The First Venerable of the Prosperous Age

Chang'an was thrown into chaos. Suddenly, a black blade swept across the city with a whirlwind, instantly obliterating dozens of shadow soldiers.

As the shadowy mist slowly dissipated, a red-haired girl in a red dress stood alone, carrying a black sword.

The mudflats transformed back into Jiang Xiaotao. Although Gongsun Da Niang had anticipated this, seeing it with her own eyes still made her tremble all over.

This was the first time she had ever seen a demon, and her reaction was remarkably calm and composed.

But Chang'an was absolutely unable to calm down. The shadow inside the room had become ferocious. It was a child holding a dagger, and the sharp blade was about to pierce Du Xian's back.

Chang'an immediately rushed away, but no matter how fast he was, he could never be faster than a dagger.

"Xiao Tao! Destroy the shadows in the room now!"

Jiang Xiaotao just pouted and looked at him resentfully, after all, he had just turned her into a puddle of mud.

Even Xiao Tao couldn't save Du Xian; it seemed this man was doomed.

Suddenly, the figure of a young girl appeared and stabbed at the child first, hitting him instantly.

All of this was accomplished by the shadow.

"Senior Sister!?" Chang'an was overjoyed and flew into the room.

The first thing he saw was Du Xian, whose face was solemn.

He put his hands behind his back and nodded slightly to Chang'an, as if everything was going according to plan.

Lying in a pool of blood to the side was the boy Chang'an knew best.

He had hardly changed; his hair was disheveled, and he still exuded a chilling, bone-deep aloofness.

That loose-fitting black long gown from back then now fits me perfectly.

Ananda was still that child, the child who took killing as his duty.

Then he saw a tall, graceful, and beautiful young woman.

She was dressed casually with simple hair, her face was fair and her features were elegant, and her eyes exuded a refined and aloof air.

Chang'an's eyes widened in shock. "It's you!? Sweet...Sweet...Sister Sweet Cake!"

Having not seen each other for so long, Chang'an was both surprised and delighted.

Just as Tian Gao was about to speak, her face suddenly turned alert.

With a deafening roar, the black blade cleaved open the house, sending up a gust of wind that swept away bricks and tiles, along with broken tables and chairs, turning the once neat and elegant room into a scene of utter chaos.

Chang'an was exhausted; just dodging that blade required all his strength. How could he possibly save Du Xian?

At this critical moment, the black blade suddenly stopped, and with a cry of surprise from Xiao Tao, the giant blade was flung out of the house.

Although Chang'an could no longer withstand the Black Blade, it could still manage with these dilapidated tables, chairs, and wall fragments.

Once everything returned to calm, fear appeared on Du Xian's face.

He still couldn't quite believe that everything that had happened was real.

Chang'an asked, "Did you arrange all of this?"

Du Xian's breathing became increasingly rapid. Leaning against the back wall, he kept waving his hand, indicating that he needed to rest.

"Ugh!!!" Xiao Tao's fierce roar came from outside the room.

Looking back from Chang'an, under the pale moonlight, the black knife was stuck in the ground.

"Junior sister??"

Suddenly, the girl in the blood-red dress appeared from above, floating in the air like a ghost, with a hideous face and roaring repeatedly.

Chang'an smiled knowingly, "Junior sister, have you learned to fly yet?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Jiang Xiaotao was suddenly upside down, the silver threads binding her ankles reflecting the waning moon and flashing with dazzling light.

The same light also shimmered on his neck.

Her feet and neck were bound with silver threads, which is why she was so furious.

Chang'an laughed and teased, "Junior sister, what trick are you up to this time?"

Xiao Tao bared her teeth and suddenly stretched out her mud arm, about to grasp the black knife, but then suddenly turned her body again, missing the hilt of the knife, and her whole body floated neatly in the air again.

Every time she was about to touch the black blade, she would be flipped back. And the Star-Picking Silver Threads were no ordinary binding ropes; they could not be broken by brute force.

No matter how troublesome she is, she is still my junior sister whom I spend every day with.

Chang'an felt a pang of pity and cried out, "Sister Tian Gao, I asked her to cut the shadows in the house. It's just that she's slow-witted and slow to react. You... you should put her down first."

Sweet Cake didn't respond; only Little Peach kept barking in the pitch-black night.

Suddenly, the silver light vanished, and with a "thud," Xiao Tao fell to the ground.

