The Villain Marked the Protagonist's Fiancée (Through the Book) - Chapter 42

The warm breath near her ear brushed against Yun Xiao’s heart like a feather, sending a tingling sensation through her.

She lowered her gaze to her chest and scolded, “Don’t beat so fast. Do you hear me?”

Lifting her eyes, she stared at Fang Zhiluo’s profile, so close she could almost touch it. A trace of infatuation unconsciously surfaced in her peach-blossom eyes.

Shaking her head, she denied it. “You’re not her. She would never speak to me like this. You are… you are…” After a moment of stunned silence, she finally found the right words. “You’re a fox spirit seducing me.”

Am I really so inferior to the “her” Yun Xiao speaks of?

Forcing herself to ignore the bitterness in her heart, Fang Zhiluo raised a hand and gently tapped Yun Xiao’s cheek with her fingertip. “You’re right,” she murmured softly. “I am a fox spirit.”

She tilted Yun Xiao’s chin upward, their noses brushing. Her deep, dark eyes lingered on Yun Xiao’s slightly parted lips, a hint of unconscious allure coloring the corners of her eyes. “Have I seduced you?”

That bewitching gaze made Yun Xiao’s heart pound like thunder. Her mouth felt parched, and she reached for her wine cup, only to have her hand stopped by the person before her.

Her gaze drifted involuntarily to the clean, moist lips before her, drawn by the faint, pleasant scent of jasmine. Unable to resist, she tilted her head slightly and leaned in toward those tempting lips.

Their breaths mingled, and they could both hear the other’s heart pounding faster.

A gentle breeze carried the rich aroma of wine to Fang Zhiluo’s nose, imbuing even her, who had never touched alcohol, with a hint of intoxication.

When Yun Xiao hesitated and stopped moving, Fang Zhiluo could no longer restrain herself and pressed her lips against Yun Xiao’s.

Yun Xiao’s eyes widened in shock. After a moment’s delay, she raised her hand and pushed Fang Zhiluo away, her expression wary.

She subtly circulated her Spiritual Power, forcing the alcohol out of her system.

When she realized it was Fang Zhiluo standing before her, Yun Xiao froze, her hand flying to cover her kissed lips. “You, you, you…”

Fang Zhiluo lowered her gaze, deftly concealing the disappointment and hurt in her eyes. She sat on the edge of the bed, her eyelashes fluttering. “You initiated it.”

This was the first time she had ever falsely accused someone, and a pang of guilt tugged at her heart.

But she couldn’t bear the thought of Yun Xiao remaining so guarded toward her in the future. She had no choice but to resort to this desperate measure.

Yun Xiao looked utterly bewildered. Had she really initiated it?

She hadn’t lost control when she drank wine the other day. Could it be that Fang Zhiluo was different?

Yun Xiao glanced sideways at Fang Zhiluo’s profile, stubbornly refusing to admit her mistake. “You could have pushed me away.”

Fang Zhiluo turned to meet Yun Xiao’s gaze, her voice frank. “I couldn’t bear to push you away.”

If she could, she would spend every day with Yun Xiao, just like when they first met five hundred years ago.

Yun Xiao’s heart pounded in her chest, her hands fidgeting awkwardly.

Having grown accustomed to Fang Zhiluo’s aloof and distant demeanor, she was completely unprepared for such direct and unguarded affection.

Flustered, she averted her gaze and stammered, “There’s… there’s still a difference between women. You shouldn’t be like this.”

Taking a deep breath, she deliberately ignored her racing heart and gritted her teeth. “Yes, I admit I once harbored feelings for you five hundred years ago. But that affection vanished the moment you laid hands on me.”

Her peach-blossom eyes gradually hardened as she turned back to meet Fang Zhiluo’s dimmed gaze. Each word fell with deliberate weight: “We can never go back.”

She knew she was being weak, but she couldn’t withstand Fang Zhiluo’s directness. This was the only way to sever the inappropriate intimacy between them.

