Beauties in Simulation Cross over into Reality

And so, the calls to establish academies within the Demon Race’s World grew louder and louder.

Learn from the masters to defeat them.

In the end, it was an elder named Gui Ning who, pushing past all opposition, made the final decision to establish such an academy.

It has even come to the point where much of the Demon Race’s etiquette and education is modeled after that of the World of Ten Thousand Laws.

Of course, there are still demons who scorn learning from the World of Ten Thousand Laws, preserving their old systems and customs to this day.

One side considers the other too rigid and unwilling to adapt.

The other side, in turn, looks with disgust upon those who study the ways of the World of Ten Thousand Laws, seeing them as unnatural abominations—neither truly human nor truly demon.

As a result, conflicts sometimes erupt between the two factions.

But speaking of which, when Xiao Mo heard mention of the second Human-Demon War...

...for some reason, a flicker of familiarity sparked within him, yet he couldn’t grasp the memory behind it.

After about half a day, the flying ship finally arrived at Cold Mountain Academy.

Xiao Mo gazed out at the academy. It spanned more than thirty mountain peaks, its grounds immensely vast. The architecture was a blend of Confucian School characteristics and Demon Race style.

Most importantly, compared to a demonic aura...

...the air above the academy was filled with a scholarly aura.

Xiao Mo withdrew his gaze and glanced at Tushan Jing Ci beside him.

The little girl’s eyes were filled with delight.

If all went according to plan...

...Tushan Jing Ci’s studies here would last for twenty long years.

During these twenty years, Tushan Jing Ci would not be allowed to return home; she could only live within the academy.

After twenty years, regardless of her progress, she would be asked to leave the mountain once her term was complete.

Upon entering the academy, Tushan Xinhua announced their identity, and a disciple was assigned to lead her and her retinue to meet the headmaster of Cold Mountain Academy.

The headmaster of Cold Mountain Academy was a Great Demon at the late-stage Immortal Realm.

This headmaster was a Demon Cultivator with the bloodline of a Zhen.

But he retained no demonic features. In fact, he had no demonic aura at all—his body was filled entirely with Vast Qi!

After exchanging a few pleasantries with the headmaster, Tushan Xinhua took her daughter to complete the enrollment procedures.

By evening, everything was settled, and Tushan Jing Ci had been assigned her own private courtyard.

Xiao Mo, Yue Shi, and two other maids would also be living in the courtyard with her.

”Jing Ci, Mother has to go back now.”

As the sun began to set, Tushan Xinhua smoothed her skirts and knelt, caressing her daughter’s cheek with a look of reluctance.

”From now on, you must study hard and cultivate well. If anyone bullies you or wrongs you in any way, you must tell me. I will make sure you get justice.”

”But you can’t be too mischievous, either. Don’t anger your teachers, and you must not bully your classmates. Otherwise, I will get angry too, do you understand?”

”I know, Mother.” Tushan Jing Ci sniffled, her lovely fox-like eyes shimmering with tears. ”Mother, I don’t want to study anymore. I want to go back with you. I want to stay with you.”

Tushan Jing Ci had thought that once she was at the academy, with her mother gone and no one to supervise her, she would be overjoyed. She could play however she pleased.

But now, the little girl felt an overwhelming reluctance to let her go.

”Silly girl. If a woman doesn’t study, she won’t understand the ways of the world.” Tushan Xinhua gently wiped the tears from the corners of her daughter’s eyes. ”When you grow up, if you meet a man, you might be tricked without even realizing it. Don’t just play all day at the academy. You have to be good, understand?”

”I... I know... Jing Ci will be good... Mother, you have to come visit me often.” Tushan Jing Ci sniffled.

”Mm, I’ll come visit you a few times every month.”

Tushan Xinhua pinched her daughter’s little nose, then stood and gave a few instructions to Yue Shi and Xiao Mo, telling them to take good care of Jing Ci.

Finally, after a long, lingering hug with her daughter, Tushan Xinhua reluctantly departed from the academy.

Watching her mother fly further and further away, Tushan Jing Ci stood rooted to the spot in a daze for a long time.

At dinner, Tushan Jing Ci, who was usually the most enthusiastic eater, had no appetite. She simply stared motionlessly at her bowl.

