The White Moonlight Disdained by the Male Protagonist of Redemption - Chapter 1.1 (Volume 1)

Ning Yao walked down into the dungeon of the Xuanyue Immortal Sect.

The damp bluestone tiles beneath her feet let out weak, water-tinged echoes as she stepped forward.

The Xuanyue Sect’s head disciple carried a lantern, carefully illuminating the path ahead for her. “Mountain Lord Ning, watch your step… You’ve already looked at the Treasure Pavilion and the Sword Hall. If nothing there has caught your eye, the only thing left to choose from is the demon slaves kept here in the dungeon. These slaves are the most prized among the Xuanyue Immortal Sect’s ‘Three Great Treasures.’ Would you like to take a look and see if any interest you? ”

As he spoke, Ning Yao swept her gaze across the space.

The dungeon was vast, divided by iron bars. Each small cell housed a demon in human form, bound by silver chains fastened from the walls to their necks—like collars that occasionally glinted with cold light.

There were both men and women, most of them possessing an alluring, almost bewitching beauty. Noticing someone’s arrival, their eyes turned toward her, their stares clinging on.

After observing for a moment, Ning Yao asked, “Is this all? The number of demon slaves in your Xuanyue Sect doesn’t quite match the rumors.”

The head disciple bowed slightly with a laugh. “You misunderstand, Mountain Lord Ning. Our sect master has already given strict orders—since you’ve graced us with your presence, we must only offer you the best. We wouldn’t dare withhold anything from you. It’s true there are others, but those…”

His expression twisted in distaste. “Those wretches are worthless. Their bodies and spiritual veins are ruined. We keep them in the dark prison, occasionally using their flesh and bones to refine low-grade elixirs. They’re nothing but broken scraps, unworthy of your attention.”

Ning Yao responded, “That may not be the case. I’d like to see them. Lead the way.”

***

Among those so-called “worthless” demon slaves, there was one Ning Yao was searching for.

The Bodhi Clan had long dwelled in Luo Xiang Mountain. Outwardly, they were a prestigious, time-honored immortal clan. In reality, they were a dwindling ancient lineage on the verge of extinction. The Bodhi possessed exceptionally pure and powerful spiritual energy—by all rights, someone in their clan should have ascended to godhood long ago, elevating their people to divine status. But their tragedy lay in the stringent requirements for ascension: they had to first guide another to enlightenment before they could transcend themselves.

But the Bodhi, frankly speaking, were born to be adored.

For millennia, their ancestors had repeatedly attempted ascension, yet none had succeeded—most ended up entangled in passionate love affairs, while the unlucky ones encountered heartless lovers who, though they betrayed them, never took that final step to kill them.

In Ning Yao’s generation, the responsibility of ascension fell upon her and her elder sister, Ning Tang.

As the eldest, Ning Tang took on the duty first. To achieve ascension, she deliberately sought out the sect master of Fengsong Immortal Realm—a sect that practiced the Path of Emotionlessness, cutting off all ties to love, empathy, and attachment, attaining enlightenment through the ritual of killing one’s wife. It was the perfect fit. The entire Bodhi Clan pinned their hopes on her.

Yet, in the end, the sect master fell in love with her and willingly shattered his own Dao heart to remain by her side.

With his Path of Emotionlessness destroyed, he was left with nothing but an obsessive devotion to Ning Tang. Forget killing her for enlightenment—if anyone will harm even a single strand of her hair, he’d fight to the death to protect her.

At this point, Ning Tang resigned herself to fate. She told Ning Yao:

“Yaoyao, I’ve lost my chance at ascension. Your brother-in-law’s Dao heart and spiritual veins are ruined. I must take him away for treatment and lay low for a while. Luo Xiang Mountain is in your hands now.”

“You mustn’t pressure yourself to complete the ascension no matter what. If even the Path of Emotionlessness is no longer viable, then perhaps the heavens have truly cut off our clan’s path to transcendence. However, if you refuse to give up and insist on trying, the only hope left lies among the demon slaves imprisoned by the Xuanyue Immortal Sect.”

Ning Yao’s heart ignited with determination. Of course, she had to try! Every member of their clan had treated ascension as their life’s purpose, battling against failure for millennia.

“Please guide me, Sister. I will give it my all!”

Ning Tang explained, “The Xuanyue Immortal Sect is despicable. They breed and enslave demons to serve as attendants or cultivation tools. Recently, during a social gathering your brother-in-law attended, I saw them present a demon slave as a gift to the Fengxie Dao Sect for humiliation. Something felt off—he carried a Dragon’s aura, yet he didn’t seem like an ordinary dragon. Those fools were blind to what they had in their hands. That should be a Cangyuan Dragon.”

“The Cangyuan Dragons… They’re incredibly rare and nearly impossible to find.”

“Yaoyao, if the opportunity to attain enlightenment through spousal sacrifice is ever to fall upon our Bodhi Clan again, he is our last hope.”

***

Coincidentally, the Xuanyue Sect’s master had sent an invitation for his birthday celebration.

For the sake of her clan’s final chance, Ning Yao prepared a generous gift and personally paid a visit.

The sect master was overjoyed. Luo Xiang Mountain had always remained reclusive, rarely interacting with outsiders. Forming an alliance would bring countless benefits. To strengthen goodwill, he made a grand offer to Ning Yao. She could choose anything she desired from the sect’s possessions.

…and so, Ning Yao didn’t hesitate. She went to search.

Her objective was clear and simple:

Rescue the Cangyuan Dragon and return him to his home, become his wife, and let his draconic instincts drive him to kill her, allowing them both to ascend.

No matter what, she had to take him away today.