Deep within the secret realm, Chu Qingchuan lay grievously wounded. Only after entering the treacherous Marsh of Misfortune did he discover that small, secluded world.
He had expended countless efforts before barely managing to subdue the Infinite Fire.
By the time he was sent out of the Wuwang Secret Realm, his clothes were tattered and torn, and even his spiritual energy was completely drained—he could barely keep himself conscious.
Outside the secret realm, before he even opened his eyes, he sensed a surge of spiritual energy imbued with the power of heaven and earth, gentle and nurturing like spring rain.
He lifted his head, instinctively turning toward the source of the spiritual energy.
There, ethereal melodies drifted faintly, and radiant clouds of light stretched endlessly. Countless streams of spiritual energy coalesced into white silk ribbons, tender and lively, dancing gracefully around the figure at the center.
The spiritual energy was so thick and abundant that the excess transformed into a gentle spiritual rain, falling drop by drop to nourish all living things.
The spiritual rain sprinkled over Chu Qingchuan, gradually healing his wounds.
Yet, his mind was unable to focus even slightly on his own body; instead, he stared fixedly at the figure suspended in midair.
That figure was so exquisitely beautiful and powerful, yet seemed to drift further and further away from him.
At that moment, a voice filled with envy suddenly sounded beside him: “Heavens, it’s truly a heavenly phenomenon.”
Shen Wenxin had just emerged from the secret realm as well.
Though she bore many scars, she looked far better off than Chu Qingchuan beside her.
What she had gained in the secret realm was the Falling Petal String, the most coveted treasure for a qin cultivator.
Had she not escaped injury and spared her spiritual energy from the entrance to the outer reaches of the secret realm, she likely wouldn’t have survived the guardian spirit beast that protected the Falling Petal String.
Before entering the secret realm, she had asked many senior brothers and sisters, each warning her to be extremely cautious at the entrance.
Many disciples had fallen there.
So, she was deeply grateful to Xu Wanci and delighted to see her successfully reach the Nascent Soul stage.
Shen Wenxin’s eyes sparkled as she gazed at Xu Wanci hovering in the air, excitement in her voice:
“Could Xu Wanci be the legendary Daughter of Fate?”
“Otherwise, how could such a dazzling heavenly phenomenon appear just from forming a Nascent Soul?”
Cautiously, Shen Wenxin reached out her hand to catch the spiritual rain falling from the air. Such a thick, overwhelming heavenly spiritual energy—Xu Wanci truly was favored by the Dao of Heaven.
Had any Daughter of Fate before ever witnessed such a breathtaking heavenly spectacle?
Feeling her cultivation subtly advance under the nurturing spiritual rain, her eyes widened in astonishment:
“This heavenly phenomenon can actually refine the cultivation of onlookers too??”
She raised her head, slightly dazed, and said:
“This isn’t just favor—it’s outright indulgence!”
Hearing Shen Wenxin’s words, Chu Qingchuan lowered his head, emotions swirling fiercely in his eyes.
The person who had once followed behind him now seemed more distant and unreachable than ever.
Nearby, Xie Tingbai quietly turned his gaze away from Xu Wanci. The drops of spiritual rain fell on him one by one, yet his cold expression remained unchanged:
“The Dao of Heaven’s... favor?”
Not far from him, Ning Menglan and three elders also came back to their senses.
Years ago, the Immortal Lord had saved the world single-handedly, a debt owed to both the Dao of Heaven and all living beings.
Naturally, the Dao of Heaven would favor those it cared about…
No one had expected her to be so deeply favored.
When the strange phenomenon finally dissipated, Xu Wanci slowly opened her eyes and gently descended from midair.
Though her gaze remained calm, the lifelessness that once clouded it was gone.
She looked at everyone, as if recalling something, and began to imitate the ordinary disciples, earnestly bowing to Ning Menglan and the others.
From this moment on, she was determined to live well.
She would fight with everything she had to bring him back.
Before Ning Menglan could even react, Gu Yunqi suddenly appeared beside Xu Wanci, grasping her wrists with a speed no one could see clearly.
