The Cold and Aloof Palace Master's Daily Demon-Slaying Life

The so-called mystery of the womb is a natural protection and restraint law of this world for "reincarnated ones".

When a soul from another world descends, it must undergo the cycle of reincarnation and re-enter the womb. During this process, all past lives are forgotten, leaving only a trace of the undying true spirit. Only by reaching an extremely high level of cultivation, or through a fortuitous encounter, can one break through the illusion and remember their past life.

She, or rather "TA", is just like that.

However, the mystery surrounding her birth seemed exceptionally strong. Ordinary cultivators, upon reaching the Purple Mansion stage, could attempt to glimpse their past lives. But she needed to attain the Golden Core stage, requiring the power of a True Monarch, to break free from the shackles of her primordial spirit and see her past.

Is this world particularly hostile to souls from other realms?

Zuo Qingqiu had no idea and had no intention of investigating further.

All the events of her past life—love, hate, passion, ideals, regrets, and reluctance—are now just fleeting clouds to her. Her joys and sorrows are her own. She, Zuo Qingqiu, is the Master of the Purple Void Peak of the Taihua Sect, and the True Lord of the Nine Heavens Taihua Purple Void Responding Thunder Ancestor.

Over two hundred years of cultivation had etched the identity of "Zuo Qingqiu" deep into her soul, making it an inseparable part of her "true self." Memories of her past life might have some subtle influences on her personality and way of thinking, such as making her more receptive to certain novel things or providing a completely new perspective on the world, but they could never shake the dominance of her "self in this life."

She is still Zuo Qingqiu.

That was the Purple Void True Man, who sensed Qi at the age of six, established his foundation at twenty-five, reached the Purple Mansion at one hundred, and attained the Golden Elixir at over two hundred. He was aloof, cold, and devoted to the Dao.

However, now there is an additional memory from another world.

It's like adding a touch of light ink to a long scroll of spiritual practice; it doesn't increase the weight or diminish the color, but rather adds a unique charm to certain corners of the painting.

That's it.

"Blue Star... its technology... is quite interesting."

Zuo Qingqiu's lips curled up almost imperceptibly, revealing a faint, nearly undetectable smile. It was a smile belonging to "TA," a touch of nostalgia and curiosity about that distant hometown.

But that's it.

She raised her hand, a flicker of purplish-black lightning dancing at her fingertips—the power of Yin Thunder, one of the most fundamental forces of this world. Compared to that world where people relied on external objects and were physically weak, she preferred this place.

I enjoy the feeling of controlling power, exploring the Dao, and pursuing immortality.

I like this...the world that belongs to Zuo Qingqiu.

"What's past is past, but the future is promising."

She spoke softly, as if speaking to the personality that had long since vanished, or perhaps speaking to herself.

Then, she suppressed all her emotions and regained her cool and aloof demeanor, like the bright moon in the sky.

It's time to go out.

She slowly rose, the hem of her Taoist robe draped down, spotless. Her footsteps landed silently on the cold stone platform, as if her weight could no longer exert enough pressure on the physical world.

With one step, one has reached the edge of the stone platform.

Beneath her feet lay the clear water of the lake. She neither used her inner energy nor cast any spells; she simply took a step forward as if walking normally.

The moment her feet touched the water's surface, ripples spread out. But the ripples didn't spread; instead, centered on her toes, the water surface quietly solidified, transforming into a blooming purple lotus flower. Within the lotus, tiny electric snakes writhed, emitting soft crackling sounds.

Stepping on water, thunder seems to condense; with each step, lotus blossoms appear.

This is the outward manifestation of the natural fusion of immortal essence and the Great Dao, and its power is almost divine.

And so, step by step, she walked on purple lotus flowers toward the lake. Wherever she went, lotus flowers bloomed in the water, lightning flashed, and she left behind a string of precious lotus footprints that lingered for a long time.

In the lake, the precious "Radiant Carp" still huddled at the bottom, trembling, their reverence for their master ingrained in their very bones. The blue lotuses on the lake's surface also drooped slightly, as if paying homage to this newly born True Lord.

