The Villain Marked the Protagonist's Fiancée (Through the Book) - Chapter 43

Yun Xiao hummed softly, poured herself another cup of tea, and turned to gaze out the window as she sipped.

Fang Zhiluo didn’t stand on ceremony. She brewed her own cup of tea, and after taking a sip, she seemed to gain some insight and immediately entered a meditative state to deepen her understanding.

Yun Xiao glanced at her, then cast a barrier to prevent any disturbances.

Having run out of Spirit Stones, she retrieved ten thousand High-Grade Spirit Stones from her Storage Pouch and placed them before Fang Zhiluo.

Yet, in the blink of an eye, regret began to gnaw at her.

I clearly said it was impossible, so why am I going out of my way to help Fang Zhiluo? Isn’t this just slapping myself in the face?

Should I take the Spirit Stones back?

No, interrupting someone’s enlightenment would be dishonorable. I’ll just make Fang Zhiluo repay me double later.

Moonlight filtered through the clouds, gradually fading as time passed.

Yun Xiao glanced at the darkening sky. Seeing that Fang Zhiluo wouldn’t be finishing anytime soon, she left a message and teleported to the Limitless Sect.

As her feet touched the ground, Sect Leader Zhuo Ying greeted her warmly.

“It is the Limitless Sect’s great honor to have Immortal Cloud Xiao grace us with her presence,” Zhuo Ying said sincerely, her eyes filled with respect.

Yun Xiao nodded slightly, tilting her head to gaze at the Limitless Sect’s entrance plaque. Suddenly, an image of a white-haired elder practicing sword techniques materialized before her eyes.

Each strike and stance exuded overwhelming power. Even without using Spiritual Power, a single sword slash could cleave through multiple mountain peaks.

Noticing Yun Xiao’s prolonged stillness, Zhuo Ying turned to look. To her surprise, Yun Xiao had already entered a meditative trance.

Zhuo Ying’s gaze shifted to the plaque, its inscription penned by the Founding Ancestor himself. Legend held that this ancestor, a master swordsman, had sealed a wisp of Sword Intent within the characters. Yet, few had ever managed to trigger it.

It was said that only disciples of the sect or those destined to be connected to it could awaken this Sword Intent. This confirmed that Yun Xiao was indeed the Chosen One the sect had been waiting for.

Millennia ago, the Pavilion Master of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion had glimpsed the Heavenly Secrets, prophesying that the Heavenly Origin Realm would be invaded by three extraterritorial beings. These invaders would sever the Heavenly Ladder to plunder the realm’s Luck, preventing its cultivators from achieving Ascension.

The Limitless Sect learned of this prophecy through the close friendship between Ancestor Shangqing and the Pavilion Master of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion.

As disciples passed by and noticed Zhuo Ying standing before the sect gate, curiosity stirred within them. They paused to observe.

Zhuo Ying adhered to the laissez-faire approach passed down by her ancestors. Compared to the other three great sects, the Limitless Sect imposed few restrictions on its disciples. As long as they didn’t disturb Yun Xiao’s enlightenment, they were free to do as they pleased.

Some audacious disciples even dared to approach Yun Xiao, hoping to absorb some of her spiritual energy.

Yun Xiao, deep in enlightenment, was surrounded by a faint spiritual aura. It was precisely this aura that helped one disciple break through his bottleneck and ascend to become a Divine Transformation Cultivator.

After thanking Yun Xiao, the disciple hurriedly went to face his Lightning Tribulation under Zhuo Ying’s watchful gaze.

Witnessing this unexpected benefit, other disciples mustered their courage and gathered around Yun Xiao as well.

Fang Zhiluo, arriving from afar, immediately noticed the crowd gathered before the Limitless Sect’s gates. At the center of the group sat Yun Xiao, who had arrived two days prior.

Zhuo Ying, who had been guarding Yun Xiao the entire time, greeted Fang Zhiluo warmly. “Immortal Cloud Xiao has earned the favor of our Founding Ancestor and is still comprehending Sword Intent. Immortal Fang Jie, would you care to enter the Sect and wait?”

