Chapter 57

Luo Han’s back was taut with tension as she discreetly messaged Ling Qingxiao, “Is he looking at us?”
“It’s fine. Don’t worry.”
Ling Qingxiao kept her shielded in front of him and naturally led her toward a stall, where he picked up an item and examined it before making a purchase.
This particular vendor only accepted bartered trades. The goods didn’t have to be from the demon realm—anything useful would suffice. For Ling Qingxiao, this was no challenge at all.
Lei Ba remained eerily still, his expression dark and unreadable as he stared at that familiar silhouette for a long moment. The person in question, however, showed no signs of discomfort under his scrutiny. They continued browsing, inquiring about prices, and interacting with the vendor as if wholly unbothered.
This left only two possibilities: either they truly did not know Lei Ba, or their courage and composure were beyond measure.
The black market had strict rules against probing identities. After observing for a while, Lei Ba finally averted his gaze and resumed walking with his subordinates.
Luo Han and Ling Qingxiao had already scouted the black market beforehand. While they couldn’t claim to know every corner, they were familiar enough with the general layout. As soon as Lei Ba left, Luo Han exhaled quietly and asked in a whisper, “They’re gone. Should we follow them?”
“No.” Ling Qingxiao’s response was firm. “He’s deliberately fishing. Stay put and keep watching.”
Lei Ba led his men in a slow circuit around the market, but no one approached them. The suspicious figure he had noticed earlier remained in place, leisurely browsing the stalls as if completely absorbed in their shopping.
A subordinate, confused, eventually asked, “Boss, the appointed time is approaching. What are you doing?”
The scar on Lei Ba’s face twitched slightly. After a pause, he muttered, “It’s nothing. I was probably overthinking. Let’s go.”
When they arrived at the designated meeting point, the other party was already waiting. They, too, were cloaked, but their hoods bore an embroidered purple lotus at the upper right corner, with matching purple belts—a clear insignia of the Red Lotus Demon King’s people.
Neither side revealed their goods right away. Instead, they exchanged multiple coded phrases to confirm each other’s identities before proceeding.
Lei Ba retrieved a storage pouch from inside his robes and once again used his divine sense to inspect its contents—confirming that the Demon-Sealing Stone was still inside.
Luo Han, watching from a distance, silently breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, they hadn’t gone with the plan to swap out Lei Ba’s storage pouch earlier. No matter how flawlessly they executed it, if Lei Ba had checked it now, all their efforts would have been in vain.
Lei Ba was extremely cautious—unsurprisingly so. He wouldn’t have been entrusted with such a mission otherwise. After verifying the pouch, he spoke a few words before reaching out to hand it over.
The demon receiving it, for reasons unknown, fumbled and let it slip from his grasp.
Fortunately, they were all cultivators—before the pouch could hit the ground, another demon swiftly caught it. The lead demon took the pouch again, and this time, he exercised greater care. Without hesitation, he placed it directly into the tip of his own horn.
This horn was a natural storage space unique to the One-Horned Rhino Clan. Only its owner could access it. If the rhino were to die, the storage space would collapse, ensuring that its contents could never fall into enemy hands.
The demons visibly relaxed upon seeing the pouch secured. The One-Horned Rhino’s innate storage ability was considered foolproof. Whatever was inside would reach the Red Lotus Demon King intact. With the transaction completed smoothly, they could now retreat without incident.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the two groups parted ways.
Meanwhile, from an alley two streets away, Ling Qingxiao pressed Luo Han’s hand down and whispered, “Move.”
The One-Horned Rhino’s sudden fumble had not been an accident—it was Ling Qingxiao’s doing.
At the exact moment the storage pouch slipped from the demon’s grasp, the surrounding space had been quietly severed, and the real pouch had been extracted.
In its place was an identical pouch containing a fake Zhu Xian Stone.
The One-Horned Rhino had unknowingly sealed a worthless counterfeit within his horn.
For now, the demons suspected nothing. Ling Qingxiao, having succeeded in the swap, wasted no time in pulling Luo Han away.
They couldn’t stay here for long. Any moment now, the demons might realize something was amiss. They had to leave the black market immediately.
On another street, Ye Zinan and Zou Jibai stood watch, their fists clenched in nervous anticipation. Suddenly, the communication token in their hands vibrated. They quickly took it out and saw a message from Ling Qingxiao.
"Mission accomplished. Withdraw immediately."