Even having witnessed Yun Xiao’s resolve before, Fang Zhiluo’s heart still ached like a knife when she heard these words. Her nose stung, and a burning sensation rose in her eyes.

This time, she didn’t hide her vulnerability, awkwardly exposing her fragility before Yun Xiao.

Yun Xiao had always been soft-hearted. Could this vulnerability earn her even a sliver of hope?

Yun Xiao had never seen Fang Zhiluo so humbled, her eyes pleading. This was even more heart-wrenching than her previous broken despair.

She averted her gaze, unable to bear the sight any longer.

She was afraid—afraid that one more glance would soften her resolve, that forbidden thoughts would resurface in her heart.

Let it end here. People should move forward, not remain trapped in the past.

Sometimes, she wondered why, after five centuries, she still couldn’t completely erase the person who had wounded her so deeply from her heart. Why had she repeatedly found herself drawn to Fang Zhiluo?

In the end, she concluded it was because Fang Zhiluo had been her first love, the first person to whom she had poured her entire heart. That was why she couldn’t forget her.

Fang Zhiluo pressed a hand to her aching chest, finally unable to hold back the tears that streamed down her face.

For the first time, Yun Xiao resented the heightened senses of cultivators. Even though she had averted her gaze, she could still clearly hear the dull thud of tears falling onto the bed.

Her heart ached, her brows furrowed tightly, and a flicker of heartache crossed her peach-blossom eyes.

Clutching the wine flask in her hand, she opened her mouth as if to speak, but ultimately teleported to the rooftop.

Pressing her hand against the scar over her heart, Yun Xiao repeatedly reminded herself: Don’t soften. This scar is what she left you. You survived not because she showed mercy, but because you were lucky and resilient.

After repeating this mantra several times, she felt Fang Zhiluo’s influence gradually dissipate.

Though she was a self-taught Alchemist, removing the scar on her chest would have been easy. Yet she had chosen to keep it.

Now, it seemed her decision had been right. At least it served as a constant reminder of the pain Fang Zhiluo had inflicted.

I can’t forget the pain just because the wound has healed. And I certainly can’t let a few tears from Fang Zhiluo make me forget everything. My goal is to ascend and return to the modern world to see my mother.

With these thoughts, her heart finally settled into calm.

The muffled sound of suppressed sobbing reached her ears. Yun Xiao immediately sealed off her senses, but the image of Fang Zhiluo curled into a ball, weeping with her face buried in her hands, still flashed before her eyes.

Yun Xiao raised her hand and slapped the image away, her calm heart stirring with renewed agitation.

She scratched her head irritably and snapped, “Why are you crying? I’m the one who should be crying! My enemy is right in front of me, and not only can’t I bring myself to kill her, but I have to take her along to find what we need!”

Her voice rose with each word, and she blurted out, “Five hundred years ago, when you attacked me, you should have stood by your choice instead of acting like I was the one who wronged you. You had your reasons to reject me then, and now I have my reasons to reject you.

“If I responded to you now, how could I face the wounded self I was five hundred years ago? How could I face Cangwu, who sacrificed his essence bl00d to save me?” Her tone gradually softened. “So you have no right to cry, no right to feel wronged. This is your own choice.”

Fang Zhiluo, sitting on the couch with her arms wrapped around her legs, bit down hard on her lower lip, afraid to make another sound.

Yun Xiao was right. This was her choice. Whether Yun Xiao rejected her or treated her this way, it was all she deserved.

She had no right to cry, let alone beg Yun Xiao for forgiveness.

Realizing this, Fang Zhiluo understood why her face was deathly pale, her eyes filled with despair and helplessness.

So be it. Just as Yun Xiao had once refrained from disturbing her, she would now refrain from disturbing Yun Xiao.

She had been greedy, greedily craving Yun Xiao’s forgiveness.

If she were Yun Xiao, she would never forgive the person who had killed her.

Wiping away her tears, the despair and helplessness faded, replaced by resolute determination.

It would be enough to see Yun Xiao occasionally. As for anything else, she would leave it to fate.