Noticing another disciple benefiting from Yun Xiao’s presence, Zhuo Ying’s face flushed slightly. She brazenly added, “Immortal Cloud Xiao hasn’t driven them away, so I took the liberty of letting them stay.”

Zhuo Ying knew exactly what Fang Zhiluo was thinking and chuckled. “No matter. As you said, she didn’t drive them away, and whatever they gained was their own fortune.”

Zhuo Ying let out a sigh of relief and teased, “Immortal Fang Jie has certainly become more easygoing. I still remember when we first met in the arena over five centuries ago. Your aloof demeanor was enough to make me retreat three steps.”

Fang Zhiluo’s ears flushed red, but he feigned composure. “Even plants change daily. How much more so humans?”

Zhuo Ying glanced at Yun Xiao, seeing through his facade but choosing not to comment. With keen insight, she said, “Then I’ll trouble Immortal Fang Jie to protect Immortal Cloud Xiao while she cultivates.”

Fang Zhiluo nodded. After watching Zhuo Ying depart, he slowly turned to gaze at Yun Xiao.

Truly blessed by the Heavenly Dao, he mused inwardly. She hasn’t even joined the Sect yet, and she’s already reaped such great rewards.

Yun Xiao’s enlightenment lasted ten days. During that time, dozens of disciples achieved breakthroughs, the cost of which was several thousand High-Grade Spirit Stones Zhuo Ying had generously provided.

If this weren’t the Limitless Sect, she would have immediately tested her newly acquired Limitless Sword Art.

Unbothered by the younger disciples crowding around her to benefit from her fortune, she casually grabbed a disciple to lead the way and entered the Sect.

Upon arriving at the Council Hall, she casually tossed a High-Grade Spring Return Pill to the disciple who had guided her, considering it a token of gratitude.

Inside the hall, Zhuo Ying personally rose to brew tea for her and Fang Zhiluo.

“The disciples of our sect are rather spirited and unrestrained,” Zhuo Ying said, a hint of unease in her voice. “If any of them have offended you, I hope you will forgive their impudence.”

Yun Xiao waved her hand dismissively. “It’s nothing. You’ve already given me the Spirit Stone.”

She genuinely didn’t take the matter to heart. It was akin to modern students praying to photos of academic deities before exams, seeking only peace of mind.

The difference now was that she had become the one being worshipped.

Zhuo Ying’s anxiety eased as she settled into the seat opposite Yun Xiao.

Yun Xiao cut straight to the point. “I’ve come to ask Sect Leader Zhuo a few questions.”

Zhuo Ying gestured for her to proceed. “Please, speak freely.”

“What is the Limitless Sect’s stance on the matter of Primordial Spirits stealing Luck?” Yun Xiao asked, her gaze fixed on Zhuo Ying’s expression. She detected no surprise on the Sect Leader’s face.

Zhuo Ying replied truthfully, “To be frank, the previous Pavilion Master of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion foresaw this calamity befalling the Heavenly Origin Realm millennia ago.”

Yun Xiao turned to Fang Zhiluo, who shook his head slightly, indicating he was unaware of this revelation.

As the Supreme Elder of the Azure Cloud Sect, Fang Zhiluo should have known about such a crucial matter.

Noticing Yun Xiao’s confusion, Zhuo Ying explained slowly, “After that, the Pavilion Master tried every possible method to find a solution. He finally succeeded in glimpsing it, but the price was his own death and the dissipation of his Dao. After his passing, the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion was seized by a villain who slaughtered disciples with Innate Talent. From then on, the pavilion steadily declined, becoming a mere shell of its former self a thousand years ago.”

Yun Xiao pressed, “What solution did the Pavilion Master glimpse?”

Zhuo Ying had no intention of withholding information, having already revealed so much. She replied, “It can be broken by someone with great Luck.”

Before Yun Xiao could ask further questions, she continued, “The Pavilion Master’s closest disciple, knowing his master’s concern for the Heavenly Origin Realm and unwilling to see it suffer such a calamity, risked discovery by the villain to gather the Sect Leaders and inform them of the matter. But the villain arrived first, falsely accusing the disciple of treason and then taking his life.”

