This Is Not the Female Demon Lord I Remembered
Chapter 296 - 286: The Self-Cultivation of an Actor

Chapter 296: Chapter 286: The Self-Cultivation of an Actor

"Senior Brother, this place..." Su Youyi took three steps in quick succession to stand by Liang Yi’s side, looking up at her Senior Brother and the orange cat on his head, intending to say something but was suddenly pulled by the left hand by Liang Yi.

Liang Yi winked at Su Youyi, his thumb gently rubbing twice in the palm of his junior sister’s hand.

Su Youyi, who had been feigning calm, truly eased at this moment, realizing that her Senior Brother had already sensed something, so she refrained from speaking further and quietly stood by his side, being held by the hand.

With Senior Brother handling the situation, there must be no problem; her only need was to ensure her Senior Brother’s safety at all times.

An Mujing, who stood nearby, suddenly understood the relationship between Junior Sister Su and Chief Liang; their silent standing together emanated a remarkable sense of harmony and compatibility.

It was the perfect match of temperament, aura, and hearts; they together constituted each other’s world. An Mujing, who had observed the Star Chart extensively, could not correlate their unique connection to any configuration she had seen before.

"Thump! Thump! Thump!"

A massive shadow approached with heavy steps in front of Liang Yi.

"Uh? Why is this person looking at me with closed eyes?"

The shadow dissipated, revealing Fu Changxing, his body hefty with a substantial belly, though the two slits where his eyes should be still puzzled Liang Yi.

"So, this is the renowned Chief Liang Yi of the Taoist Sect, a pleasure to finally meet you!" Upon seeing Liang Yi, Fu Changxing enthusiastically walked up and shook hands with him.

While shaking hands, Fu Changxing glanced at Sir Orange atop Liang Yi’s head, feeling an inexplicable aversion to this peculiar beast, as no intelligence had uncovered its origins.

"Ha... ha... Elder Fu is quite the hospitable one," Liang Yi hadn’t expected such an unconventional approach from the man.

Yet even as the immaculate sword heart and the Cliff Sword Intent within his Sea of Consciousness sent frantic warnings, Liang Yi maintained a normal demeanor, seemingly enjoying his conversation with Fu Changxing.

Acting? Who couldn’t do that? He certainly didn’t believe Fu Changxing couldn’t recognize him.

"The situation is roughly as follows: the Complete Heaven Sect currently has some supplies of the White Azure Sky Song Wood left, and I’m planning to negotiate the purchase of the remainder with Wind God Commerce," chuckled Fu Changxing, patting his belly while explaining to Liang Yi.

"It just so happens that my Junior Sister and I have some matters to attend to in Taibai City, so we’ll wait until Elder Fu is ready before we come back." Liang Yi said with a beaming smile, seeming unwilling to disturb Fu Changxing’s business. However, turning the conversation, he asked An Mujing, "Senior Sister An, have you obtained the other materials apart from the White Azure Sky Song Wood?"

"Eh? Oh... Elder Fu has already provided them to me," replied An Mujing, not expecting the question from Liang Yi but still showing the obsidian ring in her hand.

"I and my Junior Sister are unfamiliar with Taibai City, would you be able to show us around, Senior Sister?" Liang Yi asked earnestly, hoping to invite An Mujing to guide them.

"Of course, no problem. I’m super familiar with Taibai City," An Mujing gestured with a fist, clearly eager to help.

"Then, we won’t trouble Elder Fu further with his important matters. We’ll see you later!" Liang Yi waved goodbye to Fu Changxing, performing a casual gesture of politeness before leading his Junior Sister away.

An Mujing, sensing a trace of unease emanating from Liang Yi’s heart, contemplated deeply and quickly followed them as they departed.

Watching the three figures leave, Fu Changxing wore a smile on his face, but within his nearly invisible squinting eyes swirled a hint of murderous intent.

"Sir, do you think he discovered something?" asked one of the two confidants behind Fu Changxing after the trio had completely departed.

He had always found Liang Yi somewhat mysterious; his arrival was swift, and his leave just as quick, like a bright luminescence shrouded in thick fog, unpredictable.

"Impossible, the Sect Hierarch since the battle at Qingliang City has anticipated that the Taoist Sect’s Banished Immortal techniques may be particularly peculiar, perhaps even designed to counter our Devouring Spirit Sect, and has already modified them accordingly, so it’s impossible for us to be detected," Fu Changxing declared decisively.

"Sir... should we then inform the Azure Dragon to seize an opportunity to take down this Liang Yi?"

"Our investigations indicate that Chen Hua should currently be at the Zen school in Desert North, he wouldn’t be able to react in time if we act now."

"Hmm... no rush for now. Acting at this moment, whether successful or not, will alarm the prey, causing the Complete Heaven Sect to raise their guard. What’s more, given Fang Zhi’s close relationship with Chen Hua, if we move against Liang Yi, we might just end up revealing something he’s calculated," said Fu Changxing, his tone no longer as gentle, each word laden with hardness. That was the trouble with the Complete Heaven Sect – with a high enough mastery in the Art of Divination, any moves against someone close to them could be preemptively sensed.

"Our main goal remains to inflict heavy damage on Fang Zhi and cut off his ability to track our Sect’s movements. As for Liang Yi, he is a secondary target. Understand?"

"Yes, Sir!" The two Complete Heaven Sect guards replied respectfully.

