Chapter 257: Lu Miaozi was paralyzed.

"Alright, since you, Queen Yin, say so, we will hand over the Evil Emperor's inheritance to you. We only hope that you will spare our lives, considering we are both disciples of the Holy Sect." You Niaojuan seemed to have compromised as well.

Zhou Laotan and Ding Jiuzhong couldn't help but sigh and nod upon seeing this, apparently choosing to compromise like Jin Huanzhen and You Niaojuan.

"Since you are so sensible, then hand over the Evil Emperor's inheritance, and you can leave," Zhu Yuyan said in a calm tone.

You Niaojuan and the other three looked at each other, then sighed heavily, looking like they were about to admit defeat.

Each of the four men pulled out an object from their possession that looked like a legacy from the Evil Emperor. Handing it to Zhu Yuyan, they said, "Queen Yin, this is the Evil Emperor's legacy. We four stumbled upon it, and we'll share it equally..." Just as Queen Yin

reached out to take the Evil Emperor's legacy, You Niaojuan, Jin Huanzhen, Ding Jiuzhong, and Zhou Laotan, all in perfect unison, their eyes flashing with ferocity at almost the same moment, launched their attacks at Zhu Yuyan.

They unleashed their most skilled and brutal attacks, intent on utterly annihilating her with a single blow.

Normally, the four of them plotted against one another, eager to kill and seize the Evil Emperor's legacy.

But when it came to attacking Zhu Yuyan, they struck with unwavering tacit understanding, striking at nearly the same moment, each targeting Zhu Yuyan's vital points.

"Hmph!" Zhu Yuyan snorted coldly. The Heavenly Demonic Force Field activated almost instantly, deflecting the attacks of You Niaojuan and the other four just as they were about to strike her.

All four of their sneak attacks missed. Seeing their attacks fail, they, without a second thought, threw their weapons in different directions and fled in unison, each in a different direction.

Zhu Yuyan sneered. She had long known that the members of the Demon Sect were unreliable. As if her sheer strength meant she could seize the inheritance of You Niaojuan and the other four, You Niaojuan and the other four were equally cunning and treacherous. They compromised on the surface, but secretly communicated, launching simultaneous sneak attacks on Zhu Yuyan. When their attacks failed, they immediately fled, even in separate directions, hoping to distract Zhu Yuyan, allowing her to pursue the others and buy them time to escape.

However, these four had underestimated the Grandmaster.

While they were formidable, especially You Niaojuan, who had even reached the ninth level of the Grandmaster Realm, the gap between Grandmaster and Grandmaster was truly immense. Even though the difference between the ninth level and the first level of Grandmaster might seem like a mere step, the difference in strength was truly immense.

So, while You Niaojuan and his companions had good intentions, they couldn't match the sheer power of the opponent.

They had barely escaped a few meters when Zhu Yuyan swiftly passed behind them, with a simple palm strike from behind.

After dashing almost a hundred meters, You Niaojuan and his companions suddenly felt a sharp pain in their meridians, and all their strength seemed to be drained instantly. But with a single wave of Zhu Yuyan's hand, they were completely crippled.

Despair filled the eyes of the crippled You Niaojuan and his companions. They hadn't anticipated the vast gap in strength between them and Zhu Yuyan, let alone her ruthlessness.

For a martial artist, martial arts skills are paramount. But now, Zhu Yuyan had directly destroyed their martial arts, even damaging their meridians, leaving them no chance to rebuild.

You Niaojuan and the other four were ruthless individuals who would naturally do anything to stay alive. However, when they knew death was the only way out, they didn't fear death.

Having their martial arts skills crippled and falling into Zhu Yuyan's hands, they all knew they were doomed to a tragic end. Almost simultaneously, they considered suicide, hoping to end their lives.

Partly to avoid suffering, but also to prevent the Evil Emperor's legacy from falling into Zhu Yuyan's hands.

So, the four began to plan their long-prepared suicide, preparing to end their lives.

However, just as they were about to commit suicide, Zhu Yuyan reappeared before them and hypnotized them with her Heavenly Demonic Magic.

Afterwards, Zhu Yuyan used this hypnotic method to extract the location of the Evil Emperor's inheritance from the four of them.

After they revealed their respective inheritances, Zhu Yuyan dispatched them with a single blow, striking them to death with ruthless determination and without a moment's hesitation.

Ye Xiu observed Zhu Yuyan's actions, and couldn't help but sigh in admiration at her ancestry as a demonic sect. Her ruthlessness and decisiveness made her the most decisive and ruthless woman Ye Xiu had ever met.