Meanwhile, Yu Hui had obtained Ruan Yurong’s whereabouts from the Myriad Treasures Pavilion. She retrieved her Flying Spirit Tool and sped toward Ruan Yurong’s location.

If her Primordial Spirit could absorb the Luck of other Heaven’s Chosen, it could also absorb Yun Xiao’s Luck.

By stealing Yun Xiao’s Luck, she could both enhance her own Cultivation and weaken Yun Xiao’s. With this advantage, she would devise a method to eliminate Yun Xiao once and for all.

At the Heavenly Evolution Sect, Wan Xuan and others gathered in the main hall.

Yunhua rose angrily. “The Jade Flood Dragon has injured several members of our sect and killed my disciple! Are we just going to let this go?”

Lu Bo scoffed. “No one is stopping you from avenging your precious disciple, but I will never intervene again.” He emphasized, “He died at the hands of the Jade Flood Dragon because he was weaker. Besides, the Jade Flood Dragon now holds the secret to repairing the Heavenly Ladder. To oppose her is to oppose the entire Heavenly Origin Realm.”

Blocking someone’s path to Ascension was akin to desecrating their ancestral graves—a hatred that knew no bounds.

Wan Xuan felt equally resentful, but Lu Bo’s words carried weight. Times had changed; to move against the Jade Flood Dragon now meant preparing for war against the entire Heavenly Origin Realm.

The Heavenly Evolution Sect had lost several Body Integration and Great Ascension cultivators in the recent conflict. Lu Bo, Mu Tian, and Yunhua, who had led the charge, all carried internal injuries. Now was hardly the time to settle scores with the Jade Flood Dragon.

Recalling the matter of the Primordial Spirit draining Luck, Lu Bo glanced sideways at the furious Yunhua and asked in a deep voice, “As Xie Yunfan’s Master, were you aware of the Primordial Spirit residing in his Sea of Consciousness?”

Yunhua’s breath hitched. He opened his mouth to deny it, but Lu Bo cut him off.

“When did you learn of this? Why didn’t you report it to the Sect sooner?” Lu Bo’s sharp eyes had caught Yunhua’s hesitation, and he pressed the question with anger.

Wan Xuan stared in astonishment. Patriarch Yunhua had known all along that Xie Yunfan was possessed by a Primordial Spirit.

If Patriarch Yunhua had informed the Sect earlier, the disciples wouldn’t have had their Luck drained.

Realizing he couldn’t hide the truth any longer, Yunhua admitted, “I only learned about it from the Jade Flood Dragon after the battle at Dreamcloud Mountain. I didn’t report it to the Sect immediately to avoid alerting the enemy.”

Avoiding Lu Bo’s gaze, he added defensively, “I’ve already found clues on how to force out the Primordial Spirit.” He clenched his fist. “If the Jade Flood Dragon hadn’t kidnapped my disciple during the chaos, I might have succeeded by now.”

Lu Bo retorted, “Nonsense! You didn’t fail to find a method—you simply didn’t want to harm Xie Yunfan’s Sea of Consciousness.”

Exposed, Yunhua’s expression darkened further.

Wan Xuan tactfully intervened, “We all understand Patriarch Yunhua’s deep concern for his disciple.” He shifted the topic. “But what about the innocent disciples whose Luck was stolen? Their cultivation progress may have been permanently stunted.”

He hesitated, then continued, “Patriarch Yunhua, now that Immortal Xie Jie is gone, shouldn’t you, as his Master, compensate these blameless disciples?”

Yunhua raised an eyebrow, glanced at Lu Bo and Mu Tian’s grim faces, and finally nodded. “Very well.”

Upon returning to the Forbidden Zone of the Back Mountain, Mu Tian immediately confronted Lu Bo. “Why didn’t you send me a Communication Talisman? How dare you make such a decision and follow that beast?”

Lu Bo, unfazed by Mu Tian’s anger, retorted, “Judging by your constant use of ‘beast,’ I’m going with Yun Xiao to find the Breathing Earth, not to make an enemy of her. Rest assured, after our millennia-long friendship, I won’t forget you once the Heavenly Ladder is repaired.”

