Lu Xingzhou’s Honglian Jieyan is quite suitable for dealing with this ancient sword.

Even if it has been dead for countless years, it still carries its share of “sins.” Since everyone is human, no one can claim they’ve never made a mistake, so naturally, they all fall under the judgment of Honglian Jieyan.

During the judgment, there is an inherent control effect, making it difficult for the opponent to break free quickly. With Lu Xingzhou’s cultivation, however, the purification effect of Honglian Jieyan is hard to apply to the ancient sword itself. This means that even if sins are judged, you can’t do anything about them, and there’s no risk of accidental injury.

This makes the ancient sword feel like a homeowner tied to a pillar, watching an intruder bounce around in front of it, and it’s particularly inappropriate for children.

The ancient sword struggled and struggled, its sword qi almost scraping against other tombstones, which then automatically activated their defenses and repelled it.

“People from your Tianyao Holy Land are quite cute, even the seniors are so adorable,” Lu Xingzhou whispered into Dugu Qingli’s ear.

Dugu Qingli’s face turned red. “Let go!”

Before, when she told him to let go, it was because she was affected and couldn’t exert herself. But now, this scoundrel’s strength has rapidly caught up, and she genuinely can’t break free from his control for a while. This made the little white-haired girl somewhat flustered, wondering what would happen if his strength grew even more in the future—would the ‘act’ in Tianshuang Country become reality?

“No,” Lu Xingzhou said. “If I let go, you’ll stab me, and I don’t even know what I did to anger you.”

Dugu Qingli retorted, “Everything about you angers me!”

“Then shall I anger you a little more deeply?” Lu Xingzhou’s right hand, holding her wrist, gently infused it with Water Spirit energy, activating “Bishui Dichen.”

Bishui Dichen is not just a healing spell; it also purifies. It’s a perfect counterpart to Honglian Jieyan, but while Honglian Jieyan’s purification leans towards punishment or transcendence, Bishui Dichen is about cleansing, washing away your impurities.

Since it can cleanse, it can naturally determine what’s wrong with her.

Upon sensing, there was indeed a hint of qi deviation, though not that severe… How to put it, the little white-haired girl was naturally cold and emotionless, and her cultivation of “Yueying Hanchuan” made her sword-heart exceptionally clear. Such a person would normally rarely experience emotions like “anger,” and even if she did, it would be a fleeting irritation. But recently, her accumulated anger seemed to have grown too much, gradually solidifying and refusing to dissipate.

And with her nature, once any stagnation solidifies, it becomes harder to dispel than for others, as if frozen and unable to melt.

Thus, from the ancient sword’s perspective, our Tianyao Holy Land shouldn’t have such a belligerent person… It wasn’t about being a traitor or a spy, but rather thinking that a lesson was needed, which led to this battle.

If Dugu Qingli’s mind were a little more normal, she could have simply retreated. The ancient sword wouldn’t pursue relentlessly or intrude into others’ burial grounds.

But the little white-haired girl was a stubborn automaton. She came to comprehend the sword’s intent and wouldn’t leave without a result. The ancient sword also lacked strong cognitive abilities, similarly intent on teaching a lesson until successful. This was the scene Lu Xingzhou witnessed.

If no one had intervened, the little white-haired girl might really have been severely injured here.

Amidst the little white-haired girl’s struggles, Lu Xingzhou quickly understood the situation and asked curiously, “Where did you get all this accumulated anger?”

The little white-haired girl struggled even harder—*How dare you ask? All my anger is because of you!*

“Don’t move,” Lu Xingzhou threatened, biting her ear. “If you move again, I’ll kiss you.”

The little white-haired girl was so startled she didn’t dare to move, but still gritted her teeth and said, “You wouldn’t dare!”

“It’s not like I haven’t kissed you before.”

“How many times are you going to use that line?!”

After an exchange of words, the air quieted slightly. Lu Xingzhou was silent for a moment, then whispered, “So your situation… is because of me?”

The little white-haired girl implicitly agreed, not answering.

