Hao Yan took a sip of spirit tea and spoke casually: "This sort of thing varies from person to person. We are not cultivators of Ming Jian Gate. Even if we do not understand their ways, we should respect them. After all, it is their choice."
Yunxi immediately nodded in agreement. The consequences of this would only fall upon Ming Jian Gate cultivators, and they were outsiders. There was no need to speak out and affect future cooperation.
Hao Qing shrugged indifferently. "I know. I was only speaking with Senior Sister. Ran Xi, just take it in stride."
"Yes, Zūnzhě."
Yunxi answered obediently, then tactfully excused herself. Once back in her cabin, she took out a jade slip given to her by her Master. It contained detailed information about all Nascent Soul cultivators from the Five Regions eligible to compete in the Five Region Grand Tournament.
This information would be invaluable to her participation. To know oneself and know one's opponent was to be invincible in battle. With time to spare on the journey, she intended to study it carefully, then duplicate the jade slip for Zhang Lingrui and Lin Keyang as well.
Meanwhile, Shi Jun returned to his cabin and went straight to meet Ming Hong Zūnzhě.
Ming Hong Zūnzhě was reading the latest jade slip of updates. When Shi Jun entered, he asked:"Shi Jun, what brings you here?"
Shi Jun cupped his hands respectfully and asked out of nowhere: "Zūnzhě, is that girl Ran Xi really as powerful as the rumors say?"
Ming Hong paused, gracefully setting down the jade slip in his hand. "Why? Did Ran Xi say something to you?"
Shi Jun spoke with some helplessness. "She said nothing, yet somehow, she said everything."
He then recounted their conversation word for word. Ming Hong shook his head throughout but was convinced that the girl had not meant to insult Ming Jian Gate. It must have been pure curiosity.
Seeing Ming Hong Zūnzhě was not angry, Shi Jun continued: "Zūnzhě, the Flying Sword Hall has not gathered much information about this girl, but she is a rising star of Haoran Sect in the past twenty years, truly a genius disciple.
I was fortunate to see her once during the Shuangshan City incident. Back then, she was just a fledgling girl at the Foundation Establishment stage. Yet now her cultivation has already surpassed mine, which leaves me somewhat ashamed."
Ming Hong Zūnzhě sighed softly. "Shi Jun, every time something significant happens in Weiyu Realm, a new generation rises. The last time was five hundred years ago, during the great battle against the evil cultivators. Do you remember how many brilliant talents fell back then?"
At this, Shi Jun fell silent. He had been half a witness to that grim chapter.
Ming Xian Zūnzhě, who had remained silent, now spoke: "That war was at best a pyrrhic victory for Weiyu Realm. The evil cultivators changed tactics, choosing to boil the frog slowly in warm water to overturn our realm again.
I have not ascended yet. Besides Senior Brother Ming Jia summoning me, I also sense no opportunity for ascension."
After a short silence, Ming Hong spoke again: "We do not yet know what traps the evil cultivators have prepared for this Five Region Grand Tournament. Go and remind the participating disciples to be vigilant. We cannot afford a surprise attack."
"Yes, Zūnzhě."
Shi Jun accepted the order and left.
Once he was gone, Ming Hong asked quietly: "Senior Brother Ming Xian, did you sense something during your breakthrough?"
Ming Xian had already reached the peak of the Divine Transformation stage. Ascension was only a single step away, so Ming Hong's question was well-founded.
Ming Xian nodded, then shook his head. "When I broke through, I sensed suppression from the Heavenly Dao, and flashes of fragmented images appeared in my sea of consciousness. I did not retain them clearly.
"When Ming Jia learned of this, he told me not to ascend for now. Even the Ancestors of the Spirit Realm cannot be contacted, and the higher realms are in an unknown state. With evil cultivators stirring trouble in Weiyu Realm, we must prioritize stability here."
"No wonder Senior Brother Ming Jia sent you along with me to Central Region this time. Let us hope everything proceeds smoothly."
Ming Hong sighed and lowered his head to continue reading his jade slip of intelligence.
By now, cultivators from the other three regions had also assembled and were on their way to the Central Region. Such a grand event came only once in a century. Even cultivators who were not participating in the tournament hurried toward the Central Region, eager to seize this rare opportunity to earn spirit stones.
The cultivators from the other regions had wisely chosen to travel in groups, denying the evil cultivators any chance of a mid-journey ambush. Thus, the contestants from all four regions arrived at the Central Region safely.
On the final day of Haoran Sect and Mingjian Gate's joint journey, the flying boat of the Western Region Loose Cultivator Alliance caught up with them. To Hao Yan and her companions' surprise, the leader of this group was none other than Xiang Sizi, the "Five Poisons Sanren," a formidable figure.