Mu Tian remained unmoved by Lu Bo’s words, his tone icy. “That’s the Breathing Earth. Even three pieces would be as difficult to gather as ascending to heaven.”

“While collecting three pieces of Breathing Earth might be impossible for others, if Yun Xiao is involved, anything is possible. We must both acknowledge that someone who can advance their cultivation from Divine Transformation to the peak of Tribulation Transcendence in just five centuries possesses extraordinary Luck. She is the Chosen One of the Heavenly Origin Realm.”

Looking across the entire Heavenly Origin Realm, who else but Yun Xiao could achieve such a feat?

Mu Tian’s face tightened, his voice sharp. “Nonsense. I’ll be waiting for you to return in disappointment.” With that, he swept his sleeve and departed.

Lu Bo dismissed Mu Tian’s words, believing Yun Xiao to be far more trustworthy.

Mu Tian was even more arrogant than Yunhua.

Sending Mu Tian to find the Breathing Earth with Yun Xiao was a risky move. There was a real danger that they would fail to find the Breathing Earth and, worse, completely offend Yun Xiao.

At Kaiyang Sect, Xu Zhenghong sat on the main seat in the grand hall, his brow furrowed in worry.

Before he had fully investigated the situation, he could still delude himself. But now that he had uncovered the truth, he knew that the sect’s originally talented disciples had been hitting bottlenecks one after another. One disciple’s luck had plummeted so badly that he was either tripping over his own feet or getting bird droppings on his head whenever he stepped outside.

Yet Ruan Yurong remained the sole Heaven’s Chosen cultivated from the past two generations, and she was currently Kaiyang Sect’s Chief Senior Disciple.

Torn between difficult choices, Xu Zhenghong decided to pass the burden to the assembled Peak Lords and Elders. “What do you all think we should do?”

The Sword Peak Lord, his voice filled with righteous indignation, declared, “We absolutely cannot let this continue! My disciple, born with a natural sword bone, has not only seen his cultivation stagnate because of Ruan Yurong, but his luck has also become disastrously poor.”

“Sect Leader,” the Pill Peak Lord added, “our Pill Peak has never shirked its duties in times of crisis. This time, you must give us a proper explanation.”

“Jing Yuan,” another Elder demanded, “Ruan Yurong is your personal disciple. You owe us an explanation today.”

“Exactly,” one of the Peak Lords agreed. “If Ruan Yurong hadn’t allowed her Primordial Spirit to absorb the Luck of the Sect’s disciples, my disciple wouldn’t have given up on himself.”

Jing Yuan’s face darkened at the mention of his name. His hand, resting on his thigh, clenched into a tight fist. “Enough!” he snapped. “This is just hearsay from outsiders. Has anyone here actually seen a Primordial Spirit hiding in Xie Yunfan’s Sea of Consciousness? Has anyone even seen a Primordial Spirit at all? In my opinion, it’s all nonsense.”

The Sword Peak Lord scoffed. “If you’re so confident, go say that to Immortal Cloud Xiao herself. Stop being stubborn with us here.”

Jing Yuan rose from his seat, his expression agitated. “What do I have to fear? If such a Primordial Spirit truly existed, I would have sensed it immediately. It couldn’t have escaped the notice of the Sect’s Dao Lords either.”

He turned to glare at Xu Zhenghong, his voice ringing with conviction. “I will never hand my disciple over to an outsider.”

Shangqing, who had been approaching, stepped forward. “Then I’ll take her.”

Jing Yuan recognized his voice and fell silent.

Shangqing entered the hall and strode directly to the seat beside Xu Zhenghong, settling down with an air of quiet authority. “It’s indeed a pity for the Kaiyang Sect to lose such a brilliant disciple,” he said, his voice carrying through the hall. “But she alone cannot sustain the entire Sect.”

