Earlier, in the Ancient Hundred Demons Kingdom.
Amidst a chain of mist-shrouded mountains, there stood a towering peak alone like a crane among the ridges.
From a distance, it oddly resembled a middle finger raised to the sky.
This mountain was called Zhuihe Mountain, the residence of Li Changyi.
But ever since the so-called peace treaty was signed among the Four Great Ancient Kingdoms and he became a teacher at the Ancient Kingdom Academy, he seldom returned to live here.
However, due to his esteemed status, some demons would still come regularly to maintain the place on his behalf.
Within the mountain, exotic flowers and herbs bloomed wildly, and numerous unformed auspicious beasts and rare birds made their homes here.
Yet, despite this ethereal, fairyland-like environment, a few half-built palaces were scattered around the mountainside, appearing as if construction had been abruptly halted, standing out incongruously.
Only upon reaching the mountain’s summit could one sporadically see a clear spring pond and several thatched cottages clustered together.
Among these, the cleanest-looking hut housed Shangguan Xunyi, who sat on the bed with a furrowed brow.
She still wore the same clothes as before, but now invisible Shackles bound her body.
“It seems Master brought me back.”
She easily recognized who had imposed the Shackles, having experienced her Stellar Power Threads going berserk before—this sensation was far from new.
Only this time, the exhaustion after awakening was even greater.
“Oh, and Xiao Mu… Master might have brought Xiao Mu back too.”
Suddenly recalling something, she scanned the room but found no sign of the two.
She then tried sensing the surrounding aura but came up empty.
“Just as I thought…”
Disappointment surged briefly, but she quickly stabilized her emotions.
The Killing Intent of the Stars curiously did not affect her mind this time.
She lowered her gaze to the blood-red spear resting on the edge of the bed, recalling the moment the young boy pressed the spear to her neck, a sharp pang striking her heart.
“First, I’ll break these Shackles. Although Master added them, they’re not that difficult to remove.”
Shangguan Xunyi closed her eyes, sitting cross-legged as blood-red Stellar Power Threads flowed through her body.
After a short while, the previously invisible Shackles slowly manifested—
White Crane Chains winding around her limbs, emanating an arcane aura.
“Break.”
With a low voice came the crisp sound of chains snapping.
After the time of a single incense stick, she finally broke the first Shackle, but a wave of weakness swept over her entire body.
“No… I have to keep going…”
Clutching her chest, she prepared to continue dismantling the remaining Shackles, when a faint voice echoed in her mind.
[Listen, forcibly breaking Shackles like this only wastes your energy. Everything follows its own rules, and so do these Shackles. Instead of tearing them apart, try feeling the direction of the power flowing through them. That might work better.]
“Direction…”
She instinctively tried to comprehend, but suddenly snapped her eyes open, her nerves taut.
“Who are you? Why dare you trespass in my Master’s sanctuary?”
[Me? I’m you.]
“Me? What nonsense are you spouting? Speak clearly—who exactly are you? Don’t blame me if I’m not polite.”
[Not polite? You can’t even break the Shackles on your own body, yet you want to attack others?]
“That doesn’t affect me.”
[Uh… Fine, I’ll amplify your own power so you can break the Shackles. How about that?]
“What reason do I have to trust you?”
[You have to, whether you want to or not. Enough whining already. I’m helping you, you know.]
Before Shangguan Xunyi could question further, she felt a familiar power surging from within.
“This overwhelming Killing Intent…”
She murmured, but felt an unprecedented calmness.
Strangely, she didn’t lose control despite the power.
Though she didn’t know who the woman speaking was, she felt no hostile intent, and since this was Master’s Cloud Crane Mountain, no one would dare act rashly here…
She shook her arm and sat cross-legged again.
If that’s the case, I might as well use this chance to break the Shackles on my body.
After all, I still need to confirm Xiao Mu’s safety…
With that thought, she closed her eyes and began slowly dismantling the remaining three Shackles.
But along with that came the questioning voice of the “self-proclaimed self.”
