I am Guhuoniao, not an umbrella demon, please do not disturb me.

Bai Qingyu sighed, "Your biological father is the current Human Emperor. You are the ninth in line, which makes you the Ninth Princess of the Great Ling Dynasty. When you were young, your mother was chased by a group of cultivators and collapsed at my doorstep. I heard the noise and went out to check. At that time, your mother was already dead, so I brought you back."

"This trip to the capital is related to your biological father. The current emperor suffered from a serious illness a few years ago, and now his condition has worsened and he can hardly hold on any longer. He can only live for two more years at most. I discussed it with the Grand Master of the Great Spirit Kingdom and decided to send you back to the capital a year later."

As the saying goes, all good things must come to an end. When Xiaoya heard this, her eyes changed. Bai Qingyu saw the tears in her eyes and knew that she was trying hard to hold back her emotions.

In Xiaoya's opinion, this was probably the time to say goodbye.

There's only one year left...

"I understand, Mother. I will take good care of myself. I will definitely not let you down, Mother!"

"Mother believes in you. There's something else I want to tell you. After you arrive in the capital, we won't be separated. I will bring everyone to the capital to be with you. However, there's a reason for doing this. I want to use your power to fight against all the cultivators in the world."

Next, Bai Qingyu explained her plan to Xiaoya from beginning to end, telling her all the details. After all, Xiaoya was half the leader of this plan, and in a sense, she was the core of this plan, a position even more important than Bai Qingyu herself.

She could only be considered the initiator of this plan. Once the plan was implemented and basically successful, and they were able to start a war with the cultivators, her importance would decrease, and Xiaoya, the human emperor, would become more important.

After hearing the plan, Xiaoya immediately agreed.

Of course she believed Bai Qingyu, and besides, what Bai Qingyu wanted to do was exactly what she had in mind.

She had thought about this question a long time ago. Even if she became the Human Emperor, what use would it be? She was powerful, but could she lead the Great Spirit to become strong? Could she create a beautiful home for the people?

With cultivators around, she couldn't use her strength no matter how much she tried.

It can be said that this group of cultivators was the biggest culprit in hindering her.

While it can't be said that all cultivators are bad people, at least 80% of them are. To break free from their control, one must use sufficient strength to defeat them.

The matter was discussed smoothly, and Xiaoya's maturity left Bai Qingyu somewhat at a loss for words.

With a thousand words in my heart, only one sentence remains: No matter what, I will help you fulfill your wish.

The little girl's thoughtfulness inexplicably stirred a sense of guilt within her.

The plan revolves around Xiaoya, but she hasn't been informed until now, and her opinion hasn't been asked.

After getting a deeper understanding of the details of Bai Qingyu's plan, time passed quickly. It was Zhen Tian who came halfway to tell her and her daughter that dinner was ready.

Contrary to expectations, Xiaoya wasn't upset or unable to accept reality. Instead, she managed to resolve a knot in her heart. When she told Zhentian about it that night, Zhentian's happy smile showed just how funny it was.

After laughing, Zhen Tian began to comfort Bai Qingyu.

She knew that today's conversation was particularly important for Bai Qingyu.

"In the coming year, I think you can relax a little and not work harder just because you feel pressed for time. It's good to work hard, but Xiaoya has always worked hard, so it won't make a difference if you work for another year. You don't need to put down your cultivation. Slow down a bit and focus on your knowledge."

Bai Qingyu nodded thoughtfully.

That makes sense. Xiaoya has worked hard all this time, and it might not be a good thing to keep her training like crazy for the last year. Her current cultivation level isn't strong, but it's definitely enough. She'll still have time to continue training after she takes over. However, she needs to pay more attention to her knowledge.

I've learned this before. Xiaoya is smart and learns very quickly. She's learned about everything from astronomy to geography. She knows a little about everything, but it's all superficial. I wouldn't say it's just the tip of the iceberg, but it's not very deep either.

Even after becoming the Human Emperor, what she had learned was far from enough. Knowledge cannot be acquired in a year, two years, or three to five years; it is endless, and the more one knows, the better.

Xiaoya's situation is that she knows how to use her brain, which makes things easier for her and for Xu Yuanqing as well.

He reduced Xu Yuanqing's two-year term to one year. If Xiaoya were to take the position, the other ministers would see her abilities and realize that she was no ordinary girl, which would greatly reduce their resentment towards Xu Yuanqing.

This at least shows that Xu Yuanqing is standing from the perspective of the Great Spirit, and the Human Emperor he has chosen is indeed capable. Although he is young, he is much better than the previous Human Emperor.

For the next year, Bai Qingyu did exactly as Zhen Tian had instructed.

I spent less time practicing and more time reading with her.

