Chapter 111.2: The Paranoid Ning Tao, the Great Escape

Ning Tao turned her head away, refusing to look at him. "

Hmph!

"

Yet, the chain that bound Qi Yuan remained within her tight grasp.

After a long silence, Ning Tao finally said, "Are you the Blood Demon, after all? Otherwise, how could you see the flaws in their divine technique? Is that why everyone insists that the Blood Demon must die?"

Ning Tao had her doubts. She never believed the tales that Blood Demon brought calamity to the world. Being a demoness was already a curse.

Qi Yuan snapped. "I’m not some damn Blood Demon!"

Back at Nine Plate Mountain, he’d been called the Blood Master or Blood Drop, but never the Blood Demon!

"But the world believes you are, therefore you are," Ning Tao answered softly. Her eyes darkened with worry, then she smiled. "A demoness and a Blood Demon, husband and wife. Perhaps, heaven has bound our fates together after all."

"If I said I’m not a Blood Demon, would you believe me?"

Ning Tao fell silent for a moment, before replying, "I believe you."

Within her heart, she uttered the words she dared not speak aloud.

My belief means nothing if the world refuses to believe.

"That damned Supreme One keeps insisting I’m the Blood Demon. If I ever meet him, I’ll beat him up."

She laughed lightly. "Then I shall help, my husband."

Qi Yuan said seriously, "With that frail body of yours? Better focus on recovering. If they chase us again, I might not even be able to save you."

He was right. Though he’d helped her immensely, he couldn't change her fate. The North was full of Supremes, and they were unlike those old half-cripples at the Earth's End. In fact, the only way for Ning Tao to change her destiny was to forsake Qi Yuan.

Ning Tao merely smiled, "I’ve grown used to being hunted. Before, I was always alone. Now, I have you by my side, what’s there to fear?"

***

Decades passed in a blink. During those years, Ning Tao and Qi Yuan endured endless pursuit and slaughter. Qi Yuan had witnessed over a hundred different Supremes. Thanks to his guidance, she survived countless calamities, yet her wounds grew deeper with each battle.

That wasn't to say Qi Yuan was always by her side either. At times, he'd go back to City of No Return to slay demons, his strength steadily climbing.

He had reached level 109, just a step away from level 120, the realm of the Supremes of this world.

***

A crystal clear pool stood before them, devoid of any living creature. Ning Tao stepped slowly into the water, her white, jade feet resembling white lotus roots.

The moment she entered, the water turned red, before clearing again. With a trace of nostalgia on her face, she murmured, "It was by this very pool that I first heard your voice."

She had been young, wounded, and hunted by many. However, the moment she heard his voice, her bleak life changed.

The cold water numbed her skin, but what she felt most was weariness. After decades of fleeing, even her Origin was damaged. Her life’s breath was faint, and she could die any moment.

She stared at Qi Yuan. "Husband, may I see what you truly look like? I’m so curious."

Qi Yuan replied, "I’m curious about the other half of your face too. If you show me yours, I’ll show you mine. No photos, no videos, fair trade."

Knowing how obsessive she could be, he dared not reveal his true body, fearing she would trap him here.

Ning Tao lowered her head, half-submerged in the water, and mumbled, "Forget it, it’s better if I don’t let you see me. Otherwise, you’ll turn against me, just like everyone else."

She blew lightly on the water's surface, rippling the still pool. Never would she show him the other half of her face. He was the only one she still cared about. How could she bear it if he were to look at her with disgust?

Still, she gave a teasing smile. "Husband, why are you so fixated on that half of my face? It’s late at night, just imagine I’m someone else. I can even wear those black silk stockings you like and let you do as you please."

Qi Yuan vehemently rejected it. "I’m pure and innocent! Don’t tempt me!"

Though the Demonic Origin lust once influenced him, he refused to be a slave to it. When love was strong, things would unfold naturally. The two fell silent again, Ning Tao simply soaked in the water.

About fifteen minutes later, Qi Yuan asked, "Do you know how strong the Supreme One and the White Supreme are?"

Despite being level 109, he was still a nobody among the great powers. He wanted to understand how high the peak in this world was.

Ning Tao’s expression turned solemn. "The Supreme One and the White Supreme... if they wished, they could kill me with a single finger."

Qi Yuan was shocked. "They are that strong?"

