I looked out into the distance as the Dawn and Dusk Mountains came into view. The moment I saw them, something inside me relaxed. I found the forests of the Sacred Ironwood province majestic and the expanse of the Howling Desert province breathing-taking, but nothing compared to home. Finally, spending months away, my companions and I had returned to the Dawn and Dusk Sect.

  We rode atop a flying boat piloted by one of Big Sis Estelle’s companions, the one from Myriad Treasures Pavilion. This flying boat was bigger than Elliot’s, but smaller than Branch Head Xavier’s flying barge. However, it was much more majestic looking. It was made from Jade Wood, a mid-grade material used to create all kinds of magic treasures. As the name implied, its appearance resembled green jade.

  Everyone stood atop the deck of the flying boat, in anticipation of our imminent arrival at the Dawn and Dusk Sect. The sky was gray and overcast, blotting out the sun. A cold wind howled as it washed over us. The scent of rain filled the air. All in all, it was a cold and miserable day. However, this did little to dampen my mood.

  The journey from East Mesa City to the Dawn and Dusk Sect passed by without incident. Of course, this surprised no one. We were cultivators of the Dawn and Dusk Sect, and we had three Golden Core cultivators in our group. Few would dare cause trouble for us. I spent most of the journey talking with Big Sis Estelle

  It turned out that my newfound rival, Cultivator Vivian, was the daughter of Sky Splitter, one of the Thousand Blade Sect’s peak masters. While I found this interesting, what intrigued me the most was that my mother, Nova, had history with Peak Master Sky Splitter.

  Just as I was rivals with Cultivator Viviana, my mother was rivals with Peak Master Sky Splitter. From the moment the two met, and every time they met afterward, they fought with one another. This rivalry continued to this day, though it had been a while since my mother and Peak Master Sky Splitter last fought.

  Learning this bit of knowledge led me to wonder if fate played a part in my rivalry with Cultivator Vivian. The more I thought about it, the more I believed this to be the case. The chances of both of us entering the Violet Desert hidden realm and meeting one another was too low for it all to be a coincidence. That said, even if Cultivator Vivian and I were fated to meet, we were the ones who decided the nature of our relationship.

  Big Sis Estelle also told me about what happened in the Dawn and Dusk Sect while my companions and I were gone. The biggest event was the entrance exam and the feast that occurred after. Unlike the last entrance exam, the one that I participated in, only three candidates made it to the end and became inner disciples of the Dawn and Dusk Sect right away. One joined Divine Dancer Hall, one joined Restless Grave Hall, and the third joined Spirit Farmer Hall.

  “The one who joined Restless Grave Hall was someone you know, Little Demon,” Big Sis Estelle said with a smirk on her face. “In fact, you two were quite intimate with one another.”

  I gave her a baffled look when I heard this.

  “Cultivator Jasmine,” Big Sis Estelle answered. “It turned out that she was a genius when it came to ghost cultivation, something I wouldn’t have expected from a disciple of Flowering Blossom Palace.”

  My jaw dropped when I heard this. I met Cultivator Jasmine when I visited Flowering Blossom Palace in order to indulge in my desires and unleash my demonic nature. Thanks to her, I learned that my deepest desire was to love and be loved.

  I also learned that I had the potential to love her and she had the potential to love me. My demonic nature hungered for her. I asked her to be with me, or at least give me the chance to court her. However, due to painful experiences from her past, she decided to hold off on giving me an answer. This didn’t deter me, and I promised to wait for her.

  I hadn’t expected Cultivator Jasmine to join the Dawn and Dusk Sect. Then again, one of the reasons why she joined Flowering Blossom Palace was to get revenge on the people who mistreated her and threw her away: her own family. Joining the Dawn and Dusk Sect would help her further that goal. However, it surprised me that she joined Restless Grave Hall.

  “Cultivators from other sects are allowed to join our Dawn and Dusk Sect?” I asked.

  Big Sis Estelle nodded.

