My Taoist buddy has practiced surrogacy

Chapter 1410 Catastrophe
Ling Xue offered her sharp advice on the Northern Expedition in court, her words incisive, her eyes revealing unwavering resolve. Zhou Xing looked at her, a strange feeling stirring within him. During their conversation, both of them simultaneously noticed the unusual movement of the sealing pendant on the other's wrist. The pendant glowed faintly, seemingly concealing some secret.

During the banquet, Zhou Xing, emboldened by alcohol, probed whether Ling Xue was the same person from back then. Ling Xue smiled slightly, not answering directly, but instead using the tip of her sword to draw the hidden patterns of the Haoqing Sect on the ground. Zhou Xing's heart skipped a beat, and he instantly understood her identity.

However, the situation at court was far from stable. The prime minister colluded with the imperial advisor to poison the imperial meal. After eating the food, Zhou Xing felt dizzy and his body gradually weakened.

He was still careless. He thought that since the imperial food had undergone multiple inspections, no one would be foolish enough to openly tamper with it.

Unfortunately, these people had become so arrogant that they had no scruples whatsoever. Seeing this, Ling Xue quickly used her healing spell to treat Zhou Xing's injuries.

During the healing process, their palms touched, and in that instant, memories of their past lives flooded back. They recalled their experiences in the Demon Sect and the bond they shared.

The border was in dire straits, and smoke signals rose everywhere. Ling Xue had no choice but to don her armor and rush to the battlefield. Zhou Xing stood atop the city wall, watching Ling Xue's departing figure, his heart filled with worry. He publicly issued a yellow notice to recruit talented individuals, but secretly used his divine sense to pave the way for Ling Xue.

Ling Xue led her army in a bitter three-month battle in Shuobei, but reinforcements never arrived. She was extremely anxious, but she did not give up. In one battle, she captured a Xiongnu prince. During the interrogation, she discovered clues that the court was colluding with the enemy.

While feigning illness in the palace, Zhou Xing secretly investigated the Prime Minister's residence. In a secluded room, he discovered traces of demonic cultivators. These cultivators exuded an evil aura, seemingly plotting some conspiracy. Just then, the dragon sword in his hand suddenly trembled as if sensing danger.

The Mid-Autumn Festival banquet was initially very harmonious. However, suddenly, an assassin disguised as a dancer attacked, shooting poisoned needles at Zhou Xing. Ling Xue reacted swiftly, leaping in front of Zhou Xing to shield him, but the needle struck her shoulder. Her bloodied hand subtly crushed the Prime Minister's Gu worm, revealing an opening.

Seeing this, Zhou Xing was furious. He carried Ling Xue and sneaked into the Imperial Ancestral Temple. Inside, they used the bloodline of the imperial family to activate the seal of the Imperial Seal. Instantly, the spirits of their ancestors appeared, revealing the truth about the Imperial Preceptor's practice of evil arts.

To expel the demonic seed from their bodies, Zhou Xing and Ling Xue arrived at the edge of the icy pool. Ling Xue sat cross-legged in the pool, while Zhou Xing placed the Emperor's Sword across his lap. Their consciousnesses traveled together through their sea of ​​consciousness, where they encountered the remnant soul of the sealed Demon Lord.

The remnant soul exuded a powerful aura, attempting to erode their consciousness. Ling Xue, with unwavering willpower, severed the connection between the remnant soul and the Imperial Preceptor. Just then, the twin tribulation runes on their bodies resonated, blazing with light.

In the imperial court, a standoff was unfolding. Zhou Xing, under the pressure of the Soul-Devouring Curse, personally slew the Imperial Preceptor. Ling Xue stood guard beside him, the array patterns radiating brilliant light. Beneath the array patterns, the phoenix feather birthmark on Ling Xue's forehead was revealed, exuding a mysterious aura.