“Ancestor Shangqing, who was close to the Pavilion Master, was on the battlefield at the time and couldn’t spare a clone. By the time his message reached the Sect, the Pavilion Master’s disciple had already been killed.” She sighed. “This became Ancestor Shangqing’s lifelong regret. To ensure the Pavilion Master’s efforts weren’t in vain, he spent years searching for a way to prevent Luck from being stolen.”

A flicker of understanding crossed Yun Xiao’s eyes. It seemed Ancestor Shangqing had indeed found a solution and preserved it to this day.

Fang Zhiluo frowned slightly, hesitated for a moment, and carefully chose her words before asking, “What was Ancestor Shangqing’s status in the Heavenly Origin Realm at that time?”

Zhuo Ying set down her teacup and sneered. “Immortal Fang Jie, do you think that petty man could have seized the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion in one fell swoop without external threats? The Pavilion Master’s millennia of painstaking efforts would never have been destroyed in an instant otherwise. Ancestor Shangqing was arrogant and aloof, making enemies both within and outside the sect. Even within the sect, some repeatedly questioned his actions.”

Her gaze settled meaningfully on Fang Zhiluo. “Remember, the Four Great Sects didn’t exist back then.”

After the great war, all the sects suffered heavy losses, especially the Limitless Sect.

As people naturally seek higher positions, the smaller sects that had once clung to the Limitless Sect began to harbor their own ambitions under the allure of power. Naturally, they would no longer allow the Limitless Sect to dominate alone.

Ancestor Shangqing had seen through this, which is why he abandoned his plan to warn the other sects.

Had the Sect Leader of the Azure Cloud Sect at the time never heard of this? He must have, yet he either dismissed it or simply refused to believe it. Otherwise, how could such a crucial event have gone unrecorded?

The same was true for the Heavenly Evolution Sect and the Kaiyang Sect. Their prejudice against Martial Ancestor Shangqing led them to ignore the threat, making it no injustice when those three extraterritorial invaders targeted them.

Fang Zhiluo realized her mistake and said with shame, “I misunderstood.”

Zhuo Ying waved her hand. “It’s understandable that you misunderstood. If I hadn’t known the truth, I would have likely misinterpreted Ancestor Shangqing as well.”

Her words were no exaggeration. Apart from her as Sect Leader, only two Supreme Elders knew about the extraterritorial invaders.

This wasn’t intentional secrecy. After so many years, the Luck-draining operations had become so subtle that if Yun Xiao hadn’t exposed the truth, Zhuo Ying would have assumed the three extraterritorial invaders hadn’t even arrived in the Heavenly Origin Realm yet.

Instead, the invaders had already infiltrated the Heavenly Origin Realm, successfully hiding within the Sea of Consciousness of Heaven’s Chosen individuals, silently draining the Luck of other Heaven’s Chosen.

Yun Xiao shifted her posture but didn’t ask Zhuo Ying why, despite knowing about the extraterritorial invaders for so long, she hadn’t noticed any clues.

If Yun Xiao hadn’t happened to learn about Xie Yunfan’s “old grandfather” companion and received guidance from the Heavenly Dao, she would never have realized that this so-called “old grandfather” was the mastermind behind the Luck-draining scheme.

She still voiced her final lingering doubt: “In the past five hundred years, have there been any suspected cases of Luck theft in the Heavenly Origin Realm?”

Zhuo Ying nodded. “After returning to the Sect, I specifically summoned the disciples stationed at the Market Cities. Two of them reported hearing about cultivators with initially excellent Luck experiencing a gradual decline in their fortunes. For more specific details, we’ll have to wait for their full reports.”

With a plan forming in her mind, Yun Xiao’s lips curled into a faint smile. She retrieved the Soul-Suppressing Bottle, released its seal, and asked without hesitation, “Jin Yuanzi, tell me, before you targeted Meng Jiang, who else did you have your eye on?”

As his Soul Power gradually weakened, Jin Yuanzi grew increasingly panicked. He proposed a deal: “Release me, and I’ll tell you everything in detail.”

