Breaking the Precept

Jian Xiaolou paused beside Jiao Er, momentarily unsure which foot to step forward with. Oddly enough, she felt an overwhelming sense of familiarity toward the masked cultivator.

She asked in a daze, "Senior, have we met before?"

Jiao Er hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Yes."

"When we brought back your corpse, we all thought you were dead. It was Uncle Jiao who said you'd split your soul," Zhan Tianxiang interjected, knowing Jiao Er was sparing with words. He explained, "He probably examined your soul back then, which might explain why you feel familiar."

Jian Xiaolou nodded in understanding. "So that's it."

But deep down, she knew that wasn't the reason. If she didn't know him, then Hong Lian (her soul flame) must have.

Jiao Er remained silent, one hand clasped behind his back as he led the way forward.

As they walked, Zhan Tianxiang transmitted his voice to her, uncaring if Jiao Er overheard. "Uncle Jiao was my father's sworn brother when they were young. He has saved my father's life countless times. Father often says he wouldn't have survived to this day without him."

Jian Xiaolou acknowledged with an "Oh" before asking, "What's his cultivation level?"

"Probably the peak of the Golden Core stage," Zhan Tianxiang frowned. "But none of us know for sure. Even his origins are a mystery, though he's the person my father trusts the most."

Jian Xiaolou refrained from pressing further. After a moment's hesitation, she activated the Ksitigarbha Sutra to employ the Red Lotus Truth-Seeking Technique and gazed at Jiao Er ahead.

Everything seemed normal; the spiritual energy surrounding him was stable...

Suddenly, spiritual energy surged wildly around Jiao Er, and a crushing pressure barreled toward her!

The pressure transformed into sword-like killing intent, slicing through the air as if opening a rift, aiming directly at her spiritual platform.

"Uncle Jiao?!" Zhan Tianxiang barely had time to react, stepping in front of her. The murderous energy dissolved as it approached him, but his tone carried anger and bewilderment. "What are you doing?!"

Jiao Er didn't turn around. "Peeking at others without permission is a bad habit," he said curtly, striding forward again.

"Unbelievable!" Zhan Tianxiang fumed. "What's the harm in probing with divine sense? Does it warrant such hostility?"

Jiao Er ignored the outburst and continued walking.

Jian Xiaolou's heart pounded. Her Red Lotus Truth-Seeking Technique was imperceptible even to an old ghost like Huai You, yet Jiao Er detected it instantly. Either his cultivation was unimaginably profound, or he possessed some extraordinary treasure.

Inside Zhan Tianxiang's mother's cavern, they were informed Zhan Tianming had already arrived. Jian Xiaolou was left waiting outside.

Zhan Tianxiang went in alone.

Jian Xiaolou thought about how large families like theirs often turned something as simple as a family gathering into a grand event. There was nothing to envy, really.

Still, she was curious about Zhan Tianxiang's mother.

Her name was Mu Wanyan, and she hailed from a reclusive and enigmatic clan. For generations, women from this clan served as the matriarchs of the Zhan family. No one knew what sort of pact the two families had formed.

Rumors abounded that Mu clan women possessed special constitutions that greatly benefited the Zhan family's sword cultivation techniques. There was likely some truth to it; otherwise, even a Tier 4 ferocious beast wouldn't have attempted to take over her body, which had turned Zhan Tianxiang into a half-human, half-demon.

Before long, one of Mu Wanyan's maids arrived to invite Jian Xiaolou inside.

Taking a deep breath, Jian Xiaolou mustered her courage and stepped in, bowing deeply without raising her head. "Junior Jian Xiaolou greets Madam Zhan and Young Master."

"Dispense with the formalities, Jian Xiaoyou," Mu Wanyan said warmly, gesturing for her to sit.

The absence of any suppressive aura in the room allowed Jian Xiaolou to relax. But when she finally looked up, she was taken aback.

Mu Wanyan sat at the head seat, Zhan Tianxiang stood by her side, and another man drinking tea was likely Zhan Tianming.

Jian Xiaolou hadn't seen Zhan Tianming at the Fire Refining Sect before, so she had no impression of him. However, he bore a striking resemblance to Zhan Tianxiang, albeit with an added air of authority that came from being in a position of power for a long time.