Xiang Sizi was dressed in a violet-red, form-fitting robe of flowing gauze. Her stunning face carried a faint, enchanting smile. She first paid a visit to Ming Hong and Ming Xian Zūnzhě of Mingjian Gate, then boarded Haoran Sect's flying boat.
Since the Loose Cultivator Alliance's flying boat flew alongside Haoran Sect's, many disciples had come out onto the deck to watch, including Wei Yunqing.
Throughout this journey, no one had approached her, and she could not bring herself to seek out Sheng Yuhong, who was quartered in the level designated for Golden Core cultivators. Her Shadowscale Serpent companion was timid, so she had spent the last twenty days mostly inside her cabin.
Curious upon seeing the Loose Cultivator Alliance's flying boat alongside theirs, Wei Yunqing had come out to the deck.
But when Xiang Sizi stepped onto the deck, the serpent coiled around her wrist suddenly tightened its grip, as if it could snap her wrist in the next moment. The pain made her gasp sharply.
At that same moment, Xiang Sizi seemed to sense something. Her alluring gaze fell upon Wei Yunqing's wrist. Her lips curved into a seductive smile that could steal one's soul. The sound of gasps from the surrounding crowd masked Wei Yunqing's own cry of pain.
Wei Yunqing quickly lowered her head, pressing her sleeve over the coiled serpent as she transmitted her voice: "Yingxi, what is wrong?"
"Master, this Zūnzhě carries an aura that terrifies Yingxi."
Wei Yunqing did not know who this woman was, but she was clearly a top figure of the Loose Cultivator Alliance. Yingxi's fear was genuine, and so she gently soothed the serpent, tucking it into her spirit beast pouch. The creature complied without resistance.
Xiang Sizi blinked her enchanting eyes and withdrew her gaze before being ushered into the cabin of the two Zūnzhě.
Hao Yan and Hao Qing both greeted her respectfully with cupped hands. Xiang Sizi returned the courtesy and casually sat down, smiling as she asked: "Why didn't Hao Yi come?"
Knowing Xiang Sizi was acquainted with Ancestor Hao Yi, they answered: "Senior Sister Hao Yi remained behind to guard the sect. Had she known you were personally leading the team, Zūnzhě, we would not have been given this task."
"Tut, tut, no need for such pleasantries. I know her well. She hates trouble the most. I, on the other hand, love excitement. Besides, this involves the evil cultivators. I had to come. They caused my Loose Cultivator Alliance such losses. It is only right to return the favor."
She flashed a smile that made Hao Yan and Hao Qing feel a chill run down their spines.
===
After Killing Dao Partner, the Villainess Becomes the Demon Ancestor has officially gone through the book vetting process and is now available on my profile! So far, I've translated 100 chapters, and my impression? This novel is pretty solid.
The beginning is packed with schemes, like layers being built up and peeled away one after another. It's more about scheming than fighting at first. Then from chapter 100 onward, the scheming runs really deep. You can't just set it aside and only look at the fight scenes. The level of intrigue is almost on par with Gōngdòu (宫斗), the "Palace Fight." That kind of scheme-driven tension and pacing is super rare in xianxia, which makes this novel feel really fresh. Of course, the fight scenes are also well written.
I think it's good overall, though the author's writing in the early chapters can feel a little stiff or awkward at times, mostly because it focuses on Yun Qingyue's intelligence and intricate intrigues. I get what the author wanted to convey, and I polished it a bit so it's easier to digest. At least I think it's better now—though I'm curious what you'll think!
The later chapters with fighting are really well done. I even found myself laughing and speechless in some moments, lol. There's that saying, "you will find happiness watching others' misfortune." She's definitely not a saint—she's ruthless, and I'd say she's somewhat similar to Song Wanníng.
The author has a very distinctive style—I got this unique feeling while reading and translating it, something I haven't experienced in other novels I've worked on.
Anyway, I personally think you should give this one a shot!
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Yun Qingyue never expected her grand wedding to end in divine execution. All because a manipulative little junior sister with a hidden "system" and a talent for tears convinced their entire sect to force Yun Qingyue aside. When she unleashed her full power to crush the traitors, it wasn't her enemies who finished her—it was the Nine Heavens' Thunder Tribulation, a punishment she never deserved.
She thought it was the end. But a shred of her soul survived, now trapped in a mortal body so weak it's practically a prison. Her spirit root is gone, her meridians are feeble, and her immortal path is sealed shut.
But Yun Qingyue has finally seen the truth: her "pure" junior sister is a system-wielding thief, her sect are all pawns, and the very Heavens are blind. So if the heavens call her a villainess, she'll become the demon they fear. If the path of immortality is closed, she'll open the road to the Demonic Path.
Her new philosophy is simple: sever all karma and dominate everything in her path. This time as Xie Zhaolin, she's not just climbing to the top; she's burning the entire mountain down on her way up.