However, news arrived from the border that the Xiongnu had amassed a massive army of witchcraft and sorcery. The situation was critical, and Ling Xue led her iron cavalry in a surprise attack on the enemy camp. Meanwhile, Zhou Xing used his heart's blood to draw a demon-suppressing talisman at the altar, the yin-yang totem of the Haoqing Sect appearing behind him. The two of them worked together to fight against the impending crisis.

On the night of the decisive battle, the atmosphere was extremely tense. The demonic cultivator manipulated the coffin of the former Shu king to rise from the ground, and the ghostly soldiers surged in like a tide. Ling Xue stood on the Seven Star Formation, holding a long spear that drew in lightning, striking at the ghostly soldiers. Zhou Xing used the dragon soul as a guide to summon the phantoms of emperors from past dynasties, and for a moment, light and shadow intertwined on the battlefield.

In the midst of a fierce battle, the two faced off against the illusions of their inner demons, back to back. Ling Xue saw the image of a tyrannical ruler despised by the people, while Zhou Xing confronted the bloody past of slaughtering sects. Both were under immense pressure, but they encouraged each other and held fast to their beliefs.

Finally, Ling Xue plunged her sword into Zhou Xing's heart, activating the righteous energy sealed within him. Simultaneously, Zhou Xing imprinted the imperial seal onto Ling Xue's brow. In an instant, the sun and moon shone brightly, and all demonic obstacles vanished. The imperial seal transformed into golden light, coiling around them.

The Shu Palace, rebuilt after the calamity, was brimming with life. Zhou Xing was strolling in the Imperial Garden when he suddenly discovered the ice crystal crane-patterned pendant left behind by Ling Xue. He picked up the pendant, a warm feeling welling up in his heart. Just then, a palace maid reported that she had seen the General's Mansion's carriage soar into the sky late at night.

Three years later, the scholar presented the poem "The General's Song." Zhou Xing sat by the window, gently playing the zither in harmony. At the point where the string broke, he glimpsed Ling Xue on the cloud boat, turning back with a smile, a smile as beautiful as a blooming flower.

The tribulation of lightning descended once more from the heavens, and the two ascended hand in hand on the clouds. Zhou Xing held the Imperial Seal of the State, while Ling Xue held the Haoqing Token. When they looked back at the mortal world, the Shu Kingdom's history books automatically added the gilded words "Emperor Wu ascended to heaven with Empress Feng." They had successfully survived this tribulation, taking another step towards ascending to the upper realm.

The purple thunderclouds churned furiously, the dark tribulation clouds resembling a lurking beast, swirling above the main peak of the Haoqing Sect. Zhou Xing and Ling Xue stood facing each other, their figures appearing somewhat frail in the lightning's reflection.

"The 348th Tribulation, the Shu Kingdom World. We must turn this perilous journey into an opportunity." Zhou Xing's gaze was resolute as he looked at Ling Xue. Ling Xue nodded slightly, and the two smiled at each other. Then, nine layers of purple divine lightning roared down, engulfing their souls in the vortex of reincarnation.

Zhou Xing slowly awoke, feeling sore all over, as if all his strength had been drained. He found himself in a luxurious room, surrounded by carved beams and painted rafters, brocade curtains and gauze drapes. Before he could fully react, an old servant rushed in in a panic.

"Your Highness, you're finally awake! This old servant was so worried!" The old servant said anxiously.

Zhou Xing was startled. After thinking carefully, he realized that he had become the heir apparent of the Marquis of Yongning in Shu. It turned out that today was his engagement day to the daughter of the Minister of Rites, but he had suddenly fainted for some unknown reason.

Just as Zhou Xing was sorting through his thoughts, a melodious song drifted in from outside the window. He instinctively looked in the direction of the sound and saw a young girl washing clothes by the stream. The girl had a graceful figure and her black hair cascaded down like a waterfall; bathed in sunlight, she was like a breathtakingly beautiful painting.

Zhou Xing was engrossed in watching when the girl seemed to sense something and looked up at him. Their eyes met, and Zhou Xing's heart skipped a beat. He saw a familiar look in the girl's eyes—it was Ling Xue's gaze.

