Demon Blood, Maiden Vail

Lin Yuan stared blankly at Lady Qingxiuan, her earlier words still echoing in his head.

> "I have to follow and fulfill what you request. It's like I've become your maid."

He didn't respond immediately. Instead, he turned away, the silence lingering like mist over water.

"What do you mean by that?" he finally said. "My relationship with the sect leader—it's pure. She's like a mentor… maybe even like a mother or aunt. There's nothing improper."

Qingxiuan looked unconvinced, but she said nothing more.

---

The morning sun filtered through the misty Taiyin peaks.

Lin Yuan stood beneath the cherry blossom tree outside Sect Leader Yuexian's residence, robe fluttering, luggage packed. Yuexian stepped out quietly, her face serene—too serene.

Lin Yuan bowed low. "I've come to say goodbye."

Yuexian didn't speak at first. Her gaze lingered on him as if memorizing his face.

Finally, she opened a small jade pouch on a stone table.

"I only have 1,000 ordinary spirit stones left," she said quietly. "And four mid-grade teleportation talismans."

She handed him a **black beast pouch**. "It has three compartments—one has breathable air and cloaking, another healing pills and talismans, and the third a defensive formation. If you're ever surrounded, hide."

Then Lin Yuan pointed upward.

A thunderous hum filled the air as a colossal **spirit boat** descended from the clouds, bearing the moon insignia of Taiyin Sect.

"It's beautiful," Lin Yuan whispered. "But… Sect Leader, when I return, I hope I see you smile properly. Practice smiling in front of a mirror if you must. Honestly, your smile looks a bit… forced."

Yuexian snorted lightly and gave him a rare, genuine smile.

"Live well," she said. "Come back alive."

---

Later, high above drifting clouds, Lady Mingyan's voice sounded in Lin Yuan's spiritual sea:

> "Land near the river two provinces west. We'll meet you there in disguise."

At sunset, the spirit boat descended onto a quiet plain. Mist hung over the river like gossamer threads. As the sun dipped below the trees, three figures approached.

"Who are they?" Lady Qingxiuan asked, wary.

"I don't know," Lin Yuan lied. "But they seem harmless."

The tall "man" among them introduced himself with a confident smile. "I'm a merchant from the Western Provinces. These are my three wives. We lost our way—mind if we join you to the next city?"

Lin Yuan's younger siblings exchanged knowing looks, but said nothing.

They set up camp near the spirit boat. Qingxue explained, "These people were once slaves. We're giving them a taste of freedom."

Lady Mingyan, disguised, nodded. "If you let me remove the soul bombs, I'll keep the stones and give each one a soul fruit in return."

"You would do that?" a woman whispered. "We'd be grateful…"

---

The next morning, the skies turned black without warning.

From the mountains below, a **massive formation ignited**—a red dome enclosing the spirit boat.

The **teleportation talismans sizzled and failed** in Lin Yuan's robe.

"We're sealed in!" Qingxiuan shouted.

The sky cracked.

**BOOM!**

Flames, poison mist, and spiritual swords rained down. The spirit boat's barrier flashed, barely holding.

Hundreds of **black-robed cultivators** surrounded them. Bone masks. Dead silence.

An ancient figure floated above the treetops—an elder of the **Demonic Sect**, face pale as ash, qi rotten and cold.

"They didn't even send a demand," Mingyan said, drawing a silver whip. "They're not here to negotiate."

Lady Qingxiuan unsheathed her sword. "I don't trust these newcomers. Stand back—this could be a betrayal!"

But it was too late.

The **backup arrays failed**. Every formation key fizzled uselessly.

"We're inside a sealed spiritual barrier," Lady An said grimly. "An egg shell formation. We can't get out."

The sky exploded.

Lady Mingyan's body glowed as she unleashed the **Soul-Shaking Roar**, sending dozens of masked attackers tumbling backward. Her whip turned into a spiraling **silver maze**, smashing against the demonic elder—but he raised a bone shield and countered with blood curses.

Lady Baihua appeared midair, her eyes flashing.

"**Spatial Lock.**"

The sky trembled as parts of the battlefield froze in place, enemies trapped like insects in amber.

But more came.

Lady Fengyuan raised her hand.

"**Temporal Chain: Stop.**"

Time stuttered. Several enemies halted mid-air, blades suspended inches from Lin Yuan's chest.

But one after another, the **enemy broke free**.

Lady An slammed down glowing **illusion formation plates**, casting false images of Lin Yuan across the battlefield. Another formation where enemy look different sean, unknowingly attacking there member She followed up with **spiritual cannon arrays**, blasting attackers that who is about to break free from illusion.

Qingxiuan dashed through midair, clashing blades with a powerful elder from the Taiyin Sect who had turned rogue. She fought valiantly—but was **struck through the chest** and flung into the deck.

Lady An's eyes turned icy. Anyone who moved to attack was **shot down** instantly by her cannons.

Mingyan's whip shattered. Her body was bleeding, bruised, her robe in tatters. The demonic elder struck her down again with a black spear of soul flame. She hit the deck, coughing blood.