Beneath the Illusory Beauty Tree.
Xu Wanci focused intently on Jiang Ze’s every move.
Over the past half month, she had grown completely accustomed to the sword in her hand, her sword intent becoming ever more refined.
She didn’t know exactly how skilled her swordsmanship had become, but the number of rounds she could endure against Jiang Ze steadily increased.
From losing in just three moves at the start, to now lasting ten, twenty moves.
The sword in her hand grew faster and faster—fast enough that the moment she spotted the slightest flaw, she could strike decisively.
There it was.
Just as she found that subtle crack in Jiang Ze’s defense, the pitch-black spiritual energy in his hand surged toward her neck.
This spiritual energy was too dangerous; the instant she sensed it, a deathly threat weighed down on her.
Yet Xu Wanci didn’t flinch in the slightest. Her expression was calm to the extreme:
As long as she was fast enough.
At the courtyard entrance, Ning Menglan’s heart suddenly sank to the bottom of a valley.
As a Grand Ascension cultivator, he was acutely aware of the danger in Jiang Ze’s strike.
At this moment, he couldn’t even recall the defensive talismans he had left on Xu Wanci. Instinctively, he reached out, wanting to save her.
In the blink of an eye, the spiritual energy in Jiang Ze’s hand shifted slightly, narrowly grazing Xu Wanci’s neck.
At the same time, a few strands of his hair were swept away by the sword’s energy, drifting slowly to the ground.
For the first time, Xu Wanci did not lose; instead, she fought Jiang Ze to a draw.
Ning Menglan finally let out the breath he’d been holding, the spiritual energy he’d been gathering dissipating slowly.
Beside him, Xie Tingbai remained composed and leisurely from beginning to end, his expression serene. His gaze swept gently over Xu Wanci as she sheathed her spiritual sword.
A truly thrilling yet breathtaking stroke.
Yet her face was utterly calm, without the slightest ripple—as if the person who had just brushed past death was someone else entirely.
The smile at the corner of Xie Tingbai’s lips deepened slightly:
Interesting.
Was she truly unafraid of death...
Or did she have some hidden assurance that she would not die?
Whatever thoughts crossed his mind, Xie Tingbai’s expression remained as refined and elegant as ever. He half-turned, nodding slightly toward Jiang Ze, who stood not far in front of Xu Wanci.
Seeing Jiang Ze’s indifferent yet arrogant nod in return, Xie Tingbai’s fingertips moved ever so slightly, his face growing even gentler.
Meanwhile, Xu Wanci’s heart pounded like a drum as she looked at the unfamiliar figure appearing at the door.
Xie Tingbai.
In the original story, he was the seventh elder of the Taiqing Sect—cold and ruthless, yet a master of disguise who even managed to outwit the male lead, Chu Qingchuan, causing him to stumble.
He was also the one person Xu Wanci most dreaded encountering in the Taiqing Sect.
Recalling how, in the original story, Xie Tingbai could detect lies and unravel the truth with just a few words, Xu Wanci once again felt a threat no less intense than that she had faced in the Law Enforcement Hall.
In front of Xie Tingbai, she could not afford the slightest slip; otherwise, what awaited her would be an unfathomable abyss.
She didn’t look toward the door. Instead, she lowered her head, slowly sheathing her spiritual sword piece by piece.
Then, she gradually calmed her racing heartbeat, her mind clear and icy to the extreme.
At this moment, Ning Menglan had already arrived beside Xu Wanci, his gaze serious yet subtly laced with a hint of curiosity and scrutiny.
His impression of Xu Wanci still lingered on the last time she had blocked the Xuanming Needle with her left hand.
Back then, she was clearly overwhelmed by despair, utterly disinterested in everything. How was it possible that now she was sparring with Jiang Ze...?
Seeing Jiang Ze finally withdraw his spiritual energy, Ning Menglan realized that the two were merely exchanging moves.
He had seen Xu Wanci in too many desperate, death-seeking states to not be momentarily thrown off balance.
