As Xu Wanci’s face grew increasingly pale and translucent under the sunlight, many of the venerable elders raised their brows slightly, their gazes tinged with contemplation.
Once they had calmed down, they finally had time to recall the words spoken by the members of the Taiqing Sect:
Was this Xu Wanci truly connected to the Immortal Venerable in the past?
Even knowing the Taiqing Sect would not make baseless claims, even after Jiang Ze and Gu Yunqi had verified the truth of the karmic ties, the mere thought of that lofty figure from a century ago still left them momentarily dazed.
That Immortal Venerable Qingyan—so powerful, so aloof, indifferent to all things under heaven—could he truly have been entangled so deeply with someone?
And just a mere Nascent Soul disciple at that…
Yet, recalling everything that had just transpired, some elders frowned and averted their eyes.
Most of them had only met Xu Wanci once and had no real understanding of her relationship with the Immortal Venerable or what their past entailed.
But after obtaining the Formless Divine Stone, everyone had heard her prayer.
For the Immortal Venerable… to awaken.
Such a priceless treasure, used without hesitation for another’s sake, while she herself bore such heavy karmic ties to the Immortal Venerable.
Her connection to him must have been far deeper than they had guessed.
Amidst their regret over the loss of the Formless Divine Stone, a faint thread of jealousy coiled in the hearts of many elders.
A century ago, even as Transcendent Realm cultivators, they could only prostrate themselves at the feet of the Immortal Venerable.
A century later, though the Immortal Venerable was gone, he had left behind a Xu Wanci—someone who would defy all odds for him, even stake her life without hesitation.
Where in the entire cultivation world could one find another bond as profound as this?
If they were to perish unexpectedly one day, perhaps only a handful of close acquaintances would shed a few tears, while the rest of the sects and noble clans would likely rejoice behind their backs.
Even their own sect members might offer a few words of mourning, but with time, they might forget they had ever existed.
No one would remember them as Xu Wanci now remembered the departed Immortal Venerable—holding him in her heart, defying reason itself to bring him back.
At this thought, some elders coldly turned away.
The Immortal Venerable who had sacrificed himself to the heavens had no hope of resurrection.
The moment he offered himself, his soul and body had already merged into the flaws of the world, becoming one with all things, nourishing existence itself.
Otherwise, the Formless Divine Stone would not have shattered into nothingness the moment Xu Wanci made her wish.
They revered the Immortal Venerable, but none wished for his true return.
No one wanted the boulder that had been lifted from their hearts a century ago to come crashing back down.
Nearby, Ning Menglan watched as Xu Wanci knelt there, her expression weary, and the motion of retracting his formation paused almost imperceptibly.
This time, Xu Wanci had narrowly escaped death to obtain the Formless Divine Stone, then braved the fury and temptation of countless to use it.
Nearly every Transcendent Realm elder in the cultivation world had gathered here. Xu Wanci was merely a Nascent Soul cultivator—one misstep, and even the Taiqing Sect’s full might would not have been enough to save her.
Such trials, such risks… and yet, in the end—
The Formless Divine Stone, infused with the power of the Heavenly Dao, capable of granting any wish, had shattered the moment she made hers.
It was the rarest treasure in the cultivation world, appearing only once in millennia.
If even the Formless Divine Stone failed… what would Xu Wanci think?
Would she… give up?
He recalled the look on her face when she had first learned that the Immortal Venerable’s soul had dispersed beyond recovery, and his brow furrowed slightly.
Giving up would be one thing.
What he feared was that in abandoning hope for the Immortal Venerable’s revival, she might also abandon her will to live.
After this, the Taiqing Sect would need considerable time to recover. If Xu Wanci lost the will to survive and faced another crisis during that time… even he might be powerless to stop it.
Ning Menglan glanced at the wound on his chest, frowned, and swallowed a medicinal pill. As his injuries healed and the scent of blood faded, he stepped forward to stand before Xu Wanci.
Taking in her wounds, he suppressed all his thoughts.
He bent down slightly, his voice laced with concern.
"Wanci, how are your injuries?"
Xu Wanci seemed to finally snap out of her daze. Slowly, she lowered her hands, which had been cupped before her, and clenched them into fists—as if trying to grasp something, only to find emptiness.
She kept her head bowed, struggling for a long moment before finally managing to speak, her voice eerily calm.
"Sect Leader, I’m fine."
"I… am well."
It was only that everything had returned to how it once was.
Ning Menglan sighed inwardly at her reply.
Even when Xu Wanci had once suffered soul-deep injuries, all he had gotten from her was a simple "I’m fine."
He assessed the spiritual energy around her. Though severely depleted, its flow was not too sluggish—likely not as grave as the wounds she had sustained after the ancient battlefield.
Just as he was about to speak again, his gaze caught on the burn marks on her hands.