Feeling the opportunity in her hands… no, feeling Xu Wanci’s warmth, her delighted eyes narrowed, and her cold, beautiful face was filled with obsession.
Her voice floated in the air, excited and teasing:
“You don’t have to bow to them. If you do, I’ll make them bow to you in return!”
“Three bows… no, ten bows!”
Hearing the Third Elder’s words, Shen Wenxin’s eyes widened in horror.
Had the Third Elder gone mad??
In the end, the Second Elder stepped forward and mercilessly pried Gu Yunqi’s hands away, ignoring the agonized expression on her face as if parting from a loved one. With a cold expression, he dragged her toward the Jade Extreme Flying Boat.
Behind them, the giant stone marking the entrance to the Wuwang Secret Realm had disappeared without anyone noticing.
When the next decade arrives, it will reappear somewhere in the cultivation world.
Only the Sect Leader of the Taiqing Sect, bearing the Sect Leader’s token, can locate it.
On the Jade Extreme Flying Boat.
Shen Wenxin sat beside Xu Wanci, feeling the hungry, almost predatory gaze Gu Yunqi cast from not far away. Her body trembled ever so slightly.
Instinctively, she leaned a little closer to Xu Wanci.
At that moment, Gu Yunqi’s eyes sharpened by threefold as she looked in their direction.
Seeing Shen Wenxin so close to Xu Wanci, Gu Yunqi’s heart twisted with envy.
Why could that disciple be so close to Xu Wanci?
She wanted to be too!!!
Her feet instinctively stepped forward, only to be firmly blocked by the Second Elder beside her.
The Second Elder feared that if he loosened his grip, Gu Yunqi would rush to Xu Wanci and pledge herself to her.
After a long time, Shen Wenxin finally grew accustomed to Gu Yunqi’s gaze.
She recalled what had happened in the Wuwang Secret Realm and turned to look at Xu Wanci with eyes full of admiration:
“Wanci, you’re truly amazing.”
“If you hadn’t led us into the outer ring of the secret realm, I wouldn’t have had so much time to search for the Falling Blossom String!”
“You’re my savior!!”
Hearing her voice, Xu Wanci shifted her gaze from the sky.
She tilted her head slightly, as if unsure how to respond to such a scene. Lowering her eyes, she replied in a clear, cold voice:
“Shen junior sister, there’s no need to be so polite.”
Upon hearing her response, Shen Wenxin suddenly felt overwhelmed with a sense of being cherished.
Since they met, Xu Wanci had always seemed aloof and distant in her eyes—even the Sect Leader and several elders barely paid her any mind.
She really was overthinking it.
Xu Wanci had been perfectly friendly!
Thinking this, she smiled warmly and said,
“Wanci, just call me Wenxin.”
Xu Wanci’s hand paused briefly as she gently stroked the three-leaf lotus.
After a long moment, she spoke softly,
“Wenxin.”
Though he didn’t look at Xu Wanci directly, Chu Qingchuan’s mind remained fixed on her. Hearing her address Shen Wenxin by name, he subtly moved his fingers.
What exactly had Xu Wanci experienced in the Wuwang Secret Realm?
Why did she now seem to carry a few more... sparks of life than before?
He instinctively glanced at Ning Menglan beside him.
Before he could say anything, Ning Menglan’s warning gaze met his eyes. He shook his head solemnly:
Don’t look, don’t ask, don’t interfere.
Several hours later, the Yujie Flying Boat finally returned to the Taiqing Sect.
Aboard the flying boat, Xie Tingbai keenly sensed Jiang Ze’s spiritual energy.
It wasn’t his usual divine sense—it was truly his personal presence.
Xie Tingbai’s eyes flickered.
Jiang Ze’s concern for Xu Wanci... seemed to be growing heavier.
He casually walked over to Xu Wanci’s side and carefully helped her down from the flying boat.
Feeling the sudden intensification of spiritual energy around her, Xie Tingbai smiled faintly and withdrew his hand with ease.
He had already obtained the answer he sought.
At that moment, Jiang Qiuning, who had been waiting here for a long time, hurriedly approached.