"Eh? Isn’t that Elder Fu? Just got back?" Around the corner, another elder stationed at Taibai City greeted Fu Changxing warmly upon seeing him.

"Oh my, Elder Wang!" The previously malicious-faced Fu Changxing turned around upon hearing footsteps, his face suddenly beaming with joy.

At this moment, Liang Yi was already walking casually on the main street, having left the Complete Heaven Mansion with Su Youyi and An Mujing.

"Senior Brother, about Sister Mujing... she seems to be pondering over something," Su Youyi quietly transmitted a message to her senior brother after noticing An Mujing’s thoughtful look.

Liang Yi patted the orange cat licking its paws on his shoulder, he had just made sure that An Mujing was not problematic, but just to be safe, he decided to consult the cat.

"She’s fine. There’s not a trace of Abyssal Aura on her," the cat with vertical pupils had already observed An Mujing beforehand.

"That round guy just now gave me a dangerous vibe, definitely at least a Seventh Realm cultivator, and he also carried a thick Abyssal Aura. I reckon his position within the Devouring Spirit Sect is not low, meow."

"Seventh Realm?" Liang Yi glanced back at the grand and mysterious building behind them, feeling somewhat relieved.

"Are you keeping something from me? About Elder Fu?" An Mujing, who had been lost in thought, suddenly looked up with a serious expression, directing this question at Liang Yi and Su Youyi.

She was no fool; she had sensed the same emotions coming from Su Youyi and Liang Yi. Although subtle, and quickly concealed, she could still perceive them.

And without exception, these emotions were towards Elder Fu. If there was not something wrong with Su Youyi and her senior, then it must be an issue with Fu Changxing. Coupled with the divination she had discreetly performed earlier, although the symbols were chaotic and incomprehensible, the lack of an answer was an interpretation in itself.

As for whom An Mujing leaned towards in her heart? That superficial matter was easily answered.

Exchanging glances, Su Youyi and Liang Yi had not expected An Mujing’s intuition to be so precise – should they acknowledge her being a true inheritor of Complete Heaven Sect?

"It does no harm to tell her. Although we don’t know what conspiracies the Devouring Spirit Sect has, we can turn their schemes against them, meow." The cat would love nothing more than to see the lackeys of the Abyss exterminated.

"Mm, that could work," Liang Yi also had similar thoughts.

"Let’s find a safe place first; the walls have ears," Su Youyi quietly surveyed their surroundings, noticing traces of Abnormal People’s activities.

"I know a safe place. Follow me," An Mujing suddenly spoke.

Led by An Mujing to the north, Liang Yi and Su Youyi arrived in front of a grand-looking mansion in the Northern City District. The mansion reflected the architectural style of the Complete Heaven Sect, clearly a property of the sect’s disciples, and there were many similar estates around.

"This is my property here in Taibai City as a True Disciple. I only stay here occasionally when I descend the mountain, and no one else resides here at other times," An Mujing slowly walked towards the front, pointing at the Redwood Door. A Star Map materialized from the Void, imprinting directly onto the door.

With focused and serious fingers, An Mujing began connecting the hundreds and thousands of stars on the Star Map.

"Senior Brother, what’s this?" Su Youyi felt dizzy looking at the dense lines and luminous spots in front of her.

"This is the unique Star Map of Complete Heaven Sect, usually a tool for disciples to train and entertain themselves. When engraved on the door, it also acts as a spiritual lock, which only the owner can unlock." Liang Yi was not unfamiliar with this, having seen many in his past life.

It was a game that players thoroughly enjoyed, similar to a much larger version of match-three puzzles, with a significant number of enthusiasts and even specially organized competitions.

With fingers flickering like an illusion across the Star Map, An Mujing rapidly connected thousands of stars in a particular sequence in a mere moment; a single misstep would mean failure.

"It’s ready. Come in," in the span of a sentence or two, An Mujing clapped the Star Map into the door, which swung open.

The residence allotted to a True Disciple surely wouldn’t be modest; it was much more spacious than Liang Yi’s house in Qingliang City, albeit similarly austere and simple.

"Since I rarely come here, there isn’t much to offer you. Please make do," An Mujing somewhat apologetically led Liang Yi and Su Youyi through a yard planted with apricot trees, into the grand hall.

"Wow." The cat couldn’t help exclaiming in surprise as it entered the hall; both Liang Yi and Su Youyi looked around in admiration at the hall enveloped by the Star Map.

If the previous Star Map was like a minor brought out to work, then the one before them was at least a vigorous adult in his twenties, absurdly massive.

At a glance, Liang Yi estimated that there must be at least a hundred thousand stars, and all the dense traces were spontaneously connected by An Mujing.

"I apologize for the laughable sight. As we reach higher realms, the standard Star Map no longer satisfies us True Disciples, so we had to have our master make a specially tailored one," An Mujing said with a touch of apology.

"Sister Mujing, you’re amazing," Su Youyi walked forward a few steps, standing under the Star Sea bathed in the starlight, expressing her genuine admiration. Just the sight of it was puzzling for her, let alone how the Complete Heaven Sect disciples treated it as a mere toy.

"No wonder everyone says that the disciples of Complete Heaven Sect have the greatest talents and those from the Sword Cleanse Heavenly Pool have the greatest determination."

"Ha, it’s not that exaggerated," An Mujing chuckled modestly, waving her hands dismissively as she moved some chairs and tables to at least make the empty hall suitable for sitting. She humbly laughed in response to Su Youyi’s praise.