Wu Xingxue squinted his eyes.

He had grown too used to his old carefree days; this was the first time some had threatened him with a sword against his throat,

"Are you going to kill me?" Wu Xingxue asked quietly, as his gaze fell upon Xiao Fuxuan.

Xiao Fuxuan moved his lips, but he didn’t respond.

"You can’t kill me," Wu Xingxue continued.

Xiao Fuxuan continued to hold the sword against his neck. His gaze fell from the bridge of his tall, straight nose. A moment later, he finally spoke, "…why?"

He spoke in a low tone with a hint of hoarseness from not speaking in such a long time.

"Because you got the wrong guy," replied Wu Xingxue slowly.

He expected Xiao Fuxuan to be stunned for a second, or at least show an expression of confusion. In reality, he didn’t move even a muscle.

It was Wu Xingxue’s turn to be stunned. But he quickly recovered; It was likely because the original body’s owner did too many crimes, so no one would believe him easily.

What did I do to deserve this… He thought to himself.

"They say you are the Celestial Immortal, with such an impressive title, you must be able to tell, I’m…" He suddenly stopped, then took a glance at his subordinates.

Xiao Fuxuan finally spoke, "Speak, they can’t hear you."

Can’t hear?

Only now did Wu Xingxue realize that those subordinates haven’t moved since he had been pressed onto the ground. It seemed as if the blizzard created a barrier, separating the people outside.

He licked his lips and said morosely, "You’ve got it all wrong, I’m not who you think I am."

“I’m not the Devil Lord."

Xiao Fuxuan continued to stare at him. After a long moment, his brows slowly furrowed.

"I don’t know what that Devil Lord did and what lies he told before, maybe that’s why you won’t believe me," said Wu Xingxue a bit helplessly, "It’s only natural."

"But I’m really not him. I’m not even from this place. If you’re a deity like those in the novels, you should be able to tell. I’m nothing more than a sorrowful wandering soul, do you want to test it?"

With that, he lifted his left hand, exposing the vulnerable spot on his wrist.

Xiao Fuxuan kept a close eye on his movements and still didn’t speak.

Wu Xingxue was almost certain that he still didn’t believe him. After a moment of silent waiting, he felt like his efforts were futile.

Just as he was about to give up, he heard Xiao Fuxuan’s deep voice ask, "Then what is your name? Where do you come from?"

Wu Xingxue suddenly looked up at him. After thinking, he replied, "I’m from a place called Que City. That place is very different from here. It’s too long of a story to explain, but you are an immortal, do you have any way to help me?"

"I’m in charge of punishment. I can only capture and punish people."

Wu Xingxue: "……"

He was still lifting his wrist. He didn’t reply and slowly lowered his hand.

Not only that, but he didn’t know what that reminded Xiao Fuxuan of. But after a moment, he suddenly got up and withdrew the sword.

Wu Xingxue: "?”

How sudden.

Does that mean he believes me? Probably not…

The acute sharpness beside his neck and the frigid air dissipated. Wu Xingxue pushed himself up. By the time he stood upright, he found Xiao Fuxuan returning the sword into his sheath.

With a clang, the surrounding blizzard suddenly stopped.

Ning Huaishan and the others seemed to have turned into stone, standing in awkward and stiff positions. The second the blizzard stopped however, they returned to life.

"City Lord!"

"City Lord, how come the shell–" Ning Huaishan seemed to have missed a moment of time. He was still at the instant when Wu Xingxue was pressed onto the ground. Just as he was about to ask worriedly, he found the City Lord back standing, with Xiao Fuxuan beside him.

"???" Ning Huaishan’s words came to a halt. His head was filled with confusion.

He stared at the City Lord, then the Celestial Immortal, and then he murmured, "I’m not sure." "That frightened me! So, did it attack because there was still some spiritual energy in it?"

Wu Xingxue thought to himself, there’s no way one can move like this with just a bit of spiritual energy.

"So what now?" Ning Huaishan asked carefully while looking at Xiao Fuxuan. He was still a bit scared, but he couldn’t stop the light from gleaming in his eyes, "It worked right? That shell is your puppet now? This is huge! All puppets will loyally protect their masters and do whatever they’re ordered."

Xiao Fuxuan gave Ning Huaishan a cold glance.

Just as Wu Xingxue was about to say that this wasn’t his puppet, the entire Northern Frontiers started to roar. The ground shook violently.The coffin that Xiao Fuxuan used to hibernate in had already been crushed. The giant tree shook endlessly, and cracks emerged from the earth. Dust and rocks came crashing from above, the sound was almost deafening.

"It seems like the Northern Frontiers is at its end, it’s really going to collapse!" The subordinates yelled.

They were on the thirty-third floor, and boulders were falling like rain. Getting out of here would be beyond difficult.

