The Death of Yuwen Cuojin, Yunlu's Secret

Yuwen Cuojin originally thought he was a genius.

He hadn't gone to the Great Shang Imperial Mausoleum with Situ Ding and the others, as that was a forbidden ground of the former dynasty, and no one knew what strange changes might occur there.

He, a Palm Profound realm cultivator, dealing with someone at the Fourth Realm—what could possibly go wrong?

But Yuwen Cuojin never expected that someone would be guarding the entrance to the Autumn Water Pavilion.

Seeing that Marriage Fate Tree, he understood two things.

First, his opponent was at the Seventh Realm.

Second, the Dao mastered by his opponent was the Marriage Fate Dao, which had left a profound mark in the history of the Demon Summoning Sect.

The Marriage Fate Dao was extremely bizarre, but hadn't it already vanished unexpectedly long ago?

Yuwen Cuojin faced a formidable enemy, his mind racing.

Although his injuries were not fully healed, his opponent had just entered the Seventh Realm and their foundation was unstable. The advantage was still his. However, wary of the experts who had come to the Clear Abyss Sect for the wedding banquet, he had to end this quickly.

As these thoughts settled, Yuwen Cuojin's left hand shot out, and he chose to strike first without hesitation.

With a punch, his personal Grotto-Heaven manifested behind him. The river within was dark, twisted, like a winding scar, submerging sun, moon, mountains, and rivers.

An intense, sinister aura spread, blotting out the bright moon in the sky.

At that very moment, a palm emerged from within. It seemed plain and unadorned, yet wherever it passed, all things withered. It aimed directly for the heart of the Marriage Fate Tree.

Swish—

A figure accompanied by the sound of a zither emerged from the tree's canopy. Her hair cascaded like a waterfall, her aura ethereal, her fair hands stroking the zither.

Though her face couldn't be seen, her current demeanor was a far cry from the image of someone who might whip out a handful of melon seeds at any moment and had just been rolling on the ground like a bird.

Shang Qinqing - Serious Mode.jpg.

The zither notes rippled, gentle and melodious.

With a ding-dong, the sinister giant hand slowed, as if the flow of time around it had become sluggish.

Yuwen Cuojin's pupils contracted. He clearly saw countless red threads hanging down from the Marriage Fate Tree, flowing and moving with the zither's melody, forming a crimson net that firmly bound his palm.

He couldn't help but ponder inwardly.

She just broke through to the Seventh Realm, so why is she so strong?

What exactly has made the Marriage Fate Tree so vibrant with life...?

"Just broke through, indeed your realm is unstable."

Yuwen Cuojin snorted coldly. His palm trembled, and a vortex seemed to appear in the center of the sinister giant hand, eroding bone and devouring soul, grinding away at the principles of the Marriage Fate Dao, trying to tear the red threads into a tangled mess.

Yet, the more force he applied, the more the red threads became "cut, yet unsevered; sorted, yet entangled," instead causing him to sink deeper.

But Yuwen Cuojin didn't seem flustered; his expression was unusually calm.

With a bang, his form exploded and scattered.

"Escaped?"

Shang Qinqing frowned, sensing something amiss.

After all, he was a Palm Profound cultivator. Even if not at his peak, how could he die so easily? Each Palm Profound master's Dao was different, with their own strengths.

But they shared one common trait: they were hard to kill.

Hmm, for example, she was particularly difficult to kill.

So, Yuwen Cuojin, seeing he couldn't defeat her quickly, had fled?

Before the thought fully formed, she saw that dark river suddenly flow out from the void, then split into two, transforming into two black tides.

No, those weren't tides. Looking closely, each churning droplet within was a tiny insect.

The two tides headed in two different directions, but not to flee separately.

One surged towards the Marriage Fate Tree, the other, shockingly, towards the Autumn Water Pavilion!

"As expected of a Vice Sect Leader, decisive and bold."

Shang Qinqing sighed softly.

Splitting his power in two—if they were defeated one by one, Yuwen Cuojin would likely not even be able to maintain the Seventh Realm, and it would take who knows how many years to cultivate back.

But Yuwen Cuojin chose to gamble, betting that she wouldn't protect the Marriage Fate Tree first and then turn back to deal with the Autumn Water Pavilion.

