The Disguise

Chi Ji stared at him in a daze...

Xu Xian spread his hands and said listlessly, "You wouldn't have the heart to let me save you for nothing, would you?"

After a brief moment of shock, Chi Ji snapped back to her senses. From the sound of it, the youth before her truly intended to let her go.

Before the weight could even lift from her heart, a flash of joy flickered in her emerald eyes. She hurriedly said, "I have something, I have something!"

She then frantically untied an ancient jade from her chest, cupped it in her palms, and held it up to the youth. "I’ll give you this." She paused and emphasized, "My mother left this to me. It’s very valuable."

She looked as if she were terrified Xu Xian might change his mind.

Xu Xian glanced at the ancient jade, furrowed his brows slightly, and said with some disdain, "Just this...?"

Chi Ji stood there, stunned.

"Nothing else?"

Chi Ji shook her head quickly and emphasized again, "This is very valuable."

Xu Xian pursed his lips and took the jade pendant with great reluctance. "Fine."

It wasn't surprising, really. Her storage ring had likely been taken by those evil cultivators long ago, and then it had ended up in his own bag. All she had left was this personal item. Ordinary people wouldn't be able to see through it, but Xu Xian’s eyes were like clear mirrors.

Though this ancient jade looked ordinary, it was a genuine treasure. While it couldn't be used for defense or offense, it offered immense benefits for cultivation. It could nourish the mind and calm one's thoughts. However... such a thing was useless to Xu Xian, who possessed the Pupil of Insight.

Most importantly, this girl had worn the item for a very long time, and her aura was already deeply embedded within it. It would be extremely difficult to erase. There was even a chance it contained a demon god's intent. Holding onto it might just turn him into a walking beacon for others. If he put it in the Divine Sword Pool, he wouldn't have to worry about being tracked, but otherwise, it was a bit of a white elephant.

Chi Ji looked at the ancient jade with a trace of reluctance before shifting her gaze back to Xu Xian. She pointed toward the Blazing Fortress and asked in a small voice, "Then... can I go now?"

Xu Xian stepped aside. "Go ahead."

Chi Ji felt as if she had been granted a grand amnesty, yet she suppressed her emotions. She began to walk around Xu Xian, preparing to leave. The ancient jade was valuable, but not as valuable as her life. Right now, survival was the priority.

"Hey..."

Chi Ji stopped and looked back. "Yes?"

Xu Xian asked a seemingly random question. "Are you afraid of pain?"

Chi Ji was completely confused. "What?"

Xu Xian took a step forward and, with a casual air, threw a punch. It landed right in the center of her face.

Chi Ji didn't even have time to react. She felt her head grow heavy, her eyes rolled back, and she collapsed straight down. She rolled several times down the sand dune until she reached the bottom, landing spread-eagled with her face turned toward the sky. Her eyes were white. The finger marks on her face were still there, now joined by a deep red fist print on her forehead. She had fainted.

Xu Xian walked down the sand dune and looked down at her. The Little Book Spirit flew in a circle over her forehead, pointed a tiny hand, and said to Xu Xian, "She looks a little bit dead again."

Xu Xian rolled his eyes at it. "Nonsense. She's a sixth-rank demon general, after all. She won't die that easily."

The Little Book Spirit stuck its tongue out secretly.

Xu Xian rubbed the ancient jade between his fingers. The look in his eyes shifted as his brows relaxed, and he casually tossed it onto the ground. Then, he walked away.

The Little Book Spirit flew alongside him and asked curiously, "Master, did you refuse to kill her because you couldn't bear to?"

Xu Xian ignored it. It kept chasing him with questions. Annoyed, Xu Xian snapped back, "Because I felt like it!"

However, he also remembered one of the three things his Senior Sister had told him when he entered the sect: 'Do good deeds, and do not worry about the future.' He figured that what he did today should count as a good deed. But to avoid unnecessary accidents, it was better to let her sleep until he had successfully sneaked into the Blazing Fortress.

A short while later, Xu Xian neared the Blazing Fortress. Looking ahead, he saw a range of volcanoes stretching across both sides of the desert. Pillars of thick smoke rose into the sky like columns, and a sea of red magma ravaged the earth, lighting up the firmament. From time to time, the mountains roared like thunder, a deafening sound that made the earth growl and howl in fury.

In the very center stood a towering wall. Boiling magma flowed down from both sides, converging into a red moat. At the entrance of the fortress, a bridge connected to the mountain by iron chains spanned the Red River. The chains were glowing red from the heat.

Outside the fortress sat a small town with sand walls and low houses. Occasionally, people could be seen departing on sand boats. Xu Xian didn't need to guess; this town was likely the place Chi Ji had mentioned—the gathering spot for the people of the Twelve Immortal Demon Caves and the only trading zone between the demon race and the outside world: Black Sand Town.

Xu Xian was in no hurry to enter. Instead, he conjured a mirror. Based on Chi Ji's descriptions and with the help and guidance of the Little Book Spirit, he began to change his appearance using the Simulation Art: Truth in Falsehood. First, he turned his hair white. Then, he manifested a pair of white demon horns on his forehead. He slightly altered his features, skin tone, and pupils...

It felt exactly like he was retouching a portrait of himself. Since he was editing his look, he naturally made himself look as good as possible. He went for maximum handsomeness.

Before long, a face that was strange yet vaguely familiar appeared clearly in the mirror. Xu Xian stroked his chin in self-admiration. "Tsk tsk, I really am incredibly handsome."

[Don't ask how handsome he was; he was only a fraction less so than you, the one in front of the screen.]

The Little Book Spirit covered its mouth and giggled. "Master is so vain. Is this even still you?"

Xu Xian shrugged. "It's the Simulation Art: Truth in Falsehood. Why wouldn't it be me?"

The Little Book Spirit didn't argue; that was indeed how it worked.

The youth before it had silver hair like snow and skin as white as frost. He had a high nose, sweeping brows, deep eyes, and thin, pale red lips. A hint of dominance peeked through his feminine grace, while a touch of gentleness colored his wicked charm. This level of appearance would be highly competitive even in the Immortal Realm. It was just a pity—if he could change his hair color and have emerald eyes like Chi Ji, he would look even more noble.

Xu Xian had considered this. Since he was going to infiltrate the demon race, he couldn't be too ordinary, but he couldn't be too conspicuous either. Vibrant hair and two horns signified the heavenly demon race, whose status was too noble. They were too eye-catching and easily targeted. But being too ordinary wouldn't work either. In a place where racial hierarchy was so deeply rooted, being too common invited trouble. Someone might step on you just because you looked at them, or beat you up just because they were in a bad mood.

Light-colored hair and two horns represented the third of the six grades—not too high, not too low, just right.

Once the facial reconstruction was complete, Xu Xian conjured a tail and put on some navy blue clothes common among the demon race. He looked the part. Finally, he synchronized his aura to simulate the sixth-rank demon general stage. This way, others would see his cultivation wasn't low and would likely think twice before looking for trouble.

With everything settled, he waved his sleeve, and the mirror vanished. Looking every bit a demon, Xu Xian strode boldly toward the Blazing Fortress.

Xu Xian: "Actually, I could teach people how to beautify themselves. What do you think?"

Little Book Spirit: "I think you could."

Xu Xian: "I need a new name too. What should I call myself?"

Little Book Spirit: "Just change your surname. Use Bai. Call yourself Bai Xian."

Xu Xian: "Why not Bai Piao while I'm at it?"

Little Book Spirit: "Get lost..."