  “Yes,” she said, “Though it’s rare. There are two requirements. The first is that it’s only possible for sects that have close ties with our Dawn and Dusk Sect, such as Flowering Blossom Palace. The second requirement is a recommendation from a hall master or vice hall master.”

  Wait a minute.

  “Did Big Sis Sidra recommend Cultivator Jasmine?” I asked.

  Big Sis Estelle nodded.

  “Not just her either.” She said. “She also recommended a few other disciples from Flowering Blossom Palace, though none of the others became inner disciples of the Dawn and Dusk Sect. This was the payment for your visit to Flowering Blossom Palace.”

  Ah, that explained a few things. Still, regardless of how it happened, I was happy that Cultivator Jasmine joined the Dawn and Dusk Sect. This meant that I could see her more often. In fact, I had already planned on visiting her after I returned to the Whispering Hills province. Congratulating her on joining the sect gave me the perfect excuse.

  Hmm, I couldn’t go see her empty handed. I needed to bring a gift. The question was, what kind of gift? Well, I would think about that later. There were a few things I needed to take care of first.

  After the flying boat passed through the defensive arrays that surrounded the Dawn and Dusk Mountains, our group split up. Willow, Cultivator Isabel, and the Golden Core cultivator from Crimson Fiend Hall went off to report to Willow’s master, Elder Alexia. Before we parted, I gave Willow a goodbye kiss. The Golden Core cultivator from Crimson Fiend Hall narrowed her eyes at this.

  The Golden Core cultivator from Myriad Treasures Pavilion also went his own way. Now that we had arrived safely at the Dawn and Dusk Sect, we no longer needed him to escort us. He gave us a smile as he said his goodbyes, before flying off.

  Afterwards, my remaining companions and I boarded a flying boat that Big Sis Estelle took out from her storage ring. Together, the four of us flew towards Flame Fiend Peak. As we approached, nervousness bubbled up inside me. I caused some trouble for the sect by killing Cultivator Blood Petal and I knew that Big Sis Sidra wouldn’t be happy with me. I feared that she would devise some kind of punishment. However, she might also reward me.

  After all, the Ancient Blood Sect was hostile to our Dawn and Dusk Sect, and I killed one of their core disciples as well as one of their Golden Core cultivators. While my actions caused trouble for the Dawn and Dusk Sect, this also earned me some merit. Perhaps the benefits would negate the drawbacks. At least, that was my hope. Whether or not Big Sis Sidra agreed with me remained to be seen.

  Soon, the desert of black sand and the desolate slopes of Flame Fiend Peak came into view. It grew hotter and hotter the closer we flew to the mountain, as if we were approaching a roaring flame. In no time at all, we arrived above my estate. Despite my time away, it looked the same as ever.

  “This is where we part ways with Ellen and Elliot.” Big Sis Estelle said. “Big Sis Sidra wants to meet with you alone.”

  I nodded, before giving Elliot and Ellen some instructions. The two of them nodded, before flying down to my estate. Afterwards, Big Sis Estelle piloted her flying boat to the single-story stone building that was Big Sis Sidra’s abode.

  “This is where I leave you, Little Demon.” Big Sis Estelle said. “Good luck!”

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  I nodded, before I hopped off the flying boat and landed in front of the entrance to Big Sis Sidra’s abode. As Big Sis Estelle flew off, I resisted the urge to call her back. Instead, I stood there and stared at the door for a few minutes. My nervousness had reached its peak, and I needed to muster up the courage to face my eldest sister.

  To my surprise, the door flew open on its own. The message couldn’t have been clearer. Big Sis Sidra had grown tired of waiting for me and was telling me to enter already. In my mind, the open doorway resembled the maw of some great beast ready to swallow me whole. I took a deep breath, before I stepped forward and entered.

  The moment I crossed the threshold, the door slammed shut behind me. I was trapped. There was no going back. I entered deeper into the abode in search of my eldest sister.

  Big Sis Sidra’s abode was grander and more majestic than its exterior belied. This was because it was bigger on the inside than it was on the outside. I didn’t know how Big Sis Sidra accomplished this, but I assumed she used some kind of spatial magic. Her abode was even larger than my own estate here at Flame Fiend Peak. Well, that wasn’t too surprising. I was a mere core disciple of Flame Fiend Hall, while she was the vice hall master.