Xu Zhenghong and Jing Yuan’s intentions were clear to him. One felt the Sect had already lost too many prominent disciples and couldn’t afford to lose its Chief Senior Disciple; the other clung to years of master-disciple bond, unwilling to face the public condemnation that would follow the truth’s exposure.

But it wasn’t just these two who harbored selfish motives; he had his own.

Yun Xiao, favored by the Heavenly Dao, already knew Ruan Yurong was within Kaiyang Sect. Their continued refusal to hand her over risked provoking Yun Xiao’s wrath. While Yun Xiao directly confronting Ruan Yurong would be a minor matter, preventing him from joining the search for the Breathing Earth would be a far greater setback.

Xu Zhengzong understood Shangqing’s subtle warning: sacrificing tens of thousands of disciples’ peace of mind for the sake of one Ruan Yurong was a poor bargain.

Having made his decision, he ordered, “Jing Yuan, send a message to her immediately. Tell her to return to the Sect at once.”

Remembering something, he added sternly, “Focusing on trivial matters at the expense of greater concerns is a grave mistake. Besides, Immortal Cloud Xiao has assured us she possesses top-grade spirit herbs that can fully restore the Sea of Consciousness, ensuring Ruan Yurong’s future cultivation won’t be affected.”

Under the watchful eyes of the assembly, Jing Yuan produced a Communication Talisman and instructed Ruan Yurong to return to the Sect immediately.

Xu Zhenghong nodded in satisfaction, his expression turning serious. “The Sect Grand Tournament is fast approaching. Does anyone have any strategies or suggestions?”

The Sword Peak Lord waved his hand dismissively. “Three of the Four Great Sects have had their Luck drained by hidden Primordial Spirits. Losing to them wouldn’t be shameful.”

Jing Yuan scoffed, “Pathetic.”

He tilted his chin slightly. “Although the Heavenly Evolution Sect lost some high-level cultivators, the impact on their mid-to-high-level cultivators is undeniable. I’ve heard their morale has been wavering recently, creating an opportunity for our sect’s disciples.”

“The Heavenly Evolution Sect has always acted arrogantly. If we can use this chance to humble them, we’ll not only vent our pent-up resentment but also boost our disciples’ confidence.”

“In my opinion, the Heavenly Evolution Sect suffered a major setback with Yun Xiao, becoming the laughingstock of the entire Heavenly Origin Realm. They’ll never allow themselves to lose face at the Sect Grand Tournament. Sect Leader, I propose opening the Trial Tower to enhance the overall strength of both our inner and outer sect disciples.”

The Kaiyang Sect’s Trial Tower opens every three years for a three-month period. It’s not that they’re stingy with resources, but activating the tower requires tens of thousands of High-Grade Spirit Stones.

Xu Zhenghong pondered for a moment, then gritted his teeth and nodded. “Very well, we’ll proceed as you suggest.”

Meanwhile, far away in Ice City, Yun Xiao had made her feelings clear to Fang Zhiluo that day, and he had since kept his distance.

Though this should have been a relief, her heart felt heavy and restless.

She cursed herself inwardly and rose to leave her room.

Hearing the movement next door, Fang Zhiluo hesitated briefly before following her out.

Yun Xiao glanced sideways at Fang Zhiluo, then continued strolling down the street as if she were alone.

Ice City, located in a remote region, attracted numerous cultivators seeking to harvest Ice Plums, prized for their high value. Those with lower cultivation levels, eager to earn Spirit Stones for resources, resorted to selling Medicinal Pills, Talismans, and magical artifacts.

Remembering the unused Medicinal Pills and magical artifacts in her Storage Pouch, Yun Xiao found an empty spot and set up a stall. She wasn’t short on Spirit Stones; what she lacked were Spirit Herbs and rare and exotic treasures. Thus, a new barter stall appeared in the Market City.

The high-grade magical artifacts and Medicinal Pills she displayed immediately drew the attention of passing cultivators, who stopped to linger.

