In the frigid lands, after my exile, I began to slay demons and monsters.

Chapter 40 Lord Dark Star

Its daybreak.

The sun rises.

Even as noon approached, no sunlight could penetrate into this northern valley.

After the Blood Soul absorbed all ten blood beads, its originally dark skin became plump and fair, as if it had undergone a complete transformation. The abundant blood energy allowed it to concentrate on absorbing it, and it seemed it wouldn't be easily digested anytime soon.

When Ning Xiaoxi returned to the Tianshi Pavilion's residence in the mountain city after leaving the cave, it was already past noon.

As soon as they reached the gate, Chang Qing looked her up and down anxiously. "How are you? Are you alright? Are you alright?"

Ning Xiaoxi was touched. "Brother Chang, I'm fine."

Chang Qing let out a long sigh of relief. "That's great. You have no idea how scared I was yesterday. The strategist just said that if I didn't come back soon, he would send me to the Hall of Punishments."

"Is the strategist here? I'd like to report the situation to him." The Blood Soul had arranged to meet Tao Jiang again in three months. She would see how to explain the situation to the strategist later. Tao Jiang had harmed so many people because of that Blood Bead, and she was still harming people. She had to do something within her power.

"Yes, Lord Di'an is back too. I'll take you inside." Chang Qing led the way to the main hall.

Last night I met the strategist in the east wing. It seems that once Lord Di Sha returns, he can enter the main room.

The furnishings in the main room were simple and convenient. Lord Di An sat at the head of the table, with Bai Qingnian sitting on the chair to his left.

"My lord, Lady Ning has returned."

"Ning Xiaoxi greets Your Excellency." Ning Xiaoxi bowed respectfully.

"Miss Ning, you're too kind." Lord Di Anxing's voice was a little muffled and hesitant, but because he spoke slowly, it was very clear.

Ning Xiaoxi looked up and bowed to Bai Qingnian, "Greetings, Military Advisor."

"Xiao Xi, you've worked hard. Please sit down, please sit down." Bai Qingnian looked at Ning Xiao Xi with a rare gentle expression, his face no longer so serious. "You've worked hard all night, so I should have told you to go and rest first. However, my master is worried about the appearance of the demon soldiers, and with the news Chang Qing brought back this morning, he's concerned about your safety. He can't rest easy until he sees you!"

Ning Xiaoxi turned to Lord Di An again, "Xiaoxi thanks you for your concern, Lord. I have indeed found out some information that I need to report to you."

Only then did Ning Xiaoxi get a good look at Lord Di An. Because he was sitting, she could only tell that Lord Di An was well-off, with a round face and thin eyebrows, and a kind and approachable smile. Although he was sitting, he was not bulky; his back was straight, and he looked very energetic.

She wore no crown, only a jade hairpin to hold her hair back. She wore a heavy black robe made of silk with a subtle, lustrous sheen. The collar, cuffs, and hem of the robe were embroidered with extremely fine silver thread depicting cloud and thunder patterns that shimmered subtly in the light. A black leather belt, about three inches wide, was cinched at her waist, inlaid with rows of obsidian stones, meticulously polished to a deep, cold luster. At the center of the belt was a pale yellow jade plaque with landscape patterns. She wore black high-top leather boots, the shafts reaching just below her knees. The boots were embroidered with ancient, incantation patterns in silver thread, the incantations winding upwards along the shafts, their lines imbued with spiritual energy.

Ning Xiaoxi lowered her head slightly in respect. "My lord, yesterday I followed that demon deep into a valley ten miles north of Panhou Mountain. There was a cave there where it absorbed the ten blood beads given to it by Tao Ji. I could sense that each blood bead it absorbed contained the life essence of no less than ten humans. It seems that Tao Ji is its blood supplier." Ning Xiaoxi carefully chose her words. "The box containing the blood beads was taken by Tao Ji from a breakfast shop. Perhaps that shop has the means to collect blood."

While Ning Xiaoxi was speaking, Di An looked at her intently, listening to her report, while playing with a jade cabbage in his right hand.

After listening to Ning Xiaoxi's words, Bai Qingnian continued, "Tao Ji went straight home in the early morning and left the city through the south gate early this morning under the pretext of going to buy grain. The breakfast shop is open as usual today, with no abnormalities. That breakfast shop mainly sells pig blood soup and pig liver porridge, and it purchases a large amount of pig blood and offal every day."