Ever since that first meeting, Zhou Xing often thought of the washerwoman by the stream. He used the pretext of studying military strategy to travel to the outskirts of the city many times. Each time he passed by the stream, he couldn't help but steal a few more glances.

That day, Zhou Xing came to the stream as usual. Suddenly, dark clouds filled the sky, and large raindrops poured down. Just as Zhou Xing was looking for a place to take shelter from the rain, he saw the washerwoman still by the stream, her clothes already soaked by the rain.

Without hesitation, he rushed over and draped his coat over the girl. The girl looked up, her eyes filled with gratitude. Zhou Xing took this opportunity to strike up a conversation with her.

"Don't you feel lonely washing clothes here all by yourself, young lady?" Zhou Xing asked softly.

The girl smiled slightly and replied, "I'm used to it, so I don't feel lonely. It's just that this sudden rain caught me off guard."

The two stood side by side in the rain, the atmosphere gradually becoming somewhat subtle. Zhou Xing's heart stirred, and he tentatively asked, "Have you ever heard of the Demonic Sect, Haoqing Sect, young lady?" The girl was slightly taken aback, then a strange light flashed in her eyes. She looked at Zhou Xing and slowly said, "I once saw a sect in my dream called Haoqing Sect. I wonder if it is the same one you have described."

Zhou Xing was overjoyed; he was certain that the girl was Ling Xue. The two exchanged a smile, their identities unspoken but understood each other perfectly.

When Zhou Xing returned to the Marquis's residence, he found the atmosphere somewhat strange. It turned out that the Emperor, wary of the power of the Yongning Marquis's family, had ordered him to marry immediately. Disobeying the decree would be considered treason.

Zhou Xing was deeply conflicted. He knew this was the emperor's conspiracy, but he didn't want to give in easily. Just then, Ling Xue secretly delivered a letter containing only four words: "Moonlit night in the western suburbs."

Zhou Xing's heart skipped a beat; he knew Ling Xue must have a plan. That moonlit night, he quietly went to the western suburbs. Ling Xue was already waiting there. She told Zhou Xing that she had pretended to fall into the water, was rescued, and gained her freedom.

"We can no longer sit idly by and wait for our fate; we must find a way to deal with this crisis," Ling Xue said.

Zhou Xing nodded, and the two decided to join forces to break the deadlock. However, just as they were discussing this, a group of assassins suddenly appeared at the Marquis's residence. These assassins were highly skilled, and their target was Zhou Xing.

Seeing this, Ling Xue leaped in front of Zhou Xing to shield him, engaging in fierce combat with the assassin. During the battle, Ling Xue used some techniques from the Demonic Sect, with Zhou Xing assisting her. The two worked together seamlessly and gradually gained the upper hand.

But the assassins seemed unconcerned about Ling Xue's identity and continued to press forward. Just when they were in trouble, Zhou Xing suddenly had an idea. He used the mechanisms of the Marquis's mansion to lure the assassins into a trap.

After a fierce battle, Zhou Xing and Ling Xue finally escaped the assassins' pursuit. But they knew that this was only temporary safety, and the emperor's conspiracy was far more complex than that.

To uncover the truth, the two decided to infiltrate the palace. However, the palace was heavily guarded, and they were discovered as soon as they entered. Instantly, alarms sounded, and countless guards surrounded them.

Zhou Xing and Ling Xue stood back to back, weapons gripped tightly in their hands. Facing the overwhelming encirclement, they showed no fear. Zhou Xing activated his demonic power, attempting to break through the encirclement, but found that his demonic power was being suppressed by a mysterious force.

"Oh no! There's a formation in the palace that can suppress demonic arts!" Zhou Xing was startled.

Ling Xue also sensed something was wrong. She gripped Zhou Xing's hand tightly and said, "Don't panic, let's think of a solution together."

Just when they were in dire straits, Ling Xue suddenly remembered a mysterious jade pendant she had found by the stream. She hurriedly took the pendant out of her bosom and discovered that it was emitting a faint light.