A female cultivator in red Magic Robes picked up a bottle of High-Grade Spring Return Pills and asked, “How about a pound of Monkey Wine for a bottle of Spring Return Pills?” Sensing Yun Xiao’s hesitation, she quickly added, “This Monkey Wine is brewed from Mid-Grade Spirit Fruit. You won’t be losing out.”

Yun Xiao smacked her lips. She had tasted Monkey Wine in the Small World and knew it was indeed delicious. The rich aroma of wine in the air confirmed the cultivator’s claim. “How much Monkey Wine do you have?” she asked briskly. “I can offer you more Medicinal Pills in exchange.”

The cultivator’s eyes lit up with delight. “I don’t have much Monkey Wine left. How about twenty pounds for exchange?”

In the blink of an eye, twenty porcelain bottles appeared before the female cultivator, each filled with High-Grade Spring Return Pills.

After examining the pills, the cultivator hesitated before asking, “Excuse me, but why does this pill have an extra Pill Mark?”

Yun Xiao replied nonchalantly, “That’s the Thunder Pattern. It’ll give you a slight tingling sensation when you take it. Nothing to worry about.”

Behind Yun Xiao, Fang Zhiluo’s lips twitched slightly. The effects of Yun Xiao’s pills were far more than a mere tingling sensation. The day she had her Master, a Body Integration Stage cultivator, take one, he had reacted as if struck by lightning.

The female cultivator, only at the Late Nascent Soul Stage, would likely experience an even more intense reaction.

Clearing her throat, Fang Zhiluo sent a telepathic message to Yun Xiao: “What cultivation level were these pills refined at?”

Yun Xiao blinked and replied, “I forgot.”

Picking up a bottle of Spring Return Pills, Yun Xiao called out to the departing cultivator, “Since you’re exchanging so many pills, this one’s on the house.” Consider it compensation for your mental distress, she thought, but didn’t bother saying it aloud.

The cultivator happily accepted the gift, promising to bring her companions back later.

Yun Xiao waved her off with a smile. She wasn’t doing this for a living; whether she exchanged a lot or a little didn’t matter.

The cultivators who had been observing from the sidelines, after repeatedly confirming the authenticity of the items on her stall, gradually began to gather around.

After seeing a child exchange a withered tree branch for a High-Grade Medicinal Pill, Yun Xiao’s stall became even more crowded.

After observing for a while, Fang Zhiluo understood Yun Xiao’s barter system and knelt down to assist her.

The female cultivator who had returned, having finally squeezed through the crowd with her companions, breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing the remaining Medicinal Pills on the stall. She immediately signaled her companions to act quickly.

On the way back to their lodgings, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. Worried about being scammed, she took out a Spring Return Pill and swallowed it.

The sensation of Thunder and Lightning coursing through her body remained vivid in her memory. Moreover, the Spring Return Pill’s efficacy surpassed even the High-Grade Spring Return Pills she had previously purchased from the Myriad Treasures Pavilion by at least twenty percent.

Considering this, what was a little Thunder and Lightning? At most, it would slow her movements slightly, but her injuries would heal much faster.

The female cultivator cut straight to the point: “Senior, these are my fellow disciples. They also wish to exchange for some Medicinal Pills.”

Returning customers? She had to oblige.

Yun Xiao, who had been preparing to close up shop, reluctantly extended her hand, gesturing for them to browse freely.

When she saw the rare and exotic treasures they offered—treasures she had only read about in books—her spirits immediately lifted.

The male cultivator, even more aloof than Fang Zhiluo, deliberated carefully before sending a telepathic message to Yun Xiao: “Junior Xu Yi of the Limitless Sect. Does Senior possess Enlightenment Tea? My clan is willing to exchange Divine Wood for it.”

Yun Xiao was puzzled by Xu Yi’s assumption that she had Enlightenment Tea, but his offer piqued her curiosity. She wondered what kind of Divine Wood his clan had acquired.

She wasn’t worried about any potential schemes. As long as the Limitless Sect’s Tribulation Transcendence cultivator still sought Ascension, they wouldn’t dare act against her now.

