Chapter 981

The atmosphere instantly dropped to a freezing point. Every pair of eyes focused on the jade pendant at Banxia’s waist.

As immortals, changing one’s appearance to impersonate another was deceptively simple—especially for high-level practitioners. Under the influence of divine arts, such disguises were virtually imperceptible. Yet flaws always hid in the tiniest, least conspicuous details. If Ye Yu’s accusation were true, then perhaps Banxia was indeed the Demon Heavenly Lord in disguise.

Hiss!

That trick was almost too clever.

Banxia looked down at the pendant on her waist, rage about to drive her mad. She grabbed at her hair and let out a shriek that put everyone on high alert. Had her true identity been exposed, leaving her humiliated and furious?

“You bastard Ye Yu! This jade pendant is our Three Corpses Palace’s credential when we travel outside—just look!” Banxia tore off the pendant and flung it at Ye Yu.

He caught it and examined it. Sure enough, two lines of fine characters were inscribed on the white jade:

Middle Branch, Sixth Generation Demonic Immortal of Three Corpses Palace

Name: Banxia

Hmm—could it really be so? Ye Yu pinched his chin and thought back. He had slain so many Three Corpses Palace immortals; indeed, he recalled seeing pendants at their waists. He simply never paid them much mind before.

Fearing Ye Yu might still doubt, Banxia pointed at the pendant. “Look closely. Though all Three Corpses Palace pendants are mountain-and-sea shaped, as a sixth-generation immortal, mine is pure white. The Demon Heavenly Lord’s—being the palace lord—was pale gray, streaked with thin black lines.”

Ye Yu’s expression grew serious. Yes, it was exactly as she said.

Embarrassed at his mistake, he tossed the pendant back—but couldn’t admit defeat outright. “Fine, I’ll trust you... for now.”

Those words ignited Banxia’s fury anew.

“What do you mean ‘for now’? Explain yourself! We’ve worked together more than once, yet you now doubt me just over a pendant? That’s too much! And if I say too much, you’ll complain I’m overreacting, right? Fine—I’ll prove myself!”

With that, she clasped her hands and summoned her winged azure calf, Xiao Meng. The little divine beast, spotting so many immortals in the hall, cowered behind her and let out two anxious bleats, as if begging her to flee—poor, shy calf!

But the display didn’t end there. Banxia withdrew a communication stone from her Storage Ring, infused it with spirit energy, and declared, “Speak up and vouch for me—or I’ll broadcast every word you’ve ever said in private, bad-mouthing someone!”

No sooner had she spoken than the communication stone in Feng Yingzhi’s ring trembled. The palace’s master artisan of immortal weapons hurried forward.

“I’ll vouch for my sister—there’s no doubt she’s Banxia!” Feng Yingzhi said aloud, then transmitted to Banxia, “Sister, we agreed those were private talks. Why threaten to spill them? Where’s our sisterly bond?”

They had known each other for nearly a thousand years and remained close. After Feng Yingzhi came to Wuwei Tower, they kept in touch by communication stone. Feng Yingzhi had often complained about Ye Yu’s temper, thinking Banxia a sympathetic confidante. She never expected Banxia to threaten to expose private chatter—sacrificing their friendship for proof!

Banxia glared at Feng Yingzhi. “You speak of sisterhood? Why didn’t you prove my innocence when it first mattered?”

That single retort deflated Feng Yingzhi’s bravado. In truth, at Ye Yu’s accusation, Feng Yingzhi had indeed wondered if Banxia was a fraud—she’d hardly noticed whether Banxia wore her pendant. Had Ye Yu not pointed it out, Feng Yingzhi would never have given it a second thought.

But one witness was not enough. Banxia then spotted Zhu Diezhen among the crowd and whispered, “Immortal Friend Zhu, we traveled together once—shall I recite our past conversations?”

Before Zhu Diezhen could reply, Ye Yu waved his hands. “No, no, I believe you already. I only doubted for safety’s sake—please understand!”

In truth, when Banxia summoned Xiao Meng, Ye Yu had already recognized her. Divine beasts recognized their masters; illusion might mask a face, but it could not alter one’s aura. Had Banxia been an imposter, Xiao Meng would never have hidden behind her. With the crisis resolved, Ye Yu no longer persisted.

Banxia snorted once and fell silent, while Zhu Diezhen and Lin Miaoxue stepped forward to console her softly.

Later, Wuwei Tower even prepared a welcome ceremony in her honor. Ye Yu volunteered as head chef and began cooking dinner for the entire sect—over thirty servings, no small feat! Banxia, having changed out of her bridal robes, wasn’t inclined to eat at first, but Feng Yingzhi’s encouragement persuaded her.

When she finally tasted Ye Yu’s culinary skills, every last trace of resentment melted away. Truly, there is no better balm for the heart than delicious food!

Night fell. Zhu Diezhen personally arranged auspicious lodgings for Banxia in one of ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ the tower’s hidden grottoes, urging her to rest. After all, having been delivered by the Demon Heavenly Lord himself, sending her away now would surely enrage him—as if she’d been returned like a bad purchase. Better to stay and avoid his wrath. Besides, Banxia no longer wished to return to Three Corpses Palace; resting here for a while seemed the wisest choice.

Banxia inhaled deeply as she took in her unfamiliar surroundings. Just then, Ye Yu’s figure appeared at the grotto entrance.

Startled, Banxia stepped back and asked coldly, “What are you doing here?”

Ye Yu looked puzzled. “Why are you so nervous?”

“Of course I’m nervous! I was forced here by the Demon Heavenly Lord, and only felt safe when I saw you. We’re all friends—this isn’t a marriage! Let’s just be friends; don’t think of anything else! Tonight is not our wedding night!”

Her words tumbled out rapidly, resolutely stating her stance, though her vigilant eyes never fully relaxed.