  The interior of Big Sis Sidra’s estate resembled that of a palace. Everything was beautiful. The abode itself was built from various precious materials, most of which I didn’t recognize. Red was the predominant color, followed by black and gold. Various kinds of artwork were on display, such as paintings, statues, pottery, etc. All of them were mystical in nature too, though their secrets were too profound and unfathomable for me to decipher.

  With my spirit sense, I noticed that there were several arrays throughout Big Sis Sidra’s abode. Like the artwork and decorations, I couldn’t figure out what they did. My proficiency in arrays was too lacking. Some of them were defensive in nature, I recognized that much. The rest remained a mystery to me.

  However, despite all the power and wealth on display, walking through Big Sis Sidra’s abode filled me with unease. It was quiet. Too quiet. It was empty too. As far as I knew, Big Sis Sidra lived here by herself. No servants attended to her; rather, I never saw any. Thus, her abode lacked the sounds of day to day living. There was no music, no chatter, no laughter. There was nothing but solitude and silence. All in all, it gave the abode a sense of desolation.

  I found Big Sis Sidra waiting for me in the main hall. Like the rest of the abode, it was red with splashes of black and gold. Two rows of pillars ran along the length of the hall. Depictions of demons and demonic beasts were carved into the pillars. They were so detailed that they seemed life-like. Lamps filled with crimson flames floated in the air near the ceiling, giving the hall a sinister atmosphere. I felt intimidated just being here.

  At the far end, atop a raised dais, stood a throne. Big Sis Sidra lounged on this throne, a stern expression on her face. She remained silent as I approached her. My footsteps rang out, sounding louder than they should have. I didn’t know if my mind was playing tricks on me because of my nervousness, or if this was an effect of the hall itself. Either way, the sound of my own footsteps amplified my unease.

  When I neared the raised dais, I stopped and gave Big Sis Sidra a martial salute.

  “Greetings, Eldest Sister.” I said.

  Considering the circumstances, I figured it wouldn’t hurt to treat Big Sis Sidra with more respect than usual.

  “Greetings, Little Demon.” She said. “How are you feeling? I heard that you were injured.”

  I rubbed my chest.

  “I am fine, for now.” I said.

  Thanks to Willow’s tender care, and the large number of Healing Pills that I consumed, I was in decent condition at the moment. My internal injury still leaked vitality, but I had enough time to report to Big Sis Sidra. Otherwise, I would’ve gone to Martial Idiot Clinic right away.

  “I see.” Big Sis Sidra said. “In that case, give me a report of what happened during your travels.” She narrowed her eyes at me. “Leave nothing out.”

  I swallowed, before I started my tale. I began with our arrival at the Sacred Ironwood province and ended with the confrontation with the Thousand Blade Sect at the teleportation array courtyard in East Mesa City. I told her everything, though I kept most of the finer details to myself. A part of me wanted to keep a few things secret, such as the drop of blood that Senior Azure Claw gave me, but I decided against it in the end. There were two reasons for this.

  The first was that I trusted Big Sis Sidra. Perhaps that was naive of me, but she was family. If I couldn’t trust her, who could I trust? The second was… Well, I wanted to see if Big Sis Sidra would betray me.

  Back in the Violet Desert hidden realm I witnessed two disciples from the same sect turn against each other. Afterwards, when we were attacked by the Ancient Blood Sect, several disciples from the Dawn and Dusk Sect wanted to give me to Cultivator Blood Leaf in order to save themselves.

  These two incidents left me shaken, to the point that they affected my mental state. If left unchecked, this could even develop into an inner demon. Letting Big Sis Sidra know the truth would help me determine if my trust in her was well-placed, or if I was just a naive fool. I hoped for the former and feared the latter.

  It took me a few hours to tell my tale. By the time I finished, my mouth felt dry. After I stopped talking, Big Sis Sidra regarded me for several long moments. I resisted the urge to fidget.