Without much hesitation, she replied, “Meet me at the Joyful Retreat Inn in two hours.”

Enlightenment Tea? She had plenty.

This was all thanks to the Enlightenment Tea sapling gifted to her by the Azure Bull Beast. After obtaining her personal Medicine Garden, she had planted the sapling there.

Over five hundred years, the sapling had grown into a towering tree over two meters tall. She was almost tired of drinking the tea.

Xu Yi remained discreet, leaving with his companions.

After exchanging two more items, Yun Xiao ignored the late-arriving cultivators and resolutely packed up her stall.

Back at the Joyful Retreat Inn, she handed Fang Zhiluo a bottle of Medicinal Pills. “Your payment.”

This time, Fang Zhiluo didn’t refuse, accepting the pills directly. After a moment’s thought, he cautioned, “The woman who returned earlier is a Personal Disciple of the Limitless Sect.”

Yun Xiao shrugged indifferently. “Whether it’s the Limitless Sect or the Heavenly Evolution Sect, even if they harbor ulterior motives, they wouldn’t dare reveal them.”

Fang Zhiluo’s words reminded her of Xu Yi. His innate talent was no less than Meng Jiang’s, so why hadn’t the Primordial Spirit chosen him? Was Meng Jiang merely a fallback option?

According to the timeline, the three Primordial Spirits had been lurking in the Heavenly Origin Realm for at least seven centuries. Yet both Meng Jiang and Ruan Yurong, whom she had inquired about, had bone ages under two hundred. What had the other two Primordial Spirits been doing during this time? Where had they been hiding?

One question after another surfaced, leaving Yun Xiao feeling increasingly unsettled.

Noticing Yun Xiao’s furrowed brow, Fang Zhiluo asked anxiously, “What’s wrong?”

Yun Xiao glanced sideways and caught the worry in Fang Zhiluo’s eyes. The agitation in her heart seemed to ease slightly. She strode upstairs, saying to Fang Zhiluo, who followed closely behind, “Come with me.”

Two minds were better than one, especially since Fang Zhiluo had Bai Mofeng at his disposal. Either of them would know far more about the events that had transpired in the Heavenly Origin Realm over the past five centuries than she did.

After they settled down, Yun Xiao brewed a cup of tea and placed it before Fang Zhiluo. “How much do you know about the Limitless Sect?” she asked slowly.

Fang Zhiluo, though puzzled, shared what he knew: “The Limitless Sect is the oldest of the Four Great Sects. It’s said that many of their powerful cultivators perished in the great wars of millennia past. Some even claim that without the Limitless Sect, the Heavenly Origin Realm wouldn’t have enjoyed centuries of peace.”

So, the Limitless Sect has some history, Yun Xiao mused.

With this in mind, she asked, “Before Meng Jiang and Ruan Yurong of Kaiyang Sect, has anyone else’s Luck ever been said to have deteriorated? Especially within the last five hundred years?”

“Are you suggesting someone else was possessed by a Primordial Spirit before them?” Fang Zhiluo asked, his face etched with confusion. “If so, why would they switch hosts midway? Or could it be that their presence was discovered?”

Yun Xiao tapped her fingers rhythmically on the table. After a long pause, she finally said, “I plan to visit the Limitless Sect.”

Rather than speculate aimlessly here, it would be better to ask the Limitless Sect directly.

She didn’t expect the sect to conceal anything. Now that the Primordial Spirit’s Luck-draining scheme had been exposed, there was no reason for them to hide it any longer.

“I’ll go with you,” Fang Zhiluo blurted out.

Yun Xiao didn’t reply, tacitly accepting his offer.

Yun Xiao lowered her gaze to the tea before her, finding it difficult to bring herself to drink. She retrieved her own roasted Enlightenment Tea from her Storage Pouch, summoned a waiter for Spirit Spring Water, and began brewing her own tea.

She cherished the tea-making process, finding it calmed her mind.

Fang Zhiluo sat across from Yun Xiao, quietly observing her. The Yun Xiao from five hundred years ago might not have possessed the patience to brew tea so calmly.