Among the Supremes, Ning Tao was far from weak. If even she could be slain with one finger, what level of power was that? The Canglan World's equivalent would likely be the Yin Spirit realm cultivator. Just the thought made his heart grow heavy.

Even the Great Sun—that incomplete Yin Spirit he fought before—had been so difficult to defeat. And now, there were two complete Yin Spirits in this world!

Qi Yuan thought to himself. "I'd better keep a low profile. I can't let the big bosses notice me so soon."

Not long ago, a handsome young man had come to the City of No Return, claiming to be the White Supreme’s disciple. He’d even invited Qi Yuan to the White Supreme Palace.

Yeah, right! Maybe when I reach Level 99,999, then I'll consider it.

Thinking of the Bright Palace back in the real world, which could also have Yin Spirit realm cultivator, Qi Yuan frowned deeply. "Ning Tao, do you think a powerful Overlord could ever kill the Supreme One?”

An Overlord was equivalent to a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

She chuckled. "Husband, that's far too unrealistic!"

Qi Yuan asked further, "Then, what about a Nation Subjugator?"

The Nation Subjugator was equivalent to a Core Formation cultivator, while he was nowhere near one in his current state.

Ning Tao laughed again. "Even the strongest Nation Subjugator couldn’t."

After all, she could kill one with a single breath.

He pressed on. "What if that Nation Subjugator is as big as Ultraguy?"

Ning Tao was the strongest person Qi Yuan had met so far, with whom he could also converse with. She was a late-stage Supreme, hence he naturally wanted to ask her a few questions. If she happened to give him some inspiration, maybe he could use it against Bright Palace.

To deal with them, Qi Yuan would at least need the power of a Yin Spirit. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to sleep peacefully at night.

"I don’t know how big Ultraguy is, but if he were as big as the Flowing Wind World, then perhaps they could defeat the Supreme One."

Qi Yuan was speechless, inspiration diminishing. "As big as the entire Flowing Wind World...?"

What Ning Tao said made perfect sense. If he could form a Core as large as the Flowing Wind World itself, wouldn’t the entire Bright Palace be crushed under its weight?

Such a Core would be utterly domineering! He'd throw it at whoever dared to defy him. That was far more impressive than his earlier idea of forming a Core from Demonic Origin.

Qi Yuan grew more and more excited. "Ning Tao, you’re brilliant, even smarter than my genius brain by half a notch!"

Then he sighed. Where could he possibly make such a huge Core? Even if someone gave him an excavator and let him dig until the seas ran dry and the rocks turned to dust, he still wouldn’t be able to hollow out a whole world to make into his Core.

The thought left him worried and anxious. He stopped thinking about Immortal Core altogether. Compared to that, refining an entire world into a Core would truly be worthy of Heavenly Dao class!

Ning Tao said nothing more, quietly soaking in the water.

Meanwhile, Qi Yuan was using his “brilliant mind” to seriously ponder the possibility of refining the Flowing Wind World, or perhaps some other world, into his own core.

The Great Sun truly is a genius!

He grew even more convinced that the Daydream Art suited him perfectly.

After a long time, Ning Tao’s sweet, delicate voice broke the silence. "Husband...”

Her tone was gentle and sweet, just like the first time he'd heard her speak.

Qi Yuan stopped thinking and looked over. The water shimmered, and Ning Tao's eyes were filled with anticipation. "If I were to die, could I at least see my husband’s true face once?"

Qi Yuan said regretfully, "Don’t jinx yourself, if you’d let me go earlier, things wouldn’t have turned out like this. Now you’ve offended the entire North. Even if you abandon me now, it’s already too late."

Ning Tao was incredibly strong. Over the decades, she had slain six Supremes herself. Today, the North's two most wanted fugitives were the Blood Demon and Ning Tao herself.

Her voice trembled softly. "Like I said, I’ll never abandon you. I'm not heartless like you, always casting me aside, leaving me all by myself!"

Qi Yuan didn’t take her words too seriously. Who could tell how much truth there was in what she said? Still, her words stirred something deep within him.

He had to reach level 120 as soon as possible and raise his power. He wanted to return to Nine Plate Mountain. Each time, he’d left without a word.

Looking at Ning Tao, he said quietly, "Have I ever abandoned you?"

They had hardly met, how could he have left her?