Su Luo, what do you think of Nan Gong Xiyun

Jiang Ningshu found the situation increasingly amusing and couldn’t help but wonder how Su Luo would react to Nangong Xiyun.

Su Luo had always believed he held all the cards, never expecting someone even shrewder to outmaneuver him—someone who had deceived even him.

What expression would Su Luo wear when he found out?

Jiang Ningshu wasn’t exactly wishing misfortune upon Su Luo, but given how things had unfolded, it was only natural to be curious about his reaction.

Nangong Xiyun: "Your gaze is dangerous."

Jiang Ningshu: "You won’t be able to hide it for long. Why not come clean now?"

Nangong Xiyun: "Just stay out of it. I’ll handle this myself."

Jiang Ningshu: "Heh."

A moment later, it dawned on Jiang Ningshu that Su Luo was in the same boat—someone close to him had also deceived him.

In a way, they were kindred spirits, both wounded and licking their wounds in the shadows.

But Jiang Ningshu had already moved past it. What about Su Luo?

Time for a little test.

Jiang Ningshu: "Fine, fine. I won’t interfere."

Then, turning away, he asked, "Su Luo, what do you think of Nangong Xiyun?"

Yun glared daggers at Jiang Ningshu.

Su Luo answered casually, "What’s there to say? I was outmatched. No excuses."

Ignoring Yun’s furious stare, Jiang Ningshu pressed further, "I meant, what kind of person is she?"

It’s not like I’m exposing your identity. Just asking a question doesn’t break our agreement.

"Does it matter?"

"I want to hear your thoughts."

"She’s… decent, I suppose. But that’s just an objective assessment of her character. In the end, we’re on opposing sides."

"That’s all?"

"What else is there?"

"No resentment or anything?"

"I know my place. Besides, our paths barely crossed. Hard to resent someone you barely know."

From the beginning, Su Luo had understood his role as the antagonist—destined for the villain’s fate. Moreover, his interactions with Nangong Xiyun had been few and far between.

If he couldn’t even defeat Lin Xuan, how could he possibly challenge Nangong Xiyun? By the story’s logic, he wasn’t even qualified to face her.

So, the times he’d suffered at her hands were rare—unless he provoked her himself, which hardly counted.

In fact, Su Luo found Nangong Xiyun’s presence somewhat refreshing. Whenever he failed to fulfill the plot and had to reset, he could treat her as the final boss, experimenting with different strategies to take her down.

It was a thrilling challenge, even if he never won.

"I see."

Jiang Ningshu couldn’t help feeling a little disappointed by Su Luo’s answer. So, Su Luo didn’t harbor any resentment toward Nangong Xiyun either. That reply must’ve delighted her.

And indeed, Nangong Xiyun was genuinely pleased to hear that Su Luo bore no ill will toward her.

"Su, the Demon Vanquisher, let’s not bring up that jinx Nangong Xiyun. No need to upset yourself," Yun interjected.

Little Yu added, "Right, Su Luo, you should rest first."

"I’m fine. I’ve recovered enough. Let’s head back."

Back—meaning back to the Southern Heavenly Demon Sect’s Zongheng Valley.

Everyone nodded. This place wasn’t safe to linger, not with the allied sects still hunting down the Heavenly Demon Sect.

Su Luo couldn’t afford to take any more damage now.

The journey was long, and the three of them took turns carrying Su Luo back.

......

Di Haoran let out a furious roar, his sword flashing as he swung it with immense force.

"Eighteen Strikes of Demon-Slaying!" With a shout, he moved like lightning, appearing behind the Left Envoy in an instant.

"Three Shadows, One Kill!"

His sword thrust forward, releasing three dazzling arcs of light that formed a deadly matrix of attacks.

The Left Envoy chuckled, not even bothering to dodge. "Farewell."

The clone was obliterated by the three strikes—but the real Left Envoy was nowhere to be seen.

"Damn it!" Di Haoran seethed at the Left Envoy’s audacity, mocking him even in retreat.

He resolved to study the art of clones more deeply. Next time, the Left Envoy wouldn’t escape so easily.

The three Demon Lords also slipped away without a hitch. Against foes of their caliber, unless two or three experts of equal strength intervened, stopping them was impossible.

The Right Envoy, too, made a clean getaway. Fighting might not be his forte, but evasion was his specialty.

"Portal."

A door materialized in the air. The Right Envoy stepped through and vanished.

Of course, such a technique wasn’t as simple as uttering a phrase. It involved intricate mechanisms and heavy restrictions, not something to be used lightly.

The titled Heavenly Demons each had their own means of escape, but the rank-and-file members were little more than cannon fodder—or worse, sacrificial pawns.

And so, the battle came to an end.

For the allied sects, the results were commendable, but the escape of a group of Heavenly Demon Sect elites left a bitter taste. The outcome fell far short of their ambitions—to eradicate the sect entirely.

Meanwhile, the fleeing Heavenly Demon Sect forces regrouped and began their retreat southward, battered but unbowed. Though resentment simmered, there was nothing to do but lick their wounds and prepare for the next clash.

This was a resounding victory for the allied sects.

Di Haoran, though frustrated by his failure to eliminate the Heavenly Demon Sect’s core figures, took solace in the heavy blow they’d dealt. It was cause for celebration.

A grand feast was held to honor the hard-won triumph.

They’d endured relentless chaos since the demonic beast army breached the Northern Heavenly Gate—an unending cycle of battles and crises, the air thick with tension.

But now, the demonic beasts had been repelled, and the Heavenly Demon Sect crippled. How could they not rejoice?

Celebrate—they had to celebrate.

Amid the revelry, Di Haoran held an awards ceremony, bestowing honors and treasures upon those who’d distinguished themselves. His generosity spoke volumes about his elation.

Only one question lingered: Where was Nangong Xiyun?

"Is your master always this… elusive?" Di Haoran asked Li Siyi.

"Yes. I don’t know where she is either," Li Siyi admitted, equally puzzled. Her master always arrived in haste, offering no explanation, only cryptic silence.

"No idea," Lin Xuan chimed in.

"No matter. The honors she’s earned will be given, whether she’s here or not."

Nangong Xiyun’s contributions were undeniable—revealing the locations of the totem altars, fighting as a Great Ascension cultivator in pivotal battles, and providing critical intelligence that spared the Emperor Heaven Sect from disaster.

Lin Xuan, too, had proven himself exceptional despite his youth—far more capable, in Di Haoran’s eyes, than his own son, Di Haoao.

Others were also recognized for their valor.

The rest received their due rewards, underscoring Di Haoran’s genuine joy.

With the festivities over, all that remained were loose ends—though there weren’t many left to tie.

For now, the world would settle into a rare calm.

All factions needed time to recover.