She didn’t dare to struggle anymore; she knew this scoundrel might really kiss her.

Lu Xingzhou thought about it. Although there had been some minor ambiguity between them, they had truly never been in a romantic relationship. His relationship with her master was quite awkward, but it shouldn’t be a cause for too much anger, even if there was some, why would it accumulate?

Perhaps a little jealousy?

Plus disappointment in her master’s “infatuation with men”?

Plus the ‘rape’ in the play?

Even if all of that were stacked together, was it really that serious?

And also… right.

Lu Xingzhou’s heart tightened slightly. “Did your stare-down with the Ice Demon leave any lingering effects?”

Dugu Qingli was startled; this time, she herself was a bit confused.

Indeed, after staring at the Ice Demon, her emotions hadn’t felt quite right. She initially thought it was because she was uneasy about “possibly being an incarnation of a demonic creature,” and as there was no resolution in sight, she felt somewhat empty inside. Her master had also noticed it then, telling her to enter seclusion early to calm her mind.

Seclusion was clearly effective… But after coming out of seclusion, when she saw Lu Xingzhou challenge Zhang Qingxiang under the pretext of “defending Master’s reputation,” why did she feel an uncontrollable surge of anger and personally try to beat him?

Was it out of jealousy?

During the battle, he didn’t dodge her attacks; instead, he imbued her with healing energy… The little white-haired girl’s heart softened, her sword grazed past him, and her waist was hugged again in full view of everyone.

After entering the Myriad Swords Tomb, the more she thought about it, the angrier she got. That emotion was truly hard to describe.

*I was here first? Now it’s like I’m having a secret affair?*

It felt something like that.

And then she was dragged and beaten by the ancient sword.

Was this her own problem, or was it a demonic thought hidden in her heart, triggered by the Ice Demon’s gaze?

Dugu Qingli’s body trembled slightly, and she whispered, “If it was triggered by the Ice Demon, does that prove… I am an incarnation of a demonic creature?”

Lu Xingzhou said, “You’re indeed fretting over this… but you really don’t need to.”

“Why?”

“Even if you are connected to the Ice Demon, it’s merely an overflow of the essence of ice. This is two different concepts from a demonic creature. Rather, the concept of the Ice Prison Sect is more suitable for you, that is, the sovereign of ice, the goddess of ice.” Lu Xingzhou said, “Perhaps you still have some connection to the Ice Demon’s true form, causing you to be somewhat affected after a stare-down, but so what? You have endless room for growth, while it is merely a dry bone in a tomb. When you truly face it, it will be you who slays it with your sword. How could you possibly fall into demonhood?”

“I…” Dugu Qingli stammered, “I have evil thoughts in my heart, that’s why they were triggered. Therefore… I think I do have the possibility of falling into demonhood…”

“What evil thoughts? Is it anger, or jealousy?”

Dugu Qingli bit her lower lip, and after a long while, said, “Your Bishui Dichen has a purifying effect; just help me remove these evil thoughts. You don’t need to ask.”

Lu Xingzhou said, “I won’t.”

Dugu Qingli: “?”

“Having anger and jealousy makes you more human,” Lu Xingzhou said. “I never wanted you to become a block of ice.”

Dugu Qingli remembered the elixir he had given her back then. The elixir contained a warm, fiery essence. While it helped her break through without falling into extreme situations, it was also his ‘love letter’ and hope, wishing her to keep a warm corner in her heart.

For what reason, if not to flirt with her…

Dugu Qingli’s anger flared again. “You already have Master, so stop trying to seduce me, okay?”

“But are these words seduction?” Lu Xingzhou sighed. “Even if your Master were present, I would dare to say them.”

Dugu Qingli fell silent.

She certainly couldn’t out-argue his sophistry. *You want me to retain my humanity for what? Would you dare to say that to Master?*

While she was secretly fuming, Bishui Dichen permeated her mind.