[So, you really intend to visit that Lixun Ancient Kingdom again? Just for that man whose heart belongs to someone else?]
[No, Shangguan Xunyi, are you stupid? Your body is so weak now. Even if you prepare more treasures, if you bring him out, how can you guarantee you’ll make it out?]
[Hey, answer me! Don’t ignore me! I’m asking you!]
The incessant chattering echoed in Shangguan Xunyi’s mind, questions coming nonstop.
Finally, after breaking the last Shackle, she couldn’t take it anymore.
“By the way, who exactly are you? What do you want from doing all this?”
“Who am I!? I just told you, I’m you!”
The voice flared with sudden anger as the starry figure climbed out of the girl’s body, stomping her tiny feet in frustration.
“I helped you break the Shackles, and you still don’t trust me?”
Shangguan Xunyi looked in puzzlement at the spirit form resembling herself, composed of Stellar Power Threads, prompting the figure to nearly curse again.
But she restrained herself, gave the girl a tired glare, and explained softly.
“Fine, I’ll explain carefully. Listen well.”
“Precisely, I am the condensation of your Desire, the embodiment of your Killing Intent, born from your will to protect that damned Yun Mu. I know it’s hard to accept right now, but that’s the truth. Do you understand?”
Desire?
Killing Intent?
Protect Yun Mu…?
What nonsense is this?
The girl recalled the burst of killing aura during her previous fight and seemed to realize something.
Could it be the power unleashed when I fought Shangguan Hongzhi back then…
“Exactly, I was born at that moment. Didn’t you notice you suddenly became much stronger? That was all me, though in the end we still lost…”
“How do you know what I’m thinking?”
Hearing this, Shangguan Xunyi instantly became alert.
She raised her eyes to the little spirit and wielded her spear as if to strike.
Strangely, her right hand froze midair, unable to move.
The spirit suddenly vanished and reappeared on her arm.
Then came a faint voice.
“What’s there to doubt? I’m deeply connected to your Stellar Power Threads. As I said, my essence is the manifestation of your inner desires, so reading your mind is quite easy. Besides, after you overuse your power, your spirit weakens, so now I can even ‘control’ your body directly…”
With that, she dashed back into the girl’s body, swaying the spear lightly, and said casually.
“By the way, I took the liberty of reading your memories while you slept, learning a bit about your human world. I gave myself a name—Sha Qianmo. How about it? Kill for thousands of years until only silence remains. Pretty great, right…?”
Before the words fell, Sha Qianmo felt a strong tearing force.
When she opened her eyes, she was again expelled from the girl’s body into midair, while Shangguan Xunyi munched on a Spirit-restoring Pill.
“I don’t care if you’re Sha Qianmo or Sha Baimo, don’t occupy my body without permission, or I’ll thrash you,”
Shangguan Xunyi said with disgust as her spear sliced beside Sha Qianmo.
“And don’t read my mind without asking.”
“Tsk… I told you, I’m basically you. No need for so much hostility… Forget it, I don’t even know how to explain this to you. You’re too stubborn to believe it anyway. Just know I won’t hurt you—that wouldn’t benefit me.”
“That’s just your word. How can I be sure you won’t harm me?”
Seeing Shangguan Xunyi’s continued distrust, Sha Qianmo nearly cursed outright.
But adhering to their “mutual interest,” she swallowed her retort.
She sighed deeply, closed her eyes, and began radiating the Stellar Power Threads composing her form outward.
Within moments, slender Spirit Form threads appeared before Shangguan Xunyi, one end connected to Sha Qianmo, the other to her pulse gate.
“While you still have some strength, try channeling your Stellar Power Threads.”
Her form flickered slightly; her tone was sincere, which made Shangguan Xunyi pause.
The girl stared at the little spirit, sighed, and waved a hand.
“Forget it, I won’t waste energy on this. I didn’t sense malice in your aura just now, so I’ll tentatively trust you…”
That completely unraveled Sha Qianmo.