"City Lord–"

The subordinates screamed, and several of them were separated into different regions, their voices and conditions unknown.

A massive cliff abruptly collapsed. It was dozens of meters wide, and the bottom was sharp as a blade. Anyone that get hit by it would have their skull pierced immediately.

And the person who happened to be directly beneath it, was none other than Wu Xingxue.

The place where he stood was also crumbling into ruins. He was standing on the last remaining rock. He lifted his head, only to see the edge of the cliff.

Then out of nowhere, countless golden swords materialized and wrapped themselves around him. They had the word "Mian" etched upon them.

He couldn’t see anything, but felt that someone had shielded him.

***

The collapse of the Northern Frontiers caused great tremors on the Eternal Sea.

While the disciples of the Immortal’s Alliance were busy coming up with a plan, an inconspicuous bamboo boat was passing through the Rustling Channel at the edge of the Eternal Sea.

Wu Xingxue held a hand warmer and leaned silently in the corner of the boat.

There was a leather lantern hanging from the awning of the boat, which swayed gently with the wind. Yet no matter how much it swayed, the tips of the fire were never to reach the leather lantern walls.

When the Northern Frontiers were crumbling, he got separated from most of his subordinates. Only Northern Frontiers and the one who had lost an arm were close enough to be scooped onto the boat.

One-arm suffered quite some injuries. He fainted the moment he got onto the boat. Ning Huaishan was in a slightly better condition, as he talked endlessly.

He wrung out the bottom of his waterlogged robe on the deck, then returned beneath the awning while rubbing his hands. He reported to Wu Xingxue, "We’re about to enter White Deer Ford, City Lord. Did you hear that just now? The thunder from the Eternal Sea. That almost shattered my eardrums."

Wu Xingxue didn’t know what he was so excited about.

But fortunately, he was good at talking to himself, "Just look at how far the waves crashed. Those disciples outside must be in a terrible spot right now. Just thinking of them suffering makes me feel good."

"Think of them, then look at us–" he glanced towards Wu Xingxue, "Technically, no one should be able to leave the Northern Frontiers. But who would have thought, we got a treasure with us."

"It’s all thanks to you, City Lord. It’s all to your quick mind to make this shell your puppet. No one else knew the way out of the Northern Frontiers better than him. And if the legends are indeed right, this puppet will really protect its master with full loyalty."

"Thank goodness that Celestial Immortal has died already. If he found out in the netherworld that his shell used to guard the Northern Frontiers saved the Devil Lord, just imagine… tsk, tsk.

Actually, he’s not in the netherworld. He’s right in front of you watching you run your busy mouth, Wu Xingxue thought.

While watching the fun, he didn’t forget to take a glance towards his side every once in a while.

He saw Xiao Fuxuan with his broad shoulders and narrow waist leaning against the boat with his sword in his arms. He expressionlessly watched Ning Huaishan prattle on, and his eyes seemed to be saying—how are you still alive?

If looks could kill, then Ning Huaishan would be a dead man.

Wu Xingxue looked at the indescribable expression on the Celestial Immortal’s face. He couldn’t hold back anymore and started to giggle.

Ning Huaishan instinctively went into silence.

Hearing the laugh, Xiao Fuxuan also turned around.

While looking at Wu Xingxue, his gaze that came from his thin eyelids reflected the soft light from the lantern.

A second later, he turned his head the other way towards outside the boat. He silently continued to act like a puppet.

At the Canglang Northern Territory, when Ning Huaishan was talking nonsense, he could still try to deceive them.

But it wouldn’t work this time. He had truly carried a Devil Lord out, so in front of others, he could only pretend to be a puppet.

"City Lord, our Zhaoye City has expanded again. The previous Lang Island and the Dabei Valley are all part of ours now. When we get to White Deer Ford, we’ll arrive in the city."

Ning Huaishan yawned as the night fell. He went to accompany One-arm shortly after, and soon began to snore.

He failed to notice that the "puppet" started talking nearly immediately after he fell asleep.

"When the cliff was falling, why didn’t you escape?" Xiao Fuxuan looked back at Wu Xingxue and asked sternly.

Wu Xingxue was falling asleep in the corner. Hearing this, he opened his eyes.

His eyes looked tired, and only reacted after staring at Xiao Fuxuan for a while. "How?" he asked lazily.

"There’s no way to go on both sides. I’m not a demon nor do I have special abilities. As I said, I’m just a mortal. You just won’t believe me." He closed his eyes again, speaking in a mumble.

It seemed like he fell asleep already. But after a long time, he suddenly spoke again, "Xiao Fuxuan."

Xiao Fuxuan, who was still holding his sword in his arms, saw Wu Xingxue tuck his hand warmer away, revealing his thin wrist, "Since you didn’t believe me, why did you still save me?"

Xiao Fuxuan didn’t reply.

The person asking didn’t seem to expect a reply either. He closed his eyes and soon fell asleep.

