The Stone Eerie standing before Yu Lei was completely different from her image in later times.
While not as stunningly beautiful as Yao Ji, Stone Eerie could still be considered delicate and dignified. Her expression was cold, but the righteous aura of the Xuanmen sect radiated from her, impossible to conceal.
In stories from later times, Stone Eerie usually appeared as a villain.
The reasons were twofold: one, she died at the hands of Nezha and his disciples; two, Nezha was often portrayed as the protagonist.
To whitewash Nezha and his disciples, Stone Eerie was naturally shaped into a villainous character.
However, in reality, the feud between Stone Eerie and Nezha's disciples was entirely unwarranted, a case of being caught in the crossfire.
It could be said that the trouble came out of nowhere.
Stone Eerie was peacefully cultivating in her cave when Nezha, this brat, took the Xuanyuan Kunlun Bow and aimed the Sky-Shaking Arrow at her from thousands of miles away, killing her disciple, Bi Yun Tong Zi.
Still, Stone Eerie calmly asked Li Jing for an explanation.
Li Jing obediently brought Nezha to her, but the brat tried to strike first, only to be soundly thrashed by Stone Eerie.
Seeing the situation was unfavorable, Nezha called upon his master, Taiyi Zhenren.
Stone Eerie's request was simple: since Nezha killed her disciple, an eye for an eye, right?
However, Taiyi Zhenren spouted a bunch of illogical arguments, claiming that his disciple's life was more valuable than others, and that Stone Eerie's disciple deserved to die.
Naturally, Stone Eerie was enraged and immediately attacked Taiyi Zhenren.
In the end, she was brutally killed by Taiyi Zhenren using the Nine Dragon Divine Fire Hood, and her entire lineage was exterminated.
From beginning to end, it was a pointless catastrophe.
Yu Lei's thoughts raced, picturing the future Conferred God Tribulation, the fate of this Stone Eerie in the great calamity.
Stone Eerie looked at him with some confusion, "You've heard of my name?"
Yu Lei shook his head and smiled, "I haven't, but knowing that you are a disciple of a Saint, I am quite intimidated."
Stone Eerie shook her head, "Our Intercession Sect always has a place for all. If you go to Jin Ao Island and listen to a lecture from our Master, you can also call yourself a member of the Intercession Sect."
"Let's not talk about that. Do you want to come with me to my cave?"
Seeing that Stone Eerie was getting impatient, Yu Lei immediately said, "If that's the case, then I'll humbly accept your invitation."
Stone Eerie nodded and led Yu Lei down from the clouds, arriving at the Skull Mountain White Bone Cave below.
Despite its gruesome name, the mountain and the cave had little to do with Stone Eerie.
Legend has it that Skull Mountain was once a battlefield between the Dragon and Phoenix races during the ancient times.
As the former protagonists of the heavens and earth, the Dragon and Phoenix races had sacrificed countless elite warriors here.
However, as endless time passed, there was nothing of value left.
Even the Dragon's precious bones, having eroded over the years, had long since turned to dust, leaving only the battlefield's lingering *sha qi*.
Only a cultivator like Stone Eerie, born from a stubborn rock, would choose to live here, as the *sha qi* not only couldn't affect her Dao heart but also aided her cultivation.
Following Stone Eerie into the White Bone Cave, Yu Lei marvelled at what he saw.
Inside the cave, Stone Eerie carefully examined Yu Lei, finding that he was truly uninjured, and she finally felt relieved.
"I didn't expect you to be both in form and spirit, despite your low cultivation. Not bad. I was quite worried before." Stone Eerie's expression softened, and she offered a rare praise.
While a True Immortal of flesh was not particularly powerful, it meant he wouldn't be harmed by the escaping Xuanhuang Qi.
Cultivating one's physical body was notoriously difficult in the primordial world. Yu Lei, a Xuan Immortal, had refined his body to True Immortal perfection, which was quite uncommon.
Yu Lei smiled, "Stone Eerie, you flatter me."
He could see that even though Stone Eerie was a stone spirit, she was cold only on the surface. In her heart, she was genuinely kind.
Just because a passing Xuan Immortal had been struck by Xuanhuang Qi, this Jin Immortal was so concerned about him. If she wasn't truly kind, how could she be like this?
On the other side, Stone Eerie was efficient and decisive. Seeing that Yu Lei was truly fine, she was about to send him away. At that moment, a gruff voice suddenly came from the White Bone Cave.
"Stone Eerie! This time, I will make you submit!"
Before the words were finished, a figure directly charged into the cave.
Stone Eerie was immediately furious, "Ma Yuan! How dare you trespass on my cave!"
Yu Lei was startled.
Ma Yuan, the One-Qi Immortal?
Yu Lei looked up, and saw a ferocious, ugly man charging in. What was even more astounding was that this man had a giant hand growing from his back.
Yu Lei nodded silently. This was indeed Ma Yuan, the infamous One-Qi Immortal in the Conferred God novel, known for his habit of digging out hearts and eating them.
Ma Yuan, having barged into Stone Eerie's cave, was stunned to see another person inside. He then said viciously, "Ah ha! No wonder you wouldn't agree to a relationship with me. You were keeping a lover in this cave!"
"Today, I will tear this kid apart!"
Before the words were finished, he charged directly at Yu Lei.
Yu Lei was completely bewildered.
This Ma Yuan was actually trying to pursue Stone Eerie?
And he was treating Yu Lei as a rival?
What was going on!
Yu Lei was speechless. Stone Eerie's unwarranted disaster hadn't arrived yet, but his own was already here.
Even though Ma Yuan was ugly, he was a bona fide Jin Immortal.
What Yu Lei didn't know was that Skull Mountain was said to be the transformation of the skull of a fallen Dragon race Da Luo.
Its two eyes had become the two caves, Yin and Yang. Stone Eerie occupied the right eye, Yin, while Ma Yuan occupied the left eye, Yang.
Ma Yuan's pursuit of Stone Eerie wasn't just because he was infatuated with her. He also wanted to occupy both caves for himself.
Seeing Ma Yuan charging towards him, Yu Lei was speechless.
Could it be that Ma Yuan wanted to establish his dominance by first taking him down, then using that to force Stone Eerie into submission?
Yu Lei didn't think he had the ability to intervene in matters between Jin Immortals, nor did he want to get involved.
Stone Eerie, shielding Yu Lei behind her, threw out the Xuanhuang Cloud Water Cloth, generating a layer of Xuanhuang Qi to block Ma Yuan.
"Ma Yuan! This Daoist is merely passing through. Our matters have nothing to do with him. Let him leave, and then I will settle things with you." Stone Eerie glared at Ma Yuan.
She was very annoyed that she had unwittingly brought a stranger into danger.
However, Ma Yuan wouldn't listen. He laughed loudly, "Stone Eerie! The more you say that, the more I want to kill this kid and eat his heart!"
He unleashed his divine powers, continuously bombarding the barrier of Xuanhuang Qi in front of him.
Stone Eerie was in a panic. The cave entrance was blocked by Ma Yuan, and she felt helpless for the moment.
"Daoist, it's all my fault. I dragged you into such a dangerous situation!" Stone Eerie looked at Yu Lei with a face full of apology.
Yu Lei sighed and looked at Ma Yuan.
It seemed that his unwarranted disaster could not be avoided after all!