Dongfang Bubai's Sun Moon Sect was known as the Sun Moon Demon Sect. Dongfang Bubai killed without blinking an eye, but despite her ruthlessness, she also possessed a proud disposition. She generally disdained actions like finishing off an opponent, and she might even choose to avoid the elderly, the weak, or the infirm.

Yao Yue, while equally ruthless and volatile, was also a man of arrogance. Similar to Dongfang Bubai, Yao Yue's approach to finishing off enemies, such as the elderly, weak, or sick, was often dismissive.

Zhu Yuyan, however, was different. She absolutely refused to act.

She believed that once she struck, she would utterly eliminate them. Even if her enemy was lying on the brink of death, she would still strike back if possible. She would even strike back at anyone she identified as an enemy, even if they were elderly, weak, or vulnerable, or even if they were about to die.

This was the problem with Zhu Yuyan's environment. Throughout

her time in the Demon Sect, she had likely witnessed countless instances of enemies being killed by their own failure to finish off enemies, or enemies surviving and returning for revenge. Therefore, for Zhu Yuyan, it was either a matter of not doing anything or a matter of utter destruction.

Watching Zhu Yuyan's skillful manipulation of the enemy, hypnotizing her, and then finishing off the enemy, Ye Xiu couldn't help but gasp in amazement. He also felt a slight fear of her. He even worried that if he slept with her and then walked away, she would have something against her will.

But Ye Xiu quickly realized that it wasn't him who slept with Zhu Yuyan; it was Zhu Yuyan who coveted the power of the Heshi Jade and forced herself on him. Logically, he was the one who suffered the loss.

"Hey, you're—"

Just as Ye Xiu was contemplating who was at a disadvantage, Shi Qingxuan blinked her beautiful eyes and said to him.

"Huh?" Ye Xiu looked at Shi Qingxuan in confusion, unsure why she stopped talking after she had just started.

"Nothing. I'm just curious about who you are. After all, a man as good-looking as you should be well-known in the martial arts world, but I don't think I've ever heard of you," Shi Qingxuan said with a smile.

But Shi Qingxuan couldn't help feeling puzzled. She just wanted to talk about the diary, but she couldn't say anything at all.

Shi Qingxuan had been unable to bring herself to speak about the diary when she met other people. She'd assumed it was because they weren't related. But now, Ye Xiu, the obvious diary-keeper, couldn't bring himself to divulge the details. Was it because Ye Xiu wasn't the diary-keeper, or was it because even the diary-keeper couldn't reveal the details?

"I'm not from the Great Sui Dynasty, and I've only just arrived there. I've never even appeared on the Jianghu before. It's normal you haven't heard of me," Ye Xiu explained with a smile.

"I see. I'm Shi Qingxuan. May I know your name, sir?"

"My name is Ye Xiu, and I'm from the Great Ming."

"So, sir, you're from the Great Ming. I wonder what the difference is between the Great Ming and our Great Sui?" "

If there's a difference, it's probably that the Great Ming is relatively stable. Unlike the Great Sui, the Ming court is still quite intimidating..."

Shi Qingxuan's voice was soft and gentle, somewhat similar to the sound of her flute, making anyone who heard it relax and converse with her feel at ease.

Shi Qingxuan's words were also very measured, never coming across as pushy or probing any sensitive points. Chatting with her put people at ease and made them feel happy.

Ye Xiu had experienced this ease in conversation with women he'd just met for the first time before, like Huang Rong and Jiang Yuyan.

Huang Rong was incredibly clever, always finding topics that piqued your interest and making for a lively conversation. Jiang Yuyan, on the other hand

, was gentle and submissive, the kind who accepted whatever you said. She would gaze at you with admiration and offer compliments, making you feel even slightly elated.

Shi Qingxuan, on the other hand, could easily lower your guard, yet she was incredibly measured, avoiding any sensitive topics. The conversation then became a joyful one, creating a sense of relaxation.

As they chatted, the two of them drifted off into music, specifically, the flute, as Shi Qingxuan was incredibly skilled at it.

But, how should I put it, Ye Xiu really wasn't very good at music. His level was basically just two words: "good." If he heard something he thought was good, he'd just give it a two-word evaluation: "good." If he heard

something he thought was bad, he'd just give it a three-word evaluation: "bad." If it was good, what made it good? Why was it good? What was the rhythm of music, and so

on? If it was bad, why wasn't it good? How could it be made good? Ye Xiu knew none of this. Even so, when Ye Xiu and Shi Qingxuan were discussing Xiao Yi, he was surprisingly able to connect with them with ease, not even feeling ashamed of his lack of musical skills. Chatting with Shi Qingxuan was all about ease.