It's about letting her learn more, and also about spending more time with her in this last year.

The plan was that once Xiaoya went to the capital, she and everyone else would move there too. However, even so, life in the capital would never be the same as at Shenhuangju, and it would be impossible to recapture that feeling.

The days at Shenhuang Residence were not only Xiaoya's, but also Bai Qingyu's; it was their last year.

However, it's hard to say for sure. Perhaps after the great calamity ends, another hundred years will pass, and Xiaoya will be able to return to her current life after she retires.

The more you care, the faster time seems to pass.

A year passed in the blink of an eye, and the day that Xu Yuanqing and I had agreed upon arrived.

Volume Two: Journey Through the Demon Book: Chapter Sixty-Four - The Ninth Princess

Bai Qingyu didn't sleep all night. In fact, she hadn't rested much during this period. At this stage of her life, whether she slept or not didn't affect her body in the slightest, and she wouldn't feel tired. Not to mention a day, even if she didn't sleep for a whole year, she wouldn't feel anything.

Xiaoya is the same. Not only this year, but for the past few years she has rarely slept. She uses that time to cultivate. When she really reaches her physical limit, she will choose to relax her body and find a book to read. During the time she reads, it is equivalent to resting.

Last night, she wanted Xiaoya to get a good night's sleep, but seeing how early Xiaoya got up the next day, she knew that she probably hadn't slept all night.

"Mother, shall we leave now?"

Xiaoya finished packing her things, tears welling in her eyes. She looked at the various decorations in the yard, the house, and the spider lilies in the yard. When her gaze finally settled on everyone, she could no longer control her emotions.

Bai Qingyu nodded, wanting to say something, but then decided against it and let everyone say goodbye to Xiaoya.

Saying goodbye is indeed more painful and makes people more reluctant to part, but it is necessary. We have lived together for so many years, how can we leave without saying goodbye?

Just as Bai Qingyu had expected, everyone felt bad.

With a thousand and one regrets, he finally left with Xiaoya.

Once they were in the sky, Bai Qingyu tried to comfort her, saying nothing more than that: "Don't miss home too much in the capital. We'll all move to the capital, and we can see each other when we have time." But these words couldn't fool Xiaoya. She wasn't the naive little girl she used to be.

She kept agreeing verbally, but her tears were evaporated by her spiritual power as they fell. Her red eyes were heartbreaking to see.

Bai Qingyu kept telling herself not to look, not to think.

She was afraid she would lose control and take Xiaoya back with her.

Along the way, Bai Qingyu felt extremely complicated. She wanted to fly slower, wishing she could extend this distance by a hundred years, but in reality, she was already flying at the fastest speed possible.

She rushed to the capital in the shortest possible time, as if any slower and she would waver in her resolve.

It was still Xu Yuanqing's Imperial Preceptor's residence, unremarkable, yet it made her feel as if something was stuck in her heart.

"Xiaoya, actually, when you were little, your mother already knew your identity. Back then, the whole world was in an uproar, saying that you were the chosen one of heaven. Everyone thought that this chosen one of heaven would eventually be born in the palace, because only princes and princesses could become the emperor."

"That's indeed the case. You were the youngest in the palace at the time, the ninth princess. The day you were born, you were targeted by many cultivators. The palace was in chaos back then. Every prince and princess had a sect supporting them. These people were gambling. If they gambled correctly and supported a chosen one to ascend the throne, the benefits would be enormous."

Xiaoya nodded gently, "Thank goodness it was Mother who saved me."

"I have never regretted saving you. I think it was one of the best decisions I ever made in my life."

"I will not let Mother down. Once I have governed this world well and separated mortals from cultivators, I will come to find you, and then we can live like we did in Tongzhou!"

"Ok!"

Bai Qingyu felt a mix of emotions—pride, honor, and reluctance. For some reason, she remembered the day Dong Qing left, when the girl said she would take care of her in her old age. The atmosphere that had been so pleasant was completely ruined. She was so young then; how could she possibly need this girl to take care of her? Who was going to send whom away was still uncertain.

Concealing his presence, Qi Yun entered the Imperial Preceptor's residence. Upon entering, he saw Xu Yuanqing pacing in the courtyard. Clearly, Xu Yuanqing was also nervous, as he knew best what he was doing and what he was about to face.

He didn't know Bai Qingyu's plan, but he knew Xiaoya's identity and the "great calamity" of the cultivation world. Combining these two things, even a pig could imagine that Xiaoya's rise to power would not be peaceful, and she might even clash with the cultivators.

With that in mind, how could he not worry?

Upon seeing Bai Qingyu appear, he hurriedly went to greet her, "Your Majesty, you've finally arrived."