Zou Jibai was caught between excitement and disbelief. “That’s it? We actually pulled it off?”
Ye Zinan smacked him on the back of the head, barely restraining his excitement. “What’s with all the nonsense? Let’s go, we’re done here!”
Meanwhile, Luo Han and Ling Qingxiao exited the black market, weaving through the dark alleys before merging into the main street outside. Night had already fallen, and the Ten Thousand Beasts Festival was in full swing. Parade troupes danced through the streets, the crowds surged like waves, and vendors lined both sides of the road, their stalls so packed they left barely any room to walk.
The festival was a grand celebration where everyone dressed in disguise. Stalls selling masks and accessories were everywhere, blending seamlessly into the festive atmosphere. Under the cover of darkness, Luo Han didn’t even see how Ling Qingxiao made his move—one moment, he was empty-handed, the next, he had two sets of festival attire in his grasp.
The stall owner, too busy shouting for customers, didn’t hear or notice anything unusual. It was only when they turned around that they saw a golden demon coin lying atop their display.
“Huh?” The vendor blinked in surprise. “Where did this come from? Who left it here?”
In the dim alley, Ling Qingxiao pulled Luo Han all the way to the deepest corner before handing her a set of clothing. “Change into this.”
Luo Han glanced at their surroundings, then at his face. She took the clothes from him and said, “Good thing you’re good-looking. Otherwise, with that line just now, any girl would have you charged for harassment.”
Ling Qingxiao let out a long-suffering sigh, too weary to argue. He turned away and walked to the entrance of the alley. “It’s fine. No one will come this way. Take your time.”
Luo Han was a master of verbal sparring—few could out-talk her, and Ling Qingxiao had long since given up trying. He stood at the alley’s entrance and deliberately sealed off his senses and divine perception. The garments he had chosen were just cloaks and masks, meant to be worn over their existing clothes, so there was no need for her to undress. But that wasn’t the point—changing clothes, for a woman, was still a private matter. He instinctively gave her space, without the slightest thought of prying.
Luo Han put away her black cloak, pulled the beastfolk cloak over her shoulders, and secured the ears and mask in place. The transformation was so complete that even if Lei Ba and his men stood right in front of her, they wouldn’t recognize her—hell, even she wouldn’t recognize herself.
Still, walking in this getup felt a little strange. She shifted awkwardly. “Alright, I’m done.”
Ling Qingxiao turned around, and his pupils visibly contracted.
Luo Han grew more self-conscious. “It’s a festival outfit—of course, it’s a bit over-the-top.”
On her head, white feline ears twitched slightly, the fluffy fur looking almost real. The half-mask covering her face was exquisitely crafted, leaving only the lower half of her face exposed, along with a pair of bright, expressive eyes. The mask’s fine brushstrokes extended outward, accentuating the natural allure of her gaze—somewhere between innocence and temptation.
Her cloak, too, was modeled after cat demons, the entire thing covered in soft fur.
Luo Han shifted under his gaze. “Well? Does it look bad?”
“…No.” Ling Qingxiao turned his face away and coughed lightly. “I just...wasn’t expecting this. It’s...cute.”
Ling Qingxiao was never one to waste words on flattery. In fact, precisely because he rarely gave compliments, whenever he did, his words struck with deadly precision.
Luo Han found herself at a loss. She hurriedly changed the subject. “Didn’t you grab two outfits? Where’s yours?”
Ling Qingxiao’s expression darkened slightly.
Luo Han immediately sensed something was off. She wasn’t about to let this golden opportunity slip away. “Come on, we’re on a mission. No personal emotions allowed! Be professional. Show me what you got!”
Ling Qingxiao remained motionless. Luo Han, unwilling to let it go, lunged forward to snatch it from him. He swiftly held the garment behind his back, dodging her reach. Luo Han narrowed her eyes and launched a surprise attack—Ling Qingxiao instinctively stepped back, causing her to stumble forward.
He reached out to steady her before she could fall, his left hand catching her arm, while her right hand, carried by momentum, landed squarely against his waist.
Her palm pressed against smooth, flowing fabric, but beneath it, his muscles were taut and well-defined, lean yet firm, his core strength evident.
Luo Han quickly straightened, but in that brief moment, she had to admit—his waist was exactly as she had imagined. Slim, strong, and perfectly toned.
Ling Qingxiao didn’t even react to the push—it was barely a nudge to him. He simply held her steady and asked, “What was that?”
