While the Caiyuan Tower was bustling with activity to fulfill its first batch of orders, the Endless House stood empty and desolate in stark contrast. Even Yin Xuan, the perennial disciple who rarely left, was nowhere to be seen!
Cao Xing took a deep breath, in and out, then pulled out the Mystic Heaven Mirror. Scanning the list of names, his eyes landed on the four with the longest and most conspicuous ones. After another steadying breath, he tapped on the one he deemed least likely to give him a headache and sent a message.
[No Desire to Worry: Where are you all?]
A moment later.
[Wen Shuangbai’s Caiyuan Tower is now open! To avoid delays in responses during the Mystic Heaven Grand Competition, please direct all requests for artifact forging, pill refining, and talisman crafting to Caiyuan Tower: Busy.]
[Wen Shuangbai…: What’s up, Old Cao? Need something?]
[No Desire to Worry: The Divine Evolution Temple and Tianluo Witch Sect have exited the Sacred Tower.]
Wen Shuangbai, who was overseeing operations in the forging department on the second floor of Caiyuan Tower, raised an elegant eyebrow at the message.
So, those two major sects had finally emerged.
During the competition in Zhuoguang City, the Purple Flame Realm had been the first to break through at the City Lord’s residence, followed by Qingling Mountain—thanks to Shen Hefeng’s calculated auspicious timing—both successfully leaving the Sacred Tower.
However, due to the rivalry between the two sects, the other families in Zhuoguang City had grown wary and soon uncovered the odd behavior of the Divine Evolution Temple and Tianluo Witch Sect. This led to the two sects suffering unjustified setbacks, forced into hiding and enduring significant losses—both financial and physical. Yet, as disciples of prestigious sects with deep reserves, they had managed to pull through despite the hardships.
They were just two months behind Wen Shuangbai and her group.
[Wen Shuangbai…: Got it. Anything else?]
Cao Xing: "……"
He wasn’t angry. He was happy. Truly happy.
[No Desire to Worry: The Purple Flame Realm is hosting a banquet tomorrow night to announce some new rules. Make sure you’re there on time.]
Wen Shuangbai: "?"
She frowned. In the original novel, there had been no mention of the Mystic Heaven Grand Competition’s rules being altered.
But then again, the plot had long since veered off course. The female lead, Yu Xiaoxiao, had already been eliminated and vanished without a trace.
[Wen Shuangbai…: Understood.]
Wen Shuangbai put away the Mystic Heaven Mirror and was about to resume her rounds when—
[No Desire to Worry: Latecomers will be fined 5,000 spirit stones per person.]
Wen Shuangbai: "……"
Without hesitation, she opened the six-person group chat and relayed Cao Xing’s message.
[Shen Hefeng’s Caiyuan Tower…: Has Old Cao lost his mind? Fining me 5,000 for being late? Has he switched professions to butchery?]
[Lu Jiayao’s Caiyuan Tower…: Oh right! I was just about to mention this!]
[Wen Shuangbai’s Caiyuan Tower…: Cao Xing told you too?]
Wait, if he’d already contacted Lu Jiayao, why bother her? What a waste of time.
[Lu Jiayao’s Caiyuan Tower…: Nah, I heard it from Yu Qianli in the Jade Rhinoceros Valley’s Mystic Heaven group. They’re planning to visit the Divine Evolution Temple later and asked if we wanted to tag along.]
A Qingling Mountain disciple… in the Jade Rhinoceros Valley’s group chat???
On this point, Wen Shuangbai couldn’t help but admire Lu Jiayao’s audacity.
[What about the other three? Confirm receipt, thanks.]
[Li Zhuohua’s Caiyuan Tower…: Confirmed!]
[No Money? Try Caiyuan Tower: Confirmed.]
[Looking for Yin Xuan? Try Caiyuan Tower: .]
Wen Shuangbai stared at the two rebellious outliers ruining the perfect reply chain and closed the Mystic Heaven Mirror with a sigh.
One idiot, Xie Ziyin, who refused to use the long, silly name she’d provided and insisted on his own "improved" version.
And the senior brother, who, though silent, clearly didn’t want to type more than necessary and followed suit.
…Whatever. As long as "Caiyuan Tower" was included.
---
The next evening, the six arrived at the banquet hall a quarter-hour early.
"Wen Shuangbai!" Yu Xiaoli, who had been chatting with a young monk from the Divine Evolution Temple, immediately stood up, her fox-like eyes sparkling. "You’re here!"