Only Taiqing Sect cultivators were allowed into the Wuwang Secret Realm. Although she was deeply worried, she could only wait here.
Standing beside Xu Wanci, Shen Wenxin watched Jiang Qiuning rush toward Xu Wanci without even sparing a glance at Chu Qingchuan. Suddenly, she recalled the rumors she had once heard.
Without hesitation, she stepped protectively in front of Xu Wanci and anxiously explained,
“Young Master Jiang, Wanci simply—”
She hadn’t even finished her sentence when Jiang Qiuning smoothly bypassed her and, with a worried expression, took the hand of the person behind.
Jiang Qiuning carefully examined Xu Wanci from head to toe. Seeing no injuries and sensing her spiritual energy flowing steadily, she finally exhaled in relief.
Still, she couldn’t help but ask with lingering concern,
“Wanci, did you get hurt in the Secret Realm?”
Xu Wanci gently shook her head.
Jiang Qiuning finally relaxed. It was then she noticed that Xu Wanci had already formed her Nascent Soul.
Her voice brimmed with joy: “Wanci, you’ve formed your Nascent Soul!”
“That’s wonderful! We must definitely celebrate properly!”
After speaking, a flicker of worry returned to her eyes.
“The Nascent Soul Tribulation is perilous. Were you harmed at all?”
Xu Wanci replied softly, “I’m fine.”
Jiang Qiuning didn’t fully believe her words. She glanced at Ning Menglan, and when he nodded, she finally let go of her worries.
“Good, good. That’s good news.”
Shen Wenxin watched the scene with a dazed expression.
Wasn’t it said that Xu Wanci, out of jealousy, had secretly harmed Jiang Qiuning, causing tensions between the Taiqing Sect and the Jiang family?
Isn't it said that Jiang Qiuning and Xu Wanci are like fire and water, destined to clash and hurt each other whenever they meet?
She quietly glanced over at Chu Qingchuan, whose injuries had yet to fully heal, his face still pale but seemingly ignored by everyone. With a hint of pity, she quickly looked away.
The rumors have wronged me!
Once Jiang Qiuning confirmed that Xu Wanci was unharmed, it seemed as if she suddenly remembered something. She took a few graceful steps forward, her gaze softening as it landed on Chu Qingchuan.
Seeing his pale complexion, she spoke with mild surprise, “Qingchuan, you’re injured?”
Chu Qingchuan recalled the earlier conversation between Jiang Qiuning and Xu Wanci, a vague sense of confusion rising within him. It felt as if things were slipping beyond his control.
But soon enough, he realized that Xu Wanci had helped him greatly.
He guessed it was because of him that Jiang Qiuning was so willing to assist Xu Wanci.
With that thought, his expression settled somewhat.
“Just a minor wound,” he replied.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Qiuning’s furrowed brows gradually eased, and her voice turned gentle. “Even a minor injury deserves careful attention.”
*
Back at the Taiqing Sect.
Time seemed to rewind itself. Xu Wanci had returned to the state she was in before the sect’s grand competition.
From dawn till dusk, she trained without pause.
Even more focused and diligent than before.
Jiang Qiuning leaned against Chu Qingchuan’s side, utterly distracted from the serene valley where Qingyou orchids bloomed.
She had sensed something was amiss ever since she saw Xu Wanci on the Jade Extreme Flying Boat that day.
Though Xu Wanci still appeared calm and somewhat melancholic, compared to the utter despair she once carried, there was now a faint glimmer of life.
Like a tiny sprout breaking through a barren wasteland.
Of course, Jiang Qiuning was delighted by this change, but…
Recalling her conversation with Ning Menglan that day, a thoughtful look crossed her eyes.
What does it mean when they say there are thousands of great paths, yet only one thread of hope?
What does it mean that sometimes illusion can be just as real as truth?
Connecting these thoughts with Xu Wanci’s transformation, an incredible idea suddenly sparked in Jiang Qiuning’s mind:
There has always been only one person who could change Xu Wanci.
A thread of hope… an illusion that could be real.
Her fingertips trembled ever so slightly.