"Sorry I'm late." Bai Qingyu said, then gestured to Xiaoya with her eyes.

Xiaoya stepped out from behind her and called Xu Yuanqing "Uncle Xu," a gesture of respect from a junior to a senior. She was neither the Emperor nor a princess yet, and Xu Yuanqing was older than her and a friend of Bai Qingyu, so it was normal for her to show some courtesy.

"Your Highness is too kind. If Your Highness doesn't mind, you can just call me Grand Preceptor Xu."

Xu Yuanqing waved his hands repeatedly, and Xiaoya smiled sweetly, then changed her address and called him "National Preceptor Xu" again.

"Xu Yuanqing, I'm leaving the rest to you. Don't worry, I will definitely fulfill my promise to you."

Xu Yuanqing wasn't working for free. His condition was simple: after retirement, he wanted Bai Qingyu to find a way for him to cultivate and extend his lifespan. He was a married man now, unlike before. He now wanted to live with his wife for several hundred more years.

"With Your Majesty's words, I feel much more at ease. Your Majesty can also rest assured. I have made all the necessary preparations. I dare not say that Your Highness will ascend the throne with 100% certainty, but I am 90% certain."

Xu Yuanqing looked at Xiaoya and nodded. He knew that Bai Qingyu would definitely not teach Xiaoya how to fight with her brothers and sisters, so these things fell on his shoulders. However, it was not a big problem. In his eyes, those princes and princesses' methods were like playing house.

Let alone one-on-one, he could easily handle a whole group of them. To be honest, no matter how big Da Ling was or how complicated the imperial court in the capital was, in Xu Yuanqing's eyes, it was all just that. It was all a scheme he had personally set up. No matter how much those princes and princesses acted up, they could not escape Xu Yuanqing's sight.

Bai Qingyu hesitated, then simply nodded and fell silent.

She knew Xu Yuanqing's abilities, but as the saying goes, it's better to be safe than sorry. She hoped she was overthinking things.

With Xiaoya's identity and Xu Yuanqing's help, everything should be foolproof.

"Xiaoya, I've told you everything I can about things in the capital, and I've taught you everything I can. From now on, you'll have to rely on yourself."

"The road ahead will be difficult. Many things are hardest at the beginning, especially with this mess. Even if your mother wants to help you, there's nothing she can do. Only when you clear away the problems in front of you can your mother help you."

To put it bluntly, Xiaoya will be in power for at least three years, during which time she will be unable to directly help. It's not that she doesn't want to or can't help, but rather that she lacks the ability to do so. This isn't something that can be done simply by having the power; at most, she can only help stop the cultivators from causing trouble.

In this situation, Xu Yuanqing can play a much greater role than she can.

"I know, Mother, I will try my best!"

Xiaoya doesn't know what the future holds, but she's not afraid and believes she can do her best.

Bai Qingyu stayed there for half a day. She fully understood Xu Yuanqing's arrangements and left after confirming that there were no problems. No matter how reluctant she was to leave, there was nothing she could do.

As for how she felt, Bai Qingyu herself didn't know.

When I got home, the house felt empty.

When everyone saw that Bai Qingyu had locked herself in her room, they were at a loss. No one could go to her except Zhen Tian, ​​but even Zhen Tian's attempts to comfort her were ineffective. So they gathered together to discuss the matter.

After thinking for a long time without coming up with a good idea, everyone decided to cook a big meal together to surprise Bai Qingyu when she came out that evening.

There was indeed a surprise. When Bai Qingyu saw the table full of her favorite dishes and everyone's expressions, she understood their intentions.

Of course, not all of this meal was perfect.

Putting aside the horrifying taste of some of the dishes, just looking at their presentation made Bai Qingyu feel like someone was trying to harm her. But the problem was, this was too blatant. Would anyone actually eat something made like that?

After finding out who made the two dishes, and without saying a word, Bai Qingyu saw Xiao Yao and Yu Zhuan Jin awkwardly turn their heads away and knew who the "culprit" was.

The family sat down, and Bai Qingyu hesitated for a long time before finally opening up to everyone. She planned to move to the capital in three years, but it wasn't possible to go now, as it might affect Xiaoya and make people think that Xiaoya was a puppet she had arranged.

After being comforted by everyone, Bai Qingyu changed her mind. Why bother considering what others thought? As long as Xiaoya took the throne and Xu Yuanqing was still alive, why should she be afraid of anyone pulling her down from the position of the Human Emperor?

After some discussion, they decided not to go three years later, but to move there directly after one year, giving Xiaoya some time.

We might even see Xiaoya ascend the throne someday.

Shenhuang Residence was unremarkable, but the capital city was as if it had been set on fire.