"Mm." Wen Shuangbai smiled back as the group took their seats beside the Jade Rhinoceros Valley delegation.
Lu Jiayao scooted his chair closer, craning his neck. "What were you guys talking about? Looked fun!"
Yu Qianli leaned in, eager to share. "Oh, we were discussing my recovered Moonlight Gem! Did I forget to tell you? The thieves who stole our stuff were caught, and I just retrieved everything from the authorities a few days ago."
Lu Jiayao’s lips curled into a mysterious smile—after all, he’d been the one to uncover the stolen goods. "Ah, I see."
"Some kind soul crippled their cultivation and dumped them—along with the loot—at the government office’s back door," Yu Qianli said, admiration clear in his voice. "But they must’ve erased part of the thieves’ memories to avoid retaliation. A true hero!"
"Absolutely!" Li Zhuohua, who had been sitting upright with his sword, suddenly slid his chair over and gave Yu Qianli a thumbs-up, shamelessly praising himself. "Whoever did it is a legend!"
"……"
As Wen Shuangbai listened to the trio’s conversation, her gaze drifted to the Purple Flame Realm disciples seated across from them.
According to Lu Jiayao, while she’d been recovering and breaking through in the Endless House, Di Qi had led his sect’s disciples into the temporarily opened Long River Secret Realm.
The Long River Secret Realm had also appeared in the original novel.
But there, Di Qi had ventured in alone with Yu Xiaoxiao, and it was there that the protagonists’ relationship had taken a physical turn—they’d slept together.
Now, however, Di Qi had entered with his junior disciples, while Yu Xiaoxiao’s whereabouts remained unknown.
Noticing Wen Shuangbai’s scrutiny, Di Qi glanced up and offered a polite smile in greeting.
She nodded in return, lifting her wine cup for a sip as a thought struck her.
Could it be… that even now, with the plot so altered, Yu Xiaoxiao had still appeared in the Long River Secret Realm?
After all, Di Yanran, seated beside Di Qi, wore an expression that seemed slightly strained.
Wen Shuangbai was certain of one thing: Di Yanran disliked Yu Xiaoxiao.
…
"Disciples." Once representatives from all five major sects had gathered, the Purple Flame Realm’s leader, Di Xiuyuan, took his seat at the head of the table. Raising his cup, he swept his benevolent gaze across the hall. "Congratulations on your victories in the first two rounds of the Mystic Heaven Grand Competition."
"I know you must be preoccupied with preparations for the third round, and I had no intention of disturbing you, but—" The elder’s expression turned solemn. "There are new rules you must be made aware of."
"As you know, death within the Sacred Tower inflicts damage upon your true bodies." Di Xiuyuan sighed heavily. "Young Bai Lijue of the Bai family was forced to withdraw after his spiritual consciousness was wounded. Over the past five centuries, how many disciples have suffered the same fate? As the leader of the Seven Great Sects of Mystic Heaven, the Purple Flame Realm has long sought a solution—and at last, we’ve found one."
Upon hearing this, the disciples present turned to look at him, their faces a mix of shock and confusion as they began whispering among themselves.
"Is this for real?!"
"If it's true, that’s amazing! Remember when I nearly died back in Tian Family Village? I recovered eventually, but I sure don’t want to die again!" one disciple from the Tianluo Witch Sect said with lingering fear to his fellow sect member.
Di Xiuyuan raised a hand to quiet the crowd before continuing, "With the power of the Sacred Tower, we’ve forged Sacred Guidance Tokens—one for each disciple. For the final three rounds of the competition, disciples from all sects will enter the tower in their true forms. If danger arises, crushing the token will allow you to exit the tower immediately, preventing any harm."
Lu Jiayao listened intently, then clenched his fists excitedly. "This is fantastic!"
Now, if they encountered things like Bone-Corroding Spider Swarms, thousand-year-old demon trees, or ghostly apparitions, his teammates wouldn’t have to fight to the death—they could just leave! The memory of being the only one conscious while his five friends lay severely injured and unconscious had been unbearable.
While he was thrilled, Yin Xuan and Li Zhuohua remained indifferent, but the other three were far from pleased.
Wen Shuangbai subtly exchanged glances with Xie Ziyin and Shen Hefeng.
Setting down her empty wine cup, she pulled out the Mystic Heaven Mirror and, while listening to Di Xiuyuan’s lengthy speech, typed in their group chat: [Does anyone else feel like this is targeting us?]