For a fleeting moment, she considered asking about Yun Xiao’s whereabouts and experiences during those five centuries. But remembering her lack of standing to inquire, she refrained.

However, Yun Xiao’s practiced tea-brewing technique suggested she had been brewing tea for a long time.

If she had the leisure to brew tea, the Yun Xiao from those five centuries couldn’t have fared too poorly.

Hearing a knock, Yun Xiao said without looking up, “Come in.”

Xu Yi gently pushed the door open and entered, his excitement barely contained as he sensed the rich spiritual energy in the air.

He had approached the right person. Immortal Cloud Xiao truly possessed Enlightenment Tea.

Noticing the fluctuations in Xu Yi’s spiritual energy, Yun Xiao cautioned, “Stabilize your qi and purify your spirit.”

Given Xu Yi’s late Divine Transformation stage cultivation, it was natural for his spiritual energy to become unstable in the face of such potent spiritual energy.

Yun Xiao recalled her own first encounter with Enlightenment Tea. She had eagerly taken a sip, and not only had her mind instantly cleared, but her spiritual energy had surged uncontrollably throughout her body.

Fortunately, this state lasted only for the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea. The Azure Bull Beast, wary of her numerous life-saving measures, didn’t seize the opportunity to attack. Otherwise, another fierce battle would have been unavoidable.

An hour later, Xu Yi opened his eyes and said gratefully, “Thank you, Senior.”

During that hour, his understanding of Sword Qi had deepened, and he had faintly grasped the essence of Sword Intent.

Yun Xiao picked up her tea and took a leisurely sip. “Tell me,” she said casually, “how did you recognize me?”

Xu Yi lowered his head, offering no concealment. “This junior merely recognized Immortal Fang Jie and, recalling your acquaintance, dared to make a bold guess.”

A hint of amusement flickered in Fang Zhiluo’s lowered eyes. This young man was indeed clever.

A herd of horses galloped overhead. Just what rumors were circulating about her relationship with Fang Zhiluo?

And this Xu Yi—she and Fang Zhiluo were enemies! How could Xu Yi possibly assume they were traveling together? What kind of mind did he have?

Never mind, she thought. As the senior here, I won’t bother arguing with this junior.

After another sip of tea, Yun Xiao said slowly, “I have Enlightenment Tea. Tell your family’s leader to bring Divine Wood when they come to see me. Oh, and inform your Sect Leader that I’ll be visiting your sect tomorrow.”

Xu Yi respectfully acknowledged the order and cautiously inquired, “Might my elders meet you within the sect?”

“They may.”

Realizing Yun Xiao was unfamiliar with Xu Yi’s family, Fang Zhiluo explained after Xu Yi’s departure, “The Xu clan is an ancient lineage in the Heavenly Origin Realm. One of their elders is a Tribulation Transcendence cultivator in the Limitless Sect. Over three centuries ago, rumors spread that the Xu family had obtained a supreme treasure within the Secret Realm of Cloud Dream Marsh. It must have been the Divine Wood.”

Such Heavenly Treasures could indeed only be found within Secret Realms.

Recalling the object buried beneath the High-Grade Spirit Liquid in the Ancient Secret Realm, Yun Xiao’s interest stirred. “When will the Ancient Secret Realm open?”

“The cultivators who went to investigate reported no signs of imminent opening,” Fang Zhiluo replied, his voice tinged with resignation as he noticed the eager glint in Yun Xiao’s eyes. “Some tried suppressing their cultivation to below the Divine Transformation stage, but the Secret Realm ejected them within fifteen minutes.”

Unwilling to give up, Yun Xiao stubbornly insisted, “Perhaps I’ll be the exception.”

Remembering how Yun Xiao had been drawn into the Secret Realm in the first place, Fang Zhiluo nodded gravely. “Then I’ll inform Junior Nephew Bai. If we receive precise information about the Ancient Secret Realm’s opening, I’ll notify you immediately so you won’t miss it.”