Chapter 111.1: The Paranoid Ning Tao, the Great Escape

When Qi Yuan spoke, everyone’s gaze fell upon the blood sphere. "Skyheart Palace Master, how do you explain this? Tell me, how could he be anything but the Blood Demon?"

The seven Supremes stared at Qi Yuan, yet sensed no terrifying aura from him. Knowing well that the Blood Demon hadn't fully formed, there was nothing to fear.

Ning Tao turned to look at Qi Yuan, her gaze full of resentment. "Oh, so you finally decided to see me."

Qi Yuan stared at her injuries with mixed emotions and uttered softly, "You could’ve just left me behind."

After all, this blood sphere wasn’t his real body. Even if it were destroyed, it wouldn’t affect him in the slightest.

Ning Tao lifted her chin, stubbornness flashing in her eyes. "Don't lump me with

a certain someone

who vanishes for decades, even centuries!"

Then, she turned to face the Supremes. "Like I said, no one can hurt you, so no one will."

An Origin aura spread from Ning Tao, merging her presence with the very world itself. The seven Supremes grew grim and followed suit.

Qi Yuan watched quietly and said calmly. "You’ll die like this. Why go so far? We’ve only met a few times, and barely exchanged a few words."

He truly couldn’t comprehend Ning Tao’s thoughts. She was akin to a stubborn child—fierce, irrational, and impossible to reason with.

Ning Tao snorted coldly. "

Hmph

."

She couldn’t be bothered to explain.

How could he possibly understand my thoughts? He is just another infuriating man!

One Supreme cackled. "Who would’ve thought that the dignified Skyheart Palace Master would be bewitched by the Blood Demon, falling into the trap of love?"

Another female Supreme sneered mockingly. "

Haha...

a demoness? In love?!"

Everyone knew that demonesses were cursed by heaven and earth. They repulsed everyone on sight, regarded as the ugliest beings in the world. And a demoness in love? That was the greatest joke under heaven! Who in this world would ever love such a wretch?

Ning Tao’s face turned cold. "Have you laughed enough? Get lost or die."

For the first time, Qi Yuan saw such a chilling side of her. She resembled a stray cat, baring her claws to face the cruel world.

Instead of getting angry, the female Supreme sneered. "Skyheart Palace Master, it seems that you'll die here, with this Blood Demon.”

Just then, Ning Tao’s voice echoed in Qi Yuan’s mind. "

I have some good news. Once the battle begins, I’ll release your restrictions. Run as far as you can.

"

Qi Yuan replied, "

Actually, I already left long ago.

"

𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

Ning Tao briefly froze, then murmured, "I know."

Qi Yuan smiled. "With seven Supremes attacking, even a Heavenly Dao class cultivator like me can't win."

Ning Tao wasn’t surprised. In her eyes, Qi Yuan was merely a Supreme from another world. He was bound by its laws, unable to unleash his full power. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have captured him so easily.

Ning Tao replied curtly, "You only need to leave. Don’t drag me down."

Qi Yuan’s tone grew serious. "I can’t leave. They've framed me as a Blood Demon and want me dead. My aunt may swallow the insult, but my uncle surely won't!"

Ning Tao was puzzled. "What do you mean?"

"I want to use your hands to kill them all."

"

Pfft.

You’re from another world. Do you really think you understand this world’s Origin better than us?”

Every world has its own Origin. In the Canglan World, Violet Palace realm cultivators could command it, but in the Flowing Wind World, they were only half a Supreme.

Qi Yuan smiled proudly. "You underestimate me! I know this world's Origin better than anyone!"

His battle at the Earth's End told him everything he needed to know.

The seven Supremes launched an attack. "Die!"

They unleashed their legendary Origin Divine Technique. Seven streams of Origin strikes surged toward Ning Tao. Even someone as powerful as her was overwhelmed. Unable to block them all, she had no choice but to endure one or two blows.

Just then, Qi Yuan’s voice rang in her ears. "

Gather the power of human and demon in your abdomen. Let the qi disperses to your palms, and flow through the void

."

Qi Yuan spoke so rapidly that Ning Tao barely followed, yet her body moved instinctively to his instructions. Akin to a carp dancing in a stormy sea, she twisted and spun, somehow dodging all seven strikes coming from different directions and layers.

Ning Tao was astonished. "How did you do that?"

The seven Supremes were even more shocked. Ning Tao seemed to grasp their techniques better than they did themselves, as though she had been the one to create them.

Impossible!

