The Ninth Lady is a rebellious person.

Chapter 614 All beings suffer; only self-salvation is possible.

Outside Langfu.

The Imperial Guards, whose eyes were originally glowing red and who had lost their minds due to the demonic energy, were knocked to the ground by the Lang family members or Fu Qi and others. Only when the bell of Langjiuchuan rang to cleanse the demonic energy did their frenzied expressions slowly dissipate, and they looked around blankly.

What happened? Why did they attack the Lang family?

The Lang family's sons, each with their own injuries, squatted on the ground like wolf cubs, staring fiercely at those people. Even as the demonic energy dissipated, they dared not relax, even with the White Tiger King protecting them from behind.

If they let their guard down and someone manages to sneak into the mansion, it will be the weak and vulnerable women who suffer inside.

They won, and the feeling was exhilarating, gratifying, and even more so, heroic. As long as they had the courage to go all out, they also had the ability to protect their homes.

Fu Qi and the others exchanged glances and nodded in agreement. Only by stepping out into the world can they grow. Even if they get hurt, they can continue to grow and discover their shortcomings in battle, thus accumulating experience.

Real-world experience is the best way to improve.

These men of Langjia, their blood and spirit stirred, dared to fight and were able to ignite the passion passed down from their ancestors, living up to the achievements their ancestors had made on horseback.

Otherwise, how far can this family go if they keep hiding behind Lang Jiuchuan?

A familiar yet even more majestic aura suddenly emanated from the void.

With a roar, it shot towards the approaching figure like a shooting arrow.

Lang Jiuchuan reached out and grabbed the tiger by the scruff of its neck, which was about to pounce on her. He lifted it up and shook it, saying, "What's the panic?"

"You broke the contract, why? You didn't even ask me!" Jiang Che roared, complaining angrily, his tone filled with grievance and resentment, like an abandoned pet, his limbs constantly tugging at her sleeve.

Lang Jiuchuan picked it up, and with a flick of his hand, turned it into a tiny creature.

"The Heavenly Tribulation of the Pill Realm is extraordinary. Even that old monster Tantai Wuji failed and perished because of it. How could I dare to gamble?" She explained gently, "By breaking the contract, your spiritual consciousness will be complete, and your cultivation will be smoother from now on. It is also to set you free."

"Who wants freedom? You tricked me into forming a contract at first, and now you're breaking it off like that. How unreasonable! We agreed to achieve the Great Dao together, but you broke through to the Core Formation Realm while I haven't gotten anywhere." Jiang Che snorted, "Don't even think about being the one who kicks you away after you've served your purpose. Don't even think about getting rid of me, the White Tiger King. You're the one who has to lead me to become a divine beast."

"Alright, from now on you'll all stay by my side as my spirit beasts!" Lang Jiuchuan stroked its neck, descended from the void, and came to Fu Qi and the others. She glanced at the chaotic scene in front of the mansion gate, a cold light flashed in her eyes, and her killing intent towards Tantai Wuji deepened. She nodded slightly to Fu Qi and Manager Piao and said, "Thank you for guarding Lang Manor these past few days."

"I have fulfilled my mission." Fu Qi's eyes shone brightly as he said, "Congratulations on becoming the first cultivator in a thousand years to break through to the Core Formation Realm, Xiao Jiu."

A Golden Core True Person, one of a kind in the world, she ultimately became the light of the righteous path!
The ghost raised an eyebrow and teased, "Enough with the nonsense, let's get down to business. Is there a reward for the real person?"

Lang Jiuchuan smiled, his fingertips condensing as he sent three strands of pure Golden Core spiritual energy into their brows: "Go and comprehend it."

Apiao and Fuqi were overjoyed. They exchanged a glance and disappeared instantly. Jiang Che rubbed against her and slipped into her sleeve, but his consciousness went to the Little Nine Tower.

Lang Jiuchuan then looked at the few Lang family men who were watching her from afar, not daring to take a step closer, and said, "You did a good job."

The group of girls blushed with excitement and straightened their backs even more; they had been recognized by Ninth Sister (the younger sister).

As Lang Jiuchuan entered the mansion, the servants excitedly shouted, "Miss Jiu is back!"

Everyone rushed over, looking at the goddess-like woman, feeling somewhat at a loss and ashamed. In less than two years, the once unremarkable Ninth Sister had become someone they could not reach and needed to kneel and look up to. They didn't even know how to treat this noble person; it seemed that no matter what they did, it wouldn't be respectful enough.

Lang Jiuchuan nodded to Lang Zhengping and other elders, saying, "The outside world is in turmoil, but for now there is no need to worry. Uncle, please rest assured."

She looked around, but Cui was nowhere to be seen.

"Good, good!" Lang Zhengping suppressed his excitement, suppressed his smile, and said with some seriousness, "Your mother was not well after seeing the pictures of the imperial tomb."

This kind of badness is a loss of spirit.

Lang Jiuchuan flashed into Cui's room, waved to the people who surrounded her, and came to Cui's bedside. Seeing the ashen, deathly look on her face, she frowned.

Losing one's spirit means losing one's vitality. Cui suffered repeated blows, and her already ailing body could not withstand it, even though Lang Jiuchuan repeatedly snatched her back from the brink of death and used spiritual energy to prolong her life.

But she was, after all, just a mortal, and she too would experience birth, aging, sickness, and death.

Lang Jiuchuan sighed and reached out to touch her brow. Cui seemed to sense something and, with a strength she didn't know she possessed, grabbed her wrist, opened her bloodshot eyes, and stared intently at her.

“I’ve heard that forcibly defying fate will result in the backlash of karma. Don’t suffer that kind of pain for me anymore; you’ve already suffered enough!” Cui said with a hint of sadness in her eyes. “We are mother and daughter, and you have already repaid that debt of gratitude for my life. So there’s no need for you to do this again.”

Lang Jiuchuan said, "You will die!"

“Everyone dies eventually, and I should have died long ago.” Cui said, “I know you have more important things to do. Don’t waste your divine power. Keep it and come back alive.”

“I won’t prolong your life, I’ll only replenish your spiritual energy, which will make you more comfortable.” Lang Jiuchuan held her hand and still channeled a little spiritual energy into her: “Don’t refuse, this is within my tolerance.”

Cui didn't struggle, but just looked at her and said, "I'm sorry, I'm not a good mother, I failed to protect you!"

Her tone was calm, without any hysteria or resentment, just very indifferent.

"Although I grew up amidst scheming, I have matured and can protect myself."

Cui smiled faintly, her hand trembling as she touched her face, her eyes filled with pride and worry: "Yes, you are really good, but you have suffered too much."

Lang Jiuchuan remained silent for a long time before saying, "All living beings suffer, and all phenomena are inherently without substance. Only self-salvation is possible. No matter how bitter or difficult it may be, my coming here is merely a tribulation I am undergoing."

In this world, who isn't carrying their own burdens and stumbling along the way? Everyone has their own adversities.

Of all the hardships, only self-reliance can save us; of all the difficulties, only self-improvement can help us overcome them.

Seeing that she was more detached and insightful than before, and that her calm tone carried a confidence and power that could decide the fate of the world, Cui realized that her daughter was gradually drifting away, and the person in front of her was an immortal who had transcended the cycle of reincarnation.

She slowly loosened her grip on Lang Jiuchuan's hand.

That’s fine!

　That's pretty much it for Cui Shi's character. No whitewashing, no resentment, no forced maternal act—this is the tragic, conflicted character I set up from the beginning. Whether it's well-written or not, whether you like it or not, it's like Hamlet—a thousand people, a thousand interpretations.
　　(End of this chapter)