Lu Xingzhou was purifying, but not the negative emotions like anger and jealousy. Instead, he was calming her current agitation, and the demonic energy and malevolence triggered by the Ice Demon were also gradually receding.

The little white-haired girl’s eyes finally calmed down, returning to their usual serene state.

*If you had looked like this just now, I wouldn’t have wanted to chop you.*

Speaking of which, this terrible posture of being held entirely by a man, combined with those serene eyes, somehow looks even stranger than before?

*Perhaps you should be angry again?*

Lu Xingzhou was saying, “Actually, the things you’re worried about, I worried about many years ago.”

Dugu Qingli was about to ask why he was still holding her, but she was distracted by his words, her train of thought immediately shifting, forgetting to tell him to let go. “You? You’re also connected to demonic creatures?”

Lu Xingzhou whispered, “A’nuo’s problem… A’nuo is definitely not human. Would you say she’s a demon or a monster?”

Dugu Qingli was startled, frowning without answering.

*Oh, right.*

“Ultimately, the definition I gave myself was that A’nuo is an immortal, or some kind of primordial spirit,” Lu Xingzhou smiled. “See, isn’t that similar to your situation? In fact, you are also a primordial spirit, just for some unknown reason, you gained a human body.”

Dugu Qingli suddenly felt much more at ease.

Some anxieties simply stem from… being different.

The little white-haired girl had seen many strange looks from others since childhood. Although she was now indifferent, it didn’t mean she didn’t care at all. She still cared that only Lu Xingzhou praised her beauty.

Physical differences were one thing; there were many oddly shaped people. But evolving from a physically different person to a different species, that sense of loneliness and fear was truly hard to express to others.

But once she knew there was a “kindred spirit” beside her, the feeling was instantly different.

She had a companion.

“Hmm… it’s a good idea to thoroughly investigate A’nuo’s situation in the Tianyao Holy Land. Before, it wasn’t quite appropriate, and my skill wasn’t sufficient. Now it’s perfect. Let your Master help research A’nuo’s matter. Your Master once explored your situation and has experience, and then the experience from A’nuo’s examination can be applied back to you.”

Dugu Qingli felt much more at ease and softly hummed in agreement.

*Who is this obedient little girl?*

*No, you two are still hugging.*

Lu Xingzhou said, “Have you completed your sword comprehension?”

Dugu Qingli said, “Not yet… My mind wasn’t quite right then, it wasn’t the atmosphere for comprehension.”

“Can you enter and exit the Myriad Swords Tomb freely?”

“No, the sect has its own rules. This is a motivational reward, not something you can just do anytime, otherwise, wouldn’t this place be full of people?”

“Then your Master granted you three days for comprehension; is today only the first day?”

“Mm…”

“Then finish these three days, don’t waste them,” Lu Xingzhou said. “I also need to comprehend fist intent. You’re familiar with this place; do you have any recommended locations?”

Dugu Qingli was silent for a moment, then slowly said, “Although you’re trying hard to frame the situation as not wasting the three-day comprehension reward, before you say all that, can you please let go of me?”

The ancient sword: *You finally get it. This guy didn’t come here to comprehend; he came here to hug you, and for the next three days, he obviously wants to spend it intimately with you.*

But then Lu Xingzhou said, “I can let go, but I’ll hold your hand.”

Dugu Qingli’s expression was blank. “Why?”

“My purification isn’t complete; I’m afraid you’ll stab me. I must impose a restriction.”

“I won’t stab you.”

“I don’t believe you.”

Lu Xingzhou said, then tried to loosen his awkward embrace, still holding her hand tightly.

Dugu Qingli glanced down but finally didn’t refuse, merely lowering her head and saying, “The Tianyao Holy Land certainly has seniors who don’t use weapons; their fists can split mountains… I’ll take you there.”

*My Tianyao Holy Land doesn’t have such a foolish direct disciple. Is this broken sect going to be destroyed in the hands of such a direct disciple?*

*Or perhaps this isn’t foolishness… ‘You are not a fish; how can you know the joy of a fish?’*