You never felt like she was going to laugh at you for your ignorance.

While Ye Xiu and Shi Qingxuan were happily chatting, Tianshan Tonglao, Shang Xiuxun, and the others beside them seemed a little less happy, as if they'd been completely abandoned.

Shang Xiuxun, in particular, felt Ye Xiu had gone too far. Her father, Lu Miaozi, had once tried to make him her husband, though that had ultimately been unsuccessful. Yet, the sight of Ye Xiu chatting so cheerfully with another woman in front of her still left her feeling uneasy.

Zhu Yuyan, after receiving the Evil Emperor's inheritance from You Niaojuan and the other four, returned and interrupted the conversation between Ye Xiu and Shi Qingxuan.

"Shi Qingxuan, how did you know I was here? And do you really think I wouldn't take action against you?" Zhu Yuyan looked at Shi Qingxuan with a grim expression.

She suspected Shi Qingxuan had known of her whereabouts for a long time and had deliberately brought You Niaojuan and the others with her, hoping to use her against them.

Putting that aside, the mere fact that her whereabouts had been revealed was deeply concerning to Zhu Yuyan. After all, as the leader of the Yin Gui Sect, having her whereabouts known to others was undoubtedly a dangerous matter for her.

Yes, she was now a Grandmaster, and ordinary people were no match for her. But if someone from Cihang Jingzhai or Jingnian Zen Temple learned of her whereabouts and deliberately set a trap, her situation would be extremely dangerous.

So Zhu Yuyan was feeling rather grim.

Of course, there was also the fact that Shi Qingxuan had been chatting happily with Ye Xiu since arriving. Even when she had been chatting with Ye Xiu before, he hadn't been so cheerful. This was also one of the key points that irritated Zhu Yuyan. It

wasn't that Zhu Yuyan was hopelessly in love with Ye Xiu, but rather that she had just ended their intimate contact, and he was already chatting happily with other women. Plus, Zhu Yuyan herself had a certain possessiveness, which was why she felt uncomfortable.

"Senior Yinhou, you misunderstood. I didn't know you were here," Shi Qingxuan shook her head.

"Ha! Do you think I'd believe you?" Zhu Yuyan sneered.

"Senior Yin Hou, there's nothing you can do if you don't believe me. You know my situation, Senior Yin Hou. Do you think I have the power and access to find out your whereabouts?" Shi Qingxuan shook her head, seemingly explaining seriously.

Zhu Yuyan, upon hearing Shi Qingxuan's words, felt a twinge of doubt. Indeed, she hadn't told anyone about her visit to Pegasus Ranch, not even to the Yin Gui Sect. No one in the Yin Gui Sect knew of her whereabouts, so how could Shi Qingxuan possibly know she was there?

Meanwhile, a glint of wonder crossed the eyes of the Tianshan Child-Grandma.

As someone who knew that Ye Xiu's diary would be widely available, the Tianshan Child-Grandma was certain that both Zhu Yuyan and Shi Qingxuan were among its owners. Yet, they remained unaware of this fact, even deliberately trying to conceal it. It was truly intriguing. The Tianshan Child-

Grandma even suspected that Shang Xiuxun, who was standing nearby, might also be among its owners.

The two were the clear holders of the diary, yet they were unaware of each other's possession and had to find excuses to conceal it. This was a very interesting and fascinating situation for the bystander, Tianshan Tonglao.

Shang Xiuxun, on the other hand, had previously inadvertently suspected that Yin Queen Zhu Yuyan might have obtained Ye Xiu's diary just like herself. Now, seeing Shi Qingxuan approaching so casually, even though Shi Qingxuan claimed that she had no idea Zhu Yuyan was there, Shang Xiuxun still suspected that Shi Qingxuan might be one of the holders of the diary, just like her and Yin Queen Zhu Yuyan.

However, Shang Xiuxun's suspicion was just that, because she hadn't confirmed it with Zhu Yuyan and didn't know whether she really did possess the diary.

But Shang Xiuxun still had this suspicion in her heart.

Shang Xiuxun had previously suspected Zhu Yuyan, like herself, of possessing the diary. However, because Zhu Yuyan was the Yin Queen and a member of the demonic Yin Gui sect, she didn't dare reveal any information about the diary to her, fearing she would silence her.

However, Shi Qingxuan seemed different.

Compared to Zhu Yuyan, Shi Qingxuan had a much better reputation, and she also seemed more gentle and reliable.

So Shang Xiuxun decided to find an opportunity to speak with Shi Qingxuan privately to see if she, like herself, was the owner of the diary.