“This jade pendant might be able to help us!” Ling Xue said.

The two concentrated their energy and activated the jade pendant. The pendant emitted a dazzling light, instantly shattering the surrounding array's suppression. Zhou Xing seized the opportunity to unleash his demonic power, and together with Ling Xue, they fought their way out.

But the emperor seemed unwilling to let them go easily, sending even more experts to hunt them down. During their escape, Zhou Xing and Ling Xue were injured multiple times, but they always supported each other and never abandoned one another.

After a difficult escape, Zhou Xing and Ling Xue finally found a safe place. They began to carefully analyze the situation, trying to find out the emperor's true purpose.

Using her intelligence and keen insight, Ling Xue discovered some clues. It turned out that the emperor wasn't simply wary of the Yongning Marquis's power, but rather had been misled by a mysterious organization. This organization intended to use the emperor to weaken various factions to achieve its own ulterior motives.

Zhou Xing and Ling Xue decided to get to the bottom of this matter. They gathered evidence from all sides and gradually uncovered the true nature of this mysterious organization. It turned out that this organization was composed of some treacherous demonic cultivators who plotted to overthrow the Shu Kingdom and establish their own rule.

Having gathered sufficient evidence, Zhou Xing and Ling Xue decided to unite with other righteous individuals to fight against this mysterious organization. They traveled far and wide, gathering heroes from all sides. In the process, they also received support from the Yongning Marquis's residence and the Ministry of Rites.

A great battle was about to break out, and Zhou Xing and Ling Xue stood at the very front of the group. Their eyes were firm and full of confidence.

On the day of the decisive battle, the mysterious organization unleashed its full force. The battlefield was filled with smoke and the shouts of battle were deafening. Zhou Xing and Ling Xue led their men in a valiant resistance, engaging in a desperate struggle against the enemy.

During the battle, Zhou Xing and Ling Xue displayed formidable strength. Working together, they unleashed the Demonic Sect's ultimate techniques, driving the enemy into a retreat. However, the leader of the mysterious organization possessed extraordinary power; he used a bizarre spell to trap Zhou Xing and Ling Xue in a predicament.

Just when they were in dire straits, Zhou Xing suddenly remembered a forbidden spell he had cultivated in the Demonic Sect. This spell was incredibly powerful, but also extremely risky. In order to defeat their enemies, Zhou Xing decided to take the risk and try it.

Ling Xue saw through Zhou Xing's thoughts. She stood firmly by Zhou Xing's side and said, "No matter what, I will stay with you."

Zhou Xing looked at Ling Xue with emotion, then began to cast a forbidden spell. As the spell progressed, Zhou Xing's aura grew stronger and stronger, but this also brought immense danger. Ling Xue stayed close to Zhou Xing, protecting him as he cast the spell.

At the critical moment, Zhou Xing successfully unleashed a forbidden spell, defeating the leader of the mysterious organization in one fell swoop. Seeing their leader defeated, the other members of the organization fled in disarray.

Through this battle, Zhou Xing and Ling Xue successfully averted the crisis in the Shu Kingdom. They also passed this trial, ascending hand in hand to the upper realm after being baptized by the Nine Heavens Thunder Tribulation. From then on, their story spread throughout the Shu Kingdom, becoming a legendary tale.

The docks in Linjiang County of Shu Kingdom were bustling with activity. Zhou Xing, disguised as a merchant, stood on the deck of his own merchant ship, carefully checking the cargo manifest. He wore a moon-white long robe with subtle patterns embroidered on the cuffs, and a warm jade pendant hung at his waist, making him look like an ordinary wealthy young master. However, the runes that occasionally flashed on his cuffs as he sorted through the goods revealed his identity as a disciple of the Demonic Sect.

Ling Xue disguised herself as a down-on-his-luck scholar and quietly blended into the crowd at the dock. She wore a faded blue long gown and her hair was tied up with a simple wooden hairpin.