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nEditor: SimoB

nWhen Shi Qing got back, he changed into the thin blue robes the original host usually wore at night. However, he didn’t go to sleep immediately, and instead sat on a round stool in the room to wait.

nThe System that had finished memorizing the song came out in high spirits. Host, I–

nIts words faltered when it saw Shi Qing’s face. The System stammered nervously: H-Host, why do you look so pale?

nShi Qing paused in the middle of pouring himself some tea. He raised his eyebrows slightly: Naturally it’s because I spent all of last night transferring spiritual energy to Rong Jue. Not falling over from exhaustion is already quite surprising.

nA cultivator’s cultivation depended on his spiritual energy, so passing it to others was a very intensive process. The only reason Shi Qing was still standing was because of how high his cultivation was.

nEven though it was only that high because of pills.

nThe System suddenly realized what its Host had done to save Rong Jue.

nIt urged Shi Qing: Go rest quickly then! It’ll take a long time to recuperate from transferring spiritual energy all night.

nShi Qing: No, I’m waiting for someone.

nSystem: Didn’t the original host have little to no visitors?

nShi Qing: I’m waiting for Rong Jue.

nSystem: Huh?

nJust when it was confused about how the supposedly bedridden Rong Jue could come find its Host, Rong Jue’s weak yet gentle voice came from outside.

n“Disciple Rong Jue has come to ask for Shizun’s forgiveness.”

nThen it was Qiao Lingyu’s voice: “Disciple Qiao Lingyu has come to ask for Shizun’s forgiveness.”

nShi Qing raised his eyebrows. See? Told you he’d come.

nHe stood up, only to immediately frown and look sharply at the door.

nShi Qing: Something seems off.

nSystem: …Host, Rong Jue’s animosity value is…500

/100

nSystem: 300 was already bad enough, but 500?! Where’s the logic in that?!?

nBut after a momentary surprise, Shi Qing gradually calmed down. Wu… Check to see if there are any hidden plotlines. I can tell that this Rong Jue isn’t the same as the one from before.

nSystem: ……

nIt managed to find an extra chapter.

nExtra: After becoming a demon lord, Rong Jue was about to go to Chi Yun Sect to seek revenge on Shi Qing when he suddenly woke up one night, reborn! He had returned to the time when his spiritual root and cultivation had just been destroyed…

nSystem: ……

nIt understood now.

nThis world was already difficult enough, but now that Rong Jue had been reborn, was clearing this world even possible?!

nThe System lost all hope. Host, let’s give up.

nShi Qing: Give up? Why would we do that?

nThe System wanted to crash its systems so badly. There’s no way out now that Rong Jue’s been reincarnated!

nThe Rong Jue from before just wanted to kill Shi Qing. This Rong Jue, however, wanted him to die by a thousand cuts! The worst part is, this version was capable of carrying out such a punishment!!

nThe System was about to go insane, but Shi Qing didn’t feel like this was even a setback.

nShi Qing: Isn’t this great?

nShi Qing: It’s even easier than before.

nSystem: ……

nIt still really didn’t understand humans.

nOutside, after Qiao Lingyu shouted, she carefully peeked at the door. It was still firmly shut, with seemingly no intentions of opening.

nShe whispered to Rong Jue, who was beside her, “Da-shixiong, is Shizun in closed-door cultivation?”

nShizun would at least tell her if he was busy or not when she came before.

nWhy’s there no response at all now?

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nRong Jue’s body was a bit stiff. He hung his head slightly without speaking.

nHe was Rong Jue, but not the Rong Jue of this moment in time.

nHe was the Rong Jue who had already removed Shi Qing’s restriction from his body, entered the Demon Realm, and claimed the position of demon lord.

nBut for some reason, after a short nap, he opened his eyes and found himself in this period in time when he was still weak.

nThe arrival of the demon lord coincided with when Shi Qing came to heal Rong Jue. Although this was technically still his body, he was a being from 100 years in the future. He could only be a spectator because he was unable to assume control.

nEven so, this was enough for him to slowly influence his younger self.

nAnd now, he completely occupied this body, replacing the present Rong Jue.

nThe handsome man kneeling on the ground did not reveal any of his alertness in his expression, but he was constantly observing his surroundings.

nThis was indeed Chi Yun Sect’s Qing Jian Peak.

nHe was sure that no one in the world could pull him into an illusion, but was this truly reality?

nThe demon lord’s memories slowly merged with those of the original Rong Jue.

nHe learned that the original had come here to kneel, to find out if Shi Qing was the one who had treated his wounds last night.

nThe demon lord had no recollection of Shi Qing ever tending to his injuries, but there was a time where he made a miraculous recovery in just one night.