The two brothers seemed to take after their father...

Because compared to them, Mu Wanyan looked utterly ordinary—and remarkably old. She appeared to be at least fifty, an oddity for a Golden Core stage female cultivator.

Female cultivators generally loved beauty, practicing longevity techniques or using beauty-preserving pills to maintain their youth, especially someone like the matriarch of the prestigious Zhan family.

And yet, Mu Wanyan's age was plain for all to see.

"You're quite a lovely young lady. Tianxiang has good taste," Mu Wanyan remarked with a matronly smile as she appraised Jian Xiaolou. Her expression briefly froze upon noticing the red mark on Jian Xiaolou's forehead but quickly returned to its warm demeanor. "What do you think, Tianming?"

"Mother is right," Zhan Tianming replied flatly, resuming his tea.

Jian Xiaolou glanced sideways at Zhan Tianxiang, whose face was flushed red.

"Mother, Xiaolou and I are just friends. It's not what you think—" Zhan Tianxiang stammered.

But his mother paid him no mind and continued chatting with Jian Xiaolou. For over half an hour, Mu Wanyan pried into every detail of Jian Xiaolou's life before finally letting her leave.

As Jian Xiaolou stepped out, a female cultivator in yellow robes blocked her path. "So you're the sweetheart of that idiot Zhan Tianxiang? You don't look like much. Let me see... a red mark on your forehead? What kind of taste does he have?"

Who was this now?

Jian Xiaolou frowned. "I'm not his mother. How would I know what kind of taste he has?"

The woman blinked in surprise before bursting into laughter. "Quick wit, I'll give you that."

Jian Xiaolou remained expressionless.

The yellow-robed cultivator pointed at herself smugly. "I'm Zhan Tianming's fiancée. If you marry that idiot, you'll have to call me big sister-in-law!"

Jian Xiaolou was speechless. So, she must be a Mu clan woman as well.

Her features were ordinary but had a certain youthful vitality.

Unfazed, the woman insisted, "Go on, call me big sister-in-law!"

"I have no such relationship with Zhan Tianxiang," Jian Xiaolou replied, exasperated.

The woman stamped her foot. "I don't care. Call me big sister-in-law!"

Jian Xiaolou suddenly felt the urge to introduce her to Chu Fengchen.

Before she could respond, Zhan Tianxiang appeared and pulled Jian Xiaolou behind him. "Mu Ruyi, what nonsense are you spouting? Go take your medicine."

"Zhan Tianxiang! Spent a few years in the demon lands and now you dare use my full name? Don't forget I'm heading to the Shura Hell with your brother soon. When we both form our Golden Cores and hold our dual cultivation ceremony, you'll have no choice but to call me big sister-in-law!"

Zhan Tianxiang dragged Jian Xiaolou away without another word. As they walked, he explained via transmission, "Ignore her. She's been infatuated with my brother since childhood and has always been a bit... off."

Jian Xiaolou laughed. "So marrying your brother means she's off, but marrying you means she's not?"

"That's not what I meant! Don't misunderstand..." Zhan Tianxiang hesitated before adding, "You've seen my mother now. Was she different from what you expected?"

Jian Xiaolou kept silent. That's his family matter.

He continued, "You've probably heard the rumors that the Zhan family patriarch must marry a Mu clan woman. They're true. Our family practices a sword art called the Shura Blood Intent. It has two volumes: Earth and Human. Only the patriarch's lineage can cultivate the Earth volume, but it has a fatal flaw—one is highly likely to go mad during Core Formation or Nascent Soul breakthroughs."

"And the Mu clan women?" Jian Xiaolou prompted.

Zhan Tianxiang nodded. "They possess a unique bloodline. By dual cultivating with a Mu clan woman in the Shura Hell, the chances of a successful breakthrough greatly increase. Unfortunately, the woman's cultivation will stagnate forever, and she will inevitably suffer the five deteriorations of the human realm, with no way to reverse it."

Jian Xiaolou glanced back at Mu Ruyi. "Does she know?"

"She does, but she's still eager to marry him," Zhan Tianxiang said, his tone laced with helplessness. "Ever since I can remember, she's been infatuated with my brother and has always demanded I call