Cultivating In Secret Beside A Demoness

“No.” The spirit beast shook its head. “She was afflicted with an incurable illness and had no chance. Even if she went to another place, she wouldn’t have survived this winter.”

Jiang Hao nodded and didn’t say much.

Life, old age, sickness, and death were experiences everyone had to go through.

It all depended on how they faced it. Some people succumbed to depression and ended their lives. Others had brief moments of glory, and yet others left a lasting legacy.

Peace and harmony were a luxury.

“What about Zhao Qingxue?” Jiang Hao asked.

“That tomb didn’t show any respect for the great demon.”

Jiang Hao understood.

Even the spirit beast could do nothing and could only watch the events unfold.

“How is Lin Zhi doing now?”

“Not well, and more people are bullying him. They all know that the genius is missing. He has fallen into a cycle of self-blame and doubt.”

This was something Lin Zhi had to go through.

“Keep an eye on Zhao Qingxue. Let me know if there are any updates,” said Jiang Hao.

Zhao Qingxue’s fate would determine Lin Zhi’s direction of life in the future.

If she survived, it would bring relief to Lin Zhi. If she died, it would be a knot in his heart. That could ruin his life.

He had accepted the death of his mother and harassment from other disciples without complaints.

But this time, it was something he couldn’t accept. He would feel like it was his fault she had died.

No amount of encouragement could change the fact that Zhao Qingxue had died because of him.

Even if he wiped out the entire Azure Mountain, it couldn’t change the fact that she was dead.

“Master, when Xiao Li was cleaning the house, she found a bathroom inside. She asked if she could bathe in there,” the spirit beast suddenly asked.

“No.” Jiang Hao shook his head. “You go buy something similar for her and place it in her house. If the house is too small, let me know.”

He couldn’t trust the spirit beast to build a house.

As for his bathroom, it was used by Hong Yuye. If someone else used it, Hong Yuye might be offended.

If that happened, Xiao Li would lose an elder brother, and the spirit beast would become a wild creature without a master.

He returned to his room and started cultivating.

This time, he was learning something different from the previous techniques, the Heaven Lock Technique.

This technique was so terrifying that he didn’t dare teach it to others.

If Hong Yuye asked about it, he didn’t know how to respond.

After a night, there was no progress in his cultivation.

Even though he felt he could learn it, he just couldn’t get into the right state.

Acing the Clear and Pure Heart ability didn’t help either.

‘This technique is really strange.’

In the courtyard, he examined the Heavenly Fragrance Dao Flower and realized that there was hardly any change over the past few months.

Thirteen years had passed, and it had only grown seven leaves.

After instructing the spirit beast to go to the Spirit Herb Garden, he went alone to the mountain gate.

This time, the four people were not cultivating. They were talking to each other.

Jiang Hao focused on the woman from before and appraised her.

[Luo Zhi: Disciple of the Heavenly Saint Sect. She is in the middle stage of the Golden Core Realm. She is undercover at the Cliff of Broken Hearts of the heavenly Note Sect. She is here to monitor you to unveil the secrets left behind by Yan Hua. Now that she’s aware of the investigation by the Law Enforcement Hall, she’s anxious and wants to find a scapegoat. Unfortunately, she hasn’t interacted with enough people and urgently needs a suitable person to bear the undercover title.]

Jiang Hao sighed and realized that there were quite a few people undercover from the Heavenly Saint Sect.

Senior Sister Ming Yi was one, and Yan Hua was another. Now, there was Luo Zhi. There were three people at the Golden Core Realm.

However, it seemed like only Ming Yi had her own plans, and she concealed them well.

Currently, she still didn’t pose any threat to him and even helped him sometimes.

Thus, he didn’t need to deal with her.

If she was a threat, Luo Zhi wouldn’t have any business here.

Jiang Hao quietly left after that.

The Heavenly Saint Sect was persistent in investigating him. It had been so many years, and they still thought Yan Hua had entrusted the secret to him.

They even sent someone to watch him.

However, this spy seemed very careful and didn’t approach him.

‘She is searching for a scapegoat to brand them as a traitor. That’s fine by me. But how do I approach her? As fellow disciples of the Cliff of Broken Hearts, there might be a chance.’

After much thought, the only solution he could think of was to exchange sect missions.

He could exchange with her to guard the mountain gate. It wasn’t impossible to do that.

If she wanted to find a scapegoat, she would definitely agree. Then, they both would make an exchange.

‘I’m just wary that she might not do anything at all.’

He couldn’t act first. He had to wait for her to use him as a scapegoat.

Otherwise, he would be blamed for killing a fellow disciple of the sect.

If that happened, he wouldn’t just be on the suspect list. He would be sent directly to the Lawless Tower.

Decades of cultivation could be ruined in an instant.

Back at the Spirit Herb Garden, Jiang Hao was still thinking about how to exchange missions with the woman.

“Junior Brother Jiang, you’re back?”

It was Miao Tinglian. She was as beautiful as ever.

“Senior Sister Miao, you look happy,” said Jiang Hao.

He felt something was odd between Miao Tinglian and Mu Qi.

“Is that so?” Miao Tinglian looked at her hands. “Not really.”

Jiang Hao was speechless.

“You’re already at the early stage of the Golden Core Realm! Your advancement in cultivation is so fast.” Miao Tinglian frowned. “I used to think you were fast, but I didn’t expect you to reach the Golden Core Realm at such a young age. In a few more years, won’t you surpass me?”

“Really? You are so talented. I don’t think I can surpass you, Senior Sister Miao.”

Actually, Jiang Hao felt that Miao Tinglian was very talented, but she was wasting that on her romantic relationship.

However, her cultivation still progressed rapidly. Ten years ago, she was in the middle stage of the Golden Core Realm, and now, she was in the late stage of the Golden Core Realm.

“Really? That’s good then.” Miao Tinglian laughed.

It seemed like she was really happy. Jiang Hao was puzzled. “Did Senior Brother

Mu Qi propose marriage to you?”

“Proposal? What proposal?” Miao Tinglian looked confused. She then stumbled, and a red paper fell to the ground.

“Oh my! What’s this? Do you want to see?” Miao Tinglian said as she handed it to Jiang Hao.

“A marriage certificate?” Jiang Hao took the paper.

“A marriage certificate?” Miao Tinglian covered her mouth with delicate fingers and acted surprised. “Whose is it? Can you read it aloud?” Jiang Hao glanced at her and then looked at Mu Qi.

Mu Qi turned away awkwardly.

“Junior Brother, don’t you know how to read?” Miao Tinglian said.

Jiang Hao slowly began to read it aloud.

“Under the auspicious signs, a good fate is sealed. Mutual respect and sincerity, like the mandarin ducks in harmony. May our relationship be prosperous and lasting. With one heart and one virtue, let our home be blessed. May our bond be as eternal as the mythological phoenixes and bound together with eternal love. This is the testimony.

Mu Qi and Miao Tinglian..”