nDarkness flashed by in his eyes. Maintaining his upright posture, he loudly repeated the words of his past self:

n“Disciple Rong Jue has come to ask for Shizun’s forgiveness.”

nHe knew that Shi Qing had no interest in socializing and spent most of his days around Qing Jian Peak. What were the chances that he happened to be away today?

nBesides…

nThe demon lord looked down as the faint scent of phoenix wood entered his nose.

nQiao Lingyu, who was kneeling at the side, could not notice the fragrance, but Rong Jue could detect its rich scent. Someone inside must have lit phoenix wood incense recently.

nOne phoenix tree took 3000 years to mature, and only a handful of components could be taken from each tree to be made into incense. In addition, phoenix trees only grew under certain circumstances which could not be replicated by humans, meaning that money alone was not enough to acquire some.

nTen years ago, someone found a hundred phoenix trees in a small oasis. At the incense auction, the previous Supreme Elder Shi spent quite a sum to purchase a large batch, just because his son enjoyed the fragrance.

nEven so, phoenix wood incense was so rare that his ‘wonderful’ Shizun only used it when he was at home.

nA hundred years later, everyone knew that the demon lord hated phoenix wood and would destroy it on sight.

nWhy, you ask? Well, his hatred for his former Shizun obviously also applied to phoenix trees.

nRong Jue deduced that Shi Qing was inside based on this fragrance.

nHe was just refusing to see them, that’s all.

nThe original him might have left, but the Rong Jue kneeling on the cold stone path only raised a hand to brush against the cheek that should’ve had a small scar.

nFingers lined with thin calluses from dedicated sword practice fell gently, and Rong Jue’s eyes looked up.

n“Disciple Rong Jue has come to ask for Shizun’s forgiveness.”

nQiao Lingyu: “Da-shixiong, I don’t think Shizun is home.”

nOnly then did Rong Jue turn to look at her.

nThis was his little Shimei, who he had once cherished. She had helped him when he was down, but that didn’t stop him from pointing his blade at her after joining the demonic faction.

nAfter a hundred years, the demon lord was no longer the same Rong Jue. Looking at this little Shimei now, no lingering affections stirred in his heart.

nHe hung his head slightly, as if very weak, and whispered.

n“Shimei, I have disgraced Qing Jian Peak. I must apologize to Shizun today. But since he isn’t here, could you go down the mountain and find out where he has gone?”

nQiao Lingyu didn’t suspect anything. She thought it made sense that her weakened Da-shixiong couldn’t go down the mountain himself. She quickly helped Rong Jue to a nearby stone bench.

nShe promised confidently, “Don’t worry Da-shixiong, I’ll go ask Shizun to come back!”

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nAfter making sure her Shixiong was comfortable, she went down the mountain.

nRong Jue’s dark eyes watched his little Shimei disappear into the distance. Then he turned to the elegantly elaborate yet quiet place of cultivation.

nShi Qing’s residence was on Qing Jian Peak’s highest cliff. It looked more like a house from the human realm than the minimalist residences of other immortals. Even some of the furnishings inside were similar.

nAs a child, Rong Jue had wanted to live with Shizun because his house was so much like a mortal’s. But he was punished to swing his sword 10,000 times after he brought it up with Shi Qing.

nYes, ten thousand times.

nEven though he was already able to draw in energy from the environment by then, that kind of harsh training was too much for a child.

nRong Jue still remembers the grievance and sadness he felt when he had to keep swinging his sword with sore and stiff arms. It still affected him whenever he recalled it when he was older.

nCold emotions surfaced in Rong Jue’s eyes.

nHe wanted to leave the Chi Yun Sect and become the demon lord again before coming back to kill Shi Qing.

nWith his past experiences, Rong Jue would have an even easier time than before.

nBut first, he wanted to find out why Shi Qing had saved him.

nBased on his memories of last night, the demon lord presumed that Shi Qing did not want him to die.

nEven though he was the one who destroyed Rong Jue’s cultivation and nearly killed him.

nIn that case, there was a very simple method to lure his ‘wonderful’ Shizun out.

nRong Jue coughed a few times as if he was unwell. He wobbled to his feet and walked slowly away from the house while holding onto the stone table.

nHe stood at the edge of the cliff and looked down.

nThere was nothing but white mist below.

nRong Jue could jump from here without receiving any injuries when he was just the Da-shixiong on the cusp of Void Refining stage.

nOf course, he would be fine after becoming a demon lord as well.

nBut now, he was as weak as any ordinary mortal.

n“Ah!”

nThe handsome man, who had been enjoying the scenery on the cliff’s edge, seemed to stumble as his legs gave out. He looked like he was about to fall off any second now!

nThe scream, as well as its location, was enough to make the people in the house think that he had fallen off the cliff.

nNot a moment later, the door that had been closed this whole time whipped open.

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