They had just risked their lives exploiting a loophole in the Sacred Tower to secure decent results in Zhuoguang City, and now the Violet Flame Realm was closing that path? She had planned to use the same strategy for the final rounds!
Xie Ziyin poured himself another drink, then refilled Wen Shuangbai’s cup before replying: [No need to wonder. It absolutely is.]
Just as he was about to set the wine jug down, an empty cup slid smoothly into place beside his hand.
Xie Ziyin turned to Yin Xuan with a questioning look.
Yin Xuan stared back at him—a man who could either be her future brother-in-law or just a junior disciple.
Xie Ziyin: [...Seriously?]
So, he poured a cup for her senior brother as well.
Shen Hefeng chimed in: [That old bastard! Are the Violet Flame Realm really that sore about losing? Besides, didn’t they have more Sacred Stones than us?]
Wen Shuangbai: [Still, thanks to them, I now know the gap between our Sacred Stones and theirs isn’t that big. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be panicking like this.]
Meanwhile, Lu Jiayao was still gushing to the fairies of Jade Rhinoceros Valley about how kind and considerate Sect Leader Di was.
When his Mystic Heaven Mirror buzzed incessantly, he pulled it out and was immediately baffled: [Huh?? Aren’t you overthinking this? Sect Leader Di doesn’t seem like that kind of person. He reminds me of the old grandpas back in my village!]
Shen Hefeng: [Then go ahead and call him Grandpa, little grandson.]
Lu Jiayao: [Shen, you lunatic! Can’t you ever talk properly? I have a temper too!]
As the two hurled insults in the group chat, Di Xiuyuan added from above, "However, to prevent disciples from slacking off and undermining the purpose of the Mystic Heaven Competition, we’ve added a rule: If all six disciples of a sect exit the Sacred Tower, their Sacred Stones will be reset to zero."
The announcement plunged the hall into silence.
Wen Shuangbai’s expression remained blank as she typed rapidly: [This is encouraging the five great sects to turn on each other—and docking our pay in the process.]
After the competition, Sacred Stones could be exchanged for spirit stones from the Violet Flame Realm.
But if they were reset to zero? Not a single spirit stone would remain.
Wen Shuangbai messaged Elder Cao: [Does the Violet Flame Realm get to dictate all the rules for the Mystic Heaven Competition?]
[Elder Cao (Not in the Mood): Yes. The Violet Flame Realm won first place in the last competition, granting them control over the Sacred Tower and the authority to set the rules for the next round.]
Wen Shuangbai: [Fine then.]
With all sects having exited the Sacred Tower, the third round would begin in a month.
Wen Shuangbai: [Elder Cao, let’s open the Endless Chamber tonight!]
If she was unhappy, she’d just train harder. She was determined to outwork the Violet Flame Realm and lead her team to victory in the Mystic Heaven Competition!
That night, after entrusting all affairs of Rainbow Fate Tower to their junior sister, the six of them immersed themselves in rigorous cultivation within the Endless Chamber.
A month later, Cao Xing escorted them to the third round. Before they entered, he said, "I’ll keep an eye on things at Rainbow Fate Tower. Focus on the competition—don’t worry about anything else."
Hearing this, Lu Jiayao lunged at Cao Xing, accidentally dragging Yin Xuan into the hug as well. "Cao Xing, you’re the best!"
Yin Xuan: "I—"
Shen Hefeng, never one to miss out on chaos, joined in. "Cao Xing, since you’re being so sensible, let me bless you with the luck of Mystic Heaven’s greatest fortune-teller!"
Yin Xuan: "Could you—"
Seeing this, Wen Shuangbai moved to join the massive group hug, but someone suddenly cut in front of her.
Before she could react, her arms wrapped around Xie Ziyin’s lean waist.
The faint scent of medicinal herbs clung to him—bitter at first, but with an oddly sweet aftertaste.
The heat radiating through his robes startled her, and she instinctively tried to pull back.
But then Li Zhuohua, spotting the huddle, rushed over and threw his arms around Wen Shuangbai. "Count me in!"
Wen Shuangbai: "..."
At that moment, Xie Ziyin could distinctly feel something soft as clouds pressing against his back.
His expression remained indifferent, but the tips of his ears turned faintly red.
Amid Cao Xing’s exasperated shouting and the others’ chaotic chatter, Yin Xuan’s voice, repeatedly cut off, barely managed:
"Could you... let me out... first... please..."
Yet amidst the noise, two people remained unusually silent—not uttering a single word.
