. Yuyou perceived the urgency in their demeanors and promptly made a full bow with her tiny fists, then looked back at her senior brother and sister.

She knew she wasn’t fluent in speech, so she relied on those who understood her meaning.

“Just now, the disciple and second junior sister mentioned the ancestor master by coincidence. Little junior sister overheard and became anxious…” Chu Xingyun relayed Yuyou’s words to the group.

The man in the blue robe did not sit but stood before Yuyou, listening intently to Chu Xingyun’s report while thoughtfully watching the little one nod repeatedly as if confirming with her senior brother.

When the report ended, he did not ask where the information came from but said softly, “Sure enough, he’s still alive. But the west…”

The western lands were vast indeed.

His expression shifted slightly as he murmured, “Could it be he went to the extreme western lands?”

“Extreme western lands.” A charming female cultivator with a peach-like complexion blurted out, “Beyond the extreme west lies the Ancient Gods and Demons Tomb.”

Mentioning this place, everyone’s faces grew solemn, tinged with faint fear.

One cultivator hesitated, then cautiously addressed the man in blue, “Great-uncle, I don’t doubt Yuyou’s words, but could this be a trap laid by the Red Flame Demon Lord to lure us into the extreme western lands and ambush us?”

The child was certainly a good child.

But the Red Flame Demon Lord was shameless. Having seduced another’s partner, who knew what vile deeds he might commit?

What if he didn’t actually know the former sect leader’s whereabouts and had deliberately fed the child a lie about something the entire sect cared deeply about?

The child believed it and sincerely told them, unaware it was a trap by the Red Flame Demon Lord.

Though the demon lord had dominated his domain for many years and was a formidable figure, he was now at odds with the sect. Would he not worry about future reckoning?

Even if it meant eradicating future threats, he might wish for the decline of the Ancient Sect.

This gave everyone much to ponder.

Yuyou looked left and right, her little head able to grasp the meaning of their words. She understood the elders’ worries were well-founded—the Red Flame Demon Lord was truly no good, having committed countless evil deeds.

But she was certain the news about the former sect leader was true.

Because it was not from the Red Flame Demon Lord and his wife.

It was recorded in the book.

Despite many elders present, she summoned courage, patted her small chest, and raised a finger, saying, “True!”

“What did Yuyou say?” After returning to the sect, Yuyou had been asleep due to illness. Sect Leader Yu only said the child was unwell, so no one knew of her words or actions.

Now, seeing her struggle to speak was not surprising, but sadly, no one shared a tacit understanding with her.

“The little junior sister says the ancestor master’s matter is true. She is willing to…” Chu Xingyun struggled to say, “She’s willing to swear an oath that the ancestor master is definitely in the west.”

Damn that Red Flame Demon Lord, who had no virtue or credibility, forcing his little junior sister to swear such an oath.

Looking down, he touched the little sister’s slender yet cheerful face and told the evidently leading man in blue, “Moreover, I believe what the little junior sister says is quite credible.”

“That damned Red Flame… our Yuyou has been wronged!” The charming female cultivator muttered a curse at the demon lord.

Two other cultivators nearby spat lightly, as if spitting away the oath Yuyou had just sworn.

Sect Leader Yu looked fondly at his daughter, who still smiled quietly. Were it not for the presence of the elders, he would have embraced her and spat loudly himself.

At this moment, he nodded and said, “Indeed. If Red Flame intended to deceive, the location of the master would be more detailed and specific to lure us in.”

He already believed it.

Although the former sect leader’s original soul lamp was extinguished, seemingly suggesting his demise, he was once a great cultivator controlling sect resources and had weathered many storms. It was impossible he had no means of survival.

This was why Sect Leader Yu had been so desperate to find him in recent years.

He always believed the former sect leader had not truly perished.

If that were true, finding him quickly would give a better chance to save a living person.

“Just saying ‘west’ covers such a vast area. We may not necessarily have to head to the extreme western lands or the Ancient Gods and Demons Tomb.”

Seeing everyone willing to believe her, Yuyou breathed a sigh of relief, clenched her tiny fists, yet tilted her little head with some lingering doubt.