If what she suspected was true, had they ever considered what would happen if Xu Wanci ever discovered the truth?
Lost in her restless thoughts, a gentle voice came from beside her:
“Qiuning, do you like it here?”
Chu Qingchuan lowered his gaze to the figure nestled in his arms.
He wasn’t sure if it was just his imagination, but lately Jiang Qiuning didn’t seem to care for him as much as before.
So, despite his busy training schedule, he still made time to be with her.
Jiang Qiuning suddenly snapped back to reality. Sitting up straight, she smiled warmly and tenderly.
“How could I not like such a beautiful place?”
“With you here, the scenery is even more beautiful.”
Hearing her reply, Chu Qingchuan’s heart gradually calmed. His voice grew even softer.
“If one day I were to obtain a secret realm, I would fill it with all the Qingyou orchids you love.”
"By then, when we explore the secret realms together, every corner will be filled with the landscapes you love."
Jiang Qiuning smiled brightly and said,
"Then I’ll be waiting for the secret realm that Qingchuan prepares for me."
"But for now, you still need to focus on refining the Infinite Fire," she said with a gentle laugh as she stood up. "I also have to handle the Jiang family affairs."
"One day when we have time, we’ll come to see the valley of Qingyoulan again."
Chu Qingchuan also stood, his voice clear and steady:
"Qiuning is right. I’ll go practice now, and you shouldn’t overwork yourself either."
Half a cup of tea later.
Outside Xu Wanci’s small courtyard.
Jiang Qiuning and Chu Qingchuan exchanged glances, their eyes flickering uncertainly.
After a long moment, Chu Qingchuan cleared his throat and explained:
"I came here to thank Xu Wanci for her guidance in the secret realm that day."
"If it weren’t for her, I wouldn’t have had the chance to obtain the Infinite Fire."
Jiang Qiuning nodded with a smile:
"I’m here for the same reason."
She stepped forward with a smile and gently pushed Chu Qingchuan aside:
"We are one in heart and purpose; I’ll thank her on your behalf."
"You should focus on your cultivation now. Once you’ve refined the Infinite Fire and completed the next volume of the Thousand Pillars Transformation, you’ll have time for these trivial matters."
After Chu Qingchuan left Wanjian Peak, Jiang Qiuning carefully adjusted her outer robe and approached the small courtyard’s door, gently knocking three times.
The wooden door was crafted by Duan Ziwei from millennium-old springwood, capable of blocking sound and absorbing spiritual energy.
The fastest way for the door to open was either someone outside pushing it or someone inside unlocking it.
Inside the courtyard, Shen Wenxin came to the door and reached out to open it.
Seeing the figure before her, she froze for a moment:
"Young Master Jiang?"
Jiang Qiuning calmly sized up Shen Wenxin:
Why would Shen Wenxin, the direct disciple of the master of Sound Peak, appear here?
At that moment, a gentle voice of thanks came from inside the courtyard:
"Thank you, Wenxin."
Hearing this, Shen Wenxin turned and smiled brightly:
"Wanci, you’ve helped me so much already; opening the door is nothing, no need to be so polite."
Wenxin?
Jiang Qiuning’s eyes narrowed ever so slightly.
She recalled the fight between Chu Qingchuan and Shen Wenxin during the sect’s grand competition. Although she hadn’t paid much attention at the time, she had reviewed the recording stone afterward.
Remembering Shen Wenxin’s unexpected and unconventional attack style, she silently judged:
The Way of Sound and Deception.
No matter what she thought internally, Jiang Qiuning maintained her composed exterior, radiating the imposing presence of the Jiang family’s young master, making it impossible for others to meet her gaze directly.
Yet, as she approached Xu Wanci, all her authority melted into warmth:
"Wanci."
Xu Wanci stood and greeted her softly:
"Young Master Jiang."
At the sound of that title, Jiang Qiuning’s smile stiffened slightly, then she replied casually:
"How have you been lately, Wanci?"
At that moment, sincere admiration came from behind them:
"So it turns out Young Master Jiang and Wanci have such a close relationship."
"Some disciples even say that Young Master Jiang is always cold and unyielding toward Wanci, deliberately making things difficult for her time and again..."