If Shi Qingxuan was indeed the owner of the diary like her, then Shang Xiuxun suspected Zhu Yuyan was one of them. She even suspected there might be more diary owners, like the Dongfang Bubai, Yao Yue, Murong Qiudi, and others Ye Xiu frequently mentioned in his diary.

"

Hahahaha!"

With a burst of joyful laughter, Lu Miaozi finally emerged from his retreat.

During his two days of retreat, Lu Miaozi's injuries, while not fully healed, had healed somewhat, and would no longer affect his lifespan.

Furthermore, a full recovery would require at least a year and a half of dedicated healing.

Thinking of Ye Xiu, Lu Miaozi emerged from his retreat once his injuries stabilized.

However, upon emerging from his laughter, he caught sight of Ye Xiu, the women surrounding him, and especially Zhu Yuyan. His laughter faltered, and he almost felt the urge to turn and run.

After all, Lu Miaozi remembered vividly that it was Zhu Yuyan's demonic energy that nearly killed him. If Ye Xiu hadn't helped him dispel it, he would have died in six months.

Now, seeing Zhu Yuyan, he instinctively wanted to flee, like a mouse seeing a cat.

"Hmph, Lu Miaozi!" Zhu Yuyan snorted coldly, noticing Lu Miaozi's attempt to flee.

Hearing Zhu Yuyan's voice, Lu Miaozi shuddered, then stopped with a bitter expression.

Lu Miaozi's heart was filled with bitterness. He had finally managed to have Ye Xiu dispel the demonic energy from his body, finally surviving, only for Zhu Yuyan to come back again. "Zhu Yuyan, I didn't expect you would come back after all this time. I only hope you'll kill me and not hurt anyone else."

"Kill you? I don't have the time for that." Zhu Yuyan's light words stirred Lu Miaozi's heart.

"Zhu Yuyan, you, you—"

"Don't worry, I have no intention of continuing to kill you. You're lucky to be alive. As long as you don't get in my way, I won't bother to attack you." Zhu Yuyan said this, but she also had a plan in mind. She wanted to test Lu Miaozi's true attitude. If Lu Miaozi was reckless and harbored ill will towards her and the Yingui Sect, she would still kill him.

Of course, Zhu Yuyan was also confident that Lu Miaozi didn't hate her or the Yingui Sect.

Zhu Yuyan knew that Lu Miaozi was her lapdog. As long as she didn't target Lu Miaozi, this lapdog Lu Miaozi wouldn't target her either.

Lu Miaozi's expression became agitated after hearing Zhu Yuyan's words. He even wondered if Zhu Yuyan regretted attacking him? Did Zhu Yuyan still have feelings for him?

With this thought, Lu Miaozi's years of hatred for Zhu Yuyan began to dissipate.

Shang Xiuxun noticed that her father's hands were shaking with excitement. She even noticed that Lu Miaozi's eyes seemed to be slightly red. She couldn't help but twitch her eyes.

"Lu Miaozi, you don't have to worry about Zhu Yuyan taking your life. After all, your life was saved by Ye Xiu. Zhu Yuyan won't take your life for the sake of her man, Ye Xiu." In order to prevent Lu Miaozi from having wild thoughts and getting deeper and deeper into trouble, Shang Xiuxun simply pointed it out directly.

"Huh?" After hearing Shang Xiuxun's words, Lu Miaozi felt a thunderclap in her ears. It was like a bolt from the blue, and her whole body was numb.

"Zhu Yuyan's man? Ye Xiu? Brother Ye?" Lu Miaozi looked at Zhu Yuyan. He wanted to get Zhu Yuyan's proof, or wanted to hear Zhu Yuyan's rebuttal.

But Zhu Yuyan just glanced at Shang Xiuxun lightly, and didn't even look at Lu Miaozi a second time.

On the contrary, Ye Xiu was a little embarrassed. After all, he knew a little about the relationship between Lu Miaozi and Zhu Yuyan. But now he was involved with Zhu Yuyan, which made him feel a little guilty when facing Lu Miaozi.

He had obviously saved Lu Miaozi, so why did he still feel guilty when facing Lu Miaozi? Ye Xiu said this to himself in his heart, but he just couldn't control the guilt.

Lu Miaozi was stunned, as if he had become a fool. He still couldn't wake up from Shang Xiuxun's words, and he couldn't accept that Zhu Yuyan and Ye Xiu had such a relationship.

Obviously, before he went into seclusion, Ye Xiu and Zhu Yuyan had no relationship. How come he had only been in seclusion for two days, but it seemed like he had been in seclusion for twenty years or even two hundred years?