“Nothing.” Luo Han nodded, then immediately shook her head. “I, uh, miscalculated my strength.”
Realizing she was still stuck against him, she hurriedly pried his fingers off. “Now, where’s the outfit?”
Ling Qingxiao let out a weary sigh. “It’s in my storage pouch.”
There was no escaping this. With clear reluctance, he retrieved the garment.
The moment Luo Han saw it, she nearly burst out laughing. “A nine-tailed fox?”
Ling Qingxiao said nothing.
Luo Han didn’t know whether to marvel at fate’s sense of humor or Ling Qingxiao’s sheer rotten luck. “You remember when we went to the pleasure house a few days ago, and I wanted to touch the nine-tailed fox lady’s tails, but you wouldn’t let me? Look at you now—karma strikes fast! Are you sure this wasn’t deliberate?”
Ling Qingxiao didn’t even want to talk. His voice took on a rare note of frustration. “Of course not. I was in a hurry—I didn’t check the design.”
“It’s fine.” Luo Han snatched the fox ears and gleefully squeezed them twice. “Put them on. Let me see.”
Ling Qingxiao refused to cooperate.
Luo Han pouted. “I put mine on—why won’t you? Come on, lower your head.”
When he still didn’t budge, she took matters into her own hands. Standing on her toes, she forcibly secured the fox ears onto his head.
Ling Qingxiao flinched but ultimately resigned himself to his fate. He let out a defeated sigh and shut his eyes in silent suffering.
Putting on the ears was already pushing it—there was no way he was wearing the tail.
Luo Han actually wanted to touch the ears, but since Ling Qingxiao wouldn’t lower his head, she simply couldn’t reach. Left with no choice, she regretfully gave up. “Alright, all that’s left is the cloak.”
She naturally reached out to fasten the cloak for Ling Qingxiao. Just as he realized something was off and tried to step back, Luo Han grabbed his sleeve. “Don’t move.”
Ling Qingxiao stiffened in place. Luo Han was standing so close, working on his cloak, that all he had to do was lower his gaze to meet her eyes. The distance between them was far too intimate, certainly beyond the bounds of normal social interaction.
Ling Qingxiao found himself frozen. It wasn’t that he minded Luo Han’s actions—in fact, he was surprised by his own reaction.
Logically, as a man and a woman, such close proximity was inappropriate. Rationally, he wasn’t used to being touched, nor did he like others handling his things. Letting someone else dress him...how had he allowed that to happen?
Why hadn’t he moved away in the first place?
Luo Han finished tying the cloak and looked up, only to see Ling Qingxiao standing there, utterly still, his expression unreadable. She found it strange. “What’s wrong? Did something just cross your mind?”
Ling Qingxiao snapped back to reality, his gaze flickering across her face before shifting away just as quickly. “It’s nothing.”
He said it was nothing, but Luo Han wasn’t convinced. Still, since he wasn’t willing to talk about it, she didn’t press further. Instead, she smiled. “Then let’s go. The best place to hide is in plain sight. The entire demon race is out tonight—out in the open, we’re less likely to be noticed.”
Ling Qingxiao understood the logic. No matter how well they had planned their operation in the black market, there were bound to be flaws. If Lei Ba suddenly realized something was off about his missing storage pouch, he might turn back at any moment.
The Demon-Sealing Stone was still on them. They needed to disappear fast. In a situation like this, heading somewhere quiet would be a mistake—blending into the largest crowd possible was their safest bet.
Having changed into their disguises, Luo Han and Ling Qingxiao had essentially altered their entire appearances. They stepped out of the alley and were quickly swept up into the lively chaos of the festival.
As they strolled through the bustling streets, Luo Han noticed a vendor sculpting sugar figurines. The molten candy seemed to be made of some kind of special ingredient, shimmering with shifting colors like the aurora borealis.
Curious, she asked, “What is this?”
The vendor perked up. “Miss, I can shape it into anything you like.”
Luo Han hadn’t planned on buying one, but since he offered, she felt bad refusing. “Anything is fine...make a dragon.”
At that, Ling Qingxiao’s brow twitched slightly. “A dragon?”
Luo Han turned to look at him, her gaze calm and unwavering. “Why? I can’t?”
Ling Qingxiao fell silent for a moment before conceding, “You can. You can do whatever you like.”