Ning Xiaoxi blinked, somewhat reluctant to participate in the next part of the conversation. "Strategist, I can sense that although Tao Ji has only recently become a demon soldier, his demonic energy is still very powerful, and I'll have a hard time dealing with him. That demon's demonic energy can easily cover a range of a hundred meters, and I'm no match for him." She gritted her teeth and continued, "I'll mark the location where that demon is hiding later, so as not to delay your capture of the demon."

"Xiao Xi, don't worry. I promised you yesterday that I would ensure your safety." Bai Qingnian tried to soften his serious expression as much as possible. "After Chang Qing returned yesterday, he consulted the records and recognized that the demon who received the blood bead was the Blood Soul Demon General under the command of the Demon Lord Hou Qing. Xiao Xi has already done a great service by helping us find this demon general. I have already informed the Lord and will apply to the King to have your punishment commuted." As he spoke, he clasped his hands in a fist salute to Lord Di An and then said, "You should rest well here today. Tomorrow, I will have Chang Qing escort you back to your parents."

Ning Xiaoxi smiled sincerely and quickly stood up to bow, "Thank you, Lord Di'an, thank you, strategist."

Di An nodded slightly, his tone still low and slow: "Xiao Xi, get some rest."

After having dinner with Ning Xiaoxi, Chang Qing settled her in a separate courtyard in the backyard.

The yard wasn't big, but it was kept very well organized.

Directly in front is a two-story building with green tiles and white walls. The eaves are slightly upturned, like a bird spreading its wings to take flight. The window frames are all made of wood, and the openwork carvings exude elegance. Sunlight shines through the windows and into the room, forming patterns of light and shadow.

In front of the cottage, a cobblestone path leads to the cottage, the smooth stones making a soft rustling sound underfoot. To the east of the courtyard stands a small hexagonal pavilion, its pillars painted vermilion. Inside, a stone table and several stone benches are arranged. To the west is a small garden, and near the wall, an ancient well. The bluestone around the well's rim is worn with deep grooves by ropes, bearing witness to the passage of time.

The entire courtyard is surrounded by a blue brick wall covered with vines. When spring arrives and the flowers bloom, it will present a completely different scene.

Ning Xiaoxi lay quietly on the bed, feeling unusually at ease, when a question came to mind.

[Tuanzi, what Brother Chang said yesterday was that Earthly Fiend Lords generally possess high-level early to mid-level strength. I remember the three-tailed cat demon we first encountered was low-level, and the female demon we saw on Single Fox Mountain didn't seem to be mid-level either. So why did those two Earthly Fiend Lords have such difficulty capturing them? And the female demon even escaped. Is there something wrong with this strength assessment?]

Tuanzi remained silent.

[I observed Brother Chang's spiritual vein circulation; it's twice as wide as mine, but the flow rate is somewhat lower. Is it because demons and humans have different levels of spiritual power?]

Tuanzi remained silent.

[This time, the Blood Soul only possessed half of its original strength, and was at the high-level early stage. Judging from the previous encounters with the cat demon and the female demon, this Lord Earth Darkness probably can't defeat the Blood Soul, right? But this Lord Earth Darkness is chubby, and looks quite approachable.]

Tuanzi started playing dead.

[If they go to exterminate that blood spirit but lack the strength, wouldn't they be throwing their lives away? If they don't try to capture it, are they just going to watch Tao Jiang capture people to refine the blood bead? Or will Lord Di An request help from higher authorities? Can Lord Tian Gang destroy that blood spirit?]

Tuanzi really wanted to die.

Ning Xiaoxi turned over, her eyes somewhat glazed over.

[Tuanzi, the strategist, and Brother Chang are all very good. It would be terrible if they were harmed by Blood Soul.]

Having not slept all night and being in a state of tension, I felt exhausted after eating and drinking my fill.

I wonder where my father, mother, and brother are. The strategist said Brother Chang will escort me tomorrow, so does that mean he won't have to participate in the battle to annihilate the Blood Soul?

The blanket was soft and smelled of sunshine.

[Tuanzi, if we could have a little courtyard like this someday, where we could work at sunrise and rest at sunset, what more could we ask for!]

comfortable!