The lonely journey of the cold fairy

Chapter 18 Tempered Jade Body

After Bai Zhong'an lost his cultivation, he aged rapidly.
His once dark hair turned white, his smooth skin wrinkled, his eyes grew cloudy, and his teeth loosened and fell out. His mind, too, began to slow.
He strained to think: Bai Siyao... Isn't that the second girl? That name wasn't easily bestowed. And when did Sect Master Cen ever take on such a disciple? Betraying the sect... Why hadn't he heard of it? Jade Demon, such a strange title... But judging by her expression, she didn't seem to be lying...
His thoughts abruptly halted.
The last remnants of his cultivation were absorbed, and the light in his eyes vanished completely. He collapsed to the ground.
Bai Siyao smiled silently, withdrawing her hand from his grip as she carefully savored the sensation of her new Golden Core.
Though her cultivation was still low, she now had access to many secret techniques. The next time she encountered such a situation, she wouldn't have to feign weakness.
—But now that she had dealt with her great-uncle, she should be able to leave, right? Why hadn't she felt the slightest shift in the small world's stability? Could she have missed some crucial detail?
As she pondered, Yue Yunqiao's voice rang from outside.
"Has it... stopped?"
"Look quickly!" Bai Menglian shouted.
The four people outside turned to see Guan Mowen, his expression suddenly dazed. He stumbled a few steps before collapsing, his demonic energy rapidly dissipating, leaving only a withered skeleton.
"Ah!" Bai Mengxing barely avoided being hit and shrieked in terror.
"It's a puppet," Huo Chongxiao said calmly. "This man had long been demonized, turned into Bai Zhong'an's puppet."
Bai Menglian froze for a moment before suddenly realizing, "So... the great-uncle is dead?"
Just moments ago, Guan Mowen had been full of vitality, and even the combined strength of the four of them could barely hold him off. Now he had suddenly collapsed. It must be because his master had died.
Huo Chongxiao nodded. "Most likely."
The four of them turned toward the small house. It was quiet, the vortex had vanished, and the demonic energy had mostly dissipated.
"Second Sister!" Bai Menglian knocked on the door. "Are you okay? Please answer!"
Her heart filled with dread. If their great-uncle had indeed died, it meant that her second sister's method of reversing the demonic energy had worked. But how could a Qi Refining cultivator withstand such an onslaught of demonic energy? Did it mean she had met a tragic end?
Inside, Bai Siyao was just about to respond when she suddenly sensed something.
Bai Zhong'an had once been the most powerful cultivator in Qingyun City, and the entire immortal city had been under his control. Now that Bai Siyao had absorbed all his cultivation, she had taken his place.
Her divine sense spread through the maze formation, allowing her to perceive the world outside.
Someone was coming! And their cultivation was profound! Bai Siyao was startled. In theory, this small world had been created by the Reincarnation Mirror, with her great-uncle as its foundation. Everything revolved around him. How could someone stronger suddenly appear? She had never encountered a small world that operated so unpredictably in all her years of life. Where were the laws? The rules? Was this some kind of patchwork world?
"Master! Master must be here!" Yue Yunqiao's jubilant voice came from outside.
Changling Zhenren?
Bai Siyao had no time to think. Her demonic energy surged within her body, and this body wasn't yet adapted to a demonic Golden Core. She pressed her palms together, scattering the remaining demonic energy throughout the maze formation, causing a tremendous explosion.
The Bai estate shook, the maze formation collapsed, and even the array she had set earlier with demonic blood was destroyed.
Having just gained new cultivation, Bai Siyao felt an overwhelming fatigue. Before the person outside arrived, she let herself fall into a deep sleep.
...
"Master, how is Bai Junior Sister?"
"Junior Sister? You're quick to call her that."
"Well, with her talent, it's only a matter of time before she joins our sect. I'm just calling her that a bit early."
"Hmm, her talent is indeed exceptional—a Tempered Jade Body, something that appears only once in a century. Bai Zhong'an failed to recognize the treasure before him. If he had paid more attention to his family, he would have discovered her special physique long ago, without resorting to these unorthodox methods."
"Tempered Jade Body? Master, what is that?" Huo Chongxiao's voice cut in.
"The Tempered Jade Body is a natural ability to refine spiritual energy and forge a body as pure as jade. Those with this physique are like natural, flawless vessels. For example, when we absorb spiritual energy, we must expel impurities, but she doesn't need to—her body automatically refines the purest spiritual energy."
"Ah!" Yue Yunqiao exclaimed, her understanding dawning. "No wonder I always thought Bai Junior Sister's skin was so perfect, just like jade."
"That's why it's called the Tempered Jade Body!" The gentle male voice laughed. "I've been explaining all this, and all you're interested in is her skin, not her cultivation."
"Master!" Yue Yunqiao pouted.
Huo Chongxiao asked, "So Bai Siyao survived because of her Tempered Jade Body?"
"That's correct. The Tempered Jade Body is immune to all poisons, which is why she could endure the demonic energy without being corrupted."
"So, can Bai Junior Sister return to her normal self?"
"What do you mean by 'normal'? If you're asking whether she can revert to being a spiritual cultivator, it's unnecessary. Her demonic core has already formed. Expelling the demonic energy would be like shattering her core, an excruciating and perilous process."
"Oh... so Bai Junior Sister will have to remain a demonic cultivator? That's so sad..."
"Don't worry. She's not to be pitied. The reason demonic cultivators are so feared is that, over time, demonic energy distorts their minds, making them obsessive and cold-hearted. But she won't be affected. For her, spiritual energy and demonic energy are the same."
"Then... can we still take her into the sect?"
"She was corrupted by demonic energy to save you all. I will vouch for her."
"That's wonderful! Thank you, Master." Yue Yunqiao couldn't contain her joy.
Changling Zhenren chuckled twice, his tone carrying a hint of regret. "If only we had discovered her earlier. A Tempered Jade Body could have been incredibly useful. What a shame..."
Yue Yunqiao and Huo Chongxiao didn't understand the deeper meaning behind his words, but Bai Siyao, still asleep, was haunted by memories she had tried to bury.
"Siyao, I need your help with something..."
"...Whether your senior brother survives this ordeal depends on you."
"...The sect has treated you well; today is the day for you to repay that kindness."
"Sacrificing for the greater good is only right!"
"This matter concerns the peace of the entire world. How can you be so selfish?"
"Will you stand by and watch as chaos spreads and countless lives are lost?"
"Rebellious disciple!"
"..."
Voices from her past swirled around her, filling her mind to the brim. Bai Siyao frowned deeply. After all these years, she was trapped in a nightmare once more.
No, she wasn't wrong.
Even if the world hated her, even if everyone called her a great devil, she—had a clear conscience!
"Second Sister! Second Sister!"
Someone shook her forcefully, pulling her out of the nightmare.
Bai Siyao's eyes snapped open, drenched in cold sweat as she stared, disoriented, at the people before her.
"Elder Sister, Elder Brother..."
Looking at their youthful faces, an intense longing surged within her.
If only all of this were real, how wonderful that would be!