  “While I appreciate your trust in me, Little Demon,” Big Sis Sidra said, “I’m worried about your… Earnestness. As the vice hall master of Flame Fiend Hall, and your older sister, I advise you to keep a few secrets to yourself. The blood of a Rank Four spirit beast, especially one descended from an Azure Dragon, is valuable. There are plenty who would coerce you into giving it to them. Some wouldn’t even bother asking and would just take it from you.” She tilted her head to the side. “I almost want to take it for myself, just to teach you a lesson.”

  Her words sent a chill down my spine.

  “However, I won’t do such a thing.” Big Sis Sidra continued. “What kind of older sister would steal from her younger brother?” Her expression hardened. “Even so, my point still stands. Don’t be so open and honest, Little Demon. For your own sake, learn some discretion.”

  I sighed with relief before responding.

  “You’re the one who told me to leave nothing out.” I said. “Besides…” I hesitated before saying this next part. “… I wanted to test you.”

  Big Sis Sidra raised an eyebrow, before she burst out into laughter.

  “Well then,” she said, “You’re more cunning than I gave you credit for, Little Demon. Let me guess, you wanted to see if I would covet any of the treasures in your possession?”

  I hesitated, before nodding. Big Sis Sidra laughed again.

  “Using your own earnestness as a means to trick people.” She said. “Not bad. I approve.” She gestured to me. “I do covet some of the treasures you gained. However, I won’t steal them from you. Instead, I’m more than willing to trade with you for them. We can discuss the details later. Right now, we have something more urgent to discuss. I’m sure you know what I mean.”

  I nodded. My nervousness, which had faded away, returned in full force.

  “I apologize for the trouble I caused by killing Cultivator Blood Petal.” I said. “If I had known what would have happened, I-…” I paused. “No, I still would have killed Cultivator Blood Petal. I regret the results of my action, but not the actions themselves.”

  Big Sis Sidra frowned at me and didn’t respond right away. With each passing second, the tension in the air grew more and more taut. I clenched my hands into fists to relieve some of the pressure.

  “Little Demon,” she said, breaking the silence, “I believe there has been a misunderstanding. I’m not going to chastise you or scold you for causing trouble for the sect.” She snorted. “Especially not over something as minor as this.” She gave me a mischievous grin, which was a rare sight. In fact, I don’t know if I had ever seen my eldest sister grin like this before. “Though, to be fair, I deliberately fostered this misunderstanding.”

  I stared at her for several long seconds, before I realized what she meant.

  “Wait a moment,” I said, gesturing to the hall around us, “Did… Did you do all of this just to tease me?”

  Big Sis Sidra’s grin widened.

  “Yes.” She said.

  My jaw dropped and I gaped at her in disbelief.

  “Sister!” I exclaimed. “Why?!”

  Big Sis Sidra stood up and walked over to me, before reaching over to pinch my cheeks.

  “I’m busy with my duties as vice hall master,” she said, “As well as cultivation and my training. Unlike Estelle and Astra, I don’t have as many opportunities to tease you. So, I need to make use of the opportunities that I do get.”

  I pulled away from her and scowled.

  “Do you know how worried I was?” I asked, rubbing my cheeks. “I thought I was in serious trouble.”

  Big Sis Sidra chuckled.

  “I know,” she said, “It was adorable.”

  I made a disgusted sound.

  “I hate you.” I said.

  Big Sis Sidra sighed with mock sorrow.

  “I see,” she said, “And I planned on making it up to you by opening a bottle of spirit wine. However, I guess you don’t-”

  I interrupted her by placing my hands on her shoulders.

  “How could I ever hate you, Big Sis Sidra?” I asked in a fawning voice. “Have I mentioned how beautiful you looked today?”

  Big Sis Sidra smirked at my abrupt change in tone.

  “I thought as much.” She said. “Come on. Let us go somewhere more comfortable.” Her expression grew serious. “We do have some important matters to discuss.”

  I nodded and followed Big Sis Sidra as she left the main hall of her abode.

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  This chapter was edited by Radriel7