Ye Danxia was starting to feel a bit apprehensive toward this boy. She tilted her chin slightly and said, "You little brat, I'm the Tianxing Sect's most cherished personal disciple! If you dare treat me with such disrespect, I'll report you to my master when I return and make sure you're severely punished!"
"Tianxing Sect?" The Demon Sovereign frowned. "Never heard of it."
Ye Danxia snorted. "Of course a brat like you wouldn't know. Let me tell you, within a thousand li radius, the Tianxing Sect's name carries real weight. Apart from the similarly ranked Xuanshi Sect, no one around here dares to challenge us."
The Demon Sovereign's expression turned subtly amused.
A mid-tier sect?
A mere mid-tier sect, and she's boasting like this?
Still, as he looked at Ye Danxia puffing herself up with pride, he found her oddly... endearing.
This human girl wasn't all that powerful, but she was entertaining.
And, more importantly—
For someone in his situation, hiding in a mid-tier sect might not be such a bad idea.
Although he had a technique to suppress his demonic aura, if he ran into a true expert, there was still a risk of being exposed.
High-tier or super sects would offer more resources and speed up his recovery, but they also had more masters—meaning a much greater chance of discovery. A mid-tier sect like the Tianxing Sect was actually a much safer place for him to recuperate.
Looking at Ye Danxia, chin lifted in that proud little pose, he couldn't help but smile. Then, putting on an innocent look, he said, "Sister I'm sorry. I shouldn't have spoken to you that way just now."
"That's more like it!" Ye Danxia raised her chin even higher.
The Demon Sovereign struck while the iron was hot. "Sister, I come from a cultivation family, but we were wiped out by our enemies. My parents, my kin, everyone... they were all killed. I barely escaped with my life. I'm seriously injured now, and if I don't get the right healing pills or herbs soon, I won't make it."
He had no shame when it came to survival. With a pitiful expression, he looked nothing like the cold, dangerous figure from before.
Yun Jin watched from the side, clicking her tongue in wonder.
Such a drastic shift in demeanor—any normal person would've been at least a little suspicious.
And Ye Danxia?
Her gaze softened immediately. In a gentle voice, she said, "I see... You've suffered too. Alright then, I forgive you."
"Sister, I have no one left. I don't even have a place to go. Could you... help me?"
Her motherly instincts surged. "Tell me what you need. I'll help if I can."
The Demon Sovereign replied quickly, "After what you said earlier, I understand now how powerful the Tianxing Sect is. If I could just join the sect, that would be enough for me."
He wants to join the Tianxing Sect?
Ye Danxia hesitated.
Back in the original version of this story, she had agreed right away.
After all, at the time, she was the sect's darling. Bringing someone in wasn't a big deal—no one would question her.
But now...
She was under punishment herself, living each day in fear of being judged or cast out.
Bringing someone back to the sect in her current situation...
The Demon Sovereign narrowed his eyes. "Didn't you say you're the sect master's favorite disciple? Can't even handle something this small?"
That got her.
Ye Danxia immediately puffed up. "Of course I can! It's just that the sect has rules. I can introduce you, but whether you're accepted will depend on your own talent."
"That's more than enough," the Demon Sovereign smiled. "As for talent, I think I'll pass just fine."
"Oh? You think you're talented?" Ye Danxia smirked proudly. "Do you even know what kind of root I have? I'm a Heavenly-Spirit Root!"
Heavenly-Spirit Root?
The Demon Sovereign's eyes narrowed slightly.
Of course—
While cultivation achievements depend on many factors—aptitude, bone structure, comprehension, luck—the root still plays a crucial role.
A cultivator with a Heavenly-Spirit Root wouldn't stay stuck in a mid-tier sect forever.
The Demon Sovereign's gaze sharpened. He suddenly reached out and grabbed Ye Danxia's hand.
"What are you doing?" Ye Danxia tried to yank her hand back, furious, but she couldn't move.
The Demon Sovereign quickly examined her bone structure before letting go, eyes now showing a hint of satisfaction. "It really is a Heavenly-Spirit Root."
"Did you think I was lying?" she huffed indignantly.
This confirmed a few things for him.
If a mid-tier sect had a Heavenly-Spirit Root among its disciples, she would absolutely be treasured.
His luck wasn't bad at all.
"Regretting being rude to me earlier, aren't you?" Ye Danxia huffed, arms crossed.
The Demon Sovereign put on his obedient face. "It was my fault. I made you angry."
With him acting so docile, Ye Danxia's mood improved immediately. "If you stay this obedient, I might consider introducing you to my master."
"I..." The Demon Sovereign opened his mouth to say more, but suddenly, his face twisted in pain. He clutched his chest and coughed up blood.
His expression turned grim.
Ji Wusi's sword had been terrifying.
Even with a Nirvana technique, recovering would take a long time.
He still needed a great deal of healing pills and herbs.
"Hey, are you alright?" Ye Danxia reached out to steady him, concern on her face.
The Demon Sovereign glanced at her, then spoke weakly, "Sister, my injuries are really serious. If I try to take the aptitude test now, I might fail. Could you... find some healing resources for me first? Once I've recovered a bit, I'll try joining the sect."
In his current state, he couldn't fully suppress his demonic aura. If it leaked out even a little, someone like Ye Danxia wouldn't notice, but true experts definitely would.
He couldn't go to the Tianxing Sect yet. Not until he'd recovered at least ten percent of his power.
Ye Danxia looked conflicted, but seeing his pitiful expression stirred something in her heart. She gave a small nod. "I'll try to find something for you."
"Thank you, Sister." His pale face looked even more pitiful now, his tone properly submissive.
Ye Danxia felt her heart melting.
After thinking for a moment, she said, "I'll find you a place to rest first. Once I gather some healing supplies, I'll bring them to you."
After pondering a bit more, she decided to take him to the place where she had once been held.
Since she'd left, no one had moved back in. The disciples who used to watch over the area had all scattered. It was a fairly hidden location.
The two finally exchanged names.
Ye Danxia gave her real name. As for the Demon Sovereign, he casually made one up and said, "I'm Yang Yun."
Once he was settled, Ye Danxia didn't dare linger. She gave a few quick instructions before leaving in a hurry.
Meanwhile, Yun Jin had listened to the entire conversation through Huan Huan.
[+2 Emotional Value.]