***

Wu Xingxue was awoken by Ning Huaishan’s clamoring voice."What the– I adjusted the direction to west, by now we should be at the shore of White Deer Ford already. How the hell did the direction change?! Great, now we’re going to arrive in Zhaoye City late."

Who knew what about Zhaoye City had him so troubled, persuading and pressing Wu Xingxue to return as quickly as possible.

Wu Xingxue, on the other hand, knew he mustn’t agree.

That was the Devil’s Den. That was the absolute last place he’d go.

Wu Xingxue listened with his eyes closed for a bit and understood. During the night, someone probably changed the direction.

Ning Huaishan and One-arm slept like dead swine, it was obvious who did it.

But the Celestial Immortal was playing puppet again, turning a blind ear to the voices.

"Be quiet, where are we headed right now?" Wu Xingxue asked sleepily.

Ning Huaishan thought for a moment, "From the looks of it, we might have to pass around Chunfan City."

Chunfan City……

Chunfan City???

Wu Xingxue grew tense right away.

He still remembered what he had heard earlier. There was someone in Chunfan City named Yi Wusheng. If he wanted to return, he must seek his help.

The person who changed the direction was Xiao Fuxuan.

Could it be that this great immortal finally understood and believed him? That he decided to help him find Yi Wusheng and help him return?!

That made a bit of sense. The earlier he returned, the earlier this body could be returned to the Devil Lord. At that point, the Celestial Immortal could decide to jail or kill him, but that wouldn’t have anything to do with him.

Hopefully, that Yi Wusheng was a nice guy who would believe him and be willing to help.

***

They got off the boat at around five in the morning. A white flag hung near the place where he got off, with the blue words "Swallow Port" sewed into it. There was also a swallow.

It was about time for sunrise, but Swallow Port was still covered in thick fog. The only beings around were two young men with swords, probably some sect’s disciples.

When Wu Xingxue stepped onto the wooden port, he saw that their expression didn’t look too good. There was also a half-palm-sized divine statue hanging on their necks.

In addition, on the port, almost every wooden pole had a deity carved onto them.

Ning Huaishan and One-arm squatted down immediately after they got off.

"The statues here increased since a while back. We shouldn’t have landed here. Now great…" He cradled his head, looking very uncomfortable.

Before getting off, Wu Xingxue heard him mention a few things —

Although the Immortal Capital has perished, the common people still loved to carve divine statues. Those statues would gain some spiritual energy after consuming offerings and incense. Although they couldn’t eliminate the evil, it was enough to make them feel ill.

And now, most of the immortals lived in Meng City, Yuyang, and Lang Island. Those places were rather safe. As for the rest, people could only depend on small sects and stuff like these small carvings.

But even so, they still couldn’t stop the increasingly arrogant devils.

After all, the Immortal Capital was already gone. Most cultivators lost hope, and so the devils and demons grew more unrestrained. They were killing more people and living longer lives.

No wonder the Devil’s Den, Zhaoye City, was growing bigger and bigger, too.

In these years, even Meng City, Yuyang, and Lang Island were not as safe anymore, forcing the ports and gates to have divine statues carved everywhere.

Swallow Port was one of those.

Compared to Ning Huaishan and One-arm’s reaction, Wu Xingxue seemed a bit too normal.

He stood in the surrounding divine statues, not bothered by the slightest. He even felt like listening to the chatter between the two disciples.

"Now that the Northern Frontiers is gone, what do we do now? Won’t those devils and monsters grow even more wildly?"

"I wonder how much longer this place can last…"

"Hey, it’s hard to tell. Did you hear? The martial sister who went to the Northern Frontiers yesterday said that the Devil Lord Wu Xingxue might still be alive! With the crumbling of the Northern Frontiers, he might escape!"

"What are you talking about? There’s no way that’ll happen."

Wu Xingxue said to himself, "Silly children, that will happen. He not only got out, but he’s also listening to your conversation.”

Just as he was thinking of just leaving Ning Huaishan and One-arm here, he suddenly heard them continue.

One of them said, "If that Devil Lord really escaped, where do you think he’ll come for first? I’m kind of worried."

The other tried to comfort him, "Don’t worry, you don’t have to guess. It’s our Chunfan City for sure."

"……"

"Just think about it, so many people here have a grudge against him. The Gao Family, Shen Family, oh, and Mister Yi Wusheng. His father, brother, wife, and daughter all were killed by that Devil Lord. How pitiful…"

Wu Xingxue: "……"

“Wait, who? Who???"

Xiao Fuxuan lowered his head and said, "It’s the Yi Wusheng you’re looking for."

Wu Xingxue paused, then immediately turned around to leave.

And here I thought you were going to be helpful. Humph! I’ll stay in this body for a good a hundred years. I’ll see what you’re going to do then!