At this point, Shen Wenxin wore a face full of sighs and said:
"Rumors really can't be trusted."
Hearing this, the smile on Jiang Qiuning’s face gradually faded.
Back when she didn’t know the truth, she indeed…
She gathered all her scattered thoughts and fixed her gaze steadily on Shen Wenxin.
Being quite perceptive about human nature, Jiang Qiuning naturally saw the sincerity on her face.
Jiang Qiuning gave a faint nod toward her, then gently turned to look at Xu Wanci with warmth:
“Wanci, you’ve just entered the Nascent Soul stage. You need to consolidate your early Nascent Soul cultivation.”
She took out a storage pouch, her voice serious:
“This is the most suitable spiritual herb we found for cultivators at the early Nascent Soul stage. It can stabilize your Nascent Soul without being too intense…”
Listening to Jiang Qiuning’s gentle and caring tone, Shen Wenxin was somewhat intoxicated, even holding her chin a little longer:
“So the Young Master Jiang is this gentle, huh?”
After Jiang Qiuning finished speaking, Shen Wenxin’s voice carried a hint of envy:
“Senior Brother Chu is truly lucky to have such a thoughtful Dao Companion in Young Master Jiang… no, a close confidante!”
Jiang Qiuning was silent for a moment before slowly turning her head:
“The Listening Sound Peak is busy with affairs. If you have matters, Daoist Shen, you should return to the peak early.”
Shen Wenxin blinked in confusion:
“Listening Sound Peak? Not busy?”
Half a cup of tea later, Xu Wanci sat quietly beside the dark jade table.
Jiang Qiuning, watching her calm demeanor that carried a hint of otherworldly detachment, blinked slowly, her eyes revealing a barely perceptible worry.
For a moment, Shen Wenxin felt the serene atmosphere around her. Her hands unconsciously began to rub together. Clearing her throat to lighten the mood, she said:
“Young Master Jiang, you don’t know how amazing Wanci is!”
Speaking of this, she instantly perked up and vividly described Xu Wanci’s composure in the secret realm and how she protected her with meticulous care.
Jiang Qiuning had been listening attentively until she heard about what Xu Wanci had done for Shen Wenxin.
The curve of her lips softened.
Shen Wenxin had no idea what Jiang Qiuning was truly thinking, but she never played favorites. After praising Xu Wanci, she began to compliment Jiang Qiuning:
“Young Master Jiang, you really are a favored child of heaven — great cultivation, stunning looks, and an impressive family background!”
After praising Jiang Qiuning thoroughly, she started to boast about the Jiang family:
“I’ve heard the Jiang family not only has several Tribulation-Defying Elders but also countless rare spiritual plants and treasures. Compared to the Taiqing Sect, they’re probably just as formidable.”
“I also heard the Jiang family possesses more than just spiritual treasures…”
Including many dreaded hidden weapons that cultivators fear.
Thinking of this, her voice involuntarily carried a hint of excitement:
“Young Master Jiang, I heard the Jiang family still holds lost hidden weapons of the cultivation world, like the Rejuvenation Elixir and the Profound Nether Needle—”
“Those are things even the Taiqing Sect doesn’t have…”
“Daoist Shen.” Jiang Qiuning’s face turned pale. She pushed the tea in front of her, speaking each word carefully, “Please have some tea.”
Only after Shen Wenxin finally calmed down did Jiang Qiuning cautiously look at Xu Wanci:
“Wanci, I…”
Xu Wanci came back to her senses and spoke softly, her voice barely above a whisper, “Young Master Jiang, what is it?”
Jiang Qiuning looked at her, noticing how she seemed utterly indifferent to that matter, not caring in the slightest, and withdrew all his thoughts.
Suddenly, she changed the subject:
“Wanci, we’ve known each other for a long time, and our temperaments are quite alike.”
“You’ve always addressed me as Young Master, which feels rather distant.” She paused for a moment, then slowed her voice and said,
“Just call me Qiuning.”
Xu Wanci didn’t resist, replying calmly, “Qiuning.”