-

The stone gate to the secluded cultivation area is over three zhang tall, forged entirely from "Deep Sea Divine Iron" with a small amount of "Silver Void Stone" powder mixed in. It is extremely heavy and can block divine sense from probing. The gate is carved with intricate cloud and thunder patterns, which faintly form a powerful defensive barrier, enough to withstand the full force of a cultivator at the Great Perfection of the Purple Mansion realm.

Zuo Qingqiu walked to the door, but did not use any magic. He simply raised his hand and gently pressed it against the cold door.

With a slight thought, the Chaos Golden Core within his body trembled slightly, and a wisp of pure immortal essence flowed down his arm and into the stone gate.

"Buzz—"

The cloud and thunder patterns on the stone gate suddenly lit up, and purplish-black lightning danced like living things. The heavy restriction, enough to make ordinary Purple Mansion cultivators despair, melted away silently like snow in spring before this wisp of immortal energy. It was not a brute-force breakthrough, but the natural suppression and assimilation of a lower-level restriction by a higher-level power.

"Rumble..."

With a dull, deafening roar, the massive, deep-sea iron gate, weighing millions of pounds, slowly slid open to the sides. There was no harsh friction; everything was as smooth as if one were simply pushing open an ordinary wooden door.

Outside the door is a jade corridor inside the cave.

Zuo Qingqiu exited the stone gate of the secluded retreat and walked along the jade corridor, heading towards the entrance of the cave.

Just then, a clear and melodious child's voice, filled with joy and a hint of sob, came from the side.

"elder sister!"

Zuo Qingqiu paused, turning her head to look.

At the corner of the jade corridor, a little girl dressed in a white ruqun embroidered with silver thread was running over, lifting the hem of her skirt. She looked to be about thirteen or fourteen years old, not yet fully grown, but already showing the outline of a beauty.

Her skin was snow-white and translucent, as if carved from the finest mutton-fat jade, gleaming with a warm luster in the sunlight. Her waist-length hair was not the common black, but a snow-white silver, loosely tied with two simple jade hairpins, with a few stray strands playfully falling beside her cheeks.

What is most eye-catching are the two small, translucent dragon horns that peek out from between her hair strands on her forehead, like white jade coral.

The little girl ran up to Zuo Qingqiu, stopped, and looked up at her. Her delicate, porcelain-doll-like face had large, watery eyes with red rims, clearly from crying. Yet, she forced a wide grin, revealing a bright, almost silly smile.

She lowered the hem of her skirt, clasped her hands in front of her, and respectfully performed a standard Chinese bow.

"Congratulations, sister! Congratulations on your successful ascension to the rank of True Lord." Her voice still had a slightly childish nasal tone, but her tone was extremely serious. "May your immortal path flourish and may you live a long and prosperous life."

Zuo Qingqiu looked at her quietly, a hint of almost imperceptible tenderness flashing across her cool eyes.

She reached out and gently placed her hand on the little girl's soft, silver hair, ruffling it. The movement was natural, carrying an unspoken intimacy.

"You're so sweet-talking." Zuo Qingqiu's voice was warmer than when she was talking to herself earlier. Although it was still calm, it was no longer so aloof. "Have you been waiting long?"

The little girl, Bai Yuling, had her head rubbed, and she squinted comfortably, like a kitten being stroked. Hearing the question, she nodded vigorously, then quickly shook her head: "Not long, not long! I know my sister is consolidating her cultivation and shouldn't be disturbed. It's just... I'm just a little worried..."

Her voice trailed off, her small hands unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes: "I'm afraid of my sister..."

Zuo Qingqiu paused for a moment, then gently rubbed the top of her head, not even sparing her small, delicate hair.

"Silly girl." She withdrew her hand, her tone calm. "Since I dare to attempt to break through to the Golden Core stage, I am confident. A little bit of the power of heaven and earth cannot harm me."

As she spoke, her gaze fell on the pair of jade horns on Bai Yuling's head, and a trace of reminiscence flashed in her eyes.