The Substitute Female Supporting Character Sees the Bullet Screen

Feng Hanying was unaware that he had been discovered. With his level of cultivation, unless someone at the peak of Divine Transformation realm came, no one should have been able to detect him.

The flame rabbit crouched in the grass by the stream, its red eyes thoughtfully fixed on the spiritual mist floating above the water. This spiritual energy, so dense it was visible to the naked eye, had emerged from nowhere, enveloping the surrounding area in fog. Yet beneath this stream, there was no spiritual vein.

Clearly, it was his master's doing again.

Gu Jiang's demonic energy was being dissolved.

This wasn't good news for Feng Hanying. Gu Jiang was to him what spiritual veins were to orthodox cultivators - while orthodox cultivators drew in spiritual energy to refine into their own true essence, Feng Hanying drew in the "Blood Moon Shadow" to cultivate. Once he refined the demonic energy, it became his to use, and not even Gu Jiang could take it back.

There were five types of demonic energy in this world. After over two thousand years of consumption, the other four Demon Ancestors' energy had scattered everywhere, presumably nearing their end. Demon cultivators fought endlessly among themselves for these remnants.

However, Gu Jiang maintained strict control over his demonic energy. While countless people coveted the "Blood Moon Shadow," to this day, Feng Hanying remained its sole inheritor - equivalent to having exclusive access to an entire spiritual mountain.

Yet even a spiritual mountain would eventually be depleted if continuously dissolved like this. Moreover, while spiritual mountains were free for all to draw from, Demon Ancestors certainly weren't so generous.

Nie Yinzhi was truly a menace.

The dense spiritual energy in the woods had naturally caught another person's attention. A stealth butterfly danced through the spiritual mist, eventually landing on a fingertip covered by an ice silkworm silk glove.

Yu Yaoqing addressed the cultivator controlling the stealth butterfly with great respect, asking, "Elder Luo, what should we do now?"

This Elder Luo was none other than Luo Sheng, the master of the Earth Character Gate of Taixin Gate.

Luo Sheng was wrapped head to toe, revealing only a paper-like face with expressionless features. Though his lips didn't move, his voice could be heard: "Proceed according to plan. We're here to bring the 'Mountain of Blades and Forest of Swords' back to the mortal realm, not to fight with Gu Jiang. Unless he attacks first, we must not provoke him."

Everyone nodded in agreement. After speaking, Luo Sheng waved his long sleeve, removing the concealment barrier. Several beams of light scattered in different directions.

Yan Yi and several members of the Cloud Scripture Sect landed on the cliff outside the Sword Forest - the same cliff where Nie Yinzhi and Gu Jiang had been earlier. It was the only notable landing spot outside the forest.

"Go," Yan Yi said.

After paying their respects, An Huai and Xiao Ling jumped into the Sword Forest together.

The sword energy swirling above the valley wrapped around the two, accepting them. Different types of sword energy showed varying degrees of friendliness or rejection. The two had clear objectives and didn't hesitate, heading straight for the central platform.

The sword resonance in An Huai's mind felt like a death knell. Though this was his first visit, he moved as if he'd been here countless times, pulled forward by the sword energy like a marionette.

Xiao Ling followed behind him, protecting a small white bird in her palm while looking around.

The spiritual swords here were indeed unmatched in the current cultivation world. The swords of those Divine Transformation realm elders who entered today might be comparable, but those were the result of cultivators tempering their sword energy day after day for many years to develop their own spirit.

But the spiritual swords here were born with sword spirits. Their benefit to cultivators was obvious - if successfully bonded, it could surely return her to the Golden Core realm.

Xiao Ling's inner palace had been shattered, her spiritual foundation and veins rebuilt. The Ruyi sword energy within her had grown weak. With the silkworm spirit charm concealing her sword energy, she would need to rebond with her destined sword and gradually integrate the sword energy.

The central platform soon appeared before them. An Huai and Xiao Ling stepped onto the stone platform, each taking a position at opposite ends and sitting cross-legged.

On the cliff edge, Yan Yi had already left, leaving only Ye Jing to keep watch. The person all cultivators were wary of was actually nestled in the green pine tree beside the cliff.

Familiar pale blue sword light overflowed from above the Sword Forest. All thorns shattered, and the half-sealed spiritual swords finally gained complete freedom. The dragon spirit under the roc's claws immediately became energetic, releasing bone-chilling cold that visibly shrank the pure white flames on the roc's claws.

"Let it go," Nie Yinzhi said softly.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

The roc angrily pecked the dragon spirit once before releasing its claws, hugging its shrunken claws with its wings pitifully.

Nie Yinzhi stroked its head.

The dragon spirit twisted reluctantly for a moment before vanishing, returning to its sword body. The long sword above the Sword Forest let out a long cry, its sword light blazing brilliantly, transforming into a water-blue dragon that followed the summons and descended onto the central platform.

Shortly after the blue sword light dimmed, pink clouds suddenly appeared above another side of the Sword Forest. Within the pink clouds was a slender sword, and upon closer inspection, the pink clouds were actually composed of countless petals, creating a scene like an evening glow.

"Cherry blossoms? Another sword spirit?" This was Nie Yinzhi's first time seeing such sword light.

Gu Jiang corrected her, "It's cherry blossoms. All things have spirit, and naturally, they can all become sword spirits."