Chang'an was somewhat amused and exasperated. Turning around, he saw Tian Gao standing in Ananda's place with her brows furrowed.

Ananda had already disappeared.

Chang'an was surprised, "Such fast skills! You're so much better than you were three years ago."

Sweet Cake said in a deep voice, "But Junior Brother is much stronger. If we hadn't used a scheme, we might not have succeeded."

"Use a scheme?"

Du Xian said with a sigh of relief, "It's all thanks to this young lady that I lit the candles to lure the demon child out, which allowed her to succeed."

Chang'an asked, "Did you just kill Ananda?"

Sweet Cake coldly said, "I stabbed him in the heart."

"Then he's bound to die?" Chang'an asked.

Sweet Cake shook her head, "Junior Brother has already mastered the 'Shadow Control Magic Codex,' so he cannot be judged by his mortal body."

Chang'an smiled awkwardly, recalling the scene of his, the cook's, and Ananda's arduous battle underground that day.

Only then did he realize what was happening: "Wait, he's your junior brother, so isn't the cook your..."

Sweet Cake smiled knowingly: "Is she alright?"

Chang'an laughed and said, "What old lady? She looks radiant and full of energy every day."

He continued, "But speaking of which, shouldn't you call me 'Uncle-Master' now?"

Sweet Cake nodded gently, "Yes, Uncle Chang'an, hello."

Chang'an was slightly surprised, "You agreed so readily."

Sweet Cake said, "You wield the Nether Flower Divine Sword very well, clearly having fully inherited the true teachings of Master Kang. It is only natural to address you in this way."

Chang'an blushed with embarrassment at the praise, "Hehehe, it's not that amazing, but looking at it this way, your trip to the Immortal Pavilion back then was actually..."

Sweet Cake nodded in agreement: "There is indeed a reason to protect you."

Chang'an smiled slightly, "Thank you."

"But the person you should thank most is that troublesome little monk."

Sweet Cake didn't say anything more, but her expectant gaze was undoubtedly asking about Lu Xiaosan's whereabouts.

Chang'an's gaze became even more complicated, and she said sadly, "He...he's gone..."

Sweet Cake couldn't help but feel saddened, and whispered, "Really? She must be very heartbroken..."

Chang'an forced a smile. "So, junior nephew, are you also here on a mission to protect me?"

Sweet Cake shook her head. "I had an appointment here with someone and just happened to be passing by."

Chang'an smiled and said, "As your senior uncle, I feel obligated to know your whereabouts for your safety."

Sweet Cake smiled and said, "Tomorrow night, at the Drunken Immortal Pavilion in the east of the city, I'll be meeting an old friend."

Du Xian and Chang'an looked at each other simultaneously, "It's Zuixianlou again?!"

Sweetie crossed her arms and said, "Judging from your expressions, we should be able to see each other again tomorrow night."

Chang'an laughed and said, "If Junior Nephew Ananda has a penchant for cross-dressing in red, then perhaps we need not meet again."

"I just want some peace and quiet tomorrow night, and to tell your junior sister to stop causing trouble."

The sweet cake slowly emerged from the house and gradually blended into the night.

Du Xian hurriedly clasped his hands in a gesture of respect, saying, "Thank you for saving my life, young lady."

Chang'an turned around and said, "I think that little ghost won't come again for a while. I'll go to Zuixianlou again tomorrow night to see if I can find any clues."

Du Xian bowed again and said, "Please be careful, young hero. I will be here to await your triumphant return."

When Chang'an stepped out of the gate, the moon was already waning and the stars were few.

Gongsun Da Niang stood silently beneath the black blade, while Xiao Tao squatted beside her, pouting and looking at Chang'an with resentful eyes.

Chang'an laughed and said, "I'm not used to you being so quiet."

Xiao Tao said coquettishly, "Who was that guy who ambushed me? You seem to know her quite well."

Chang'an laughed and said, "She is your long-lost junior nephew."

Xiao Tao's round eyes immediately widened like saucers, and she cheered excitedly: "Great! There's another person of a lower generation than me!"

Gongsun Da Niang looked at her and smiled, "It's hard to imagine that the world-destroying demon just now was actually such a little girl."

Chang'an scratched his head and said apologetically, "I'm sorry, Sister Gongsun, I misunderstood you."

Gongsun Da Niang smiled and shook her head, "We did this to catch the real culprit, there's no need to apologize."

Chang'an sighed, "Yes, besides the two of you, there is another beautiful woman in red waiting for me to capture."