Yue Shi had to coax her for a long time before Tushan Jing Ci finally ate a little.

Soon, night fell.

After Tushan Jing Ci and her maids bathed in the courtyard’s bathhouse, they returned to their rooms to rest.

In the dead of night, the courtyard was silent and deserted.

Xiao Mo finally stepped out into the courtyard. He drew a few buckets of cold water for a quick rinse, then sat on a stone bench. While silently reciting the ’Great Dream of Yellow Millet’ in his mind, he began to absorb the Moon Essence.

The moonlight coalesced around him, forming a faint halo.

An hour later, a gust of evening wind brushed past the tip of his nose.

Xiao Mo twitched his nose and sniffed. The wind carried a faint, familiar fragrance.

Opening his eyes, he saw Tushan Jing Ci sitting beside him.

Her large fox tail swayed behind her, and her bright, curious eyes were fixed on him. ”Xiao Mo, how can you glow like that?”

”It’s because of my Cultivation Technique.” Xiao Mo retracted his Spiritual Power.

”Cultivation Technique? If I practice your technique, will I be able to glow like you too?” Tushan Jing Ci asked curiously.

”You probably could, but you have no need to practice this technique, milady. Your own innate Cultivation Technique is enough to lead you to the Great Dao.”

Xiao Mo explained.

The bloodline of the Nine-tailed Celestial Fox was just as precious as those of Ancient Divine Beasts like the True Dragon, True Phoenix, Teng Snake, Zhen, and Dijiang.

Divine Beasts like these possess Lifebound Divine Abilities within their bloodlines, which they awaken automatically as they age and their Realm increases.

Therefore, there was no need for them to divert their focus to learning other Techniques.

”Oh...”

Tushan Jing Ci nodded and didn’t press the matter.

She hugged her legs, resting her fair chin on her knees as her fox-like eyes blinked at the distant, starry sky.

Looking at her large eyes, Xiao Mo changed the subject and asked with a gentle smile, ”It’s so late, milady. Why aren’t you asleep?”

”I can’t sleep.”

Tushan Jing Ci puffed out her cheeks, shook her head, and hugged her knees even tighter.

”Before, I always complained that Mother was too strict and controlling. All I ever wanted was to be able to play as much as I liked.”

”But now that she’s gone, I’m not used to it.”

”Xiao Mo...” Tushan Jing Ci turned to look him in the eye. ”Am I strange?”

”Not at all.” Xiao Mo shook his head. ”It’s only human.”

Tushan Jing Ci: ”But I’m not human...”

Xiao Mo paused for a second, then amended, ”Then it’s only natural for a demon.”

”...”

Tushan Jing Ci felt that Xiao Mo was just humoring her, but she didn’t mind. She looked away, rested her chin on her knees again, and continued.

”I don’t really want to study anymore. I want to go home...”

”Mother says girls have to study to understand the world and avoid being tricked by men in the future, but I don’t think that makes any sense.”

”Why not?” Xiao Mo asked, puzzled.

”You’re so dense, Xiao Mo...”

Her fluffy white tail gently patted his back.

”I’m not an idiot. How could I be so easily tricked by a man?”

”The only one who could ever trick me would be the person I end up falling for...”

”And if I already love him, I’ll believe anything he says anyway. So what good would reading a bunch of books do?”

”Don’t you think I’m right, Xiao Mo?”

Hearing her words, Xiao Mo was taken aback for a moment before smiling. ”You do have a point, milady.”

”See? See!” Hearing his agreement, Tushan Jing Ci sat up straight and said happily, ”That’s why I said Mother is so silly...”

Xiao Mo didn’t reply, just offered a faint smile.

”Then what about you, Xiao Mo? Will you ever trick me?” Tushan Jing Ci tilted her head, gazing at his profile.

”Never,” Xiao Mo replied.

”I didn’t think so.” Tushan Jing Ci’s eyes curved into crescents. ”Besides, you’re silly, just like Mother. If you tried to trick me, I’d see right through it. I’m very smart, you know.”

”Yes, you are...”

Xiao Mo nodded, gazing at the river of stars in the distance. In the courtyard beneath the galaxy, the shadows of the two little figures stretched long.

’Very smart indeed, milady...’