Most young women who came to this stall with their sweethearts asked for bunnies or phoenixes—delicate, charming creatures. The vendor had never received a request for a dragon before. But to young couples, everything had its own playful meaning, so he didn’t question it. With practiced hands, he scooped up the liquid candy and began shaping it.
Luo Han added, “Make it silver—extra beautiful.”
Ling Qingxiao sighed, giving her a glance filled with helpless resignation.
The vendor’s hands moved skillfully, and as the dragon took form, it turned out to be even more exquisite than Luo Han had imagined. She was completely captivated.
She stood there, watching intently, the warm glow of the lanterns illuminating her face. The golden light softened her features, making her fair skin appear almost porcelain-like.
Ling Qingxiao watched her quietly, then, before he could stop himself, reached out and brushed his fingers over the ears on top of her head.
Luo Han startled and turned to him in surprise. But Ling Qingxiao had already withdrawn his hand, his expression as indifferent as ever. “What?”
As if he hadn’t just done that.
Luo Han hesitated before finally shaking her head. “Nothing. It just...caught me off guard.”
She had long since noticed—Ling Qingxiao had a soft spot for fluffy things. He just couldn’t resist touching them. In fact, she suddenly had a wild thought: if anyone ever wanted to poison him, their best bet would be to lace something covered in fur.
The sugar dragon still wasn’t done, so Ling Qingxiao took the opportunity to reach out and smooth down the fur lining of Luo Han’s cloak. His fingers slid through the plush white trim, and he said, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, “Your collar was messy.”
Luo Han gave him a sidelong glance and deliberately said, “The wind’s blowing everywhere. Even if you smooth it down, it’ll just get ruffled again. Let it be.”
“No.” Ling Qingxiao was serious. “It should be neat.”
What kind of logic was that?
Just then, the sugar dragon was finished. Its body shimmered with shifting colors, a dazzling display of light cascading across its delicate form. It was breathtakingly beautiful.
Luo Han was thoroughly pleased and paid without hesitation. The two of them left the stall and continued walking. Luo Han held the sugar dragon in her hand, admiring it from every angle, reluctant to take a bite.
“It’s so pretty. Where do you think I should start?”
Ling Qingxiao considered for a moment before replying seriously, “A dragon’s teeth have immense bite force, capable of piercing through all known materials in the Six Realms. Its scales are impenetrable, impervious to both weapons and fire. Its claws are sharp enough to tear through the defenses of even the most resilient races. Its tail is incredibly powerful—an adult dragon’s swing is strong enough to split mountains. None of these are good starting points. If you truly want to strike, the best place would be the underbelly.”
Luo Han choked. “Wait, what?”
“Weren’t you asking about a dragon’s weak points?”
“…I mean, technically.” Luo Han was speechless. She decided to just go along with it. “I’ve heard that a dragon’s only true weak spot is its inverse scale. Is that true?”
“It is.” Ling Qingxiao pointed to a spot on the sugar dragon. “It would be right here. This model is inaccurate. If you want, I can draw the precise placement for you later.”
“That won’t be necessary.” Luo Han was stunned. “I was just making conversation, you don’t have to take it so seriously. That’s your kind’s greatest vulnerability, and you’re just telling me outright?”
Ling Qingxiao’s tone was calm. “What does it matter? Knowing where it is doesn’t mean you can touch it. It’s called a weak point, but that’s not entirely true. Unless someone is deeply trusted, no dragon would ever allow them near their inverse scale.”
"Really?" Luo Han was curious. "Not even parents?"
"No."
Luo Han sighed from the bottom of her heart—what an overpowered race. Their entire body was a treasure, with high attack, high defense, and immense vitality, yet their only weakness was untouchable. Even if the whole world knew that the inverse scale was a dragon's weakness, what did it matter? Knowing it but being unable to reach it was the same as having no weakness at all.
As they talked, they followed the crowd, gradually making their way back to their residence. Perhaps because everyone was out celebrating the Ten Thousand Demon Festival, the alley was eerily quiet today. When Luo Han reached the courtyard gate and was about to open it, Ling Qingxiao suddenly stopped her.
"What's wrong?"
Ling Qingxiao's expression was grave. "The barrier was tampered with. Someone is inside."
Just as he finished speaking, the wooden door swung open from the inside. A group of armored figures stood at the entrance, and at the round table in the center of the courtyard, Star Lord Tianyu sat leisurely, sipping tea. "You're finally back."