None of them had ever revealed their ultimate secrets to anyone.

They demanded. "What trick is this?! How did you do it?"

Ning Tao snorted. "

Hmph

. Why should I tell you?"

Thanks to Qi Yuan’s guidance, she narrowly survived. Still, she couldn't relax because the danger was not over. Hidden in the sky, she brandished her long whip, and thunder roared across the sky.

With a grim look on their faces, the seven Supremes screamed, "She must die!"

She had seen through their Origin Divine Techniques. They'd be sitting ducks against future enemies.

The female Supreme barked, "Keep her while she’s injured!"

They resumed their onslaught.

From behind, Qi Yuan continued to guide her through voice transmission. She could only withstand the Supremes because of his help.

***

Half a day later, in a barren desert...

Ning Tao fell from the sky, resembling a kite cut off from its string. Her face was pale, her black dress soaked in blood.

"

Cough

... I escaped... somehow..."

Now that danger had passed, she seemed more relaxed, though her voice was weak. "Husband, you truly care for me after all. Who would have thought you knew their divine techniques so well?"

Qi Yuan asked, "What happened? Why do they call me a Blood Demon?"

He had only been away for a little over ten years. Ning Tao had hidden the blood sphere in the underground palace. Logically, no one should have known of its existence except for her.

Ning Tao’s beautiful face turned cold as she said helplessly, "Nine years ago, rumours spread that a Blood Demon had appeared in Skyheart Palace. Not long after, several Supremes came as guests and suddenly attacked me. That was how your existence got exposed. Ever since then, I’ve been hunted by more than a dozen Supremes, and constantly on the run."

She was certain she had never revealed Qi Yuan’s existence, not even to her own palace's Supremes. Yet somehow, the rumors still spread like wildfire. It felt as if someone had deliberately targeted her, spreading fake news that turned out to be true.

Qi Yuan murmured, "You should’ve left me behind."

Because of him, Ning Tao had been hunted by the Supremes for nearly a decade, and was grievously wounded time and again.

Ning Tao smiled proudly. "My husband, are you feeling sorry for me? Didn't I say I’ll never abandon you?"

Qi Yuan gazed at her half-exposed face, which was jaw-droppingly gorgeous, and asked, "I’m curious about demons. May I see the other side of your face?"

Back at Nine Plate Mountain, he’d never heard that women with the word 'Demon' carved on their faces were called demonesses. Even the Great Demon, who was the Buddha’s beloved, hadn’t borne such a mark.

What does demon truly mean? Why is the world so repulsed by it?

He wanted to see for himself.

"No!" Ning Tao’s reaction was sharp. Her eyes glinted as she stared at him. "I'll never let you see it."

Qi Yuan didn’t press and replied quietly, "Then heal yourself first."

He felt inexplicable emotions toward Ning Tao. In ancient times, Zhao Zilong had carried young Liu Chan through seven battles and seven retreats. Now, Ning Tao had carried him through slaughter across the northern lands. [1]

Ning Tao said nothing more, focusing on healing her wounds. Night fell. Qi Yuan didn’t leave the blood sphere to return to the City of No Return. He stayed by her side.

Ning Tao was unconscious from her severe injuries. Her healing technique barely did anything to mend her frail body. Even in sleep, her brows were furrowed, her slender frame curled slightly to the side. Beneath the hem of her skirt, her bare, fair feet were revealed, her five delicate toes curling unconsciously. For one so revered as a Supreme, her unease was painfully clear, exuding deep insecurity.

Qi Yuan watched her face silently, lost in thought.

After some time, Ning Tao murmured in her sleep, her soft, tearful voice breaking the silence, "Am I that revolting? Why won’t you come see me?"

Tears flowed down her helpless face, akin to glimmering pearls. She was curled up. When she opened her eyes, Qi Yuan was still there.

She asked with a look of surprise, "You didn’t leave?"

Qi Yuan uttered, "You talked in your sleep again, didn't expect a Supreme to do that."

It was the third time he’d heard her.

Half of Ning Tao's face flushed pink, making her peach-like complexion even more radiant. "I did not! Even if I did, what does that have to do with you?"

Qi Yuan replied calmly, "I never said it did."

1. In a famous episode from Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Zhao Zilong, also known as Zhao Yun, was a legendary general under Liu Bei. During the Battle of Changban, he single-handedly charged through the enemy army seven times to rescue Liu Bei’s infant son Liu Chan and fought his way out alone over a thousand miles, protecting the child all the way. ☜