Distinct, crimson, layer upon layer—the scars left by the Thousand Silence Flames.
His eyes froze.
The first to contend with Xu Wanci for the Formless Divine Stone had been—
Chu Qingchuan.
In the moment Ning Menglan fell silent, the Grand Elder of the Pingyang Sect stepped forward with perfectly feigned concern.
"Such injuries cannot be delayed. I imagine Sect Leader Ning must be preoccupied with settling the Taiqing Sect’s elders."
"Perhaps Fellow Daoist Xu could rest at our Pingyang Sect for now. We have many spiritual treasures that could aid in her recovery."
Hearing his voice, Ning Menglan snapped back to attention.
He turned, his smile not reaching his eyes.
"Elder, you worry too much. No matter how severe Wanci’s injuries, the Taiqing Sect will spare no effort in her treatment. There’s no need for the Pingyang Sect’s concern."
The Pingyang Sect’s Grand Elder clearly hadn’t expected the Taiqing Sect to agree so easily. He chuckled.
"Very well."
"In a few days, I shall visit with some treasures. I hope Sect Leader Ning won’t refuse."
"Of course not." Ning Menglan replied courteously. "The Taiqing Sect will welcome you with open arms."
One by one, other elders expressed their intentions to visit, and he acknowledged each in turn.
Only after all the sects and noble clans had departed did he finally exhale in relief.
By then, the Taiqing Sect’s elders had also finished their recovery. Together, they boarded the flying vessel back to their sect.
Aboard the Jade Summit Flying Vessel.
Elder Second Master examined Xu Wanci’s injuries and finally relaxed.
"Though severe, none have damaged her consciousness or dantian. With some medicinal pills and rest, she should recover in a few days."
At this, Xu Wanci, who had kept her head lowered since boarding, finally stirred.
She lifted her gaze and offered Elder Second Master a faint smile.
"This journey… thank you, Sect Leader and all the elders."
If it weren’t for the people of the Taiqing Sect, she would never have had that slim chance of survival.
Elder Second Master looked at the faint, weary smile on her lips and suppressed a sigh in his heart:
"You are a disciple of the Taiqing Sect. Since you’ve done no wrong, the sect cannot stand by and watch you in danger without lifting a finger."
Beside him, Third Elder added:
"Xu Wanci, if not for you, who knows how much longer I might have been stuck at the early stage of the Tribulation Realm? Today was just a bit of exercise—nothing worth mentioning."
"It doesn’t compare to the help you’ve given me."
Pausing briefly, she continued:
"And it wasn’t just the Taiqing Sect. This time, we also owe thanks to Jiang Ze and the Jiyun Venerable."
"If not for them..."
Hearing this, Ning Menglan recalled the scene at the time, her voice tinged with gratitude:
"I wonder if Young Master Moze will successfully pass his Tribulation Lightning Calamity."
Xu Wanci lowered her eyes slightly at his words, veiling the emotions within them:
Today’s crisis had been even more perilous than when she first arrived in the cultivation world.
With dozens of Tribulation Realm Venerables after her, as long as the Wuxiang Divine Stone remained in her hands, death was the only outcome.
Even if she abandoned all pretense and tried to surrender the stone, she would still be torn apart by other Venerables coveting it.
Even now that the Wuxiang Divine Stone was destroyed, her chances of survival had been slim.
Fortunately.
Though fate had not been kind to her, it had not sealed off every path to life.
Remembering Jiang Ze’s voice from within the protective formation, her fingertips twitched imperceptibly:
The Jiang family possessed a secret realm. The chances of successfully overcoming a tribulation there were twice as high as in the outside world.
But attempting a tribulation while severely injured—even with the secret realm—was still a near-impossible gamble.
A thoughtful glint flashed in Xu Wanci’s eyes:
In the original story, when Chu Qingchuan ascended to the Tribulation Realm, the Jiang family had also placed him in their secret realm.
Using his own fortune, he had located the treasure sustaining the realm and drained it dry. In the end, he succeeded in his ascension, but the Jiang family’s secret realm was left in ruins.
The moment the realm collapsed, he had even taken the treasure’s companion spirit herb.
Though the Jiang family was furious, having invested so much in Chu Qingchuan and now facing his status as a Tribulation Venerable, they could only swallow their anger—marking the beginning of their decline.
At this thought, Xu Wanci slowly blinked:
The Jiang family likely had no idea where the realm’s treasure was hidden. While the treasure itself couldn’t be moved, its companion spirit herb would be perfect for Jiang Ze in his injured state.
Without hiding her actions, she flicked a wisp of spiritual energy, and a communication talisman silently vanished into the air.
And Ji Wang.
She didn’t play favorites—she sent him a communication talisman as well.
Once this was done, she ignored the gazes around her and quietly closed her eyes.
Elsewhere, Jiang Ze paused just before entering the secret realm, as if sensing something.
