My low-key cultivation of immortality was discovered by the emperor in my diary.

Snowfields outside the city.

Chu Lengyu returned to the forest where she first discovered the demonic energy.

This dense forest is rarely visited by humans. She had a conflict with the demon here before, which destroyed countless trees and left behind a scene of devastation.

She scanned the area inch by inch with her divine sense, not even missing the underground, and found many skeletons hidden under the snow, including both human and animal remains.

Judging from the number of bones, Chu Lengyu deduced that the demon had just "transmigrated" to this world and was still testing the surrounding environment. Possessing Chu Wen'er might just be a coincidence.

She didn't find any interface or channel, and wondered how this demon had appeared.

After a careful search, Chu Lengyu finally found a dark bead on the ground, emitting a very faint demonic aura.

Unfortunately, she didn't know how to open or use the bead, so she could only put it away for the time being and study it later.

She casually buried the bones, glanced back at the forest one last time, and then turned and left.

However, he was already on guard and prepared to send someone to watch over the place, just in case.

Next, Chu Lengyu returned to the place where she was undergoing her tribulation to meet up with Lü Yun and the others.

They were left there unharmed for half a day, only suffering from the cold, but they had no complaints, especially after hearing that demons had attacked the capital city, they were even more united in their hatred of the enemy.

When the group returned to Songlin Cottage, they found the place in ruins, with the people nowhere to be found, but the imperial guards were still stationed there.

Chu Lengyu frowned, wondering what had happened here.

Without her asking, Huang Yi and his brothers, filled with remorse, knelt before her and begged for forgiveness: "We failed in our duty of guarding, please punish us, Your Majesty!"

Through his narration, the group learned that before encountering Chu Lengyu, Chu Wen'er had caused a great disturbance at Songlin Xiaozhu.

“This is not a fault of the battle, get up.” Chu Lengyu understood. When Chu Wen’er was possessed by demonic energy, she had about the third level of strength, but both Huang Yi and the gatekeeper were only at the first level, far from being her match.

They were capable of guarding the house and dealing with ordinary mortals with ease, but they were far behind her pace and gradually fell behind.

However, Chu Lengyu had already made up her mind about how to upgrade them, but everything would have to wait until the mission was completed and the Nine Cauldrons were obtained.

Because Chu Wen'er was distracted by the commotion of the lightning tribulation, Songlin Xiaozhu did not suffer any substantial damage. However, the gatekeeper needed to recuperate after being eroded by demonic energy.

Chu Lengyu was unaware of supernatural methods and could not help them, but the situation was urgent and she had no time to spare, so she could only shamelessly ask them to endure their pain for the time being.

Then, Chu Lengyu used the Water Mirror Technique to show them the extent of the disaster in the capital city, where countless people were suffering terribly.

Green Bamboo immediately stepped forward and said firmly, "Miss, I am willing to go to the capital city and do my best to help those suffering people!"

"Having suffered such a calamity, I naturally must also lend a hand," Master Lu Dan said immediately afterward.

He is an alchemist and a healer, and this is the time when he is most needed to save lives.

Seeing this, Fu Wenshen was not to be outdone. He opened his mouth, hesitated, and finally said, "Although I am just a martial artist who does not know medicine or how to save lives, I can still do physical labor. I will also do my part!"

Chu Lengyu nodded with approval in her eyes and said, "I will not stand idly by in the face of this disaster, for both reason and emotion. We need your help."

"I knew Miss wouldn't stand idly by." Green Bamboo smiled from the bottom of her heart, patted her chest, and said generously, "Just give me whatever you want!"

Chu Lengyu chuckled and said, "I'm afraid you won't be able to rest even if you want to."

She looked up at the sky and saw the night as dark as ink, slowly descending.

Time is of the essence now, and every minute and second is crucial, leaving no room for delay.

So, she lightly waved her sleeve, putting the two door god pictures and the four Yellow Turban warriors into her sleeve, and then immediately led everyone away from the Pine Forest Cottage.

Before leaving, she sent a telepathic message to Commander Chen of the Imperial Guards, briefly explaining the situation and urging them to return to the city quickly to provide disaster relief.

Without even considering it, Commandant Chen immediately led the Imperial Guards back to the capital.

Previously, when demons raged, they could feel the terror of the storm even outside the city, and everyone was worried about their wives, children, and elderly relatives.

Before breaking camp and leaving, Commandant Chen found the Grand Eunuch Hong Fu and explained the situation—he had been waiting for Chu Lengyu for a long time, holding His Majesty's imperial edict, which he had to deliver in person.

At this moment, Hong Fu had no choice but to give up, put away the imperial edict, and follow the Imperial Guards back to the city.

The sword light once again illuminated the capital city. Chu Lengyu put down Lü Yun and the others, took a deep breath, and came to the sky above the ruins.

Under the cover of night, the city's garrison and government officials were all mobilized, moving bricks and tiles to rescue those still buried in the ruins.

Nearly a quarter of the capital city was affected by the disaster, with ruins, blood and tears, cries for help, and pleas for help forming everything there.

The sky had darkened, but the surrounding area was brightly lit, with tall buildings standing tall, still a bustling scene.

All that remains here are ruins, surrounded by cold stones and broken beams.

Countless disaster victims who lost their homes stood shivering in the cold wind, feeling utterly hopeless about their future.

Everything they had was destroyed by this calamity—their house, their loved ones, and the savings of generations…

People's faces were stained with tears and dust, etched with exhaustion and despair.

Some disaster victims sat on the ruins, staring blankly into the distance, their eyes devoid of any light.

People held up weak torches, but they could not illuminate the darkness.

Instead, it only accentuated the darkness of the night, as if it were waiting to devour its inhabitants.

But others rushed to the scene to offer their help.

A fragrant cake, a bowl of hot tea, a thick coat... small acts of kindness converge here.

Chu Lengyu took in everything, her pupils reflecting the lights below, and slowly reached out her hand.

--"rise!"

As soon as he finished speaking, strange phenomena occurred.

Bricks and rubble flew into the air, collapsed wooden walls floated up out of thin air, and fallen beams, broken wooden tables, shattered dishes, and blood-stained clothes...

Almost all the inanimate objects rose into the sky and then disappeared. (Note)

This scene was so shocking and unbelievable that the people gasped in surprise, some even rubbing their eyes in disbelief, wondering if they were seeing things.

Those who were buried deep under the rubble, desperately awaiting rescue, could hardly believe what they were seeing.

Without these obstacles, some people managed to climb out on their own without any help.

People looked up in astonishment, trying to figure out why those things had disappeared and where they had gone.

Suddenly, a second "moon" appeared in the dim night sky.

It was closer, brighter, and its soft, clear light illuminated every inch of the ruins, dispelling the terrible darkness.

In mid-air, Chu Lengyu, who remained invisible, retrieved her storage bag, which was already full.

She dumped all the construction waste—bricks, tiles, beams, and pillars—into an open field, and her storage bags were filled with people's household items.

Perhaps, this place holds the last thoughts of many people.

So after a brief hesitation, she kept them.

Chu Lengyu glanced at the sky. This enhanced lighting spell could last for a long time, enough for people to continue the rescue. She decided to leave it at that for now and go find the emperor.

_______________________

Note: Adapted from "The Snow Sword". Although it's only a short excerpt, I'm still noting it down.