Yet, that sword stroke Xu Wanci just executed...
Not to mention a sword cultivator whose sword heart was shattered— even among all the disciples of the entire Ten Thousand Sword Peak, few could possibly wield such a breathtaking strike.
However, recalling the purpose of today’s visit, he suppressed all his doubts, his voice authoritative but warm:
“Wanci, the sect’s grand competition is long and chaotic. You, who always prefer tranquility, might find it hard to adapt.”
“If you choose to withdraw now, it’s still not too late.”
He knew Xu Wanci wouldn’t be concerned about the dangers of the competition, so he tried another approach:
“If you have any needs, you may inform the sect. The grand competition is not the only path.”
Xu Wanci lifted her head, her eyes filled with a resigned understanding.
She looked at Ning Menglan earnestly, her voice calm: “Sect Leader, there is no need for concern. I only wish to participate in the grand competition.”
“With the Sect Leader and the elders present, naturally no disciple will be seriously injured during the competition.”
Hearing her response, Ning Menglan was momentarily taken aback.
Recalling how she had practiced her sword earlier, he seemed to understand something, and the frown on his brow instantly softened:
“It’s good that you’ve come to your senses.”
Xie Tingbai’s gaze remained fixed on Xu Wanci from start to finish. Observing her lack of any death wish and instead her firm dedication to cultivation, his eyes were gentle but carried a faint trace of scrutiny.
Watching her maintain a calm and peaceful expression throughout, he keenly sensed an indifference beneath her mask, as if she disregarded everything.
Neither he, Ning Menglan, nor even Jiang Ze had stirred the slightest ripple within her heart.
Truly fascinating.
In the next moment, he took out a top-tier Rejuvenation Pill he had prepared long ago, approaching with a gentle expression.
He stopped before Xu Wanci, his gaze like that of a close friend, his voice tender and comforting:
“Xu Wanci.”
“Cultivation is important, but you must still prioritize your health.”
Xie Tingbai carefully and politely placed the pill on the dark jade table nearby.
As an elder of the Taiqing Sect, his cultivation was profound, and he was one of the top alchemists in the cultivation world. Yet his demeanor and speech were surprisingly approachable, his voice devoid of any arrogance, more like catching up with an old friend:
“This is a Rejuvenation Pill I refined a few days ago. Though it primarily restores spiritual energy, its quality is decent and it also helps heal hidden injuries.”
“Consider it a gift; I hope you won’t refuse.”
Listening to Xie Tingbai’s words, Xu Wanci lifted her head, her expression remaining the same—almost deathly calm and still.
She looked at Xie Tingbai, her eyes reflecting his image, yet more so, an endless void and desolation that seemed to stretch into eternity.
To her, Xie Tingbai was no different from anyone else in the cultivation world.
Or rather, as long as it wasn’t that one person, it made no difference who stood before her.
She didn’t glance once at the Rejuvenation Pill on the table. Instead, she lifted a polite smile and said courteously, “Thank you, Elder Qi.”
Xie Tingbai’s gaze, though gentle, never once left Xu Wanci’s figure.
He was always deeply versed in human nature, naturally able to see the barren emptiness beneath her calm exterior.
Yet, in his heart, there was not a shred of pity or mercy. Instead, he regarded her with a curious calculation, weighing her expression—how much was genuine, how much was feigned.
But he could get no answer.
Of course, having escaped from Ning Menglan and several elders, she wouldn’t so easily reveal any flaws for him to detect.
Thinking this, Xie Tingbai self-mocked as if coaxing someone, “I thought Wanci would be amazed by the pill’s healing effects. Seems I overestimated.”
“True, but such a miraculous medicine could never—”
Suddenly, as if struck by a thought, Xie Tingbai’s voice faltered, his eyes tinged with a sigh.
Xu Wanci remained unmoved by his words.
She stood quietly, regulating the spiritual energy she had exhausted in her recent clash with Jiang Ze.