Star Lord Tianyu turned his head, his gaze landing on the dragon-shaped sugar figurine in Luo Han’s hand, then shifting to the cat ears still on her head. His expression flickered oddly. "You two seem to be...enjoying yourselves."
Luo Han suddenly became aware of the gazes on her and realized, with a jolt, that she was still wearing the cat ears! She quickly glanced up, only to find that Ling Qingxiao had been absurdly quick—he had already dispelled his disguise on the way back.
Now, she was the only one left standing there, awkwardly, with strange ears atop her head, under everyone's scrutiny.
Ling Qingxiao cleared his throat lightly, then reached out to take the sugar figurine from her hand, giving her an excuse to free her hands. "Since Star Lord Tianyu is here, we can withdraw now. Go inside and pack—we're leaving soon."
Luo Han gratefully accepted the lifeline he threw her and dashed into the house to change. She took off the cat ears, the feline-eyed mask, and the cloak, then put on her veil again. Only after confirming that she had restored herself to the dignified standard of the Immortal Realm did she step out with a composed gait.
Outside, Ling Qingxiao was reporting to Star Lord Tianyu. The table was piled with storage bags—today’s spoils. Star Lord Tianyu opened one for a look and was deeply shocked.
He had thought that if Ling Qingxiao and his group could merely protect the Devourer Beast, it would already be an achievement. Stopping the demons was far too rushed and difficult. Yet, not only had Ling Qingxiao brought the Devourer Beast out unharmed and uncovered the demons’ purpose, but he had also intercepted their transaction.
The level of completion far exceeded Star Lord Tianyu’s expectations. Even Star Lord Gu Xing had never imagined that Ling Qingxiao’s group could achieve this much.
When the Celestial Palace was unable to respond immediately and the demon situation was dire, Star Lord Gu Xing had reluctantly assigned the mission to Ling Qingxiao. None of them had held any real hope.
Just reporting this information alone would already have been a great merit. The worst thing in any situation was being caught off guard—if they had advance warning, they could take their time to counteract. But who could have expected Ling Qingxiao and Luo Han to go so far as to swap the token of alliance between the two demon kings?
Not even the top spies of the Celestial Palace could have accomplished such a feat. And Ling Qingxiao’s team, acting without any prior preparation or backup, had overachieved beyond all expectations.
Star Lord Tianyu said nothing, but inwardly, his opinion of these two young people shifted drastically. Especially Ling Qingxiao—so young, yet already possessing top-tier strength. Now, it was clear that his adaptability and competence were just as exceptional. As a dragon, he bore the bloodlines of both the Azure Dragon and the Yinglong. In this era where every Celestial Emperorhad emerged from the dragon race, Ling Qingxiao’s future potential was far beyond that of ordinary celestials.
Ling Qingxiao was unaware of Star Lord Tianyu’s thoughts. He methodically reported everything that had happened, particularly the details concerning the demons, leaving nothing out.
As they were in the middle of their discussion, Ye Zinan and Zou Jibai returned from their own escapades.
Ye Zinan stepped inside, spotted the unexpected guests, and immediately tossed the items in his hands to Zou Jibai before straightening into the poised demeanor of a Yunzhou noble. Zou Jibai, caught off guard, didn’t have time to pass the blame.
Star Lord Tianyu pretended not to notice. Since they weren’t on celestial territory, he didn’t press them about where they had gone or what they had done. Instead, he simply stated firmly, "You’ve all worked hard these past few days. This mission was excellently executed. From here, the matter will be handled by the appropriate authorities—you no longer need to concern yourselves with it. Rest for the night. At dawn, you will set off for the Sanqing Heaven."
The Sanqing Heaven...Zou Jibai and Luo Han exchanged glances, struggling to process this abrupt development. The Sanqing Heaven—wasn’t that the location of the South Heaven Gate, the most revered domain of the Celestial Palace?
Before Luo Han and Zou Jibai could fully digest this shock, Ling Qingxiao spoke up. "The longer the Demon-Sealing Stone and the Devourer Beast remain out in the open, the greater the risk. There’s no need to wait until morning—we can depart tonight."
"Agreed." Star Lord Tianyu immediately stood. "Go pack your belongings. We leave in one incense stick’s time. The flying vessel is stationed just outside Da Ming City, ready for departure. You four, along with the Devourer Beast and the Demon-Sealing Stone, will be personally escorted by me to the Sanqing Heaven."