A moment later, a communication talisman drifted soundlessly before him.
Recognizing the familiar spiritual energy on it, he froze for an instant—before his hand reflexively caught it.
Reading the words, he pressed his lips together. No one could decipher the emotions in his eyes, but the killing intent around him seemed to soften, the icy aura warming slightly.
He stared intently in the direction of the Taiqing Sect, then flicked his fingers. The talisman, which should have dissipated, was instead encased in spiritual energy, preserved perfectly intact.
Under the anxious gaze of the Jiang family head, Jiang Ze finally turned and stepped calmly into the secret realm.
Meanwhile, aboard the Wuji Sect’s flying vessel.
Ji Wang expressionlessly swallowed a medicinal pill, paying no mind to his blood-soaked robes.
Sensing the occasional glances from the Wuji Sect’s Third Elder, he lifted his head, his voice rough from his injuries:
"Third Elder, rest assured. Once this matter is concluded, I will enter the Demonfall Abyss to retrieve the Tusheng Fruit for the elders."
Third Elder’s face flushed with embarrassment. Though their relationship wasn’t close, as fellow elders of the Wuji Sect, he didn’t wish harm upon Ji Wang:
"That was just a moment of urgency. Elder Ji, you should prioritize your recovery."
"A few jars of good wine would suffice. The Tusheng Fruit… let it be."
Ji Wang stood, his tone unreadable but firm:
"This Venerable does not break his word."
Just then, a communication talisman arrived, landing before him.
A flicker of restrained delight crossed his eyes as he reached for it with uncharacteristic haste.
After reading its contents, the smile on his lips faded, replaced by a trace of imperceptible complexity:
The blatant repayment, the obvious attempt to draw a line—it was impossible to ignore.
He had truly only wanted to help her. That was all.
After a long silence, he looked up at Third Elder, his voice laced with quiet self-mockery:
"Third Elder, don’t worry. This time…"
"I won’t get hurt."
Taiqing Sect.
Xu Wanci sat by the dark jade table, her expression calm but shadowed by exhaustion.
She gazed silently at the azure sky before finally closing her eyes:
Even though she had prepared herself, the loss of the Wuxiang Divine Stone still left her with a pang of defeat.
It had been her fastest path to the Mahayana Realm—a treasure that could have saved her centuries of cultivation.
Just one step away. One step, and she could have secured the power to protect herself.
Ah, well.
She exhaled slowly and opened her eyes again:
She had expected the destruction of the Wuxiang Divine Stone to leave her severely wounded. But in that desperate moment, there had been no other choice.
Surprisingly, she hadn’t suffered any backlash. All her injuries had been sustained before the stone’s destruction.
A stroke of luck amidst misfortune.
Recalling the uncharacteristically warm sunlight that day, her lashes fluttered faintly:
At the very least, she had squeezed every drop of utility from the Wuxiang Divine Stone.
She had convinced nearly every high-ranking cultivator in the realm of her connection to the Immortal Venerable. Now, she no longer had to fear her lies being exposed.
Besides, Chu Qingchuan hadn’t obtained the stone either.
From the moment he melted that pocket dimension with the Thousand Flames, their paths had been set in opposition.
With the Wuxiang Divine Stone gone, the original timeline had been shattered beyond repair.
Given the Heavenly Dao’s power in this realm, it was unlikely a second Wuxiang Divine Stone would emerge.
In this way, she and Chu Qingchuan stood on equal footing.
On her way back to the Taiqing Sect, she had leaked the locations of many destined opportunities from the original story.
She had told Jiang Ze about the treasure in his family’s secret realm. With this, Chu Qingchuan wouldn’t be able to drain it dry as he had in the original tale.
As for the Soul-Slaughtering Fruit in the Demon-Falling Lands, with her reminder, Ji Wang should be able to safely obtain it.
And that spiritual vein—half of which was absorbed by Chu Qingchuan, while the other half was offered to the Taiqing Sect—she had also disclosed its location to the members of the Taiqing Sect.
Looking at it this way, most of the spiritual treasures Chu Qingchuan was destined to acquire in the future had already fallen into others' hands.
After all, time was limited, and constrained by the will of heavenly fate, it was unlikely she could obtain these supreme treasures herself. It was better to let them find their way into the hands of those who needed them sooner.
Without the guidance of the original story, the path ahead could only be tread step by step.
But she was exhausted.
Xu Wanci propped her cheek with one hand while the other absentmindedly traced the three-leaf lotus at her waist, her gaze distant and unmoving.
Just then, a steady knock sounded at the door.
Snapping out of her thoughts, she turned toward the entrance and saw Xie Tingbai standing there. She rose to her feet, her voice calm:
"Seventh Elder."
Xie Tingbai took in the bone-deep weariness Xu Wanci couldn’t quite conceal, his footsteps pausing almost imperceptibly.