From the moment she saw Xie Tingbai, she forced herself to remain utterly rational, even after stepping into her role.
Every word he spoke, every move he made, could be a test.
She had to maintain her persona flawlessly, leaving no cracks.
At this moment, Ning Menglan also caught the unfinished tone in Xie Tingbai’s words and hurriedly smiled to smooth things over.
“As expected of the most talented alchemist in the cultivation world. A Rejuvenation Pill that restores spiritual energy, yet Xie Tingbai has refined it into a miraculous medicine that heals hidden injuries.”
“Having Elder Qi is truly the Taiqing Sect’s fortune.”
Xie Tingbai glanced at Ning Menglan beside him, a hint of helplessness in his voice.
“You flatter the sect leader.”
“This Rejuvenation Pill is not the work of one alone.”
Pausing briefly, he still avoided looking at Xu Wanci, speaking softly.
“I discovered a seven-hundred-year-old Huatiandeng while exploring the ruins of a venerable master.”
“I wonder if it was planted by that master for his beloved woman.”
He chuckled lightly and steered the conversation back.
“After using it as a medicinal ingredient, I managed to create this pill that can heal hidden injuries.”
When Xie Tingbai mentioned the name Huatiandeng, Xu Wanci immediately realized what he was probing.
In the original story, on the Luoyu Peak of Immortal Venerable Qingyan, there once grew a patch of Huayudeng.
And Huayudeng, when elevated one step, becomes Huatiandeng.
No one knew this, not even Chu Qingchuan, the male lead, who only discovered it later.
How could Xie Tingbai possibly know?
Xu Wanci stood quietly, her expression unchanged.
No matter how Xie Tingbai learned of this, she had to respond as expected.
Though he wasn’t looking at her now, he was surely observing her through other means.
Xu Wanci gently lowered her eyes, concealing all the thoughts swirling within them.
She had just intended to show the deep sorrow and longing she felt for the Ephemeral Flower, as if loving the house and everything in it. Suddenly, a chilling realization struck her, causing the hairs on her arms to stand on end.
No, this isn’t right!
Around the original owner, there wasn’t a single thing related to the Ephemeral Flower.
She, who was willing to give everything and suffer grievous wounds for a single Phantom Blossom Tree, yet there wasn’t even one Ephemeral Flower favored by the Immortal Venerable nearby.
Such a glaring flaw was enough to doom her without a trace.
Xu Wanci forced herself to steady her pounding heart, her mind racing.
Even though she knew that atop the Spirit Peak of Immortal Venerable Qingyan, there once bloomed a field of Rain-Transformed Ephemeral Flowers, she still couldn’t say it—couldn’t let anyone know that the Immortal Venerable favored the Ephemeral Flower.
Rain-Transformed Ephemeral.
If it didn’t represent the Ephemeral Flower, then what else could it mean?
As if a thought had just come to her, her long eyelashes fluttered slightly.
If she recalled correctly, the Rain-Transformed Ephemeral was blue in color.
She revisited the scenes from the original story, blinking slowly:
Chu Qingchuan had obtained several treasures left behind by Immortal Venerable Qingyan, many of which were entirely blue.
Did Immortal Venerable Qingyan truly love the Ephemeral Flower?
They were merely some spiritual plants on Spirit Peak—who could say for certain?
Later, as Chu Qingchuan found those treasures left by the Immortal Venerable, everyone would see those treasures, and see that... blue.
Her gaze swept over the pale blue robe she wore. The anxiety that had gripped her heart gradually eased.
“Rain-Transformed Ephemeral...?”
Xu Wanci’s voice was as soft as a sigh.
She looked blankly into the distance, her eyes seeming to pierce through a hundred years of time.
After a long while, she finally snapped back to reality, a faint curve lifting the corner of her lips.
She smiled gently, her eyes shining with pure joy, with a love so deep it pierced the bones, and with a lingering mist of uncertainty:
“I still prefer the Rain-Transformed Ephemeral.”
“That is the most beautiful color I have ever seen.”