If he could just escape this place, he was confident he’d find another opportunity to flee.

Yun Xiao had personally experienced Jin Yuanzi’s slipperiness firsthand. She’d rather spend the extra effort finding the answers herself than agree to his terms.

Before that, though, she could try bluffing him.

She said slowly, “Let me guess. You and your companions scattered across the Heavenly Origin Realm, initially targeting disciples with decent Innate Talent from smaller Sects. But as you realized they were either dormant or lacked the power to eliminate you, your boldness grew, and you set your sights on the Heaven’s Chosen of the Four Great Sects.”

She chuckled. “Honestly, you’re such a fool. Look at your companion beside you—he went straight for the Heaven’s Chosen of the Four Great Sects! Unlike you, who’s been skulking around like a rat afraid of the light, always so timid and cautious.”

Yun Xiao ridiculed Jin Yuanzi relentlessly, leaving him utterly humiliated. Enraged, Jin Yuanzi retorted, “What do you know? This is called ‘better safe than sorry’!”

Yun Xiao’s laughter grew louder. “Exactly! No wonder your cultivation is so weak.”

“Nonsense! Just give me a little more time, and my cultivation will soar!”

Yun Xiao mercilessly poured cold water on his hopes. “Too bad you’re about to be annihilated.”

“Damn you! Let me out! Let me out!” Jin Yuanzi raged.

Not satisfied with Jin Yuanzi’s breakdown, Yun Xiao continued, “Don’t get so worked up. You still have a companion to keep you company, right? Oh, wait—your other companion will join you soon too, so you won’t be lonely on your journey to the underworld. Oh, my bad, I forgot you don’t get reincarnation. You’ll just be annihilated.”

Old Qiu glared at Jin Yuanzi and snorted coldly. “So what if we’re annihilated? We’ll have the entire Heavenly Origin Realm as our company. We’re not losing out.”

Fang Zhiluo and Zhuo Ying stared anxiously at the Soul-Suppressing Bottle, desperate to understand the meaning behind these words.

Yun Xiao, however, dismissed their claims with a scoff. “Daydreaming before nightfall? Sure, you’ve been leeching the Heavenly Origin Realm’s luck for centuries, but Zhi has already prepared countermeasures.”

She spoke slowly, each word deliberate: “Your plan will fail.”

“Stop trying to trick me into revealing information. I’m not some fool like Jin Yuanzi.”

Jin Yuanzi retorted angrily, “Who are you calling a fool? If you’re so smart, why are you here before me?”

“Shut up! If you two idiots hadn’t been dragging me down, I would have completed my mission and left this hellhole long ago.”

Yun Xiaotao’s eyes narrowed slightly. The trio’s arrival in the Heavenly Origin Realm was no coincidence, but a premeditated scheme.

Their motive? To seize the realm’s Luck and enhance their own power.

Her fingers unconsciously tapped the armrest, producing a series of dull thuds that mirrored the heavy mood of Fang Zhiluo and Zhuo Ying.

Suddenly, Yun Xiao activated the Soul-Suppressing Bottle and demanded sharply, “If Xie Yunfan and the Luck of a dozen Heavenly Evolution Sect disciples were enough to elevate you to your current level, what about the remaining Luck? How do you plan to take it?”

This question had been gnawing at her mind. Old Qiu’s mention of a “mission” reminded her that the mastermind behind this operation wouldn’t have sent these three to the Heavenly Origin Realm without a purpose, nor would they have meticulously planned every step solely to enhance the trio’s cultivation. That left only one possibility: the mastermind also coveted the realm’s Luck.

With this realization, everything finally clicked into place.

She was specifically chosen by the Heavenly Dao.

The mastermind behind the scenes had wounded the Heavenly Dao, forcing it into dormancy. By the time it awoke, the three extraterritorial invaders had already gained significant power, making it too late to stop them. Unwilling to accept this outcome, the Heavenly Dao paid a tremendous price to reverse time and selected her as the key to breaking this deadlock.

The day the Heavenly Dao stopped her from leaving in anger, it was likely because it couldn’t afford to remain dormant any longer and forced itself awake.