Then, his lips curved into a casual smile, his tone warm and natural:
"It seems your injuries have improved today, Wanci."
Xu Wanci shook her head lightly.
"They weren’t severe to begin with. A few days of rest was enough to recover."
"How are the other elders faring?"
Xie Tingbai walked to the dark jade table, motioning for her to sit before leisurely pouring her a cup of medicinal tea.
"The elders merely overexerted their spiritual power. Their injuries were nearly healed by the day we returned to the sect."
"Today, the sect leader and the elders are all occupied with matters concerning the spiritual vein—so much so that they barely have time for tea."
At this, he lifted his gaze and gave her a look of mock helplessness:
"You, out of everyone, were the most severely injured."
He pushed the tea toward her and took a seat, his voice laced with amusement:
"Though it’s a relief that this time, Wanci didn’t immediately ask me whether she could resume cultivation the moment we met."
"Compared to before, that’s progress."
Hearing his words, Xu Wanci remained impassive. She offered only a faint, distant smile and replied softly:
"Seventh Elder jests."
Xie Tingbai studied her quietly for a moment before shifting his gaze away.
He placed a vial of medicinal pills in front of her.
"Tomorrow, I’ll be heading to the Primordial Spirit Secret Realm in search of a drop of Clarity-Breaking Water."
"If all goes well, I should return soon."
He raised the vial slightly, his voice gentle. "These are your daily pills. Don’t forget to take them, Wanci."
Xu Wanci seemed to recall something then. She retrieved a Heaven-Spirit Pill from her storage pouch and handed it to Xie Tingbai.
"Seventh Elder, now that the matter of the Formless Divine Stone is resolved and I’ve returned safely..."
"Thank you for lending me this Heaven-Spirit Pill, but I no longer have any use for it." She met his gaze earnestly. "This treasure is too valuable. Please take it back."
Xie Tingbai looked at the pill, unsurprised.
He lowered his eyes briefly, masking a trace of self-deprecating resignation before lifting them again, his expression serene.
"Wanci shared the location of a great opportunity with me days ago, and now you return the Heaven-Spirit Pill..."
"Such karmic ties concerning tribulation breakthroughs—even if I obtain the Clarity-Breaking Water, I might hesitate to use it."
With a light chuckle, he pushed the pill back toward her.
"If I return still at the Great Ascension Realm, I won’t wait for you to offer—I’ll take the pill back myself."
"For now, I’ll trouble you to safeguard it for me."
Xie Tingbai smiled.
"How about it?"
Xu Wanci glanced at the pill, her tone indifferent.
"Then I shall await Seventh Elder’s return."
In the Hall of Returning Origins, after several hours of effort guided by Xu Wanci’s directions, the Third Elder finally located the spiritual vein.
None of them had expected such an abundant spiritual vein to exist within the Taiqing Sect’s territory.
A sect’s strength relied not only on powerful cultivators but also on the support of spirit stones.
A sect’s prosperity largely determined its future.
With this vein, the Taiqing Sect could thrive for another century.
Ning Menglan’s gaze lingered briefly on the location of the vein.
"The Longfall Plains?"
If he recalled correctly, the place Chu Qingchuan had visited before leaping from Nascent Soul to Divine Transformation was none other than the Longfall Plains.
But he quickly dismissed the thought, shaking his head wryly.
He must have been overworked these past few days, letting his mind wander.
It had taken the combined efforts of the Taiqing Sect’s elders to confirm the vein’s location. Even with heaven-defying luck, Chu Qingchuan, a mere Divine Transformation cultivator, couldn’t have found it unscathed.
With that in mind, he flicked his sleeve.
"It seems this spiritual vein must be guarded by a spirit beast—and one of no low rank at that."
Even the usually composed Elder Grandmaster couldn’t suppress the excitement in his voice.
"Within two days at most, I’ll adjust my cultivation and dantian to peak condition. Then, the Second Elder, Third Elder, and I will set out together."
Ning Menglan clasped his hands. "Then I leave it to the elders."
At that moment, he turned to the Fifth Elder, who had been meditating with his eyes closed, and asked hesitantly:
"Fifth Elder... what do you think of this venture?"
The Fifth Elder cracked open an eye, looking utterly bewildered. "What did the sect leader just say?"
Ning Menglan remained patient. "Does Fifth Elder foresee a smooth journey?"
The Fifth Elder blinked as if waking from a dream. "Did the sect leader say something earlier?"
Ning Menglan repeated, "Could Fifth Elder divine an omen for this trip?"
The Fifth Elder stared blankly. "Is the sect leader speaking right now?"
Ning Menglan conceded. "Fifth Elder, rest well."
Instantly, the Fifth Elder’s senses sharpened. He stood and bowed with surprising agility. "Many thanks for the sect leader’s consideration."