Usually composed, a rare joy flickered in Jiang Qiuning’s eyes, one she could no longer suppress.
Feeling her heart race in a chaotic flurry, she suddenly didn’t know where to place her hands. Instinctively, she took out some pastries from her storage pouch.
“Wanci… these are some treats I made during my free time recently. I wonder if they suit your taste.”
Xu Wanci was slightly taken aback.
In the original story, Jiang Qiuning had only ever cooked for Chu Qingchuan.
Before she could say anything, Shen Wenxin, who had been sipping her spiritual tea nearby, lifted her head, about to speak, but Jiang Qiuning turned swiftly, her movements elegant yet swift, and refilled her cup.
“Please, have some.”
At that moment, a cautious voice came from the doorway.
At the half-open wooden door stood Duan Ziwei, wearing a sheepish expression.
“Wa… Wanci, we’ve also known each other for a long time.”
“The way you address me, ahem, is actually a bit distant.”
He shamelessly pushed the door open, his face full of expectation, yet he deliberately put on a casual demeanor.
“Just call me Ziwei.”
Xu Wanci still showed no hesitation:
“Ziwei.”
Her voice held no hesitation, but not an ounce of warmth either.
It was just a name to her, no different from calling him a fellow cultivator.
She was merely doing her best to maintain the demeanor expected of a proper cultivator.
That way, when that person arrived, she could tell him that, over this hundred years, she had actually been doing quite well.
Only the waiting was somewhat difficult to endure; otherwise… everything was fine.
Hearing her say his name, Duan Ziwei froze on the spot.
Before he could react, his hand moved with a speed barely visible to the naked eye toward the jade pendant at his waist.
In the next moment, the small courtyard was showered with spiritual treasures.
Countless magical tools, talismans, elixirs, and spirit plants rained down, filling the ground to overflowing in mere moments, leaving no space uncovered.
Shen Wenxin forced herself to look away from the spiritual treasures on the ground.
She wasn’t tempted. Not even a little.
But she couldn’t help but quietly sigh,
“Duan Ziwei is truly devoted—he treats even the friends of his beloved so well.”
“Too bad Young Master Jiang already has Senior Brother Chu.”
After saying this, she keenly sensed the sudden silence in the air and hurriedly added,
“No, no, no, I mean Duan Ziwei, you’re really a great guy. You’re sure to meet your true love someday!”
Duan Ziwei’s blush faded visibly, retreating at a speed anyone could notice. Instinctively, he looked toward Xu Wanci. Seeing that she still showed no reaction, he finally turned to Shen Wenxin.
But this was Xu Wanci’s courtyard, and Shen Wenxin was her guest. He didn’t dare utter a harsh word.
He could only grit his teeth and say,
“Then I truly thank you.”
Inside the Ink Rain Pavilion.
Jiang Ze watched everything unfolding in the courtyard, his eyes as dark as ink, filled with a focus even he hadn’t realized he possessed.
An astonishing focus.
In these past few days, he hadn’t appeared before Xu Wanci even once.
Yet his gaze was uncontrollably drawn to her.
He watched as she threw herself into cultivation recklessly once again, as she slowly began to harbor sparks of life within her…
He knew, all of it was tied to that one person.
But…
Hearing the name ‘Ziwei’ from Xu Wanci’s lips, the spiritual energy around him trembled uncontrollably for a moment.
Then, it slowly calmed again.
He lowered his eyes slightly, hiding all the emotions within them.
If she were to call his name.
Not his formal title, not the distant full name—
“A Ze.”
At that moment, his aura softened unexpectedly, a gentle breeze stirred through his hair.
Jiang Ze instinctively raised his eyes to look at Xu Wanci.
In the courtyard, though she stood at the center of the crowd, she seemed detached, as calm and composed as when she was alone, without a hint of difference.
Everything she had—whether it was the lifeless despair or the desperate cultivation, or the forced effort to appear as normal as anyone else—
It was all because of that person.
Xu Wanci, so obsessed with love, so fixated on that one person.
It made him feel—
A dull ache in his chest.
He turned his gaze away coldly.
An eyesore.