"Hardly comparable to the Right Protector. During our brief encounter earlier, I didn't realize I was in the presence of Clan Leader Shang."

Two identical voices echoed simultaneously from the two black tides:

"If we were to fight without restraint, this humble one would naturally withdraw. Unfortunately, you have concerns. I've heard Clan Leader Shang's speed is unparalleled under heaven. I wonder if you can manage both ends?"

Even as he spoke, the black tides had already enveloped their respective targets.

Shang Qinqing didn't answer his question, but the answer was obvious.

Suddenly, she flashed and appeared above the Autumn Water Pavilion.

While protecting the pavilion, the Marriage Fate Tree, which was in the process of reviving, also slowed for an instant, sinking into darkness.

It was in that instant that Yuwen Cuojin's figure reappeared before the Marriage Fate Tree.

Gazing at the tall tree, whose swaying leaves stirred one's heart and soul with its Dao charm, he was momentarily entranced, but instinct drove him to act.

The Marriage Fate Tree shook violently, leaves rustling down. A palm print appeared in the center of its trunk.

A dark, corrupting aura spread from the palm print, quickly causing the entire tree to wither and decay.

"Hahaha, what a pity you've only just returned to the Seventh Realm. It seems I won't get to witness the many marvels of the Marriage Fate Dao!"

Amidst the chaotic zither notes, Yuwen Cuojin regained his senses. He laughed heartily, but also felt a tinge of regret.

According to the sect's records, the Marriage Fate Dao might not excel in combat, but in other aspects, it was simply terrifying!

For instance, before Shang Qinqing, the Marriage Fate Tree was mastered by a senior of the Demon Summoning Sect named Yun Lu, who nearly changed the world's landscape.

After mastering the Dao, that Senior Yun Lu, utilizing the characteristics of the Marriage Fate Dao, made many people fall in love with him, turning them into...

slaves of love.

At that time, the Demon Summoning Sect had five halls. The leaders of three of them, along with many powerful figures from Great Shang—even a significant number of them male—became utterly obedient to Yun Lu's will.

Those who fell in love with him were willing to go through fire and water, do anything for him unconditionally, with a devotion that would put the most loyal death warriors to shame, not even caring about defying the entire world.

Thus, Yun Lu grew arrogant, even planning to establish a new god cult!

Obviously, Yun Lu ultimately failed; otherwise, the Demon Summoning Sect wouldn't exist today.

The reason for his failure wasn't recorded in the sect, clearly erased by the great power who quelled the Yun Lu Rebellion, leaving only the remark: 'Simps are truly something else.'

The specific process remained unknown even to a Vice Sect Leader like him.

When Yuwen Cuojin read this back then, while curious, he couldn't help but entertain wild fantasies.

If he could master the Marriage Fate Dao, wouldn't he be able to do whatever he wanted, act with utter impunity?

A new god cult?

A new Great Yu!

This was normal; anyone would have such thoughts.

Unfortunately, the Marriage Fate Dao also vanished without a trace after the Yun Lu Rebellion, until today...

"Hmm?"

Yuwen Cuojin suddenly saw something glowing within the withered Marriage Fate Tree. He raised his hand, and the object flew into his palm. It was actually...

a tree seed?

"Could it be... that nourishing and refining this item can yield a new Marriage Fate Tree, allowing one to master the Marriage Fate Dao?"

Yuwen Cuojin drew a sharp breath, while an uncontrollable wave of ecstasy surged in his heart.

If that were truly possible, abandoning his own Dao wouldn't be out of the question!

To hell with this Rotten Decay Dao, whoever wants it can have it!

He was completely unaware...

"Another one who takes me for a fool."

Looking at Yuwen Cuojin standing motionless before the Marriage Fate Tree, his spirit adrift and drooling, Shang Qinqing sighed.

Love can make one lose all self-control, and at the same time, plunge one into illusion.

Shang Qinqing had been waiting for this opportunity from the very beginning.

She had only just regained her cultivation realm, and the Path of Matrimony was not adept at direct combat, making a head-on confrontation truly unfeasible. However, when it came to methods targeting the soul and consciousness, having broken through and rebuilt her foundation, she was confident with absolute certainty.