Since Xiao Ling had summoned the sword, she naturally released her divine sense. While admiring the beautiful scene, Nie Yinzhi asked, "Can you sense Zhuxian's presence?"

Gu Jiang nodded, "In her spirit platform."

Nie Yinzhi smiled, "Very well, let's give these two a dream then. We'll trap Zhuxian's divine sense in Xiao Ling's dream and resolve everything at once."

"Though we'll have to trouble that young man to join their dream as well." She tugged at Gu Jiang's sleeve. "My divine sense can't withstand Zhuxian's, let me borrow yours. You must protect me and that young man well."

Gu Jiang gave a sound of agreement, then said somewhat discontentedly: "Nie Yinzhi, you're becoming increasingly casual when asking favors from me."

Nie Yinzhi's fingers quickly formed seals, activating the formation she had previously arranged on the central platform of the Sword Forest. With her mind focused on the "Dream Wedding" spell, she replied absently, "Hmm? How am I being casual?"

Gu Jiang pressed his lips together, "You don't even call me 'brother' anymore. How is that not being casual?" Previously, when Nie Yinzhi asked him for favors, she would call him "brother" in an affected and artificial voice, so sweet it made one's scalp tingle.

Nie Yinzhi: "..." That was only because she feared his weakness would make him start steaming again! Just because she couldn't see him smoking in front of her didn't mean she didn't know he was doing it again.

She had no time to deal with the demon lord's unreasonable complaints. Her fingers formed an elegant seal, with a small golden bell suspended in her palm.

The Dream Wedding technique required something to guide the spirit. The bell in Nie Yinzhi's hand had the power to shake one's mental state. This was a minor unorthodox technique she had learned by chance during her previous adventures. Finding it interesting, she had secretly paid someone to forge this small bell.

Now it was perfect for performing the Dream Wedding technique.

On the central platform of the Sword Forest, a crimson long sword hung before Xiao Ling as she nervously connected with its sword energy. She vaguely heard a clear bell chime, but before she could determine whether the sound was real or imaginary, her divine sense was pulled into a vortex, and she collapsed softly to the ground.

An Huai, holding his spiritual sword, stood up, hesitated for a moment, then unexpectedly fell to the ground as well.

-

As Xiao Ling gradually regained consciousness, the pain that seemed to seep through her bone marrow awakened with her. She groaned in agony, and immediately someone supported her, holding her in their arms and channeling spiritual power through her wrist to ease her pain.

A familiar voice spoke softly by her ear: "Lingling, does it hurt?"

Upon hearing this voice, Xiao Ling felt no comfort. Instead, she was startled and wanted to push him away immediately, but her body was completely without strength. Even moving a finger was agonizing. Without the small white bird by her side, she could neither see nor extend her divine sense.

The bone-eating pain of the miasma easily pulled her back into her past nightmare.

Why? Just a moment ago, she had been bonding with her destined sword, with that crimson sword energy flowing through her meridians like new blood being injected into her body. Xiao Ling's heart had been full of joy at the prospect of rebirth, so why had she suddenly returned here? Back to this time when she was full of miasma and in unbearable pain?

Which reality was real? Xiao Ling's thoughts were in chaos. Whatever Sang Wumian was saying by her ear, she couldn't hear a single word. In her heart, she called out desperately: "Zhuxian... Zhuxian... come out, where are you?"

Sang Wumian noticed the tear stains seeping through the white gauze and carefully drew her into his embrace, gently stroking her delicate back. "Ling, we've found a way to treat you. You'll get better soon."

Xiao Ling quieted down and asked in a whisper as faint as silk, "A way? What kind of way?"

"You needn't worry about these details. Just hold on for a few more days," Sang Wumian held her wrist. "Your master will stay by your side. Get some more rest."

Xiao Ling was gently laid back onto the soft bed as Sang Wumian's spiritual energy flowed through her shattered meridians, gradually soothing her pain. But Xiao Ling couldn't sleep at all.

Was this a dream? Or were her previous experiences the dream, and this was reality?

Xiao Ling truly couldn't tell anymore. The pain she felt before was real, and the pain she felt now was equally real.

She remained silent for a long while, her tears soaking through the white gauze. Sang Wumian sighed, his fingertips touching her eyes as he intended to change the gauze. Suddenly, Xiao Ling spoke, "Master, how is Junior Master Xiang?"

Sang Wumian paused for a moment before responding in a cool voice, "When I brought you back to the sect today, I found him in a state of qi deviation. He has been executed."

"Master, I'm fine. I've grown used to the pain from the miasma poison," Xiao Ling mustered all her strength to grasp his fingertips. "With evil energy infiltrating the Cloud Scripture Sect, you, as the sect leader, should be investigating thoroughly and nipping problems in the bud. You shouldn't be neglecting important matters because of me."

Sang Wumian gently squeezed her hand in return. "Alright, I'll do as you say."

Xiao Ling spoke softly, "Junior Sister Nie..."

Sang Wumian frowned, "Ling, your body is too weak right now. Don't waste energy on trivial matters."

Xiao Ling stubbornly shook her head, "Master, if even I can hear the rumors, surely Junior Sister Nie can hear them too." A weak smile tugged at her lips. "Please go see her, don't let her misunderstand. I'm begging you."

Yin Yin: If I call him brother, he'll definitely get flustered and evaporate. I can't call him that.

Gu Jiang: So affected and pretentious, it makes my skin crawl.